Applications for New Awards; Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, 5407-5411 [2020-01711]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5407-5411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01711]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the 
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program, 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers 84.031N (Alaska 
Native) and 84.031W (Native Hawaiian). This notice relates to the 
approved information collection under OMB control number 1840-0810.

DATES 
    Applications Available: January 30, 2020.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 16, 2020.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 14, 2020.

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: Robyn Wood, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 268-42, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7744. 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 ANNH Program provides grants to eligible 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to enable them to improve and 
expand their capacity to serve Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. 
Institutions may use these grants to plan, develop, or implement 
activities that strengthen the institution.
    Priority: This notice contains one competitive preference priority. 
This priority is from the Secretary's Final Supplemental Priorities and 
Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs (Supplemental Priorities), 
which were published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 (83 FR 
9096).
    Competitive Preference 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 a competitive preference 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 
three points to an application, depending on how well the application 
meets this priority.
    This priority is:
    Fostering Knowledge and Promoting the Development of Skills that 
Prepare Students to be Informed, Thoughtful, and Productive Individuals 
and Citizens (up to 3 points).
    Projects that are designed to address supporting instruction in 
personal financial literacy, knowledge of markets and economics, 
knowledge of higher education financing and repayment (e.g., college 
savings and student loans), or other skills aimed at building personal 
financial understanding and responsibility.
    Definitions: These definitions apply to the selection criteria for 
this competition and are from 34 CFR 77.1.
    Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in 
the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation 
findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve 
relevant outcomes.
    Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a 
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed 
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be 
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the 
theoretical and operational relationships among the key project 
components and relevant outcomes.
    Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use 
resources such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program's (REL 
Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp, to help design their 
logic models. Other sources include: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf, https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf, and https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf.

[[Page 5408]]

    Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, 
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence 
may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of 
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices 
for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) 
the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the 
specific goals of the program.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1059d (title III, part A, of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)).
    Note: In 2008, the HEA was amended by the Higher Education 
Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), Public Law 110-315. Please note that 
the regulations for ANNH in 34 CFR part 607 have not been updated to 
reflect these statutory changes. The statute supersedes all other 
regulations.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 607. (e) 
The Supplemental Priorities.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Five-year Individual 
Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants will 
be awarded in FY 2020.
    Note: A cooperative arrangement is an arrangement to carry out 
allowable grant activities between an institution eligible to receive a 
grant under this part and another eligible or ineligible IHE, under 
which the resources of the cooperating institutions are combined and 
shared to better achieve the purposes of this part and avoid costly 
duplication of effort.
    Estimated Available Funds: $12,884,824.
    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.
    Individual Development Grants:
    Estimated Range of Awards: $400,000-$450,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $425,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $450,000 for a 
single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 27.
    Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants:
    Estimated Range of Awards: $450,000-$500,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $475,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $500,000 for a 
single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. a. Eligible Applicants:
    This program is authorized by title III, part A, of the HEA. At the 
time of submission of their applications, applicants must certify their 
total undergraduate headcount enrollment and that either 20 percent of 
the IHE's enrollment is Alaska Native or 10 percent is Native Hawaiian. 
An assurance form, which is included in the application materials for 
this competition, must be signed by an official for the applicant and 
submitted.
    To qualify as an eligible institution under the ANNH Program, an 
institution must--
    (i) Be accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized 
accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has determined to 
be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training 
offered;
    (ii) Be legally authorized by the State in which it is located to 
be a junior or community college or to provide an educational program 
for which it awards a bachelor's degree;
    (iii) Be designated as an ``eligible institution,'' as defined in 
34 CFR 600.2, by demonstrating that it: (1) Has an enrollment of needy 
students as described in 34 CFR 607.3; and (2) has low average 
educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent (FTE) 
undergraduate student as described in 34 CFR 607.4.
    Note: The notice announcing the FY 2020 process for designation of 
eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of 
eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on 
December 16, 2019 (84 FR 68434). Only institutions that the Department 
determines are eligible, or which are granted a waiver under the 
process described in that notice, may apply for a grant in this 
program.
    b. Relationship between the Title III, Part A Programs and the 
Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program:
    A grantee under the HSI Program, which is authorized under title V 
of the HEA, may not receive a grant under any HEA, title III, part A 
program. The title III, part A programs are: The Strengthening 
Institutions Program; the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities 
program; the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions 
program; the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
Serving Institutions program; and the Native American-Serving Nontribal 
Institutions program. Furthermore, a current HSI program grantee may 
not give up its HSI grant in order to be eligible to receive a grant 
under ANNH or any title III, part A program as described in 34 CFR 
607.2(g)(1).
    An eligible HSI that is not a current grantee under the HSI program 
may apply for a FY 2020 grant under all title III, part A programs for 
which it is eligible, as well as receive consideration for a grant 
under the HSI program. However, a successful applicant may receive only 
one grant as described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1).
    An eligible IHE that submits applications for an Individual 
Development Grant and a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant in 
this competition may be awarded both in the same fiscal year. However, 
we will not award a second Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant to 
an otherwise eligible IHE for an award year for which the IHE already 
has a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant award under the ANNH 
Program. A grantee with an Individual Development Grant or a 
Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant may be a subgrantee in one or 
more Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. The lead institution 
in a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant must be an eligible 
institution. Partners or subgrantees are not required to be eligible 
institutions.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Grant funds must be used so that they 
supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would 
otherwise be available for the activities to be carried out under the 
grant and in no case supplant those funds (34 CFR 607.30 (b)).

[[Page 5409]]

    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 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: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
607.10(c). We reference additional regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of 
the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection 
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend 
that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 50 pages 
for Individual Development Grants and no more than 65 pages for 
Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants 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, and 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, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract and the bibliography. However, the recommended page limit 
does apply to all of the application narrative.
    Note: The Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs Form (ED 
524) Sections A-C are not the same as the narrative response to the 
Budget section of the selection criteria.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this 
competition are from 34 CFR 607.22(a) through (g) and 34 CFR 75.210. 
Applicants should address each of the following selection criteria 
separately for each proposed activity. The selection criteria are worth 
a total of 100 points; the maximum score for each criterion is noted in 
parentheses.
    (a) Quality of the applicant's comprehensive development plan. (20 
points). The extent to which--
    (1) The strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems of the 
institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal 
stability are clearly and comprehensively analyzed and result from a 
process that involved major constituencies of the institution;
    (2) The goals for the institution's academic programs, 
institutional management, and fiscal stability are realistic and based 
on comprehensive analysis;
    (3) The objectives stated in the plan are measurable, related to 
institutional goals, and, if achieved, will contribute to the growth 
and self-sufficiency of the institution; and
    (4) The plan clearly and comprehensively describes the methods and 
resources the institution will use to institutionalize practice and 
improvements developed under the proposed project, including, in 
particular, how operational costs for personnel, maintenance, and 
upgrades of equipment will be paid with institutional resources.
    (b) Quality of activity objectives. (15 points). The extent to 
which the objectives for each activity are--
    (1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; and
    (2) Directly related to the problems to be solved and to the goals 
of the comprehensive development plan.
    (c) Quality of the project design. (10 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed 
project demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice).
    (d) Quality of implementation strategy. (18 points). The extent to 
which--
    (1) The implementation strategy for each activity is comprehensive;
    (2) The rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity 
is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant 
studies or projects; and
    (3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be 
attained.
    (e) Quality of key personnel. (8 points). The extent to which--
    (1) The past experience and training of key professional personnel 
are directly related to the stated activity objectives; and
    (2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic.
    (f) Quality of project management plan. (10 points). The extent to 
which--
    (1) Procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure 
efficient and effective project implementation; and
    (2) The project coordinator and activity directors have sufficient 
authority to conduct the project effectively, including access to the 
president or chief executive officer.
    (g) Quality of evaluation plan. (12 points). The extent to which--
    (1) The data elements and the data collection procedures are 
clearly described and appropriate to measure the attainment of activity 
objectives and to measure the success of the project in achieving the 
goals of the comprehensive development plan; and
    (2) The data analysis procedures are clearly described and are 
likely to produce formative and summative results on attaining activity 
objectives and measuring the success of the project on achieving the 
goals of the comprehensive development plan.
    (h) Budget. (7 points). The extent to which the proposed costs are 
necessary and reasonable in relation to the project's objectives and 
scope.
    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

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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).
    A panel of three non-Federal reviewers will review and score each 
application in accordance with the selection criteria. A rank order 
funding slate will be made from this review. Awards will be made in 
rank order according to the average score received from the peer review 
and from the competitive preference priority.
    In tie-breaking situations for development grants, 34 CFR 607.23(b) 
requires that we award one additional point to an application from an 
IHE that has an endowment fund of which the current market value, per 
FTE enrolled student, is less than the average current market value of 
the endowment funds, per FTE enrolled student, at comparable type 
institutions that offer similar instruction. We award one additional 
point to an application from an IHE that has expenditures for library 
materials per FTE enrolled student that are less than the average 
expenditure for library materials per FTE enrolled student at similar 
type institutions. We also add one additional point to an application 
from an IHE that proposes to carry out one or more of the following 
activities--
    (1) Faculty development;
    (2) Funds and administrative management;
    (3) Development and improvement of academic programs;
    (4) Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening management 
and academic programs;
    (5) Joint use of facilities; and
    (6) Student services.
    For the purpose of these funding considerations, we use 2018-2019 
data.
    If a tie remains after applying the tie-breaker mechanism above, 
priority will be given to applicants that have the lowest endowment 
values per FTE enrolled student.
    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.
    5. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the ANNH Program:
    (a) The percentage change, over the five-year period, of the number 
of full-time degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled at Alaska Native 
and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (Note: This is a long-term 
measure, which will be used to periodically gauge performance);
    (b) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at four-year Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary 
enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at 
the same Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution;
    (c) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at two-year Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary 
enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the

[[Page 5411]]

current year at the same Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving 
Institution;
    (d) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at four-year Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions who graduate within six years of 
enrollment; and
    (e) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at two-year Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions who graduate within three years of 
enrollment.
    6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact 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 feature at 
this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the 
Department.

Robert L. King,
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2020-01711 Filed 1-29-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P