Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program CFDA Number 84.016A | Apply Online

UISFL (CFDA 84.016A) Grant Opportunity FAQs (FY 2011)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) Program, CFDA 84.016A. It is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

2) What is the purpose of the UISFL Program?

The program is designed to strengthen and improve undergraduate-level instruction in international studies and foreign languages. The funding is intended to help expand or enhance curricula, teaching capacity, and learning opportunities that build students' international knowledge and language competence.

3) What kinds of activities does the funding support (at a high level)?

Based on the synopsis, funding supports efforts that strengthen undergraduate international studies and foreign language instruction, such as improving or expanding curriculum, building teaching capacity, and increasing learning opportunities that develop international knowledge and language competence.

4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is ED-GRANTS-020811-001.

5) Which fiscal year competition is described in this announcement?

The details provided describe the FY 2011 competition.

6) How many awards were expected to be made?

The Department anticipated making about 28 awards.

7) What was the estimated total funding amount available?

The estimated total funding amount listed is $2,409,660.

8) What was the maximum award size?

Individual awards were expected to be up to $160,000 (the listed award ceiling).

9) Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?

Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources toward the project budget, in accordance with the specific terms described in the official application notice.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad within higher education and nonprofit education. The synopsis lists the following as eligible applicants:

• Public institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Consortia of institutions of higher education
• Partnerships between nonprofit educational organizations and institutions of higher education
• Public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations, including professional and scholarly associations

11) Are partnerships allowed under this opportunity?

Yes. The program allows partnerships between nonprofit educational organizations and institutions of higher education.

12) Can a consortium apply?

Yes. Consortia of institutions of higher education are included in the listed eligible applicant types.

13) Can nonprofit organizations apply?

Yes. The synopsis indicates the program is open to public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations, including professional and scholarly associations.

14) Where can applicants find the official, controlling requirements?

The synopsis notes that it is only a high-level summary and that the controlling, official requirements and rules are in the Federal Register notice referenced in the announcement. Applicants are instructed to rely on that Federal Register notice for definitive requirements.

15) Why does the Federal Register notice matter for this opportunity?

The announcement emphasizes that key details are not fully captured in the synopsis. The Federal Register notice is referenced as the source for official requirements such as pre-application and application requirements, submission instructions, program priorities, performance measures, and other compliance expectations.

16) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (not by email).

17) How do applicants find the application package on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to search on Grants.gov using CFDA number 84.016 (without the alpha suffix), then download the application package, complete it offline, and upload and submit it through Grants.gov.

18) What CFDA number should be used to search on Grants.gov?

The instructions specify searching for CFDA 84.016 (without the alpha suffix), even though the program is referenced as CFDA 84.016A.

19) What were the key dates listed for this competition?

• Posting date: February 8, 2011
• Application availability date: February 8, 2011
• Deadline for transmittal of applications: March 30, 2011
• Archive date: April 29, 2011

20) Who should be contacted for technical problems with Grants.gov access?

The listing provides a Grants.gov systems administration contact for technical issues accessing the announcement electronically: Julius Cotton, 202-245-6140, julius.cotton@ed.gov.

21) Who should be contacted for program-specific questions?

The listing provides a program contact in International and Foreign Language Education at the Department of Education: Program Manager Christine Corey, 202-502-7629.

22) Does the synopsis include every compliance and submission detail applicants need?

No. The announcement states that the synopsis is a high-level summary and points applicants to the Federal Register notice for critical details and official requirements.