[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86323-86329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25127]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation
Research Abroad Fellowship Program
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
[[Page 86324]]
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral
Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program.
DATES:
Applications Available: October 30, 2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 15, 2025.
Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants.
Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the
DDRA website at https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-higher-education/ifle/fulbright-hays-doctoral-dissertation-research-abroad#How-To-Apply.
For additional information about the Department's discretionary
grant process, especially for new potential grantees unfamiliar with
grantmaking at the Department, please review the Education Grants:
Application, Management, & Closeout website at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/grantmaking/index.html.
The resources will be especially helpful for individuals who are
exploring the Department's funding opportunities for the first time.
ADDRESSES: The addresses pertinent to this competition--including the
addresses for obtaining and submitting an application--can be found
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela J. Maimer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:
(202) 453-6891. Email: [email protected].
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program
provides opportunities for doctoral students to engage in dissertation
research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The
program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of
the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United
States.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.022A.
OMB Control Number: 1840-0005.
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and three
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority and Competitive Preference
Priorities 1 and 2 are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR
662.21(d)). Competitive Preference Priority 3 is from the Secretary's
Notice of Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for
Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on
December 10, 2021 (86 FR 70612) (Supplemental Priorities).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2025, this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that
meet this priority.
This priority is:
Specific Geographic Regions of the World.
A research project that focuses on one or more of the following
geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and
Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and
its territories).
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2025, these priorities
are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we
award an additional two points to an application that meets Competitive
Preference Priority 1; an additional two points to an application that
meets Competitive Preference Priority 2; and an additional two points
to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3 (up to 6
additional points possible).
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority 1--Focus on Less Commonly Taught
Languages (2 points).
A research project that focuses on any modern foreign language
except French, German, or Spanish.
Competitive Preference Priority 2--Thematic Focus on Academic
Fields (2 points).
Applications that propose dissertation research projects in modern
foreign languages and area studies with an academic focus on any of the
following academic fields: science (including climate change),
technology, engineering (including infrastructure studies),
mathematics, computer science, psychology, social work, education
(comparative or international), international development, political
science, public health (including epidemiology), or economics.
Competitive Preference Priority 3--Promoting Equity in Student
Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (2 points).
The project will be implemented by one of the following entities:
Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined
in this notice).
Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice).
Tribal colleges and universities (as defined in this
notice).
Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental
Priorities and 34 CFR 662.7.
Area studies means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects
of a society or societies, including the study of their geography,
history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, and
languages.
Binational commission means an educational and cultural commission
established, through an agreement between the United States and either
a foreign government or an international organization, to carry out
functions in connection with the DDRA Fellowship program.
Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
Institution of Higher Education means the definition contained in
34 CFR 600.4.
Minority-serving institution means an institution that is eligible
to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title
III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (HEA).
Tribal college or university has the meaning ascribed it in section
316(b)(3) of the HEA.
Note: Hispanic-Serving Institutions that meet the criteria in 34
CFR 606.2(a) are, among other qualifying institutions, ``minority-
serving institutions.''
Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).
Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal
civil rights laws.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97,
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines to
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Guidance for Federal Assistance in 2 CFR
part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2
CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 662.
(e) The Supplemental Priorities.
[[Page 86325]]
Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not
apply to this program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to
individual beneficiaries.
Estimated Available Funds: $8,249,000 for the Fulbright-Hays
Overseas programs. We intend to use an estimated $3,000,000 for the
DDRA competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow
enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates
funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$60,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $37,500.
Estimated Number of Awards: 80.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months.
Doctoral students may request funding for a period of no less than 6
months and no more than 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1.a. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs).
Eligible doctoral students submit their individual research narratives
and application forms to the project director at their home IHE, who
then compiles all the research narratives from the doctoral students
and incorporates them into the institutional grant application package
that the institution submits electronically through the Department's G6
system on behalf of all doctoral student applicants at that
institution.
b. Individuals Eligible to Receive a Fellowship: An individual is
eligible to receive a fellowship if the individual: is a citizen,
national or permanent resident of the United States; is a graduate
student in good standing at an institution of higher education and,
when the fellowship period begins, is admitted to candidacy in a
doctoral degree program in modern foreign languages and area studies at
that institution; is planning a teaching career in the United States
upon completion of his or her doctoral program; and possesses
sufficient foreign language skills to carry out the dissertation
research project.
2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
b. Administrative Cost Limitation: In accordance with 34 CFR
663.30(d), the Secretary awards the institution an administrative
allowance of $100 for each fellowship listed in the grant award
document.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities
described in the grantee's application.
4. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is not subject to
the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58) domestic sourcing
requirements.
5. Other: Under 34 CFR 662.22(b), no applicant for a fellowship may
be awarded more than one graduate fellowship under the Fulbright-Hays
Act from appropriations for a given fiscal year. Therefore, no DDRA
Fellowship Program applicant concurrently may receive a grant from the
Fulbright U.S. Student Program (FUSP) and a grant from the Fulbright-
Hays DDRA Fellowship Program from the same fiscal year's appropriation.
For this reason, when applying for a grant under the Fulbright-Hays
DDRA Fellowship Program, a doctoral student must indicate in the
application whether they have also applied for a FUSP grant. At any
time during the U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays DDRA
Fellowship Program competition process, if a doctoral student accepts a
fellowship award from the FUSP, or the FUSP disperses funds to provide
training services to a doctoral student, that doctoral student is
automatically deemed ineligible for consideration for a grant under the
Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program. Also, if the FUSP notifies the
Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program that it has awarded funds or
provided training to a potential recipient of a Fulbright-Hays DDRA
Fellowship, the Department will automatically deem the doctoral student
ineligible for further consideration. Doctoral students thus should
notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT prior to
accepting any grant support or training from the FUSP.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Both IHEs and doctoral
student applicants can obtain an application package via the internet
at the following internet address: www.g6.ed.gov.
2. Submission Dates and Times:
Submit applications for grants under the program electronically
using www.g6.ed.gov. For information (including dates and times) about
how to submit your application electronically, please refer to Other
Submission Requirements.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. If the
Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual
with a disability in connection with the application process, the
individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and
limitations in this notice.
3. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
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 10 pages and the bibliography to
no more than two pages and (2) use the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet,
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the
assurance and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes,
the biography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended page
limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
6. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number
(TIN), and System for Award Management (SAM):
To do business with the Department, you must--
a. Have a UEI and a TIN;
b. Register both your UEI and TIN with SAM, the Government's
primary registrant database;
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c. Provide your UEI and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database.
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow
sufficient time to obtain and register your UEI and TIN. We strongly
recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48
hours before you can submit an application through G6.
If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with
your UEI is correct. Also note that you will need to update your
registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your UEI and TIN in SAM or
updating your existing SAM account, please visit https://sam.gov/content/help.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically unless an IHE qualifies
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Submit applications for grants under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA
Fellowship Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.022A, electronically
using the G6 system, accessible through the Department's G6 site at
www.g6.ed.gov. While completing the electronic application, both the
IHE and the doctoral student applicant will be entering data online
that will be saved into a database. Neither the IHE nor the doctoral
student applicant may email an electronic copy of a grant application
to us.
Please note the following:
The process for submitting applications electronically
under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program requires several
steps. The following is a brief overview of the process; however, all
applicants should review the detailed description of the application
process in the application package. In summary, the major steps are:
(1) IHEs must email the name of the institution and the full name
and email address of the project director to [email protected]. We suggest
that applicant IHEs submit this information no later than 2 weeks prior
to the application deadline date to ensure that they obtain access to
G6 well before that date;
(2) Doctoral students must complete their individual applications
and submit them to their home IHE project director using G6;
(3) Persons providing references for individual doctoral students
must complete and submit reference forms for the doctoral students to
the IHE project director using G6; and
(4) The IHE project director must officially submit the IHE's
application, including all eligible individual doctoral student
applications, reference forms, and other required forms, using G6.
The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the
grant application by 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application
deadline date. G6 will not accept an application for this competition
after 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that both the IHE and the doctoral
student applicant not wait until close to the application deadline date
to begin the application process. The table below shows the days and
times that the G6 website will be available.
G6 Hours of Operation in Eastern Time
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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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Unavailable from Unavailable from Available 24 hours Unavailable from Unavailable from Available 24 hours Available 24 hours.
03:00 p.m.-11:59 12:00 a.m.-06:00 09:00 p.m.-11:59 12:00 a.m.-06:00
p.m a.m p.m a.m
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Doctoral student applicants will not receive additional
points because they submit their applications in electronic format, nor
will we penalize the IHE or the doctoral student applicant if the
applicant qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submits an
application in paper format.
IHEs must upload all application documents electronically,
including the following forms: the Application for Federal Assistance
(SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF
424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
Both IHEs and doctoral student applicants must upload
their applications, including the required narrative sections and all
required attachments to their applications, as files in a read-only
flattened Portable Document Format (PDF), meaning any fillable
documents must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files. Do not
upload any interactive or fillable PDF files. If you upload a file type
other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel,
WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a password-protected file, we will be
unable to review that material. Please note that this will likely
result in your application not being considered for funding. The
Department will not convert material from other formats to PDF.
Submit doctoral student transcripts electronically through
the G6 system.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
After the individual doctoral student electronically
submits their application to the IHE, the doctoral student will receive
an automatic acknowledgment from the G6 system. After the person
designated to provide a reference submits the reference electronically
to the Department on behalf of a doctoral student applicant,
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they will receive an automatic acknowledgment from the G6 system. After
the applicant IHE submits its application to the Department, including
all eligible individual doctoral student applications, the applicant
IHE will receive an automatic acknowledgment from G6 that will include
a unique PR/Award number for the IHE's application.
Within 3 working days after submitting its electronic
application, the applicant IHE must--
(1) Print the SF 424 from G6;
(2) Have the Authorizing Representative sign the SF 424 form;
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right-hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424; and
(4) Email the signed SF 424 to [email protected].
We may request that you provide us hard copies with
original signatures for other forms in the application at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If an IHE is prevented from electronically submitting
its application on the application deadline date because the G6 system
is unavailable, we will grant the IHE an extension until 11:59:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time, the following business day to enable the IHE to transmit
its application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will
grant this extension if--
(1) The IHE is a registered user of the G6 system and the IHE has
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2) G6 is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of
8:30 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline
date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting the IHE an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, an IHE may
contact either (1) the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT or (2) the e-Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If G6 is
unavailable due to technical problems with the system and, therefore,
the application deadline is extended, an email will be sent to all
registered users who have initiated a G6 application. Extensions
referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the G6
system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications.
The Department discourages paper applications, but if electronic
submission is not possible (e.g., you do not have access to the
internet), (1) you must provide a prior written notification that you
intend to submit a paper application and (2) your paper application
must be postmarked by the application deadline date.
The prior written notification may be submitted by email or by mail
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
above. If you submit your notification by email, it must be received by
the Department no later than 14 calendar days before the application
deadline date. If you mail your notification to the Department, it must
be postmarked no later than 14 calendar days before the application
deadline date.
If you submit a paper application, you must have and include in
your application a UEI; and mail the original and two copies of your
application, on or before the application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, OFO/
G5 Functional Application Team, Mail Stop 5C231, Attention: 84.022A,
400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The IHE must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the
following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If the IHE mails its application through the U.S. Postal Service,
we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, the IHE should check with its
local post office.
The Department will not consider applications postmarked after the
application deadline date.
c. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If an IHE
mails or hand delivers its application to the Department--
(1) The IHE must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424, the ALN, including suffix
letter, if any, of the competition under which the IHE is submitting
its application; and
(2) The G6 Functional Application Team will notify you of the
Department's receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive
this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 662.21 and are as
follows:
(a) Quality of proposed project. (63 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine the quality of the research project
proposed by the applicant. The Secretary considers--
(1) The statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or questions
to be examined, and the description and justification of the research
methods to be used (20 points);
(2) The relationship of the research to the literature on the topic
and to major theoretical issues in the field, and the project's
originality and importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline
(10 points);
(3) The preliminary research already completed in the United States
and overseas or plans for such research prior to going overseas, and
the kinds, quality and availability of data for the research in the
host country or countries (10 points);
(4) The justification for overseas field research and preparations
to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and
affiliations abroad (10 points);
(5) The applicant's plans to share the results of the research in
progress and a copy of the dissertation with scholars and officials of
the host country or countries (3 points); and
(6) The guidance and supervision of the dissertation advisor or
committee at all stages of the project, including guidance in
developing the project, understanding research conditions abroad, and
acquainting the applicant with research in the field (10 points).
(b) Qualifications of the applicant. (37 points) The Secretary
reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the
applicant. The Secretary considers--
(1) The overall strength of the applicant's graduate academic
record (10 points);
(2) The extent to which the applicant's academic record
demonstrates strength in area studies relevant to the proposed project
(10 points);
(3) The applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages
(other than English) of the host country or countries of research (10
points);
(4) The extent to which the applicant's academic record
demonstrates steps taken to further improve advanced language
proficiency
[[Page 86328]]
to overcome any anticipated language barriers relative to the proposed
research project (5 points); and
(5) The applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign
cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant's references or
previous overseas experience, or both (2 points).
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 FY 2025, doctoral student applications will be divided into
seven categories based on the geographic area focus of their research
projects, as described in the absolute priority. Foreign language and
area studies experts assigned to geographic area-based panels will
review the doctoral student applications. Each panel will review,
score, and rank its applications separately from the applications
assigned to the other geographic area panels. At the conclusion of the
peer review process, however, all fellowship applications in the
competition will be ranked from the highest to the lowest score for
funding purposes.
If there are applications on the rank order slate with the same
average score, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's (FFSB) policy
governing veteran's preference will be used in the tiebreaker and
selection process. Veteran's preference will be used first to determine
which application to recommend for funding. This means that in
instances where two or more applications have the same average score on
the rank order slate, and there are insufficient funds to support all
of the equally ranked applications, the veteran's application will be
given preference.
For applications that have tied average scores but are not subject
to veteran's preference consideration, we will use the average score
assigned on the Technical Review Forms for the ``Quality of proposed
project'' selection criterion. If a tie still exists, the average score
for selection criterion (a)(1) under ``Quality of proposed project''
(20 points) will be used as the tiebreaker. As a final tiebreaker,
should it become necessary, we will use the average score assigned for
the ``Qualifications of the applicant'' selection criterion.
Finally, in selecting DDRA fellowship recipients, under 34 CFR
662.20 the Secretary will consider information on budget, political
sensitivity, and feasibility from binational commissions or United
States diplomatic missions, or both, in the proposed country or
countries of research.
3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR
3474.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant
if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not
responsible.
4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(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 SAM. 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 also may notify you
informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The objective for the Fulbright-Hays DDRA
Fellowship Program is to provide grants to colleges and universities to
fund individual doctoral students to conduct research in other
countries in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of 6
to 12 months.
For the purpose of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the
Department will use the following measures to evaluate its success in
meeting this objective:
DDRA Measure 1: The percentage of DDRA fellows who increased their
foreign language scores in speaking, reading, or writing by at least
one proficiency level.
[[Page 86329]]
DDRA Measure 2: The percentage of DDRA fellows who complete their
degree in their program of study within four years of receipt of the
fellowship.
DDRA Measure 3: The percentage of DDRA fellows who found employment
that utilized their language and area studies skills within eight years
of receiving their award.
DDRA Measure 4: Efficiency Measure--The cost per DDRA fellow who
found employment that utilized their language and area studies skills
within eight years.
The information provided by grantees in their performance reports
submitted via the International Resource Information System (IRIS) will
be the source of data for these measures. Reporting screens for
institutions and fellows may be viewed at http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/DDRA_director.pdf, and http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/DDRA_fellow.pdf.
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view
this document, as well as all other Department documents 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 Department documents 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.
Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-25127 Filed 10-29-24; 8:45 am]
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