[Federal Register: April 13, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 72)]
[Notices]
[Page 19323-19341]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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Part III
Department of Education
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Office of Postsecondary Education
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Application for Grants for the Underground Railroad Educational and
Cultural Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education
[CFDA No. 84.345]
Notice Inviting Applications for Grants for the Underground
Railroad Educational and Cultural Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001
Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package.
Together with the statute authorizing the program and the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the notice
contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions
you need to apply for a grant under this competition.
Purpose of Program: To provide grants to nonprofit educational
organizations that are established to research, display, interpret, and
collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.
Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit educational organizations that are
established to research, display, interpret, and collect artifacts
relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 27, 2001.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 29, 2001.
Available Funds: $1,750,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000 to $1,750,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $580,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1-3.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: 12 months.
Applicable Statute and Regulations: (a) Section 841 of the Higher
Education Amendments of 1998, Public Law 105-244, 20 U.S.C. section
1153; and (b) the Education Department General Administrative
Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 85, 86, 97,
98, and 99.
Description of Program: As required by statute, each nonprofit
educational organization awarded a grant under this program must enter
into an agreement with the Department. Each agreement must require the
organization--(1) To establish a facility to house, display, and
interpret the artifacts related to the history of the Underground
Railroad, and to make the interpretive efforts available to
institutions of higher education that award a baccalaureate or graduate
degree; (2) To demonstrate substantial private support for the facility
through the implementation of a public-private partnership between a
State or local public entity and a private entity for the support of
the facility. The private entity must provide matching funds for the
support of the facility in an amount equal to 4 times the amount of the
contribution of the State or local public entity, except that not more
than 20 percent of the matching funds may be provided by the Federal
Government; (3) To create an endowment to fund any and all shortfalls
in the costs of the on-going operations of the facility; (4) To
establish a network of satellite centers throughout the United States
to help disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad
throughout the United States, if these satellite centers raise 80
percent of the funds required to establish the satellite centers from
non-Federal public and private sources; (5) To establish the capability
to electronically link the facility with other local and regional
facilities that have collections and programs that interpret the
history of the Underground Railroad; and (6) To submit, for each fiscal
year for which the organization receives funding under this program, a
report to the Department that contains--(a) A description of the
programs and activities supported by the funding; (b) The audited
financial statement of the organization for the preceding fiscal year;
(c) A plan for the programs and activities to be supported by the
funding, as the Secretary may require; and (d) An evaluation of the
programs and activities supported by the funding, as the Secretary may
require.
Selection Criteria: Applications for Underground Railroad
Educational and Cultural Program grants will be evaluated using the
following weighted selection criteria from section 841 of the Higher
Education Amendments of 1998 and 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The maximum
score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. The maximum
overall score is 100 points. Your grant application must carefully
address each of the selection criteria and describe your efforts in
these areas in detail.
(1) Overall Concept (20 points). How well the facility supported by
the proposed grant would effectively house, display, and interpret
artifacts related to the history of the Underground Railroad and make
the interpretive efforts available to institutions of higher education
that award a baccalaureate or graduate degree.
(2) Public-Private Support (20 points). How well the applicant
organization demonstrates substantial private support for the facility
through the implementation of a public-private partnership between a
State or local public entity and a private entity for the support of
the facility. The private entity must provide matching funds for the
support of the facility in an amount equal to 4 times the amount of the
contribution of the State or local public entity, except that not more
than 20 percent of the matching funds may be provided by the Federal
Government.
(3) Endowment (5 points). How well the applicant organization
addresses the requirement to create an endowment to fund any and all
shortfalls in the costs of the on-going operations of the facility.
(4) Satellite Centers (10 points). How well the applicant
organization addresses the requirement to establish a network of
satellite centers throughout the United States to disseminate
information regarding the Underground Railroad and demonstrates the
ability to raise 80 percent of the funds required from non-Federal
public and private sources.
(5) Electronic Link (10 points). How well the applicant
organization addresses the requirement to establish the capability to
electronically link the facility with other local and regional
facilities that have collections and programs which interpret the
history of the Underground Railroad.
(6) Quality of Program Personnel (10 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed
program. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary
considers the following: (a) The qualifications, including relevant
training and experience of key personnel. (5 points) (b) 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. (5
points)
(7) Quality of Management Plan (15 points). The Secretary considers
the quality of the management plan for the proposed grant program. In
determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following: (a) 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. (5 points)
(b) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous
improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points) (c)
How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives are
brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points)
(8) Quality of Project Evaluation (10 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the evaluation to be
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conducted of the proposed program. In determining the quality of the
evaluation, the Secretary considers the following: (a) The extent to
which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate
to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (7
points) (b) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance
about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other
settings. (3 points)
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The
Executive order relies on processes developed by State and local
governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial
assistance.
If you are an applicant, you must contact the appropriate State
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about, and to comply with,
the State's process under Executive Order 12372. If you propose to
perform activities in more than one State, you should immediately
contact the SPOC for each of these States and follow the procedure
established in each State under the Executive order. If you want to
know the name and address of any SPOC, see the latest official SPOC
list on the web site of the Office of Management and Budget at the
following address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants
In States that have not established a process or chosen a program
for review, State, areawide, regional and local entities may submit
comments directly to the Department.
Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a
SPOC and any comments from State, areawide, regional, and local
entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in this
application notice to the following address: The Secretary, E.O.
12372--CFDA 84.345, U.S. Department of Education, room 7E200, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-0125.
We will determine proof of mailing under 34 CFR 75.102 (Deadline
date for applications). Recommendations or comments may be hand-
delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the date indicated
in this notice.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE ADDRESS IS NOT THE SAME ADDRESS AS THE
ONE TO WHICH AN APPLICANT SUBMITS ITS COMPLETED APPLICATION. DO NOT
SEND APPLICATIONS TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS.
Instructions for Transmittal of Applications
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
The U.S. Department of Education is expanding its pilot project of
electronic submission of applications to include certain formula grant
programs, as well as additional discretionary grant competitions. The
Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program--CFDA 84.345 is
one of the programs included in the pilot project. If you are an
applicant under the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural
Program--CFDA 84.345, you may submit your application to us in either
electronic or paper format.
The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant
Application System (e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS) portion of the
Grant Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your
participation in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the
following:
Your participation is voluntary.
You will not receive any additional point value or penalty
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
You can submit all documents electronically, including the
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
Fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal
Assistance (ED 424) after following these steps:
1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
2. Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative
signs this form.
3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic
acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying
number unique to your application).
4. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED
424.
5. Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center within three
working days of submitting your electronic application. We will
indicate a fax number in e-APPLICATION at the time of your submission.
We may request that you give us original signatures on all
other forms at a later date.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Underground
Railroad Educational and Cultural Program 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) elsewhere in this notice.
If you want to apply for a grant and be considered for funding, you
must meet the following deadline requirements:
(A) If You Send Your Application by Mail:
You must 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 No. 84.345, Washington, DC 20202-4725.
You 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.
If you mail an application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
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.
(B) If You Deliver Your Application by Hand:
You or your courier must hand deliver the original and two copies
of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on or before the
deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control
Center, Attention: CFDA No. 84.345, Room 3633, Regional Office Building
3, 7th and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC 20202.
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The Application Control Center accepts application deliveries daily
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time), except
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. The Center accepts
application deliveries through the D Street entrance only. A person
delivering an application must show identification to enter the
building.
(C) If You Submit Your Application Electronically:
You must submit your grant application through the Internet using
the software provided on the e-Grants Web site (http://e-grants.ed.gov)
by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the deadline date.
The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00
a.m. until 12:00 midnight (Washington, DC time) Monday--Friday and 6:00
a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturdays. The system is unavailable on the second
Saturday of every month, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Please note
that on Wednesdays the Web site is closed for maintenance at 7:00 p.m.
(Washington, DC time).
Notes:
(1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
(2) If you send your application by mail or deliver it by hand or
by a courier service, the Application Control Center will mail a Grant
Application Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the
notification of application receipt within 15 days from the date of
mailing the application, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-9493.
(3) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 3 of the Application for Federal Education
Assistance (ED 424; revised November 12, 1999) the CFDA number--and
suffix letter, if any--of the competition under which you are
submitting your application.
(4) If you submit your application through the Internet via the e-
Grants Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment when we
receive your application.
Parity Guidelines Between Paper and Electronic Applications
The Department of Education is expanding the pilot project, which
began in FY 2000, that allows applicants to use an Internet-based
electronic system for submitting applications. This competition is
among those that have an electronic submission option available to all
applicants. The system, called e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS
(Electronic Grant Application Package System), allows an applicant to
submit a grant application to us electronically, using a current
version of the applicant's Internet browser. To see e-APPLICATION visit
the following address: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
In an effort to ensure parity and a similar look between
applications transmitted electronically and applications submitted in
conventional paper form, e-APPLICATION has an impact on all applicants
under this competition.
Users of e-APPLICATION, a data driven system, will be entering data
on-line while completing their applications. This will be more
interactive than just e-mailing 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 go into a
database and ultimately will be accessible in electronic form to our
reviewers.
This pilot project is another step in the Department's transition
to an electronic grant award process. In addition to e-APPLICATION, the
Department is conducting a limited pilot of electronic peer review (e-
READER) and electronic annual performance reporting (e-REPORTS).
To help ensure parity and a similar look between electronic and
paper copies of grant applications, we are asking each applicant that
submits a paper application to adhere to the following guidelines:
Submit your application on 8.5" by 11" paper.
Leave a 1-inch margin on all sides.
Use consistent font throughout your document. You may also
use boldface type, underlining, and italics. However, please do not use
colored text.
Use black and white for illustrations, including charts,
tables, graphs and pictures.
For the narrative component, your application should
consist of the number and text of each selection criterion followed by
the narrative. The text of the selection criterion, if included, does
not count against any page limitation.
Place a page number at the bottom right of each page
beginning with 1; and number your pages consecutively throughout your
document.
Application Requirements: An application submitted for funding
under this program must include--(1) The name, address, and web site
address, if any, of the nonprofit educational organization seeking to
participate, and the name, title, mailing and e-mail address, and
telephone number of a contact person for the organization. (2) A
description of the facility that will be used to house, display, and
interpret the artifacts related to the history of the Underground
Railroad and to make the interpretive efforts available to institutions
of higher education that award a baccalaureate or graduate degree. (3)
A description of the substantial private support for the facility
through the implementation of a public-private partnership between a
State or local public entity and a private entity for the support of
the facility and documentation that these entities will provide
matching funds as required in section 841(b)(2) of the Higher Education
Amendments of 1998. (4) A description of how the endowment will be
created to fund any and all shortfalls in the costs of the on-going
operations of the facility and expected sources of these funds. (5) A
statement as to whether the applicant organization intends to establish
a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to help
disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad throughout
the United States. If the applicant's organization does intend to
establish a network, the applicant must describe the network and
document how the satellite centers will raise 80 percent of the funds
required from non-Federal public and private sources. (6) A detailed
description of how the applicant intends to electronically link the
facility with other local and regional facilities that have collections
and programs which interpret the history of the Underground Railroad,
including a listing of the facilities the applicant intends to include.
Application Instructions and Forms
To apply for an award under this program competition, your
application must include the following parts:
1. Application for Federal Assistance (ED Form 424).
2. Budget Summary (ED Form 524).
3. Budget Narrative.
4. Project Narrative--Applicants should submit a narrative that
addresses the elements described in this notice under Application
Requirements.
5. Assurances and Certifications.
a. Assurances--Non Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
b. Certification regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED
80-0013) and Instructions.
c. Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary
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Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014) 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-A) (if
applicable) and Instructions, and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Continuation Sheet (Standard Form LLL-A).
Applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline date
listed under DEADLINE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS. Mail the
application on or before the deadline date to: Application Control
Center, Attention: CFDA No. 84.345, Washington, DC 20202-4725 or hand
deliver the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the
deadline date to the same address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia W. Crowder at: U.S. Department
of Education, 8th Floor, 1990 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006-8544,
by e-mail at: Sylvia_Crowder@ed.gov or by telephone at (202) 502-7514.
Information concerning the program can also be found on the Web site of
the Department (http://ed.gov). Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. However, the Department is not able to reproduce
in an alternative format the standard forms included in this
application notice.
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 either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at either of the previous sites. 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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html
Program Authority: U.S.C. 1153.
Dated: April 9, 2001.
Maureen A. McLaughlin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation, Office
of Postsecondary Education.
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[FR Doc. 01-9126 Filed 4-12-01; 8:45 am]
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