FR Doc E7-1983
[Federal Register: February 9, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 27)]
[Notices]
[Page 6225-6229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe07-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary EducationOverview Information;
Office of Indian Education--Demonstration Grants for Indian Children;
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2007
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.299A.
DATES: Applications Available: February 9, 2007.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 12, 2007.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 10, 2007.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are State
educational agencies (SEAs); local educational agencies (LEAs); Indian
tribes; Indian organizations; federally supported elementary or
secondary schools for Indian students; Indian institutions (including
Indian institutions of higher education); or a consortium of any of
these entities.
An application from a consortium of eligible entities must meet the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. An application from a
consortium of eligible entities must include a signed consortium
agreement with the application. Letters of support do not meet the
requirement for a consortium agreement.
Applicants applying in consortium with or as an ``Indian
organization'' must demonstrate eligibility by showing how the ``Indian
organization'' meets all the criteria outlined in 34 CFR 263.20.
The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an
accredited college or university within the United States cited in
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
(7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding
under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo
Community College), authorized in the Navajo Community College
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
We will reject any application that does not meet these
requirements.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$19,399,000 for this program for FY 07, of which $1,934,000 is
available for new awards. 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: $100,000-$300,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $276,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $300,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary may change the maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 7.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Demonstration Grants for
Indian Children program is to provide financial assistance to projects
that develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and
programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of
preschool, elementary, and secondary Indian students.
Priorities: This competition contains two absolute priorities and
two competitive preference priorities.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2007 these priorities are absolute
priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), these
priorities are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR
263.21(c)(1) and (3)). Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that meet one or both of the following priorities.
These priorities are:
Absolute Priority One
School readiness projects that provide age appropriate educational
programs and language skills to three- and four-year-old Indian
students to prepare them for successful entry into school at the
kindergarten school level.
Absolute Priority Two
College preparatory programs for secondary school students designed
to increase competency and skills in challenging subject matters,
including mathematics and science, to enable Indian students to
transition successfully to postsecondary education.
Competitive Preference Priorities: Within these absolute
priorities, we give competitive preference to applicants that address
the following priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to
an additional 10 points to an application, depending on the extent to
which the application meets one or both of these priorities.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority One
In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from
[[Page 6226]]
section 7121 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. 7441(d)(1)(B). We award five competitive
preference priority points to an applicant that presents a plan for
combining two or more of the activities described in section 7121(c) of
the ESEA over a period of more than one year.
Note: For Competitive Preference Priority One, the combination
of activities is limited to the activities described in the Absolute
Priorities.
Competitive Preference Priority Two
In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from
section 7143 of the ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 7473. We award five competitive
preference priority points to an application submitted by an Indian
tribe, Indian organization, or Indian institution of higher education,
including a consortium of any of these entities with other eligible
entities. An application from a consortium of eligible entities that
meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 and includes an
Indian tribe, Indian organization, or Indian institution of higher
education will be considered eligible to receive the five competitive
preference points. These competitive preference points are in addition
to the five competitive preference points that may be given under
Competitive Preference Priority One.
Note: A consortium agreement, signed by all parties, must be
submitted with the application in order for the application to be
considered a consortium application. Letters of support do not meet
the requirement for a consortium agreement. We will reject any
application from a consortium that does not meet this requirement.
Note: The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means
an accredited college or university within the United States that in
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for
funding under the Tribally Controlled College or University
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College
(formerly Navajo Community College), authorized in the Navajo
Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7441.
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 263.
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
$19,399,000 for this program for FY 07, of which $1,934,000 is
available for new awards. 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: $100,000-$300,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $276,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $300,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary may change the maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 7.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are
SEAs; LEAs; Indian tribes; Indian organizations; federally supported
elementary or secondary schools for Indian students; Indian
institutions (including Indian institutions of higher education); or a
consortium of any of these entities.
An application from a consortium of eligible entities must meet the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. An application from a
consortium of eligible entities must submit the consortium agreement,
signed by all parties, with the application. Letters of support do not
meet the requirement for a consortium agreement.
Applicants applying in consortium with or as an ``Indian
organization'' must demonstrate eligibility by showing how the ``Indian
organization'' meets all the criteria outlined in 34 CFR 263.20.
The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an
accredited college or university within the United States cited in
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
(7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding
under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo
Community College), authorized in the Navajo Community College
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
We will reject any application that does not meet these
requirements.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: Projects funded under this competition should plan to
budget for a one-and-one-half-day Project Directors' meeting in
Washington, DC during each year of the project period.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Applications for grants
under this competition must be submitted electronically through the
Grants.gov Apply site (http://www.Grants.gov). However, if you would
like a paper copy of the application to review, you may order one from
the 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.
You may also obtain an electronic copy of the application package
by downloading it from the following Web site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oie/index.html.
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 the program contact
person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
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.
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
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.
[[Page 6227]]
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 12 point or larger but no smaller than
10 point.
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, the
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
The page limit of 35 pages for Part III is mandatory. 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 9, 2007.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 12, 2007.
Applications for grants under this competition 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.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Deadline For Intergovernmental Review: May 10, 2007.
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 regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition 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 Demonstration Grants for Indian
Children, CFDA Number 84.299A must be submitted electronically using
the Governmentwide 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 Demonstration
Grants for Indian Children at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search
for the downloadable application package for this program or
competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha
suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.299, not 84.299A).
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 date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and
must be date and 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 and 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 and 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 competition 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/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf
.
To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp
). These steps include (1)
registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (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/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.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 submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
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 you typically provide on the following forms:
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications. Please note that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the
Department of Education
[[Page 6228]]
Supplemental Information for SF 424--have replaced the ED 424
(Application for Federal Education Assistance).
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 in this paragraph 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 from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application 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 experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support
Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
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 described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date, please contact the person 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. 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: The extensions to which we refer 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 application 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: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5C152,
Washington, DC 20202-6335. FAX: (202) 260-4149.
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
84.299A),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 84.299A),
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.
(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.
(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 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 84.299A),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 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix
[[Page 6229]]
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this
notification 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 and are listed in the application package.
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 Measures: The Secretary has established the
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of
the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program: (1) The
percentage of pre-school American Indian and Alaska Native students who
possess school readiness skills gained through a scientifically based
research curriculum that prepares them for kindergarten; (2) the
percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native high school students
successfully completing (as defined by receiving a passing grade)
challenging classes in core subjects (including English, mathematics,
science, and history); and (3) the percentage of American Indian and
Alaska Native high school students attaining at least the district
average score in national college entrance examinations (the ACT and
the SAT) and preliminary college entrance examinations (the PSAT).
We encourage applicants to demonstrate a strong capacity to provide
reliable data on these measures in their responses to the selection
criteria ``Quality of project services'' and ``Quality of the project
evaluation.''
All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their
performance report, information with respect to these performance
measures.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5C152, Washington, DC
20202-6335. Telephone: (202) 205-2528 or by e-mail:
Indian.education@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 contact person listed in this section.
VII. 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 1, 2007.
Raymond Simon,
Deputy Secretary for Education.
[FR Doc. E7-1983 Filed 2-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P