[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46418-46419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19845]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Nos.: 84.224C and 84.235T]


Alternative Financing Mechanism Program and Access to Telework 
Fund Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2003

    Purpose of Program: This notice invites applications for two 
programs: the Alternative Financing Mechanisms Program (AFP) under 
title III of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act) that is 
administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research (NIDRR) and the Access to Telework Fund Program (Telework) 
under section 303(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(Rehab Act), that is administered by the Rehabilitation Services 
Administration (RSA).
    It is the policy of the Department of Education not to solicit 
applications before the publication of final priorities. However, in 
this case it is essential to solicit applications on the basis of the 
notice of proposed priority, definitions, and application and project 
requirements published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, 
because the Department's authority to obligate these funds will expire 
on September 30, 2003. Applicants should base their applications on the 
proposed priority, definitions, and application and project 
requirements. If changes are made in the final notice in response to 
public comments or other considerations, applicants will be given an 
opportunity to revise or resubmit their applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Funds under these competitions will be used 
to support projects in FY 2003.
    States may jointly apply for and administer an AFP grant and a 
Telework grant. These States must meet the requirements for each 
priority and will compete separately under each priority. 
Alternatively, States may apply for either the AFP or the Telework 
grant, or both, to be administered separately. In addition, Indian 
tribes are eligible to apply for Telework grants.

Priorities

Absolute Priority 1--Alternative Financing Mechanism Program (84.224C)

    For FY 2003, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet the priority, 
definitions, and application and project requirements.
    The AFP will award grants to States to pay for the Federal share of 
the cost of the establishment and administration of, or the expansion 
and administration of, an AFP featuring one or more alternative 
financing mechanisms to allow individuals with disabilities and their 
family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives to 
purchase AT devices and AT services.
    Eligible Applicants: States that receive or have received grants 
under section 101 of the AT Act are eligible for an AFP grant. Under 
section 3(a)(13)(A) of the AT Act, State means each of the several 
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 
and 85.

Selection Criteria

    In evaluating an application for a new grant under this 
competition, we will determine if an applicant has submitted the 
required assurances.

Absolute Priority 2--Access to Telework Fund Program (84.235T)

    For FY 2003, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet the priority, 
definitions, and application and project requirements.
    The Access to Telework Fund Program will award grants to States and 
Indian Tribes to pay for the Federal share of the cost of the 
establishment and administration of an Access to Telework Fund 
featuring one or more alternative financing mechanisms to allow 
individuals with disabilities access to computers and other needed 
equipment not provided by an employer to enable them to telework from 
home or other remote sites.
    Eligible Applicants: States as defined in the AT Act and governing 
bodies of American Indian tribes located on Federal and State 
reservations consistent with section 7(19)(B) of the Rehab Act are 
eligible for a Telework grant. Consortia of States and American Indian 
tribes are also eligible for a Telework grant.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 
and 85

Selection Criteria

    In evaluating an application for a new grant under this 
competition, we will determine if an applicant has submitted the 
required assurances.

[[Page 46419]]



                        Alternative Financing Mechanism Program and Access to Telework Fund Program CFDA Nos. 84.224C and 84.235T
                                                               [Applications for FY 2003]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Estimated
       CFDA No. program name            Application available     Deadline for transmittal of    range of    Estimated number of      Project period
                                                                          applications            awards           awards*               (months)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.224C Alternative Financing        Aug. 5, 2003...............  Sept. 4, 2003..............  $500,000-2,          24            As long as the program
 Mechanism Program..                                                                               000,000                         originally funded by
                                                                                                                                   the AFP award is in
                                                                                                                                   operation (section
                                                                                                                                   303(b)(2) of the AT
                                                                                                                                   Act).
84.235T Access to Telework Fund      Aug. 5, 2003...............  Sept. 4, 2003..............  $250,000-1,          40            As long as the program
 Program..                                                                                         000,000                         originally funded by
                                                                                                                                   the Telework award is
                                                                                                                                   in operation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

    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 you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
these competitions as follows: CFDA number 84.224C (AFP) and 84.235T 
(Telework).
    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) 205-8207. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (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: Carol G. Cohen. Telephone: (202) 205-
5666 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 contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

Application Procedures

    The application procedures for these priorities are found in the 
application package.

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 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.


    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b) and 29 U.S.C. 3051-3056.

    Dated: July 31, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-19845 Filed 8-4-03; 8:45 am]
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