Applications for New Awards; Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN), 31188-31193 [2024-08771]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31188-31193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08771]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Graduate Assistance in Areas of 
National Need (GAANN)

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) 2024 for the 
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program, 
Assistance Listing Number 84.200A. This notice relates to the approved 
information collection under OMB control number 1840-0604.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: April 24, 2024.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 24, 2024.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 22, 2024.

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 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554. Please note that these Common 
Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Ell, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-6348. Email: [email protected]; or 
ReShone Moore, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue 
SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone (202) 453-7624. 
Email: [email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The GAANN Program provides grants to academic 
departments and programs of institutions of higher education (IHEs) to 
support graduate fellowships for students with excellent academic 
records in their previous programs of study who demonstrate financial 
need and plan to pursue the highest degree available in their course of 
study at the institution.
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority, two 
competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority. In 
accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from 
the regulations for this program (34 CFR 648.33(a) and Appendix to part 
648--Academic Areas). Please note that the codes next to selected 
academic areas under the absolute priority are from the Appendix to 
part 648--Academic Areas of the program regulations and can be found in 
the application booklet as well as at www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f8ad0cf4f75cd9841b2bc1adb98c5739&mc=true&node=pt34.3.648&rgn=div5. The first competitive preference priority is from the notice of 
final administrative priorities for discretionary grant programs 
published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR

[[Page 31189]]

13640) (Administrative Priorities). The second competitive preference 
priority 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).
    Note: Applicants must include in the one-page abstract submitted 
with the application a statement indicating which, if any, competitive 
preference priorities or invitational priority is addressed.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2024 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    The absolute priority is:
    Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.
    A project must provide fellowships in one or more of the following 
areas of national need.
    For the following academic areas, the project must provide 
fellowships for programs that lead either to a master's degree or a 
doctoral degree, whichever is the highest degree awarded in the area of 
need at the institution.

 #11--Computer and Information Sciences (11)
    11.01 Computer and Information Sciences, General
    11.02 Computer Programming
    11.04 Information Sciences and Systems
    11.05 Computer Systems Analysis
    11.07 Computer Science
 #13--Education
    13.02 Bilingual/Bicultural Education
    13.10 Special Education
    13.11 Student Counseling and Personnel Services
    13.14 Teaching English as a Second Language/Foreign Language
 #14--Engineering
    14.01 Engineering, General
    14.02 Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering
    14.03 Agricultural Engineering
    14.04 Architectural Engineering
    14.05 Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
    14.06 Ceramic Sciences and Engineering
    14.07 Chemical Engineering
    14.08 Civil Engineering
    14.09 Computer Engineering
    14.10 Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering
    14.11 Engineering Mechanics
    14.12 Engineering Physics
    14.13 Engineering Science
    14.14 Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
    14.15 Geological Engineering
    14.16 Geophysical Engineering
    14.17 Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering
    14.18 Materials Engineering
    14.19 Mechanical Engineering
    14.20 Metallurgical Engineering
    14.21 Mining and Mineral Engineering
    14.22 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
    14.23 Nuclear Engineering
    14.24 Ocean Engineering
    14.25 Petroleum Engineering
    14.27 Systems Engineering
    14.28 Textile Sciences and Engineering
    14.29 Engineering Design
    14.30 Engineering/Industrial Management
    14.31 Materials Science
    14.32 Polymer/Plastics Engineering
 #26--Biological Sciences/Life Sciences
    26.01 Biology, General
    26.02 Biochemistry and Biophysics
    26.03 Botany
    26.04 Cell and Molecular Biology
    26.05 Microbiology/Bacteriology
    26.06 Miscellaneous Biological Specializations
    26.07 Zoology
 #27--Mathematics
    27.01 Mathematics
    27.03 Applied Mathematics
    27.05 Mathematic Statistics
 #40--Physical Sciences
    40.01 Physical Sciences, General
    40.02 Astronomy
    40.03 Astrophysics
    40.04 Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
    40.05 Chemistry
    40.06 Geological and Related Sciences
    40.07 Miscellaneous Physical Sciences
    40.08 Physics
 #42--Psychology
    42.01 Psychology
    42.02 Clinical Psychology
    42.03 Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
    42.04 Community Psychology
    42.06 Counseling Psychology
    42.07 Developmental and Child Psychology
    42.08 Experimental Psychology
    42.09 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
    42.11 Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
    42.16 Social Psychology
    42.17 School Psychology

    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2024 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional 
two points to an application that meets these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Applications from New Potential 
Grantees (1 point).
    Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the 
applicant does not, as of the deadline date for submission of 
applications, have an active grant, including through membership in a 
group application submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, 
under the GAANN program.
    Note: For the purpose of this priority, the ``applicant'' is the 
institution. Institutions with active grants that are applying on 
behalf of a new academic department cannot receive points for this 
competitive priority. A grant is active until the end of the grant's 
project or funding period, including any extensions of those periods 
that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Promoting Equity in Student 
Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (1 point).
    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).
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2024 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    This priority is:
    Projects designed to increase the number of low-income students in 
graduate fellowships.
    Projects should include plans to identify, recruit, and retain 
students who are low-income.
    For purpose of this priority, the term ``low-income student'' means 
a student who would otherwise be eligible to receive a Maximum Pell 
Grant for the award year in which the determination is made, except 
that the student is enrolled in graduate study. See criteria for 
Maximum Pell Grant eligibility in the Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell

[[Page 31190]]

Grant Eligibility section of the 2024-2025 Federal Student Aid 
Handbook.\1\
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2024-2025/application-and-verification-guide/ch3-student-aid-index-
sai-and-pell-grant-
eligibility#:~:text=Minimum%20Pell%20Grant%20Eligibility%20Criteria.
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    Definitions: The following definition of ``financial need'' is from 
34 CFR 648.9. The definitions of ``Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities,'' ``Minority-Serving Institution,'' and ``Tribal College 
and University'' are from the Supplemental Priorities.
    Financial need means the fellow's financial need as determined 
under title IV, part F, of the HEA for the period of the fellow's 
enrollment in the approved academic field of study for which the 
fellowship was awarded.
    Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and 
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
    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.
    Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in section 
316(b)(3) of the HEA.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1135-1135e.
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal 
civil rights laws.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 648. (e) 
The Administrative Priorities. (f) The Supplemental Priorities.
    Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not 
apply to this program.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants, including funds redistributed 
as graduate fellowships to individual fellows.
    Estimated Available Funds: $20,479,535.
    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: $112,102-$448,408 based on an average of 
2 to 8 federally funded fellowships.
    Minimum and Maximum Award: The amount of a grant to an academic 
department may not be less than $100,000 and may not be more than 
$750,000 in a fiscal year (648.5(a)).
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $336,306 based on an average of 6 
Federal GAANN fellowships requested per grant application.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 60.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Stipend Level: For the 2024-25 academic year, the institution must 
pay the fellow a stipend at a level of support equal to that provided 
by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program 
(https://www.nsfgrfp.org/), except this amount must be adjusted as 
necessary so as not to exceed the fellow's demonstrated level of 
financial need as stated under part F of title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, as amended.
    Institutional Payment: For the 2024-25 academic year, the estimated 
institutional payment is $19,051 per fellow. This amount was determined 
by adjusting the previous academic year's institutional payment of 
$18,266 per fellow by the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price 
Index (CPI) for the 2023 calendar year.
    Note: The institutional payment must be reduced by the amount the 
institution charges and collects from a fellowship recipient for 
tuition and other expenses as part of the recipient's instructional 
program. (34 CFR 648.52(b)).

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) Any academic department of an IHE that provides a course of 
study that--(i) Leads to a graduate degree in an area of national need; 
and (ii) Has been in existence for at least four years at the time of 
an application for a grant under this competition.
    (b) Eligible applicants may apply alone or in partnership with one 
or more eligible nondegree granting institutions that have formal 
arrangements for the support of doctoral dissertation research.
    Note: A formal arrangement under paragraph (b) is a written 
agreement between a degree-granting institution and an eligible 
nondegree granting institution whereby the degree-granting institution 
accepts students from the eligible nondegree granting institution as 
doctoral degree candidates with the intention of awarding these 
students doctorates in an area of national need.
    Note: A school or department of divinity is not eligible for a 
grant.
    Note: Students are not eligible to apply for grants under this 
program.
    2a. Cost Sharing or Matching: An institution must provide, from 
non-Federal funds, an institutional matching contribution equal to at 
least 25 percent of the grant amount received. (See 34 CFR 648.7.)
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This competition involves supplement-
not-supplant funding requirements.
    (See 34 CFR 648.20(b)(5).)
    c. Administrative Cost Limitation: Under 34 CFR 648.64, neither 
grant funds nor institutional matching funds may be used to pay for 
general operational overhead costs of the academic department.
    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: For requirements relating to selecting fellows, see 34 
CFR 648.40.

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 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045), and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554, which contain requirements and 
information on how to submit an application. Please note that these 
Common Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 
2021.
    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 
648.64. We reference additional regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: Applications that do not follow the page

[[Page 31191]]

limit and formatting recommendations will not be penalized. The 
application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the 
selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We 
recommend the following limits and standards:
     A project narrative in a single discipline or for an 
interdisciplinary course of study should be limited to no more than 40 
pages.
     A project narrative for a multidisciplinary project should 
be limited to no more than 40 pages for each academic department.
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
     Limit appendices to the following: two-page version of a 
curriculum vitae, per faculty member; a course listing; letters of 
commitment showing institutional support; a bibliography; and one 
additional optional appendix relevant to the support of the proposal, 
recommended not to exceed five pages.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet 
(Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) and the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for the SF 424 form, the one-page 
abstract; the GAANN Statutory Assurances Form; the GAANN Budget 
Spreadsheet(s) Form; the Appendices; the Assurances and Certifications; 
or an optional two-page table of content. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 648.31. The points assigned to each criterion are indicated 
in the parentheses next to the criterion. An applicant may earn up to a 
total of 100 points based on the selection criteria for the 
application. An applicant that also chooses to address the competitive 
preference priorities can earn up to 102 total points.
    (a) Meeting the purposes of the program (up to 7 points). The 
Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the project 
will meet the purposes of the program, including the extent to which--
    (1) The applicant's general and specific objectives for the project 
are realistic and measurable;
    (2) The applicant's objectives for the project seek to sustain and 
enhance the capacity for teaching and research at the institution and 
at State, regional, or national levels;
    (3) The applicant's objectives seek to institute policies and 
procedures to ensure the enrollment of talented graduate students from 
traditionally underrepresented backgrounds; and
    (4) The applicant's objectives seek to institute policies and 
procedures to ensure that it will award fellowships to individuals who 
satisfy the requirements of 34 CFR 648.40.
    (b) Extent of need for the project (up to 5 points). The Secretary 
considers the extent to which a grant under the program is needed by 
the academic department by considering--
    (1) How the applicant identified the problems that form the 
specific needs of the project;
    (2) The specific problems to be resolved by successful realization 
of the goals and objectives of the project; and
    (3) How increasing the number of fellowships will meet the specific 
and general objectives of the project.
    (c) Quality of the graduate academic program (up to 20 points). The 
Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the 
current graduate academic program for which project funding is sought, 
including--
    (1) The course offerings and academic requirements for the graduate 
program;
    (2) The qualifications of the faculty, including education, 
research interest, publications, teaching ability, and accessibility to 
graduate students;
    (3) The focus and capacity for research; and
    (4) Any other evidence the applicant deems appropriate to 
demonstrate the quality of its academic program.
    (d) Quality of the supervised teaching experience (up to 10 
points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the 
quality of the teaching experience the applicant plans to provide 
fellows under this program, including the extent to which the project--
    (1) Provides each fellow with the required supervised training in 
instruction;
    (2) Provides adequate instruction on effective teaching techniques;
    (3) Provides extensive supervision of each fellow's teaching 
performance; and
    (4) Provides adequate and appropriate evaluation of the fellow's 
teaching performance.
    (e) Recruitment plan (up to 5 points). The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the quality of the applicant's recruitment 
plan, including--
    (1) How the applicant plans to identify, recruit, and retain 
students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in the 
academic program for which fellowships are sought;
    (2) How the applicant plans to identify eligible students for 
fellowships;
    (3) The past success of the academic department in enrolling 
talented graduate students from traditionally underrepresented 
backgrounds; and
    (4) The past success of the academic department in enrolling 
talented graduate students for its academic program.
    (f) Project administration (up to 8 points). The Secretary reviews 
the quality of the proposed project administration, including--
    (1) How the applicant will select fellows, including how the 
applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise 
eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, 
national origin, religion, gender, age, or disabling condition;
    (2) How the applicant proposes to monitor whether a fellow is 
making satisfactory progress toward the degree for which the fellowship 
has been awarded;
    (3) How the applicant proposes to identify and meet the academic 
needs of fellows;
    (4) How the applicant proposes to maintain enrollment of graduate 
students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds; and
    (5) The extent to which the policies and procedures the applicant 
proposes to institute for administering the project are likely to 
ensure efficient and effective project implementation, including 
assistance to and oversight of the project director.
    (g) Institutional commitment (up to 15 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application for evidence that--
    (1) The applicant will provide, from any funds available to it, 
sufficient funds to support the financial needs of the fellows if the 
funds made available under the program are insufficient;
    (2) The institution's social and academic environment is supportive 
of the academic success of students from traditionally underrepresented 
backgrounds on the applicant's campus;
    (3) Students receiving fellowships under this program will receive 
stipend support for the time necessary to complete their courses of 
study, but in no case longer than five years; and

[[Page 31192]]

    (4) The applicant demonstrates a financial commitment, including 
the nature and amount of the institutional matching contribution, and 
other institutional commitments that are likely to ensure the 
continuation of project activities for a significant period of time 
following the period in which the project receives Federal financial 
assistance.
    (h) Quality of key personnel (up to 5 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel the 
applicant plans to use on the project, including--
    (1) The qualifications of the project director;
    (2) The qualifications of other key personnel to be used in the 
project;
    (3) The time commitment of key personnel, including the project 
director, to the project; and
    (4) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment 
practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected without regard 
to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disabling 
condition, except pursuant to a lawful affirmative action plan.
    (i) Budget (up to 5 points). The Secretary reviews each application 
to determine the extent to which--
    (1) The applicant shows a clear understanding of the acceptable 
uses of program funds; and
    (2) The costs of the project are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives of the project.
    (j) Evaluation plan (up to 15 points). The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the 
project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of 
evaluation--
    (1) Relate to the specific goals and measurable objectives of the 
project;
    (2) Assess the effect of the project on the students receiving 
fellowships under this program, including the effect on persons of 
different racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, and ages, and on 
persons with disabilities who are served by the project;
    (3) List both process and product evaluation questions for each 
project activity and outcome, including those of the management plan;
    (4) Describe both the process and product evaluation measures for 
each project activity and outcome;
    (5) Describe the data collection procedures, instruments, and 
schedules for effective data collection;
    (6) Describe how the applicant will analyze and report the data so 
that it can make adjustments and improvements on a regular basis; and
    (7) Include a time-line chart that relates key evaluation processes 
and benchmarks to other project component processes and benchmarks.
    (k) Adequacy of resources (up to 5 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the 
applicant makes available to graduate students receiving fellowships 
under this program, including facilities, equipment, and supplies.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    For this competition, a panel of non-Federal reviewers will review 
each application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR 
648.31. 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. Additional factors we consider in 
selecting an application for an award are in 34 CFR 648.32.
    Tiebreaker: If there is more than one application with the same 
score and insufficient funds to fund all the applications with the same 
ranking, the Department will apply the following procedure to determine 
which application or applications will receive an award:
    First Tiebreaker: The first tiebreaker will be an institution that 
has not received an award in this competition. If a tie remains, the 
second tiebreaker will be utilized. If this first tie-breaker provision 
exhausts available funds, then no further action is taken.
    Second Tiebreaker: The second tiebreaker will be the highest 
average score for the selection criterion 34 CFR 648.31(e), 
``Recruitment Plan.
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.206, before awarding grants under this program the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 
3474.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant 
if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of 
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system 
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not 
responsible.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may 
review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal 
agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
    5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 
applications in accordance with:
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials

[[Page 31193]]

produced in the United States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Open Licensing Requirements: The open licensing requirement in 2 
CFR 3474.20 does not apply to this program.
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    (c) Grantees will be required to submit a supplement to the Final 
Performance Report two years after the expiration of their GAANN grant. 
The purpose of this supplement is to identify and report the 
educational and employment outcome of each GAANN fellow.
    5. Performance Measures: The following performance measures will be 
used by the Department in assessing the performance of the GAANN 
Program and for Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110:
    (1) The percentage of GAANN fellows completing the terminal degree 
in the designated areas of national need.
    (2) The median time to completion of master's and doctoral degrees 
for GAANN fellows.
    (3) The percentage of GAANN fellows who have placements in faculty 
or professional positions in the area of their studies within one year 
of completing the degree.
    (4) The cost per successful outcome, where success is defined as 
terminal program graduate completion.
    If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your 
project's annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590) on those measures 
and steps taken toward improving performance toward those outcomes. 
Consequently, applicants are advised to include these outcome measures 
in conceptualizing the design, implementation, and evaluation of their 
proposed projects. These outcome measures should be included in the 
project evaluation plan, in addition to measures of your progress 
toward the goals and objectives specific to your project.
    All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance 
report documenting their success in addressing these performance 
measures.
    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 persons 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.

Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-08771 Filed 4-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P