NOTES FROM INFORMATIONAL BRIEFINGS FOR POTENTIAL REGIONAL CENTER AND CONTENT CENTER APPLICANTS JUNE 19,20 & 22, 2012 Comprehensive Centers Program

Program Overview The Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 mandates the creation of no fewer than 20 centers. At least one center must be established in each of the ten regions served by the Department’s Regional Educational Laboratories. The 2012 competition invites applicants for both Regional Centers and Content Centers; the project period begins on October 1, 2012.

About the Comprehensive Centers Program The centers are awarded as discretionary grants. They are not contracts. There are no “tasks” or “deliverables” established by the Department. Applicants are expected to propose how they will meet the priorities and requirements contained in the Notice Inviting Applications and the Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, and Selection Criteria. These grants operate under cooperative agreements, which means that the Department has significant involvement in their implementation. It also means that some issues referenced (like the “common portal” requirement) will be addressed after the awards are made.

Application Package The Application Package has three sections: (1) the opening section, with background information, submission procedures, and instructions; (2) the Notice Inviting Applications; and (3) the Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, and Selection Criteria. Applicants should carefully read all three sections.

Absolute Priority Invitational Priority  We do not consider applications that do not meet the absolute priority.  For Regional Centers, there is one absolute priority: “... Provide technical assistance that focuses on key initiatives.”  Each Content Center has a unique absolute priority.  Under an invitational priority, we are particularly interested in applications that meet the priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a preference over other applications, nor do we penalize an application if it does not address the invitational priority.  For all Centers there is one invitational priority: cost sharing or matching.  A proposed cost share or match of less than 15% does not meet the invitational priority. Background section: Priorities

Background section: Requirements, Eligibility, Intent to apply Requirements: Applicants must address requirements found in the Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, and Selection Criteria. It contains requirements for all centers, requirements for all Regional Centers, requirements for all Content Centers, and requirements for each Content Center. Eligibility: Research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to address the priorities and meet the requirements are eligible to apply. Intent to apply: Notice of intent to apply is helpful, but not mandatory.

Application Submission Procedures Deadline for submission is August 6, 2012 at 4:30:00 p.m. Eastern time. Applications must be submitted electronically unless applicant qualifies for an exception. Read submission procedures carefully, including information about  Registering in the contractors’ database  Timely submission of applications  Attaching files  Help desk number

Application Instructions Review checklist on page 13 in application package. SF 424 is the application for Federal assistance; also complete the ED supplemental information form. Directions for both are in the application package. SF 524 is the budget information form requesting Department of Education funds (Section A); directions for completing it are in the application package.

Application Instructions: Budget Cost sharing or matching funds -if any- should be recorded in Section B (non-Federal funds)of the SF524. Matching funds augment program funds. All expenditures that should be addressed in the proposed budget are included in the application. Funding estimates provided by ED are for the first year of the grant; applicants may choose to propose increases for subsequent years if they wish, but funds are appropriated annually.

Application Instructions: Budget Content Centers must provide services at no cost to SEAs and RCCs; they may not charge fees for service. Proposed Content Center budgets should show how resources will be used to meet requirements; we expect that Regional Centers and Content Centers will work together to support SEA participation in relevant activities.

Application Instructions: Abstract and Layout Applicants may submit a two-page abstract. Suggested page limits do not apply to the abstract. All spacing and layout requirements included in the Notice Inviting Applications are “suggested.” Applicants will not be penalized for exceeding the page limit or for single- spacing charts, graphs, or other materials. The 150-page limit applies to the application narrative section.

Application Instructions: Project Narrative A1: Overall Quality of the Technical Assistance Plan  A1, the overall quality of the technical assistance plan, is broader in scope than A2, the quality of the project design.  Under A1b, reviewers will be asked to judge the potential contribution of the center to increasing knowledge and understanding for both Regional and Content Centers.  Letters of support from SEA officials are not required; however, A1c asks reviewers to evaluate the approach the applicant proposes to secure the SEA’s commitment to participation in the work.

Application Instructions: Project Narrative A2: Quality of the Project Design  A2 refers applicants to the requirements and asks how they will meet the requirements.  The absolute priority for Regional Centers identifies key initiatives on which technical assistance should focus.  The application requires that all Center applicants submit a five-year plan of technical assistance that describes how the applicant will meet the priority and requirements. We expect that grantees will meet regularly with State Education Agencies to create and update annual plans.  Applicants for both Regional and Content Centers should propose a scope of work that addresses the priority and requirements. They must demonstrate their expertise in the areas identified.

Application Instructions: Project Narrative  Regional Center applicants are required to have experience developing and implementing performance and project management systems on a large scale. This requirement allows an applicant to demonstrate that it has experience building capacity. Experience in these areas is essential to successfully conducting the work of a Regional Center.  Nothing in the application prohibits an applicant from proposing a community of practice. ED has not indicated that it will establish a centralized community of practice platform.  ED has not provided specific definitions for the following words and phrases: “plan”, “strategy”, and “exceptional approach.”  Each Content Center must provide high-quality technical assistance to Regional Centers and SEAs in its area of expertise that reflects collaboration with Regional Centers to address the identified needs of SEAs.

Application Instructions: Project Narrative  Content Centers are designed primarily to provide technical assistance; conducting research is not identified as a Content Center requirement.  Research-based practices are practices that meet the strong or moderate evidence standards of the What Works Clearinghouse. Where strong or moderate evidence is not available on a topic, each center will explore emerging promising practices that could inform their technical assistance efforts.  Content Centers are expected to respond to all RCC and SEA requests for service; there is no minimum number of SEAs and/or RCCs that should receive technical assistance.

Application Instructions: Project Narrative Quality of Key Personnel:  The narrative can provide the names and summarize the credentials of key personnel; full resumes should be attached in Part 6, Other Attachments.  The time commitment of key staff should be addressed; providing full-time equivalency is one acceptable way to indicate time commitment. Quality of the Management Plan:  Selection criteria judge the adequacy of the plan to successfully achieve the objectives of the project. No specific format is required for submitting this information.

Application Instructions: Project Narrative Quality of the Project Evaluation  The final rule does not include a requirement for a third-party evaluator. The final requirements and selection criteria require only that the applicant submit an evaluation plan.

Application Instructions: Budget Narrative Budget narrative  Submit a narrative explanation of the figures provided in ED 524, Part A and Part B (if applicable).  Submit budget figures and narrative for all five years.  Note that in discussing the use of contracts, applicants must provide the basis for cost estimates or computation. A narrative explanation is acceptable.

Application Instructions: Other Attachments Use Part 6: Other Attachments Form to provide  Individual resumes of key staff  Supporting documentation of matching funds or in-kind services (if applicable).  Indirect cost rate agreement  Letters of support (optional)  Bibliography (optional)  Other appropriate attachments

Application Instructions: Assurances and Certifications In Part 7: Assurances and Certifications, attach  Assurances for Non-construction Program  Disclosure of Lobbying Activities  Certification Regarding Lobbying  General Education Provisions Act Requirements  Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants

Other Issues Advisory Boards  Although Advisory Boards are mentioned in the final priority document, applicants are not required to address them in their applications.  In the Notice Inviting Applications, we acknowledge that Advisory Boards are a statutory requirement. In the first year of the grant, each center will be expected to submit information demonstrating that it has established an Advisory Board. Common Portal  No additional information about the common portal for sharing resources will be available during the application period. The process and timeline will be determined after the awards are made.

Other Issues Response to Comments  The response to comments published with the Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, and Selection Criteria are not officially part of the application; however, they may provide examples and illustrations that are helpful to potential applicants. Partial funding from the Office of Indian Education  Applicants for Regional Centers funded in part by the Office of Indian Education must propose technical assistance services to SEAs that will lead to their increased capacity to lead and support their districts and schools in improving outcomes for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)students. A successful applicant will provide for an amount of technical assistance benefitting AI/AN students that is consistent with the proportion of funding received.