FR Doc E5-7784
[Federal Register: December 23, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 76264-76267]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information;
Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Program; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.066A.
DATES: Applications Available: December 23, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 15, 2006.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 17, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public and
private agencies and organizations; combinations of institutions,
agencies, and organizations; and secondary schools under exceptional
circumstances, such as if there is no institution, agency, or
organization capable of carrying out an EOC project in the proposed
target area.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$48,972,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2006. 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: $220,000-$2,200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $352,000.
Maximum Award: We will not fund any application at an amount
exceeding the maximum amounts specified below for a single budget
period of 12 months. We may choose not to further consider or review
applications with budgets that exceed the maximum amounts specified
below if we conclude, during our initial review of the application,
that the proposed goals and objectives cannot be obtained with the
specified maximum amount.
For an applicant who is not currently receiving an EOC
Program grant, the maximum award amount is $220,000 for a project that
will serve a minimum of 1,000 eligible participants.
For an applicant who is currently receiving an EOC Program
grant the maximum award is the greater of (a) $220,000 or (b) an amount
equal to 103 percent of the applicant's prior grant award amount for FY
2005.
Estimated Number of Awards: 140.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the EOC Program is to provide
information with respect to financial and academic assistance available
for individuals who desire to pursue a program of postsecondary
education, and provide assistance to those individuals in applying for
admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary
education, including assistance in preparing necessary applications for
use by admissions and financial aid officers.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 1070a-16.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this program
in 34 CFR part 644.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$48,972,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2006. 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: $220,000-$2,200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $352,000.
Maximum Award: We will not fund any application at an amount
exceeding the maximum amounts specified below for a single budget
period of 12 months. We may choose not to further consider or review
applications with budgets that exceed the maximum amounts specified
below if we conclude, during our initial review of the application,
that the proposed goals and objectives cannot be obtained with the
specified maximum amount.
For an applicant who is not currently receiving an EOC
Program grant, the maximum award amount is $220,000 for a project that
will serve a minimum of 1,000 eligible participants.
For an applicant who is currently receiving an EOC Program
grant the maximum award is the greater of (a) $220,000 or (b) an amount
equal to 103 percent of the applicant's prior grant award amount for FY
2005.
Estimated Number of Awards: 140.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public
and private agencies and organizations; combinations of institutions,
agencies,
[[Page 76265]]
and organizations; and, secondary schools in exceptional circumstances,
such as if there is no institution, agency, or organization capable of
carrying out an EOC project in the proposed target area.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application, if
each separate application describes a project that will serve different
target schools and target populations. A secondary school applicant
must submit a certification that there is no other eligible entity in
the proposed target area that is capable of carrying out an EOC
project.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package: Margaret Wingfield or
Rachael Couch, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite
7000, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-
mail: TRIO@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting either of the program
contact persons 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 program. Page
Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address
the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application.
You must limit the section of the narrative that addresses the
selection criteria to the equivalent of no more than 50 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, except titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, captions and all text in charts,
tables, and graphs.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New or Arial. Applications submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will be rejected.
Use 12-point font.
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the application for
federal assistance face sheet (SF 424); the supplemental information
form required by the Department of Education; Part II, the budget
information summary form (ED Form 524); and Part IV, the assurances and
certifications. The page limit also does not apply to a table of
contents. If you include any attachments or appendices, these items
will be counted as part of the Program Narrative (Part III) for
purposes of the page limit requirement. You must include your complete
response to the selection criteria in the program narrative.
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: December 23,
2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 15, 2006.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify
for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer
to Section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 17, 2006.
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: We reference the regulations outlining
funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this
notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in
this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants
under the EOC Program--CFDA Number 84.066A must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site at: http://www.grants.gov.
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy
of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and
submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a
grant application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the EOC Program
at: http://www.grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable
application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include
the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search.
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and
must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC, time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application
if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC, time, on the application deadline date. When we
retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are
rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time, on the
application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov at: http://e-grants.ed.gov
[[Page 76266]]
help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see
http://www.Grants.gov/GetStarted). These steps include (1) registering
your organization, (2) registering yourself as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting authorized as an AOR
by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf). You also must provide on your
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please
note that the registration process may take five or more business days
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to
allow you to successfully submit an application via Grants.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically including all
information typically included on the Application for Federal Education
Assistance (SF 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED
524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. You must attach
any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC
(document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If
you upload a file type other than the three file types specified above
or submit a password protected file, we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying
number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are prevented from electronically
submitting your application on the application deadline date because of
technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an
extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time, the following business
day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, or by
hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the
mailing instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If you
submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time, on the
deadline date, please contact either of the persons listed elsewhere in
this notice under For Further Information Contact, and provide an
explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov,
along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). We
will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem
occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your
ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time,
on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after
a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.
Note: Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of or technical problems with the Grants.gov system.
We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register
to submit your application to Grants.gov before the deadline date
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to
the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system;
and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Geraldine Smith, U.S.
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, Washington, DC
20006-8510. FAX: (202) 502-7857.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail. If you qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail
(through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your
application to the Department. 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 84.066A), 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
84.066A), 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
qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you
(or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the
Department by hand. You must
[[Page 76267]]
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 84.066A), 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 Application for Federal Education
Assistance (SF 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
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 644.21 and are listed in the application package.
Note: Under the ``Objectives'' selection criterion, 34 CFR
644.21(b), applicants must address both outcome and process
objectives that are related to each of the purposes of the EOC
Program as described in 34 CFR 644.1. The application package for
this program specifies the following four objectives related to the
purposes of the EOC program: Increasing enrollment in continuing
education programs, increasing applications for student financial
aid, increasing applications for postsecondary education admissions,
and increasing postsecondary education enrollment. The EOC Program
Profile page in the application package details more specific
information that applicants must submit regarding these four
objectives. Applicants may, but are not required to, develop
additional objectives for their project.
2. Review and Selection Process: The Secretary will select an
application for funding in rank-order, based on the application's total
score for the selection criteria and prior experience, pursuant to 34
CFR 644.20 through 644.22. If there are insufficient funds for two or
more applications with the same total scores, the Secretary will choose
among the tied applications so as to serve geographical areas and
eligible populations that have been underserved by the EOC Program.
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 Notice
(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 expenditures information as specified by the Secretary in
34 CFR 75.118.
4. Performance Measures: The success of the EOC Program is measured
by the EOC Program participants' success in enrollment in continuing
education programs, completion of applications for student financial
aid, submission of applications for postsecondary admission, and
postsecondary education enrollment. All EOC Program grantees will be
required to submit an annual performance report.
VII. Agency Contacts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Wingfield or Rachael Couch,
U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000,
Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-mail:
TRIO@ed.gov
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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 persons 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: December 20, 2005.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E5-7784 Filed 12-22-05; 8:45 am]
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