Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 022315 001
Apply for ED GRANTS 022315 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program CFDA Number 84.370A" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.370 DC School Choice Incentive Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 23, 2015 and posted on Feb 23, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2015 Applications Available February 23, 2015. Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply March 25, 2015. Notice of Intent to Apply March 25, 2015. The Department will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if it has a better estimate of the number of entities that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, the Department strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify the Department by sending a short email message indicating the applicants intent to submit an application for funding. The email need not include information regarding the content of the proposed application, only the applicants intent to submit it. The Department requests that this email notification be sent to DCOSP2015@ed.gov. Eligible entities that fail to provide this email notification may still apply for funding. Date of Informational Meeting The OSP intends to hold a webinar designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the OSP Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/dcchoice/index.html. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications April 24, 2015.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $13,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible Applicants To be eligible for an OSP grant, an entity must be either a nonprofit organization or a consortium of nonprofit organizations. Coordination An eligible entity must be willing and able to work with other entities affiliated with the Federal and DC governments, as well as with other organizations that might conduct activities integral to the success of the program, including, as appropriate, determining the household income of scholarship recipients and ensuring the ongoing eligibility of schools participating in the program. Additionally, an eligible entity must demonstrate how it will communicate and coordinate with the current grantee, as needed, to ensure a seamless and smooth transition between the 2015 2016 and 2016 2017 school years for families and schools participating in the OSP.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), CFDA 84.370A, is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition focused on helping low-income students who live in Washington, DC access private school options through scholarships chosen by their parents. The core purpose of the program is straightforward: it provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships so eligible DC students can attend participating private schools, expanding educational options for families who might otherwise be unable to afford them.
The program has a defined legislative history and operating framework. It was originally created in 2004 under the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004), and later reauthorized by Congress in 2011 under the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR Act). For fiscal year 2015, the Department planned to make a single award to one eligible organization to run the program. Rather than a standard grant with minimal federal involvement, this award was structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically signals closer coordination and ongoing engagement between the Department and the selected grantee during implementation.
The opportunity is essentially to serve as the administrator of the entire scholarship program for the award period. The chosen grantee would be responsible for the end-to-end operations needed to make the scholarships function smoothly for families and schools. That includes recruiting and selecting eligible scholarship applicants in years when scholarships are awarded, providing timely support and services to scholarship students and their families, identifying and partnering with eligible participating private schools, and monitoring participating schools for compliance with program rules and reporting obligations. The administrator is also expected to maintain high-quality, reliable operational data about the program and to coordinate appropriately with other entities involved in related activities, including organizations and government-affiliated partners that help verify household income and confirm ongoing eligibility for both students and participating schools.
Eligibility to apply is limited to nonprofit organizations, including either a single nonprofit or a consortium of nonprofits. The notice also emphasizes coordination capacity as a key expectation: applicants must be willing and able to work with entities connected to the federal and DC governments and other organizations necessary to the program’s success. A specific transition requirement is highlighted as well: applicants must explain how they will communicate and coordinate with the current grantee (as needed) to ensure a smooth handoff for families and schools between the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, minimizing disruption for participants.
From a funding and logistics standpoint, the competition anticipated one total award with an estimated total funding amount of $13,200,000 and no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding opportunity was posted February 23, 2015, with applications made available the same day and a submission deadline (deadline for transmittal of applications) of April 24, 2015. The Department also strongly encouraged prospective applicants to submit a brief notice of intent to apply by March 25, 2015 via email to DCOSP2015@ed.gov. This notice was optional in the sense that failing to submit it would not disqualify an applicant, but it was requested to help the Department plan for an efficient peer review process. The Department also indicated it intended to offer an informational webinar to provide technical assistance, with details to be posted on the program website.
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and the notice is explicit that applications cannot be submitted by email. Applicants were instructed to locate the application package by searching the CFDA number without the letter suffix (search 84.370 rather than 84.370A). The opportunity is identified on Grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-022315-001 and is categorized as a discretionary education grant.
For support and official guidance, the notice points applicants back to the Federal Register application notice as the controlling source for requirements such as application contents, priorities, submission rules, performance measures, and contact points. Program and technical contacts were provided, including a Grants.gov systems contact (Julius Cotton, EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov) and the program manager (Jeanne Gilroy, DCOSP2015@ed.gov), along with phone numbers and a mailing address at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition run by the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) for the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), CFDA 84.370A. The program provides scholarships that help eligible low-income students living in Washington, DC attend participating private schools, with school choice made by parents.
2) What is the purpose of the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP)?
The purpose is to provide financial assistance (scholarships) so eligible low-income DC students can access private school options that may otherwise be unaffordable, expanding educational options for families.
3) What type of federal award is anticipated?
The Department planned to make a cooperative agreement award, which generally means the Department expects closer coordination and ongoing engagement with the selected grantee during implementation than under a standard grant.
4) How many awards were expected to be made?
The competition anticipated making a single award to one eligible organization to run the program for the award period.
5) What is the estimated funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $13,200,000 for the single anticipated award.
6) Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
7) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations, including either a single nonprofit or a consortium of nonprofits.
8) What is the grantee expected to do if selected?
The selected organization is expected to administer the scholarship program end-to-end. Responsibilities include recruiting and selecting eligible scholarship applicants in years when scholarships are awarded, providing timely support and services to scholarship students and their families, identifying and partnering with eligible participating private schools, monitoring participating schools for compliance with program rules and reporting obligations, maintaining high-quality and reliable operational data, and coordinating with other entities involved in related activities (including income verification and eligibility confirmation partners).
9) What does "administer the entire scholarship program" mean in this competition?
Based on the notice summary provided, it means the grantee would handle core program operations needed for scholarships to function smoothly for families and schools, including applicant recruitment/selection (when scholarships are awarded), family and student support, private school participation management, compliance monitoring, and operational data maintenance and reporting coordination.
10) What coordination expectations are included in the notice?
Applicants are expected to be willing and able to coordinate with entities connected to the federal and DC governments and other organizations necessary to the program's success, including organizations and government-affiliated partners involved in verifying household income and confirming ongoing eligibility for students and participating schools.
11) Is there a transition or handoff requirement from the current grantee?
Yes. Applicants must explain how they will communicate and coordinate with the current grantee (as needed) to ensure a smooth transition for families and schools between the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, minimizing disruption for participants.
12) When was the funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 23, 2015, and applications were made available the same day.
13) What was the application submission deadline?
The deadline for transmittal of applications was April 24, 2015.
14) Was a notice of intent to apply required?
No. The Department strongly encouraged prospective applicants to submit a brief notice of intent to apply, but failing to submit it would not disqualify an applicant.
15) What was the suggested deadline for the notice of intent to apply, and where was it sent?
The Department encouraged submission by March 25, 2015, via email to DCOSP2015@ed.gov.
16) How do applicants submit the full application?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
17) Can an application be submitted by email?
No. The notice explicitly stated that applications cannot be submitted by email.
18) How do applicants find the application package on Grants.gov?
Applicants were instructed to search by the CFDA number without the letter suffix: search 84.370 rather than 84.370A.
19) What is the Funding Opportunity Number on Grants.gov?
The opportunity is identified under Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-022315-001.
20) What is the official source for detailed requirements (application contents, priorities, performance measures, and rules)?
The controlling source is the Federal Register application notice, which the Department referenced for official requirements such as application contents, priorities, submission rules, performance measures, and contact points.
21) Will there be an informational webinar?
The Department indicated it intended to offer an informational webinar to provide technical assistance, with details to be posted on the program website.
22) Who are the listed contacts for questions or support?
Two contacts were provided: a Grants.gov systems contact (Julius Cotton, EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov) and the program manager (Jeanne Gilroy, DCOSP2015@ed.gov). The notice also included phone numbers and a mailing address at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC.
23) What legislative authorities are referenced for the program?
The program was originally created in 2004 under the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004) and later reauthorized in 2011 under the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR Act).
24) Who benefits from the scholarships described in this opportunity?
The scholarships are intended for eligible low-income students who live in Washington, DC, to attend participating private schools selected by their parents.
25) What category of grant is this?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary education grant.
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