FR Doc 04-1139
[Federal Register: January 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 2702-2706]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ja04-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information;
Strengthening Institutions, American Indian Tribally Controlled
Colleges and Universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2004
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.031A,
84.031T, 84.031N and 84.031W.
Dates: Applications Available: January 16, 2004.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 27, 2004.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 27, 2004.
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education that qualify
as eligible institutions under the Strengthening Institutions (SIP),
American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCU),
and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH)
Programs may apply for grants under this notice. These programs are
known collectively as the Title III, Part A Programs. To qualify as an
eligible institution under any Title III, Part A Program, an
institution must, among other requirements, be accredited or
preaccredited, have a high enrollment of needy students, and have
Educational and General (E&G) expenditures per full-time equivalent
(FTE) undergraduate student that are low in comparison with the average
E&G expenditures per FTE undergraduate student of institutions that
offer similar instruction. The eligibility requirements are set forth
in a Notice Inviting Applications for Designation as Eligible
Institutions for Fiscal Year 2004 that was published in the Federal
Register on December 9, 2003 (68 FR 68614) and in program regulations
contained in 34 CFR 607.2 through 607.5. The regulations may be
accessed by visiting the following Department of Education Web site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
Relationship Between Title III, Part A and Hispanic Serving Institution
Programs
Notes: 1. A grantee under the Developing Hispanic-Serving
Institutions (HSI) Program, authorized under Title V of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), may not receive a grant
under any Title III, Part A Program. Further, a current Developing
HSI Program grantee may not give up its grant under the Developing
HSI Program in order to receive a grant under any Title III, Part A
Program.
2. An institution that does not fall within the limitation
described in Note 1 may apply for a FY 2004 grant under all Title
III, Part A Programs for which it is eligible, as well as under the
Developing HSI Program. However, a successful applicant may receive
only one grant.
Estimated Available Funds: Although Congress has not enacted a
final appropriation for FY 2004, the Department is inviting
applications for this competition now so that it may be prepared to
make awards following final action on the Department's
appropriations bill. Based on the Congressional action to date, we
estimate $5.0 million for new awards under the ANNH Program, $15.541
million for new awards under the TCCU Program and $20.023 million
for new awards under the SIP.
For specific funding information, see the chart in the Award
Information section of this notice.
Estimated Range of Awards: See chart.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice. Applicants should periodically check the Title III, Part A
Web
[[Page 2703]]
site for further information on these programs. The address is:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/iduestitle3a/index.html.
Project Period: 60 months for individual development grants, 60
months for cooperative arrangement grants, 12 months for planning
grants and 12 months for construction grants.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The SIP, TCCU, and ANNH Programs are all
authorized under Title III, Part A of the HEA. Each provides grants to
eligible institutions of higher education to enable them to improve
their academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability,
and increase their self-sufficiency.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1057-1059d.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82,
84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34
CFR part 607.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: Although Congress has not enacted a
final appropriation for FY 2004, the Department is inviting
applications for this competition now so that it may be prepared to
make awards following final action on the Department's appropriations
bill. Based on the Congressional action to date we estimate $5.0
million for new awards under the ANNH Program, $15.541 million for new
awards under the TCCU Program and $20.023 million for new awards under
the SIP.
Estimated Range of Awards: See chart.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice. Applicants should periodically check the TitleIII, Part A
Web site for further information on these programs. The address is:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/iduestitle3a/index.html.
Project Period: 60 months for individual development grants, 60
months for cooperative arrangement grants, 12 months for planning
grants and 12 months for construction grants.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN20JA04.000
III. Eligibility Information
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education that qualify
as eligible institutions under the SIP, TCCU, and ANNH programs may
apply for grants under this notice. These programs are known
collectively as the Title III, Part A Programs. To qualify as an
eligible institution under any Title III, Part A Program, an
institution must, among other requirements, be accredited or
preaccredited, have a high enrollment of needy students, and have E&G
expenditures per FTE undergraduate student that are low in comparison
with the average E&G expenditures per FTE undergraduate student of
institutions that offer similar instruction. The eligibility
requirements are set forth in a Notice Inviting Applications for
Designation as Eligible Institutions for
[[Page 2704]]
Fiscal Year 2004 that was published in the Federal Register on December
9, 2003 (68 FR 68614), and in program regulations contained in 34 CFR
607.2 through 607.5. The regulations may be accessed by visiting the
following Department of Education Web site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
Notes: 1. A grantee under the Developing HSI Program, authorized
under Title V of the HEA, may not receive a grant under any Title
III, Part A Program. Further, a current Developing HSI Program
grantee may not give up its grant under the Developing HSI Program
in order to receive a grant under any Title III, Part A Program.
2. An institution that does not fall within the limitation
described in Note 1 may apply for a FY 2004 grant under all Title
III, Part A Programs for which it is eligible, as well as under the
Developing HSI Program. However, a successful applicant may receive
only one grant.
1. Cost Sharing or Matching: There are no cost sharing or matching
requirements in any Title III, Part A Programs unless a grantee under
the SIP or TCCU Program uses a portion of its grant for establishing or
improving an endowment fund. If it does, it must match with non-Federal
funds the amount of grant funds used for this purpose. 20 U.S.C.
1057(d)(2) and 1059c (c)(3)(B).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Louis J. Venuto, U.S.
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC
20006-8513. Telephone: (202) 502-7777 or via Internet:
Louis.Venuto@ed.gov.
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 a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the contact person
listed in this section. However, the Department is not able to
reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the
application package.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
Page Limit: We have established mandatory page limits for the
applications to be submitted under this notice. You must limit your
entire application to the equivalent of no more than 80 pages for an
individual development grant under the SIP; 80 pages for an individual
development grant under ANNH; 80 pages for an individual development
grant and a construction and renovation grant under the TCCU Program;
100 pages for the cooperative arrangement development grant under the
Title III, Part A Programs and 30 pages for the planning grant under
the Title III, Part A Programs, using the following standards:
[sbull] A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
[sbull] Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles and headings.
You may single space abstracts, footnotes, quotations, references,
captions, tables and forms (including the ED Forms), however, you must
still use font size 12.
[sbull] Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch). The page limit applies to all
parts of the application.
We will reject your application if--
[sbull] You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
[sbull] You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the
page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: January 16, 2004.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 27, 2004.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 27, 2004.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR
607.10. We reference additional regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Instructions and requirements for
the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier
service or commercial carrier) are in the application package for this
program.
Application Procedures: The Government Paperwork Elimination Act
(GPEA) of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-277) and the Federal Financial Assistance
Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107) encourage us to
undertake initiatives to improve our grant processes. Enhancing the
ability of individuals and entities to conduct business with us
electronically is a major part of our response to these Acts.
Therefore, we are taking steps to adopt the Internet as our chief means
of conducting transactions in order to improve services to our
customers and to simplify and expedite our business processes.
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.
We are requiring that applications for grants for FY 2004 under
Title III, Part A Programs--CFDA Numbers 84.031A, 84.031N, 84.031T and
84.031W be submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant
Application System (e-Application) available through the Department's
e-GRANTS system. The e-GRANTS system is accessible through its portal
page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
If you are unable to submit an application through the e-GRANTS
system, you may submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic
submission requirement. In your request, you should explain the reason
or reasons that prevent you from using the Internet to submit the
application. Address your request to: Louis J. Venuto, U.S. Department
of Education, 1990 K. Street, NW., 6th Floor, room 6071, Washington, DC
20006-8513. Please submit your request no later than two weeks before
the application deadline date.
If, within two weeks of the application deadline date, you are
unable to submit an application electronically, you must submit a paper
application by the application deadline date in accordance with the
transmittal instructions in the application package. The paper
application must include a written request for a waiver documenting the
reasons that prevented you from using the Internet to submit your
application.
Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications
We are continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic
submission of applications to include additional formula grant programs
and additional discretionary grant competitions. The Title III, Part A
Programs--CFDA
[[Page 2705]]
Numbers 84.031A, 84.031N, 84.031T, and 84.031W are included in the
pilot project. If you are an applicant under Title III, Part A
Programs, you must submit your application to us in electronic format
or receive a waiver.
The pilot project involves the use of e-Application. If you use e-
Application, you will be entering data online while completing your
application. You may not e-mail a soft copy of a grant application to
us. The data you enter online will be saved into a database. We shall
continue to evaluate the success of e-Application and solicit
suggestions for its improvement.
If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
[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 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 must submit all documents electronically, including the
Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524, 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 Application for Federal Education
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following
these steps:
1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
2. The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign this
form.
3. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard copy signature page of the ED 424.
4. Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at (202)
260-1349.
[sbull] We may request that you give us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If you are prevented from submitting your application
on the application deadline 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. We will grant this extension if--
1. You are a registered user of e-Application and you 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 application 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 application
deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
You may access the electronic grant application for Title III, Part
A Programs at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for these programs
are in 34 CFR 607.21 and 607.22.
2. Review and Selection Process: Additional factors we consider in
selecting an application for an award are the tie-breaking situations
described in 34 CFR 607.23. The Title III, Part A Program regulations
require that we award one additional point to an application from an
institution of higher education (IHE) that has an endowment fund for
which the 2000-2001 market value per FTE student was less than the
comparable average per FTE student at a similar type IHE. We also award
one additional point to an application from an IHE that had
expenditures for library materials in 2000-2001 per FTE student that
were less than the comparable average per FTE student at a similar type
IHE.
For the purpose of these funding considerations, an applicant must
demonstrate that the market value of its endowment fund per FTE student
and library expenditures per FTE student, were less than the average
expenditure per FTE student when calculated using the data submitted by
applicants for the year 2000-2001.
If a tie remains, after applying the additional point(s) we will
determine the ranking of applicants based on the lowest combined
library expenditures per FTE student and endowment values per FTE
student.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in
34 CFR 75.118 and 607.31.
4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of
the Title III, Part A Programs: (1) The percentage of Title III, Part A
project goals relating to the improvement of academic quality that are
met or exceeded will increase or be maintained over time. (2) The
percentage of Title III, Part A goals relating to the improvement of
student services and student outcomes that are met or exceeded will
increase or be maintained over time. (3) The percentage of Title III,
Part A project goals relating to the improvement of institutional
management and fiscal stability that are met or exceeded will increase
or be maintained over time.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louis J. Venuto, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-8513.
Telephone: (202) 502-7777 or by email:
Louis.Venuto@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call
[[Page 2706]]
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 program contact person listed in this
section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: January 14, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-1139 Filed 1-14-04; 3:00 pm]
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