Overview Information; Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.337A.

DATES:

Applications Available: September 14, 2004.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 17, 2004.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: January 17, 2005.

Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public or nonprofit private libraries, or consortia of such institutions or libraries may apply.

Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $1,700,000 for this program for FY 2005. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.

Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$200,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $170,000.

Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 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: 10.

Note:

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

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access (TICFIA) Program is to support projects that will develop innovative techniques or programs using new electronic technologies to collect information from foreign sources. Grants will be made to access, collect, organize, preserve, and widely disseminate information on world regions and countries other than the United States that address our Nation's teaching and research needs in international education and foreign languages.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1126.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

As there are no program-specific regulations, we encourage each potential applicant to read the authorizing statute for the TICFIA program in section 606 of title VI, part A, of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), 20 U.S.C. 1126.

Note:

The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes.

Note:

The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $1,700,000 for this program for FY 2005. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress awards funds for this program.

Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$200,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $170,000.

Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 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: 10.

Note:

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

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public or nonprofit private libraries, or consortia of such institutions or libraries may apply.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The matching requirement is described in section 606(d) of the HEA. The statute states that the Federal share of the total cost of carrying out a program supported by a grant under this program shall not exceed 662/3 percent. The non-Federal share of such costs may be provided either in-kind or in cash, and may include contributions from private sector corporations or foundations.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: Mrs. Susanna Easton, International Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th floor, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7628 or by e-mail: susanna.easton@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) 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 that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 pages, using the following standards:

• A “page” is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. However, you may single space all text in charts, tables, figures and graphs.
• 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, and graphs.

The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract or the appendices. However, you must include your complete response to the selection criteria in the application narrative.

We will reject your application if—

• You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
• You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.

3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: September 14, 2004.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 17, 2004.

We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

We are requiring that applications for grants under this program be submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-Application) available through the Department's e-GRANTS system. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically through the e-GRANTS system or to request a waiver of the electronic submission requirement, please refer to Section IV.6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: January 17, 2005.

4. Intergovernmental Review: This program 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 program.

5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

6. Other Submission Requirements: We are requiring that applications for grants under this program be submitted electronically, unless the applicant requests a waiver of this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications.

Applications for grants under the Technological Innovation and Cooperation For Foreign Information Access Program—CFDA Number 84.337A must be submitted electronically using e-Application available through the Department's e-GRANTS system. The e-GRANTS system is accessible through its portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

Unless a waiver of the electronic submission requirement has been requested by the applicant in accordance with the procedures in this section, all portions of the application must be submitted electronically.

If you are unable to submit an application through the e-GRANTS system, you must submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic submission requirement. In your request, you should explain the reason or reasons that prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. You should address this request to: Mrs. Susanna Easton, International Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th floor, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Please submit the request no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

If, within two weeks of the application deadline date, you are unable to submit an application electronically, you must submit a paper application in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. The paper application must include a written request for a waiver documenting the reasons that prevented you from using the Internet to submit your application.

When using e-Application to complete the application, you will be entering data online. Do not e-mail an electronic copy of any part of a grant application to us. The data that is entered online will be saved into a database.

If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:

• You must submit the grant application electronically through the Internet using the software provided on the e-Grants Web site ( http://e-grants.ed.gov ) by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is unavailable on Sundays, and after 7 p.m. on Wednesdays for maintenance, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site. We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to initiate an e-Application package.
• You will not receive additional point value because you submit the application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you request a waiver and submit the application in paper format because you were prevented from submitting the application electronically as required.
• You must submit all documents electronically, including the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) and all necessary assurances and certifications.
• Your e-Application must comply with any page limit requirements described in this notice.
• After you submit your application to the Department, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your application).
• Within three working days after you submit your electronic application, you must fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following these steps:

1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.

2. The applicant'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 ED 424. Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 245-6272.

• We may request that you give us original signatures on other forms at a later date.

Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If you are prevented from submitting your application on the application deadline date because the e-Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day in order to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if—

1. The applicant's Project Director is a registered user of e-Application and has initiated an e-Application for this competition; and

2. (a) The e-Application 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

(b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time) on the application deadline date.

We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.

If you have requested a waiver of the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your paper application to the Department. The original and two copies of the application must be mailed on or before the application deadline date to the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.337A), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202.

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; or

4. Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the U.S. Secretary of Education.

If you mail the application through the U.S. Postal Service, please note that we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

1. A private metered postmark, or

2. A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is post marked after the application deadline date, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.

Note:

Applicants should note that the U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, applicants should check with their local post office.

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.

If you have requested a waiver of the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver the paper application to the Department by hand. The original and two copies of your application must be hand-delivered on or before the application deadline date to the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.337A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays. A person delivering an application must show identification to enter the building.

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 4 of the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424 (exp. 11/30/2004)) the CFDA number—and suffix letter, if any—of the competition under which you are submitting the application.

2. The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from the mailing of your application, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program from EDGAR (34 CFR 75.210) are as follows: (a) Meeting the purpose of the authorizing statute (20 points), (b) need for project (10 points), (c) significance (12 points), (d) quality of the project design (12 points), (e) quality of key personnel (8 points), (f) quality of project personnel (6 points), (g) adequacy of resources (12 points), (h) quality of the management plan (10 points), (i) quality of the project evaluation (10 points).

Note:

Applicants should address these selection criteria only in the context of the program requirements in section 606 of the HEA.

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). We may also notify you informally.

If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.

3. Reporting: 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 specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. The applicant is required to use the electronic data instrument EELIAS to complete the final report.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mrs. Susanna Easton, International Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th floor, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7628 or by e-mail: susanna.easton@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this section.

VIII. Other Information

Electronic Access to This Document: You may 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) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister .

To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

Note:

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 on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html .