[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36571-36575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12592]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as Amended--National 
Activities--National Assistive Technology Public Internet Site; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.224B-2.

    Dates: Applications Available: June 24, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 2005.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 22, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: Public or private nonprofit or for-profit 
organizations, including institutions of higher education, that--
    (1) Emphasize research and engineering;
    (2) Have a multidisciplinary research center; and
    (3) Have demonstrated expertise in--
    (a) Working with assistive technology and intelligent agent 
interactive information dissemination systems;
    (b) Managing libraries of assistive technology and disability-
related resources;
    (c) Delivering to individuals with disabilities education, 
information, and referral services, including technology-based 
curriculum-development services for adults with low-level reading 
skills;
    (d) Developing cooperative partnerships with the private sector, 
particularly with private-sector computer software, hardware, and 
Internet services entities; and
    (e) Developing and designing advanced Internet sites.
    Estimated Available Funds: $100,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 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: The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as 
amended

[[Page 36572]]

(AT Act), authorizes support for activities that increase the 
availability of, funding for, access to, provision of, and training 
about assistive technology (AT) devices and AT services. Section 6 of 
the AT Act provides for national activities to improve the 
administration of the AT Act. One national activity that is authorized 
by the AT Act is the renovation, updating, and maintenance of a 
National Assistive Technology Public Internet Site (National AT 
Internet Site). The National AT Internet Site will provide to the 
public comprehensive, up-to-date information on resources related to AT 
and programs supported under the AT Act.
    Priority: We are establishing this priority for the FY 2005 grant 
competition only, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2005, this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is: National Assistive Technology Public Internet 
Site.
    Under this priority, a project must renovate, update, and maintain 
an Internet site that contains the following features:
    (1) Availability of information at any time. The site must be 
designed so that any member of the public may obtain information posted 
on the site at any time.
    (2) Innovative automated intelligent agent. The site must be 
constructed with an innovative automated intelligent agent that is a 
diagnostic tool for assisting users in problem definition and the 
selection of appropriate AT devices and AT services resources.
    (3) Resources. (a) Library on assistive technology. The site must 
include access, either directly or through links, to a comprehensive 
working library on AT for all environments, including home, workplace, 
transportation, and other environments.
    (b) Information on accommodating individuals with disabilities. The 
site must include access, either directly or through links, to 
evidence-based research and best practices concerning how AT can be 
used to accommodate individuals with disabilities in the areas of 
education, employment, health care, community living, and 
telecommunications and information technology.
    (c) Resources for a number of disabilities. The site must include, 
either directly or through links, resources relating to the largest 
possible number of disabilities, including resources relating to low-
level reading skills.
    (4) Links to private-sector resources and information. To the 
extent feasible, the site must be linked to relevant private-sector 
resources and information, under agreements developed between the 
recipient of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement and 
cooperating private-sector entities.
    (5) Links to public-sector resources and information. To the extent 
feasible, the site must be linked to relevant public-sector resources 
and information, such as the Internet sites of the Office of Special 
Education and Rehabilitative Services of the Department of Education, 
the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the Department of Labor, 
the Small Business Administration, the Architectural and Transportation 
Barriers Compliance Board, the Technology Administration of the 
Department of Commerce, the Jobs Accommodation Network funded by the 
Office of Disability Employment Policy of the Department of Labor, and 
other relevant sites.
    (6) Minimum library components. At a minimum, the site must 
maintain updated information on and provide links, if available, to--
    (a) Device demonstration programs funded under the AT Act and, to 
the extent practicable, not funded under the AT Act, where individuals 
may try out AT devices;
    (b) Device loan programs funded under the AT Act and, to the extent 
practicable, not funded under the AT Act, where individuals may borrow 
AT devices;
    (c) Device reutilization programs funded under the AT Act and, to 
the extent practicable, not funded under the AT Act, that provide for 
the exchange, repair, recycling, or other reutilization of AT devices;
    (d) Alternative financing programs or State financing systems 
operated through, or independently of, State AT programs, and other 
sources of funding for AT devices;
    (e) Protection and advocacy for assistive technology (PAAT) 
programs;
    (f) Cooperative volume-purchasing programs funded under the AT Act 
or, to the extent practicable, not funded under the AT Act;
    (g) Other projects funded under section 6 of the AT Act;
    (h) Relevant State and Federal programs, and other resources, that 
provide or increase access to AT devices and services; and
    (i) Various programs, including programs with tax credits, 
available to employers for hiring or accommodating employees who are 
individuals with disabilities.
    (7) Stakeholder input. The project must include a plan for 
designing and implementing the National AT Internet Site with the input 
of--
    (a) Directors of statewide AT programs;
    (b) Directors of alternative financing programs;
    (c) Directors of PAAT programs;
    (d) Individuals with disabilities who use AT and understand the 
barriers to the acquisition of that technology and AT services;
    (e) Family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized 
representatives of those individuals;
    (f) Relevant employees from Federal departments and agencies, other 
than the Department of Education;
    (g) Representatives of businesses; and
    (h) Venders and public and private researchers and developers.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. Ordinarily, this 
practice would have applied to the absolute priority for the National 
AT Public Internet Site. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA (20 U.S.C. 
1232(d)(1)), however, allows the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking 
requirements regulations governing the first grant competition under a 
new or substantially revised program authority. This is the first grant 
competition for this program under section 6 of the AT Act and 
therefore qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant 
awards, the Secretary has decided to forego public comment on the 
proposed absolute priority under section 437(d)(1). This absolute 
priority will apply to the FY 2005 grant competition only.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $100,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

[[Page 36573]]

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Public or private nonprofit or for-profit 
organizations, including institutions of higher education, that--
    (1) Emphasize research and engineering;
    (2) Have a multidisciplinary research center; and
    (3) Have demonstrated expertise in--
    (a) Working with assistive technology and intelligent agent 
interactive information dissemination systems;
    (b) Managing libraries of assistive technology and disability-
related resources;
    (c) Delivering to individuals with disabilities education, 
information, and referral services, including technology-based 
curriculum-development services for adults with low-level reading 
skills;
    (d) Developing cooperative partnerships with the private sector, 
particularly with private-sector computer software, hardware, and 
Internet services entities; and
    (e) Developing and designing advanced Internet sites.
    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 84.224B-2.
    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: 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 to 
the equivalent of no more than 60 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.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that--
     Exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or
     Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other 
standards.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: June 24, 
2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 22, 2005.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 may be submitted electronically or in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications. If you choose to 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 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

[[Page 36574]]

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 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. 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 acknowledgment 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 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 84.224B-
2), 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 84.224B-
2), 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 submit 
your application in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a courier 
service) 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 84.224B-2), 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

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are 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: 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

[[Page 36575]]

outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program results 
against those goals. The goal of the National AT Internet Site is to 
provide the public with comprehensive, up-to-date information on 
resources related to AT and programs supported under the AT Act. In 
order to assess the success of the grantee in meeting this goal, in 
addition to the annual performance report provided by the grantee, a 
biannual review of the site will be conducted by a panel of individuals 
with relevant expertise. This panel will report to the Rehabilitation 
Services Administration and the grantee on the--(1) Effectiveness of 
the site at linking visitors to appropriate resources related to AT; 
(2) comprehensiveness and relevance of resources and information 
available on the site; (3) availability of content or features unique 
to the site; (4) effectiveness at supporting and promoting programs 
supported under sections 4, 5, and 6 of the AT Act and other AT 
resources not funded under the AT Act; (5) responsiveness to the input 
of stakeholders; (6) responsiveness to the recommendations of previous 
biannual reviews; and (7) other factors relevant to determining the 
performance of the grantee.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Jeremy Buzzell, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5025, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7319 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: June 16, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-12592 Filed 6-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P