[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 46 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11954-11958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4740]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research (NIDRR)--Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR) 
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133S-1.

DATES: Applications Available: March 10, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 9, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: Small business concerns as defined by the 
Small Business Administration (SBA) at the time of the award. This 
definition is included in the application package.
    All technology, science, or engineering firms with strong research 
capabilities in any of the priority areas listed in this notice are 
encouraged to participate.
    Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and 
universities or other non-profit organizations are permitted, but the 
small business concern must serve as the grantee.
    If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the 
eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA. 
Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make a 
SBIR award until the SBA makes a determination.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,275,000 for new Phase I awards.

    Note: The estimated amount of funds available for new Phase I 
awards is based upon the estimated threshold SBIR allocation for 
OSERS, less prior commitments for Phase II continuation awards.

    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $75,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $75,000 for a single budget period of 6 months.

    Note: Maximum award amount includes direct and indirect costs 
and fees.

    Estimated Number of Awards: 17.

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

    Project Period: Up to 6 months for Phase I.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to stimulate 
technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of 
small business in meeting Federal research or research and development 
(R/R&D) 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.

    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 goals of the SBIR program are in concert with NIDRR's 1999-2003 
Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the 
following site: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
    Through the implementation of the NFI and 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.

Background

    The Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000 (Act) was enacted on 
December 21, 2000. The Act requires certain agencies, including ED, to 
establish SBIR programs by reserving a statutory percentage of their 
extramural research and development budgets to be awarded to small 
business concerns for R/R&D through a uniform, highly competitive 
three-phase process.
    The three phases of the SBIR program are:
    Phase I: Phase I projects determine, insofar as possible, the 
scientific or technical merit and feasibility of ideas submitted under 
the SBIR program. The application should concentrate on research that 
will significantly contribute to proving the scientific or technical 
feasibility of the approach or concept and that would be a prerequisite 
to further Department support in Phase II.
    Phase II: Phase II projects expand on the results of and further 
pursue the development of Phase I projects. Phase II is the principal 
R/R&D effort. It requires a more comprehensive application, outlining 
the effort in detail including the commercial potential. Phase II 
applicants must be Phase I awardees with approaches that appear 
sufficiently promising as a result of Phase I. Awards are for periods 
of up to 2 years in amounts up to $500,000.
    Phase III: In Phase III, the small business must use non-SBIR 
capital to pursue commercial applications of the R/R&D. Also, under 
Phase III, Federal agencies may award non-SBIR follow-on funding for 
products or processes that meet the needs of those agencies.
    All SBIR projects funded by NIDRR must address the needs of 
individuals with disabilities and their families. 29 U.S.C. 762. 
Activities may include exploring the uses of technology to ensure equal 
access to education, employment, community environments, and 
information for individuals with disabilities and improving the quality 
and utility of disability and rehabilitation research.
    Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested 
in applications that address one of the following priorities.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2005 these priorities are 
invitational

[[Page 11955]]

priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application 
that meets one of these invitational priorities a competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications. The invitational 
priorities relate to innovative research utilizing new technologies to 
address the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.
    These priorities are:
    (1) Development of technology to support access, promote 
integration, or foster independence of individuals with disabilities in 
the workplace, recreational activities or educational settings.
    (2) Development of technology to enhance sensory or motor function 
of individuals with disabilities.
    (3) Development of technology to support transition into post-
secondary educational or employment settings for individuals with 
disabilities.
    (4) Development of accessible information technology including Web 
access technology, unique software, and other systems and devices that 
promote access to information in educational, employment and community 
settings including access to voting technology.
    (5) Development of technology to support independent access to 
health care services in the community.
    Each applicant should describe the approaches they expect to use to 
collect empirical evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of the 
technology they are proposing in an effort to assess the efficacy and 
usefulness of the technology.

    Note: Applicants are encouraged to consider universal design 
principles and guidelines for more accessible design. Universal 
design is defined as ``the design of products and environments to be 
usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the 
need for adaptation or specialized design.'' (The Center for 
Universal Design, 1997. The Principles of Universal Design, Version 
2.0. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University. Web: http://www.ncsu.edu/www/ncsu/design/sod5/cud/univ_design/ud.htm.) 
Accessible design of consumer products minimizes or alleviates 
barriers that reduce the ability of individuals with disabilities to 
effectively or safely use standard consumer products (For more 
information see--http://www.trace.wisc.edu/docs/consumer_product_guidelines/consumer.pcs/disabil.htm.)

    Program Authority: The Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000, 
Pub. L. 106-554 (15 U.S.C. 631 and 638) and title II of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 
85, 97, 98 and 99.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,275,000 for new Phase I awards.

    Note: The estimated amount of funds available for new Phase I 
awards is based upon the estimated threshold SBIR allocation for 
OSERS, less prior commitments for Phase II continuation awards.

    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $75,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $75,000 for a single budget period of 6 months.

    Note: Maximum award amount includes direct and indirect costs 
and fees.

    Estimated Number of Awards: 17.

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

    Project Period: Up to 6 months for Phase I.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Small business concerns as defined by the 
SBA at the time of the award. This definition is included in the 
application package.
    All technology, science, or engineering firms with strong research 
capabilities in any of the priority areas listed in this notice are 
encouraged to participate.
    Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and 
universities or other non-profit organizations are permitted, but the 
small business concern must serve as the grantee.
    If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the 
eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA. 
Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make a 
SBIR award until the SBA makes a determination.
    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: 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 of 
the application package from ED Pubs, write or call the following: 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 84.133S-1.
    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: 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 
(narrative) to the equivalent of no more than 25 pages, excluding any 
documentation of prior multiple Phase II awards, if applicable, and 
required forms, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5[sec] x 11[sec], on one side only, with 
1[sec] margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Single space 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 
that 10 pitch (characters per inch). Standard black type should be used 
to permit photocopying.
     Draw all graphs, diagrams, tables, and charts in black 
ink. Do not include glossy photographs or materials that cannot be 
photocopied in the body of the application.
    The page limit does not apply to the budget section, including the 
narrative budget justification; the one-page abstract; the resumes; the 
bibliography; the letters of support; certifications; statements; 
related application(s) or award(s); or documentation of multiple Phase 
II awards, if applicable.
    The application package will provide instructions for completing 
all components to be included in the application. Each application must 
include a cover sheet (ED Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED 
Form 524) and other required forms; an abstract, certifications, and 
statements; a technical content project narrative (subject to the page 
limits); and related application(s) or award(s) and

[[Page 11956]]

documentation of multiple Phase II awards, if applicable.
    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. Content Restrictions: If an applicant chooses to respond to the 
invitational priorities and an application is relevant to more than one 
priority, the applicant must decide which priority is most relevant to 
the application and submit the application under that priority only. 
There is no limitation on the number of different applications that an 
applicant may submit under this competition. An applicant may submit 
separate applications on different topics, or different applications on 
the same priority. However, each application must respond to only one 
priority.
    4. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: March 10, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 9, 2005. Applications 
for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically 
using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information 
(including dates and times) about how to submit your application 
electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to 
section IV. 7. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    5. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Small Business Innovative 
Research Program--CFDA Number 84.133S-1 must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site. Through this site, you 
will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it 
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-
mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Small 
Business Innovative Research Program--CFDA Number 84.133S-1 at: http://www.grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search.
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted with a 
date/time received by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., 
Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will not 
consider your application if it was received by the Grants.gov system 
later than 4:30 p.m. on the application deadline date. When we retrieve 
your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are 
rejecting your application because it was submitted after 4:30 p.m. on 
the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
your application is submitted timely to the Grants.gov system.
     To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a D-U-
N-S Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You 
should allow a minimum of five business days to complete the CCR 
registration.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information typically included on the Application for Federal 
Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction 
Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Any 
narrative sections of your application should be attached as files in a 
.DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your 
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying 
number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you 
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax 
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed 
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Carol Cohen, U.S.

[[Page 11957]]

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6035, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Fax: (202) 245-7323.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier), your application to the Department. You must mail 
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 84.133S-
1), 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 84.133S-
1), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    Regardless of which address you use, 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 Secretary of the 
U.S. Department 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: 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, 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 84.133S-1), 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 Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (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 grant 
application receipt acknowledgment 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 competition are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are 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 
examines information submitted by SBIR grantees as part of their Final 
Report to determine:
     The degree to which the grantees are conducting high-
quality research, as reflected in the appropriateness of study designs, 
the rigor with which accepted standards of scientific and engineering 
methods are applied, and the degree to which the research builds on and 
contributes to the level of knowledge in the field;
     The number of new or improved tools and products developed 
or tested with NIDRR funding that improve measurement and data 
collection procedures and enhance the design and evaluation of 
disability and rehabilitation interventions, products and devices; and
     The number of new or improved assistive and universally 
designed technologies, products, and devices developed by grantees that 
improve outcomes, increase access, and have potential to be transferred 
to industry for commercialization.

VII. Agency Contact

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 via Internet: 
[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) 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

[[Page 11958]]

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: March 4, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-4740 Filed 3-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P