Notice2021-27979
Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs
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Published
December 27, 2021
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
On February 13, 2019, the Department of Education (Department) published a set of common instructions for applicants seeking funds under a Department discretionary grant competition as part of a broader effort to reduce barriers for applicants. These common instructions are referenced in individual competition notices inviting applications (NIAs). In this notice, we are publishing a revised version of the common instructions that supersedes the version published on February 13, 2019.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 245 (Monday, December 27, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 245 (Monday, December 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73264-73267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27979]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education
Discretionary Grant Programs
AGENCY: Office for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice; revised common instructions.
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SUMMARY: On February 13, 2019, the Department of Education (Department)
published a set of common instructions
[[Page 73265]]
for applicants seeking funds under a Department discretionary grant
competition as part of a broader effort to reduce barriers for
applicants. These common instructions are referenced in individual
competition notices inviting applications (NIAs). In this notice, we
are publishing a revised version of the common instructions that
supersedes the version published on February 13, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald B. Petracca, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 6E306, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 401-6008. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f5a79a9b949991dba590818794969694b59091db929a83"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6f4c9c8c7cac288f6c3d2d4c7c5c5c7e6c3c288c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a>.
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: Background: This document provides
applicants with a centralized and up-to-date set of instructions for
applying to the Department's discretionary grant programs. Future NIAs
will reference this document in lieu of providing this series of
instructions within each NIA. Rarely, exceptions will need to be made
to these instructions and will be noted in an individual competition
NIA.
Revised Common Instructions
The Department is making several changes to the common instructions
for applicants provided in the notice published in the Federal Register
on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768). Throughout section 4, we have
addressed the Federal governmentwide transition from the requirement to
register in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> the Data Universal Numbering System number (DUNS)
to the implementation of the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). In other
sections, references to DUNS have been replaced with references to UEI.
In section 5(b), we have revised the instructions for submission of
paper applications, including by providing that requests to submit a
paper application may be made by email and updating the mailing address
for the submission of paper applications. We have also made some
technical updates to the instructions.
The revised common instructions are set forth as follows:
Common Set of Instructions for Applicants
Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package from the Department's website or <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
To obtain a copy via the Department's website, use the following
address: <a href="http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html">www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html</a>.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content and form of an application, together with the
forms you must submit, are in the application package for the program.
3. Submission Dates and Times: Submit applications for grants under
the program electronically using <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. For information (including
dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically,
please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section 5 of these
instructions.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
4. Unique Entity Identifier, Taxpayer Identification Number, and
System for Award Management: To do business with the Department, and to
submit your application electronically using <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, you must--
a. Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN);
b. Be registered in the System for Award Management (<a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>), the
Government's primary registrant database;
c. Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
Until April 3, 2022, entities that are not already registered in
<a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> and who wish to do business with the Federal Government must
obtain and/or use a valid Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number
to register their entity in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>. On and after April 4, 2022,
entities that are not registered in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> will be assigned a UEI when
they register and will not need to use a DUNS for entity registration
or reporting. If registering before April 4, 2022, you can obtain a
DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet at the following website: <a href="http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform">http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform</a>. A DUNS number can be created within one to two
business days. To register in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>, click on the ``Get Started''
link under the ``Register Your Entity. . .'' heading in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS). If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the IRS or
the Social Security Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow
two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process usually takes approximately 7 to 10
business days, but can take longer, depending on the completeness and
accuracy of the data you enter into the <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> database. Thus, if you
think you might want to apply for Federal financial assistance under a
program administered by the Department, please allow sufficient time to
obtain and register your DUNS number, if applying prior to April 4,
2022, and TIN. If registering in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> on or after April 4, 2022,
<a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> will issue you a UEI at the time you complete the registration
process. We recommend that you register early. If you are unable to
submit an application on <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by the application deadline because
you do not have an active SAM registration, you will not be considered
for funding.
Note: Once your <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> registration is active, it may be 24 to 48
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an
application through, <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
If you are currently registered with <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>, you may not need to
make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated
with your UEI is correct if you register on or after April 4, 2022. If
you register with a DUNS before April 4, 2022, please make certain that
the TIN associated with your DUNS is correct.
Note: You must update your SAM registration annually. This may take
three or more business days.
Information about SAM is available at <a href="http://www.SAM.gov">www.SAM.gov</a>. To further
assist you with registering in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> or updating your existing SAM
registration, see the Quick Start Guide for Grant Registrations and the
Entity Registration Video at <a href="https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration">https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration</a>.
In addition, in order to submit your application via <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>,
you must (1) register as an applicant using your UEI number and (2) be
designated by your organization's E-Biz Point of Contact as an
Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Details on these steps
are outlined at the following <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> web page: <a href="https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html">https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html</a>.
5. Other Submission Requirements:
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
We are participating as a partner in the Government-wide <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
site. Submit applications electronically using <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and do not
email them unless explicitly allowed in a competition NIA.
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You may access the electronic grant applications at <a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a>.
You must search for the downloadable application package for this
competition by the Assistance Listing Number (ALN). Do not include the
ALN's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.184, not
84.184D).
A <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> applicant must apply online using Workspace, a shared
environment in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> where members of a grant team may
simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an
application. An applicant can create an individual Workspace for each
application and establish for that application a collaborative
application package that allows more than one person in the applicant's
organization to work concurrently on an application. The <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
system also enables the applicant to reuse forms from previous
submissions, check forms in and out to complete them, and submit the
application package. For access to further instructions on how to apply
using <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, refer to: <a href="http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html">www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html</a>.
Please note the following:
<bullet> Applicants needing assistance with <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> may contact
the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Support Center either by calling 1-800-518-4726 or by
sending an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcafa9acacb3aea89cbbaebdb2a8aff2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ff8c8a8f8f908d8bbf988d9e918b8cd1989089">[email protected]</span></a>. The <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Support Center
is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for Federal
holidays. Applicants needing assistance from Principal Office staff
with their applications should contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section in the competition NIA during
normal business hours and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the
application deadline date.
<bullet> The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we
recommend that you leave yourself plenty of time to complete your
submission.
<bullet> Applications received by <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> are date- and time-
stamped upon submission. Your application must be fully uploaded and
submitted and must be date- and time-stamped by the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system
no later than 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline
date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept
your application if it is received--that is, date- and time-stamped by
the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system--after 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the
application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does
not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your
application from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, we will notify you if we are rejecting
your application because it was late. Receipt of a date- and time-stamp
does not mean that your application meets program eligibility
requirements described in the application package.
<bullet> You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> that are
included in the application package for the program to ensure that you
submit your application on time. You can also find the Education
Submission Procedures pertaining to <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> under News and Events on
the Department's G5 system home page at <a href="http://www.G5.gov">www.G5.gov</a>. In addition, for
specific guidance and procedures for submitting an application through
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, please refer to the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> website at: <a href="http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html">www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html</a>.
<bullet> When you submit your application electronically, all
documents must be submitted electronically, including all information
you typically provide on the following forms: The Application for
Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental
Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs
(ED 524), and all Department-specific assurances and certifications.
<bullet> When you submit your application electronically, you must
upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your
application as files in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or
Microsoft Word. Although applicants have the option of uploading any
narrative sections and all other attachments to their application in
either PDF or Microsoft Word, we recommend applicants submit all
documents as read-only flattened PDFs, meaning any fillable PDF files
must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files and not as
interactive or fillable PDF files, to better ensure applications are
processed in a more timely, accurate, and efficient manner. If you
choose to submit your application in Microsoft Word, you may do so
using any version of Microsoft Word (i.e., a document ending in a .doc
or .docx extension). If you upload a file type other than PDF or
Microsoft Word or if you submit a password-protected file, we will be
unable to review that material. Please note that this will likely
result in your application not being considered for funding. The
Department will not convert material from other formats to PDF or
Microsoft Word.
<bullet> After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> tracking number. <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> also will notify you
automatically by email if your application met all of the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
validation requirements or if there were any errors (such as submission
of your application by someone other than a registered AOR, issues with
your UEI number, or inclusion of an attachment with a file name that
contains special characters). You will be given an opportunity to
correct any errors and resubmit, but you must still meet the deadline
for submission of your application.
Once your application is successfully validated by <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> the
Department will retrieve your application from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and send you
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
Email confirmations and receipts from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> do not indicate
receipt by the Department, nor do they mean that your application is
complete or has met all application requirements. While your
application may have been successfully validated by <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, it also
must be reviewed in accordance with the Department's application
requirements as specified in the competition NIA and in these
application instructions. It is your responsibility to ensure that your
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
Additionally, we may request that you provide us with original
signatures on forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> System: If you experience problems submitting your
application through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, please contact the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Support
Desk immediately, toll-free, at 1-800-518-4726. The <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Support
Center will provide you with a Support Desk Case Number documenting
your communication. You must retain your Support Desk Case Number for
future reference as proof of your communication with the Support
Center. Please subsequently contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section in the competition NIA and provide
an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, along with the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Support Desk Case Number.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems within the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system, we will grant you an extension
until 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, the following
[[Page 73267]]
business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically,
provided we can verify the technical issues that affected your ability
to submit your application on time via your <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Support Desk
Case Number.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only
to technical problems with the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system. We will not grant you
an extension if you failed to fully register in order to submit your
application to <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> (including with the required UEI number and
TIN currently registered in SAM) before the application deadline date
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to
the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications.
We discourage paper applications, but if electronic submission is
not possible (e.g., you do not have access to the internet), (1) you
must provide a prior written notification that you intend to submit a
paper application and (2) your paper application must be postmarked by
the application deadline date.
The prior written notification may be submitted by email or by mail
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
the competition NIA. If you submit your notification by email, it must
be received by the Department no later than 14 calendar days before the
application deadline date. If you mail your notification to the
Department, it must be postmarked no later than 14 calendar days before
the application deadline date.
If you submit a paper application, you must have, and include on
your application, a UEI number and mail the original and two copies of
your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, OFO/
G5 Functional Application Team, Mail Stop 5C231, Attention: (Assistance
Listing Number + Suffix Letter), 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
We will not consider applications postmarked after the application
deadline date.
Note for Mail Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail your
application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and in Item 11 of the SF 424
the ALN, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under
which you are submitting your application; and
(2) The G5 Functional Application Team will notify you of the
Department's receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive
this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of the competition NIA.
Accommodations; Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities
who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the
application process should contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section in the competition NIA. If the Department
provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a
disability in connection with the application process, the individual's
application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations
in the competition NIA.
On request to the 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 <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. 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 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:
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Roberto J. Rodriguez,
Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2021-27979 Filed 12-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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