Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Higher Education Programs (HEP): Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) – Digital Learning Infrastructure and IT Modernization Pilot, Assistance Listing Number 84.116L | ED GRANTS 102522 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 102522 001

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) is offering a discretionary grant competition under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) called the Digital Learning Infrastructure and IT Modernization Pilot (Assistance Listing Number 84.116L). The program is designed to help eligible minority-serving institutions strengthen and modernize their information technology capabilities and, in doing so, improve the digital systems that support teaching, learning, and student services. A central theme of the pilot is not only upgrading campus IT, but also positioning grantees to provide support and technical assistance that helps expand digital learning infrastructure more broadly, which can include sharing practices, tools, and lessons learned that make digital learning more reliable and effective.

This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and is categorized as a discretionary grant, meaning funding is awarded competitively based on the criteria in the official Federal Register notice rather than by formula. The eligible applicant pool focuses on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other eligible minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The listing also notes "Others" under eligible applicants, with the instruction to consult the official notice for the precise eligibility definitions and any conditions or clarifications that apply to who can apply, whether partnerships are allowed, and what institutional status documentation is required.

From an operational standpoint, the pilot is aimed at IT modernization and digital learning infrastructure expansion. While the synopsis does not spell out allowable activities in detail, the framing suggests projects that strengthen core technology foundations that digital instruction depends on, such as modern learning platforms and the underlying infrastructure, improved reliability and scalability of systems that students and faculty use, and more secure and supportable IT environments. The emphasis on enabling institutions to provide support and technical assistance also signals that proposals may be expected to include an intentional approach for disseminating effective strategies, building capacity, or otherwise helping peer institutions or stakeholders benefit from the modernization work, consistent with typical FIPSE improvement goals.

Key administrative details are straightforward. The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 102522 001, and the application window opened on October 25, 2022, with a deadline for transmittal of applications of November 25, 2022. The Department anticipated making 4 awards, with an award ceiling of $973,800 per award. As with many Department of Education discretionary competitions, applicants are directed to follow the Department's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 27, 2021) for submission procedures, required forms, and standard federal application practices, and to rely on the Federal Register notice as the controlling source for requirements.

The synopsis repeatedly underscores that this description is only a high-level recap and that the Federal Register application notice governs the competition. That official notice is where applicants would find the detailed elements needed to build a compliant application, including any absolute, competitive preference, or invitational priorities; the project design expectations; required performance measures; budget rules; selection criteria and scoring; formatting and page limits; pre-application requirements (if any); and the exact submission instructions and addresses. The notice also provides the authoritative program contact information. For this competition, the listed point of contact is Pearson Owens at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B109, Washington, DC 20202-4260, phone (202) 453-7997, email Pearson.Owens@ed.gov.

In short, this FIPSE pilot is a targeted investment in strengthening the IT and digital learning backbone at HBCUs, TCUs, and other MSIs, with funding intended to accelerate modernization and help expand the capacity to support digital learning infrastructure. The practical next step for any prospective applicant is to review the official Federal Register notice carefully for eligibility details and the full set of application and evaluation requirements, since those specifics determine what types of projects are fundable, how proposals are judged, and what awardees will be expected to deliver and report.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Higher Education Programs (HEP): Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) – Digital Learning Infrastructure and IT Modernization Pilot, Assistance Listing Number 84.116L" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.116.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 25, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 25, 2022 Applications Available October 25, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications November 25, 2022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Pearson Owens, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B109, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone (202) 453-7997. Email Pearson.Owens@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $973,800.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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