Program Office: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education
CFDA Number: 84.116N
Program Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grants
Also Known As: Basic Needs Program
The Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support programs that address the basic needs of students and to report on practices that improve outcomes for students.
Projects that are designed to take a systemic evidence-based approach to improving outcomes for underserved students in one or more of the following priority areas:
- Coordinating efforts with Federal, State, or local agencies, or community-based organizations, that support students, to address two or more of the following:
- Food assistance.
- Housing.
- Transportation.
- Health, including physical health, mental health, and behavioral health and trauma.
- Child care.
- Technology.
- Conducting community needs and asset mapping to identify existing programs and initiatives that can be leveraged, and new programs and initiatives that need to be developed and implemented, to advance systemic change.
- Establishing cross-agency partnerships, or community-based partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, businesses, philanthropic organizations, or others, to meet family well-being needs.
Who May Apply:
Community Colleges that are Minority-Serving Institutions, Historically Black colleges and universities, or Tribal Colleges or Universities. Applicable terms are defined in the Notice Inviting Applications.
Timeline
Current Competition: FY 2024
Application Available: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Federal Register Notice
TBA
TBA
TO APPLY:
TBA
Individual Development grants are awarded to eligible institutions of Higher Education [IHEs] for projects that have a performance period of 3 years.
FY 2024
Total appropriation: $10,000,000
New competition: Yes
Funded down the FY 2023 slate of new awards: No
Total new award funding: $9,704,876.00
Cut-off score for funding: 109.67 (total points possible-110)
Number of new awards: 11
Individual Development Grant Awards: 11
Cooperative Development Grant Awards: 0 (not offered in the 2024 competition)
Average new award: $882,261 (total funding for 3-year performance period)
Number of continuation awards: N/A (Awards under this program are frontloaded.)
Total continuation funding: N/A
FY 2023
Total appropriation: $10,000,000
New competition: No
Funded down the FY 2022 slate of new awards: Yes
Total new award funding: $9,993,637.00
Cut-off score for funding: 109.5 (total points possible-110)
Number of new awards: 11
Individual Development Grant Awards: 11
Cooperative Development Grant Awards: 0 (not offered in the 2022 competition)
Average new award: $908,512.00 (total 3-year award)
Number of continuation awards: N/A (Awards under this program are frontloaded.)
Total continuation funding: N/A
FY 2022
Total appropriation: $8,000,000.00
New competition: Yes
Total new award funding: $7,45,727,609
Cut-off score for funding: 110 (total points possible-110)
Number of new awards: 8
Individual Development Grant Awards: 8
Cooperative Development Grant Awards: 0 (not offered in 2022)
Average new award: $938,267.00 (total 3-year award)
Number of continuation awards: N/A (Awards under this program are frontloaded.)
Total continuation funding: N/A
FY 2021
Total appropriation: $5,000,000.00
New competition: Yes
Total new award funding: $4,941,916.00
Cut-off score for funding: 110.00 (total points possible-110)
Number of new awards: 6
Individual Development Grant Awards: 6
Cooperative Development Grant Awards: 0 (not offered in 2021)
Average new award: $823,652.00 (total 3-year award)
Number of continuation awards: N/A (Awards under this program are frontloaded.)
Total continuation funding: N/A
Title VIII, Section 873 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021, H.R. 7614, 116th Congress (2020); the explanatory statement accompanying H.R. 133 (Pub. L. 116-260).
Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal civil rights laws and Supreme Court precedent.
- Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.
Grantees under this program must ensure that they have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170. This does not apply if a grantee has an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
At the end of the project period, grantees must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If a grantee receives a multiyear award, the grantee must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
Grantees submit reports through the FIPSE Grant Database. The Department provides grantees with the required password and other information needed to access the FIPSE database system. The database also includes a publicly accessible searchable catalog of abstracts of projects funded under OPE's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education programs.
For purposes of evaluating the success of the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the Department will use the following performance measures:
- The number of underserved students served by any direct student service supported by the grant.
- The annual persistence rate at grantee institutions for all students who are served by any direct student service supported by the grant.
- The annual rate of degree or certificate completion at grantee institutions for all students served by any direct student service supported by the grant.
Key Staff
Njeri Clark, Program Lead, 202-453-6224, Njeri.Clark@ed.gov
Mailing Address:
Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program
U.S. Department of Education, OPE
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Mail Stop LBJ-5C124
Washington, DC 20202
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Who is eligible to apply?
- Can students apply for a grant under this program?
- Under the Basic Needs Program, can we provide transportation reimbursement for unpaid interns?
- Are consortiums of 2 or more community colleges eligible to apply, or does it need to be a single institution?
- What file types can I upload to grants.gov?
- Are subawards/subgrants allowable?
- Can funds be used to construct a dorm or other type of residence for students?
- Can an IHE submit more than one application.
- Are indirect costs allowed?
- Is direct student aid included in MTDC (modified total direct cost)?
- Can we purchase a refrigerator for food for participants?
- Can we purchase hot food?
- Can we use funds to attend professional conferences?
- Can we use funds to purchase professional organization membership?
- Can we purchase laptops and hotspots?
- Can we provide scholarships to students?
- Can we provide scholarships to undocumented students?
- Can we use funds to renovate or conduct construction?
- Can Basic Needs funds be utilized to pay for textbook/supplies vouchers?
- Can staff shirts with the program logo be purchased?
- Is the purchase of nap pods allowable?
- Is the purchase of work supplies, such as work boots allowable?
- Are finish line grants allowable for students in their final semester trying to graduate but cannot because they cannot pay their graduation balance?
- Can I purchase scientific calculators for eligible students with funds from my Basic Needs grant?
- Is the payment of security deposits, application fees, and basic furniture for eligible students allowed to support students with housing?
- Can we provide stipends to students to pay for dependent care items like diapers, wipes, formula/adult supplemental nutritional drinks?
Any Community College (as defined in the Notice Inviting Applications) and 2- and 4-year public and private Historically Black Colleges and Universities (as defined in the Notice Inviting Applications), Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in the Notice Inviting Applications), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (as defined in the Notice Inviting Applications).
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2. Can students apply for a grant under this program?
No. Only eligible Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) are eligible to apply.
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3. Under the Basic Needs Program, can we provide transportation reimbursement for unpaid interns?
It is best to provide transportation stipends which are allowable.
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4. Are consortiums of 2 or more community colleges eligible to apply, or does it need to be a single institution?
A single institution must apply as the lead institution. Eligible institutions, however, may partner with other institutions.
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5. What file types can I upload to grants.gov?
In years past, only .pdf documents were accepted here at the Department of Education. Now, it is acceptable to upload Microsoft Word documents, as well as .pdf documents.
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6. Are subawards/subgrants allowable?
A grantee under this competition may not award subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities described in its application. Partnerships can be in the form of MOUs, contracts, etc. and be paid on a reimbursement basis. If partnership entities are not named within a grantee's application for funding, grantees must follow their own procurement procedures and those outlined in 2 CFR Part 200 when procuring goods and services for the purposes of their Basic Needs grant.
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7. Can funds be used to construct a dorm or other type of residence for students?
No. Grantees are prohibited from using Basic Needs funding for the acquisition of real property or construction under 34 CFR § 75.533. However, examples of the resources and services that could be provided using Basic Needs funds include housing voucher application assistance and other services to secure temporary housing for students.
Projects must also satisfy the absolute priorities as stated in the Notice Inviting Applications. Activities must directly align with project objectives and adhere to applicable EDGAR and Uniform Guidance citations that govern the program.
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8. Can an IHE submit more than one application.
No, IHEs may only submit one application. If more than one is submitted, only the latest submission will be reviewed.
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9. Are indirect costs allowed?
This program uses an unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.
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10. Is direct student aid included in MTDC (modified total direct cost)?
No. MTDC excludes direct student aid which falls under "participant support costs."
2CFR 200.68
MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.
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11. Can we purchase a refrigerator for food for participants?
Yes, funds could be used to purchase a refrigerator to store food as part of a system to provide food assistance to students, so long as the underlying costs of the refrigerator are reasonable.
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12. Can we purchase hot food?
Yes, for program activities.
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13. Can we use funds to attend professional conferences?
This may be allowable only if it directly supports an objective of the grant. Please work with your assigned Program Specialist to determine allowability.
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14. Can we use funds to purchase professional organization membership?
This may be allowable only if it directly supports an objective of the grant. Please work with your assigned Program Specialist to determine allowability.
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15. Can we purchase laptops and hotspots?
Yes, laptops may be purchased as technology to support students' basic needs.
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16. Can we provide scholarships to students?
No, the purpose of the program is to provide: (1) Food assistance.(2) Housing.(3) Transportation.(4) Health, including physical health, mental health, and behavioral health and trauma.(5) Access to on-campus Child care.(6) Technology.
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17. Can we provide scholarships to undocumented students?
No. Under HEA section 741(d)(1), no funds provided under FIPSE can be used for direct financial assistance in the form of grants or scholarships to students who don't meet Title IV eligibility requirements. Because DACA students do not meet Title IV eligibility requirements, funds appropriated under FIPSE (including the Basic Needs program) cannot be used to provide them with financial assistance in the form of grants or scholarships.
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18. Can we use funds to renovate or conduct construction?
There is a general prohibition on construction for Departmental grants under 34 CFR § 75.533, and the Basic Needs program does not specifically authorize construction or contain language that would overcome this provision. Thus, the restriction in 34 CFR § 75.533 stands. Minor renovation of existing spaces, however, is allowable. Minor remodeling means minor alterations in a previously completed building. The term also includes the extension of utility lines, such as water and electricity, from points beyond the confines of the space in which the minor remodeling is undertaken but within the confines of the previously completed building.
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19. Can Basic Needs funds be utilized to pay for textbook/supplies vouchers?
No, textbook/supplies vouchers are not within the scope of Basic needs. The purpose of the grant is to address:
- Food assistance.
- Temporary housing.
- Transportation.
- Health, including access to mental health support.
- On-campus childcare.
- Dependent care.
- Technology.
- And other basic needs for students
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20. Can staff shirts with the program logo be purchased?
Yes, the purchase of shirts/sweaters could be allowable program outreach under 2 CFR 200.421.
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21. Is the purchase of nap pods allowable?
Yes, this would assist in addressing the physical health of participants. Please ensure that costs are reasonable per 2 CRF. 200.404.
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22. Is the purchase of work supplies, such as work boots allowable?
No, work supplies are not within the scope of Basic needs. The purpose of the grant is to address:
- Food assistance.
- Temporary housing.
- Transportation.
- Health, including access to mental health support.
- On-campus childcare.
- Dependent care.
- Technology.
- And other basic needs for students
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23. Are finish line grants allowable for students in their final semester trying to graduate but cannot because they cannot pay their graduation balance?
No, subgrants or tuition assistance is not allowed under the BN program.
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24. Can I purchase scientific calculators for eligible students with funds from my Basic Needs grant?
Yes, the purchase of scientific calculators falls under the scope of "technology" to assist students' basic needs.
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25. Is the payment of security deposits, application fees, and basic furniture for eligible students allowed to support students with housing?
Yes, these expenses are allowed under programs designed to support students with temporary housing and securing sleeping arrangements.
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26. Can we provide stipends to students to pay for dependent care items like diapers, wipes, formula/adult supplemental nutritional drinks?
To avoid scrutiny and maintain transparency, grantees should provide those items directly to students via a supply bank, pantry or other form of distribution. It would be difficult to confirm that stipends are used for their intended purposes.