[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13702-13707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03156]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research 
Abroad (FRA) Fellowship Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications (NIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the 
Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowship Program, 
Assistance Listing Number 84.019A. This notice relates to the approved 
information collection under OMB control number 1840-0005.

[[Page 13703]]


DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 23, 2024.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 23, 2024.
    Preapplication Webinar and Applicant Resources: The Department will 
hold a preapplication meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. 
Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the 
Fulbright-Hays FRA website at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsfra/applicant.html. For additional information about the Department's 
discretionary grant process, please review the overview and resources 
at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/grantmaking/index.html. The resources 
will be especially helpful for individuals who are exploring the 
Department's funding opportunities for the first time.

ADDRESSES: The addresses pertinent to this competition--including the 
addresses for obtaining and submitting an application--can be found 
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Pamela J. Maimer, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: 
(202) 453-6891. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3c7a6e7d7c5958125b534a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4d0b1f0c0d2829632a223b">[email protected]</span></a>.
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Fulbright-Hays FRA Fellowship Program 
provides grants to colleges and universities to fund fellowships for 
faculty members seeking to improve their area studies and foreign 
language skills by conducting research abroad. The program is designed 
to contribute to the development and improvement of the study of modern 
foreign languages and area studies in the United States.
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and three 
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority and Competitive Preference 
Priorities 1 and 2 are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 
663.21(d)). Competitive Preference Priority 3 is from the Secretary's 
Notice of Final 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 2024, this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Specific Geographic Regions of the World.
    A research project that focuses on one or more of the following 
geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific 
Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and 
Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and 
its territories).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2024, the following 
priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional 1 point to an application that 
meets Competitive Preference Priority 1; an additional 2 points to an 
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2; and an 
additional 3 points to an application that meets Competitive Preference 
Priority 3, for a maximum of 6 additional points.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Focus on Less Commonly Taught 
Languages (1 point).
    A research project that focuses on any modern foreign language 
except French, German, or Spanish.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Thematic Focus on Academic 
Fields (2 points).
    A research project conducted in modern foreign languages and area 
studies with an academic focus on any of the following academic fields: 
science (including climate change), technology, engineering (including 
infrastructure studies), mathematics, computer science, education 
(comparative or international), international development, political 
science, public health (including epidemiology), or economics.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3--Promoting Equity in Student 
Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (3 points).
    Projects implemented by one or more 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 College or University (as defined in this notice).
    (4) Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice).
    Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental 
Priorities.
    Community college means ``junior or community college'' as defined 
in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA).
    Historically Black Colleges and Universities means colleges and 
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
    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 Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (HEA).
    Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in section 
316(b)(3) of the HEA.
    Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).
    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, 81, 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 regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 663.21. 
(e) The Supplemental Priorities.
    Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not 
apply to this program.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to 
individual beneficiaries.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$10,311,000 for the Fulbright-Hays Overseas programs in FY 2024. We 
intend to use an estimated $750,000 for the FRA competition. The actual 
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $25,000-$40,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $30,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 25.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months. 
Faculty may request funding for a period of no less than 3 months and 
no more than 12 months.

[[Page 13704]]

III. Eligibility Information

    1. a. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs). 
Eligible faculty members at the IHE submit their individual research 
narratives and application forms to their home IHE representative, who 
compiles all research narratives from faculty and incorporates them 
into the grant application package that the institution submits 
electronically through the Department's G6 system on behalf of all 
applicant faculty.
    b. Individuals Eligible to Receive a Fellowship: A faculty member 
is eligible to receive a fellowship if the individual--is a citizen or 
national of the United States, or is a permanent resident of the United 
States; is employed by an IHE; has been engaged in teaching relevant to 
their foreign language or area studies specialization for the two years 
immediately preceding the date of the award; proposes research relevant 
to their modern foreign language or area studies specialization, which 
is not dissertation research for a doctoral degree; and possesses 
sufficient foreign language skills to carry out the dissertation 
research project.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Administrative Cost Limitation: In accordance with 34 CFR 
663.30(d), the Secretary awards the institution an administrative 
allowance of $100 for each fellowship listed in the grant award 
document.
    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. Address to Request Application Package: Both IHEs and faculty 
applicants can obtain an application package via the internet or from 
the Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the 
internet, use the following address: www.G6.ed.gov. To obtain a copy 
from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: ED Pubs, U.S. 
Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. 
Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a 
TDD or a TTY, call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its website, www.EDPubs.gov, or at its 
email address, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9df8f9ede8ffeeddf4f3f8e9b3f8f9b3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e0858490958293a0898e8594ce8584ce878f96">[email protected]</span></a>.
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program as follows: Assistance Listing Number 84.019A.
    2. Submission Dates and Times: Submit applications for grants under 
the program electronically using G6.ed.gov. For information (including 
dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, 
please refer to Other Submission Requirements.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. If the 
Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual 
with a disability in connection with the application process, the 
individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and 
limitations in this notice.
    3. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    5. 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 10 pages and the bibliography to 
no more than two pages and (2) use the following standards:
    <bullet> A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    <bullet> 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; 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurance and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, 
the biography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
    6. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number 
(TIN), and System for Award Management (SAM): To do business with the 
Department, you must--
    a. Have a UEI number and a TIN;
    b. Register both your UEI number and TIN with SAM, the Government's 
primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2 to 5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database. 
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial 
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow 
sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS/UEI number and TIN. We 
strongly recommend that you register early.
    Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can submit an application through G6.
    If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make 
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with 
your DUNS/UEI number is correct. Also note that you will need to update 
your registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS/UEI number and TIN 
in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, please visit https://sam.gov/content/help.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless an IHE qualifies 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Submit applications for grants under the Fulbright-Hays FRA 
Fellowship Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.019A, electronically 
using the G6 system, accessible through the

[[Page 13705]]

Department's G6 site at: www.G6.ed.gov. While completing the electronic 
application, both the IHE and the faculty applicant will be entering 
data online that will be saved into a database. Neither the IHE nor the 
faculty applicant may email an electronic copy of a grant application 
to us.
    Please note the following:
    <bullet> The process for submitting applications electronically 
under the Fulbright-Hays FRA Fellowship Program requires several steps. 
The following is a brief overview of the process; however, all 
applicants should review the detailed description of the application 
process in the application package. In summary, the major steps are:
    (1) IHEs must email the name of the institution and the full name 
and email address of the project director to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96d0c4d7d6f3f2b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="014753404164652f666e77">[email protected]</span></a>. We suggest 
that applicant IHEs submit this information no later than 2 weeks prior 
to the application deadline date to ensure that they obtain access to 
G6 well before that date;
    (2) Faculty applicants must complete their individual applications 
and submit them to their home IHE project director using G6;
    (3) Persons providing references for individual faculty applicants 
must complete and submit reference forms to the IHE's project director, 
using G6; and
    (4) The IHE's project director must officially submit the IHE's 
application, including all eligible individual faculty applications, 
reference forms, and other required forms, using G6.
    <bullet> The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the 
grant application by 11:59:59 p.m., eastern time, on the application 
deadline date. G6 will not accept an application for this competition 
after 11:59:59 p.m., eastern time, on the application deadline date. 
Therefore, we strongly recommend that both the IHE and the faculty 
applicant begin the application process early and not wait until close 
to the application deadline date to prepare their applications. The 
table below shows the days and times that the G6 website will be 
available.

                                                          G6 Hours of Operation in Eastern Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Sunday                     Monday              Tuesday            Wednesday           Thursday             Friday             Saturday
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unavailable from 03:00 p.m.-      Unavailable from    Available 24 hours  Unavailable from    Unavailable from    Available 24 hours  Available 24
 11:59 p.m.                        12:00 a.m.-06:00                        09:00 p.m.-11:59    12:00 a.m.-06:00                        hours.
                                   a.m.                                    p.m.                a.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Faculty applicants will not receive additional points 
because they submit their applications in electronic format, nor will 
we penalize an IHE or faculty applicant if the applicant qualifies for 
an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described 
elsewhere in this section, and submits an application in paper format.
    <bullet> IHEs must upload all application documents electronically, 
including the following forms: the Application for Federal Assistance 
(SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 
424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all 
necessary assurances and certifications.
    <bullet> Both IHEs and faculty applicants must upload the narrative 
sections and all other attachments to their application as files in a 
read-only flattened Portable Document Format (PDF), meaning any 
fillable documents must be saved and submitted as nonfillable PDF 
files. Do not upload any interactive or fillable PDF files. If you 
upload a file type other than a read-only, nonmodifiable PDF (e.g., 
Word, Excel, WordPerfect) or submit a password-protected file, we will 
be unable to review that material. Please note that this will likely 
result in your application not being considered for funding. The 
Department will not convert material from other formats to PDF.
    <bullet> Prior to submitting your electronic application, please 
redact any personally identifiable information (SSN, birthdate, etc.). 
You may wish to print a copy of your application package for your 
records.
    <bullet> After the individual faculty applicant electronically 
submits their application to the IHE, the faculty applicant will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment from the G6 system. After the 
person designated to provide a reference submits the reference 
electronically to the Department on behalf of a faculty applicant, they 
will receive an electronic confirmation from the G6 system. After the 
applicant IHE submits its application, including all eligible 
individual faculty applications to the Department, the applicant IHE 
will also receive an automated acknowledgment from G6 that will include 
a unique PR/Award number for the IHE's application.
    <bullet> Within 3 working days after submitting its electronic 
application, the applicant IHE must--
    (1) Print the SF 424 from G6;
    (2) Have the Authorizing Representative sign this form;
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right-hand corner of the 
hard copy signature page of the SF 424; and
    (4) Email the signed SF 424 to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#632531222306074d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3f5e1f2f3d6d79dd4dcc5">[email protected]</span></a>.
    <bullet> We may request that you provide hard copies with original 
signatures for other forms in the application at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If an IHE is prevented from electronically submitting 
its application on the application deadline date because the G6 system 
is unavailable, we will grant the IHE an extension until 11:59:59 p.m., 
Eastern Time, the following business day to enable the IHE to transmit 
its application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will 
grant this extension if--
    (1) The IHE is a registered user of the G6 system and the IHE has 
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
    (2) G6 is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of 
8:30 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., eastern time, on the application deadline 
date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting the IHE an extension. To request a time extension due 
to G6 unavailability or to confirm our acknowledgment of G6's 
unavailability, an IHE may contact either (1) the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or (2) the e-Grants help desk at 1-888-
336-8930. If G6 is unavailable due to technical problems with the 
system and the application deadline is extended, an email will be sent 
to all registered users who have initiated a G6 application. The 
deadline date extensions described in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of the G6 system.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications. 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.

[[Page 13706]]

    The prior written notification may be submitted by email or by mail 
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. If you 
submit your 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.
    If you submit a paper application, you must have, and include on 
your application, a DUNS/UEI number and mail the original and two 
copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of 
Education, OFO/G6 Functional Application Team, Mail Stop 5C231, 
Attention: 84.019A, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The IHE must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the 
following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.
    We will not consider applications postmarked after the application 
deadline date.
    Note for Mail Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail your 
application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and in Item 11 of the SF 424 
the ALN, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under 
which you are submitting your application; and
    (2) The G6 Functional Application Team will notify you of the 
Department's receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive 
this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline 
date, you should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 663.21 and are as 
follows:
    (a) Quality of proposed project (70 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the quality of the research project 
proposed by the applicant. The Secretary considers--
    (1) The statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or questions 
to be examined, and the description and justification of the research 
methods to be used (20 points);
    (2) The relationship of the research to the literature on the topic 
and to major theoretical issues in the field, and the project's 
importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline (10 points);
    (3) The preliminary research already completed or plans for 
research prior to going overseas, and the kinds, quality and 
availability of data for the research in the host country or countries 
(10 points);
    (4) The justification for overseas field research, and preparations 
to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and 
affiliations abroad (10 points);
    (5) The applicant's plans to share the results of the research in 
progress with scholars and officials of the host country or countries 
and the American scholarly community (5 points); and
    (6) The objectives of the project regarding the sponsoring 
institution's plans for developing or strengthening, or both, curricula 
in modern foreign languages and area studies (15 points).
    (b) Qualifications of the applicant (30 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the 
applicant. In coordination with any priorities established under 
paragraph (d) of this section, the Secretary considers one or more of 
the following--
    (1) The overall strength of applicant's academic record (teaching, 
research, contributions, professional association activities) (10 
points);
    (2) The applicant's excellence as a teacher or researcher, or both, 
in his or her area or areas of specialization (5 points);
    (3) The applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages 
(other than English) of the host country or countries of research (5 
points);
    (4) The extent to which the applicant's academic record 
demonstrates steps taken to further improve advanced language 
proficiency to overcome any anticipated language barriers relative to 
the proposed research project (5 points); and
    (5) The applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign 
cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant's previous overseas 
experience, or documentation provided by the sponsoring institution, or 
both (5 points).
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
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).
    For FY 2024, faculty applications are divided into seven categories 
based on the world area focus of their research projects, as described 
in the absolute priority listed in this notice. Foreign language and 
area studies experts on discrete world area-based panels will evaluate 
the faculty applications. Each panel reviews, scores, and ranks its 
assigned applications separately from the applications assigned to the 
other world area panels. At the conclusion of the panel review process, 
however, all faculty applications will be ranked together from the 
highest to lowest score for funding recommendation purposes.
    If there are applications on the rank order slate with the same 
average score, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's policy 
governing veteran's preference will be used in the tiebreaker and 
selection process. Veteran's preference will be used first to determine 
which application to recommend for funding. This means that in 
instances where two or more applications have the same average score on 
the rank order slate, and there are insufficient funds to support all 
of the equally ranked applications, the veteran's application will be 
given preference.
    For applications that have tied average scores but are not subject 
to the veteran's preference, the Department will use the average score 
assigned on the Technical Review Forms for the ``Quality of the 
proposed project'' selection criterion. If a tie still exists, the 
average score for selection criterion

[[Page 13707]]

(a)(1) under ``Quality of proposed project'' (20 points) will be used 
as the tiebreaker. A final tiebreaker, should it become necessary, will 
use the average score assigned for the ``Qualifications of the 
applicant'' selection criterion.
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition, the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 
3474.10, 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 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. 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 the 
IHE's U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send the IHE a Grant 
Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify the IHE informally.
    If a faculty application is not evaluated or not selected for 
funding, we notify the IHE.
    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 its binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measure: For the purpose of Department reporting 
under 34 CFR 75.110, the Department will use the following performance 
measure:
    FRA Measure: The percentage of Fulbright-Hays FRA fellows who 
increased their foreign language scores in speaking, reading, or 
writing by at least one proficiency level.

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
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.

Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-03156 Filed 2-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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