[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14974-14981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06501]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Developing Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program Notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.031S.

DATES: Applications Available: March 20, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 19, 2015.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 20, 2015.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The HSI Program provides grants to assist HSIs 
to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the academic 
attainment of, Hispanic students. HSI Program grants also enable HSIs 
to expand and enhance the academic offerings, program quality, and 
institutional stability of colleges and universities that are educating 
the majority of Hispanic college students and help large numbers of 
Hispanic students and other low-income individuals complete 
postsecondary degrees.
    Background: In 2008, the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) was 
amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). The 
HEOA made a number of changes to the HSI Program; however the 
regulations for the HSI Program in 34 CFR part 606 have not yet been 
updated to reflect these changes. Therefore, we encourage applicants to 
carefully read this notice, which references the statutory provisions 
where the corresponding regulatory provisions for this program have not 
been updated.

[[Page 14975]]

    For example, section 501 of the HEOA amended section 503(b) of the 
HEA to include, among the authorized activities under the HSI Program--
    (1) Activities to improve student services, including innovative 
and customized instruction courses designed to help retain students and 
move the students into core courses;
    (2) Articulation agreements and student support programs designed 
to facilitate the transfer of students from two-year to four-year 
institutions; and
    (3) Providing education, counseling services, or financial 
information designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of 
students or their families.
    The list of authorized activities in section 503(b) of the HEA was 
also amended to use the term ``distance education technologies'' in 
place of ``distance learning academic instruction capabilities.'' 
Therefore, notwithstanding the description of authorized activities in 
34 CFR 606.10, applicants may include these activities in their 
proposals under this competition.
    We encourage applicants to read carefully the Selection Criteria 
section of this notice. Consistent with the Department's increasing 
emphasis in recent years on promoting evidence-based practices through 
our grant competitions, the Secretary will evaluate applications on the 
extent to which the proposed project is supported by a logic model that 
meets the evidence standard of ``strong theory'' (as defined in this 
notice). Resources to assist applicants in creating a logic model can 
be found here: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf.
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and two 
competitive preference priorities. The absolute priority is from the 
Department's notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions 
for discretionary grant programs (Supplemental Priorities), published 
in the Federal Register on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425). Competitive 
Preference Priority 1 is from section 503(b)(5) of the HEA. Competitive 
Preference Priority 2 is from the Supplemental Priorities.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants 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 are designed to increase the number and proportion of 
high-need students (as defined in this notice) who are academically 
prepared for, enroll in, or complete on time college, other 
postsecondary education, or other career and technical education.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2015 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an application up to 
two additional points for each priority, for a total of up to four 
additional points, depending on how well the application meets each of 
these competitive preference priorities.
    These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1 (Up to 2 Additional Points)

    Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to 
improve academic success, including innovative and customized 
instruction courses (which may include remedial education and English 
language instruction) designed to help retain students and move the 
students rapidly into core courses and through program completion.

Competitive Preference Priority 2 (Up to 2 Additional Points)

    Projects that are designed to support the development and 
implementation of high-quality online or hybrid credit-bearing and 
accessible learning opportunities that reduce the cost of higher 
education, reduce time to degree completion, or allow students to 
progress at their own pace.
    Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental 
Priorities and from 34 CFR 77.1 and apply to the priorities and 
selection criteria in this notice:
    High-minority school means a school as that term is defined by a 
local educational agency (LEA), which must define the term in a manner 
consistent with its State's Teacher Equity Plan, as required by section 
1111(b)(8)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended. The applicant must provide the definition(s) of high-minority 
schools used in its application.
    High-need students means students who are at risk of educational 
failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support, such as 
students who are living in poverty, who attend high-minority schools, 
who are far below grade level, who have left school before receiving a 
regular high school diploma, who are at risk of not graduating with a 
diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who have 
been incarcerated, who have disabilities, or who are English learners.
    Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a well-
specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the 
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active 
``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the 
relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key 
components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.

    Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use 
resources such as the Pacific Education Laboratory's Education Logic 
Model Application (www.relpacific.mcrel.org/PERR.html or http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544779.pdf) to help design their logic 
models.

    Regular high school diploma means the standard high school diploma 
that is awarded to students in the State and that is fully aligned with 
the State's academic content standards or a higher diploma and does not 
include a General Education Development credential, certificate of 
attendance, or any alternative award.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1101-1101d; 1103-1103g.

    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 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 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and 
amended in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 
CFR part 606. (e) The Supplemental Priorities.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants--Individual Development Grants 
and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. Planning grants will 
not be awarded in FY 2015.
    Estimated Available Funds: $52,287,473.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$650,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards:
    Individual Development Grants: $513,000.

[[Page 14976]]

    Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants: $637,000.
    Maximum Awards:
    Individual Development Grants: $525,000.
    Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants: $650,000.
    We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding 
these maximum amounts for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum 
amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards:
    Individual Development Grants: 56.
    Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants: 31.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (a) IHEs that qualify as eligible HSIs are 
eligible to apply for new Individual Development Grants and Cooperative 
Arrangement Development Grants under the HSI Program. To be an eligible 
HSI, an IHE must--
    (i) Have an enrollment of needy students, as defined in section 
502(b) of the HEA (section 502(a)(2)(A)(i) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 
1101a(a)(2)(A)(i));
    (ii) Have, except as provided in section 522(b) of the HEA, average 
educational and general expenditures that are low, per full-time 
equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student, in comparison with the average 
educational and general expenditures per FTE undergraduate student of 
institutions that offer similar instruction (section 502(a)(2)(A)(ii) 
of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(2)(A)(ii));

    Note:  To demonstrate an enrollment of needy students and low 
average educational and general expenditures per FTE undergraduate 
student, an IHE must be designated as an ``eligible institution'' in 
accordance with 34 CFR 606.3 through 606.5 and the notice inviting 
applications for designation as an eligible institution for the 
fiscal year for which the grant competition is being conducted.

    For purposes of establishing eligibility for this competition, the 
notice inviting applications for designation as an eligible institution 
for FY 2015 was published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2014 
(79 FR 65197), and applications were due on December 22, 2014. Only 
institutions that submitted the required application and received 
designation through this process before the deadline date are eligible 
to submit applications for this competition.
    (iii) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency 
or association that the Secretary has determined to be a reliable 
authority as to the quality of education or training offered, or making 
reasonable progress toward accreditation, according to such an agency 
or association (section 502(a)(2)(A)(iv) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 
1101a(a)(2)(A)(iv));
    (iv) Be legally authorized to provide, and provide within the 
State, an educational program for which the institution awards a 
bachelor's degree (section 502(a)(2)(A)(iii) of the HEA), or be a 
junior or community college (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(2)(A)(iii));
    (v) Have an enrollment of undergraduate FTE students that is at 
least 25 percent Hispanic students at the end of the award year 
immediately preceding the date of application (section 502(a)(5)(B) of 
the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5)(B)); and
    (vi) Provide, as an attachment to the application, the 
documentation the IHE relied upon in determining that at least 25 
percent of the IHE's undergraduate FTE students are Hispanic. The 25 
percent requirement applies only to undergraduate Hispanic students and 
is calculated based upon FTE students as defined in section 502(a)(4) 
of the HEA. Instructions for formatting and submitting the verification 
documentation to Grants.gov are in the application package for this 
competition.
    (b) Funds for the HSI Program will be awarded each fiscal year; 
thus, for this program, the ``end of the award year immediately 
preceding the date of application'' refers to the end of the fiscal 
year prior to the application due date. The end of the fiscal year 
occurs on September 30 for any given year.
    (c) In considering applications for grants under this program, the 
Department will compare the data and documentation the institution 
relied on in its application with data reported to the Department's 
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the IHE's 
State-reported enrollment data, and the institutional annual report. If 
different percentages or data are reported in these various sources, 
the institution must, as part of the 25 percent assurance verification, 
explain the reason for the differences. If the IPEDS data show that 
less than 25 percent of the institution's undergraduate FTE students 
are Hispanic, the burden is on the institution to show that the IPEDS 
data are inaccurate. If the IPEDS data indicate that the institution 
has an undergraduate FTE less than 25 percent, and the institution 
fails to demonstrate that the IPEDS data are inaccurate, the 
institution will be considered ineligible.\1\
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    \1\ For purposes of making the determination described in 
paragraph (e) of the eligibility criteria for this competition, IHEs 
must report their undergraduate Hispanic FTE percentages based on 
the student enrollment count closest to, but not after, September 
30, 2014.
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    (d)(i) A grantee under the HSI Program, which is authorized by 
title V of the HEA, may not receive a grant under any HEA, title III, 
part A or part B program (section 505 of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101D). The 
title III, part A programs include: The Strengthening Institutions 
Program; the American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
Universities Program; the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving 
Institutions Programs; the Asian American and Native American Pacific 
Islander-Serving Institutions Program; and the Native American-Serving 
Non-Tribal Institutions Program. Furthermore, a current HSI Program 
grantee may not give up its HSI grant in order to receive a grant under 
any title III, part A program (Sec.  606.2(c)(1)).
    (ii) An HSI that does not fall within the limitation described in 
paragraph (d)(i) may apply for a FY 2015 grant under all title III, 
part A programs for which it is eligible, as well as under the HSI 
Program. However, a successful applicant may receive only one grant.
    (e) An eligible HSI that submits multiple applications may only be 
awarded at most one Individual Development Grant and/or one Cooperative 
Arrangement Development Grant per fiscal year (34 CFR 606.9 and 
606.13). In addition, the Secretary will not award a second Individual 
Development Grant to an HSI with a current five-year Individual 
Development Grant as described in 34 CFR 606.9(b)(1).
    (f) An eligible HSI that submits a Cooperative Arrangement 
Development Grant with a partnering branch campus that is a part of the 
same institution will not be awarded a grant (34 CFR 606.7(b)).
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching unless the grantee uses a portion of its grant for 
establishing or improving an endowment fund. If a grantee uses a 
portion of its grant for endowment fund purposes, it must match those 
grant funds with non-Federal funds (section 503(c)(2) of the HEA; 20 
U.S.C. 1101b(c)(2)).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package: Carnisia M. Proctor, 
U.S.

[[Page 14977]]

Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6010, Washington, DC 
20006-8513. Telephone: (202) 502-7606 or by email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bffcdecdd1d6ccd6de91efcdd0dccbd0cdffdadb91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="135072617d7a607a723d43617c70677c615376773d747c65">[email protected]</span></a>.
    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.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact person listed in 
this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria, the 
absolute priority, and the competitive preference priorities that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established 
mandatory page limits for Individual Development Grant and Cooperative 
Arrangement Development Grant applications. You must limit the section 
of the application narrative that addresses:
    <bullet> The selection criteria and the absolute priority to no 
more than 50 pages for an Individual Development Grant application and 
no more than 70 pages for a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant 
application.
    <bullet> A competitive preference priority, if you are addressing 
one or both, to no more than three pages (for a total of six pages if 
you address both).
    Accordingly, under no circumstances may the application narrative 
exceed 56 pages for an Individual Development Grant application or 76 
pages for a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant application.
    Please include a separate heading for the absolute priority and for 
each competitive preference priority that you address.
    For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limits, 
each page on which there are words will be counted as one full page. 
Applicants must 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. Page numbers and an 
identifier may be within the 1'' margins.
    <bullet> Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions and all text in charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs. These items may be single-spaced. Charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative count toward 
the page limit.
    <bullet> Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10-
point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes.
    <bullet> Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit applies to all of the application narrative section, 
including your complete response to the selection criteria (including 
the budget narrative), the absolute priority, and the competitive 
preference priorities. However, the page limit does not apply to Part 
I, the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424); the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information form (SF 424); Part II, Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524); Part IV, the 
assurances and certifications; or the one-page project abstract, 
program activity budget detail form and supporting narrative, and the 
five-year plan. If you include any attachments or appendices not 
specifically requested in the application package, these items will be 
counted as part of your application narrative for purposes of the page-
limit requirement.

    Note:  The narrative response to the budget selection criteria 
is not the same as the activity detail budget form and supporting 
narrative. The supporting narrative for the activity detail budget 
form lists the requested budget items line by line.

    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: March 20, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 19, 2015.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    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 
one of the persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in 
section VII of this notice. 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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 20, 2015.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: (a) General. We reference regulations 
outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of 
this notice.
    (b) Applicability of Executive Order 13202. Applicants that apply 
for construction funds under the HSI Program must comply with Executive 
Order 13202, as amended. This Executive order provides that recipients 
of Federal construction funds may not ``require or prohibit bidders, 
offerors, contractors, or subcontractors to enter into or adhere to 
agreements with one or more labor organizations, on the same or other 
construction project(s)'' or ``otherwise discriminate against bidders, 
offerors, contractors, or subcontractors for becoming or refusing to 
become or remain signatories or otherwise to adhere to agreements with 
one or more labor organizations, on the same or other related 
construction project(s).'' Projects funded under this program that 
include construction activity will be provided a copy of this Executive 
order and will be asked to certify that they will adhere to it.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the 
Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information 
while your application is under review

[[Page 14978]]

by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project 
period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one to two business days.
    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 2-5 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 entered into the SAM database by 
an entity. 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 number 
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
Grants.gov.

    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 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 number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the HSI Program, CFDA number 84.031S, 
must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov 
Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to 
download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and 
then upload and submit your application. You may not email an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the HSI Program 
at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.031, not 
84.031S).
    Please note the following:
    <bullet> When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
    <bullet> Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
    <bullet> The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
    <bullet> You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at www.G5.gov.
    <bullet> You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
    <bullet> You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on 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> You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not 
review that material.
    <bullet> Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
    <bullet> After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by email. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
    <bullet> We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are

[[Page 14979]]

experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, 
please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-
4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must 
keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether 
your application will be accepted.

    Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
    <bullet> You do not have access to the Internet; or
    <bullet> You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system;

and

    <bullet> No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Carnisia M. Proctor, 
U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6010, Washington, 
DC 20006-8513. FAX: (202) 502-7813.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must 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, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031S), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You 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.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

    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.

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031S), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:  If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 606.22 and from 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows:
    (a) Quality of the applicant's comprehensive development plan. The 
extent to which--
    (1) The strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems of the 
institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal 
stability are clearly and comprehensively analyzed and result from a 
process that involved major constituencies of the institution;
    (2) The goals for the institution's academic programs, 
institutional management, and fiscal stability are realistic and based 
on comprehensive analysis;
    (3) The objectives stated in the plan are measurable, related to 
institutional goals, and, if achieved, will contribute to the growth 
and self-sufficiency of the institution; and
    (4) The plan clearly and comprehensively describes the methods and 
resources the institution will use to institutionalize practice and 
improvements developed under the proposed project, including, in 
particular, how operational costs for personnel, maintenance, and 
upgrades of equipment will be paid with institutional resources.

[[Page 14980]]

    (b) Quality of activity objectives. The extent to which the 
objectives for each activity are--
    (1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; and
    (2) Directly related to the problems to be solved and to the goals 
of the comprehensive development plan.
    (c) Quality of implementation strategy. The extent to which--
    (1) The implementation strategy for each activity is comprehensive;
    (2) The rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity 
is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant 
studies or projects; and
    (3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be 
attained.
    (d) Quality of key personnel. The extent to which--
    (1) The past experience and training of key professional personnel 
are directly related to the stated activity objectives; and
    (2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic.
    (e) Quality of project management plan. The extent to which--
    (1) Procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure 
efficient and effective project implementation; and
    (2) The project coordinator and activity directors have sufficient 
authority to conduct the project effectively, including access to the 
president or chief executive officer.
    (f) Quality of evaluation plan. The extent to which--
    (1) The data elements and the data collection procedures are 
clearly described and appropriate to measure the attainment of activity 
objectives and to measure the success of the project in achieving the 
goals of the comprehensive development plan; and
    (2) The data analysis procedures are clearly described and are 
likely to produce formative and summative results on attaining activity 
objectives and measuring the success of the project on achieving the 
goals of the comprehensive development plan.
    (g) Budget. The extent to which the proposed costs are necessary 
and reasonable in relation to the project's objectives and scope.
    (h) Quality of the project design. 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 
the extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong theory 
(as defined in this notice).
    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 
also 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 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Tiebreaker: In tie-breaking situations for development grants 
described in 34 CFR 606.23(b), the HSI Program regulations require that 
we award one additional point to an application from an IHE that has an 
endowment fund of which the current market value, per FTE enrolled 
student, is less than the average current market value of the endowment 
funds, per FTE enrolled student, at comparable institutions that offer 
similar instruction. We also award one additional point to an 
application from an IHE that has expenditures for library materials per 
FTE enrolled student that are less than the average expenditures for 
library materials per FTE enrolled student at comparable institutions 
that offer similar instruction.
    For the purpose of these funding considerations, we use 2012-2013 
data.
    If a tie remains after applying the tiebreaker mechanism above, 
priority will be given in the case of applicants for (a) Individual 
Development Grants, to applicants that addressed the statutory priority 
found in section 521(d) of the HEA; and (b) Cooperative Arrangement 
Development Grants, to applicants in accordance with section 524(b) of 
the HEA, under which the Secretary determines that the cooperative 
arrangement is geographically and economically sound or will benefit 
the applicant HSI.
    If a tie still remains after applying the additional point(s) and 
the relevant statutory priority, we will determine the ranking of 
applicants based on the lowest endowment values per FTE enrolled 
student.
    4. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may 
impose special conditions and, 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.

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.
    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 multi-year 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.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the HSI Program:
    a. The percentage change, over the five-year grant period, of the 
number of full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at 
HSIs.
    b. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students who were in their first year of postsecondary 
enrollment in the

[[Page 14981]]

previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same two-year 
HSI.
    c. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students who were in their first year of postsecondary 
enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at 
the same four-year HSI.
    d. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at four-year HSIs graduating within six 
years of enrollment.
    e. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at two-year HSIs graduating within 
three years of enrollment.
    f. Federal cost per undergraduate and graduate degree at 
institutions in the HSI Program.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application. In making a 
continuation award, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is 
operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved 
application, 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).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Carnisia M. Proctor, U.S. Department 
of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6010, Washington, DC 20006-8513. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7606 or by email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92d1f3e0fcfbe1fbf3bcc2e0fdf1e6fde0d2f7f6bcf5fde4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="57143625393e243e36790725383423382517323379303821">[email protected]</span></a>.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.
    Applicants should periodically check the HSI Program Web site for 
further information. The address is: www.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/index.html.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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 Adobe 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. Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education 
has delegated authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, 
to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Postsecondary Education.

    Dated: March 17, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-06501 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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