*(Date)*

*Designee*

*Institution*

*Address*

Dear *(President or CEO):*

Your institution has been identified in the Consolidated Appropriations
Act of 2008 as the recipient of a Congressionally-directed grant for
*(specified dollar amount).* The congressional intention of this award
is for \"*(congressional language placed here).*\" Please note that the
amount has been reduced by a 1.747 percent rescission required by
Congress.

We have made every effort to ensure you are the correct contact
recipient, but in case of error, please contact us directly by using the
contact information provided at the end of this letter.

Before grant funds can be awarded, a grant application package must be
submitted specifying how your project will meet the Congressional
purposes established in the Appropriations Act and that the monies will
be spent appropriately and responsibly. Once the application materials
are reviewed and deemed to fully meet the Congressional language
specified, we will make your grant award.

Once the award has been made, you will be required to submit all
required annual and final reports and conform to statutory and
regulatory requirements applicable to all U.S. Department of Education
discretionary grantees.

So that funds can be awarded with minimal delay, it is critical that the
Department process the award package documents as soon as possible.
Please have your representative prepare and submit the required
documents on or before **March 31, 2008*.* If you follow the application
instructions and meet the specified deadline, you can expect the award
to be processed within 4-6 weeks.**

Please direct your representative to begin the process of preparing the
application by accessing the Congressionally-directed grant materials
at:

<http://www.ed.gov/programs/ope-directed/index.html>

These materials have been developed to answer common questions about
earmark awards and will speed your application process.

All Congressionally-directed grant recipients are expected [to submit
their application]{.underline} materials through the Department of
Education\'s e-Grants Web site at:
**[http://e-Grants.ed.gov](http://e-grants.ed.gov/).** From this portal,
you will need to select the e-Application tab page. We recommend you
view the \"Demo\" site on the left side of the e-Application homepage to
learn how to register for a user ID and password and how to complete a
basic application package.

Upon receiving an ID and password and initiating the FY 2008
Congressionally-directed awards package, you will be prompted to enter a
unique PIN to gain access to the applications package. The PIN for this
package is [HTQQY28R5P]{.underline}**.**

The following documents must be submitted in order to process your
grant; all documents can be accessed though the e-Grant portal noted
above.

-   Several required forms and documents:

    a.  A completed title page (ED-424), signed by an authorized
        institutional representative (this will be faxed separately to
        202-502-7877);

    b.  A completed budget summary form (ED-524);

    c.  A statement in response to the Department of Education's General
        Education Provisions Act (GEPA), Section 427;

    d.  Form 424B -- Assurances, Non-Construction Programs;

    e.  Certifications form regarding lobbying and other matters;

    f.  Form SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities; and

    g.  Supplemental Information for SF-424.

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-   A one-paragraph project abstract describing the purposes/activities
    for which the grant will provide support. This abstract will be sent
    to your Congressional sponsor.

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-   A project/management narrative plan, not to exceed 10 double-spaced
    pages, describing the activities to be supported by the grant and
    their relationship to the Congressional language authorizing the
    grant [and]{.underline} the persons responsible for implementing
    those activities (including any contractors). Specific items to be
    addressed are: a) goals and measurable objectives for the
    project; b) anticipated outcomes; c) actions/activities need to meet
    the objectives; d) timeline for achieving goals and objectives;
    and e) methods used to obtain results.

-   A description of how the project will be evaluated and to what
    extent the goals set by Congress will be realized for this grant
    award; and

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-   A line item budget and a separate detailed budget narrative
    describing how these figures were calculated. Note that recipients
    of Congressional awards are not required to contribute matching
    funds and may include indirect costs up to the organization's
    negotiated federal rate.

Finally, note that there are certain purposes to which
Congressionally-directed grant monies **cannot** be applied unless
specifically authorized by the legislative language, including such
items as construction, sub-granting to other organizations, and payments
for lobbying activities. See the materials located at the OPE Web
address above for additional information on this and other aspects of
preparing an application.

This award should be described as a "Congressionally-directed grant" in
all public announcements. Applications for all awards must be processed
before the end of this fiscal year, September 30, 2008. Failure to
complete the application process by that date will result in forfeiture
of the award.

Applicants that do not have access to the e-Grants Web site may submit
applications in paper form. Please contact Levenia Ishmell at
202-502-7668 or <Levenia.Ishmell@ed.gov> to request a waiver and paper
application materials.

If you wish to decline this funding, please contact Bette Dow
immediately by e-mail at <Bette.Dow@ed.gov>.

We look forward to working with you. If you have further questions,
please call 202-502-7500. Please specify your institution and that your
request is for information for Congressionally-directed grants.

Cordially,

Ralph Hines

Acting Director,

Fund for Improvement of

Postsecondary Education

cc: Bette Dow, Ph.D.

Coordinator, Congressionally-directed Grants Award