[Federal Register: July 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 127)] [Notices] [Page 36319-36338] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02jy98-163] [[Page 36319]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Indian Vocational Education Program; Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 1998; Notice [[Page 36320]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No: 84.101] Indian Vocational Education Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 Notice to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and applicable regulations governing the program, including the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the notice contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply for a grant under this competition. Purpose of Program: To provide financial assistance to Indian tribes and certain schools funded by the Department of the Interior to plan, conduct, and administer projects, or portions of projects, that are authorized by and consistent with the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990 (Act), as amended, 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. Eligible Applicants: The following entities are eligible for an award under this program: (a) A tribal organization of any Indian tribe that is eligible to contract with the Secretary of the Interior under the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act or under the Act of April 16, 1934. (b) A Bureau-funded school offering a secondary program. (c) Any tribal organization or Bureau-funded school described in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section may apply individually or as part of a consortium with one or more eligible tribal organizations or schools. When seeking to apply for funds as a consortium, individual eligible applicants must enter into an agreement signed by all members of the consortium and designating one member of the consortium as the applicant and grantee. The consortium's agreement must detail the activities each member of the consortium plans to perform, and must bind each member to every statement and assurance made in the consortium's application. The designated applicant must submit the consortium's agreement with its application. Submission of Applications (a) An application from a tribal organization, other than a Bureau- funded school, must be submitted to the Secretary by the Indian tribe. (b) An application for a project to serve more than one Indian tribe must be approved by each tribe to be served. (c) An application from a Bureau-funded school may be submitted directly to the Secretary. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 18, 1998. Available Funds: $12,529,088 for the first 12 months of the 24- month project period. Funding for the second 12-month period of the 24- month project period is subject to the availability of funds and to a grantee meeting the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253. Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000 to $500,000 for the first 12 months. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $375,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 35. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 24 months. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows: (1) 34 CFR Part 74 (Administration of Grants and Agreements to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Nonprofit Organizations). (2) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs). (3) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations). (4) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments). (5) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement). (6) 34 CFR Part 85 (Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)). (7) 34 CFR Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses). (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 400 and 401. Definitions Applicants are encouraged to take particular note of the following definitions that are contained in 34 CFR 401.5: Act of April 16, 1934 means the Federal law commonly known as the ``Johnson-O'Malley Act,'' that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make contracts for the education of Indians and other purposes (25 U.S.C. 455-457). Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior. Bureau-funded school means-- (1) A Bureau-operated elementary or secondary day or boarding school or a Bureau-operated dormitory for students attending a school other than a Bureau school; (2) An elementary or secondary school or a dormitory that receives financial assistance for its operation under a contract or agreement with the Bureau under section 102, 104(1), or 208 of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450f, 450h(1), and 458d); or (3) A school for which assistance is provided under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988. Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, Nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) that is federally recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Tribal organization means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe or any legally established organization of Indians that is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by that governing body or that is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by the organization and that includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities. However, in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe, the approval of each of those Indian tribes must be a prerequisite to the letting or making of that contract or grant. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to recent notices inviting applications under the Indian Vocational Education Program, a number of Indian tribal organizations and Bureau-funded schools have submitted applications proposing projects that were designed to use a majority of the funds to prepare students for a high school equivalency diploma. Although a high school diploma or its equivalent certainly enhances a student's ability to benefit from postsecondary vocational education, applicants are reminded that projects must use funds under the Indian Vocational Education Program only to provide vocational education that is authorized by and consistent with the Act. Vocational education includes: (a) remedial education, only to the extent that it is necessary for a vocational education student to benefit from vocational instruction, and (b) the integration of academic and vocational education through coherent sequences of courses so that students achieve both academic and occupational competencies. Grantees may not pay for the cost of academic courses that are not [[Page 36321]] directly related to the occupational skill being taught in a vocational education program. The Secretary recognizes that in many Indian communities the need for a high school equivalency diploma may be as great as the need for vocational training and, therefore, encourages Indian tribal organizations and Bureau-funded schools to seek other resources to address the former need. Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), the Secretary is particularly interested in receiving applications that meet the following invitational priority: Projects that include a valid, reliable, and otherwise meaningful plan for conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of the project. The project must include an evaluation plan that-- (a) Is clearly explained and appropriate for the project; (b) Identifies at a minimum-- (1) The types of quantifiable data to be collected and reported with respect to the academic and vocational competencies demonstrated by participants and the number and kinds of academic and work credentials acquired by individuals who complete the training, including participation in programs providing training at the associate degree level that is articulated with an advanced degree option; (2) The type of data to be collected and reported with respect to enrollment, completion, and placement of participants by sex, racial or ethnic group, socio-economic status for each occupation for which training is provided; (3) Job or work skill attainment or enhancement, including participation in apprenticeship and work-based learning programs, and student progress in achieving occupational skills necessary to obtain employment in the field for which the student has been prepared, including occupational skills in the industry the student is preparing to enter; and (4) The types and numbers of placements into additional training or education, military service, or employment; (c) Includes activities during the formative stages of the project to help guide and improve the project, as well as a summative evaluation that includes recommendations for replicating project activities and results. A project that will continue to operate after Federal funding ends should also plan for a summative evaluation that includes recommendations for improving the quality of its vocational education services; (d) Will yield results that can be summarized and submitted to the Secretary for review as a potentially exemplary and promising educational program; (e) Makes use of an external independent evaluator; and (f) When appropriate, will provide a comparison between intended and observed results and lead to the demonstration of a clear link between the observed results and the specific treatment of project participants. Note: An application that meets this invitational priority does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other applications. Selection Criteria: The Secretary uses the selection criteria contained in 34 CFR 401.21 to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. However, due to the repeal of the legislation authorizing the Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program, the ``program factors'' criterion included in this notice no longer includes references to the JOBS program. (See Pub. L. 104-193, Title I, Section 108(e), August 22, 1996.) Section 401.21 assigns a total of 85 points for these criteria. Under section 401.20(b), the Secretary is authorized to distribute an additional 15 reserved points among the criteria contained in section 401.21 for a maximum of 100 points for the selection criteria. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Criteria (a) Program factors. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which it-- (1) Proposes measurable goals for student enrollment, completion, and placement (including placement in jobs or military specialties and in continuing education or training opportunities) that are realistic in terms of stated needs, resources, and job opportunities in each occupation for which training is to be provided; (2) Proposes goals that take into consideration any related goals or standards developed for the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)(29 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) training programs operating in the area, and, where appropriate, any goals set by the State Board for vocational education for the occupation and geographic area; (3) Describes, for each occupation for which training is to be provided, how successful program completion will be determined in terms of academic and vocational competencies demonstrated by enrollees prior to completion and any academic or work credentials acquired by enrollees upon completion; (4) Demonstrates the active commitment in the project's planning and operation by advisory committees, tribal planning offices, the JTPA program director, and potential employers such as tribal enterprises, private enterprises (on or off reservation), and other organizations; (5) Is targeted to individuals with inadequate skills to assist those individuals in obtaining new employment; and (6) Includes a thorough description of the approach to be used, including some or all of the following components: (i) Methods of participant selection. (ii) Assessment and feedback of participant progress. (iii) Coordination of vocational instruction, academic instruction, and support services such as counseling, transportation, and child care. (iv) Curriculum and, if appropriate, approaches for providing on- the-job training experience. (b) Need. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project addresses specific needs, including-- (1) The job market and related needs (such as educational level) of the target population; (2) Characteristics of that population, including an estimate of those to be served by the project; (3) How the project will meet the needs of the target population; and (4) A description of any ongoing and planned activities relative to those needs, including, if appropriate, how the State plan developed under 34 CFR 403.30-403.34 is designed to meet those needs. (c) Plan of operation. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including-- (1) The establishment of objectives that are clearly related to project goals and activities and are measurable with respect to anticipated enrollments, completions, and placements; (2) A management plan that describes the chain of command, how staff will be managed, how coordination among staff will be accomplished, and timelines for each activity; and (3) The way the applicant intends to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective. (d) Key personnel. (10 points). (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including-- (i) The qualifications of the project director; (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used on the project; (iii) The time, including justification for the time that each one of the key [[Page 36322]] personnel, including the project director, will commit to the project; and (iv) Subject to the Indian preference provisions of the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) that apply to grants and contracts to tribal organizations, how the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disabling condition. (2) To determine personnel qualifications, the Secretary considers-- (i) The experience and training of key personnel in project management and in fields particularly related to the objectives of the project; and (ii) Any other qualifications of key personnel that pertain to the quality of the project. (e) Budget and Cost Effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which-- (1) The budget is adequate to support the project activities; (2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project and the number of participants to be served; and (3) The budget narrative justifies the expenditures. (f) Evaluation Plan. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the project, including the extent to which-- (1) The plan identifies, at a minimum, types of data to be collected and reported with respect to the academic and vocational competencies demonstrated by participants and the number and kind of academic and work credentials acquired by participants who complete the training; (2) The plan identifies, at a minimum, types of data to be collected and reported with respect to the achievement of project goals for the enrollment, completion, and placement of participants. The data must be broken down by sex and by occupation for which training was provided; (3) The methods of evaluation are appropriate for the project and, to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable; and (4) The methods of evaluation provide periodic data that can be used by the project for ongoing program improvement. (g) Employment opportunities. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan for job placement of participants who complete training under this program, including-- (1) The expected employment opportunities (including any military specialties) and any additional educational or training opportunities that are related to the participants' training; (2) Information and documentation concerning potential employers' commitment to hire participants who complete training; and (3) An estimate of the percentage of trainees expected to be employed (including self-employed individuals) in the field for which they were trained following completion of training. Special Considerations Under 34 CFR 401.20(e), in addition to the 100 points to be awarded based on the selection criteria in 34 CFR 401.21, the Secretary awards: (a) Up to 5 points to applications proposing exemplary approaches that involve, coordinate with, or encourage tribal economic development plans; and (b) Five points to applications from tribally controlled community colleges that-- (1) Are accredited or are candidates for accreditation by a nationally recognized accreditation organization as an institution of postsecondary vocational education; or (2) Operate vocational education programs that are accredited or are candidates for accreditation by a nationally recognized accreditation organization and issue certificates for completion of vocational education programs. Additional Factors Under 34 CFR 401.22, the Secretary may decide not to award a grant or cooperative agreement if-- (a) The proposed project duplicates an effort already being made; or (b) Funding the project would create an inequitable distribution of funds under this part among Indian tribes. Instructions for Transmittal of Applications Applicants are required to submit one original signed application and two copies of the grant application. All forms and assurances must have ink signatures. Please mark applications as ``original'' or ``copy.'' To aid with the review of applications, the Department encourages applicants to submit four additional copies of the grant application. The Department will not penalize applicants who do not provide additional copies. (a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant under this competition, the applicant must either-- (1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA #84.101), Washington, D.C. 20202-4725, or (2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA #84.101), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. (b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of mailing: (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. (c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary does 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. Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should check with its local post office. (2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from the date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-9494. (3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the Department--in Item 10 of the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if any--of the competition under which the application is being submitted. Application Instructions and Forms: All forms and instructions are included as Appendix A of this notice. Questions and answers pertaining to this program are included, as Appendix B, to assist potential applicants. To apply for an award under this program competition, your application must be organized in the following order and include the following five parts. The parts and additional materials are as follows: PART I: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4-88)) and instructions. PART II: Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No. 524) and instructions. PART III: Budget Narrative. PART IV: Program Narrative. [[Page 36323]] Estimated Public Reporting Burden. PART V: Additional Assurances and Certifications: a. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B). b. Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80- 0013) and instructions. c. Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED Form 80-0014, 9/90) and instructions. Note: ED Form 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees and should not be transmitted to the Department. d. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)(if applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect statutory changes. See the notice published by the Office of Management and Budget at 61 FR 1413 (January 19, 1996). e. Notice to All Applicants. No grant may be awarded unless a completed application form has been received. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwen Washington, Linda Mayo or Sonja Turner, Special Programs Branch, Division of National Programs, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W. (Room 4512, Mary E. Switzer Building), Washington, D.C. 20202-7242. Telephone (202) 205-9351. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this notice in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact persons listed in the preceding paragraph. Please note, however, that the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the notice. Electronic Access to This Department Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or portable document format(pdf) on the World Wide Web 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 preceding sites. If you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498. Anyone may also view these documents in text copy on an electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone (202) 219-1511 or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option G--Files/ Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2313(b). Dated: June 26, 1998. Patricia W. McNeil, Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education. BILLING CODE 4000-01-P [[Page 36324]] Appendix A [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.012 [[Page 36325]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.013 [[Page 36326]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.014 [[Page 36327]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.015 [[Page 36328]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.016 BILLING CODE 4001-01-C [[Page 36329]] PART II--BUDGET INFORMATION Instructions for Part II--Budget Information Sections A and B--Budget Summary by Categories 1. Personnel: Show salaries to be paid to personnel for each budget year. 2. Fringe Benefits: Indicate the rate and amount of fringe benefits for each budget year. 3. Travel: Indicate the amount requested for both local and out of State travel of Project Staff for each budget year. Include funds for at least one trip for two people to attend the Project Director's Workshop. 4. Equipment: Indicate the cost of non-expendable personal property that has a cost of $5,000 or more per unit for each budget year. 5. Supplies: Include the cost of consumable supplies and materials to be used during the project period for each budget year. 6. Contractual: Show the amount to be used for: (1) procurement contracts (except those which belong on other lines such as supplies and equipment); and (2) sub-contracts for each budget year. 7. Construction: Not Applicable. 8. Other: Indicate all direct costs not clearly covered by lines 1 through 6 above, including consultants and capital expenditures for each budget year. 9. Total Direct Cost: Show the total for Lines 1 through 8 for each budget year. 10. Indirect Costs: Indicate the rate and amount of indirect costs for each budget year. 11. Training/stipend Cost: Indicate cost per student and number of hours of instruction. The amount of a stipend may be the greater of either the minimum hourly wage prescribed by state or local law or the minimum hourly wage set under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Please carefully read 34 CFR 401.3(c) for additional information on stipends. 12. Total Costs: Show total for lines 9 through 11 for each budget year. Instructions for Part III--Budget Narrative The budget narrative should explain, justify, and, if needed, clarify your budget summary. For each line item (personnel, fringe benefits, travel, etc.) in your budget, explain why it is there and how you computed the costs. Please limit this section to no more than five pages. Be sure that each page of your application is numbered consecutively. Instructions for Part IV--Program Narrative The program narrative will comprise the largest portion of your application. This part is where you spell out the who, what, when, why, and how, of your proposed project. Although you will not have a form to fill out for your narrative, there is a format. This format is based on the selection criteria. Because your application will be reviewed and rated by a review panel on the basis of the selection criteria, your narrative should follow the order and format of the criteria. Before preparing your application, you should carefully read the legislation and regulations of the program, eligibility requirements, special considerations, and the selection criteria for this competition. Your program narrative should be clear, concise, and to the point. Begin the narrative with a one page abstract or summary of your project. Then describe the project in detail, addressing each selection criterion in order. The Secretary strongly suggests that you limit the program narrative to no more than 30 double-spaced, typed pages (on one side only), although the Secretary will consider your application if it is longer. Be sure to number consecutively ALL pages in your application. You may include supporting documentation as appendices to the program narrative. Be sure that this material is concise and pertinent to this program competition. You are advised that-- (a) The Secretary considers only information contained in the application in ranking applications for funding consideration. Letters of support sent separately from the formal application package are not considered in the review by the technical review panels. (34 CFR 75.217) (b) The technical review panel evaluates each application solely on the basis of the selection criteria contained in this notice and in 34 CFR 401.21 and the special consideration contained in this notice and in 34 CFR 401.20(e)(1). (c) The Secretary awards five points to applications from tribally- controlled community colleges, under the terms of 34 CFR 401.20(e)(2). (d) Letters of support included as appendices to an application, that are of direct relevance to or contain commitments that pertain to the established selection criteria, such as commitment of resources, will be reviewed by the panel. Estimated Burden Statement According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1830-0013. (Expiration date: 06/30/99). The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 90 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Gwen Washington, Linda Mayo or Sonja Turner, Division of National Programs, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W. (Room 4512, Mary E. Switzer Building), Washington D.C. 20202-7242. BILLING CODE 4000-01-P [[Page 36330]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.017 [[Page 36331]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.018 [[Page 36332]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.019 [[Page 36333]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.020 [[Page 36334]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.021 [[Page 36335]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.022 [[Page 36336]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY98.023 BILLING CODE 4000-01-C [[Page 36337]] Notice to All Applicants Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this enclosure is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that applies to applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This provision is section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382). To Whom Does This Provision Apply? Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new discretionary grant awards under this program. All applicants for new awards must include information in their applications to address this new provision in order to receive funding under this program. What Does This Provision Require? Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an individual person) to include in its application a description of the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, its federally-assisted program for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. This section allows applicants discretion in developing the required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that can impede equitable access or participation that you may address: gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on local circumstances, you can determine whether these or other barriers may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from equitable access or participation. Your description need not be lengthy; you may provide a clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the information my be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate, may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application. Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it identifies. What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of This Provision? The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may comply with section 427. (1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency, might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in their native language. (2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind. (3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it tends to conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment. We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the requirements of this provision. Estimated Burden Statement According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1830-0013 (Exp. 6/30/99). The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 1 to 3 hours per response, with an average of 1.5 hours, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651. Potential applicants frequently direct questions to officials of the Department regarding application notices and programmatic and administrative regulations governing various direct grant programs. To assist potential applicants, the Department has assembled the following most commonly asked questions followed by the Department's answers. Q. Can we get an extension of the deadline? A. No. A closing date may be changed only under extraordinary circumstances. Any change must be announced in the Federal Register and must apply to all applications. Waivers for individual applications cannot be granted regardless of the circumstances. Q. How many copies of the application should I submit and must they be bound? A. Applicants are required to submit one original and two copies of the grant application. To aid with the review of applications, the Department encourages applicants to submit four additional copies of the grant application. The Department will not penalize applicants who do not provide additional copies. The binding of applications is optional. Q. We just missed the deadline for the XXX competition. May we submit under another competition? A. Yes, however, the likelihood of success is not good. A properly prepared application must meet the specifications of the competition to which it is submitted. Q. I'm not sure which competition is most appropriate for my project. What should I do? A. We are happy to discuss any such questions with you and provide clarification on the unique elements of the various competitions. Q. Will you help us prepare our application? A. We are happy to provide general program information. Clearly, it would not be appropriate for staff to participate in the actual writing of an application, but we can respond to specific questions about application requirements, evaluation criteria, and the priorities. Applicants should understand, however, that prior contact with the Department is not required, nor will it in any way influence the success of an application. Q. When will I find out if I'm going to be funded? A. You can expect to receive notification within 3 to 4 months of the application closing date, depending on the number of applications received and the number of Department competitions with similar closing dates. Q. Once my application has been reviewed by the review panel, can you tell me the outcome? A. No. Every year we are called by a number of applicants who have a legitimate reason for needing to know the outcome of the panel review prior to official notification. Some applicants need to make job decisions, some need to notify a local school district, etc. [[Page 36338]] Regardless of the reason, because final funding decisions have not been made at that point, we cannot share information about the results of panel review with anyone. Q. Will my application be returned if I am not funded? A. No. We no longer return unsuccessful applications. Thus, applicants should retain at least one copy of the application. Q. Can I obtain copies of reviewers' comments? A. Upon written request, reviewers' comments will be mailed to unsuccessful applicants. Q. Is travel allowed under these projects? A. Travel associated with carrying out the project is allowed. Because we may request the project director of funded projects to attend an annual project directors' meeting, you may also wish to include a trip or two to Washington, DC in the travel budget. Travel to conferences is sometimes allowed when the purpose of the conference will be of benefit and relates to the project. Q. If my application receives high scores from the reviewers, does that mean that I will receive funding? A. Not necessarily. It is often the case that the number of applications scored highly by the reviewers exceeds the dollars available for funding projects under a particular competition. The order of selection, which is based on the scores of all the applications reviewed and other relevant factors, determines the applications that can be funded. Q. What happens during pre-award clarification discussions? A. During pre-award clarification discussions, technical and budget issues may be raised. These are issues that have been identified during the panel and staff reviews that require clarification. Sometimes issues are stated as ``conditions.'' These are issues that have been identified as so critical that the award cannot be made unless those conditions are met. Questions may also be raised about the proposed budget. Generally, these issues are raised because an application contains inadequate justification or explanation of a particular budget item, or because the budget item seems unimportant to the successful completion of the project. If you are asked to make changes that you feel could seriously affect the project's success, you may provide reasons for not making the changes or provide alternative suggestions. Similarly, if proposed budget reductions will, in your opinion, seriously affect the project activities, you may explain why and provide additional justification for the proposed expenses. An award cannot be made until all issues under discussion have been resolved. Q. How do I provide an assurance? A. Except for SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs,'' you may provide an assurance simply by stating in writing that you are meeting a prescribed requirement. Q. Where can copies of the Federal Register, program regulations, and Federal statutes be obtained? A. Copies of these materials can usually be found at your local library. If not, they can be obtained from the Government Printing Office by writing to Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Telephone: (202) 708-8228. When requesting copies of regulations or statutes, it is helpful to use the specific name or public law, number of a statute, or part number of a regulation. The material referenced in this notice should be referred to as follows: (1) The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (Pub. L. 101-302). (2) Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 90, 81, and 85. (3) 34 CFR parts 400 (Vocational and Applied Technology Education Programs--General Provisions) and 401 (Indian Vocational Education Program) as published in the Federal Register on August 14, 1992 (57 FR 36724). Copies of these materials may be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. [FR Doc. 98-17582 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P