[Federal Register: May 6, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 87)] [Notices] [Page 24009-24012] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06my05-51] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; Foundations for Learning; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215H. Dates: Applications Available: May 6, 2005. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2005. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 19, 2005. Eligible Applicants: (1) Local educational agencies (LEAs); (2) Local councils; (3) Community-based organizations (CBOs), including faith-based organizations; (4) Other public or nonprofit private entities; or (5) A combination of such entities. Estimated Available Funds: $992,000. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2006 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition. Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $245,500. Estimated Number of Awards: 4. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 18 months. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: This program supports projects to help eligible children become ready for school. Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105 (b)(2)(iv), this priority is from section 5542 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. 7269a (ESEA). Absolute Priority: For FY 2005 and any subsequent year in which we make awards on the basis of the list of un-funded applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: Grants to local educational agencies, local councils, community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations, and other public and nonprofit private entities, or a combination of such entities, to assist eligible children to become ready for school. To be eligible for funding, a project must propose one or more of the following-- (1) To deliver services to eligible children and their families that foster eligible children's emotional, behavioral, and social development; (2) To coordinate and facilitate access by eligible children and their families to the services available through community resources, including mental health, physical health, substance abuse, educational, domestic violence prevention, child welfare, and social services; (3) To provide ancillary services such as transportation or child care in order to facilitate the delivery of any other authorized services or activities; (4) To develop or enhance early childhood community partnerships and build toward a community system of care that brings together child- serving agencies or organizations to provide individualized supports for eligible children and their families; (5) To evaluate the success of strategies and services provided pursuant to the grant in promoting young children's successful entry to school and to maintain data systems required for effective evaluations; and (6) To pay for the expenses of administering the grant activities, including assessment of children's eligibility for services. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7269a. Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 97, 98, and 99. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: $992,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $245,500. Estimated Number of Awards: 4. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 18 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: (1) Local educational agencies (LEAs); (2) Local councils; (3) Community-based organizations (CBOs), including faith-based organizations; (4) Other public or nonprofit private entities; or (5) A combination of such entities. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost sharing or matching but does involve supplement-not supplant funding provisions. Sec. 20 U.S.C. 7269a(b)(3)(D). IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package: 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 84.215H. Copies of the application package for this competition can also be found at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/programs.html. [[Page 24010]] Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in Section VII of this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: a. Statutory Application Requirements: Applications submitted under this program must include the following-- (1) A description of the population that the applicant intends to serve and the types of services to be provided under the grant; (2) A description of the manner in which services under the grant will be coordinated with existing similar services provided by public and nonprofit private entities within the State; and (3) An assurance that--Services under the grant will be provided by or under the supervision of qualified professionals with expertise in early childhood development; These services will be culturally competent; These services will be provided in accordance with the permissible uses of funds as described elsewhere in this notice; Funds will be used to supplement, and not supplant, non- Federal funds; and Parents of students participating in services will be involved in the design and implementation of the services. b. Other: Other requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: May 6, 2005. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2005. Applications for grants under the Foundations for Learning Grants Program 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. Deadline for Intergovernmental review: August 19, 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 program. 5. Funding Restrictions: Limitations on Use of Funds (1) Grant funds may be used only to pay for services that cannot be paid for using other Federal, State, or local public resources or through private insurance. (2) A grantee may not use more than 3 percent of the amount of the grant to pay the expenses of administering the authorized activities, including assessment of children's eligibility for services. We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under the Foundations for Learning Grants Program 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://e-grants.ed.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., e.s.t., on the application deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application for the Foundations for Learning Grants Program after 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., 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 the application should be attached as files in .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., e.s.t., on the application deadline date; or (b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time [[Page 24011]] between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., 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 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 two 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 84.215H), 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 84.215H), 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 two 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 84.215H), 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., e.s.t., 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 program are in the application package for this competition. 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 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 grants. 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 Measures: The Secretary has established the following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the Foundations for Learning grants program: (1) The percentage of eligible children served by the grant attaining measurable gains in emotional, behavioral, and social development will increase; and (2) The percentage of eligible children and their families served by the grant receiving individualized support from child-serving agencies or organizations will increase. Note that in applying the selection criteria to be used in this competition for ``Quality of project services'' and ``Quality of the project evaluation,'' the Secretary will take into consideration the extent to which the applicant demonstrates a strong capacity to provide reliable data on these indicators. VII. Agency Contact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Earl Myers, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., room 3E254, Washington, DC 20202- 6450. Telephone: (202) 708-8846 or by e-mail: earl.myers@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-888-877-8339. 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 [[Page 24012]] 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: May 3, 2005. Deborah A. Price, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools. [FR Doc. 05-9132 Filed 5-5-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P