oppED-GRANTS-062618-001-cid84-299A2018-1-instructions.pdf

U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Office of Indian Education Washington, D.C. 20202-6200

Fiscal Year 2018 Application for New Grants Under

The Indian Education Demonstration Grants Program

CFDA 84.299A

Dated Material - Open Immediately

Closing Date: August 10, 2018

Approved OMB Number: 1810-0722 Expiration Date: June 30, 2018 (will be renewed)

Public Burden Statement:

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (Title VII, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1810-0722. Note: Please do not return the completed Indian Education Demonstration Grant application to this address.

If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3W203, Washington, D.C. 20202. Telephone: (202) 260-3774.

Email: NYCP.OIE@ed.gov.

mailto:ICDocketMgr@ed.gov mailto:NYCP.OIE@ed.gov

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Dear Colleague Letter Program Overview Definitions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Notice of Intent to Apply Technical Assistance Workshops for Prospective Applicants Application Procedures Application Transmittal Instructions Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants Application Instructions Electronic Application Format Electronic Application Submission Checklist Part 1: Preliminary Documents Part 2: Budget Information Part 3: ED Abstract Form Part 4: Project Narrative Attachment Form Part 5: Budget Narrative Part 6: Other Attachments Part 7: Assurances and Certifications Part 8: Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (Executive Order 12372) Reporting and Accountability Legal and Regulatory Information Notice Inviting Applications

United States Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your interest in the Indian Education Demonstration Grant program, administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education (Department).

Please take the time to review the applicable priorities, selection criteria, and all of the application instructions thoroughly. An application will not be evaluated for funding if the applicant does not comply with all of the procedural rules that govern the submission of the application or the application does not contain the information required under the program (34 CFR 75.216 (b) and (c)).

This competition contains one absolute priority and four competitive preference priorities. The absolute priority is to fund Native Youth Community Projects (NYCP). We will award up to nine additional points to an application, depending on how well it meets one or more of the preference priorities.

For this competition, it is mandatory for applicants to use the government-wide website, Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov), to apply. Please note that the Grants.gov site works differently than the U.S. Department of Education’s e-Application System. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with Grants.gov and strongly recommend that you register and submit early.

Using Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funds, the Department expects to award $25,619,740.00 for new grants under this competition. We will award discretionary grants on a competitive basis for a project period of up to 48 months. Grants are expected to be awarded by September 30, 2018.

Please visit our program website at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oie/index.html for further information. If you have any questions about the program after reviewing the application package, please contact send an email to the email address for this competition at NYCP.OIE@ed.gov.

Tara Ramsey, Acting Director

OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF INDIAN EDUCATION

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oie/index.html https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oie/index.html

Program Background Information

Program Overview The purpose of the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children (Demonstration Grants) program is to provide financial assistance to projects that develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of preschool, elementary, and secondary Indian students.

Authority This grant program is authorized under Section 6121 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 7441.

Official Documents Notice The official document governing this competition is the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) published in the Federal Register on June 26, 2018 (See Legal and Regulatory Documents of this application package). The NIA is also available electronically at the following Web sites:

www.FederalRegister.gov and www.gpo.gov.

Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include a State educational agency (SEA), local educational agency (LEA), Indian tribe, Indian organization, federally supported elementary school or secondary school for Indian students (BIE), a tribal college or university, or a consortium of such entities. The definitions for eligible applicants, in addition to all applicable definitions, may be found in 34 CFR 263.20 at the following Website: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi- bin/text-idx?SID=34732a1c0ea25c5062200c7087b80f1c&mc=true&node=se34.1.263_120&rgn=div8.

The absolute priority for NYCP requires that an applicant be a member of a partnership that includes at least one tribe (or its tribal education agency (TEA)) and at least one LEA or BIE-funded school. Applications will be rejected that do not include at least these two types of partners. Including as a partner an Indian organization or a tribal college or university does not satisfy the requirement under the absolute priority However, a tribal college or tribal nonprofit could apply without the tribe as partner if the application includes a tribal resolution that authorizes the tribal college to apply for this specific grant on behalf of the tribe.

Absolute Priority The FY 2018 competition includes one absolute priority to fund Native Youth Community Projects. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from the regulations at 34 CFR 263.21(c)(1) and 263.20.

Competitive Preference Priorities:

The FY 2018 competition includes four competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we will award up to thirteen additional points to an application, depending on how well the application meets one or more of these priorities. These priorities are:

http://www.federalregister.gov/ http://www.gpo.gov/ https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=34732a1c0ea25c5062200c7087b80f1c&mc=true&node=se34.1.263_120&rgn=div8 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=34732a1c0ea25c5062200c7087b80f1c&mc=true&node=se34.1.263_120&rgn=div8

Competitive Preference Priority One (zero or two points) We award two points to an application proposing to serve a rural local community. To meet this priority, a project must include an LEA that is eligible under the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) or Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program, or a BIE-funded school that is located in an area designated by the U.S. Census Bureau with a locale code of 42 or 43.

Competitive Preference Priority Two (zero or three points) Although all NYCP grantees are required to have an eligible Indian Tribe or its Tribal education agency (TEA) as a partner, we award three points to an application in which the lead partner is an eligible Indian Tribe or its TEA, an Indian organization (as defined in this notice), or a Tribal college or university (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)).

Competitive Preference Priority Three (zero or three points) Applications that meet one of the following criteria--

(a) Designed to serve a local community within a federally designated Promise Zone; or

(b) Submitted by a partnership or consortium in which the lead applicant or one of its partners has received a grant in the last four years under one or more of the following grant programs:

(1) State Tribal Education Partnership (section 6132 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA)).

(2) Alaska Native Education Program (ESEA sections 6301-6306).

(3) Promise Neighborhoods (ESEA sections 4623-4624).

Note: As a participant in the Promise Zone Initiative, the Department is cooperating with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and nine other Federal agencies to support comprehensive revitalization efforts in 22 high-poverty urban, rural, and Tribal communities across the country. Each application for NYCP funds that is accompanied by a Certification of Consistency with Promise Zone Goals and Implementation (HUD Form 50153) signed by an authorized representative of the lead organization of a Promise Zone designated by HUD or USDA will receive two points, under competitive preference priority 3(a). An application for NYCP grant funds that is not accompanied by a signed certification (HUD Form 50153) will not receive points under competitive preference priority 3(a), but may still be eligible to receive points under competitive preference priority 3(b) if it received one of the grants listed. To view the list of designated Promise Zones and lead organizations please go to https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/promise-zones/promise-zones-overview/. The certification form is available at:

www.hudexchange.info/resource/4396/promise-zones-certification-form-and-guidance/.

Note: An application will not receive points for both (a) and (b) under competitive preference priority 3.

Competitive Preference Priority Four (zero to 5 points) We award up to five points for projects that are designed to address increasing access to educational choice (as defined in this notice) for students who are Indians, as defined in section 6151 of the ESEA.

Program Contact Please contact the Office of Indian Education by telephone at (202) 260-3774 or via email at NYCP.OIE@ed.gov after reviewing the application package if you have any questions about the program.

Project Period The project period for this grant is 48 months (4 budget periods of 12 months each).

Note: Continuation of each successive grant period is subject to satisfactory performance, submission of an annual report, and availability of funds.

Grant Award Estimations We estimate that awards will average $750,000 within the range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year. We expect to award 26-40 grants.

Application Due Date Applications must be submitted on or before August 10, 2018. Please note that the Department of Education (Department) grant application deadlines are 4:30:00 P.M., Eastern Time.

Late applications will not be accepted. We strongly 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.

Application Submission Submit applications for grants under the program electronically using Grants.gov. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, please refer to the Department’s Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018- 02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf and later in this application package. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

Project Director Time Commitment Applicants are requested to provide the percentage of the Project Director’s time that will be dedicated to the grant project if funded. For example, if the Project Director works 40 hours per week and spends 20 hours per week working on grant activities, then the time commitment for the Project Director would be 50 percent. We suggest that applicants include this information in the budget narrative or add this information to the Project Director line on the Department of Education Supplement to the Standard Form 424.

E-mail Addresses As part of our review of your application, we may need to contact you with questions for clarification. Please be sure your application contains valid e-mail addresses for the project director and authorized representative or another party designated to answer questions in the event the project director and authorized representative are unavailable.

mailto:NYCP.OIE@ed.gov https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf

Application Components Include: Part 1:

Preliminary Documents

• Application for Federal Assistance (Form SF 424)

• ED Supplemental Information for SF 424 Part 2: Budget Information

• ED Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524) Part 3: ED Abstract Form

• Project Abstract Part 4: Project Narrative Attachment Form

• Application Narrative Part 5: Budget Narrative Attachment Form

• Budget Narrative Part 6: Other Attachments Application Requirements Required of All Applicants To be considered for an award under this competition, each eligible applicant must provide a detailed project narrative and budget narrative. Along with the application narrative, an applicant must submit its:

• Description of the defined geographic area to be served

• Needs Assessment or Other Data Analysis

• Signed and dated Partnership Agreement of the required partners

• Evidence of Capacity

• Evidence of Involvement of Indian Tribes and Parents

• Demonstration of Research Basis

• Description of Continuing Activities

• Individual Resumes for Project Directors & Key Personnel When applicable, the applicant also must submit:

• Documentation of Indian Organization

• Request for Competitive Preference Three

• Certification of Consistency with Promise Zone Goals and

Implementation

• Copy of the most recent approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

• Administrative Cost Limit Waiver Request

• Intergovernmental Review (Executive Order 12372) State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)

List Part 7: Assurances and Certifications

• Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B Form)

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form (ED 80-0013 Form)

• General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements –

Section 427 (ED GEPA 427 Form) Optional

• Other Supporting Documentation http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=HUD_Form_50153.pdf http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=HUD_Form_50153.pdf

ISDEAA Hiring Preference Requirements Awards that are primarily for the benefit of Indians are subject to the provisions of section 7(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-638). That section requires that, to the greatest extent feasible, a grantee--

(1) Give to Indians preferences and opportunities for training and employment in connection with the administration of the grant; and

(2) Give to Indian organizations and to Indian-owned economic enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in connection with the administration of the grant.

For purposes of this section, an Indian is a member of any federally recognized Indian tribe.

Definitions:

Educational choice means the opportunity for a child or student (or a family member on their behalf) to create a high-quality personalized path for learning that is consistent with applicable Federal, State, and local laws; is in an educational setting that best meets the child’s or student’s needs; and, where possible, incorporates evidence-based activities, strategies, or interventions. Opportunities made available to a student through a grant program are those that supplement what is provided by a child’s or student’s geographically assigned school or the institution in which he or she is currently enrolled and may include:

(1) Public educational programs or courses including those offered by traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, public online education providers, or other public education providers; or

(2) Private or home-based educational programs or courses including those offered by private schools, private online providers, private tutoring providers, community or faith-based organizations, or other private education providers.

Evidence-based, when used with respect to a State, LEA, or school activity, means an activity, strategy, or intervention that—

(1) Demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on —

(a) Strong evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented experimental study;

(b) Moderate evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or

(c) Promising evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; or (2)(a) Demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such activity, strategy, or intervention is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes; and

(b) Includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity, strategy, or intervention.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title25/pdf/USCODE-2011-title25-chap17-other-sec1452.pdf

Federally supported elementary or secondary school for Indian students means an elementary or secondary school that is operated or funded, through a contract or grant, by the Bureau of Indian Education.

Indian means an individual who is--

(1) A member of an Indian tribe or band, as membership is defined by the Indian tribe or band, including any tribe or band terminated since 1940, and any tribe or band recognized by the State in which the tribe or band resides;

(2) A descendant of a parent or grandparent who meets the requirements described in paragraph

(1) of this definition;

(3) Considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose;

(4) An Eskimo, Aleut, or other Alaska Native; or

(5) A member of an organized Indian group that received a grant under the Indian Education Act of 1988 as it was in effect on October 19, 1994.

Tribal College or University means an institution that qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C.

1801 et seq.) or the Navajo Community College Act (25 U.S.C 640a et seq.).

Indian organization means an organization that--

(1) Is legally established--

(i) By tribal or inter-tribal charter or in accordance with State or tribal law; and

(ii) With appropriate constitution, by-laws, or articles of incorporation;

(2) Includes in its purposes the promotion of the education of Indians;

(3) Is controlled by a governing board, the majority of which is Indian;

(4) If located on an Indian reservation, operates with the sanction of or by charter from the governing body of that reservation;

(5) Is neither an organization or subdivision of, nor under the direct control of, any institution of higher education; and

(6) Is not an agency of State or local government.

Native youth community project means a project that is--

(1) Focused on a defined local geographic area;

(2) Centered on the goal of ensuring that Indian students are prepared for college and careers;

(3) Informed by evidence, which could be either a needs assessment conducted within the last three years or other data analysis, on--

(i) The greatest barriers, both in and out of school, to the readiness of local Indian students for college and careers;

(ii) Opportunities in the local community to support Indian students; and

(iii) Existing local policies, programs, practices, service providers, and funding sources;

(4) Focused on one or more barriers or opportunities with a community-based strategy or strategies and measurable objectives;

(5) Designed and implemented through a partnership of various entities, which--

(i) Must include--

(A) One or more tribes or their tribal educational agencies; and

(B) One or more BIE-funded schools, one or more local educational agencies, or both; and

(ii) May include other optional entities, including community-based organizations, national nonprofit organizations, and Alaska regional corporations;

and

(6) Led by an entity that--

(i) Is eligible for a grant under the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program; and;

(ii) Demonstrates, or partners with an entity that demonstrates, the capacity to improve outcomes that are relevant to the project focus through experience with programs funded through other sources.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) The FAQs are designed to provide Demonstration Grants applicants with information about the 2018 competition.

The FAQs will be posted to the Applicant Information Page of OIE’s Demonstration Grants website: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/indiandemo/applicant.html . In addition, you may request a copy of the FAQs by emailing NYCP.OIE@ed.gov.

Notice of Intent to Apply The Department will be able to review grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, the Assistant Secretary strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an application for funding no later than July 11, 2018. To do so, please email NYCP.OIE@ed.gov with the subject line “Intent to Apply,” and include the following information:

1. Applicant's name, mailing address, and phone number;

2. Contact person’s name and email address;

3. A defined local geographic community to be served;

4. Name(s) of partnering LEA(s) or BIE-funded school(s);

5. Name(s) of partnering tribe(s) or TEA(s); and

6. If appropriate, name(s) of other partnering organization(s).

Applicants that do not submit a notice of intent to apply may still apply for funding; applicants that do submit a notice of intent to apply are not bound to apply or bound by the information provided.

Technical Assistance Workshop The Department intends to hold a pre-application webinar designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Information about webinar times and instructions for registering are on the Department Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/indiandemo/applicant.html. Please check the site regularly for updates.

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/indiandemo/applicant.html http://www2.ed.gov/programs/indiandemo/applicant.html

Tips for Preparing and Submitting an Application Beginning the Application Process

• Read this application package in its entirety, including the NIA, and make sure you follow all of the instructions.

• Read the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf and included in this application package for your quick reference.

• Read the Frequently Asked Questions section in this application package.

• If you do not understand an instruction or requirement, contact the Office of Indian

Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3W203, Washington, DC 20202. By email: NYCP.OIE@ed.gov for information about this grant competition.

Preparing Your Application

• Organize your narrative according to the selection criteria headings and respond comprehensively.

• Be thorough in your responses. Write so that someone who knows nothing about your community and the proposed activities, curricula, programs, and services can understand what you are proposing and why.

• Make sure your budget provides sufficient itemization and detailed descriptions about planned expenditures so Department staff can easily determine how amounts were calculated.

• Link your planned expenditures to the proposed activities, curricula, programs, and services. Do not request funds for miscellaneous purposes. Make sure you demonstrate that your proposed expenditures are necessary to carry out your program.

Submitting Your Application

• Use the checklist provided in this application package to ensure your application is complete before submitting it.

• Make sure all required forms are included and signed by an Authorized Representative of your organization.

• Transmit your application by the deadline date and time. When submitting your application electronically, you must use Grants.gov at: www.grants.gov. Unless you qualify for an exception in accordance with the instructions found in Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf, and in this application package, you must submit your application electronically.

What Happens Next?

• Once the Department 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/track-my-application.html. Please refer to this PR/Award number if you need to contact us about your application.

• The Department screens each application to ensure that all program eligibility requirements are met and that all forms are included and signed by the Authorized https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf mailto:NYCP.OIE@ed.gov http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/track-my-application.html

Representative. Ineligible applicants will receive a notification letter, including the reasons for ineligibility.

• If eligible, your application will be assigned to a panel of independent reviewers who will evaluate and score your proposal according to the selection criteria in this package. Your application will receive a score from 0 to 100, not including competitive preference priority (CPP) points (up to 13 CPP points possible), depending upon how well it addresses the selection criteria.

• A Grant Award Notification will be sent to applicants whose proposals rank high enough to be awarded a grant. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will receive peer reviewers’ comments approximately 6 to 8 weeks after grant awards are announced.

Unsuccessful applicants will also receive a notification letter. Please be sure your application contains a valid mailing address for both the Project Director and the Authorized Representative so that reviewers’ comments can be successfully delivered.

Application Submission Procedures The deadline for submission of Indian Education Demonstration Grants Program applications through Grants.gov is August 10, 2018, 4:30:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Application Transmittal Instructions Attention Electronic Applicants: This program requires the electronic submission of applications--specific requirements and instructions can be found in the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (“Common Instructions”), published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003).

Please note that you must follow the Application Procedures as described in the Common Instructions (83 FR 6003).

We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described in the Common Instructions (83 FR 6003), you 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.

Applications Submitted Electronically

Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Government-wide Grants.gov Apply site at https://www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in the Common Instructions (83 FR 6003), we will not consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date.

You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf https://www.grants.gov/ application through Grants.gov that are included in this application package to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.

Please note the following:

• You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .pdf (Portable Document) format. Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, non-fillable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a password-protected file, we will be unable to review that material.

• Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission.

• When attaching files, applicants should limit the size of their file names. Lengthy file names could result in difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file names be less than 50 characters. The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.

• Your electronic application should comply with any page-limit recommendations described in this application package.

• If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

According to the instructions found in the Common Instructions, only those requesting and qualifying for an Exception to the electronic submission requirement may submit an application via mail, commercial carrier or by hand delivery

Submission of Paper Applications by Mail:

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: (CFDA Number 84.299A) LBJ Basement Level 1 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20202-4260

You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

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

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

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application.

Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office.

Note for Mail of Paper Applications:

If you mail your application to the Department--

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at

(202) 245-6288.

Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software

The Department of Education, working with Grants.gov, is currently using Adobe Reader software exclusively and applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe forms.

Please note: The compatible version of Adobe Reader is required for viewing, editing and submitting a complete grant application package for the Department of Education through Grants.gov. Applicants should confirm the compatibility of their Adobe Reader version before downloading the application. To ensure applicants have a version of Adobe Reader on their computer that is compatible with Grants.gov, applicants are encouraged to use the test package provided by Grants.gov that can be accessed at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

Important issues to consider:

• If the applicant opened or edited the application package with any software other than the compatible version of Adobe Reader, the application package may contain errors that will be transferred to the new package even if you later download the compatible Adobe Reader version.

• Applicants cannot copy and paste data from a package initially opened or edited with an incompatible version of Adobe Reader and will need to download an entirely new package using the compatible version of Adobe Reader.

• Some applicants using an incompatible version of Adobe Reader may have trouble opening and viewing the application package while others may find they can open, view and complete the application package but may not be able to submit the application package through Grants.gov.

• Grants.gov does not guarantee to support versions of Adobe Reader that are not compatible with Grants.gov.

• Any and all edits made to the Adobe Reader application package must be made with the compatible version of Adobe Reader.

For your convenience, a compatible version of Adobe Reader is available for free download at 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/adobe-software-compatibility.html

We strongly recommend that you review the information on computer and operating system compatibility with Adobe available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html before downloading, completing or submitting your application.

Applicants are reminded that they should submit their application a day or two in advance of the closing date as detailed in the Federal Register Notice. If you have any questions regarding this matter please email the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-472.

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

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 Required 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. 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-mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html 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 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: https://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 DUNS 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: https://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 (see step three below), you will need to resubmit successfully to Grants.gov before 4:30:00 p.m., Eastern Time on the deadline date.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html http://www.sam.gov/ https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html

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 (formerly CCR - Central Contractor Registry). 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, login to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 4:30:00 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 4:30:00 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 https://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 email at: mailto: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 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC 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.)

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

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov 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, especially the requirement that applicants only include read-only, flattened .PDF files in their application:

• Ensure that you attach .PDF files only for any attachments to your application, and they must be in a read-only, flattened format. PDF files are the only Education approved file type accepted as detailed in the Federal Register application notice. Applicants must submit individual .PDF files only when attaching files to their application. Specifically, the Department will not accept any attachments that contain files within a file, such as PDF Portfolio files, or an interactive or fillable .PDF file. Any attachments uploaded that are not .PDF files or are password protected files will not be read.

• 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.

• 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.

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

Application Instructions

Electronic Application Format

Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically, unless you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement in accordance with the instructions in the Common Instructions…