[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48741-48761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20794]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.224B]


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Assistive 
Technology Act Technical Assistance Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003

    Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application 
package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and the 
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 
this notice contains all of the information, application forms, and 
instructions you need to apply for a grant under this competition.


[[Page 48742]]


    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Assistive Technology (AT) 
Act Data Collection Project is to provide technical assistance (TA) to 
the Assistive Technology (AT) Act State Grant Program Grantees and to 
the Protection and Advocacy Grantees (P&A). The authority for the 
Secretary to fund TA projects is contained in section 104 of the 
Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act).
    For FY 2003 the competition for a new award focuses on a project 
designed to meet the priority we describe in the Priority section of 
this application notice. We intend this priority to improve data 
collection activities of the State AT projects and the P&A projects 
funded under the AT Act that serve individuals with disabilities.
    In order to provide applicants with a 30-day application period and 
to ensure that this grant is awarded before the end of FY 2003, NIDRR 
is inviting applications based on the proposed priority. NIDRR will 
publish the final priority after the comment period closes.
    Depending upon the comments that NIDRR receives, the final priority 
may include revisions to the proposed priority. It is generally the 
policy of the Department not to solicit applications before the 
publication of a final priority. However, in this case, it is essential 
to solicit applications on the basis of the proposed priority in order 
to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare applications of 
appropriate quality to be funded. Applicants are advised to begin to 
develop their applications based on the proposed priority. If changes 
are made in the final priority, applicants will be given an opportunity 
to revise or resubmit their applications.
    Eligible Applicants: Parties eligible to apply for grants under 
this program are States, public, or private agencies, including for-
profit agencies.
    Applications Available: August 14, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 15, 2003.
    Estimated Available Funds: $428,000.
    Maximum Award: $428,000 for year 1 and $300,000 each year for years 
2 and 3.

    Note: We will reject without consideration or evaluation any 
application that proposes a budget exceeding the stated maximum 
award amount in any year (See 34 CFR 75.104(b)).

    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Applicable Regulations: EDGAR, 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 
85, 86 and 97.

Priority

    This competition focuses on a project designed to meet the priority 
in the notice of proposed priority for this program, published 
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    For FY 2003, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.

Selection Criteria

    We use the following selection criteria from 34 CFR 75.210 to 
evaluate applications under this program.
    The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. The 
maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    (a) Significance (8 points total).
    (1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the extent to which the results of the proposed 
project are to be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use 
the information or strategies (8 points).
    (b) Quality of the project design (35 points total).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable 
(12 points).
    (ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs (10 points).
    (iii) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established for the 
competition (8 points).
    (iv) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated 
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, 
State, and Federal resources (5 points).
    (c) Quality of project services (16 points total).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability (5 points).
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or 
beneficiaries of those services (5 points).
    (ii) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be 
provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient 
strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the 
leveraging of non-project resources (6 points).
    (d) Quality of project personnel (12 points total).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will 
carry out the project.
    (2) In determining the quality of proposed project personnel, the 
Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages 
applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that 
have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability (3 points).
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator (5 points).
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel (4 points).
    (e) Adequacy of resources (6 points total).
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
lead applicant organization (3 points).
    (ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed 
project (3 points).
    (f) Quality of the management plan (11 points total).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed

[[Page 48743]]

project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timeliness, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks (6 points).
    (ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project 
(5 points).
    (g) Quality of the project evaluation (12 points total).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project (6 points).
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible (6 points).

Application Procedures

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in the 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.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In FY 2003, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing to 
expand its pilot project for electronic submission of applications to 
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary 
grant competitions. The Assistive Technology Act Data Collection 
Project--CFDA 84.224B is one of the programs included in the 
pilot project. If you are an applicant under this project, 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). Users of e-Application will be 
entering data online while completing their applications. You may not 
e-mail a soft copy of a grant application to us. If you participate in 
this voluntary pilot project by submitting an application 
electronically, the data you enter online will be saved into a 
database. We request your participation in e-Application. We shall 
continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for 
improvement.
    If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
    [sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
    [sbull] You will not receive any additional point value because you 
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize 
you if you submit an application in paper format. When you enter the e-
Application system, you will find information about its hours of 
operation.
    [sbull] You may 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] After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award 
number (an identifying number unique to your application).
    [sbull] Within three working days after 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) The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign this 
form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard copy signature page of the ED 424.
    (4) Fax the signed 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.
    [sbull] Closing Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If 
you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot for the 84.224B 
competition and you are prevented from submitting your application on 
the closing date because the e-Application system is unavailable, we 
will grant you an extension of one business day in order to transmit 
your application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. For us 
to grant this extension--
    (1) You must be a registered user of e-Application, and have 
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
    (2) (a) The e-Application system must be unavailable for 60 minutes 
or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC, 
time on the deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system must be unavailable for any period of 
time during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time 
between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time) on the deadline date.
    The Department must acknowledge and confirm these periods of 
unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this 
extension you must contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in 
this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or (2) the e-GRANTS 
help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the 84.224B 
competition at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

Parity Instructions

    Users of e-Application, a data driven system, will be entering data 
online while completing their applications. This will be more 
interactive than just e-mailing a soft copy of a grant application to 
us. If you participate in this voluntary pilot project by submitting an 
application electronically, the data you enter online will go into a 
database and ultimately will be accessible in electronic form to our 
reviewers.
    This pilot project continues the Department's transition to an 
electronic grant award process. In addition to e-Application, the 
Department plans to expand the number of discretionary programs using 
the electronic peer review (e-Reader) system and to increase the 
participation of discretionary programs offering grantees the use of 
the electronic annual performance reporting (e-Reports) system.
    To help ensure parity and a similar look between electronic and 
paper copies of grant applications, we are asking each applicant that 
submits a paper application to adhere to the following guidelines:
    [sbull] Submit your application on 8.5'' by 11'' paper.
    [sbull] Leave a 1-inch margin on all sides.
    [sbull] Use consistent font throughout your document. You may also 
use boldface type, underlining, and italics. However, please do not use 
colored text.
    [sbull] Please use black and white, also, for illustrations, 
including charts, tables, graphs and pictures.
    [sbull] For the narrative component, your application should 
consist of the number and text of each selection criterion followed by 
the narrative. The text of the selection criterion, if

[[Page 48744]]

included, does not count against any page limitation.
    [sbull] Place a page number at the bottom right of each page 
beginning with 1; and number your pages consecutively throughout your 
document.

Additional Application Procedures

    Appendices: Do not attach any appendices if all of your appendices 
are not in electronic format. Type in the appendices section: 
``Appendices are being sent separately.'' and note the date that they 
are hand delivered or mailed. Put the PR/award number and the word 
``Appendices'' in the upper right hand corner of each page of the 
appendices. Send the entire package of appendices to: U.S. Department 
of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA  
84.224B)-Appendices, 7th & D Streets, SW., Room 3671, Regional Office 
Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4725.
    You must clearly label the outside of the envelope with the PR/
Award Number and the word ``Appendices.'' You must submit all hard copy 
appendices according to the Instructions for Transmitting Applications 
found elsewhere in this notice.

Instructions for Transmitting Applications

    If you want to apply for a grant in paper format and be considered 
for funding, you must meet the following deadline requirements:
    (a) If You Send Your Application by Mail.
    You must mail the original and two copies of the application on or 
before the deadline date. To help expedite our review of your 
application, applicants are encouraged to submit an original and seven 
copies. Mail your application to: U.S. Department of Education, 
Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA  84.224B), 7th & 
D Streets, SW., Room 3671, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 
20202-4725.
    You must show one of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
    If you mail an application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    (b) If You Deliver Your Application by Hand.
    You or your courier must hand deliver the original and two copies 
of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC, time) on or before the 
deadline date. To help expedite our review of your application, we 
would appreciate your voluntarily including an additional seven copies 
of your application. Deliver your application to: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA  
84.224B), 7th & D Streets, SW., Room 3671, Regional Office Building 3, 
Washington, DC 20202-4725.
    The Application Control Center accepts application deliveries daily 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC, time), except Saturdays, 
Sundays, and Federal holidays. The Center accepts application 
deliveries through the D Street entrance only. A person delivering an 
application must show identification to enter the building.
    (c) If You Submit Your Application Electronically.
    You must submit your grant application through the Internet using 
the software provided on the e-Grants Web site (http://e-grants.ed.gov) 
by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC, time) on the deadline date.
    The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6 a.m. 
until 12 midnight (Washington, DC, time) Monday-Friday and 6 a.m. until 
7 p.m. Saturdays. The system is unavailable on the second Saturday of 
every month, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Please note that on 
Wednesdays the Web site is closed for maintenance at 7 p.m. 
(Washington, DC, time).

Notes

    (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.
    (2) If you send your application by mail or if you or your courier 
delivers it by hand, the Application Control Center will mail a Grant 
Application Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the 
notification of application receipt within 15 days from the date of 
mailing the application, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-9493.
    (3) If your application is late, we will notify you that we will 
not consider the application.
    (4) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the 
Department--in Item 4 of the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424 (exp. 11/30/2004)) the CFDA number--and suffix 
letter, if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your 
application.
    (5) If you submit your application through the Internet via the e-
Grants Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment when we 
receive your application.

Application Forms and Instructions

    The Appendix to this notice contains forms and instructions, a 
statement regarding estimated public reporting burden, and various 
assurances and certifications. Please organize the parts and additional 
materials in the following order:
    [sbull] PART I: Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424 (Exp. 
11/30/2004)) and instructions.
    [sbull] PART II: Budget Form--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524) 
and instructions and definitions.
    [sbull] PART III: Application Narrative.
    [sbull] PART IV: Additional Materials.
    [sbull] Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
    [sbull] Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
    [sbull] Certification Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, 
and Other Responsibility Matters: And Drug-Free Work-Place Requirements 
(ED Form 80-0013) and instructions.
    [sbull] Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions 
(ED Form 80-0014) and instructions.

(Note: ED Form GCS-014 is intended for the use of primary 
participants and should not be transmitted to the Department.)

    [sbull] Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) and 
instructions.
    [sbull] Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants.
    An applicant may submit information on a photocopy of the 
application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications. 
However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications 
must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a 
completed application form has been received.

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 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,

[[Page 48745]]

audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the 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.


    Program Authority:  29 U.S.C. 3014.

    Dated: August 11, 2003.
Loretta Petty Chittum,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and, Rehabilitative 
Services.

Appendix--Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden

    According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, you are not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it 
displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number 
for this collection of information is 1820-0634. Expiration date: 
10/31/2003. We estimate the time required to complete this 
collection of information to average 30 hours per response, 
including the time to review instructions, search existing data 
sources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the 
collection of information. If you have any comments concerning the 
accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this 
form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 
20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of 
your submission of this form, write directly to: Donna Nangle, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412, 
Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2645.

Application Forms and Instructions

    Applicants are advised to reproduce and complete the application 
forms in this section. Applicants applying in paper copy format are 
required to submit an original and two copies of each application as 
provided in this section. However, applicants are encouraged to 
submit an original and seven copies of each application in order to 
facilitate the peer review process and minimize copying errors.

Frequent Questions

1. Can I Get an Extension of the Due Date?

    No. On rare occasions the Department of Education may extend a 
closing date for all applicants. If that occurs, a notice of the 
revised due date is published in the Federal Register. However, 
there are no extensions or exceptions to the due date made for 
individual applicants except as noted for unavailability of the e-
APPLICATION system.

2. What Should Be Included in the Application?

    The application should include an abstract, a project narrative, 
vitae of key personnel, and a budget, as well as the Assurances 
forms included in this package. Vitae of staff or consultants should 
include the individual's title and role in the proposed project, and 
other information that is specifically pertinent to this proposed 
project. The budgets for both the first year and all subsequent 
project years should be included.
    If collaboration with another organization is involved in the 
proposed activity, the application should include assurances of 
participation by the other parties, including written agreements or 
assurances of cooperation. It is not useful to include general 
letters of support or endorsement in the application.
    Many applications contain voluminous appendices that are not 
helpful and in many cases cannot even be mailed to the reviewers. It 
is generally not helpful to include such things as brochures, 
general capability statements of collaborating organizations, maps, 
copies of publications, or descriptions of other projects completed 
by the applicant.

3. What Format Should Be Used for the Application?

    NIDRR generally advises applicants that they may organize the 
application to follow the selection criteria that will be used. The 
specific review criteria vary according to the specific program, and 
are contained in this Notice Inviting Applications package.

4. May I Submit Applications to More Than One NIDRR Program Competition 
or More Than One Application to a Program?

    Yes, you may submit applications to any program for which they 
are responsive to the program requirements. No, you may not submit 
more than one application to this competition.

5. What Is the Allowable Indirect Cost Rate?

    The limits on indirect costs vary according to the program and 
the type of application. The Technical Assistance Program does not 
place any limit on indirect costs.

6. Can Profitmaking Businesses Apply for Grants?

    Yes. However, for-profit organizations will not be able to 
collect a fee or profit on the grant.

7. Can Individuals Apply for Grants?

    No. Only organizations are eligible to apply for grants under 
the Technical Assistance Program.

8. Can I Call NIDRR to Find Out if My Application Is Being Funded?

    No. When NIDRR is able to release information on the status of 
grant applications, it will notify applicants by letter. The results 
of the peer review cannot be released except through this formal 
notification.

9. If My Application Is Successful, Can I Assume I Will Get the 
Requested Budget Amount in Subsequent Years?

    No. Funding in subsequent years is subject to availability of 
funds and project performance.

10. Will All Approved Applications Be Funded?

    No. It often happens that the peer review panels approve for 
funding more applications than NIDRR can fund within available 
resources. Applicants who are approved but not funded are encouraged 
to consider submitting similar applications in future competitions.

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

[[Page 48746]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.008


[[Page 48747]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.009


[[Page 48748]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.010


[[Page 48749]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.011


[[Page 48750]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.012


[[Page 48751]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.013


[[Page 48752]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.014


[[Page 48753]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.015


[[Page 48754]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.016


[[Page 48755]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.017


[[Page 48756]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.018


[[Page 48757]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.019


[[Page 48758]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.020


[[Page 48759]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.021


[[Page 48760]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.022


[[Page 48761]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AU03.023

[FR Doc. 03-20794 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-C