Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowship Program

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Published

January 8, 2025

Issuing agencies

Education Department

Abstract

The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications (NIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowship Program.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1469-1474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30920]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research
Abroad (FRA) Fellowship 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 (NIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the
Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowship Program.

DATES: Applications Available: January 8, 2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 10, 2025.
Preapplication Webinar and Applicant Resources: The Department will
hold a preapplication meeting via webinar for prospective applicants.
Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the
Fulbright-Hays FRA website at <a href="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-higher-education/ifle/fulbright-hays-faculty-research-abroad-fra-program#How-To-Apply">https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-higher-education/ifle/fulbright-hays-faculty-research-abroad-fra-program#How-To-Apply</a>. For additional information about the
Department's discretionary grant process, please review the overview
and resources at <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/grantmaking/index.html">www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/grantmaking/index.html</a>.
The resources will be especially helpful for individuals who are
exploring the Department's funding opportunities for the first time.
Note: For new potential grantees unfamiliar with grantmaking at the
Department, please consult our ``Getting Started with Discretionary
Grant Applications'' web page at <a href="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/apply-grant/education-grants-application-management-closeout">https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/apply-grant/education-grants-application-management-closeout</a>.

ADDRESSES: The addresses pertinent to this competition--including the
addresses for obtaining and submitting an application--can be found
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Marrion, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5C110, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 987-01083. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6f0e4f7f6d3d298d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="521400131237367c353d24">[email&#160;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 Fulbright-Hays FRA Fellowship Program
provides grants to colleges and universities to fund fellowships for
faculty members seeking to improve their area studies and foreign
language skills by conducting research abroad. The program is designed
to contribute to the development and improvement of the study of modern
foreign languages and area studies in the United States.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.019A.
OMB Control Number: 1840-0005.
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and three
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority and Competitive Preference
Priorities 1 and 2 are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR
663.21(d)). Competitive Preference Priority 3 is 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).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2025, this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that
meet this priority.
This priority is:
Specific Geographic Regions of the World.
A research project that focuses on one or more of the following
geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and
Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and
its territories).
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2025, the following
priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional 1 point to an application that
meets Competitive Preference Priority 1; an additional 2 points to an
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2; and an
additional 3 points to an application that meets Competitive Preference
Priority 3, for a maximum of 6 additional points.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority 1--Focus on Less Commonly Taught
Languages (1 point).
A research project that focuses on any modern foreign language
except French, German, or Spanish.

[[Page 1470]]

Competitive Preference Priority 2--Thematic Focus on Academic
Fields (2 points).
A research project conducted in modern foreign languages and area
studies with an academic focus on any of the following academic fields:
science (including climate change), technology, engineering (including
infrastructure studies), mathematics, computer science, psychology,
social work, education (comparative or international), international
development, political science, public health (including epidemiology),
or economics.
Competitive Preference Priority 3--Promoting Equity in Student
Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (3 points).
Projects implemented by one or more of the following entities:
(1) Community college (as defined in this notice).
(2) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (as defined in
this notice).
(3) Tribal College or University (as defined in this notice).
(4) Minority-serving institution (as defined in this notice).
Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental
Priorities and 34 CFR 662.7.
Area studies means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects
of a society or societies, including the study of their geography,
history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, and
languages.
Binational commission means an educational and cultural commission
established, through an agreement between the United States and either
a foreign government or an international organization, to carry out
functions in connection with the program covered by this part.
Community college means ``junior or community college'' as defined
in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA).
Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
Institution of Higher Education means the definition contained in
34 CFR 600.4.
Minority-serving institution means an institution that is eligible
to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title
III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.
Tribal college or university has the meaning ascribed it in section
316(b)(3) of the HEA.
Note: Hispanic-Serving Institutions that meet the criteria in 34
CFR 606.2(a) are, among other qualifying institutions, ``minority-
serving institutions.''
Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).
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, 81, 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 regulations for this program in
34 CFR part 663.21. (e) The Supplemental Priorities.
Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not
apply to this program.
Note: As of October 1, 2024, grant applicants must 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 regulations please visit: <a href="https://www.cfo.gov/resources-coffa/uniform-guidance/">https://www.cfo.gov/resources-coffa/uniform-guidance/</a>.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to
individual beneficiaries.
Estimated Available Funds: $8,249,000 for the Fulbright-Hays
Overseas programs in FY 2025. We intend to use an estimated $750,000
for the FRA 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 this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $35,000,000-$70,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $50,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 15.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months.
Faculty may request funding for a period of no less than 3 months and
no more than 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. a. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs).
Eligible faculty members at the IHE submit their individual research
narratives and application forms to their home IHE representative, who
compiles all research narratives from faculty and incorporates them
into the grant application package that the institution submits
electronically through the Department's G6 system on behalf of all
applicant faculty at that institution.
b. Individuals Eligible to Receive a Fellowship: A faculty member
is eligible to receive a fellowship if the individual--is a citizen,
national or permanent resident of the United States; is employed by an
IHE; has been engaged in teaching relevant to their foreign language or
area studies specialization for the two years immediately preceding the
date of the award; proposes research relevant to their modern foreign
language or area studies specialization, which is not dissertation
research for a doctoral degree; and possesses sufficient foreign
language skills to carry out the dissertation research project.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
b. Administrative Cost Limitation: In accordance with 34 CFR
663.30(d), the Secretary awards the institution an administrative
allowance of $100 for each fellowship listed in the grant award
document.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities
described in its application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: Both IHEs and faculty
applicants can obtain an application package via the internet at the
following address: <a href="http://www.G6.ed.gov">www.G6.ed.gov</a>.
2. Submission Dates and Times: Submit applications for grants under
the program electronically using <a href="http://G6.ed.gov">G6.ed.gov</a>. For information (including
dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically,
please refer to Other Submission Requirements.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 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

[[Page 1471]]

requirements and limitations in this notice.
3. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative 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 to no more than 10 pages and the bibliography to
no more than two 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, 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 page limit does not apply to the cover sheet;
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the
assurance and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes,
the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended
page limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
6. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number
(TIN), and System for Award Management (SAM): To do business with the
Department, you must--
a. Have a UEI number and a TIN;
b. Register both your UEI number and TIN with SAM, 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.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow 2 to 5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM 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/UEI number and TIN. We
strongly recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48
hours before you can submit an application through G6.
If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with
your DUNS/UEI number is correct. Also note that you will need to update
your 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 obtaining and registering your DUNS/UEI number and TIN
in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, please visit <a href="https://sam.gov/content/help">https://sam.gov/content/help</a>.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically unless an IHE qualifies
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Submit applications for grants under the Fulbright-Hays FRA
Fellowship Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.019A, electronically
using the G6 system, accessible through the Department's G6 site at:
<a href="http://www.G6.ed.gov">www.G6.ed.gov</a>. While completing the electronic application, both the
IHE and the faculty applicant will be entering data online that will be
saved into a database. Neither the IHE nor the faculty applicant may
email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
<bullet> The process for submitting applications electronically
under the Fulbright-Hays FRA Fellowship Program requires several steps.
The following is a brief overview of the process; however, all
applicants should review the detailed description of the application
process in the application package. In summary, the major steps are:
(1) IHEs must email the name of the institution and the full name
and email address of the project director to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adebffecedc8c983cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c98f9b8889acade7aea6bf">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. We suggest
that applicant IHEs submit this information no later than 2 weeks prior
to the application deadline date to ensure that they obtain access to
G6 well before that date;
(2) Faculty applicants must complete their individual applications
and submit them to their home IHE project director using G6;
(3) Persons providing references for individual faculty applicants
must complete and submit reference forms to the IHE's project director,
using G6; and
(4) The IHE's project director must officially submit the IHE's
application, including all eligible individual faculty applications,
reference forms, and other required forms, using G6.
<bullet> The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the
grant application by 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application
deadline date. G6 will not accept an application for this competition
after 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that both the IHE and the faculty
applicant begin the application process early and not wait until close
to the application deadline date to prepare their applications. The
table below shows the days and times that the G6 website will be
available.

G6 Hours of Operation in Eastern Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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Unavailable from 03:00 p.m.- Unavailable from Available 24 hours Unavailable from Unavailable from Available 24 hours Available 24
11:59 p.m. 12:00 a.m.-06:00 09:00 p.m.-11:59 12:00 a.m.-06:00 hours.
a.m. p.m. a.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<bullet> Faculty applicants will not receive additional points
because they submit their applications in electronic format, nor will
we penalize an IHE or faculty applicant if the applicant qualifies for
an exception to the electronic

[[Page 1472]]

submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and
submits an application in paper format.
<bullet> IHEs must upload all application documents electronically,
including 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
necessary assurances and certifications.
<bullet> Both IHEs and faculty applicants must upload the narrative
sections and all other attachments to their application as files in a
read-only flattened Portable Document Format (PDF), meaning any
fillable documents must be saved and submitted as nonfillable PDF
files. Do not upload any interactive or fillable PDF files. If you
upload a file type other than a read-only, nonmodifiable PDF (e.g.,
Word, Excel, WordPerfect) or 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.
<bullet> Prior to submitting your electronic application, please
redact any personally identifiable information (SSN, birthdate, etc.).
You may wish to print a copy of your application package for your
records.
<bullet> After the individual faculty applicant electronically
submits their application to the IHE, the faculty applicant will
receive an automatic acknowledgment from the G6 system. After the
person designated to provide a reference submits the reference
electronically to the Department on behalf of a faculty applicant, they
will receive an electronic confirmation from the G6 system. After the
applicant IHE submits its application, including all eligible
individual faculty applications to the Department, the applicant IHE
will also receive an automated acknowledgment from G6 that will include
a unique PR/Award number for the IHE's application.
<bullet> Within 3 working days after submitting its electronic
application, the applicant IHE must--
(1) Print the SF 424 from G6;
(2) Have the Authorizing Representative sign this form;
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right-hand corner of the
hard copy signature page of the SF 424; and
(4) Email the signed SF 424 to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c385918283a6a7eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f9bfabb8b99c9dd79e968f">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> We may request that you provide hard copies with original
signatures for other forms in the application at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If an IHE is prevented from electronically submitting
its application on the application deadline date because the G6 system
is unavailable, we will grant the IHE an extension until 11:59:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time, the following business day to enable the IHE to transmit
its application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will
grant this extension if--
(1) The IHE is a registered user of the G6 system and the IHE has
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2) G6 is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of
8:30 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline
date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting the IHE an extension. To request a time extension due
to G6 unavailability or to confirm our acknowledgment of G6's
unavailability, an IHE may contact either (1) the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or (2) the e-Grants help desk at 1-888-
336-8930. If G6 is unavailable due to technical problems with the
system and the application deadline is extended, an email will be sent
to all registered users who have initiated a G6 application. The
deadline date extensions described in this section apply only to the
unavailability of the G6 system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications. The Department discourages
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/
G6 Functional Application Team, Mail Stop 5C231, Attention: 84.019A,
400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The IHE 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 G6 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 under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 663.21 and are as
follows:
(a) Quality of proposed project (70 points). The Secretary reviews
each application to determine the quality of the research project
proposed by the applicant. The Secretary considers--
(1) The statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or questions
to be examined, and the description and justification of the research
methods to be used (20 points);
(2) The relationship of the research to the literature on the topic
and to major theoretical issues in the field, and the project's
importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline (10 points);

[[Page 1473]]

(3) The preliminary research already completed or plans for
research prior to going overseas, and the kinds, quality and
availability of data for the research in the host country or countries
(10 points);
(4) The justification for overseas field research, and preparations
to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and
affiliations abroad (10 points);
(5) The applicant's plans to share the results of the research in
progress with scholars and officials of the host country or countries
and the American scholarly community (5 points); and
(6) The objectives of the project regarding the sponsoring
institution's plans for developing or strengthening, or both, curricula
in modern foreign languages and area studies (15 points).
(b) Qualifications of the applicant (30 points). The Secretary
reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the
applicant. In coordination with any priorities established under 34 CFR
663.21(d), the Secretary considers one or more of the following--
(1) The overall strength of applicant's academic record (teaching,
research, contributions, professional association activities) (10
points);
(2) The applicant's excellence as a teacher or researcher, or both,
in his or her area or areas of specialization (5 points);
(3) The applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages
(other than English) of the host country or countries of research (5
points);
(4) The extent to which the applicant's academic record
demonstrates steps taken to further improve advanced language
proficiency to overcome any anticipated language barriers relative to
the proposed research project (5 points); and
(5) The applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign
cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant's previous overseas
experience, or documentation provided by the sponsoring institution, or
both (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 FY 2025, faculty applications are divided into seven categories
based on the world area focus of their research projects, as described
in the absolute priority listed in this notice. Foreign language and
area studies experts on discrete world area-based panels will evaluate
the faculty applications. Each panel reviews, scores, and ranks its
assigned applications separately from the applications assigned to the
other world area panels. At the conclusion of the panel review process,
however, all faculty applications will be ranked together from the
highest to lowest score for funding recommendation purposes.
If there are applications on the rank order slate with the same
average score, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's policy
governing veteran's preference will be used in the tiebreaker and
selection process. Veteran's preference will be used first to determine
which application to recommend for funding. This means that in
instances where two or more applications have the same average score on
the rank order slate, and there are insufficient funds to support all
of the equally ranked applications, the veteran's application will be
given preference.
For applications that have tied average scores but are not subject
to the veteran's preference, the Department will use the average score
assigned on the Technical Review Forms for the ``Quality of proposed
project'' selection criterion. If a tie still exists, the average score
for selection criterion (a)(1) under ``Quality of proposed project''
(20 points) will be used as the tiebreaker. A final tiebreaker, should
it become necessary, will use the average score assigned for the
``Qualifications of the applicant'' selection criterion.
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 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).

[[Page 1474]]

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify the
IHE's U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send the IHE a Grant
Award Notification (GAN). We also may notify the IHE informally.
If a faculty application is not evaluated or not selected for
funding, we notify the IHE.
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 its binding
commitments under the grant.
3. 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. See the standards in
2 CFR 170.105 to determine whether you are covered by 2 CFR part 170.
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. 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="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/apply-grant/grant-application-and-other-forms">https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/apply-grant/grant-application-and-other-forms</a>.
4. Performance Measure: For the purpose of Department reporting
under 34 CFR 75.110, the Department will use the following performance
measure:
FRA Measure: The percentage of Fulbright-Hays FRA fellows who
increased their foreign language scores in speaking, reading, or
writing by at least one proficiency level.

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, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <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. 2024-30920 Filed 1-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

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