[Federal Register: November 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 216)] [Notices] [Page 61197-61198] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09no99-120] [[Page 61197]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Office of Educational Research and Improvement; Field-Initiated Studies (FIS) Education Research Grant Program; to Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000; Notice [[Page 61198]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.305T] Office of Educational Research and Improvement; Field-Initiated Studies (FIS) Education Research Grant Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000. PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: The Field-Initiated Studies Education Research Grant Program awards grants to conduct education research in which topics and methods of study are generated by investigators. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Institutions of higher education; State and local education agencies; public and private organizations, institutions, and agencies; and individuals. APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE: December 9, 1999. Application packages will be available by mail and electronically on the World Wide Web at the following sites: http://www.ed.gov/ offices/OERI/FIS/ www.ed.gov/GrantApps/ DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: February 16, 2000. Note: We must receive all applications on or before this date. This requirement takes exception to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR 75.102. Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, this exception to EDGAR makes procedural changes only and does not establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement has determined that proposed rulemaking is not required. TENTATIVE AWARD DATE: May 31, 2000. AVAILABLE FUNDS: $10 million. The estimated amount of funds available for new awards is based on the Administration's request for this program for FY 2000. 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 before the end of the fiscal year, if Congress appropriates funds for this program. ESTIMATED RANGE OF AWARDS: The size of the awards will be commensurate with the nature and scope of the work proposed. BUDGET PERIOD: 12-month period. PROJECT PERIOD: 12 to 36 months. Note: Contingent upon the availability of funds, the Department intends to award another cycle of grants under this program, early in the next fiscal year. (Anticipated application availability date: June 9, 2000. Anticipated closing date: September 18, 2000. Anticipated award date: December 15, 2000. Estimated funds available: $10 million.) Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86 (part 86 applies to IHEs only), 97; and (b) the regulations in 34 CFR part 700. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Field-Initiated Studies Education Research Grant Program is highly competitive. In its last competition, OERI funded about 1 award for every 25 eligible applications. Strong applications for FIS grants clearly address each of the applicable selection criteria. Strong applications make a reasoned and compelling case for the national significance of the problems or issues that will be the subject of the proposed research. Strong applications present a research design which is complete and clearly delineated, incorporating sound research methods. The personnel descriptions included in strong applications make it apparent that the project director, principal investigator and other key personnel possess training and experience commensurate with their duties. The project period of the grant may be from one to three years. In the application, the project period should be divided into 12-month budget periods. Each 12-month budget should be clearly delineated and justified in terms of the proposed activities. Collaboration: The Secretary encourages collaboration in the conduct of research. For example, major research universities and institutions may collaborate with historically underrepresented institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delores Monroe, Field-Initiated Studies Education Research Grants Program, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., room 627, Washington, DC 20208-5531. Telephone: (202) 219- 2229. E-Mail: Delores__Monroe@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. FOR APPLICATIONS CONTACT: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734. You may also contact ED Pubs at its web site: http://www.ed.gov/ pubs/edpubs.html Or you may contact ED Pubs at its E-mail address: Edpubs@inet.ed.gov If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.305T. 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 under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Individuals with disabilities also may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format by contacting that person. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the application. Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at either of the following sites: http//ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm http://www.ed.gov/news.html To use the PDF you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you have questions about using the PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498 or in the Washington, D.C., 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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6031(c)(2)(B) Dated: November 4, 1999. C. Kent McGuire, Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement. [FR Doc. 99-29337 Filed 11-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-U