2021-02339.pdf

8186 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 22 / Thursday, February 4, 2021 / Notices

B. Petition Dismissal by the USPTO: If the applicant files an incomplete Form PTO/SB/437, or if an application accompanied by Form PTO/SB/437 does not comply with the requirements set forth in this notice, the USPTO will notify the applicant of the deficiencies by dismissing the petition, and the applicant will be given a single opportunity to correct the deficiencies.

If the applicant still wishes to participate in the pilot program, the applicant must make appropriate corrections within 1 month or 30 days of the mailing date of the dismissal decision, whichever is longer. The time period for reply is not extendable under 37 CFR 1.136(a). If the applicant timely files a response to the dismissal decision correcting all the noted deficiencies without introducing any new deficiencies, the USPTO will grant the petition if a grantable request has been filed in a corresponding counterpart application. If the applicant fails to correct the noted deficiencies within the time period set forth, the USPTO may dismiss the petition and notify the designated partner IP office(s). The U.S. application will then be taken up for examination in accordance with standard examination procedures, unless designated special in accordance with another established procedure (e.g., Request for Prioritized Examination, Petition to Make Special Based on Applicant’s Age).

C. Withdrawal of a Petition: An application can be withdrawn from the pilot program only by filing a request to withdraw the petition to participate in the pilot program prior to the issuance of a decision granting the petition. Once the petition for participation in the pilot program has been granted, withdrawal from the pilot program is not permitted.

V. Requirement for Restriction The claims must be directed to a single invention. If the examiner determines that not all the claims presented are directed to a single invention, the telephone restriction practice set forth in MPEP sec. 812.01 will be followed. The applicant must make an election without traverse during the telephonic interview. If the applicant refuses to make an election without traverse, or if the examiner cannot reach the applicant after a reasonable effort (i.e., three business days), the examiner will treat the first claimed invention (the group of claim 1) as constructively elected without traverse for examination and include a basis for the restriction or lack of unity requirement in the FAOM. When a telephonic election is made, the examiner will provide a complete record of the telephonic interview, including the restriction or lack of unity requirement and the applicant’s election, in the FAOM. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure that applications submitted for the Expanded CSP are written in such a way that they claim a single, independent, and distinct invention. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the same invention is elected in both the United States and all corresponding counterpart applications for concurrent treatment in the Expanded CSP.

VI. First Action on the Merits (FAOM)

During examination, the USPTO examiner will consider all exchanged search results and all references submitted by the applicant in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

Search results that are not received by the USPTO within four months from the date the petition was granted may not be included in the FAOM. The examiner will prepare and issue an Office action and notify the applicant if any designated partner IP office did not provide search results prior to the issuance of the Office action. Once an FAOM issues, the application will no longer be treated as special under the Expanded CSP.

Andrew Hirshfeld, Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

[FR Doc. 2021–02342 Filed 2–3–21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–16–P

COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS

GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND

EFFICIENCY

Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records; Correction; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

(CIGIE).

ACTION: Notice; correction; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: CIGIE published a notice in the Federal Register on January 27, 2021, proposing to establish a system of records that is subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 entitled, ‘‘PRAC Data Warehouse System (PDWS)—CIGIE–5’’ (CIGIE–5). In that document, CIGIE erroneously stated that comments could be made through the Federal Rulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. This notice corrects that error and extends the comment period associated with the notice.

DATES: The system of records, CIGIE–5, appearing in the Federal Register of January 27, 2021, in FR Doc. 2021– 01429, will become effective without further notice on March 8, 2021 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Virginia Grebasch, Senior Counsel, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency,

(202) 292–2600 or comments@cigie.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Correction

In the Federal Register of January 27, 2021, in FR Doc. 2021–01429, on page 7280, in the third column, correct the ADDRESSES caption to read:

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by ‘‘CIGIE–5’’ by any of the following methods:

1. Mail: Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, 1717 H Street NW, Suite 825, Washington, DC 20006. Attn: Virginia Grebasch/CIGIE–5, Notice of New System of Records.

2. Email: comments@cigie.gov.

Dated: February 1, 2021.

Allison C. Lerner, Chairperson of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.

[FR Doc. 2021–02338 Filed 2–3–21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards;

Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.022A.

This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840–0005.

DATES:

Applications Available: February 4, 2021.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 5, 2021.

Pre-Application Webinar information:

The Department will hold a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed

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8187 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 22 / Thursday, February 4, 2021 / Notices information regarding this webinar will be provided on the Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad website at https:// www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsddrap/ applicant.html. Additionally, for new potential grantees unfamiliar with grantmaking at the Department, please consult our funding basics resources at https://www2.ed.gov/documents/ funding-101/funding-101-basics.pdf.

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: Dr.

Pamela J. Maimer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 258–24, Washington, DC 20202.

Telephone: (202) 453–6891. Email:

DDRA@ed.gov.

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 to doctoral candidates 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 two competitive preference priorities. 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 2021, 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 2021, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional four points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1 and three points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2 (up to 7 additional points possible). These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1— Focus on Less Commonly Taught Languages (4 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 (3 points).

A research project conducted in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, education (comparative or international), international development, political science, public health, or economics.

Note: Applicants that address Competitive Preference Priority 2 must intend to engage in dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies with a thematic focus on any one of the academic fields referenced above.

Program Authority: 22 U.S.C.

2452(b)(6).

Note: Projects must be awarded and operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the U.S. Constitution and the 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 CFR part 662.

Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not apply to this program.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to individual beneficiaries.

Estimated Available Funds:

$4,274,500

Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000– $60,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards:

$39,000.

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. 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). As part of the application process, however, eligible students submit their individual research narratives and forms to their home IHE. The IHE compiles all of the student applications for inclusion in the grant application that the institution submits electronically to the Department through the G–5 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 student applicant may receive a grant from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program (FUSP) and a grant from the Fulbright- Hays DDRA Fellowship Program concurrently. For this reason, when applying for a grant under the Fulbright- Hays DDRA Fellowship Program, the student must indicate in their application whether he or she has also applied for a FUSP grant. If, at any time during the U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays DDRA competition process a student accepts a fellowship award from the FUSP, or the FUSP disperses funds to provide training services to the student, the student is automatically ineligible for consideration for a grant under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program. Similarly, if the Fulbright- Hays DDRA program receives notification directly from the FUSP that it has awarded funds or provided training to a potential candidate for a Fulbright-Hays DDRA fellowship, we will automatically deem the student ineligible for an award under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program. Therefore, students should notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, prior to accepting grant funds from the FUSP.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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:

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8188 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 22 / Thursday, February 4, 2021 / Notices

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 can contact ED Pubs at its website, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.

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 7. Other Submission Requirements.

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

Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice.

3. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.

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

5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 10 pages and the bibliography to no more than two pages

(2) use 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, as well as 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).

• 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. Data Universal Numbering System 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 and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);

b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award Management (SAM), 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 by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.

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.

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 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 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: 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 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.

Please note the following:

• 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 ddra@ ed.gov. 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) Students must complete their individual applications and submit them to their home IHE project director using G5;

(3) Persons providing references for individual students must complete and submit reference forms for the 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 student applications, reference forms, and other required forms, using G5.

• The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the grant application by 4:30:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date.

G5 will not accept an application for

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8189 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 22 / Thursday, February 4, 2021 / Notices this competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Eastern 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 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 03:00 p.m.– 11:59 p.m.

Unavailable from 12:00 a.m.– 06:00 a.m.

Available 24 hours.

Unavailable from 09:00 p.m.–11:59 p.m.

Unavailable from 12:00 a.m.– 06:00 a.m.

Available 24 hours.

Available 24 hours.

• Student applicants will not receive additional point value because the student submits his or her application in electronic format, nor will we penalize the IHE or 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.

• 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.

• Both IHEs and student applicants must upload the narrative sections and all other attachments to their application 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.

• Submit student transcripts electronically through the G5 system.

• Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may wish to print a copy of it for your records.

• After the individual student electronically submits his or her application to the IHE, the 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 application, including all eligible individual student applications, to the Department, the applicant IHE will receive an automatic acknowledgment from G5 that will include a unique PR/Award number for the IHE’s application.

• 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) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 245–6272.

• 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 4:30:00 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 4:30:00 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 Dr. Pamela J.

Maimer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW, Room 258–24, Washington, DC 20202–4260.

Telephone: (202) 453–6891. Email:

ddra@ed.gov.

If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Please send this statement to the person listed under

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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.

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(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 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 2021, student applications will be divided into seven categories based on the world area focus of their research projects, as described in the absolute priority. Language and area studies experts in discrete world area-based panels will review the student applications. Each panel will review, score, and rank 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.

3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may impose specific 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.

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

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8191 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 22 / Thursday, February 4, 2021 / Notices 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.

4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), 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.

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, 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 these measures. 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.

VII. Other Information

Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONACT,

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.

Tiwanda Burse, Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 2021–02339 Filed 2–3–21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Application Deadline for Fiscal Year 2021; Small, Rural School Achievement Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Under the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program, Assistance Listing Number 84.358A, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) awards grants on a formula basis to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the unique needs of rural school districts. In this notice, we establish the deadline and describe the submission procedures for fiscal year (FY) 2021 SRSA grant applications. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1810–0646.

All LEAs eligible for FY 2021 SRSA funds must submit an application electronically via the process described in this notice by the deadline in this notice.

DATES: Applications Available: February 10, 2021.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 16, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Robert Hitchcock, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3E–218, Washington, DC 20202.

Telephone: (202) 401–0039. Email:

reap@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf or a text telephone, call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Award Information

Type of Award: Formula grant.

Available Funds: $93,920,000.

Estimated Range of Awards: $0–

$60,000.

Note: Depending on the number of eligible

LEAs identified in a given year and the amount appropriated by Congress for the program, some eligible LEAs may receive an SRSA allocation of $0 under the statutory funding formula.

Estimated Number of Awards: 4,200.

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