[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10009-10011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4721]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American 
Indians With Disabilities; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.250E.

DATES: Applications Available: March 3, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 9, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted only by the 
governing bodies of Indian tribes (and consortia of those governing 
bodies) located on Federal and State reservations.
    Estimated Available Funds: $5,290,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$400,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $325,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $400,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 13.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: To provide vocational rehabilitation services 
to American Indians with disabilities who reside on or near Federal or 
State reservations, consistent with their individual strengths, 
resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and informed 
choices, so that they may prepare for and engage in gainful employment, 
including self-employment, telecommuting, or business ownership.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority 
is from section 121(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(29 U.S.C. 741).
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2004 this priority is a 
competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award 
up to an additional 10 points to an application, depending on how well 
the application meets this priority.
    This priority is:

Continuation of Previously Funded Tribal Programs

    In making new awards under this program, we give priority 
consideration to applications for the continuation of tribal programs 
that have been funded under this program.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 741.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 
84, 85, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 
369 and 371.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $5,290,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$400,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Award: $325,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $400,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 13.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted only by the 
governing bodies of Indian tribes (and consortia of those governing 
bodies) located on Federal and State reservations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: See 34 CFR 371.40.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: 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 
this competition as follows: 84.250E.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts 
Service Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 205-8207.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. It is suggested that you 
limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 35 pages, using the 
following standards:

[[Page 10010]]

    [sbull] A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
    [sbull] Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
    [sbull] Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
that 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    [sbull] The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; 
Part II, the Budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of 
support.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: March 3, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 9, 2004. The dates 
and times for the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand 
(including a courier service or commercial carrier) are in the 
application package for this program. The application package also 
specifies the hours of operation of the e-Application Web site.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Instructions and requirements for 
the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier 
service or commercial carrier) are in the application package for this 
program.
    Application Procedures:

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in 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: We are 
continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic submission of 
applications to include additional formula grant programs and 
additional discretionary grant competitions. Vocational Rehabilitation 
Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities--CFDA Number 
84.250E is one of the programs included in the pilot project. If you 
are an applicant under Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for 
American Indians with Disabilities, 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). If you use e-Application, you will 
be entering data online while completing your application. You may not 
e-mail an electronic 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 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 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 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 Education 
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following 
these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
    2. The applicant'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.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot 
for Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians 
with Disabilities 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. We will grant this extension if--
    1. You are a registered user of e-Application, and you have 
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
    2. (a) The e-Application system is 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 is 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.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the persons listed elsewhere in this notice under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contacts) or (2) the 
e-GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for Vocational 
Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities 
at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are in 
34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The selection criteria to be used for this 
competition will be provided in the application package.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify

[[Page 10011]]

administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA), the Department has established the following long-
term goal for this program: By the end of FY 2008, at least 65 percent 
of all American Indians with disabilities who exit the program after 
receiving services under an individualized plan for employment will 
achieve an employment outcome. Each grantee must annually report its 
performance on this measure through the American Indian Vocational 
Rehabilitation Services Program Annual Performance Reporting System.

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Martin or Justine Blanks, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3314, Switzer 
Building, Washington, DC 20202-2650. Telephone: for Pamela Martin (202) 
205-8494; for Justine Blanks (202) 205-9817.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the program contact persons in this section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department 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: February 27, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-4721 Filed 3-2-04; 8:45 am]
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