[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67329-67333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3203]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Overview 
Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research (NIDRR)--Field Initiated (FI) Projects; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133G-1 
(Research) and 84.133G-2 (Development)

DATES: 
    Applications Available: November 17, 2004. Deadline for Transmittal 
of Applications: January 18, 2005.
    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.
    Estimated Available Funds: $3,750,000. The Administration has 
requested $3,750,000 for this program for FY 2005. The actual level of 
funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are 
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $145,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $147,500.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $150,000 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.
    Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 25.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to further one 
or both of the following: (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, as amended (Act). 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

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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.
    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/infocus/newfreedom/.
    The FI 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/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.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.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 764.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The EDUCATION DEPARTMENT General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, and 97 and (b) the regulations for this program in 34 
CFR part 350.
    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: $3,750,000. The Administration has 
requested $3,750,000 for this program for FY 2005. The actual level of 
funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are 
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $145,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $147,500.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $150,000 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.
    Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 25.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. 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.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Other Submission Requirements

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You may obtain an 
application package via Internet or from the ED Publications Center (ED 
Pubs). To obtain a copy via Internet use the following address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
    To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write or call the following: ED 
Pubs, PO 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 84.133G.
    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 program contact 
person listed under section VII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: An applicant for 
assistance under this program must demonstrate in its application how 
it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of individuals with 
disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 350.40(a)). All other 
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. We recommend 
that you limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 50 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, or the letters of support. However, you must 
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: November 17, 2004. Deadline for Transmittal 
of Applications: January 18, 2005.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants system, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by 
mail or hand delivery, please refer to Section IV. 6. Other Submission 
Requirements in this notice.
    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: Applications for grants under 
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    If you submit your application to us electronically, you must use 
e-Application available through the Department's e-Grants system, 
accessible through the e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    While completing your electronic application, you will be entering 
data

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online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application 
for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do 
not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application 
process.
     The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site 
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until 
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is 
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on 
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to 
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you submit your application in paper format.
     You must 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 electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to download it and print a copy of it for your records.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement that 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 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) 
245-6272.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically 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 electronic 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 
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.
    Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. If the e-
Application system is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to 
submit your application electronically or you do not receive an 
automatic acknowledgement of your submission, you may submit your 
application in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with 
the instructions in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must send the 
original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.133G), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-
4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    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; or
    4. Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the U.S. Secretary of 
Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    1. A private metered postmark, or
    2. A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is post-marked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.
    Note: Applicants should note that 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.
    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) must hand deliver the original and two 
copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.133G), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, 
Sundays and Federal holidays. A person delivering an application must 
show photo identification to enter the building.
    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail 
or hand deliver your application to the Department:
    1. You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the 
Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix letter, 
if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your 
application.
    2. 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 mailing of your 
application, you should call the U.S. Department of Education 
Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and 34 CFR 350.54. There are two different 
sets of

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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 (i.e., research or development) that the application proposes 
to carry out. The specific selection criteria are in the application 
package.
    The Secretary is interested in outcomes-oriented research and 
development projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. 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 how 
results and planned outputs are expected to contribute to advances in 
knowledge, improvements in policy and practice, and eventually to 
public benefits for individuals with disabilities, and propose projects 
that are optimally designed to be consistent with these goals. 
Applicants are encouraged to include information describing how they 
will measure progress towards achievement of anticipated outcomes, 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.

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.
    Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on how 
and when to submit the report.
    4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its 
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects 
through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR 
and an expert panel examines, through formative and summative review, a 
portion of grantees to examine the quality of research and development 
activities and outcomes, including:
     The number of discoveries, analyses, and standards 
developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert 
panels to advance understanding of key concepts, issues, and emerging 
trends and strengthen the evidence-base for disability and 
rehabilitation policy, practice, and research;
     The number of new or improved tools and methods developed 
or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert panels to 
improve measurement and data collection procedures and enhance the 
design and evaluation of disability and rehabilitation interventions, 
products and devices;
     The number of new and improved interventions, programs, 
and devices developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been 
judged by expert panels to be successful in improving individual 
outcomes and increasing access;
     The number of tools, methods, interventions, programs, and 
devices, developed or validated with NIDRR funding that meet the 
standards for review by independent scientific collaborations and 
registries; and
     The number of new or improved assistive and universally 
designed technologies, products, and devices developed by grantees that 
are judged by an expert panel to be effective in improving outcomes and 
have potential to be transferred to industry for commercialization.
    To evaluate the overall success of individual grantee research and 
development activities, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded 
projects through review of grantee performance and products. NIDRR uses 
information submitted by grantees as part of their Annual Performance 
Reports (APRs) for these reviews. NIDRR also determines, using 
information submitted as part of the APR, the number of publications in 
refereed journals that are based on NIDRR-funded research and 
development activities.
    Department of Education program performance reports, which include 
information on NIDRR programs, are available on the Department of 
Education Web site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/PES/planning.html.
    Updates on the GPRA indicators, revisions, and methods appear in 
the NIDRR Program Review Web site: http://www.cessi.net/pr/grc/index.htm.
    Grantees should consult these sites, on a regular basis, to obtain 
details and explanations on how NIDRR programs contribute to the 
advancement of the Department's long-term and annual performance goals.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6030, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or via Internet: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the TDD number at (202) 245-7317 or 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.


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    Dated: November 10, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
 [FR Doc. E4-3203 Filed 11-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P