[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33563-33571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13735]
[[Page 33563]]
Vol. 77
Wednesday,
No. 109
June 6, 2012
Part II
Department of Education
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Applications for New Awards; Comprehensive Centers Program; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 77 , No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2012 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Comprehensive Centers Program
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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Overview Information: Com pre hen sive Centers Program; Notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 84.283B.
DATES: Applications Available: June 6, 2012.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 26, 2012.
Dates of Pre-Application Briefings:
Applicants for Regional Centers: June 19, 2012 and June 22, 2012.
Applicants for Content Centers: June 20, 2012 and June 22, 2012.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 6, 2012.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: October 4, 2012.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Comprehensive Centers program supports the
establishment of no fewer than 20 comprehensive technical assistance
centers to provide technical assistance to State educational agencies
(SEAs) that builds their capacity to support local educational agencies
(LEAs or districts) and schools, especially low-performing districts
and schools; improve educational outcomes for all students; close
achievement gaps; and improve the quality of instruction.
Regional Advisory Committees: To help inform the Secretary's
priorities for the centers funded under this program, the Secretary (in
accordance with section 206 of the Education Technical Assistance Act
of 2002 (ETAA)) established Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) and
charged them with conducting educational needs assessments within the
geographic regions served by the 10 Regional Educational Laboratories
(RELs) and making recommendations for how those needs might be
addressed. The RACs conducted their needs assessments from June 2011 to
August 2011 and submitted their reports on regional needs and
recommendations for how to address those needs to the Secretary on
November 15, 2011. The full RAC reports are available at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/newccp/resources.html.
Potential applicants for the centers are encouraged to consider the
results of these needs assessments and the recommendations contained in
the RAC reports when preparing their applications.
Priorities: These priorities are from the notice of final
priorities, requirements, and selection criteria for this program,
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute Priorities: This competition contains two sets of absolute
priorities: Absolute Priority for Regional Centers (priority one) and
Absolute Priorities for Content Centers (priorities two through eight).
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet one
of these priorities.
Note: If an eligible entity wants to apply for funding for more
than one center, it must submit separate applications for each
center.
These priorities are:
Priority for Regional Centers
Priority 1: Regional Centers.
Each Regional Center must provide high-quality technical assistance
that focuses on key initiatives, aligns with the work of the Content
Centers (see Priorities 2-8), and builds the capacity of SEAs to
implement, support, scale up, and sustain initiatives statewide and to
lead and support their LEAs and schools in improving student outcomes.
Key initiatives include: (1) Implementing college- and career-ready
standards and aligned, high-quality assessments for all students; (2)
identifying, recruiting, developing, and retaining highly effective
teachers and leaders; (3) turning around the lowest-performing schools;
(4) ensuring the school readiness and success of preschool-age children
and their successful transition to kindergarten; (5) building rigorous
instructional pathways that support the successful transition of all
students from secondary education to college without the need for
remediation, and careers; (6) identifying and scaling up innovative
approaches to teaching and learning that significantly improve student
outcomes; and (7) using data-based decision-making to improve
instructional practices, policies, and student outcomes.
Priorities for Content Centers
Priority 2: Center on Standards and Assessments Implementation.
The Center on Standards and Assessments Implementation must provide
technical assistance and identify, synthesize, and disseminate
research-based practices and emerging promising practices that will
lead to the increased capacity of SEAs to support their districts and
schools in implementing rigorous college- and career-ready standards
and aligned high-quality assessments.
Priority 3: Center on Great Teachers and Leaders.
The Center on Great Teachers and Leaders must provide technical
assistance and identify, synthesize, and disseminate research-based
practices and emerging promising practices that will lead to the
increased capacity of SEAs to support their districts and schools in
improving student outcomes by supporting effective instruction and
leadership.
Priority 4: Center on School Turnaround.
The Center on School Turnaround must provide technical assistance
and identify, synthesize, and disseminate research-based practices and
emerging promising practices that will lead to the increased capacity
of SEAs to support their districts and schools in turning around their
lowest-performing schools.
Priority 5: Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes.
The Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes must provide
technical assistance and identify, synthesize, and disseminate
research-based practices and emerging promising practices that will
lead to the increased capacity of SEAs to implement comprehensive and
aligned early learning systems in order to increase the number of
children from birth through third grade who are prepared to succeed in
school.
Priority 6: Center on College and Career Readiness and Success.
The Center on College and Career Readiness and Success must provide
technical assistance and identify, synthesize, and disseminate
research-based practices and emerging promising practices that will
lead to the increased capacity of SEAs to support districts and schools
in implementing comprehensive strategies that promote college- and
career-readiness for students in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12)
and ensure the successful transition of all students from high school
graduation to postsecondary education and the workforce.
Priority 7: Center on Building State Capacity and Productivity.
The Center on Building State Capacity and Productivity must provide
technical assistance and identify, synthesize, and disseminate
research-based practices and emerging promising practices that will
increase the capacity of SEAs to implement their key initiatives
statewide and support district- and
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school-level implementation of effective practices to improve student
outcomes.
Priority 8: Center on Innovations in Learning.
The Center on Innovations in Learning must provide technical
assistance and identify, synthesize, and disseminate research-based
practices and emerging promising practices that will lead to the
increased capacity of SEAs to identify and scale up innovative
approaches that significantly improve, or have the potential to
significantly improve, student outcomes.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2012, this priority is an
invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an
application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or
absolute preference over other applications.
This priority is:
Cost-Sharing or Matching.
The Secretary is particularly interested in applications that
provide evidence in the application of a commitment from a partner or
partners from one or more entities or organizations in the public or
private sector, which may include philanthropic organizations, of non-
Federal funds or an in-kind match, or both, that totals at least 15
percent of the total grant budget. The Secretary's interest is in
applications in which evidence of the commitment of the financial or
in-kind matching contribution includes the full amount and source of
the matching contribution, and the date that the funds or in-kind
contributions will be received. Examples of such evidence include
funding agreements with a public or private-sector entity, or other
signed documents such as commitment letters. The evidence should not
include contingencies that raise concerns about the funding commitment
other than that the applicant must be awarded a Comprehensive Centers
grant award.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9602 through 9606.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administration Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension
and debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice of final
priorities, requirements, and selection criteria published elsewhere in
this issue of the Federal Register.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions
of higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative agreements.
Estimated Available Funds: Eighteen of the 22 Centers proposed for
funding under this competition will be supported entirely with funds
from the Comprehensive Centers program, authorized under the ETAA. One
Content Center, the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders, will be
supported with funds appropriated for the Comprehensive Centers
program; the Special Education Technical Assistance and Dissemination
(TA&D) program, which is authorized under section 663 of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended; and the Career
and Technical Education (CTE) National Activities program, which is
authorized under section 114 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins Act).
Three Regional Centers--South-Central, Northwest, and West--will be
supported with funds appropriated for the Comprehensive Centers program
and funds appropriated for the Indian Education National Activities
program, which is authorized under section 7131 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA).
The estimated total amount of funds available from the
Comprehensive Centers program for FY 2012 is $50 million. Of that
amount, an estimated $40 million will be used to fund Regional Centers
and an estimated $10 million will be used to fund the Content Centers.
FY 2012 funds will support awards for the first budget period of the
project, which is the first 12 months of the project period. Funding
for the subsequent budget periods for years two through five (FY 2013
through FY 2017) is contingent on appropriation levels.
The estimated total amount of funds available from the Special
Education TA&D program for FY 2012 is $750,000 to provide partial
support for the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders for the first
budget period of the project. Depending on appropriation levels, up to
$750,000 from the TA&D program may be awarded to this center in each
subsequent budget period. Because a proportion of the funding for the
Center on Great Teachers and Leaders comes from the Special Education
TA&D program, an applicant's plan of activities must provide for an
amount of technical assistance benefitting students with disabilities
that is consistent with this proportion of funding. Applicants must
propose a proportionate amount of technical assistance services to SEAs
and Regional Centers that will lead to the increased capacity of SEAs
to support their districts and schools in improving outcomes of
students with disabilities (e.g., developing the knowledge and skills
of special education teachers; strategies to ensure the equitable
distribution of effective special education teachers; strategies to
recruit, reward, retain, and support effective special education
teachers; and developing and implementing human capital management
systems, including the evaluation of special education teachers).
The estimated total amount of funds available from the CTE program
for FY 2012 is $300,000 to provide partial support for the Center on
Great Teachers and Leaders for the first budget period of the project.
Depending on appropriation levels, up to $300,000 from the CTE program
may be awarded to this center in each subsequent budget period. Because
a proportion of funding for the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders
comes from the CTE program, an applicant's plan of activities must
provide for an amount of technical assistance benefitting career and
technical education students that is consistent with this proportion of
funding. Applicants must propose a proportionate amount of technical
assistance services to SEAs and Regional Centers that will lead to the
increased capacity of SEAs to support their districts and schools in
improving student outcomes by supporting effective instruction and
leadership in career and technical education, particularly in
developing the knowledge and skills of career and technical education
teachers to help all students meet college-and career-ready standards.
The Department anticipates that the Comprehensive Centers program
will provide an estimated 60 percent, the TA&D program will provide an
estimated 30 percent, and the CTE program will provide an estimated 10
percent of the annual funding for the Center on Great Teachers and
Leaders.
The estimated total amount of funds available from the Indian
Education National Activities program for FY 2012 is $993,000 to
provide partial support ($331,000) to each of three Regional Centers--
Northwest, SouthCentral, and West--that serve States with the largest
populations of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students.
Depending on appropriation levels, up to $331,000 may be made available
to each of these Regional Centers from the Indian Education National
Activities program
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for awards in each subsequent budget period.
Because a proportion of the funding for these centers comes from
the Indian Education National Activities program, an applicant's plan
of activities must provide for an amount of technical assistance
benefitting AI/AN students that is consistent with this proportion of
funding. Applicants for each of these Regional Centers must propose a
proportionate amount of technical assistance services to SEAs and
Regional Centers that will lead to the increased capacity of SEAs to
lead and support their districts and schools in improving outcomes for
AI/AN students.
The Department anticipates that the Comprehensive Centers program
will provide an estimated 85 percent of the annual funding for the
Northwest, South Central and West Regional Centers, and that the Indian
Education National Activities program will provide an estimated 15
percent.
Estimated Range of Awards: For Regional Centers:
$825,000 to $4,895,053. Estimated awards for each Regional Center:
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Appalachia................................................. $2,418,862
California................................................. 4,895,053
Central.................................................... 1,586,384
Florida and Islands........................................ 3,091,817
Great Lakes................................................ 3,541,077
Mid-Atlantic............................................... 2,979,430
Midwest.................................................... 3,064,970
North Central.............................................. 825,000
Northeast.................................................. 3,612,181
Northwest.................................................. 1,888,091
Pacific.................................................... 825,000
South Central.............................................. 2,189,099
Southeast.................................................. 4,371,361
Texas...................................................... 3,875,556
West....................................................... 1,931,332
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For Content Centers: $1,428,571 to $2,478,571. Estimated awards for
each Content Center:
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Center on Standards and Assessments Implementation......... $1,428,571
Center on Great Teachers and Leaders....................... 2,478,571
Center on School Turnaround................................ 1,428,571
Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes................ 1,428,571
Center on College and Career Readiness and Success......... 1,428,571
Center on Building State Capacity and Productivity......... 1,428,571
Center on Innovations in Learning.......................... 1,428,571
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Estimated Number of Awards: The Secretary intends to make 22 awards
under this competition. Fifteen awards will support Regional Centers to
serve States within defined geographic boundaries that align with the
REL regions. One or two Regional Centers will be located in each of the
10 REL regions. The States and territories to be served by each
Regional Center are as follows:
Appalachia: Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
California: California.
Central: Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri.
Florida and Islands: Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Great Lakes: Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
Mid-Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey,
and Pennsylvania.
Midwest: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
North Central: Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Northwest: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Pacific: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Guam, Hawaii, and the Republic of Palau.
South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Southeast: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, and South
Carolina.
Texas: Texas.
West: Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
Seven awards will support Content Centers, each having a specific
content expertise and focus. These seven Content Centers are: The
Center on Standards and Assessments Implementation, the Center on Great
Teachers and Leaders, the Center on School Turnaround, the Center on
Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes, the Center on College and Career
Readiness and Success, the Center on Building State Capacity and
Productivity, and the Center on Innovations in Learning. The functions
and activities for each of the seven Content Centers are described in
the notice of final priorities, requirements, and selection criteria
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Research organizations, institutions,
agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such
entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to
carry out the activities described in this notice.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching. However, as indicated in the invitational priority
in this notice, the Secretary is particularly interested in
applications that provide evidence of a commitment from a partner or
partners from one or more entities or organizations in the public or
private sector, which may include philanthropic organizations, of funds
or an in-kind match, or both, that totals at least 15 percent of the
total grant budget.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: www.Grants.gov. To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or
call the following: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box
22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX:
(703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at
its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.283B.
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 person or team listed under
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
Requirements governing each of the priorities in this notice are in the
notice of final priorities, requirements, and selection criteria for
this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register
and in the application package for this notice.
Notice of Intent to Apply: We will be able to develop a more
efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we have an
understanding of the number of applications we are likely to receive.
Therefore, we strongly encourage each potential applicant to send an
email notice of its intent to apply for funding to the following
address: OESE.compcenters@ed.gov. The notice of intent to apply is
optional and should
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not include information about the potential applicant's proposal.
Applicants that do not provide us with the notice of intent to apply
may still submit an application.
Pre-application briefings: We will conduct briefings on this
competition via conference calls to clarify the purposes of the program
and the selection criteria and application process. Please email Fran
Walter at fran.walter@ed.gov to register for a call date and time and
to obtain the conference call number.
Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your
application. We strongly suggest that you limit the narrative portion
of your application to 150 pages and suggest that you use the following
standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget
section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances
and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the suggested page
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: June 6, 2012.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 26, 2012.
Dates of Pre-Application Briefings:
Applicants for Regional Centers: June 19, 2012 and June 22, 2012.
Applicants for Content Centers: June 20, 2012 and June 22, 2012.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 6, 2012.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: October 4, 2012.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of 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.
In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov,
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
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 Comprehensive Centers program,
CFDA number 84.283B, must be submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this
site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package,
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You
may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you 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
Comprehensive Centers program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for
the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA
number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search
(e.g., search for 84.283, not 84.383B).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and
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submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no
later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not
accept your application if it is received--that is, date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an
application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When
we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we
are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by
the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home
page at http://www.G5.gov.
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 upload any narrative sections and all other
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document)
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not
review that material. Additional, detailed information on how to attach
files is in the application instructions.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by email. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
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
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system;
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
prevent 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: Fran Walter, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W115,
Washington, DC 20202. FAX: (202)205-5870.
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 84.283B) 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.
[[Page 33569]]
(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 84.283B) 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
1. Selection Criteria: The section criteria for this competition
are from the notice of final priorities, requirements, and selection
criteria published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. The
selection criteria for this program are as follows:
A. Technical Assistance Plan
1. Overall quality of the technical assistance plan (15 points). In
determining the overall quality of the technical assistance plan for
the proposed center and the likelihood of the center contributing to
improved State outcomes, the Secretary considers--
a. The extent to which the proposed technical assistance plan
presents an exceptional approach that will likely result in building
SEA capacity to implement State-level initiatives and support district-
and school-level initiatives that improve educational outcomes for all
students, close achievement gaps, and improve the quality of
instruction;
b. The potential contribution of the center to increasing the
knowledge and understanding of effective strategies in the center's
area of expertise; and
c. The extent to which the proposed technical assistance plan
presents an approach that will result in the sharing of high-quality,
relevant, useful information, materials, and other applicable resources
across SEAs, districts, and schools, within and outside of a region.
d. In the case of an applicant for a Regional Center, the extent to
which the proposed technical assistance plan presents an approach that
is likely to secure an SEA's commitment to devote the time, leadership,
and personnel needed to implement the work plan and achieve the
specific goals, which may include a memorandum of understanding or
similar agreement that contains timelines and benchmarks to ensure that
the work stays on track to achieve these goals.
2. Quality of the Project Design (25 points). In determining the
quality of the project design of the proposed center for which the
applicant is applying, the Secretary considers--
a. The extent to which the applicant's technical assistance plan
proposes an exceptional approach to meeting the requirements for all
centers, which includes--
i. Providing high-quality technical assistance that is based on up-
to-date knowledge and understanding of research-based practices and
emerging promising practices; is highly relevant and useful to SEAs,
LEAs, and school policymakers and practitioners; and is delivered in a
timely, cost-efficient manner;
ii. Focusing technical assistance on helping SEAs build capacity to
implement State-level initiatives and support district- and school-
level initiatives that improve educational outcomes for all students,
close achievement gaps, and improve the quality of instruction; and
iii. Coordinating and collaborating with national experts and
technical assistance providers to ensure that the technical assistance
is informed by leading-edge research and innovative approaches and
avoids duplicating efforts;
b. In the case of an applicant for a Regional Center, the extent to
which the applicant's technical assistance plan proposes an exceptional
approach to meeting the requirements for all Regional Centers; and
c. In the case of an applicant for a Content Center, the extent to
which the applicant's technical assistance plan proposes an exceptional
approach to meeting the requirements for all Content Centers, as well
as the requirements for the specific Content Center for which the
applicant is applying.
3. Knowledge of State Technical Assistance Needs (10 points). In
determining the applicant's ability to meet State technical assistance
needs, the Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed
technical assistance plan provides strategies that address the
technical assistance needs of States in key areas, as evidenced by in-
depth knowledge and understanding of--
a. In the case of an applicant for a Regional Center, the specific
educational goals and priorities of the States to be served by the
applicant, including emerging priorities based on State-led reform
efforts;
b. In the case of an applicant for a Regional Center, the
applicable State and regional demographics, policy contexts, and other
factors and their relevance to improving student outcomes, closing
achievement gaps, and improving instruction; and
c. In the case of an applicant for a Content Center, State
technical assistance needs, and research-based practices and emerging
promising practices related to the Content Center for which the
applicant is applying.
B. Subject-Matter and Technical Expertise
Quality of Key Project Personnel (25 points). In determining the
subject-matter and technical expertise of key project personnel, the
Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages
applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that
have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the Secretary
considers--
1. The knowledge, understanding, and experience of key project
personnel as outlined under the subject-matter and
[[Page 33570]]
technical expertise requirements for all centers;
2. In the case of an applicant for a Regional Center, in addition
to the knowledge, understanding, and experience outlined under subject-
matter and technical expertise requirements for all centers, the
subject-matter and technical expertise of key personnel outlined under
the requirements for Regional Centers;
3. In the case of an applicant for a Content Center, in addition to
the knowledge, understanding, and experience outlined under subject-
matter and technical expertise requirements for all centers, the
subject-matter and technical expertise of key personnel outlined under
the requirements for the specific Content Center for which the
applicant is applying;
4. The extent to which the applicant has demonstrated experience
providing high-quality technical assistance to SEAs or multiple
districts;
5. The extent to which the applicant has demonstrated the ability
to develop ongoing partnerships with leading experts and organizations
nationwide that inform high-quality technical assistance and subject-
matter expertise; and
6. The extent to which the applicant has prior relevant experience
operating a project of the scope required for the purposes of the
center being proposed.
C. Management and Evaluation Plans
1. Quality of the Management Plan (15 points). In determining the
quality of the management plan for the proposed center, the Secretary
considers--
a. The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of
the project on time and within budget, including clearly defined
responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project
tasks;
b. The extent to which the time commitments of the project director
and other key project personnel, including any partners or consultants,
are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project;
c. The extent to which resources are allocated within a region for
Regional Centers, and across regions for Content Centers, in a manner
that reflects the need for technical assistance; and
d. The adequacy of the resources for the proposed project,
including whether the applicant proposes facilities and equipment to
successfully carry out the purposes and activities of the proposed
center.
2. Quality of the Project Evaluation Plan (10 points). In
determining the quality of the evaluation plan, the Secretary
considers--
a. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a strong capacity
to provide reliable formative and summative data on performance
measures;
b. The extent to which the performance goals and objectives for the
project are clearly specified and measurable in terms of the project
activities to be accomplished and their stated outcomes;
c. The extent to which the methods for monitoring performance and
evaluating the effectiveness of project strategies in terms of outcomes
for SEAs, districts, and schools are thorough, feasible, and
appropriate to the objectives and outcomes of the proposed project;
d. The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
continuous performance feedback and encourage the continuous assessment
of progress toward achieving intended outcomes; and
e. The extent to which the applicant has a high-quality plan to use
both formative and summative data from evaluations to inform and
improve service delivery over the course of the grant.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for an
award are as follows:
Geographic distribution: The ETAA requires that the Secretary
ensure that not less than one Comprehensive Center is established in
each of the 10 geographic regions served by the RELs. Elsewhere in this
notice we identify the 15 regions in which we intend to establish
Regional Centers. One to two Regional Centers will be established in
each of the 10 REL regions. Applications for Regional Centers will be
scored and ranked against other applications from the same region.
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). 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: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of the
Comprehensive Center program, the Department will use three performance
[[Page 33571]]
measures to assess the quality, relevance, and usefulness of center
activities funded under this competition. These measures, adapted from
a set of common measures developed to help assess performance across
the Department's technical assistance programs, are: (1) The percentage
of all Comprehensive Centers' products and services that are deemed to
be of high quality by qualified experts or individuals with appropriate
expertise to review the substantive content of the products and
services; (2) the percentage of all Comprehensive Centers' products and
services that are deemed to be of high relevance to educational policy
or practice by target audiences; and (3) the percentage of all
Comprehensive Centers' products and services that are deemed to be of
high usefulness to educational policy or practice by target audiences.
All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their
performance reports, quantitative data documenting their progress with
regard to these performance measures.
5. Advisory Board: Under section 203(g) of the ETAA, each
Comprehensive Center must establish an advisory board that supports the
priorities of the center. In the first year of the grant, each center
will be expected to submit information demonstrating that it has met
the statutory requirement to establish the advisory board.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fran Walter, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3W115, Washington, DC 20202-
0001 or by email: fran.walter@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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 computer diskette) 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: 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:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: June 1, 2012.
Deborah S. Delisle,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2012-13735 Filed 6-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P