Applications for New Awards; Strengthening Institutions Program, 26487-26492 [2021-10232]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 92 (Friday, May 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26487-26492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10232]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Strengthening 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) 2021 for the 
Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), Assistance Listing Number 
84.031A. This notice relates to the approved information collection 
under OMB control number 1840-0114.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 14, 2021.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 13, 2021.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 13, 2021.

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: Nalini Lamba-Nieves, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2B116, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7953. 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 Strengthening Institutions Program provides 
grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to help them 
become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income 
students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the institution's 
academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability.
    Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference 
priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), Competitive 
Preference Priority 1 is from allowable activities specified in the 
statute (see section 311 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (HEA)). Competitive Preference Priority 2 is 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 2021 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 eight 
additional points for the priorities, depending on how well the 
application meets these priorities. Applicants may address one or both 
of the competitive preference priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Tutoring, Counseling, and 
Student Service Programs (up to 5 points).
    Background: The SIP Program is critical to the Department's efforts 
to improve college completion for students who have been traditionally 
underrepresented in postsecondary education. In recent years, attention 
to the importance of other supports, such as mental health, food 
pantries, and childcare, among others, to student persistence and 
graduation rates has increased.\1\ Through this priority we encourage 
IHEs to develop and/or create internal support systems and/or train 
personnel on ways to enhance and/or develop systems of support that 
provide wrap around services to students and promote retention. These 
services can

[[Page 26488]]

be provided to newly admitted students or to existing students at the 
institution.
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    \1\ M. Mechur Karp, 2011, Toward a New Understanding of Non-
Academic Student Support: Four Mechanisms Encouraging Positive 
Student Outcomes in the Community College, Retrieved 3/2/2021 from 
https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/media/k2/attachments/new-understanding-non-academic-support.pdf.
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    Priority: Projects designed to provide tutoring, counseling, and 
student service programs designed to improve academic success, 
including innovative, customized, instruction courses designed to help 
retain students and move the students rapidly into core courses and 
through program completion, which may include remedial education and 
English language instruction.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Fostering Flexible and 
Affordable Paths to Obtaining Knowledge and Skills (up to 3 points).
    Background: One of the top expectations of students who attend 
postsecondary education is that they will gain the knowledge and skills 
necessary to get a job. However, a Lumina Foundation/Gallup Poll \2\ 
report found that less than half (43 percent) of Americans agree that 
college graduates are well-prepared for success in the workplace, and 
when polling business leaders, just 11 percent strongly agreed that 
higher education institutions are graduating students with the skills 
and competencies that their businesses need. With the coronavirus 
pandemic's negative impact on higher education enrollment and 
employment, the previously found gap between skills and degrees has 
likely worsened. To ameliorate these gaps, institutions are encouraged 
to provide their students employability-related experiences.
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    \2\ Gallup and Lumina Foundation, What America Needs to Know 
about Higher Education Redesign (Indianapolis: Lumina Foundation, 
2014).
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    Priority: Projects designed to provide work-based learning 
experiences (such as internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships) 
that align with in-demand industry sectors or occupations (as defined 
in section 3(23) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 
2014 (WIOA)).
    Definitions: These definitions apply to the priorities and the 
selection criteria for this competition and are from section 3(23) of 
WIOA and 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. (34 CFR 77.1).
    In-demand industry sector or occupation means--
    (a) In General.--(i) An industry sector that has a substantial 
current or potential impact (including through jobs that lead to 
economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on the 
State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate, and that contributes 
to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, or the 
growth of other industry sectors; or
    (ii) An occupation that currently has or is projected to have a 
number of positions (including positions that lead to economic self-
sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an industry sector so 
as to have a significant impact on the State, regional, or local 
economy, as appropriate.
    (B) Determination.--The determination of whether an industry sector 
or occupation is in-demand under this paragraph shall be made by the 
State board or local board, as appropriate, using State and regional 
business and labor market projections, including the use of labor 
market information. (WIOA).
    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. (34 CFR 77.1).
    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.
    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). (34 
CFR 77.1).
    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. (34 CFR 77.1).
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1057-1059d (title III, part A, of the 
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 SIP in 34 CFR part 607 have not been updated to 
reflect these statutory changes. The statute supersedes all other 
regulations.
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal 
civil rights laws.
    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 are 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 2021.
    Note: A cooperative arrangement is an arrangement to carry out 
allowable grant activities between an institution eligible to receive a 
grant under this competition 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: $17,182,981.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    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: 28.
    Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants:
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$550,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $525,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $550,000 for a 
single budget period of 12 months.

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    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    This program is authorized by title III, part A, of the HEA. To 
qualify as an eligible institution under any title III, part A program, 
an institution must--
    (a) 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;
    (b) 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
    (c) Be designated as an ``eligible institution'' 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 2021 process for designation of 
eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of 
eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on 
March 4, 2021 (86 FR 12665). The Department extended the deadline for 
applications in a notice published in the Federal Register on April 13, 
2021 (86 FR 19231). Only institutions that the Department determines 
are eligible, or which are granted a waiver under the process described 
in the March 4, 2021 notice, may apply for a grant in this program.
    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. A grantee 
with an Individual Development Grant or a Cooperative Arrangement 
Development Grant may be a partner in one or more Cooperative 
Development Arrangement Grants. The lead institution in a Cooperative 
Arrangement Development Grant must be an eligible institution. Partners 
are not required to be eligible institutions.

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: SIP; 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 to receive a 
grant under SIP 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 2021 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).
    Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you 
may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) Proof that the 
Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an 
organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State 
taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the 
organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and 
that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private 
shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's 
certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly 
establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item 
described above if that item applies to a State or national parent 
organization, together with a statement by the State or parent 
organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching unless the grantee uses a portion of its grant for 
establishing or improving an endowment fund. If a grantee uses a 
portion of its grant for endowment fund purposes, it must match those 
grant funds with non-Federal funds (20 U.S.C. 1057(d)(1)-(2)).
    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)).
    c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include 
any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All 
administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to 
Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform 
Guidance.
    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 
contains 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 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. If you are addressing one or both competitive preference 
priorities, we recommend that you limit your response to no more than 
an additional five pages total, three additional pages for Competitive 
Preference Priority 1 and two additional pages for Competitive 
Preference Priority 2. Please include a separate heading when 
responding to one or both competitive preference priorities. We also 
recommend that you 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,

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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. 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. 
(Maximum 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 the Project Design. (Maximum 15 Points) The 
Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed project 
demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice).
    (c) Quality of Activity Objectives. (Maximum 16 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.
    (d) Quality of Implementation Strategy. (Maximum 15 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. (Maximum 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. (Maximum 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. (Maximum 10 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. (Maximum 6 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 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 two competitive preference priorities.
    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 similar 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

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200.206, before awarding grants under this program the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 
3474.10, 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 200.206(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.
    5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 
applications in accordance with--
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United 
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

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: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 and 34 CFR 75.110, the following performance 
measures will be used in assessing the effectiveness of SIP:
    (a) The percentage change, over the five-year period, of the number 
of full-time degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled at SIP 
institutions. Note that this is a long-term measure that will be used 
to periodically gauge performance.
    (b) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at four-year SIP institutions who were in their 
first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are 
enrolled in the current year at the same SIP institution.
    (c) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at two-year SIP institutions who were in their 
first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are 
enrolled in the current year at the same SIP institution.
    (d) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at four-year SIP institutions 
graduating within six years of enrollment.
    (e) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at two-year SIP institutions graduating 
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, whether 
the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving

[[Page 26492]]

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: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an 
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an 
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text 
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
    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.

Michelle Asha Cooper,
Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2021-10232 Filed 5-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P