FR Doc E5-536
[Federal Register: February 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 26)]
[Notices]
[Page 6846-6849]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe05-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and
Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students; Overview
Information; Foreign Language Assistance Program--State Educational
Agencies; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year
(FY) 2005
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.293C.
DATES: Applications Available: February 11, 2005.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: February 28, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 25, 2005.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 25, 2005.
Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs).
Estimated Available Funds: $2,000,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$150,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $125,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 16.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP)
provides grants to State educational agencies for innovative model
programs providing for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of
foreign language study for elementary and secondary school students. A
State educational agency that receives a grant under this program must
use the funds to support programs that promote systemic approaches to
improving foreign language learning in the State.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority
is from section 5493 of the Foreign Language Assistance Act of 2001 (20
U.S.C. 7259b).
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2005 this priority is a
competitive preference priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii) we give preference to an application
that meets this priority over an application of comparable merit that
does not meet the priority.
This priority is:
Applications describing programs that are carried out through a
consortium comprised of the agency receiving the grant and an
elementary or secondary school.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7259a-7259b.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81,
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $2,000,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$150,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $125,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 16.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: In order to build foreign language
program capacity at the State level, cost sharing is required. Please
note that the Federal share of the cost of activities assisted under
this program for each fiscal year is 50 percent. See 20 U.S.C.
7259a(c).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Patrice Swann, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 10074, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7130, or by e-
mail: patrice.swann@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille,
[[Page 6847]]
large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program
contact person listed in this section.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Notice of Intent to Apply: If you intend to apply for a grant under
this competition, contact Patrice Swann by e-mail:
patrice.swann@ed.gov.
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. You must limit Part III to
the equivalent of no more than 35 pages using the following standards.
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract.
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.
We will reject your application if--
You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the
page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: February 11, 2005.
Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: February 28, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 25, 2005.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants system, or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by
mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission
Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements. However, we will consider an application,
submitted by the application deadline date, even if the applicant did
not provide us with notice of its intent to apply by the deadline date
for notices of intent to apply.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 25, 2005.
4. 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 competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
If you choose to submit your application to us electronically, you
must use e-Application available through the Department's e-Grants
system, accessible through the e-Grants portal page at: http://www.grants.gov
.
While completing your electronic application, you will be entering
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application
for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do
not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application
process.
The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you submit your application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary
assurances and certifications.
Any narrative sections of your application should be
attached as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF
(Portable Document) format.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgement that will include a PR/Award
number (an identifying number unique to your application).
Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the ED 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
(1) Print ED 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the ED 424.
(4) Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of
one business day in order to transmit your application electronically,
by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
(1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2)(a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or
more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date; or
(b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our
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acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may contact either
(1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-Grants help
desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore the
application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all
registered users who have initiated an e-Application.
Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. If the e-
Application system is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to
submit your application electronically or you do not receive an
automatic acknowledgement of your submission, you may submit your
application in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with
the instructions in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the
original and three copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable
following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: CFDA Number 84.293C,
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: CFDA Number 84.293C,
7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service,
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier, or
(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, or
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
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.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery,
you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and three copies
of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline
date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center,
Attention: CFDA Number 84.293C, 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail
or hand deliver your application to the Department:
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix letter,
if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your
application.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application
Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are
from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are as follows:
(a) Need for project. (5 points)
The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In
determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers
the following factor:
(1) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services,
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude
of those gaps or weaknesses.
(b) Significance. (5 points)
The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project.
In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factor:
(1) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system
change or improvement.
(c) Quality of the project design. (50 points)
The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population or other identified needs.
(3) 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.
(4) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects
up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
(5) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support
rigorous academic standards for students.
(d) Quality of project personnel. (10 Points)
The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry
out the proposed project. In determining the quality of project
personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant
encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of
groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race,
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the
Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director.
(2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of key project personnel.
(e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)
The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factor:
(1) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
(f) Quality of the management plan. (10 points)
The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives
of the
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proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined
responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project
tasks.
(2) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate
to meet the objectives of the proposed project.
(g) Quality of the project evaluation. (15 points)
The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the
evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project.
(2) 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.
(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
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). We may also notify you informally.
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. Reporting: 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 multi-year award, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in
34 CFR 75.118.
4. Performance Measure: In response to the Government Performance
and Results Act (GPRA), the Department developed one measure for
evaluating the overall effectiveness of the Foreign Language Assistance
Program (FLAP). The measure assesses the percentage of FLAP projects
that report improvements in foreign language proficiency for three-
quarters of school participants. We will expect each SEA that carries
out a school-based project funded under this competition to document
how its project is helping the Department meet this performance
measure, including data on the proficiency of students served by
projects. Grantees will be expected to report on progress in meeting
this performance measure for FLAP in their Annual Performance Report
and in their Final Performance Report.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: You may contact either of the
following:
Rebecca Richey, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., room 10080, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:
(202) 245-7133, or by e-mail:
rebecca.richey@ed.gov.
Sharon Manassa, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., room 10071, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:
(202) 245-7124, or by e-mail:
sharon.manassa@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this
section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: February 4, 2005.
Kathleen Leos,
Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of English Language
Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited
English Proficient Students.
[FR Doc. E5-536 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
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