FY24_BAA_Final.pdf

HE125424R5000-Grants to Military-Connected Local Educational

Agencies for Academic and Support Programs and the World

Language Advancement and Readiness Program

Broad Agency Announcement and Application Guidelines

CFDA: 12.556

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

Deadline for Receipt of Applications:

Friday, March 29, by 11:59PM EST

Discretionary Grant Program, Notice Inviting Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

I. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA)

Department of Defense Education Activity

Broad Agency Announcement (known herein as Funding Opportunity Announcement) for the Military-

Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (known herein as MCASP) and the World Language Advancement and Readiness Program (known herein as WLARP), Fiscal Year

2024.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: HE125424R5000

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 12.556 Competitive

Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement

ISSUE DATE: January 31, 2024

KEY DATES & POINT OF CONTACTS:

January 31, 2024 Applications Available (https://www.grants.gov)

February 29, 2024 Pre-recorded Technical Assistance Webinars (https://dodeagrants.org/)

March 29, 2024 Deadline for Transmittal of Applications, No Later than 11:59PM

Eastern Standard Time

No Later than

September 30, 2024 Grants Awarded

Contact Information

DoDEA Grant Program Office:

DoDEA.Grants@dodea.edu - 571-372-6026

DoDEA Procurement Division

Thatsanee Schwarzmann, Grants Officer thatsanee.schwarzmann@dodea.edu

Jenny Suh, Grants Specialist jenny.suh@dodea.edu

Anticipated Funding Type: Grant award(s).

https://www.grants.gov/ https://dodeagrants.org/ mailto:DoDEA.Grants@dodea.edu mailto:thatsanee.schwarzmann@dodea.edu mailto:jenny.suh@dodea.edu

Table of Contents

I. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA)

II. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Short Description of Funding Opportunity

B. Background

C. Program Description

D. Deliverables

E. Authorization

III. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Funding Amount and Period of Performance

B. Peer Merit Reviews

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

C. Other: Registration in System of Award Management

V. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Address to Request Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

C. Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

D. Funding Restrictions

E. Certifications and Assurance

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

Review Process

Handling of Selection Information

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information (FAPIIS)

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Federal Award Notices

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

C. Reporting

VIII. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S)

IX. OTHER INFORMATION – OPTIONAL

Certification regarding Restrictions on Lobbying

Code of Conduct

Appendix A: Cover Page Sample and Application Template for Narrative

Appendix B: Application Templates

Implementation Years Logic Model

Evaluation Plan Template

Appendix C: Sample Detail Budget Table *

Appendix D: Approved List of Foreign Languages

Appendix E: Project Narrative Criteria for Scoring

II. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Short Description of Funding Opportunity

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) seeks innovative applications that identify and implement evidence-based practices to meet the academic needs of the highly mobile military-connected students in their community and applications which establish, improve, or expand world language programs targeting elementary and secondary students. In addition, any local education agency (LEA) awarded a grant under this announcement must use the funds to support programs that can be continued beyond the grant period and demonstrate approaches that could be disseminated to and duplicated in other LEAs. Awarded projects must provide a written project narrative and a detail budget table which identifies which program (either MCASP or WLARP) the LEA is applying for funding to implement under this announcement. Additionally, all projects awarded under this funding opportunity must include a professional development component. DoDEA intends to award multiple grants, subject to the availability of funds. Each individual grant award will be a minimum of

$500,000.00 and may be up to a maximum of $2,000,000, for a period of up to five (5) years.

B. Background

The DoDEA Partnership and Resources Division provides eligible LEAs with the resources to close achievement gaps, spark ingenuity, innovate and sustain quality education and seamless learning transitions for military-connected students. To advance this effort, DoDEA provides a competitive grant program to domestic public schools that identify a need focused on academic mastery, narrowing learning gaps for students that transition, and/or providing consistent access to educational programs.

Since 2009, over one million public school students in 36 states have been impacted by this program.

Additionally, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are concerned about the lack of military personnel with advanced language skills and believe this could be addressed by promoting foreign language study programs targeting elementary and secondary students. As a result, the

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 authorized the development of a competitive grant program to provide support to eligible entities for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of world language study for students at public schools in a LEA that hosts a unit of the Junior Reserve

Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC).

C. Program Description

This funding opportunity has two applicable programs, Military-Connected Local Educational

Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (MCASP) and the World Language Advancement and

Readiness Program (WLARP). Applicants can apply for funding to implement either MCASP or

WLARP at their respective LEA. LEAs may only choose ONE program to apply for funding under this announcement. The following provides a description of both programs for LEAs to select for funding.

MCASP: Project scope for MCASP applicants may range in size and complexity. Efforts may have an emphasis on hands on, problem-based learning activities, mentor-centered programming, education outcomes, convergence of multiple curricular disciplines, and/or career pathways/opportunities. The following are examples of successfully funded prior proposals:

• Engaging students where disciplines converge, including programs that meaningfully integrate science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) subjects as well as other disciplines such as Career and Technical Education (CTE), arts & humanities.

• Designing innovative remote learning experiences to teach literacy, mathematics, computer science, and/or other CTE courses.

• Developing partnerships to implement education and outreach programs with a holistic approach to understanding real-world applications.

• Filling gaps in schools that lack necessary infrastructure through innovative programming and/or novel interventions to address student achievement gaps in any curricular subject.

WLARP: In response to a request from a Congressional bipartisan group, the Academy of Arts and

Sciences created the Commission on Language Learning. In the Commission’s final report, America’s

Languages: Investing in Language Learning for the 21st Century, they state the importance of

…a national strategy to improve access to as many languages as possible for people of every region, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background—that is, to value language education as a persistent national need similar to education in math or English, and to ensure that a useful level of proficiency is within every student’s reach. As children prove especially receptive to language education—they spend much of their time in educational settings and can develop language skills gradually throughout their lives—the Commission believes that instruction should begin as early in life as possible.”

Challenges inherent to the current world environment require the military to be equipped with world language skills. The National Defense Strategy (NDS) of the United States, Sharpening the American

Military’s Competitive Edge states that the “U.S. interest includes protecting the nation and our allies from attack or coercion. The NDS also recognizes that our nation’s security is “tightly bound with the security of the broader international system.”

To be successful in national security efforts and effectively collaborate with global populations, world language skills are a critical defense competency. Experts indicate that students learning languages starting at the K-12 levels develop higher language proficiency than those starting in college; therefore, exposing elementary and secondary students to world languages is critical to developing and sustaining the pipeline of individuals with skills needed to address national security and economic competitiveness needs. As a result, the Department of Defense (DoD) is committed to increasing world language skills and cultural knowledge capability and capacity by identifying and training students who could become potential service members with high aptitude to learn world languages.

The goal of any proposed effort under this announcement must provide solutions that will establish, improve, or expand world language study for PK- 12 public school students in an LEA that hosts a unit of the JROTC. For this effort, world language is defined as American Sign Language (ASL) and/or any of the languages included on the DoD Strategic Language List (SLL) as defined in DoD

Directive 5160.41E, Defense Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Program, and can be found at Appendix D of this announcement.

Applicants seeking funding for WLARP should include in their application a project narrative that focuses on one or more of the following scope areas:

1) Establish and implement programs that showcase a meaningful integration of world language(s) across subject areas. Projects under this scope would include world language immersion or partial world language immersion of any of the languages included on the DoD SLL (Appendix

D) and/or ASL.

2) Establish and implement an exploratory pilot program that seeks to create new world language https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-112shrg75214/html/CHRG-112shrg75214.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-112shrg75214/html/CHRG-112shrg75214.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-112shrg75214/html/CHRG-112shrg75214.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-112shrg75214/html/CHRG-112shrg75214.htm https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/516041Ep.pdf?ver=2020-08-25-152344-143 https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/516041Ep.pdf?ver=2020-08-25-152344-143 experiences for students. For example, this type of project may link native speakers of languages other than English within the LEA with the target schools in order to promote two-way language learning. The language used for this scope must be included on the DoD SLL (Appendix D) and/or ASL.

3) Improve or expand content-based instruction in the target school’s current world language program of one or more of the languages included on the DoD SLL (Appendix D) and/or ASL.

4) Effectively use technology, such as computer-assisted instruction or distance (virtual) learning, to establish or expand course offerings of one or more world languages included on the DoD

SLL (Appendix D) and/or ASL.

All MCASP and WLARP applications should:

1) Address the program description.

2) Demonstrate potential to make a substantial impact.

3) Create meaningful content and participant experiences that meet the intent of either the MCASP or WLARP program.

4) Collect a set of program-specific measures of performance to include capture of participation rates and measures of effectiveness appropriate to the goals of the project.

5) Provide a clear overview and rationale for how grant funding will be allocated.

6) Contain a strategy for program sustainability once the period of performance of this award ends.

D. Deliverables

Reports – The applicant must acknowledge that the following reports are required. The reporting forms will be available on the reporting website and, if awarded, applicants agree to submit the following:

• Quarterly Invoice –This report requirement is fulfilled with the completion of the Standard

Form (SF) 270 which is to be accompanied by any grant advance payment or reimbursement request via an attachment on the Wide Area Workflow system. The SF 270 includes information on current expenses and invoices for the submitted period.

• Performance Reports (Semester Reports) – A template will be provided to each awarded grantee. It will include information on programmatic goals to include major successes or major problems that warrant DoDEA attention. This report will be submitted through our DoDEA grants online reporting system for each fall and spring school year semesters.

• Annual Reports (Annual Performance & Annual Financial)– A template will be provided to each awarded grantee. A complete annual Performance Progress Report is mandated by

DoDEA and will be due each year on October 31st. It will include a cover sheet, written narrative as well as the annual financial report (SF 425).

• Final (Closeout) Performance Report & Final (Closeout) Financial Report (Last year of grant award only) – This report details the full programmatic accomplishments summarized from prior annual reports and a forecast for ongoing program sustainability after the end of the period of performance. Include, as feasible, examples of educational materials produced, success stories, accomplishments, links to digital materials, and other resultant material from the award.

The tables below outline the deliverables timeline as stated above.

Table 1. Invoicing Timeline and Reporting

Invoice Due Dates Report Type

Quarterly: March 31st; June 30th; Sep 30th; Dec

31st Request for Payment (SF 270)

Final Invoice: May 31st (Year 5) Request for Payment (SF 270)

Table 2. Performance Reporting Timeline (Years 1-4)

Report Due Dates Report Type

January 31st (Performance) Fall Semester Report

July 31st (Performance) Spring Semester Report

October 31st (Annual Performance)

October 31st (Annual Financial)

Annual Performance Report

Annual Financial Report (SF 425)

Table 3. Performance Reporting Timeline (Year 5)

Report Due Date Report Type

January 31st (Performance Report) Fall Semester Report

Table 4. Closeout Reporting Timeline

Year 5 Only Due Date Report Type

No later than September 30th or 120 days after end date of last year performance period

Closeout Performance Report

Final Financial Report (SF 425)

E. Authorization

Authority for this competitive grant is provided by the following: 2007 National Defense Authorization

Act (NDAA), Section 574(d) of Public Law 109-364 Section 574(d) of P.L. 109-364 (made permanent through Section 552 of P.L. 115-91); and 2020 NDAA Section 1751 of P.L. 116–92. This publication also constitutes a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) as contemplated in the Department of

Defense Grants and Agreements Regulations (DoDGARS) 32 CFR 22.315 – Merit-based, competitive procedures. DoDEA will not issue paper copies of this announcement. DoDEA reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the applications in response to this announcement.

Application packages to include project narratives and budgets (or any other material) submitted in response to this FOA will not be returned. DoDEA will treat all applications as sensitive competitive information and will disclose their contents only for the purposes of DoDEA’s evaluation of the grant applications.

Awards will take the form of individual grants, not cooperative agreements. Any assistance instrument awarded under this announcement will be governed by the award terms and conditions that conform to DoD’s implementation of OMB circulars applicable to financial assistance. Terms and conditions will include revisions to reflect DoD implementation of new OMB guidance in 2 CFR Part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal

Awards.” At the time of this FOA publication, the revisions are still not finalized and there is no set date for their implementation or transition. If these revisions come into effect before the date of any award, the recipients of the award agree to comply with all relevant revisions.

The applicant must meet the minimum standards for receiving federal funds, as defined in 32 CFR

22.415, which states that to be qualified, a potential recipient must do the following:

1) Have the management capability and adequate financial and technical resources, given those that would be made available through the grant or cooperative agreement, to execute the program of activities envisioned under the grant or cooperative agreement.

2) Have a satisfactory record of executing such programs or activities (if not a prior recipient of an award).

3) Have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics.

4) Be otherwise qualified and eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under applicable laws and regulations (see § 22.420(c)).

The applicant must agree to abide by all federal rules and regulations regarding performance and financial management, including, but not limited to 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Any inconsistencies in the requirements of award will be resolved in the following order of precedence:

1) Federal statutes.

2) Federal regulations.

3) 2 CFR part 200, as modified and supplemented by DoD's interim implementation found in 2

CFR part 1104.

4) Award-specific terms and conditions.

If awarded, in case of disagreement with any requirements of award, the recipient shall contact the

DoDEA Grants Officer who issued the grant in order to resolve the issue. The recipient shall not assess any costs to the award or accept any payments until the issue is resolved.

Applicants should be aware of the following:

• Information regarding the application packages can be found at the following URL:

https://grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants

• Grant applications will be reviewed only if they (1) meet the criteria specified by this announcement and (2) are submitted through Grants.gov.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Funding Amount and Period of Performance

Under this FOA, DoDEA intends to award multiple grants, subject to the availability of funds. Each individual award will be for a minimum of $500,000.00 and may be up to a maximum of $2,000,000.00 for a period of up to five (5) years. DoDEA expects projects to be completed within the performance https://grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants period. All projects awarded under this FOA will have a period of performance end date of May 31, 2029. Proposed project costs must be no more than $2,000,000.00 for all years of the project, including direct and indirect costs. Please note that applicants are required to use the first year of their award as a planning year. During this year, such activities as refining project and evaluation plans, providing professional learning, securing necessary resources, and hiring or revising staff positions should occur. Additionally, during the first year of award, all grantees will be required to meet with

DoDEA to establish a monitoring review plan. During the initial monitoring review plan meeting

(conducted during the first year of award), all grantees will be given a risk designation (e.g., high, moderate, low). This designation can change throughout the life of the grant and is comprised of an analysis of any of the elements listed below, in addition to district request.

1) History of unsatisfactory performance,

2) Material violations of the terms and conditions,

3) Large cost disallowances,

4) Serious deficiencies in program or business management systems, and

5) Inexperience (first time grant awarded)

It is anticipated that awards funded under this announcement and selected this fiscal year will be made by September 30, 2024.

The amount available through this announcement will be dependent upon final FY 2024 budgetary decisions. Publication of this notice does not obligate DoDEA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funding. If any applicant incurs any costs prior to receiving an award agreement from the authorized DoDEA Grants Officer or DoDEA Grant Program Manager, the applicant does so solely at the LEA’s own risk of such costs not being included under an award if an award is made to the applicant. Pre-award costs are not allowed under this award unless prior written approval has been given by the DoDEA Grants Officer or DoDEA Grant Program Manager in accordance with 2 CFR

§200.308(d), §200.102, and §200.407.

All applicants can request funding up to the amount prescribed in the funding formula outlined in Table

5. The funding formula for this opportunity is based ONLY on the total number of military- connected students at eligible/target school(s).

Table 5. DoDEA FY24 MCASP and WLARP Grant Funding Formula

Number of Military-Connected

Students at Eligible School(s)

Award Amount

(Total for 54 months)

500 or fewer $500,000.00

501 - 750 $750,000.00

751 – 1,000 $1,000,000.00

1,001 -1,250 $1,250,000.00

1,251 – 1,500 $1,500,000.00

1,501 or greater $2,000,000.00

B. Peer Merit Reviews

DoDEA will use peer reviewers to assist in the merit review of applications. Peer reviewers who are not U.S. Government employees must sign non-disclosure agreements before receiving full or partial copies of applications/applications and reports submitted by the performers.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are limited to PK-12 LEAs including charter schools that are considered LEAs under state law. For-profit organizations, foreign institutions, and individuals are not eligible to apply. Likewise, federal agencies or current federal employees are not eligible to receive federal assistance under this announcement but may be project partners. Current

DoDEA grant award recipients are eligible to apply. Awards under this announcement will be made to LEAs on behalf of their eligible/target school(s). Eligible/target schools must meet the following the following criteria:

1) All applicants: Eligible/target school(s) must have a ten (10) percent or greater military-connected student enrollment for school year (SY) 2022-2023. The enrollment numbers may be verifiable from the district’s U.S. Department of Education Impact Aid totals and/or the State

Military Student Identifier data. For the purposes of this announcement, a military-connected student is defined as an elementary or secondary school student who is either a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces or a dependent of a civilian employee of the Department of

Defense, or a dependent of a person who is not a member of the Armed Forces or a civilian

DoD employee but who is employed on Federal property.

2) WLARP applicants ONLY: Eligible/target school(s) must be a part of a LEA which currently hosts a unit (or has a pending application to host) of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training

Corps (JROTC) in one of their local high schools. JROTC programs, run through the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, are taught as elective courses at more than 3,000 high schools nationwide. To find out if a LEA has an eligible JROTC program, please visit the following respective service JROTC websites:

o U.S. Army JROTC Program Headquarters – Select “School Locator” http://www.usarmyjrotc.com/ o U.S. Air Force JROTC Program Headquarters – Select “AFJROTC Unit Locator” https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Holm-Center/AFJROTC/Article-

Display/Article/950637/ o Naval Service Training Command – Select “Find An NJROTC Unit” https://www.netc.navy.mil/NSTC/NJROTC/ o U.S. Marine Corps https://www.mcjrotc.marines.mil/Schools/List/

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

The primary basis for selecting applications for award are technical merit, proposed cost http://www.usarmyjrotc.com/ https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Holm-Center/AFJROTC/Article-Display/Article/950637/ https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Holm-Center/AFJROTC/Article-Display/Article/950637/ https://www.netc.navy.mil/NSTC/NJROTC/ https://www.mcjrotc.marines.mil/Schools/List/ allowability, reasonableness, governmental risk assessment, and availability of funding. No cost sharing or matching is required. If offered, voluntary cost sharing may be considered as a demonstration of an offeror's commitment to their proposed project. Any proposed cost sharing becomes a binding term of any award. DoDEA reserves the right to request and require additional supporting information and documentation after it makes the selection determination. DoDEA reserves the right to remove applicants from award consideration if the applicant fails to reach agreement on award terms, conditions, or cost/price within a reasonable time; or if the applicant fails to provide requested or required additional information in a timely manner.

C. Other: Registration in System of Award Management

To apply for grants and other funding opportunities, the proposing LEA’s System of Award

Management (SAM) registration must be current at the time of application and award. Applications will not be accepted unless the proposing LEA is registered in SAM. Registration in SAM, which is free, is now included in the acceptance of Certifications and Assurances. SAM may be accessed at the following URL: https://sam.gov.

V. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

The Government seeks only applications that are relevant and responsive to the Funding Opportunity

Description in Section II. Applications are highly encouraged to address the areas listed in the

Funding Opportunity Description using headings for each area.

Applications will only be received electronically, as editable PDFs, Word documents, or Excel spreadsheets through https://www.grants.gov/ no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on March 29, 2024. Applications are NOT to be submitted via email. Access to complete instructions may be found at the following URL: https://grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants

Award Notification: It is anticipated that final selections for award will be made no later than

September 30, 2024.

A. Address to Request Application Package

All relevant materials are available with this announcement on Grants.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

Applications submitted under this FOA must seek to address unclassified efforts. As a corollary, no classified applications shall be submitted. Application submissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with applicable laws and DoD regulations.

An application must include all elements related to (1) and (2) below. Elements (3) and (4) are optional and not included in the merit review process nor the total package page limit. Failure to provide this information in the required format and within prescribed page limits may result in the application being excluded from further review. Any non-requested elements submitted as part of a full application package will be removed from the application prior to merit review. See full details of each element below the list.

1) Required Federal Forms https://sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants

2) Project Narrative

3) Letter(s) of Support and Supporting Documents

4) References Cited

1) Required Federal Forms

Prospective applicants must complete the mandatory forms in accordance with the instructions provided on the forms and the additional instructions below. Files that are attached to the forms must be in Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf) unless otherwise specified in this announcement. At the time of application submission, applicants must complete and submit the following federal forms with signatures of the Authorized Representative of the submitting LEA:

▪ SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

▪ SF-424-A, Budget Information, Non-Construction Programs

▪ SF-424-B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs

▪ Budget Narrative Attachment Form

▪ Project Narrative

Submit Project Narrative as an editable PDF using the following format:

1) Paper Size – 8.5 x 11-inch paper

2) Margins – 1 inch

3) Spacing – single spaced

4) Font – Times New Roman, 12-point

5) Page limit – The project narrative cannot exceed 30 pages. While this page limit does not include appendices that may provide additional context for narrative claims, the entire package (narrative + appendices) cannot exceed 60 pages.

6) The project narrative components should include the following (criteria for scoring are detailed in Appendix E):

o Cover Page o Abstract o Table of Contents o Needs Assessment and Rationale for the Project o Project Goals o Professional Learning Plan o Project Planning Year o Project Implementation Years o Key Personnel Qualifications o Project Evaluation Plan o Budget Narrative and Detail Budget Table o Sustainability Plan

Cover Page must include all contact information (including mailing address), names of military installations served, which program LEA is applying for funding (either MCASP or WLARP), project focus (scope) area(s), enrollment data for eligible/target schools, JROTC unit located within school district (if WLARP applicant), and an authorized signature.

Abstract of no longer than 250 words is required. The abstract is placed on the cover page and should be a concise overview of the objectives of the project, project activities, location of the project, expected outcome(s), and the proposed rationale/impact for the work. NOTE: Project abstracts of applications that receive funding may be posted on program-related websites and/or included in notices that DoDEA may send to members of Congress.

Applicants must use the template for the application found in Appendix A of this FOA for submission of your grant project proposal.

Table of Contents lists the elements in the grant proposal narrative with the corresponding section and page numbers.

Needs Assessment and Rationale for the Project (10 points) determines and presents the needs between the current condition and the desired outcome. A strong needs assessment provides detailed information, including supporting data, on the current needs of military-connected students as it relates to the proposed project. The needs assessment must also include information on current and past efforts (funded by DoDEA and otherwise) to address any successes and/or challenges in the proposed focus area. Finally, it presents past and current professional learning efforts for staff in the proposed focus area and presents staff challenges and needs to be met to improve student outcomes in the focus area.

Project Goals (10 points) – The application must consist of a clear description of the technical approach being proposed to address the applicants’ chosen program area (either

MCASP or WLARP). This section of the narrative should address the following:

1) Identify goals of project. The applicant can choose no more than three goals for their proposed project. Each goal should be written to state how the project outcomes will be achieved in a clear, specific, and measurable way. An example of a goal statement is “Military-connected 8th graders will improve their science achievement as evidenced by quantitative and/or qualitative measures by the end of this grant cycle (May 31, 2029).” Examples of outcome measures can include the following:

a. Student performance in goal-related courses based on statewide, districtwide and/ or schoolwide assessments.

b. Student grades in goal-related courses.

c. Number of participants in focus groups and/or interviews and their qualitative results.

d. Parental and/or student pre- and post-surveys.

e. Enrollment, grade, and/or completion rates in goal-related courses.

f. Number and percentage of students earning industry-recognized credentials.

g. Number and percentage of students matriculating to higher grades and grade groupings (regular and honors) and higher education in goal-related programs with articulation agreements.

2) Identify strategies. Each goal may not have more than three strategies. The identified goals should be the same used for project evaluation. Strategies to support goals must be related to improving student outcomes related to MCASP or WLARP. The following are examples of strategies used in prior successful proposals:

a. Extracurricular activities (e.g., after school clubs, competitions, etc.)

b. In-class curriculum instruction support (e.g., project-based learning, pathways, apprenticeships, etc.)

c. Organizational capacity building (e.g., mentoring programs, building faculty capacity to use student data to target student learning needs, etc.)

d. In-class technology support (e.g., laptops, educational software, etc.)

e. Tutoring

f. Virtual learning

g. Any other evidence-based educational strategy

3) Discuss the LEA’s potential to achieve goals as described in the Program Description section of this announcement, including the extent to which the proposed project will result in information to guide possible replication of project activities or strategies, and information about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the project.

Professional Learning Plan (10 points) must include a clear description of the professional learning proposed to address the applicants’ chosen program area (either

MCASP or WLARP). This section of the narrative should address the following:

a. Discuss relevant information on past and current professional learning in project focus area(s) and proposed instructional strategies.

b. Explain the primary area of need in professional learning, including who needs the professional learning and current challenges the district faces in offering professional learning.

c. Describes the plan for professional learning, aligned to the proposed goals. The plan includes opportunities to monitor for effectiveness and impact.

Project Planning Year (10 points) presents how the project director will use the planning year (Year 1) to complete the following in this section of the narrative:

a. Identify the stakeholders and sustainability planning team members, including a point of contact at each target school and leadership.

b. Include a communication plan for all relevant stakeholders (e.g., frequency, content, milestones, implementation benchmarks, etc.).

c. Provide, or arrange for, appropriate professional learning opportunities to prepare staff to implement strategies with fidelity.

d. Collaborate with the evaluator to determine a plan and timeline for appropriate implementation activities, data collection methods, and tools necessary to monitor and revise implementation as needed.

e. Include a viable plan with the district’s business office regarding financial processes related to grant management and processes to track budget expenditures.

Project Implementation Years (15 points) - Discuss how the project director will manage the project Year 2 (the first year of implementation) through Year 4. Year 5 is for project closeout. This portion of the narrative should include the following:

a. Updated communication plan to continue information flow and encourage input and involvement from stakeholders (e.g., project implementation progress and student outcomes).

b. Collaboration with the external evaluator to provide strategy and professional learning data collected from each target school. Use project data to monitor and redirect project activities as needed.

c. Plan of action for internal controls and monitoring processes (e.g., formal and informal networks implementing problem-solving procedures to overcome any implementation barriers).

d. Appropriate professional learning opportunities (e.g., job-embedded coaching, demonstration classroom, coach-supported PLCs, and ongoing sessions from experts).

State when they should be implemented and include methods to monitor and revise professional learning efforts based on data. NOTE: Determining the effectiveness of different types of professional learning for changing staff practice will be established post-award.

e. Key implementation activities to support each strategy. State when activities should be implemented. NOTE: Again, determining the effectiveness of these activities will be established post-award.

In addition, applicants are required to complete the Implementation Years logic model at Appendix B of this announcement to demonstrate how the expected activities will achieve the intended result(s). Applicants should complete the provided logic model to clearly link the critical aspects of the grant with desired changes. Logic models should be comprehensive of the project, concise, and able to fit on a single page.

As a reminder, applicants may not include more than three goals and no more than three strategies per goal. (Examples of possible logic models are included at Appendix B.)

Key Personnel Qualifications (5 points) – Describe key personnel involved in the grant to include expectations for the project director and external evaluator. This portion of the narrative should address how key personnel will do the following:

a. Use background knowledge and experience to direct a project with the chosen focus to include addressing project barriers and challenges (e.g., poor staff buy-in, school leadership turnover, low band width for technology devices) collaboratively with district and/or school staff. (Project Director)

b. Utilize the project plan activities and tools presented in the planning and implementation year templates (Section V) to continually monitor and redirect strategy and professional learning implementation. (Project Director)

c. Provide the external evaluator with formative and summative project data to analyze project progress and student outcomes. (Project Director)

d. Use different types of metrics (e.g., quantitative, qualitative), conduct higher-level analyses, and effectively use data visualization to show progress toward goal(s).

(External Evaluator)

e. Use collaborative and participatory approaches to work with project staff by providing actionable information to improve strategy and professional learning implementation for ongoing implementation and sustainability. (External Evaluator)

f. List support staff positions including names/roles, if known.

Append a document—not to exceed two pages in length—listing the qualifications for the project director and external evaluator. If either is yet to be determined (TBD), append a description of the criteria that will be used to advertise the position(s).

Project Evaluation Plan (15 points) – Present the metrics and evaluation plan for this project. This section should ensure the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and aligned and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.

The plan should address the following:

a. Summative questions (no more than three), formative questions (no more than three), and appropriate evaluation methods and tools. Anticipated data collection, analyses, and results.

b. Outcomes, including benchmarks, to determine if project goals are on target, not on target, or if baseline data is being established throughout the life of the grant.

c. Analyses for success and challenges throughout the life of the grant with opportunities to monitor and adjust, as indicated by data.

d. Recommendations to improve or maintain outcomes in the next year and sustaining the project AFTER the final year.

e. Alignment to DoDEA expectations for reporting for annual evaluation reports and the final closeout report.

Applicants are required to complete the Evaluation Plan template at Appendix B of this announcement to detail the Project Evaluation Plan.

Budget Narrative and Detail Budget Table (15 points) - The application must include a cost proposal detailing direct labor (personnel), fringe benefits, travel, contracts, supplies, and indirect costs. The cost proposal is a budget narrative explaining and justifying budget figures in detail, MS-Excel shall be provided to support the narrative so the Government can determine reasonableness and should address the following:

a . Overview and rationale for how grant funds (and any matching funds) will be allocated.

Justifications for costs must be explicitly stated.

b . Existing resources and other support the LEA expect to receive for the proposed project. They may include any resources or support (monetary or in-kind) that applicants expect to receive from community partners. A letter of support from the community partner (if applicable) should be included as an appendix. The letter should provide details about the resources and/or support that will be provided to the applicant as part of the project.

c . Role/position for each person being funded through the grant and how their scope of work is reasonable for grant funding.

d . Estimates for implementing and maintaining strategies and action items, as well as district standards for inventory control for supplies and equipment.

The detail budget table must include all figures, calculations, and supporting documentation for determining cost allowability, allocability and reasonableness. The detail budget table should outline cost per unit item and provide evidence (e.g., quotes, websites, invoices, etc.) for all allocable costs. Additional information may be requested by DoDEA, if needed. A sample is included in Appendix C.

NOTE: In accordance with 2 CFR §200.414(f), any non-Federal entity that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, except for those non- Federal entities described in Appendix VII to 2 CFR §200, may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely.

Failure to adequately provide detailed cost data for entire grant period of performance will require the Grants Officer to contact the proposing organization for the requisite information. All Offerors are required to submit a thoroughly detailed cost breakdown.

The Grants Officer must be able to determine that all proposed costs are allowable and reasonable. A detailed budget table will facilitate this cost analysis.

The detail budget table must be submitted as an appendix in MS-Excel. If submitted as an appendix, the detail budget table must clearly be referenced as an appendix within the narrative.

The detail budget table should clearly identify and justify the cost of elements of the proposed work and correlate with the budget narrative and sustainability section written in the project narrative. The detail budget table must include a total 5-year summary and a detailed year-by-year breakdown by category of cost separated into Federal and non-

Federal categories (if applicable). The detailed budget table should be sufficiently detailed to enable a clear understanding of the cost breakdown and calculations used to derive the line item subtotals in each object class of the SF-424A budget.

The budget should be written with enough detail to allow DoDEA staff and the review panel the ability to evaluate the level of effort proposed by the project. The budget must include all anticipated expenses in order to realistically describe for reviewers what resources will be necessary to carry out the project. DoDEA staff will review budget information to determine if costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable. (See Appendix

C for a sample Detail Budget Table.) Food and beverage costs, except for subsistence costs associated with authorized travel (per diem), are not allowable under this FOA. The following funding requirements apply to all awarded grants under this announcement:

a) Direct Labor – Individual labor categories or persons, with associated labor hours and unburdened direct labor rates. Provide escalation rates for out years. All DoDEA grants require at least a part-time (0.5 FTE) Project Director to serve as key personnel.

The salary for the Project Director may be included in Direct Labor costs. Any support positions required for grant implementation must be clearly outlined in both the budget narrative and detail budget table. Salaries of administrative and clerical staff are normally indirect costs (and included in an indirect cost rate). Direct charging of these costs may be appropriate when a major project requires an extensive amount of administrative or clerical support significantly greater than normal and routine levels of support. Budgets proposing direct charging of administrative or clerical salaries must be supported with a budget justification which adequately describes the major project and the administrative and/or clerical work to be performed.

b) Fringe Benefits– The application should show the rates and calculation of the costs for each rate category. Fringe benefits are defined as costs in the form of employer contributions or expenses for social security, employee life, health, unemployment, and worker’s compensation insurance, as well as other similar benefits for employees who are expected to work solely on this grant. The overall cost of each type of benefit to include the percentage rate at which it is paid must be listed in the applicant’s detail budget table. LEA shall reference state/local fringe policies.

c) Travel – The proposed travel costs must include the following for each trip: the purpose of the trip, origin and destination if known, approximate duration, the number of travelers, and the estimated cost per trip must be justified based on the organization’s historical average cost per trip or other reasonable basis for estimation.

Such estimates and the resultant costs claimed must conform to the applicable Federal cost principals. If the actual trip details are unknown, applicants should state the basis for the proposed travel costs. Applicant should refer to their written travel policy for guidance regarding acceptable travel cost. In the absence of an acceptable, written non-federal entity policy regarding travel costs, the rates and amounts established under 5 U.S.C. 5701-11 (“Travel and Subsistence Expenses; Mileage Allowances”), or by the General Services Administration federal travel per diem rates at https://www.gsa.gov/travel-resources. As a condition of accepting this grant award, the LEA is required to attend the DoDEA Post Award Community of Practice meeting. The project director is required to attend this meeting, which is expected to occur in November 2024. Any additional staff who are essential to the project may also attend at the district’s discretion. Applicants may allocate up to $10,000.00 in their travel budget for this meeting attendance. Any remaining funds not expended for the post-award meeting may be reallocated to other grant expenditures.

d) Equipment - Equipment is defined by 2 CFR §200.313 as tangible, nonexpendable, personal property, and/or information technology systems having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000.00 or more per unit. An applicant is expected to be familiar with the management requirements and disposition of equipment as listed in the 2 CFR §200.313 if the LEA chooses to acquire equipment for grant implementation. All equipment, if procured, will be tracked annually through the completion of the Tangible Personal Property Report (SF-428).

This is a standard federal form for awarding agencies to collect information on tangible property (i.e., equipment). The form consists of cover sheet (SF-428) and three attachments to be used as required: Annual Report, SF-428-A; Final (Award

Closeout) Report, SF-428-B; and a Disposition Request/Report, SF-428-C. A

Supplemental Sheet, SF-428-S, may be used to provide details on individual items.

https://www.gsa.gov/travel-resources

e) Contractual – A contract is a legal instrument by which a non-Federal entity purchases goods and services needed to carry out the project under the Federal award, per 2 CFR §200.22. Procurement standards are identified in 2 CFR §200.317-

200.326. All procurement transactions under this award must be conducted in a manner providing full and open competition consistent with the standards identified in 2 CFR §200.319. All grants will be evaluated by an external third-party evaluator.

Up to 5% of the total grant award funds may be allocated to this position. The third-party evaluator must not be a current employee of the LEA. To ensure and encourage new methodologies, objectiveness, talent, inclusion, diversity, creativity, and accountability in monitoring and evaluation, a returning grantee may not use a third-party evaluator/ firm currently working on two active DoDEA grants for the LEA.

Grantees should select an evaluator competitively. Evaluators can be individuals from organizations such as such as local colleges and universities, research / evaluation organizations, and by posting jobs on professional websites (like the

American Evaluation Association: www.eval.org) to hire qualified, diverse, and talented evaluators across the PK- 12 span. Consultants are allowable under this FOA.

If consultants will be used, provide a clear breakdown of the consultant’s hours, the hourly rate proposed, current resume, any other proposed consultant costs, a copy of the signed Consulting Agreement or other documentation supporting the proposed consultant rate/cost, and a copy of the consultant’s proposed statement of work if it is not already separately identified in the prime contractor’s application.

f)…