[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29265-29270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13690]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 990517136-9136-01]
RIN 0693-ZA30
Community Alliance for Math, Science and Technology Literacy
(CASTL)
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Invitation for proposals to establish pilot programs partnering
local school boards and businesses for enhanced professional
development of K-12 math, science and technology teachers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is to invite proposals from local educational
agencies (LEAs) or non-profit organizations acting on their behalf to
participate in the CASTL program. This pilot program will partner local
school boards, non-profit educational organizations, and the local
business community to develop and conduct innovative professional
development activities for K-12 math, science and technology teachers.
A community based effort will create new professional development
activities to help increase teacher recruitment and retention, assist
teachers in developing hands-on workplace-based math, science and
technology curriculum, and increase communication between the
educational and business enterprises. It is anticipated that ten awards
will be made in fiscal year 1999 affecting teachers employed as of
September 1999. Seed funding for the pilot program will focus on urban
and rural statistical areas, and other areas identified as requiring
special assistance in promoting math, science and technology education.
Applications must be prepared by a partnership between the LEA and the
business and/or research communities.
DATES: Applications must be received at the address below no later than
5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on July 1, 1999, in order to be
considered for the Fiscal Year 1999 awards. Late applications will be
rejected and returned to the sender. Applications which have been
provided to a delivery service will be accepted for review if the
applicant can document that the application was provided to the
delivery service by June 30, 1999, with delivery to the address listed
below guaranteed prior to the closing date and time. Applications will
not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic mail.
[[Page 29266]]
ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original plus two (2)
copies of the proposal along with the required forms (Refer to
``Application Forms'' section) to: CASTL Program Coordinator; Division
109; National Institute of Standards and Technology; 100 Bureau Drive,
Stop 1090; Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1090.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Jack Hsia, Program Coordinator, telephone (301) 975-3067, or e-mail
jack.hsia@nist.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
This program is an implementation of section 7 of the Technology
Administration Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-309), codified at section 19a
of the NIST Act, as amended (15 USC 278g-2a). This statute authorizes
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish
a teacher science and technology enhancement program to provide for the
professional development of mathematics and science teachers of
elementary, middle, and secondary schools, including providing for the
improvement of these teachers with respect to the understanding of
science and the impact of science on commerce. Under section 278g-
2a(e), NIST may use means it deems appropriate to accomplish the goals
of the program. The CASTL program accomplishes the statutory goals
because it will allow K-12 teachers to experience firsthand how math,
science, and technology impact commerce. This will both enhance
teachers' professional development and enable teachers to incorporate
these experiences into their math, science, and technology curricula. A
community based effort will create new professional development
activities to help increase teacher recruitment and retention, assist
teachers in developing hands-on workplace-based math, science and
technology curriculum, and increase communication between the
educational and business enterprises, consistent with the statutory
goals.
Program Description
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) wishes to
initiate a pilot program partnering local school boards and businesses
to foster high quality K-12 education through enhanced professional
development of K-12 math, science and technology teachers. Together,
the school board and the local businesses are expected to leverage
their collected strengths to develop and implement a program to
increase teachers' understanding of math, science and technology and to
assist them in development of innovative curriculum. Businesses will
provide on-site opportunities for teachers to experience hands-on
inquiry based learning and workplace based application of math, science
and technology skills. This partnership is expected to commit to
providing at least 4 years of support for the teachers. The pilot
program is expected to complement existing reform and professional
development activities.
Enhanced professional development is expected to increase the
hiring and retention rates for math, science and technology teachers.
Experiences in the workplace will provide opportunities for teachers to
develop innovative teaching methods reflecting real-world experience of
math, science and technology. As teachers develop a greater
understanding and comfort with the foundations and applications of math
and science, they are better able to pass along such an understanding
to their students. Students are anticipated to graduate with an
increased understanding about the application of and excitement for
math and science, leading to an increase in the overall scientific
literacy of society. Local businesses and the overall community are
expected to benefit from students better prepared for jobs in the
technology-based industries that contribute more than half the nation's
economic growth.
Using a relatively small amount of federal seed money, local school
board in ten pilot program sites will implement the pilot program. The
pilot program will directly impact only a tiny fraction of the 15,000
independent school districts nationwide. However, these pilot programs
are anticipated to provide models that can be adopted by communities
and businesses nationwide. Successful demonstration and refinement of
the pilot program will be followed by dissemination of the model across
the nation, with relatively little additional federal funding required
(local communities and businesses will assume the bulk of the expenses
after successful demonstration of the pilot program). Thus a small
federal investment is leveraged into substantial nationwide results.
Background Information
Advances in technology fuel at least one half of the economic
growth of the U.S. and the industrialized nations, and this fraction is
expected to continue to increase in the next century. However, industry
and government leaders identify the shortage of employees with adequate
science and mathematics skills, at all levels, as a major impediment to
continued national economic growth. International studies such as the
recently reported Third International Mathematics and Science Study
show U.S. K-12 students performing near the bottom of industrialized
nations in tests of science and math knowledge. To maintain and improve
U.S. economic competitiveness and provide opportunities for all
citizens, the quality of science and math education in the United
States must be significantly increased.
Improving science and math education is a complex problem requiring
many different approaches. Many governmental and non-governmental
organizations are each contributing towards the solution. The goal of
this pilot program is to enhance the professional development of U.S.
science and technology teachers through education-business partnership.
It is expected that proper professional and financial support of
science and math teachers will immediately increase successful
recruitment and retention of qualified new science and math teachers,
and will eventually lead to increases enrollment of teaching students
specializing in science and math as the greater opportunities become
known.
Business-Education Partnership
This pilot program will create a partnership between the local
school board and the local business community to develop and implement
enhanced professional development for K-12 math, science and technology
teachers. Goals and outcomes of the pilot program should include the
following elements:
Increase teachers' understanding about the application of
any excitement for math and science.
Provide specialized professional development for K-12
math, science and technology teachers, aiming to reach needs of
teachers of all grades.
Increase teacher recruitment and/or retention rates.
Integrate insight of the business/research community into
new curriculum elements.
Investigate creating an infrastructure for a sustainable
program.
Maximize atmosphere for teacher learning and creativity.
Local business partners may include industrial firms, corporations
employing technology, research institutions and other organizations
which can provide teachers experience with real-world based application
of math, science and technology.
This pilot program may incorporate a range of activities depending
on the
[[Page 29267]]
needs of the community. Funds are intended to supplement the work of
the LEA, not the business or community partners. The objectives
include:
Collecting data regarding the needs of math, science, and
technology teachers in the school district,
Integrating several existing professional development
programs into a single, coordinated effort,
Providing staff time for teachers to develop and implement
new curriculum changes resulting from pilot program and/or participate
in cohort groups of pilot program participants,
Coordinating with local technical and community colleges,
Providing alternative certification activities for math,
science and technology teachers, and
Coordinating curriculum elements through grades K-12.
NIST expects each pilot program to directly involve at least 10
teachers in the pilot phase. However, with greater commitment from
local businesses, more teachers may be involved. Participating local
businesses, possibly through a central organization, will commit to
working with the LEA for a minimum of four years. The businesses'
contribution must provide teachers hands-on experience with workplace
applications of math, science and technology. This exposure will assist
teachers in gaining a better understanding of the business' science and
technology skill needs and goals. From this experience, the teachers
and administrators will work together to translate the experiences into
more effective classroom lessons. Students will learn from real-world
based examples, increasing their scientific inquiry skills and overall
understanding of the use of math, science and technology.
NIST will evaluate the implementation of the pilot programs. Award
recipients agree to participate in the evaluation of these pilot
programs. This may involve a meeting among all recipients. Each pilot
program coordinator is expected to track the progress of the teachers
and their hiring and retention rates as part of the evaluation process.
Applicants are encouraged to indicate additional evaluation activities
they will perform.
Creating the Partnership
A unique feature of the pilot programs will be the ability of the
partnership to tailor the pilot program to best fit local community and
schools needs, and best make use of local resources. The 15,000
independent schools districts across the nation represent an enormous
diversity in financial resources, student and community demographics,
types of local businesses, and other factors: from inner city urban
districts, to affluent suburbs, to geographically extended rural and
Indian reservation districts. Attempts at ``one size fits all''
programs rarely succeed in addressing such a diversity of needs and
resources.
The support of locally selected program champions and businesses is
vital to pilot program success. A partnership development team led by
the local champion will guide and structure a community math and
science education and workforce development plan. Team members will
represent local school boards, businesses, teachers, students, the
public, and other stakeholders who can identify and focus on local
needs.
Both the school board and the business community will make
commitments to the pilot program. Local school boards must commit to
working collaboratively with the businesses. Staff must be allocated
time for curriculum development to translate their experiences into
classroom lessons and for instructing their colleagues about what they
have learned. This time may occur during a summer program and/or as
part of regularly scheduled professional development. School boards
will integrate this pilot program into existing educational reform
efforts. Businesses will commit to participating in the pilot program's
development, implementation and support for multiple years. Employees
will be allocated time to work with the teachers.
Several Federal departments and agencies have on-going research and
programs in the areas of K-12 math, science and technology education.
This pilot program will tie into these existing programs when possible,
especially if a particular effort is underway in the community.
Nationwide programs are being sponsored by the National Science
Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department
of Labor, among other agencies. Contingent upon success of the pilot
program and additional federal and private funding, the program may
grow in future years.
Organizational Involvement
Participation by community and professional organizations heightens
the level of community commitment to this pilot program. These
organizations lend their resources, knowledge, and experience to the
process and help facilitate the creation of partnerships. The
partnership development team is encouraged to engage any and all
community organizations that will add to the success of the pilot
programs.
Funding Availability
Approximately $200,000 will be available and it is anticipated that
ten awards in the range of up to $20,000 will be selected to pay the
administrative cost for starting the program. The pilot program will be
integrated into the community as a self-sustaining activity over time.
Based on preliminary results and future NIST appropriations, NIST may
provide additional support in future years.
Grant funds may be used only for direct costs of administering this
pilot program. Such costs may include salary for one person, excluding
benefits. by August 1, 1999 a detailed accounting of all funds is due
to the NIST program office at the above address. Any additional costs,
including indirect costs, are the responsibility of the educational and
business partners.
Award Period
Funds will be awarded for a 12 month period.
Matching Requirements
Cost sharing and matching are not required under this pilot
program.
Application Forms
Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Financial Assistance, SF
424A, SF 424B, and CD-511 shall be used for applying for financial
assistance. Awards resulting from this competition will be administered
in accordance with 15 CFR part 14, ``Uniform Administration
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, Other Non-Profit, and Commercial Organizations''
or 15 CFR part 24, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,'' as applicable;
OMB Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for Educational Institutions,'' or
OMB Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations,''
or OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian
Tribal Governments,'' as applicable; and other award terms and
conditions. An application kit may be requested from the contact person
at the address listed above. All required forms may be downloaded from
the following website: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/\grants/pdf.
Proposals may be structured in any way that the applicants believe
will best present their proposed project, but should be limited to a
maximum of 40 pages. A format that NIST offers for consideration by
applicants is as follows:
[[Page 29268]]
Proposal Summary
I. Executive Summary
II. Pilot Program Participants
List all partnership members identified to date, their contact
persons, addresses, telephone numbers and fax numbers. Indicate which
members serve on the partnership development team.
III. Pilot Program
Personnel List key pilot program staff, including the principal
coordinator.
IV. Narrative
Provide a concise summary (maximum of 10 pages) describing the
implementation plan for the pilot program, including:
(a) Need assessment
(b) Objectives
(c) Program implementation
(d) Professional development opportunities for participating
teachers
(e) Relationship to existing school reform efforts
(f) Evaluation
V. Budget Prepare SF-424-A.
VI. Supporting Materials
(a) Required forms
(b) Letters of support from partners
Type of Funding Instrument
NIST expects to award up to 10 grants. This information is provided
in the interest of maximum oppeness of the agency's intent. It is not
intended to bind the agency to any specific number of grants.
Eligibility Criteria
Partnerships between an LEA and the local business and/or research
communities are eligible to prepare applications for CASTL grants. An
LEA may not submit an application without written commitment from these
outside representatives. Applications will only be accepted from an LEA
or non-profit administrator acting on behalf of the partnership. An LEA
is defined in Title XIV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, as amended, 20 U.S.C. section 8801(18)(A). An LEA is ``a
public board of education or other public authority legally constituted
within a State for either administrative control or direction of, or to
perform a service function for, public elementary or secondary schools
in a city, county, township, school district, or other political
subdivision of a State, or for such combination of school districts or
counties as are recognized in a State as an administrative agency for
its public elementary or secondary schools.'' An official from the LEA
must certify in writing that a third party administrator will act on
its behalf with regard to this project. A principal coordinator must be
identified to serve as a point of contact.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of at least three
independent reviewers who are knowledgeable in the subject matter of
this solicitation and its objectives. All applications will be
evaluated and scored on the basis of the evaluation criteria delineated
below.
1. Local needs assessment. The proposal demonstrates an
identifiable need for financial assistance to promote science and math
education in the local area. (20 points)
2. The proposal provides specialized professional development for
K-12 math, science and technology teachers, which complements existing
professional development and/or reform efforts within the school
district. (20 points)
3. Identification of an adequate number of relevant business and
community partners. (15 points)
4. The proposed activities match the goals of this grant program,
including adding to a sustainable infrastructure for community
involvement and contribution to the educational system. (15 points)
5. Demonstration of meaningful provisions for academic year follow-
up, continued dialogue among participants, and development of new
curriculum based on the experience. (15 points)
6. Commitment to program evaluation, including participation in
meetings, reporting requirements, and other evaluation criteria. (10
points)
7. Appropriateness of budget. (5 points)
Selection Procedures
The selection of LEAs to be recommended for an award will be made
by Director of the Office of International and Academic Affairs (OIAA)
at NIST. In recommending applications for funding, the OIAA Director
will take into consideration the results of the evaluations and scores
of the independent review panel, geographic distribution of funds, and
the selection official's judgment as to which applications, taken as a
whole, are likely to best further the goals of the CASTL program. In
addition, school districts that represent urban on rural statistical
areas as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau or who document needs
requiring special assistance in promoting science and math education
will be given priority. The final selection of applications and award
of cooperative agreements will be made by the NIST Grants Officer.
Other Requirements
Federal Policies and Procedures
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DoC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to
Federal financial assistance awards.
Past Performance
Insatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding.
Preaward Activities
If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been
received, there is no obligation on the part of DoC/NIST to cover
preaward costs.
Award Payments
Advances shall be limited to the minimum amounts necessary to meet
immediate disbursement needs. Advanced funds not disbursed in a timely
manner must be promptly returned to the Department of Commerce (DoC).
Advances will be approved for periods not to exceed 30 days.
Budget Changes
When the terms of an award allow the recipient to transfer funds
among approved direct cost categories, the transfer authority does not
authorize the recipient to create new budget categories within an
approved budget unless the Grants officer has provided prior approval.
Tax Refunds
Refunds of FICA/FUTA taxes received by the Recipient during or
after the award period must be refunded or credited to the DoC where
the benefits were financed with Federal funds under the award. The
Recipient agrees to contact the Grants Officer immediately upon receipt
of these refunds. The Recipient further agrees to refund portions of
FICA/FUTA taxes determined to belong to the Federal Government,
including refunds received after the expiration of the award.
Other Federal Awards with Similar Programmatic Activities
The Recipient must immediately provide written notification to the
Federal Program Officer and the Grants Officer in the event that,
subsequent to receipt of the DoC award, other financial assistance is
received to support or fund
[[Page 29269]]
any portion of the scope of work incorporated into the DoC award. DoC
will not pay for costs that are funded by other sources.
No Obligation for Future Funding
If an application is selected for funding, DoC/NIST has no
obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with
that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the
period of performance is at the total discretion of DoC/NIST.
Payment of Debts Owed the Federal Government
Any debts determined to be owned the Federal Government shall be
paid promptly by the Recipient. Unless otherwise provided by law, a
debt will be considered delinquent if it is not paid within 15 days of
the due date. Failure to pay a debt by the due date shall result in the
imposition of late payment charges. In addition, failure to pay the
debt or establish a repayment agreement by the due date will also
result in the referral of the debt for collection action any may result
in DoC taking further action as specified in the terms of the award.
Payment of a debt must not come from other Federally sponsored
programs. Verification that other Federal funds have not been used will
be made during future program visits and audits.
Competition and Codes of Conduct for Subawards
Any subawards must be made in a manner that will provide, to the
maximum extent practicable, open and free competition. The Recipient
must be alert to organizational conflicts of interest as well as other
practices among subrecipients that may restrict or eliminate
competition. In order to ensure objective subrecipient performance and
eliminate unfair competitive advantage, subrecipients that develop or
draft work requirements, statements of work, or requests for proposals
shall be excluded from competing for such subawards.
The Recipient shall maintain written standards of conduct governing
the performance of its employees engaged in the award and
administration subawards. No employee, officer, or agent shall
participate in the selection, award, or administration of a subaward
supported by Federal funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest
would be involved. Such a conflict would arise when the employee,
officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or
her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any
of the parties mentioned in this section, has a financial interest or
other interest in the organization selected for a subaward. The
officers, employees, and agents of the Recipient may not solicit nor
accept anything of monetary value from subrecipients. However, the
Recipient may set standards for situations in which the financial
interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of
nominal value. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary
actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers,
employees, or agents of the Recipient.
Subaward and/or Contract to a Federal Agency
Recipient, subrecipients, contractors, and/or subcontractors shall
not sub-grant or sub-contract any part of the approved project to any
agency of the DoC and/or other Federal department, agency or
instrumentality, without the prior written approval of the Grants
Officer.
Name Check Review
All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are
presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicants' management
honesty or financial integrity.
Primary Applicant Certifications
All primary applicants must subject a completed Form CD-511,
Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility
Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying, and the
following explanations are hereby provided:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension
Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section
105) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, Nonprocurement Debarment and
Suspension and the related section of the certification form prescribed
above apply;
2. Drug-Free Workplace
Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR 26.605) are subject to 15 CFR part
26, subpart F, Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace
(Grants) and the related section of the certification form prescribed
above applies;
3. Anti-Lobbying
Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 28.105) are subject to the lobbying
provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, Limitation on use of appropriated funds
to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions,
and the lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above
applies to applicants/bids for cooperative agreements for more than
$100,000; and
4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosures
Any applicant who has paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds
must submit an SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, as required
under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
False Statements
A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products
Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the
greatest practicable extent, to purchase American-made equipment and
products with funding provided under this program.
Non-Compliance With Award Provisions
Failure to comply with any or all of the provisions of the award
may be considered grounds for any or all of the following actions:
Establishment of an account receivable, withholding payments under any
DoC awards to the Recipient, changing the method of payment from
advance to reimbursement only, termination of any DoC active awards,
and may have a negative impact on future funding by the DoC.
Prohibition Against Assignment by the Recipient
Notwithstanding any other provision of the award, the Recipient
shall not transfer, pledge, mortgage, or otherwise assign the award, or
any interest therein, or any claim arising thereunder, to any party or
parties, bank trust companies, or other financing or financial
institutions.
[[Page 29270]]
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Information
Any Recipient classified for tax purposes as an individual,
partnership, proprietorship, corporation, or medical corporation is
required to submit a taxpayer identification number (TIN) (either
social security number, employer identification number as applicable,
or registered foreign organization number) on Form W-9, ``Payer's
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number.'' Tax-exempt organizations
and corporations (with the exception of medical corporations) are
excluded from this requirement. Form W-9 shall be submitted to the
Grants Officer within 60 days of the award start date. The TIN will be
provided to the IRS by DoC on Form 1099-G, ``Statement for Recipients
of Certain Government Payments.'' Recipients who either fail to provide
their TIN or provide an incorrect TIN may have funding suspended until
the requirement is met.
Disclosure of Recipient's TIN is mandatory for Federal income tax
reporting purposes under the authority of 26 USC, section 6011 and
6109(d), and 26 CFR 301.6109-1. This is to ensure the accuracy of
income computation by the IRS. This information will be used to
identify an individual who is compensated with DoC funds or paid
interest under the Prompt Payment Act.
Foreign Travel
Recipients must comply with the provisions of the Fly America Act
(49 U.S.C. 40118). The Fly America Act requires that Federal travelers
and others performing U.S. Government-financed foreign air travel must
use U.S. flag air carriers, to the extent that service by such carriers
is available. Foreign air carriers may be used only when a U.S. flag
air carrier is unavailable, or use of U.S. flag air carrier service
will not accomplish the agency's mission.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Disclosure
To the extent permitted under the FOIA, contents of applications
and proposals submitted by successful applicants may be released in
response to FOIA requests.
Executive Order 12866
This rule has been determined not to be significant for purposes of
Executive Order 12866.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This Notice involves collections of information subject to the
Paperwork reduction Act (PRA), which have been approved by the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Numbers 0348-0043,
0348-0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046. Notwithstanding, any other
provisions of law no person is required to respond to nor shall a
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection
of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that
collection displays a current valid OMB Control number.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
These awards fall under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 11.609.
Dated: May 24, 1999.
Karen H. Brown,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 99-13690 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M
