Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Grant Application

FY 2018
U.S. Department of
Education
Office of Career,
Technical, and Adult
Education
Washington, DC
20202 - 7241

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS UNDER THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN CAREER
AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (NHCTEP)

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Table of Contents

Pre-Application Teleconference ............................................................................................ 5
I.

Funding Opportunity Description…………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Program Overview .............................................................................................................. 6
Authorizing Legislation........................................................................................................ 6
Background ................................................................................................................6

II.

Basic Application Information ....................................................................................7
NHCTEP Notice Inviting Applications Link to Link to NIA.………………………………..…….…….. 7
Deadline for Submission of Applications ........................................................................... 7
Submission of Paper Applications by Mail .......................................................................... 7
Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery ........................................................ 8
Application Package in Grants.gov ..................................................................................... 8
Intent to Apply .................................................................................................................... 9
NHCTEP Competition Design Elements...................................................................... 10
Eligibility………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10
Requirements ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10
Invitational Priority………………………………………………………………………………….………..………….14

III.

Application Submission Procedures ......................................................................... 15
Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants ............................................ 15
Grants.gov System Maintenance ...................................................................................... 19
DUNS Number Instructions ............................................................................................... 19

IV.

Application Instructions ........................................................................................... 20
Application Format ........................................................................................................... 20
Completing and Submitting Your Application................................................................... 20
A. Standard Forms ................................................................................................. 22
Instructions for Completing Required Forms.................................................................... 22
B. Application Narrative ........................................................................................ 23
Instructions for ED Abstract Narrative .............................................................................. 23
Instructions for Project Narrative ..................................................................................... 23
C. Budget Narratives .............................................................................................. 24
Instructions for Budget Narratives.................................................................................... 24
D. Other Attachments Form ................................................................................... 28
Instructions f or Appendix .............................................................................................. 28
NHCTEP FY 2018 Application Checklist ....................................................................... 29

V.

NHCTEP Selection Criteria..........................................................................................30

VI.

Paperwork Burden Statement …………………………………………………………………………………33
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Dear Applicant:
Thank you for your interest in the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP).
The NHCTEP is authorized under section 116 (h) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education
Act of 2006 (the Act). The Act authorizes the Secretary to award grants to community-based
organizations to operate Career and Technical Education (CTE) projects that improve CTE for Native
Hawaiians students.
Please take time to review the Federal Register Notice Inviting Applications and this application package
thoroughly. You will need a clear understanding of the program background, invitational priority,
application and program requirements, definitions, selection criteria, and all of the application
instructions. An application will not be evaluated for funding if the applicant does not comply with all of
the procedural rules that govern the submission of the application or the application does not contain
the information required under the program (EDGAR §75.216 (b) (c)).
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (http://www.grants.gov), or in paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information
(including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by
mail, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section IV of the NHCTEP Notice Inviting
Applications. The Grants.gov site works differently than the U.S. Department of Education’s eApplication site. We strongly urge you to familiarize yourself with Grants.gov and recommend that you
register and submit your application early.
Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe
forms; therefore, applicants will need access to the latest version of Adobe reader (Grants.gov
recommends at least Adobe Reader 10.1.14). Pay special attention to the Grants.gov Submission
Procedures, Submission of Paper Applications, and Tips for Applicants in this application package.
This application package contains detailed information about the NHCTEP competition including a link to
the full version of the Notice Inviting Applications published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2018, ED
required forms, important instructions on how to submit an application using Grants.gov, paper format,
and an optional program checklist. We strongly encourage you to read this application package
carefully.

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The Department expects to award 10 new grants under a competitive based competition for up to 36
months. We invite you to attend a pre-application teleconference on July 9, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time. If you are interested in participating in the pre-application teleconference,
provide your intention to participate in an email to the [email protected] in order to receive
instructions regarding access to the pre-application teleconference. You may contact us at
[email protected] , if you have additional questions.
Again, thank you for your interest in the NHCTEP.
Sincerely,

Sharon Lee Miller
Director, Division of Academic and Technical Education
Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
U. S. Department of Education

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PRE-APPLICATION TELECONFERENCE

The Department will host a pre-application teleconference, designed to help interested applicants with the
application process, on July 9, 2018 at 2:00 p.m., Washington, DC time. We encourage interested applicants to
participate in this teleconference. Participation in the teleconference is voluntary. For those who are not able
to participate, the presentation will be available via a link posted on the Perkins Collaborative Resource
Network (PCRN) Web site at cte.ed.gov.

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I. Funding Opportunity Description
Program Overview
Program Office: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
Grant Name: Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP)
CFDA Number: 84.259A
Grant Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grant
Authorizing Legislation: Section 116 (h) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of
2006 authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to community-based organizations to
operate Career and Technical Education (CTE) projects that improve CTE for Native Hawaiians students.
Background: Under section 116(h) of the Act, eligible community-based organizations receive
NHCTEP grants to plan, conduct, and administer programs, or portions thereof that are consistent
with the purposes of section 116 of the Act, for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. Section 116(e) of
the Act provides that educational programs, services, and activities funded under NHCTEP must
support and help to improve career and technical education programs. (20 U.S.C. 2326(e)). This
requirement, along with the statutory definition of “career and technical education,” aligns NHCTEP
with other programs authorized under the Act that offer a sequence of courses that provides
individuals with coherent and rigorous content.
Under section 3(5)(A) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 2302(5)(A)), the Department awards grants under this
competition to carry out career and technical education projects that provide organized educational
activities offering a sequence of courses that-(a) Provides individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic
standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and
careers in current or emerging professions;
(b) Provides technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or an
associate degree; and
(c) Includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge,
higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical
skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry, including
entrepreneurship, of an individual. Projects may include prerequisite courses (other than remedial
courses) that meet the definition of “career and technical education,” in section 3(5)(A) of the Act. (20
U.S.C. 2302(5)(A)). In addition, at the secondary level, coherent and rigorous academic curriculum in
reading or language arts and in mathematics must be aligned with challenging academic content
standards and student academic achievement standards that the State in which the applicant is located
has established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).
Note: Contacts for State ESEA programs may be found on the internet
at: www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.

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II. Basic Application Information
Notice Inviting Applications Available: June 27, 2018
Pre-Application Teleconference for Potential Applicants: July 9, 2018
Intent to Apply: July 9, 2018
Deadline for Transmitting Applications: July 27, 2018
Estimated Award Announcement: September 30, 2018

Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program, Notice Inviting Applications:
The full text of the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP) Notice Inviting
Applications (NIA) for the FY 2018 NHCTEP grant competition can be found on the Federal Register
Web site at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/06/27/2018-13856/applications-for-new-awards-nativehawaiian-career-and-technical-education-program-nhctep
For convenience, the FY 2018 NHCTEP NIA is also posted on the PCRN website.
Deadline for Submission of Applications.
All applications must be submitted on or before 4:30:00 P.M. Washington, D.C. time, on July 27,
2018. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and must be date and time stamped
by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the application
deadline date.
Late applications will not be accepted. The Department is required to enforce the established deadline
to ensure fairness to all applicants. No changes or additions to an application will be accepted after the
deadline date and time. Only applications that are successfully submitted by the established deadline
will be peer reviewed.
An applicant may check the status of its application, any time after submission, by using the "Track My
Application" feature available from the upper navigation on the Grants.gov site. Applicants may also
check the status of a submission by logging into their Grants.gov account using the Applicant Login.
After logging in, an applicant should click on the "Check Application Status" link on the left-hand menu.
Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial
carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application
deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education
Application Control Center
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.259A)
LBJ Basement Level 1
400 Maryland Avenue, SW.
Washington, DC 20202-4260
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You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as
proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this
method, you should check with your local post office.
We will not consider applications postmarked after the application deadline date.
Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a courier service) must deliver
the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to
the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education
Application Control Center
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.259A)
550 12th Street, SW.
Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza
Washington, DC 20202-4260
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:30am and 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the
Department—
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and -- if not provided by the Department -- in Item 11 of
the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant
application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
Application Package in Grants.gov:
Please note that the NHCTEP Application Package in Grants.gov is for applicants to download and use
as a guide only.
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Intent to Apply:
We will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we can anticipate
the number of applicants that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, we
strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of the applicant’s intent to submit an
application for funding by sending a short email message. This short email should provide the applicant
organization’s name and address. Please send this email notification to [email protected] with
“Intent to Apply” in the email subject line. Applicants that do not provide this email notification may
still apply for funding.

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NA T I VE H A W A I I A N C AREER A N D T EC HN I C A L EDUC A T I ON PROG RA M
C O M P E T I T I O N DE S I G N EL E M E N T S
Eligibility
The following entities are eligible to apply under this competition:
(a) Community-based organizations primarily serving and representing Native Hawaiians. For
purposes of the NHCTEP, a community-based organization means a public or private organization that
provides career and technical education, or related services, to individuals in the Native Hawaiian
community.
(b) Any community-based organization may apply individually or as part of a consortium with one or
more eligible community-based organizations. (Eligible applicants seeking to apply for funds as a
consortium must meet the requirements in 34 CFR 75.127-75.129.)
Requirements
The application and program requirements are from the notice of final requirements, definitions, and
selection criteria for this program (notice of final requirements), published in the Federal Register on
March 24, 2009 (74 FR 12341). Requirement 7 is from section 315 of the Act.
The application requirements are:
(1) An eligible applicant (as determined by the Act) must include documentation in its application
showing that it and, if appropriate, its consortium members are eligible to apply.
(2) Any applicant that is not proposing to provide CTE directly to Native Hawaiian students and
proposes instead to pay one or more qualified educational entities to provide such CTE to Native
Hawaiian students must include with its application a written CTE agreement between the applicant and
the educational entity. The written agreement must describe the commitment between the applicant
and the educational entity and must include, at a minimum, a statement of the responsibilities of the
applicant and the entity. The agreement must be signed by the appropriate individuals on behalf of
each party, such as the authorizing official or administrative head of the applicant Native Hawaiian
community-based organization.
The program requirements are:
Requirement 1 – Authorized Programs:
(a) In accordance with section 116(e) of the Act, under this program, NHCTEP projects must-(1) Develop new programs, services, or activities or improve or expand existing programs, services, or
activities that are consistent with the purposes of the Act. In other words, the Department will support
“expansions” or “improvements” that include, but are not necessarily limited to, the expansion of
effective programs or practices; upgrading of activities, equipment, or materials; increasing staff capacity;
adoption of new technology; modification of curriculum; or implementation of new policies to improve
program effectiveness and outcomes; and
(2) Fund a CTE program, service, or activity that-(i) Is a new program, service, or activity that was not provided by the applicant during the
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instructional term (a defined period, such as a semester, trimester, or quarter, within the academic year)
that preceded the request for funding under NHCTEP;
(ii) Will improve or expand an existing CTE program; or
(iii) Inherently improves CTE. A program, service, or activity “inherently improves CTE” if it—
(A) Develops new CTE programs of study for approval by the appropriate accreditation agency;
(B) Strengthens the rigor of the academic and career and technical components of funded programs;
(C) Uses curriculum that is aligned with industry-recognized standards and will result in students
attaining industry-recognized credentials, certificates, or degrees;
(D) Integrates academics (other than remedial courses) with CTE programs through a coherent
sequence of courses to help ensure learning in the core academic and career and technical subjects;
(E) Links CTE at the secondary level with CTE at the postsecondary level and facilitates students'
pursuit of a baccalaureate degree;
(F) Expands the scope, depth, and relevance of curriculum, especially content that provides students
with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of an industry and a variety of hands-on, job-specific
experiences; or
(G) Offers-(1) Work-related experience, internships, cooperative education, school-based enterprises, studies in
entrepreneurship, community service learning, and job shadowing that are related to CTE programs;
(2) Coaching/mentoring, support services, and extra help for students after school, on the weekends,
or during the summer, so they can meet higher standards;
(3) Career guidance and academic counseling for students participating in CTE programs under
NHCTEP;
(4) Placement services for students who have successfully completed CTE programs and attained a
technical skill proficiency that is aligned with industry-recognized standards;
(5) Professional development programs for teachers, counselors, and administrators;
(6) Strong partnerships among grantees and local educational agencies, postsecondary institutions,
community leaders, adult education providers, and, as appropriate, other entities, such as employers,
labor organizations, parents, and local partnerships, to enable students to achieve State academic
standards and attain career and technical skills;
(7) The use of student assessment and evaluation data to improve continually instruction and staff
development; or
(8) Research, development, demonstration, dissemination, evaluation and assessment, capacitybuilding, and technical assistance, related to CTE programs.
Requirement 2 - Evaluation:
To help ensure the high quality of NHCTEP projects and the achievement of the goals and purposes of
section 116(h) of the Act, each grantee must budget for and conduct an ongoing evaluation of the
effectiveness of its project. An independent evaluator must conduct the evaluation. The evaluation must(a) Be appropriate for the project and be both formative and summative in nature; and
(b) Include-(1) Collection and reporting of the performance measures for NHCTEP that are identified in the
Performance Measures section of this notice; and
(2) Qualitative and quantitative data with respect to-(i) Academic and career and technical competencies demonstrated by the participants and the number
and kinds of academic and work credentials acquired by individuals, including their participation in
programs providing skill proficiency assessments, industry certifications, or training at the associate
degree level that is
articulated with an advanced degree option;
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(ii) Enrollment, completion, and placement of participants by gender, for each occupation for which
training was provided;
(iii) Job or work skill attainment or enhancement, including participation in apprenticeship and workbased learning programs, and student progress in achieving technical skill proficiencies necessary to
obtain employment in the field for which the student has been prepared, including attainment or
enhancement of technical skills in the industry the student is preparing to enter;
(iv) Activities, during the formative stages of the project, to help guide and improve the project, as well
as a summative evaluation that includes recommendations for disseminating information on project
activities and results;
(v) The number and percentage of students who obtained industry-recognized credentials, certificates,
or degrees;
(vi) The outcomes of students' technical assessments, by type and scores, if available;
(vii) The rates of attainment of a proficiency credential or certificate, in conjunction with a secondary
school diploma;
(viii) The effectiveness of the project, including a comparison between the intended and observed
results and a demonstration of a clear link between the observed results and the specific treatment given
to project participants;
(ix) The extent to which information about or resulting from the project was disseminated at other
sites, such as through the grantee's development and use of guides or manuals that provide step-by-step
directions for practitioners to follow when initiating similar efforts; and
(x) The impact of the project, e.g., follow-up data on students' employment, sustained employment,
promotions, further and continuing education or training, or the impact the project had on Native
Hawaiian economic development or career and technical education activities.
Requirement 3 - Student Stipends:
A portion of an award under this program may be used to provide stipends (as defined in the
Definitions section of this notice) to help students meet the costs of participation in a NHCTEP project.
(1) To be eligible for a stipend a student must—
(i) Be enrolled in a CTE project funded under this program;
(ii) Be in regular attendance in a NHCTEP project and meet the training institution's attendance
requirement;
(iii) Maintain satisfactory progress in his or her program of study according to the training institution's
published standards for satisfactory progress; and
(iv) Have an acute economic need that-(A) Prevents participation in a project funded under this program without a stipend; and
(B) Cannot be met through a work-study program.
(2) The amount of a stipend is the greater of either the minimum hourly wage prescribed by State or
local law or the minimum hourly wage established under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
(3) A grantee may award a stipend only if the stipend combined with other resources the student
receives does not exceed the student's financial need. A student's financial need is the difference
between the student's cost of attendance and the financial aid or other resources available to defray the
student's cost of attending a NHCTEP project.
(4) To calculate the amount of a student's stipend, a grantee must multiply the number of hours a
student actually attends CTE instruction by the amount of the minimum hourly wage that is prescribed by
State or local law, or by the minimum hourly wage that is established under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The grantee must reduce the amount of a stipend if necessary to ensure that it does not exceed the
student’s financial need.
Example: If a grantee uses the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum hourly wage of $7.25 and a student
attends classes for 20 hours a week, the student's stipend would be $145 for the week during which the
12

student attends classes ($7.25 x 20 = $145.00). If the program lasts 16 weeks and the student’s total
financial need is $2,000, the grantee must reduce the weekly stipend to $125, because the total stipend
for the course would otherwise exceed the student’s financial need by $320 (or $20 a week).
Note: Grantees must maintain records that fully support their decisions to award stipends to students,
as well as the amounts that are paid, such as proof of a student's enrollment in a NHCTEP project, stipend
applications, timesheets showing the number of hours of student attendance that are confirmed in writing
by an instructor, student financial status information, and evidence that a student could not participate in
the NHCTEP project without a stipend. (See generally 20 U.S.C. 1232f; 34 CFR 75.700-75.702; 75.730; and
75.731.)
(5) An eligible student may receive a stipend when taking a course for the first time. However,
generally a stipend may not be provided to a student who has already taken, completed, and had the
opportunity to benefit from a course and is merely repeating the course.
(6) An applicant must include in its application the procedure it intends to use to determine student
eligibility for stipends and stipend amounts, and its oversight procedures for the awarding and payment of
stipends.
Requirement 4 - Direct Assistance to Students:
A grantee may provide direct assistance (as defined elsewhere in this notice under the heading
Definitions) to a student only if the following conditions are met:
(1) The recipient of the direct assistance is an individual who is a member of a special population (as
defined in section 3(29) of the Act) and who is participating in a NHCTEP project.
(2) The direct assistance is needed to address barriers to the individual's successful participation in a
NHCTEP project.
(3) The direct assistance is part of a broader, more generally focused program or activity for
addressing the needs of an individual who is a member of a special population.
Note: Direct assistance to individuals who are members of special populations is not, by itself, a
“program or activity for special populations.”
(4) The grant funds used for direct assistance must be expended to supplement, and not
supplant, assistance that is otherwise available from non-Federal sources. For example, generally, a
community-based organization could not use NHCTEP funds to provide child care for single parents if
non-Federal funds previously were made available for this purpose, or if non-Federal funds are used
to provide child care services for single parents participating in non-career and technical education
programs and these services otherwise (in the absence of NHCTEP funds) would have been available
to CTE students.
(5) In determining how much of the NHCTEP grant funds it will use for direct assistance to an eligible
student, a grantee-(i) May only provide assistance to the extent that it is needed to address barriers to the individual's
successful participation in CTE; and
(ii) Considers whether the specific services to be provided are a reasonable and necessary cost of
providing career and technical education programs for special populations. However, the Secretary does
not envision a circumstance in which it would be a reasonable and necessary expenditure of NHCTEP
project funds for a grantee to utilize a majority of a project's budget to pay direct assistance to students,
in lieu of providing the students served by the project with CTE.
Requirement 5 – Career and Technical Education Agreement:
Any applicant that is not proposing to provide CTE directly to Native Hawaiian students and proposes
instead to pay one or more qualified educational entities to provide such CTE to Native Hawaiian students
must include with its application a written CTE agreement between the applicant and the educational
entity. The written agreement must describe the commitment between the applicant and the educational
13

entity and must include, at a minimum, a statement of the responsibilities of the applicant and the entity.
The agreement must be signed by the appropriate individuals on behalf of each party, such as the
authorizing official or administrative head of the applicant Native Hawaiian community-based
organization.
Requirement 6: Supplement-Not-Supplant:
Grantees may not use funds under NHCTEP to replace otherwise available non-Federal funding for
“direct assistance to students” (as defined elsewhere in this notice under the heading Definitions) and
family assistance programs. For example, NHCTEP funds must not be used to supplant non-Federal funds
to pay the costs of students' tuition, dependent care, transportation, books, supplies, and other costs
associated with participation in a CTE program.
Further, funds under NHCTEP may not be used to replace Federal student financial aid. The Act does
not authorize the Secretary to fund projects that serve primarily as entities through which students may
apply for and receive tuition and other financial assistance.
Requirement 7 - Additional Statutory Requirement Limiting Services:
Section 315 of the Act prohibits the use of funds received under the Act to provide vocational and
technical education programs to students prior to the seventh grade, except that equipment and facilities
purchased with funds under the Act may be used by such students. (20 U.S.C. 2395).
Priority
Invitational Priority: For FY 2018 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or absolute
preference over other applications.
This priority is:
(a) Creating or expanding opportunities for students to obtain recognized postsecondary credentials
in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science.
For the purposes of this invitational priority, computer science means the study of computers and
algorithmic processes and includes the study of computing principles and theories, computational
thinking, computer hardware, software design, coding, analytics, and computer applications.
(b) Computer science often includes computer programming or coding as a tool to create software,
including applications, games, websites, and tools to manage or manipulate data; or development and
management of computer hardware and the other electronics related to sharing, securing, and using
digital information.
(c) In addition to coding, the expanding field of computer science emphasizes computational
thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving to equip students with the skills and abilities necessary to
apply computation in our digital world.
(d) Computer science does not include using a computer for everyday activities, such as browsing
the internet; use of tools like word processing, spreadsheets, or presentation software; or using
computers in the study and exploration of unrelated subjects. (See definition of “computer science” in
the Secretary’s Supplemental Priorities)

14

III. APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
IMPORTANT
U.S. Department of Education
Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants
The deadline for submission of applications through Grants.gov is July 26, 2018 at 4:30:00 P.M.,
Washington, D.C. time.


To facilitate your use of Grants.gov, this document includes important submission
procedures you need to be aware of to ensure your application is received in a timely
manner and accepted by the Department of Education.

ATTENTION – Browser Support
Grants.gov is a Custom Java Application that uses standard web-browsers as the client. Grants.gov
leverages the latest web technologies such as Ajax which relies extensively on JavaScript, HTML, and
CSS. Grants.gov recommends you use the most up-to-date web browser possible for the best User
Experience. If you are unsure about which version of the browser you are using, please check the
following places:
 Microsoft IE – the About Internet Explorer setting under Help on your toolbar
 Firefox – the About Firefox setting under Help on your toolbar
 Chrome- the About Google Chrome setting under the Customize and Control Google Chrome
option (located on the far right ) in your toolbar options for your browsers.
The table below lists supported Web Browsers:
Web Browser

Support

Microsoft IE 9/10/11

Supported

Mozilla Firefox

Google Chrome

Apple Safari

Comments

Supported

Versions change frequently; we recommend you have the
latest version. Legacy versions are functional but may
experience some issues. It is recommended to upgrade to the
latest version.

Supported

Versions change frequently; we recommend you have the
latest version. Legacy versions are functional but may
experience some issues. It is recommended to upgrade to the
latest version.

Supported

Versions change frequently; we recommend you have the
latest version. Legacy versions are functional but may
experience some issues. It is recommended to upgrade to the
latest version.

For additional information of updates, please see the Grants.gov Browser information in the Applicant
FAQs: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser
ATTENTION – Adobe Forms and PDF Files Required
Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe
15

forms. Therefore, applicants will need to download the latest version of Adobe reader. (Please note
that in early 2016, Grants.gov discovered a compatibility issue with Adobe Reader DC. This has been
resolved with Adobe Reader DC version 2015.010.20060 but there are compatibility issues with earlier
versions. Information on computer and operating system compatibility with Adobe and links to
download the latest version is available on Grants.gov at this link:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html. We strongly
recommend that you review these details on www.Grants.gov before completing and submitting your
application. In addition, applicants should submit their application a day or two in advance of the
closing date as detailed below. Also, applicants are required to upload their attachments in .pdf format
only. (See details below under “Attaching Files – Additional Tips.”) If you have any questions regarding
this matter please email the Grants.gov Contact Center at [email protected] or call 1-800-518-4726.
1) REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM
(www.sam.gov) which may take approximately one week to complete, but could take
upwards of several weeks to complete, depending upon the completeness and accuracy of the
data entered into the SAM database by an applicant. You may begin working on your
application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application
until all of the Registration steps are complete.
Please note that once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24-48 hours for the information
to be available in Grants.gov, and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. For
detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html [Note: Your organization will need to update
its SAM registration annually (formerly Central Contractor Registry (CCR).]
Primary information about SAM is available at www.sam.gov. However, to further assist you
with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM
account the Department of Education has prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet which you can find at:
http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html
2) SUBMIT EARLY – We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit
your application. Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then process
it after it is fully uploaded. The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on a
number of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet
connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application will vary as well. If
Grants.gov rejects your application (see step three below), you will need to resubmit
successfully to Grants.gov before 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time on the deadline date.
Note: To submit successfully, you must provide the DUNS number on your application that
was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on
Grants.gov. This DUNS number is typically the same number used when your organization
registered with the SAM (formerly CCR -Central Contractor Registry). If you do not enter the
same DUNS number on your application as the DUNS you registered with, Grants.gov will
reject your application.
3) VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK – You will want to verify that Grants.gov received your application
submission on time and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your application
was received, login to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a successful
submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time, on
16

the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or
Agency Tracking Number Assigned. Once the Department of Education receives your
application from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Number (PR/award number) will be assigned to
your application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track My Application link.
If the date/time received is later than 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time, on July 27, 2018,
your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting
validation by Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to
“Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application
has not been received successfully. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application
can be found on the Grants.gov site:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html.
For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe
Reader Software Tip Sheet at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-softwarecompatibility.html. If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the
instructions below.
Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail about the status of
your application. Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your application has
been received timely and validated successfully.
Submission Problems – What should you do?
If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov
Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or email at: mailto:[email protected] or access the Grants.gov
Self-Service web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants
If electronic submission is optional and you have problems that you are unable to resolve before the
deadline date and time for electronic applications, please follow the transmittal instructions for hard
copy applications in the Federal Register notice and get a hard copy application postmarked by midnight
on the deadline date. (Instructions for Submission of Applications by Mail and Submission of
Applications by Hand Delivery are included in this Application Package under Basic Application
Information).
If electronic submission is required, you must submit an electronic application before 4:30:00 p.m.,
unless you follow the procedures in the Federal Register notice and qualify for one of the exceptions to
the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application
deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. (See
the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)
Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov
Please note, once you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving
data on your computer. Please be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your
computer. You will need to logon to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application. You must
provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov.

17

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html for help with Grants.gov. For additional
tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Applicant FAQs found on the
Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html
Dial-Up Internet Connections
When using a dial up connection to upload and submit your application, it can take significantly longer
than when you are connected to the Internet with a high-speed connection, e.g. cable modem/DSL/T1.
While times will vary depending upon the size of your application, it can take a few minutes to a few
hours to complete your grant submission using a dial up connection. If you do not have access to a
high-speed connection and electronic submission is required, you may want to consider following the
instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission
requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Also, see the NHCTEP
Federal Register NIA and this Application Package Instructions for Submission of Applications by Mail
and Submission of Applications by Hand Delivery, under the title, Basic Application Information.
Attaching Files – Additional Tips
Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application, especially the requirement
that applicants only include read-only, non-modifiable .PDF files in their application:
1. Ensure that you attach .PDF files only for any attachments to your application, and they
must be in a read-only, non-modifiable format. PDF files are the only Education approved
file type accepted as detailed in the Federal Register application notice. Applicants must
submit individual .PDF files only when attaching files to their application. Specifically, the
Department will not accept any attachments that contain files within a file, such as PDF
Portfolio files, or an interactive or fillable .PDF file. Any attachments uploaded that are not
.PDF files or are password protected files will not be read.
2. Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same
name within a grant submission. Therefore, each file uploaded to your application package
should have a unique file name.
3. When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on
the size and content of file names. Uploaded files must be less than 50 characters, contain
no spaces, no special characters (example: -, &, *, %, /, #, \) including periods (.), blank
spaces and accent marks. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov
guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.
4. Applicants should limit the size of their file attachments. Documents submitted that contain
graphics and/or scanned material often greatly increase the size of the file attachments and
can result in difficulties opening the files. For reference, the average discretionary grant
application package totals 1 to 2 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of
your package before submission.

18

Grants.gov System Maintenance
Please keep in mind that the Grants.gov system will not be available for use during the times
listed below.
The Grants.gov Program Management Office
Date
July 21-23, 2018

Scope

Details

Server Maintenance Scheduled Maintenance Outage:
Production System will go Offline Saturday July 21, 2018 at
12:01 AM ET.
Production System will go Online Monday, July 23, 2018 at
6:00 AM ET.
DUNS NUMBER INSTRUCTIONS

All applicants must have a D-U-N-S number in order to apply for federal funds.
NOTE: Check with your fiscal office to see if your institution has an assigned D-U-N-S before contacting
Dun & Bradstreet.
Please provide the applicant's D-U-N-S Number. You can obtain your D-U-N-S Number at no charge by
calling 1-800-333-0505 or by completing a D-U-N-S Number Request Form. The form can be obtained
via the Internet at the following URL:
http://www.dnb.com/US/duns_update/index.html
The D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine digit number that does not convey any information about the
recipient. A built-in check digit helps assure the accuracy of the D-U-N-S Number. The ninth digit of
each number is the check digit, which is mathematically related to the other digits. It lets computer
systems determine if a D-U-N-S Number has been entered correctly.
Dun & Bradstreet, a global information services provider, has assigned D-U-N-S numbers to over 43
million companies worldwide. Live help Monday-Friday 8am-6pm (EST) Dial 1-888-814-1435.
NOTE: Electronic submission via Grants.gov must use the D-U-N-S number your organization used when
it registered in the System for Award Management.

19

IV. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Application Format
All applicants interested in completing a NHCTEP application should first thoroughly review the NIA for
FY 2018 published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2018. The NIA will orient applicants to the
competition by providing the following information:
 Background information and purpose of the program;
 Eligibility;
 Invitational Priority (optional);
 Application and program requirements;
 Selection Criteria and assigned points;
 Key definitions;
 Procedural and substantive requirements of the application process; and
Instructions on how to electronically submit the application, as well as instructions for
submission of paper applications by mail and by hand delivery. (See Submission of Paper
Applications by Mail and Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery under Basic
Application Information in this application package).
Applicants should pay close attention to the Selection Criteria as applications will be evaluated and
scored against these criteria.
COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
A complete application consists of the following components:
Required Forms:
 ED Standard Forms
 Assurances and Certifications
Application Narrative:
The NHCTEP application will use the following Grants.gov Narrative Forms.
 ED Abstract Narrative Form
o The ED Abstract Narrative Form is where you will provide your one-page project
abstract. Specific instructions are provided in this application package.


Project Narrative Form
o The Project Narrative Form is where you will describe how your proposed project
will address other required NHCTEP elements. Applicants should include a Table of
Contents and be sure to discuss their project in a way that best responds to the
Selection Criteria. Specific instructions are included in this application package.

20



Budget Narrative Form
o The Budget Narrative Form is where you will provide a line item budget (ED 524)
and budget narrative for the proposed project. The budget narrative should project
all costs of the proposed project. The budget narrative should reflect an annual
budget for all 3 years of the proposed project period. Specific instructions are
included in this application package.



Other Attachments Form (upload appendices here)
o The Other Attachments Form is where you will include the application appendices.
Specific Appendix instructions are included in this application package.
o The Application Checklist is on page 30 of this application package.

The Application Checklist is optional; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to fill in the checklist
or something similar to ensure that all program requirements have been addressed and to ensure that
program staff and peer reviewers can find the information in your application that addresses each
applicable element from the NHCTEP NIA.
NOTE: If you have multiple documents to be attached to one of the above narrative sections (except for
Other Attachments), it is recommended that you merge them into one .PDF file and upload them to the
appropriate narrative.

21

A. STANDARD FORMS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING REQUIRED FORMS
Applicants must submit along with their project narratives the required standard forms, assurances,
and certifications included in the list below.
• Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424);
NOTE: Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the
Standard Form (SF 424). Although this form accepts attachments, the Department of Education will
review only materials/files attached to the section labeled “Other Attachments Form.”
• Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424;
• Department of Education Budget Summary Form (ED 524) Sections A & B;
• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL);
• General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements - Section 427;
• Assurances, Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B); and
• Grants.gov Lobbying form (formerly ED 80-0013 form).
Electronic copies and instructions for the required forms can be downloaded at the following address:
http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html and can be found in the Grants.gov
submission package.

22

B. APPLICATION NARRATIVE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ED ABSTRACT NARRATIVE
Eligible applicants must submit an abstract. The abstract should be attached as a single document to
the ED Abstract Form in accordance with the instructions found on Grants.gov. The recommended onepage abstract, limited to 2000 characters, should include the following items:



A summary statement of the project objectives and activities; and
A brief description of the key uses of grant funds.

NOTE: Grants.gov may include a note that indicates that the project abstract may not exceed one page;
however, an abstract of more than one page may be uploaded.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROJECT NARRATIVE
The narrative should be attached as a single document to the Project Narrative Attachment Form in
accordance with the instructions found on Grants.gov and should include the following parts in order to
expedite the review process:
 A description of the proposed project that an applicant would carry out if its application is
funded.
 The applicant’s response to the Selection Criteria. The NHCTEP NIA identifies the maximum
possible score for each criterion; and
 The applicant’s response to the Invitational Priority if the applicant has addressed it.
The Project Narrative should, as a general matter, follow the order of the Selection Criteria. It should
contain clear headings to help the Department staff and peer reviewers match the narrative with the
selection criteria because the application will be evaluated and scored against these criteria.
NOTE: Upload any narrative sections and all other application attachments as files in a read-only,
non- modifiable, flattened Portable Document Format (PDF). Any fillable PDF documents must be
saved as flattened, non-fillable files. Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a
file type other than a read-only, flattened PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, etc.) or submit a password-protected
file, the Department and reviewers e will not review that material. Please note that this could result in
your application not being considered for funding

23

Formatting Guidelines
We recommend applicants adhere to the following guidelines:
 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, Calibri, or Arial.

B. BUDGET NARRATIVE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUDGET NARRATIVE
The budget narrative should be attached as a single document to the Budget Narrative Attachment
Form in accordance with the instructions found on Grants.gov. Ensure that you only attach the U.S.
Department of Education approved file types detailed in the NIA (read-only, non-modifiable .pdf files).
Also, do not upload any password-protected files to your application. Lengthy file names could result in
difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file names be less than
50 characters.
In accordance with 34 CFR 75.232, Department of Education staff perform a cost analysis of each
project recommended for funding to ensure that costs relate to the activities and objectives of the
project, are reasonable, allowable and allocable. The budget should only include costs that are
allowable, reasonable and necessary for carrying out the objectives of the NHCTEP project. Rules about
allowable costs are set out in 2 C.F.R. 200, as adopted by the Department at 2 C.F.R. 3474. We may
delete or reduce costs from the budget during this review.
The budget narrative in each application should be consistent with Section A and Section B of ED Form
524. The budget narrative will serve to meet the requirements of Section C of ED Form 524. It should
provide sufficient detail to:
o Give an itemized budget breakdown for each year of the proposed project (36 months);
o Show the basis for estimating the costs of personnel salaries, benefits, project staff travel,
materials and supplies, consultants and subcontracts, indirect costs and any other projected
expenditures;
o Show the relationship between all budgeted funds and project activities and outcomes;
o Show the total amount that will be expended as shown in the ED Form 524;
o Enable reviewers and project staff to understand how the funds in the ED Form 524 will be
used.
NOTE: NHCTEP applicants should identify the project’s annual budget period. For example, the budget
period for year 1 may be identified as October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2019, and so forth for each of
the 3 budget years.

24

To facilitate the review of your Budget Narrative, each applicant must include the following information
for each year of the project.
1. Personnel
 Provide the title of each position to be compensated under this project.
 Provide the salary for each position under this project.
 Provide the amount of time (such as hours or percentage of time) to be spent by each position
on this project.
 Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.
 Fees and expenses for consultants should be included under Contractual (line 6).
2. Fringe Benefits
 Give the fringe benefit percentages of all personnel included under Personnel.
 Provide the rate and base on which fringe benefits are calculated.
 Do not include fringe benefits for salaries and wages that are treated as part of the indirect cost.
 Leave the line blank if needed.
3. Travel






Explain the purpose of the travel, how it aligns with the project goals and objectives, and who
will travel.
Provide an estimate for the number of trips and points of origin and destination.
Provide an estimated cost for each trip.
Include travel for two NHCTEP project staff members to attend the mandatory NHCTEP
Project Directors’ Meeting in Washington, DC.
Travel for consultants or contractors should be included under Contractual (line 6).

4. Equipment
 The Department does not expect budgeted equipment purchases necessary for implementation
under the NHCTEP, but there may be rare cases that justify equipment.
 Indicate the cost of tangible, non-expendable personal property that has a usefulness greater
than one year and acquisition costs that are the lesser of the capitalization level established by
the applicant entity for financial statement purposes or $5,000 per article. Lower limits may be
established to maintain consistency with the applicant’s purchasing policy.
 Indicate the type and estimated unit cost for each item to be purchased.
 Provide strong justification of the need for items of equipment to be purchased.
 Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.
5. Supplies
 Supplies purchased with grant funds should directly benefit the project and be necessary for
achieving project goals.
 Direct supplies and materials differ from equipment in that they are consumable, expendable,
and of a relatively low unit cost. Provide an estimate of supplies by nature of expense or
general category (e.g., instructional materials, office supplies, etc.).
 Explain the purpose of the supplies and how they relate to project success.
 Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.
 Individual pieces of equipment that are under $5,000 per unit cost are generally considered
supplies. However, as noted in the example under Equipment, an applicant’s organization may
have a different equipment policy.
25

6. Contractual
 The contractual category should include all costs specifically incurred with actions that the
applicant takes in conjunction with an established internal procurement system. Include
consultant fees, expenses, and travel costs in this category if the consultant’s services are
obtained through a written binding agreement or contract.
 Describe the products to be acquired, and/or the professional services to be provided.
 Provide the purpose of the product(s) and/or services and their relation to project success.
 Contractors are not to be named in an application since contracts will be competed following
the award of a grant. If an applicant proposes in its application to use an existing contract or
prior selection of any vendor for any activities to be supported with Federal NHCTEP funds,
the applicant must be prepared to demonstrate how it is in compliance with the "Procurement
 Practices" described in the “Application Information” section of this application package.
Additionally, if an applicant intends to take advantage of the flexibility allowed in 34 C.F.R.
75.135 in order to use small purchase procurement procedures for contracts for data collection,
data analysis, evaluation services or essential services, the applicant should carefully review the
requirements in 34 C.F.R. 75.135 to ensure all required information is included in the application
and budget narrative.
 Provide the projected cost per contractor and basis for cost estimates.
 For professional services contracts, provide the amounts of time to be devoted to the project,
including the costs to be charged to this proposed grant award.
7. Construction
 Not applicable.
8. Other
 Indicate all direct costs not covered on lines 1-6. Do not include costs that are included in the
indirect cost rate.
 List and identify items by major type or category (e.g., communications, printing, postage,
equipment rental, etc.).
 Provide the purpose for the expenditures and their relation to project success.
 Provide the cost per item (printing = $500, postage = $150) and the basis for cost estimates or
computations.
9. Total Direct Costs
 The sum total of all direct expenditures, per budget category, of lines 1-8.
10. Indirect Costs
 In accordance with section 311(a) of the Perkins Act, funds under this program must be used to
supplement, not supplant, non-Federal funds used to carry out career and technical education
activities. The prohibition against supplanting means that grantees will be required to use their
negotiated restricted indirect cost rate under this program. (34 CFR 75.563). Applicants with
questions about using a restricted indirect cost rate under this program should contact the
program contact person shown elsewhere in this application package or in the NIA.
11. Training Stipends
 The training stipend line item pertains to students who are enrolled in approved NHCTEP
Career and Technical Education (CTE) projects. See the NHCTEP NIA for additional instructions
and requirements for expending NHCTEP funds for Student Stipends.
26

12. Total Costs
 Sum total of direct costs, indirect costs, stipends, tuition, contractual, and equipment (if
applicable.
 Please provide total costs for each year of the 36 months performance period.
NOTE on Restricted Indirect Costs: All applicants under supplement-not-supplant programs may only
recover indirect costs at the restricted rate included on the negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.
Grantees that do not have an approved restricted indirect cost will be required to use the 8% indirect
cost rate allowed for training grants (34 CFR 75.562).
For additional information about restricted indirect cost rates, go to
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/fipao/icgreps.html

27

D. OTHER ATTACHMENTS FORM

Applicants should attach all appendices to the Other Attachments Form. For each appendix, applicants
are asked to save files as a .PDF, label each file with the Appendix name and upload the file to the Other
Attachments Form. The Other Attachments Form can support up to ten attachments, therefore it is
unnecessary to merge appendices into one document.




Ensure that you only attach the U.S. Department of Education approved file types detailed in the
NHCTEP NIA (read-only, non-modifiable .pdf files). Also, do not upload any password-protected
files to your application.
Please note that Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that
have the same name within a grant submission.
When attaching files, applicants should limit the size of their file names. Lengthy file names could
result in difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file
names be less than 50 characters.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPENDIX
Applicants are encouraged to follow the order below when uploading information to the Appendix:
Appendix A: Optional Application Requirements Checklist
Appendix B: Letters of Commitment and Support
Appendix C: Resumes or Job Descriptions of Key Personnel
Appendix D: Other documents, if applicable

28

N A T I VE H A W A I I A N C A REER A N D T ECHN I C A L EDUC A T I ON PROG RA M - FY 2018
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Applicants should review this checklist once they believe they have completed their applications. The
checklist contains all mandatory parts of the application.
ED Standard Forms
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)
Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424
Department of Education Budget Summary Form (ED 524) Sections A & B
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
Assurances and Certifications
GEPA Section 427
Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B)
Grants.gov Lobby form (formerly ED 80-0013 form)
Application Narrative
ED Abstract Narrative Form
Project Narrative Form
Budget Narrative Form
Other Attachments Form (Upload Appendices here)
Application Requirements
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Agreement (Also known as Articulation Agreement).
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement: Applicants should attach a copy of their current indirect cost
rate agreement.
Individual Resumes/Job Descriptions for Project Directors and Key Personnel: Provide brief
resumes or job descriptions that describe their qualifications for the responsibilities they will
carry out under the project.

NOTE: Eligible applicants should attach all appendices to the Other Attachments Form. The Grants.gov
system will allow applicants to attach as many as ten separate appendices in this section; however,
applicants are encouraged to limit the number of appendix entries to a reasonable number for a
reviewer to read.

29

33

V. NHCTEP - SELECTION CRITERIA

The maximum score for all the selection criteria is 120 points. The maximum score for each
criterion is indicated in parentheses. The selection criteria for this competition are as follows:
(a) Quality of the Project Design (35 points).
In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, we consider the following factors:
(1) 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 (as evidenced by such data as local
labor market demand, occupational trends, and surveys). (Up to 5 points)
(2) The extent to which goals, objectives, and outcomes are clearly specified and measurable.
(For example, we look for clear descriptions of proposed student career and technical education
activities; recruitment and retention strategies; expected student enrollments, completions, and
placements in jobs, military specialties, and continuing education/training opportunities; the number of
teachers, counselors, and administrators to be trained; and identification of requirements for each
program of study to be provided under the project, including related training areas and a description of
performance outcomes.) (Up to 10 points)
(3) The extent to which the proposed project will establish linkages with other appropriate
agencies (e.g., community, State, and other Federal resources) and organizations providing services to
the target population in order to improve services to students and strengthen outcomes for the
proposed project. (Up to 5 points)
(4) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project will create and offer
activities that focus on enabling participants to obtain the skills necessary to gain employment in highskill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations in emerging fields or in a specific career field. (Up to 5
points)
(5) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project will create
opportunities for students to acquire skills identified by the State at the secondary level or by industryrecognized career and technical education programs for licensure, degree, certification, or as required
by a career or profession. (Up to 5 points)
(6) The extent to which the proposed project will provide opportunities for high-quality training or
professional development services that—
(i) Are of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice among
instructional personnel;
(ii) Will improve and increase instructional personnel's knowledge and skills to help students meet
challenging and rigorous academic and career and technical skill proficiencies;
(iii) Will advance instructional personnel's understanding of effective instructional strategies that
are supported by scientifically based research; and
(iv) Include professional development plans that clearly address ways in which learning gaps will
be addressed and how continuous review of performance will be conducted to identify training needs.
(Up to 5 points)

30

33

(b) Quality of the Management Plan (15 points).
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, we consider 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 the milestones and
performance standards for accomplishing project tasks. (Up to 5 points)
(2) The extent to which the time commitments of the project director and other key project
personnel, including instructors, are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project. (Up to 5 points)
(3) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the
operation of the proposed project. (Up to 5 points)
(c) Quality of Project Personnel (25 points).
In determining the quality of project personnel, we consider the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who
are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability. (Up to 5 points)
(2) The qualifications, including relevant training, expertise, and experience, of the project
director. (Up to 10 points)
(3) The qualifications, including relevant training, expertise, and experience, of key project
personnel, especially the extent to which the project will use instructors who are certified to teach in
the field in which they will provide instruction. (Up to 5 points)
(4) The qualifications, including training, expertise, and experience, of project consultants. (Up to
5 points)
(d) Adequacy of Resources (20 points).
In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, we consider the following factors:
(1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from
the applicant organization(s) and the entities to be served, including the evidence and relevance of
commitments (e.g., articulation agreements, memoranda of understanding, letters of support, or
commitments to employ project participants) of the applicant, local employers, or entities to be served
by the project. (Up to 10 points)
(2) The extent to which the budget is adequate and costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives and design of the proposed project. (Up to 5 points)
(3) The potential for continued support of the project after Federal funding ends. (Up to 5 points)
(e) Quality of the Project Evaluation (25 points).
In determining the quality of the evaluation, we consider the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation proposed by the grantee are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project1. (Up to 10
points)
1 This may include the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance
measures.
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(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 the performance
measures discussed elsewhere in this notice and will produce quantitative and qualitative data, to the
extent possible. (Up to 5 points)
(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and
continuous improvement toward achieving intended outcomes. (Up to 5 points)
(4) The quality of the proposed evaluation to be conducted by an external evaluator with the
necessary background and technical expertise to carry out the evaluation. (Up to 5 points)

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VI. PAPERWORK BURDEN STATEMENT
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection
of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control
number for this information collection is 1830-0564. The time required to complete this information
collection is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time to review instructions,
search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information
collection. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (20
U.S.C. 2326(h)). If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or
suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of
this form, write directly to: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Potomac Center Plaza, Room 11070, Washington, D.C.
20202-4651.

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