Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-Tribal Controlled Colleges or Universities (TCCUs) Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) Grant Program, 58357-58362 [2024-15538]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58357-58362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15538]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of 
Postsecondary Education--Tribal Controlled Colleges or Universities 
(TCCUs) Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the 
RDI grant program.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: July 18, 2024.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 16, 2024.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: November 15, 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/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Cottrell, Ph.D., U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5C122, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7530. 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 RDI grant program is designed to provide 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), TCCUs, and 
Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Asian American and 
Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNH), Hispanic 
Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal 
Institutions (NASNTIs), and/or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), 
or consortia led by an eligible institution of higher education 
(institution), with funds to implement transformational investments in 
research infrastructure, including research productivity, faculty 
expertise, graduate programs, physical infrastructure, human capital 
development, and partnerships leading to increases in external funding.
    For HBCUs and MSIs, the RDI grant program supports institutions in 
increasing their level of research activity in alignment with the 
Carnegie Classification designations. For TCCUs, which currently have 
their own Carnegie Classification, this program seeks to support an 
increase in research activities, undergraduate research opportunities, 
faculty development, research development, and infrastructure, 
including physical infrastructure and human capital development.
    Assistance Listing Number: 84.116H.
    OMB Control Number: 1894-0006.
    Background: TCCUs provide access to a postsecondary education for 
many of the Nation's American Indian and Alaska Native students. In the 
fall of 2021, the 35 Title IV degree-granting TCCUs enrolled over 
13,000, or 14 percent of, American Indian and Alaska Native 
undergraduate students.\1\ Between July 2021 and June 2022, 20 of those 
TCCUs cumulatively conferred 380 bachelor's degrees to American Indian 
and Alaska Native students, representing 87.4 percent of all bachelor's 
degrees conferred by TCCUs.\2\
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    \1\ U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS, Fall Enrollment 
component.
    \2\ U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS, Completions component.
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    Because of their central role in educating American Indian and 
Alaska Native students, it is important for TCCUs to have the resources 
they need to excel in research activity. Teaching and research go hand 
in hand in ensuring student \3\ and institutional success.\4\ Research 
activity can impact funding, faculty and student recruitment and 
retention, and student research opportunities, and promote diversity in 
graduate students and faculty at an institution.
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    \3\ NSSE. (n.d.). Digging Deeper Into the Quality of High-Impact 
Practices: HIPs Must be ``Done Well'' to Achieve Benefits.
    \4\ Rosowsky, D. (2022, March 2). The Role of Research at 
Universities: Why it Matters. In Forbes.com.
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    TCCUs play a critical role in educating Native students and provide 
opportunities to produce research on American Indian issues from an 
American Indian and Alaska Native perspective.\5\ According to the 
National Academies, data provided to their committee looking at MSIs 
and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) showed 
that 93 percent of the students enrolled in STEM programs at four-year 
TCCUs in the fall of 2016 were Native American and Alaska Natives.\6\
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    \5\ Stull, G., Spyridakis, D., Gasman, M., Castro Samayoa, A., & 
Booker, Y. (2015). Redefining Success: How Tribal Colleges and 
Universities Build Nations, Strengthen Sovereignty, and Persevere 
Through Challenges.
    \6\ Espinosa, L.L., McGuire, K., Miles Jackson, L. (2019). 
Minority Serving Institutions: America's Underutilized Resource for 
Strengthening the STEM Workforce.
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    However, TCCUs face obstacles in their efforts to sustain and 
implement extensive research activities. Administrations often have 
difficulty maintaining research activities due to the young nature of 
the institutions and

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their lack of research support offices.\7\ One study found that TCCUs' 
biggest obstacles in developing research activities are scheduling, 
infrastructure needs (i.e., lack of space, equipment, and literature), 
partnership challenges (i.e., lack of Tribal community knowledge), 
faculty capacity, and mistrust inside and outside of Tribal 
communities.\8\ Additionally, recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic 
have further demonstrated and exacerbated barriers to improvement, 
including technology infrastructure, funding constraints (i.e., long-
term funding),\9\ and isolation (i.e., remote areas).\10\ However, one 
study found that the potential benefits of research activities for 
faculty and student development--such as knowledge production and 
dissemination through conferences, collaborations, and presentations--
may far outweigh the costs of overcoming these obstacles. For example, 
faculty have reported that research opportunities have allowed them to 
introduce to their classes new information that was not previously 
available. Additionally, many researchers emphasized that Tribal 
college research is ``more culturally sensitive and community-grounded, 
both in the methods and in the results.'' \11\ Therefore, we focus this 
competition on eligible TCCUs. In addition, the Department will make 
awards from unfunded applications submitted by HBCUs and MSIs from the 
FY2023 RDI program grant competition with the remaining FY2024 
available funds.
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    \7\ Riley, E.T., Vadiee, N., & Ganguli, A. (2017). The Evolution 
of Research at Tribal Colleges and Universities. In Tribal College 
Journal, 29(2).
    \8\ Mortensen, M. (2001). Survey of Tribal Colleges Reveals 
Research's Benefits, Obstacles. In Tribal College Journal, 13(2).
    \9\ Redden, E. (2021, March 15). Trying Times for Tribal 
Colleges. In Inside Higher Ed.
    \10\ Stull, G., Spyridakis, D., Gasman, M., Castro Samayoa, A., 
& Booker, Y. (2015). Redefining Success: How Tribal Colleges and 
Universities Build Nations, Strengthen Sovereignty, and Persevere 
Through Challenges.
    \11\ Mortensen, M. (2001). Survey of Tribal Colleges Reveals 
Research's Benefits, Obstacles. In Tribal College Journal, 13(2).
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    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority which is 
from the notice of final priorities, requirements, and definitions for 
this program published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register 
(2024 NFP).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2024 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this notice contains one absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Funding for Tribal Controlled Colleges and Universities' Research 
and Development Infrastructure.
    Projects proposed by TCCUs to improve their research and 
development activities, including infrastructure, faculty development, 
and academic programs.
    Requirements: For FY 2024 and any subsequent year in which we make 
awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, 
the following requirements apply. The requirements are from the 2024 
NFP.
    Limitation on Grant Awards. The Department will only make awards to 
applicants that are not the individual or lead applicant in a current 
active grant from the RDI grant program.
    Use of Funds: Grantees must conduct one or more of the following 
activities:
    (1) Providing for the improvement of infrastructure existing on the 
date of the grant award, including deferred maintenance, or the 
establishment of new physical infrastructure, including instructional 
program spaces, laboratories, and research facilities relating to the 
fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics, 
health, agriculture, education, medicine, law, and other disciplines.
    (2) Hiring and retaining faculty, students, research-related staff, 
or other personnel, including research personnel skilled in operating, 
using, or applying technology, equipment, or devices to conduct or 
support research.
    (3) Supporting research internships and fellowships for students, 
including undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral positions, which 
may include providing direct student financial assistance and other 
supports to such students.
    Note: Under 20 U.S.C. 1138(d)(1), funds made available under FIPSE 
may not be used to provide direct financial assistance in the form of 
grants or scholarships to students who do not meet eligibility criteria 
under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).
    (4) Creating new, or expanding existing, academic positions, 
including internships, fellowships, and post-doctoral positions, in 
fields of research for which research and development infrastructure 
funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program.
    (5) Creating and supporting inter- and intra-institutional research 
centers (including formal and informal communities of practice) in 
fields of research for which research and development infrastructure 
funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, including 
hiring staff, purchasing supplies and equipment, and funding travel to 
relevant conferences and seminars to support the work of such centers.
    (6) Building new institutional support structures and departments 
that help faculty learn about, and increase faculty and student access 
to, Federal research and development grant funds and non-Federal 
academic research grants.
    (7) Building data and collaboration infrastructure so that early 
findings and research can be securely shared to facilitate peer review 
and other appropriate collaboration.
    (8) Providing programs of study and courses in fields of research 
for which research and development infrastructure funds have been 
awarded to the grantee under this program.
    (9) Paying operating and administrative expenses for, and 
coordinating project partnerships with members of, the consortium on 
behalf of which the eligible institution has received a grant under 
this program, provided that grantees may not pay for the expenses of 
any R1 institutions that are members of the consortia.
    (10) Installing or extending the life and usability of basic 
systems and components of campus facilities related to research, 
including high-speed broadband internet infrastructure sufficient to 
support digital and technology-based learning.
    (11) Expanding, remodeling, renovating, or altering biomedical and 
behavioral research facilities existing on the date of the grant award 
that received support under section 404I of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 283k).
    (12) Acquiring and installing furniture, fixtures, and 
instructional research-related equipment and technology for academic 
instruction in campus facilities in fields of research for which 
research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the 
grantee under this program.
    (13) Providing increased funding to programs that support research 
and development at the eligible institution that are funded by the 
National Institutes of Health, including through their Path to 
Excellence and Innovation program.
    (14) Faculty professional development.
    (15) Planning purposes.
    Definition: The definition below applies to this competition and is 
from the 2024 NFP.
    Tribal Controlled Colleges or Universities has the meaning ascribed 
it in section 316(b)(3) of the HEA.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d.

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    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 (OMB) 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 Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance 
in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the 
Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The 2024 NFP.
    Note: The Department will implement the provisions included in the 
OMB final rule, OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, which 
amends 2 CFR parts 25, 170, 175, 176, 180, 182, 183, 184, and 200, on 
October 1, 2024. Grant applicants that anticipate a performance period 
start date on or after October 1, 2024 should follow the provisions 
stated in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance (89 FR 
30046, April 22, 2024) when preparing an application. For more 
information about these updated regulations please visit: https://www.cfo.gov/resources/uniform-guidance/.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,000,000.
    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 Average Size of Awards: $2,000,000.
    Maximum Award Amount: $2,000,000 for a 48-month project period.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are TCCUs (as defined 
in this notice). Eligible applicants may apply individually or as lead 
applicants of a consortium with other eligible applicants and/or other 
partners such as an institution of higher education with an R1 Carnegie 
Classification, community colleges, or non-profit, industry, and 
philanthropic partners. The lead applicant must be an eligible 
applicant.
    2. a. Matching Requirements and Exception: Grantees must provide a 
1:1 match, which can include in-kind donations. The Secretary may waive 
the matching requirement on a case-by-case basis upon a showing of any 
of the following exceptional circumstances:
    (i) The difficulty of raising matching funds for a program to serve 
an area with high rates of poverty in the lead applicant's geographic 
location, defined as a Census tract, a set of contiguous Census tracts, 
an American Indian Reservation, Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area (as 
defined by the U.S. Census Bureau), Alaska Native Village Statistical 
Area or Alaska Native Regional Corporation Area, Native Hawaiian 
Homeland Area, or other Tribal land or county that has a poverty rate 
of at least 25 percent as determined every 5 years using American 
Community Survey 5-Year data;
    (ii) Serving a significant population of students from low-income 
backgrounds at the lead applicant location, defined as at least 50 
percent (or the eligibility threshold for the appropriate institutional 
sector available at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html) of degree-seeking enrolled students receiving need-
based grant aid under Title IV of the HEA;
    (iii) Significant economic hardship as demonstrated by low average 
educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent 
undergraduate student at the lead applicant institution, in comparison 
with the average educational and general expenditures per full-time 
equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar 
instruction without need of a waiver, as determined by the Secretary in 
accordance with the annual process for designation of eligible Titles 
III and V institutions; or
    (iv) Information that otherwise demonstrates a commitment to the 
long-term sustainability of the applicant's projects, such as evidence 
of a consortium relationship with an R1 institution, a State bond, 
State matching, planning documents such as a campus plan, multi-year 
faculty hiring plan, support of industry, Federal grants received, or a 
demonstration of institutional commitment that may include commitment 
from the institution's board. (2024 NFP)
    Note: Applicants seeking a waiver of the matching requirement must 
provide the waiver request information outlined above within their 
application.
    b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: A grantee's indirect cost 
reimbursement is limited to 8 percent of a modified total direct cost 
base. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a 
negotiated indirect cost rate, please see www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html. (2024 NFP).
    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 Guidance 
for Federal Financial Assistance.
    3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.
    4. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is subject to the 
Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58) domestic sourcing 
requirements. Accordingly, under this program, grantees and their 
subrecipients (subgrantees) and contractors may not use their grant 
funds for infrastructure projects or activities (e.g., construction, 
remodeling, and broadband infrastructure) unless--
    (a) All iron and steel used in the infrastructure project or 
activity are produced in the United States;
    (b) All manufactured products used in the infrastructure project or 
activity are produced in the United States; and
    (c) All construction materials are manufactured in the United 
States.
    Grantees may request waivers to these requirements by submitting a 
Build America, Buy America Act Waiver Request Form. For more 
information, including a link to the Waiver Request Form, see the 
Department's Build America Buy America Waiver website at: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/buy-america/.

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 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to 
submit an application.
    2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the RDI grant 
program, your application may include business information that you 
consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' 
and describe the process we use in

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determining whether any of that information is proprietary and, thus, 
protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended).
    Because we plan to make successful applications available to the 
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business 
information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600 (Predisclosure Notification 
Procedures for Confidential Commercial Information), please designate 
in your application any information that you believe is exempt from 
disclosure under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of 
your application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the 
page number or numbers on which we can find this information. For 
additional information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this program.
    4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 
Additionally, no funds received by an institution of higher education 
under this section may be used to fund any activities or services 
provided by institutions that are not eligible as lead applicants in 
this competition.
    5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria and the priority that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) 
limit the application narrative to no more than 50 pages and (2) use 
the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, 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; the one-page abstract, the resumes, the 
bibliography, or the letters of support; or the waiver request for the 
matching requirement. However, the recommended 50-page limit does apply 
to all of the application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210. The points assigned to each criterion are 
indicated in the parentheses next to the criterion. An application may 
earn up to a total of 110 points based on the selection criteria. All 
applications will be evaluated based on the selection criteria as 
follows:
    (a) Significance. (Maximum 25 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system 
change or improvement. (up to 10 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the proposed project involves the 
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, 
or are alternatives to, existing strategies. (up to 5 points)
    (iii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project. (up to 10 points)
    (b) Quality of the Project Design. (Maximum 30 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the project design.
    (2) In determining the quality of the project design, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(up to 5 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the proposed activities constitute a 
coherent, sustained program of training in the field. (up to 5 points)
    (iii) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance. (up to 5 points)
    (iv) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established in the 
competition. (up to 5 points)
    (v) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with or 
build on similar or related efforts in order to improve relevant 
outcomes (as defined this notice), using nonpublic funds or resources. 
(up to 5 points)
    (vi) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with, 
or build on similar or related efforts, to improve relevant outcomes 
(as defined in this notice), using existing funding streams from other 
programs or policies supported by community, State, and Federal 
resources. (up to 5 points)
    (c) Quality of Project Services. (Maximum 15 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. (up to 5 points)
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the 
proposed project on the intended recipients of those services. (up to 5 
points)
    (ii) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be 
provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient 
strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the 
leveraging of non-project resources. (up to 5 points)
    Note: For the purpose of this competition, technical assistance 
services could include, for example, technical assistance provided to 
faculty, staff, and students (at all levels) designed to increase 
research activities, including to expand institutional capacity to 
secure new funding, support student research experiences, or facilitate 
faculty professional development.
    (d) Adequacy of Resources. (Maximum 15 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
lead applicant organization. (up to 5 points)
    (ii) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes, 
activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or 
organization at the end of Federal funding. (up to 5 points)
    (iii) The potential for continued support of the project after 
Federal

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funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of 
appropriate entities to such support. (up to 5 points)
    (e) Quality of the Management Plan. (Maximum 10 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks. (up to 5 points)
    (ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and 
continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (up to 
5 points)
    (f) Quality of the Project Evaluation. (Maximum 15 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
timely guidance for quality assurance. (up to 5 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes. (up to 5 points)
    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible. (up to 5 points)
    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 three external reviewers will 
read, prepare a written evaluation of, and score all eligible 
applications using the selection criteria provided in this notice. The 
individual scores of the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by 
the number of reviewers to determine the peer review score. The 
Department may use more than one tier of reviews in evaluating 
applications. The Department will prepare a rank order of applications 
for the absolute priority based solely on the evaluation of their 
quality according to the selection criteria. The rank order of 
applications will be used to create a slate.
    In the event there are two or more applications with the same final 
score in the rank order listing, and there are insufficient funds to 
fully support each of these applications, the Department will apply the 
following procedure to determine which application or applications will 
receive an award:
    First Tiebreaker: The first tiebreaker will be the highest average 
score for the selection criterion titled ``Adequacy of Resources.'' If 
a tie remains, the second tiebreaker will be utilized.
    Second Tiebreaker: The second tiebreaker will be the highest 
average score for the selection criterion titled ``Significance.'' If a 
tie remains, the third tiebreaker will be utilized.
    Third Tiebreaker: The third tiebreaker will be the applicant with 
the highest percentage of Pell Grant students enrolled at the lead 
applicant institution based on the most recent IPEDS data available.
    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 judgement 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 Guidance for Federal 
Financial Assistance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 
applications in accordance with:
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United 
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We also may notify you 
informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.

[[Page 58362]]

    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 purposes of Department reporting under 
34 CFR 75.110, the Department will use the following program-level 
performance measures to evaluate the success of the RDI grant program:
    (a) The annual research and development expenditures in:
    (i) Science and engineering.
    (ii) Non-science and engineering.
    (b) Annual faculty development expenditures.

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, 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 Department documents 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 Department documents 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. 2024-15538 Filed 7-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P