[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36378-36382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12472]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Overview 
Information, Centers for Independent Living; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.132A.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: June 23, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 2005.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 21, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: To be eligible to apply, an applicant must--
    (a) Be a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, 
nonresidential, private nonprofit agency;
    (b) Have the power and authority to--
    (1) Carry out the purpose of part C of title VII of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act) and perform the 
functions listed in section 725(b) and (c) of the Act and subparts F 
and G of 34 CFR part 366 within a community located within a State or 
in a bordering State; and
    (2) Receive and administer--
    (i) Funds under 34 CFR part 366;
    (ii) Funds and contributions from private or public sources that 
may be used in support of a center for independent living (center); and
    (iii) Funds from other public and private programs;
    (c) Be able to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a center 
consistent with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) 
of the Act and subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366;
    (d) Either--
    (1) Not currently be receiving funds under part C of chapter 1 of 
title VII of the Act; or
    (2) Propose the expansion of an existing center through the 
establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the 
governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board 
of the new center) at a different geographical location;
    (e) Propose to serve one or more of the geographic areas that are 
identified as unserved or underserved by the States and territories 
listed under Estimated Number of Awards; and
    (f) Submit appropriate documentation demonstrating that the 
establishment of a new center is consistent with the design for 
establishing a statewide network of centers in the State plan of the 
State or territory whose geographic area or areas the applicant 
proposes to serve.
    Estimated Available Funds: $380,168.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $1,000 to $225,122.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $126,723.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3, distributed in the following manner:

[[Page 36379]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Estimated       Estimated
         States and territories              available       number of
                                               funds          awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa..........................        $154,046               1
Maryland................................           1,000               1
Ohio....................................         225,122               1
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    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: This program provides support for planning, 
conducting, administering, and evaluating centers that comply with the 
standards and assurances in section 725 of the Act, consistent with the 
design included in the State plan for establishing a statewide network 
of centers.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 796f-1.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR 
parts 364 and 366.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $380,168.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $1,000 to $225,122.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $126,723.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3, distributed in the following manner:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Estimated       Estimated
         States and territories              available       number of
                                               funds          awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa..........................        $154,046               1
Maryland................................           1,000               1
Ohio....................................         225,122               1
------------------------------------------------------------------------


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


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible to apply, an applicant 
must--
    (a) be a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, 
nonresidential, private nonprofit agency;
    (b) have the power and authority to--
    (1) carry out the purpose of part C of title VII of the Act and 
perform the functions listed in section 725(b) and (c) of the Act and 
subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366 within a community located within a 
State or in a bordering State; and
    (2) receive and administer--
    (i) funds under 34 CFR part 366;
    (ii) funds and contributions from private or public sources that 
may be used in support of a center; and
    (iii) funds from other public and private programs;
    (c) be able to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a center 
consistent with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) 
of the Act and subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366;
    (d) either--
    (1) not currently be receiving funds under part C of chapter 1 of 
title VII of the Act; or
    (2) propose the expansion of an existing center through the 
establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the 
governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board 
of the new center) at a different geographical location;
    (e) propose to serve one or more of the geographic areas that are 
identified as unserved or underserved by the States and territories 
listed under Estimated Number of Awards; and
    (f) submit appropriate documentation demonstrating that the 
establishment of a new center is consistent with the design for 
establishing a statewide network of centers in the State plan of the 
State or territory whose geographic area or areas the applicant 
proposes to serve.
    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), 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 84.132A.
    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 program.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: June 23, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 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.

[[Page 36380]]

    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 21, 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 Centers for Independent Living 
program-CFDA Number 84.132A must be submitted electronically using 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:
     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 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 may 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: Thomas Kelley, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5042, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7593.

[[Page 36381]]

    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 
84.132A), 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 
84.132A), 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 84.132A), 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 in 34 CFR 366.27.
    2. Review and Selection Process: An additional factor we consider 
in selecting an application for an award is comments regarding the 
application, if any, by the State Independent Living Council in the 
State in which the applicant is located.

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 those goals.
    The goal of the Centers for Independent Living program is to 
promote and practice the independent living philosophy of consumer 
control of the center regarding decisionmaking, service delivery, 
management, and establishment of the policy and direction of the 
center; self-help and self-advocacy; development of peer relationships 
and peer role models; and the equal access of individuals with 
significant disabilities to society and to all services, programs, 
activities, resources, and facilities, whether public or private and 
regardless of the funding source.
    In order to measure the success of one component of meeting this 
goal, each grantee is required to track the number of individuals who 
leave nursing homes and other institutions for community-based housing 
due to independent living services provided by the center. In annual 
performance reports, centers are required to provide information on the 
number of individuals requesting this service and the number of 
individuals who successfully relocated from institutionalized to 
community-based living. The Rehabilitation Services Administration is 
currently in the process of revising its annual data report for future 
use to better capture this data directly from grantees.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Kelley, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5042, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7404.
    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

[[Page 36382]]

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: June 17, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-12472 Filed 6-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P