[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51011-51014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20998]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Predominantly Black Institutions
Formula Grant Program
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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Overview Information:
Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Formula Grant Program.
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
2011.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.031P.
DATES: Purpose of Program: Through the Predominantly Black Institutions
(PBI) Formula Grant Program, the Department makes grant awards to
eligible institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and implement
programs to enhance their capacity to serve more low- and middle-income
Black American students; to expand higher education opportunities for
eligible students by encouraging college preparation and student
persistence in secondary school and postsecondary education; and to
strengthen the financial ability of the institutions to serve the
academic needs of these students.
Program Authority: Title III, part A, section 318 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1059e).
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 82, 84,
85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Formula Grant.
Estimated Available Funds $9,601,758.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: Grants awarded under the PBI
Formula Grant Program will be allotted to eligible institutions based
on the formula included in section 318(e) of the HEA (20 U.S.C.
1059e(e)), with no grantee allotted less than $250,000.
If the amount appropriated for this program for a fiscal year is
not sufficient to pay the minimum allotment to eligible institutions,
then the amount of the minimum allotment must be ratably reduced, in
accordance with section 318(e) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(e)(4)).
Funding Formula:
Grant amounts to PBIs will be awarded according to the following
formula:
(1) Federal Pell Grant basis--From the amount appropriated for this
program for any fiscal year, the Secretary allots to each PBI with an
approved application a sum that bears the same ratio to one-half of
that amount as the number of Federal Pell Grant recipients in
attendance at such institution at the end of the academic year
preceding the beginning of that fiscal year, bears to the total number
of Federal Pell Grant recipients at all such institutions at the end of
such academic year.
(2) Graduates basis--From the amount appropriated for this program
for any fiscal year, the Secretary allots to each PBI with an approved
application a sum that bears the same ratio to one-fourth of that
amount as the number of graduates for such academic year at such
institution, bears to the total number of graduates for such academic
year at all such institutions.
(3) Graduates Seeking a higher degree basis--From the amount
appropriated for this program for any fiscal year, the Secretary allots
to each PBI with an approved application a sum that bears the same
ratio to one-fourth of that amount as the percentage of graduates from
such institution who are admitted to and in attendance at, not later
than two years after graduation with an associate's degree or a
baccalaureate degree, a baccalaureate degree-granting institution or a
graduate or professional school in a degree program in disciplines in
which Black American students are underrepresented, bears to the
percentage of such graduates for all such institutions.
Estimated Number of Awards: All applicant institutions that meet
the eligibility requirements will receive a portion of the total
appropriations for the PBI Formula Grant Program.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible, an applicant must have
previously submitted the ``Application for Designation as an Eligible
Institution'' and received FY 2011 designation as an eligible
institution for programs under title III and title V of the HEA. The
regulations explaining the standards for designation can be found in 34
CFR 607.2 through 607.5. In addition, an applicant must--
[[Page 51012]]
(1) Have an enrollment of needy undergraduate students as defined
in section 318(b)(2) of the HEA;
(2) Have an average educational and general expenditure that is
low, per full-time equivalent undergraduate student, in comparison with
the average educational and general expenditure per full-time
equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar
instruction, except that the Secretary may apply the waiver
requirements described in section 392(b) of the HEA to this
subparagraph in the same manner as the Secretary applies the waiver
requirements to section 312(b)(1)(B) of the HEA;
(3) Have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less
than 40 percent Black American students;
(4) Be legally authorized to provide, and provide, within the State
an educational program for which the institution of higher education
awards a baccalaureate degree or, in the case of a junior or community
college, an associate's degree;
(5) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or
association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as
to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency
or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation; and
(6) Not be receiving funds under any other provision of part A or
part B of title III of the HEA or part A of title V of the HEA or be
authorized to receive an annual appropriation under the Act of March 2,
1867 (20 U.S.C. 123).
To be eligible for a grant under the PBI Formula Grant Program, an
applicant must also meet the definition of a Predominantly Black
Institution in section 318(b)(6) of the HEA. The term Predominantly
Black Institution means an institution of higher education, as defined
in section 101(a) of the HEA--
(A) That is an eligible institution with not less than 1,000
undergraduate students;
(B) At which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate students
enrolled at the eligible institution are low-income individuals or
first-generation college students; and
(C) At which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate students
are enrolled in an educational program leading to a bachelor's or
associate's degree that the eligible institution is licensed to award
by the State (defined as each of the 50 States and the District of
Columbia) in which the eligible institution is located.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching unless the grantee uses a portion of its grant for
establishing or improving an endowment fund. If a grantee uses a
portion of its grant for endowment fund purposes, it must match those
grant funds with non-Federal funds in an amount equal to or greater
than the Federal funds used for the establishment or increase of the
endowment fund (20 U.S.C. 1059e(d)(3)).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Department. To obtain
a copy via the Internet, use the following address for the PBI Formula
Grant Program Web site: http://www.ed.gov/programs/pbihea/index.html.
To obtain a copy from the Department, write, fax, or call the
following: Bernadette D. Miles, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K
Street, NW., Room 6025, Washington, DC 20006-8515. Telephone: (202)
502-7616, or by e-mail: bernadette.miles@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact person listed in
this section.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: The application
process for this program has two phases: Phase I involves submitting
2009-2010 data used to run the funding formula; Phase II includes the
narrative project plan and standard forms. The deadline dates for
submitting Phases I and II of the application are listed in this
notice. Other requirements concerning the content of an application,
together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package
for this program.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: August 17, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Phase I of Applications: September 1,
2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Phase II of Applications: September 16,
2011.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically as an e-mail attachment to pbiprogram@ed.gov by 12:00:00
a.m. Washington, DC time, on the deadline date.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant
database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet.
A DUNS number can be created within one business day.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take
three or more business days to complete.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in
this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Predominantly Black Institutions
Formula Grant Program--CFDA Number 84.031P must be submitted
electronically via e-mail to pbiprogram@ed.gov.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you
[[Page 51013]]
qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission
requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application
deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify
for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation
of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is
provided later in this section under Exception to Electronic Submission
Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the PBI Program
at http://www.ed.gov/programs/pbihea/index.html.
Please note the following:
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 12:00:00 a.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We will not accept an application for this program after
12:00:00 a.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the
application deadline date to begin the application process.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
You must attach any narrative sections of your application
as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable
Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file
types specified in this paragraph or submit a password protected file,
we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
Within three working days after submitting Phase II of
your electronic application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the
Application Control Center after following these steps:
(1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
via e-mail because--
You do not have access to the Internet;
and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Bernadette D. Miles,
U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Room 6025,
Washington, DC 20006-8515. FAX: (202) 502-7861.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.031P), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(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 of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
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.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.031P), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application
Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Grants awarded under the PBI Formula Grant Program are based on a
formula. All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will
receive a portion of the total appropriations for
[[Page 51014]]
this program based on the formula contained in section 318(e) of the
HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(e)).
Department staff will review applications to determine eligibility
and to ensure that all activities proposed in the application are
allowable under section 318(d) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(d)).
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). 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. Reporting: 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 multi-year 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: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of
the PBI Formula Grant Program:
(a) Enrollment Rate: The percentage change of the number of full-
time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at PBIs.
(b) Persistence Rate--four-year institutions: The percentage of
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at four-
year PBIs who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in
the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same
four-year PBI.
(c) Persistence Rate--two-year institutions: The percentage of
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at two-year
PBIs who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the
previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same two-year
PBI.
(d) Completion Rate--four-year institutions: The percentage of
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at
four-year PBIs who graduate within six years of enrollment.
(e) Completion Rate--two-year institutions: The percentage of
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at
two-year PBIs who graduate within three years of enrollment.
(f) Efficiency Measure: Cost per successful program outcome:
Federal cost per undergraduate degree at PBIs.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernadette D. Miles, Institutional
Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Room 6025,
Washington, DC 20006-8515. Telephone: (202) 502-7616, or by e-mail:
bernadette.miles@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
in section VII of this notice. Electronic Access to This Document: The
official version of this document is the document published in the
Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the
Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via
the Federal Digital System at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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 Adobe 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: http://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: August 12, 2011.
Eduardo M. Ochoa,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2011-20998 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
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