Applications for New Awards; Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program, 6537-6541 [2020-02215]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6537-6541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02215]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Native American-Serving Nontribal 
Institutions Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the 
Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) Program, 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers 84.031X. This 
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control 
number 1840-0816.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 5, 2020.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 6, 2020.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 5, 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: Don Crews, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 268-42, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7920. 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 NASNTI Program provides grants to eligible 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to enable them to improve and 
expand their capacity to serve Native American students and low-income 
individuals. Institutions may use these grants to plan, develop, or 
implement activities that strengthen the institution.
    Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference 
priorities. These priorities are from the Secretary's Notice of Final 
Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant 
Programs, published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 (83 FR 
9096) (Supplemental Priorities).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2020 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 
five points to an application, depending on how well the application 
responds to one of the following priorities. Applicants should clearly 
identify which competitive preference priority, if any, they intend to 
address and will only receive points for addressing one of the 
following priorities.
    These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1--Fostering Knowledge and Promoting 
the Development of Skills That Prepare Students to be Informed, 
Thoughtful, and Productive Individuals and Citizens (up to 5 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.

Competitive Preference Priority 2--Promoting Science, Technology, 
Engineering, or Math (STEM) Education, With a Particular Focus on 
Computer Science (up to 5 points)

    Projects designed to improve student achievement or other 
educational outcomes in one or more of the following areas: Science, 
technology, engineering, math, or computer science (as defined in this 
notice). Projects that are designed to address increasing access to 
STEM coursework, including computer science (as defined in this 
notice), and hands-on learning opportunities, such as through expanded 
course offerings, dual-enrollment, high-quality online coursework, or 
other innovative delivery mechanisms.
    Definitions: The definitions below are from 34 CFR part 77.1 and 
the Secretary's Notice of Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions 
for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on 
March 2, 2018 (83 FR 9096) (Supplemental Priorities).
    Computer science means the study of computers and algorithmic 
processes and includes the study of computing principles and theories, 
computational thinking, computer hardware, software design, coding, 
analytics, and computer applications.
    Computer science often includes computer programming or coding as a 
tool to create software, including applications, games, websites, and 
tools to manage or manipulate data; or development and management of 
computer hardware and the other electronics related to sharing, 
securing, and using digital information. In addition to coding, the 
expanding field of computer science emphasizes computational thinking 
and interdisciplinary problem-solving to equip students with the skills 
and abilities necessary to apply computation in our digital world.
    Computer science does not include using a computer for everyday 
activities, such as browsing the internet; use of tools like word 
processing, spreadsheets, or presentation software; or using computers 
in the study and exploration of unrelated subjects.
    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 a 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/

[[Page 6538]]

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.
    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. 1059f (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 in 34 CFR part 607 have not been updated to reflect 
these statutory changes.

    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: $4,444,000.
    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: $200,000-$300,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $300,000 for a 
single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 12.
    Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants:
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000-$400,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $350,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $400,000 for a 
single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. 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 10 percent of the 
IHE's enrollment is Native American. 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 NASNTI 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; and
    (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 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
Serving Institutions Program; the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions Program; and the Native American-Serving Nontribal 
Institutions Pprogram. Furthermore, a current HSI Program grantee may 
not give up its HSI Program grant in order to be eligible to receive a 
grant under the NASNTI Program 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 Pprogram. 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 NASNTI 
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,

[[Page 6539]]

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)).
    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 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 the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; 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 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. (a) Need for project. (Maximum 20 points) The Secretary 
considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need 
for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. (10 points)
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving 
or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (5 
points)
    (3) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses. (5 points)
    (b) Quality of the project design. (Maximum 25 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:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(10 points)
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs. (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a 
rationale (as defined in this notice). (10 points)
    (c) Quality of project services. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed 
project.
    (1) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. (5 points)
    (2) In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or 
beneficiaries of those services. (3 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and 
effective practice. (2 points)
    (d) Quality of project personnel. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project.
    (1) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. (4 points)
    (2) In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator. (3 points)
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel. (3 points)
    (e) Adequacy of resources. (Maximum 5 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:
    (1) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project. (3 points)
    (2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. 
(2 points)
    (f) 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:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks. (5 points)
    (2) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points)

[[Page 6540]]

    (3) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project. (5 points)
    (g) Quality of the project evaluation. (Maximum 15 points) The 
Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of 
the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the 
Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project. (10 points)
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible. (5 points)
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
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).
    A panel of two 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 addressed by the 
applicant.
    In tie-breaking situations for development grants, under 34 CFR 
607.23(b) 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

[[Page 6541]]

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 NASNTI Program:
    (a). The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at four-year NASNTIs who were in their first 
year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled 
in the current year at the same NASNTI;
    (b). The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at two-year NASNTIs who were in their first year 
of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in 
the current year at the same NASNTI;
    (c). The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at four-year NASNTIs who graduate 
within six years of enrollment; and
    (d). The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at two-year NASNTIs 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 search 
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. 2020-02215 Filed 2-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P