[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19922-19925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9939]



[[Page 19921]]

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Part IV





Department of Education





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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Rehabilitation 
Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) Program; Invitation for 
Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 and Notice of Final Priorities; 
Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 77 / Tuesday, April 22, 2003 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Final Priorities Notice

AGENCY: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
(NIDRR), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priorities.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services announces final priorities under the 
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) program for up to 
nine awards for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research (NIDRR) for fiscal years (FYs) 2003 and later years. We take 
this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We 
intend these priorities to improve the rehabilitation services and 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These priorities are effective May 22, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205-
5880.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475 or via the Internet: 
[email protected].
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

    RERCs carry out research or demonstration activities by:
    (a) Developing and disseminating innovative methods of applying 
advanced technology, scientific achievement, and psychological and 
social knowledge to (1) solve rehabilitation problems and remove 
environmental barriers and (2) study and evaluate new or emerging 
technologies, products, or environments and their effectiveness and 
benefits; or
    (b) Demonstrating and disseminating (1) innovative models for the 
delivery of cost-effective rehabilitation technology services to rural 
and urban areas and (2) other scientific research to assist in meeting 
the employment and independent living needs of individuals with severe 
disabilities; or
    (c) Facilitating service delivery systems change through (1) the 
development, evaluation, and dissemination of consumer-responsive and 
individual and family-centered innovative models for the delivery to 
both rural and urban areas of innovative cost-effective rehabilitation 
technology services and (2) other scientific research to assist in 
meeting the employment and independence needs of individuals with 
severe disabilities.
    Each RERC must provide training opportunities, in conjunction with 
institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, to assist 
individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to become 
rehabilitation technology researchers and practitioners.
    We make awards for up to 60 months through grants or cooperative 
agreements to public and private agencies and organizations, including 
institutions of higher education, Indian tribes, and tribal 
organizations, to conduct research, demonstration, and training 
activities regarding rehabilitation technology in order to enhance 
opportunities for meeting the needs of, and addressing the barriers 
confronted by, individuals with disabilities in all aspects of their 
lives. An RERC must be operated by or in collaboration with an 
institution of higher education or a nonprofit organization.

General RERC Requirements

    The following requirements apply to each RERC pursuant to these 
absolute priorities unless noted otherwise. An applicant's proposal to 
fulfill these requirements will be assessed using applicable selection 
criteria in the peer review process.
    Each RERC must have the capability to design, build, and test 
prototype devices and assist in the transfer of successful solutions to 
relevant production and service delivery settings. Each RERC must 
evaluate the efficacy and safety of its new products, instrumentation, 
or assistive devices.
    Each RERC must develop and implement in the first three months of 
the grant a plan that describes how the center will include, as 
appropriate, individuals with disabilities or their representatives in 
all phases of center activities including research, development, 
training, dissemination, and evaluation.
    Each RERC must develop and implement in the first year of the 
grant, in consultation with the NIDRR-funded National Center for the 
Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR), a plan to disseminate the 
RERC's research results to persons with disabilities, their 
representatives, disability organizations, service providers, 
professional journals, manufacturers, and other interested parties.
    Each RERC must develop and implement in the first year of the 
grant, in consultation with the NIDRR-funded RERC on Technology 
Transfer or other entities as appropriate, a plan for ensuring that all 
new and improved technologies developed by this RERC are successfully 
transferred to the marketplace.
    Each RERC must conduct a state-of-the-science conference on its 
respective area of research in the third year of the grant and publish 
a comprehensive report on the final outcomes of the conference in the 
fourth year of the grant.
    Each RERC will be expected to coordinate on research projects of 
mutual interest with relevant NIDRR-funded projects as identified 
through consultation with the NIDRR project officer.

Centers of Excellence

    RERCs are expected to function as Centers of Excellence, which are 
defined by their degree of accountability, level of productivity, 
integrity of internal activities, and the quality and relevance of 
outputs and outcomes. The NIDRR Centers of Excellence Model identifies 
four major areas of activity; these are: (1) Excellence in 
administration and evaluation; (2) excellence in scientific research 
and development; (3) excellence in capacity building and training for 
research and development and practice; and (4) excellence in relevance 
and productivity (including dissemination). Within these areas of 
activity, RERCs must develop consumer and industrial partnerships to 
ensure the relevance and appropriateness of research directions and to 
transfer research-generated knowledge into commercial products. Each 
RERC must operate as part of a national network and extend beyond the 
boundaries of their programmatic objectives to become leaders in their 
field, attract new research dollars, and significantly impact the 
education of professionals, consumers, and manufacturers. For 
information about NIDRR's Centers of Excellence Model, applicants are 
invited to visit the following Web site: http://www.cessi.net/pr/RERC/Summative/CoEmodel.html.

Program Review

    RERCs are required to participate in NIDRR's program review 
process. Program review is a key element in NIDRR's quality assurance, 
performance monitoring, and evaluation systems, providing an 
opportunity for staff and

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key stakeholders to interact with grantees and provide feedback on 
center activities. As part of this evaluation system, NIDRR conducts 
both formative (early in the five-year funding cycle) and summative 
(toward the end of the fourth year) reviews. The overall goal of the 
formative review is to support grantees in achieving their planned 
results and becoming centers of excellence across the four major areas 
of activity. The overall goal of the summative review is to evaluate 
the quality, relevance, and productivity of each center's results and 
accomplishments. For more information about NIDRR's program review 
process, applicants are invited to visit the following Web site: http://www.cessi.net/pr).
    In accordance with the provisions of 34 CFR 75.253(a), continued 
funding depends at all times on satisfactory performance and 
accomplishment.
    These priorities 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.
    We published a notice of proposed priorities for the Rehabilitation 
Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program in the Federal Register on 
January 10, 2003 (67 FR 51744).
    Except for minor revisions there are no significant differences 
between the notice of proposed priorities and this notice of final 
priorities.
    Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes and 
suggested changes the law does not authorize us to make under the 
applicable statutory authority.
    In response to our invitation in the notice of proposed priorities 
13 parties submitted comments. We fully explain changes made as a 
result of these comments in the Analysis of Comments and Changes 
published as an appendix to this notice.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through 
a notice in the Federal Register. A notice inviting applications for 
FY 2003 awards is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register. When inviting applications we designate the priority as 
absolute, competitive preference, or invitational. The effect of 
each type of priority follows:

    Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only 
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
    Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference 
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by either 
(1) awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent to 
which the application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or 
(2) selecting an application that meets the priority over an 
application of comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
    Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are 
particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational 
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the 
priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications 
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).

Background

    The Background statement for the following priorities was published 
in the notice of proposed priorities on January 10, 2003 (67 FR 1446).

Priorities

    NIDRR intends to fund up to nine new RERCs in FY 2003. Applicants 
must select one of the following priority topic areas: (a) Hearing 
enhancement; (b) prosthetics and orthotics; (c) communication 
enhancement; (d) measurement and monitoring of functional performance; 
(e) technology access for land mine survivors; (f) universal interface 
and information technologies; (g) telerehabilitation; (h) accessible 
public transportation; (i) wheeled mobility; (j) cognitive 
technologies; and (k) technology transfer. Applicants are allowed to 
submit more than one proposal as long as each proposal addresses only 
one RERC topic area.

Letters of Intent

    Due to the open nature of this competition, NIDRR is requiring all 
potential applicants to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). Each LOI must 
be limited to a maximum of four pages and must include the following 
information:
    (1) The title of the proposed RERC, the name of the host 
institution, the name of the Principal Investigator (PI), and the names 
of partner institutions and entities; (2) a brief statement of the 
vision, goals, and objectives of the proposed RERC and a description of 
its research and development activities at a sufficient level of detail 
to allow potential peer reviewers to be selected; (3) a list of 
proposed RERC staff including the center Director and key personnel; 
and (4) a list of individuals whose selection as a peer reviewer might 
constitute a conflict of interest due to involvement in proposal 
development, selection as an advisory board member, co-PI 
relationships, etc.
    Submission of an LOI is a prerequisite for eligibility to submit an 
application. The signed, original LOI, or with prior approval an e-mail 
or facsimile copy, must be received by NIDRR no later than May 22, 
2003. Applicants that submit e-mail or facsimile copies must follow up 
by sending to NIDRR the signed original copy as soon as possible. All 
communications pertaining to the LOI must be sent to: William Peterson, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3425, 
Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2645. For further information 
regarding the LOI requirement, contact William Peterson at (202) 205-
9192 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

Priorities

    The Assistant Secretary intends to fund up to nine RERCs that will 
focus on innovative technological solutions, new knowledge, and 
concepts to promote the health, safety, independence, employment, 
active engagement in daily activities, and quality of life of persons 
with disabilities. Each RERC must:
    (1) Contribute substantially to the technical and scientific 
knowledge-base relevant to its respective subject area;
    (2) Research, develop, and evaluate innovative technologies, 
products, environments, performance guidelines, and monitoring and 
assessment tools as applicable to its respective subject area;
    (3) Identify, implement, and evaluate, in collaboration with the 
relevant industry, professional associations, and institutions of 
higher education, innovative approaches to expand research capacity in 
its respective field of study;
    (4) Monitor trends and evolving product concepts that represent and 
signify future directions for technologies in its respective area of 
research; and
    (5) Provide technical assistance to public and private 
organizations responsible for developing policies, guidelines, and 
standards that affect its respective area of research.
    (6) Each RERC must focus on one of the following priority topic 
areas:
    (a) Hearing Enhancement: This center must research and develop 
methods, systems, and technologies that will assist hearing 
professionals with the process of matching hearing technology to 
individuals with hearing loss and associated conditions such as 
tinnitus. This includes improving the compatibility of hearing 
enhancement

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technologies with various environments such as school, work, 
recreation, and social settings;
    (b) Prosthetics and Orthotics: This center must increase 
understanding of the scientific and engineering principles pertaining 
to human locomotion, reaching, grasping, and manipulation, and 
incorporate those principles into the design and fitting of prosthetic 
and orthotic devices;
    (c) Communication Enhancement: This center must research and 
develop augmentative and alternative communication technologies and 
strategies that will enhance the communicative capacity of individuals 
of all ages with significant communication disorders across 
environments (i.e., education, employment, recreation, social);
    (d) Measurement and Monitoring of Functional Performance: This 
center must research and develop technologies and methods that 
effectively assess the outcomes of rehabilitation therapies by 
combining measurements of physiological performance with measures of 
functional performance;
    (e) Technology Access for Land Mine Survivors: This center must 
address the unique rehabilitation needs of land mine survivors of all 
ages and develop low-cost replacement limbs, orthotics, and assistive 
technologies using indigenous materials and expertise from respective 
countries that will improve the quality of life for individuals who 
have been severely injured due to land mine explosions;
    (f) Universal Interface and Information Technologies: This center 
must research and develop innovative technological solutions for, and 
promote universal access to, current and emerging information 
technologies and technology interfaces that promote a seamless 
integration of the multiple technologies used by individuals with 
disabilities in the home, the community, and the workplace. This center 
must work collaboratively with the RERC on Telecommunication Access, 
the RERC on Mobile Wireless Technologies, and the NIDRR-funded 
Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center;
    (g) Telerehabilitation: This center must research and develop 
methods, systems, and technologies that support remote delivery of 
rehabilitation and home health care services for individuals who have 
limited local access to comprehensive medical and rehabilitation 
outpatient services;
    (h) Accessible Public Transportation: This center must research and 
develop methods, systems, and devices that will promote and enhance the 
ability of people with disabilities to safely, comfortably, and 
efficiently identify destination information, embark/disembark, and use 
restroom facilities on various types of public transportation systems 
such as passenger trains and airplanes;
    (i) Wheeled Mobility: This center must research and develop 
innovative technologies and strategies that will improve the current 
state of the science, design guidelines and performance standards, and 
usability of wheeled mobility devices and wheelchair seating systems;
    (j) Cognitive Technologies: This center must research, develop, and 
evaluate innovative technologies and approaches that will have a 
positive impact on the way in which individuals with significant 
cognitive disabilities function independently within their communities 
and workplace; and
    (k) Technology Transfer: This center must research and develop 
innovative ways to facilitate and improve the process of moving new, 
useful, and more effective assistive technology inventions and 
applications from the prototype phase to the marketplace. This center 
will be expected to provide technical assistance to all RERCs on issues 
pertaining to technology transfer, including the development of long-
range technology transfer plans.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice of final priorities has been reviewed in accordance 
with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we have 
assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
    The potential costs associated with the notice of final priorities 
are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we have 
determined as necessary for administering this program effectively and 
efficiently.
    In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative 
and qualitative--of this notice of final priorities, we have determined 
that the benefits of the priorities justify the costs.
    Summary of potential costs and benefits: The potential cost 
associated with these proposed priorities is minimal while the benefits 
are significant. Grantees may anticipate costs associated with 
completing the application process in terms of staff time, copying, and 
mailing or delivery. The use of e-Application technology reduces 
mailing and copying costs significantly.
    The benefits of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers 
program have been well established over the years in that similar 
projects have been completed. These priorities will generate new 
knowledge through a research, dissemination, utilization, and technical 
assistance projects.
    The benefit of these priorities and application and project 
requirements will be the establishment of new health and function 
centers that support the President's NFI.
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view 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: 
http://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 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.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 84.133E, 
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Program)

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(3).

    Dated: April 16, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

Appendix

Analysis of Comments and Changes

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

    Comment: One commenter suggested that the Wheeled Mobility topic 
area would be strengthened if the phrase ``design standards'' were 
changed to ``design guidelines and performance standards.''
    Discussion: NIDRR agrees with the commenter that the Wheeled 
Mobility topic area would be strengthened by replacing the phrase 
``design standards'' with ``design guidelines and performance 
standards.''
    Changes: The phrase ``design standards'' has been replaced with 
``design guidelines and performance standards.''
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Measurement 
and Monitoring of Functional Performance be required to incorporate 
issues that relate functional performance measurements to specific 
work tasks associated with the job or jobs a person performs or will 
be performing.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities that relate 
functional performance measurements to specific work tasks

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associated with the job or jobs a person performs or will be 
performing. The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the 
proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring all applicants 
to propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Technology 
Transfer be required to provide technical and financial resources to 
assist persons with disabilities who have developed assistive 
technology devices with bringing them to market.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities to assist 
persons with disabilities who have developed assistive technology 
devices with bringing the devices to market. The peer review process 
will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has no 
basis for requiring all applicants to propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Technology 
Transfer be required to encourage large companies to incorporate the 
concept of universal design within their products, both current and 
future, so that persons with disabilities could use them.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities to encourage 
large companies to incorporate the concept of universal design 
within their products. The peer review process will evaluate the 
merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring 
all applicants to propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Technology 
Transfer be required to develop partnerships with venture 
capitalists to generate resources that could be used to assist small 
businesses in marketing their products.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities to develop 
partnerships with venture capitalists to generate resources that 
could be used to assist small businesses in marketing their 
products. The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the 
proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring all applicants 
to propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Technology 
Transfer be required to support other RERCs by providing small 
product development grants for products developed within the RERC 
family.
    Discussion: There is no authority under the Rehabilitation Act 
for RERCs to provide subgrants. Therefore the activity suggested by 
the commenter is not an allowable activity.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Technology 
Transfer be required to involve underrepresented, minority high 
school, and undergraduate engineering and business students in the 
product evaluation process.
    Discussion: NIDRR requires all RERCs funded under this priority 
to develop a plan that describes how the center will include, as 
appropriate, individuals with disabilities or their representatives 
in all phases of center activities including research, development, 
training, dissemination, and evaluation. An applicant could propose 
activities that go beyond these requirements to include minority 
high school students and undergraduate engineering and business 
students. The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the 
proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring all applicants 
to propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: Two commenters suggested that the Cognitive 
Technologies topic area be expanded to include research and 
development activities pertinent to cognitive disabilities across 
the lifespan.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose research and development 
activities pertinent to cognitive disabilities across the lifespan. 
The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. 
However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: Two commenters suggested that the RERC on Cognitive 
Technologies be required to seek additional financial support from 
outside foundations, such as the Coleman Colorado Foundation, that 
specifically focus on funding technology research pertinent to 
cognitive disability.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities to seek 
additional financial support from outside foundations. The peer 
review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, 
NIDRR has no basis for requiring all applicants to propose these 
activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Cognitive 
Technologies be required to include a research and development 
activity to develop ``smart'' residential living environments 
designed to augment the effectiveness of developmental disabilities 
direct support/personal assistance services.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities to develop 
``smart'' residential living environments designed to augment the 
effectiveness of developmental disabilities direct support/personal 
assistance services. The peer review process will evaluate the 
merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring 
all applicants to propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the RERC on Accessible 
Public Transportation be required to include activities that focus 
on technology to improve accessibility to bus and other public and 
private ground transportation systems, and integrating those 
technologies with residential and community living environments for 
people with cognitive disabilities.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose research and development 
activities to improve accessibility to bus and other public and 
private ground transportation systems, and integrating those 
technologies with residential and community living environments for 
people with cognitive disabilities. The peer review process will 
evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for 
requiring all applicants to include these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the very nature of the 
RERC on Telerehabilitation requires it to focus on care providers 
and their patients rather than a more general consumer base.
    Discussion: NIDRR agrees that care providers and their patients 
play an important role for this RERC. Others, including family 
members, allied health professionals, and points of service (e.g., 
hospitals, clinics, one's home, etc.) also play integral roles with 
respect to this topic area. This RERC will also need to stay in 
contact with representatives from the telecommunications industry, 
healthcare insurers, and healthcare policy makers.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the Technology Access for 
Land Mine Survivors topic area and the Prosthetics and Orthotics 
topic area be combined so that the additional resources could be 
used for other topic areas not included in this priority.
    Discussion: NIDRR believes the mission and intended target 
populations of these two topic areas are distinctly different even 
though both of them include the need to research and develop 
prosthetics and orthotics (P&O). One is expected to focus on 
improving the state of the science in the field of P&O while the 
other is expected to work within developing countries to improve the 
lives of land mine survivors using indigenous materials and 
expertise from respective countries. If the two were combined the 
RERC would be spread too thin thereby negatively affecting the 
center's ability to conduct quality research and development 
activities. If funded, the two centers will be expected to 
coordinate on research projects of mutual interest.
    Changes: None.

[FR Doc. 03-9939 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P