[Federal Register: March 11, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 48)] [Notices] [Page 9863-9883] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [[Page 9863]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part VI Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 1996; Notice [[Page 9864]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.245] Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 Note 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), this notice contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply for a grant under this competition. Purpose of Program: The Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions Program provides grants for the operation and improvement of tribally controlled postsecondary vocational institutions to ensure continued and expanded educational opportunities for Indian students, and to allow for the improvement and expansion of the physical resources of those institutions. The Secretary intends to distribute all funds available under this program through this competitive grant process and, therefore, it is anticipated that no funds would be reserved to fund additional training equipment costs at a later date. The Secretary wishes to highlight for potential applicants that this program can help to further the National Education Goals. Specifically, the Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions Program supports the National Education Goal that, by the year 2000, every adult American will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Eligible Applicants: A tribally controlled postsecondary vocational institution, as defined in 34 CFR 410.5, that meets the requirements in 34 CFR 410.2 is eligible for an award under this program. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 10, 1996. Available Funds: $2,919,000 for the first 12 months. Funding for the second, third, fourth, and fifth years of the project period for any grant awarded under this competition is subject to the availability of funds and to a grantee meeting the requirements in 34 CFR 75.253. Applicants should note that Congress has not yet enacted final appropriations for Department of Education programs for fiscal year 1996. As a result of final action, funds available for this competition could be reduced or even eliminated. Estimated Range of Awards: $1,054,000-$1,800,000 (funding for first 12 months). Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,459,500 (funding for first 12 months). Estimated Number of Awards: A minimum of 2. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: 5 years. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows: (1) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs). (2) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations). (3) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments). (4) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act-- Enforcement). (5) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying). (6) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide 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 410. Content of the Application: To receive an institutional support grant under the Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions Program, an applicant must include the following information in the application: (a) Documentation showing that the institution is eligible according to the requirements in 34 CFR 410.2. (b) A description of the fiscal control and fund accounting procedures to be used for all funds received under this program that will allow the Secretary to monitor expenditures and the Education Department Inspector General, the U.S. Comptroller General, or an independent non-Federal auditor to audit the institution's programs. (c) The institution's operating expenses for the preceding fiscal year, including allowable expenses listed in 34 CFR 410.30. (d) The institution's Indian student count. (e) A comprehensive development plan that must address-- (1) The institutional mission statement, i.e., a broad statement of purpose, that identifies the institution's distinguishing characteristics, including the characteristics of the students the institution serves and plans to serve, and the programs of study it offers and proposes to offer. (2) Data for the past three academic years reflecting the number and required qualifications of the teaching and administrative staff, the number of students enrolled, attendance rates, dropout rates, graduation rates, rate of job placement or college enrollment after graduation, and the most significant scholastic problems affecting the student population. (3) A description of how the institution is responsive to the current and projected labor market needs in its geographic area, including the institution's plans for placement of students. (4) Assumptions concerning the institutional environment, the potential number of students to be served, enrollment trends, and economic factors that could affect the institution. (5) Major problems or deficiencies that inhibit the institution from realizing its mission. (6) Long-range and short-range goals that will chart the growth and development of the institution and address the problems identified under paragraph (e)(5) of this section. (7) Measurable objectives related to reaching each goal. (8) Time-frames for achieving the goals and objectives described in paragraphs (e)(6) and (7) of this section. (9) Priorities for implementing improvements concerning instructional and student support, capital expenditures, equipment, and other priority areas. (10) Major resource requirements necessary to achieve the institution's goals and objectives, including personnel, finances, equipment, and facilities. (11) A detailed budget identifying the costs to be paid with a grant under this program and resources available from other Federal, State, and local sources that will be used to achieve the institution's goals and objectives. Budget and cost information must be sufficiently detailed to enable the Secretary to determine the amount of payments pursuant to section 386(b)(2) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (Act). The statement must include information on allowable expenses listed in 34 CFR 410.30. (12) Strategies and resources for objectively evaluating the institution's progress towards, and success in, achieving its goals and objectives. [[Page 9865]] Selection Criteria: The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. If only one or two applicants are eligible, the Secretary selects each eligible applicant. The amount of each grant is determined by the quality of the application, based on the selection criteria, and the respective needs of the applicants. If there are more than two elibible applicants, the Secretary ranks each application using the selection criteria. The Secretary funds two or more applicants. The number of grants made and the amount of each grant is determined by taking into account the quality of the applications and the respective needs of the applicants. The program regulations in 34 CFR 410.21 assign a maximum of 85 points for these criteria. Further, under 34 CFR 410.20(b) the Secretary is authorized to distribute an additional 15 points among the criteria to bring the total to a maximum of 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. (a) Institutional goals and objectives. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the applicant's current and future institutional goals and objectives are-- (1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; and (2) Directly related to the problems to be solved. (b) Comprehensive development plan. (30 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the plan is effectively designed to meet the applicant's current and future institutional goals and objectives, including instructional and student support needs, and equipment and capital requirements. (c) Implementation strategy. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which an applicant's implementation strategy-- (1) For each major activity funded under this program, is comprehensive and likely to be effective, taking into account the applicant's past performance and the data for the past three academic years reflecting the number and required qualifications of the teaching and administrative staff, the number of students enrolled, attendance rates, dropout rates, graduation rates, rate of job placement or college enrollment after graduation, and the most significant scholastic problems affecting the student population; (2) Includes a realistic timetable for each such activity; and (3) Includes a staff management plan likely to ensure effective administration of the project activities. (d) Budget and cost effectiveness. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which-- (1) The budget is adequate to support the proposed activities to be funded under this program, including capital expenditures and acquisition of equipment, if applicable; (2) Costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to similar activities the institution carried out in previous years; and (3) The budget narrative justifies the expenditures. (e) Evaluation plan. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan the institution plans to use to determine its progress towards, and success in, achieving its goals and objectives, including the extent to which-- (1) The plan identifies, at a minimum, types of data to be collected, expected outcomes, and how those outcomes will be measured; (2) The methods of evaluation are appropriate and, to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable; and (3) The methods of evaluation provide periodic data that can be used for ongoing program improvement. Additional Factors: After evaluating applications according to the criteria in 34 CFR 410.21 and consulting, to the extent practicable, with boards of trustees and the tribal governments chartering the institutions being considered, the Secretary determines whether the most highly rated applications are equitably distributed among Indian tribes. The Secretary may select other applications for funding if doing so would improve the distribution of projects among Indian tribes. In addition to the criteria in 34 CFR 410.21, the Secretary considers whether funding a particular applicant duplicates an effort already being made. Instructions for Transmittal of Applications: (a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant shall-- (1) Mail the original and six copies of the application on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA# 84.245), Washington, DC 20202-4725. (2) Hand deliver the original and six copies of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA# 84.245), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC (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 Acknowledgement 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: 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. Part V: Additional Assurances and Certifications: a. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B). b. Certification regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other [[Page 9866]] 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 80-0014, 9/90) and Instructions. (NOTE: ED 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, and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Continuation Sheet (Standard Form LLL-A). e. Notice to all Applicants. An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the forms in Appendix A. However, each of the pertinent documents must each have an original ink signature. All applicants must submit ONE original signed application, including ink signatures on all forms and assurances and SIX copies of the application. Please mark each application as original or copy. No grant may be awarded unless a completed application form has been received. For Further Information Contact: Roberta Lewis, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW. (Room 4523--MES), Washington, DC 20202-7242. Telephone (202) 205-5680. 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. Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), telephone (202) 260-9950; on the Internet Gopher Server at GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins, and Press Releases); or on the World Wide Web (at http://www.ed.gov/money.htm). However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2397-2397h. Dated: March 6, 1996. Jon Weintraub, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education. BILLING CODE 4000-01-P [[Page 9867]] Appendix A [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.005 [[Page 9868]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.006 [[Page 9869]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.007 [[Page 9870]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.008 [[Page 9871]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.009 [[Page 9872]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.010 BILLING CODE 4000-01-C [[Page 9873]] APPENDIX A 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. 2. Fringe Benefits: Indicate the rate and amount of fringe benefits. 3. Travel: Indicate the amount requested for both local and out of State travel of Project Staff. 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. 5. Supplies: Include the cost of consumable supplies and materials to be used during the project period. 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. 7. Construction: Not Applicable 8. Other: Indicate all direct costs not clearly covered by lines 1 through 6 above, including consultants and capital expenditures. 9. Total Direct Cost: Show the total for Lines 1 through 8. 10. Indirect Costs: Indicate the rate and amount of indirect costs. (Note: Except for grants to Federally recognized Indian tribes, the indirect cost rate cannot exceed 8% of the total direct charges.) 11. Training/stipend Cost: Indicate cost per student and number of hours of instruction (minimum wage is the basis for amount per hour--$4.25). 12. Total Costs: Show total for lines 9 through 11. Instructions for Part III--Budget Narrative Prepare a detailed Budget Narrative for each year of the project that justifies, and/or clarifies the budget figures shown in Section A. Explain: 1. How personnel costs are calculated--provide yearly and/or hourly rates; for other than full-time staff, provide hours per day, week, month, and year. 2. The basis used to estimate certain costs (professional personnel, consultants, travel, indirect costs) and any other costs that may appear unusual; 3. How the major cost items relate to the proposed project activities (refer to application page); 4. The costs of the project's evaluation component; 5. What matching occurs in each budget category. Please limit this section to no more than five pages. 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, where, 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 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, information on any priority set by the Secretary, 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 proposed project. Then describe the project in detail, addressing each selection criterion in order. The Secretary strongly requests 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. Be sure that this material is concise and pertinent to this program competition. You are advised that: (a) The Department 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. (EDGAR Sec. 75.217) (b) The technical review panel evaluates each application solely on the basis of the established technical review criteria. Letters of support contained in the application will strengthen the application only insofar as they contain commitments which pertain to the established technical review criteria, such as commitment and resources. BILLING CODE 4000-01-P [[Page 9874]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.011 [[Page 9875]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.012 [[Page 9876]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.013 [[Page 9877]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.014 [[Page 9878]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.015 [[Page 9879]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.016 [[Page 9880]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.017 [[Page 9881]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MR96.018 BILLING CODE 4000-01-C [[Page 9882]] 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 1801-0004 (Exp. 8/31/98). 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. Appendix B 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. 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 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. Our new policy calls for an original and six copies to be submitted. The binding of applications is optional and discouraged. 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 requirements 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 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 that this previous preapplication consultation 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 competitions with closing dates at about the same time. 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 legitimate reasons for needing to know the outcome of the review prior to official notification. Some applicants need to make job decisions, some need to notify a local school district, etc. Regardless of the reason, because final funding decisions have not been made at that point, we cannot share information about the review with anyone. Q. Will my application be returned if I am not funded? A. 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 will request the project directors and evaluators of funded projects to attend an annual project directors meeting, you should include annual trips for each to Washington, D.C., in the travel budget. Travel to conferences is sometimes allowed when it is for purposes of dissemination. 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 and other relevant factors, determines the applications that can be funded. Q. What happens during negotiations? A. During negotiations 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 there is 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 [[Page 9883]] 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 negotiation issues have been resolved. Q. How do I provide an assurance? A. Except for SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs,'' simply state 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, D.C. 20402. Telephone: (202) 783-3238. When requesting copies of regulations or statutes, it is helpful to use the specific name, public law number, or part number. The material referenced in this notice should be referred to as follows: (1) Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (Perkins Act) (Public Law 101-392, 104 Stat. 753 (1990) 20 U.S.C. Secs. 2301 et seq. (Supp. IV) 1992). (2) State Vocational and Applied Technology Education Programs and National Discretionary Programs of Vocational Education Final Regulations, 34 CFR Parts 400 and 410. (3) Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86. [FR Doc. 96-5714 Filed 3-8-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P