2024-30435. Applications for New Awards; Education Research and Development Center Program

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Department of Education

AGENCY:

Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Education Research and Development Center Program.

DATES:

Application Package Available: December 20, 2024.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 14, 2025.

ADDRESSES:

For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at www.federalregister.gov/​documents/​2022/​12/​07/​2022-26554/​common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Corinne Alfeld. Email: [e-mail]. Telephone: [phone].

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: Through the Education Research and Development Center Program, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) funds Research and Development (R&D) centers to conduct a focused program of research that will contribute to solving a specific education problem and generate new knowledge in their topic area; provide national leadership, research training, capacity building, and outreach within their topic area; and conduct relatively rapid research and scholarship on supplemental questions that emerge within their topic area.

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.305C.

OMB Control Number: 4040-0001.

Competition: The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER) is announcing one competition:

Education Research and Development Center Program (ALN 84.305C). Under this competition, NCER will consider only applications that address one of the following topics:

• Improving Gifted Education.
• Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education.

Application Submission: You may submit one or more than one application to the IES FY 2025 Education Research and Development Center Program.

If you submit the same or similar application to IES and to another funding entity within or external to the Department and receive funding for the non-IES application prior to IES scientific peer review of applications, you must withdraw the same or similar application submitted to IES, or IES may otherwise determine you are ineligible to receive an award. If reviews are happening concurrently, IES staff will consult with the other potential funder to determine the degree of overlap and which entity will provide funding if both applications are being considered for funding.

Exemption from Proposed Rulemaking: Under section 191 of the Education Sciences Reform Act, 20 U.S.C. 9581, IES is not subject to section 437(d) of the General Education Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d), and is therefore not required to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment on matters relating to grants.

Program Authority:20 U.S.C. 7294 for the Improving Gifted Education R&D Center; and 20 U.S.C. 9501, et seq., for the Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education R&D Center. ( print page 104117)

Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal civil rights laws.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable, except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 75.105, 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-(c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, and 75.230. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only.

Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not apply to this competition.

Note: As of October 1, 2024, grant applicants must follow the provisions in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance (89 FR 30046, April 22, 2024) when preparing an application. For more information about these regulations please visit: https://www.cfo.gov/​resources-coffa/​uniform-guidance/​.

II. Award Information

Types of Awards: Cooperative agreements.

Fiscal Information: Although Congress has not yet enacted an appropriation for FY 2025, IES is inviting applications for this competition now so that applicants can have adequate time to prepare their applications. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. IES may announce additional competitions later in FY 2025.

The Improving Gifted Education R&D Center would be supported with funding authorized under the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education program. Although Congress has not yet enacted an appropriation for FY 2025, IES is inviting applications for this competition now so that applicants can have adequate time to prepare their applications should Congress appropriate funds for this program.

The Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education R&D Center will be supported as part of the Accelerate, Transform, and Scale Initiative established by IES to invest in quick-turnaround high-reward, scalable solutions intended to improve education outcomes for all learners ( https://ies.ed.gov/​ats-initiative/​).

Estimated Range of Awards: The size of the awards will depend on the scope of the projects proposed. The estimated range of awards varies by topic:

• $5,000,000 (total) for Improving Gifted Education.
• $8,000,000 to $10,000,000 (total) for Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education.

Maximum Award: The maximum award amount for each topic is set out in the NCER Request for Applications (RFA). On December 20, 2024, the Education R&D Center RFA will be posted at: https://ies.ed.gov/​funding/​25rfas.asp.

For all IES competitions, applications must include budgets no higher than the relevant maximum award amount as set out in the relevant RFA. IES will not make an award exceeding the maximum award amount as set out in the relevant RFA.

Estimated Number of Awards: IES intends to fund one award under the Improving Gifted Education topic and one award under the Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education topic. IES may consider making additional awards to high-quality applications under the Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education topic that remain unfunded after one award is made should resources permit. However, the number of awards made under each topic will depend on the quality of the applications received for that topic and the availability of funds.

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

Project Period: The maximum project period is as follows:

• 5 years for Improving Gifted Education.
• 5 years for Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: For Improving Gifted Education, partnerships involving at least one institution of higher education and at least two State educational agencies with the ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Partnerships may also include additional institutions of higher education, additional State educational agencies, local educational agencies, other public agencies, other private agencies and organizations, other research institutions, and non-profit and for-profit organizations.

For Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education, entities that have the ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, non-profit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities.

2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost sharing or matching.

b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: These programs use an unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see www2.ed.gov/​about/​offices/​list/​ocfo/​intro.html.

3. Subgrantees: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under this competition may award subgrants—to directly carry out project activities described in its application—to the following types of entities: nonprofit and for-profit organizations, public and private agencies and organizations, and institutions of higher education. The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified in an approved application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at https://www.federalregister.gov/​documents/​2022/​12/​07/​2022-26554/​common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.

2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application requirements for the competition can be found in the currently available IES Application Submission Guide ( https://ies.ed.gov/​funding/​submission_​guide.asp) and in the RFA, which will be available on [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ], on the IES website at: https://ies.ed.gov/​funding/​. The application packages for this ( print page 104118) competition will also be available on December 20, 2024.

3. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the application package for the specific competition.

4. Submission Dates and Times: The deadline date for transmittal of applications is March 14, 2025.

We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

5. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.

6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: For all of its grant competitions, IES uses selection criteria based on a peer review process that has been approved by the National Board for Education Sciences. The Peer Review Procedures for Grant Applications can be found on the IES website at: https://ies.ed.gov/​director/​sro/​application_​review.asp.

For this competition (ALN 84.305C), peer reviewers will evaluate the significance of the focused program of research, the quality of the research plan for the focused program of research, the quality of the training plan, the quality of the plans for national leadership, capacity building, and outreach activities, the quality of the management and institutional resources, and the qualifications and experience of the personnel. These criteria are described in greater detail in the RFA.

2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, IES 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, achievement of project objectives, compliance with the IES policy regarding public access to research, and compliance with grant conditions. IES 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, IES requires various assurances, 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). Also, IES requires all key personnel on a grant award to have a persistent identifier, such as ORCID iD (Open Researcher and Contributor Identification; https://orcid.org/​), in place before an award will be made.

3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.206, before awarding grants under this competition, the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.208, IES may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 3474.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this competition to receive an award that over the course of the project period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards—that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant—before we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.

Please note that, if the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 200, appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 CFR part 200, appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of your GAN. We also may 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. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual meeting of up to three days for project directors to be held in Washington, DC.

4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under a competition announced in this notice, 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 IES. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by IES under 34 CFR 75.118. IES may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/​fund/​grant/​apply/​appforms/​appforms.html.

5. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its education research grant programs, IES annually assesses the percentage of projects that result in peer-reviewed publications and the number of IES-supported interventions with evidence of efficacy in improving learner education outcomes. School readiness outcomes include pre-reading, reading, pre-writing, early mathematics, early science, and social-emotional skills that prepare young children for school. Student academic outcomes include learning and achievement in academic content areas, such as reading, writing, math, and science, as well as outcomes that reflect students' successful progression through the education system, such as course and grade completion; high school graduation; and ( print page 104119) postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion. Social and behavioral competencies include social and emotional skills, attitudes, and behaviors that are important to academic and post-academic success. Employment and earnings outcomes include hours of employment, job stability, and wages and benefits, and may be measured in addition to student academic outcomes.

6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253, IES considers, among other things: whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; whether a grantee is in compliance with the IES policy regarding public access to research; and if IES has established performance measurement requirements, whether the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the performance targets in the grantee's approved application.

In making a continuation award, IES 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. Other Information

Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , as well as in the relevant RFA and application package, individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the RFA in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, compact disc, or other accessible format.

Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register . You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other Department documents published in the Federal Register , in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.

You may also access Department documents published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department.

Matthew Soldner,

Acting Director, Institute of Education Sciences.