[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 166 (Monday, August 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51234-51235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17047]



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Part V





Department of Education





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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Research Projects; 
Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 166 / Monday, August 29, 2005 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects

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

ACTION: Notice of final priority.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for the National Institute 
on Disability and Rehabilitation Research's (NIDRR) Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP). This priority may be used for 
competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2006 and later years. We take this 
action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend 
this priority to improve rehabilitation services and outcomes for 
individuals with disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority is effective September 28, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6027, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7338 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 contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program

    The purpose of the DRRP program is to plan and conduct research, 
demonstration projects, training, and related activities that help to 
maximize the full inclusion and integration of individuals with 
disabilities into society and to improve the effectiveness of services 
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act). An 
applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in its 
application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of 
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this 
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b). Additional information on 
the DRRP program can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
    We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program 
in the Federal Register on April 6, 2005 (70 FR 17426). We discussed 
our rationale and the background for proposing this priority in the 
NPP.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

    In response to our invitation in the NPP, we received two comments. 
An analysis of the comments and of any changes in the priority since 
publication of the NPP follows. Generally, we do not address technical 
and other minor changes and suggested changes we are not authorized to 
make under the applicable statutory authority.
    Comment: One commenter asked NIDRR to emphasize intervention 
research that investigates the benefits of specific workplace 
strategies that improve the employment outcomes of people with 
disabilities.
    Discussion: NIDRR agrees that intervention research is important 
and is currently sponsoring employment Rehabilitation Research and 
Training Centers that include intervention studies and the 
investigation of the benefits of specific workplace strategies to 
improve the employment outcomes of people with disabilities. NIDRR does 
not believe that the current language in the priority prohibits 
applicants from conducting intervention studies. However, the research 
must focus on the demand-side perspective.
    Change: None.
    Comment: One commenter asked NIDRR to encourage applicants to 
create a plan for how their research will reach critical stakeholders, 
including employers.
    Discussion: NIDRR agrees with the importance of reaching critical 
stakeholders, and is revising the priority to include a requirement for 
the grantee to have a plan for knowledge translation and dissemination. 
In addition, NIDRR plans to support separate projects that focus 
specifically on effective knowledge translation and dissemination 
strategies. These projects will work with other NIDRR grantees, 
including this one, to help improve outreach activities.
    Change: We have revised the text of the priority to require that 
the studies conducted include an effective plan for knowledge 
translation and dissemination.
    Comment: One commenter stated that the type of research proposed in 
the notice of proposed priority, and particularly research that 
includes employers as research subjects, is resource intensive and 
asked NIDRR to consider allowing applicants to address only three of 
the four required activities.
    Discussion: This priority seeks to improve our understanding of 
demand-side issues from a variety of perspectives. There are 
significantly fewer studies on labor market demand-side issues 
associated with the employment of individuals with disabilities in 
comparison to studies on the supply-side of the labor market. 
Therefore, each of the four issues identified in the priority is 
critical to comprehensively addressing the demand-side perspective in 
the employment of individuals with disabilities.
    Change: None.
    Comment: One commenter asked NIDRR to consider demographic 
pressures and workforce trends as important factors in employment of 
people with disabilities.
    Discussion: NIDRR agrees that demographic pressures and workforce 
trends are important factors for consideration in employment research. 
The priority allows applicants the discretion to propose studies that 
include relevant factors as they relate to the priority.
    Change: None.
    Comment: One commenter's response was directed to the listing of 
eight critical issues and concerns identified in the background of the 
priority, particularly items one through three: Changing structure of 
the workforce and the impact of downsizing; increased use of on-call 
workers, temporary help agencies, and independent contractors; and 
rapid advances in technology requiring the need for highly educated, 
highly skilled workers. The commenter characterized these issues as 
macroeconomic concerns and suggested that the proposed priority 
requirements dilute the focus of the demand-side research. Further, the 
commenter recommended that NIDRR emphasize studies focused on local and 
regional factors influencing employment.
    Discussion: The priority allows applicants the discretion to 
propose studies examining local and regional factors influencing 
employment, as they relate to the priority. However, NIDRR has no basis 
for requiring that all applicants focus on these factors in responding 
to the priority. Additionally, we believe that examination of relevant 
economic issues and associated employment concerns can improve our 
understanding about employment outcomes. For this reason, we believe it

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is important that the priority include studies addressing critical 
disability employment issues, including a requirement that some aspect 
of the priority deal with economic issues, as they relate to the 
priority.
    Change: None.


    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through 
a notice in the Federal Register. When inviting applications we 
designate the priority as absolute, competitive preference, or 
invitational. The effect of each type of priority follows:

    Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only 
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
    Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference 
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by either 
(1) awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent 
to which the application meets the competitive priority (34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets the 
competitive priority over an application of comparable merit that 
does not meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
    Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are 
particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational 
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over 
other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).

    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 final priority is in concert with NIDRR's proposed Long-Range 
Plan (Plan) published in the Federal Register on July 27, 2005 (70 FR 
43521). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues relating 
to disability and rehabilitation research topics. While applicants will 
find many sections throughout the Plan that support potential research 
to be conducted under the final priority, the specific reference is in 
Part C, Chapter I, Section A Employment. The Plan can be accessed on 
the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2005-3/072705d.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.

Priority

    The Assistant Secretary establishes a priority for one DRRP, which 
must focus its research on demand-side employment placement models. 
Studies conducted under this priority must support rigorous, 
empirically based research designed to develop or identify and evaluate 
demand-side employment placement models, methods, and measures, and 
include a plan for knowledge translation and dissemination.
    To meet this priority, research activities and studies must 
identify or develop, demonstrate, and evaluate methods, models, and 
measures leading to the following:
    (1) Psychometrically sound measures for determining employer-
focused employment needs;
    (2) Types of employment interventions that effectively address 
employer issues, including methods for increasing employer and business 
entity participation in the development of strategies for improving 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities;
    (3) Analysis comparing the effectiveness of the demand-side model 
and the supply-side model and identification of the predictors of 
workforce participation for specific populations of individuals with 
disabilities using both models; and
    (4) Effective measures for evaluating the role of demand-side 
models in relation to employment outcomes, employment data, individual 
and systems level outcomes, and trends across workplace environments 
and employment systems, including measures that involve macroeconomic, 
legislative, or policy issues that potentially influence employment 
outcomes.

Executive Order 12866

    This NFP has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 
12866. Under the terms of the order, we have assessed the potential 
costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
    The potential costs associated with the NFP are those resulting 
from statutory requirements and those we have determined as necessary 
for administering this program effectively and efficiently.
    In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative 
and qualitative--of this NFP, we have determined that the benefits of 
the final priority justify the costs.

Summary of Potential Costs and Benefits

    The potential costs associated with this final priority are minimal 
while the benefits are significant. Grantees may anticipate costs 
associated with completing the application process in terms of staff 
time, copying, and mailing or delivery. The use of Grants.gov 
technology reduces mailing and copying costs significantly.
    The benefits of the DRRP Program have been well established over 
the years in that similar projects have been completed successfully. 
This regulatory action will generate new knowledge through the research 
to be conducted under the final priority.
    Another benefit of this final priority will be the establishment of 
a new DRRP that supports the President's NFI and will support 
improvements in the lives and potential employment outcomes of persons 
with disabilities.
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents 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.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability 
Rehabilitation Research Project)

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).

    Dated: August 23, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-17047 Filed 8-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P