1 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Postsecondary Education 

Washington, DC 20202

Fiscal Year 2022 

Application for Grants Under 

Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success

CFDA # 84.116G

Form Approved

OMB No. 1894-0006, Expiration Date: 02/29/2024 

CLOSING DATE: June 16, 2022

 
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Dear Applicant Letter .......................................................................................................... ....3 

Competition Highlights ............................................................................................................. 4 

Supplemental Information ......................................................................................................... 7 

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants .................................................. 10 

Application Transmittal Instructions....................................................................................... 14 

Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards ....................................................................... 15

Authorizing Legislation .......................................................................................................... 33 

Supplemental Definitions...............................................................................35 

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs .................................................................... 36 

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) ............................................................................ 37 

Instructions for Completing the Application Package ............................................................ 38 

Selection Criteria and Instructions .......................................................................................... 39 

Instructions for Standard Forms .............................................................................................. 44 

Instructions for SF 424..................................................................................45 

Instructions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424...47 

Assurances – Non-Construction Programs...........................................................49 

 Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424....52 

Instructions for ED 524.................................................................................56 

Notice to All Applicants.................................................................................58 

Instructions for Completion of SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.....................59 

Instructions for Budget Summary Form and Itemized Line Item Budget .............................. 60 

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) ............................................................... 63 

Application Checklist .............................................................................................................. 65 

Paperwork Burden Statement .................................................................................................. 66 
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

May 2, 2002 

Dear Applicant:

 

Thank you for your interest in applying for a grant under the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student 

Success (CEVSS) Program. This grant competition is administered by the Fund for the Improvement of 

Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) of the U.S. Department of Education (the Department). The purpose of 

the CEVSS program is to encourage institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop model programs to 

support veteran student success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the 

academic, financial, physical, and social needs of veteran students. Information about this program is 

accessible on the CEVSS website at:

Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (ed.gov). 

Please note that the fiscal year (FY) 2022 CEVSS competition includes one absolute priority and two 

competitive preference priorities. For additional information about these priorities, see the Notice 

Inviting Applications for New Awards (Notice) in this application package. Please be advised that 

because limited funds are available this year, the application process will be extremely competitive. For 

FY 2022, the Department estimates that it will make approximately 16 awards ranging in size from 

$550,000 to $601,071. The project period may be up to 36 months. 

The Notice published in the Federal Register is the official document describing the requirements for 

submitting a grant application. Please let us know if you have questions or require additional information. 

Please carefully review these application guidelines and the Federal Register notice. 

The Department requires submission of grant applications through Grants.gov, an Internet-based 

electronic system. Applicants are encouraged to review the FY 2022 Competition Highlights found in 

this application package for an overview of additional important information. Make sure you allow 

yourself ample time to submit the electronic application by the deadline of June 16, 2022. We suggest 

that you submit your application several days before the deadline date. 

We appreciate your interest in the CEVSS competition and look forward to receiving your application. If 

you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Ms. Kelly Harris, project 

manager for the CEVSS program at Kelly.Harris@ed.gov or 202-453-7346. 

Sincerely,

/s/ 

Michelle Asha Cooper, Ph.D. 

Acting Assistant Secretary 

Office of Postsecondary Education 
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 Competition Highlights

1. Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success FY 2022 applications must be submitted 

electronically using Grants.gov. You are urged to acquaint yourself with the requirements of 

Grants.gov early as the registration procedures may require 5 or more days to complete. A more 

thorough discussion is included later in this application package. Grants.gov is accessible through its 

portal page at: http://Grants.gov. The requirements for obtaining an exception to the electronic 

submission requirement are included in the Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards (Notice) for 

FY 2022. If you think you may need an exception, you are urged to review the requirements 

promptly. 

2. It is important to know that the Grants.gov site works differently from the Department’s e-Application 

system, used in past Department competitions. Grants.gov does not allow applicants to “un-submit” 

applications. Therefore, if you discover that changes or additions are needed once your application 

has been accepted and validated by the Department, you must “re-submit” the application. You 

should know that if the Department receives duplicate applications, we will accept and process the

application with the latest “date/time received” validation.

3. Please note that you must submit your application by 11:59:59 p.m. (EST) on or before the application 

deadline date. Late applications will not be accepted. We suggest that you submit your application 

several days before the deadline. The Department is required to enforce the established deadline to 

ensure fairness to all applicants. No changes or additions to an application will be accepted after the 

deadline date and time.

4. Electronic submission of applications is required; therefore, you must submit an electronic application 

unless you follow the procedures outlined in the Federal Register notice for FY 2022 and qualify for 

one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement.

5. Applicants are strongly recommended to adhere to the page limit specified in the Application 

Narrative Instructions portion of the application. The Notice for new awards for FY 2022, published 

in the Federal Register, contains specific information governing recommended page limits and 

formatting instructions. We strongly recommend the following page limits: 

• The selection criteria not to exceed more than 50 pages. 

• The absolute priority not to exceed more than 5 pages. 

• The competitive preference priorities not to exceed more than a total of 5 pages. 

Accordingly, we strongly recommend the application narrative not exceed a total of 50 pages. 

6. All attachments must be in .PDF format. Other types of files will not be accepted. Please note, once 

you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your 

computer. It is important to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You 

will need to log on to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application (this is different from eApplication, where you may have previously worked online and saved data to the Department’s 
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database). You must provide the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered 

with the System for Award Management (SAM).

For Grants.gov related questions and assistance, please contact: 

Support Desk e-Mail: support@Grants.gov 

Support Desk Telephone: (800) 518-4726 

Contact Telephone Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays 

Online Web Site: http://Grants.gov

 Also, refer to the “Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants” section found in this application 

package. 

You are reminded that the document published in the Federal Register is the official document, and 

that you should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidelines contained within 

the official document. 

7. In the FY 2022 competition, the Department has established one absolute priority and two 

competitive preference priorities which are outlined below:

Absolute Priority: 

For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 

applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), 

we consider only applications that meet this priority. 

This priority is: 

Projects that include the following required activities: 

• Establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the campus of the 

institution to provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services 

for veteran students; 

• Establishing a veteran student support team, including representatives from the offices of the 

institution responsible for admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic 

advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, disabilities 

services, and any other office of the institution that provides support to veteran students on 

campus; 

• Providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program; 

• Monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, and completion; and

• Developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success after the 

grant period. 
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Competitive Preference Priorities: 

For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 

applications from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 

CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to 5 points to an application that meets competitive preference 

priority 1, and up to 5 points to an application that meets competitive preference priority 2, for a 

maximum of up to 10 additional points.

These priorities are: 

Competitive Preference Priority 1: Meeting Student Social, Emotional, and Academic Needs (up to 

5 points). 

Projects that are designed to improve students’ social, emotional, academic, and career development, 

with a focus on underserved students, through developing and supporting educator and school 

capacity to support social and emotional learning and development that is trauma-informed, such as 

addressing exposure to community-based violence and trauma specific to military- or veteranconnected students (as defined in this notice).

Competitive Preference Priority 2: Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources 

and Opportunities (up to 5 points). 

Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project will be implemented by one of the 

following entities:

(1) Community colleges (as defined in this notice); 

(2) Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in this notice); 

(3) Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice); or 

(4) Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice). 

8. As you develop your proposal, we ask you to carefully consider the specific content that you will 

provide in the Project Narrative in the application. This part of the application must address the selection 

criteria as listed in this application package and the Federal Register. 

9. In accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, all successful applicants

funded under the FY 2022 Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success competition may 

receive grant awards of up to three years (36 months) duration. 

10. All applicants must provide a one-page abstract. Upload a one-page abstract as a PDF document. The 

abstract provides a concise description of the proposed project objectives, activities, and intended 

outcomes. The abstract should also indicate whether you are addressing the absolute priority and/or 

the competitive preference priorities. Complete instructions for submitting the abstract are included in 

the “Instructions for Completing the Application Package” section of this application. The abstract 

must be uploaded into the ED Abstract Form in Grants.gov. 

11. Information on the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program is accessible at the 

Department’s website at: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/fipse/index.html. 
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Supplemental Information

The following supplements the information provided in the “Dear Applicant” letter and the Notice. 

1. Estimated Funding 

 Estimated Available Funds: $8,415,000 

 Estimated Range of Awards: $550,000 to $601,071 

 Estimated Average Size of Awards: $525,000 

 Maximum Amount of Award: $601,071 

 Estimated Number of New Awards: 16 

 Project Period for Award: 36 months 

The Department is not bound by these estimates. 

2. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs was issued to foster an intergovernmental

partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying on state and local processes for the 

coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.

3. Length of New Award

Applicants may apply for up to three years (36 months) of funding. 

4. Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program Assurances

All applications must comply with the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program 

statutory and regulatory requirements. The assurances are included in the application package and 

must be signed by a certifying official in Grants.gov. By submitting a Centers of Excellence for 

Veteran Student Success Program application, an applicant certifies that it has read the assurances 

and will fully comply with the requirements. 

 

5. Evaluation of Applications for Awards

A panel of two non-federal reviewers will review each application in accordance with the selection 

criteria. Each reviewer will prepare a written evaluation of the information presented in the 

project narrative section of the application. 

All applications for grants under the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program 

will be evaluated as new submissions according to the selection criteria listed in the program 

statute (20 U.S.C. 1161(t)). 

6. Selection Criteria 

The selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210 are used to evaluate applications. 
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7. Applicant Funding

Applicants should pay close attention to the “Maximum Award” section of the notice. The

Department will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum amount 

specified for the specific project type as indicated in the notice. 

8. Selection of Grantees

The Secretary will select applications for funding in rank order, according to the average score 

received from the peer review and from the competitive preference priorities addressed by the 

applicant. If the Secretary has insufficient funding to award multiple applications with the same 

score, consistent with section 873(d)(2)(A) and (B) of the HEA, in making a selection, the 

Secretary will consider the number of veteran students enrolled at each IHE and award funding to 

the applicant(s) with the highest number of enrolled veteran students. If a tie still exists after 

applying the first tiebreaker, the Secretary will consider the need for model programs to address 

the needs of veteran students at a wide range of IHEs, including the need to provide (i) an 

equitable distribution of such grants to IHEs of various types and sizes; (ii) an equitable 

geographic distribution of such grants; and (iii) an equitable distribution of such grants among 

rural and urban areas. 

The Department’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs will inform the Congress 

regarding applications approved for new Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success 

Program grants. Successful applicants will receive award notices by e-mail shortly after the 

Congress is notified. No funding information will be released before the Congress is notified. 

9. Notice to Unsuccessful Applicants

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing following the notice to successful applicants.

10. Annual Performance Report Requirements 

If you receive a new grant award in FY 2022 you will be required during the funding cycle to 

submit annual and final performance reports using the FIPSE Grant Database. This online system 

collects narratives and data about funded projects to help program officers determine if a grantee 

is making substantial progress toward meeting approved project objectives. The database is 

accessible at: HTTPS://HEPIS.ed.gov/. 

11. Contact Information 

Vicki Robinson, Ed.D. Or Kelly Harris

Director for HBCU Division Program Manager for the CEVSS Program

Institutional Service Institutional Service 

Office of Postsecondary Education Office of Postsecondary Education 

U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education 

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., 

HQ-LBJ-2B136 HQ-LBJ-2B207 

Washington, D.C. 20202 Washington, D.C. 20202 

Telephone: (202) 453-7907 Telephone: (202) 453-7346 

Email: Vicki.Robinson@ed.gov Email: Kelly.Harris@ed.gov
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12. For Grants.gov-related questions and assistance, please contact: 

 

Support Desk: Grants.gov Support Desk 

 Telephone: (800) 518-4726 

 Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays 

 Email: support@grants.gov
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Grants.gov Submission Procedures and 

Tips for Applicants

Revised 04/2022 

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

U.S. Department of Education 

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants 

To facilitate your use of Grants.gov, this document includes important submission procedures you need to 

be aware of to ensure your application is received in a timely manner and accepted by the Department of 

Education. 

Browser Support 

The latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple 

Safari are supported for use with Grants.gov. However, these web browsers undergo frequent changes and 

updates, so we recommend you have the latest version when using Grants.gov. Legacy versions of these 

web browsers may be functional, but you may experience issues. Grants.gov no longer provides support 

for Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 or below. 

For additional information or updates, please see the Grants.gov Browser information in the Applicant 

FAQs: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser

ATTENTION – Workspace, Adobe Forms and PDF Files 

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment 

where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an 

application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a 

workspace. 

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for 

opportunities, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

1) Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through 

your organization for review before submitting. 

2) Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, 

complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors 

before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process 

as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the 

upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

a. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out web forms you can download 

individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and 

saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed 

through Adobe Reader. 
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NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the 

appropriate version of the software at: 

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html 

b. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk 

and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed 

to successfully submit your application. 

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields 

across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 

Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms. 

3) Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign 

and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends 

submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you 

with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

4) Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a 

Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the 

application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after 

submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the 

Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to 

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Helpful Reminders

1) REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM 

(www.sam.gov), which usually takes approximately 7 to 10 business days, but can take longer 

depending on the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an 

applicant. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but 

you cannot submit an application until all of the Registration steps are complete. Please note that 

once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24-48 hours for the information to be available in 

Grants.gov, and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. For detailed information 

on the Registration Steps, please go to: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Please note 

that your organization will need to update its SAM registration annually. 

To register in SAM.gov, click on the “Get Started” link under the “Register Your Entity...” heading 

in SAM.gov. Grantees, and other entities wanting to do business with the U.S. Department of 

Education (e.g., entities applying for a grant), that are not already registered in SAM.gov must 

complete the “Register Entity” registration option and NOT the “Get a Unique Entity ID” option. The 

“Get a Unique Entity ID” option, which is not a full registration, is only available to entities for 

reporting purposes. Failing to complete the “Register Entity” option may result in loss of funding, 

loss of applicant eligibility, and/or delays in receiving a grant award. Information about SAM is 

available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist you with registering in SAM or updating your existing 

SAM registration, see the Quick Start Guide for Grant Registrations and the Entity Registration Video 

at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration. 

2) SUBMIT EARLY – We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to 

submit your application. Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and 

then process it after it is fully uploaded. The time it takes to upload an application will vary 
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depending on a number of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your 

Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application will vary as well. 

If Grants.gov rejects your application (see step three below), you will need to resubmit 

successfully to Grants.gov before 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. 

You must provide the UEI on your application that was used when you registered as an 

Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov. This UEI is assigned to your 

organization in SAM at the time your organization registers in SAM. If you do not enter the UEI 

assigned by SAM on your application, Grants.gov will reject your application. 

3) VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK – You will want to verify that Grants.gov received your 

application submission on time and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your 

application was received, login to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a 

successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, 

on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or 

Agency Tracking Number Assigned. Once the Department of Education receives your application 

from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Number (PR/award number) will be assigned to your 

application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track My Application link. 

If the date/time received is later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on the deadline date, your 

application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting validation by 

Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected

with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application has not been received 

successfully. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on the 

Grants.gov site: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html. 

For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader 

Software Tip Sheet at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-softwarecompatibility.html. If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the 

instructions below. Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail 

about the status of your application. Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your 

application has been received timely and validated successfully. 

Submission Problems – What should you do?

If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov 

Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or email at: mailto:support@grants.gov or access the Grants.gov 

Self-Service Knowledge Base web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

We discourage paper applications, but if electronic submission is not possible ( e.g., you do not have 

access to the internet), (1) you must provide a prior written notification that you intend to submit a paper 

application and (2) your paper application must be postmarked by the application deadline date. If you 

submit your prior written notification by email, it must be received by the Department no later than 14 

calendar days before the application deadline date. If you mail your notification to the Department, it must 

be postmarked no later than 14 calendar days before the application deadline date (See the 2021 Common 

Instructions for detailed instructions regarding this procedure). 

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html for help with Grants.gov. For additional tips 

related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Applicant FAQs found at this

Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html as well as additional 

information on Workspace at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicantfaqs.html#workspace. 
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Slow Internet Connections

When using a slow internet connection, such as a dial-up connection, to upload and submit your 

application, it can take significantly longer than when you are connected to the Internet with a highspeed connection, e.g., cable modem/DSL/T1. While times will vary depending upon the size of your 

application, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to complete your grant submission using a dial up 

connection. Failure to fully upload an application by the deadline date and time will result in your 

application being marked late in the G5 system. If you do not have access to a high-speed internet 

connection, you may want to consider following the instructions in the Federal Register notice to 

obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than 14 calendar days before the 

application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions and the 2021 

Common Instructions.) 

Attaching Files – Additional Tips

Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application:

• When you submit your application electronically, you must upload any narrative sections and 

all other attachments to your application as files in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or 

Microsoft Word. Although applicants have the option of uploading any narrative sections and 

all other attachments to their application in either PDF or Microsoft Word, we recommend

applicants submit all documents as read-only flattened PDFs, meaning any fillable PDF files 

must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files and not as interactive or fillable PDF 

files, to better ensure applications are processed in a more timely, accurate, and efficient 

manner. 

• Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same 

name within a grant submission. Therefore, each file uploaded to your application package 

should have a unique file name. 

• When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the 

size and content of file names. Uploaded file names must be fewer than 50 characters, and, in 

general, applicants should not use any special characters. However, Grants.gov does allow for 

the following UTF-8 characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, 

hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, ampersand, tilde, 

exclamation point, comma, semi colon, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent 

sign, plus sign, and equal sign. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov 

guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department. 

• Applicants should limit the size of their file attachments. Documents submitted that contain 

graphics and/or scanned material often greatly increase the size of the file attachments and can 

result in difficulties opening the files. For reference, the average discretionary grant 

application package with all attachments is less than 5 MB. Therefore, you may want to check 

the total size of your package before submission. 

 
14 

Application Transmittal Instructions

This program requires the electronic submission of applications; specific requirements and waiver 

instructions can be found in the Federal Register notice 

Applications Submitted Electronically

You must submit your grant application through the Internet using the software provided on the 

Grants.gov website (http://www.grants.gov ) by 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on or before the closing

date of June 16, 2022.

If you submit your application through the Internet via the Grants.gov website, you will receive an 

automatic acknowledgement when we receive your application. 

For more information on using Grants.gov, please refer to the Federal Register notice or visit 

http://www.grants.gov. 

Other Submission Instructions

For detailed instructions on applications sent by mail or delivery, please review the Common Instructions 

for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs Notice, published in the Federal 

Register on December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264), and available at: www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979. 

Late Applications

If your application is late, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.
15 

 Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards 

4000-01-U 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Applications for New Awards; Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student 

Success Program 

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 

inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2022 for the 

Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) Program, 

Assistance Listing Number 84.116G. This notice relates to the 

approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006. 

DATES: 

Applications Available: May 2, 2022. 

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 16, 2022. 

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 15, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an 

application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to 

Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the 

Federal Register on December 27, 2021, (86 FR 73264), and available 

at: 

www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979. Please note that these Common 

Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 2019, 

and, in part, describe the transition from the requirement to register 

in SAM.gov a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the 

implementation of the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). More 
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information on the phase-out of DUNS numbers is available at 

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entityidentifier-transition-fact-sheet.pdf. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Harris, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B207, Washington, DC 20202. 

Telephone: (202) 453-7346. Email: Kelly.Harris@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 

telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 

1-800-877-8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to encourage 

institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop model programs to 

support veteran student success in postsecondary education by 

coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, 

and social needs of veteran students. 

Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and two 

competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 

75.105(b)(2)(v), the absolute priority is from the activities 

specified in section 873 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 

amended (HEA), and the competitive preference priorities are from the 

Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary 

Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2021 

(86 FR 70612) (Supplemental Priorities). 

Absolute Priority: For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which we 

make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
17 

competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 

75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority. 

 This priority is: 

Projects that include the following required activities: 

(a) Establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success 

on the campus of the institution to provide a single point of contact 

to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students; 

(b) Establishing a veteran student support team, including 

representatives from the offices of the institution responsible for 

admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans’ benefits, academic 

advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career 

advising, disabilities services, and any other office of the 

institution that provides support to veteran students on campus; 

(c) Providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to 

coordinate the model program; 

(d) Monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, 

and completion; and 

(e) Developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran 

Student Success after the grant period. 

Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2022 and any subsequent 

year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 

from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 

priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an 

additional 10 points to an applicant, depending on how well the 

application meets these priorities. Applicants may address one, both, 

or neither of the competitive priorities. 

These priorities are: 
18 

Competitive Preference Priority 1: Meeting Student Social, Emotional, 

and Academic Needs (Up to 5 points). 

Projects that are designed to improve students’ social, emotional, 

academic, and career development, with a focus on underserved 

students, through developing and supporting educator and school 

capacity to support social and emotional learning and development that 

is trauma-informed, such as addressing exposure to community-based 

violence and trauma specific to military- or veteran-connected 

students (as defined in this notice). 

Competitive Preference Priority 2: Promoting Equity in Student Access 

to Educational Resources and Opportunities (Up to 5 points). 

Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project 

will be implemented by one of the following entities: 

(1) Community colleges (as defined in this notice); 

(2) Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in this 

notice); 

(3) Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice); or 

(4) Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice). 

Definitions: The definitions of “demonstrates a rationale” and 

“evidence-based” are from 34 CFR 77.1 and the definitions of 

“community college,” “Historically Black colleges and universities,” 

“military- or veteran-connected student,” “minority-serving 

institution” and “Tribal College or University” are from the 

Supplemental Priorities. 

Community college means “junior or community college” as defined in 

section 312(f) of the HEA. 
19 

Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in the 

project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings 

that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant 

outcomes. 

 Evidence-based means the proposed project component is 

supported by evidence that demonstrates a rationale. 

Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a framework 

that identifies key components of the proposed project, product 

(i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be critical 

to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and 

operational relationships among the key project components and 

relevant outcomes. 

Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use 

resources such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program’s (REL 

Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp. Other sources 

include: 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf, 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf, 

and 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf. 

 Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and 

universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2. 

Military- or veteran-connected student means a student who is a 

member of the uniformed services, a veteran of the uniformed services, 

or the spouse of a service member or veteran. 
20 

 Minority-serving institution means an institution that is 

eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part 

A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the 

HEA. 

 Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in 

section 316(b)(3) of the HEA. 

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1161t; 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d; and the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103). 

Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 

consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in 

Federal civil rights laws. 

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 

Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 

98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 

Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) 

in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the 

Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative 

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 

Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the 

Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The Supplemental Priorities. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Discretionary grants. 

Estimated Available Funds: $8,415,000. 

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 

applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 

the list of unfunded applications from this competition. 

Estimated Range of Awards: $550,000 to $601,071 for up to 36 months. 
21 

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $525,000 for up to 36 months. 

Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $601,071 for a 36-

month period. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 16. 

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. 

Project Period: Up to 36 months. 

III. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs and consortia of IHEs. 

2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 

sharing or matching. 

b. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include any 

program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All 

administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform 

to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the 

Uniform Guidance. 

3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 

subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 

described in its application. 

IV. Application and Submission Information 

1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to 

follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of 

Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal 

Register on December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264), and available at: 

www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979, which contain requirements and 

information on how to submit an application. Please note that these 

Common Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 

2019, and, in part, describe the transition from the requirement to 
22 

register in SAM.gov a DUNS number to the implementation of the UEI. 

More information on the phaseout of DUNS numbers is available at 

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entityidentifier-transition-fact-sheet.pdf. 

2. 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. 

3. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 

restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 

4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, 

the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 

evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 

application narrative to no more than 50 pages and (2) 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, and no smaller 

than 10 pitch (characters per inch). 

• Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 

Courier New, or Arial. 

The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 

budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
23 

assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract and the 

bibliography. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all 

of the application narrative. 

Note: The Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs Form (ED 524) 

Sections A-C are not the same as the narrative response to the Budget 

section of the selection criteria. 

V. Application Review Information 

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 

are from 34 CFR 75.210. Applicants should address each of the 

following selection criteria separately for each proposed activity. 

The selection criteria are worth a total of 100 points, and 

applications may receive up to 10 additional points under the 

competitive preference priorities, for a total score of up to 110 

points. The maximum score for each criterion is noted in parentheses. 

(a) Need for project. (Up to 10 points) The Secretary considers the 

need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the 

proposed project, the Secretary considers: 

(1) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the 

activities to be carried out by the proposed project. 

(2) The extent to which the proposed project will provide services or 

otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational 

failure. 

(3) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 

infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 

addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 

of those gaps or weaknesses. 
24 

(b) Significance. (Up to 10 points) The Secretary considers the 

significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 

of the proposed project, the Secretary considers: 

(1) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local 

capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 

needs of the target population. 

(2) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to 

be attained by the proposed project. 

(c) Quality of the project design. (Up to 30 points) The Secretary 

considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 

determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 

Secretary considers: 

(1) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rationale 

(as defined in this notice). 

(2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 

achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 

(3) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 

appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 

population or other identified needs. 

(4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 

capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 

Federal financial assistance. 

(d) Quality of project personnel. (Up to 15 points) The Secretary 

considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 

project. 

(1) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 

considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications 
25 

for employment from persons who are members of groups that have 

traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 

origin, gender, age, or disability. 

 (2) In addition, the Secretary considers: 

(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 

of the project director or principal investigator. 

(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 

of key project personnel. 

Note: As stated in the absolute priority for this competition, a 

proposed Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success must have a 

coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model 

program. In response to this selection criterion, the application 

should describe the qualifications of this individual, the members of 

the veteran student support team described in the absolute priority, 

and any other individuals who will help carry out the proposed 

project. The grant project director may or may not be the coordinator 

of the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success. Applicants 

should consider emphasizing how the training and experience of veteran 

employees staffing the project, if applicable, will support the goals 

of the project. 

(e) Adequacy of resources. (Up to 20 points) The Secretary considers 

the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining 

the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary 

considers: 

(1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 

supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 

lead applicant organization. 
26 

(2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 

number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 

benefits. 

(3) The potential for continued support of the project after Federal 

funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment 

of appropriate entities to such support. 

Note: A budget summary and budget narrative attached to your proposal 

should itemize the support you are requesting through the CEVSS 

Program. 

(f) Quality of the project evaluation. (Up to 15 points) The 

Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of 

the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, 

the Secretary considers: 

 (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 

feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of 

the proposed project. 

 (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 

examining the effectiveness of the project implementation strategies. 

 (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 

timely guidance for quality assurance. 

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 
27 

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 

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 

(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). 

A panel of two non-Federal reviewers will review and score each 

application in accordance with the selection criteria. A rank order 

funding slate will be made from this review. Awards will be made in 

rank order according to the average score received from the peer 

review and from the competitive preference priorities addressed by the 

applicant. 

If the Secretary has insufficient funding to award multiple 

applications with the same score, consistent with section 873(d)(2)(A) 

and (B) of the HEA, in making a selection, the Secretary will consider 

the number of veteran students enrolled at each IHE and award funding 

to the applicant(s) with the highest number of enrolled veteran 

students. If a tie still exists after applying the first tiebreaker, 

the Secretary will consider the need for model programs to address the 

needs of veteran students at a wide range of IHEs, including the need 

to provide (i) an equitable distribution of such grants to IHEs of 

various types and sizes; (ii) an equitable geographic distribution of 

such grants; and (iii) an equitable distribution of such grants among 

rural and urban areas. 

3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 

200.206, before awarding grants under this program the Department 
28 

conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 

200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 

3473.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; 

has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not 

responsible. 

4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 

competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 

period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 

$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about 

your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under 

Federal awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before 

we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about 

you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently 

referred to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity 

Information System (FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award 

Management. You may review and comment on any information about 

yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and that is 

currently in FAPIIS. 

 Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 

grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 

Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 

2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 

information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 
29 

2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 

funds you receive exceed $10,000,000. 

5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and 

Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 

laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 

consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 

applications in accordance with: 

(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 

results based on the program objectives through an objective process 

of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205); 

(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 

surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of 

the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) 

(2 CFR 200.216); 

(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 

maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United 

States (2 CFR 200.322); and 

(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent 

authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program goals 

or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340). 

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); or we may send you an email containing a link to 

access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you 

informally, also. 
30 

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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you 

are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to 

openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or 

in part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists 

of modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to 

those modifications that can be separately identified and only to the 

extent that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any 

licenses or other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. 

Additionally, a grantee that is awarded competitive grant funds must 

have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. This 

dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your 

application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For 

additional information on the open licensing requirements please refer 

to 2 CFR 3474.20. 

4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 

you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
31 

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 multiyear 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. 

 5. Performance Measures: Under 34 CFR 75.110, the Secretary has 

established the following performance measures for the CEVSS Program: 

(1) The extent to which the project is institutionalized at the end of 

the project period; and (2) The extent to which funded projects 

increase enrollment, persistence, and completion rates of veteran 

students at their institutions. 

 These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success 

for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant 

under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in 

conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project. 

If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your 

project’s annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590). 

VII. Other Information 

Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed 

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
32 

can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an 

accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an 

accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text 

format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, 

audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format. 

Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 

document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 

access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 

Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. 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 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: 

_ ________/S/___________________ 

Michelle Asha Cooper, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for 

the Office of Postsecondary Education. 
33 

 Authorizing Legislation

Section 873 of the Higher Education Act, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1161(t)) 

Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success: Model Programs 

(a) PURPOSE. It is the purpose of this section to encourage model programs to support veteran student 

success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, 

and social needs of veteran students. 

(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED. 

(1) IN GENERAL. Subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (f), the Secretary shall 

award grants to institutions of higher education to develop model programs to support veteran student 

success in postsecondary education. 

(2) GRANT PERIOD. A grant awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period of three years.

(c) USE OF GRANTS. 

(1) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES. An institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section 

shall use such grant to carry out a model program that includes— 

(A) establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the campus of the institution to

provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students;

(B) establishing a veteran student support team, including representatives from the offices of the 

institution responsible for admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic advising, 

student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, disabilities services, and any other 

office of the institution that provides support to veteran students on campus; 

(C) providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program carried out 

under this section;

(D) monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, and completion; and 

(E) developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success after the grant 

period. 

(2) OTHER AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. An institution of higher education receiving a grant under 

this section may use such grant to carry out any of the following activities with respect to veteran 

students: 

(A) Outreach and recruitment of such students. 

(B) Supportive instructional services for such students, which may include— 

(i) personal, academic, and career counseling, as an ongoing part of the program; 

(ii) tutoring and academic skill-building instruction assistance, as needed; and 

(iii) assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondary 

education or experience.

(C) Assistance in obtaining student financial aid.

(D) Housing support for veteran students living in institutional facilities and commuting veteran students.

(E) Cultural events, academic programs, orientation programs, and other activities designed to ease the 

transition to campus life for veteran students.

(F) Support for veteran student organizations and veteran student support groups on campus.

(G) Coordination of academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and national guard 

units in the area.
34 

(H) Other support services the institution determines to be necessary to ensure the success of veterans in 

achieving educational and career goals.

(d) APPLICATION SELECTION. 

(1) APPLICATION. To be considered for a grant under this section, an institution of higher education 

shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 

information as the Secretary may require.

(2) SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall

consider— 

(A) the number of veteran students enrolled at an institution of higher education; and 

(B) the need for model programs to address the needs of veteran students at a wide range of institutions of 

higher education, including the need to provide— 

(i) an equitable distribution of such grants to institutions of higher education of various types and 

sizes; 

(ii) an equitable geographic distribution of such grants; and

(iii) an equitable distribution of such grants among rural and urban areas.

(e) EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN. The Secretary shall develop an evaluation and 

accountability plan for model programs funded under this section to objectively measure the impact of 

such programs, including a measure of whether postsecondary education enrollment, persistence, and 

completion for veterans increases as a result of such programs. 
35 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DEFINITIONS 

Definitions: The definitions of “demonstrates a rationale” and “evidence-based” are from 34 CFR 77.1 

and the definitions of “community college,” “Historically Black colleges and universities,” “military- or 

veteran-connected student,” “minority-serving institution” and “Tribal College or University” are from 

the Supplemental Priorities. Community college means “junior or community college” as defined in 

section 312(f) of the HEA. 

Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in the project's logic model is 

informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve 

relevant outcomes. 

Evidence-based means the proposed project component is supported by evidence that 

demonstrates a rationale. 

Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a framework that identifies key 

components of the proposed project, product (i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be 

critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships 

among the key project components and relevant outcomes.

 Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, process, product, practice, or policy 

included in a project. Evidence may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of 

project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices for English learners and follow-on 

coaching for these teachers).

Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) the key project component is 

designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of the program. 

Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use resources such as the Regional Educational 

Laboratory Program’s (REL Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at: 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp 

Other sources include: 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf 

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf. 

Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and universities that meet the criteria 

set out in 34 CFR 608.2. 

Military- or veteran-connected student means a student who is a member of the uniformed 

services, a veteran of the uniformed services, or the spouse of a service member or veteran. 

Minority-serving institution means an institution that is eligible to receive assistance under 

sections 316 through 320 of part A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.

Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in section 316(b)(3) of the HEA. 
36 

INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS: 

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372 

This program falls under the rubric of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to 

strengthen federalism—or the distribution of responsibility between localities, States, and the Federal 

government—by fostering intergovernmental partnerships. This idea includes supporting processes that

State or local governments have devised for coordinating and reviewing proposed Federal financial grant 

applications. 

The process for doing this requires grant applicants to contact State Single Points of Contact for 

information on how this works. Multi-state applicants should follow procedures specific to each state. 

Further information about the State Single Point of Contact process and a list of names by State can be

found at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf. 

Absent specific State review programs, applicants may submit comments directly to the Department. All 

recommendations and comments must be mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in the actual 

application notice to the following address: The Secretary, EO 12372—CFDA# 84.116G, U.S. 

Department of Education, room 7E200, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. 

Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). 

Recommendations or comments may be hand-delivered until 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the closing 

date indicated in this notice. 

Important note: The above address is not the same address as the one to which the applicant submits its 

completed applications. Do not send applications to the above address.

 
37 

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Section 427

Section 427 of GEPA requires all applicants for new awards to include in their applications a description

of the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, its federallyassisted programs for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. The 

provision allows applicants discretion in developing the required description. The statute highlights six 

types of barriers that can impede equitable access or participation: gender, race, national origin, color, 

disability, or age. 

A general statement of an applicant’s nondiscriminatory hiring policy is not sufficient to meet this 

requirement. Applicants must identify potential barriers and explain steps they will take to overcome 

these barriers.

NOTE: Applicants for new awards must include information in their applications to address this 

provision in order to receive funding under this program. 
38 

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION PACKAGE 

The CEVSS application consists of the following sections. These sections are organized in the same 

manner that the submitted application should be organized. Remember to upload all forms and sections 

and follow carefully the Grants.gov application instructions. The sections are as follows: 

424 Forms

• Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) 

• Department of Education Supplemental Information form for SF 424 

U.S. Department of Education Budget Summary Forms:

• ED 524 (Section A and Section B) 

The “U.S. Department of Education Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs” is where 

applicants provide budget information for Section A – Budget Summary U.S. Department of Education 

Funds and Section B – Budget Summary Non-Federal Funds. Applicants should include costs for all 

project years. Note: Section C – Budget Narrative should be included in the “Budget Narrative 

Attachment Form.”

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) 

GEPA Section 427 Form 

ED Abstract Form: Attach your one-page project abstract that will provide an overview of the proposed 

project. 

Project Narrative Attachment Form: The project narrative should include narrative responses to the

selection criteria. Please include a Table of Contents as the first page of the application narrative. The 

recommended page limit for the project narrative is a total of 50 pages. The project narrative should be 

consecutively numbered. 

Budget Narrative Attachment Form: The budget narrative should include a detailed line item budget to

justify costs are reasonable and necessary to accomplish the proposed project objectives. 

Note: The selection criterion also requires a budget section that you will respond to as a part of your 

project narrative (selection criteria). 
39 

Selection Criteria Instructions

Applicants will attach the project narrative to the Project Narrative Attachment Form as described in 

the instructions for completing the application package. 

Page Limits: The project narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 

reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established recommended page limits for grant 

applications. It is recommended to limit the section of the narrative that addresses the selection

criteria to no more than 50 pages. 

Note: Please include separate heading when responding to the Competitive Preference Priorities. 

The page limit does not apply to the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424); the Department of 

Education Supplemental Information form (SF 424); Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs

(ED Form 524); the assurances and certifications; or the one-page project abstract, program activity 

budget detail form and supporting narrative. However, the page limit does apply to all of the project 

narrative section, including the budget narrative of the selection criteria. You must include your complete 

response to the selection criteria in the project narrative.

Formatting Requirements: A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5′′ x 11′′, on one side only, with 1 inch 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, captions and all text in charts, 

tables, and graphs. Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roma n, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. 

Use font size 12 or larger and no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Secretary evaluates an application on the basis of the broad criteria in § 34 CFR Part 75, sections 

75.209(a) and 75.210 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). The 

Department will evaluate proposals using weighted selection criteria published in EDGAR § 34 CFR part

75 sections 75.210 (c)(2)(xiv), 210(f)(i-ii), 210(e)(2)(i-iii), and 210(h)(iii, vi). The maximum score that 

any proposal may receive is 100 points. 

To facilitate the review of the application, provide responses to the following six (6) EDGAR selection

criteria in the following order:

1. Need for the Project (10 Points) 

2. Significance (10 Points) 

3. Quality of Project Design (30 Points) 

4. Quality of Project Personnel (15 Points)

5. Adequacy of Resources (20 Points) 

6. Quality of Project Evaluation (15 Points)

We suggest that you organize your proposal narrative according to the selection criteria. Each selection 

criterion is presented in bold type and followed by a discussion of how it applies to the Centers of 

Excellence for Veteran Student Success competition. The panelists who review the proposals use these 

criteria in assigning ratings to the applications, so it is in your interest to address each one explicitly. The 
40 

overall rating assessment of a proposal is based on the extent to which it satisfactorily addresses all the 

selection criteria. 

In the following sections, the Department references the EDGAR citations that govern each selection 

criterion; the Department provides specific evaluation measures that reflect the Centers of Excellence for 

Veteran Student Success Program provisions; and the Department indicates the maximum point values 

that can accrue to each section and subsection. Applicants’ responses to each criterion may require 

documentation that the applicant may place in the Appendix. Applications that omit documentation risk 

losing points. 

For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 

from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105 (c)(3) we consider only 

applications that meet this priority.

This priority is: 

• Establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the campus of the 

institution to provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services 

for veteran students. 

• Establishing a veteran student support team, including representatives from the offices of the 

institution responsible for admissions, registration, financial aid, veteran benefits, academic 

advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, disabilities 

services, and any other office of the institution that provides support to veteran students on 

campus. 

• Providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program. 

• Monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, and completion.

• Developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success after the 

grant period. 

An institution conducting the required activities above may, in addition, carry out the following 

authorized activities with respect to veteran students: 

 

• Outreach and recruitment of such students. 

• Supportive instructional services for such students, which may include – 

o Personal, academic, and career counseling, as an ongoing part of the program; 

o Tutoring and academic skill-building instruction assistance, as needed; and 

o Assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondary 

education or experience.

• Assistance in obtaining student financial aid.

• Housing support for veteran students living in institutional facilities and commuting veteran 

students. 

• Cultural events, academic programs, orientation programs, and other activities designed to ease 

the transition to campus life for veteran students.

• Support for veteran student organizations and veteran student support groups on campus. 

• Coordination of academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and national 

guard units in the area.

• Other support services the institution determines to be necessary to ensure the success of veterans

in achieving educational and career goals.
41

Selection Criteria 

Applications will be evaluated according to specific selection criteria identified below. Reviewers of your

application will use these criteria to rate your proposal, and the overall assessment of your proposal will 

be based on the extent to which it satisfies the selection criteria. However, you choose to organize your 

narrative, once it has been completed, make sure the information provided addresses each of these criteria. 

a) The need for the project (10 points)

The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need the need for the 

proposed project, the Secretary considers:

1) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the 

proposed project.

2) The extent to which the proposed project will provide services or otherwise address the needs of 

students at risk of educational failure.

3) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have

been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 

of those gaps or weaknesses. 

Provide information to support the need for a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on your 

campus. You must, (a) identify the number of veteran students currently enrolled at your institution and 

also address the needs of veteran students at a wide range of institutions of higher education; and (b)

What data do you have regarding the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, and completion on

your campus? How effectively is your institution serving veteran students currently? What 

improvements do you propose to serve them better – to ease veterans’ transition to campus life, to reduce 

their attrition, and to improve their chances of achieving educational and career goals? 

b) Significance (10 points)

The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance of 

the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

1) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to provide, improve, or 

expand services that address the needs of the target population.

2) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed 

project. 

c) The quality of the project design (30 points)

The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality 

of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

1) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice).

2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are 

clearly specified and measurable.

3) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully 

address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs.

4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build capacity and yield results that will

extend beyond the period of Federal financial assistance.
42 

This criterion requires details about how your project will be carried out. Identify goals and specific 

objectives. For example, how will goals and objectives be measured? Is the implementation plan 

proposed for the project consistent with your institution’s stated goals and objectives for serving veteran 

students? Who is responsible for the completion of which tasks, and when will those tasks be completed? 

What will be done to establish an effective veteran student support team that includes representatives 

from various offices of your institution? Is the project designed to strengthen the institution’s capacity to 

provide continuing support to veteran students? 

 

d) Quality of project personnel (15 points)

The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. 

1) 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. 

2) In addition, the Secretary considers: 

a) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or 

principal investigator. 

b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel. 

Note: As stated in the absolute priority for this competition, a proposed Center of Excellence for Veteran 

Student Success must have a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model 

program. In response to this selection criterion, the application must describe the qualifications of this 

individual, members of the veteran student support team also described in the absolute priority, and any 

other individuals who will help carry out the proposed project. The grant project director may or may not 

be the coordinator of the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success. Applicants should consider 

emphasizing how the training and experience of veteran employees staffing the project, if

applicable, will support the goals of the project. The Budget Narrative should indicate the percentage 

of time the grant project director will devote to the project – even if the grant does not pay the project 

director’s salary. 

e) The adequacy of resources (20 points) 

The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy 

of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers: 

1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the 

applicant organization or the lead applicant organization.

2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the number of persons to be served and 

to the anticipated results and benefits. 

3) The potential for continued support of the project after Federal funding ends, including, as 

appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of appropriate entities to such support. 
43 

Note: A budget summary and budget narrative attached to your proposal should itemize the support you 

are requesting through the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program. It must be clear 

from the proposal narrative how your budget request relates to attainment of your goals and objectives. 

The appropriateness of costs will be judged in relation to the scope of the project and the requirements for 

achieving its objectives. 

f) The quality of project evaluation (15 points) 

The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In 

determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers: 

1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals,

objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.

2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for examining the effectiveness of project 

implementation strategies.

3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide timely guidance for quality assurance. 

Performance Indicator – Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

Under 34 CFR 75.110, the Secretary has established the following Government Performance and Results 

Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance measures for the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success: 

(1) the extent to which the project is institutionalized at the end of the project period; and (2) the extent to 

which funded projects increase enrollment, persistence, and completion rates of veteran students at their 

institutions. 

These measures constitute the Department’s indicators of success for this program. Consequently, we 

advise an applicant for a grant under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in 

conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project.

If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your project’s annual performance report (34 

CFR 75.590). 

Other Attachments 

The Other Attachments Form is used to upload the application Appendix. The Appendix supports and 

supplements information in other parts of the application package. Several types of information may be 

included. 

The Appendix may include only the following: 

• Narrative summaries of the qualifications of key personnel (maximum 1-page each)

• Short position descriptions for staff to be hired or determined 

• References cited in the proposal narrative (if applicable)

• Absolute Priority (total of 5 pages) 

• Competitive Preference Priorities (total of 5 pages, if addressed) 
44 

Instructions for Standard Forms

● Instructions for the SF-424 

● Instructions for the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF-424 

● Assurances for Non-Construction Programs SF-424B 

● Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF-424 

● Instructions for ED 524 

● Instructions for General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)

● Instructions for Completion of SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 
45

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF-424

This is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications and applications and related

information under discretionary programs. Some of the items are required and some are optional at the discretion of the

applicant or the federal agency (agency). Required fields on the form are identified with an asterisk (*) and are also specified

as “Required” in the instructions below. In addition to these instructions, applicants must consult agency instructions to

determine other specific requirements.

Item Entry: Item: Entry:

1. Type of Submission: (Required) Select one type of

submission in accordance with agency instructions.

• Pre-application

• Application

• Changed/Corrected Application – Check if this submission is to

change or correct a previously submitted application. Unless

requested by the agency, applicants may not use this form to

submit changes after the closing date.

10. Name Of Federal Agency: (Required) Enter the name of the

federal agency from which assistance is being requested with

this application.

11. Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance Number/Title:

Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and

title of the program under which assistance is requested, as found

in the program announcement, if applicable.

2. Type of Application: (Required) Select one type of application in

accordance with agency instructions.

• New – An application that is being submitted to an agency for 

the first time.

• Continuation - An extension for an additional funding/budget

period for a project with a projected completion date. This can

include renewals.

• Revision - Any change in the federal government’s financial

obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation. If a

revision, enter the appropriate letter(s). More than one may be

selected. If "Other" is selected, please specify in text box provided.

A. Increase Award D. Decrease Duration

B. Decrease Award E. Other (specify)

C. Increase Duration

12. Funding Opportunity Number/Title: (Required) Enter the Funding

Opportunity Number (FON) and title of the opportunity under

which assistance is requested, as found in the program

announcement.

13. Competition Identification Number/Title: Enter the competition

identification number and title of the competition under which

assistance is requested, if applicable.

14. Areas Affected By Project: This data element is intended for use

only by programs for which the area(s) affected are likely to be

different than the place(s) of performance reported on the SF-424

Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form. Add attachment to

enter additional areas, if needed.

3. Date Received: Leave this field blank. This date will be

assigned by the Federal agency.

15. Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: (Required) Enter a brief

descriptive title of the project. If appropriate, attach a map showing

project location (e.g., construction or real property projects). For

pre-applications, attach a summary description of the project.

4. Applicant Identifier: Enter the entity identifier assigned by the

Federal agency, if any, or the applicant’s control number if 

applicable.

5a. Federal Entity Identifier: Enter the number assigned to your

organization by the federal agency, if any.

16. Congressional Districts Of: 16a. (Required) Enter the applicant’s

congressional district. 16b. Enter all district(s) affected by the

program or project. Enter in the format: 2 characters state

abbreviation – 3 characters district number, e.g., CA-005 for

California 5th district, CA-012 for California 12 district, NC-103 for 

North Carolina’s 103 district. If all congressional districts in a state

are affected, enter “all” for the district number, e.g., MD-all for all

congressional districts in Maryland. If nationwide, i.e. all districts

within all states are affected, enter US-all. If the program/project is

outside the US, enter 00-000. This optional data element is

intended for use only by programs for which the area(s) affected

are likely to be different than place(s) of performance reported on

the SF-424 Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form. Attach an

additional list of program/project congressional districts, if needed.

5b. Federal Award Identifier: For new applications, enter NA. For a

continuation or revision to an existing award, enter the previously 

assigned federal award identifier number. If a changed/corrected

application, enter the federal identifier in accordance with agency 

instructions.

6. Date Received by State: Leave this field blank. This date will be

assigned by the state, if applicable.

7. State Application Identifier: Leave this field blank. This

identifier will be assigned by the state, if applicable.

8. Applicant Information: Enter the following in accordance with

agency instructions:

a. Legal Name: (Required) Enter the legal name of applicant that 

will undertake the assistance activity. This is the organization that

has registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR).

Information on registering with CCR may be obtained by visiting

www.Grants.gov.

17. Proposed Project Start and End Dates: (Required) Enter the

proposed start date and end date of the project.
46 

b. Employer/Taxpayer Number (EIN/TIN): (Required) Enter the

employer or taxpayer identification number (EIN or TIN) as

assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. If your organization is

not in the US, enter 44-4444444.

18. Estimated Funding: (Required) Enter the amount requested, or to

be contributed during the first funding/budget period by each

contributor. Value of in-kind contributions should be included on

appropriate lines, as applicable. If the action will result in a dollar

change to an existing award, indicate only the amount of the

change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in parentheses.

c. Organizational DUNS: (Required) Enter the organization’s

DUNS or DUNS+4 number received from Dun and

Bradstreet. Information on obtaining a DUNS number may be 

obtained by visiting www.Grants.gov.

19. Is Application Subject to Review by State Under Executive

Order 12372 Process? (Required) Applicants should contact

the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Federal

Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the

application is subject to the State intergovernmental

review process. Select the appropriate box. If “a.” is

selected, enter the date the application was submitted to

d. Address: Enter address: Street 1 (Required); city

(Required); County/Parish, State (Required if country is US),

Province, Country (Required), 9-digit zip/postal code

(Required if country US).

20. Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt?

(Required) Select the appropriate box. This question

applies to the applicant organization, not the person who

signs as the authorized representative. Categories of 

federal debt include; but, may not be limited to: delinquent

audit disallowances, loans and taxes. If yes, include an

explanation in an attachment.

e. Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary

organizational unit, department or division that will undertake

the assistance activity.

21. Authorized Representative: To be signed and dated by the

authorized representative of the applicant organization.

Enter the first and last name (Required); prefix, middle

name, suffix. Enter title, telephone number, email

(Required); and fax number. A copy of the governing

body’s authorization for you to sign this application as the

official representative must be on file in the applicant’s

office. (Certain federal agencies may require that this 

authorization be submitted as part of the application.)

f. Name and contact information of person to be contacted on

matters involving this application: Enter the first and last name

(Required); prefix, middle name, suffix, title. Enter 

organizational affiliation if affiliated with an organization other

than that in 7.a. Telephone number and email (Required);

fax number.

9. Type of Applicant: (Required) Select up to three applicant

type(s) in accordance with agency instructions.

A. State Government

B. County Government

C. City or Township

Government

D. Special District

Government

E. Regional Organization

F. U.S. Territory or

Possession

G. Independent School 

District 

H. Public/State

Controlled Institution of

Higher Education

I. Indian/Native 

American Tribal

Government (Federally

Recognized)

J. Indian/Native

American Tribal

Government (Other

than Federally

Recognized)

K. Indian/Native

American Tribally

Designated

Organization

L. Public/Indian Housing

Authority

M. Nonprofit

N. Private Institution

of Higher

Education

O. Individual

P. For-Profit

Organization (Other than

Small Business)

Q. Small Business

R. Hispanicserving

Institution

S. Historically Black

Colleges and Universities 

(HBCUs)

T. Tribally Controlled

Colleges and 

Universities 

(TCCUs)

U. Alaska Native

and Native

Hawaiian

Serving

Institutions

V. Non-US Entity

W. Other (specify)

U.S Department of Education note: As of spring, 2010, the FON discussed in Block 12 of the instructions can be found via the

following URL: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp.]
47 

Instructions for U.S. Department of Education 

Supplemental Information for the SF-424 

1. Project Director. Name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the person to be contacted on matters 

involving this application. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

2. Novice Applicant. Check “Yes” if you meet the definition for novice applicants specified in the regulations in 34 CFR 

75.225 and included on the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for 

the SF-424”). By checking “Yes” the applicant certifies that it meets these novice applicant requirements. Check “No” if you do 

not meet the definition for novice applicants.

This novice applicant information will be used by ED to: 1) determine the amount and type of technical assistance that a novice 

might need, if funded, and 2) determine novice applicant eligibility in discretionary grant competitions that give special 

consideration to novice applications. Certain ED discretionary grant programs give special consideration to novice applications, 

either by establishing a special competition for novice applicants or by giving competitive preference to novice applicants under 

the procedures in 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2). If special consideration is being given to novice applications under a particular 

discretionary grant competition, the application notice for the competition published in the Federal Register will specify this 

information

3. Human Subjects Research. (See I. A. “Definitions” in attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of 

Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424.”)

3a. If Not Human Subjects Research. Check “No” if research activities involving human subjects are not planned at any 

time during the proposed project period. The remaining parts of Item 3 are then not applicable.

3a. If Human Subjects Research. Check “Yes” if research activities involving human subjects are planned at any time during

the proposed project period, either at the applicant organization or at any other performance site or collaborating institution. 

Check “Yes” even if the research is exempt from the regulations for the protection of human subjects. (See I. B. “Exemptions” in 

attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF-424.”) 

3b. If Human Subjects Research is Exempt from the Human Subjects Regulations. Check “Yes” if all the research

activities proposed are designated to be exempt from the regulations. Check the exemption number(s) corresponding to one or 

more of the eight exemption categories listed in I. B. “Exemptions.” In addition, follow the instructions in II. A. “Exempt 

Research Narrative” in the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for 

the SF-424.” 

3b. If Human Subjects Research is Not Exempt from Human Subjects Regulations. Check “No” if some or all of the 

planned research activities are covered (not exempt). In addition, follow the instructions in II. B. “Nonexempt Research 

Narrative” in the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF424.”

3b. Human Subjects Assurance Number. If the applicant has an approved Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) on file with the 

Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that covers the specific

activity, insert the number in the space provided. (A list of current FWAs is available at: 

http://ohrp.cit.nih.gov/search/search.aspx?styp=bsc) If the applicant does not have an approved assurance on file with

OHRP, enter “None.” In this case, the applicant, by signature on the SF-424, is declaring that it will comply with 34 CFR 97 and 

proceed to obtain the human subjects assurance upon request by the designated ED official. If the application is 

recommended/selected for funding, the designated ED official will request that the applicant obtain the assurance within 30 days 

after the specific formal request.

3c. If applicable, please attach your “Exempt Research” or “Nonexempt Research” narrative to your submission of the U.S 

Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424 form as instructed in item II, “Instructions for Exempt and 

Nonexempt Human Subjects Research Narratives” in the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education 

Supplemental Information for the SF-424.” 

Note about Institutional Review Board Approval. ED does not require certification of Institutional Review Board approval 

with the application. However, if an application that involves non-exempt human subjects research is recommended/selected for 

funding, the designated ED official will request that the applicant obtain and send the certification to ED within 30 days after the 

formal request.

No covered human subjects research can be conducted until the study has ED clearance for protection of human subjects 

in research.
48 

Public Burden Statement:

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such 

collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to 

average 20 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 

maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this 

collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (20 USC 3474 General Education Provisions Act). Send comments regarding the 

burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference 

the OMB Control Number 1894-0007. Note: Please do not return the completed ED SF 424 Supplemental Form to this address.
49

OMB Approval No. 0348-0040

ASSURANCES - NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for 

reducing this burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0040), Washington, DC 20503

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND 

BUDGET. SEND IT TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE SPONSORING AGENCY.

Note: Certain of these assurances may not be applicable to your project or program. If you have questions, please contact the awarding 

agency. Further, certain Federal awarding agencies may require applicants to certify to additional assurances. If such is the case, 

you will be notified.

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant I certify that the applicant:

1. Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance, and 

the institutional, managerial and financial capability 

(including funds sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of 

project cost) to ensure proper planning, management, and 

completion of the project described in this application.

2. Will give the awarding agency, the Comptroller General of 

the United States, and if appropriate, the State, through any 

authorized representative, access to and the right to examine 

all records, books, papers, or documents related to the award; 

and will establish a proper accounting system in accordance 

with generally accepted accounting standards or agency 

directives.

3. Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using 

their positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the 

appearance of personal or organizational conflict of interest, 

or personal gain.

4. Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable 

time frame after receipt of approval of the awarding agency.

5. Will comply with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 

1970 (42 U.S.C. ∋∋4728-4763) relating to prescribed 

standards for merit systems for programs funded under one of 

the 19 statutes or regulations specified in Appendix A of 

OPM's Standards for a Merit System of Personnel 

Administration (5 C.F.R. 900, Subpart F).

6. Will comply with all Federal statutes relating to

nondiscrimination. These include but are not limited to: (a) 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352) which 

prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national 

origin; (b) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as 

amended (20 U.S.C. ∋∋1681-1683, and 1685-1686), which 

prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; (c) Section 504 

of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 

∋794), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of 

handicaps; (d) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. ∋∋ 6101-6107), which prohibits 

discrimination on the basis of age; (e) the Drug Abuse Office 

and Treatment Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-255), as amended, 

relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of drug abuse; (f) 

the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 

Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 (P.L. 

91-616), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the 

basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (g) ∋∋ 523 and 527 of 

the Public Health Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C. ∋∋ 290 dd-3 

and 290 ee 3), as amended, relating to confidentiality of 

alcohol and drug abuse patient records; (h) Title VIII of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. ∋ 3601 et seq.), as 

amended, relating to nondiscrimination in the sale, rental or 

financing of housing; (i) any other nondiscrimination 

provisions in the specific statute(s) under which application 

for Federal assistance is being made; and (j) the requirements 

of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) which may apply to 

the application.

7. Will comply, or has already complied, with the requirements 

of Titles II and III of the uniform Relocation Assistance and 

Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646) 

which provide for fair and equitable treatment of persons 

displaced or whose property is acquired as a result of Federal 

or federally assisted programs. These requirements apply to 

all interests in real property acquired for project purposes 

regardless of Federal participation in purchases.

8. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Hatch 

Act (5 U.S.C. ∋∋1501-1508 and 7324-7328) which limit the 

political activities of employees whose principal employment 

activities are funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.
9. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the DavisBacon Act (40 U.S.C. ∋∋276a to 276a-7), the Copeland Act 

(40 U.S.C. ∋276c and 18 U.S.C. ∋∋874) and the Contract 

Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. ∋∋ 327-

333), regarding labor standards for federally assisted 

construction subagreements.

10. Will comply, if applicable, with flood insurance purchase 

requirements of Section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster 

Protection Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-234) which requires 

recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the 

program and to purchase flood insurance if the total cost of 

insurable construction and acquisition is $10,000 or more. 

11. Will comply with environmental standards which may be 

prescribed pursuant to the following: (a) institution of 

environmental quality control measures under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190) and 

Executive Order (EO) 11514; (b) notification of violating 

facilities pursuant to EO 11738; (c) protection of wetlands 

pursuant to EO 11990; (d) evaluation of flood hazards in 

floodplains in accordance with EO 11988; (e) assurance of 

project consistency with the approved State management 

program developed under the Coastal Zone Management Act 

of 1972 (16 U.S.C. ∋∋1451 et seq.); (f) conformity of Federal 

actions to State (Clear Air) Implementation Plans under 

Section 176(c) of the Clear Air Act of 1955, as amended (42 

U.S.C. ∋∋7401 et seq.); (g) protection of underground 

sources of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act 

of 1974, as amended, (P.L. 93-523); and (h) protection of 

endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended, (P.L. 93-205).

12 Will comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 

(16 U.S.C. ∋∋1721 et seq.) related to protecting components 

or potential components of the national wild and scenic rivers 

system.

13. Will assist the awarding agency in assuring compliance with 

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 

1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. ∋470), EO 11593 (identification 

and protection of historic properties), and the Archaeological 

and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. ∋∋469a-1 et 

seq.).

14. Will comply with P.L. 93-348 regarding the protection of 

human subjects involved in research, development, and 

related activities supported by this award of assistance. 

15. Will comply with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 

1966 (P.L. 89-544, as amended, 7 U.S.C. ∋∋2131 et seq.) 

pertaining to the care, handling, and treatment of warm 

blooded animals held for research, teaching, or other 

activities supported by this award of assistance.

16. Will comply with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention 

Act (42 U.S.C. ∋∋4801 et seq.) which prohibits the use of 

lead- based paint in construction or rehabilitation of 

residence structures.

17. Will cause to be performed the required financial and 

compliance audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act 

Amendments of 1996 and OMB Circular No. A-133, 

ΑAudits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 

Organizations.≅

18. Will comply with all applicable requirements of all other 

Federal laws, executive orders, regulations and policies 

governing this program.
51

Standard Form 424B (Rev. 7-97) Back

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICIAL TITLE

APPLICANT ORGANIZATION DATE SUBMITTED
52 

Definitions for U.S. Department of Education 

Supplemental Information for the SF-424 

Definitions:

Novice Applicant (See 34 CFR 75.225)

 

For discretionary grant programs, novice applicant means any 

applicant for a grant from ED that— 

• Has never received a grant or subgrant under the 

program from which it seeks funding;

• Has never been a member of a group application, 

submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129,

that received a grant under the program from which it 

seeks funding; and

• Has not had an active discretionary grant from the 

Federal government in the five years before the 

deadline date for applications under the program. For 

the purposes of this requirement, a grant is active until 

the end of the grant’s project or funding period, 

including any extensions of those periods that extend 

the grantee’s authority to obligate funds.

In the case of a group application submitted in accordance with 

34 CFR 75.127-75.129, a group includes only parties that meet 

the requirements listed above.

PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS IN RESEARCH

I. Definitions and Exemptions

A. Definitions.

A research activity involves human subjects if the activity is 

research, as defined in the Department’s regulations, and the 

research activity will involve use of human subjects, as defined 

in the regulations.—Research

The ED Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects, Title 

34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 97, define research as “a 

systematic investigation, including research development,

testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to 

generalizable knowledge. Activities which meet this definition 

constitute research whether or not they are conducted or 

supported under a program that is considered research for other 

purposes. For example, some demonstration and service 

programs may include research activities.”—Human Subject

The regulations define human subject as “a living individual 

about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) 

conducting research obtains (i) information or biospecimens 

through intervention or interaction with the individual and uses 

through intervention or interaction with the individual and uses, 

studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens, or (ii ) 

obtains, uses, studies, analyzes, or generate identifiable private 

information or identifiable biospecimens. ” 

If an activity involves obtaining information about a living 

person by manipulating that person or that person’s 

environment, as might occur when a new instructional technique 

is tested, or by communicating or interacting with the 

individual, as occurs with surveys and interviews, the definition 

of human subject is met. If an activity involves obtaining private

information about a living person in such a way that the 

information can be directly or indirectly linked to that 

individual), the definition of human subject is met. 

Private information includes information about behavior that 

occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect 

that no observation or recording is taking place, and information 

which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual 

and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be 

made public (for example, a school health record).

B. Exemptions.

Research activities in which the only involvement of human 

subjects will be in one or more of the following eight categories 

of exemptions are not covered by the regulations:

(1) Research conducted in established or commonly accepted 

educational settings, that specifically involves normal 

educational practices that are not likely to adversely impact 

students’ opportunity to learn required educational content or 

the assessment of educators who provide instruction. This 

includes most research on regular and special education 

instructional strategies, and research on the effectiveness of or 

the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or 

classroom management methods. If an educational practice is 

being introduced to the site and is not widely used for similar 

populations, it is not covered by this exemption.

(2) Research that only includes interactions involving 

educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), 

survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of 

public behavior (including visual or auditory recordings) if at 

least one of the following criteria is met: (i) the information 

obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that 

the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained, 

directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects; (ii) Any 

disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research 

would not reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or 

civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, 

employability, educational advancement or reputation; or (iii) 

the information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such 

a manner that the identity of the human subjects can readily be 

ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, 

and an IRB conducts a “limited IRB review” to make the 

determinations required by 34 CFR 97.111(a)(7). 

If the subjects are children, exemption 2 applies only to 

research involving educational tests and observations of public 

behavior when the investigator(s) do not participate in the 

activities being observed. 
53

Exemption 2 does not apply if children are surveyed or 

interviewed or if the research involves observation of public 

behavior and the investigator(s) participate in the activities 

being observed. Children are defined as persons who have not 

attained the legal age for consent to treatments or procedures 

involved in the research, under the applicable law or jurisdiction 

in which the research will be conducted.

(3) Research involving benign behavioral interventions in 

conjunction with the collection of information from an adult 

subject through verbal or written responses (including data

entry) or audiovisual recording if the subject prospectively 

agrees to the intervention and information collection and at least 

one of the following criteria is met: (A) The information 

obtained is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that 

the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained 

directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects; (B) Any 

disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research 

would not reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or 

civil liability or be damaging to the subject’ financial standing, 

employability, educational advancement or reputation; or (C) 

The information obtained is recorded by the investigator in such 

a manner that the identity of the human subjects can readily be 

ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, 

and an IRB conducts a limited IRB review to make the 

determination required by 34 CFR 97.111(a)(7).

For the purpose of this provision, benign behavioral 

interventions are brief in duration, harmless, painless, not 

physically invasive, not likely to have a significant adverse 

lasting impact on the subjects, and the investigator has no reason 

to think the subjects will find the interventions offensive or 

embarrassing. Provided all such criteria are met, examples of 

such benign behavioral interventions would include having the

subject play an online game, having them solve puzzles under 

various noise conditions, or having them decide how to allocate 

a nominal amount of received cash between themselves and 

someone else.

If the research involves deceiving the subjects regarding the 

nature or purposes of the research, this exemption is not 

applicable unless the subject authorizes the deception through a 

prospective agreement to participate in research in 

circumstances in which the subject is informed that he or she 

will be unaware of or misled regarding the nature or purposes of 

the research. 

(4) Secondary Research for which Consent is not required. 

Secondary research uses of identifiable private information or 

identifiable biospecimens, if at least one of the following criteria 

is men: (i) The identifiable private information or identifiable 

biospecimens are publicly available; (ii) Information, which 

may include information about biospecimens, is recorded by the 

investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human 

subjects cannot readily be ascertained directly or through 

identifiers linked to the subjects, the investigator does not 

contact the subjects, and the investigator will not re-identify 

subjects; (iii) the research involves only information collection 

and analysis involving the investigators’ use of identifiable 

health information when that use is regulated under 45 CFR 

parts 160 and 164, subparts A and E, for the purposes of “health 

care operations” or “research” as those terms are defined at 45 

CFR 164.501 or for “public health activities and purposes” as 

described under 45 CFR 164.512 (b); or (iv) The research is 

conducted by, or on behalf of, a Federal department or agency 

using government-generated or government-collected 

information obtained for nonresearch activities, if the research 

generates identifiable private information that is or will be 

maintained on information technology that is subject to and in 

compliance with section 208(b) of the E-Government Act of 

2002, 44 USC 3501 note, if all of the identifiable private 

information collected, used or generated as part of the activity 

will be maintained in systems of records subject to the Privacy 

Act of 1974, 5 USC 552a, and, if applicable, the information 

used in the research was collected subject to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, 44 USC 3501 et seq.

(5) Research and demonstration projects that are conducted or 

supported by a Federal department or agency, or otherwise 

subject to the approval of department or agency heads (or

otherwise subject to the approval of department or agency heads 

(or the approval of the heads of bureaus or other subordinate 

agencies that have been delegated authority to conduct the 

research and demonstration projects), and that are designed to 

study, evaluate, improve, or otherwise examine public benefit or 

service programs, including procedures for obtaining benefits or 

services under those programs, possible changes in or 

alternative to those programs or procedures, or possible changes 

in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under 

those programs. Such projects include, but are not limited to, 

internal studies by Federal employees, and studies under 

contracts or consulting arrangements, cooperative agreements, 

or grants. Exempt projects also include waivers of otherwise 

mandatory requirements using authorities such as sections 1115 

and 1115A of the Social Security Act as amended.

Each Federal department or agency conducting or supporting 

the research and demonstration projects must establish, on a 

publicly accessible Federal website or in such other manner as 

the department or agency head may determine, a list of the 

research and demonstration projects that the Federal department 

or agency conducts or supports under this provision. The 

research or demonstration project must be published on this list 

prior to commencing the research involving human subjects. 

(6) Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance 

studies, (a) if wholesome foods without additives are consumed 

or (b) if a food is consumed that contains a food ingredient at or 

below the level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural 

chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level 

found to be safe, by the Food and Drug Administration or 

approved by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food 

Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture.
54

(7) Storage or Maintenance for Secondary Research for which 

Broad Consent is required. Storage or maintenance of 

identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens for 

potential secondary research use if an IRB conducts a limited 

IRB review and makes the determinations requires by 34 CFR 

97.111(a)(8).

(8) Secondary Research for which Broad Consent is Required. 

Research involving the use of identifiable private information or 

identifiable biospecimens for secondary research use if the 

following criteria are met: (i) Broad Consent for the storage, 

maintenance and secondary research use of the identifiable 

private information or identifiable biospecimens was obtained in 

accordance with 34 CFR 97.116(a) (1)-(4), (a) (6) and (d); (ii) 

Documentation of informed consent or waiver of documentation 

of consent was obtained in accordance with 34 CFR 97.117. 

(iii) an IRB conducts a limited IRB review and makes the 

determination that the research to be conducted is within the 

scope of the broad consent referenced in paragraph (d)(8)(i) of 

this section; and (iv) The investigator does not prevent an 

investigator from abiding by any legal requirements to return

individual research results.

II. Instructions for Exempt and Nonexempt Human 

Subjects Research Narratives

If the applicant marked “Yes” for Item 3.b. of the U.S. 

Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF 

424, the applicant must attach a human subjects “exempt 

research” or “nonexempt research” narrative to the U.S. 

Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF424 form. If you have multiple projects, include information 

about each, labeling the responses as to the project they address. 

For applications that include multiple research projects this can 

be done in a single narrative or in more than one narrative as 

appropriate. 

A. Exempt Research Narrative.

If you marked “Yes” for item 3.b. and designated exemption 

numbers(s), attach the “exempt research” narrative to the U.S. 

Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF424. The narrative must contain sufficient information about the 

involvement of human subjects in the proposed research to 

allow a determination by ED that the designated exemption(s) 

are appropriate. The narrative must be succinct.

B. Nonexempt Research Narrative.

If you marked “No” for item 3.b. you must attach the 

“nonexempt research” narrative to the U.S. Department of 

Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424. The 

narrative must address the following seven points. Although no 

specific page limitation applies to this section of the application, 

be succinct.

(1) Human Subjects Involvement and Characteristics: 

Provide a detailed description of the proposed involvement of 

human subjects. Describe the characteristics of the subject 

population, including their anticipated number, age range, and 

health status. Identify the criteria for inclusion or exclusion of 

any subpopulation. Explain the rationale for the involvement of 

special classes of subjects, such as children, children with 

disabilities, adults with disabilities, persons with mental 

disabilities, pregnant women, prisoners, institutionalized 

individuals, or others who are likely to be vulnerable

(2) Sources of Materials: Identify the sources of research 

material obtained from individually identifiable living human 

subjects in the form of specimens, records, or data. Indicate 

whether the material or data will be obtained specifically for 

research purposes or whether use will be made of existing 

specimens, records, or data.

(3) Recruitment and Informed Consent: Describe plans for 

the recruitment of subjects and the consent procedures to be 

followed. Include the circumstances under which consent will

be sought and obtained, who will seek it, the nature of the 

information to be provided to prospective subjects, and the 

method of documenting consent. State if the Institutional 

Review Board (IRB) has authorized a modification or waiver of 

the elements of consent or the requirement for documentation of 

consent.

(4) Potential Risks: Describe potential risks (physical, 

psychological, social, legal, or other) and assess their likelihood 

and seriousness. Where appropriate, describe alternative

treatments and procedures that might be advantageous to the 

subjects.

(5) Protection Against Risk: Describe the procedures for 

protecting against or minimizing potential risks, including risks 

to confidentiality, and assess their likely effectiveness. Where

appropriate, discuss provisions for ensuring necessary medical 

or professional intervention in the event of adverse effects to the 

subjects. Also, where appropriate, describe the provisions for 

monitoring the data collected to ensure the safety of the 

subjects.

(6) Importance of the Knowledge to be Gained: Discuss the 

importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained as a result

of the proposed research. Discuss why the risks to subjects are 

reasonable in relation to the anticipated benefits to subjects and 

in relation to the importance of the knowledge that may 

reasonably be expected to result.

(7) Collaborating Site(s): If research involving human subjects 

will take place at collaborating site(s) or other performance

site(s), name the sites and briefly describe their involvement or 

role in the research.

Copies of the Department of Education’s Regulations for the 

Protection of Human Subjects, 34 CFR Part 97 and other 

pertinent materials on the protection of human subjects in 

research are available from the Office of the Chief Financial 

Officer, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 

20202-4331, telephone: (202) 245-8090, and on the U.S. 

Department of Education’s Protection of Human Subjects in 
55 

Research Web Site: 

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/humansub.html 

NOTE: The State Applicant Identifier on the SF-424 is for 

State Use only. Please complete it on the SF-424 in the upper 

right corner of the form (if applicable).
56 

Instructions for ED 524 

 General Instructions

This form is used to apply to individual U.S. Department of Education 

(ED) discretionary grant programs. Unless directed otherwise, provide 

the same budget information for each year of the multi-year funding 

request. Pay attention to applicable program specific instructions, if

attached. You may access the Education Department General 

Administrative Regulations cited within these instructions at:

http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html. You may

access requirements from 2 CFR 200, “Uniform Administrative 

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal

Awards” cited within these instructions at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/12/26/2013-

30465/uniform-administrative-requirements-cost-principles-and-auditrequirements-for-federal-awards. 

You must consult with your Business Office prior to submitting this 

form.

 Section A - Budget Summary

U.S. Department of Education Funds 

All applicants must complete Section A and provide a break-down by 

the applicable budget categories shown in lines 1-11.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e): For each project year for which funding is 

requested, show the total amount requested for each applicable budget 

category.

Lines 1-11, column (f): Show the multi-year total for each budget 

category. If funding is requested for only one project year, leave this 

column blank.

Line 12, columns (a)-(e): Show the total budget request for each 

project year for which funding is requested.

Line 12, column (f): Show the total amount requested for all project 

years. If funding is requested for only one year, leave this space blank.

Indirect Cost Information: If you are requesting reimbursement for 

indirect costs on line 10 the indirect cost rate to be charged to the grant 

must be entered in the applicable field on line 10, and the following 

information is to be completed by your Business Office. 

(1): Indicate whether or not your organization has an 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement that was approved by the Federal 

government. If you checked “no,” ED generally will authorize grantees 

to use a temporary rate of 10 percent of budgeted salaries and wages 

(complete (4) of this section when using the temporary rate) subject 

to the following limitations: 

(a) The grantee must submit an indirect cost proposal to its 

cognizant agency within 90 days after ED issues a grant award 

notification; and 

(b) If after the 90-day period, the grantee has not submitted 

an indirect cost proposal to its cognizant agency, the grantee may not 

charge its grant for indirect costs until it has negotiated an indirect cost 

rate agreement with its cognizant agency. 

(2): If you checked “yes” in (1), indicate in (2) the 

beginning and ending dates covered by the Indirect Cost Rate 

Agreement. In addition, indicate whether ED, another Federal agency 

(Other) or State agency issued the approved agreement. If you check 

“Other,” specify the name of the Federal or other agency that issued 

the approved agreement.

(3): If you check “no” in (1), indicate in (3) if you want to 

use the de minimis rate of 10 percent of MTDC (see 2CFR § 200.68). 

If you use the de minimis rate, you are subject to the provisions in 2 

CFR § 200.414(f). Note, you may only use the 10 percent de minimis 

rate if you are a first-time Federal grant recipient, and you do not have 

an Approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. You may not use the de 

minimis rate if you are a State, Local government, or Indian Tribe, or 

if your grant is funded under a training rate or restricted rate program. 

(5): If you are applying for a grant under a Restricted Rate 

Program (34 CFR 75.563 or 76.563), indicate whether you are using a 

restricted indirect cost rate that is included on your approved Indirect 

Cost Rate Agreement, or whether you are using a restricted indirect 

cost rate that complies with 34 CFR 76.564(c)(2). Note: State or 

Local government agencies may not use the provision for a restricted 

indirect cost rate specified in 34 CFR 76.564(c)(2). Check only one 

response. Leave blank, if this item is not applicable.

(6): For Training Rate Programs, ED regulations limit 

non-governmental entities to the recovery of indirect costs on 

training grants to the grantee’s actual indirect costs, as determined by 

its negotiated rate agreement, or 8 percent of a MTDC, whichever is

lower (see EDGAR § 75.562(c)(4)). The 8 percent limit also applies 

to cost-type contracts under grants, if these contracts are for training 

as defined in EDGAR § 75.562(a). If a non-governmental entity

that receives a grant under a training grant program does not have an 

approved indirect cost rate and wants to recover indirect costs, it may 

use a temporary rate of 10 percent of budgeted direct salaries and 

wages, but it must submit an indirect cost rate proposal to its 

cognizant agency for indirect costs within 90 days after ED issues the 

GAN. After the 90-day period, the government entity may not charge 

its grant for indirect costs until it has negotiated an indirect cost rate 

agreement.

Section B - Budget Summary

Non-Federal Funds

If you are required to provide or volunteer to provide cost-sharing or 

matching funds or other non-Federal resources to the project, these 

should be shown for each applicable budget category on lines 1-11 of 

Section B.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e): For each project year, for which 

matching funds or other contributions are provided, show the total 

contribution for each applicable budget category.

Lines 1-11, column (f): Show the multi-year total for each budget 

category. If non-Federal contributions are provided for only one year, 

leave this column blank.

Line 12, columns (a)-(e): Show the total matching or other contribution 

for each project year.

Line 12, column (f): Show the total amount to be contributed for all 

years of the multi-year project. If non-Federal contributions are

provided for only one year, leave this space blank.

Section C - Budget Narrative [Attach separate sheet(s)]

Pay attention to applicable program specific instructions, 

if attached.

1. Provide an itemized budget breakdown, and justification by 

project year, for each budget category listed in Sections A and 

B. For grant projects that will be divided into two or more 

separately budgeted major activities or sub-projects, show for 

each budget category of a project year the breakdown of the 

specific expenses attributable to each sub-project or activity.

2. For non-Federal funds or resources listed in Section B that are 

used to meet a cost-sharing or matching requirement or 

provided as a voluntary cost-sharing or matching commitment, 

you must include: 

a. The specific costs or contributions by budget category; 

b. The source of the costs or contributions; and

c. In the case of third-party in-kind contributions, a description of 

how the value was determined for the donated or contributed

goods or services. 

[Please review cost sharing and matching regulations found in 2 

CFR 200.306.]

3. If applicable to this program, provide the rate and base on 

which fringe benefits are calculated.

4. If you are requesting reimbursement for indirect costs on line 

10, this information is to be completed by your Business 

Office. Specify the estimated amount of the base to which the

indirect cost rate is applied and the total indirect expense. 

Depending on the grant program to which you are applying 

and/or your approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, some 

direct cost budget categories in your grant application budget 

may not be included in the base and multiplied by your indirect 

cost rate. For example, you must multiply the indirect cost 

rates of “Training grants" (34 CFR 75.562) and grants under 

programs with “Supplement not Supplant” requirements 

("Restricted Rate" programs) by a “modified total direct cost” 

(MTDC) base (34 CFR 75.563 or 76.563). Please indicate 

which costs are included and which costs are excluded from the 

base to which the indirect cost rate is applied. 
57 

When calculating indirect costs (line 10) for "Training grants" or 

grants under "Restricted Rate" programs, you must refer to the

information and examples on ED’s website at: 

http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html. 

You may also contact (202) 377-3838 for additional information 

regarding calculating indirect cost rates or general indirect cost 

rate information. 

5. Provide other explanations or comments you deem necessary.

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 

required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection 

displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number 

for this information collection is 1894-0008. The time required to 

complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 13 to 22 

hours per response, with an average of 17.5 hours per response, 

including the time to review instructions, search existing data sources, 

gather the data needed, and complete and review the information 

collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the 

time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: 

U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537. If you 

have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual 

submission of this form, write directly to (insert program office), U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, 

D.C. 20202. 
58 

OMB Control No. 1894-0005 (Exp. 04/30/2020) 

NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS

The purpose of this enclosure is to inform you about a 

new provision in the Department of Education's 

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that 

applies to applicants for new grant awards under

Department programs. This provision is Section 427 

of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving America's 

Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law (P.L.) 103-382).

To Whom Does This Provision Apply?

Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new grant 

awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS 

FOR NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE 

INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO 

ADDRESS THIS NEW PROVISION IN ORDER

TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS 

PROGRAM.

(If this program is a State-formula grant program, a 

State needs to provide this description only for 

projects or activities that it carries out with funds 

reserved for State-level uses. In addition, local school 

districts or other eligible applicants that apply to the 

State for funding need to provide this description in 

their applications to the State for funding. The State 

would be responsible for ensuring that the school 

district or other local entity has submitted a sufficient 

section 427 statement as described below.)

What Does This Provision Require?

Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other

than an individual person) to include in its 

application a description of the steps the applicant 

proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and 

participation in, its Federally-assisted program for 

students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries 

with special needs. This provision allows applicants 

discretion in developing the required description. The 

statute highlights six types of barriers that can impede 

equitable access or participation: gender, race, 

national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on 

local circumstances, you should determine whether 

these or other barriers may prevent your students, 

teachers, etc. from such access or participation in, the 

Federally-funded project or activity. The description

in your application of steps to be taken to overcome 

these barriers need not be lengthy; you may provide a 

clear and succinct description of how you plan to 

address those barriers that are applicable to your 

circumstances. In addition, the information may be 

provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate, may 

be discussed in connection with related topics in the 

application.

Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the 

requirements of civil rights statutes, but rather to 

ensure that, in designing their projects, applicants 

for Federal funds address equity concerns that may 

affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries 

to fully participate in the project and to achieve to 

high standards. Consistent with program 

requirements and its approved application, an 

applicant may use the Federal funds awarded to it 

to eliminate barriers it identifies.

What are Examples of How an Applicant Might 

Satisfy the Requirement of This Provision?

The following examples may help illustrate how 

an applicant may comply with Section 427.

(1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult 

literacy project serving, among others, adults with 

limited English proficiency, might describe in its 

application how it intends to distribute a brochure 

about the proposed project to such potential 

participants in their native language.

(2) An applicant that proposes to develop 

instructional materials for classroom use might 

describe how it will make the materials available 

on audio tape or in braille for students who are 

blind. 

(3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model 

science program for secondary students and is 

concerned that girls may be less likely than boys to 

enroll in the course, might indicate how it intends

to conduct "outreach" efforts to girls, to encourage 

their enrollment.

(4) An applicant that proposes a project to increase 

school safety might describe the special efforts it 

will take to address concern of lesbian, gay, 

bisexual, and transgender students, and efforts to 

reach out to and involve the families of LGBT 

students

We recognize that many applicants may already be 

implementing effective steps to ensure equity of 

access and participation in their grant programs, 

and we appreciate your cooperation in responding 

to the requirements of this provision.

Estimated Burden Statement for GEPA Requirements

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such

collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average

1.5 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data

needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or 

retain benefit (Public Law 103-382. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-

4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1894-0005.
59

According to the PaperworkReduction Act, as amended, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid

OMB Control Number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is OMB No. 0348-0046. Public reporting burden for this

collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data

sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding the

burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of

Managementand Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0046), Washington, DC 20503.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF SF-LLL, DISCLOSURE OF 

LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

This disclosure form shall be completed by the reporting entity, whether subawardee or prime Federal recipient, at the initiation or

receipt of a covered Federal action, or a materialchange to a previous filing, pursuant to title 31 U.S.C. section 1352. The filing of

a form is required for each payment or agreementto make payment to any lobbying entity for influencing or attempting to influence

an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member

of Congress in connectionwith a coveredFederal action. Complete all items that apply for both the initial filing and material change

report. Refer to the implementing guidance published by the Office of Management and Budget for additional information.

1. Identify the type of covered Federal action for which lobbying activity is and/or has been secured to influence the

outcome of a covered Federal action.

2. Identify the status of the covered Federal action.

3. Identify the appropriate classification of this report. If this is a followup report caused by a material change to the

information previously reported, enter the year and quarter in which the change occurred. Enter the date of the last

previouslysubmitted report by this reporting entity for this coveredFederal action.

4. Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the reporting entity. Include Congressional District, if known.

Check the appropriate classification of the reporting entity that designates if it is, or expects to be, a prime or

subaward recipient. Identify the tier of the subawardee, e.g., the first subawardee of the prime is the 1st tier.

Subawards include but are not limited to subcontracts, subgrants and contract awards under grants.

5. If the organization filing the report in item 4 checks "Subawardee," then enter the full name, address, city, State

and zip code of the prime Federal recipient. Include Congressional District, if known.

6. Enter the name of the Federal agency making the award or loan commitment. Include at least one organizational level

belowagency name, if known. For example, Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard.

7. Enter the Federal program name or description for the covered Federal action (item 1). If known, enter the full

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and loan

commitments.

8. Enter the most appropriate Federal identifying number available for the Federal action identified in item 1 (e.g.,

Request for Proposal (RFP) number; Invitation for Bid (IFB) number; grant announcement number; the contract,

grant, or loan award number; the application/proposal control number assigned by the Federal agency). Include

prefixes, e.g., "RFP-DE-90-001."

9. For a covered Federal action where there has been an award or loan commitment by the Federal agency, enter the

Federal amount of the award/loan commitment for the prime entity identified in item 4 or 5.

10. (a) Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the lobbying registrant under the Lobbying

Disclosure Act of 1995 engaged by the reporting entity identified in item 4 to influence the covered Federal action.

(b) Enter the full names of the individual(s) performing services, and include full address if different from 10 (a). Enter

Last Name, First Name, and Middle Initial (MI).

11. The certifying official shall sign and date the form, print his/her name, title, and telephone number.
60 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BUDGET SUMMARY AND 

ITEMIZED LINE ITEM BUDGET 

NOTE: Applicants must submit: (1) budget information that categorizes the requested funds 

(ED Form 524), AND (2) a detailed budget narrative for the 36-month budget period. 

The budget summary is to be included on the Budget Information – Non-Construction 

Programs (ED Form 524). 

The budget narrative is to be included in the selection criteria under Adequacy of Resources to 

detail the support you are requesting, in your Project Narrative. A separate budget narrative 

attachment should include an itemized budget for your 36-month project period (which does not 

count toward the 50-page limit). 

This section requests information on the applicant’s financial plan for carrying out the project. 

The federal and any non-federal shares are to be included on the Budget Information – NonConstruction Programs (ED Form 524), and in the Budget selection criterion discussion in the 

Project Narrative. 

The Budget Information-Section A – Budget Summary – Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 

524) and the Budget Narrative must include all costs that are allowable, reasonable and 

necessary for carrying out the objectives of the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student 

Success Program. Among the costs that may be supported with grant funds are: 

1. Personnel: On line 1 (ED Form 524), enter only the project personnel salaries and wages. 

[Fees and expenses for consultants should be included on line 8.] The budget should include 

the total commitment of time and the total salary to be charged to the project for each key 

staff member. You should provide a breakdown of project personnel that includes: the 

position titles; the percent of time and number of months committed to the project for each 

key staff member; the salary for each key staff member; and the total salary costs to be 

charged to the grant. 

2. Fringe Benefits: On line 2 (ED Form 524), enter the amount of fringe benefits. The 

institution or agency’s normal fringe benefit contribution may be charged to the program. 

Leave this blank if fringe benefits applicable to direct salaries and wages are treated as part 

of the indirect costs. In the budget, include an explanation and appropriate justification if the 

institution or agency’s normal fringe benefit contribution exceeds 20 percent of salaries.

3. Travel: On line 3 (ED Form 524), provide the costs for project personnel. [Consultants’ 

travel should be included on line 8.] In the budget, you should detail the proposed travel 

costs: for each trip explain the purpose and objective of the travel and provide the number of 

persons traveling. In addition to the project travel, include in the budget not more than 

$2,000 for travel by the project director and one other participant to a project directors’ 
61 

meeting in Washington, D.C. Transportation costs should not exceed tourist class airfare. 

For automobile mileage, the established institution or agency rate should be used. 

Reimbursement is allowed for taxicab, bus, train, or limousine transportation. Per diem at 

the established institution or agency rate is permitted when an individual is away from home 

overnight on official project business (see OMB Circular A-21, J.48.c - Commercial Air 

Travel). No foreign travel will be authorized under the grant. 

All travel must be related to the project’s overall purpose and proposed activities. 

4. Equipment: On line 4 (ED Form 524), indicate the cost of equipment -- non-expendable 

personal property, which has a usefulness of greater than one year and an acquisition cost of 

$5,000 or more per unit. [Consistent with an applicant’s policy, a lower dollar amount may 

be used to define equipment.] In the budget, explain why the requested equipment is 

necessary to carry out project activities, and include a list of all equipment in the following 

format: item, quantity, cost per unit, and total cost. 

5. Supplies: On line 5 (ED Form 524), include the costs of all tangible personal property that 

was not included as “equipment” on line 4. In the budget, provide an itemized list of the 

supplies.

6. Contractual: Not applicable. Leave blank. 

7. Construction: Not applicable. Leave blank.

8. Other: On line 8 (ED Form 524), indicate all direct costs not covered on lines 1 through 5. 

The costs/fees for consultants and consultants’ travel should be included here. Examples of 

“other” costs are: equipment rental, required fees, communication costs, rental of space, 

utilities, custodial services, and printing costs. In the budget, provide a breakdown of all 

direct costs not clearly covered by other budget categories. 

Consultants: If the project proposes to use consultants, identify the consultants who will

work on the project, the scope of work to be performed by each consultant, and justify why 

project personnel cannot perform this work. Also, provide a detailed breakdown of the costs 

(daily fees to be paid, estimated number of days of services, and all travel expenses, 

including per diem). Cost allowances for consultant fees, honoraria, per diem, and travel 

should not exceed amounts permitted by comparable institutional or agency policies. 

9. Total Direct Costs: On line 9 (ED Form 524), provide the total direct costs requested – the 

sum of lines 1 through 8. 

10. Indirect Costs: On line 10 (ED Form 524), provide the amount of indirect costs that you 

propose to charge against the grant. 

All grants awarded under the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program are

designated as training grants. The Education Department General Administrative 

Regulations (EDGAR) limit reimbursement to grantees for indirect costs they incur under 
62 

training grants to the grantee’s actual indirect costs as determined by the grantee’s negotiated 

indirect cost agreement or a maximum of 8 percent of a modified total direct cost base, 

whichever is less. (NOTE: This limitation does not apply to State agencies, or local 

governments, or federally recognized Indian tribal governments. [§75.562(c) (2)])

A modified total direct cost base is defined as total direct costs, less stipends, tuition and 

related fees, and capital expenditures of $5,000 or more per unit. Therefore, calculations of 

indirect costs may not include cost of equipment, stipends, tuition and related fees, room and 

board and summer non-residential meals associated with the Centers of Excellence for 

Veteran Student Success Program. 

Grantees charging indirect costs to a Department grant are required to have a negotiated rate 

with their cognizant agency (i.e., either the Federal agency from which it has received the 

most direct funding that is subject to indirect cost support, or a particular agency specifically 

assigned cognizance by the Office of Management and Budget). Although applicants are not 

required to submit with their application a copy of their indirect cost agreement to claim the 8 

percent rate for funding received in this program, they are required to have documentation 

available for audit that shows that their negotiated indirect cost rate is at least 8 percent 

[§75.563(d)]. In the event that they receive an award under this program, applicants without 

a negotiated indirect cost rate with its cognizant agency should seek to identify that agency 

and contact it to obtain an approved rate as soon as possible after award notification. 

Applicants should be aware that amounts representing the difference between the 8 percent 

rate and a greater indirect cost rate negotiated with a cognizant agency may not be charged to 

direct cost categories, used to satisfy matching or cost-sharing requirements, or charged to 

another Federal award. [§75.563(c) (3)] 

11. Training Stipends: Not applicable. Leave blank. 

12. Total Costs: On line 12 (ED Form 524), provide the total amount that you are requesting – 

the sum of lines 9 and 10. Note: This amount should also be the same as that shown in 18g 

on the application face sheet (SF 424) and on the detailed budget narrative. 

 
63 

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT (GPRA) 

What is GPRA?

The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) is a straightforward statute that 

requires all federal agencies to manage their activities with attention to the consequences of those 

activities. Each agency is to clearly state what it intends to accomplish, identify the resources 

required, and periodically report their progress to the Congress. In so doing, it is expected that 

the GPRA will contribute to improvements in accountability for the expenditures of public funds, 

improve Congressional decision-making through more objective information on the effectiveness 

of federal programs, and promote a new government focus on results, service delivery, and 

customer satisfaction. 

How has the Department of Education Responded to the GPRA Requirements?

As required by GPRA, the Department of Education has prepared a strategic plan for 2018-2022. 

This plan reflects the Department’s priorities and integrates them with its mission and program 

authorities and describes how the Department will work to improve education for all children 

and adults in the U.S. The Department’s goals, as listed in the plan, are:

Goal 1: Support state and local efforts to improve learning outcomes for all P-12 students in 

every community. 

Goal 2: Expand postsecondary educational opportunities, improve outcomes to foster economic 

opportunity and promote an informed, thoughtful and productive citizenry. 

Goal 3: Strengthen the quality, accessibility and use of education data through better 

management, increased privacy protections and transparency. 

Goal 4: Reform the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of the Department.

What are the performance indicators for this Program? 

Goal 2: These performance indicators will be used to measure the success of the Centers of 

Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program: 

The extent to which the project is institutionalized at the end of the project period; and the extent 

to which funded projects increase enrollment, persistence, and completion rates of veteran 

students at their institutions.

If funded, you will be asked to collect and report data from your project on steps taken toward 

achieving these goals. Applicants to this competition are advised to include the performance 

indicators in conceptualizing the design, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed project. 

These indicators are related to some of the review criteria discussed in this application package, 

and it is, therefore, important to the success of your application that you address them. The 
64 

assessment of these performance indicators, along with measures of goals and objectives specific 

to your project design, are to be part of the project evaluation plan.

How does the Department of Education determine whether performance goals have been 

met?

An applicant that receives a grant award will be required to submit annual progress reports and a 

final report as a condition of the award. The reports will document the extent to which project 

goals and objectives are met. 

Information about the annual performance report data collection form can be viewed at 

HTTPS://HEPIS.ed.gov/. 

 
65 

APPLICATION CHECKLIST 

Use This Checklist While Preparing Your Application Package. All items listed on this checklist 

are required except as noted. 

 Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) 

 Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424 

 Department of Education Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form 

(ED 524) 

 One-page Program Abstract (Use “ED Abstract Form”) 

 Project Narrative for the proposed grant (Use “Project Narrative Attachment Form”)

 Budget Narrative (“Use Budget Narrative Attachment Form”) 

 Other Attachments (Use “Other Attachments Form”) 

 Competitive Preference Priorities- Optional, titled: “Competitive Preference Priority” 

 Absolute Priority

 Assurances and Certifications 

 

Assurances Non-Construction Programs SF-424B 

 Grants.gov Lobbying Form (ED 80-0013) 

 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) 

 ED GEPA 427 Form (Mandatory for this Competition)
66 

PAPERWORK BURDEN STATEMENT 

 

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a 

collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public 

reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per response, 

including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 

maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The 

obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (Section 873 of the 

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or 

any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, 

to regulations.gov during the public comment period for this collection of information. If you 

have specific questions about the form, instrument or survey, please contact: Centers of 

Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202.