83 FR 36577 - Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-Open Textbooks Pilot Program

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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

Page Range		36577-36581
FR Document		2018-16264
The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for the Open Textbooks Pilot program conducted under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.116T.
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 146 (Monday, July 30, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36577-36581]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16264]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fund for the Improvement of 
Postsecondary Education--Open Textbooks Pilot Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for the Open 
Textbooks Pilot program conducted under the Fund for the Improvement of 
Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) number 84.116T.

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: Stacey Slijepcevic, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 268-32, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-6150. 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 Open Textbooks Pilot program supports 
projects at institutions of higher education (IHEs) that create new 
open textbooks (as defined in this notice) or expand their use of open 
textbooks while maintaining or improving instruction and student 
learning outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that 
demonstrate the greatest potential to achieve the highest level of 
savings for students through sustainable, expanded use of open 
textbooks in high-enrollment courses (as defined in this notice) or in 
programs that prepare individuals for in-demand fields.
    Background: The growth in college textbook costs is a key component 
of the overall increase in the cost of attending college. The cost of 
college textbooks increased 88 percent between 2006 and 2016.\1\ In the 
2016-17 academic year, the average college student budget for books and 
supplies was $1,263 for students attending 4-year institutions and 
$1,458 for students attending 2-year institutions.\2\ Increasing 
textbook costs introduce an additional barrier to college access and 
completion, particularly for low-income students. In recent years, the 
development of open textbooks has emerged as a potential solution to 
increasing college textbook costs. While open textbooks often support 
general education or introductory courses, the Department seeks to 
promote degree completion by supporting the development of open 
textbooks for courses at different levels within an academic program. 
Therefore, this pilot program emphasizes the expansion of the use of 
existing open textbooks developed for general education or introductory 
courses, and the development of open textbooks for several required 
courses in one or more high-enrollment majors to ensure that students 
will benefit from cost savings throughout their programs.
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    \1\ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The 
Economics Daily, College tuition and fees increase 63 percent since 
January 2006 (https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/college-tuition-and-fees-increase-63-percent-since-january-2006.htm).
    \2\ National Center of Education Statistics, 2017 Digest of 
Education Statistics, (https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d17/tables/dt17_330.40.asp?current=yes).
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    There is also a shortage of open textbooks to support instruction 
in career and technical education, where it is equally important to 
help students reduce costs. Technical textbooks are among the more 
expensive books that students must purchase, and they often must be 
updated frequently to keep pace with changing technologies, which adds 
to the costs associated with these books. Because of the frequent 
updates, students are prevented from relying on lower-cost used books. 
To ensure that students in career and technical education programs have 
access to low-cost textbooks that are up-to-date, the Department 
encourages the development of open textbooks that would support 
students enrolled in high-enrollment programs (as defined in this 
notice) for career and technical education associate degrees, or career 
and technical education associate degree programs designed to meet the 
needs of in-demand occupations and industries (as defined in this 
notice.
    Priorities: This notice includes three absolute priorities and one 
competitive preference priority.
    We are establishing these priorities 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 Priorities: These priorities are absolute priorities. 
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet all 
three of these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1--Improving Collaboration and Dissemination 
Through Consortia Arrangements.
    An eligible applicant must propose to lead and carry out a 
consortium project that leverages the expertise and resources of at 
least three IHEs, including the lead applicant, and that engages 
employers or workforce stakeholders (as defined in this notice) and/or 
nonprofit or community organizations, as appropriate, to participate in 
the project. These entities are described below under Eligible 
Applicants. Applicants must explain how the members of the consortium 
will work in partnership to develop and implement open textbooks that: 
(a) Reduce the cost of college for large numbers of students by 
reducing textbook costs and (b) contain content

[[Page 36578]]

that aligns student learning objectives with the skills or knowledge 
required by large numbers of students (at a given institution or 
nationally) as part of a degree pathway, or in the case of a career and 
technical postsecondary program, meet industry standards in in-demand 
industry sectors or occupations (as defined in this notice).
    Absolute Priority 2--Addressing Gaps in the Open Textbook 
Marketplace and Bringing Solutions to Scale.
    An applicant must address the issue of gaps in the open textbook 
marketplace and of how to bring market solutions to scale. An applicant 
must propose a comprehensive plan to: (a) Identify and assess existing 
open educational resources in the credential pathway or the subject 
area or areas proposed, before creating new ones; (b) focus on the 
creation and expansion of education and training materials that can be 
taken to scale, within and beyond the participating consortium members, 
to reach a broad range of students participating in high-enrollment 
courses or preparing for in-demand occupations (as defined in this 
notice); (c) create protocols to review any open textbooks created or 
adapted through the project for accuracy, rigor, and accessibility for 
students with disabilities; and (d) disseminate information about the 
results of the project to other IHEs, including promoting the adoption 
of any open textbooks created or adapted through the project.

    Note:  Grant funds may be used for professional development to 
help build capacity and expand the use of open textbooks for any 
faculty and staff members at IHEs.

    Absolute Priority 3--Promoting Degree Completion.
    An applicant must propose to build upon existing open textbook 
materials and/or develop new open textbooks for (a) multiple courses at 
different levels in a program's course sequence and that are typically 
required for individuals majoring in one or more high-enrollment 
programs and/or (b) several courses along the pathway to an associate 
degree in one or more career and technical education field(s).
    The applicant must include plans for: (a) Promoting and tracking 
the use of open textbooks in postsecondary courses, including an 
estimate of the projected cost savings for students; (b) assessing the 
impact of open textbooks on instruction and student learning outcomes, 
and (c) updating the open textbooks beyond the funded period.
    Competitive Preference Priority: This priority is a competitive 
preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an 
additional 10 points to an application, depending on how well the 
application meets this priority.
    This priority is:
    Competitive Preference Priority--Using Technology-Based Strategies 
for Personalized Learning and Continuous Improvement (Up to 10 Points).
    To meet this priority, an applicant must propose a project that 
focuses on improving instruction and student learning outcomes by 
integrating technology-based strategies, such as artificial 
intelligence and adaptive learning, with the open textbooks proposed 
for development to provide personalized learning experiences. These 
technologies must be capable of supporting ongoing electronic 
assessments that enable students to monitor their own learning mastery 
and/or allow instructors to monitor the individual performance of each 
student in the classes or courses for which the applicant proposes to 
develop open textbooks.
    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, definitions, and 
other requirements. 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 new or substantially revised authority and therefore qualifies 
for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the 
Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the priorities, 
definitions, and other requirements under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. 
These priorities, definitions, and requirements 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.
Definitions
    Open textbook means a textbook that is licensed under a worldwide, 
non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and irrevocable license to the 
public to exercise any of the rights under copyright conditioned only 
on the requirement that attribution be given as directed by the 
copyright owner. An open textbook resides in the public domain or has 
been released under a license that permits their free use, reuse, 
modification, and sharing with others.
    High-enrollment courses means courses that are required for an 
associate or bachelor's degree at the IHE, that either: (1) Have 
student enrollments above the average enrollment of courses at the 
institution or (2) have higher than average enrollments nationally as 
compared to other academic or career and technical education courses.
    High-enrollment program means a degree program or career and 
technical education postsecondary program at the IHE that either: (1) 
Has student enrollments above the average enrollment for programs at 
the institution or (2) has higher than average enrollments nationally 
as compared to other academic or career and technical education 
programs.
    Workforce stakeholder means an individual or organization with an 
interest in the employability of others either for self-interest or the 
interest of other employers.
    In-demand industry sector means an industry sector that has a 
substantial current or potential impact (including through jobs that 
lead to economic self- sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) 
on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate, and that 
contributes to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, 
or the growth of other industry sectors.
    In-demand occupation means an occupation that currently has or is 
projected to have a number of positions (including positions that lead 
to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an 
industry sector so as to have a significant impact on the State, 
regional, or local economy, as appropriate.
    Sector partner means a member of a workforce collaborative, 
convened by or acting in partnership with a State board or local board, 
that organizes key stakeholders interconnected by labor markets, 
technologies, and worker skill needs into a working group that focuses 
on shared goals and resource needs.
    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.

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



[[Page 36579]]


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,950,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of unfunded applications for this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $1,500,000-$4,950,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,475,000.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $4,950,000 for a 
single budget period of 48 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1-3.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are IHEs as defined in 
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 
U.S.C. 1001), that:
    (a) Lead the activities of a consortium that is comprised of at 
least:
    i. Three IHEs as defined in section 101 of the HEA, including the 
lead applicant;
    ii. An educational technology or electronic curriculum design 
expert (which may include such experts that are employed by one or more 
of the consortium institutions); and
    iii. An advisory group of at least five employers, workforce 
organizations, or sector partners (as defined in this notice); and
    (b) Have demonstrated experience in the development and 
implementation of open educational resources.
    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 entities listed in the 
grant 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. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the Open Textbook 
Pilot, your application may include business information that you 
consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' 
and describe the process we use in determining whether any of that 
information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under 
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as 
amended).
    Because we plan to make successful applications available to the 
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business 
information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your 
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page 
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional 
information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. Intergovernmental Review: This 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.
    4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    5. 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 60 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 60 page limit applies only to the application 
narrative and 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 letters 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 100 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.
    Points awarded under the competitive preference priority are in 
addition to any points an applicant earns for all of the selection 
criteria in this notice. The maximum score that an application may 
receive under the competitive preference priority and the selection 
criteria is 110. The selection criteria are as follows:
    a. Significance (up to 20 points).
    The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project. 
In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build 
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 
needs of the target population.
    (2) The potential replicability of the proposed project or 
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation 
in a variety of settings.
    b. Quality of the Project Design (up to 15 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. Quality of Project Services (up to 15 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided 
by the proposed project. In determining the quality of the services to 
be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and 
treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups

[[Page 36580]]

that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, 
national origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (1) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will lead to improvements in the achievement of students as 
measured against rigorous academic standards.
    (2) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
    (3) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services.
    d. Quality of Project Personnel (up to 5 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry 
out the proposed project. In determining the quality of project 
personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant 
encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of 
groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, 
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    e. Adequacy of Resources (up to 25 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.
    f. Quality of the Management Plan (up to 10 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (2) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.
    g. Quality of the Project Evaluation (up to 10 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 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 external reviewers will read, 
prepare a written evaluation of, and score all eligible applications 
using the selection criteria and the competitive preference priority, 
if applicable, 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 will prepare 
a rank order of applications based solely on the evaluation of their 
quality according to the selection criteria and competitive preference 
priority points.
    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 each of these applications, the Department will apply the 
following procedure to determine which application or applications will 
receive an award:
    First Tiebreaker: The first tiebreaker shall be the highest average 
score for the selection criterion of ``Significance.'' If a tie 
remains, the second tiebreaker shall be utilized.
    Second Tiebreaker: The second tiebreaker shall be the highest 
average score for the selection criterion ``Adequacy of Resources.'' If 
a tie remains, the third tiebreaker shall be utilized.
    Third Tiebreaker: The third tiebreaker shall be the highest average 
score for the Competitive Preference Priority ``Using Technology-Based 
Strategies for Personalized Learning and Continuous Improvement.'' If a 
tie remains, the fourth tiebreaker shall be utilized.
    Fourth Tiebreaker: The applicant that proposes the highest estimate 
of projected savings that will be achieved for students in response to 
Absolute Priority 3.
    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

[[Page 36581]]

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 will 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 will 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 Measures: The Department will use the following 
performance measures in assessing the successful performance of the 
Open Textbooks Pilot program grants:
    a. The number of students who enrolled in courses that use open 
textbooks developed through the grant;
    b. The number of students who completed courses which used the open 
textbooks developed through the grant;
    c. Student and faculty evaluations of the quality of the open 
textbooks compared with other kinds of textbooks they have used, the 
ease of use of these materials and the cost savings associated with the 
use of open textbooks;
    d. The average cost savings per student;
    e. The total cost savings for students who used open textbooks 
compared to students in the same course of study who used traditional 
textbooks;
    f. The number and percentage of courses among consortium members 
that adopted the use of open textbooks, where appropriate, as opposed 
to those that continued to use paper or electronic textbooks; and
    g. The number of institutions outside of the consortium that 
adopted the use of the open textbooks produced through the grant.

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations 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. 2018-16264 Filed 7-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
36580 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices

that have traditionally been proposed project on time and within In the event there are two or more
underrepresented based on race, color, budget, including clearly defined applications with the same final score in
national origin, gender, age, or responsibilities, timelines, and the rank order listing, and there are
disability. In addition, the Secretary milestones for accomplishing project insufficient funds to fully support each
considers the following factors: tasks. of these applications, the Department
(1) The likelihood that the services to (2) The extent to which the time will apply the following procedure to
be provided by the proposed project commitments of the project director and determine which application or
will lead to improvements in the principal investigator and other key applications will receive an award:
achievement of students as measured project personnel are appropriate and First Tiebreaker: The first tiebreaker
against rigorous academic standards. adequate to meet the objectives of the shall be the highest average score for the
(2) The extent to which the services proposed project. selection criterion of ‘‘Significance.’’ If a
to be provided by the proposed project g. Quality of the Project Evaluation tie remains, the second tiebreaker shall
involve the collaboration of appropriate (up to 10 points). be utilized.
partners for maximizing the The Secretary considers the quality of Second Tiebreaker: The second
effectiveness of project services. the evaluation to be conducted of the tiebreaker shall be the highest average
(3) The extent to which the training or proposed project. In determining the score for the selection criterion
professional development services to be quality of the evaluation, the Secretary ‘‘Adequacy of Resources.’’ If a tie
provided by the proposed project are of considers the following factors: remains, the third tiebreaker shall be
sufficient quality, intensity, and (1) The extent to which the methods utilized.
duration to lead to improvements in of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and Third Tiebreaker: The third tiebreaker
practice among the recipients of those appropriate to the goals, objectives, and shall be the highest average score for the
services. outcomes of the proposed project. Competitive Preference Priority ‘‘Using
d. Quality of Project Personnel (up to (2) The extent to which the methods Technology-Based Strategies for
5 points). of evaluation include the use of Personalized Learning and Continuous
The Secretary considers the quality of objective performance measures that are Improvement.’’ If a tie remains, the
the personnel who will carry out the clearly related to the intended outcomes fourth tiebreaker shall be utilized.
proposed project. In determining the of the project and will produce Fourth Tiebreaker: The applicant that
quality of project personnel, the quantitative and qualitative data to the proposes the highest estimate of
Secretary considers the extent to which extent possible. projected savings that will be achieved
the applicant encourages applications 2. Review and Selection Process: We for students in response to Absolute
for employment from persons who are remind potential applicants that in Priority 3.
members of groups that have reviewing applications in any 3. Risk Assessment and Specific
traditionally been underrepresented discretionary grant competition, the Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
based on race, color, national origin, Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 200.205, before awarding grants under
gender, age, or disability. In addition, 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the this competition the Department
the Secretary considers the following applicant in carrying out a previous conducts a review of the risks posed by
factors: award, such as the applicant’s use of applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the
(1) The qualifications, including funds, achievement of project Secretary may impose specific
relevant training and experience, of the objectives, and compliance with grant conditions and, in appropriate
project director or principal conditions. The Secretary may also circumstances, high-risk conditions on a
investigator. consider whether the applicant failed to grant if the applicant or grantee is not
(2) The qualifications, including submit a timely performance report or financially stable; has a history of
relevant training and experience, of key submitted a report of unacceptable unsatisfactory performance; has a
project personnel. quality. financial or other management system
e. Adequacy of Resources (up to 25 In addition, in making a competitive that does not meet the standards in 2
points). grant award, the Secretary requires CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
The Secretary considers the adequacy various assurances, including those fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;
of resources for the proposed project. In applicable to Federal civil rights laws or is otherwise not responsible.
determining the adequacy of resources that prohibit discrimination in programs 4. Integrity and Performance System:
for the proposed project, the Secretary or activities receiving Federal financial If you are selected under this
considers the following factors: assistance from the Department (34 CFR competition to receive an award that
(1) The relevance and demonstrated 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). over the course of the project period
commitment of each partner in the For this competition, a panel of may exceed the simplified acquisition
proposed project to the implementation external reviewers will read, prepare a threshold (currently $150,000), under 2
and success of the project. written evaluation of, and score all CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a
(2) The extent to which the costs are eligible applications using the selection judgment about your integrity, business
reasonable in relation to the objectives, criteria and the competitive preference ethics, and record of performance under
design, and potential significance of the priority, if applicable, provided in this Federal awards—that is, the risk posed
proposed project. notice. The individual scores of the by you as an applicant—before we make
f. Quality of the Management Plan (up reviewers will be added and the sum an award. In doing so, we must consider
to 10 points). divided by the number of reviewers to any information about you that is in the
The Secretary considers the quality of determine the peer review score. The integrity and performance system
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

the management plan for the proposed Department may use more than one tier (currently referred to as the Federal
project. In determining the quality of the of reviews in evaluating grantees. The Awardee Performance and Integrity
management plan for the proposed Department will prepare a rank order of Information System (FAPIIS)),
project, the Secretary considers the applications based solely on the accessible through the System for
following factors: evaluation of their quality according to Award Management. You may review
(1) The adequacy of the management the selection criteria and competitive and comment on any information about
plan to achieve the objectives of the preference priority points. yourself that a Federal agency

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Document Created: 2018-07-28 01:44:20
Document Modified: 2018-07-28 01:44:20
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Applications Available: July 30, 2018.
Contact		Stacey Slijepcevic, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 268-32, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-6150. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 36577