Applications for New Awards; Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, 13280-13284 [2022-04987]

Download as PDF 13280 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2022 / Notices [FR Doc. 2022–04994 Filed 3–8–22; 8:45 am] Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 2019, and, in part, describe the transition from the requirement to register in SAM.gov a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the implementation of the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). More information on the phaseout of DUNS numbers is available at https:// www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/ docs/unique-entity-identifier-transitionfact-sheet.pdf. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carmen Gordon, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2C219, Washington, DC 20202– 4260. Telephone: (202) 453–7311. Email: Carmen.Gordon@ed.gov; or ReShone Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2B214, Washington, DC 20202– 4260. Telephone (202) 453–7624. Email: ReShone.Moore@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: BILLING CODE 5001–06–P Full Text of Announcement FACA, 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and 102– 3.140, and the procedures described in this notice. Written statements may be submitted to the DHB’s Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Captain Gorman, at gregory.h.gorman.mil@mail.mil. Supporting documentation may also be included, to establish the appropriate historical context and to provide any necessary background information. If the written statement is not received at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting, the DFO may choose to postpone consideration of the statement until the next open meeting. The DFO will review all timely submissions with the DHB President and ensure they are provided to members of the DHB before the meeting that is subject to this notice. After reviewing the written comments, the President and the DFO may choose to invite the submitter to orally present their issue during an open portion of this meeting or at a future meeting. Dated: March 4, 2022. Aaron T. Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2022 for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.217A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840–0619. DATES: Applications Available: March 9, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 25, 2022. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 22, 2022. 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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264), and available at www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979. Please note that these Common jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Mar 08, 2022 Jkt 256001 I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The McNair Program is one of the seven programs collectively known as the Federal TRIO Programs. The McNair Program awards discretionary grants to institutions of higher education for projects designed to provide disadvantaged college students with effective preparation for doctoral study. Required services under the McNair Program are specified in sections 402E(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1070a–15), and permissible services under the McNair Program are specified in section 402E(c) of the HEA. Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference priorities. Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2021 (86 FR 70612) (Supplemental Priorities). Competitive Preference Priority 2 is from the Secretary’s Notice of Administrative Priorities for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640) (Administrative Priorities). Note: Applicants must include in the one-page abstract submitted with the application a statement indicating which, if any, competitive preference priorities are addressed. If the applicant PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 has addressed any of the competitive preference priorities, this information must also be listed on the McNair Program Profile Form. Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional six points to an application, depending on how well the application meets these priorities. These priorities are: Competitive Preference Priority 1: Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (Up to 3 points). Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project will be implemented by one or more of the following entities: (1) Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in this notice). (2) Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice). (3) Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice). Competitive Preference Priority 2: Applications that Demonstrate a Rationale (Up to 3 points). Under this priority, an applicant proposes a project that demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice). Definitions: The definitions below are from the McNair Program regulations, 34 CFR 647.7(b); 34 CFR 77.1; and the Supplemental Priorities. 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. Groups underrepresented in graduate education include Black (non-Hispanic), Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native (as defined in section 7306 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA)), Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 7207 of the ESEA), and Native American Pacific Islanders (as defined in section 320 of the HEA). Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2. Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a framework that identifies key project components of the proposed project (i.e., the active ‘‘ingredients’’ that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2022 / Notices key project components and relevant outcomes. Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use resources, such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program’s (REL Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/ edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp. 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. Minority-serving institution means an institution that is eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA. Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers). Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of the program. Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in section 316(b)(3) of the HEA. Application Requirements: The following application requirements for FY 2022 are from section 402E(d) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-15(d)) and the program regulations at 34 CFR 647.11. An applicant must submit as part of its application, assurances that— (a) Each participant enrolled in the project will be enrolled in a degree program at an institution of higher education that participates in one or more of the student financial assistance programs authorized under title IV of the HEA; (b) Each participant given a summer research internship will have completed his or her sophomore year of study; (c) (1) At least two-thirds of the students to be served will be lowincome individuals who are firstgeneration college students; and (2) The remaining students to be served will be members of groups underrepresented in graduate education (as defined in this notice); and (d) A student will not be served by more than one McNair project at any one time, and the McNair project will collaborate with other McNair and Student Support Services program projects and other State and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Mar 08, 2022 Jkt 256001 institutional programs at the grantee institution, including those supporting undergraduate research, so that more students can be served. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a– 11 and 20 U.S.C. 1070a–15. 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 (except for 75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 647. (e) The Administrative Priorities. (f) The Supplemental Priorities. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $1,297,761,000 for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2022, of which we intend to use an estimated $51,778,211 for McNair awards. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for the Federal TRIO Programs. 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. Estimated Range of Awards: $261,888 to $437,772. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $276,889. Maximum Award: The maximum award varies based on whether the applicant is currently receiving a McNair Program grant, as well as the number of participants served. • For an applicant that is not currently receiving a McNair Program grant, the maximum award amount is $261,888 based upon a per participant cost of no more than $10,476 to serve a minimum of 25 eligible participants. For an applicant currently receiving a PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13281 McNair Program grant and applying to serve a different campus, the maximum award is $261,888, to serve a minimum of 25 eligible participants. • For an applicant currently receiving a McNair Program grant and not applying to serve a different campus, the maximum award is the amount equal to the applicant’s base award amount for FY 2021, and the minimum number of participants is the number of participants in the project’s FY 2021 grant award notification. Estimated Number of Awards: 187. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 60 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education and combinations of those institutions. 2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost sharing or matching. b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a training indirect cost rate. This limits indirect cost reimbursement to an entity’s actual indirect costs, as determined in its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, or 8 percent of a modified total direct cost base, whichever amount is less. For more information regarding training indirect cost rates, see 34 CFR 75.562. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see www2.ed.gov/ about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html. 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. 4. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application for a McNair grant as long as each application describes a project that serves a different campus (34 CFR 647.10(a)). The Secretary is not designating any additional populations for which an applicant may submit a separate application under this competition (34 CFR 647.10(b)). The McNair Program regulations define ‘‘different campus’’ as ‘‘a site of an institution of higher education that—(1) Is geographically apart from the main campus of the institution; (2) Is permanent in nature; and (3) Offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 13282 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2022 / Notices jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 or other recognized educational credential.’’ (34 CFR 647.7(b)). 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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264) and available at www.federalregister.gov/d/ 2021-27979, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 2019, and, in part, describe the transition from the requirement to register in SAM.gov a DUNS number to the implementation of the UEI. More information on the phase-out of DUNS numbers is available at https:// www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/ docs/unique-entity-identifier-transitionfact-sheet.pdf. 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 647.31. We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative, which includes the budget narrative, to no more than 65 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 excluding titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs, which may be single-spaced. • Use a font size 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Mar 08, 2022 Jkt 256001 justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative. We recommend that any application addressing the competitive preference priorities include no more than two additional pages for each priority, for a total of up to four additional pages for the competitive preference priorities if the two competitive preference priorities are addressed. V. Application Review Information 1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 647.21. We will award up to 100 points to an application under the selection criteria and up to six additional points to an application under the competitive preference priorities, for a total score of up to 106 points. The maximum number of points available for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. (a) Need. (Up to 16 Points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the applicant can clearly and definitively demonstrate the need for a McNair project to serve the target population. In particular, the Secretary looks for information that clearly defines the target population; describes the academic, financial and other problems that prevent potentially eligible project participants in the target population from completing baccalaureate programs and continuing to postbaccalaureate programs; and demonstrates that the project’s target population is underrepresented in graduate education, doctorate degrees conferred and careers where a doctorate is a prerequisite. (b) Objectives. (Up to 9 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality of the applicant’s objectives and proposed targets (percentages) in the following areas on the basis of the extent to which they are both ambitious, as related to the need data provided under paragraph (a) of this section, and attainable, given the project’s plan of operation, budget, and other resources— (1) (Up to 2 points) Research or scholarly activity. (2) (Up to 3 points) Enrollment in a graduate program. (3) (Up to 2 points) Continued enrollment in graduate study. (4) (Up to 2 points) Doctoral degree attainment. (c) Plan of Operation. (Up to 44 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the applicant’s plans of operation, including— PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (1) (Up to 4 points) The plan for identifying, recruiting and selecting participants to be served by the project, including students enrolled in the SSS program; (2) (Up to 4 points) The plan for assessing individual participant needs and for monitoring the academic growth of participants during the period in which the student is a McNair participant; (3) (Up to 5 points) The plan for providing high-quality research and scholarly activities in which participants will be involved; (4) (Up to 5 points) The plan for involving faculty members in the design of research activities in which students will be involved; (5) (Up to 5 points) The plan for providing internships, seminars, and other educational activities designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral study; (6) (Up to 5 points) The plan for providing individual or group services designed to enhance a student’s successful entry into postbaccalaureate education; (7) (Up to 3 points) The plan to inform the institutional community of the goals and objectives of the project; (8) (Up to 8 points) The plan to ensure proper and efficient administration of the project including, but not limited to, matters such as financial management, student records management, personnel management, the organizational structure, and the plan for coordinating the McNair project with other programs for disadvantaged students; and (9) (Up to 5 points) The follow-up plan that will be used to track the academic and career accomplishments of participants after they are no longer participating in the McNair project. (d) Quality of key personnel. (Up to 9 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project on the basis of the following: (1) (i) (Up to 3 points) The job qualifications of the project director. (ii) (Up to 3 points) The job qualifications of each of the project’s other key personnel. (iii) (Up to 3 points) The quality of the project’s plan for employing highly qualified persons, including the procedures to be used to employ members of groups underrepresented in higher education, including Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (including Native Hawaiians). (2) In evaluating the qualifications of a person, the Secretary considers his or her experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project. E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2022 / Notices (e) Adequacy of the resources and budget. (Up to 15 points). The Secretary evaluates the extent to which— (1) (Up to 5 points) The applicant’s proposed allocation of resources in the budget is clearly related to the objectives of the project; (2) (Up to 5 points) Project costs and resources, including facilities, equipment, and supplies, are reasonable in relation to the objectives and scope of the project; and (3) (Up to 5 points) The applicant’s proposed commitment of institutional resources to the McNair participants as, for example, the commitment of time from institutional research faculty and the waiver of tuition and fees for McNair participants engaged in summer research projects. (f) Evaluation plan. (Up to 7 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality of the evaluation plan for the project on the basis of the extent to which the applicant’s methods of evaluation— (1) (Up to 2 points) Are appropriate to the project’s objectives; (2) (Up to 3 points) Provide for the applicant to determine, in specific and measurable ways, the success of the project in— (i) Making progress toward achieving its objectives (a formative evaluation); and (ii) Achieving its objectives at the end of the project period (a summative evaluation); and (3) (Up to 2 points) Provide for a description of other project outcomes, including the use of quantifiable measures, if appropriate. 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 also requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws, that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). For this competition, a panel of nonFederal reviewers will review each application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR 647.21 and the competitive preference priorities. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Mar 08, 2022 Jkt 256001 The individual scores of the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by the number of reviewers to determine the peer review score received in the review process. Additionally, in accordance with 34 CFR 647.22, the Secretary will award prior experience points to applicants that conducted a McNair Program project during budget periods 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21, based on their documented experience. Prior experience points, if any, will be added to the application’s average reviewer score to determine the total score for each application. If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the same total scores, the Secretary will choose among the tied applications so as to serve geographic areas in which there is a significantly low degree attainment rate in a congressional district, in accordance with the following procedures. The Secretary will identify and recommend an award for— • First, applicants in the funding band that are located within a congressional district with the lowest bachelor’s degree attainment rate below the national average for the population 25 years and older. If this first tiebreaker provision exhausts available funds, then no further action is taken. • Second, applicants in the funding band that are located within a congressional district in which, among those 25 years of age and over, the percentage who attained a graduate/ professional degree is below the national average. If this second tiebreaker provision exhausts available funds, then no further action is taken. • Third, applicants in the funding band that are located within a congressional district with the highest percentage of Pell Grant recipients. Note: In applying the tie-breaker criteria, the Department will use the most current data available. With respect to congressional districts and degree attainment data within congressional districts, the most recently available degree attainment data pre-dates the 118th United States Census for Congressional Districts. 3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.206, before awarding grants under this competition 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 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13283 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). E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 13284 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2022 / Notices jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Mar 08, 2022 Jkt 256001 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: For the purposes of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, we have established a set of performance measures for the McNair Program. The success of the McNair Program will be measured by the McNair Program participants’ success in completing research and participation in scholarly activities, enrollment in a graduate program, continued enrollment in graduate study, and the attainment of a doctoral degree. All McNair Program grantees will be required to submit an annual performance report. 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 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 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. Michelle Asha Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs, Delegated the Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 2022–04987 Filed 3–8–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2221–000] Empire District Electric Company; Notice of Authorization for Continued Project Operation On February 28, 2020, Empire District Electric Company, licensee for the Ozark Beach Hydroelectric Project No. 2221, filed an Application for a New License for Ozark Beach Hydroelectric Project pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Commission’s regulations thereunder. The Ozark Beach Hydroelectric Project is located on the White River near the Town of Forsyth, in Taney County, Missouri. The license for Project No. 2221 was issued for a period ending February 28, 2022. Section 15(a)(1) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. 808(a)(1), requires the Commission, at the expiration of a license term, to issue from year-to-year an annual license to the then licensee(s) under the terms and conditions of the prior license until a new license is issued, or the project is otherwise disposed of as provided in section 15 or any other applicable section of the FPA. If the project’s prior license waived the applicability of section 15 of the FPA, then, based on section 9(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 558(c), and as set forth at 18 CFR 16.21(a), if the licensee of such project has filed an application for a subsequent license, the licensee may continue to operate the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the license E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1

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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13280-13284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04987]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate 
Achievement 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) 2022 for the 
Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program, 
Assistance Listing Number 84.217A. This notice relates to the approved 
information collection under OMB control number 1840-0619.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: March 9, 2022.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 25, 2022.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 22, 2022.

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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264), and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979. Please note that these Common 
Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 2019, and, 
in part, describe the transition from the requirement to register in 
SAM.gov a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the 
implementation of the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). More information 
on the phaseout of DUNS numbers is available at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entity-identifier-transition-fact-sheet.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carmen Gordon, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2C219, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7311. Email: [email protected]; or 
ReShone Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 
Room 2B214, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone (202) 453-7624. 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 McNair Program is one of the seven programs 
collectively known as the Federal TRIO Programs. The McNair Program 
awards discretionary grants to institutions of higher education for 
projects designed to provide disadvantaged college students with 
effective preparation for doctoral study.
    Required services under the McNair Program are specified in 
sections 402E(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) 
(20 U.S.C. 1070a-15), and permissible services under the McNair Program 
are specified in section 402E(c) of the HEA.
    Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference 
priorities. Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Secretary's 
Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant 
Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2021 (86 FR 
70612) (Supplemental Priorities). Competitive Preference Priority 2 is 
from the Secretary's Notice of Administrative Priorities for 
Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on 
March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640) (Administrative Priorities).
    Note: Applicants must include in the one-page abstract submitted 
with the application a statement indicating which, if any, competitive 
preference priorities are addressed. If the applicant has addressed any 
of the competitive preference priorities, this information must also be 
listed on the McNair Program Profile Form.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2022 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 
six points to an application, depending on how well the application 
meets these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Promoting Equity in Student 
Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (Up to 3 points).
    Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project 
will be implemented by one or more of the following entities:
    (1) Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in 
this notice).
    (2) Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice).
    (3) Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Applications that Demonstrate a 
Rationale (Up to 3 points).
    Under this priority, an applicant proposes a project that 
demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice).
    Definitions:
    The definitions below are from the McNair Program regulations, 34 
CFR 647.7(b); 34 CFR 77.1; and the Supplemental Priorities.
    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.
    Groups underrepresented in graduate education include Black (non-
Hispanic), Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native (as defined in 
section 7306 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA)), Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 7207 of the 
ESEA), and Native American Pacific Islanders (as defined in section 320 
of the HEA).
    Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and 
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
    Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a 
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed 
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be 
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the 
theoretical and operational relationships among the

[[Page 13281]]

key project components and relevant outcomes.
    Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use 
resources, such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program's (REL 
Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp. 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.
    Minority-serving institution means an institution that is eligible 
to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title 
III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.
    Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, 
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence 
may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of 
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices 
for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) 
the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the 
specific goals of the program.
    Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in section 
316(b)(3) of the HEA.
    Application Requirements: The following application requirements 
for FY 2022 are from section 402E(d) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-15(d)) 
and the program regulations at 34 CFR 647.11.
    An applicant must submit as part of its application, assurances 
that--
    (a) Each participant enrolled in the project will be enrolled in a 
degree program at an institution of higher education that participates 
in one or more of the student financial assistance programs authorized 
under title IV of the HEA;
    (b) Each participant given a summer research internship will have 
completed his or her sophomore year of study;
    (c) (1) At least two-thirds of the students to be served will be 
low-income individuals who are first-generation college students; and
    (2) The remaining students to be served will be members of groups 
underrepresented in graduate education (as defined in this notice); and
    (d) A student will not be served by more than one McNair project at 
any one time, and the McNair project will collaborate with other McNair 
and Student Support Services program projects and other State and 
institutional programs at the grantee institution, including those 
supporting undergraduate research, so that more students can be served.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 20 U.S.C. 1070a-15.
    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 (except for 75.215 
through 75.221), 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The Office of 
Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide 
Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted 
and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) 
The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and 
amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The 
regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 647. (e) The Administrative 
Priorities. (f) The Supplemental Priorities.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$1,297,761,000 for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2022, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $51,778,211 for McNair awards. The actual 
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for the Federal TRIO 
Programs.
    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.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $261,888 to $437,772.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $276,889.
    Maximum Award: The maximum award varies based on whether the 
applicant is currently receiving a McNair Program grant, as well as the 
number of participants served.
     For an applicant that is not currently receiving a McNair 
Program grant, the maximum award amount is $261,888 based upon a per 
participant cost of no more than $10,476 to serve a minimum of 25 
eligible participants. For an applicant currently receiving a McNair 
Program grant and applying to serve a different campus, the maximum 
award is $261,888, to serve a minimum of 25 eligible participants.
     For an applicant currently receiving a McNair Program 
grant and not applying to serve a different campus, the maximum award 
is the amount equal to the applicant's base award amount for FY 2021, 
and the minimum number of participants is the number of participants in 
the project's FY 2021 grant award notification.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 187.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education and 
combinations of those institutions.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require 
cost sharing or matching.
    b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a training 
indirect cost rate. This limits indirect cost reimbursement to an 
entity's actual indirect costs, as determined in its negotiated 
indirect cost rate agreement, or 8 percent of a modified total direct 
cost base, whichever amount is less. For more information regarding 
training indirect cost rates, see 34 CFR 75.562. For more information 
regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, 
please see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.
    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.
    4. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application for a 
McNair grant as long as each application describes a project that 
serves a different campus (34 CFR 647.10(a)). The Secretary is not 
designating any additional populations for which an applicant may 
submit a separate application under this competition (34 CFR 
647.10(b)). The McNair Program regulations define ``different campus'' 
as ``a site of an institution of higher education that--(1) Is 
geographically apart from the main campus of the institution; (2) Is 
permanent in nature; and (3) Offers courses in educational programs 
leading to a degree, certificate,

[[Page 13282]]

or other recognized educational credential.'' (34 CFR 647.7(b)).

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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979, which contain requirements and 
information on how to submit an application. Please note that these 
Common Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 
2019, and, in part, describe the transition from the requirement to 
register in SAM.gov a DUNS number to the implementation of the UEI. 
More information on the phase-out of DUNS numbers is available at 
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entity-identifier-transition-fact-sheet.pdf.
    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 
647.31. We reference additional regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative, which includes the budget narrative, to no more 
than 65 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 excluding titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs, which may be single-spaced.
     Use a font size 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. 
We recommend that any application addressing the competitive preference 
priorities include no more than two additional pages for each priority, 
for a total of up to four additional pages for the competitive 
preference priorities if the two competitive preference priorities are 
addressed.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 647.21.
    We will award up to 100 points to an application under the 
selection criteria and up to six additional points to an application 
under the competitive preference priorities, for a total score of up to 
106 points. The maximum number of points available for each criterion 
is indicated in parentheses.
    (a) Need. (Up to 16 Points). The Secretary reviews each application 
to determine the extent to which the applicant can clearly and 
definitively demonstrate the need for a McNair project to serve the 
target population. In particular, the Secretary looks for information 
that clearly defines the target population; describes the academic, 
financial and other problems that prevent potentially eligible project 
participants in the target population from completing baccalaureate 
programs and continuing to postbaccalaureate programs; and demonstrates 
that the project's target population is underrepresented in graduate 
education, doctorate degrees conferred and careers where a doctorate is 
a prerequisite.
    (b) Objectives. (Up to 9 points). The Secretary evaluates the 
quality of the applicant's objectives and proposed targets 
(percentages) in the following areas on the basis of the extent to 
which they are both ambitious, as related to the need data provided 
under paragraph (a) of this section, and attainable, given the 
project's plan of operation, budget, and other resources--
    (1) (Up to 2 points) Research or scholarly activity.
    (2) (Up to 3 points) Enrollment in a graduate program.
    (3) (Up to 2 points) Continued enrollment in graduate study.
    (4) (Up to 2 points) Doctoral degree attainment.
    (c) Plan of Operation. (Up to 44 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the quality of the applicant's plans of 
operation, including--
    (1) (Up to 4 points) The plan for identifying, recruiting and 
selecting participants to be served by the project, including students 
enrolled in the SSS program;
    (2) (Up to 4 points) The plan for assessing individual participant 
needs and for monitoring the academic growth of participants during the 
period in which the student is a McNair participant;
    (3) (Up to 5 points) The plan for providing high-quality research 
and scholarly activities in which participants will be involved;
    (4) (Up to 5 points) The plan for involving faculty members in the 
design of research activities in which students will be involved;
    (5) (Up to 5 points) The plan for providing internships, seminars, 
and other educational activities designed to prepare undergraduate 
students for doctoral study;
    (6) (Up to 5 points) The plan for providing individual or group 
services designed to enhance a student's successful entry into 
postbaccalaureate education;
    (7) (Up to 3 points) The plan to inform the institutional community 
of the goals and objectives of the project;
    (8) (Up to 8 points) The plan to ensure proper and efficient 
administration of the project including, but not limited to, matters 
such as financial management, student records management, personnel 
management, the organizational structure, and the plan for coordinating 
the McNair project with other programs for disadvantaged students; and
    (9) (Up to 5 points) The follow-up plan that will be used to track 
the academic and career accomplishments of participants after they are 
no longer participating in the McNair project.
    (d) Quality of key personnel. (Up to 9 points). The Secretary 
evaluates the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on 
the project on the basis of the following:
    (1) (i) (Up to 3 points) The job qualifications of the project 
director.
    (ii) (Up to 3 points) The job qualifications of each of the 
project's other key personnel.
    (iii) (Up to 3 points) The quality of the project's plan for 
employing highly qualified persons, including the procedures to be used 
to employ members of groups underrepresented in higher education, 
including Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders (including Native Hawaiians).
    (2) In evaluating the qualifications of a person, the Secretary 
considers his or her experience and training in fields related to the 
objectives of the project.

[[Page 13283]]

    (e) Adequacy of the resources and budget. (Up to 15 points). The 
Secretary evaluates the extent to which--
    (1) (Up to 5 points) The applicant's proposed allocation of 
resources in the budget is clearly related to the objectives of the 
project;
    (2) (Up to 5 points) Project costs and resources, including 
facilities, equipment, and supplies, are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives and scope of the project; and
    (3) (Up to 5 points) The applicant's proposed commitment of 
institutional resources to the McNair participants as, for example, the 
commitment of time from institutional research faculty and the waiver 
of tuition and fees for McNair participants engaged in summer research 
projects.
    (f) Evaluation plan. (Up to 7 points). The Secretary evaluates the 
quality of the evaluation plan for the project on the basis of the 
extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation--
    (1) (Up to 2 points) Are appropriate to the project's objectives;
    (2) (Up to 3 points) Provide for the applicant to determine, in 
specific and measurable ways, the success of the project in--
    (i) Making progress toward achieving its objectives (a formative 
evaluation); and
    (ii) Achieving its objectives at the end of the project period (a 
summative evaluation); and
    (3) (Up to 2 points) Provide for a description of other project 
outcomes, including the use of quantifiable measures, if appropriate.
    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 
also requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws, that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    For this competition, a panel of non-Federal reviewers will review 
each application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR 
647.21 and the competitive preference priorities. The individual scores 
of the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by the number of 
reviewers to determine the peer review score received in the review 
process. Additionally, in accordance with 34 CFR 647.22, the Secretary 
will award prior experience points to applicants that conducted a 
McNair Program project during budget periods 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 
and 2020-21, based on their documented experience. Prior experience 
points, if any, will be added to the application's average reviewer 
score to determine the total score for each application.
    If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the same 
total scores, the Secretary will choose among the tied applications so 
as to serve geographic areas in which there is a significantly low 
degree attainment rate in a congressional district, in accordance with 
the following procedures. The Secretary will identify and recommend an 
award for--
     First, applicants in the funding band that are located 
within a congressional district with the lowest bachelor's degree 
attainment rate below the national average for the population 25 years 
and older. If this first tie-breaker provision exhausts available 
funds, then no further action is taken.
     Second, applicants in the funding band that are located 
within a congressional district in which, among those 25 years of age 
and over, the percentage who attained a graduate/professional degree is 
below the national average. If this second tie-breaker provision 
exhausts available funds, then no further action is taken.
     Third, applicants in the funding band that are located 
within a congressional district with the highest percentage of Pell 
Grant recipients.
    Note: In applying the tie-breaker criteria, the Department will use 
the most current data available. With respect to congressional 
districts and degree attainment data within congressional districts, 
the most recently available degree attainment data pre-dates the 118th 
United States Census for Congressional Districts.
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition 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).

[[Page 13284]]

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: For the purposes of Department reporting 
under 34 CFR 75.110, we have established a set of performance measures 
for the McNair Program. The success of the McNair Program will be 
measured by the McNair Program participants' success in completing 
research and participation in scholarly activities, enrollment in a 
graduate program, continued enrollment in graduate study, and the 
attainment of a doctoral degree. All McNair Program grantees will be 
required to submit an annual performance report.
    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 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 search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

Michelle Asha Cooper,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs, Delegated the 
Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant 
Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2022-04987 Filed 3-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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