Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/03/22/2016-06485/applications-for-new-awards-fulbright-hays-doctoral-dissertation-research-abroad-fellowship-program
Timestamp: 2018-11-18 18:19:28
Document Index: 87036556

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 75', 'art 180', 'art 3485', 'art 200', 'art 3474', 'art 662', 'art 200']

Federal Register :: Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program
Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program
A Notice by the Education Department on 03/22/2016
81 FR 15290
15290-15295 (6 pages)
2016-06485
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-06485 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-06485
This PDF is the current document as it appeared on Public Inspection on 03/21/2016 at 8:45 am.
Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program.
Applications Available: March 22, 2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 6, 2016.
Purpose of Program: The Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time 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, two competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute and competitive preference priorities are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 662.21(d)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2016, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
Specific Geographic Regions of the World.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), for FY 2016, we award an additional three points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1 and two points for an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2 (up to 5 additional points possible).
Competitive Preference Priority 1: Focus on Priority Languages (3 points).
A research project that makes use of any of the 78 priority languages selected from the U.S. Department of Education's list of Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs), as follows:
Competitive Preference Priority 2: Thematic Focus on Academic Fields (2 points).
A research project conducted in the field of economics, engineering, international development, mathematics, political science, public health, science, comparative or international education, or technology.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2016, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.
Applications from Minority-Serving Institutions. For purposes of this invitational priority, Minority-Serving Institution means an institution that is Start Printed Page 15291eligible to receive assistance under part A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 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 as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 662.
Estimated Available Funds: $3,011,504.
Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000 to $60,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $33,461.
Estimated Number of Awards: 90.
Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months, beginning October 1, 2016. Students may request funding for a period of no less than six months and no more than 12 months.
1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs). As part of the application process, students submit individual applications to the IHE. The IHE then officially submits all eligible individual student applications with its grant application to the Department.
As part of its FY 2016 budget request, the Administration proposed to continue to allow funds to be used to support the applications of individuals who plan both to utilize their language skills in world areas vital to United States national security and to apply their language skills and knowledge of these countries in the fields of government, international development, and the professions. Therefore, students planning to apply their language skills in such fields and those planning teaching careers are eligible to apply to IHEs for funds from this program.
1. Address to Request Application Package: Both IHEs and 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 telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program as follows: CFDA number 84.022A.
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 person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice.
Page Limits: The application narrative is where the student applicant addresses the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate the application. The student applicant must limit the application narrative to no more than 10 pages and the bibliography to no more than two pages, using the following standards:
A “page” is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, both sides, and portrait orientation.
Note: For purposes of determining compliance with the page limits, each page on which there are words will be counted as one full page.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative. However, student applicants may single space all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, titles, headings, footnotes, endnotes, quotations, bibliography, and captions.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). Student applicants may use a 10-point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes. However, these items are considered part of the narrative and counted within the 10-page limit.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using G5, the Department's grant management system, accessible through the Department's G5 site. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit an IHE's application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section IV of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Start Printed Page 15292Number, and System for Award Management:
To do business with the Department of Education, you must—
Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48 hours before you can submit an application through G5.
Applications for grants under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program, CFDA number 84.022A, must be submitted electronically using the G5 system, accessible through the Department's G5 site at: www.G5.gov. While completing your electronic application, both the IHE and the student applicant will be entering data online that will be saved into a database. Neither the IHE nor the student applicant may email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
(1) IHEs must email the following information to ddra@ed.gov: Name of university and full name and email address of potential project director. We recommend that applicant IHEs submit this information as soon as possible to ensure that they obtain access to G5 well before the application deadline date. We suggest that IHEs send this information no later than two weeks prior to the closing date in order to facilitate timely submission of their applications;
The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the grant application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. G5 will not accept an application for this competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that both the IHE and the student applicant not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
The hours of operation of the G5 Web site are 6:00 a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are posted on the G5 Web site.
IHEs must submit all documents electronically, including all information typically provided 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.
If the application is submitted electronically, both IHEs and student applicants must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to their application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. 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 not review that material. Please note that this could result in your application not being considered for funding because the material in question—for example, the project narrative—is critical to a Start Printed Page 15293meaningful review of your proposal. For that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material from other formats to PDF.
After the individual student applicant electronically submits his or her application to the student's IHE, the student will receive an automatic acknowledgment. After a person submits a reference electronically, he or she will receive an online confirmation. After the applicant IHE submits its application, including all eligible individual student applications, to the Department, the applicant IHE will receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a unique PR/Award number for the IHE's application.
Within three working days after submitting its electronic application—
(1) Print SF 424 from G5;
(2) The applicant IHE's Authorizing Representative must 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
(2) (a) The G5 system is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date; or
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 in section VII of this notice 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.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: An IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit its application in paper format, if the IHE is unable to submit an application through G5 because—
The IHE or a student applicant does not have the capacity to upload large documents to G5; and
Address and mail or fax this statement to: Pamela J. Maimer, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW., Room 3E207, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 502-7675 or by email: ddra@ed.gov.
If the IHE mails its application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
If an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, the IHE (or a courier service) may deliver its paper application to the Department by hand. The IHE must deliver the original and two copies of the 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 84.022A), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a notification of receipt of the IHE's grant application. If the IHE does Start Printed Page 15294not 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.
1. General: For FY 2016, student applications are divided into seven categories based on the world area focus of their research projects, as described in the absolute priority listed in this notice. Language and area studies experts in discrete world area-based panels will review the student applications. Each panel reviews, scores, and ranks its applications separately from the applications assigned to the other world area panels. However, all fellowship applications will be ranked together from the highest to lowest score for funding purposes.
2. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 662.21 and are listed in the application package.
Under 34 CFR 662.22(b), no applicant may receive grants from the Fulbright US Student Program (FUSP) and the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program concurrently. Once a candidate has accepted an award from FUSP and FUSP has expended funds on the student, the student is then ineligible for a grant under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program. A student applying for a grant under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program must indicate on the application if the student has currently applied for a FUSP grant. If, at any point, the candidate accepts a FUSP award prior to being notified of the candidate's status with the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program, the candidate should immediately notify the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If, after consultation with FUSP, we determine that FUSP has expended funds on the student (e.g., the candidate has attended the pre-departure orientation or was issued grant funds), the candidate will be deemed ineligible for an award under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program at that time.
4. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.205, before awarding grants under this program the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. 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.
1. Award Notices: If a student application is successful, we notify the IHE's U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send the IHE a Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send the IHE an email containing a link to access an electronic version of the GAN. We may notify the IHE informally, also.
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 the approved application as part of the binding commitments under the grant.
(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. Grantees are required to use the electronic data instrument International Resource Information System (IRIS) to complete the final report. 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.
The Department will use the following measures to evaluate its success in meeting this objective:
DDRA GPRA Measure 1: The percentage of DDRA fellows who increased their foreign language scores in speaking, reading, and/or writing by at least one proficiency level.
DDRA GPRA 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 GPRA 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 GPRA 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 report submitted via IRIS will be the source of data for this measure. Reporting screens for institutions and fellows may be viewed at:
http://iris.ed.gov/​iris/​pdfs/​DDRA_​director.pdf.
http://iris.ed.gov/​iris/​pdfs/​DDRA_​fellow.pdf.
Pamela J. Maimer, Ph.D., International and Foreign Language Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Start Printed Page 15295Ave. SW., Room 3E207, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-6891 or by email: ddra@ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program as follows: CFDA number 84.022A.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, Delegated the Duties of Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-06485 Filed 3-21-16; 8:45 am]