Office of Postsecondary Education Overview Information Business and International Education (BIE) Program CFDA 84.153A | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Business and International Education (BIE) Program (CFDA 84.153A)?

The Business and International Education (BIE) Program (CFDA 84.153A) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. The program is designed to strengthen international business education at U.S. colleges and universities and to build the capacity of the broader business community to participate effectively in international economic activity.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The core purpose is to support projects that improve what institutions of higher education can teach and do around global commerce, and to connect that work to real-world business needs through formal partnerships with organizations engaged in international economic activity.

3) What types of projects is the program intended to support?

Based on the synopsis, the program supports projects that strengthen international business education at colleges and universities and that help the business community engage more effectively in international economic activity. A central theme is improving institutional capacity related to global commerce and linking that work directly to business needs through formal partnerships.

4) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is centered on institutions of higher education that have established agreements with external business-facing partners. Applicants must be colleges or universities that have entered into agreements with business enterprises, trade organizations, or associations engaged in international economic activity, or with a combination/consortium of such entities, to carry out authorized program activities.

5) Are partnerships required, or just encouraged?

Partnerships are required. The opportunity is designed around collaboration between higher education and organizations actively involved in international economic work, and the agreement with a qualifying partner is described as a central feature of eligibility.

6) What kinds of partner organizations can be included in the required agreement?

The synopsis identifies business enterprises, trade organizations, or associations engaged in international economic activity as qualifying partners. It also allows for a combination or consortium of such entities.

7) Can public or state-controlled colleges and universities apply?

Yes. The listing identifies public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as eligible applicant categories, as long as they meet the program rules, including the partnership/agreement requirement.

8) Can private colleges and universities apply?

Yes. The listing identifies private institutions of higher education as eligible applicant categories, as long as they meet the program rules, including the partnership/agreement requirement.

9) Can nonprofits apply?

The listing identifies certain nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) as eligible applicants, depending on how they fit the program rules. The synopsis also emphasizes that the program is built around collaboration with organizations engaged in international economic activity.

10) How many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipated making about 25 awards for this cycle.

11) What was the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding level listed for this cycle was $2,152,000.

12) What was the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?

Individual awards were expected to fall within a narrow range, with a minimum (floor) of $86,080 and a maximum (ceiling) of $95,000.

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

Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning grantees were expected to contribute non-federal resources consistent with the requirements described in the official Federal Register notice.

14) Where are the legally controlling requirements described?

The synopsis points applicants to the Federal Register application notice as the authoritative source for official, legally controlling details. It also references free access to Federal Register and CFR materials through GPO Access (as listed in the opportunity).

15) When did the application package become available?

The application package for this cycle became available on November 18, 2009.

16) What was the deadline to submit an application?

The deadline for transmittal of applications was January 8, 2010.

17) Is this opportunity still open?

No. The listing shows an archive date of February 7, 2010, and the deadlines provided are from the 2009-2010 cycle, indicating this funding round has closed and is now part of the historical record.

18) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.

19) What standard forms were required as part of the electronic submission?

The notice specifies that applicants had to submit all standard forms electronically, including:

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
• Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424
• ED 524 (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs)
• All required assurances and certifications

20) What file formats were accepted for narrative attachments?

Narrative sections had to be uploaded as attachments in only three accepted formats: .DOC, .RTF, or .PDF.

21) What happens if an attachment is submitted in another format?

Files submitted in other formats would not be reviewed, according to the notice.

22) Are password-protected files allowed?

No. The notice states that password-protected files would not be reviewed.

23) Why does the file-format rule matter?

The synopsis flags this as a compliance detail because it can affect whether an application is considered complete and readable by federal reviewers. If a required narrative is in an unaccepted format (or password-protected), it would not be reviewed.

24) Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov submission problems?

The listing provides the Grants.gov Helpdesk for electronic submission issues: 1-888-336-8930.

25) Who are the agency contacts listed for this opportunity?

The listing provides the following contacts:

• Joyce Mays, Management Analyst: 202-245-6122; joyce.mays@ed.gov
• Tanyelle Richardson, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Education: 202-502-7626; 1990 K Street NW, Room 6017, Washington, DC 20006-8521

26) What Office within the Department of Education is associated with this program?

The program is associated with the Office of Postsecondary Education, specifically Business and International Education (BIE).

27) What were the key dates shown in the listing?

The posting date and creation date were both November 18, 2009. The application package was available November 18, 2009. The application deadline was January 8, 2010. The archive date was February 7, 2010.

28) What is the program trying to strengthen besides college and university coursework?

In addition to strengthening international business education at U.S. colleges and universities, the program aims to build the capacity of the broader business community to participate effectively in international economic activity.