Notice2024-15538
Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-Tribal Controlled Colleges or Universities (TCCUs) Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) Grant 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
July 18, 2024
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the RDI grant program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58357-58362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs">www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs</a>.
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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e1ab80928e8fcfa28e959593848d8da18485cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="652f04160a0b4b260a1111170009092500014b020a13">[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 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 <a href="http://Forbes.com">Forbes.com</a>.
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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
[[Page 58358]]
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.
[[Page 58359]]
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: <a href="https://www.cfo.gov/resources/uniform-guidance/">https://www.cfo.gov/resources/uniform-guidance/</a>.
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 <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html">https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html</a>) 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 <a href="http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html">www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html</a>. (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: <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/buy-america/index.html">https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/buy-america/index.html</a>.
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="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs</a>, 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
[[Page 58360]]
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:
<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, including 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 or larger, and 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 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
[[Page 58361]]
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 <a href="http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html">www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html</a>.
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 <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. 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
<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. 2024-15538 Filed 7-17-24; 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.