98-33092. Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) National Research Institutes' Field-Initiated Studies (FIS) Research Grant Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 239 (Monday, December 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 68986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33092]



[[Page 68985]]

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Part IV





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________



Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), National 
Research Institutes' Field-Initiated Studies (FIS) Research Grant 
Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 1999; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 239 / Monday, December 14, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 68986]]



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.305T]


Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) National 
Research Institutes' Field-Initiated Studies (FIS) Research Grant 
Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 1999

    Purpose of Program: The Field-Initiated Studies Program awards 
grants to conduct education research in which topics and methods of 
study are generated by investigators.
    Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education; State and local education agencies; public and private 
organizations, institutions, and agencies; and individuals.
    Applications Available: December 29, 1998. Application packages 
will be available by mail and, electronically, on the World Wide Web at 
the following site:

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/FIS/

 Deadline for Receipt of Applications: February 19, 1999.

    Note: All applications must be received on or before February 
19, 1999. This requirement takes exception to the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR 
75.102. In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 
U.S.C. 553), it is the practice of the Secretary to offer interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, 
this amendment to EDGAR makes procedural changes only and does not 
establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A), proposed rulemaking is not required.
    Tentative Award Date: May 31, 1999.
    Available Funds: $9.6 million.
    Estimated Range of Awards: In the past awards have ranged from 
$450,000 to $1,000,000 per award for a three-year project. The length 
of projects and the size of awards will be commensurate with the nature 
and scope of the work proposed.
    Budget Period: 12 months.
    Project Periods: 1 to 3 years.

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

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 85 and 86 (part 86 applies to IHEs only); and (b) the regulations 
in 34 CFR part 700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Field-Initiated Studies Grant Program is 
highly competitive. In its last competition, OERI funded about 1 award 
for every 20 eligible applications. In general, peer reviewers find 
that strong applications for FIS grants clearly address each of the 
applicable selection criteria.
    Strong applications make a reasoned and compelling case for the 
national significance of the problems or issues that will be the 
subject of the proposed research. The design of the work to be carried 
out should be complete and clearly delineated, incorporating sound 
research methods and appropriate statistical techniques. The personnel 
descriptions included in the application should make it apparent that 
the project director, principal investigator and other key personnel 
possess training and experience commensurate with their duties.
    The project period of the grant may be from one to three years. In 
the past, the total amount of the grant for the entire project period 
has ranged from $450,000 to $1,000,000. In the application, the project 
period should be divided into 12-month budget periods. Each 12-month 
budget should be clearly delineated and justified in terms of the 
proposed activities.

Collaboration

    The Secretary encourages collaboration in the conduct of research. 
For example, major research universities and institutions may 
collaborate with historically underrepresented institutions, such as 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR APPLICATIONS: To request an application or 
to obtain further information about the FIS competition write to the 
Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of 
Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Room 604, Washington, DC 20208, 
or contact Veda Bright at [phone] or by e-mail: 
[e-mail]
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request by contacting Veda Bright at [phone].

Electronic Access to This Document

    Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or 
portable document format (pdf) via Internet at either of the following 
sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html

    To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with 
Search, which is available, free, at either of the previous sites. If 
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government 
Printing Office at [phone] or, toll free, at 1-888-293-6498.
    Anyone may also view these documents in text copy, only, on an 
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: [phone] 
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option 
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6031(c)(2)(B)

    Dated: December 8, 1998.
C. Kent McGuire,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 98-33092 Filed 12-11-98; 8:45 am]
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