2023-06581. Applications for New Awards; Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP)
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AGENCY:
Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2023 for the MSEIP, Assistance Listing Number 84.120A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840–0109.
DATES:
Applications Available: March 30, 2023.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 30, 2023.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 28, 2023.
Pre-Application Webinar information: The Department will hold a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the MSEIP website at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iduesmsi/index.html.
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/d/2022-26554. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Bernadette Hence, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2B125, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453–7913. Email: Bernadette.Hence@ed.gov.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7–1–1.
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The MSEIP is designed to effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and to increase the participation of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into scientific and technological careers, consistent with nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal civil rights laws.
Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference priorities. Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Secretary's Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2021 (86 FR 70612) (Supplemental Priorities). Competitive Preference Priority 2 is from 34 CFR 637.31(c).
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2023 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 9 points to an applicant that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, depending on how well the application meets the priority, and an additional 3 points to an applicant that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority 1: Increasing Postsecondary Education Access, Affordability, Completion, and Post-Enrollment Success (Up to 9 points).
Projects that are designed to increase postsecondary access, affordability, completion, and success for underserved students by addressing one or more of the following priority areas:
(a) Supporting the development and implementation of high-quality and accessible learning opportunities, including learning opportunities that are accelerated or hybrid online, credit-bearing, work-based, and flexible for working students. (Up to 3 points).
(b) Supporting the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies to promote students' development of knowledge and skills necessary for success in the workforce and civic life. (Up to 3 points).
(c) Providing secondary school students with access to career exploration and advising opportunities to help students make informed decisions about their postsecondary enrollment decisions and to place them on a career path. (Up to 3 points).
Competitive Preference Priority 2: New Potential Grantees (3 points).
Under this priority, we award an additional three points to applicants that have not received MSEIP funding within seven years before the deadline date for submission of applications under this program competition.
Note:
Consistent with Federal recordkeeping requirements and Department recordkeeping practices, as well as the Department's Administrative Priorities for Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640), rather than require applicants to have never received MSEIP funding, the Department has established a look-back period of seven years.
Note:
Applicants may verify their eligibility for Competitive Preference Priority 2 by examining “Grant Recipients” on the MSEIP website: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iduesmsi/awards.html. Only applicants that did not receive new or non-competing continuation awards between FY 2016 and FY 2022 may receive points under this priority.
Definitions: For FY 2023 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, the following definitions apply. The definitions of “children or students with disabilities,” “disconnected youth,” “English learner,” “evidence-based,” “military- or veteran-connected Start Printed Page 19118 student,” and “underserved student” are from the Supplemental Priorities.
Children or students with disabilities means children with disabilities as defined in section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1401(3)) and 34 CFR 300.8, or students with disabilities, as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(37).
Disconnected youth means an individual, between the ages 14 and 24, who may be from a low-income background, experiences homelessness, is in foster care, is involved in the justice system, or is not working or not enrolled in (or at risk of dropping out of) an educational institution.
English learner means an individual who is an English learner as defined in section 8101(20) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, or an individual who is an English language learner as defined in section 203(7) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Evidence-based has the meaning ascribed to it in 34 CFR 77.1
Military- or veteran-connected student means one or more of the following:
(a) A child participating in an early learning program, a student enrolled in preschool through grade 12, or a student enrolled in career and technical education or postsecondary education who has a parent or guardian who is a member of the uniformed services (as defined by 37 U.S.C. 101), in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, National Guard, Reserves, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or Public Health Service or is a veteran of the uniformed services with an honorable discharge (as defined by 38 U.S.C. 3311).
(b) A student who is a member of the uniformed services, a veteran of the uniformed services, or the spouse of a service member or veteran.
(c) A child participating in an early learning program, a student enrolled in preschool through grade 12, or a student enrolled in career and technical education or postsecondary education who has a parent or guardian who is a veteran of the uniformed services (as defined by 37 U.S.C. 101).
Underserved student means students in K–12 programs, students in postsecondary education or career and technical education, and adult learners, in one or more of the following subgroups:
(a) A student who is living in poverty or is served by schools with high concentrations of students living in poverty.
(b) A student of color.
(c) A student who is a member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(d) An English learner.
(e) A child or student with a disability.
(f) A disconnected youth.
(g) A technologically unconnected youth.
(h) A migrant student.
(i) A student experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
(j) A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or intersex (LGBTQI+) student.
(k) A student who is in foster care.
(l) A student without documentation of immigration status.
(m) A pregnant, parenting, or caregiving student.
(n) A student impacted by the justice system, including a formerly incarcerated student.
(o) A student who is the first in their family to attend postsecondary education.
(p) A student enrolling in or seeking to enroll in postsecondary education for the first time at the age of 20 or older.
(q) A student who is working full-time while enrolled in postsecondary education.
(r) A student who is enrolled in or is seeking to enroll in postsecondary education who is eligible for a Pell Grant.
(s) An adult student in need of improving their basic skills or an adult student with limited English proficiency.
(t) A student performing significantly below grade level.
(u) A military- or veteran-connected student.
Program Authority:20 U.S.C. 1067–1067k.
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 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget 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 Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 637. (e) The Supplemental Priorities.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $5,951,303.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: Institutional Project Grants, Special Project Grants, and Cooperative Project Grants: $250,000–$300,000 for up to 36 months.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $275,000 for up to 36 months.
Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $300,000 for a 12-month period or $900,000 for a 36-month period.
Estimated Number of Awards:
Institutional Project Grants: 17.
Special Project Grants: 2.
Cooperative Project Grants: 1.
Note:
The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: The eligibility of an applicant is dependent on the type of MSEIP grant the applicant seeks. There are four types of MSEIP grants: institutional project, special project, cooperative project, and design project.
Institutional project grants are grants that support the implementation of a comprehensive science improvement plan, which may include any combination of activities for improving the preparation of minority students, particularly minority women, for careers in science.
There are two types of special project grants. First, there are special project grants for which only minority institutions are eligible. These special project grants support activities that (1) improve quality training in science and engineering at minority institutions; or (2) enhance the minority institutions' general scientific research capabilities. There also are special project grants for which all applicants are eligible. These special project grants support activities that (1) provide a needed service to a group of eligible minority institutions; or (2) provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from eligible minority institutions.
Cooperative project grants assist groups of nonprofit accredited colleges and universities to work together to conduct a science improvement project.
Design project grants assist minority institutions that do not have their own Start Printed Page 19119 appropriate resources or personnel to plan and develop long-range science improvement programs. We will not award design project grants in the FY 2023 competition.
(a) For institutional project grants, eligible applicants are limited to—
(1) Public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that (i) award baccalaureate degrees; and (ii) are minority institutions;
(2) Public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that (i) award associate degrees; and (ii) are minority institutions that (A) have a curriculum that includes science or engineering subjects; and (B) enter into a partnership with public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees in science and engineering.
(b) For special project grants for which only minority institutions are eligible, eligible applicants are described in paragraph (a).
(c) For special project grants for which all applicants are eligible, eligible applicants include those described in paragraph (a), and—
(1) Nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional scientific societies, and institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees that (i) provide a needed service to a group of minority institutions; or (ii) provide in-service training to project directors, scientists, and engineers from minority institutions; or
(2) A consortia of organizations that provide needed services to one or more minority institutions, the membership of which may include (i) institutions of higher education that have a curriculum in science or engineering; (ii) institutions of higher education that have a graduate or professional program in science or engineering; (iii) research laboratories of, or under contract with, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, or the National Institutes of Health; (iv) relevant offices of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, and National Institute of Standards and Technology; (v) quasi-governmental entities that have a significant scientific or engineering mission; or (vi) institutions of higher education that have State-sponsored centers for research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(d) For cooperative project grants, eligible applicants are groups of nonprofit accredited colleges and universities whose primary fiscal agent is an eligible minority institution as defined in 34 CFR 637.4(b).
Note:
As defined in 34 CFR 637.4(b), “minority institution” means an accredited college or university whose enrollment of a single minority group or a combination of minority groups as defined in 34 CFR 637.4 exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment. The Secretary verifies this information from the data on enrollments (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 12-Month Enrollment survey) furnished by the institution to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), United States Department of Education.
Note:
The Secretary uses IPEDS data to verify enrollment in lieu of the Higher Education General Information Surveys HEGIS XIII survey data specified in 34 CFR 637.4(b), as those surveys are no longer conducted.
Note:
If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a training indirect cost rate. This limits indirect cost reimbursement to an entity's actual indirect costs, as determined in its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, or eight percent of a modified total direct cost base, whichever amount is less. For more information regarding training indirect cost rates, see 34 CFR 75.562. 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.
c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform Guidance.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities described in its 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 www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of projects that may be proposed in applications for the MSEIP grant competition, your application may include business information that you consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define “business information” and describe the process we use in determining whether any of that information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended).
Because we plan to make successful applications available to the public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business information. Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your application, under “Other Attachments Form,” please list the page number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
3. 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 competition.
4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 65 pages and (2) use the following standards: Start Printed Page 19120
- A “page” is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
- Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions.
- Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
- Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurance and certifications; the eligibility form; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the biography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all the application narrative.
Note:
The Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs Form (ED 524) Sections A–C are not the same as the narrative response to the Budget section of the selection criteria.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 637.32. Applicants should address each of the selection criteria. The points assigned to each criterion are indicated in the parentheses next to the criterion. An applicant may earn up to a total of 100 points based on the selection criteria. All applications will be evaluated based on the selection criteria as follows:
(a) Identification of need for the project (Total 5 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the identification of need for the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) An adequate needs assessment;
(ii) An identification of specific needs in science; and
(iii) Involvement of appropriate individuals, especially science faculty, in identifying the institutional needs.
(b) Plan of operation (Total 20 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the plan of operation for the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) Higher quality in the design of the project;
(ii) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;
(iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program;
(iv) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and
(v) Methods of coordination. (See 34 CFR 75.580)
(c) Quality of key personnel (Total 10 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be used);
(ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project;
(iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section plans to commit to the project; and
(iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of a racial or ethnic minority group, women, handicapped persons, and the elderly.
(3) To determine the qualifications of a person, the Secretary considers evidence of past experience and training, in fields related to the objectives of the project, as well as other information that the applicant provides.
(d) Budget and cost effectiveness (Total 10 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and
(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objective of the project.
Note:
The Comprehensive Budget Narrative will be part of the information reviewed under this selection criterion.
(e) Evaluation plan (Total 15 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project. (See 34 CFR 75.590)
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows methods of evaluation that are appropriate for the project and, to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.
Note:
In considering the quality of an evaluation plan, for each proposed objective, the Secretary may consider, among other things, the baseline indicators of progress for each proposed grant year, the methods of evaluation, the types of data that will be collected to assess the final project outcomes and the data collection procedures that will be used, the proposed timetable for conducting the evaluation, and the procedures for analyzing and using both formative and summative data.
Note:
In considering whether an evaluation plan shows methods of evaluation that are objective, the Secretary considers whether the evaluation is to be conducted by an independent evaluator.
(f) Adequacy of resources (Total 5 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The facilities that the applicant plans to use are adequate; and
(ii) The equipment and supplies that the applicant plans to use are adequate.
Note:
An Applicant should indicate if these resources are available at its institution or at partner institutions or if the applicant plans to acquire them.
(g) Potential institutional impact of the project (Total 10 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the proposed project gives evidence of potential for enhancing the institution's capacity for improving and maintaining quality science education for its minority students, particularly minority women.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) For an institutional or cooperative project, the extent to which both the established science education program(s) and the proposed project will expand or strengthen the established program(s) in relation to the identified needs; or
(ii) For a special project, the extent to which it addresses needs that have not been adequately addressed by an existing institutional science program or takes a particularly new and exemplary approach that has not been taken by any existing institutional science program.
(h) Institutional commitment to the project (Total 5 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the applicant plans to continue the project activities when funding ceases.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) Adequate institutional commitment to absorb any after-the-grant burden initiated by the project;
(ii) Adequate plans for continuation of project activities when funding ceases; Start Printed Page 19121
(iii) Clear evidence of past institutional commitment to the provision of quality science programs for its minority students; and
(iv) A local review statement signed by the chief executive officer of the institution endorsing the project and indicating how the project will accelerate the attainment of the institutional goals in science.
(i) Expected outcomes (Total 10 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which minority students, particularly minority women, will benefit from the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) Expected outcomes likely to result in the accomplishment of the program goal;
(ii) Educational value for science students; and
(iii) Possibility of long-term benefits to minority students, faculty, or the institution.
(j) Scientific and educational value of the proposed project (Total 10 points).
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows its potential for contributions to science education.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—
(i) The relationship of the proposed project to the present state of science education;
(ii) The use or development of effective techniques and approaches in science education; and
(iii) Potential use of some aspects of the project at other institutions.
2. Review and Selection Process: 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, achievement of project objectives, 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 or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
A panel of three non-Federal reviewers will review and score each application in accordance with the selection criteria. A rank order funding slate will be made from this review. Awards will be made in rank order according to the average score received from the peer review and from the competitive preference priorities addressed by the applicant.
Based on 34 CFR 637.32, if the Secretary has insufficient funding to award multiple applications with the same score, the Secretary gives priority to previous grantees with a proven record of success, as well as to applications that contribute to achieving balance among funded projects with respect to (1) geographic region; (2) academic discipline; and (3) project type.
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, the Secretary 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.
5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting applications in accordance with:
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) (2 CFR 200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
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 may notify you informally, also.
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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those modifications that can be separately Start Printed Page 19122 identified and only to the extent that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 3474.20.
4. 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 multiyear 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, we have established the following performance measures for the MSEIP grants: (1) the percentage of change in the number of full-time, degree-seeking minority undergraduate students at the grantee's institution enrolled in the fields of engineering or physical or biological sciences, compared to the average minority enrollment in the same fields in the three-year period immediately prior to the beginning of the current grant; and (2) the percentage of minority students enrolled at four-year minority institutions in the fields of engineering or physical or biological sciences who graduate within six years of enrollment. Please see the application package for details of data collection and reporting requirements for these measures.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253, the Secretary 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; and, if the Secretary 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, 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. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package 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, or 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 documents of this Department 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 documents of the Department 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.
Start SignatureNasser Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2023–06581 Filed 3–29–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
Document Information
- Published:
- 03/30/2023
- Department:
- Education Department
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Action:
- Notice.
- Document Number:
- 2023-06581
- Dates:
- Applications Available: March 30, 2023.
- Pages:
- 19117-19122 (6 pages)
- PDF File:
- 2023-06581.pdf