Applications for New Awards; Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, 13280-13284 [2022-04987]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2022 / Notices
[FR Doc. 2022–04994 Filed 3–8–22; 8:45 am]
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Dated: March 4, 2022.
Aaron T. Siegel,
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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
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SUMMARY:
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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—
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(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.
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(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.
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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
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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).
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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
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Agencies
[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]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate
Achievement Program
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 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