Timeline

Current Competition: FY 2011
Applications available: April 6, 2011
Application deadline: May 23, 2011

Federal Register Notice

• Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for FY 2011 dated April 6, 2011 | PDF

Current Application

Message to All Potential EOC Applicants

This is to inform you that the Competitive Preference Priority under the Notice Inviting Applications for the fiscal year 2011 competition for the Educational Opportunity Centers Program should be uploaded in PDF format to the “Other Attachments Form” section in the Grants.gov system. Please note that if you have already submitted your application through the Grants.gov system, and included information on the Competitive Preference Priority in the application, you do not need to re-submit. The Department will ensure that the information is evaluated by the peer reviewers. The application will not be determined ineligible unless the program narrative, which includes the Competitive Preference Priority, exceeds the 50-page limit for the narrative plus an additional five (5) pages for the priority for a total of 55 pages.

Thank you for your patience.

All applicants are required to submit an application online through Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a single access point for over 1,000 grant programs offered by federal and other grant-making agencies.

It is strongly recommended that potential applicants familiarize themselves with the Grants.gov Web site and complete the required registration well before the closing date. You can begin the registration process before the application is published on Grants.gov or while you are filling out the application. However, registration must be completed before you can submit your completed package. Please note that the registration process for organizations may take three to five days to complete. The site offers users extensive customer support options and resources for applicants.

Application packages in Grants.gov consist of two downloadable files: application instructions and the application package. To view the package, including required forms, the free Adobe Reader or compatible Acrobat Professional software must be installed on your computer.

Accessing the Application Package

1. Start at the Grants.gov home page: http://www.grants.gov/.
2. Go to the Apply for Grants page: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp.
3. Click on Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package: https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms_apps_idx.html.
4. Enter the CFDA number for this program: (84.066) and click "Download Package."
   Note that alpha suffixes to the CFDA number cannot be included in the search criteria. If there is more than one program sharing the numeric CFDA you will be able to select specific programs under that number using the program title after the numeric CFDA search.
5. Click "Download" to access the application package and instructions.

Applicants who are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system may submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic submission requirement. Requests for waivers are due at least two weeks before the application deadline date. See the Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for additional details on requesting a waiver.

Page limits and acceptable fonts for grant applications. Please refer to the Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for page limits and font types an applicant may use when submitting grant applications for this competition.

Tips for submitting applications electronically through Grants.gov:

• Begin the Grants.gov registration process as soon as possible. Register early: preferably at least five days before the deadline.
• Download and review the application instructions from Grants.gov.
• Complete the application package according to the application instructions.
• Review and verify all program assurances and certifications.
• Verify on Grants.gov that registration is complete and that your Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) status is approved if you are the submitter.
• Submit your application early, ensuring sufficient time for the Grants.gov validation process.
• Verify your submission through the Grants.gov Web site.

More Information

• Department of Education responses to public comments received on the EOC FY 2011 draft application package: MS Word (56K) | PDF (36K)
• Higher Education Opportunity Act (P.L. 110-315) of 2008, amending the Higher Education Act of 1965: Text | PDF
• Official Final Regulations Amending TRIO Regulations, as published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2010. These final regulations amend the Educational Opportunity Centers Program regulations.
• Unofficial compilation of Educational Opportunity Centers regulations with the changes resulting from the final regulations amending the TRIO regulations: MS Word (95K) | PDF (180K)
• Low-Income Guidelines

Application Contact

Rachael Couch, (202) 502-7655
Federal TRIO Programs
U. S. Department of Education, OPE
1990 K Street, N.W., Suite 7000
Washington, DC 20006-8510
Telephone: (202) 502-7600
E-mail: OPE_TRIO@ed.gov

Express Mail Delivery* Only
Rachael Couch
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Federal TRIO Programs
Educational Opportunity Centers Program
K Street Location, Room 7000
Washington DC 20202-8510
Telephone: (202) 502-7655

* Effective April 8, 2011 all express mail packages must be sent to a central U. S. Department of Education location for security screening and tracking before transfer to other headquarters buildings. Please direct express mail packages being delivered to program by UPS, FedEx, DSL, and similar carriers to the express mail address indicated.

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