Notice2024-08328
Applications for New Awards; Student Support Services Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Student Support Services (SSS) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.042A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840-0017.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35080-35086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08328]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Student Support Services 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) 2025 for the
Student Support Services (SSS) Program, Assistance Listing Number
84.042A. This notice relates to the approved information collection
under OMB control number 1840-0017.
DATES:
Applications Available: May 1, 2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 15, 2024.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 13, 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
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554">www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lavelle Wright, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 987-1300. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87cbe6f1e2ebebe2a9d0f5eee0eff3c7e2e3a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="75391403101919105b22071c121d013510115b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 purpose of the SSS Program is to increase
the number of disadvantaged students, including low-income college
students, first-generation college students, and college students with
disabilities, who successfully complete a program of study at the
postsecondary level. The support services that are provided should
increase the retention and graduation rates for these categories of
students and facilitate their transfer from two-year to four-year
colleges and universities. The support services should also foster an
institutional climate that supports the success of students who are
limited English proficient, students from groups that are historically
underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with
disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths, students
who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, and
other disconnected students. Student support services should also
improve the financial and economic literacy of students.
Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference
priorities. Competitive Preference Priorities 1 and 2 are from the
Secretary's Notice of Final 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, of the
competitive preference priorities are addressed. If the applicant has
addressed the competitive preference priorities, this information must
also be listed on the SSS Program Profile Form.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2025 and any subsequent
year for 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
eight points to an application, depending on how well the application
meets these priorities.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority 1--Meeting Student Social,
Emotional, and Academic Needs (up to 3 points).
Projects that are designed to improve students' social, emotional,
academic, and career development needs, with a focus on underserved
students, by creating education and work-based settings that are
supportive, positive, identity-safe and inclusive, including with
regard to race, ethnicity, culture, language, and disability status,
through the following activity:
[[Page 35081]]
Supporting students to engage in high-quality, real-world, hands-on
learning that is aligned with classroom instruction and takes place in
community-based settings, such as apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships,
work-based learning, and service learning, and in civic activities,
that allow students to apply their knowledge and skills, strengthen
their employability skills, such as critical thinking, complex problem
solving, and effective communication, and access career exploration
opportunities.
Competitive Preference Priority 2--Increasing Postsecondary
Education Access, Affordability, Completion, and Post-Enrollment
Success (up to 5 points).
Projects that are designed to increase postsecondary access,
affordability, completion, and success for underserved students by
addressing one or both of the following priority areas:
(a) Increasing postsecondary education access and reducing the cost
of college by creating clearer pathways for students between
institutions and making transfer of course credits more seamless and
transparent (up to 2 points).
(b) Establishing a system of high-quality data collection and
analysis, such as data on enrollment, persistence, retention,
completion, and post-college outcomes, for transparency,
accountability, and institutional improvement (up to 3 points).
Definitions: The following definitions apply to this competition.
The definitions of ``demonstrates a rationale,'' ``logic model,''
``project component,'' and ``relevant outcomes'' are from 34 CFR 77.1.
The definitions of ``children or students with disabilities,''
``disconnected youth,'' ``English learner,'' ``military- or veteran-
connected student,'' and ``underserved student'' are from the
Supplemental Priorities.
Children or students with disabilities means children with
disabilities as defined in section 602(3) of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1401(3)) and 34 CFR 300.8,
or students with disabilities, as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(37), 705(202)(B)).
Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in
the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation
findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve
relevant outcomes.
Disconnected youth means an individual, between the ages 14 and 24,
who may be from a low-income background, experiences homelessness, is
in foster care, is involved in the justice system, or is not working or
not enrolled in (or at risk of dropping out of) an educational
institution.
English learner means an individual who is an English learner as
defined in section 8101(20) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965, as amended, or an individual who is an English language
learner as defined in section 203(7) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act.
Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the
theoretical and operational relationships among the key project
components and relevant outcomes.
Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use
resources such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program's (REL
Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at <a href="https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp">https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp</a> to help design their
logic models. Other sources include: <a href="https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf">https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf</a>, <a href="https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf">https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf</a>, and <a href="https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf">https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf</a>.
Military- or veteran-connected student means one or more of the
following:
(a) A child participating in an early learning program, a student
enrolled in preschool through grade 12, or a student enrolled in career
and technical education or postsecondary education who has a parent or
guardian who is a member of the uniformed services (as defined by 37
U.S.C. 101), in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard,
Space Force, National Guard, Reserves, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, or Public Health Service or is a veteran of the
uniformed services with an honorable discharge (as defined by 38 U.S.C.
3311).
(b) A student who is a member of the uniformed services, a veteran
of the uniformed services, or the spouse of a service member or
veteran.
(c) A child participating in an early learning program, a student
enrolled in preschool through grade 12, or a student enrolled in career
and technical education or postsecondary education who has a parent or
guardian who is a veteran of the uniformed services (as defined by 37
U.S.C. 101).
Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention,
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence
may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices
for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).
Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s)
the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the
specific goals of the program.
Underserved student means a student in one or more of the following
subgroups:
(a) A student who is living in poverty or is served by schools with
high concentrations of students living in poverty.
(b) A student of color.
(c) A student who is a member of a federally recognized Indian
Tribe.
(d) An English learner.
(e) A child or student with a disability.
(f) A disconnected youth.
(g) A student experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
(h) A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or
intersex (LGBTQI+) student.
(i) A student who is in foster care.
(j) A pregnant, parenting, or caregiving student.
(k) A student impacted by the justice system, including a formerly
incarcerated student.
(l) A student who is the first in their family to attend
postsecondary education.
(m) A student enrolling in or seeking to enroll in postsecondary
education for the first time at the age of 20 or older.
(n) A student who is working full-time while enrolled in
postsecondary education.
(o) A student who is enrolled in or is seeking to enroll in
postsecondary education who is eligible for a Pell Grant.
(p) An adult student in need of improving their basic skills or an
adult student with limited English proficiency.
(q) A military- or veteran-connected student.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 20 U.S.C. 1070a-14.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75 (except for
75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The
Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative
[[Page 35082]]
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards in 2 CFR part 200 (Uniform Guidance), as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations
for this program in 34 CFR part 646. (e) The Supplemental Priorities.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education (IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$1,211,000,000 for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2025, of which we
intend to use an estimated $381,883,715 for new SSS awards under this
competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow
enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates
funds for the Federal TRIO Programs.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $148,181-$1,659,366.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $324,456.
Maximum Award: The maximum award varies based on whether the
applicant is currently receiving an SSS grant, as well as the type of
project and number of students served. For applicants not currently
receiving an SSS Program grant, the maximum awards are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum amount
Type of proposal *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular SSS Proposal Serving a Minimum of 140 Student $272,364
Participants...........................................
Regular SSS Proposal Serving a Minimum of 100 Student 272,364
Participants who are Students with Disabilities........
English as a Second Language (ESL) SSS Proposal Serving 272,364
a Minimum of 140 Student Participants..................
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) 272,364
and Health Science SSS Proposal Serving a Minimum of
120 Student Participants...............................
Teacher Preparation SSS Proposal Serving a Minimum of 272,364
140 Student Participants...............................
Veterans SSS Proposal Serving a Minimum of 120 Student 272,364
Participants...........................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For applicants proposing to serve fewer than the minimum number of
student participants specified in the above table, the maximum award is
an amount equal to: $1,945 per student participant for Regular, ESL,
and Teacher Preparation proposals; $2,724 per student participant for
projects serving Students with Disabilities (SWD proposals); and $2,270
per student participant for STEM (including Health Science) and
Veterans proposals.
For applicants currently receiving an SSS Program grant, the
maximum award amount is the greater of (a) $272,364 or (b) 100 percent
of the applicant's base award amount for FY 2024.
For any currently funded applicant that proposes to serve fewer
students than it served in FY 2024, the maximum award is the amount
that corresponds with the cost per participant previously established
for the project in FY 2024.
Estimated Number of New Awards: 1,159.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs or combinations of IHEs.
Note: Combinations of IHEs under this competition must follow the
procedures under 34 CFR 75.127-75.129 in developing a group
application. This includes developing an agreement that details the
activities that each member of the group plans to perform and binds
each member of the group to every statement and assurance made by the
applicant in the application. This agreement must be submitted with the
application.
2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: Section 402D(d)(4) of the HEA
requires that all successful applicants that use SSS Program funds to
provide grant aid to students pursuant to section 402D(d)(1) of the HEA
must provide matching funds, in cash, from non-Federal funds, in an
amount that is not less than 33 percent of the total amount of the SSS
Program funds used for this aid. This matching requirement does not
apply to a grant recipient that is an IHE eligible to receive funds
under part A or part B of title III or under title V of the HEA.
b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This competition involves supplement,
not supplant funding requirements. Under section 404B(e) of the HEA (20
U.S.C. 1070a-22(e)), grant funds awarded under this program must be
used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local
funds that would otherwise be expended to carry out activities assisted
under this program.
c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: For entities eligible to apply
to this competition, the program regulations at 34 CFR 694.11 limit
indirect cost reimbursement to the rate determined in the entity's
negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, or 8 percent of a modified
total direct cost base, whichever amount is less. For more information
regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate,
please see <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html">www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html</a>.
d. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include
any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All
administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to
Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform
Guidance.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities
described in its application.
4. Other: An applicant may submit multiple applications if each
separate application describes a project that will serve a different
campus or a different population (section 402A(c)(5) of the HEA).
Under section 402A(h)(1) of the HEA, the term ``different campus''
means a site of an IHE that--(a) is geographically apart from the main
campus of the institution; (b) is permanent in nature; and (c) offers
courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or
other recognized educational credential.
Under section 402A(h)(2) of the HEA, the term ``different
population'' means a group of individuals that an eligible entity
desires to serve through an SSS grant that is separate and distinct
from any other population that the entity has applied to serve using
Federal TRIO Program funds, or, while sharing some of the same needs as
another population that the eligible entity has applied to
[[Page 35083]]
serve using Federal TRIO Program funds, has distinct needs for
specialized services. To implement the requirement in section
402A(h)(2) of the HEA for this competition, the Secretary is
designating the populations to be served as: participants who meet the
specific requirements for SSS services, participants who are students
with disabilities, participants who need ESL services, participants
receiving services in the STEM fields, participants receiving Teacher
Preparation Services, and participants who have served in the armed
forces. These different populations need different types of services.
Accordingly, the Secretary has determined that projects serving these
different populations should be subject to different standards for the
minimum number of participants. An applicant may submit more than one
application as long as each application proposes to serve a different
population. For project types other than a regular SSS project, an
applicant must propose to serve 100 percent of the students in the
specific project type.
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
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554">www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554</a>, which contain requirements and
information on how to submit an application.
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
646.31. We reference additional regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative, Part III of
the application, is where you, the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend
that you (1) limit the application narrative, which includes the budget
narrative, to no more than 65 pages and (2) use the following
standards:
<bullet> A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
<bullet> Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, excluding titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
<bullet> Use a font that is either 12-point font or larger or no
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
<bullet> Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended 65-page limit does not apply to Part I, the
Application for Federal Assistance cover sheet (SF 424); Part II, the
Budget Information Summary form (ED Form 524); Part III-A, the SSS
Program Profile form; Part III-B, the one-page Project Abstract form;
or Part IV, the assurances and certifications. The recommended page
limit also does not apply to a table of contents, which you should
include in the application narrative. You must include your complete
response to the selection criteria in the application narrative.
We recommend that any application addressing the competitive
preference priorities include no more than three additional pages each
for priorities 1 and 2, if addressed. Applications that do not follow
the page limit and formatting recommendations will not be penalized.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 646.21 and 75.210.
We will award up to 105 points to an application under the
selection criteria and up to 8 additional points to an application
under the competitive preference priorities, for a total score of up to
113 points. The maximum number of points available for each criterion
is indicated in parentheses.
(a) Need for the project. (up to 24 points)
The Secretary evaluates the need for an SSS project proposed at the
applicant institution on the basis of the extent to which the
application contains clear evidence of--
(1) A high number or percentage, or both, of students enrolled or
accepted for enrollment at the applicant institution who meet the
eligibility requirements of 34 CFR 646.3 (up to 8 points);
(2) The academic and other problems that eligible students
encounter at the applicant institution (up to 8 points); and
(3) The differences between eligible SSS students compared to an
appropriate group, based on the following indicators:
(i) Retention and graduation rates.
(ii) Grade point averages.
(iii) Graduate and professional school enrollment rates (four-year
colleges only).
(iv) Transfer rates from two-year to four-year institutions (two-
year colleges only) (up to 8 points).
(b) Objectives. (up to 8 points) The Secretary evaluates the
quality of the applicant's proposed objectives in the following areas
on the basis of the extent to which they are both ambitious, as related
to the need data provided under paragraph (a) of this section, and
attainable, given the project's plan of operation, budget, and other
resources.
(1) Retention in postsecondary education (3 points).
(2) In good academic standing at grantee institution (2 points).
(3) Two-year institutions only.
(i) Certificate or degree completion (1 point); and
(ii) Certificate or degree completion and transfer to a four-year
institution (2 points).
(4) Four-year institutions only. Completion of a baccalaureate
degree (3 points).
(c) Plan of operation. (up to 30 points) The Secretary evaluates
the quality of the applicant's plan of operation on the basis of the
following:
(1) The plan to inform the institutional community (students,
faculty, and staff) of the goals, objectives, and services of the
project and the eligibility requirements for participation in the
project (up to 3 points).
(2) The plan to identify, select, and retain project participants
with academic need (up to 3 points).
(3) The plan for assessing each individual participant's need for
specific services and monitoring his or her academic progress at the
institution to ensure satisfactory academic progress (up to 4 points).
(4) The plan to provide services that address the goals and
objectives of the project (up to 10 points).
(5) The applicant's plan to ensure proper and efficient
administration of the project, including the organizational placement
of the project; the time commitment of key project staff; the specific
plans for financial management, student records management, and
personnel management; and, where appropriate, its plan for coordination
with other programs for disadvantaged students (up to 10 points).
(d) Institutional commitment. (up to 16 points) The Secretary
evaluates the institutional commitment to the proposed project on the
basis of the extent to which the applicant has--
[[Page 35084]]
(1) Committed facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, and other
resources to supplement the grant and enhance project services (up to 6
points);
(2) Established administrative and academic policies that enhance
participants' retention at the institution and improve their chances of
graduating from the institution (up to 6 points);
(3) Demonstrated a commitment to minimize the dependence on student
loans in developing financial aid packages for project participants by
committing institutional resources to the extent possible (up to 2
points); and
(4) Assured the full cooperation and support of the Admissions,
Student Aid, Registrar and data collection and analysis components of
the institution (up to 2 points).
(e) Quality of personnel. (up to 9 points) To determine the quality
of personnel the applicant plans to use, the Secretary looks for
information that shows--
(1) The qualifications required of the project director, including
formal education and training in fields related to the objectives of
the project, and experience in designing, managing, or implementing SSS
or similar projects (up to 3 points);
(2) The qualifications required of other personnel to be used in
the project, including formal education, training, and work experience
in fields related to the objectives of the project (up to 3 points);
and
(3) The quality of the applicant's plan for employing personnel who
have succeeded in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting the
project's target population (up to 3 points).
(f) Budget. (up to 5 points) The Secretary evaluates the extent to
which the project budget is reasonable, cost-effective, and adequate to
support the project.
(g) Evaluation plan. (up to 8 points) The Secretary evaluates the
quality of the evaluation plan for the project on the basis of the
extent to which--
(1) The applicant's methods for evaluation--
(i) Are appropriate to the project and include both quantitative
and qualitative evaluation measures (up to 2 points); and
(ii) Examine in specific and measurable ways, using appropriate
baseline data, the success of the project in improving academic
achievement, retention and graduation of project participants (up to 2
points); and
(2) The applicant intends to use the results of an evaluation to
make programmatic changes based upon the results of project evaluation
(up to 4 points).
(h) Quality of the project design. (up to 5 points)
In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project,
the Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed project
demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice).
Note: Under the ``Objectives'' selection criterion in paragraph (b)
above, applicants must address the standardized objectives in 34 CFR
646.21(b)(1) through (4) related to the participants' academic
achievements, including retention, good academic standing, graduation,
and transfer rates. The graduation objective should be measured by
cohorts of students who become SSS Program participants in each year of
the project and should be compared to a relevant and valid comparison
group. The graduation, certificate, and transfer rates for two-year
institutions should be measured over a four-year period and that of
four-year institutions should be measured over a six-year period.
Note: For the selection criterion ``Quality of personnel'' in
paragraph (e), applicants are encouraged to include in their
application that they are committed to paying their staff a living wage
for the local area and providing benefits.
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
646.21 and 75.210 and the competitive preference priorities. The
individual scores of the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by
the number of reviewers to determine the peer review score received in
the review process. Additionally, in accordance with 34 CFR 646.22, the
Secretary will award up to 15 prior experience points to applicants
that have conducted an SSS Program project within the last three
Federal government fiscal years, based on their documented experience.
Prior experience points, if any, will be added to the application's
averaged reader score to determine the total score for each
application.
If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the same
total scores, the Secretary will choose among the tied applications so
as to serve geographical areas that have been underserved by the SSS
Program by first selecting applicants from institutions that are not
already recommended for new awards on the SSS slates. If there are
still insufficient funds for all applications with the same score, the
Secretary will select applicants from institutions that are designated
as eligible to apply under the HEA titles III and V programs according
to the most recent version (at the time of publication of this notice)
of the Eligibility Matrix.
Finally, if there are still tied applications after implementing
both of these tiebreakers, the Secretary will select applications from
institutions with the highest percentage of undergraduate students who
are Pell Grant recipients.
3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions:
Consistent with 2 CFR 200.206, before awarding grants under this
competition, the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by
applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.208, the Secretary may impose specific
conditions and, under 2 CFR 3474.10, in appropriate circumstances,
high-risk conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not
financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a
financial or other management system that does not meet the standards
in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a
prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2), we must make a judgment about
your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under
Federal awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before
we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about
you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred
to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may
review
[[Page 35085]]
and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal agency
previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of your currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2
CFR part 200, appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2
CFR part 200, appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting
applications in accordance with--
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR
200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works.
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables.
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to <a href="http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html">www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html</a>.
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
5. Performance Measures: The success of the SSS Program is measured
by the percentage of SSS participants that complete a program of
postsecondary education. The following performance measures have been
developed to track progress toward achieving program success:
(a) The percentage of first-time, full-time first-year SSS Program
participants who are still enrolled at the beginning of the next
academic year or have earned a degree at a two-year grantee institution
or transferred from a two-year to a four-year institution.
(b) The percentage of first-time, full-time first-year SSS Program
participants at four-year institutions who received a bachelor's degree
from the grantee institution within six years (Note: The Department
will calculate this measure based both on 100 percent and 150 percent
of normal completion time).
(c) The percentage of first-time, full-time SSS Program
participants at two-year institutions who received an associate's
degree and/or transferred to a four-year institution within three years
(Note: The Department will calculate this measure based both on 100
percent and 150 percent of normal completion time).
(d) The cost per successful outcome. All SSS Program grantees are
required to submit an annual performance report documenting the
persistence and degree attainment of their participants. Since students
take different amounts of time to complete their degrees, multiple
years of performance report data are needed to determine the degree
completion rates of SSS Program participants. The Department will
aggregate the data provided in the annual performance reports from all
grantees to determine the overall program accomplishment level.
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, the
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the
[[Page 35086]]
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 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
<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.
Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-08328 Filed 4-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.