[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55377-55380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24299]


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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 (NIDRR); Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

SUMMARY: We invite applications for new FY 2004 grant awards under the 
Field-Initiated (FI) Projects (84.133G) and Advanced Rehabilitation 
Research Training (ARRT) Projects (84.133P) of NIDRR's Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Project and Centers Program. We take this 
action to focus attention on an area of national need in the 
rehabilitation field.
    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.

    Note:
    The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.


[[Page 55378]]



                                                   National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Application Notice for FY 2004
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                                                                                                                                     Estimated     Maximum award     Estimated
          CFDA No. Program Name                     Applications available             Deadline for transmittal of applications      available     amount  (per      number of    Project period
                                                                                                                                       funds          year) *         awards          (months)
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84.133G Field Initiated Projects........  September 25, 2003........................  December 9, 2003..........................      $4,500,000        $150,000              30              36
84.133P Advanced Rehabilitation Research  September 25, 2003........................  November 24, 2003.........................        $750,000        $150,000             3-5              60
 Training Projects.
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* 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)).
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Note: NIDRR supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom 
Initiative (NFI). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the 
following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html.

    The FI and ARRT projects are in concert with NIDRR's Long-Range 
Plan (Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues 
relating to disability and rehabilitation research and development 
topics. The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the following site: 
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
    Through the implementation of the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve 
the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research; (2) 
foster an exchange of expertise, information, and training to 
facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the unique 
needs of traditionally underserved populations; (3) determine best 
strategies and programs to improve rehabilitation outcomes for 
underserved populations; (4) identify research gaps; (5) identify 
mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and (6) disseminate 
findings.
    The Secretary is interested in hypothesis-driven research and 
development projects. To address this interest it is expected that 
applicants will articulate goals, objectives, and expected outcomes for 
the proposed research and development activities. It is critical that 
proposals describe expected public benefits, especially benefits for 
individuals with disabilities, and propose projects that are optimally 
designed to demonstrate outcomes that are consistent with the proposed 
goals. Applicants are encouraged to include information describing how 
they will measure outcomes, including the indicators that will 
represent the end-result, the mechanisms that will be used to evaluate 
outcomes associated with specific problems or issues, and how the 
proposed activities will support new intervention approaches and 
strategies, including a discussion of measures of effectiveness. 
Submission of this information is voluntary except where required by 
the selection criteria listed in the application package.

Selection Criteria

    The selection criteria for the FI Projects and 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 (Act), as amended. 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 
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 conducted within the past two years, by 
writing 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 conducted within the past two 
years, write the word resubmittal and the assigned application number 
(i.e., H133G02, H133G03) in the right hand corner at the bottom of the 
page on the abstract, the introduction, and cover letter; and (d) if 
applicable, indicate qualification as a minority entity or Indian tribe 
in the abstract and cover letter.
    The term minority entity means an entity that is a historically 
Black college or university, a Hispanic-serving institution of higher 
education, an American Indian tribal college or university, or another 
institution of higher education whose minority student enrollment is at 
least 50 percent. Information on qualifying entities is located at: 
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.

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

[[Page 55379]]

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'' (ICFDH-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 the 
functioning of people with chronic fatigue (CF); (e) projects that 
study chronic pain and pain management strategies to enhance the 
functioning of individuals with disabilities; and (f) projects that 
study mental health interventions related to traumatic stress of 
individuals with disabilities.
    Eligible Applicants: 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.
    Indirect Cost Rate: Applicants should limit indirect charges to the 
organization's federally approved indirect cost rate. If the 
organization does not have an approved indirect cost rate, the 
application should include an estimated actual rate.

Letters of Intent

    Due to the open nature of the FI Projects competition, and to 
assist with the selection of reviewers for this competition, NIDRR is 
requiring all potential applicants to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). 
This LOI will not be used to screen out potential applicants. 
Therefore, LOIs are neither approved nor disapproved. You will not be 
contacted about the status of your LOI.
    Each LOI must be limited to a maximum of four pages and must 
include the following information: (1) The title of the proposed 
project, if it is research or development, 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 project and a description 
of its research and development activities at a sufficient level of 
detail to allow NIDRR to select potential peer reviewers; (3) a list of 
proposed project staff including the Director and key personnel; (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.; and 
(5) contact information for the PI. Submission of a LOI is a 
prerequisite for eligibility to submit an application.
    NIDRR will accept a LOI via surface mail, e-mail, or facsimile by 
November 10, 2003. If a LOI is submitted via e-mail or facsimile, the 
applicant must also provide NIDRR with the original signed LOI within 
seven days after the date the e-mail or facsimile is submitted. The LOI 
must be sent to: Surface mail: David Keer, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3431, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-2645; or fax (202) 205-8515; or e-mail: 
[email protected].
    For further information regarding the LOI requirement contact David 
Keer at (202) 205-5633.
    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 of 1973, as amended (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.
    Indirect Cost Rate: Indirect cost reimbursement on a training grant 
is limited to eight percent of a modified total direct cost base, 
defined as total direct less stipends, tuition, and related fees.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(k).

Application Procedures

    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.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In FY 2004, the Department is continuing to expand its pilot 
project for 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 the Field-Initiated Projects program--CFDA 84.133G or the 
Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects program--CFDA 
84.133P, 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 on-line 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 on-line will be saved into a 
database. We request your participation in e-Application. We shall 
continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for its 
improvement.
    If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
    [sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
    [sbull] When you enter the e-Application system, you will find 
information about its hours of operation. We strongly

[[Page 55380]]

recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to 
initiate an e-Application package.
    [sbull] You will not receive 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.
    [sbull] You may submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
    [sbull] Your e-Application must comply with any page limit 
requirements described in this notice.
    [sbull] After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment, 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 Education 
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following 
these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
    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 
other forms at a later date.
    [sbull] Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot 
for the Field-Initiated Projects program--CFDA 84.133G or the Advanced 
Rehabilitation Research Training Projects program--CFDA 84.133P and you 
are prevented from submitting your application on the application 
deadline 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 application 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 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time) on the 
application deadline date.
    The Department must acknowledge and confirm these periods of 
unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this 
extension or to confirm the Department's acknowledgement of any system 
unavailability, you may 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 Field-
Initiated Projects program--CFDA 84.133G or the Advanced Rehabilitation 
Research Training Projects program--CFDA 84.133P at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    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 at 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 the 
competition for which you are applying 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 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 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: 
http://www.ed.gov/news/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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.



    Dated: September 22, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-24299 Filed 9-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P