[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36320-36338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17582]
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_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Indian Vocational Education Program; Inviting Applications for New
Awards for Fiscal Year 1998; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 1998 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No: 84.101]
Indian Vocational Education Program; Notice Inviting Applications
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998
Notice to Applicants: This notice is a complete application
package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and
applicable regulations governing the program, including the
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the
notice contains all of the information, application forms, and
instructions needed to apply for a grant under this competition.
Purpose of Program: To provide financial assistance to Indian
tribes and certain schools funded by the Department of the Interior to
plan, conduct, and administer projects, or portions of projects, that
are authorized by and consistent with the Carl D. Perkins Vocational
and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990 (Act), as amended, 20
U.S.C. 2301 et seq.
Eligible Applicants: The following entities are eligible for an
award under this program:
(a) A tribal organization of any Indian tribe that is eligible to
contract with the Secretary of the Interior under the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act or under the Act of April
16, 1934.
(b) A Bureau-funded school offering a secondary program.
(c) Any tribal organization or Bureau-funded school described in
paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section may apply individually or as part
of a consortium with one or more eligible tribal organizations or
schools.
When seeking to apply for funds as a consortium, individual
eligible applicants must enter into an agreement signed by all members
of the consortium and designating one member of the consortium as the
applicant and grantee. The consortium's agreement must detail the
activities each member of the consortium plans to perform, and must
bind each member to every statement and assurance made in the
consortium's application. The designated applicant must submit the
consortium's agreement with its application.
Submission of Applications
(a) An application from a tribal organization, other than a Bureau-
funded school, must be submitted to the Secretary by the Indian tribe.
(b) An application for a project to serve more than one Indian
tribe must be approved by each tribe to be served.
(c) An application from a Bureau-funded school may be submitted
directly to the Secretary.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 18, 1998.
Available Funds: $12,529,088 for the first 12 months of the 24-
month project period. Funding for the second 12-month period of the 24-
month project period is subject to the availability of funds and to a
grantee meeting the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253.
Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000 to $500,000 for the first 12
months.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $375,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 35.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 24 months.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows:
(1) 34 CFR Part 74 (Administration of Grants and Agreements to
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Nonprofit
Organizations).
(2) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).
(3) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department
Regulations).
(4) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).
(5) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).
(6) 34 CFR Part 85 (Government-wide Debarment and Suspension
(Nonprocurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace (Grants)).
(7) 34 CFR Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses).
(b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 400 and 401.
Definitions
Applicants are encouraged to take particular note of the following
definitions that are contained in 34 CFR 401.5:
Act of April 16, 1934 means the Federal law commonly known as the
``Johnson-O'Malley Act,'' that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
to make contracts for the education of Indians and other purposes (25
U.S.C. 455-457).
Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the
Interior.
Bureau-funded school means--
(1) A Bureau-operated elementary or secondary day or boarding
school or a Bureau-operated dormitory for students attending a school
other than a Bureau school;
(2) An elementary or secondary school or a dormitory that receives
financial assistance for its operation under a contract or agreement
with the Bureau under section 102, 104(1), or 208 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450f, 450h(1),
and 458d); or
(3) A school for which assistance is provided under the Tribally
Controlled Schools Act of 1988.
Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, Nation, or other
organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or
regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) that is
federally recognized as eligible for the special programs and services
provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as
Indians.
Tribal organization means the recognized governing body of any
Indian tribe or any legally established organization of Indians that is
controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by that governing body or that is
democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to
be served by the organization and that includes the maximum
participation of Indians in all phases of its activities. However, in
any case where a contract is let or grant made to an organization to
perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe, the approval of
each of those Indian tribes must be a prerequisite to the letting or
making of that contract or grant.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to recent notices inviting
applications under the Indian Vocational Education Program, a number of
Indian tribal organizations and Bureau-funded schools have submitted
applications proposing projects that were designed to use a majority of
the funds to prepare students for a high school equivalency diploma.
Although a high school diploma or its equivalent certainly enhances a
student's ability to benefit from postsecondary vocational education,
applicants are reminded that projects must use funds under the Indian
Vocational Education Program only to provide vocational education that
is authorized by and consistent with the Act. Vocational education
includes: (a) remedial education, only to the extent that it is
necessary for a vocational education student to benefit from vocational
instruction, and (b) the integration of academic and vocational
education through coherent sequences of courses so that students
achieve both academic and occupational competencies. Grantees may not
pay for the cost of academic courses that are not
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directly related to the occupational skill being taught in a vocational
education program.
The Secretary recognizes that in many Indian communities the need
for a high school equivalency diploma may be as great as the need for
vocational training and, therefore, encourages Indian tribal
organizations and Bureau-funded schools to seek other resources to
address the former need.
Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), the Secretary is particularly
interested in receiving applications that meet the following
invitational priority:
Projects that include a valid, reliable, and otherwise meaningful
plan for conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of the project.
The project must include an evaluation plan that--
(a) Is clearly explained and appropriate for the project;
(b) Identifies at a minimum--
(1) The types of quantifiable data to be collected and reported
with respect to the academic and vocational competencies demonstrated
by participants and the number and kinds of academic and work
credentials acquired by individuals who complete the training,
including participation in programs providing training at the associate
degree level that is articulated with an advanced degree option;
(2) The type of data to be collected and reported with respect to
enrollment, completion, and placement of participants by sex, racial or
ethnic group, socio-economic status for each occupation for which
training is provided;
(3) Job or work skill attainment or enhancement, including
participation in apprenticeship and work-based learning programs, and
student progress in achieving occupational skills necessary to obtain
employment in the field for which the student has been prepared,
including occupational skills in the industry the student is preparing
to enter; and
(4) The types and numbers of placements into additional training or
education, military service, or employment;
(c) Includes activities during the formative stages of the project
to help guide and improve the project, as well as a summative
evaluation that includes recommendations for replicating project
activities and results. A project that will continue to operate after
Federal funding ends should also plan for a summative evaluation that
includes recommendations for improving the quality of its vocational
education services;
(d) Will yield results that can be summarized and submitted to the
Secretary for review as a potentially exemplary and promising
educational program;
(e) Makes use of an external independent evaluator; and
(f) When appropriate, will provide a comparison between intended
and observed results and lead to the demonstration of a clear link
between the observed results and the specific treatment of project
participants.
Note: An application that meets this invitational priority does
not receive competitive or absolute preference over other
applications.
Selection Criteria: The Secretary uses the selection criteria
contained in 34 CFR 401.21 to evaluate applications for new grants
under this competition. However, due to the repeal of the legislation
authorizing the Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program, the
``program factors'' criterion included in this notice no longer
includes references to the JOBS program. (See Pub. L. 104-193, Title I,
Section 108(e), August 22, 1996.) Section 401.21 assigns a total of 85
points for these criteria. Under section 401.20(b), the Secretary is
authorized to distribute an additional 15 reserved points among the
criteria contained in section 401.21 for a maximum of 100 points for
the selection criteria. The maximum score for each criterion is
indicated in parentheses.
Criteria
(a) Program factors. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the extent to which it--
(1) Proposes measurable goals for student enrollment, completion,
and placement (including placement in jobs or military specialties and
in continuing education or training opportunities) that are realistic
in terms of stated needs, resources, and job opportunities in each
occupation for which training is to be provided;
(2) Proposes goals that take into consideration any related goals
or standards developed for the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)(29
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) training programs operating in the area, and,
where appropriate, any goals set by the State Board for vocational
education for the occupation and geographic area;
(3) Describes, for each occupation for which training is to be
provided, how successful program completion will be determined in terms
of academic and vocational competencies demonstrated by enrollees prior
to completion and any academic or work credentials acquired by
enrollees upon completion;
(4) Demonstrates the active commitment in the project's planning
and operation by advisory committees, tribal planning offices, the JTPA
program director, and potential employers such as tribal enterprises,
private enterprises (on or off reservation), and other organizations;
(5) Is targeted to individuals with inadequate skills to assist
those individuals in obtaining new employment; and
(6) Includes a thorough description of the approach to be used,
including some or all of the following components:
(i) Methods of participant selection.
(ii) Assessment and feedback of participant progress.
(iii) Coordination of vocational instruction, academic instruction,
and support services such as counseling, transportation, and child
care.
(iv) Curriculum and, if appropriate, approaches for providing on-
the-job training experience.
(b) Need. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to
determine the extent to which the project addresses specific needs,
including--
(1) The job market and related needs (such as educational level) of
the target population;
(2) Characteristics of that population, including an estimate of
those to be served by the project;
(3) How the project will meet the needs of the target population;
and
(4) A description of any ongoing and planned activities relative to
those needs, including, if appropriate, how the State plan developed
under 34 CFR 403.30-403.34 is designed to meet those needs.
(c) Plan of operation. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the
project, including--
(1) The establishment of objectives that are clearly related to
project goals and activities and are measurable with respect to
anticipated enrollments, completions, and placements;
(2) A management plan that describes the chain of command, how
staff will be managed, how coordination among staff will be
accomplished, and timelines for each activity; and
(3) The way the applicant intends to use its resources and
personnel to achieve each objective.
(d) Key personnel. (10 points). (1) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of key personnel the applicant
plans to use on the project, including--
(i) The qualifications of the project director;
(ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be
used on the project;
(iii) The time, including justification for the time that each one
of the key
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personnel, including the project director, will commit to the project;
and
(iv) Subject to the Indian preference provisions of the Indian
Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) that apply to grants and
contracts to tribal organizations, how the applicant, as part of its
nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel
are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disabling condition.
(2) To determine personnel qualifications, the Secretary
considers--
(i) The experience and training of key personnel in project
management and in fields particularly related to the objectives of the
project; and
(ii) Any other qualifications of key personnel that pertain to the
quality of the project.
(e) Budget and Cost Effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine the extent to which--
(1) The budget is adequate to support the project activities;
(2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the
project and the number of participants to be served; and
(3) The budget narrative justifies the expenditures.
(f) Evaluation Plan. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the
project, including the extent to which--
(1) The plan identifies, at a minimum, types of data to be
collected and reported with respect to the academic and vocational
competencies demonstrated by participants and the number and kind of
academic and work credentials acquired by participants who complete the
training;
(2) The plan identifies, at a minimum, types of data to be
collected and reported with respect to the achievement of project goals
for the enrollment, completion, and placement of participants. The data
must be broken down by sex and by occupation for which training was
provided;
(3) The methods of evaluation are appropriate for the project and,
to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are
quantifiable; and
(4) The methods of evaluation provide periodic data that can be
used by the project for ongoing program improvement.
(g) Employment opportunities. (10 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine the quality of the plan for job placement
of participants who complete training under this program, including--
(1) The expected employment opportunities (including any military
specialties) and any additional educational or training opportunities
that are related to the participants' training;
(2) Information and documentation concerning potential employers'
commitment to hire participants who complete training; and
(3) An estimate of the percentage of trainees expected to be
employed (including self-employed individuals) in the field for which
they were trained following completion of training.
Special Considerations
Under 34 CFR 401.20(e), in addition to the 100 points to be awarded
based on the selection criteria in 34 CFR 401.21, the Secretary awards:
(a) Up to 5 points to applications proposing exemplary approaches
that involve, coordinate with, or encourage tribal economic development
plans; and
(b) Five points to applications from tribally controlled community
colleges that--
(1) Are accredited or are candidates for accreditation by a
nationally recognized accreditation organization as an institution of
postsecondary vocational education; or
(2) Operate vocational education programs that are accredited or
are candidates for accreditation by a nationally recognized
accreditation organization and issue certificates for completion of
vocational education programs.
Additional Factors
Under 34 CFR 401.22, the Secretary may decide not to award a grant
or cooperative agreement if--
(a) The proposed project duplicates an effort already being made;
or
(b) Funding the project would create an inequitable distribution of
funds under this part among Indian tribes.
Instructions for Transmittal of Applications
Applicants are required to submit one original signed application
and two copies of the grant application. All forms and assurances must
have ink signatures. Please mark applications as ``original'' or
``copy.'' To aid with the review of applications, the Department
encourages applicants to submit four additional copies of the grant
application. The Department will not penalize applicants who do not
provide additional copies.
(a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant under this
competition, the applicant must either--
(1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or
before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application
Control Center, Attention: (CFDA #84.101), Washington, D.C. 20202-4725,
or
(2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by
4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on or before the deadline date to:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA #84.101), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D
Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C.
(b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of
mailing:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
(c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service,
the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of
mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should
check with its local post office.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application
Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to
receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from
the date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the
U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202)
708-9494.
(3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not
provided by the Department--in Item 10 of the Application for
Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix
letter, if any--of the competition under which the application is
being submitted.
Application Instructions and Forms: All forms and instructions are
included as Appendix A of this notice. Questions and answers pertaining
to this program are included, as Appendix B, to assist potential
applicants.
To apply for an award under this program competition, your
application must be organized in the following order and include the
following five parts. The parts and additional materials are as
follows:
PART I: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev.
4-88)) and instructions.
PART II: Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No.
524) and instructions.
PART III: Budget Narrative.
PART IV: Program Narrative.
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Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
PART V: Additional Assurances and Certifications:
a. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
b. Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other
Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80-
0013) and instructions.
c. Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED Form 80-0014,
9/90) and instructions.
Note: ED Form 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees and
should not be transmitted to the Department.
d. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)(if
applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect
statutory changes. See the notice published by the Office of Management
and Budget at 61 FR 1413 (January 19, 1996).
e. Notice to All Applicants.
No grant may be awarded unless a completed application form has
been received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwen Washington, Linda Mayo or Sonja
Turner, Special Programs Branch, Division of National Programs, Office
of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600
Independence Avenue, S.W. (Room 4512, Mary E. Switzer Building),
Washington, D.C. 20202-7242. Telephone (202) 205-9351. 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 notice in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact persons listed in the preceding
paragraph. Please note, however, that the Department is not able to
reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the
notice.
Electronic Access to This Department
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) on the World Wide Web 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 preceding sites. If
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy on an electronic
bulletin board of the Department. Telephone (202) 219-1511 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. 2313(b).
Dated: June 26, 1998.
Patricia W. McNeil,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education.
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Appendix A
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PART II--BUDGET INFORMATION
Instructions for Part II--Budget Information
Sections A and B--Budget Summary by Categories
1. Personnel: Show salaries to be paid to personnel for each budget
year.
2. Fringe Benefits: Indicate the rate and amount of fringe benefits
for each budget year.
3. Travel: Indicate the amount requested for both local and out of
State travel of Project Staff for each budget year. Include funds for
at least one trip for two people to attend the Project Director's
Workshop.
4. Equipment: Indicate the cost of non-expendable personal property
that has a cost of $5,000 or more per unit for each budget year.
5. Supplies: Include the cost of consumable supplies and materials
to be used during the project period for each budget year.
6. Contractual: Show the amount to be used for: (1) procurement
contracts (except those which belong on other lines such as supplies
and equipment); and (2) sub-contracts for each budget year.
7. Construction: Not Applicable.
8. Other: Indicate all direct costs not clearly covered by lines 1
through 6 above, including consultants and capital expenditures for
each budget year.
9. Total Direct Cost: Show the total for Lines 1 through 8 for each
budget year.
10. Indirect Costs: Indicate the rate and amount of indirect costs
for each budget year.
11. Training/stipend Cost: Indicate cost per student and number of
hours of instruction. The amount of a stipend may be the greater of
either the minimum hourly wage prescribed by state or local law or the
minimum hourly wage set under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Please
carefully read 34 CFR 401.3(c) for additional information on stipends.
12. Total Costs: Show total for lines 9 through 11 for each budget
year.
Instructions for Part III--Budget Narrative
The budget narrative should explain, justify, and, if needed,
clarify your budget summary. For each line item (personnel, fringe
benefits, travel, etc.) in your budget, explain why it is there and how
you computed the costs.
Please limit this section to no more than five pages. Be sure that
each page of your application is numbered consecutively.
Instructions for Part IV--Program Narrative
The program narrative will comprise the largest portion of your
application. This part is where you spell out the who, what, when, why,
and how, of your proposed project.
Although you will not have a form to fill out for your narrative,
there is a format. This format is based on the selection criteria.
Because your application will be reviewed and rated by a review panel
on the basis of the selection criteria, your narrative should follow
the order and format of the criteria.
Before preparing your application, you should carefully read the
legislation and regulations of the program, eligibility requirements,
special considerations, and the selection criteria for this
competition.
Your program narrative should be clear, concise, and to the point.
Begin the narrative with a one page abstract or summary of your
project. Then describe the project in detail, addressing each selection
criterion in order.
The Secretary strongly suggests that you limit the program
narrative to no more than 30 double-spaced, typed pages (on one side
only), although the Secretary will consider your application if it is
longer. Be sure to number consecutively ALL pages in your application.
You may include supporting documentation as appendices to the
program narrative. Be sure that this material is concise and pertinent
to this program competition.
You are advised that--
(a) The Secretary considers only information contained in the
application in ranking applications for funding consideration. Letters
of support sent separately from the formal application package are not
considered in the review by the technical review panels. (34 CFR
75.217)
(b) The technical review panel evaluates each application solely on
the basis of the selection criteria contained in this notice and in 34
CFR 401.21 and the special consideration contained in this notice and
in 34 CFR 401.20(e)(1).
(c) The Secretary awards five points to applications from tribally-
controlled community colleges, under the terms of 34 CFR 401.20(e)(2).
(d) Letters of support included as appendices to an application,
that are of direct relevance to or contain commitments that pertain to
the established selection criteria, such as commitment of resources,
will be reviewed by the panel.
Estimated Burden Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is 1830-0013. (Expiration date: 06/30/99). The
time required to complete this information collection is estimated to
average 90 hours per response, including the time to review
instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed,
and complete and review the information collection.
If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time
estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to:
U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4651.
If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your
individual submission of this form, write directly to: Gwen Washington,
Linda Mayo or Sonja Turner, Division of National Programs, Office of
Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600
Independence Avenue, S.W. (Room 4512, Mary E. Switzer Building),
Washington D.C. 20202-7242.
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Notice to All Applicants
Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this
enclosure is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of
Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that applies to
applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This
provision is section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving
America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382).
To Whom Does This Provision Apply?
Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new discretionary grant
awards under this program. All applicants for new awards must include
information in their applications to address this new provision in
order to receive funding under this program.
What Does This Provision Require?
Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an
individual person) to include in its application a description of the
steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and
participation in, its federally-assisted program for students,
teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs.
This section allows applicants discretion in developing the
required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that
can impede equitable access or participation that you may address:
gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on
local circumstances, you can determine whether these or other barriers
may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from equitable access or
participation. Your description need not be lengthy; you may provide a
clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those
barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the
information my be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate,
may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application.
Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil
rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their
projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may
affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully
participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent
with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant
may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it
identifies.
What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of
This Provision?
The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may
comply with section 427.
(1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy
project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency,
might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a
brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in
their native language.
(2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials
for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials
available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind.
(3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program
for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely
than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it tends to
conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment.
We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing
effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their
grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the
requirements of this provision.
Estimated Burden Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is 1830-0013 (Exp. 6/30/99). The time required
to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 1 to
3 hours per response, with an average of 1.5 hours, including the time
to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and
maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information
collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the
time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write
to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651.
Potential applicants frequently direct questions to officials of
the Department regarding application notices and programmatic and
administrative regulations governing various direct grant programs. To
assist potential applicants, the Department has assembled the following
most commonly asked questions followed by the Department's answers.
Q. Can we get an extension of the deadline?
A. No. A closing date may be changed only under extraordinary
circumstances. Any change must be announced in the Federal Register and
must apply to all applications. Waivers for individual applications
cannot be granted regardless of the circumstances.
Q. How many copies of the application should I submit and must they
be bound?
A. Applicants are required to submit one original and two copies of
the grant application. To aid with the review of applications, the
Department encourages applicants to submit four additional copies of
the grant application. The Department will not penalize applicants who
do not provide additional copies. The binding of applications is
optional.
Q. We just missed the deadline for the XXX competition. May we
submit under another competition?
A. Yes, however, the likelihood of success is not good. A properly
prepared application must meet the specifications of the competition to
which it is submitted.
Q. I'm not sure which competition is most appropriate for my
project. What should I do?
A. We are happy to discuss any such questions with you and provide
clarification on the unique elements of the various competitions.
Q. Will you help us prepare our application?
A. We are happy to provide general program information. Clearly, it
would not be appropriate for staff to participate in the actual writing
of an application, but we can respond to specific questions about
application requirements, evaluation criteria, and the priorities.
Applicants should understand, however, that prior contact with the
Department is not required, nor will it in any way influence the
success of an application.
Q. When will I find out if I'm going to be funded?
A. You can expect to receive notification within 3 to 4 months of
the application closing date, depending on the number of applications
received and the number of Department competitions with similar closing
dates.
Q. Once my application has been reviewed by the review panel, can
you tell me the outcome?
A. No. Every year we are called by a number of applicants who have
a legitimate reason for needing to know the outcome of the panel review
prior to official notification. Some applicants need to make job
decisions, some need to notify a local school district, etc.
[[Page 36338]]
Regardless of the reason, because final funding decisions have not been
made at that point, we cannot share information about the results of
panel review with anyone.
Q. Will my application be returned if I am not funded?
A. No. We no longer return unsuccessful applications. Thus,
applicants should retain at least one copy of the application.
Q. Can I obtain copies of reviewers' comments?
A. Upon written request, reviewers' comments will be mailed to
unsuccessful applicants.
Q. Is travel allowed under these projects?
A. Travel associated with carrying out the project is allowed.
Because we may request the project director of funded projects to
attend an annual project directors' meeting, you may also wish to
include a trip or two to Washington, DC in the travel budget. Travel to
conferences is sometimes allowed when the purpose of the conference
will be of benefit and relates to the project.
Q. If my application receives high scores from the reviewers, does
that mean that I will receive funding?
A. Not necessarily. It is often the case that the number of
applications scored highly by the reviewers exceeds the dollars
available for funding projects under a particular competition. The
order of selection, which is based on the scores of all the
applications reviewed and other relevant factors, determines the
applications that can be funded.
Q. What happens during pre-award clarification discussions?
A. During pre-award clarification discussions, technical and budget
issues may be raised. These are issues that have been identified during
the panel and staff reviews that require clarification. Sometimes
issues are stated as ``conditions.'' These are issues that have been
identified as so critical that the award cannot be made unless those
conditions are met. Questions may also be raised about the proposed
budget. Generally, these issues are raised because an application
contains inadequate justification or explanation of a particular budget
item, or because the budget item seems unimportant to the successful
completion of the project. If you are asked to make changes that you
feel could seriously affect the project's success, you may provide
reasons for not making the changes or provide alternative suggestions.
Similarly, if proposed budget reductions will, in your opinion,
seriously affect the project activities, you may explain why and
provide additional justification for the proposed expenses. An award
cannot be made until all issues under discussion have been resolved.
Q. How do I provide an assurance?
A. Except for SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs,''
you may provide an assurance simply by stating in writing that you are
meeting a prescribed requirement.
Q. Where can copies of the Federal Register, program regulations,
and Federal statutes be obtained?
A. Copies of these materials can usually be found at your local
library. If not, they can be obtained from the Government Printing
Office by writing to Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Telephone: (202) 708-8228. When
requesting copies of regulations or statutes, it is helpful to use the
specific name or public law, number of a statute, or part number of a
regulation. The material referenced in this notice should be referred
to as follows:
(1) The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education
Act (Pub. L. 101-302).
(2) Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR
parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 90, 81, and 85.
(3) 34 CFR parts 400 (Vocational and Applied Technology Education
Programs--General Provisions) and 401 (Indian Vocational Education
Program) as published in the Federal Register on August 14, 1992 (57 FR
36724).
Copies of these materials may be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
[FR Doc. 98-17582 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
