Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program, 68911-68915 [2019-27113]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68911-68915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27113]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad 
Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the Fulbright-Hays Group 
Projects Abroad (GPA) Program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) number 84.021A and 84.021B. This notice relates to the approved 
information collection under OMB control number 1840-0792.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: December 17, 2019.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 18, 2020.
    Pre-Application Webinar information: The Department will hold a 
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. 
Detailed information regarding this webinar will

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be provided on the Group Projects Abroad website at www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsgpa/.

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: Cory Neal, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 258-12, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-6137. 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 purpose of the Fulbright-Hays GPA Program 
is to promote, improve, and develop the study of modern foreign 
languages and area studies at varying levels of education. The program 
provides opportunities for faculty, teachers, and undergraduate and 
graduate students to conduct individual and group projects overseas to 
carry out research and study in the fields of modern foreign languages 
and area studies.
    This competition invites applicants to submit an application to 
request support for either a Fulbright-Hays GPA short-term project (GPA 
short-term projects 84.021A) or a Fulbright-Hays GPA long-term project 
(GPA long-term projects 84.021B). Applicants must clearly indicate on 
the SF 424, the Application for Federal Assistance cover sheet whether 
they are applying for support for a GPA short-term project (84.021A) or 
a GPA long-term project (84.021B). Additional submission details are 
included in the application package.
    There are three types of GPA short-term projects: (1) Short-term 
seminar projects of four to six weeks in length designed to help 
integrate international studies into an institution's or school 
system's general curriculum by focusing on a particular aspect of area 
study, such as the culture of an area or country of study (34 CFR 
664.11); (2) curriculum development projects of four to eight weeks in 
length that provide participants an opportunity to acquire resource 
materials for curriculum development in modern foreign language and 
area studies for use and dissemination in the United States (34 CFR 
664.12); and (3) group research or study projects of three to twelve 
months in duration designed to give participants the opportunity to 
undertake research or study in a foreign country (34 CFR 664.13).
    GPA long-term projects are advanced overseas intensive language 
projects that may be carried out during a full year, an academic year, 
a semester, a trimester, a quarter, or a summer. GPA long-term projects 
are designed to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the 
foreign country for intensive advanced language training and for using 
the language while experiencing the culture in the foreign country. 
Participants should have successfully completed at least two academic 
years of training in the language to be studied to be eligible to 
participate in a GPA intensive advanced language training program. In 
addition, the language to be studied must be indigenous to the host 
country and maximum use must be made of local institutions and 
personnel (34 CFR 664.14).
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and four 
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from the regulations for 
this program (34 CFR 664.32). Competitive Preference Priorities 1 and 2 
are from the notice of final priorities and definitions published in 
the Federal Register on June 16, 2016 (81 FR 39196) (the 2016 NFP). 
Competitive Preference Priority 3 is from the regulations for this 
program (34 CFR 664.32), and Competitive Preference Priority 4 is from 
the notice of final priorities published in the Federal Register on 
September 24, 2010 (75 FR 59050) (the 2010 NFP).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Specific Geographic Regions of the World.
    A group project that focuses on one or more of the following 
geographic regions of the world: Africa, East Asia, South Asia, 
Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the Western Hemisphere (Central and 
South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean), Eastern and Central Europe 
and Eurasia, and the Near East.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2020, there are four 
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
award three additional points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 1; two additional points to an application that 
meets Competitive Preference Priority 2; two additional points to an 
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3; and two 
additional points to an application that meets Competitive Preference 
Priority 4. Applicants for GPA short-term projects may address 
Competitive Preference Priorities 1, 3, and 4. Applicants for GPA long-
term projects may address Competitive Preference Priorities 2 and 3. In 
the application narrative, an applicant must indicate the priority or 
priorities being addressed and provide a substantive description of how 
the proposed activities support the applicant's selected priority or 
priorities and provide documentation supporting its claims.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Applications for GPA Short-term 
Projects from Selected Institutions and Organizations (3 Points).
    Applications for GPA short-term projects from the following types 
of institutions and organizations:
     Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)(as defined in this 
notice).
     Community colleges (as defined in this notice).
     New applicants (as defined in this notice).
     State educational agencies (as defined in this notice).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Applications for GPA Long-term 
Projects from MSIs (2 Points).
    Applications for GPA long-term advanced overseas intensive language 
training projects from MSIs.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3--Substantive Training and 
Thematic Focus on Less Commonly Taught Languages (2 Points).
    Applications that propose GPA short-term projects or GPA long-term 
projects that provide substantive training and thematic focus on any 
modern foreign language except French, German, or Spanish.
    Competitive Preference Priority 4--Inclusion of K-12 Educators (2 
Points).
    Applications that propose short-term projects abroad that develop 
and improve foreign language studies, area studies, or both at 
elementary and secondary schools by including K-12 teachers or K-12 
administrators as at least 50 percent of the project participants.
    Definitions:
    The following definitions are from the 2016 NFP and are designed to 
provide clarity for applicants addressing the competitive preference 
priorities.
    Community college means an institution that meets the definition in

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section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) 
(20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an institution of higher education (IHE) (as 
defined in section 101 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that awards degrees 
and certificates, more than 50 percent of which are not bachelor's 
degrees (or an equivalent).
    Minority-serving institution (MSI) means an institution that is 
eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A 
of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.
    New applicant means any applicant that has not received a 
discretionary grant from the Department of Education under the 
Fulbright-Hays Act prior to the deadline date for applications under 
this program.
    State educational agency means the State board of education or 
other agency or officer primarily responsible for the supervision of 
public elementary and secondary schools in a State. In the absence of 
this officer or agency, it is an officer or agency designated by the 
Governor or State law.
    Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).
    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 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 664. (e) 
The 2010 NFP. (f) The 2016 NFP.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration's budget request for 
FY 2020 does not include funds for this program. However, we are 
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process before the end of the current fiscal year, if Congress 
appropriates the funds for this program.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2021 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards:
    GPA short-term projects: $50,000-$100,000.
    GPA long-term projects: $50,000-$250,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards:
    GPA short-term projects: $80,059.
    GPA long-term projects: $185,025.
    Maximum Award: We will not make a GPA short-term award exceeding 
$100,000 for a single project period of 18 months. We will not make a 
GPA long-term project award exceeding $250,000 for a single budget 
period of 24 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 25.
    GPA short-term projects: 10.
    GPA long-term projects: 15.

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

    Project Period:
    GPA short-term projects: Up to 18 months.
    GPA long-term projects: Up to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (1) IHEs, (2) State educational agencies, 
(3) private nonprofit educational organizations, and (4) consortia of 
these entities.
    Eligible Participants: Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents 
of the United States, who are (1) faculty members who teach modern 
foreign languages or area studies in an IHE, (2) teachers in elementary 
or secondary schools, (3) experienced education administrators 
responsible for planning, conducting, or supervising programs in modern 
foreign language or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or 
postsecondary levels, or (4) graduate students, or juniors or seniors 
in an IHE, who plan teaching careers in modern foreign languages or 
area studies.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. 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), and available at 
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which 
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
    2. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    3. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
664.33. We reference additional regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III) 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 [Part III] to no more than 40 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 Part I, the cover 
sheet; Part II, budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurance and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the biography, or letters of support. 
However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the 
application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 664.31 and are as follows:
    (a) Plan of operation. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to 
determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) High quality in the design of the project;
    (ii) An effective plan of management that insures proper and 
efficient administration of the project;
    (iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project 
relate to the purpose of the program;
    (iv) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel 
to achieve each objective; and
    (v) A clear description of how the applicant will ensure that 
project

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participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected 
without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
handicapping condition.
    (b) Quality of key personnel. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to 
determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on 
the project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) The qualifications of the project director;
    (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be 
used in the project;
    (iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) 
and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; and
    (iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its 
nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel 
are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition.
    (3) To determine the qualifications of a person, the Secretary 
considers evidence of past experience and training in fields related to 
the objectives of the project as well as other information that the 
applicant provides.
    (c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project 
activities; and
    (ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the 
project.
    (d) Evaluation plan. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the methods 
of evaluation are appropriate for the project and, to the extent 
possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.
    (e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the 
project.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the 
facilities, equipment, and supplies that the applicant plans to use are 
adequate.
    (f) Specific Program Criteria. (35 points)
    (1) In addition to the general selection criteria contained in this 
section, the Secretary reviews each application for information that 
shows that the project meets the specific program criteria.
    (2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
    (i) The potential impact of the project on the development of the 
study of modern foreign languages and area studies in American 
education. (15 points)
    (ii) The project's relevance to the applicant's educational goals 
and its relationship to its program development in modern foreign 
languages and area studies. (10 points)
    (iii) The extent to which direct experience abroad is necessary to 
achieve the project's objectives and the effectiveness with which 
relevant host country resources will be utilized. (10 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 
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).
    For FY 2020, GPA short-term project applications will be reviewed 
by separate panels according to world area. GPA long-term project 
applications will be reviewed by one panel. Separate rank order slates 
for GPA short-term projects and for GPA long-term projects will be 
developed and used to make funding recommendations. Each slate will 
include the peer reviewers' scores from the highest score to the lowest 
score for each application.
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific 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 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.

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    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.
    5. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, the following measure will be used by the 
Department to evaluate the success of the GPA short-term program: The 
percentage of GPA short-term project participants who disseminated 
information about or materials from their group project abroad through 
more than one outreach activity within six months of returning to their 
home institution. The following measure will be used by the Department 
to evaluate the success of the GPA long-term program: The percentage of 
GPA long-term project participants who increased their reading, 
writing, and/or listening/speaking foreign language scores by one 
proficiency level. The efficiency of the GPA long-term program will be 
measured by considering the cost per GPA participant who increased his/
her foreign language score in reading, writing, and/or listening/
speaking by at least one proficiency level.
    The information provided by grantees in their performance reports 
submitted via the International Resource Information System (IRIS) will 
be the source of data for this measure. Reporting screens for 
institutions can be viewed at: https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/gpa_director.pdf and https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/gpa_participant.pdf.

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.

Robert L. King,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2019-27113 Filed 12-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P