Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 4 to 8 months. Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Applications for renewal of multi-year projects are processed and funded before those for new projects. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: The Fund will support multi-year projects; grants are awarded on a 1-to 4-year basis. Funds are released as required. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit. Reports: The Fund require periodic progress evaluation reports from grant recipients, as well as a final report upon termination of funding. Reporting requirements are found in EDGAR. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable. Audits: This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Awardees must comply with standard Education Department audit requirements. Records: Grant recipients are required to maintain standard financial records. Account Identification: 91-0201-0-1-502. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 08 $120,333,397; FY 09 est $133,667,000; FY 10 est $47,424,000 Range and Average of Financial Assistance: To be determined. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2008: The Fund awarded 69 comprehensive program grants. Fiscal Year 2009: Approximately 125 comprehensive program grants are expected to be awarded. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Program regulations are contained in 34 CFR 630. In addition, the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, and 85 also apply. The official Application Notice is published each year in the Federal Register. The Fund also published "Lessons Learned," a compilation of FIPSE projects. Contact the program office for more information. Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: Cassandra Courtney Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: cassandra.courtney@ed.gov Phone: (202) 502-7506 Website Address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/fipsecomp/. RELATED PROGRAMS: Not Applicable. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2008: (1) Improved undergraduate liberal arts curriculum; (2) improved undergraduate teaching; (3) improved graduate education; (4) improved access for Blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities; (5) cooperation between colleges and businesses; (6) teacher education; (7) uses of technology; and 8) improved study abroad programs. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Grantees are selected based on the project's significance in improving postsecondary education; feasibility; and appropriateness. 84.120 MINORITY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IMPROVEMENT (MSEIP) FEDERAL AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Executive Order Title III, Part E, To (1) Effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education at USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: The program funds are generally used to implement design projects, institutional projects, and cooperative projects. The program also supports special projects designed to provide or improve support to accredited nonprofit colleges, universities, and professional scientific organizations for a broad range of activities that address specific barriers that eliminate or reduce the entry of minorities into science and technology fields. Grant funds may be used for paying costs necessary for improving and maintaining high quality science and engineering education programs in minority postsecondary institutions, including salaries and wages, equipment and instructional materials and supplies, travel related to the project activities, faculty development, and other direct and indirect costs. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 76.564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on (202) 377-3838. Applicant Eligibility: Private and public nonprofit accredited institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees; and are minority institutions; public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that award associate degrees, and are minority institutions that have a curriculum that includes science or engineering subjects; and enters into a partnership with public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees in science or engineering. Applications may also be submitted by nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional scientific societies, and institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees, that provide a needed service to a group of minority institutions; or provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from minority institutions; or consortia of organizations, that provide needed services to one or more minority institutions, the membership of which may include: institutions of higher education which have a curriculum in science and engineering; institutions of higher education that have graduate or professional programs in science or engineering; research laboratories of, or under contract with the Department of Energy; private organizations that have science and engineering facilities; or quasi-governmental entities that have a significant scientific or engineering mission. Beneficiary Eligibility: Private or public accredited 4-year institutions of higher education whose total enrollments are predominantly (50 percent or more) American Indian; Alaskan Native; Black (not of Hispanic origin); Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin); Pacific Islander; or any combination of these or other ethnic minorities who are underrepresented in science and engineering. Also, 2-year private or public accredited minority (see description of minority above) institutions that have curricula in science or engineering and have formed a partnership with a 4-year institution. Credentials/Documentation: Institutions must provide the information necessary to establish their eligibility for participation in MSEIP. The data on enrollment furnished to the Office for Civil Rights to satisfy requirements for the "Fall Enrollment and Compliance Report of Institutions of Higher Education" are acceptable. Applications must be signed by the project director(s), the relevant department head(s), and by an authorized organizational official. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication Coordination: An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. An eligible institution may submit a proposal for funding of a planned project and proposed amount of the grant when announcement of a new competition appears in the Federal Register. See 34 CFR 637 and the specific program guidelines. Application forms are available from the MSEIP. Award Procedure: Panels of outside experts with knowledge of the fields covered by the application review all applications. Grants awards are recommended to the Secretary by the program office, in the order of merit. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 3 to 6 months. Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Awards may be renewed for up to 2 years, renewals subject to the availability of appropriations. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. This program does not have MOE requirements. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: One to three years. Funds are awarded annually and disbursed as required. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer. Reports: The program requires interim performance reports from directors of projects having duration of more than one year at the end of each budget year's activities. A substantive performance and financial report is required within 90 days upon completion of the project for all funded projects. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable. Audits: This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Compliance with standard Department of Education requirements. Records: Grantees are required to maintain standard programmatic and financial records. Records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and for three years thereafter. Account Identification: 91-0201-0-1-502. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 08 $8,577,487; FY 09 est $8,577,000; FY 10 est Range and Average of Financial Assistance: PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2008: For FY 2008, approximately 16 new awards and 51 continuation awards were made. Fiscal Year 2009: Seventeen new awards and 38 continuation awards are expected to be made in FY 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: Nineteen new awards and 33 continuation awards are expected to be made in FY 2010. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 34 CFR 637 and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations. Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: Bernadette Hence Office of Postsecondary Education, Institutional Development and Undergraduate Education Service, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: bernadette.hence@ed.gov Phone: (202) 219-7038. Website Address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/iduesmsi/. RELATED PROGRAMS: 84.031 Higher Education_Institutional Aid; 84.116 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2008: (1) A project is providing state-of-the-art training to minority students in field and laboratory studies dealing with water quality, and educating students on the benefits of using an interdisciplinary approach to solving environmental problems. (2) A project has a summer science program designed to improve access of pre-college (8th and 9th grade) minority students to careers in science and engineering. Integrated, hands-on curriculum in biology, physical science, mathematics, and computer technology is offered. (3) A project is a consortium of five minority serving community colleges across the nation and two engineering schools whose purpose is to share resources and strategies in order to increase the number of bilingual engineers and strengthen the educational pipeline from pre-college through engineering school. (4) One project is to establish a computer laboratory in science and mathematics. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Decisions are based primarily on the scientific and educational merits of described activities and conformance with the objectives of the program. Priority is given to applicants which have not previously received funding from the Minority Science Improvement Program and to previous grantees with a proven record of success, as well as to proposals that contribute to achieving balance among projects with respect to geographic region, academic discipline and project type. 84.126 REHABILITATION SERVICES_VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION GRANTS TO STATES FEDERAL AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education AUTHORIZATION: Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive Order Parts A and B, Sections 100-111, Title I. OBJECTIVES: To assist States in operating comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient and accountable programs of vocational rehabilitation; to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities so they may prepare for and engage in competitive employment. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: FORMULA GRANTS USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Federal and State funds are used to cover the costs of providing vocational rehabilitation services which include: assessment, counseling, vocational and other training, job placement, reader services for the blind, interpreter services for the deaf, medical and related services and prosthetic and orthotic devices, rehabilitation technology, transportation to secure vocational rehabilitation services, maintenance during rehabilitation, and other goods and services necessary for an individual with a disability to achieve an employment outcome. Services are provided to families of disabled individuals when such services will contribute substantially to the rehabilitation of such individuals who are being provided vocational rehabilitation services. Funds can also be used to provide Vocational Rehabilitation services for the benefit of groups of individuals with disabilities including the construction and establishment of community programs. Applicant Eligibility: State agencies in all States (including territories/possessions) designated as the sole State agency to administer the vocational rehabilitation program may apply. Beneficiary Eligibility: Eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services is based on the presence of a physical and/or mental impairment, which for such an individual constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment, and the need for vocational rehabilitation services that may be expected to benefit the individual in terms of an employment outcome. Credentials/Documentation: The State agency must certify the availability of State funds for matching purposes. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies are required to submit a State Plan describing the manner in which they will administer the VR and Supported Employment programs in their States. The State is not required to submit any policies, procedures or descriptions related to its State Plan that have been previously approved and demonstrate that the State currently meets the requirements of the Act. However, State agencies are required to annually update and submit State Plan attachments related to: (1) the comprehensive system of personnel development; State assessments, estimates, goals and priorities, and reports of progress; (2)innovation and expansion activities, and (3) a description of the State's plans with respect to the distribution of State Supported Employment Title VI, Part B funds. Award Procedure: Grant awards are made to State VR agencies with an approved State plan. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: The State plan must be approved before the State agency can receive its allotment of funds. If a State plan is disapproved, and after reasonable effort has been made to resolve a dispute, the State agency may request a hearing. If dissatified with the hearing officer's initial decision, the State agency may seek the Secretary's review of the decision. Appeals: A State may appeal the Secretary's decision to disapprove the State plan by filing a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the State is located. Renewals: Not Applicable. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title I, This program does not have MOE requirements. Funds become available for obligations for the fiscal year for which they are appropriated and may remain available for an additional year if the matching requirement is met in the year of the appropriation. Grant awards are issued biannually (1st and 4th quarter). See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic Transfer. Reports: Program report: Annual and quarterly reports. No cash reports are required. Progress report: Annual and quarterly reports. Expenditure reports: quarterly financial reports (Federal Financial Report (SF-425). Performance monitoring: The Rehabilitation Act requires the conduct of annual reviews and periodic on-site monitoring of whether a State VR agency is complying substantially with the provisions of its State plan and with the program's performance indicators established under section 106 of the Act. Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Conducted by ED Office of Inspector General and by site visits of regional staff. Both are periodic but no set schedule. Records: Case service records for individual consumers. Financial and programmatic records must be kept for a prescribed period of three years (34 CFR 80.42). Account Identification: 91-0301-0-1-506. Obligations: (Formula Grants) FY 08 $2,839,151,000; FY 09 est $2,938,522,000; FY 10 est $3,047,247,000 Range and Average of Financial Assistance: In FY 2009 regular annual allotments to States, including D.C. and Puerto Rico ranged from $9.8 million to $285 million, with a median award of $42 million. Grants to outlying areas ranged from $1 million to $3 million. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2008: As a group, persons who achieve employment as a result of vocational rehabilitation services each year show notable gains in their ability Costs will also be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applications should be submitted to the Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4725, or in certain cases to the appropriate RSA Regional Commissioner, OSERS. Award Procedure: Awards are made on approval of the Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services and the Assistant Secretary, OSERS for new projects. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Projects with an approved multi-year project period may be continued based on the availability of appropriated funds and an annual review of accomplishments to determine satisfactory performance. Renewals are available only through a new application process. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Generally matching is required; the Migratory Worker program requires 10 percent matching. The Federal share of the costs of the Recreation program shall be 100 percent for the first year, 75 percent for the second year, and 50 percent for the third year with corresponding matching requirements for the second and third years. This program does not have MOE requirements. Project support may be available for up to three to five years depending upon Reports: Annual financial reports and progress reports must be submitted as prescribed by grant award terms and conditions. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required. Audits: This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No.A-133. Records: Fiscal records must be maintained for the periods of time specified in the grant award. Account Identification: 91-0301-0-1-506. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 08 $2,239,000; FY 09 est $2,239,000; FY 10 est $2,239,000 - (migrant and seasonal farm workers). (Project Grants) FY 08 $2,474,000; FY 09 est $2,474,000; FY 10 est $2,474,000 - (recreational). Range and Average of Financial Assistance: varies by competition. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2008: There were 33 recreational projects and 11 migrant and seasonal farm workers projects in FY 08. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 34 CFR 369. Specific guidelines and literature may be obtained from the RSA headquarters offices. Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: Sonja Turner, Department of Education, OSERS Rehabilitation Services Administration 400 Maryland Ave., S.W, Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: sonja.turner@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-7557. Website Address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/rsamigrant/index.html; or http://www.ed.gov/programs/rsarecreation/index.html. RELATED PROGRAMS: 84.126 Rehabilitation Services_Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2008: An outreach effort to identify and provide necessary vocational rehabilitation services for migrant and seasonal farm workers with disabilities. Assist persons with significant disabilities returning to the community to achieve the optimal vocational adjustment of which they are capable. Provide recreational services to individuals with disabilities a priority to integrate these individuals into regular recreation programs. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Funding priorities are announced in the Federal Register. Grants for migrant and seasonal farmworker projects are made to a designated State agency and to nonprofit and local agencies working in collaboration with the State agencies. Applications for discretionary grants are subjected to peer review procedures leading to recommendations for approval or disapproval by Federal and nonfederal experts. Criteria for evaluating applications are published in program regulations 34 CFR75.210. 84.129 REHABILITATION LONG-TERM TRAINING FEDERAL AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education AUTHORIZATION: Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Executive Order Title III, Section 302. OBJECTIVES: To support projects to provide academic training in areas of personnel shortages identified by the Secretary to increase the number of personnel trained in providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: PROJECT GRANTS USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Training grants are provided in fields directly related to the vocational rehabilitation and independent living of individuals with disabilities, such as rehabilitation counseling, independent living, rehabilitation medicine, physical and occupational therapy, prosthetics-orthotics, speech-language, pathology and audiology, rehabilitation of individuals who are blind and individuals who are deaf, and rehabilitation technology. A grantee must use at least 75 percent of the total award for scholarships. Applicant Eligibility: Institutions of Higher Education, State vocational rehabilitation agencies (including territories), and other public or nonprofit agencies and organizations. Beneficiary Eligibility: Individuals preparing for employment in the field of rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. Credentials/Documentation: An application should show evidence of current accreditation by or seeking of accreditation from the designated accreditation agency in the respective professional field. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 Award Procedure: New and continuation grants are awarded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration. All new applications are reviewed by a panel of at least three individuals. Each panel consists of nonfederal consultants with experience and training in the related field. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 120 to 160 days. Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Renewals are available only through the new application process. Projects with an approved multi-year project period may be continued based on the availability of appropriated funds and an annual review of accomplishments to determine satisfactory performance. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Percent: 10.%. The Federal share may not be more than 90 percent of the total cost of a project under this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Projects are generally supported for a maximum of 5 years; with budget periods of 12 months. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer. Reports: Annual financial and progress reports must be submitted as required by grant award terms and conditions. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required. Audits: This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal |