[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 80 (Monday, April 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22492-22494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9447]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Centers for Independent Living; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.132A.
    Applications Available: April 27, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 26, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 26, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: To be eligible to apply, an applicant must--
    (a) be a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, 
nonresidential, private nonprofit agency;
    (b) have the power and authority to--
    (1) carry out the purpose of part C of title VII of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act) and perform the 
functions listed in section 725(b) and (c) of the Act and subparts F 
and G of 34 CFR part 366 within a community located within a State or 
in a bordering State; and
    (2) receive and administer--
    (i) funds under 34 CFR part 366;
    (ii) funds and contributions from private or public sources that 
may be used in support of a center for independent living (center); and
    (iii) funds from other public and private programs;
    (c) be able to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a center 
consistent with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) 
of the Act and subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366;
    (d) either--
    (1) not currently be receiving funds under part C of chapter 1 of 
title VII of the Act; or
    (2) propose the expansion of an existing center through the 
establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the 
governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board 
of the new center) at a different geographical location;
    (e) propose to serve one or more of the geographic areas that are 
identified as unserved or underserved by the States and territories 
listed under Estimated Number of Awards; and
    (f) submit appropriate documentation demonstrating that the 
establishment of a new center is consistent with the design for 
establishing a statewide network of centers in the State plan of the 
State or territory whose geographic area or areas the applicant 
proposes to serve.
    Estimated Available Funds: $343,215.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $13,844 to $154,046.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $38,135.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 9, distributed in the following manner:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Estimated    Estimated
            States and territories               available    number of
                                                   funds        awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa................................     $154,046            1
Kansas........................................       27,630            1
New Jersey....................................       69,222            5
South Dakota..................................       27,630            1
Virginia......................................       64,687            1
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    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: This program provides support for planning, 
conducting, administering, and evaluating centers that comply with the 
standards and assurances in section 725 of the Act, consistent with the 
design included in the State plan for establishing a statewide network 
of centers.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 796f-1.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 
CFR parts 364 and 366.

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



[[Page 22493]]


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $343,215.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $13,844 to $154,046.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $38,135.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 9, distributed in the following manner:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Estimated    Estimated
            States and  territories              available    number  of
                                                   funds        awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa................................     $154,046            1
Kansas........................................       27,630            1
New Jersey....................................       69,222            5
South Dakota..................................       27,630            1
Virginia......................................       64,687            1
------------------------------------------------------------------------


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


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible to apply, an applicant 
must--
    (a) be a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, 
nonresidential, private nonprofit agency;
    (b) have the power and authority to--
    (1) carry out the purpose of part C of title VII of the Act and 
perform the functions listed in section 725(b) and (c) of the Act and 
subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366 within a community located within a 
State or in a bordering State; and
    (2) receive and administer--
    (i) funds under 34 CFR part 366;
    (ii) funds and contributions from private or public sources that 
may be used in support of a center; and
    (iii) funds from other public and private programs;
    (c) be able to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a center 
consistent with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) 
of the Act and subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366;
    (d) either--
    (1) not currently be receiving funds under part C of chapter 1 of 
title VII of the Act; or
    (2) propose the expansion of an existing center through the 
establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the 
governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board 
of the new center) at a different geographical location;
    (e) propose to serve one or more of the geographic areas that are 
identified as unserved or underserved by the States and territories 
listed under Estimated Number of Awards; and
    (f) submit appropriate documentation demonstrating that the 
establishment of a new center is consistent with the design for 
establishing a statewide network of centers in the State plan of the 
State or territory whose geographic area or areas the applicant 
proposes to serve.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.

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: CFDA number 84.132A.
    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 
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.
    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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: April 27, 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 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.
    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 program.
    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. The Centers for 
Independent Living program-- CFDA Number 84.132A is one of the programs 
included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the 
Centers for Independent Living program, 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:
     Your participation is voluntary.

[[Page 22494]]

     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 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.
     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 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.
     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 Centers for Independent Living program 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 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 Centers for 
Independent Living program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
in 34 CFR 366.27.
    2. Review and Selection Process: An additional factor we consider 
in selecting an application for an award is comments regarding the 
application, if any, by the State Independent Living Council in the 
State in which the applicant is located.

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), one measure has been developed for evaluating the 
effectiveness of this program: the number of individuals who leave 
nursing homes and other institutions for community-based housing due to 
independent living services provided by a center.
    All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance 
report documenting their success in addressing this performance 
measure, as well as the standards and assurances in section 725 of the 
Act.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Billy, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3326, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-2740. Telephone: (202) 205-9362 or by e-mail: 
[email protected].
    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 person 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: 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: April 20, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-9447 Filed 4-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P