[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3002-3005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1038]


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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) 2005

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

DATES: Applications Available: January 19, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 19, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: The governing bodies of Indian tribes (and 
consortia of those governing bodies) located on Federal and State 
reservations.
    Estimated Available Funds: $11,169,000.
    Estimated Median Amount of Awards: The estimated median amount of 
an award is $400,000, which means that one-half of the awards will be 
over $400,000 and one-half of the awards will be under $400,000, with 
the majority of awards in the range of approximately $350,000-$425,000.
    Maximum Award: There is no maximum award amount. However, when 
preparing your submission, applicants should be aware that we 
anticipate a less than four percent increase in the award amounts for 
this program compared to FY 2004.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 23.


    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: The purpose of this program is 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 2005 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 in 34 CFR parts 369 and 371.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $11,169,000.
    Estimated Median Amount of Awards: The estimated median amount of 
an award is $400,000, which means that one-half of the awards will be 
over $400,000 and one-half of the awards will be under $400,000, with 
the majority of awards in the range of approximately $350,000-$425,000.
    Maximum Award: There is no maximum award amount. However, when 
preparing your submission, applicants should be aware that we 
anticipate a less than four percent increase in the award amounts for 
this program compared to FY 2004.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 23.


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


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

[[Page 3003]]

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: 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: You may obtain an 
application package via Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain an application package via Internet, use 
the following address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html. To obtain an application package from ED Pubs, write or 
call the following: 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 84.250F.
    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 5075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 245-7363.
    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. It is suggested that you limit Part III 
to the equivalent of no more than 35 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 suggested 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: January 19, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 19, 2005.
    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.
    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: 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 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 an 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 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--

[[Page 3004]]

    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 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. If the system is down and 
therefore the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent 
to all registered users who have initiated an e-Application.
    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 applicable 
following address:
    By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:
    U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, 
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.250F), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20202-4260.

or
    By mail through a commercial carrier:
    U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center--Stop 
4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.250F), 7100 Old Landover Road, 
Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    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 postmarked 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 84.250F), 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.
    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 business days from the application 
deadline date, 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 program are 
from 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 
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.
    In addition, this program is part of the Administration's job 
training and employment common measures initiative. The common measures 
for job training and employment programs targeting adults are: Entered 
employment (percentage employed in the first quarter after program 
exit); retention in employment (percentage of those employed in the 
first quarter after exit that were still employed in the second and 
third quarter after program exit); earnings increase (percentage change 
in earnings pre-registration to post program and first quarter after 
exit to third quarter after exit); and efficiency (annual cost per 
participant). The Department is currently working toward implementation 
of these

[[Page 3005]]

common measures. Each grantee will be required to collect and report 
data for the common measures when implemented.

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Libby or Alfreda Reeves, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5038, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20204-2800. Telephone: for Joyce Libby 
(202) 245-7432; for Alfreda Reeves (202) 245-7485.
    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 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: January 12, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-1038 Filed 1-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P