Applications for New Awards; Opportunity Scholarship Program, 8262-8266 [2020-02877]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
8262
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
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 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.
(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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:34 Feb 12, 2020
Jkt 250001
5. Performance Measures: Under the
Government Performance Results
Modernization Act of 2010, the
Department has established a set of
performance measures, including longterm measures, that are designed to
yield information on the quality of the
Personnel Development to Improve
Services and Results for Children with
Disabilities program. These measures
include: (1) The percentage of
preparation programs that incorporate
scientifically or evidence-based
practices into their curricula; (2) the
percentage of scholars completing
preparation programs who are
knowledgeable and skilled in evidencebased practices that improve outcomes
for children with disabilities; (3) the
percentage of scholars who exit
preparation programs prior to
completion due to poor academic
performance; (4) the percentage of
scholars completing preparation
programs who are working in the area(s)
in which they were prepared upon
program completion; and (5) the Federal
cost per scholar who completed the
preparation program.
In addition, the Department will
gather information on the following
outcome measures: (1) The percentage
of scholars who completed the
preparation program and are employed
in high-need districts; (2) the percentage
of scholars who completed the
preparation program and are employed
in the field of special education for at
least two years; and (3) the percentage
of scholars who completed the
preparation program and who are rated
effective by their employers.
Grantees may be asked to participate
in assessing and providing information
on these aspects of program quality.
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).
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.
Mark Schultz,
Delegated the authority to perform the
functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2020–02857 Filed 2–12–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Opportunity Scholarship Program
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for
the District of Columbia Opportunity
Scholarship Program (OSP), Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
number 84.370A. This notice relates to
the approved information collection
under OMB control number 1855–0015.
Applications Available: February 13,
2020.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: March 30, 2020.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: May 28, 2020.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for
obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM
13FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
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: Beth
Yeh, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3E335,
Washington, DC 20202–5960.
Telephone: (202) 205–5798. Email:
beth.yeh@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:
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the OSP is to provide low-income
parents residing in the District of
Columbia, particularly parents of
students who attend an elementary
school or secondary school identified as
one of the lowest-performing schools
under the District of Columbia’s
accountability system, with expanded
opportunities for enrolling their
children in private schools in the
District of Columbia.
Background: The OSP was established
in 2004 under the DC School Choice
Incentive Act of 2003 (School Choice
Incentive Act) (Title III of Division C of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2004; Pub. L. 108–199; 118 Stat. 126–
188 Stat. 134 (2004)). In 2011, Congress
authorized the OSP under the
Scholarships for Opportunity and
Results (SOAR) Act of 2011, Pub. L.
112–10, 125 Stat. 199–125 Stat. 212
(2011). In 2017, Congress reauthorized
the OSP under the SOAR Act (Division
C of Pub. L. 112–10, as amended by Pub.
L. 115–31; DC Code 38–1853.01–.14).
For FY 2020, the Department will
award one grant to an eligible entity to
administer the OSP. The grant will be
awarded in the form of a cooperative
agreement between the Department and
the grantee. An applicant is expected to
explain in its application, among other
things, how it would do the following:
(1) Recruit and select eligible
scholarship applicants in years that
scholarships are awarded; (2) serve
scholarship students and families in a
timely manner; (3) identify and work
with participating schools; (4) monitor
compliance of participating schools
with program and reporting
requirements; (5) maintain reliable data
regarding the operation of the program;
and (6) ensure appropriate coordination
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:34 Feb 12, 2020
Jkt 250001
with the other entities that conduct
activities related to this program.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2020, provides that up to $1,200,000 of
the grant may be used for the
combination of administrative expenses,
parental assistance, and student
academic assistance, notwithstanding
the allowances specified in the SOAR
Act. Conducting outreach to parents to
raise awareness of the educational
options available to their children is an
important priority of this program and
is consistent with the Secretary’s
Supplemental Priority 1—Empowering
Families and Individuals to Choose a
High-Quality Education that Meets
Their Unique Needs.
Application Requirements: The
following requirements are from section
3005(b) of the SOAR Act and apply to
all applications submitted by eligible
entities under this competition. Each
entity’s application must include a
detailed description of—
(1) How the entity will address the
priorities described in section 3006 of
the SOAR Act;
(2) How the entity will ensure that if
more eligible students seek admission in
the program of the entity than the
program can accommodate, eligible
students are selected for admission
through a random selection process
which gives weight to the priorities
described in section 3006 of the SOAR
Act;
(3) How the entity will ensure that if
more participating eligible students seek
admission to a participating school than
the school can accommodate,
participating eligible students are
selected for admission through a
random selection process;
(4) How the entity will notify parents
of eligible students of the expanded
choice opportunities in order to allow
the parents to make informed decisions;
(5) The activities that the entity will
carry out to provide parents of eligible
students with expanded choice
opportunities through the awarding of
scholarships under section 3007(a) of
the SOAR Act;
(6) How the entity will determine the
amount that will be provided to parents
under section 3007(a)(2) of the SOAR
Act for the payment of tuition, fees, and
transportation expenses, if any;
(7) How the entity will seek out
private elementary schools and
secondary schools in District of
Columbia to participate in the program;
(8) How the entity will ensure that
each participating school will meet the
reporting and other program
requirements under the SOAR Act;
(9) How the entity will ensure that
participating schools submit to site
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8263
visits by the entity as determined to be
necessary by the entity;
(10) How the entity will ensure that
participating schools are financially
responsible and will use the funds
received under section 3007 of the
SOAR Act effectively;
(11) How the entity will ensure the
financial viability of participating
schools in which 85 percent or more of
the total number of students enrolled at
the school are participating eligible
students that receive and use an
opportunity scholarship;
(12) How the entity will address the
renewal of scholarships to participating
eligible students, including continued
eligibility;
(13) How the entity will ensure that
a majority of its voting board members
or governing organization are residents
of District of Columbia;
(14) How that the entity will ensure
that it will comply with all requests
regarding any evaluation carried out
under section 3009(a) of the SOAR Act;
and
(15) How the eligible entity will
ensure that it utilizes internal fiscal and
quality controls and complies with
applicable financial reporting
requirements.
In addition to the statutory
application requirements, we encourage
applicants to include a description of (1)
how they will provide information to
parents on the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1400 et seq.) provisions that do or do
not apply when a student with a
disability is moved from a public school
to a private school by their parents and
(2) if applicable, how they intend to
spend funds reserved for administrative
expenses, parental assistance and
student academic assistance.
Definitions: The definitions for
‘‘Elementary school,’’ ‘‘Parent,’’ and
‘‘Secondary school’’ are from section
3013 of the SOAR Act. The definition
for ‘‘nonprofit’’ is from 34 CFR 77.1(c).
Elementary school means an
institutional day or residential school,
including a public elementary charter
school, that provides elementary
education, as determined under District
of Columbia law.
Nonprofit, as applied to an agency,
organization, or institution, means that
it is owned and operated by one or more
corporations or associations whose net
earnings do not benefit, and cannot
lawfully benefit, any private
shareholder or entity.
Parent includes a legal guardian or
other person standing in loco parentis
(such as a grandparent or stepparent
with whom the child lives, or a person
E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM
13FEN1
8264
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
who is legally responsible for the child’s
welfare).
Secondary school means an
institutional day or residential school,
including a public secondary charter
school, that provides secondary
education, as determined under District
of Columbia law, except that the term
does not include any education beyond
grade 12.
Program Authority: SOAR Act
(Division C of Pub. L. 112–10, as
amended by Pub. L. 115–31; DC Code
38–1853.01–.14).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and
99. (b) The Office of Management and
Budget Guidelines to Agencies on
Government wide 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.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative
agreement.
Estimated Available Funds:
$17,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by
any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible
for an OSP grant, an entity must be
either a nonprofit organization or a
consortium of nonprofit organizations.
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. Submission of Proprietary
Information: Given the types of projects
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:34 Feb 12, 2020
Jkt 250001
that may be proposed in applications for
the OSP competition, your application
may include business information that
you consider proprietary. In 34 CFR
5.11 we define ‘‘business information’’
and describe the process we use in
determining whether any of that
information is proprietary and, thus,
protected from disclosure under
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as
amended).
Because we plan to make successful
applications available to the public, you
may wish to request confidentiality of
business information.
Consistent with Executive Order
12600, please designate in your
application any information that you
believe is exempt from disclosure under
Exemption 4. In the appropriate
Appendix section of your application,
under ‘‘Other Attachments Form,’’
please list the page number or numbers
on which we can find this information.
For additional information please see 34
CFR 5.11(c).
3. Intergovernmental Review: This
competition 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
competition.
4. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
5. 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.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 75.210. The maximum score for all
the selection criteria is 100 points. The
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
maximum score for each criterion is
indicated in parentheses. Each criterion
also includes the factors that reviewers
will consider in determining the extent
to which an applicant meets the
criterion. In addressing each criterion,
applicants are encouraged to make
explicit connections to relevant aspects
of responses to other selection criteria.
(a) Quality of project services (20
points).
(1) The Secretary considers the
quality of the services to be provided by
the proposed project.
(2) 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.
(3) In addition, the Secretary
considers 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.
(b) Quality of project personnel (25
points).
(1) The Secretary considers the
quality of the personnel who will carry
out the proposed project.
(2) 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.
(3) In addition, the Secretary
considers:
(i) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of the
project director or principal
investigator.
(ii) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of key
project personnel.
(c) Adequacy of resources (20 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the
adequacy of resources for the proposed
project.
(2) 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.
(ii) The extent to which the budget is
adequate to support the proposed
project.
(d) Quality of the management plan
(35 points).
E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM
13FEN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
(1) The Secretary considers the
quality of the management plan for the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the
management plan for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers:
(i) 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.
(ii) The adequacy of procedures for
ensuring feedback and continuous
improvement in the operation of the
proposed project.
(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for
ensuring high-quality products and
services from the proposed project.
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
cooperative agreement 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).
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:34 Feb 12, 2020
Jkt 250001
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. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8265
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.
4. Performance Measures: The longterm performance indicator for this
program is whether, at the end of the
program, the student achievement gains
of participating eligible students are
greater than those of students in control
or comparison groups. Data for the
performance measure will be collected
through the program evaluation.
5. 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
E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM
13FEN1
8266
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
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. 2020–02877 Filed 2–12–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP20–49–000]
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC; Notice of Application
Take notice that on January 31, 2020,
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC (Transco), P.O. Box
1396, Houston, Texas 77251–1396, filed
in the above referenced docket an
application pursuant to section 7(c) of
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part
157(A) of the Commission’s regulations
for authorization to amend its certificate
granted in Docket No. CP17–101–000 for
its Northeast Supply Enhancement
Project. Transco seeks authorization to
utilize and extend an existing road to
access Compressor Station 206 in
Somerset County, New Jersey in lieu of
constructing the new, certificated access
road. Transco asserts that the proposal
will enable it to comply with
requirements from the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection
and will reduce wetland impacts, all as
more fully described in the application
which is on file with the Commission
and open to public inspection. The
filing is available for review at the
Commission in the Public Reference
Room or may be viewed on the
Commission’s website web at https://
www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link.
Enter the docket number excluding the
last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. For
assistance, contact FERC at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202)
502–8659.
Any questions regarding this
application should be directed to Andre
Pereira, Regulatory Analyst, Senior,
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1396, Houston,
Texas 77251–1396 by telephone at (713)
215–4362.
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the
Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9,
within Ninety (90) days of this Notice
the Commission staff will either:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:34 Feb 12, 2020
Jkt 250001
complete its environmental assessment
(EA) and place it into the Commission’s
public record (eLibrary) for this
proceeding; or issue a Notice of
Schedule for Environmental Review. If
a Notice of Schedule for Environmental
Review is issued, it will indicate, among
other milestones, the anticipated date
for the Commission staff’s issuance of
the final environmental impact
statement (FEIS) or EA for this proposal.
The filing of the EA in the
Commission’s public record for this
proceeding or the issuance of a Notice
of Schedule for Environmental Review
will serve to notify federal and state
agencies of the timing for the
completion of all necessary reviews, and
the subsequent need to complete all
federal authorizations within Ninety
(90) days of the date of issuance of the
Commission staff’s FEIS or EA.
There are two ways to become
involved in the Commission’s review of
this project. First, any person wishing to
obtain legal status by becoming a party
to the proceedings for this project
should, on or before the comment date
stated below file with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426,
a motion to intervene in accordance
with the requirements of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211)
and the Regulations under the NGA (18
CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party
status will be placed on the service list
maintained by the Secretary of the
Commission and will receive copies of
all documents filed by the applicant and
by all other parties. A party must submit
3 copies of filings made in the
proceeding with the Commission and
must provide a copy to the applicant
and to every other party. Only parties to
the proceeding can ask for court review
of Commission orders in the proceeding.
However, a person does not have to
intervene in order to have comments
considered. The second way to
participate is by filing with the
Secretary of the Commission, as soon as
possible, an original and two copies of
comments in support of or in opposition
to this project. The Commission will
consider these comments in
determining the appropriate action to be
taken, but the filing of a comment alone
will not serve to make the filer a party
to the proceeding. The Commission’s
rules require that persons filing
comments in opposition to the project
provide copies of their protests only to
the party or parties directly involved in
the protest.
Persons who wish to comment only
on the environmental review of this
project should submit an original and
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
two copies of their comments to the
Secretary of the Commission.
Environmental commenters will be
placed on the Commission’s
environmental mailing list and will be
notified of any meetings associated with
the Commission’s environmental review
process. Environmental commenters
will not be required to serve copies of
filed documents on all other parties.
However, the non-party commenters
will not receive copies of all documents
filed by other parties or issued by the
Commission and will not have the right
to seek court review of the
Commission’s final order.
As of the February 27, 2018 date of
the Commission’s order in Docket No.
CP16–4–001, the Commission will
apply its revised practice concerning
out-of-time motions to intervene in any
new NGA section 3 or section 7
proceeding.1 Persons desiring to become
a party to a certificate proceeding are to
intervene in a timely manner. If seeking
to intervene out-of-time, the movant is
required to ‘‘show good cause why the
time limitation should be waived,’’ and
should provide justification by reference
to factors set forth in Rule 214(d)(1) of
the Commission’s Rules and
Regulations.2
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filings of comments, protests
and interventions in lieu of paper using
the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://
www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file
electronically should submit an original
and 3 copies of the protest or
intervention to the Federal Energy
regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
NE, Washington, DC 20426.
Comment Date: February 26, 2020.
Dated: February 5, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–02899 Filed 2–12–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
1 Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C., 162
FERC ¶ 61,167 at ¶ 50 (2018).
2 18 CFR 385.214(d)(1).
E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM
13FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8262-8266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02877]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Opportunity Scholarship Program
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) 2020 for the District of
Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.370A. This notice relates to the
approved information collection under OMB control number 1855-0015.
Applications Available: February 13, 2020.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 30, 2020.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 28, 2020.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common
[[Page 8263]]
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: Beth Yeh, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3E335, Washington, DC 20202-
5960. Telephone: (202) 205-5798. 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 OSP is to provide low-income
parents residing in the District of Columbia, particularly parents of
students who attend an elementary school or secondary school identified
as one of the lowest-performing schools under the District of
Columbia's accountability system, with expanded opportunities for
enrolling their children in private schools in the District of
Columbia.
Background: The OSP was established in 2004 under the DC School
Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (School Choice Incentive Act) (Title III
of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004; Pub. L.
108-199; 118 Stat. 126-188 Stat. 134 (2004)). In 2011, Congress
authorized the OSP under the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results
(SOAR) Act of 2011, Pub. L. 112-10, 125 Stat. 199-125 Stat. 212 (2011).
In 2017, Congress reauthorized the OSP under the SOAR Act (Division C
of Pub. L. 112-10, as amended by Pub. L. 115-31; DC Code 38-
1853.01-.14).
For FY 2020, the Department will award one grant to an eligible
entity to administer the OSP. The grant will be awarded in the form of
a cooperative agreement between the Department and the grantee. An
applicant is expected to explain in its application, among other
things, how it would do the following: (1) Recruit and select eligible
scholarship applicants in years that scholarships are awarded; (2)
serve scholarship students and families in a timely manner; (3)
identify and work with participating schools; (4) monitor compliance of
participating schools with program and reporting requirements; (5)
maintain reliable data regarding the operation of the program; and (6)
ensure appropriate coordination with the other entities that conduct
activities related to this program.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, provides that up to
$1,200,000 of the grant may be used for the combination of
administrative expenses, parental assistance, and student academic
assistance, notwithstanding the allowances specified in the SOAR Act.
Conducting outreach to parents to raise awareness of the educational
options available to their children is an important priority of this
program and is consistent with the Secretary's Supplemental Priority
1--Empowering Families and Individuals to Choose a High-Quality
Education that Meets Their Unique Needs.
Application Requirements: The following requirements are from
section 3005(b) of the SOAR Act and apply to all applications submitted
by eligible entities under this competition. Each entity's application
must include a detailed description of--
(1) How the entity will address the priorities described in section
3006 of the SOAR Act;
(2) How the entity will ensure that if more eligible students seek
admission in the program of the entity than the program can
accommodate, eligible students are selected for admission through a
random selection process which gives weight to the priorities described
in section 3006 of the SOAR Act;
(3) How the entity will ensure that if more participating eligible
students seek admission to a participating school than the school can
accommodate, participating eligible students are selected for admission
through a random selection process;
(4) How the entity will notify parents of eligible students of the
expanded choice opportunities in order to allow the parents to make
informed decisions;
(5) The activities that the entity will carry out to provide
parents of eligible students with expanded choice opportunities through
the awarding of scholarships under section 3007(a) of the SOAR Act;
(6) How the entity will determine the amount that will be provided
to parents under section 3007(a)(2) of the SOAR Act for the payment of
tuition, fees, and transportation expenses, if any;
(7) How the entity will seek out private elementary schools and
secondary schools in District of Columbia to participate in the
program;
(8) How the entity will ensure that each participating school will
meet the reporting and other program requirements under the SOAR Act;
(9) How the entity will ensure that participating schools submit to
site visits by the entity as determined to be necessary by the entity;
(10) How the entity will ensure that participating schools are
financially responsible and will use the funds received under section
3007 of the SOAR Act effectively;
(11) How the entity will ensure the financial viability of
participating schools in which 85 percent or more of the total number
of students enrolled at the school are participating eligible students
that receive and use an opportunity scholarship;
(12) How the entity will address the renewal of scholarships to
participating eligible students, including continued eligibility;
(13) How the entity will ensure that a majority of its voting board
members or governing organization are residents of District of
Columbia;
(14) How that the entity will ensure that it will comply with all
requests regarding any evaluation carried out under section 3009(a) of
the SOAR Act; and
(15) How the eligible entity will ensure that it utilizes internal
fiscal and quality controls and complies with applicable financial
reporting requirements.
In addition to the statutory application requirements, we encourage
applicants to include a description of (1) how they will provide
information to parents on the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) provisions that do or do not apply when a
student with a disability is moved from a public school to a private
school by their parents and (2) if applicable, how they intend to spend
funds reserved for administrative expenses, parental assistance and
student academic assistance.
Definitions: The definitions for ``Elementary school,'' ``Parent,''
and ``Secondary school'' are from section 3013 of the SOAR Act. The
definition for ``nonprofit'' is from 34 CFR 77.1(c).
Elementary school means an institutional day or residential school,
including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary
education, as determined under District of Columbia law.
Nonprofit, as applied to an agency, organization, or institution,
means that it is owned and operated by one or more corporations or
associations whose net earnings do not benefit, and cannot lawfully
benefit, any private shareholder or entity.
Parent includes a legal guardian or other person standing in loco
parentis (such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child
lives, or a person
[[Page 8264]]
who is legally responsible for the child's welfare).
Secondary school means an institutional day or residential school,
including a public secondary charter school, that provides secondary
education, as determined under District of Columbia law, except that
the term does not include any education beyond grade 12.
Program Authority: SOAR Act (Division C of Pub. L. 112-10, as
amended by Pub. L. 115-31; DC Code 38-1853.01-.14).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97,
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to
Agencies on Government wide 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.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: $17,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible for an OSP grant, an entity
must be either a nonprofit organization or a consortium of nonprofit
organizations.
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. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of
projects that may be proposed in applications for the OSP competition,
your application may include business information that you consider
proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' and
describe the process we use in determining whether any of that
information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as
amended).
Because we plan to make successful applications available to the
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business
information.
Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your
application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional
information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
3. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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
competition.
4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
5. 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.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score for all the selection
criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is
indicated in parentheses. Each criterion also includes the factors that
reviewers will consider in determining the extent to which an applicant
meets the criterion. In addressing each criterion, applicants are
encouraged to make explicit connections to relevant aspects of
responses to other selection criteria.
(a) Quality of project services (20 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be
provided by the proposed project.
(2) 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.
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers 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.
(b) Quality of project personnel (25 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will
carry out the proposed project.
(2) 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.
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers:
(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director or principal investigator.
(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of key project personnel.
(c) Adequacy of resources (20 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the
proposed project.
(2) 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.
(ii) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the
proposed project.
(d) Quality of the management plan (35 points).
[[Page 8265]]
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project, the Secretary considers:
(i) 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.
(ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and
continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project.
(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products
and services from the proposed project.
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 cooperative agreement 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).
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.
3. 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.
4. Performance Measures: The long-term performance indicator for
this program is whether, at the end of the program, the student
achievement gains of participating eligible students are greater than
those of students in control or comparison groups. Data for the
performance measure will be collected through the program evaluation.
5. 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
[[Page 8266]]
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. 2020-02877 Filed 2-12-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
