FY 2021 Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Application FINAL.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Postsecondary Education

Washington, DC 20202

Fiscal Year 2021

Application for Grants Under

Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program

CFDA # 84.116N

Form Approved OMB No. 1894-0006

Expiration Date: 02/29/2024

CLOSING DATE: 12/6/2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dear Applicant Letter

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

Competition Highlights

Supplemental Information

Application Transmittal Instructions

Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards

Authorizing Legislation

Supplemental Definitions

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)

Instructions for Completing the Application Package

Selection Criteria and Instructions

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)

Instructions for Standard Forms

Instructions for SF 424……………………………………………………………………….49

Instructions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424…51

Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424….53

Instructions for ED 524………………………………………………………………………57

Notice to Applicants………………………………………………………………………….60

Instructions for Completion of SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities………………...61

Instructions for Budget Summary Form and Itemized Budget

Application Checklist

Paperwork Burden Statement…………………….…………………………………………..67

DEAR APPLICANT LETTER

TBD __, 2021

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in applying for a grant under the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program. This grant competition is administered by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) of the U.S. Department of Education (the Department). The purpose of the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program is to provide grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support programs that address the basic needs of students and to report on practices that improve outcomes for students. Information about this program is accessible on the FIPSE Web site at:

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/fipse/index.html.

The Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for New Awards published in the Federal Register is the official document describing the requirements for submitting a grant application. Please review these application guidelines and the Federal Register notice carefully.

Please note that the FY 2021 Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program application includes one absolute priority and one competitive preference priority.

The Department requires submission of grant applications through Grants.gov. Therefore, we urge you to acquaint yourself with the Grants.gov system early. The application process can be time consuming if you have not used it before. Make sure you allow yourself ample time to submit the electronic application by the deadline of December 6, 2021. We suggest that you submit your application several days before the deadline date. Grants.gov is accessible through its portal page at: https://www.grants.gov.

We appreciate your interest in the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program competition and look forward to receiving your application. If you have any questions, please email Njeri Clark, competition manager, at Njeri.Clark@ed.gov.

Sincerely, Michelle Asha Cooper, Ph.D.

Acting Assistant Secretary Office of Postsecondary Education http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/fipse/index.html https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Njeri.Clark@ed.gov

GRANTS.GOV SUBMISSION PROCEDURES AND TIPS FOR APPLICANTS

***Updated 05/10/2021***

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

U.S. Department of Education

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

To facilitate your use of Grants.gov, this document includes important submission procedures you need to be aware of to ensure your application is received in a timely manner and accepted by the Department of Education.

Browser Support

The latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari are supported for use with Grants.gov. However, these web browsers undergo frequent changes and updates, so we recommend you have the latest version when using Grants.gov. Legacy versions of these web browsers may be functional, but you may experience issues.

For additional information or updates, please see the Grants.gov Browser information in the Applicant FAQs:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser.

ATTENTION – Workspace, Adobe Forms and PDF Files

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

1) Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

2) Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

a. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out web forms, you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

b. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant’s name, address, and DUNS Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

3) Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through Workspace by clicking the Sign and

Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

4) Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Helpful Reminders

1) REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov) which may take approximately one week to complete but could take upwards of several weeks to complete, depending upon the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an applicant. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application until all of the registration steps are complete. Please note that once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24-48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov, and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. For detailed information on the registration steps, please go to: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. [Note: Your organization will need to update its SAM registration annually.]

Primary information about SAM is available at www.sam.gov. However, to further assist you with obtaining and registering your SAM number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, the Department of Education has prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet which you can find at:

http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.

2) SUBMIT EARLY – We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application. Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then process it after it is fully uploaded. The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on a number of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application will vary as well. If Grants.gov rejects your application https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html http://www.sam.gov/ http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html

(see step three below), you will need to resubmit successfully to Grants.gov before 11:59:59 p.m.

Eastern Time on the deadline date.

Note: To submit successfully, you must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov.

This DUNS number is typically the same number used when your organization registered with the SAM. If you do not enter the same DUNS number on your application as the DUNS you registered with, Grants.gov will reject your application.

3) VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK – You will want to verify that Grants.gov received your application submission on time and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your application was received, log in to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or Agency Tracking Number Assigned. Once the Department of Education receives your application from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Number (PR/award number) will be assigned to your application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track My Application link.

If the date/time received is later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date, your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting validation by Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application has not been received successfully. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on the Grants.gov site: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html. For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader Software Tip Sheet at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html. If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the instructions below. Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail about the status of your application. Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your application has been received timely and validated successfully.

Submission Problems – What should you do?

If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov or access the Grants.gov Self-Service Knowledge Base web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants.

If electronic submission is required, you must submit an electronic application before 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, unless you follow the procedures in the Federal Register notice and qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. If electronic submission is optional and you have problems that you are unable to resolve before the deadline date and time for electronic applications, please follow the transmittal instructions for hard copy applications in the Federal Register notice and get a hard copy application postmarked by midnight on the deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html for help with Grants.gov. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Applicant FAQs found at this Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html, as well as additional information on Workspace at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#workspace.

Dial-Up Internet Connections

When using a dial up connection to upload and submit your application, it can take significantly longer than when you are connected to the Internet with a high-speed connection, e.g., cable modem/DSL/T1. While times will vary depending upon the size of your application, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to complete your grant submission using a dial up connection. If you do not have access to a high-speed connection and electronic submission is required, you may want to consider following the instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Attaching Files – Additional Tips

Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application:

1. When you submit your application electronically, you must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or Microsoft Word.

Although applicants have the option of uploading any narrative sections and all other attachments to their application in either PDF or Microsoft Word, we recommend applicants submit all documents as read-only flattened PDFs, meaning any fillable PDF files must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files and not as interactive or fillable PDF files, to better ensure applications are processed in a more timely, accurate, and efficient manner.

2. Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission. Therefore, each file uploaded to your application package should have a unique file name.

3. When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names. Uploaded file names must be fewer than 50 characters, and, in general, applicants should not use any special characters. However, Grants.gov does allow for the following UTF-8 characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, ampersand, tilde, exclamation point, comma, semi colon, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent sign, plus sign, and equal sign. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.

4. Applicants should limit the size of their file attachments. Documents submitted that contain graphics and/or scanned material often greatly increase the size of the file attachments and can result in difficulties opening the files. For reference, the average discretionary grant application package with all attachments is less than 5 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#workspace

COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

(a) Program Overview:

On December 21, 2020, the Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which included the Department of Education Appropriations Act 2021. This appropriations act included the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program which is designed to provide grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support programs that address the basic needs of students and to report on practices that improve outcomes for students.

(b) Highlights:

1. Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov. You are urged to acquaint yourself with the requirements of Grants.gov early as the registration procedures may require 5 or more days to complete. A more thorough discussion is included in this application package. Grants.gov is accessible through its portal page at: http://Grants.gov. The requirements for obtaining an exception to the electronic submission requirement are included in the Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards (Notice) for FY 2021. If you think you may need an exception, you are urged to review the requirements promptly.

2. It is important to know that the Grants.gov site works differently from the Department’s e- Application system, used in past Department competitions. Grants.gov does not allow applicants to “un-submit” applications. Therefore, if you discover that changes or additions are needed once your application has been accepted and validated by the Department, you must “re-submit” the application. You should know that if the Department receives duplicate applications, we will accept and process the application with the latest “date/time received” validation.

3. Please note that you must submit your application by 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on or before the application deadline date. Late applications will not be accepted. We suggest that you submit your application several days before the deadline. The Department is required to enforce the established deadline to ensure fairness to all applicants. No changes or additions to an application will be accepted after the deadline date and time.

4. Electronic submission of applications is required; therefore, you must submit an electronic application unless you follow the procedures outlined in the Federal Register Notice for FY 2021 and qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement.

5. Applicants are strongly recommended to adhere to the page limit specified in the Application Narrative Instructions portion of the application. The Notice for new awards for FY 2021, published in the Federal Register, contains specific information governing recommended page limits and formatting instructions.

6. All attachments must be in .PDF or Microsoft Word format. Other types of files will not be accepted. Please note, once you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your computer. It is important to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to log on to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application (this is different from e-Application, where you may have previously worked online http://grants.gov/ and saved data to the Department’s database). You must provide the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered with the System for Award Management (SAM).

7. For Grants.gov related questions and assistance, please contact:

Support Desk Email: support@Grants.gov Support Desk Telephone: (800) 518-4726 Contact Telephone Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays Online Web Site: http://Grants.gov

8. Also, refer to the “Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants” section found in this application booklet.

9. You are reminded that the document published in the Federal Register is the official document, and that you should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidelines contained within the official document.

10. Priorities included in the Notice: The notice contains one absolute priority and one competitive preference priority.

a. Absolute Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority. We do not award points for this priority.

This priority is: Projects that are designed to take a systemic approach to improving outcomes for underserved students through coordinating efforts with Federal, State, or local agencies, or community-based organizations that support students, to address two or more of the following basic needs:

(1) Food assistance.

(2) Housing.

(3) Transportation.

(4) Health, including access to mental health support.

(5) Childcare.

(6) Dependent care.

(7) Technology.

b. Competitive Preference Priority: This priority is a competitive preference priority. Under

34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 5 points to an application, depending on how well the application meets this priority. An applicant may or may not address this priority.

This priority is: Projects that are designed to support students’ social, emotional, and academic needs with a focus on underserved students.

11. Applicants must respond to the selection criteria as listed in this application booklet and the Federal Register. Complete instructions for submitting the responses are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Application Package” section of this application.

12. In accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, all successful applicants funded under the FY 2021 Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program competition may receive grant awards of up to three years (36 months) duration.

13. All applicants must provide a one-page abstract. The abstract provides a concise description of the proposed project objectives, activities, and intended outcomes. The abstract should also indicate whether you are addressing the absolute priority and/or the competitive preference priority.

Complete instructions for submitting the abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Application Package” section of this application.

14. This application package contains detailed instructions for every required component of your application. It also includes an Application Checklist for your convenience.

15. Information on the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program is accessible at the

Department’s website at: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/fipse/index.html.

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/fipse/index.html

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

1. Estimated Funding

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Available Funds: $4,950,000.00 Maximum Award: Up to $990,000 for 36 months Estimated Number of Awards: Up to 5 Length of New Award: Up to 36 months

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. The maximum award is based on a 3-year budget period. Applicants will need to prepare a multi-year budget request for 3 years.

2. Evaluation of Applications for Awards

A panel of two to three non-federal reviewers will review each application in accordance with the approved technical review plan. Reviewers will score the selection criteria and the competitive preference priority. Each reviewer will prepare a technical review form which will provide comments on each reviewed application. All eligible applications that are reviewed will be ranked according to the average score received from the panel of reviewers.

3. Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210. The points assigned to each criterion are indicated in the parentheses next to the criterion. An applicant may earn up to a total of 100 points based on the selection criteria and up to 5 additional points under the competitive preference priority, for a total score of up to 105 points. All applications will be evaluated based on the selection criteria as follows:

a. Need for the project. (Maximum 20 points) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

i. The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. (Up to 10 points)

ii. The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps or weaknesses. (Up to 10 points)

b. Quality of the project design. (Maximum 35 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

i. The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with or build on similar or related efforts to improve relevant outcomes (as defined in this notice), using existing funding streams from other programs or policies supported by community, State, and Federal resources. (Up to 10 points)

ii. The extent to which the proposed project will establish linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing services to the target population. (Up to 10 points)

iii. The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice). (Up to 5 points)

iv. The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs. (Up to 10 points)

c. Quality of project services. (Maximum 25 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.

i. In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (Up to 5 points)

In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:

ii. The likely impact of the services to be provided by the proposed project on the intended recipients of those services. (Up to 10 points)

iii. The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for maximizing the effectiveness of project services. (Up to 10 points)

d. Quality of the management plan. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.

e. Quality of the project evaluation. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:

i. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (Up to 5 points)

ii. The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible. (Up to 5 points)

4. Tiebreaker

If there is more than one application with the same score and insufficient funds to fund all the applications with the same ranking, the first tiebreaker will be to select the applicant with the highest average score under Quality of Project Services. If a second tiebreaker is required, we will select the applicant with the highest average score under Quality of the Project Design. If a third tiebreaker is required, we will select the applicant with the highest average score under Need for the Project. If the tie persists, the application with the highest percentage of students who are Pell grant recipients will be funded.

5. Applicant Funding

Applicants should pay close attention to the “Maximum Award” section of the notice. The Department will decrease any budget that exceeds the maximum amount.

6. Selection of Grantees

The Secretary will select applications for funding in rank order, according to the average score received from the peer review and from the competitive preference priority if addressed by the applicant. The Department’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs will inform the Congress regarding the applications approved for new Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program grants. Successful applicants will receive award notices by e-mail shortly after the Congress is notified. No funding information will be released before the Congress is notified.

7. Notice to Unsuccessful Applicants

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing following the notice to successful applicants.

8. Performance Report Requirements

If you receive a new grant award in FY 2021 you will be required during the funding cycle to submit annual and final performance reports. More information will be provided to those funded at a later date.

9. Contact Information

Attention: Njeri Clark U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., LBJ-2B186 Washington, D.C. 20202 E-mail: Njeri.Clark@ed.gov Telephone: 202-453-6224

10. For Grants.gov-related questions and assistance, please contact:

Support Desk Email: support@Grants.gov Support Desk Telephone: (800) 518-4726 Contact Telephone Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays Online Web Site: http://Grants.gov

APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

This program requires the electronic submission of applications; specific requirements and waiver instructions can be found in the Federal Register NIA.

Applications Submitted Electronically

1. You must submit your grant application through the Internet using the software provided on the Grants.gov Web site (http://www.grants.gov) by 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on or before the closing date.

2. If you submit your application through the Internet via the Grants.gov Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement when we receive your application.

3. For more information on using Grants.gov, please refer to NIA that was published in the Federal Register or visit http://www.grants.gov.

Other Submission Instructions

For detailed instructions on applications sent by mail or delivery, please review the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs Notice, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR- 2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

Other Attachments in Grants.gov The Other Attachments Form in Grants.gov is used to upload the application Appendix. The Appendix supports and supplements information in other parts of the application package. Several types of information may be included.

The Appendix may include only the following:

• Narrative summaries of the qualifications of key personnel (maximum 1-page each)

• Short position descriptions for staff to be hired or determined

• References cited in the proposal narrative (if applicable)

• Absolute Priority

Late Applications

If your application is late, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW AWARDS

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students

Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications (NIA) for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program, Assistance Listing

Number 84.116N. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.

DATES:

Applications Available: [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL

REGISTER].

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to

Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the

Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Njeri Clark, U.S. Department of

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B186, Washington, DC 20202-

4260. Telephone: (202) 453-6224. Email: Njeri.Clark@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 Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support programs that address the basic needs of students and to report on practices that improve outcomes for students.

Background: The Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program supports

IHEs that demonstrate a commitment to developing or enhancing programs that support the basic needs of students. There is growing evidence that food and housing insecurities compromise the well-being of thousands of undergraduate students across the country, which may reduce the odds that they will complete their degrees or certificates. A recent study of more than 33,000 community college students found that one-third had the lowest levels of food security and could be considered hungry, while just over 50 percent were housing insecure. Fourteen percent of those students surveyed were homeless.1

1 Goldrick-Rab, S., Broton, K., & Eisenberg, D. (2015). Hungry to Learn: Addressing Food & Housing Insecurity among Undergraduates. Wisconsin HOPE Lab. Retrieved from http://wihopelab.com/ publications/Wisconsin_HOPE_Lab_Hungry_To_Learn.pdf. Goldrick-mailto:Njeri.Clark@ed.gov

Similarly, the Government Accountability Office analyzed dozens of studies and found rates of food insecurity among college students were typically reported at more than 30 percent.2 Studies show that if a student has not eaten sufficient nutritious food or slept the night before a class or exam, they will have greater difficulty mastering the material and performing well.3

According to the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice’s most recent basic needs survey, students of color were more likely to experience basic needs insecurity than their White peers. For students at both two- and four-year institutions, 75 percent of Indigenous students, 70 percent of Black students, and 64 percent of Hispanic or

Latino students experienced basic needs insecurity, compared with

54 percent of White students.4

Supporting students’ basic needs has many benefits for colleges and universities, including boosting academic performance, promoting retention and degree completion, reducing the barriers that returning adults face, and creating bridges between the institution and community organizations.5 In light of this and the other important issues described

Rab, S., Richardson, J., & Hernandez, A. (2017). Hungry and Homeless in College:

Results from a National Study of Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education.

Wisconsin HOPE Lab. Retrieved from http://wihopelab.com/publications/hungry-and-homeless-in-college-report.pdf 2 Government Accountability Office. (2018). Food Insecurity: Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-19-95.pdf.

3 Maroto, M.E., Snelling, A., & Linck, H. (2015). Food Insecurity Among Community College Students: Prevalence and Association with Grade Point Average. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 39(6), 515-526. Hershner, S.D., & Chervin, R.D. (2014). Causes and Consequences of Sleepiness Among College Students. Nature and Science of Sleep, 6, 73-84.

4 hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2019_RealCollege_Survey_Report.pdf 5 hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2019_RealCollege_Survey_Report.pdf above, this competition is designed to promote student success by supporting programs that address the basic needs of students and report on those practices that improve student outcomes. In addition to the absolute priority we have established to address these issues, we are establishing a competitive preference priority to promote comprehensive services to students. This competitive preference priority furthers the goals of the program by supporting projects that meet the needs of the whole student.

Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one competitive preference priority.

We are establishing these priorities for the FY 2021 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition in accordance with section

437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C.

1232(d)(1).

Absolute Priority: This priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR

75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.

This priority is:

Strengthening Cross-Agency Coordination and Community Engagement to

Advance Systemic Change.

Projects that are designed to take a systemic approach to improving outcomes for underserved students through coordinating efforts with

Federal, State, or local agencies, or community-based organizations that support students, to address two or more of the following basic needs:

(1) Food assistance.

(2) Housing.

(3) Transportation.

(4) Health, including access to mental health support.

(5) Childcare.

(6) Dependent care.

(7) Technology.

Competitive Preference Priority: This priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional five points to an application, depending on how well the application meets this priority.

This priority is:

Meeting Student Social, Emotional, and Academic Needs. (up to 5 points)

Projects that are designed to support students’ social, emotional, and academic needs with a focus on underserved students.

Definitions: We are establishing definitions for “community college,”

“Historically Black colleges and universities,” “Minority-Serving

Institution,” “Tribal Colleges or Universities,” and “underserved student” for the FY 2021 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. We have defined “community college” to ensure that we capture applicable institutions of higher education that offer both associate and bachelor’s degrees. We are establishing the definition of “underserved student” to target the populations we believe are most in need of the services intended to be provided under this program. The remaining definitions are from 34 CFR 77.1.

Community college means an institution that meets the definition in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20

U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an IHE (as defined in section 101 of the HEA) that awards degrees and certificates, more than 50 percent of which are not bachelor's degrees (or an equivalent) or master's, professional, or other advanced degrees.

Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in the project’s logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes.

Department means the U.S. Department of Education.

Fiscal year means the Federal fiscal year--a period beginning on

October 1 and ending on the following September 30.

Grantee means the legal entity to which a grant is awarded and that is accountable to the Federal Government for the use of the funds provided. The grantee is the entire legal entity even if only a particular component of the entity is designated in the grant award notice (GAN). For example, a GAN may name as the grantee one school or campus of a college or university. In this case, the granting agency usually intends, or actually intends, that the named component assume primary or sole responsibility for administering the grant-assisted project or program. Nevertheless, the naming of a component of a legal entity as the grantee in a grant award document shall not be construed as relieving the whole legal entity from accountability to the Federal

Government for the use of the funds provided. (This definition is not intended to affect the eligibility provision of grant programs in which eligibility is limited to organizations that may be only components of a legal entity.) The term “grantee” does not include any secondary recipients, such as subgrantees and contractors, that may receive funds from a grantee pursuant to a subgrant or contract.

Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.

Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a framework that identifies key project components of the proposed project

(i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the key project components and relevant outcomes.

Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use resources such as the Pacific Education Laboratory’s Logic Model Application

(www.ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp).

Minority-Serving Institution 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 HEA.

Performance measure means any quantitative indicator, statistic, or metric used to gauge program or project performance.

Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence http://www.ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).

Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcomes(s) the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of the program.

Tribal Colleges or Universities has the meaning ascribed it in section 316(b)(3) of the HEA.

Underserved student means a student who is enrolled in postsecondary education and is a member of one or more of the following subgroups:

(a) A student who is living in poverty.

(b) A student of color.

(c) A student who is a member of a federally recognized Indian

Tribe.

(d) A student with a disability.

(e) A student experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

(f) A pregnant, parenting, or caregiving student.

(g) A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex

(LGBTQ+) student.

(h) A student who is the first in their family to attend postsecondary education.

(i) A student enrolling in or seeking to enroll in postsecondary education for the first time at the age of 20 or older.

(j) A student who is enrolled in or is seeking to enroll in postsecondary education who is eligible for a Pell Grant.

Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5

U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, selection criteria, definitions, and other requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements regulations governing the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised program authority. This is the first grant competition for this program, and therefore qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the priorities, requirements, and definitions under section 437(d)(1) of

GEPA. These priorities, requirements, and definitions will apply to the

FY 2021 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations

Act, 2021, H.R. 7614, 116th Congress (2020); the explanatory statement accompanying H.R. 133 (Pub. L. 116-260).

Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the

Federal civil rights laws.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General

Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (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 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/5/553?type=usc&year=mostrecent&link-type=html https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/5/553?type=usc&year=mostrecent&link-type=html

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.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: $4,950,000.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent fiscal years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $750,000 to $990,000 over 36 months.

Estimated Average Size of Award: $865,000.

Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $990,000 for a single budget period of 36 months.

Estimated Number of Awards: 5.

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

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: Community Colleges (as defined in this notice) that are Minority-Serving Institutions (as defined in this notice), Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in this notice), or Tribal Colleges or Universities (as defined in this notice).

Note: The notice announcing the FY 2021 process for designation of eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on March

4, 2021 (86 FR 12665). The Department extended the deadline for applications in a notice published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2021 (86 FR 19231). Only institutions that the Department determines are eligible, or which are granted a waiver under the process described in the March 4, 2021, notice, and that meet the other eligibility requirements described in this notice, may apply for a grant under this program.

2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost sharing or matching.

b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program limits a grantee’s indirect cost reimbursement to eight percent of a modified total direct cost base. We are establishing this indirect cost limit for the FY 2021 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.

c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform Guidance.

3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities described in its application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education

Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on

February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.

2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of projects that may be proposed in applications for the Basic Needs…