81 FR 5109 - Applications for New Awards; Predominantly Black Institutions Formula Grant Program

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 20 (February 1, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5109-5113]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01746]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Predominantly Black Institutions 
Formula Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Formula Grant Program
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2016.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.031P.

DATES: Applications Available: February 1, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Phase I of Applications: March 2, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Phase II of Applications: April 1, 
2016.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) 
Formula Grant Program provides grants to eligible institutions to plan, 
develop, undertake, and implement programs that enhance their capacity 
to serve more low- and middle-income Black American students; to expand 
higher education opportunities for eligible students by encouraging 
college preparation and student persistence in secondary school and 
postsecondary education; and to strengthen the financial ability of the 
institutions to serve the academic needs of these students.

    Program Authority: Title III, part A, section 318 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1059e).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 82, 84, 86, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The 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 adopted and 
amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Formula grant.
    Estimated Available Funds: $9,942,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: Grants awarded under the PBI 
Formula Grant Program are allotted to eligible institutions based on 
the formula included in section 318(e) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(e)), 
with no grantee allotted less than $250,000.
    If the amount appropriated for this program for a fiscal year is 
not sufficient to pay the minimum allotment to eligible institutions, 
then the amount of the minimum allotment must be ratably reduced, in 
accordance with section 318(e) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(e)(4)).
    Funding Formula:
    Grant amounts to PBIs are awarded according to the following 
formula:
    (1) Federal Pell Grant basis--From the amount appropriated for this 
program for any fiscal year, the Secretary allots to each PBI with an 
approved application a sum that bears the same ratio to one-half of 
that amount as the number of Federal Pell Grant recipients in 
attendance at such institution at the end of the academic year 
preceding the beginning of that fiscal year, bears to the total number 
of Federal Pell Grant recipients at all such institutions at the end of 
such academic year.
    (2) Graduates basis--From the amount appropriated for this program 
for any fiscal year, the Secretary allots to each PBI with an approved 
application a sum that bears the same ratio to one-fourth of that 
amount as the number of graduates for such academic year at such 
institution, bears to the total number of graduates for such academic 
year at all such institutions.
    (3) Graduates seeking a higher degree basis--From the amount 
appropriated for this program for any fiscal year, the Secretary allots 
to each PBI with an approved application a sum that bears the same 
ratio to one-fourth of that amount as the percentage of graduates from 
such institution who are admitted to and in attendance at, not later 
than two years after graduation with an associate's degree or a 
baccalaureate degree, a baccalaureate degree-granting institution or a 
graduate or professional school in a degree program in disciplines in 
which Black American students are underrepresented, bears to the 
percentage of such graduates for all such institutions.
    Estimated Number of Awards: All applicant institutions that meet 
the eligibility requirements will receive a portion of the total 
appropriations for the PBI Formula Grant Program.

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

    Project Period: 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: An applicant must--
    (a) Have an enrollment of needy undergraduate students as defined 
in section 318(b)(2) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(2));
    (b) Have an average educational and general expenditure that is 
low, per full-time equivalent undergraduate student, in comparison with 
the average educational and general expenditure per full-time 
equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar 
instruction, except that the Secretary may apply the waiver 
requirements described in section 392(b) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 
1068a(b)) to this subparagraph in the same manner as the Secretary 
applies the waiver requirements to section 312(b)(1)(B) of the HEA (20 
U.S.C. 1058(b)(1)(B));
    (c) Have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less 
than 40 percent Black American students (section 318(b)(1)(C) of the 
HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1059e (b)(1)(C));
    (d) Be legally authorized to provide, and provide, within the 
State, an educational program for which the institution of higher 
education awards a baccalaureate degree or, in the case of a junior or 
community college, an associate's degree (section 318(b)(1)(D) of the 
HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(1)(D));
    (e) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as 
to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency 
or

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association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation (section 
318(b)(1)(E) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(1)(E))); and
    (f) Not be receiving funds under any other provision of part A or 
part B of title III of the HEA or part A of title V of the HEA 
(sections 318(b)(1)(F) and 318(i) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(1)(F) 
and 1059e(i)).
    To be eligible for a grant under the PBI Formula Grant Program, an 
applicant must also meet the definition of a Predominantly Black 
Institution in section 318(b)(6) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(6)). 
The term Predominantly Black Institution means an institution of higher 
education, as defined in section 101(a) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 
1001(a))--
    (i) That is an eligible institution with not less than 1,000 
undergraduate students;
    (ii) At which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate 
students enrolled at the eligible institution are low-income 
individuals or first-generation college students; and
    (iii) At which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate 
students are enrolled in an educational program leading to a bachelor's 
or associate's degree that the eligible institution is licensed to 
award by the State (defined as each of the 50 States and the District 
of Columbia) in which the eligible institution is located.

    Note: The notice announcing the FY 2016 process for designation 
of eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of 
eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on 
November 19, 2015 (80 FR 72422). Only institutions that the 
Department determines are eligible, or are granted a waiver, may 
apply for a grant under this program.

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching unless the grantee uses a portion of its grant for 
establishing or improving an endowment fund. If a grantee uses a 
portion of its grant for endowment fund purposes, it must match those 
grant funds with non-Federal funds in an amount equal to or greater 
than the Federal funds used for the establishment or increase of the 
endowment fund (section 318(d)(3) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(d)(3)).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Bernadette D. Miles, 
OPE, Institutional Service, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., Room 7E311, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 502-
7616, or by email: [email protected].
    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.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact person listed in 
this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    Requirements concerning the content of an application, together 
with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this 
program. The application process for this program has two phases: Phase 
I will require submitting 2014-2015 data used to run the funding 
formula; Phase II will require submission of the narrative project plan 
and standard forms. The deadline dates for submitting Phases I and II 
of the application are listed in this notice. Other requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 1, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Phase I of Applications: March 2, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Phase II of Applications: April 1, 
2016.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically as an email attachment to [email protected] by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry), the 
Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet at the 
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
    A DUNS number can be created within one to two business days.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database. 
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial 
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow 
sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We 
strongly recommend that you register early.
    If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make 
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with 
your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update 
your registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted

[[Page 5111]]

electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement 
in accordance with the instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Predominantly Black Institutions 
Formula Grant Program, CFDA number 84.031P, must be submitted 
electronically via email to [email protected].
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the PBI Program 
at www2.ed.gov/programs/pbihea/index.html.
    Please note the following:
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We will not accept an application for this program after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. 
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the 
application deadline date to begin the application process.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must attach any narrative sections of your application 
as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable 
Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file 
types specified in this paragraph or submit a password protected file, 
we will not review that material.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
     Within three working days after submitting Phase II of 
your electronic application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the 
Application Control Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
    (2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
    (4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at 
(202) 245-6272.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
via email because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining that you do not have access to the 
Internet.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Bernadette D. Miles, 
OPE, Institutional Service, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., Room 7E311, Washington, DC 20202. FAX: (202) 205-0063.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031P), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260

    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

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

    We will not consider applications postmarked after the application 
deadline date.
    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031P), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260

    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education

[[Page 5112]]

Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Review and Selection Process: After eligibility is determined, 
Department staff will begin a two stage process to--
    (1) Determine grant awards based on the formula in section 318(e) 
of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(e)); and
    (2) Ensure that all activities proposed in the application are 
allowable under section 318(d) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1059e(d)).
    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 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).
    2. Risk Assessment and Special 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 special 
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.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
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 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.
    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 your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. 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.
    4. Performance Measures: The Department has established the 
following Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GRPRA) 
performance measures for the PBI Formula Grant Program:
    (a) Enrollment Rate: The percentage change of the number of full-
time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at PBIs. Note that 
this is a long-term measure, which will be used to periodically gauge 
performance.
    (b) Persistence Rate--four-year institutions: The percentage of 
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at four-
year PBIs who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in 
the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same 
four-year PBI.
    (c) Persistence Rate--two-year institutions: The percentage of 
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at two-year 
PBIs who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the 
previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same two-year 
PBI.
    (d) Completion Rate--four-year institutions: The percentage of 
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at 
four-year PBIs who graduate within six years of enrollment.
    (e) Completion Rate--two-year institutions: The percentage of 
first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at 
two-year PBIs who graduate within three years of enrollment.
    (f) Efficiency Measure: Cost per successful program outcome: 
Federal cost per undergraduate degree at PBIs.
    5. 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 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. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Bernadette D. Miles, OPE, 
Institutional Service, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., Room 7E311, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 502-
7616, or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

VIII. 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 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys. At this site you

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can view this document, as well as all other documents of this 
Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 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: January 26, 2016.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation 
Delegated the Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary 
Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-01746 Filed 1-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P