oppED-GRANTS-062718-002-cfda84.103-cid84-103A2018-1-instructions.docx

U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education Washington, DC 20202

FY 2018

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS

UNDER THE

TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/triotrain/index.html

CFDA NUMBER: 84.103A

FORM APPROVED

OMB No. 1840-0814, Expiration Date: 06/30/2021

DATED MATERIAL – OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLOSING DATE: July 27, 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Applicant Letter II. TRIO Training Overview Program Background Information/Competition Highlights/Expectations of Grantees 4

III. Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards IV. Application Components and Instructions Application Checklist and Instructions 30

Part I – Standard Form 424

Part II – ED Form 524 Instructions for ED 524 Budget Summary Form & Itemized Budget (ED Form 524) 41

Part III – Application Narrative

Part III-A – Training Program Profile Form Instructions for Completing the Profile Form 55

Part III-B – One-page Project Abstract Form Instructions for Completing the One-page Project Abstract 57

Part IV – Assurances and Certifications

V. Application Submission Procedures

VI. Critical Resources and Additional Information

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

June 27, 2018 Dear Applicant, We are pleased to provide the application package for the fiscal year (FY) 2018 Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs (Training Program) grant competition, which contains the information and instructions needed to submit a complete application to the U.S. Department of Education (Department) through Grants.gov.

The Training Program, through grants administered by institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions and civic organizations, currently provides professional development to more than 2,536 staff and leadership employed by one of the 3,102 projects funded under the Federal TRIO Programs serving over 812,000 students.

The FY 2018 competition contains six absolute priorities and three invitational priorities. The Department will only consider an application that addresses one of the absolute priorities and we sincerely hope applicants will address one, two or all three invitational priorities.

Please review the entire application package carefully before preparing and submitting an application. Additionally, please utilize information on the Training Program that is accessible on the Department’s website at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triotrain/index.html.

Lastly, please do not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidance contained within the Federal Register Notice.

Thank you for your interest in the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs. Should you desire to provide excellent professional development to TRIO staff, we look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely, Adam Kissel Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs

TRAINING PROGRAM OVERVIEW

I. AUTHORIZATION

Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Section 402G of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

II. PROGRAM REGULATIONS

34 CFR part 642 Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs

III. PURPOSE

To provide Federal financial assistance to train the staff and leadership personnel employed in, or preparing for employment in, Federal TRIO Program projects.

IV. NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS

The Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards (Notice), published in the Federal Register, is the official document governing application requirements for the FY 2018 Training competition. Do not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the Notice.

V. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Institutions of higher education and public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations are eligible to apply for a grant to carry out a Training Program project.

VI. ACTIVITIES FUNDED UNDER THIS PROGRAM

A Training Program project trains the staff and leadership personnel of Federal TRIO Program projects to enable them to more effectively operate those projects. A Training Program project may include on-site training, on-line training, conferences, internships, seminars, workshops, and/or the publication of manuals designed to improve the operations of Federal TRIO Program projects.

VII. ESTIMATED FY 2018 FUNDING

Estimated Available Funds for New Awards: $2,873,402 Estimated Range of Awards: $265,764-$344,945 Estimated Average Size of Awards: $287,340 Estimated Number of New Awards: 10

VIII. LENGTH OF AWARDS

Successful applicants funded under the FY 2018 Training competition will receive two-year (24-month) grant awards, pending available appropriations in accordance with the Higher Education Act (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008.

IX. NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT MAY BE SUBMITTED

Applicants may submit no more than one Training Program application per Absolute Priority.

X. PRIORITIES

Absolute Priorities: In consultation with the TRIO community, the Department determined the need for training in various topics and identified them as absolute priorities. There are six absolute priorities for the FY 2018 competition. These priorities were chosen from the authorizing legislation and the regulations governing the Training Program and were further developed to respond to the articulated training needs of personnel employed in Federal TRIO Program projects. Under Absolute Priorities 1, 2, and 4, the maximum award amount is $265,764 and the minimum number of participants is 231. Under Absolute Priorities 3 and 5, the maximum award amount is $344,945 and the minimum number of participants is 300. Under Absolute Priority 6, the maximum award amount is $294,464 and the minimum number of participants is 256.

Invitational Priorities: There are three invitational priorities for the FY 2018 competition. Invitational Priorities 1 and 3 were selected from the Secretary’s Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2018 (83 FR 9096).

XI. STANDARDIZED OBJECTIVES

The Training Program Profile form contains standardized objectives. Applicants are required to propose the percentage at which each of the standardized objectives will be attained. On the Training Program Profile form, you must fill in the blanks indicating the percentage level of achievement for each of the objectives. You may not modify, amend or delete any of these objectives.

____% of Training Participants that, each year, evaluated the training as benefiting them in increasing their qualifications and skills in meeting the needs of disadvantaged students.

____% of Training Participants that, each year, evaluated the training as benefiting them in increasing their knowledge and understanding of the Federal TRIO Programs.

XII. RECOMMENDED PAGE LIMIT

To assist the non-Federal reviewers in conducting a thorough peer review, we recommend that you limit the application narrative, which includes the budget narrative and invitational priorities, to no more than 55 pages and use the standards outlined in the Notice.

XIII. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Training Program applications for FY 2018 must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov. You are urged to acquaint yourself with the requirements of Grants.gov early as the registration procedures may require 5 or more days to complete. A more thorough discussion is included later in this application package. The requirements for obtaining an exception to the electronic submission requirement are included in the Notice for FY 2018. If you think you may need an exception, you are urged to review the requirements promptly.

Please note that you must submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on or before July 27, 2018, the application deadline date. Late applications will not be accepted. We suggest that you submit your application several days before the deadline. The Department is required to enforce the established deadline to ensure fairness to all applicants. No changes or additions to an application will be accepted after the deadline date and time.

All attachments must be in .PDF format. Other types of files will not be accepted.

You must provide the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered with the System for Award Management (SAM), formerly Central Contractor Registry (CCR).

XIV. ASSURANCES

All applications must comply with the Training Program legislative and regulatory requirements. The assurances are included in the application package and must be signed by a certifying official. By submitting a Training Program application, an applicant certifies that it has read the assurances and will fully comply with the requirements.

XV. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR AWARDS

A panel of three non-Federal reviewers will evaluate each application in accordance with the selection criteria. Each reviewer will prepare a written evaluation of the information presented in the application narrative section of the application. All applications for grants under the Training Program will be evaluated as new submissions according to the selection criteria listed in the program regulations (34 CFR 642).

XVI.

SELECTION OF GRANTEES

The selection criteria in 34 CFR 642 are used to evaluate applications.

The Secretary will select applications for funding within each specific priority on the basis of the score received by the application in the peer review process. If there are insufficient funds to fund all applications at the next peer review score, the Secretary will add the PE points awarded under CFR section 642.22 to the peer review score to determine an adjusted total. In the event a tie score still exists, the Secretary will select the applicant that has the greatest capacity to provide training to eligible participants in all regions of the Nation, consistent with 642.23.

Prior Experience: In accordance with 34 CFR 642.22, if applicable, the Secretary will evaluate the applicant’s performance under its expiring Training Program grant for applicants that have conducted a TRIO Training Program grant during the 2016-2018 grant period.

Geographic Distribution of Awards: In accordance with 34 CFR 642.23, the Secretary, to the greatest extent possible, awards grants for Training Program projects that will be carried out in all of the regions of the Nation in order to assure accessibility to prospective training participants.

XVII. NOTIFICATION OF AWARDS

The Department’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs will inform the Congress regarding applications approved for new Training Program grants. Successful applicants will receive award notices through G5 shortly after the Congress is notified. No funding information will be released before the Congress is notified.

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

XVIII. SECOND REVIEW PROCESS

To implement the legislative requirements for a second review of unsuccessful applications, the Department has a two-slate process. After the peer review of applications and the awarding of PE points, as applicable, the Department will rank all applications. The Department then will establish a funding band to determine the percentage of the total funds allotted for the competition that will be set aside for the second review. The determination of the percentage of funds to be reserved for the second review and the applications to be included in the funding band will be based on the distribution of application scores. The funding band will include all applications with a rank-order score that 1) is below the lowest score of applications funded after the first review and 2) would be funded if the Secretary had 150 percent of the funds that were set aside for the second review.

Only applicants whose applications scored within the funding band will be eligible for the second review. In addition, those applicants deemed eligible for the second review will have to provide evidence demonstrating that the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made an administrative or scoring error (as defined in the regulations) in the review of its application. The guidelines and criteria for the second review process are included in the Training Program Regulations (34 CFR 642.25).

XIX. TRIO TRAINING WEBSITE

Additional information on the Training Program is accessible at the Department’s website at:

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triotrain/index.html.

XX. EXPECTATIONS OF SUCCESSFUL GRANTEES

Annual Performance Report - If you receive a FY 2018 new grant award, you will be required to submit an annual performance report (APR) each year of the two-year funding cycle. This APR collects data about funded projects to enable program specialists to determine if a grantee is making substantial progress toward meeting approved project objectives.

Each successful applicant must agree to collect data and maintain records over the course of the grant period. The Department has established the following performance indicators for the Training Program through which the success of the program is measured: (1) the cost-effectiveness, based on the number of TRIO project personnel receiving training each year; (2) the percentage of Training Program participants that, each year, evaluate the training as benefiting them in increasing their qualifications and skills in meeting the needs of disadvantaged students; and (3) the percentage of Training Program participants that, each year, evaluate the training as benefiting them in increasing their knowledge and understanding of the Federal TRIO Programs.

As part of the annual performance report, grantees must report the number of participants served, the name and position of each participant, the TRIO program the participant supports, and the institution of the participant’s project. The Department will collect this and other grant information annually, or twice during the grant period of Training Program grantees.

Prior Approval - Additionally, EDGAR, 34 CFR section 74.25, requires grantees to communicate with and obtain approval from the Lead Training Program Specialist when they seek a change in key personnel, the objectives of the project, or the scope of the project, including changes in dates or locations of training sessions. In general, when uncertain, it is always best to communicate with the Lead Training Program Specialist to verify compliance and appropriate grant management.

Project Directors’ Meeting - All successful applicants will be required to participate in a Training Program Project Directors’ Meeting in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2018. The reason for this meeting will be to clarify the purpose of the training under each priority and the expectations that the Department has of its grantees. In the budget section of the application, the applicants should include funds for travel to Washington, D.C. to attend this one-day meeting.

Coordinating Training - Successful applicants will be asked to coordinate the dates and locations of the training to be provided with the Lead Training Program Specialist to ensure that training sessions do not overlap and are located and scheduled at times and places that will allow as many participants as possible to attend. Additionally, any necessary changes to the dates or locations must be approved by the Lead Training Program Specialist.

Training Materials - FY 2018 Training Program grantees will be asked to share their training materials with the Department at the end of each project year.

Open Licensing Requirements - Unless an exception applies, if you are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. For additional information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 3474.20(c).

XXI. CONTACT INFORMATION

For TRIO Training Program-related questions and assistance, please contact:

Program Specialist: Suzanne Ulmer, Federal TRIO Programs, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W. room 278-44, Washington, D.C. 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-7691, Fax: (202) 502-7857 or (202) 260-7464, or E-mail Address: suzanne.ulmer@ed.gov For Grants.gov-related questions and assistance, please contact:

Support Desk: Grants.gov Support Desk, Telephone: (800) 518-4726, Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays, or Email: support@grants.gov

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs (Training Program), Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.103A.

DATES:

Applications Available: June 27, 2018.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 27, 2018.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 25, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and available at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Ulmer or, if unavailable, Carmen Gordon, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 278-44, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-7700. Email: TRIO@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), contact the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The Training Program provides grants to train the staff and leadership personnel employed in, participating in, or preparing for employment in, projects funded under the Federal TRIO Programs, so as to improve the operation of these projects.

Priorities: This notice contains six absolute priorities and three invitational priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priorities are selected from section 402G(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and the regulations for this program at 34 CFR 642.24.

Absolute Priorities: For FY 2018 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet these absolute priorities.

In accordance with 34 CFR 642.7, each application must clearly identify the specific absolute priority for which a grant is requested. An applicant must submit a separate application for each absolute priority it proposes to address. If an applicant submits more than one application for the same absolute priority, we will accept only the application with the latest “date/time received” validation.

These priorities are:

Absolute Priority 1. Training to improve reporting of student and project performance and the evaluation of project performance in order to design and operate a model project funded under the Federal TRIO Programs.

Estimated number of awards: 2.

Maximum award amount: $265,764.

Absolute Priority 2. Training on budget management and the statutory and regulatory requirements for operation of projects funded under the Federal TRIO Programs.

Estimated number of awards: 2.

Maximum award amount: $265,764.

Absolute Priority 3. Training on assessment of student needs; retention and graduation strategies; and the use of appropriate educational technology in the operation of projects funded under the Federal TRIO programs.

Estimated number of awards: 1.

Maximum award amount: $344,945.

Absolute Priority 4. Training on assisting students in receiving adequate financial aid from programs assisted under title IV of the HEA and from other programs, on college and university admissions policies and procedures, and on proven strategies to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students, including topics such as basic personal finance information, household money management and financial planning skills, and basic economic decision making skills.

Estimated number of awards: 2.

Maximum award amount: $265,764.

Absolute Priority 5. Training on strategies for recruiting and serving hard to reach populations, including students who are limited English proficient, students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths (as this term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, or other disconnected students.

Estimated number of awards: 1.

Maximum award amount: $344,945.

Absolute Priority 6. Training on general project management for new project directors who have been in their positions less than two years, including training on the content of absolute priorities 1 through 5. The training should provide new directors with the basic tools required to be a successful TRIO project director.

Estimated number of awards: 2.

Maximum award amount: $294,464.

Under this competition we are particularly interested in applications that address the following priorities.

Invitational Priorities: For FY 2018 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications for this competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.

These priorities are:

Invitational Priority 1:

Applications that propose projects designed to address one or more of the following priority areas:

Invitational Priority 2:

Applications that propose projects designed to assist TRIO grantees with the ongoing implementation of the evidence-based strategies for which they received competitive preference in their approved applications.

Invitational Priority 3:

Applications that propose projects designed to assist TRIO grantees with improving student achievement or other educational outcomes in one or more of the following areas: science, technology, engineering, math, or computer science (as defined in the Secretary’s Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 (83 FR 9096): specifically, supporting programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 3(52) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) or skills that align with the skill needs of industries in the State or regional economy involved for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, including computer science.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 1070a-17.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75 (except for 75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 642.

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

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education (IHEs) only.

II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 provided $1,010,000,000 for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2018, of which we intend to use an estimated $2,873,402 for Training Program awards.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2019 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $265,764-$344,945.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $287,340.

Maximum Award and Minimum Participants: We will not make an award exceeding the maximum award amount listed here for a single budget period of 12 months. Projects proposed under each absolute priority also must propose to serve the minimum number of applicable participants listed here.

Under Absolute Priorities 1, 2, and 4, the maximum award amount is $265,764 and the minimum number of participants is 231. Under Absolute Priorities 3 and 5, the maximum award amount is $344,945 and the minimum number of participants is 300. Under Absolute Priority 6, the maximum award amount is $294,464 and the minimum number of participants is 256.

Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

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

Project Period: Up to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs and other public and private nonprofit institutions and organizations.

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

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

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Submission Instructions: For information on how to submit an application please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and available at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.

Note: Applications that do not follow the page limit and formatting recommendations will not be penalized.

1. A “page” is 8.5" x 11", on one side only, with 1" margins.

1. Double-space all text in the application narrative, and single-space titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions.

1. Use a 12-point font.

1. Use an easily readable font such as Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.

The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for Federal Assistance face sheet (SF 424); Part II, the Budget Information Summary form (ED Form 524); Part III-A, the Program Profile form; Part III-B, the one-page Project Abstract form; or Part IV, the Assurances and Certifications. The recommended page limit also does not apply to a table of contents, which we recommend that you include in the application narrative.

5. Content and Form of Application Submission: You should indicate the absolute priority addressed in your application both on the one-page abstract and on the Training Program Profile Sheet. You must include your complete response to the selection criteria and absolute priorities in the application narrative. Other requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program.

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 642.21 and are as follows:

(a) Plan of operation. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the plan of operation for the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

(i) High quality in the design of the project;

(ii) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program;

(iv) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and

(v) A clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as—

(A) Members of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women;

(C) Individuals with disabilities; and

(D) The elderly.

(b) Quality of key personnel. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the qualifications of the key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

(i) The qualifications of the project director;

(ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project;

(iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section plans to commit to the project; and

(iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as—

(A) Members of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women;

(C) Individuals with disabilities; and

(D) The elderly.

(3) To determine the qualifications of a person, the Secretary considers evidence of past experience and training, in fields related to the objectives of the project, as well as other information that the applicant provides.

(c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

(i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and

(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project.

(d) Evaluation plan. (10 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows methods of evaluation that are appropriate for the project and, to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.

(e) Adequacy of resources. (15 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

(i) The facilities that the applicant plans to use are adequate; and

(ii) The equipment and supplies that the applicant plans to use are adequate.

For this competition, a panel of non-Federal reviewers will review each application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR 642.21. The individual scores of the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by the number of reviewers to determine the peer review score received in the review process. Additionally, in accordance with 34 CFR 642.22, the Secretary will award prior experience points to eligible applicants by evaluating the applicant’s current performance under its expiring Training Program grant. Pursuant to 34 CFR 642.22(b)(1), prior experience points, if any, will be added to the application’s averaged peer review score to determine the total score for each application.

Under section 402A(c)(3) of the HEA, the Secretary is not required to make awards under the Training Program in the order of the scores received.

In the event a tie score exists, the Secretary will select for funding the applicant that has the greatest capacity to provide training to eligible participants in all regions of the Nation in order to assure accessibility to the greatest number of prospective training participants, consistent with 34 CFR 642.20(e).

3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.205, before awarding grants under this program the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this competition to receive an award that over the course of the project period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators, and we send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN) or an email containing a link to access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, also.

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

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

4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).

(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.

5. Performance Measures: The success of the Training Program is measured by its cost-effectiveness based on the number of TRIO project personnel receiving training each year; the percentage of Training Program participants that, each year, evaluate the training as benefiting them in increasing their qualifications and skills in meeting the needs of disadvantaged students; and the percentage of Training Program participants that, each year, evaluate the training as benefiting them in increasing their knowledge and understanding of the Federal TRIO Programs. All grantees will be required to submit an annual performance report documenting their success in training personnel working on TRIO-funded projects, including the average cost per trainee and the trainees’ evaluations of the effectiveness of the training provided. The success of the Training Program also is assessed on the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the training projects based on project evaluation results.

6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the performance targets in the grantee’s approved application.

In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Other Information Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to one of the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations via the Federal Digital System at www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.

You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department.

Dated:

Frank T. Brogan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Delegated the duties of the Assistant Secretary, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Delegated the duties of the Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST / INSTRUCTIONS

The Training Program application consists of the following four required parts. Note that all attachments must be in .PDF format. Other types of files will not be accepted.

Part I: SF 424 Form -- Application for Federal Assistance and Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424

Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the SF 424 Form. Although the form accepts attachments, the Department only will review the SF 424 and the specific items listed below.

The Project Narrative Attachment Form is where you will attach your narrative response to the selection criteria that will be used to evaluate your submission for this competition. You should include a Table of Contents for your application as the first page of this section. You will also include your budget narrative in this section as a part of the selection criteria.

Part III-A: Training Program Profile Form

The Training Program Profile Form should be attached to the Other Attachments Form in the application package in Grants.gov (as a .pdf document). You may not change the wording of the standard or “standardized” objectives.

Part III-B: One-page Project Abstract

Please attach the abstract to the ED Abstract Form. This one-page abstract should be single-spaced.

Part IV: Assurances and Certifications -- Applicants must complete the following assurances and certifications included in the application package:

Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) Grants.gov Lobbying Form (ED Form 80-0013) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF LLL) ED GEPA 427 Form

PART I: STANDARD FORM 424

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF-424

This is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications and applications and related information under discretionary programs. Some of the items are required and some are optional at the discretion of the applicant or the federal agency (agency). Required fields on the form are identified with an asterisk (*) and are also specified as “Required” in the instructions below. In addition to these instructions, applicants must consult agency instructions to determine other specific requirements.

• Pre-application

• Application

• Changed/Corrected Application – Check if this submission is to change or correct a previously submitted application. Unless requested by the agency, applicants may not use this form to submit changes after the closing date.

Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and title of the program under which assistance is requested, as found in the program announcement, if applicable.

• New – An application that is being submitted to an agency for the first time.

• Continuation - An extension for an additional funding/budget period for a project with a projected completion date. This can include renewals.

• Revision - Any change in the federal government’s financial obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation. If a revision, enter the appropriate letter(s). More than one may be selected. If "Other" is selected, please specify in text box provided.

A. Increase Award D. Decrease Duration B. Decrease Award E. Other (specify) C. Increase Duration