PKG00258263-instructions.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Postsecondary Education

Washington, DC 20202-4651

Fiscal Year 2020

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS UNDER THE

AMERICAN OVERSEAS RESEARCH CENTERS

PROGRAM

CFDA Number: 84.274A

Form Approved

OMB no. 1840 - 0006, Expiration Date: 01/31/2021

DATED MATERIAL – OPEN IMMEDIATELY

Applications Available: February 11, 2020

CLOSING DATE: March 27, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dear Applicant Letter 2

American Overseas Research Centers (AORC) Program 3

AORC Authorizing Legislation 4

Notice Inviting Applications 7

AORC Program Selection Criteria 26

Competition Overview 28

Supplemental Information 31

Grants.gov Application Submission Procedures 35

Electronic Submission Waiver Requirements 39

Grants.gov Application Parts 40

Performance Measures Form 41

Evaluation Plan 44

International Resource Information System 45

Application Transmittal Instructions 46

Executive Order 12372 Intergovernmental Review 48

AORC Program Eligibility Certification 49

Instructions for Standard Forms (List) 50

Instructions for the SF 424

Instructions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424

Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424

Instructions for ED 524

Instructions for Budget Summary Form and Itemized Budget

Instructions for Completion of SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

General Education Provisions Act Section 427 (GEPA) 62

Government Performance And Results Act (GPRA) 63

Application Checklist 64

AORC Program Frequently Asked Questions 65

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this collection is 1840-0006. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 100 hours per response, including the 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 a benefit (44 U.S.C. 3501). If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, please contact the program office address, U.S.

Department of Education, (202) 453-5690.

February 11, 2020

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in applying for a fiscal year (FY) 2020 grant under the American Overseas

Research Centers (AORC) program. This application package includes information about the program as well as the instructions and forms needed to submit a complete application to the U.S. Department of

Education.

The AORC program provides grants to consortia of United States institutions of higher education to establish or operate overseas centers that promote postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

For the FY 2020 competition, the U. S. Department of Education has announced two invitational priorities.

We encourage you to describe in your application narrative how your proposed project will address the invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets the invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications. For additional information about the priorities, please refer to the Notice Inviting Applications published in the Federal Register on February

11, 2020 and included in this application package.

All applicants to this competition must submit applications electronically using Grants.gov. You may access the electronic grant application at www.Grants.gov (http://www.Grants.gov). You must search for the downloadable application package by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search, i.e., search for 84.274, not 84.274A.

Please be advised that 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 recommend that you allow yourself plenty of time to complete your submission. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date-and time-stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than

11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

The International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office looks forward to receiving competitive grant applications that will provide access to meaningful research and training opportunities overseas, promote intercultural collaborations and networking activities, and strengthen U.S. capacity in postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Cheryl E. Gibbs at (202) 453-

5690, or via email at cheryl.gibbs@ed.gov.

Sincerely, /s/

Cheryl E. Gibbs

Senior Director

International and Foreign Language Education http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:cheryl.gibbs@ed.gov

AMERICAN OVERSEAS RESEARCH CENTERS PROGRAM

PROGRAM AUTHORITY

Title VI, Part A, sections 601 and 609 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

(20 U.S.C. 1128a.)

PURPOSE

The AORC program provides grants to a consortium of U.S. institutions of higher education to establish or operate an AORC to promote postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

PROGRAM REGULATIONS

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part

180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The

Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal

Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as ad

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Any American overseas research center that is a consortium of United States institutions of higher education that receives more than 50 percent of its funding from public or private United States sources; has a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located; and is an organization described in section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1993, which is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Code.

ALLOWABLE COSTS AND ACTIVITIES

AORC grants may be used to pay all or a portion of the cost of establishing or operating a center or program, including—

• The cost of operation and maintenance of overseas facilities

• The cost of organizing and managing conferences

• The cost of teaching and research materials

• The cost of acquisition, maintenance, and preservation of library collections

• The cost of bringing visiting scholars and faculty to the center to teach or to conduct research

• The cost of faculty and staff stipends and salaries

• The cost of faculty, staff, and student travel

• The cost of publication and dissemination of materials for the scholarly and general public

AORC PROGRAM AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION

TITLE VI – INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SEC. 601. INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.

Part A of title VI (20 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

PART A--INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES

SEC. 601. FINDINGS; PURPOSES; CONSULTATION; SURVEY

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds as follows:

(1) The security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States in a complex global era depend upon American experts in and citizens knowledgeable about world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs, as well as upon a strong research base in these areas.

(2) Advances in communications technology and the growth of regional and global problems make knowledge of other countries and the ability to communicate in other languages more essential to the promotion of mutual understanding and cooperation among nations and their peoples.

(3) Dramatic changes in the world's geopolitical and economic landscapes are creating needs for American expertise and knowledge about a greater diversity of less commonly taught foreign languages and nations of the world.

(4) Systematic efforts are necessary to enhance the capacity of institutions of higher education in the United States for--

(A) producing graduates with international and foreign language expertise and knowledge; and

(B) research regarding such expertise and knowledge.

(5) Cooperative efforts among the Federal Government, institutions of higher education, and the private sector are necessary to promote the generation and dissemination of information about world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs throughout education, government, business, civic, and nonprofit sectors in the United States.

(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this part are--

(1) (A) to support centers, programs, and fellowships in institutions of higher education in the United States for producing increased numbers of trained personnel and research in foreign languages, area studies, and other international studies;

(B) to develop a pool of international experts to meet national needs;

(C) to develop and validate specialized materials and techniques for foreign language acquisition and fluency, emphasizing (but not limited to) the less commonly taught languages;

(D) to promote access to research and training overseas, including through linkages with overseas institutions; and

(E) to advance the internationalization of a variety of disciplines throughout undergraduate and graduate education;

(2) to support cooperative efforts promoting access to and the dissemination of international and foreign language knowledge, teaching materials, and research, throughout education, government, business, civic, and nonprofit sectors in the United

States, through the use of advanced technologies; and

(3) to coordinate the programs of the Federal Government in the areas of foreign language, area studies, and other international studies, including professional international affairs education and research.

(c) CONSULTATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, prior to requesting applications for funding under this title during each grant cycle, consult with and receive recommendations regarding national need for expertise in foreign languages and world regions from the head officials of a wide range of Federal agencies.

(2) CONSIDERING RECOMMENDATIONS; PROVIDING INFORMATION.—

The Secretary—

(A) may take into account the recommendations described in paragraph (1); and

(B) shall—

(i) provide information collected under paragraph (1) when requesting applications for funding under this title; and

(ii) make available to applicants a list of areas identified as areas of national need.

(d) SURVEY.—The Secretary shall assist grantees in developing a survey to administer to students who have completed programs under this title to determine postgraduate employment, education, or training. All grantees, where applicable, shall administer such survey once every two years and report survey results to the Secretary.

SEC. 609. AMERICAN OVERSEAS RESEARCH CENTERS.

(a) CENTERS AUTHORIZED- The Secretary is authorized to make grants to and enter into contracts with any American overseas research center that is a consortium of institutions of higher education (hereafter in this section referred to as a center') to enable such center to promote postgraduate research, exchanges and area studies.

(b) USE OF GRANTS- Grants made and contracts entered into pursuant to this section may be used to pay all or a portion of the cost of establishing or operating a center or program, including--

(1) the cost of faculty and staff stipends and salaries;

(2) the cost of faculty, staff, and student travel;

(3) the cost of the operation and maintenance of overseas facilities;

(4) the cost of teaching and research materials;

(5) the cost of acquisition, maintenance, and preservation of library collections;

(6) the cost of bringing visiting scholars and faculty to a center to teach or to conduct research;

(7) the cost of organizing and managing conferences; and

(8) the cost of publication and dissemination of material for the scholarly and general public.

(c) LIMITATION.-- The Secretary shall only award grants to and enter into contracts with centers under this section that--

(1) receive more than 50 percent of their funding from public or private United States sources;

(2) have a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located; and

(3) are organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1993 which are exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.

(d) DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.-- The Secretary is authorized to make grants for the establishment of new centers. The grants may be used to fund activities that, within 1 year, will result in the creation of a center described in subsection (c).

(e) APPLICATION.—Each center desiring to receive a grant or contract under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; American Overseas Research Centers

Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of

Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the

American Overseas Research Centers (AORC) program, Catalog of

Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.274A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.

DATES:

Applications Available: February 11, 2020.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 27, 2020.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 26, 2020.

Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants.

Detailed information regarding the webinar will be provided on the website for the AORC program at www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsaorc/index.html.

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

Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant

Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl E. Gibbs, U.S.

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 257-09, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-5690. Email:

cheryl.gibbs@ed.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The AORC program provides grants to consortia of United States institutions of higher education

(IHEs) to establish or operate overseas centers to promote postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies. AORC grants may be used to pay all or a portion of the costs for the operation and maintenance of overseas facilities; organizing and managing conferences; teaching and research materials; the acquisition, maintenance, and preservation of library collections; bringing visiting scholars and faculty to the center to teach or to conduct research; faculty and staff http://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg.FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf stipends and salaries; faculty, staff, and student travel; and publication and dissemination of materials for the scholarly and general public.

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

Invitational Priorities: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from 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--Professional Development

Opportunities for Community Colleges and Minority Serving

Institutions.

Provide professional development opportunities to participants from community colleges and minority-serving institutions. The opportunities must include: foreign language instruction at the beginning level to introduce participants to the languages of the center, or at the intermediate and advanced levels to strengthen participants’ foreign language proficiency; curriculum development workshops for incorporating global content into courses; and conferences related to the scholarly focus of the center. The professional development opportunities may be provided in the United States or overseas where the center is located.

For the purpose of this priority:

Community college means an institution that meets the definition in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of

1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the HEA) that awards degrees and certificates, more than 50 percent of which are not bachelor's degrees (or an equivalent) or master's, professional, or other advanced degrees.

Minority-serving institution means an institution that is eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.

Note: The list of institutions currently designated as eligible under title III and title V is available at:

www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html#el-inst.

Invitational Priority 2--Open Access to Center-related

Research, Instructional, and Scholarly Resources.

Projects that promote international scholarship by providing open access to center-related research studies, conference proceedings, online libraries, digital archives, foreign language instructional materials, scholarly publications, and other resources related to the thematic focus of the center.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1128a.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General

Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and

Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and

Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485.

(c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Available Funds: $1,000,000.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2021 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $46,000-$70,000 for each 12-month budget period.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $58,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 17.

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

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: Consortia of United States IHEs that receive more than 50 percent of their funding from public or private United States sources, have a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located, and are organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986, which are exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.

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: Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to

Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at www.govinfo.go v/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-

13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.

2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of projects that may be proposed in applications for the AORC grant competition, your application may include business information that you consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define “business information” and describe the process we use in determining whether any of that information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended). Because we plan to post on our website a selection of FY 2020 AORC funded abstracts and applications’ narrative sections, you may wish to request confidentiality of business information.

Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your application, under “Other Attachments Form,” please list the page number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional information please see 34 CFR

5.11(c).

3. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to

Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.

Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this competition.

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

5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative

(Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate the application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 30 pages and (2) use the following standards:

• A “page” is 8.5" x 11", on one side only, with 1" margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.

• Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.

• Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).

• Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.

The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, Application for Federal Assistance cover sheet (SF 424); the

Supplemental Information Form SF 424B; Part II, ED 524 (Summary

Budget A) and the detailed budget justification (Summary Budget

C); or Part IV, assurances and certifications. The recommended page limit also does not apply to the project abstract, curriculum vitae, or letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to the entire application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from section 609 of the HEA and 34 CFR 75.210.

The maximum score for all selection criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses.

(a) Program purpose (up to 20 points).

The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the proposed project promotes postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

(b) Need for project (up to 10 points).

(1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.

(c) Quality of the project design (up to 10 points).

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

(ii) The extent to which fellowship recipients or other project participants are to be selected on the basis of academic excellence.

(d) Quality of project services (up to 20 points).

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.

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

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services.

(e) Quality of project personnel (up to 15 points).

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the

Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel.

(ii) The extent to which time commitments of the project director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project.

(f) Adequacy of resources (up to 10 points).

(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project.

(ii) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the lead applicant organization.

(g) Quality of the project evaluation (up to 15 points).

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the

Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate to the context within which the project operates.

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

(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide timely guidance for quality assurance.

2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR

75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as the applicant’s use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable quality.

In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the

Secretary requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

All applications submitted to the FY 2020 AORC competition will be evaluated and scored by peer reviewers who are subject matter experts in area studies, international studies, and world languages. The Department will develop a rank order slate of all applicants in the competition, from the highest score to the lowest score. Applications selected for funding will be determined by the applicant’s rank order in the competition.

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 $250,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as the

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System

(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management.

You may review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.

Please note that, if the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information to FAPIIS semiannually.

Please review the requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify the U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a

Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of the GAN.

We may notify you informally, also.

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

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

We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates the approved application as part of the binding commitments under the grant.

3. 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.

Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 3474.20.

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).

AORC program grantees are required to submit their performance reports into the web-based International Resource

Information System (IRIS) data reporting system. For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

5. Performance Measures: The purpose of the AORC program is to promote area studies, exchanges, and postgraduate research. In compliance with the Government Performance and

Results Act of 1993, the Department will use the following measures to assess the impact of the AORC program on project participants and researchers:

AORC Performance Measure 1: The number of individuals conducting postgraduate research utilizing the services of title

VI AORCs.

AORC Performance Measure 2: The percentage of AORC program participants who advanced in their professional field within two years after their participation.

The grantee performance reports collected in IRIS will be the data source for these measures. The AORC program reporting screens may be viewed at:

http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/AORC.pdf.

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.

http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/AORC.pdf

In making a continuation award, 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 the program contact person 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 at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or

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:

Robert L. King, Assistant Secretary for

Postsecondary Education.

AORC PROGRAM REGULATIONS (SELECTION CRITERIA)

External peer review panels with expertise in area studies, world languages, and international education program administration will evaluate all FY 2020 AORC applications using the following Education Department General Administrative (EDGAR) selection criteria found at 34

CFR Part 75, §75.209(a) and §75.210:

(a) Program purpose. (20 points)

The extent to which the proposed project promotes postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.

(b) Need for project. (10 points)

The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.

(c) Quality of the project design. (10 points)

(1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. (5 points)

(2) The extent to which fellowship recipients or other project participants are to be selected on the basis of academic excellence. (5 points)

(d) Quality of project services. (20 points)

(1) The quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability; (10 points)

(2) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services; (10 points)

(e) Quality of project personnel. (15 points)

(1) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability; (5 points)

(2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience of key project personnel; (5 points)

(3) The extent to which time commitments of the project director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project. (5 points)

(f) Adequacy of resources. (10 points)

(1) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project. (5 points)

(2) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the lead applicant organization. (5 points)

(g) Quality of the project evaluation. (15 points)

(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate to the context within which the project operates; (5 points)

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

(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide timely guidance for quality assurance. (5 points)

Total Points Possible: (100 points)

FY 2020 AORC COMPETITION OVERVIEW

1. Award Information: This is the award information for the FY 2020 grant competition.

Available Funds: $1,000,000

Estimated Range of Awards: $46,000 - $70,000 per year

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $58,000 per year

Estimated Number of Awards: 17

(Note: The Department is not bound by the estimated amounts announced in the Notice

Inviting Applications (NIA) and this application package.)

2. Project Period: Up to 48 months.

3. Eligible Applicants: Consortia of U.S. institutions of higher education that receive more than

50 percent of their funding from public or private United States sources, have a permanent presence in the country in which the center is located, and are organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which are exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of such code.

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

5. Budget Periods Covered by the FY 2020-2023 Grant Cycle:

Year 1 FY 2020-21 October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021

Year 2 FY 2021-22 October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022

Year 3 FY 2022-23 October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023

Year 4 FY 2023-24 October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024

6. Invitational Priorities: The FY 2020 NIA contains two invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR

75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets the priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications in the competition.

These priorities are:

Invitational Priority 1. Professional Development Opportunities for Community Colleges and Minority Serving Institutions.

Provide professional development opportunities to participants from community colleges and minority serving institutions. The opportunities shall include foreign language instruction at the beginning level to introduce participants to the languages of the Center or at the intermediate and advanced levels to strengthen foreign language proficiency, curriculum development workshops for incorporating global content into courses, and conferences related to the scholarly focus of the center. The professional development opportunities may be hosted in the United States or overseas where the Center is located.

Invitational Priority 2. Public Access to Center-related Research, Instruction, and

Scholarly Resources.

Projects that promote international scholarship by providing open access to Center-related research studies, conference proceedings, online libraries, digital archives, foreign language materials, scholarly publications, and other resources related to the thematic focus of the

Center.

7. Application Peer Review and Post-Review Notifications: During a two-week period, peer review panels with expertise in area studies, world languages, and international education program administration will evaluate all eligible applications using the online technical review form (TRF) in the Department’s G5 e-Reader system. The TRF will include the selection criteria from section 609 of the HEA and 34 CFR 75.210. The selection criteria are listed in this application package on pages 26-27. The maximum score for all selection criteria is 100 points.

The Department’s Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs will notify successful applicants via the applicant’s State Congressional delegation first. After a required five-day wait period, IFLE staff will notify successful applicants. At that time, we will request revised budgets, if needed, and discuss the terms and conditions of the grant award.

The project director and certifying representative of the funded projects will receive emails from the Department’s G5 Grants Management System containing information about how to access the FY 2020 electronic Grant Award Notification.

IFLE staff will send email letters to all unsuccessful and ineligible applicants after the FY 2020 competition activities are completed. Letters to ineligible applicants will indicate the reason(s) why their applications were deemed ineligible.

IFLE staff will email copies of the peer reviewers’ technical review forms to all applicants to the FY 2020 competition.

8. Intergovernmental Review: The AORC program is subject to Executive Order 12372, which means applicants are required to send a copy of their FY 2020 grant applications to the designated State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) by the deadline date for Intergovernmental

Review published in the NIA. The Single Point of Contact for each State, (if the State has one), may be viewed at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/spoc.html.

9. Grants.gov Electronic Submission Requirement: FY 2020 AORC program applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov. For information about submitting your application through Grants.gov, you should review and follow the “U.S. Department of

Education Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants” on pages 36-39. You are urged to acquaint yourself with the Grants.gov procedures early to ensure that you have enough time for completing the registration process and submitting your application in a timely manner. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date-and time-stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/spoc.html deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

Grants.gov is accessible through its portal page at:

http://www.grants.gov

10. Page Limitation: The suggested page limit for Part III, Program Narrative, is 30 pages.

The Program Narrative is where applicants address the EDGAR selection criteria that the peer review panels will use to evaluate applications.

11. Waiver to the Electronic Submission Requirement: The requirements for obtaining an exception to the electronic submission are included in the FY 2020 NIA. If you think you might need an exception, you should review the exception requirements early in the application process.

The Department must receive your written waiver request and justification at least fourteen days prior to the application deadline date.

12. Uploading and Submitting the Application using Grants.gov: 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 submit your application several days in advance of the deadline date, March 27, 2020.

Note: Grants.gov does not allow an applicant to un-submit an application after it has been submitted. If you discover that you need to revise your application after you have submitted it, you must submit another application that is date-and-time stamped by Grants.gov no later than

11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date The replacement application will be submitted to the peer review process.

13. Grants. gov Customer Support: For answers to your questions about the Grants.gov system, 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

14. AORC Program Technical Assistance: For answers to your questions about the AORC program and application preparation, please contact Cheryl E. Gibbs at (202) 453-5690 or email at cheryl.gibbs@ed.gov http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The information below is provided to supplement the information in the “Dear Applicant” letter and the

Notice Inviting Applications (NIA).

Application Components

Project Abstract: The abstract “introduces” the peer reviewers to your overseas center and the activities that you are proposing to undertake over the next four years. It should clearly describe how the center’s proposed activities are consistent with the AORC program purpose and the invitational priorities. The abstract should present a compelling justification as to project’s merit and its potential impact.

You might also wish to highlight the project director’s expertise and leadership skills that will contribute to the project’s success.

• The project abstract is not included in the suggested 30 pages.

• The suggested page length for the abstract is one page.

• The project abstract may be single-spaced.

Table of Contents: A table of contents is suggested because it helps the reviewers in locating and referencing information more easily during the peer review process. The table of contents is not included in the suggested 30 pages for the Project Narrative.

Program Narrative: The Program Narrative is where you respond to the seven EDGAR selection criteria from 34 CFR Part 75, §75.209(a) and §75.210 that the peer reviewers will use to evaluate your proposal.

The full text for the selection criteria and the sub-factors can be found on pages 26-27 in this application package and in the Notice Inviting Applications.

Read each selection criterion and the sub-factor(s) carefully so that you can provide meaningful, clear, and relevant information that effectively and efficiently responds to that selection criterion and any sub-factor(s). Please be reminded that all points matter, and the extent to which you provide strong responses for all criteria, the more competitive your application will be.

To facilitate the review of the Program Narrative, IFLE suggests that you use the selection criteria titles as headings and present the narrative in the following sequence, to be consistent with how the selection criteria will appear on the technical review form:

(a) Program purpose 20 points

(b )Need for project 10 points

(c) Quality of the project design 10 points

(d) Quality of project services 20 points

(e) Quality of project personnel 15 points

(f) Adequacy of resources 10 points

(g) Quality of the project evaluation 15 points

Total Possible Points 100 points

Note: In addition to using the selection criteria titles as main headings, using the sub-factor headings to identify the discussions is also helpful to the reviewers.

• Provide responses to all selection criteria and sub-factors in the Project Narrative.

• Although certain selection criteria might seem to be asking the same question, read the criteria text carefully to discern the distinction or nuance between what is being requested.

• Be sure to provide information where it is requested.

• The suggested number of pages for the program narrative is 30 pages; however, applications that slightly exceed the suggested limit will not be disqualified.

Applicants will submit the Program Narrative using the Part III Program Narrative Attachment

Form in the Grants.gov application template.

Project Budget:

Budget Forms

Budget Form ED 524 Budget Summary Section A-Non-Construction Programs

The proposed four-year budget should include the amounts requested to establish or operate the overseas center and to conduct the allowable activities under the AORC program. Because AORC funds are intended to conduct activities and provide services via the overseas centers, applicants are advised that while funds may be used to support U.S.-based activities, these activities should be held to a minimum.

Applicants must use ED Form 524 ED Form 524 Budget Summary Section A – Non-Construction

Programs to present the requested amounts for all four years of the project period. The amounts included in ED Form 524 Budget Summary Section A- Non-Construction Programs are the amounts you…