[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30935-30938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10761]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Overview 
Information, Capacity Building for Traditionally Underserved 
Populations--Rehabilitation Capacity Building Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.315C 
and D.
    Dates:
    Applications Available: May 31, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 15, 2005.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 13, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: For priority 1, minority entities as defined 
under section 21(b)(5) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act), as a historically Black college or university, a Hispanic-
serving institution of higher education, an American Indian tribal 
college or university, or another institution of higher education whose 
minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent.
    For priority 2, a State or a public or private nonprofit agency or 
organization, such as an institution of higher education or an Indian 
tribe.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,530,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$250,000.
    Priority 1--CFDA Number 84.315C--$200,000-$225,000.
    Priority 2--CFDA Number 84.315D--$200,000-$250,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $218,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.
    Priority 1--CFDA Number 84.315C--5.
    Priority 2--CFDA Number 84.315D--5.


    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 Capacity Building for Traditionally 
Underserved Populations program provides financial assistance for 
projects that provide training, research, technical assistance, or 
related activities to improve services provided under the Act, 
especially services provided to individuals from minority backgrounds. 
Section 21 of the Act underscores the importance of enhancing the 
capacity and increasing the participation of minority entities as 
defined under section 21(b)(5) of the Act in programs funded under the 
Act.
    Priorities: These priorities are from the notice of final 
priorities for this program, published in the Federal Register on May 
9, 2002 (67 FR 31700). For purposes of these priorities, a ``minority 
entity'' includes a Hispanic-serving institution whose Hispanic student 
enrollment is 25 percent of the institution's student population.
    Background: Under section 21 of the Act, only three types of awards 
can be made as follows: (1) Section 21(b)(2)(A)--awards to minority 
entities and Indian tribes to carry out activities under programs 
authorized under titles II, III, VI, and VII of the Act. (2) Section 
21(b)(2)(B)--awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to conduct 
research, training, technical assistance, or a related activity to 
improve services provided under the Act, especially services provided 
to individuals from minority backgrounds. (3) Section 21(b)(2)(C)--
awards to a State or a public or private nonprofit agency or 
organization, such as an institution of higher education or an Indian 
tribe, to provide outreach and technical assistance to minority 
entities and Indian tribes to promote their participation in activities 
funded under the Act, including assistance to enhance their capacity to 
carry out those activities.
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2005 these priorities are absolute 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications 
that meet these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Priority 1--Establishing New Rehabilitation Training Programs (CFDA 
Number 84.315C).
    Projects funded must meet the requirements in section 21(b)(2)(B) 
of the Act.
    Projects must--
    (1) Enhance and increase the capacity of minority institutions of 
higher education to prepare more individuals for careers in the public 
vocational rehabilitation program, including individuals from minority 
backgrounds;
    (2) Be located at minority institutions of higher education, 
including community colleges whose minority student enrollment is at 
least 50 percent, that are interested in establishing new first-time 
rehabilitation training programs at the associate degree, undergraduate 
degree, and graduate degree levels;
    (3) Include an evaluation component based upon clear, specific 
performance and outcome measures; and
    (4) Report the results of the evaluation in its annual performance 
report.
    Priority 2--Capacity Building for Minority Entities (CFDA Number 
84.315D).
    Projects funded must meet the requirements in section 21(b)(2)(C) 
of the Act.
    Projects must--
    (1) Provide outreach, capacity building, and technical assistance 
to minority entities and Indian tribes to promote their participation 
in activities funded under the Act, including assistance to carry out 
those activities;
    (2) Provide a variety of training and technical assistance 
activities, including grant writing workshops that focus on 
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and National Institute on 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) discretionary grant 
programs, the peer review process, selection criteria, training on 
disability legislation (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act, 
Rehabilitation Act, etc.), and technical assistance to minority 
entities that are first-time recipients of grants funded under the Act 
in order to increase their ability to carry out their grants;
    (3) Include an evaluation component based upon clear, specific 
performance and outcome measures; and

[[Page 30936]]

    (4) Report the results of the evaluation in its annual performance 
report.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 718(b).
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99.


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


    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: $2,530,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$250,000.
    Priority 1--CFDA Number 84.315C--$200,000-$225,000.
    Priority 2--CFDA Number 84.315D--$200,000-$250,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $218,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.
    Priority 1--CFDA Number 84.315C--5.
    Priority 2--CFDA Number 84.315D--5.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: For priority 1, minority entities as 
defined under section 21(b)(5) of the Act, as a historically Black 
college or university, a Hispanic-serving institution of higher 
education, an American Indian tribal college or university, or another 
institution of higher education whose minority student enrollment is at 
least 50 percent.
    For priority 2, a State or a public or private nonprofit agency or 
organization, such as an institution of higher education or an Indian 
tribe.
    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 84.315C or D.
    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 5075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 245-7363. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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 competition. Page 
Limit: Part III of the application, the application narrative, is where 
you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use 
to evaluate your application. You must 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.
    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. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 31, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 15, 2005.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) available through the Department's e-Grants system. 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. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 13, 2005.
    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 competition.
    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 must be submitted electronically, unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    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.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the Capacity Building for 
Traditionally Underserved Populations program-CFDA Number 84.315C and D 
must be submitted electronically using e-Applications 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:
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by

[[Page 30937]]

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 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 
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 must 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.
     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 acknowledgment 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 e-Application 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 acknowledgment 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. 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.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and must submit 
your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an 
application through the e-Application system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Department's e-Application 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: Ellen Chesley, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5018, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7591.
    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 any 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 84.315C 
or 84.315D), 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 84.315C 
or 84.315D), 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.


[[Page 30938]]



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 84.315C or 84.315D), 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 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

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: An additional factor we consider 
in selecting an application for an award is the past performance of the 
applicant in carrying out similar capacity building activities, such as 
compliance with grant conditions, soundness of programmatic and 
financial management practices, and attainment of established project 
objectives.

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: The Government Performance and Results Act 
(GPRA) of 1993 directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the 
effectiveness of their programs by engaging in strategic planning, 
setting outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program 
results against their goals. The purpose of the Capacity Building for 
Traditionally Underserved Populations program is to enhance the 
capacity and increase the participation of minority institutions in 
programs that are funded under the Act, as well as to improve the 
delivery of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to people with 
disabilities, especially people with disabilities from minority 
backgrounds.
    In order to measure the success of Capacity Building grantees in 
meeting this goal, each grantee is required to evaluate its activities 
based upon clear, specific performance and outcome measures and report 
the results of the evaluation in its annual performance report. At a 
minimum, the annual performance reports must include the following:
     For Priority 1 grantees must report on--(1) the number and 
type of new degree-granting programs established as a result of 
participation in this program and the number of students enrolled; (2) 
the number of undergraduate and graduate students who graduate from 
programs participating in this program and the number who go to work 
for the public VR program or related rehabilitation agencies; and (3) 
the number of institutions receiving Council on Rehabilitation 
Education (CORE) accreditation as a result of participation in this 
program.
     For priority 2 grantees must report on--(1) the number of 
minority entities and Indian tribes that have received training and 
technical assistance; (2) the number of applications submitted by 
first-time and repeat applicants to RSA and NIDRR for funding; (3) the 
number of applications by first-time and repeat applicants recommended 
for funding by RSA and NIDRR; (4) the number of applications by first-
time and repeat applicants funded by RSA and NIDRR; and (5) the number 
of funded programs by first-time and repeat applicants that have been 
implemented and are operational.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Chesley, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5018, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7300 or by e-mail: 
[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 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: May 25, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-10761 Filed 5-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P