Preparing and Submitting Proposal

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)

Native Language Immersion Grants – BIE Funded Schools Only

Solicitation

Funding Opportunity Notice: BIE-2018-0002 Bureau of Indian Education: Native American Language Immersion

Funding Opportunity Title: Bureau of Indian Education: Native American Language Immersion

Opportunity Category: Discretionary

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Category of Funding Activity:

Expected Number of Awards: 5-15

Closing Date for Applications: 30 days -

Multiple awards will be given to Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funded schools. The Bureau of Indian Education oversees183 BIE elementary, secondary, residential and peripheral dormitories located on 64 reservations across 23 states.

Award Ceiling: 300,000

Award Floor: 50,000

CFDA Numbers: 15.151

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Number of Awards: 5-15

Category: Education

Date: The closing date and time for the receipt of proposal submissions is August 31, 2018, 5:00 PM Mountain Time (MT) in order to be considered for funding. Proposals received after this time and date stamp will not be considered by the Awarding Official.

Number of Projects Funded: The BIE anticipates award of approximately five (5) to ten (15) grants under this announcement ranging in value from approximately $50,000 to $300,000. The program can only fund projects one year at a time, though it is possible to continue funding subject to the availability of Congressional funds, quality of evaluated proposals, and other applicable considerations. We will use a competitive evaluation process based on criteria stated in the Review and Selection Process section located on Page Four (4).

Background: The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) supports efforts to revitalize and maintain Native languages and expand the use of language immersion programs in its schools. The BIE is providing $2,000,000 for grants to BIE-funded schools to expand existing language immersion programs or create new programs that will lead to Native language oral proficiency. This opportunity is offered under the authority of the FY 2017 Interior Appropriations Bill, Congressionally Directed Capacity Building Grant for Native Language Immersion Programs, Public Law 115-31.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: BIE-funded schools

Agency Name: Bureau of Indian Education

For technical questions concerning the grant application, contact:

JoAnn Metcalfe

Lead Grant Specialist

(703) 390 6410

Jo.metcalfe@bia.gov

For questions about the program:

Maureen Lesky, Ph.D.

Program Manager

Bureau of Indian Education

Office of Sovereignty in Indian Education

1011 Indian School Road NW, Suite 332

Albuquerque, NM 87104

Office: (505) 563-5397

Mobile: (505) 377-1556

Email: Maureen.Lesky@bie.edu

The preferred method of submitting proposals is to email proposals to NativeLanguage@bie.edu, Attention: Maureen Lesky.

Or, proposals may be sent by registered U.S. mail, but must be received by the deadline established - August 31, 2018, 5 P.M. Mountain Time (MT) to:

Maureen Lesky, Ph.D.

Program Manager

Bureau of Indian Education

Office of Sovereignty in Indian Education

1011 Indian School Road NW, Suite 332

Albuquerque, NM 87104

A complete proposal must contain the following mandatory components as described below:

Native Language Immersion Program Application - School Grant Application (Attachment 1)

Included in the Native Language Immersion Program Application are the following sections:

1. Part I – School Information

2. Part II – Project Narrative

3. Part III – Budget Narrative

4. Part IV – Statement of Assurances

Part I – School Information. (Attachment 1, Page 6). Complete the one page school information page that contains basic information such as school name, mailing address, school representative, signatures, etc.

Part II – Project Narrative. (Attachment 1, Page 7). The Project Narrative cannot exceed a maximum of 10 single-spaced typewritten pages.

The following information must be included in the Project Narrative:

1. Overview

The Overview of the proposed project should include:

1. Project Activities - may include: capacity building activities, research, training in various teaching methods of language immersion, school materials, tutoring in language assistance at school, professional development, immersion field trips, in-service training for school staff, parent training, summer school activities NOTE: The activities must be able to be sustained after funding ends with Native Language Immersion Program funding.

2. Data Collection - may include: interviews, data analysis, digital stories, data reports, surveys, questionnaires, or focus groups. The data collected is used to support the discussion of the success of an immersion program.

3. Collaboration Initiatives - may include: Tribes, Tribal Colleges/Universities, Head Start, Even Start, FACE, Title I, Title IV, Title VI, community agencies, parents, advocacy groups, community members and BIE-funded school consortiums.

4. Policy and Procedure Performance - may include: immersion classroom curriculum and program development, native language standards and assessments, planning processes, and academic performance measures.

2. Describe how Native Language Immersion Program grant funds will be utilized

3. Maintenance or creation of an immersion program, beyond grant

4. Professional Development in collaboration with partner(s)

5. Policy and Procedures to support parent and community involvement

Part III – Project Budget

Description of the budget and estimated funding amounts for an itemized budget line amounts for all activities:

• Training and Professional Development

• Activities

• Travel

• Materials

• Equipment

The budget must be sufficiently detailed to allow reviewers a reasonable understanding of all elements of the project proposal, plus the relative emphasis placed on each element. Budget details should reflect all reasonably anticipated costs and contingencies, be internally consistent with the rest of the proposal, and allow the review committee to analyze the benefits of all project components. The budget breakdown and organization must indicate the project proposal has been closely considered and would neither waste funds nor fail to support important project elements.

Review and Selection Process. A Committee comprised of BIE members will evaluate the proposals against the ranking criteria. Only those proposals which meet all of the factors will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria listed below. Each proposal will be given a numerical score and will be rank-ordered according to the numerical score. Preliminary funding recommendations will be provided to the Approving Official based on this ranking. Any solicitation that is received after 5:00 P.M. Mountain Time (MT) on August 31, 2018 will not be reviewed.

Other Factors. Final funding decision will be made by the Approving Official based on the rankings and preliminary recommendations for the BIE evaluation team. In making the final funding decisions, the Approving Official may also consider programmatic priorities and geographic diversity of funds.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Points
School Information	5
Program Narrative and Activities	10 points for each section A-E (50 total)
Budget Narrative	10
Partnership	10
Signed Assurances	5
Evaluation Plan	10
Total	90

Submission Dates and Times

The closing date and time for submission of proposals is August 31, 2018, 5:00 p.m., Mountain Time (MT). Proposals received after this time and date stamp will not be considered by the Awarding Official.

Transfer of funds. For Bureau Operated Schools will receive a Federal Financial Document (FDD) when awarded. For Tribally Controlled Schools, the transfer of funds will be through the Automated Standard Application of Payment (ASAP) system.

Reporting Requirements for Award Recipients – Recipients must submit narrative quarterly performance reports, an overall annual narrative report, and a quarterly financial report utilizing SF425 federal financial report 30 days following each quarter. Both a final narrative and a final financial report is due 90 days after the period of performance end date.

Request for BIE Assistance. BIE staff can provide technical assistance in the application process. Applicants may contact:

Maureen Lesky, Ph.D.

Program Manager

Bureau of Indian Education

Office of Sovereignty in Indian Education

1011 Indian School Road NW, Suite 332

Albuquerque, NM 87104

Office: (505) 563-5397

Mobile: (505) 377-1556

Email: Maureen.Lesky@bie.edu

Authority - This opportunity is offered under the authority of the FY 2017 Interior Appropriations Bill, Congressionally Directed Capacity Building Grant for Native Language Immersion Programs, Public Law 115-31.

Separate Document:

1. School Grant Application is located under the Related Document tab

2. Annual Evaluation Form – Sample

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