Application for the National Resource Centers (NRC) Program

Thank you for your interest in applying for a Fiscal Year (FY) XXXX grant under the National Resource Centers (NRC) program (Assistance Listing Number 84.015A). The program-specific application booklet includes information about the program and the instructions and forms required to submit complete application package to the U.S. Department of Education (Department).

A hallmark of the NRC program is breadth and depth in training that contributes to meeting the national need for individuals with expertise in modern languages and area or international studies. This expertise is required to respond to the demands not only for careers in education, defense, intelligence, and diplomacy, but also for a wide range of 21^st-century workforce needs, including health sciences, STEM, economics, and information technology.

Grants awarded under the NRC program enable institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of IHEs to establish, strengthen, or operate comprehensive or undergraduate centers that will be national resources for modern foreign language training in combination with research and training in area studies, international studies, or the international aspects of professional studies.

We strongly recommend that you read the entirety of the application booklet before you begin preparing your proposal. In addition to the application instructions, we call your attention to the following information about the FY XXXX NRC and FLAS competition:

For FY XXXX, the NRC and FLAS competitions require you to submit a separate application package into the Grants.gov system for each program. For example, if you are requesting both NRC and FLAS funding, you will submit two separate application packages (with many similar components) in Grants.gov. Consistently, applicants that are requesting funding for only one program should submit the appropriate application package using the Assistance Listing Number for the NRC program or the FLAS program. You can find more information about this requirement in the Application Format and Components section of the application booklet.
There are two Absolute Priorities and one Competitive Preference Priority for the FY XXXX NRC competition.

Absolute Priority 1:

Applications that provide (1) an explanation of how the activities funded by the grant will reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views and generate debate on world regions and international affairs; and (2) a description of how the applicant will encourage government service in areas of national need, as identified by the Secretary, as well as in areas of need in the education, business, and non-profit sectors.

Absolute Priority 2:

Applications that provide for teacher training activities on the language, languages, area studies, or thematic focus of the Center.

Competitive Preference Priority – Partnership with Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) or Community Colleges (5 points):

Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project will be implemented by or in partnership with one or more of the following entities:

Community colleges
Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Tribal Colleges and Universities
Minority-Serving Institutions

Please see the FY XXXX Notice Inviting Applications for the definitions of these entities.

The FY XXXX Notice Inviting Applications (NIAs) published in the Federal Register on [INSERT DATE] is the official guidance for these competitions. Applicants should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the official notice. We recommend establishing a timeline that allows you to submit your application at least three (3) days prior to the closing date and time. Allowing sufficient lead time is essential because the time to upload an application varies, depending on the size of your application and the speed of your internet connection.

You may view additional information about the NRC and FLAS programs at:

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/index.html.

We appreciate your efforts to promote excellence in international education and look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,

/signed/

Sarah T. Beaton

Director, Advanced Training and Research Division

Public 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 1840-0807. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 13 hours per application (averaged over three years) 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 benefits (20 USC §1122) per the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Chapter VI, Part 656. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate, suggestions for improving this individual collection, or if you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual form, application or survey, please contact National Resource Centers Program, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Mailstop 258-40, Washington, DC, 20202 directly.

Privacy Notice

Authorities: The following authorities authorize the collection of this information: 2 CFR § 200.207, under which the Federal awarding agency may only use application information collections approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB's implementing regulations in 5 CFR part 1320 and in alignment with OMB-approved, governmentwide data elements available from the OMB-designated standards lead; 34 CFR § 655.30, which details the basis on which the U.S. Department of Education (Department) may evaluate applications for international education programs; and the Education Department General Administrative Requirements (EDGAR) and performance indicators that are contingent on the collection of data from centers selected to receive funding under the National Resource Centers (NRC) grant program.

Purpose: The purpose of collecting this information is to execute a merit review process for applications, with the objective of selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the NRC program objectives. Collected information will also be used in monitoring grant implementation and performance.

Disclosures: Information about NRC applicant institutions and associated staff will be shared with individuals selected to serve as peer reviewers during the NRC panel review process. Readers who serve on the peer review panels are selected based on their expertise in the specialized area studies, international studies, and modern foreign language(s) necessary to effectively review, score, and rank the applications assigned to them. Project abstracts as well as Project Director names and email addresses for institutions selected to receive funding will be shared on the Department’s website. While other individual information will not be disclosed outside of the International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office, there may be circumstances where information may be shared with a third party, such as a Freedom of Information Act request, court orders or subpoena, or if a breach or security incident occurs that affects grant record systems, etc.

Consequences of Failure to Provide Information: Individuals representing NRC institutions are required to provide the information identified above to obtain an account on the Department’s G5 grant management system and IFLE’s International Resource Information System (IRIS) project monitoring website. Failure to do so may result in not receiving an account.

Competition Highlights

You may read more about the priorities listed in the cover letter in the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) on pages 27-59. You are urged to read the NIA carefully before preparing your application.
The Application (Project) Narrative

The Application (Project) Narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that peer reviewers will use to evaluate your application. The NIA contains the recommended standards for preparing the Application (Project) Narrative.

The recommended maximum number of pages for the Application (Project) Narrative is 50 pages for an application submitted by a single institution. The recommended maximum number of pages for the Application (Project) Narrative for an application submitted by a consortium is 60 pages.

Abstract

The recommended maximum number of pages for the project abstract is two pages. The abstract should include an overview of the project, its goals, and the intended outcomes. Also, for application screening purposes, indicate which competitive preference priority/ies you will address in the Application (Project) Narrative. Do not, however, discuss the priority/ies at length in the abstract. While it is acceptable to cite progress and accomplishments made under previous NRC grants, be advised that the abstract primarily should focus on the activities and project goals proposed for the next four years.

Estimated Funding Amounts

These are estimated amounts for FY XXXX for the NRC program. The Department is not bound by these amounts.

Estimated available funds: $23,709,231
Estimated range of awards: $188,000 - $270,000 per year.
Estimated average size of awards: $215,000 per year.
Estimated number of awards: 100

Project period: up to 48 months

(August 15, XXXX – August 14, XXXX)

Overview: National Resource Centers Program

Authorization

20 U.S.C. 1121-1122 and Sections 1132-1132-7.

Applicable Regulations

The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 76, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
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.
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.
The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 655 and 656.
The notice of final priorities for these programs published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2014 (79 FR 31031).

Purpose

Under the National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Areas Studies (National Resource Centers Program), the Secretary awards grants to institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions to establish, strengthen, and operate comprehensive and undergraduate Centers that act cooperatively as national resources for (a) Teaching of modern foreign languages, especially less commonly taught languages; (b) Instruction in fields of study needed to provide full understanding of areas, regions, or countries in which such languages are commonly used; (c) Research and training in international studies and the international and foreign language aspects of professional and other fields of study; and (d) Instruction and research on issues in world affairs that concern one or more countries.

Eligible Applicants

An institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education is eligible to receive a grant.

Allowable Activities And Costs

(a) Allowable activities and costs. Except as provided under paragraph (b) of this section, a grant awarded under this part may be used to pay all or part of the cost of establishing, strengthening, or operating a comprehensive or undergraduate Center including, but not limited to, the cost of the following:

(1) Supporting instructors of the less commonly taught languages related to the Center’s area of focus.

(2) Creating, expanding, or improving opportunities for the formal study of the less commonly taught languages related to the Center’s area of focus.

(3) Creating or operating summer institutes in the United States or abroad designed to provide modern foreign language and area training in the Center's area of focus.

(4) Cooperating with other Centers to conduct projects that address issues of world, regional, cross-regional, international, or global importance.

(5) Bringing visiting scholars and faculty to the Center to teach, conduct research, or participate in conferences or workshops.

(6) Disseminating information about the Center’s area of focus to various audiences in the United States through domestic outreach activities involving, for example, elementary and secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, businesses, and the media.

(7) Funding library acquisitions, the maintenance of library collections, or efforts to enhance access to library collections related to the Center’s area of focus.

(8) Establishing and maintaining linkages with overseas institutions of higher education, alumni, and other organizations that may contribute to the teaching and research of the Center’s area of focus.

(9) Creating, obtaining, modifying, or improving access to teaching and research materials related to the Center’s area of focus.

(10) Creating, expanding, or improving activities or teaching materials that are intended to increase modern foreign language proficiency related to the Center’s area of focus among students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

(11) Conducting projects that encourage and prepare students to seek employment relevant to the Center’s area of focus in areas of national need.

(12) Planning or developing curriculum related to the Center’s area of focus.

(13) Engaging in professional development of the Center’s faculty and staff.

(14) Funding salaries and travel for faculty and staff related to the Center’s area of focus.

(b) Limitations. The following are limitations on allowable activities and costs:

(1) Equipment costs exceeding 10 percent of the grant are not allowable.

(2) Undergraduate student travel is only allowable if grantees have received prior approval by the Secretary for the associated costs and the travel is made in conjunction with a formal program of supervised study in the Center’s area of focus.

(3) Grant funds may not be used to supplant funds normally used by grantees for purposes of this part.

(4) The following limitations on compensation paid to personnel apply to each award under this part:

(i) Project director.

(A) Personnel costs and other related costs, including the cost of fringe benefits, associated with compensation for the project director are not allowable if such compensation only reflects the administrative tasks ordinarily associated with the role.

(B) Personnel costs and other related costs, including the cost of fringe benefits, associated with compensation for the project director are allowable with the Secretary's prior approval if such compensation is directly tied to the implementation of an approved project activity that requires the project director's expertise.

(ii) Instructors of less commonly taught languages. Personnel costs and other costs, including the cost of fringe benefits, related to the compensation of individuals directly engaged in the instruction of a less commonly taught language are allowable up to 100 percent of the actual costs associated with approved project activities.

(iii) Other project personnel. Personnel costs and other costs, including the costs of fringe benefits, related to the compensation of project personnel who are not described in paragraph (b)(4)(i) or (ii) of this section are allowable up to 50 percent of the costs for a full-time equivalent position.

(5) Costs for international travel are only allowable if a Center has obtained prior approval from the Secretary.

The Expectations of a NRC, Per the Program Regulations

A Center’s area of focus for research, teaching, training, instruction, and project activities must be aligned with both of the following requirements:

(1) The area of focus must be a geographic world area or a geographically designated region that spans multiple world areas.

(2) Research, teaching, training, and instruction in specific languages, countries, regions, societies, or other units of analysis related to the area of focus described in this paragraph (1) must be conducted at the institution.

A comprehensive Center is an administrative unit of an eligible institution of higher education that independently or through collaboration with other administrative units--

(1) Provides intensive modern foreign language training, especially for less commonly taught languages, in the Center’s area of focus;

(2) Contributes significantly to the national interest in advanced research and scholarship in the Center’s area of focus;

(3) Employs a critical mass of scholars in diverse disciplines related to the Center’s area of focus;

(4) Maintains important library collections related to the Center’s area of focus;

(5) Makes training available in language and area studies in the Center’s area of focus, to graduate, postgraduate, and undergraduate students;

(6) Addresses national needs for modern foreign language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including through, but not limited to, the placement of students into postgraduate employment, education, or training in areas of need; and

(7) Disseminates information about the Center’s area of focus to audiences in the United States.

An undergraduate Center independently or through collaboration with other administrative units--

(1) Teaches modern foreign languages, especially less commonly taught languages, related to the Center’s area of focus;

(2) Prepares undergraduate students to matriculate into advanced modern foreign language and area studies programs and professional school programs;

(3) Incorporates substantial content related to the Center’s area of focus into baccalaureate degree programs;

(4) Engages in research and curriculum development designed to broaden knowledge and expertise related to the Center’s area of focus;

(5) Employs faculty with strong language, area, and international studies credentials related to the Center’s area of focus;

(6) Maintains library holdings sufficient to support high-quality training and instruction in the Center’s area of focus for undergraduate students;

(7) Makes training related to the Center’s area of focus available predominantly to undergraduate students in support of the objectives of a undergraduate education;

(8) Addresses national needs for language and area studies expertise and knowledge, including through, but not limited to, the placement of undergraduate students into postgraduate employment, education, or training in areas of need; and

(9) Disseminates information about the Center’s area of focus to audiences in the United States.

Supplemental Information

The Application Narrative

The Application (Project) Narrative is where you, the applicant, respond to the program selection criteria. The full text of the selection criteria used to evaluate NRC applications is included in the FY XXXX NIA published in Federal Register. The selection criteria are from 34 CFR section 656.21 (Comprehensive NRC) and section 656.22 (Undergraduate NRC)) and may be found on pages 27-59. The list of selection criteria (by headings) with the maximum possible points may be found on page 93. When responding to the selection criteria in the Application (Project) Narrative, please use the selection criteria order as presented in the Technical Review Form (TRF). Please be advised that the selection criteria in the TRF are from the program regulations.

Applications must include the following:

Application for Federal Assistance (Form SF-424)
Budget Information (Non-Construction Programs) ED 524 Form
Grants.gov Certification Regarding Lobbying
Description to demonstrate compliance with the General Education Provisions Act (ED GEPA 427 Form)
ED Project Abstract Form
Application (Project) Narrative and Appendices

Table of Contents
List of Acronyms
Narrative

List of courses that include language courses and courses with 25%-100% related international or area studies content

XXXX-XXXX: Courses and enrollments
XXXX-XXXX: Courses currently being offered
XXXX-XXXX: Courses to be offered

Position descriptions for positions related to the grant

Curriculum vitae for program director, faculty, and instructors
Letters of support (recommended maximum: 5)

Budget Narrative ED 524 (Section C) Form/Detailed line-item budget
Other Attachments

Application Profile Sheet
Description of diverse perspectives and wide range of views in funded activities
Description of government service in areas of national need and in other employment sectors
Non-discriminatory hiring statement
Travel policy statement

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

Recommended Start Date

The Department recommends a start date of August 15, XXXX.

Peer Review Process

A three-member panel of independent reviewers with area studies and modern language expertise evaluates each application. Each reviewer provides their scores and comments to indicate the extent to which the applicant has responded to the NRC selection criteria.

Notifying Successful Applicants

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. The email will be sent to both the project director and certifying representative for them to view and print the Adobe Acrobat version of the electronically-signed GAN. If neither the project director nor certifying representative is registered in G5, they will immediately be prompted to register once the link is accessed. Because the Department issues signed GANs electronically, it is important that the email addresses provided for the project director and the certifying representative are correct.

Notifying Ineligible or Unsuccessful Applicants

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

Peer Reviewers’ Technical Review Forms (TRFs)

A blank version of the TRF is available in this booklet for your reference. All applicants will receive copies of the peer reviewers’ completed TRFs (evaluations).

Reporting Requirements

If you receive a FY XXXX new grant award, you will be required to submit performance reports in the fall and spring, and a final performance and financial status report at the end of the project period. All performance reports for the NRC program must be submitted electronically into the IFLE web-based reporting system, International Resource Information System (IRIS). This online system collects narrative, data, and budget information about funded projects to enable IFLE program officers to determine whether grantees are making substantial progress toward approved project objectives. For more information about IRIS and to view the reporting instructions, please go to:

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsnrc/performance.html.

Diverse Perspectives and Areas of National Need

The Title VI International Education Programs legislation (20 U.S.C §1122(e)) requires that each institution of higher education or consortium of such institutions desiring a grant under the NRC programs shall include the following descriptions in their grant applications:

An explanation of how the activities funded by the grant will reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views and generate debate on world regions and international affairs; and
A description of how the applicant will encourage government service in areas of national need, as identified by the Secretary, as well as areas of need in education, business, and non-profit sectors.

Note: If an application is submitted on behalf of a consortium, the application must include diverse perspectives and areas of national need descriptions for all institutions in the consortium.

Consultation with Federal Agencies

Section 601(c)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) requires that the Secretary consult with Federal agency heads to receive their recommendations regarding areas of national need for expertise in foreign languages and world regions. These agencies recommendations may be viewed on this web page:

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/languageneeds.html

Contact Information

For NRC program-related questions and assistance, please contact:

Timothy Duvall

U.S. Department of Education

International and Foreign Language Education

400 Maryland Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20202

Telephone: (202) 453-7521

Email: [email protected]

For Grants.gov-related questions and assistance, please contact:

Grants.gov Support Desk

Telephone: (800) 518-4726

Email: [email protected]

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays

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.

Address to Request Application Package

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.

Accessible Format

On request to the program contact person listed under Contact Information above, 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, compact disc, or other accessible format.

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

All applicants are required to submit applications electronically using Grants.gov.

GENERAL

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS

The Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) published in the Federal Register constitutes the official competition guidelines. An applicant should not rely upon external information that is inconsistent with the application preparation guidelines and submission instructions presented in the NIA.

COMMON INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAMS

Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.

To submit your application electronically using Grants.gov, you must—

Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

If you are applying as an organization or entity and do not have an active Unique Entity ID, you may obtain one online at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the IRS or the Social Security Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.

Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), the Government's primary registrant database;

Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application; and

Maintain an active SAM registration with current information while your application is under review by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995

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 1840-0807. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 39.5 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 voluntary. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate, suggestions for improving this individual collection, or if you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual form, application or survey, please contact Carolyn Collins, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5C111, Washington, DC 20202.

HELPFUL REMINDERS

REGISTER EARLY

Grants.gov registration involves many steps which may take approximately one week, but could take upwards of several weeks to complete.

The SAM registration process usually takes approximately 7 to 10 business days, but may take longer, depending on the completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM.gov database. We recommend that you register early, at least 10 to 14 business days before the application deadline. If you are unable to submit an application on Grants.gov by the application deadline because you do not have an active SAM registration, you will not be considered for funding. 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.

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. For detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

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 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, you will need to resubmit successfully to Grants.gov before 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date for your application to be eligible and considered for review.

VERIFY SUBMISSION IS COMPLETE

After you submit your application, please make sure you that:

you receive an on-screen and email confirmation receipt;
you document your Grants.gov Tracking Number; and
the date/time stamp is the official time of submission.

Please also consult the section on the Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission, below, for submitting an application to the Department of Education in Grants.gov.

GRANTS.GOV APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND RECEIPT PROCEDURES

This section provides the application submission and receipt instructions for Department of Education (Department) grant applications. Please read the following instructions carefully and completely.

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY

The U.S. Department of Education is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. The Department encourages applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov.

HOW TO REGISTER TO APPLY THROUGH GRANTS.GOV INSTRUCTIONS

Read the instructions below about registering to apply for Department of Education funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

Organizations must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration which provides a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and a Grants.gov account to apply for grants. Individual applicants (those submitting on their own behalf) eligible to apply for this funding opportunity need only refer to steps 2 and 3 below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but SAM registration may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organization registration instructions can be found on Grants.gov here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

1) Register with SAM: All organizations (entities) applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

2) Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions provided on the registration page.

3) Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant submitting on their own behalf. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations, you can have a profile for each organization under one Grants.gov account. In such cases, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all your grant profiles. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) for the organization in the UEI field. If you are an individual applicant submitting on your own behalf, you do not need a UEI to add the profile. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

4) EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC is then expected to log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

5) Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE

When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC of the organization must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VIA GRANTS.GOV

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 webforms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

For an overview of applying on Grants.gov using Workspaces, 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 webforms 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: These forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and SAM UEI. 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.

Please note the following recommendations for 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.
If more than one attachment is included in a grant submission in Grants.gov and two or more files have the same name, the grant application cannot be processed without manual intervention. To correct this, you should:

rename attached files with the same name so that no files share the same name;
reattach the files;

resubmit the application package.

When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names as follows:

Please limit file names to 50 or fewer characters.
Please use only 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. Attachments that do not follow this rule may cause the entire application to be rejected or cause issues during processing.

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. Grants.gov suggests limiting the file size of the entire grant application package including all the attachments to 200MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission.

Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected and will not be forwarded to the Department.

Applicant Support

Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at [email protected]. For questions related to the specific opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the Department of Education with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

TIMELY RECEIPT REQUIREMENTS AND PROOF OF TIMELY SUBMISSION ONLINE SUBMISSION

All applications must be received by 11:59:59 Eastern time on the due date established for the competition. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When the Department of Education successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding.

Applicants using unreliable internet connections should be aware that the process of completing the Workspace can take some time. Therefore, applicants should allow enough time to prepare and submit the application before the package closing date.

You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail about the status of your application, including the following:

Grants.gov Submission Receipt Email

Your application has been received by Grants.gov
Grants.gov E-mail Verifying Receipt (with Track My Application URL)

Grants.gov Submission Validation or Rejection Email

Grants.gov E-mail Verifying Successful Submission OR

Rejection Due to Errors with a description of issue.

Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your application has been received. Rather, please verify that Grants.gov received your application submission on time and that it was validated successfully. Check the date/time your application was received by logging in to Grants.gov, accessing the Details tab of the submitted Workspace and checking the Submission Details. You may also track the application status by entering the Grant Tracking Number under Track My Application. 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 at the Track My Application link on Grants.gov.

If the date/time received is later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on the deadline date, your application is late and is not eligible for review.

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.

If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the instructions below. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on Grants.gov at 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. Applicants may call or email the Grants.gov Support Center at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected] for assistance with resolving any issues.

Grants.gov does not allow an applicant to un-submit an application after it has been submitted. If you discover that you need to revise your application after you have submitted it, you must submit another application that is date-and-time stamped by Grants.gov no later than 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date. The replacement application will be submitted to the peer review process. Once again, we suggest that you submit your application several days before the deadline date in case you discover that you need to submit a replacement application.

Please note that email confirmations and receipts from Grants.gov do not indicate receipt by the Department, nor do they mean that your application is complete or has met all application requirements. While your application may have been successfully validated by Grants.gov, it also must be reviewed in accordance with the Department's application requirements as specified in the competition NIA and in these application instructions. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.

SUBMISSION PROBLEMS

If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (U.S.) or 1-606-545-5035 (International), by email at mailto:[email protected], or access the Grants.gov Self-Service Knowledge Base web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants.

The Grants.gov Support Center will provide you with a Support Desk Case Number documenting your communication. You must retain your Support Desk Case Number for future reference as proof of your communication with the Support Center. Please subsequently contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section in the competition NIA and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number.

If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems within the Grants.gov system, the Department will grant you an extension until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, provided the Department can verify the technical issues that affected your ability to submit your application on time via your Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number.

Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to technical problems with the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register in order to submit your application to Grants.gov (including with the required UEI number and TIN currently registered in SAM) before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

SUBMISSION OF PAPER APPLICATIONS IF ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION IS NOT POSSIBLE

We discourage paper applications, but if electronic submission is not possible ( e.g., you do not have access to the internet), (1) you must provide a prior written notification that you intend to submit a paper application and (2) your paper application must be postmarked by the application deadline date.

The prior written notification may be submitted by email or by mail to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of the competition NIA. If you submit your notification by email, it must be received by the Department no later than 14 calendar days before the application deadline date. If you mail your notification to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than 14 calendar days before the application deadline date.

If you submit a paper application, you must have, and include on your application, a UEI number and mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, OFO/G5 Functional Application Team, Mail Stop 5C231, Attention: (Assistance Listing Number + Suffix Letter), 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202–4260.

You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office.

We will not consider applications postmarked after the application deadline date.

Note for Mail Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail your application to the Department—

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and in Item 11 of the SF 424 the ALN, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

(2) The G5 Functional Application Team will notify you of the Department's receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of the competition NIA.

Federal Register Notice Inviting Applications [PLACEHOLDER]

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; National Resource Centers Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2022 for the National Resource Centers (NRC) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.015A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840-0807.

DATES:

Applications Available: December 16, 2021.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 14, 2022.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 15, 2022.

Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department held a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants on November 10, 2021. The link for the webinar is located on the International and Foreign Language Education website at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsnrc/applicant.html. Additionally, for new potential grantees unfamiliar with grantmaking at the Department, please consult our funding basics resources at https://www2.ed.gov/documents/funding-101/funding-101-basics.pdf.

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: Timothy Duvall, U.S. Department of Education, International and Foreign Language Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Mailstop 258-40, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-7521. 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 NRC Program provides grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of IHEs to establish, strengthen, and operate comprehensive and undergraduate centers that will be national resources for: (a) teaching of modern foreign languages; (b) instruction in fields needed to provide a full understanding of world regions where the modern foreign languages are used; (c) research and training in international studies and international and foreign language aspects of professional and other fields of study; and (d) instruction and research on issues in world affairs.

Priorities: This notice contains two absolute priorities and one competitive preference priority for the NRC Program. Absolute Priority 1 is from section 602(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1122(e)). Absolute Priority 2 is from the program regulations (34 CFR 656.23). The competitive preference priority is from the Secretary’s Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2021 (86 FR 70612) (Supplemental Priorities).

Absolute Priorities: For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet these priorities.

These priorities are:

Absolute Priority 1.

Applications that (1) explain how the activities funded by the grant will reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views and generate debate on world regions and international affairs; and (2) describe how the applicant will encourage government service in areas of national need, as identified by the Secretary, as well as in areas of need in the education, business, and non-profit sectors.

Absolute Priority 2.

Applications that propose teacher training activities on the language, languages, area studies, or thematic focus of the Center.

Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference priority. 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 the priority.

This priority is:

Partnership with Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) or Community Colleges (up to 5 additional points).

Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project will be implemented by or in partnership with one or more of the following entities:

(1) Community colleges (as defined in this notice).

(2) Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in this notice).

(3) Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice).

(4) Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice).

Definitions: The definitions below are from the Supplemental Priorities.

Community college means “junior or community college” as defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

Historically Black Colleges and Universities means colleges and universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.

Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) means an institution that is eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.

Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in section 316(b)(3) of the HEA.

Note: The institutions designated eligible under title III and title V may be viewed at the following link: www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html.

Program Authority: Title VI, part A, HEA (20 U.S.C. 1122).

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, 76, 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 parts 655 and 656. (e) The Supplemental Priorities.

Areas of National Need: In accordance with section 601(c) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1121(c)), the Secretary consulted with a wide range of Federal agencies and received recommendations regarding national need for expertise in foreign language and world regions. These agencies’ recommendations may be viewed on this web page: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/languageneeds.html.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: $23,709,231.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FYs 2023, 2024, and 2025 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $188,000-$270,000 per year.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $215,000 per year.

Estimated Number of Awards: 100.

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

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs (as defined in section 101 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001)) or consortia of IHEs.

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

b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: The NRC Program has supplement-not-supplant funding requirements. Under 34 CFR 656.33(b)(3), grant funds may not be used to supplant funds normally used by applicants for purposes of this program.

c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a restricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.

d. 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: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under this competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project activities described in its application--to the following types of entities: IHEs, nonprofit organizations, professional organizations, or businesses. The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified in the approved application or that it selects through a competition under procedures established by the grantee.

4. Other: (a) Reasonable and Necessary Costs: Applicants must ensure that all costs included in the proposed budget are necessary and reasonable to meet the goals and objectives of the proposed project. Any costs determined by the Secretary to be unreasonable or unnecessary will be removed from the final approved budget.

(b) Audits: (i) A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity’s fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR part 200. (2 CFR 200.501(a))

(ii) A non-Federal entity that expends less than $750,000 during the non-Federal entity’s fiscal year in Federal awards is exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 (Relation to Other Audit Requirements), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office (GAO) (2 CFR 200.501(d)).

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 656.30(b). We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the priorities, selection criteria, and application requirements that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 50 pages for single institution applications, and to no more than 60 pages for consortia applications 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, except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Charts, tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative may be single spaced and will count toward the recommended page limit.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10-point font in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.

The recommended page limit applies to the entirety of the application narrative. The recommended page limit does not apply to the Application for Federal Assistance face sheet (SF 424); the supplemental SF 424 form; Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524); the detailed line item budget; the assurances and certifications, and the response to section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act; the project abstract, the table of contents, the list of acronyms, the response to the diverse perspectives/areas of need requirements, the NRC project profile form, and the appendices (curriculum vitae, course list, and, letters of support).

5. Award Basis: In determining whether to approve a grant award and the amount of such award, the Department will consider, among other things, the applicant’s performance and use of funds under a previous or existing award under any Department program (34 CFR 75.217(d)(3)(ii) and 75.233). In assessing the applicant’s performance and use of funds under a previous or existing award, the Secretary will consider, among other things, the outcomes the applicant has achieved and the results of any Departmental grant monitoring, including the applicant’s progress in remedying any deficiencies identified in such monitoring.

V. Application Review Information

1. General: For the FY 2022 NRC competition, all applications will be assigned to peer review panels based on world region—such as Africa, Asia, or the Middle East—or international focus, as specified in the NRC application profile form. Readers who serve on the peer review panels are selected based on their expertise in the specialized area studies, international studies, and modern foreign language(s) necessary to review, score, and rank the assigned applications in each distinct category. The Department will select applications for funding based on the ranking of each application in its distinct regional or thematic focus panel.

2. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 656.21 and apply to applications for a comprehensive Center or an undergraduate Center, as indicated. The maximum possible points for the selection criteria, taken together with the maximum number of points awarded to applicants for addressing the competitive preference priorities, is 129 points.

Comprehensive Center Selection Criteria:

(a) Commitment to the subject area on which the Center focuses (up to 5 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the institution provides financial and other support to the operation of the Center, teaching staff for the Center's subject area, library resources, linkages with institutions abroad, outreach activities, and qualified students in fields related to the Center.

(b) Quality of the Center’s language instructional program (up to 14 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(1) The extent to which the Center provides instruction in the languages of the Center's subject area and the extent to which students enroll in the study of the languages of the subject area through programs or instruction offered by the Center or other providers;

(2) The extent to which the Center provides three or more levels of language training and the extent to which courses in disciplines other than language, linguistics, and literature are offered in appropriate foreign languages;

(3) Whether sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to teach the languages and levels of instruction described in the application and the extent to which language teaching staff (including faculty and instructional assistants) have been exposed to current language pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching; and

(4) The quality of the language program as measured by the performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency requirements.

(c) Quality of the Center’s non-language instructional program up to 14 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(1) The quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a variety of disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the Center's subject matter are available in the institution's professional schools;

(2) The extent to which the Center offers depth of specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines of the Center's subject area;

(3) The extent to which the institution employs a sufficient number of teaching faculty to enable the Center to carry out its purposes and the extent to which instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy training; and

(4) The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for undergraduate and graduate students.

(d) Quality of curriculum design (up to 13 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(1) The extent to which the Center's curriculum has incorporated undergraduate instruction in the applicant's area or topic of specialization into baccalaureate degree programs (for example, major, minor, or certificate programs) and the extent to which these programs and their requirements (including language requirements) are appropriate for a Center in this subject area and will result in an undergraduate training program of high quality;

(2) The extent to which the Center's curriculum provides training options for graduate students from a variety of disciplines and professional fields and the extent to which these programs and their requirements (including language requirements) are appropriate for a Center in this subject area and result in graduate training programs of high quality;

(3) The extent to which the Center provides academic and career advising services for students; and

(4) The extent to which the Center has established formal arrangements for students to conduct research or study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are used; and the extent to which the institution facilitates student access to other institutions' study abroad and summer language programs.

(e) Quality of staff resources (up to 13 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(1) The extent to which teaching faculty and other staff are qualified for the current and proposed Center activities and training programs, are provided professional development opportunities (including overseas experience), and participate in teaching, supervising, and advising students;

(2) The adequacy of Center staffing and oversight arrangements, including outreach and administration and the extent to which faculty from a variety of departments, professional schools, and the library are involved; and

(3) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

(f) Strength of library (up to 6 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(1) The strength of the institution's library holdings (both print and non-print, English and foreign language) in the subject area and at the educational levels (graduate, professional, undergraduate) on which the Center focuses; and the extent to which the institution provides financial support for the acquisition of library materials and for library staff in the subject area of the Center; and

(2) The extent to which research materials at other institutions are available to students through cooperative arrangements with other libraries or online databases and the extent to which teachers, students, and faculty from other institutions are able to access the library's holdings.

(g) Impact and evaluation (up to 25 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(2) The applicant's record of placing students into post-graduate employment, education, or training in areas of national need and the applicant's stated efforts to increase the number of such students that go into such placements;

(3) The degree to which activities of the Center address national needs, and generate information for and disseminate information to the public;

(4) The extent to which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been used to improve the applicant's program; and

(5) The extent to which the applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

(h) Outreach activities (up to 9 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the Center demonstrates a significant and measurable regional and national impact of, and faculty and professional school involvement in, domestic outreach activities that involve-

(1) Elementary and secondary schools;

(2) Postsecondary institutions; and

(3) Business, media, and the general public.

(i) Program planning and budget (up to 25 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(1) The extent to which the applicant provides a development plan or timeline demonstrating how the proposed activities will contribute to a strengthened program and whether the applicant uses its resources and personnel effectively to achieve the proposed objectives;

(2) The extent to which the activities for which the applicant seeks funding are of high quality and directly related to the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program;

(3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed activities are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program; and

(4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on the institution's undergraduate, graduate, and professional training programs.

Undergraduate Center Selection Criteria:

(b) Quality of the Center's language instructional program (up to 14 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--

(c) Quality of the Center's non-language instructional program (up to 14 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine-

(1) The quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a variety of disciplines;

(2) The extent to which the Center offers depth of specialized course coverage in one or more disciplines of the Center's subject area;

(4) The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for undergraduate students.

(d) Quality of curriculum design (up to 13 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine—

(2) The extent to which the Center provides academic and career advising services for students; and

(3) The extent to which the Center has established formal arrangements for students to conduct research or study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are used; and the extent to which the institution facilitates student access to other institutions' study abroad and summer language programs.

(e) Quality of staff resources (up to 13 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--

(f) Strength of library (up to 6 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--

(2) The extent to which research materials at other institutions are available to students through cooperative arrangements with other libraries or on-line databases and the extent to which teachers, students, and faculty from other institutions are able to access the library's holdings.

(g) Impact and evaluation (up to 25 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--

(1) The extent to which the Center's activities and training programs have a significant impact on the university, community, region, and the Nation as shown through indices such as enrollments, graduate placement data, participation rates for events, and usage of Center resources; the extent to which students matriculate into advanced language and area or international studies programs or related professional programs;

(2) The extent to which the applicant provides an evaluation plan that is comprehensive and objective and that will produce quantifiable, outcome-measure-oriented data; and the extent to which recent evaluations have been used to improve the applicant's program;

(3) The degree to which activities of the Center address national needs, and generate information for and disseminate information to the public;

(4) The applicant's record of placing students into post-graduate employment, education, or training in areas of national need and the applicant's stated efforts to increase the number of such students that go into such placements; and

(1) Elementary and secondary schools;

(2) Postsecondary institutions; and

(3) Business, media, and the general public.

(i) Program planning and budget (up to 25 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--

(2) The extent to which the activities for which the applicant seeks funding are of high quality and directly related to the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program;

(3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed activities are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program; and

(4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on the institution's undergraduate training program.

3. 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).

4. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.206, before awarding grants under these programs 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.

5. 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.

6. 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);

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.

Performance reports for the NRC Program must be submitted electronically into the International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) web-based reporting system, International Resource Information System (IRIS). For information about IRIS and to view the reporting instructions, please go to https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/NRC.pdf.

(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. If a grantee is provided additional funding for this purpose, the Secretary establishes a data collection period.

5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of evaluating the success of the NRC Program under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the Department has established the following performance measures:

(a) Percentage of priority languages defined by the Secretary of Education taught at NRCs.

(b) Percentage of NRCs teaching intermediate or advanced courses in priority languages as defined by the Secretary of Education.

(c) Percentage of NRCs that increased the number of intermediate or advanced level language courses in the priority area and/or less and least commonly taught languages (LCTLs) during the course of the grant period.

(d) Percentage of NRCs that increased the number of certificate, minor, or major degree programs in the priority area and/or LCTLs, area studies, or international studies during the course of the four-year grant period.

(e) Percentage of LCTLs taught at NRCs.

(f) Cost per NRC that increased the number of intermediate or advanced level language courses in the priority area and/or LCTLs during the course of the grant period.

The information provided by grantees in their performance reports submitted via the International Resource Information System (IRIS) will be the source of data for these measures. Reporting screens for institutions can be viewed at:

http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/NRC.pdf.

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, whether the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving 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: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.

Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other 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:

_____________________________________

Annmarie Weisman,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation,

Office of Postsecondary Education.

The Higher Education Act of 1965, As Amended (HEA), Sections 1121, 1122 and 1132 – 1132-7

TITLE VI – INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

20 USC §§1121-1122 and 1132-1132-7

PART A—International and Foreign Language Studies

§1121. Findings; purposes; consultation; survey

Findings

Congress finds as follows:

(1) The security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States in a complex global era depend upon American experts in and citizens knowledgeable about world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs, as well as upon a strong research base in these areas.

(2) Advances in communications technology and the growth of regional and global problems make knowledge of other countries and the ability to communicate in other languages more essential to the promotion of mutual understanding and cooperation among nations and their peoples.

(3) Dramatic changes in the world's geopolitical and economic landscapes are creating needs for American expertise and knowledge about a greater diversity of less commonly taught foreign languages and nations of the world.

(4) Systematic efforts are necessary to enhance the capacity of institutions of higher education in the United States for--

(A) producing graduates with international and foreign language expertise and knowledge; and

(B) research regarding such expertise and knowledge.

(5) Cooperative efforts among the Federal Government, institutions of higher education, and the private sector are necessary to promote the generation and dissemination of information about world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs throughout education, government, business, civic, and nonprofit sectors in the United States.

(b) Purposes

The purposes of this part are--

(1)(A) to support centers, programs, and fellowships in institutions of higher education in the United States for producing increased numbers of trained personnel and research in foreign languages, area studies, and other international studies;

(B) to develop a pool of international experts to meet national needs;

(C) to develop and validate specialized materials and techniques for foreign language acquisition and fluency, emphasizing (but not limited to) the less commonly taught languages;

(D) to promote access to research and training overseas, including through linkages with overseas institutions; and

(E) to advance the internationalization of a variety of disciplines throughout undergraduate and graduate education;

(2) to support cooperative efforts promoting access to and the dissemination of international and foreign language knowledge, teaching materials, and research, throughout education, government, business, civic, and nonprofit sectors in the United States, through the use of advanced technologies; and

(3) to coordinate the programs of the Federal Government in the areas of foreign language, area studies, and other international studies, including professional international affairs education and research.

(c) Consultation

(1) In general

The Secretary shall, prior to requesting applications for funding under this subchapter during each grant cycle, consult with and receive recommendations regarding national need for expertise in foreign language and world regions from the head officials of a wide range of Federal agencies.

(2) Considering recommendations; providing information

The Secretary-

may take into account the recommendations described in paragraph (1); and
shall-

provide information collected under paragraph (1) when requesting applications for funding under this subchapter; and
make available to applicants a list of areas identified as areas of national need.

(d) Survey

The Secretary shall assist grantees in developing a survey to administer to students who have completed programs under this subchapter to determine postgraduate employment, education, or training. All grantees, where applicable, shall administer such survey once every two years and report survey results to the Secretary.

§1122. Graduate and undergraduate language and area centers and programs

(a) National language and area centers and programs authorized-

(1) Centers and programs

(A) In general

The Secretary is authorized to make grants to institutions of higher education or consortia of such institutions for the purpose of establishing, strengthening, and operating—

comprehensive foreign language and area or international studies centers and programs; and
a diverse network of undergraduate foreign language and area or international studies centers and programs.

(B) National resources

The centers and programs referred to in paragraph (1) shall be national resources for-

(i) teaching of any modern foreign language;

(ii) instruction in fields needed to provide full understanding of areas, regions, or countries in which such language is commonly used;

(iii) research and training in international studies, and the international and foreign language aspects of professional and other fields of study; and

(iv) instruction and research on issues in world affairs that concern one or more countries.

(2) Authorized activities

Any such grant may be used to pay all or part of the cost of establishing or operating a center or program, including the cost of—

(A) teaching and research materials;

(B) curriculum planning and development;

(C) establishing and maintaining linkages with overseas institutions of higher education and other organizations that may contribute to the teaching and research of the center or program;

(D) bringing visiting scholars and faculty to the center to teach or to conduct research;

(E) professional development of the center’s faculty and staff;

(F) projects conducted in cooperation with other centers addressing themes of world regional, cross-regional, international, or global importance;

(G) summer institutes in the United States or abroad designed to provide language and area training in the center’s field or topic;

(H) support for faculty, staff, and student travel in foreign areas, regions, or countries, and for the development and support of educational programs abroad for students;

(I) supporting instructors of the less commonly taught languages; and

(J) projects that support students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to achieve foreign language proficiency.

(3) Grants to maintain library collections

The Secretary may make grants to centers described in paragraph (1) having important library collections, as determined by the Secretary, for the maintenance of such collections.

(4) Outreach grants and summer institutes

The Secretary may make additional grants to centers described in paragraph (1) for any one or more of the following purposes:

(A) Programs of linkage or outreach between foreign language, area studies, or other international fields, and professional schools and colleges.

(B) Programs of linkage or outreach with 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.

(i) postsecondary programs or departments in foreign language, area studies, or other international fields; and

(ii) State educational agencies or local educational agencies.

(D) Partnerships or programs of linkage and outreach with departments or agencies of Federal and State governments, including Federal or State scholarship programs for students in related areas.

(E) Programs of linkage or outreach with the news media, business, professional, or trade associations.

(F) Summer institutes in area studies, foreign language, and other international fields designed to carry out the programs described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E).

§1132

(a) Definitions

As used in this subchapter—

(1) the term “area studies” means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or societies, including study of its history, culture, economy, politics, international relations and languages;

(2) the term “comprehensive foreign language and area or international studies center” means an administrative unit of a university that contributes significantly to the national interest in advanced research and scholarship, employs a critical mass of scholars in diverse disciplines related to a geographic concentration, offers intensive language training in languages of its area specialization, maintains important library collections related to the area, and makes training available in language and area studies to a graduate, postgraduate, and undergraduate clientele; and [1]

(3) the term “educational programs abroad” means programs of study, internships, or service learning outside the United States which are part of a foreign language or other international curriculum at the undergraduate or graduate education levels;

(4) the term “export education” means educating, teaching and training to provide general knowledge and specific skills pertinent to the selling of goods and services to other countries, including knowledge of market conditions, financial arrangements, laws and procedures;

(5) the term “historically Black college and university” has the meaning given the term “part B institution” in section 1061 of this title;

(6) the term “institution of higher education” means, in addition to institutions which meet the definition of section 1001 of this title, institutions which meet the requirements of section 1001 of this title except that (1) they are not located in the United States, and (2) they apply for assistance under this subchapter in consortia with institutions which meet the definition of section 1001 of this title;

(7) the term “international business” means profit-oriented business relationships conducted across national boundaries and includes activities such as the buying and selling of goods, investments in industries, the licensing of processes, patents and trademarks, and the supply of services;

(8) the term “internationalization of curricula” means the incorporation of international or comparative perspectives in existing courses of study or the addition of new components to the curricula to provide an international context for American business education;

(9) the term “tribally controlled college or university” has the meaning given the term in section 1801 of title 25; and

(10) the term “undergraduate foreign language and area or international studies center” means an administrative unit of an institution of higher education, including but not limited to 4-year colleges, that contributes significantly to the national interest through the education and training of students who matriculate into advanced language and area studies programs, professional school programs, or incorporates substantial international and foreign language content into baccalaureate degree programs, engages in research, curriculum development and community outreach activities designed to broaden international and foreign language knowledge, employs faculty with strong language, area, and international studies credentials, maintains library holdings, including basic reference works, journals, and works in translation, and makes training available predominantly to undergraduate students.

(b)Special conditions

All references to individuals or organizations, unless the context otherwise requires, mean individuals who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or organizations which are organized or incorporated in the United States.

§1132-1 Special Rule

The Secretary may waive or reduce the non-Federal share required under this subchapter for institutions that—

(1) are eligible to receive assistance under part A or B of subchapter III or under subchapter V; and

(2) have submitted a grant application under this section that demonstrates a need for a waiver or reduction, as determined by the Secretary.

§1132-2. Rule of construction

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to mandate, direct, or control an institution of higher education’s specific instructional content, curriculum, or program of instruction.

§1132-3 Assessment

The Secretary is authorized to assess and ensure compliance with all the conditions and terms of grants provided under this subchapter.

§1132-4 Evaluation, outreach, and information

The Secretary may use not more than one percent of the funds made available under this subchapter to carry out program evaluation, national outreach, and information dissemination activities relating to the programs authorized under this subchapter.

§1132-5 Report

The Secretary shall, in consultation and collaboration with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, submit a report once every two years that identifies areas of national need in foreign language, area, and international studies as such studies relate to government, education, business, and nonprofit needs, and a plan to address those needs. The report shall be provided to the authorizing committees and made available to the public.

§1132-6 Science and technology advanced foreign language education grant program

(a) Purpose

It is the purpose of this section to support programs in institutions of higher education that—

(1) encourage students to develop—

(A) an understanding of science and technology; and

(B) foreign language proficiency;

(2) foster future international scientific collaboration;

(3) provide for professional development opportunities for elementary school and secondary school teachers of critical foreign languages to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in critical foreign languages; and

(4) increase the number of United States students who achieve the highest level of proficiency in foreign languages critical to the security and competitiveness of the Nation.

(b) Development

The Secretary shall develop a program for the awarding of grants to institutions of higher education that develop innovative programs for the teaching of foreign languages, which may include the preparation of teachers to teach foreign languages.

(c) Regulations and requirements

The Secretary shall promulgate regulations for the awarding of grants under subsection (b). Such regulations may require institutions of higher education to use grant funds for, among other things—

(1) the development of an on-campus cultural awareness program by which students attend classes taught in a foreign language and study the science and technology developments and practices in a non-English speaking country;

(2) immersion programs where students take science or technology related course work in a non-English speaking country;

(3) other programs, such as summer workshops, that emphasize the intense study of a foreign language and science technology;

(4) if applicable, recruiting highly qualified teachers in critical foreign languages, and providing professional development activities for such teachers at the elementary school and secondary school levels; and

(5) providing innovative opportunities for students that will allow for critical language learning, such as immersion environments, intensive study opportunities, internships, and distance learning.

(d) Grant distribution

In distributing grants to institutions of higher education under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to—

(1) institutions that have programs focusing on curricula that combine the study of foreign languages and the study of science and technology and produce graduates who have both skills; and

(2) institutions teaching critical foreign languages.

(e) Report on best practices

Not later than one year after August 14, 2008, the Secretary shall—

(1) conduct a study to identify the best practices to strengthen the role of institutions of higher education that receive funding under subchapter III or subchapter V in increasing the critical foreign language education efforts in the United States; and

(2) submit a report on the results of such study to the authorizing committees.

(f) Appropriations authorized

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and for each subsequent fiscal year.

§1132-7 Reporting by institutions

(a) Applicability

The data requirement in subsection (b) shall apply to an institution of higher education that receives funds for a center or program under this subchapter if—

(1) the amount of the contribution (including cash and the fair market value of any property) received from any foreign government or from a foreign private sector corporation or foundation during any fiscal year exceeds $250,000 in the aggregate; and

(2) the aggregate contribution, or a significant part of the aggregate contribution, is to be used by a center or program receiving funds under this subchapter.

(b)Data required

The Secretary shall require an institution of higher education referred to in subsection (a) to report information listed in subsection (a) to the Secretary consistent with the requirements of section 1011f of this title.

Program Regulations from Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations

Revised as of XXXX

PART 655—International Education Programs—General Provisions

Section Contents

Subpart A—General

§ 655.1   Which programs do these regulations govern?
§ 655.3   What regulations apply to the International Education Programs?
§ 655.4   What definitions apply to the International Education Programs?

§ 655.5 What are the purposes of the International Educational Programs?

Subpart B—What Kinds of Projects Does the Secretary Assist?

§ 655.10 What kinds of projects does the Secretary assist?

Subpart C [Reserved]

Subpart D—How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

§ 655.30   How does the Secretary evaluate an application?
§ 655.31   What general selection criteria does the Secretary use?
§ 655.32   What additional factors does the Secretary consider in making grant awards?

(Authority: 20 U.S.C 1121–1130b, unless otherwise noted.)

[47 FR 14116, Apr. 1, 1982, unless otherwise noted.]

Subpart A—General

§ 655.1 Which programs do these regulations govern?

The regulations in this part govern the administration of the following programs in international education:

(a) The National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Area Studies and the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program (section 602 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended);

(b) The Language Resource Centers Program (section 603);

(d) The International Research and Studies Program (section 605); and

(e) The Business and International Education Program (section 613).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1121–1130b)

[47 FR 14116, Apr. 1, 1982, as amended at 58 FR 32575, June 10, 1993; 64 FR 7739, Feb. 16, 1999]

§ 655.3 What regulations apply to the International Education Programs?

The following regulations apply to the International Education Programs:

(a) The regulations in this part 655; and

(b) As appropriate, the regulations in—

(1) 34 CFR part 656 (National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Area Studies);

(2) 34 CFR part 657 (Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program);

(3) 34 CFR part 658 (Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program);

(4) 34 CFR part 660 (International Research and Studies Program);

(5) 34 CFR part 661 (Business and International Education Program); and

(6) 34 CFR part 669 (Language Resource Centers Program).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1121–1127; 1221e–3)

[47 FR 14116, Apr. 1, 1982, as amended at 58 FR 32575, June 10, 1993; 64 FR 7739, Feb. 16, 1999; 79 FR 76104, Dec. 19, 2014]

§ 655.4 What definitions apply to the International Education Programs?

The following terms used in this part and 34 CFR parts 656, 657, 658, 660, 661, and 669 are defined in 2 CFR part 200, subpart A, 34 CFR 77.1, 34 CFR 600.2, or 34 CFR 668.2:
- Academic engagement
- Acquisition
- Applicant
- Application
- Award
- Budget
- Clock hour
- Contract
- Correspondence course
- Credit hour
- Distance education
- Educational program
- EDGAR
- Enrolled
- Equipment
- Facilities
- Fiscal year
- Full-time student
- Graduate or professional student
- Grant
- Grantee
- Grant period
- Half-time student
- Local educational agency
- National level
- Nonprofit
- Project
- Project period
- Private
- Public
- Regular student
- Secretary
- State educational agency
- Supplies
- Undergraduate student

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1121–1127)

The following definitions apply to International Education Programs:

Area studies means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a world area's society or societies, including study of history, culture, economy, politics, international relations, and languages.

Areas of national need means the various needs in the government, education, business, and nonprofit sectors for expertise in foreign language, area, and international studies identified by the Secretary as significant for maintaining or improving the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States.

Consortium of institutions of higher education means a group of institutions of higher education that have entered into a cooperative arrangement for the purpose of carrying out a common objective, or a public or private nonprofit agency, organization, or institution designated or created by a group of institutions of higher education for the purpose of carrying out a common objective on their behalf.

Consultation on areas of national need means the process that allows the head officials of a wide range of Federal agencies to consult with the Secretary and provide recommendations regarding national needs for expertise in foreign languages and world areas that the Secretary may take into account when identifying areas of national need.

Diverse perspectives means a variety of viewpoints relevant to understanding global or international issues in context, especially those derived from scholarly research or sustained professional activities and community engagement abroad, and relevant to building multifaceted knowledge and expertise in area studies, international studies, and the international aspects of professional studies, including issues related to world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs, among stakeholders.

Educational program abroad means a program of study, internship, or service learning outside the United States that is part of a foreign language or other international curriculum at the undergraduate or graduate education level.

Institution of higher education means an institution that meets the definition in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, as well as an institution that meets the requirements of section 101(a) except that--

(1) It is not located in the United States; and

(2) It applies for assistance under title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, in consortia with institutions that meet the definition in section 101(a).

Intensive language instruction means instruction of at least five clock hours per week during the academic year or the equivalent of a full academic year of language instruction during the summer.

§ 655.5 What are the purposes of the International Educational Programs?

(a) Each of the programs authorized by part A of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, contributes to at least one, but not necessarily all, of the following purposes:

(1) Provision of support for centers, programs, and fellowships in institutions of higher education in the United States for producing increased numbers of trained personnel and research in foreign languages, area studies, and other international studies.

(2) Development of a pool of international experts to meet national needs.

(3) Development and validation of specialized materials and techniques for foreign language acquisition and fluency, emphasizing (but not limited to) the less commonly taught languages.

(4) Promotion of access to research and training overseas, including through linkages with overseas institutions.

(5) Advancement of the internationalization of a variety of disciplines throughout undergraduate and graduate education.

(6) Support for cooperative efforts promoting access to and the dissemination of international and foreign language knowledge, teaching materials, and research, throughout education, government, business, civic, and nonprofit sectors in the United States, through the use of advanced technologies.

(b) The regulations in this part govern the following programs that are authorized by part A of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended:

(1) The National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Area Studies and the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program.

(2) The Language Resource Centers Program.

(3) The Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program.

(4) The International Research and Studies Program.

(c) The following activities authorized by part A of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, contribute to the coordination of the programs of the Federal Government in the areas of foreign language, area studies, and other international studies, including professional international affairs education and research:

(1) The consultation on areas of national need.

(2) The periodic survey of fellows who have participated in the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program to determine postgraduate employment, education, or training.

(d) Each of the programs authorized by part B of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, contributes to at least one, but not necessarily all, of the following purposes:

(1) Increase and promotion of the Nation’s capacity for international understanding and economic enterprise through the provision of suitable international education and training for business personnel in various stages of professional development; and develop a pool of international experts to meet national needs.

(2) Promotion of institutional and noninstitutional educational and training activities that will contribute to the ability of United States business to prosper in an international economy.

(e) The regulations in this part govern the following programs that are authorized by part B of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended: The Business and International Education Program.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1003, 1121-1127, 1132, and 1141)

[47 FR 14116, Apr. 1, 1982, as amended at 58 FR 32575, June 10, 1993; 64 FR 7739, Feb. 16, 1999; 74 FR 35072, July 17, 2009; 79 FR 76104, Dec. 19, 2014]

Subpart B—What Kinds of Projects Does the Secretary Assist?

§ 655.10 What kinds of projects does the Secretary assist?

Subpart A of 34 CFR parts 656, 657, and 669 and subpart B of 34 CFR parts 658, 660, 661 describe the kinds of projects that the Secretary assists under the International Education Programs.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1121–1127)

[74 FR 35072, July 17, 2009]

Subpart C [Reserved]

Subpart D—How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

§ 655.30 How does the Secretary evaluate an application?

The Secretary evaluates applications for International Education Programs on the basis of any of the following criteria -

(a) The general criteria in § 655.31.

(b) The specific criteria, as applicable, in subpart C of 34 CFR parts 656 and 657, or subpart D of 34 CFR parts 658, 660, 661, and 669.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1121-1127)

[64 FR 7739, Feb. 16, 1999]

§ 655.31 What general selection criteria does the Secretary use?

Plan of operation.

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the plan of operation for the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows -

(i) High quality in the design of the project;

(ii) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program;

(iv) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and

(v) A clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as -

(A) Members of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women; and

(b) Quality of key personnel.

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows –

(i) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be used);

(ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project. In the case of faculty, the qualifications of the faculty and the degree to which that faculty is directly involved in the actual teaching and supervision of students; and

(iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section plans to commit to the project; and

(iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, handicapped persons, and the elderly.

(3) To determine the qualifications of a person, the Secretary considers evidence of past experience and training, in fields related to the objectives of the project, as well as other information that the applicant provides.

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows -

(i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and

(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project.

(d) Evaluation plan.

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows methods of evaluation that are appropriate for the project and, to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.

(e) Adequacy of resources.

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows -

(i) Facilities (including but not limited to language laboratories, museums, and libraries) that the applicant plans to use are adequate; and

(ii) The equipment and supplies that the applicant plans to use are adequate.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1121-1127)

§ 655.32 What additional factors does the Secretary consider in making grant awards?

Except for 34 CFR parts 656, 657, and 661, to the extent practicable and consistent with the criterion of excellence, the Secretary seeks to achieve an equitable distribution of funds throughout the Nation.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1126(b))

[58 FR 32575, June 10, 1993]

PART 656—National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Area Studies

PART 656—NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND AREA STUDIES

Subpart A--General

Sec.

656.1 What is the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program?

656.2 What entities are eligible to receive a grant?

656.3 What defines a comprehensive or undergraduate National Resource Center?

656.4 For what special purposes may a Center receive an additional grant under this part?

656.5 What regulations apply to this program?

656.6 What definitions apply to this program?

656.7 Severability.

Subpart B--How Does an Eligible Institution Apply for a Grant?

656.10 How does an institution submit a grant application?

656.11 What assurances and other information must an applicant include in an application?

Subpart C--How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

656.20 How does the Secretary select applications for funding?

656.21 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate an application for a comprehensive Center?

656.22 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate an application for an undergraduate Center?

656.23 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate an application for an additional special purpose grant to a Center?

656.24 What priorities may the Secretary establish?

Subpart D--What Conditions Must Be Met by a Grantee?

656.30 What activities and costs are allowable?

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1121, 1122, 1127, and 1132 unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A - General

§ 656.1 What is the purpose of the National Resource Centers Program?

(a) Under the National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Areas Studies (National Resource Centers Program), the Secretary awards grants to institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions to establish, strengthen, and operate comprehensive and undergraduate Centers that act cooperatively as national resources for--

(1) Teaching of modern foreign languages, especially less commonly taught languages;

(2) Instruction in fields of study needed to provide full understanding of areas, regions, or countries in which such languages are commonly used;

(3) Research and training in international studies and the international and foreign language aspects of professional and other fields of study; and

(4) Instruction and research on issues in world affairs that concern one or more countries.

(b) Through the activities described in paragraph (a) of this section, the National Resource Centers Program contributes to the purposes of the programs authorized by part A of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, listed in § 655.5(a).

§ 656.2 What entities are eligible to receive a grant?

(a) An institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education is eligible to receive a grant under this part as either a comprehensive Center or undergraduate Center.

(b) An institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education that is a current recipient of a grant under this part as either a comprehensive Center or undergraduate Center is eligible to receive an additional grant under this part for special purposes related to library collections, outreach, and summer institutes, as described in § 656.4.

§ 656.3 What defines a comprehensive or undergraduate National Resource Center?

(a) A Center’s area of focus for research, teaching, training, instruction, and project activities must be aligned with both of the following requirements:

(1) The area of focus must be a geographic world area or a geographically designated region that spans multiple world areas.

(b) A comprehensive Center is an administrative unit of an eligible institution of higher education that independently or through collaboration with other administrative units--