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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.257:  National Institute for Literacy (NILO)

Popular Name:  NIL

Objectives:  To enhance the national effort to reach the National Education Goal — that all Americans will be literate by the year 2000 — through the coordination of efforts for literacy across Federal agencies, and through support for the creation and dissemination of information to improve literacy practice, policy, and technical assistance to literacy providers. In advancing this broad purpose, NIL is authorized to pursue many different specific activities. They include: funding research and development, creating a database of current information on policy and practice, providing technical assistance, funding fellowships, and supporting a national literacy hot line. An over-arching principle is that NIL will carry out its activities through collaborating with and building on existing public and private efforts.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

84.257 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Public and private nonprofit institutions may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  State literacy resource centers, individuals, universities, and education organizations will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

84.257 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:  Application procedures are set forth in the announcements in the Federal Register or the Commerce Business Daily.

Award Procedure:  Announcements are made in the Federal Register or the Commerce Business Daily. Contact the headquarters office for details.

Deadlines:  Dates are published in the Federal Register. Contact the headquarters office for particular project deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  The range is about 60 days.

Appeals:  Appeals can be made directly to the Director of the National Institute for Literacy.

Renewals:  If funding is available, renewals are possible for multi-year grants.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  For specific criteria on individual grants, the institution should be contacted.

Examples of Funded Projects:  A three to 5-year effort on behalf of adults with learning disabilities was funded. Capacity-building grants to 14 States to design and implement interagency systems for either staff development or outcome-based performance management were funded. The development of an electronic Internet-based literacy information and communication system is currently available as a prototype.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Varies considerable depending on the project.

84.257 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 94.006 AmeriCorps.

84.257 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.257 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants; Project Grants (Contracts); Project Grants (Fellowships).

Obligations:  (Grants and Contracts) FY 99 $3,500,000; FY 00 est $4,000,000; and FY 01 est $4,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  91-0400-0-1-501.

Authorization:  Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220, 20 U.S.C. 9201.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Federal Acquisition Regulations and EDGAR apply.

84.257 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone: (202) 233-2025. E-mail address: www.nifl.gov.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.257 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  The length of grants vary depending upon the type of project.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Projects cannot duplicate activities being performed by the Secretary of Education. This program is governed by an interagency group made up of the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor.

84.257 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Quarterly reports are required.

Audits:  Audits are contingent upon EDGAR.

Records:  In accordance with Section 443 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act, grantees must maintain records for 3 years.