# First in the World Program

# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

# FY 2015 Validation Grants Competition

# 84.116X

**U.S. Department of Education**

**Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)**

# Table of Contents

A.  Overview

B.  Eligibility and Requirements

C.  Priorities

D.  Selection Criteria

E.  Evaluation

F.  Use of Funds  

G.  Other Matters

# A.  Overview  

# A-1.  What is the purpose of the FITW program?

The FITW program is designed to support the development, replication, and dissemination of innovative solutions and evidence for what works in addressing persistent and widespread challenges in postsecondary education for students who are at risk for not persisting in and completing postsecondary programs, including, but not limited to, adult learners, working students, part-time students, students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, students with disabilities, and first-generation students.

The FITW program includes three competitions—Development, Validation, and Scale-up.  The purpose of Development grants is to pilot and test strategies.  The purpose of Validation grants is to replicate tested ideas across many institutions.  The purpose of Scale-up grants is to disseminate tested and validated strategies and practices across wide sectors of postsecondary education.  These FAQs apply only to the Validation competition.

Successful Validation projects have the following characteristics: 

(1) an eligibility requirement supported by one or two studies that meet the Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness standard with or without reservations; 

(2) an intervention(s) that uses a control and treatment group design; 

(3) a design and implementation plan for evaluation that will demonstrate how effective the strategies implemented would meet the Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness without reservations; 

(4) large partnerships engaged in replicable and scalable reform strategies; and

(5) a focus on improved postsecondary persistence and completion for high-need students. 

# A-2.  What are the key factors for writing a successful and competitive FITW Validation application?

First, become thoroughly familiar with all the FITW Validation documents in grants.gov and on the FIPSE Web site.  Read the FITW Federal Register Notice (also called the Notice Inviting Applications-NIA), the application package of forms and instructions, the FITW Web site materials, and the FAQs on the FITW Web site.  There is a wealth of information in these documents.  Register for the technical assistance Webinars.  The dates and instructions for registering for the webinars are listed on the FITW Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fitw/index.html?exp=0.  If you cannot attend the webinars check the FITW Web site for links to the PowerPoint slides, scripts, and recordings.  

Second, think carefully about the purpose and the scale of the FITW Validation program and the purpose and scale of your proposed project.  The Department provides awards to replicate validated solutions to higher education challenges by supporting projects across multiple institutions that are based on solid, accepted research.  Funding is limited to the implementation of interventions that are based on careful study of control and treatment groups for the proposed interventions.  

Third, a practical way to know if the proposed project can be implemented, replicated, and evaluated across multiple entities is to ask several questions:  (1.) Is the project based on validated studies done at the applicant institution or elsewhere?  (2.)  Does the project involve committed partner institutions and entities that will also implement and evaluate the interventions?  (3.) Is the project long-term, sustainable, and cost effective?  A positive response and the evidence that supports each of these questions are critical for success.  

Fourth, it is important to remember that FITW is an evidence-based competition.  For the Validation competition that means two requirements--an eligibility requirement that is based on a specific evidence standard for the studies that support the application, and a design requirement that is measured by its potential to meet a specific evidence standard.  Those evidence standards are carefully spelled out in the NIA and must be integrated in the project narrative.   

# A-3.  Are the FITW grant awards for a four-year project period?

Yes.  The estimated size of grant awards provided in the NIA are estimates of the total grant award and cover the entire four-year project period.  The 2015 FITW Validation grants will be forward funded.  We will fund the total award at the beginning of the grant period.  Grantees will receive specific instructions on budget management.

**A-4.  Is the FITW program (Development and Validation) a limited submission program?**

Yes.  An applicant may submit only one application in 2015.   An applicant will be considered for an award only in the competition for which it applies.  This is done to allow all applicants to have an equal chance at an award.  

# A-5.  May an applicant that received a 2014 award submit an application in 2015?

No and Yes.  Grantees that have a 2014 FITW Development grant are not eligible to submit an application for a 2015 Development grant.  However, 2014 grantees are eligible to apply for a 2015 Validation grant.  

# A-6.  FITW has a set aside of up to $16,000,000 for MSIs.  How will an MSI be considered for that set aside? 

It is important not to confuse MSI (Minority Serving Institutions) eligibility with competition eligibility.  Eligibility for the competition is determined by the FIPSE statute.  MSI eligibility is only for consideration for the MSI set aside within the FITW program.

The set aside is part of a single budget appropriation for both competitions.  An applicant that wishes to be considered in the Development or in the Validation competitions as an MSI must indicate MSI eligibility on the Abstract and Information page in the application.  To qualify as an eligible MSI under the FITW Program, an institution must meet one of two criteria.  The first criterion includes:  current eligibility approval as defined by the Department’s FY 2015 eligibility process for Title III and/or Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; an open grant under one of the Department’s Title III, Parts A and F and/or Title V programs; or a designation as a Historically Black College of University or a Tribally Controlled College.  The second criterion includes: specific enrollment percentages for minority students served; and, if applicable, needy student and educational and general (E&G) expenditure criteria for determining income eligibility.  

More information on MSI eligibility is in the application package under the section entitled Eligibility.  The Department will screen the applications to verify MSI eligibility based on these criteria and, if applicable, will use the most recent IPEDS data.  In the event an application does not qualify for MSI eligibility, it will still be reviewed.

The FITW program has $60,000,000 for funding.  There are two competitions (Development and Validation) that will be funded from this appropriation.  It is at the point of funding decisions that the Department may fund highly rated proposals from general funds or from the MSI set aside in each of the competitions.  There are no special programmatic considerations given to MSI applicants.  An application with MSI partners that has a non-MSI institution or agency as the lead applicant will not qualify for MSI status.  However, such an application will be reviewed.

# A-7.  May an agency or an IHE be a partner in more than one FITW project? 

Yes, the limit on the number of grant awards applies only to grantees and does not limit the number of projects in which a partner may participate.  However, both applicants and partners should take into account institutional capacity to carry out responsibilities for more than one project. 

# A-8.  How does the department decide what priorities, definitions, and requirements will be used in a particular FITW competition?

The Department selects priorities, definitions, and requirements for the FITW program from the Notice of Final Priorities published on May 11, 2015 in the Federal Register.  The Department may also select priorities, definitions, and requirements from a list called the Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425).  

# A-9.  What review procedures will the Department follow after applications are submitted?

The Department will select peer reviewers who will review and score applications against the established selection criteria.  The peer reviewers will come from varied postsecondary backgrounds and professions, including college and university educators, researchers and evaluators, and others with evaluation expertise.  All reviewers will be thoroughly screened for conflicts of interest to ensure a fair and competitive review process.

The Department will conduct a review process to review and score all eligible applications.  Each Validation review panel will consist of four reviewers.  Two content reviewers will review all eligible applications but score only the first three criteria--A. Significance; B. Quality of the Project Design; and C. Adequacy of Resources.  Two evaluation experts will also read all the proposals but score only the fourth criterion--D. Quality of the Project Evaluation.   

# A-10.  How will the Secretary make final decisions to award grants under the 2015 FITW competition?

For the FITW competition in FY 2015, a rank order of all applications will be developed based on the peer reviewers’ evaluation of their quality according to the selection criteria.  In accordance with 34 CFR 75.217 (c)(3), the Secretary will make final awards after considering the rank order and other information, including an applicant’s performance, use of funds, and compliance history for previous Department awards.  

# A-11.  Will an applicant receive the scores from the peer review process?

Yes, following the completion of the peer review process and after awards are made, the person listed as the project director will receive the reviewer comments and scores for its application.  

# A-12.  When will FITW awards be made, and what will be the start date for projects?

All FITW grants will be awarded by September 30, 2015. The annual performance period for all FITW grants begins each year on October 1 and ends September 30 of the following year.

# A-13.  Will grants only be awarded in the budget range published in the NIA?

No.  The range of awards is simply an estimate.  There are no advantages or extra points for submitting a proposal budget in this estimated range.  Applications may not include a budget exceeding $10 million but an applicant may submit a project with a budget below $6 million and have the same chances for funding as anyone else.

# A-14.  What are the types of FITW grants for the FY 2015 competition?

There are two types of FITW grants available under the FY 2015 FITW competition, with different estimated ranges in awards, maximum award amounts, and estimated numbers of awards.

The Department is not bound by these estimates. 

# B.  Eligibility and Requirements

# B-1.  What types of entities are eligible to apply for a FITW award?

Eligible applicants are defined by FIPSE’s statutory language.  These include “institutions of higher education, combinations of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies.”

# B-2.  Does an application for a FITW grant need to meet all program requirements?

Yes.  Applications for FITW grants must meet all program requirements.  The NIA and application package provide instructions for all the required information, resumes, page formats, page limits, and standard forms for a complete application.  Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.   

# B-3.  What does “partner” and “branch campus” mean in the FITW program?

A partner is any organization, institution, or agency that collaborates with the lead applicant on a project.  There is a wide range of potential partners that can be from various types of entities (public or private, nonprofit, philanthropic organization, or foundation, etc.).   

A branch campus, the same as any IHE, may serve as an applicant institution or as a partner in a consortium.  The EDGAR regulations at 34 CFR Part 606.7(b) and 34 CFR Part 607.7(e) define “branch campus” as a unit of a college or university that is geographically apart from the main campus and independent of that main campus.  We consider a unit of a college or university to be independent of the main campus if the unit is permanent in nature; offers courses for credit and programs leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree; is autonomous to the extent that it has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and its own budgetary and hiring authority.  

# B-4.  Must all partners be identified in the application? 

Yes, all partners must be identified.  A letter of commitment from a senior official is required from each partner.  

# B-5.  Are for-profit entities eligible to apply for a FITW grant?

No, Section 741 of the Higher Education Act (HEA as amended in 2008 and the statutory authority for FIPSE), the Notice of Final Priorities that includes requirements, definitions and selection criteria for FITW published on May 11, 2015, plus the two Notices Inviting Applications (NIAs) for this year’s competitions all define eligible applicants as “institutions of higher education, combinations of such institutions and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies.”  The term “institutions of higher education” (IHEs) is defined in Section 101 of the HEA to include public and private non-profit institutions.  For-profit institutions are included in the definition under Section 102 of the HEA but they are considered IHEs only for the Title IV programs and are not eligible for FIPSE or FITW grants.

The HEA, the rules published on May 11, 2015 and the NIAs include as eligible applicants IHEs, combinations of IHEs and other public and private nonprofits and agencies.  For-profit institutions are not mentioned as eligible either on their own or as part of a combination.  There is no legal basis for a for-profit institution or agency to be a partner in a FIPSE grant application.  There are no restrictions for a for-profit institution or agency to provide services to a grantee.     

# B-6.  Must FITW projects serve high need students?

Yes.  All grantees must implement practices that are designed to improve persistence and completion in higher education for high need students.  While proposed projects may benefit a wider definition of students, the primary scope of the competition should focus on high need students.  High-need student means a student at risk of educational failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support such as adult learners, working students, part-time students, students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, first-generation students, students with disabilities, and students who are English learners.  (Note:  The Department does not limit the definition of high-need students to this list.  This list is illustrative and may include other categories of high-need students). 

# B-7.  How many institutions and agencies constitute a partnership for a Validation project?

The requirement for a Validation application is that it must be supported by a “scaled-multi-site sample.”  This definition does not specify a minimum or a maximum number of partner institutions or agencies.  It is up to the applicant to justify how they meet one or more of the five descriptions of a scaled multi-site sample which include:  1) across a system of institutions; 2) across institutions in a State; 3) across institutions in a region; 4) across institutions in the nation; or 5) across institutions in a labor market sector.  To illustrate, an applicant with two partners probably would not meet any of the five descriptions and be competitive for funding but an applicant with more than ten partners all located in one or two states might be.   A lot depends on how a group of ten or more institutions and agencies would meet one of the five descriptions.  As a general guideline it is helpful to consider the term “large partnerships.”  The reviewers will assess if the proposed number of partners is sufficient to have potential  statewide, system wide, or comparable impact.

The Validation NIA includes a definition for “multi-site sample.”  This definition applies only to the What Works Clearinghouse moderate evidence standard.  The definition of “scaled multi-site sample” applies to a partnership requirement for the Validation competition.

# B-8.  Must a Validation project include a minimum number of students?

Yes.  The minimum number of students that may be involved in the control and treatment groups is defined as a “large sample.”  This means one of two things: 1) a minimum number of 350 or more students (unduplicated headcount) who were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group; or 2) 50 or more groups (such as classrooms or schools) that contain 10 or more students (unduplicated headcount) (or single analysis units)  that were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group.  

The number of students must be noted on the Abstract and Information page and in the narrative under section 4, the Quality of the Project Evaluation.” 

# B-9.  What does the term “requirement’ mean?

The term “requirement” means that anything listed in the NIA as a requirement must be met or provided by the applicant to be considered as an eligible proposal for funding.

# C.  Priorities 

# C-1.  Must an applicant focus on one absolute priority in order to receive a Validation grant?

Yes.  Four absolute priorities apply to the FY 2015 FITW Validation grant competition.  In order to receive a grant, an applicant must address one of these priorities.  The absolute priorities are:

(1) Improving Success in Developmental Education Courses; 

(2) Improving Teaching and Learning;  

(3) Improving Student Support Services; and 

(4) Influencing the Development of Non-cognitive Factors

We encourage you to design a project that focuses on one priority and a very limited number of interventions.  We recognize that you may touch on more than one priority but the primary focus should be limited to the one selected.   See the full text of these priorities in the FITW Validation NIA.   Applications that address other priorities will not be considered for funding.  

# C-2.  Is there a competitive preference priority for the FY 2015 FITW competition for which an applicant may receive additional points?

No, the 2015 Validation competition does not include competitive preference points.    

# C-3.  Will an applicant receive more points for submitting the application under a one particular absolute priority over another absolute priority?

No.  An applicant must identify one absolute priority under which it is submitting its application.  An applicant will not receive more points, additional “credit,” or other advantage based on the absolute priority it identifies in its application.  Peer reviewers will use the selection criteria to determine how well an applicant addresses the absolute priority it identifies.   

# C-4.  Where does an applicant indicate and explain the selected absolute priority? 

Applicants must list the absolute priority that is addressed in the proposal on the Abstract and Information page and explain in greater detail the same priority in the project narrative in section one (Significance).

# D.  Selection Criteria

# D-1.  What selection criteria apply to the applications for a FITW Validation grant?

An application for a FITW grant may receive up to 100 points for addressing the selection criteria.  A full explanation of the criteria may be found in the NIA and the application package. Four selection criteria apply to the competition:

A.  Significance (up to 20 points).

B.  Quality of the Project Design (up to 30 points).

C.  Adequacy of Resources (up to 20 points).

D.  Quality of Project Evaluation (up to 30 points).

# D-2.  What is the difference between Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness as an eligibility requirement and as an evaluation design requirement? 

Eligibility:  Applicants for the Validation competition must cite up to two supporting studies that are the same or similar to the proposed project.  At least one of the studies must meet the standard with or without reservations.  In practical terms this means the supporting study or studies must, at a minimum, be based on a quasi-experimental design with carefully selected control and treatment groups that can meet the standard even though experts have some reservations about the quality of the outcomes.  This does not rule out a study or studies that meet this standard without reservations, i.e., randomly controlled control and treatment groups, but such studies are far fewer in number.

Evaluation Design:  The Moderate Strength standard is used differently in the design of the evaluation for project results in two important ways.  First, the standard for the evaluation plan is without reservations.  That means the plan for the evaluation must be designed to ensure that the project result(s) can be attributed solely to the intervention(s).  All the intervening factors are known.  Second, unlike the eligibility measure that is either met or not met, the evaluation plan or design is not judged by its outcomes since the project is just getting started.  Rather, the evaluation reviewers are scoring the selection criterion on how well and how much potential the design has to meet the Moderate Strength standard without reservations.  This means the reviewers will be looking very closely at the evaluation design and its data methodology.  

We encourage eligible applicants to review the following technical assistance resources on evaluation:  

(1) What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook:  http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1; and

(2) IES/NCEE Technical Methods papers:  http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/tech_methods/.

# E.  Evaluation

# E-1.  Must a grantee conduct an “independent evaluation” of its FITW project?

Yes.  A grantee must conduct an evaluation of its project.  As defined in the NIA the evaluator must be independent of and external to the grantee institution.  No employee of the applicant entity or any partner entity may serve as the project evaluator.  

The submission of a resume for the independent and external evaluator is an application requirement.  The applicant is strongly encouraged to select an evaluator with experience in the design and management of evaluations designed to meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards. 

**E-2.  What should applicants consider including in their evaluation plans?**

Applicants should present clear, detailed evaluation plans in their applications.  In responding to Selection Criterion D: Quality of the Project Evaluation, applicants are encouraged to consider addressing the following to the fullest extent possible:

· the key questions to be addressed and the research methods for each, including a discussion of how treatment and control or comparison groups (for experimental and quasi-experimental studies) will be formed

· a justification of how the proposed sample will adequately represent implementation at the proposed scale (including in diverse settings and, where appropriate, focused on diverse student population groups);

· the determination of the proposed sample sizes and minimum detectable effect sizes, and analytic approaches for addressing the key questions; 

· a summary of the proposed data sources and collection methods, including  the measures used to describe the  implementation of the FITW-supported project or its critical features  (to facilitate replication or testing in other settings), the fidelity of implementation to the original model, the treatment-control contrast for key implementation variables, and the intended outcomes;

· the proposed resources to carry out the project evaluation effectively; and

· the qualifications of the independent evaluator.

All FITW grantees must collect data and report on the FITW performance measures (GPRA) as established in the FY 2015 NIA.  

# E-3.  What happens to the project results at the end of the performance period?

At the end of the performance period, FITW staff will collect all project results from the final reports and evaluations and submit them to the What Works Clearinghouse to see if they meet the Moderate Strength standard with or without reservations.  Successful project results will be added to the What Works Clearinghouse published studies.  

# E-4.  Must a grantee use a specified percentage of the grant award for the design and implementation of its project evaluation?

No.  The Department does not prescribe a percent or amount of funding that a grantee must use to design and implement its independent evaluation.  Peer reviewers will use Selection Criterion C, Adequacy of Resources to assess the extent to which the proposed project includes sufficient resources to carry out the project evaluation effectively.  As a general guide you may wish to consider an evaluation budget that is between 5% and 15% of the total project costs.  

# E-5.  Must grantees make the results of evaluations widely available? 

Yes.  All FITW grantees must make widely available through formal (e.g., peer-reviewed journals) or informal (e.g., newsletters) mechanisms in print or electronically, the results of any evaluations it conducts of its funded activities.  Grantees must also ensure the data from their evaluations are made available to third-party researchers consistent with applicable privacy requirements.  Specific requirements for citations are provided for all grantees.

# E-6.  Must a grantee comply with the requirements of any evaluation of the FITW program conducted by the Department?

Yes.  A grantee must comply with the requirements of any evaluation of the FITW program conducted by the Department.  The Department’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) will be involved in evaluating the FITW program, in providing technical assistance to evaluators of funded projects and in synthesizing evidence from multiple FITW projects.

# E-7.  Must a grantee cooperate with technical assistance provided by the Department or its contractor? 

Yes.  Grantees, along with their independent evaluators, must cooperate with any technical assistance provided by the Department or its contractor.  The purpose of this technical assistance is to ensure that evaluations are of the highest quality and to encourage commonality in evaluation approaches across funded projects where such commonality is feasible and useful.

# F.  Use of Funds

# F-1.  What constitutes a competitive budget?

Successful proposals begin with clearly written and persuasive narratives.  Then, and only then, you should construct a budget that is clear and supports the proposed activities.  Budgets should clearly reflect the scale and scope of the project.   Similarly, there are differences in budgets that support one intervention and others that involve three or more interventions.  The number of partners also has implications for the budget.  In short, think carefully about what you need to successfully complete your project. 

Budgets are assessed by the peer reviewers under the Adequacy of Resources criterion for relevance and appropriateness to the proposed project.  Budgets are also carefully reviewed by staff to ensure allowable budget requests.  If you have a question about an allowable budget item, you may contact program staff.    Read the program specific budget instructions in the application package.  Funding requests for unallowable items will be removed from budgets and may result in making an application less or no longer competitive for funding.

# F-2.  What information should be included in the budget narrative?

Each applicant must provide a line item budget (ED Standard Form 524) for the ED funds requested in section A and a budget narrative.  No cost share or matching funds are required in the FITW program.  Instructions for completing ED Standard Form 524 are included in the FITW application package, available on the Department’s Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fitw/index.html?exp=0 and in Grants.gov.

# F-3.  Should an applicant submit a separate budget for a partner?

No.  Each application should include only one budget and one budget narrative that includes the costs and justification of costs for the entire project.  Explanations for partner costs may be included in the budget narrative.

# F-4.  May a FITW award include sub-grants or sub-awards?

No.  A FITW award is a single grant made to a single applicant.  The grant budget may not be divided and re-apportioned to project partners.  There is a single budget for the FITW award and the grantee is the sole fiscal agent.  Funds may be drawn down only by the grantee and provided to partner institutions and agencies on an invoice/reimbursement basis.  Requests for payment must be paid out by the grantee and transferred to the partner institution or agency in three to five business days.  All funds are retained by the federal government throughout the grant period until drawn down by the grantee.

**F-5.  How does an applicant determine what expenditures are allowable or, alternatively, what expenditures are prohibited?**

There are two sets of budget regulations that apply to the FITW program.  First, there are standard regulations that apply to all Department of Education budgets.  Rules about allowable costs are included both in EDGAR (see http://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html) and in the cost principles contained in CFR (formerly Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular:  A-21 for institutions of higher education; see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-2012-title2-vol1/CFR-2012-title2-vol1-part220/content-detail.html).

Second, the budget for the Validation competition includes program specific instructions.  For example, student financial assistance or support in any form is not allowed.  All costs related to construction are also prohibited.  Check carefully these and other program budget instructions.  The grant budget may only include costs that are allowable, reasonable, and necessary for carrying out the activities of the FITW project.  Requests for funding must directly relate to the students in the control and treatment groups.

# F-6  Is the FITW program subject to a restricted indirect cost rate?

Yes.  FIPSE uses a general training program rate of eight percent for the FITW program.  For an explanation see the application package.  This rate applies to the applicant institution and all partners because the applicant institution is fiscally responsible for the grant funds and reimburses partners for allowable costs.  Only the grantee institution may draw down funds.  

# F-7.  May an applicant incur pre-award costs?

Yes.  Under 34 CFR 75.263 and 74.25, applicants may incur allowable, pre-award costs for up to 90 days prior to the beginning of the award period.  However, applicants incur these costs at their own risk.  If an applicant does not receive an award, the Department will not reimburse the applicant for pre-award costs.  Pre-award costs may not be used to prepare the application.

# F-8.  May students receive any funding under this program?

No, student financial assistance in any form is not allowed under this program.  That includes such things as stipends, tuition, and other forms of student financial assistance.  Funds related to housing, food, mentoring, tutoring, summer camps, or stipends for undergraduate research are also not an allowable cost.

# F-9.  Will there be annual meetings for the project directors?

Yes, you must budget for an annual two-day meeting in Washington, D.C.  The project director, the project evaluator, and one representative from each partner should attend.  Travel and lodging costs for these meetings must be included in the budget.  There is a special meeting for new project directors and evaluators early in the first year.

# F-10.  May grant funds be used for construction?

No, the FITW program is classified as a non-construction program.  This includes remodeling, or renovation.  

# F-11.  Are there restrictions on travel?

Yes, travel is restricted to domestic travel and must be directly related to the project.  

# F-12.  Are there guidelines for requesting funds for equipment?

Yes, funding for equipment is limited to equipment and materials that directly supports he interventions and the students in the control and interventions groups.  Equipment may not be purchased for the benefit of any students outside the project. There is also an amount limit.  See the budget instructions.

# G. Other Matters

# G-1.  Should an applicant include letters of support in its application?

Yes.  Peer reviewers will assess the letters to consider key responsibilities, commitment from partners, and broad support from faculty and staff.  

# G-2.  Must an applicant notify its State that it is applying for a FITW grant?

Yes.  This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and 34 CFR part 79, which allow States that have chosen to participate in the intergovernmental review process the opportunity to review and comment on applications submitted to the Department for funding.  An applicant should check with its appropriate State single point of contact (SPOC) to inquire if its State participates in the intergovernmental review process.  For a list of States that have chosen to participate in the intergovernmental review process, *see*http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/.  Not all States have points of contact.

# G-3.  Will my FITW application be made public?

The Department will post the project abstracts of funded FY 2015 FITW applications on the FITW Web site.  Personal information will not be posted.  At the conclusion of the grant competition proposals may be requested through www.foia.gov.  Copies of applications are not provided by FITW. 

# G-4.  Whom should applicants contact if they have additional questions?

Questions pertaining to this program may be e-mailed to opefitwvalidation@ed.gov.

Updated 6/5/2015

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