Applications for New Awards; State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP)-Tribal Education Agency Development Discretionary Grant Program (STEP Development), 27619-27623 [2019-12500]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 114 / Thursday, June 13, 2019 / Notices
Full Text of Announcement
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; State
Tribal Education Partnership (STEP)—
Tribal Education Agency Development
Discretionary Grant Program (STEP
Development)
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
The Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for
State Tribal Education Partnership
(STEP), Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) number 84.415A.
This notice relates to the approved
information collection under OMB
control number 1894–0006.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Applications Available: June 13, 2019.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply:
June 28, 2019.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 12, 2019.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: October 11, 2019.
Pre-Application Webinar Information:
The Department will hold a preapplication meeting via webinar for
prospective applicants on a date to be
determined. Individuals interested in
attending this meeting are encouraged to
pre-register by emailing their name,
organization, and contact information
with the subject heading ‘‘STEP
GRANTS PRE-APPLICATION
MEETING’’ to shahla.ortega@ed.gov.
There is no registration fee for attending
this meeting.
For the addresses for
obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common
Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary
Grant Programs published in the
Federal Register on February 13, 2019
(84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201902-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
ADDRESSES:
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shahla Ortega, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Room 3W245, Washington, DC 20202–
6450. Telephone: (202) 453–5602.
Email: shahla.ortega@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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:55 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 247001
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of
the STEP program are to: (1) Promote
Tribal self-determination in education;
(2) improve the academic achievement
of Indian children and youth; and (3)
promote the coordination and
collaboration of Tribal educational
agencies (TEAs) with State educational
agencies (SEAs) and local educational
agencies (LEAs) to meet the unique
education and culturally related
academic needs of Indian students.
Background:
STEP was revised under section 6132
of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA) to include oneyear grants to Indian Tribes (as defined
in this notice) that do not have a TEA,
or Tribal organizations approved by an
Indian Tribe that do not have a TEA, to
develop a TEA.
Our intent for this competition is to
provide one-year grants to support
Tribes’ creation of TEAs (as defined in
this notice) so that they will be eligible
to apply for a three-year STEP grant in
future fiscal years. Therefore, we have
designed elements of this competition to
maximize alignment between the oneand three-year programs. For example,
in order to receive funding, an applicant
must demonstrate that it has at least one
full-time employee on staff who works
exclusively on education issues. We
believe that it will be critically
important for Indian Tribes receiving a
one-year STEP grant to have staff in
place from the beginning of their
projects in order to successfully meet
program outcomes and have a TEA in
place by the end of the project period
and, thus, be eligible to compete for a
three-year grant in future fiscal years.
We also require that, at the end of the
one-year project, grantees be able to
demonstrate that they meet the program
outcomes and have at least two other
characteristics of a successful TEA, in
addition to having at least one full-time
employee dedicated to education issues.
In accordance with the Department’s
commitment to engage in regular and
meaningful consultation and
collaboration with Indian Tribes, the
Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education (OESE), Office of Indian
Education (OIE), and the White House
Initiative on American Indian and
Alaska Native Education conducted a
Tribal Consultation regarding the
reauthorized STEP program. Consistent
with the Department’s trust
responsibility to Tribes and its Tribal
Consultation Policy, OESE consulted
with elected officials of federally
recognized Tribes to ensure that their
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
27619
views inform OESE’s policy decisions
related to the priorities, requirements,
definitions, and selection criteria that
govern this competition. OIE will
respond to the Tribal Consultation in a
separate correspondence. At the Tribal
Consultation there was significant
interest in providing opportunities for
Tribes that do not have a TEA to create
one. This notice respects this Tribal
interest by is establishing an invitational
priority, definitions, and requirements
consistent with supporting the creation
of new TEAs.
In addition, the Department remains
focused on supporting innovative
strategies for improving delivery of
educational services to the Nation’s
students, consistent with the Secretary’s
Supplemental Priority entitled
‘‘Promoting Innovation and Efficiency,
Streamlining Education with an
Increased Focus on Improving Student
Outcomes, and Providing Increased
Value to Students and Taxpayers’’ (83
FR 9096). In the context of the FY 2019
STEP competition, we are especially
interested in Tribes’ and Tribal
organizations’ approaches to forming
TEAs that are well-positioned to deliver
services that will meet the specific
needs of the Native students in their
communities, further promoting Tribal
self-determination in education. We
believe that applicants may be better
positioned to create successful and
sustainable TEAs if they work closely
with other organizations in the
community from the beginning. For
example, we believe that engaging
meaningfully with community
stakeholders may help Tribes lay the
groundwork for how their TEAs will
develop school improvement plans or
native language assessments, or revise
schoolwide project plans, under Title I,
Part A of the ESEA. Therefore, we are
including an invitational priority in this
competition for applicants that propose
to engage with other stakeholders in the
community, such as nonprofit
organizations, private organizations, and
local businesses, in designing their TEA.
Priority: Under this competition we
are particularly interested in
applications that address the following
priority.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2019 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:
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
27620
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 114 / Thursday, June 13, 2019 / Notices
Promoting Sustainability through
Community Engagement.
This priority is for applicants who
propose to develop their TEA in
coordination with local stakeholders,
such as nonprofit organizations, private
organizations, and local businesses, for
the purposes of (1) improving alignment
of planned educational services to be
delivered by the TEA with the needs of
Native students in the community and
(2) ensuring sustained community
engagement at the end of the 12-month
project.
Requirements: We are establishing
these application and program
requirements for the FY 2019 grant
competition, and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of
unfunded applications from this
competition, in accordance with section
437(d)(1) of the General Education
Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C.
1232(d)(1).
Application Requirements: Each
application must contain a plan that
includes the following:
(a) A description of the objectives to
be achieved and the activities to be
conducted to develop a TEA and to
meet the program outcomes in program
requirement (c) by the end of this grant
period;
(b) a timetable for accomplishing each
of the objectives and activities that the
applicant will undertake to achieve the
program outcomes in program
requirement (c);
(c) an assurance that the applicant
does not have a TEA;
(d) a description of, and evidence of,
past collaboration with State and local
education entities;
(e) evidence that demonstrates the
applicant has resources, including at
least one full-time staff member
assigned exclusively to support
development of the expertise, staffing,
and infrastructure needed to establish
and sustain a TEA, and may include
funding or in-kind resources from the
Tribe dedicated to supporting Tribal
students’ education;
(f) a description of the method to be
used for evaluating the effectiveness of
the activities for which assistance is
sought and for determining whether
such objectives are achieved; and
(g) for applicants that are Tribal
organizations (as defined in this notice),
evidence of Tribal approval from every
Tribe for which it is applying to be the
applicant on their behalf.
Under ESEA section 6132(d)(3), in
their applications, applicants must
also—
(h) demonstrate that the eligible
applicant has consulted with other
education entities, if any, within the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:55 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 247001
territorial jurisdiction of the applicant
that will be affected by the activities to
be conducted under the grant;
(i) describe the consultation with such
other education entities in the operation
and evaluation of the activities
conducted under the grant; and
(j) demonstrate that there will be
adequate resources provided under this
program or from other sources to
complete the activities for which
assistance is sought.
Program Requirements: Applicants
that receive grants under this program
must meet the following requirements:
(a) Each grantee must use program
funds to create a TEA and meet the
program outcomes in paragraph (c).
(b) Grantees must engage in
collaborative efforts that will allow the
TEA to build partnerships with SEAs
and LEAs.
(c) Program outcomes: At the end of
the project period, grantees must
demonstrate that their TEA has at least
one full-time staff member dedicated to
education issues and at least two of the
following:
(1) A tribally sanctioned education
code that is informed by available
research on improving Indian student
outcomes.
(2) Tribally sanctioned and culturally
relevant curricula and professional
development strategies focused on
culturally relevant instruction.
(3) A partnership with an SEA or LEA
that—
(i) Promotes Tribal self-determination
in education;
(ii) Is designed to improve the
academic achievement of Indian
children and youth;
(iii) Promotes coordination and
collaboration with SEAs and LEAs to
meet the unique education and
culturally related academic needs of
Indian students;
(iv) Builds capacity to administer and
coordinate education programs, and to
improve the relationship and
coordination with SEAs and LEAs that
educate students from the Tribe;
(v) Includes training and support from
the SEA and LEA to the TEA, in areas
such as data collection and analysis,
grants management and monitoring,
fiscal accountability, and other areas as
needed; and
(vi) Includes training and support
from the TEA to the SEA and LEA in
areas related to Tribal history, language,
or culture.
(4) Committed resources (e.g.,
funding, staff, office space) from the
Tribe or Tribes.
ISDEAA Hiring Preference:
(a) Awards that are primarily for the
benefit of Indians are subject to the
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
provisions of section 7(b) of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93–638). That
section requires that, to the greatest
extent feasible, a grantee—
(1) give to Indians preferences and
opportunities for training and
employment in connection with the
administration of the grant; and
(2) give to Indian organizations and to
Indian-owned economic enterprises, as
defined in section 3 of the Indian
Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C.
1452(e)), preference in the award of
contracts in connection with the
administration of the grant.
(b) For purposes of this section, an
Indian is a member of any federally
recognized Indian tribe.
Definitions: The definitions of ‘‘Indian
Tribe’’ and ‘‘Tribal educational agency’’
are from section 6132 of the ESEA. The
definition of ‘‘relevant outcome’’ is from
34 CFR 77.1(c). We are establishing the
definition of ‘‘Tribal Organization’’ for
the FY 2019 grant competition, and any
subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition, in
accordance with section 437(d)(1) of
GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). The
following definitions apply to this
competition:
Indian Tribe means a federallyrecognized or a State-recognized Tribe.
Relevant outcome means the student
outcome(s) or other outcome(s) the key
project component is designed to
achieve, consistent with the specific
goals of the program.
Tribal educational agency (TEA)
means the agency, department, or
instrumentality of an Indian Tribe that
is primarily responsible for supporting
Tribal students’ elementary and
secondary education.
Note: For purposes of this program,
this term also includes an agency,
department, or instrumentality of more
than one Tribe, if the Tribes are in close
geographic proximity to each other.
Tribal organization means an Indian
organization that—
(1) Is legally established—
(i) By Tribal or inter-Tribal charter or
in accordance with State or Tribal law;
and
(ii) With appropriate constitution, bylaws, or articles of incorporation;
(2) Includes in its purposes the
promotion of the education of Indians;
(3) Is controlled by a governing board,
the majority of which is Indian;
(4) If located on an Indian reservation,
operates with the sanction of or by
charter from the governing body of that
reservation;
(5) Is neither an organization or
subdivision of, nor under the direct
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 114 / Thursday, June 13, 2019 / Notices
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
control of, any institution of higher
education; and
(6) Is not an agency of State or local
government.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking:
Under the Administrative Procedure Act
(5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally
offers interested parties the opportunity
to comment on proposed requirements
and definitions. Section 437(d)(1) of
GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to
exempt from rulemaking requirements
regulations governing the first grant
competition under a new or
substantially revised program authority.
This is the first grant competition for
this program under section 6132 of the
ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7452), and, therefore,
qualifies for this exemption. In order to
ensure timely grant awards, the
Secretary has decided to forgo public
comment on the requirements and
definitions under section 437(d)(1) of
GEPA. These requirements and
definitions will apply to the FY 2019
competition, and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of
unfunded applications from this
competition.
Program Authority: The program is
authorized under section 6132(c)(1) of
the ESEA, Grants To Tribes For
Education, Administrative Planning,
Development, And Coordination, 20
U.S.C. 7452.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98,
and 99. (b) The Office of Management
and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on
Government-wide Debarment and
Suspension (Non-procurement) in 2
CFR part 180, as adopted and amended
as regulations of the Department in 2
CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as
adopted and amended in 2 CFR part
3474.
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:
$1,600,000.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in
subsequent years from the list of
unfunded applications from this
competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000
to $500,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$350,000.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:55 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 247001
Estimated Number of Awards: 3–10.
Note: The Department is not bound by
any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Indian Tribes
that do not have a TEA, Tribal
organizations approved by an Indian
Tribe that do not have a TEA, or a
consortium of such entities.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
3. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This
program involves supplement-notsupplant funding requirements.
4. Subgrantees: A grantee under this
competition may not award subgrants to
entities to directly carry out project
activities described in its application.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Application Submission
Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for
Applicants to Department of Education
Discretionary Grant Programs,
published in the Federal Register on
February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768),
available at www.govinfo.gov/content/
pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf,
which contain information on how to
submit an application.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs under Executive Order 12372
is in the application package for this
program.
3. Funding Restrictions: Funding
restrictions are outlined in section 6132
(20 U.S.C.7452(3)(e)): (1) An Indian
Tribe may not receive funds under this
section if such Tribe receives funds
under section 1140 of the Education
Amendments of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 2020);
and (2) no funds under this section may
be used to provide direct services.
We reference additional regulations
outlining funding restrictions in the
Applicable Regulations section of this
notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit:
The application narrative is where
you, the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
your application. We recommend that
you (1) limit the application narrative to
no more than 50 pages and (2) 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
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
27621
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 recommended page limit does not
apply to the cover sheet; the budget
section, including the narrative budget
justification; the assurances and
certifications; or the one-page abstract,
the resumes, the bibliography, or the
letters of support. However, the
recommended page limit does apply to
all of the application narrative.
5. Notice of Intent to Apply: The
Department will be able to review grant
applications more efficiently if we know
the approximate number of applicants
that intend to apply. Therefore, we
strongly encourage each potential
applicant to notify us of their intent to
submit an application. To do so, please
email the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT with the subject line ‘‘Intent to
Apply,’’ and include the applicant’s
name and a contact person’s name and
email address. Applicants that do not
submit a notice of intent to apply may
still apply for funding; applicants that
do submit a notice of intent to apply are
not bound to apply or bound by the
information provided.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
75.210. We will award up to 100 points
to an application under the selection
criteria; the total possible points for
each selection criterion are noted in
parentheses.
a. Quality of the Project Design
(Maximum 45 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:
(i) The extent to which the goals,
objectives, and outcomes to be achieved
by the proposed project are clearly
specified and measurable. (up to 10
points)
(ii) The extent to which the proposed
project will integrate with or build on
similar or related efforts to improve
relevant outcomes (as defined in this
notice), using existing funding streams
from other programs or policies
supported by community, State, and
Federal resources. (up to 10 points)
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
27622
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 114 / Thursday, June 13, 2019 / Notices
(iii) The extent to which the proposed
project will establish linkages with
other appropriate agencies and
organizations providing services to the
target population. (up to 10 points)
(iv) The extent to which the proposed
project encourages parental
involvement. (up to 10 points)
(v) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation are appropriate to the
context within which the project
operates. (up to 5 points)
b. Adequacy of Resources (Maximum
40 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:
(i) The adequacy of support, including
facilities, equipment, supplies, and
other resources, from the applicant
organization or the lead applicant
organization. (up to 10 points)
(ii) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of the
project director or principal
investigator. (up to 10 points)
(iii) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of key
project personnel. (up to 5 points)
(iv) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of
project consultants or subcontractors.
(up to 5 points)
(v) The potential for continued
support of the project after Federal
funding ends, including, as appropriate,
the demonstrated commitment of
appropriate entities to such support. (up
to 10 points)
c. Quality of the Management Plan
(Maximum 15 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the management
plan for the proposed project. In
determining the quality of the
management plan for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the
extent to which the time commitments
of the project director and principal
investigator and other key project
personnel are appropriate and adequate
to meet the objectives of the proposed
project. (up to 15 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:55 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 247001
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 (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Risk Assessment and Specific
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 specific
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.
4. 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 $250,000), 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 the System for
Award Management. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 Requirements:
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 extends 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. Additionally, a grantee or
subgrantee that is awarded competitive
grant funds must have a plan to
disseminate these public grant
deliverables. This dissemination plan
can be developed and submitted after
your application has been reviewed and
selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing
requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
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.
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 114 / Thursday, June 13, 2019 / Notices
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), 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.
5. Performance Measure:
The number of Tribes that create a
TEA by the end of the grant period.
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 person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. You may access the official
edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations at
www.govinfo.gov. 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 Portable Document Format
(PDF). To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Frank T. Brogan,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and
Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2019–12500 Filed 6–12–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS)
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The mission of the Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services (OSERS) is to improve early
childhood, educational, and
employment outcomes and raise
expectations for all people with
disabilities, their families, their
communities, and the Nation. As such,
the Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:55 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 247001
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for
American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services—Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
Number 84.250M—to partner with
Indian Tribes in providing eligible
American Indians with disabilities with
vocational rehabilitation services. This
notice relates to the approved
information collection under OMB
control number 1820–0018.
DATES: Applications Available: June 13,
2019.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: July 29, 2019.
Pre-Application Webinar Information:
No later than June 18, 2019, OSERS will
post pre-recorded informational
webinars designed to provide technical
assistance to interested applicants. The
webinars will be available at
www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/rsa/
new-rsa-grants.html.
Pre-Application Q & A Blog: No later
than June 18, 2019, OSERS will open a
blog where interested applicants may
post questions about the application
requirements for this competition and
where OSERS will post answers to the
questions received. OSERS will not
respond to questions unrelated to the
application requirements for this
competition. The blog will be available
at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/rsa/
new-rsa-grants.html and will remain
open until July 2, 2019. After the blog
closes, applicants should direct
questions to the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for
obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common
Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary
Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on February 13, 2019
(84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201902-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
August Martin, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Room 5064A, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–2800.
Telephone: (202) 245–7410. Email:
August.Martin@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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
this program is to provide vocational
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
27623
rehabilitation (VR) services, including
culturally appropriate services, to
American Indians with disabilities who
reside on or near Federal or State
reservations, consistent with such
eligible individual’s strengths,
resources, priorities, concerns, abilities,
capabilities, interests, and informed
choice, so that such individual may
prepare for, and engage in, high-quality
employment that will increase
opportunities for economic selfsufficiency.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from
section 121(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C.
741(b)(4)).
Competitive Preference Priority: For
FY 2019, 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 an
additional five points to an application
that meets this priority.
This priority is: Continuation of
Previously Funded Tribal Programs.
In making new awards under this
program, we give priority to
applications for the continuation of
programs that have been funded under
the AIVRS program.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 741.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 84. (b) The
Office of Management and Budget
Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR
part 180, as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3485. (c) The Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as
adopted and amended as regulations of
the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d)
The regulations for this program in 34
CFR part 371.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds:
$21,265,000.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2020 from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$365,000–$650,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$510,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 42.
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27619-27623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12500]
[[Page 27619]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; State Tribal Education Partnership
(STEP)--Tribal Education Agency Development Discretionary Grant Program
(STEP Development)
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for State Tribal
Education Partnership (STEP), Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) number 84.415A. This notice relates to the approved information
collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.
DATES:
Applications Available: June 13, 2019.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 28, 2019.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 12, 2019.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: October 11, 2019.
Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants on a
date to be determined. Individuals interested in attending this meeting
are encouraged to pre-register by emailing their name, organization,
and contact information with the subject heading ``STEP GRANTS PRE-
APPLICATION MEETING'' to [email protected]. There is no registration
fee for attending this meeting.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs published in the
Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shahla Ortega, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3W245, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 453-5602. Email: [email protected].
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: The purposes of the STEP program are to: (1)
Promote Tribal self-determination in education; (2) improve the
academic achievement of Indian children and youth; and (3) promote the
coordination and collaboration of Tribal educational agencies (TEAs)
with State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies
(LEAs) to meet the unique education and culturally related academic
needs of Indian students.
Background:
STEP was revised under section 6132 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA) to include one-year grants to Indian Tribes (as
defined in this notice) that do not have a TEA, or Tribal organizations
approved by an Indian Tribe that do not have a TEA, to develop a TEA.
Our intent for this competition is to provide one-year grants to
support Tribes' creation of TEAs (as defined in this notice) so that
they will be eligible to apply for a three-year STEP grant in future
fiscal years. Therefore, we have designed elements of this competition
to maximize alignment between the one- and three-year programs. For
example, in order to receive funding, an applicant must demonstrate
that it has at least one full-time employee on staff who works
exclusively on education issues. We believe that it will be critically
important for Indian Tribes receiving a one-year STEP grant to have
staff in place from the beginning of their projects in order to
successfully meet program outcomes and have a TEA in place by the end
of the project period and, thus, be eligible to compete for a three-
year grant in future fiscal years. We also require that, at the end of
the one-year project, grantees be able to demonstrate that they meet
the program outcomes and have at least two other characteristics of a
successful TEA, in addition to having at least one full-time employee
dedicated to education issues.
In accordance with the Department's commitment to engage in regular
and meaningful consultation and collaboration with Indian Tribes, the
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Office of Indian
Education (OIE), and the White House Initiative on American Indian and
Alaska Native Education conducted a Tribal Consultation regarding the
reauthorized STEP program. Consistent with the Department's trust
responsibility to Tribes and its Tribal Consultation Policy, OESE
consulted with elected officials of federally recognized Tribes to
ensure that their views inform OESE's policy decisions related to the
priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria that
govern this competition. OIE will respond to the Tribal Consultation in
a separate correspondence. At the Tribal Consultation there was
significant interest in providing opportunities for Tribes that do not
have a TEA to create one. This notice respects this Tribal interest by
is establishing an invitational priority, definitions, and requirements
consistent with supporting the creation of new TEAs.
In addition, the Department remains focused on supporting
innovative strategies for improving delivery of educational services to
the Nation's students, consistent with the Secretary's Supplemental
Priority entitled ``Promoting Innovation and Efficiency, Streamlining
Education with an Increased Focus on Improving Student Outcomes, and
Providing Increased Value to Students and Taxpayers'' (83 FR 9096). In
the context of the FY 2019 STEP competition, we are especially
interested in Tribes' and Tribal organizations' approaches to forming
TEAs that are well-positioned to deliver services that will meet the
specific needs of the Native students in their communities, further
promoting Tribal self-determination in education. We believe that
applicants may be better positioned to create successful and
sustainable TEAs if they work closely with other organizations in the
community from the beginning. For example, we believe that engaging
meaningfully with community stakeholders may help Tribes lay the
groundwork for how their TEAs will develop school improvement plans or
native language assessments, or revise schoolwide project plans, under
Title I, Part A of the ESEA. Therefore, we are including an
invitational priority in this competition for applicants that propose
to engage with other stakeholders in the community, such as nonprofit
organizations, private organizations, and local businesses, in
designing their TEA.
Priority: Under this competition we are particularly interested in
applications that address the following priority.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2019 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:
[[Page 27620]]
Promoting Sustainability through Community Engagement.
This priority is for applicants who propose to develop their TEA in
coordination with local stakeholders, such as nonprofit organizations,
private organizations, and local businesses, for the purposes of (1)
improving alignment of planned educational services to be delivered by
the TEA with the needs of Native students in the community and (2)
ensuring sustained community engagement at the end of the 12-month
project.
Requirements: We are establishing these application and program
requirements for the FY 2019 grant competition, and any subsequent year
in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from
this competition, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General
Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
Application Requirements: Each application must contain a plan that
includes the following:
(a) A description of the objectives to be achieved and the
activities to be conducted to develop a TEA and to meet the program
outcomes in program requirement (c) by the end of this grant period;
(b) a timetable for accomplishing each of the objectives and
activities that the applicant will undertake to achieve the program
outcomes in program requirement (c);
(c) an assurance that the applicant does not have a TEA;
(d) a description of, and evidence of, past collaboration with
State and local education entities;
(e) evidence that demonstrates the applicant has resources,
including at least one full-time staff member assigned exclusively to
support development of the expertise, staffing, and infrastructure
needed to establish and sustain a TEA, and may include funding or in-
kind resources from the Tribe dedicated to supporting Tribal students'
education;
(f) a description of the method to be used for evaluating the
effectiveness of the activities for which assistance is sought and for
determining whether such objectives are achieved; and
(g) for applicants that are Tribal organizations (as defined in
this notice), evidence of Tribal approval from every Tribe for which it
is applying to be the applicant on their behalf.
Under ESEA section 6132(d)(3), in their applications, applicants
must also--
(h) demonstrate that the eligible applicant has consulted with
other education entities, if any, within the territorial jurisdiction
of the applicant that will be affected by the activities to be
conducted under the grant;
(i) describe the consultation with such other education entities in
the operation and evaluation of the activities conducted under the
grant; and
(j) demonstrate that there will be adequate resources provided
under this program or from other sources to complete the activities for
which assistance is sought.
Program Requirements: Applicants that receive grants under this
program must meet the following requirements:
(a) Each grantee must use program funds to create a TEA and meet
the program outcomes in paragraph (c).
(b) Grantees must engage in collaborative efforts that will allow
the TEA to build partnerships with SEAs and LEAs.
(c) Program outcomes: At the end of the project period, grantees
must demonstrate that their TEA has at least one full-time staff member
dedicated to education issues and at least two of the following:
(1) A tribally sanctioned education code that is informed by
available research on improving Indian student outcomes.
(2) Tribally sanctioned and culturally relevant curricula and
professional development strategies focused on culturally relevant
instruction.
(3) A partnership with an SEA or LEA that--
(i) Promotes Tribal self-determination in education;
(ii) Is designed to improve the academic achievement of Indian
children and youth;
(iii) Promotes coordination and collaboration with SEAs and LEAs to
meet the unique education and culturally related academic needs of
Indian students;
(iv) Builds capacity to administer and coordinate education
programs, and to improve the relationship and coordination with SEAs
and LEAs that educate students from the Tribe;
(v) Includes training and support from the SEA and LEA to the TEA,
in areas such as data collection and analysis, grants management and
monitoring, fiscal accountability, and other areas as needed; and
(vi) Includes training and support from the TEA to the SEA and LEA
in areas related to Tribal history, language, or culture.
(4) Committed resources (e.g., funding, staff, office space) from
the Tribe or Tribes.
ISDEAA Hiring Preference:
(a) Awards that are primarily for the benefit of Indians are
subject to the provisions of section 7(b) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-638). That
section requires that, to the greatest extent feasible, a grantee--
(1) give to Indians preferences and opportunities for training and
employment in connection with the administration of the grant; and
(2) give to Indian organizations and to Indian-owned economic
enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of
1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in
connection with the administration of the grant.
(b) For purposes of this section, an Indian is a member of any
federally recognized Indian tribe.
Definitions: The definitions of ``Indian Tribe'' and ``Tribal
educational agency'' are from section 6132 of the ESEA. The definition
of ``relevant outcome'' is from 34 CFR 77.1(c). We are establishing the
definition of ``Tribal Organization'' for the FY 2019 grant
competition, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the
list of unfunded applications from this competition, in accordance with
section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). The following
definitions apply to this competition:
Indian Tribe means a federally-recognized or a State-recognized
Tribe.
Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s)
the key project component is designed to achieve, consistent with the
specific goals of the program.
Tribal educational agency (TEA) means the agency, department, or
instrumentality of an Indian Tribe that is primarily responsible for
supporting Tribal students' elementary and secondary education.
Note: For purposes of this program, this term also includes an
agency, department, or instrumentality of more than one Tribe, if the
Tribes are in close geographic proximity to each other.
Tribal organization means an Indian organization that--
(1) Is legally established--
(i) By Tribal or inter-Tribal charter or in accordance with State
or Tribal law; and
(ii) With appropriate constitution, by-laws, or articles of
incorporation;
(2) Includes in its purposes the promotion of the education of
Indians;
(3) Is controlled by a governing board, the majority of which is
Indian;
(4) If located on an Indian reservation, operates with the sanction
of or by charter from the governing body of that reservation;
(5) Is neither an organization or subdivision of, nor under the
direct
[[Page 27621]]
control of, any institution of higher education; and
(6) Is not an agency of State or local government.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties
the opportunity to comment on proposed requirements and definitions.
Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to exempt from
rulemaking requirements regulations governing the first grant
competition under a new or substantially revised program authority.
This is the first grant competition for this program under section 6132
of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7452), and, therefore, qualifies for this
exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has
decided to forgo public comment on the requirements and definitions
under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These requirements and definitions
will apply to the FY 2019 competition, and any subsequent year in which
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition.
Program Authority: The program is authorized under section
6132(c)(1) of the ESEA, Grants To Tribes For Education, Administrative
Planning, Development, And Coordination, 20 U.S.C. 7452.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to
Agencies on Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement)
in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the
Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474.
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: $1,600,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000 to $500,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $350,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 3-10.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Indian Tribes that do not have a TEA,
Tribal organizations approved by an Indian Tribe that do not have a
TEA, or a consortium of such entities.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements.
4. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities
described in its application.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which
contain information on how to submit an application.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
3. Funding Restrictions: Funding restrictions are outlined in
section 6132 (20 U.S.C.7452(3)(e)): (1) An Indian Tribe may not receive
funds under this section if such Tribe receives funds under section
1140 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 2020); and (2) no
funds under this section may be used to provide direct services.
We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions
in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit:
The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the
selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We
recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than
50 pages and (2) 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 recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the
assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes,
the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended
page limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
5. Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to review
grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number
of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, we strongly encourage
each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an
application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the subject line ``Intent to
Apply,'' and include the applicant's name and a contact person's name
and email address. Applicants that do not submit a notice of intent to
apply may still apply for funding; applicants that do submit a notice
of intent to apply are not bound to apply or bound by the information
provided.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 75.210. We will award up to 100 points to an application
under the selection criteria; the total possible points for each
selection criterion are noted in parentheses.
a. Quality of the Project Design (Maximum 45 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:
(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(up to 10 points)
(ii) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with
or build on similar or related efforts to improve relevant outcomes (as
defined in this notice), using existing funding streams from other
programs or policies supported by community, State, and Federal
resources. (up to 10 points)
[[Page 27622]]
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will establish
linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing
services to the target population. (up to 10 points)
(iv) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental
involvement. (up to 10 points)
(v) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate
to the context within which the project operates. (up to 5 points)
b. Adequacy of Resources (Maximum 40 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:
(i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the
lead applicant organization. (up to 10 points)
(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of the project director or principal investigator. (up to
10 points)
(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of key project personnel. (up to 5 points)
(iv) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of project consultants or subcontractors. (up to 5 points)
(v) The potential for continued support of the project after
Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated
commitment of appropriate entities to such support. (up to 10 points)
c. Quality of the Management Plan (Maximum 15 points). The
Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project, the Secretary considers the extent to which the time
commitments of the project director and principal investigator and
other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the
objectives of the proposed project. (up to 15 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
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Risk Assessment and Specific 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 specific 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.
4. 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
$250,000), 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 the System for Award Management. 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 Requirements: 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 extends 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.
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables.
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
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.
[[Page 27623]]
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), 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.
5. Performance Measure:
The number of Tribes that create a TEA by the end of the grant
period.
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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. 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 Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Frank T. Brogan,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2019-12500 Filed 6-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P