Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 073018 001
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) within the U.S. Department of Education offered this discretionary grant opportunity under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) as the Open Textbooks Pilot Program, listed under CFDA 84.116T. The program is designed to help institutions of higher education reduce students' textbook costs by supporting projects that either create new open textbooks or substantially expand the adoption and sustained use of open textbooks already available. The central idea is affordability without sacrificing quality: funded projects are expected to maintain or improve instruction and student learning outcomes while lowering the cost burden on students.
This competition emphasizes practical, scalable impact. Applicants are encouraged to propose efforts that can generate the largest student savings, particularly by targeting high-enrollment courses where textbook costs affect large numbers of students at once. The notice also points applicants toward projects tied to programs that prepare students for in-demand fields, reflecting a workforce-oriented angle where affordability and access can directly support completion and career readiness. While the synopsis does not list detailed requirements, it signals that applications would be evaluated in part on their potential for sustainable, expanded use of open textbooks, meaning proposals should typically describe how the materials will be maintained, updated, and adopted beyond the grant period rather than functioning as one-time pilots.
In terms of basic grant mechanics, this was a grant (not a contract) in the education funding activity category, and it was posted as a discretionary funding opportunity by the Department of Education. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, with a note that additional entities may be eligible depending on the "Additional Information on Eligibility" section in the official notice. The funding opportunity number was ED GRANTS 073018 001. The applications became available on July 30, 2018, and the deadline to submit applications was August 29, 2018. The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $4,950,000.
The summary repeatedly stresses that the short description is only a synopsis and that the controlling details are found in the official Federal Register application notice. Key elements such as application formatting and submission rules, pre-application expectations, required performance measures, selection criteria, priorities, and contact information are all referenced as items to confirm in the Federal Register. The Department also directed applicants to follow the Department of Education's "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" published on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003), which typically governs technical submission standards, required forms, and procedural requirements for discretionary grants.Apply for ED GRANTS 073018 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): Open Textbooks Pilot Program CFDA Number 84.116T" 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 Jul 31, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 29, 2018 Applications Available July 30, 2018. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications August 29, 2018.. (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 $4,950,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Open Textbooks Pilot Program (FIPSE, CFDA 84.116T) - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). It was offered as the Open Textbooks Pilot Program and listed under CFDA 84.116T.
What is the purpose of the Open Textbooks Pilot Program?
The program was designed to reduce students' textbook costs by supporting projects that either (1) create new open textbooks or (2) substantially expand the adoption and sustained use of open textbooks that are already available.
What does the program mean by "open textbooks" in this synopsis?
The synopsis uses "open textbooks" to refer to textbooks that can be used in ways that lower costs to students. Specific definitions, licensing requirements, or technical standards are not provided in the synopsis and are indicated as items to confirm in the official Federal Register application notice.
Does the program focus only on affordability, or also on academic quality?
Both. The synopsis emphasizes affordability without sacrificing quality. Funded projects were expected to maintain or improve instruction and student learning outcomes while lowering students' textbook cost burden.
What types of projects were encouraged?
The synopsis highlights two main project directions: creating new open textbooks and expanding adoption and sustained use of existing open textbooks. It also emphasizes practical, scalable projects that can generate large student savings.
What kinds of courses were especially important for maximizing impact?
Applicants were encouraged to target high-enrollment courses, since changes in those courses can affect large numbers of students and generate the largest overall student savings.
Was there a workforce or career preparation angle in the competition?
Yes. The synopsis points applicants toward projects tied to programs that prepare students for in-demand fields, reflecting an emphasis on affordability and access as contributors to completion and career readiness.
What does "practical, scalable impact" mean in the context of this synopsis?
Based on the synopsis, it means the Department favored proposals that could expand beyond a limited pilot and produce broad, measurable cost savings for many students, especially through adoption in high-enrollment settings and sustained use over time.
Was sustainability expected, or were one-time pilots acceptable?
The synopsis signals that applications would be evaluated in part on sustainable, expanded use of open textbooks. Proposals were therefore expected to describe how materials would be maintained, updated, and adopted beyond the grant period, rather than functioning only as one-time pilots.
Who could apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The synopsis also notes that additional entities might be eligible depending on the "Additional Information on Eligibility" section in the official notice.
Is this a grant or a contract?
This opportunity was a grant (not a contract) and was categorized under the education funding activity.
What agency posted the opportunity?
The opportunity was posted by the U.S. Department of Education as a discretionary funding opportunity, through the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number listed in the synopsis was ED GRANTS 073018 001.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program was listed under CFDA 84.116T.
When were applications made available?
Applications became available on July 30, 2018.
What was the application deadline?
The deadline to submit applications was August 29, 2018.
How many awards were anticipated?
The synopsis indicated the opportunity anticipated a single award.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the synopsis was $4,950,000.
Does the synopsis include all requirements and submission rules?
No. The synopsis repeatedly stresses that it is only a short description and that the controlling details are found in the official Federal Register application notice.
Where should applicants look for the official requirements and evaluation details?
Applicants were instructed to rely on the official Federal Register application notice for controlling details such as application formatting and submission rules, pre-application expectations, required performance measures, selection criteria, priorities, and contact information.
Were there special Department of Education instructions applicants had to follow?
Yes. The Department directed applicants to follow the Department of Education's "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" (published February 12, 2018; 83 FR 6003). The synopsis indicates these common instructions typically govern technical submission standards, required forms, and procedural requirements.
Does the synopsis specify the selection criteria or priorities?
No. The synopsis states that selection criteria and priorities are among the elements to confirm in the official Federal Register application notice.
Does the synopsis list required performance measures?
No. Required performance measures are referenced as items to confirm in the Federal Register notice; the synopsis does not provide them.
Does the synopsis provide contact information for questions?
No. Contact information is referenced as something to confirm in the official Federal Register application notice.
What should applicants emphasize in a proposal based on the synopsis?
Based on the synopsis alone, proposals would likely need to emphasize (1) meaningful reductions in student textbook costs, (2) maintenance or improvement of instruction and learning outcomes, (3) scalable adoption (especially in high-enrollment courses), and (4) a credible plan for sustained use, maintenance, and updates beyond the grant period.
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