FR Doc 2010-27732
[Federal Register: November 3, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 212)]
[Notices]
[Page 67705-67709]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03no10-57]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; Talent
Search (TS) Program; Notice Inviting Applications For New Awards for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.044A.
Dates: Applications Available: November 3, 2010.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 28, 2010.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 28, 2011.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the TS Program is to identify
qualified individuals with potential for education at the postsecondary
level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake a
program of postsecondary education. TS projects publicize the
availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial
assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education and
encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or
postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs.
Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested
in applications that address the following priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2011 these priorities are
invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an
application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or
absolute preference over other applications.
These priorities are:
Invitational Priority 1: The Secretary encourages applicants to
propose projects that provide services to students enrolled in schools
that are not currently being served by a Talent Search project,
especially schools that the State has identified as the persistently
lowest-achieving schools.
Invitational Priority 2: The Secretary encourages applicants to
work with appropriate State agencies to use data from State
longitudinal data systems or to obtain data from reliable third-party
sources when providing information on the implementation of their
Talent Search projects and their participants' outcomes.
Invitational Priority 3: The Secretary encourages applicants to
coordinate project services with school-level partners and other
community resources in order to carry out projects that are cost-
effective and best meet students' needs.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11-1070a-12.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75 (except for
Sec. Sec. 75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98
and 99.
(b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 643.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $853.1
million for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2011, of which we intend
to use an estimated $142.1 million for the TS Program. 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: $230,000-$702,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $306,168.
Maximum Award:
An applicant not currently receiving a TS Program grant:
For an applicant who is not currently receiving a TS Program grant, the
maximum award amount is $230,000 and the project must serve a minimum
of 500 participants, based upon a per participant cost of no more than
(or not to exceed) $460.
An applicant currently receiving a TS Program grant: For
an applicant who is currently receiving a TS Program grant, the maximum
award amount is the greater of (a) $230,000 or (b) an amount equal to
103 percent of the applicant's grant award amount for FY 2009 or FY
2010, whichever is greater. The applicant must propose to serve a
minimum of 500 participants and, regardless of the size of the award,
the per participant cost may not exceed $460. If an applicant who is
currently receiving a TS Program grant is serving
[[Page 67706]]
more than 500 participants, the applicant is encouraged to continue to
serve the same number of participants. However, if the applicant
proposes to reduce the number of participants to be served, the
applicant must propose to serve at least 500 participants and the per
participant cost may not exceed $460 per participant. For example, if
an applicant is eligible for a $460,000 grant (103 percent of the
current funding level) the applicant must propose to serve at least
1,000 participants.
The Department may choose to fund successful applicants who are
currently receiving a TS Program grant at a level equal to the greater
of the award amount FY 2009 or FY 2010 instead of an amount equal to
103 percent of the current award amount. However, in that situation,
the Department will adjust the number of participants that the
applicant will be required to serve accordingly. For example, an
applicant with a current grant of $446,602 would be required to serve
at least 971 participants ($446,602 / $460 = 971).
We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the
maximum amount listed in this section for a single budget period of 12
months. We will also reject any application that proposes a budget to
serve less than 500 participants, and will reject any application that
proposes a budget that exceeds the maximum per participant cost of
$460.
Estimated Number of Awards: 464.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public
and private agencies and organizations including community-based
organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth,
combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and
secondary schools, for planning, developing, or carrying out one or
more of the services identified under this program.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application for a
TS grant so long as each application describes a project that serves a
different target area or target schools (34 CFR 643.10(a)). The term
target area is defined as a geographic area served by a TS project, and
the term target school is a school designated by the applicant as a
focus of project services (34 CFR 643.7(b)).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Geraldine Smith or
ReShone Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite
7000, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-
mail: TRIO@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or computer diskette) by contacting one of the program contact persons
listed in this section.
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: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the
application narrative (Part III) to no more than 65 pages using the
following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and an
identifier may be within the 1'' margin.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, captions, and all text in charts,
tables, figures and graphs.
Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for
Federal Assistance Face Sheet (SF 424); Part II, the budget information
summary form (ED Form 524); the TS Program Profile, the one-page
Project Abstract narrative; and the assurances and certifications. The
page limit also does not apply to a table of contents. If you include
any attachments or appendices, these items will be counted as part of
Part III, the application narrative, for purposes of the page-limit
requirement. You must include your complete response to the selection
criteria, which also includes the budget narrative in Part III, the
application narrative.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: November 3, 2010.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 28, 2010.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 28, 2011.
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
643.31. We reference additional regulations outlining restrictions in
the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant
database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information
while your application is under review by the
[[Page 67707]]
Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number
can be created within one business day.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take
three or more business days to complete.
In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov,
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see
http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in
this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Talent Search Program, CFDA
number 84.044A, must be submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this
site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package,
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You
may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Talent
Search Program at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the
downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number.
Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g.,
search for 84.326, not 84.326A).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home
page at http://www.G5.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
You must attach any narrative sections of your application
as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a
file type other than a .PDF file or submit a password-protected file,
we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case
[[Page 67708]]
Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system;
and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Geraldine Smith, U.S.
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7000, Washington, DC
20006-8510. FAX: (202) 502-7857.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and three copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(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 of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your 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.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: 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.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program
competition are in 34 CFR 643.21 and listed in the application package.
Note: With the changes made to the Higher Education Act of 1965,
as amended, by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the TS Program
objectives have been standardized. Please note that applicants are
required to use these objectives to measure performance under the
program. Specifically, under the ``Objectives'' selection criterion,
34 CFR 643.21(b), worth eight points, applicants should address the
standardized objectives related to the participants' academic
achievements, including secondary school persistence, secondary
school graduation with a regular secondary school diploma, secondary
school graduation from a rigorous secondary school program of study,
postsecondary education enrollment, and postsecondary degree
attainment.
2. Review and Selection Process: A panel of non-federal readers
will review each application on the basis of the selection criteria in
34 CFR 643.21. The individual scores of the readers will be added and
the sum divided by the number of readers to determine the reader score
received in the review process. In accordance with 34 CFR 643.22, the
Secretary will award prior experience points to applicants that have
conducted a TS Program project during budget periods 2007-08, 2008-09,
and 2009-10, based on their documented experience. Prior experience
points, if any, will be added to the application's averaged reader
score to determine the total score for each application. If there are
insufficient funds for all applications with the same total scores, per
34 CFR 643.20(c), the Secretary will choose among the tied applications
so as to serve geographical areas that have been underserved by the TS
Program.
We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in
any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under
34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying
out a previous award, such as the applicant's use of funds, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs
[[Page 67709]]
or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the
Department of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and
110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
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 notify you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we will 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: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) 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 directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The success of the TS Program will be
measured by secondary school persistence and graduation rates of TS
Program participants, as well as postsecondary enrollment and
completion rates. All TS Program grantees will be required to submit an
annual performance report documenting secondary school persistence,
secondary school graduation, and postsecondary enrollment of their
participants. Because students may take different lengths of time to
complete their postsecondary education, multiple years of performance
report data are needed to determine the postsecondary completion rates
of TS Program participants. The Department will aggregate the data
provided in the annual performance reports from all grantees to
determine the performance level of the overall TS Program.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contacts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geraldine Smith or ReShone Moore, U.S.
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, Washington, DC
20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-mail: TRIO@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can 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.
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.
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: October 29, 2010.
Eduardo M. Ochoa,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2010-27732 Filed 11-2-10; 8:45 am]
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