[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21511-21514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9053]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services 
and Results for Children With Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on 
Deaf-Blindness; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2004

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.326U.


DATES: Applications Available: April 22, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 26, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 26, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs), local 
educational agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education (IHEs), 
other public agencies, nonprofit private organizations, for-profit 
organizations, outlying areas, freely associated States, and Indian 
tribes or tribal organizations.
    Estimated Available Funds: $400,000.
    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 the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 24 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: This program provides technical assistance and 
information that (1) support States and local entities in building 
capacity to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional 
services and results for children with disabilities and their families; 
and (2) address goals and priorities for improving State systems that 
provide early intervention, educational, and transitional services for 
children with disabilities and their families.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 
661(e)(2) and 685 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
(IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2004 this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    Background: As a result of the uniqueness and complexity of serving 
children and young adults who are deaf-blind, there is a significant 
need to provide and disseminate information on a national basis to 
those with deaf-blindness and to their families, stakeholders, service 
providers, and other interested parties. The current trend of these 
children to live and attend neighborhood schools has caused an increase 
in the number and variety of individuals who require access to current, 
organized, authoritative, and synthesized information pertaining to 
deaf-blindness.
    In an effort to effectively address this informational need and to 
improve results for children who are deaf-blind, the following priority 
supports a national clearinghouse that will make widely available 
evidence-based research, specialized knowledge, effective practices, 
and other informational resources related to deaf-blindness.
    Statement of Priority: This priority is:
    The establishment and operation of a national clearinghouse on 
deaf-blindness to improve outcomes for children and individuals who are 
deaf-blind.
    The clearinghouse must--
    (a) Identify, collect, organize, and disseminate information 
related to deaf-blindness, including research-based and other practices 
that are supported by statistical data or other evidence establishing 
their effectiveness in improving results for children who are deaf-
blind. Information made available through the clearinghouse shall 
relate, at a minimum, to the following items--
    (1) Early intervention, special education, and related services, 
for children with deaf-blindness;
    (2) Related medical, health, social, and recreational services;
    (3) The nature of deaf-blindness and the barriers to education and 
employment that it causes;
    (4) Identified legal issues that are currently affecting persons 
with deaf-blindness; and
    (5) Postsecondary education and transitional services for 
individuals with deaf-blindness.
    (b) Disseminate evidence-based research and information on deaf-
blindness to a wide variety of audiences employing multiple 
dissemination mechanisms and approaches, including the establishment 
and maintenance of a user-friendly Web site that permits the 
downloading of all clearinghouse information databases and incorporates 
hotlinks to other relevant information sources. The databases must also 
include national bibliographic, personnel, and organizational 
resources;
    (c) Employ state-of-the-art technology, while linking researchers 
with practitioners in order to identify, collect, develop, and 
disseminate information;
    (d) Assist State and local educational agencies, including these 
agencies' projects under Projects for Children and Young Adults who are 
Deaf-Blind program--CFDA 84.326C, and other related agencies and 
organizations, in developing and implementing systemic-change goals 
supported by available evidence-based research for children with deaf-
blindness;
    (e) Respond to information requests from professionals, parents, 
students, institutions of higher education, and other interested 
individuals. The clearinghouse shall also develop and implement 
appropriate strategies for disseminating information to under-
represented groups, including those with limited English proficiency;
    (f) Carry out clearinghouse activities by collaborating with 
appropriate agencies, organizations, and consumer and parent groups 
that have specific expertise in addressing the needs of children with 
deaf-blindness and building capacity to improve results for these 
children;
    (g) Develop a broad, coordinated network of professionals, parents, 
related organizations and associations, mass media, other 
clearinghouses, and governmental agencies at the Federal, regional, 
State, and local level for purposes of promoting awareness of issues 
related to deaf-blindness and referring individuals to appropriate 
resources;
    (h) Expand and broaden the use of current informational resources 
by developing materials that synthesize evidence-based research, best 
practices, and emerging knowledge into easily understandable products 
with accessible formats; and
    (i) Establish and implement a comprehensive system of evaluation to 
determine the impact of the clearinghouse activities on children with 
deaf-blindness, identify relevant achievements, and identify strategies 
for improvement, on an annual basis.
    (j) The projects funded under this priority must budget for a two-
day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC during each year of 
the project.
    (k) The project's Web site must include relevant information and 
documents in an accessible form.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally

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offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed 
priorities. However, section 661(e)(2) of IDEA makes the public comment 
requirements inapplicable to the priority in this notice.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1461 and 1485.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreements.
    Estimated Available Funds: $400,000.
    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 the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs, LEAs, IHEs, other public agencies, 
nonprofit private organizations, for-profit organizations, outlying 
areas, freely associated States, and Indian tribes or tribal 
organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this 
notice must make positive efforts to employ and advance in employment 
qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
    (b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this notice must 
involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals with 
disabilities in planning, implementing, and evaluating the projects 
(see section 661(f)(1)(A) of IDEA).

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: 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: CFDA Number 84.326U.
    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 Contract 
Services Team listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section 
VII of this notice.
    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 competition.
    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. You must limit Part III to 
the equivalent of no more than 40 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on 
one side only, with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both 
sides.
     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.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or 
no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    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, the references, or the letters of support. 
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    We will reject your application if--
     You apply these standards and exceed the page 
limit; or
     You apply other standards and exceed the 
equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: April 22, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 26, 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 competition. 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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 26, 2004.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    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 
competition.
    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: We are 
continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic submission of 
applications to include additional formula grant programs and 
additional discretionary grant competitions. The Special Education--
Technical Assistance and Dissemination of Services and Results for 
Children with Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on Deaf-Blindness 
competition--CFDA Number 84.326U is one of the competitions included in 
the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the Special 
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination of Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on Deaf-
Blindness competition, 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

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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:
     Your participation is voluntary.
     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.
     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.
     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.
     Your e-Application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     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).
     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.
     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 the Special Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination of 
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--National 
Clearinghouse on Deaf-Blindness competition 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 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 person listed elsewhere in this notice under For 
Further Information Contact (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Special 
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination of Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on Deaf-
Blindness competition at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
listed in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The specific selection criteria to be 
used for this competition are 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 
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 is currently developing measures 
that will yield information on various aspects of the quality of the 
Technical Assistance to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities program (e.g., the extent to which projects use high 
quality methods and materials, provide useful products and services, 
and contribute to improving results for children with disabilities). 
Data on these measures will be collected from the projects funded under 
this notice.
    Grantees will also be required to report information on their 
projects' performance in annual reports to the Department (EDGAR, 34 
CFR 75.590).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Grants and Contracts Services 
Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 
3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 1-202-
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.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the Grants and Contracts Services Team listed 
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: 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.


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    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: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: April 15, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
 Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-9053 Filed 4-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P