[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6849-6850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-535]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; 
Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants Program 
Standing Review Panels; recruiting peer reviewers.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research (NIDRR) is recruiting peer reviewers to serve on standing 
review panels for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants 
Program.

DATES: We must receive your nomination on or before March 11, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Cohen, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6035, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7303 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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) by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The purpose of the SBIR program is to stimulate technological 
innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business 
in meeting Federal research or research and development needs, increase 
the commercial application of Department of Education (ED) supported 
research results, and improve the return on investment from Federally-
funded research for economic and social benefits to the Nation. This 
competitive grants program provides the

[[Page 6850]]

incentive for small businesses to profit from the commercialization of 
technology, products, and services developed through research and 
development activities funded under the NIDRR sponsored SBIR program. 
The SBIR program has three-phases: Phases I--startup, Phase II--
evaluate commercialization potential, and Phase III--move from the 
laboratory into the marketplace. However, NIDRR only supports Phase I 
and Phase II SBIR projects. Phase I grants allow entities to determine, 
insofar as possible, the scientific or technical merit and feasibility 
of ideas submitted under the SBIR program. Applications for Phase I 
focus on research that will contribute to proving the scientific or 
technical feasibility of the approach, concept or product identified in 
the proposal, which is a prerequisite for continued ED support in Phase 
II. The purpose of Phase II is to expand on the results of and to 
further pursue the development of Phase I projects and to begin to 
explore the potential for commercialization.

What Are Standing Review Panels?

    Phase I and II SBIR grant award decisions are made with the input 
of standing review panels. Standing review panels are groups of 
individuals with experience or expertise in specific scientific areas 
or areas of research. The standing review panels mechanism enhances 
consistency during a given review cycle and across review cycles. 
Panels evaluate the scientific and technical merit of grant 
applications. Individuals are assigned to panels based on their 
expertise and the priority area(s) assigned to review panels.

What Are the Qualifications of a Standing Review Panel Member?

    NIDRR obtains the services of the best-qualified reviewers for 
standing review panels, including those with disabilities and those 
from diverse backgrounds. NIDRR is interested in obtaining the services 
of individuals with training, education, expertise and/or knowledge in 
a range of areas supported by the 1999-2003 NIDRR long-range research 
plan (Plan) (e.g., assistive technology, health and function, 
employment and vocational rehabilitation, independent living and 
community integration, education and transition activities, and 
engineering). The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the following 
site: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
    Individuals may qualify to be peer reviewers on the basis of 
education, training and professional expertise or some combination of 
personal and professional experience. Employees of the Federal 
government are not eligible to serve as peer reviewers for the SBIR 
grants program.

How Long Will Members of the Standing Review Panel Serve?

    Generally, reviewers serve for three-year terms on the Standing 
Panels with one review per year.

How Can I Become a Standing Review Panel Member?

    Individuals are nominated to serve as a standing review panel peer 
reviewer through self-nomination or nomination by another individual. 
If you are interested in participating as a reviewer, we request that 
you submit the following information to the program contact person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    1. A statement indicating an interest to serve on an SBIR standing 
review panel and the area(s) of expertise identified from the topic 
areas enumerated above as well as an indication of knowledge in the 
following: (1) Small Business Operations and Management; and (2) 
Product Design, Innovation, Evaluation and Commercialization.
    2. Curriculum Vitae or resume detailing areas of expertise and 
experience.
    If you nominate another individual, please contact that individual 
to determine if the prospective nominee is willing to serve and provide 
the same information as above.
    Standing review panel nominees will be contacted by NIDRR by 
telephone or e-mail no later than June 15, 2005.
    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 3, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
 [FR Doc. E5-535 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P