Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education--Comprehensive Program (Pre-applications and Applications); Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004; CFDA Nos. 84.116A, 84.116B [OPE]

[Federal Register: September 18, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 181)]
[Notices]
[Page 54719-54722]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18se03-40]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Nos. 84.116A, 84.116B]

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education--
Comprehensive Program (Preapplications and Applications); Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

Purpose of Program: To provide grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to improve postsecondary education opportunities.
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or
combinations of those institutions and other public and private
nonprofit institutions and agencies.
Applications Available: September 18, 2003.
Deadline for Transmittal of Preapplications: November 3, 2003.
Deadline for Transmittal of Final Applications: March 22, 2004.

Note: All applicants must submit a preapplication to be eligible
to submit a final application.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 21, 2004.
Estimated Available Funds: $9,000,000 for new awards.
The Administration has requested $39 million for this program for
FY 2004 (approximately $9 million of which will be 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: $50,000-$275,000 per year.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $156,000 per year.
Estimated Number of Awards: 50-55.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

Invitational Priorities

While applicants may propose any project within the scope of 20
U.S.C. 1138, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) the Secretary is particularly
interested in applications that meet one or more of the following
invitational priorities. However, an application that meets one or more
of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or
absolute preference over other applications.

Invitational Priority 1

Projects to improve the quality of K-12 teaching through new models
of teacher preparation and through new kinds of partnerships between
schools and colleges and universities that enhance students'
preparation for, access to, and success in college.

Invitational Priority 2

Projects to promote innovative reforms in the curriculum and
instruction of various subjects at the college preparation,
undergraduate, and graduate/professional levels, especially through
student-centered or technology-mediated strategies, and including the
subject area of civic education.

Invitational Priority 3

Projects designing more cost-effective ways of improving
postsecondary instruction and operations, i.e., to promote more student
learning relative to institutional resources expended.

Invitational Priority 4

Projects to support new ways to ensure equal access to
postsecondary education and to improve rates of retention and program
completion, especially for underrepresented students whose retention
and completion rates continue to lag behind those of other groups, and
especially to encourage wider adoption of proven approaches to this
problem.

Aligning Your Proposal to the Review Criteria

The success of FIPSE's Comprehensive Program depends upon (1) the
extent to which funded projects are being replicated--i.e., adopted or
adapted--by others; and (2) the manner in which projects are being
institutionalized and continued after grant funding. These two results
constitute FIPSE's indicators of the success of our program.
If funded, you will be asked to collect and report data in your
project's annual performance report (EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.590) on steps
taken toward these goals. Consequently, applicants to FIPSE's
Comprehensive Program are advised to include these two outcomes in
conceptualizing the design, implementation and evaluation of the
proposed project. Consideration of FIPSE's two performance outcomes is
an important part of many of the review criteria discussed below. Thus,
it is important to the success of your application that you include
these objectives. Their measure should be a part of the project
evaluation plan, along with measures of objectives specific to your
project.

[[Page 54720]]

Methods for Applying Selection Criteria

For preapplications (preliminary applications) and final
applications, the Secretary gives equal weight to each of the selection
criteria. Within each of these criteria, the Secretary gives equal
weight to each of the factors.

Selection Criteria

In evaluating preapplications and final applications for grants
under this program competition, the Secretary uses the following
selection criteria chosen from those listed in 34 CFR 75.210.

Preapplications

In evaluating preapplications, the Secretary uses the following
four selection criteria:
(a) Need for project. The Secretary considers the need for the
proposed project. In determining need, the Secretary considers each of
the following factors:
(1) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the
proposed project.
(2) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
(b) Significance. The Secretary considers the significance of the
proposed project. In determining the significance, the Secretary
considers each of the following factors:
(1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increased
knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, or
effective strategies.
(2) The extent to which the proposed project involves the
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on,
or are alternatives to, existing strategies.
(3) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely
to be attained by the proposed project.
(4) The potential replicability of the proposed project or
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation
in a variety of settings.
(c) Quality of the project design. The Secretary considers the
quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the
quality of the design, the Secretary considers each of the following
factors:
(1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population or other identified needs.
(2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(3) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible
replication of project activities or strategies, including information
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the
project.
(4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of
Federal financial assistance.
(d) Quality of the project evaluation. The Secretary considers the
quality of the project evaluation to be conducted of the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers each of the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other
settings.
(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project.
(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible.
Final Applications. In evaluating final applications, the Secretary
uses the following seven selection criteria:
(a) Need for project. The Secretary considers the need for the
proposed project. In determining need, the Secretary considers each of
the following factors:
(1) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the
proposed project.
(2) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
(b) Significance. The Secretary considers the significance of the
proposed project. In determining significance, the Secretary considers
each of the following factors:
(1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increased
knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, or
effective strategies.
(2) The extent to which the proposed project involves the
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on,
or are alternatives to, existing strategies.
(3) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely
to be attained by the proposed project.
(4) The potential replicability of the proposed project or
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation
in a variety of settings.
(c) Quality of the project design. The Secretary considers the
quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the
quality of the design, the Secretary considers each of the following
factors:
(1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population or other identified needs.
(2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(3) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible
replication of project activities or strategies, including information
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the
project.
(4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of
Federal financial assistance.
(d) Quality of the project evaluation. The Secretary considers the
quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In
determining the quality of evaluation to be conducted, the Secretary
considers each of the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other
settings.
(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project.
(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible.
(e) Quality of the management plan. The Secretary considers the
quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. In
determining the quality of the management plan, the Secretary considers
the adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the
proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined
responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project
tasks.
(f) Quality of project personnel. The Secretary considers the
quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. In
determining the quality of project personnel the

[[Page 54721]]

Secretary considers each of the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for
employment from persons who are members of groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability.
(2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of key project personnel.
(g) Adequacy of resources. The Secretary considers the adequacy of
resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy of
resources, the Secretary considers each of the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
(2) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
(3) The potential for continued support of the project after
Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated
commitment of appropriate entities to such support.

Application Procedures

Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to
comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make
procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy.
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined
that proposed rulemaking is not required.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

In FY 2004, the Department is continuing to expand its pilot
project for electronic submission of applications to include additional
formula grant programs and additional discretionary grant competitions.
The Comprehensive Program --CFDA No. 84.116A is one of the programs
included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the
Comprehensive Program --CFDA No. 84.116A, you may submit your
preapplication and/or your final application to us in either electronic
or paper format.
The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant
Application System (e-Application). Users of e-Application will be
entering data on-line while completing their applications. You may not
e-mail a soft copy of a grant application to us. If you participate in
this voluntary pilot project by submitting an application
electronically, the data you enter on-line will be saved into a
database. We request your participation in e-Application. We shall
continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for
improvement.
If you participate in e-Application when submitting your
preapplication or final application, please note the following:
[sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
[sbull] When you enter the e-Application system, you will find
information about its hours of operation. We strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application deadline date to initiate an e-
Application package.
[sbull] You will not receive any additional point value because you
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize
you if you submit an application in paper format.
[sbull] You may submit all documents electronically, including the
Title Page (Form No. ED 40-514) and Budget Summary form, and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
[sbull] Your e-Application must comply with any page limit
requirements described in this notice.
[sbull] After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award
number (an identifying number unique to your application).
[sbull] Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the Title Page (Form No. ED 40-514)
to the Application Control Center after following these steps:
(1) Print ED 40-514 from the e-Application system.
(2) The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign this
form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner (Item
1) of the hard copy signature page of the ED 40-514.
(4) Fax the signed ED 40-514 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 260-1349.
[sbull] We may request that you give us original signatures on all
other forms at a later date.
[sbull] Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot
for the Comprehensive Program preapplication, CFDA No. 84.116A, or the
final application, CFDA No. 84.116B, and you are prevented from
submitting your application on the closing date because the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of
one business day in order to transmit your application electronically,
by mail, or by hand delivery.
For us to grant this extension--
(1) You must be a registered user of e-Application, and have
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
(2)(a) The e-Application system must be unavailable for 60 minutes
or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the deadline date; or
(b) The e-Application system must be unavailable for any period of
time during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time
between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time) on the deadline date.
The Department must acknowledge and confirm these periods of
unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this
extension or to confirm the Department's acknowledgement of any system
unavailability, you may contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere
in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or (2) the e-
GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
You may access the electronic grant application for the
Comprehensive Program preapplication--CFDA No. 84.116A or final
application--CFDA No. 84.116B--at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
We have included additional information about the e-Application
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic
Applications) in the application package.
For Applications Contact: 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): 1-877-567-7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.edpubs.org/webstore/Content/search.asp.
Or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov. If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CDFA number 84.116A.

Note: Application text and forms are available on the FIPSE Web
site (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fund for the Improvement of
Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006-8544. Telephone: (202) 502-7500. The
application text and forms may be

[[Page 54722]]

obtained from the Internet address: http://www.ed.gov/FIPSE/.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) 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 listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Individuals with disabilities also may obtain a copy of the
application package in an alternative format. However, the Department
is not able to reproduce in alternative format the standard forms
included in the application package.

Electronic Access to This Document

You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents 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 on 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.

Program authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d.

Dated: September 15, 2003.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 03-23889 Filed 9-17-03; 8:45 am]

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