[Federal Register: June 4, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 107)] [Notices] [Page 30209-30211] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04jn99-138] [[Page 30209]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part IV _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Office of Postsecondary Education; Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program: Inviting Applications for Grants Under the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999; Notice [[Page 30210]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No. 84.345] Office of Postsecondary Education; Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program: Notice Inviting Applications for Grants Under the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Purpose of program: To provide grants to nonprofit educational organizations that are established to research, display, interpret, and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad. Eligible applicants: Nonprofit educational organizations that are established to research, display, interpret, and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad. Deadline for transmittal of applications: July 6, 1999. Deadline for intergovernmental review: September 7, 1999. Available funds: $1,750,000. Estimated range of awards: $100,000 to $1,750,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $580,000. Estimated number of awards: 1-3. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Applicable statute and regualtions: (a) Section 841 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Public Law 105-244, 20 U.S.C. section 1153; and (b) the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 85, and 86. Other Requirements Authorized Activities As required by statute, each nonprofit educational organization awarded a grant under this program must enter into an agreement with the Department. Each agreement must require the organization-- (1) To establish a facility to house, display, and interpret the artifacts related to the history of the Underground Railroad, and to make the interpretive efforts available to institutions of higher education that award a baccalaureate or graduate degree; (2) To demonstrate substantial private support for the facility through the implementation of a public-private partnership between a State or local public entity and a private entity for the support of the facility. The private entity must provide matching funds for the support of the facility in an amount equal to 4 times the amount of the contribution of the State or local public entity, except that not more than 20 percent of the matching funds may be provided by the Federal Government; (3) To create an endowment to fund any and all shortfalls in the costs of the on-going operations of the facility; (4) To establish a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to help disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad throughout the United States, if these satellite centers raise 80 percent of the funds required to establish the satellite centers from non-Federal public and private sources; (5) To establish the capability to electronically link the facility with other local and regional facilities that have collections and programs that interpret the history of the Underground Railroad; and (6) To submit, for each fiscal year for which the organization receives funding under this program, a report to the Department that contains-- (a) A description of the programs and activities supported by the funding; (b) The audited financial statement of the organization for the preceding fiscal year; (c) A plan for the programs and activities to be supported by the funding as the Secretary may require; and (d) An evaluation of the programs and activities supported by the funding as the Secretary may require. Selection Criteria Applications for Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program grants will be evaluated using the following weighted selection criteria from section 841 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 and 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. The maximum overall score is 100 points. Your grant application must carefully address each of the selection criteria and describe your efforts in these areas in detail. (1) Overall Concept (20 points). How well the facility supported by the proposed grant would effectively house, display, and interpret artifacts related to the history of the Underground Railroad and make the interpretive efforts available to institutions of higher education that award a baccalaureate or graduate degree. (2) Public-Private Support (20 points). How well the applicant organization demonstrates substantial private support for the facility through the implementation of a public-private partnership between a State or local public entity and a private entity for the support of the facility. The private entity must provide matching funds for the support of the facility in an amount equal to 4 times the amount of the contribution of the State or local public entity, except that not more than 20 percent of the matching funds may be provided by the Federal Government. (3) Endowment (5 points). How well the applicant organization addresses the requirement to create an endowment to fund any and all shortfalls in the costs of the on-going operations of the facility. (4) Satellite Center (10 points). How well the applicant organization addresses the requirement to establish a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad and demonstrates the ability to raise 80 percent of the funds required from non-Federal public and private sources. (5) Electronic Link (10 points). How well the applicant organization addresses the requirement to establish the capability to electronically link the facility with other local and regional facilities that have collections and programs which interpret the history of the Underground Railroad. (6) Quality of Program Personnel (10 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed program. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers the following: (a) The qualifications including relevant training and experience of key personnel. (5 points) (b) 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. (5 points) (7) Quality of Management Plan (15 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed grant program. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following: (a) 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. (5 points) (b) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points) (c) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives are brought to [[Page 30211]] bear in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points) (8) Quality of Project Evaluation (10 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed program. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the following: (a) The extent to which the methods of evolution are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (7 points) (b) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other settings. (3 points) Application Requirements An application submitted for funding under this program must include-- (1) The name, address, and web site address, if any, of the nonprofit educational organization seeking to participate, and the name, title, mailing and e-mail address, and telephone number of a contact person for the organization. (2) A description of the facility that will be used to house, display, and interpret the artifacts related to the history of the Underground Railroad and to make the interpretive efforts available to institutions of higher education that award a baccalaureate or graduate degree. (3) A description of the substantial private support for the facility through the implementation of a public-private partnership between a State or local public entity and a private entity for the support of the facility and documentation that these entities will provide matching funds as required in section 841(b)(2) of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. (4) A description of how the endowment will be created to fund any and all shortfalls in the costs of the on-going operations of the facility and expected sources of these funds. (5) A statement as to whether the applicant organization intends to establish a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to help disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad throughout the United States. If the applicant's organization does intend to establish a network, the applicant must describe the network and document how the satellite centers will raise 80 percent of the funds required from non-Federal public and private sources. (6) A detailed description of how the applicant intends to electronically link the facility with other local and regional facilities that have collections and programs which interpret the history of the Underground Railroad, including a listing of the facilities the applicant intends to include. Instructions for Submitting an Application Applicants should submit a narrative that addresses the elements described in this notice under ``Application Requirements.'' There is no prescribed application form for the program. All applications should clearly designate a contact person, telephone number, and the e-mail address of the contact person. Applicants need only submit one original application. No copies are necessary. Applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline date. Mail the application on or before the deadline date to Linda Kleckner, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4050, ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202, or hand deliver the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the deadline date to Linda Kleckner, U.S. Department of Education, Seventh & D Streets, SW., Room 4050, ROB- 3, Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Kleckner at the address in the previous paragraph, by e-mail at Linda__Kleckner@ed.gov, or by telephone at (202) 708-9086. Information concerning the program can also be found on the Web site of the Department (http://ed.gov). Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding paragraph. 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, 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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Program Authority: Section 841 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Pub. L. 105-244, 20 U.S.C. 1153. Dated: May 28, 1999. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 99-14117 Filed 6-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-U