AANAPISI Booklet Part F 3.15.24

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Postsecondary Education

Washington, DC 20202

Fiscal Year 20XX

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS UNDER THE

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving

Institutions Program

84.382B – Part F

Form Approved: OMB No. 1840-0798, Exp. Date: XX/XX/XXXX

CLOSING DATE: XX/XX/XXXX

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dear Applicant Letter 3

Competition Highlights 5

Grants.gov Submission Procedures 6

Application Transmittal Instructions 10

Overview 11

Definitions 12

Additional Information 13

Instructions for Completing the Application 15

Project Narrative Instructions 17

Notice Inviting Applications 22

Authorizing Legislation and Regulations 49

Executive Order 12372—Intergovernmental Review 50

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Section 427 51

Performance Indicators 52

Instructions for Standard Forms 54

Program Profile 55

Application Checklist 57

Paperwork Burden Statement 58

DEAR APPLICANT LETTER

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in applying for a new grant under the fiscal year (FY) 20XX Title III, Part F, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) grant competition. This letter highlights specific elements in the AANAPISI competition application package. Please carefully and thoroughly review the entire application package, which contains the information and instructions needed to submit a complete application to the U.S. Department of Education (Department) through Grants.gov.

The Department encourages applicants to address how their services will improve the educational outcomes for Asian American and Native Pacific Islander students. Applicants should consider the use of data toward addressing the existing gaps in retention and graduation rates and provide specific targets and measures for each year of the proposed project for how the institution will work to improve results for these students.

An institution of higher education (IHE) that is interested in applying for funding must meet both eligibility requirements. An IHE must be deemed an eligible institution through the Department’s Designation of Eligibility process and must also meet the program eligibility requirements for the AANAPISI, Part F program by self-certifying their undergraduate enrollment of Asian American and Native Pacific Islander students (10 percent) at the time of application. The Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the FY 20XX process for designation of eligible institutions and inviting applications for a waiver of eligibility requirements was published in the Federal Register on XXXX.

Applications for FY 20XX grants under the AANAPISI Program must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov. An applicant who is unable to submit using Grants.gov must submit a written request to waive the electronic submission requirement at least two weeks prior to the deadline date. Additional information about Grants.gov submission requirements can be found in the NIA for the FY 20XX competition published in the Federal Register on XXXX and the transmittal instructions, which are included in this application package.

In FY 20XX, the Title III, Part F, AANAPISI competition will award both Individual Development and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants.

Lastly, please do not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidance contained within the NIA for the FY 20XX competition published in the Federal Register. If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Pearson Owens at [email protected] or by telephone at 202-987-1866.

We appreciate your interest in the AANAPISI program and look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,

/s/

Nasser H. Paydar

Assistant Secretary for

Postsecondary Education

COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

 

Application Components

This application package contains detailed instructions for every required component of your application. It also includes an Application Checklist for your convenience. Note: If all required documents are not submitted with your application, it may be deemed ineligible.

Deadline

The deadline to submit applications to the FY 20XX Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Part F Competition is 11:59:59 pm, Eastern Time on the closing date XXXXX, 20XX.

Eligible Applicants

Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) must:

1. Be designated as an eligible institution in FY 20XX; and

2. Meet program eligibility requirements for the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) at the time of application.

You must self-certify (see Program Profile) at the time of application that your institution has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least ten percent (10 percent) Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander.

Applicants who do not meet these eligibility requirements will not have their application reviewed.

The Department utilizes the Eligibility Matrix (EM) process. With the EM, the Department uses applicants’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data to determine eligibility. The Federal Register Notice announcing the opening of the eligibility and waiver request period was published on XXXXX, 20XX.

An eligible AANAPISI institution may submit only one grant application for an Individual Development Grant and only one grant application as the lead of a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant.

Revised 12/2022

GRANTS.GOV SUBMISSION PROCEDURES AND TIPS FOR APPLICANTS

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

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.

Browser Support

The latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari are supported for use with Grants.gov. However, these web browsers undergo frequent changes and updates, so we recommend you have the latest version when using Grants.gov. Legacy versions of these web browsers may be functional, but you may experience issues. Grants.gov no longer provides support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 or below.

For additional information or updates, please see the Grants.gov Browser information in the Applicant FAQs: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser.

ATTENTION – Workspace, Adobe Forms and PDF Files

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

1) Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

2) Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

a. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out web forms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software- compatibility.html.

b. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

3) Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

4) Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Helpful Reminders

1) REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov), which usually takes approximately 7 to 10 business days, but can take longer depending on 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. Please note that your organization will need to update its SAM registration annually.

To register in SAM.gov, click on the “Get Started” link under the “Register Your Entity…” heading in SAM.gov. Grantees, and other entities wanting to do business with the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., entities applying for a grant), that are not already registered in SAM.gov must complete the “Register Entity” registration option and NOT the “Get a Unique Entity ID” option. The “Get a Unique Entity ID” option, which is not a full registration, is only available to entities for reporting purposes. Failing to complete the “Register Entity” option may result in loss of funding, loss of applicant eligibility, and/or delays in receiving a grant award. Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist you with registering in SAM or updating your existing SAM registration, see the Quick Start Guide for Grant Registrations and the Entity Registration Video at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

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 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

You must provide the UEI on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov. This UEI is assigned to your organization in SAM at the time your organization registers in SAM. If you do not enter the UEI assigned by SAM on your application, 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 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on 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 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on the deadline date, 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-software- compatibility.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: [email protected] or access the Grants.gov Self-Service Knowledge Base web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants.

We discourage paper applications, but if electronic submission is not possible (for example, because 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. If you submit your prior written 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. (For detailed instructions regarding this procedure, see the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 and available at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554.)

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

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 at this Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html as well as additional information on Workspace at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#workspace.

Slow Internet Connections

When using a slow internet connection, such as 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. Failure to fully upload an application by the deadline date and time will result in your application being marked late in the G5 system. If you do not have access to a high-speed internet connection, 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 14 calendar days before the application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions and the 2022 Common Instructions.)

Attaching Files – Additional Tips

Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application:

• When you submit your application electronically, you must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or Microsoft Word. Although applicants have the option of uploading any narrative sections and all other attachments to their application in either PDF or Microsoft Word, we recommend applicants submit all documents as read-only flattened PDFs, meaning any fillable PDF files must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files and not as interactive or fillable PDF files, to better ensure applications are processed in a more timely, accurate, and efficient manner.

• 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.

• When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names. Uploaded file names must be fewer than 50 characters, and, in general, applicants should not use any special characters. However, Grants.gov does allow for the following UTF-8 characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, ampersand, tilde, exclamation point, comma, semi colon, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent sign, plus sign, and equal sign. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.

• 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 with all attachments is less than 5 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission.

APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

ATTENTION ELECTRONIC APPLICANTS: Please note that you must follow the

Application Procedures as described in the Federal Register notice announcing the grant competition.

This program requires the electronic submission of applications; specific requirements and waiver instructions can be found in the Federal Register notice.

According to the instructions found in the Federal Register notice, those requesting and qualifying for an exception to the electronic submission requirement may submit an application by mail, commercial carrier, or hand delivery.

If you want to apply for a grant and be considered for funding, you must meet the following deadline requirements:

Applications Submitted Electronically

You must submit your grant application through the Internet using the software provided on the Grants.gov website (http://www.grants.gov) by 11:59 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on or before the deadline date.

If you submit your application through the Internet via the Grants.gov website, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement when we receive your application.

For more information on using Grants.gov, please refer to the “Notice Inviting Applications” that was published in the Federal Register or visit http://www.grants.gov.

Other Submission Instructions

For detailed instructions on applications sent by mail or delivery, please review the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs Notice, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045), and available at: www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554.

Late Applications

If your application is late, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.

OVERVIEW

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)

PROGRAM AUTHORITY

Title III, Part F, Section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA).

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98 and 99. Program regulations in 34 CFR part 607.5.

The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485.

The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474.

PURPOSE

The overall purpose of the program is to provide grants and related assistance to AANAPISIs to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

An institution of higher education is eligible to receive funds from the amounts made available under this section if such institution is an AANAPISI with an undergraduate population that is at least 10% AANAPISI.

LEGISLATIVE ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES FUNDED UNDER TITLE III PART F, SECTION 371 (MANDATORY AUTHORITY) – 84.382B

Grants awarded under this section shall be used by AANAPISIs to assist such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions’ capacity to serve Asian American and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.

1. Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes.

2. Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities, including the integration of computer technology into institutional facilities to create smart buildings.

(3) Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the field of instruction of the faculty.

(4) Development and improvement of academic programs.

(5) Purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material.

(6) Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success, including innovative, customized, instruction courses designed to help retain students and move the students rapidly into core courses and through program completion, which may include remedial education and English language instruction.

(7) Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students' families.

(8) Funds management, administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management.

(9) Joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries.

(10) Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector.

(11) Establishing or improving an endowment fund.

(12) Creating or improving facilities for Internet or other distance education technologies, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services.

(13) Other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) and section 1068 of this title that -

(A) contribute to carrying out the purposes of the program assisted under this part; and

(B) are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application.

DEFINITIONS

Asian American—The term ‘Asian American’ means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam, as defined in the Office of Management and Budget’s Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity as published on October 30, 1997 (62 Fed. Reg. 58789).

Native American Pacific Islanders—The term ‘Native American Pacific Islander’ means any descendant of the aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is a territory or possession of the United States.

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI)—The term ‘Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution’ means an institution of higher education that—

(A) is an eligible institution under section 312(b) of the HEA, as amended; and

(B) at the time of application, has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less than 10 percent students who are Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Certification of Eligibility

All applicants for the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) program must submit the Designation of Eligibility application in order to be considered for funding.

2. Estimated Funding

• Anticipated Funds for FY 20XX

Title III, Part F, AANAPISI $X,XXX,XXX

Program Name and Type of Award	Minimum/ Maximum Award Amount	Estimated Number of Awards	Estimated Average Award Amount
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Title III, Part F, Five-year Development Grants Title III, Part F, Five-year Cooperative Grant	$XXXX-$XXXX $XXXX-$XXXX	X X	$XXXX $XXXX

The U.S. Department of Education is not bound by these estimates.

3. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs was issued to foster an

intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying on state and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.

Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State’s process under Executive Order 12372. A listing of the Single Point of Contact for each State may be viewed at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf.

4. Applicant Funding

The Department is often unable to award the full amount of funds requested. Applicants should pay close attention to the “Award Information” section of the Federal Register Notice. The Department will not fund any application at an amount exceeding the applicable maximum level.

5. Evaluation of Applications

A three-member panel of non-federal reviewers evaluates each application. Each reviewer assigns points for each selection criterion and prepares evaluation comments.

6. Selection Criteria

The selection criteria in EDGAR 34 CFR part 75 section 75.210 are used to evaluate applications. The selection criteria and maximum possible points are included in the Federal Register Notice.

7. Notice to Successful Applicants

The Department’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs will inform Congress regarding applications approved for new program grants. Successful applicants will receive award notices by mail shortly after Congress is notified. No funding information will be released before Congress is notified.

8. Notice to Unsuccessful Applicants

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing following the notice to successful applicants.

9. Annual Performance Report Requirements

If you receive a FY 20XX new grant award under the AANAPISI program, you will be required to complete an Interim Performance Report after six months into the grant period, an Annual Performance Report each year and a Final Performance Report at the end of the grant period.

Grantees will be reminded of these reporting requirements prior to the due dates.

10. Contact Information

AANAPISI Program

Pearson Owens

Program Officer – 84.382B

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Ave, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Telephone: (202) 987-1866

Fax: (202) 401-8466

E-mail Address: [email protected]

Dr. James Laws

Director, Strengthening Institutions Division

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Ave, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Telephone: (202) 453-7349

Fax: (202) 401-8466

E-mail Address: [email protected]

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

The AANAPISI application consists of the following sections. These sections are organized in the same manner that the submitted application should be organized. Remember to upload all forms and sections and follow carefully the Grants.gov application instructions. The sections are as follows:

424 Forms

• Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)

• Department of Education Supplemental Information form for SF 424

Note: Applicants must complete the SF 424 form first because the information you provide here is automatically inserted into other sections of grants.gov.

U.S. Department of Education Budget Summary Forms

• ED 524 (Section A and Section B)

The “U.S. Department of Education Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs” is where applicants provide budget information for Section A – Budget Summary U.S. Department of Education Funds and Section B – Budget Summary Non-Federal Funds. Applicants should include costs for all project years. Note: Section C – Budget Narrative section in the selection criteria should be included in the “Project Narrative Selection Criteria.”

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

Certification Regarding Lobbying

GEPA Section 427 Form

ED Abstract Form

The “ED Abstract Form” (found in Grants.gov) is where applicants will attach, in a .pdf document, their one-page project abstract that will provide an overview of the proposed project. Do not use charts.

Project Narrative Attachment Form

The project narrative should include narrative responses to the selection criteria. Please include a Table of Contents as the first page of the application narrative. We recommend that your project narrative is no more than 50 pages for Individual Development Grants and 65 pages for Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. The project narrative should be consecutively numbered.

Budget Narrative Attachment Form

Budget Narrative should be included in the “Budget Narrative Attachment Form.” The budget narrative should include a detailed line-item budget to justify costs are reasonable and necessary to accomplish the proposed project objectives. (Not counted towards the page count)

Program Profile Form

Included in this application is an AANAPISI Program Profile Form. This form should be attached to the “Other Attachments Form” in Grants.gov. This form is used to profile you, the applicant. It also addresses endowment funding, dual submission certification and cooperative arrangements.

Other Attachments

In this section, you will include your responses to the Competitive Preference Priorities. We recommend that your response be no more than three pages for each priority.

NOTE: Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the Standard Form (SF 424). Although the form accepts attachments, the Department of Education will only review materials/files attached to the attachment forms listed above. All attachments must be in .pdf format. Other file types will not be accepted.

PROJECT NARRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

The project narrative shall be attached to the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in Grants.gov.

Before preparing the Project Narrative, applicants should review the program statute, program regulations, the Federal Register Notice, and the Dear Applicant Letter for specific guidance and requirements.

The Secretary evaluates an application according to the program specific criteria in EDGAR 34 CFR part 75 §75.210. The Project Narrative should provide in detail the information that addresses all selection criteria. The maximum possible score for each category of selection criterion is indicated in parentheses. For ease of reading by the reviewers, applicants should follow the sequence of the criteria as provided below. Applications should be written in a clear and concise manner. You should limit the section of the narrative that addresses the selection criteria to no more than 50 pages for the Individual Development Grant application and 65 pages for the Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant application. Please note page limit is voluntary.

As part of addressing the selection criteria and developing your program application, we presume that your institution has analyzed the major problems affecting it and designed specific strategies to address and possibly resolve these problems. You should be ready to carry out the proposed project once you receive the grant and should not use the funds for intensive planning activities.

Be sure to include a Table of Contents. The Table of Contents will not be included in the page count. Prepare your complete project narrative in .pdf format and attach it to the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in the application package downloaded from Grants.gov.

This is the narrative portion of your application where you address the weighted selection criteria that the readers will use to evaluate your application and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal. These pages will be included in the mandatory page count.

For each proposed activity, separately address the selection criteria I through VII, in the same order as they appear below and as precisely as possible, to ensure your application contains the information readers will need to judge the quality of the proposed development grant activities.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants MUST address each of the following AANAPISI selection criteria. The maximum score that any application may receive on the selection criteria is 100 points. The selection criteria and factors for applications in this competition are as follows:

Criterion	Points Value
Need for the Project	20
Quality of the Project Design	25
Quality of Project Services	10
Quality of Project Personnel	10
Adequacy of Resources	5
Quality of Project Management Plan	15
Quality of the Project Evaluation Plan	15
Total Maximum Points	100

I. Need for the project. (Maximum 20 points) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

1. The magnitude of the needs for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. (10 points)

2. The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (5 points)

3. The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps or weaknesses. (5 points)

II. Quality of the project design. (Maximum 25 points) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

1. The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. (10 points)

2. The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs. (5 points)

3. The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice). (10 points)

Definitions:

Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes.

Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a framework that identifies key project components of the proposed project (i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the key project components and relevant outcomes.

Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).

Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of the program.

Selection Criterion Breakdown:

A logic model should demonstrate the reasoning of your project, what resources you have, how you will implement them and what you expect to change as a result of those actions.  In your logic model, include the main institutional objectives that you outline in your Need for the Project (increase retention, graduation, etc.), as part of your long-term outcomes.  The connections between the resources, individual activities and outputs should show how they all “feed” into achieving the overall goals of the project.

Note:

As defined above, the logic model is analogous to the theory of action/theory of change. Theory of change shows the ideas (activities) that are expected to lead to change (outcomes). Theory of action details how the theory of change is delivered/implemented. A logic model encompasses both. The goals and activities in the logic model should also be listed in the implementation strategy table and vice-versa.

A logic model can be longer than one page. We encourage applicants to provide a thorough and detailed logic model. Nevertheless, you may not be able to include every component of the inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes of your proposed project.

When creating a logic model, it is usually best to start with your end in mind. What is your overall goal (outcomes = Need of the Project and GPRA goals)? Build your logic model by reverse engineering. How are you going to achieve these goals (activities)? What are the tangible measures that will indicate you are on the right path (outputs)? Do not just include a logic model. There should be a narrative section (can be a table).

III. Quality of project services. (Maximum 10 points) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (3 points)

In addition, the Secretary considers:

1. The extent to which the services provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services. (3 points)

2. The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (4 points)

IV. Quality of project personnel. (Maximum 10 points) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (3 points)

In addition, the Secretary considers:

1. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience of the project director or principal investigator. (4 points)

2. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience of key project personnel. (3 points)

V. Adequacy of resources. (Maximum 5 points) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

1. The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project. (3 points)

2. The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. (2 points)

VI. Quality of the management plan. (Maximum 15 points) In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

1. The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks. (5 points)

2. The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points)

3. The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services from the proposed project. (5 points)

VII. Quality of the project evaluation. (Maximum 15 points) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers:

1. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible and appropriate to the goals, objectives and outcomes of the proposed project. (10 points)

2. The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible. (5 points)

THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE MAY ASSIST YOU IN ADDRESSING EACH OF THE WEIGHTED SELECTION CRITERIA:

Need: When addressing this criterion, applicants should provide detailed information that not only identifies a need for their proposed project, but they should also provide data that support their claim for a need for the proposed project. Supporting documentation may consist of recent statistics from State, local and Federal sources; mission statement; comparison data from similar institutions; etc.

Project Design: When addressing this criterion, applicants should clearly and succinctly identify the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved. A mere listing of the goals, objectives, and outcomes is not enough. The identified goals, objectives, and outcomes should not only address the identified need for the project but should also be measurable and support the purpose of the program.

Project Services: When addressing this criterion, applicants should clearly spell out the activities and services it is proposing and the intended recipients or beneficiaries of each service or activity. A mere listing of the services and beneficiaries is not enough. Provide details as to the types of activities and services to be provided and the extent to which the activities and services reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. In other words, will the proposed activities and services meet the need of the project?

Project Personnel: The minimum qualifications must be identified for all project personnel positions. The minimum educational qualifications should include the type of degree required and the acceptable field(s) of study. The type and minimum amount of work-related experience should also be described for each position.

Adequacy of Resources: This section should provide information that shows that the proposed budget will provide adequate resources necessary to successfully carry out the proposed project. Applicants should demonstrate here how the proposed costs would enable them to carry out the project and that the proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and significance of the proposed project.

In response to this criterion, applicants must also provide a detailed, itemized budget (ED Form 524) and a detailed budget narrative for each 12-month budget period. The budget narrative is to be included in the Project Narrative to be attached to the Project Narrative Attachment Form on Grants.gov.

Management Plan: Describe the plan of management. Who will be responsible for which tasks? What are the expected timelines and proposed budgets for each activity or service? What are the expected milestones for accomplishing the proposed activities or services? Have you included procedures that will ensure feedback and the opportunity for continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project? Be sure that the management plans are clearly and concisely defined.

Project Evaluation: A strong evaluation plan should be included and should be used, as appropriate, to shape the development of the project from the beginning of the grant period. The evaluation plan should include benchmarks to monitor progress toward meeting specific project objectives based on the program’s performance indicators. Specifically, the plan should identify the individual or organization that has agreed to serve as evaluator for the project and describe the qualifications of the evaluator. The plan should describe the evaluation design, indicating: (1) what types of data will be collected; (2) when various types of data will be collected; (3) what methods will be used; (4) what instruments will be developed and when; (5) how the data will be analyzed; (6) when reports and outcomes will be available; and (7) how the applicant will use the information collected through evaluation to monitor progress of the funded project. Applicants are encouraged to devote an appropriate level of resources to project evaluation and should explain the measures and strategies that will be used to ensure that the evaluation is appropriately rigorous and independent.

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS

Note: The U.S. Department of Education is not holding an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program competition in FY 2024. Therefore, the most recent Notice Inviting Applications for this program (FY 2021) has been included.

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.382B. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840-0798.

DATES:

Applications Available: [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: [INSERT DATE 45 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: [INSERT DATE 105 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pearson Owens, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B109, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7997. Email: [email protected].

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The AANAPISI Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to enable them to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students. Institutions may use these grants to plan, develop, or implement activities that strengthen the institution.

The Department encourages applicants to describe how their services will improve educational outcomes for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students. The Department strongly encourages applicants to develop a five-year plan that will improve the assistance provided by the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students and low-income individ­uals.

Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference priorities and one invitational priority. Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Secretary’s Notice of Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 (83 FR 9096) (Supplemental Priorities). Competitive Preference Priority 2 is from the Administrative Priorities for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640) (Administrative Priorities).

Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2021 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional five points to an application, depending on how well the application meets Competitive Preference Priority 1. We award an additional three points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2.

These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1 – Fostering Flexible and Affordable Paths to Obtaining Knowledge and Skills (up to 5 points).

Providing work-based learning experiences (such as internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships) that align with in-demand industry sectors or occupations (as defined in section 3(23) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014).

Competitive Preference Priority 2 - Applications from New Potential Grantees (3 points).

Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that it has never received a grant, including through membership in a group application submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, under the AANAPISI Part F program.

Invitational Priority: For FY 2021, there is one invitational priority for this program. 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:

Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Students’ Mental Health and Academic Outcomes Through Student Support Services.

Projects designed to provide integrated student support services (also known as wrap-around services) for students to address mental health and academic support needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  An applicant should describe in its application how it will collaborate with any partners to provide resources to support students and communities hit the hardest by COVID-19 and implement evidence-based best practices to address the existing inequities exacerbated by the pandemic. The proposed system of integrated student support services should include services, including those not funded through the AANAPISI Program, that meet the whole needs of students from low-income backgrounds, including aid for school supplies, transportation costs as allowable by program regulations, connections to mental health services, mentoring, tutoring, and peer support groups, that help ensure success in postsecondary education.

Definitions: The definitions below are from 34 CFR 77.1.

Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes.

Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a framework that identifies key project components of the proposed project (i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the key project components and relevant outcomes.

Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use resources such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program’s (REL Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp,

to help design their logic models. Other sources include: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf, https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf, and https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf.

Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).

Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of the program.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1067q (title III, part F, of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)).

Note: In 2008, the HEA was amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), Pub. L. 110-315. Please note that the regulations for the AANAPISI Program in 34 CFR part 607 have not been updated to reflect these statutory changes.

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, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 607. (e) The Supplemental Priorities. (f) The Administrative Priorities.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Five-year Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants will be awarded in FY 2021.

Note: A cooperative arrangement is an arrangement to carry out allowable grant activities between an institution eligible to receive a grant under this part and another eligible or ineligible IHE, under which the resources of the cooperating institutions are combined and shared to better achieve the purposes of this part and avoid costly duplication of effort.

Estimated Available Funds: $4,638,703.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Individual Development Grants:

Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$300,000 per year.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $275,000 per year.

Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $300,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.

Estimated Number of Awards: 12.

Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants:

Estimated Range of Awards: $350,000-$400,000 per year.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $375,000 per year.

Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $400,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.

Estimated Number of Awards: 4.

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

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants:

This program is authorized by title III, part F, of the HEA. At the time of submission of their applications, applicants must certify their total undergraduate headcount enrollment and that at least 10 percent of the IHE’s enrollment is Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander. An assurance form, which is included in the application materials for this competition, must be signed by an official for the applicant and submitted.

To qualify as an eligible institution under the AANAPISI Program, an institution must--

(i) Be accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has determined to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered;

(ii) Be legally authorized by the State in which it is located to be a junior or community college or to provide an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's degree; and

(iii) Be designated as an “eligible institution,” as defined in 34 CFR 600.2, by demonstrating that it: (1) has an enrollment of needy students as described in 34 CFR 607.3; and (2) has low average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student as described in 34 CFR 607.4.

Note: The Department published a notice in the Federal Register on March 4, 2021 (86 FR 12665) that described the process for applying for designation as an eligible institution and set a deadline for applications of April 5, 2021. On April 13, 2021, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register (86 FR 19231) reopening the process and extending the deadline for applications to April 16, 2021. Only institutions that the Department determines are eligible, or that are granted a waiver under the process described in the March 4, 2021 notice, may apply for a grant in this program.

An eligible IHE that submits applications for an Individual Development Grant and a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant in this competition may be awarded both in the same fiscal year. A grantee with an Individual Development Grant or a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant may be a partner in one or more Cooperative Development Arrangement Grants. The lead institution in a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant must be an eligible institution. Partners are not required to be eligible institutions.

Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.

2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching.

b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-supplant funding requirements. Grant funds must be used so that they supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would otherwise be available for the activities to be carried out under the grant and in no case supplant those funds (34 CFR 607.30 (b)).

c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform Guidance.

3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities described in its application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.

2. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this program.

3. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 607.10(c). We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 50 pages for Individual Development Grants and no more than 65 pages for Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants 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, and 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; the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract and the bibliography. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative.

Note: The Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs Form (ED 524) Sections A-C are not the same as the narrative response to the Budget section of the selection criteria.

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210. Applicants should address each of the following selection criteria separately for each proposed activity. The selection criteria are worth a total of 100 points; the maximum score for each criterion is noted in parentheses.

(a)  Need for project. (Maximum 10 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(i) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (5 points)

(ii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps or weaknesses. (5 points)

(b) Quality of the project design. (Maximum 35 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. (15 points)

(ii) 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. (10 points)

(iii) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice). (10 points)

(c) Quality of project services. (Maximum 10 points) (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (3 points)

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers:

(i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services. (3 points)

(ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (4 points)

(d) Quality of project personnel. (Maximum 10 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (3 points)

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers:

(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or principal investigator. (4 points)

(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel. (3 points)

(e) Adequacy of resources. (Maximum 5 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project. (3 points)

(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. (2 points)

(f) Quality of the management plan. (Maximum 15 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks. (5 points)

(ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points)

(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services from the proposed project. (5 points)

(g) Quality of the project evaluation. (Maximum 15 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers:

(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (10 points)

(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible. (5 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).

A panel of three non-Federal reviewers will review and score each application in accordance with the selection criteria. A rank order funding slate will be made from this review. Awards will be made in rank order according to the average score received from the peer review and from any competitive preference priorities addressed by the applicant.

In tie-breaking situations for development grants, under 34 CFR 607.23(b), we award one additional point to an application from an IHE that has an endowment fund of which the current market value, per FTE enrolled student, is less than the average current market value of the endowment funds, per FTE enrolled student, at comparable type institutions that offer similar instruction. We award one additional point to an application from an IHE that has expenditures for library materials per FTE enrolled student that are less than the average expenditure for library materials per FTE enrolled student at similar type institutions. We also add one additional point to an application from an IHE that proposes to carry out one or more of the following activities:

(1) Faculty development.

(2) Funds and administrative management.

(3) Development and improvement of academic programs.

(4) Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening

management and academic programs.

(5) Joint use of facilities.

(6) Student services.

For the purpose of these funding considerations, we use 2018-2019 data.

If a tie remains after applying the tie-breaker mechanism above, priority will be given to applicants that have the lowest endowment values per FTE enrolled student.

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 the System for Award Management. You may review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.

Please note that, if the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting applications in accordance with--

(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);

(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR 200.216);

(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR 200.322); and

(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, also.

If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.

3. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 3474.20.

4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).

(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

5. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the following key Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the AANAPISI Program:

(a) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at four-year AANAPISIs who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same AANAPISI.

(b) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at two-year AANAPISIs who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same AANAPISI.

(c) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at four-year AANAPISIs who graduate within six years of enrollment.

(d) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at two-year AANAPISIs who graduate within three years of enrollment.

6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the performance targets in the grantee’s approved application.

In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Other Information

Accessible Format: 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 documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.

You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department.

Dated:

_ ___________________________

Michelle Asha Cooper,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION

The Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) program is authorized under Title III, Part F, Section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

20 USC 1067q: Investment in historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions (house.gov)

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

CFR Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

eCFR: 2 CFR Part 200 -- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

Education Department General Administration Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98 and 99

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and Other Applicable Grant Regulations

Program regulations in 34 CFR part 607

eCFR: 34 CFR Part 607 -- Strengthening Institutions Program

INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372

This program falls under the rubric of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to strengthen federalism--or the distribution of responsibility between localities, States, and the Federal government--by fostering intergovernmental partnerships. This idea includes supporting processes that State or local governments have devised for coordinating and reviewing proposed Federal financial grant applications.

The process for doing this requires grant applicants to contact State Single Points of Contact for information on how this works. Multi-state applicants should follow procedures specific to each state.

Further information about the State Single Point of Contact process and a list of names by State can be found at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf

Absent specific State review programs, applicants may submit comments directly to the Department. All recommendations and comments must be mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in the actual application Notice to the following address: The Secretary, EO 12372—ALN# 84.382B, U.S. Department of Education, room 7E200, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202.

Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as applications (see 34 CFR §75.102). Recommendations or comments may be hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the closing date indicated in this Notice.

Important note: The above address is not the same address as the one to which the applicant submits its completed applications. Do not send applications to the above address.

GENERAL EDUCATION PROVISIONS ACT (GEPA)

SECTION 427

Section 427 of GEPA requires all applicants for new awards to include in their applications a description of the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, its federally assisted programs for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. The provision allows applicants discretion in developing the required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that can impede equitable access or participation: gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age.

A general statement of an applicant’s nondiscriminatory hiring policy is not sufficient to meet this requirement. Applicants must identify potential barriers and explain steps they will take to overcome these barriers.

NOTES:

• Applicants for new awards must include information in their applications to address this provision in order to receive funding under this program.

• Applicants are required to address this provision by completing the ED GEPA 427 Form in Grants.gov.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The Department of Education has prepared a strategic plan for 2022-2026. This plan reflects the Department’s priorities and integrates them with its mission and program authorities and describes how the Department will work to improve education for all children and adults in the U.S. The Department’s goals, as listed in the plan, are:

Goal 1: Promote equity in student access to educational resources, opportunities, and inclusive environments.

Goal 2: Support a diverse and talented educator workforce and professional growth to strengthen student learning.

Goal 3: Meet students’ social, emotional, and academic needs.

Goal 4: Increase postsecondary value by focusing on equity-conscious strategies to address access to high-quality institutions, affordability, completion, post-enrollment success, and support for inclusive institutions.

Goal 5: Enhance the Department’s internal capacity to optimize the delivery of its mission.

What are the performance indicators for the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions Program (AANAPISI) Program?

The performance indicators for the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program are part of the Department’s plan for meeting Goal 4. The specific goal for the AANAPISI Program is to improve the capacity of minority-serving institutions, which traditionally have limited resources and serve large numbers of low-income and minority students, to improve student success and to provide high-quality educational opportunities for their students.

The performance indicators for the AANAPISI Program are:

The percent increase in the number of full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at AANAPISI.

The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at 4-year AANAPISI institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same AANAPISI institution.

The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at 2-year AANAPISI institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same AANAPISI institution.

The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at four-year AANAPISI who graduate within six years of enrollment.

The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at two-year AANAPISI who graduate within three years of enrollment.

How does the Department of Education determine whether performance goals have been met?

An applicant that receives a grant award will be required to submit annual progress reports and a final report as a condition of the award. The reports will document the extent to which project goals and objectives are met. Data submitted annually by the institution to the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) will document the extent to which program goals and objectives are met.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STANDARD FORMS

• Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

• Department of Education Supplemental Form for the SF-424

• Department of Education Budget Summary Form (ED-524)

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

• Certification Regarding Lobbying

• GEPA Section 427 Requirement

To obtain instructions for standard forms included in this application package, please visit:

https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER-SERVING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM PROFILE (84.382B)

INSTRUCTIONS: ALL applicants must complete these pages. The completed pages must be attached to the “Other Attachments Form” in the application package in Grants.gov (as a .pdf document). DO NOT MODIFY OR AMEND THESE PAGES.

OPE ID #___________

1. INSTITUTION (Legal Name):

_____________________________________________________________________

2. Are you applying as a Branch Campus? _____YES _____NO

3. ADDRESS (Applicants must indicate the address where the project will be located):

Project Address: _____________________________________________________________________

City: _____________________________________State: ______Zip: _____________

4. ENDOWMENT FUND ASSURANCE:

• By checking this box (or placing an “X” beside it), an applicant certifies that the institution of higher education proposes to use up to twenty percent (20%) of the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program grant award, made under the authority of Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, to establish or increase the institution’s endowment fund. The institution agrees to abide by the Department of Education’s regulations governing the Endowment Challenge Grant program, 34 CFR Part 628. The institution further agrees to raise the required matching funds.

5. NOVICE APPICANT: A Novice applicant is an applicant that never received a grant or subgrant before from the program to which it is applying; Never been a member of a group application that received a grant from the program to which it is applying: and Has not had an active grant from the Federal Government in the five years before the deadline date for applications under the ED discretionary grant program to which it is applying.

• Mark if your institution is considered a novice applicant.

6. COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS: The applicant institution must provide for each Participating Institution: the Institution Name, DUNS Number, Location (City and State).

7. Tie-Breaker Information

If the selection process ends in a tie and funds are not sufficient to fund all institutions, we will use the information provided here to determine who will receive a grant. In accordance with Section 607.23(b), the Secretary will award up to three (3) additional points based on the information provided here.

TOTAL 20XX-20XX FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) STUDENTS = ___________

A. Total market value of endowment fund at the end of 20XX -20XX $__________

B. Total expenditures for library materials during 20XX -20XX $__________

C. Check activities applicant proposes to carry out in application:

a. Faculty development ____________

b. Funds and administrative management ____________

c. Development and improvement of academic programs ____________

d. Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening ____________

management and academic programs

e. Joint use of facilities ____________

f. Student services ____________

8. ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER-SERVING INSTITUTIONS CERTIFICATION:

 By checking this box (or placing an “X” beside it), the applicant certifies pursuant to the statutory requirements governing the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program, authorized under Title III, Part F, Section 370 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) that:

The named institution of higher education, at the time of application, has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least ten percent (10%) Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander. The term “Asian American” means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asian, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. (See the Office of Management and Budget’s Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity as published on October 30, 1997 (62 Fed. Reg. 58789). The term ‘Native American Pacific Islander’ means any descendant of the aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is a territory or possession of the United States.

APPLICANT CHECKLIST

Use this checklist while preparing your application package.

All items listed on this checklist are required, except as noted.

___ Application for Federal Assistance (SF424)

___ Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF424

___ Department of Education Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form –

Sections A & B (ED524)

___ Abstract (Use ED Abstract Form)

___ Project Narrative (Use Project Narrative Attachment Form)

Note: Have you addressed all Application Requirements including Selection Criteria and Priorities?

___ Budget Narrative (Use Budget Narrative Attachment Form)

___ Other Attachments (Use Other Attachments Form)

___ GEPA Section 427

___ Assurances and Certifications

___ Lobbying Disclosure Form (SF LLL) (if applicable; refer to instructions)

___ Certification Regarding Lobbying (ED 80-0013)

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 1840-0798.  Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 75 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.  The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (Title III, Part F, Section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended). If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this application, please contact [email protected] directly. [Note: Please do not return the completed application to this address.]