83_FR_36720 83 FR 36574 - Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-Pilot Program for Cybersecurity Education Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges

83 FR 36574 - Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-Pilot Program for Cybersecurity Education Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 146 (July 30, 2018)

Page Range36574-36577
FR Document2018-16259

The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)--Pilot Program for Cybersecurity Education Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.116R.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 146 (Monday, July 30, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36574-36577]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16259]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of 
Postsecondary Education--Pilot Program for Cybersecurity Education 
Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges

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 Fund for 
the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)--Pilot Program for 
Cybersecurity Education Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges, 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.116R.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: July 30, 2018.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 29, 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.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pearson Owens, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 250-12, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-7997. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Pilot Program for Cybersecurity Education 
Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges is designed to support 
projects at institutions of higher education (IHEs) that provide 
technological upgrades for cybersecurity education programs at 
community colleges.
    Priority: This notice includes one absolute priority. We are 
establishing this priority for the FY 2018 grant competition, and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applications from this competition, in accordance with section 
437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 
1232(d)(1).
    Absolute Priority: This priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 
CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Collaboration.
    Background: The National Science Foundation's Advanced 
Technological Education (ATE) Program has awarded large grants to three 
community colleges to operate centers that support the improvement of 
cybersecurity education at community colleges around the Nation. Those 
centers are the National CyberWatch Center, based at Prince George's 
Community College (Largo, MD); the CyberWatch West Center, based at 
Whatcom Community College (Bellingham, WA); and the Center for Systems 
Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA), based at Moraine Valley 
Community College (Palos Hills, IL). Those centers coordinate a large 
network of affiliated institutions, including more than 100 community 
colleges.
    Priority: To build on the experience and ongoing initiatives of the 
ATE Program, this priority requires applicants to collaborate with an 
ATE Program center. An eligible applicant must propose to lead a 
project to provide technological upgrades for cybersecurity education 
programs at community colleges that leverages the expertise of the 
National Science Foundation's ATE Program.
    Each eligible applicant must include a signed statement by an 
authorized official from at least one of the three ATE Program centers: 
The National CyberWatch Center, the CyberWatch West Center, or CSSIA. 
The signed statement must certify that the center or centers will 
provide technical assistance or other aid to the applicant's project.

    Note:  It is not required for a community college to have an 
existing relationship with an ATE Program center to meet this 
absolute priority.

    Definition: We are establishing the following definition under 
section 437(d)(1) of GEPA for FY 2018 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition.
    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 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 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.

[[Page 36575]]

    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and definitions. 
Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to exempt from 
rulemaking requirements regulations governing the first grant 
competition under a new or substantially revised program authority. 
This is the first grant competition for this program under 20 U.S.C. 
1138-1138d and therefore qualifies for this exemption. In order to 
ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to forgo public 
comment on the priority and definition under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. 
The priority and definition will apply to the FY 2018 grant competition 
and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d.
    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.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $990,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $25,000-$100,000 for a 24-month budget 
period.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $99,000.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $100,000 for a 
single budget period of 24 months.
    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: Community colleges that include a signed 
statement from at least one of the ATE Program centers certifying that 
the center or centers will provide technical assistance or other aid to 
the applicant's project.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under this 
competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project 
activities described in its application--to the following types of 
entities: Public or private entitites that provide technology or 
infrastructure services. The grantee may only award subgrants to 
entities it has identified in an approved 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.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.
    2. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    However, under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental review in 
order to make awards by the end of FY 2018.
    3. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

    Note:  Hardware to be provided to individual students, such as 
laptops, tablets, or smartphones, is not an allowable cost under 
this competition.

    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative to no more than 12 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 all text in the application narrative, 
including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and 
captions.
     Use a readable 12-point font such as Times New Roman, 
Courier, Courier New, or Arial.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover 
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letter of support.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score for all of the selection 
criteria is 48 points. The maximum score for each criterion is included 
in parentheses following the title of the specific selection criterion. 
Each criterion also includes the factors that reviewers will consider 
in determining the extent to which an applicant meets the criterion.
    The selection criteria are as follows:
    A. Need for Project (up to 20 points).
    The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In 
determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 
the following factors:
    (1) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    B. Quality of the Project Design (up to 12 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs.
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    C. Adequacy of Resources (up to 12 points).
    The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
    (2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
    D. Quality of the Project Evaluation Plan (up to 4 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the 
evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and

[[Page 36576]]

appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed 
project.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible.
    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 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    For this competition, a panel of internal reviewers will read, 
prepare a written evaluation of, and score all eligible applications 
using the selection criteria provided in this notice. The individual 
scores of the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by the number 
of reviewers to determine the peer review score. The Department may use 
more than one tier of reviews in evaluating grantees. The Department 
prepares a rank order of applications based solely on the evaluation of 
their quality according to the selection criteria.
    In the event there are two or more applications with the same final 
score in the rank order listing, and there are insufficient funds to 
fully support these applications, the Department will apply a 
tiebreaker by awarding funds to the applicant with the largest number 
of students enrolled in cybersecurity education programs in the 
applicant's most recent academic year.
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition 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.
    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 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. 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). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    5. Performance Measure: The Department will use the following 
performance measure in assessing the performance of the Pilot Program 
for Cybersecurity Education Technological Upgrades for Community 
Colleges grants:
    The number of students who enrolled in courses supported by the 
technological upgrades developed through the grant in the year 
following completion of the project.

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

[[Page 36577]]

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.thefederalregister.org/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: July 24, 2018.
Diane Auer Jones,
Principal Deputy Under Secretary Delegated To Perform the Duties of 
Under Secretary and Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary 
Education.
[FR Doc. 2018-16259 Filed 7-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P



                                               36574                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices

                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:       The                     DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                  Absolute Priority: This priority is an
                                               Department of Education (ED), in                                                                               absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
                                               accordance with the Paperwork                            Applications for New Awards; Fund for                 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
                                               Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.                   the Improvement of Postsecondary                      applications that meet this priority.
                                               3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general                     Education—Pilot Program for                              This priority is:
                                               public and Federal agencies with an                      Cybersecurity Education                                  Collaboration.
                                               opportunity to comment on proposed,                      Technological Upgrades for                               Background: The National Science
                                               revised, and continuing collections of                   Community Colleges                                    Foundation’s Advanced Technological
                                               information. This helps the Department                   AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary                       Education (ATE) Program has awarded
                                               assess the impact of its information                     Education, Department of Education.                   large grants to three community colleges
                                               collection requirements and minimize                                                                           to operate centers that support the
                                                                                                        ACTION: Notice.
                                               the public’s reporting burden. It also                                                                         improvement of cybersecurity education
                                               helps the public understand the                          SUMMARY:   The Department of Education                at community colleges around the
                                               Department’s information collection                      is issuing a notice inviting applications             Nation. Those centers are the National
                                               requirements and provide the requested                   for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018              CyberWatch Center, based at Prince
                                               data in the desired format. ED is                        for the Fund for the Improvement of                   George’s Community College (Largo,
                                               soliciting comments on the proposed                      Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)—Pilot                 MD); the CyberWatch West Center,
                                               information collection request (ICR) that                Program for Cybersecurity Education                   based at Whatcom Community College
                                               is described below. The Department of                    Technological Upgrades for Community                  (Bellingham, WA); and the Center for
                                               Education is especially interested in                    Colleges, Catalog of Federal Domestic                 Systems Security and Information
                                               public comment addressing the                            Assistance (CFDA) number 84.116R.                     Assurance (CSSIA), based at Moraine
                                               following issues: (1) Is this collection                 DATES:                                                Valley Community College (Palos Hills,
                                               necessary to the proper functions of the                    Applications Available: July 30, 2018.             IL). Those centers coordinate a large
                                               Department; (2) will this information be                    Deadline for Transmittal of                        network of affiliated institutions,
                                               processed and used in a timely manner;                   Applications: August 29, 2018.                        including more than 100 community
                                               (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;                  ADDRESSES: For the addresses for                      colleges.
                                               (4) how might the Department enhance                     obtaining and submitting an                              Priority: To build on the experience
                                               the quality, utility, and clarity of the                 application, please refer to our Common               and ongoing initiatives of the ATE
                                               information to be collected; and (5) how                 Instructions for Applicants to                        Program, this priority requires
                                               might the Department minimize the                        Department of Education Discretionary                 applicants to collaborate with an ATE
                                               burden of this collection on the                         Grant Programs, published in the                      Program center. An eligible applicant
                                               respondents, including through the use                   Federal Register on February 12, 2018                 must propose to lead a project to
                                               of information technology. Please note                   (83 FR 6003) and available at                         provide technological upgrades for
                                               that written comments received in                        www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/                  cybersecurity education programs at
                                               response to this notice will be                          pdf/2018-02558.pdf.                                   community colleges that leverages the
                                               considered public records.                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      expertise of the National Science
                                                  Title of Collection: Paul Douglas                     Pearson Owens, U.S. Department of                     Foundation’s ATE Program.
                                               Teacher Scholarship Performance                          Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,                       Each eligible applicant must include
                                               Report Form.                                             Room 250–12, Washington, DC 20202.                    a signed statement by an authorized
                                                  OMB Control Number: 1840–0787.                        Telephone: (202) 453–7997. Email:                     official from at least one of the three
                                                  Type of Review: An extension of an                    pearson.owens@ed.gov.                                 ATE Program centers: The National
                                               existing information collection.                            If you use a telecommunications                    CyberWatch Center, the CyberWatch
                                                                                                        device for the deaf (TDD) or a text                   West Center, or CSSIA. The signed
                                                  Respondents/Affected Public: State,
                                                                                                        telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay               statement must certify that the center or
                                               Local, and Tribal Governments.
                                                                                                        Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–               centers will provide technical assistance
                                                  Total Estimated Number of Annual                      8339.                                                 or other aid to the applicant’s project.
                                               Responses: 10.
                                                                                                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              Note: It is not required for a community
                                                  Total Estimated Number of Annual
                                                                                                                                                              college to have an existing relationship with
                                               Burden Hours: 120.                                       Full Text of Announcement                             an ATE Program center to meet this absolute
                                                  Abstract: The Paul Douglas Teacher                    I. Funding Opportunity Description                    priority.
                                               Scholarship program was designed to
                                                                                                           Purpose of Program: The Pilot                        Definition: We are establishing the
                                               issue grants to the states to provide
                                                                                                        Program for Cybersecurity Education                   following definition under section
                                               scholarships to outstanding secondary
                                                                                                        Technological Upgrades for Community                  437(d)(1) of GEPA for FY 2018 and any
                                               school graduates who demonstrated an
                                                                                                        Colleges is designed to support projects              subsequent year in which we make
                                               interest in teaching careers at the
                                                                                                        at institutions of higher education                   awards from the list of unfunded
                                               preschool, elementary, or secondary
                                                                                                        (IHEs) that provide technological                     applications from this competition.
                                               level. Although the program is no longer
                                                                                                        upgrades for cybersecurity education                    Community college means an
                                               funded, the annual performance report
                                                                                                        programs at community colleges.                       institution that meets the definition in
                                               is necessary to monitor and evaluate the
                                                                                                           Priority: This notice includes one                 section 312(f) of the Higher Education
                                               compliance of the remaining state
                                                                                                        absolute priority. We are establishing                Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20
                                               education agencies.
                                                                                                        this priority for the FY 2018 grant                   U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an institution of
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                 Dated: July 25, 2018.                                  competition, and any subsequent year in               higher education (as defined in section
                                               Kate Mullan,                                             which we make awards from the list of                 101 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that
                                               Acting Director, Information Collection                  unfunded applications from this                       awards degrees and certificates, more
                                               Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy          competition, in accordance with section               than 50 percent of which are not
                                               Officer, Office of Management.                           437(d)(1) of the General Education                    bachelor’s degrees (or an equivalent) or
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–16211 Filed 7–27–18; 8:45 am]              Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C.                      master’s, professional, or other
                                               BILLING CODE 4000–01–P                                   1232(d)(1).                                           advanced degrees.


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices                                             36575

                                                  Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking:                          3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR                        CFR 75.210. The maximum score for all
                                               Under the Administrative Procedure Act                   75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under this                of the selection criteria is 48 points. The
                                               (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally                 competition may award subgrants—to                    maximum score for each criterion is
                                               offers interested parties the opportunity                directly carry out project activities                 included in parentheses following the
                                               to comment on proposed priorities and                    described in its application—to the                   title of the specific selection criterion.
                                               definitions. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA,                  following types of entities: Public or                Each criterion also includes the factors
                                               however, allows the Secretary to exempt                  private entitites that provide technology             that reviewers will consider in
                                               from rulemaking requirements                             or infrastructure services. The grantee               determining the extent to which an
                                               regulations governing the first grant                    may only award subgrants to entities it               applicant meets the criterion.
                                               competition under a new or                               has identified in an approved                            The selection criteria are as follows:
                                               substantially revised program authority.                 application.                                             A. Need for Project (up to 20 points).
                                               This is the first grant competition for                                                                           The Secretary considers the need for
                                                                                                        IV. Application and Submission                        the proposed project. In determining the
                                               this program under 20 U.S.C. 1138–                       Information
                                               1138d and therefore qualifies for this                                                                         need for the proposed project, the
                                               exemption. In order to ensure timely                       1. Application Submission                           Secretary considers the following
                                               grant awards, the Secretary has decided                  Instructions: For information on how to               factors:
                                               to forgo public comment on the priority                  submit an application please refer to our                (1) The magnitude or severity of the
                                                                                                        Common Instructions for Applicants to                 problem to be addressed by the
                                               and definition under section 437(d)(1)
                                                                                                        Department of Education Discretionary                 proposed project.
                                               of GEPA. The priority and definition
                                                                                                        Grant Programs, published in the                         (2) The extent to which specific gaps
                                               will apply to the FY 2018 grant                                                                                or weaknesses in services,
                                               competition and any subsequent year in                   Federal Register on February 12, 2018
                                                                                                        (83 FR 6003), and available at                        infrastructure, or opportunities have
                                               which we make awards from the list of                                                                          been identified and will be addressed by
                                               unfunded applications from this                          www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/
                                                                                                        pdf/2018-02558.pdf.                                   the proposed project, including the
                                               competition.                                                                                                   nature and magnitude of those gaps or
                                                  Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138–                      2. Intergovernmental Review: This
                                                                                                        competition is subject to Executive                   weaknesses.
                                               1138d.                                                                                                            B. Quality of the Project Design (up to
                                                  Applicable Regulations: (a) The                       Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
                                                                                                        CFR part 79.                                          12 points).
                                               Education Department General                                                                                      The Secretary considers the quality of
                                               Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR                       However, under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we
                                                                                                        waive intergovernmental review in                     the design of the proposed project. In
                                               parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98,                                                                      determining the quality of the design of
                                               and 99. (b) The Office of Management                     order to make awards by the end of FY
                                                                                                        2018.                                                 the proposed project, the Secretary
                                               and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on                                                                           considers the following factors:
                                                                                                          3. Funding Restrictions: We reference
                                               Governmentwide Debarment and                                                                                      (1) The extent to which the goals,
                                                                                                        regulations outlining funding
                                               Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR                                                                           objectives, and outcomes to be achieved
                                                                                                        restrictions in the Applicable
                                               part 180, as adopted and amended as                                                                            by the proposed project are clearly
                                                                                                        Regulations section of this notice.
                                               regulations of the Department in 2 CFR                                                                         specified and measurable.
                                               part 3485. (c) The Uniform                                 Note: Hardware to be provided to                       (2) The extent to which the design of
                                               Administrative Requirements, Cost                        individual students, such as laptops, tablets,        the proposed project is appropriate to,
                                                                                                        or smartphones, is not an allowable cost
                                               Principles, and Audit Requirements for                   under this competition.
                                                                                                                                                              and will successfully address, the needs
                                               Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as                                                                           of the target population or other
                                               adopted and amended as regulations of                      4. Recommended Page Limit: The                      identified needs.
                                               the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.                       application narrative is where you, the                  (3) The extent to which the proposed
                                                                                                        applicant, address the selection criteria             project is designed to build capacity and
                                               II. Award Information                                    that reviewers use to evaluate your                   yield results that will extend beyond the
                                                 Type of Award: Discretionary grants.                   application. We recommend that you (1)                period of Federal financial assistance.
                                                 Estimated Available Funds: $990,000.                   limit the application narrative to no                    C. Adequacy of Resources (up to 12
                                                 Estimated Range of Awards: $25,000–                    more than 12 pages and (2) use the                    points).
                                               $100,000 for a 24-month budget period.                   following standards:                                     The Secretary considers the adequacy
                                                 Estimated Average Size of Awards:                        • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side             of resources for the proposed project. In
                                               $99,000.                                                 only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,             determining the adequacy of resources
                                                 Maximum Award: We will not make                        and both sides.                                       for the proposed project, the Secretary
                                               an award exceeding $100,000 for a                          • Double space all text in the                      considers the following factors:
                                               single budget period of 24 months.                       application narrative, including titles,                 (1) The relevance and demonstrated
                                                 Estimated Number of Awards: 10.                        headings, footnotes, quotations,                      commitment of each partner in the
                                                                                                        references, and captions.                             proposed project to the implementation
                                                 Note: The Department is not bound by any
                                                                                                          • Use a readable 12-point font such as              and success of the project.
                                               estimates in this notice.
                                                                                                        Times New Roman, Courier, Courier                        (2) The extent to which the costs are
                                                  Project Period: Up to 24 months.                      New, or Arial.                                        reasonable in relation to the objectives,
                                               III. Eligibility Information                               The recommended page limit does not                 design, and potential significance of the
                                                                                                        apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,            proposed project.
                                                  1. Eligible Applicants: Community                     the budget section, including the                        D. Quality of the Project Evaluation
                                               colleges that include a signed statement                 narrative budget justification; Part IV,              Plan (up to 4 points).
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                                               from at least one of the ATE Program                     the assurances and certifications; or the                The Secretary considers the quality of
                                               centers certifying that the center or                    one-page abstract, the resumes, the                   the evaluation to be conducted of the
                                               centers will provide technical assistance                bibliography, or the letter of support.               proposed project. In determining the
                                               or other aid to the applicant’s project.                                                                       quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
                                                  2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This                     V. Application Review Information                     considers the following factors:
                                               program does not require cost sharing or                   1. Selection Criteria: The selection                   (1) The extent to which the methods
                                               matching.                                                criteria for this competition are from 34             of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and


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                                               36576                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices

                                               appropriate to the goals, objectives, and                financial or other management system                  awarded a grant under this competition,
                                               outcomes of the proposed project.                        that does not meet the standards in 2                 you will be required to openly license
                                                  (2) The extent to which the methods                   CFR part 200, subpart D; has not                      to the public grant deliverables created
                                               of evaluation include the use of                         fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;            in whole, or in part, with Department
                                               objective performance measures that are                  or is otherwise not responsible.                      grant funds. When the deliverable
                                               clearly related to the intended outcomes                    4. Integrity and Performance System:               consists of modifications to pre-existing
                                               of the project and will produce                          If you are selected under this                        works, the license extends only to those
                                               quantitative and qualitative data to the                 competition to receive an award that                  modifications that can be separately
                                               extent possible.                                         over the course of the project period                 identified and only to the extent that
                                                  2. Review and Selection Process: We                   may exceed the simplified acquisition                 open licensing is permitted under the
                                               remind potential applicants that in                      threshold (currently $150,000), under 2               terms of any licenses or other legal
                                               reviewing applications in any                            CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a                      restrictions on the use of pre-existing
                                               discretionary grant competition, the                     judgment about your integrity, business               works. Additionally, a grantee or
                                               Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR                     ethics, and record of performance under               subgrantee that is awarded competitive
                                               75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the                Federal awards—that is, the risk posed                grant funds must have a plan to
                                               applicant in carrying out a previous                     by you as an applicant—before we make                 disseminate these public grant
                                               award, such as the applicant’s use of                    an award. In doing so, we must consider               deliverables. This dissemination plan
                                               funds, achievement of project                            any information about you that is in the              can be developed and submitted after
                                               objectives, and compliance with grant                    integrity and performance system                      your application has been reviewed and
                                               conditions. The Secretary may also                       (currently referred to as the Federal                 selected for funding. For additional
                                               consider whether the applicant failed to                 Awardee Performance and Integrity                     information on the open licensing
                                               submit a timely performance report or                    Information System (FAPIIS)),                         requirements please refer to 2 CFR
                                               submitted a report of unacceptable                       accessible through the System for                     3474.20.
                                               quality.                                                 Award Management. You may review                        4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
                                                  In addition, in making a competitive                  and comment on any information about                  grant under this competition, you must
                                               grant award, the Secretary requires                      yourself that a Federal agency                        ensure that you have in place the
                                               various assurances, including those                      previously entered and that is currently              necessary processes and systems to
                                               applicable to Federal civil rights laws                  in FAPIIS.                                            comply with the reporting requirements
                                               that prohibit discrimination in programs                    Please note that, if the total value of            in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
                                               or activities receiving Federal financial                your currently active grants, cooperative
                                               assistance from the Department (34 CFR                                                                         funding under the competition. This
                                                                                                        agreements, and procurement contracts                 does not apply if you have an exception
                                               100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).                 from the Federal Government exceeds
                                                  For this competition, a panel of                                                                            under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
                                                                                                        $10,000,000, the reporting requirements                 (b) At the end of your project period,
                                               internal reviewers will read, prepare a                  in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII,
                                               written evaluation of, and score all                                                                           you must submit a final performance
                                                                                                        require you to report certain integrity               report, including financial information,
                                               eligible applications using the selection                information to FAPIIS semiannually.
                                               criteria provided in this notice. The                                                                          as directed by the Secretary. If you
                                                                                                        Please review the requirements in 2 CFR               receive a multiyear award, you must
                                               individual scores of the reviewers will                  part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant
                                               be added and the sum divided by the                                                                            submit an annual performance report
                                                                                                        plus all the other Federal funds you                  that provides the most current
                                               number of reviewers to determine the                     receive exceed $10,000,000.
                                               peer review score. The Department may                                                                          performance and financial expenditure
                                               use more than one tier of reviews in                     VI. Award Administration Information                  information as directed by the Secretary
                                               evaluating grantees. The Department                         1. Award Notices: If your application              under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
                                               prepares a rank order of applications                    is successful, we notify your U.S.                    may also require more frequent
                                               based solely on the evaluation of their                  Representative and U.S. Senators and                  performance reports under 34 CFR
                                               quality according to the selection                       send you a Grant Award Notification                   75.720(c). For specific requirements on
                                               criteria.                                                (GAN); or we may send you an email                    reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
                                                  In the event there are two or more                    containing a link to access an electronic             fund/grant/apply/appforms/
                                               applications with the same final score in                version of your GAN. We may notify                    appforms.html.
                                               the rank order listing, and there are                    you informally, also.                                   5. Performance Measure: The
                                               insufficient funds to fully support these                   If your application is not evaluated or            Department will use the following
                                               applications, the Department will apply                  not selected for funding, we notify you.              performance measure in assessing the
                                               a tiebreaker by awarding funds to the                       2. Administrative and National Policy              performance of the Pilot Program for
                                               applicant with the largest number of                     Requirements: We identify                             Cybersecurity Education Technological
                                               students enrolled in cybersecurity                       administrative and national policy                    Upgrades for Community Colleges
                                               education programs in the applicant’s                    requirements in the application package               grants:
                                               most recent academic year.                               and reference these and other                           The number of students who enrolled
                                                  3. Risk Assessment and Specific                       requirements in the Applicable                        in courses supported by the
                                               Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR                        Regulations section of this notice.                   technological upgrades developed
                                               200.205, before awarding grants under                       We reference the regulations outlining             through the grant in the year following
                                               this competition the Department                          the terms and conditions of an award in               completion of the project.
                                               conducts a review of the risks posed by                  the Applicable Regulations section of
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                                                                                                                                                              VII. Other Information
                                               applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the                     this notice and include these and other
                                               Secretary may impose specific                            specific conditions in the GAN. The                     Accessible Format: Individuals with
                                               conditions and, in appropriate                           GAN also incorporates your approved                   disabilities can obtain this document
                                               circumstances, high-risk conditions on a                 application as part of your binding                   and a copy of the application package in
                                               grant if the applicant or grantee is not                 commitments under the grant.                          an accessible format (e.g., Braille, large
                                               financially stable; has a history of                        3. Open Licensing Requirements:                    print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
                                               unsatisfactory performance; has a                        Unless an exception applies, if you are               request to the program contact person


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices                                               36577

                                               listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        the development of open textbooks for
                                               CONTACT.                                                 Stacey Slijepcevic, U.S. Department of                  several required courses in one or more
                                                  Electronic Access to This Document:                   Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,                      high-enrollment majors to ensure that
                                               The official version of this document is                 Room 268–32, Washington, DC 20202.                      students will benefit from cost savings
                                               the document published in the Federal                    Telephone: (202) 453–6150. Email:                       throughout their programs.
                                               Register. You may access the official                    stacey.slijepcevic@ed.gov.                                 There is also a shortage of open
                                               edition of the Federal Register and the                     If you use a telecommunications                      textbooks to support instruction in
                                               Code of Federal Regulations via the                      device for the deaf (TDD) or a text                     career and technical education, where it
                                               Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/                  telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay                 is equally important to help students
                                               fdsys. At this site you can view this                    Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–                 reduce costs. Technical textbooks are
                                               document, as well as all other                           8339.                                                   among the more expensive books that
                                               documents of this Department                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              students must purchase, and they often
                                               published in the Federal Register, in                                                                            must be updated frequently to keep pace
                                               text or Portable Document Format                         Full Text of Announcement                               with changing technologies, which adds
                                               (PDF). To use PDF you must have                          I. Funding Opportunity Description                      to the costs associated with these books.
                                               Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is                                                                                   Because of the frequent updates,
                                                                                                           Purpose of Program: The Open                         students are prevented from relying on
                                               available free at the site.
                                                  You may also access documents of the                  Textbooks Pilot program supports                        lower-cost used books. To ensure that
                                               Department published in the Federal                      projects at institutions of higher                      students in career and technical
                                               Register by using the article search                     education (IHEs) that create new open                   education programs have access to low-
                                               feature at: www.federalregister.gov.                     textbooks (as defined in this notice) or                cost textbooks that are up-to-date, the
                                                                                                        expand their use of open textbooks                      Department encourages the
                                               Specifically, through the advanced
                                                                                                        while maintaining or improving                          development of open textbooks that
                                               search feature at this site, you can limit
                                                                                                        instruction and student learning                        would support students enrolled in
                                               your search to documents published by
                                                                                                        outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to                  high-enrollment programs (as defined in
                                               the Department.
                                                                                                        develop projects that demonstrate the                   this notice) for career and technical
                                                 Dated: July 24, 2018.                                  greatest potential to achieve the highest
                                               Diane Auer Jones,
                                                                                                                                                                education associate degrees, or career
                                                                                                        level of savings for students through
                                                                                                                                                                and technical education associate
                                               Principal Deputy Under Secretary Delegated               sustainable, expanded use of open
                                               To Perform the Duties of Under Secretary
                                                                                                                                                                degree programs designed to meet the
                                                                                                        textbooks in high-enrollment courses (as
                                               and Assistant Secretary, Office of                                                                               needs of in-demand occupations and
                                                                                                        defined in this notice) or in programs
                                               Postsecondary Education.                                                                                         industries (as defined in this notice.
                                                                                                        that prepare individuals for in-demand                     Priorities: This notice includes three
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–16259 Filed 7–27–18; 8:45 am]              fields.                                                 absolute priorities and one competitive
                                               BILLING CODE 4000–01–P                                      Background: The growth in college
                                                                                                                                                                preference priority.
                                                                                                        textbook costs is a key component of the                   We are establishing these priorities for
                                                                                                        overall increase in the cost of attending               the FY 2018 grant competition and any
                                               DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                  college. The cost of college textbooks
                                                                                                                                                                subsequent year in which we make
                                                                                                        increased 88 percent between 2006 and
                                               Applications for New Awards; Fund for                                                                            awards from the list of unfunded
                                                                                                        2016.1 In the 2016–17 academic year,
                                               the Improvement of Postsecondary                                                                                 applications from this competition in
                                                                                                        the average college student budget for
                                               Education—Open Textbooks Pilot                                                                                   accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the
                                                                                                        books and supplies was $1,263 for
                                               Program                                                                                                          General Education Provisions Act
                                                                                                        students attending 4-year institutions
                                                                                                                                                                (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
                                               AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary                          and $1,458 for students attending 2-year                   Absolute Priorities: These priorities
                                               Education, Department of Education.                      institutions.2 Increasing textbook costs                are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR
                                               ACTION: Notice.                                          introduce an additional barrier to
                                                                                                                                                                75.105(c)(3) we consider only
                                                                                                        college access and completion,
                                                                                                                                                                applications that meet all three of these
                                               SUMMARY:   The Department of Education                   particularly for low-income students. In
                                                                                                                                                                priorities.
                                               is issuing a notice inviting applications                recent years, the development of open                      These priorities are:
                                               for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018                 textbooks has emerged as a potential                       Absolute Priority 1—Improving
                                               for the Open Textbooks Pilot program                     solution to increasing college textbook                 Collaboration and Dissemination
                                               conducted under the Fund for the                         costs. While open textbooks often                       Through Consortia Arrangements.
                                               Improvement of Postsecondary                             support general education or                               An eligible applicant must propose to
                                               Education (FIPSE), Catalog of Federal                    introductory courses, the Department                    lead and carry out a consortium project
                                               Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number                        seeks to promote degree completion by                   that leverages the expertise and
                                               84.116T.                                                 supporting the development of open                      resources of at least three IHEs,
                                               DATES:                                                   textbooks for courses at different levels               including the lead applicant, and that
                                                  Applications Available: July 30, 2018.                within an academic program. Therefore,                  engages employers or workforce
                                                  Deadline for Transmittal of                           this pilot program emphasizes the                       stakeholders (as defined in this notice)
                                               Applications: August 29, 2018.                           expansion of the use of existing open                   and/or nonprofit or community
                                               ADDRESSES: For the addresses for                         textbooks developed for general                         organizations, as appropriate, to
                                               obtaining and submitting an                              education or introductory courses, and                  participate in the project. These entities
                                               application, please refer to our Common                                                                          are described below under Eligible
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                                                                                                          1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
                                               Instructions for Applicants to                           Labor, The Economics Daily, College tuition and
                                                                                                                                                                Applicants. Applicants must explain
                                               Department of Education Discretionary                    fees increase 63 percent since January 2006 (https://   how the members of the consortium will
                                               Grant Programs, published in the                         www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/college-tuition-and-          work in partnership to develop and
                                               Federal Register on February 12, 2018                    fees-increase-63-percent-since-january-2006.htm).       implement open textbooks that: (a)
                                                                                                          2 National Center of Education Statistics, 2017
                                               (83 FR 6003) and available at                            Digest of Education Statistics, (https://nces.ed.gov/
                                                                                                                                                                Reduce the cost of college for large
                                               www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/                     programs/digest/d17/tables/dt17_                        numbers of students by reducing
                                               pdf/2018-02558.pdf.                                      330.40.asp?current=yes).                                textbook costs and (b) contain content


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Document Created: 2018-07-28 01:43:49
Document Modified: 2018-07-28 01:43:49
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesApplications Available: July 30, 2018.
ContactPearson Owens, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 250-12, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-7997. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 36574 

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