[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58025-58028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23396]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Nos.: 84.133G and 84.133P]


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003

SUMMARY: We invite applications for new FY 2003 grant awards under the 
Field-Initiated (FI) Projects (84.133G) and Advanced Rehabilitation 
Research Training (ARRT) Projects (84.133P). We take this action to 
focus research attention on an area of national need.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 85, 86 and 97; and 34 CFR part 350.

[[Page 58026]]



                                                             Application Notice for FY 2003
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                                                                       Deadline for          Estimated     Maximum award     Estimated
        CFDA No.  Program name           Application available        transmittal of         available      amount (per      number of    Project period
                                                                       applications            funds          year)*          awards         (months)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.133G-1............................  September 13, 2002......  November 12, 2002......      $2,250,000        $150,000              15              36
Field-Initiated Projects--Research...
84.133G-2............................  September 13, 2002......  November 12, 2002......       2,250,000         150,000              15              36
Field-Initiated Projects--Development
84.133P-1............................  September 13, 2002......  November 12, 2002......         750,000         150,000             3-5             60
Advanced Rehabilitation Research
 Training Projects.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Note: We will reject without consideration any application that proposes a budget exceeding the stated maximum award amount in any year (See 34 CFR
  75.104(b)).
The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The priorities contained in this notice 
reflect issues discussed in the New Freedom Initiative (NFI) and 
NIDRR's Long-Range Plan (the Plan). The NFI can be accessed on the 
Internet at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominiative.html.
    The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at:http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products.

Selection Criteria

Field-Initiated (FI) Projects

    The selection criteria to be used to carry out research or 
development FI projects will be provided in the application package.

Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Projects

    The selection criteria to be used for the ARRT Projects will be 
provided in the application package.
    Field-Initiated Projects: (CFDA Number 84.133G).
    Purpose of Program: FI projects must further one or both of the 
following purposes: (a) Develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation 
technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into 
society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic 
and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, 
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities; or (b) 
improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act). FI projects carry out 
either research activities or development activities.
    In carrying out a research activity, a grantee must identify one or 
more hypotheses and, based on the hypotheses identified, perform an 
intensive, systematic study directed toward new scientific knowledge or 
contribute to better understanding of the subject, problem studied or 
body of knowledge.
    In carrying out a development activity, a grantee must use 
knowledge and understanding gained from research to create materials, 
devices, systems, or methods beneficial to the target population, 
including design and development of prototypes and processes. Target 
population means the group of individuals, organizations, or other 
entities expected to be affected by the project. More than one group 
may be involved since a project may affect those who receive services, 
provide services, or administer services.
    There are two different sets of selection criteria for FI projects: 
one set to evaluate applications proposing to carry out research 
activities, and a second set to evaluate applications proposing to 
carry out development activities. The set of FI selection criteria that 
will be used to evaluate an application will be based on the 
applicant's designation of the type of activity that the application 
proposes to carry out.
    The applicant should: (a) Clearly identify on the cover page of the 
application, block 4, whether the proposal is for a research or a 
development project; (b) identify if the application is a resubmittal 
from a previous competition, within the past two years, by putting the 
word resubmittal on the cover page of the application in block 13 along 
with the descriptive title; (c) if the application is a resubmittal 
from a previous competition, within the past two years, include the 
assigned application number (i.e., H133G01, H133G02) in the abstract, 
the introduction, and in a cover letter; and (d) if applicable, 
identify their qualifying minority entity status in the abstract and 
transmittal letter.

Invitational Priorities

    The Secretary is particularly interested in applications that 
address one of the following invitational priorities. However, under 34 
CFR 75.105(c)(1), an application that meets an invitational priority 
does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications. The invitational priorities are: (a) Projects that 
improve the exit of individuals with disabilities from buildings, 
vehicles, and other settings in emergencies; (b) projects that study 
use of the new ``International Classification of Functioning, 
Disability and Health'' (ICIDH-2) systems in promoting the independence 
and quality of life of persons with disabilities; (c) projects that 
collaborate with international assistive technology and rehabilitation 
engineering projects including, but not limited to, those that could be 
carried out under Science and Technology Agreements between the U.S. 
and other countries; (d) projects that enhance functioning of people 
with newly recognized disabilities, such as multiple chemical 
sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome (CFIDS), 
and fibromyalgia; and (e) projects that study mental health 
interventions related to traumatic stress of individuals with 
disabilities.
    Eligible Applicants: Parties eligible to apply for grants under 
this program are States; public or private agencies, including for-
profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit 
organizations; institutions of higher education; and Indian tribes and 
tribal organizations.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 764.
    Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects: (CFDA Number 
84.133P).
    Purpose of Program: ARRT projects must provide research training 
and experience at an advanced level to individuals with doctorates or 
similar advanced degrees who have clinical or other relevant 
experience. ARRT projects train rehabilitation researchers, including 
individuals with disabilities, with particular attention to research 
areas that support the implementation and objectives of the 
Rehabilitation Act

[[Page 58027]]

of 1973, as amended (the Act) and that improve the effectiveness of 
services authorized under the Act.
    ARRT projects must carry out all of the following activities: (1) 
Recruit and select candidates for advanced research training; (2) 
provide a training program that includes didactic and classroom 
instruction, is multidisciplinary, and emphasizes scientific 
methodology, and may involve collaboration among institutions; (3) 
provide research experience, laboratory experience, or its equivalent 
in a community-based research setting, and a practicum that involves 
each individual in clinical research and in practical activities with 
organizations representing individuals with disabilities; (4) provide 
academic mentorship or guidance, and opportunities for scientific 
collaboration with qualified researchers at the host university and 
other appropriate institutions; and (5) provide opportunities for 
participation in the development of professional presentations and 
publications, and for attendance at professional conferences and 
meetings as appropriate for the individual's field of study and level 
of experience.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education are eligible 
to receive awards under this program.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(k).
    Instructions for Transmittal of Applications:

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the 
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to 
comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make 
procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy. 
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined 
that proposed rulemaking is not required.

    Instructions for transmitting applications will be provided in the 
application package.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In Fiscal Year 2003, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing 
to expand its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to 
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary 
grant competitions. The Field-Initiated Projects program--CFDA 84.133G 
and the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects program--
CFDA 84.133P are two of the programs included in the pilot project. If 
you are an applicant under these programs, you may submit your 
application to us in either electronic or paper format.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS) portion of the 
Grant Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your 
participation in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its 
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
    If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the 
following:
    [sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
    [sbull] You will not receive any additional point value or penalty 
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
    [sbull] You can submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
    [sbull] Within three working days of submitting your electronic 
application fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal Assistance 
(ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
    (2) Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative 
signs this form.
    (3) Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via 
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic 
acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying 
number unique to your application).
    (4) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED 
424.
    (5) Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 260-1349.
    [sbull] We may request that you give us original signatures on all 
other forms at a later date.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the (Field-
Initiated Projects program (CFDA 84.133G-1, Research or 84.133G-2, 
Development and Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects 
program (CFDA 84.133P-1) at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    We have included additional information about the e-APPLICATION 
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic 
Applications) in the application package.
    Please note that due to the Department's end of the fiscal year 
close out activities, the e-APPLICATION system will be unavailable from 
October 1 through October 5. It will become available for users again 
on Monday, October 7.
    For Applications Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), 
P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-
7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734.
    You may also contact ED Pubs via its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or its E-mail address ([email protected]). If you 
request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this 
competition as follows: CFDA number 84.133G or 84.133P.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format by contacting the Grants and Contracts 
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 205-8351. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Services (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an 
alternative format the standard forms included in the application 
package.
    For Applications Contact: The Grants and Contracts Service Team 
(GCST), Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3317, 
Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202, or call (202) 205-8207. 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the TDD number at (202) 205-9860. The preferred method for 
requesting information is to FAX your request to (202) 205-8717.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format by contacting GCST. Telephone: (202) 
205-8351. If you use a TDD, you may call the Federal Information Relay 
Services (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339. However, the Department is not able 
to reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in 
the application package.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-2645. Telephone: (202) 205-5880 or via the 
Internet: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475. Individuals with disabilities 
may obtain this document in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the

[[Page 58028]]

contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may review this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: 
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: September 9, 2002.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 02-23396 Filed 9-12-02; 8:45 am]
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