[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86323-86329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25127]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation 
Research Abroad Fellowship Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

[[Page 86324]]


ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral 
Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: October 30, 2024.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 15, 2025.
    Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a 
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. 
Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the 
DDRA website at https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-higher-education/ifle/fulbright-hays-doctoral-dissertation-research-abroad#How-To-Apply.
    For additional information about the Department's discretionary 
grant process, especially for new potential grantees unfamiliar with 
grantmaking at the Department, please review the Education Grants: 
Application, Management, & Closeout website 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: 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#0e4a4a5c4f4e6b6a20696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e0a4a4b2a1a08584ce878f96">[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 DDRA Fellowship Program 
provides opportunities for doctoral students to engage in dissertation 
research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. 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.
    Assistance Listing Number: 84.022A.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-0005.
    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 
662.21(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 2025, 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 2025, these priorities 
are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
award an additional two points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 1; an additional two points to an application that 
meets Competitive Preference Priority 2; and an additional two points 
to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3 (up to 6 
additional points possible).
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Focus on Less Commonly Taught 
Languages (2 points).
    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).
    Applications that propose dissertation research projects 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, psychology, social work, 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 (2 points).
    The project will be implemented by one of the following entities:
    <bullet> Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined 
in this notice).
    <bullet> Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice).
    <bullet> Tribal colleges and universities (as defined in this 
notice).
    Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental 
Priorities and 34 CFR 662.7.
    Area studies means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects 
of a society or societies, including the study of their geography, 
history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, and 
languages.
    Binational commission means an educational and cultural commission 
established, through an agreement between the United States and either 
a foreign government or an international organization, to carry out 
functions in connection with the DDRA Fellowship program.
    Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and 
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
    Institution of Higher Education means the definition contained in 
34 CFR 600.4.
    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.
    Note: Hispanic-Serving Institutions that meet the criteria in 34 
CFR 606.2(a) are, among other qualifying institutions, ``minority-
serving institutions.''
    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 (OMB) 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 Guidance for Federal Assistance 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 662. 
(e) The Supplemental Priorities.

[[Page 86325]]

    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: $8,249,000 for the Fulbright-Hays 
Overseas programs. We intend to use an estimated $3,000,000 for the 
DDRA 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: $15,000-$60,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $37,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 80.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months. 
Doctoral students may request funding for a period of no less than 6 
months and no more than 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1.a. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs). 
Eligible doctoral students submit their individual research narratives 
and application forms to the project director at their home IHE, who 
then compiles all the research narratives from the doctoral students 
and incorporates them into the institutional grant application package 
that the institution submits electronically through the Department's G6 
system on behalf of all doctoral student applicants at that 
institution.
    b. Individuals Eligible to Receive a Fellowship: An individual is 
eligible to receive a fellowship if the individual: is a citizen, 
national or permanent resident of the United States; is a graduate 
student in good standing at an institution of higher education and, 
when the fellowship period begins, is admitted to candidacy in a 
doctoral degree program in modern foreign languages and area studies at 
that institution; is planning a teaching career in the United States 
upon completion of his or her doctoral program; 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 the grantee's application.
    4. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is not subject to 
the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58) domestic sourcing 
requirements.
    5. Other: Under 34 CFR 662.22(b), no applicant for a fellowship may 
be awarded more than one graduate fellowship under the Fulbright-Hays 
Act from appropriations for a given fiscal year. Therefore, no DDRA 
Fellowship Program applicant concurrently may receive a grant from the 
Fulbright U.S. Student Program (FUSP) and a grant from the Fulbright-
Hays DDRA Fellowship Program from the same fiscal year's appropriation. 
For this reason, when applying for a grant under the Fulbright-Hays 
DDRA Fellowship Program, a doctoral student must indicate in the 
application whether they have also applied for a FUSP grant. At any 
time during the U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays DDRA 
Fellowship Program competition process, if a doctoral student accepts a 
fellowship award from the FUSP, or the FUSP disperses funds to provide 
training services to a doctoral student, that doctoral student is 
automatically deemed ineligible for consideration for a grant under the 
Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program. Also, if the FUSP notifies the 
Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program that it has awarded funds or 
provided training to a potential recipient of a Fulbright-Hays DDRA 
Fellowship, the Department will automatically deem the doctoral student 
ineligible for further consideration. Doctoral students thus should 
notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT prior to 
accepting any grant support or training from the FUSP.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Both IHEs and doctoral 
student applicants can obtain an application package via the internet 
at the following internet address: www.g6.ed.gov.
    2. Submission Dates and Times:
    Submit applications for grants under the program electronically 
using www.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 and a TIN;
    b. Register both your UEI and TIN with SAM, the Government's 
primary registrant database;

[[Page 86326]]

    c. Provide your UEI 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 two to five 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 UEI 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 UEI 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 UEI 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 DDRA 
Fellowship Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.022A, electronically 
using the G6 system, accessible through the Department's G6 site at 
www.g6.ed.gov. While completing the electronic application, both the 
IHE and the doctoral student applicant will be entering data online 
that will be saved into a database. Neither the IHE nor the doctoral 
student 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 DDRA 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#165252445756737238717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9fdfdebf8f9dcdd97ded6cf">[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) Doctoral students must complete their individual applications 
and submit them to their home IHE project director using G6;
    (3) Persons providing references for individual doctoral students 
must complete and submit reference forms for the doctoral students to 
the IHE project director using G6; and
    (4) The IHE project director must officially submit the IHE's 
application, including all eligible individual doctoral student 
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 doctoral 
student applicant not wait until close to the application deadline date 
to begin the application process. 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      Unavailable from      Available 24 hours    Unavailable from      Unavailable from      Available 24 hours    Available 24 hours.
 03:00 p.m.-11:59      12:00 a.m.-06:00                            09:00 p.m.-11:59      12:00 a.m.-06:00
 p.m                   a.m                                         p.m                   a.m
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Doctoral student applicants will not receive additional 
points because they submit their applications in electronic format, nor 
will we penalize the IHE or the doctoral student 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 doctoral student applicants must upload 
their applications, including the required narrative sections and all 
required attachments to their applications, as files in a read-only 
flattened Portable Document Format (PDF), meaning any fillable 
documents must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files. Do not 
upload any interactive or fillable PDF files. If you upload a file type 
other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, 
WordPerfect, etc.) 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> Submit doctoral student transcripts electronically through 
the G6 system.
    <bullet> Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
    <bullet> After the individual doctoral student electronically 
submits their application to the IHE, the doctoral student 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 doctoral student applicant,

[[Page 86327]]

they will receive an automatic acknowledgment from the G6 system. After 
the applicant IHE submits its application to the Department, including 
all eligible individual doctoral student applications, the applicant 
IHE will receive an automatic 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 the SF 424 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#85c1c1d7c4c5e0e1abe2eaf3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9fdfdebf8f9dcdd97ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a>.
    <bullet> We may request that you provide us 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 this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgment of any system 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, therefore, 
the application deadline is extended, an email will be sent to all 
registered users who have initiated a G6 application. Extensions 
referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the G6 
system.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications.
    The Department discourages 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.
    The prior written notification may be submitted by email or by mail 
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
above. 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 in 
your application a UEI; 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/
G5 Functional Application Team, Mail Stop 5C231, Attention: 84.022A, 
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 the IHE mails its 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, the IHE should check with its 
local post office.
    The Department will not consider applications postmarked after the 
application deadline date.
    c. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If an IHE 
mails or hand delivers its application to the Department--
    (1) The IHE must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424, the ALN, including suffix 
letter, if any, of the competition under which the IHE is submitting 
its 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 662.21 and are as 
follows:
    (a) Quality of proposed project. (63 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 
originality and importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline 
(10 points);
    (3) The preliminary research already completed in the United States 
and overseas or plans for such 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 and a copy of the dissertation with scholars and officials of 
the host country or countries (3 points); and
    (6) The guidance and supervision of the dissertation advisor or 
committee at all stages of the project, including guidance in 
developing the project, understanding research conditions abroad, and 
acquainting the applicant with research in the field (10 points).
    (b) Qualifications of the applicant. (37 points) The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the 
applicant. The Secretary considers--
    (1) The overall strength of the applicant's graduate academic 
record (10 points);
    (2) The extent to which the applicant's academic record 
demonstrates strength in area studies relevant to the proposed project 
(10 points);
    (3) The applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages 
(other than English) of the host country or countries of research (10 
points);
    (4) The extent to which the applicant's academic record 
demonstrates steps taken to further improve advanced language 
proficiency

[[Page 86328]]

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 references or 
previous overseas experience, or both (2 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 2025, doctoral student applications will be divided into 
seven categories based on the geographic area focus of their research 
projects, as described in the absolute priority. Foreign language and 
area studies experts assigned to geographic area-based panels will 
review the doctoral student applications. Each panel will review, 
score, and rank its applications separately from the applications 
assigned to the other geographic area panels. At the conclusion of the 
peer review process, however, all fellowship applications in the 
competition will be ranked from the highest to the lowest score for 
funding purposes.
    If there are applications on the rank order slate with the same 
average score, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's (FFSB) 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 veteran's preference consideration, we will use the average score 
assigned on the Technical Review Forms for the ``Quality of proposed 
project'' selection criterion. If a tie still exists, the average score 
for selection criterion (a)(1) under ``Quality of proposed project'' 
(20 points) will be used as the tiebreaker. As a final tiebreaker, 
should it become necessary, we will use the average score assigned for 
the ``Qualifications of the applicant'' selection criterion.
    Finally, in selecting DDRA fellowship recipients, under 34 CFR 
662.20 the Secretary will consider information on budget, political 
sensitivity, and feasibility from binational commissions or United 
States diplomatic missions, or both, in the proposed country or 
countries of research.
    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 SAM. 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.

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 also may notify you 
informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a 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.
    4. Performance Measures: The objective for the Fulbright-Hays DDRA 
Fellowship Program is to provide grants to colleges and universities to 
fund individual doctoral students to conduct research in other 
countries in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of 6 
to 12 months.
    For the purpose of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the 
Department will use the following measures to evaluate its success in 
meeting this objective:
    DDRA Measure 1: The percentage of DDRA fellows who increased their 
foreign language scores in speaking, reading, or writing by at least 
one proficiency level.

[[Page 86329]]

    DDRA Measure 2: The percentage of DDRA fellows who complete their 
degree in their program of study within four years of receipt of the 
fellowship.
    DDRA Measure 3: The percentage of DDRA fellows who found employment 
that utilized their language and area studies skills within eight years 
of receiving their award.
    DDRA Measure 4: Efficiency Measure--The cost per DDRA fellow who 
found employment that utilized their language and area studies skills 
within eight years.
    The information provided by grantees in their performance reports 
submitted via the International Resource Information System (IRIS) will 
be the source of data for these measures. Reporting screens for 
institutions and fellows may be viewed at http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/DDRA_director.pdf, and http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/DDRA_fellow.pdf.

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 Department documents 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 Department documents 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. 2024-25127 Filed 10-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>