[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5804-5809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02147]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


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

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2022 for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral 
Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program, Assistance 
Listing Number 84.022A. This notice relates to the approved information 
collection under OMB control number 1840-0005.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 2, 2022.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 6, 2022.
    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 
Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad website at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsddrap/applicant.html. Additional information for new 
potential grantees who are unfamiliar with grantmaking at the 
Department may read about the discretionary grant process and funding 
basics resources at https://www2.ed.gov/documents/funding-101/funding-101-basics.pdf (Funding 101 Basics).

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: Amy Marrion, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 258-24, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-5628. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a8ececfae9e8cdcc86cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f6b6b7d6e6f4a4b01484059">[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.

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.
    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 2022, 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 2022, 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 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, 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).
    Projects 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); 
or
    <bullet> Tribal colleges and universities (as defined in this 
notice).
    Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental 
Priorities, to provide clarity for applicants addressing Competitive 
preference Priority 3.
    Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and 
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
    Minority-serving institutions 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 colleges or universities 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

[[Page 5805]]

CFR part 662. (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.
    Note: The Administration has requested $8,811,000 for awards under 
the Fulbright-Hays Overseas program for FY 2022, of which the DDRA 
Fellowship Program is one part; we intend to use an estimated 
$4,153,390 for this 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 before 
the end of the current fiscal year if Congress appropriates funds for 
this program.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,153,390.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$60,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $46,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 90.
    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 six 
months and no more than 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs). 
Eligible doctoral students submit their individual research narratives 
and forms to the project director at their home IHE, who then compiles 
the doctoral student submissions and incorporates them into the 
institutional grant application that is submitted electronically to the 
Department through the G5 system.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.
    4. Other: Under 34 CFR 662.22(b), 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. For this reason, when applying for a grant under 
the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program, a doctoral student must 
indicate in the application whether he or she also has 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 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 
or from the Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy 
via the internet, use the following address: www.G5.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 also can contact ED Pubs at its website at https://www.ed.gov/edpubs/, or at its email address at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#14717064617667547d7a71603a71703a737b62"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f2a2b3f3a2d3c0f26212a3b612a2b61282039">[email protected]</span></a>.
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program as follows: Assistance Listing Number 84.022A.
    2. Submission Dates and Times:
    Submit applications for grants under the program electronically 
using G5.gov. For information (including dates and times) about how to 
submit your application electronically, please refer to Other 
Submission Requirements below.
    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 letters of support. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
    6. DUNS/UEI Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and System for 
Award Management:
    To do business with the Department, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number/Unique 
Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS/UEI number and TIN with the System for 
Award Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS/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.

[[Page 5806]]

    Until April 3, 2022, you can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and 
Bradstreet at the following website: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A 
DUNS number can be created within one to two business days. Beginning 
on April 4, 2022, we will transition to using UEI numbers instead of 
DUNS numbers. If you are not already registered in SAM at that time, 
you can obtain a UEI directly through the SAM system.
    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 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 G5.
    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, we have prepared a 
SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which you can find at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    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 G5 system, accessible through the Department's G5 site at: 
www.G5.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#63272731222306074d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="65212137242500014b020a13">[email protected]</span></a>. We suggest 
that applicant IHEs submit this information no later than two weeks 
prior to the application deadline date to ensure that they obtain 
access to G5 well before that date;
    (2) Doctoral students must complete their individual applications 
and submit them to their home IHE project director using G5;
    (3) Persons providing references for individual doctoral students 
must complete and submit reference forms for the doctoral students and 
submit them to the IHE's project director using G5; and
    (4) The IHE's project director must officially submit the IHE's 
application, including all eligible individual doctoral student 
applications, reference forms, and other required forms, using G5.
    <bullet> The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the 
grant application by 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application 
deadline date. G5 will not accept an application for this competition 
after 4:30 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 the application deadline date to begin 
the application process. The table below shows the days and times that 
the G5 website will be available.

                                                          G5 Hours of Operation in Eastern Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Sunday                  Monday              Tuesday             Wednesday         Thursday              Friday                Saturday
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unavailable from 3:00 p.m.-    Unavailable from  Available 24 hours...  Unavailable from  Unavailable from  Available 24 hours...  Available 24 hours.
 11:59 p.m.                     12:00 a.m.-6:00                          9:00 p.m.-11:59   12:00 a.m.-6:00
                                a.m.                                     p.m.              a.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Doctoral student applicants will not receive additional 
point value because the doctoral student submits his or her application 
in electronic format, nor will we penalize the IHE or 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 G5 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 his or her application to the IHE, the doctoral student will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment from the G5 system. After a person 
submits a reference electronically, he or she will receive an online 
confirmation from the G5 system. After the applicant IHE submits its

[[Page 5807]]

application to the Department, including all eligible individual 
doctoral student applications, the applicant IHE will receive an 
automatic acknowledgment from G5 that will include a unique PR/Award 
number for the IHE's application.
    <bullet> Within three working days after submitting its electronic 
application, the applicant IHE must--
    (1) Print the SF 424 from G5;
    (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 the Application Control Center at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d49495f4c4d6869236a627b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d29293f2c2d0809430a021b">[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 G5 system 
is unavailable, we will grant the IHE an extension until 4:30 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 G5 system and the IHE has 
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
    (2)(a) G5 is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours 
of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline 
date; or
    (b) G5 is unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 
4:30 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 G5 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 G5 application. Extensions 
referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the G5 
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), you must 
provide a written statement that you intend to submit a paper 
application. Send this written statement 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) to Amy 
Marrion, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Room 258-
24, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone: (202) 453-5628. Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#42060610030227266c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bffbfbedfeffdadb91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 submit a paper application, 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: 
(Assistance Listing Number 84.022A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 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.
    We 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 Assistance Listing 
Number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which 
the IHE is submitting its application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a notification of 
receipt of the IHE's grant application. If the IHE does not receive 
this grant notification within 15 business days from the application 
deadline date, the IHE 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 the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 662.21 and are as 
follows:
    (a) Quality of proposed project. (60 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;
    (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;
    (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;
    (4) The justification for overseas field research and preparations 
to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and 
affiliations abroad;
    (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; 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.
    (b) Qualifications of the applicant. (40 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;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant's academic record 
demonstrates strength in area studies relevant to the proposed project;
    (3) The applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages 
(other than English and the applicant's native language) of the country 
or countries of research, and the specific measures to be taken to 
overcome any anticipated language barriers; and
    (4) The applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign 
cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant's references

[[Page 5808]]

or previous overseas experience, or both.
    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 2022, doctoral student applications will be divided into 
seven categories based on the world area focus of their research 
projects, as described in the absolute priority. Foreign language and 
area studies experts on discrete world 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 world 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 the 
Proposed Project'' selection criterion. If a tie still exists, the 
average score for Competitive Preference Priority 1 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 200.205(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 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 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.

[[Page 5809]]

    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.
    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 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.

Michelle Asha Cooper,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs, Delegated the 
Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2022-02147 Filed 2-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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