[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73738-73741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23937]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers (SCIMS Centers) and Disability 
Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs)

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities for SCIMS Centers and DRRPs.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services proposes certain funding priorities and a 
selection criterion for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Projects and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this 
notice proposes a priority for Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers 
(SCIMS centers) and a priority and selection criterion for Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs). The Assistant Secretary 
may use these priorities and selection criterion 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 these 
priorities and selection criterion to improve rehabilitation services 
and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before January 12, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments about these proposed priorities and 
selection criterion to Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6030, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 
20204-2700. If you prefer to send your comments through the Internet, 
use the following address: [email protected] or 
[email protected].
    You must include the term ``Notice of proposed priorities for SCIMS 
Centers and DRRPs'' in the subject line of your electronic message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 245-
7462.
    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: This notice of proposed priorities is in 
concert with President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative (NFI) 
and NIDRR's Proposed Long-Range Plan for FY 2005-2009 (Plan). The NFI 
can be accessed on the Internet at the following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom. The Plan, which was published in 
the Federal Register on July 27, 2005 (70 FR 43522), 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

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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.

Invitation To Comment

    We invite you to submit comments regarding these proposed 
priorities and selection criterion. To ensure that your comments have 
maximum effect in developing the notice of final priorities, we urge 
you to identify clearly the specific proposed priority or selection 
criterion that each comment addresses.
    We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific 
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of 
reducing regulatory burden that might result from these proposed 
priorities and selection criterion. Please let us know of any further 
opportunities we should take to reduce potential costs or increase 
potential benefits while preserving the effective and efficient 
administration of the program.
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments on this notice of proposed priorities in room 6030, 550 12th 
Street, SW., Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC, between the hours of 
8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week 
except Federal holidays.

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking 
Record

    On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or 
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs 
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public 
rulemaking record for this notice of proposed priorities. If you want 
to schedule an appointment for this type of aid, please contact the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    We will announce the final priorities and selection criterion in a 
notice in the Federal Register. We will determine the final priorities 
and selection criterion after considering responses to this notice and 
other information available to the Department. This notice does not 
preclude us from proposing or using additional priorities or selection 
criteria, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use these proposed priorities, we invite 
applications through a notice in the Federal Register. When inviting 
applications we designate the priorities 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)).

Priorities

Background

The SCIMS Program
    In 1972, the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 
established the national Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) 
Program by funding four projects to provide comprehensive, 
multidisciplinary rehabilitation services to persons who experience 
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and to conduct research to foster advances in 
SCI rehabilitation. The SCIMS program became part of the research 
portfolio of NIDRR when NIDRR was established (initially as the 
National Institute of Handicapped Research) within the Department of 
Health, Education, and Welfare (now Education) in 1978.
    The SCIMS program is designed to study the course of recovery and 
outcomes following the delivery of a coordinated system of care for 
individuals with SCI, which for purposes of this program is defined as 
a clinically discernible degree of neurologic impairment following a 
traumatic event. Since 1973, SCIMS programs have collected and 
contributed information on common data elements for a centralized SCI 
database, the SCIMS database, which is maintained through a NIDRR-
funded grant for a National Data and Statistical Center. (Additional 
information on the SCIMS database can be found at http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu.) The data collected and contributed to the 
database thus far have involved more than 23,000 cases, with follow up 
data on some subjects covering a 30-year period post injury. There are 
certain criteria that must be met in order for a SCIMS program to 
include information relating to a particular subject in the database. 
Eligible subjects must--
    (a) Be admitted to and receive care in at least one component of a 
model SCI system, including acute or surgical care, inpatient 
rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, or day-hospitalization 
rehabilitation; (b) Be treated at a model SCI system within one year of 
the injury; (c) Sign a consent form and the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) authorization; (d) 
Reside in a geographic catchment area of the model system at the time 
of the injury; and (e) Be a U.S. citizen.

SCIMS Centers

    There are currently 16 SCIMS centers funded by NIDRR. These centers 
provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to individuals with SCI 
and conduct spinal cord research, including clinical research and the 
analysis of standardized data in collaboration with other related 
projects.
    Each SCIMS Center funded under this program establishes a 
multidisciplinary system for providing rehabilitation services 
specifically designed to meet the special needs of individuals with 
SCI. These services include acute care as well as periodic inpatient or 
outpatient follow up and vocational services. Centers demonstrate and 
evaluate the benefits and cost effectiveness of their systems for 
providing rehabilitation services to individuals with SCI and 
demonstrate and evaluate existing, new, and improved methods and 
equipment essential to the care, management, and rehabilitation of 
individuals with SCI. Centers also demonstrate and evaluate methods of 
community outreach and education for individuals with SCI in connection 
with the problems these individuals experience in such areas as 
housing, transportation, recreation, employment, and community 
activities. SCIMS centers engage in initiatives and new approaches and 
maintain close working relationships with other governmental and 
voluntary institutions and organizations to unify and coordinate 
scientific efforts, encourage joint planning, and promote the 
interchange of data and reports among SCI researchers.
    The Conference Report accompanying the 2005 Appropriations Act 
noted that NIDRR was receiving additional funding for the SCIMS program 
and stated that the conferees intended that the

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additional funds be used to support investments that could facilitate 
multi-center research on SCI therapies and interventions, and the use 
of technology in providing SCI rehabilitation services. In order to 
plan for this expanded funding, NIDRR conducted a review of its current 
program and met with SCI organizations and Federal partners. The 
priorities and selection criterion proposed in this notice are the 
result of this review and subsequent discussions. It is NIDRR's 
intention that, through funding of projects under these priorities, the 
SCIMS program will serve as a platform for multi-site research that 
contributes to the formulation of practice guidelines to improve 
outcomes for individuals with SCI.

Proposed Priorities and Selection Criterion

    In accordance with section 204(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended (Act), and 34 CFR part 359, Priority One will provide 
for the funding of SCIMS centers that will build upon the work of the 
current centers, to provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to 
individuals with SCI and conduct spinal cord research, including 
clinical research and the analysis of standardized data in 
collaboration with other related projects.
    Priority Two, authorized under section 202 of the Act and 34 CFR 
part 350, will provide for the funding of Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research Projects (DRRP) that will conduct multi-site research that 
contributes to evidence-based rehabilitation interventions and clinical 
practice guidelines that improve the lives of individuals with SCI. 
These projects will serve the overall purpose of the DRRP program, 
which is to plan and conduct research, demonstration projects, 
training, and related activities to develop methods, procedures, and 
rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and 
integration into society, employment, independent living, family 
support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with 
disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities, 
and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Act. 
DRRPs carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as 
specified in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: research, development, 
demonstration, training, dissemination, utilization, and technical 
assistance. Additional information on the DRRP program can be found at: 
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
    The Department is interested in ensuring that grantees use rigorous 
methods to carry out multi-site research conducted under Priority Two. 
Therefore, we propose an additional criterion to address methods for 
carrying out multi-site research collaboration for Priority Two. This 
proposed criterion is intended to emphasize the importance of multi-
site research collaboration.
    To be eligible under Priority Two, an applicant must have received 
a grant under Priority One. The Department intends to announce the 
competition for Priority Two awards after selecting the grantees from 
the Priority One competition. Only successful applicants from the 
Priority One competition will be eligible to apply for awards under the 
Priority Two competition.

Proposed Priority One--SCIMS Centers

    The Assistant Secretary proposes a priority for the funding of 
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) centers to conduct research 
that contributes to evidence-based rehabilitation interventions and 
clinical and practice guidelines that improve the lives of individuals 
with spinal cord injury (SCI). Each SCIMS center must--
    1. Contribute to continued assessment of long-term outcomes of SCI 
by enrolling at least 30 subjects per year into the SCIMS database, 
following established protocols for the collection of enrollment and 
follow-up data on subjects;
    2. Contribute to improved outcomes for persons with SCI by 
proposing and participating in at least one collaborative research 
module project, which may range from pilot research to more extensive 
studies (At the beginning of the funding cycle, the SCI model system 
directors, in conjunction with NIDRR, will select specific modules for 
implementation from the approved applications); and
    3. Contribute to improved long-term outcomes of individuals with 
SCI by conducting one site-specific research project to test innovative 
approaches to treating and evaluating SCI outcomes in accordance with 
the focus areas identified in NIDRR's Proposed Long-Range Plan for FY 
2005-2009 (Plan).
    In carrying out these activities, applicants may select from the 
following research domains related to specific areas of the Plan: 
Health and function, employment, participation and community living, 
and technology for access and function.
    In addition, applicants must address the following requirements:
     Provide a multidisciplinary system of rehabilitation care 
specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with SCI. The 
system must encompass a continuum of care, including emergency medical 
services, acute care services, acute medical rehabilitation services, 
and post-acute services.
     Address the needs of people with disabilities including 
individuals from traditionally underserved populations.
     Coordinate with the NIDRR-funded Model Systems Knowledge 
Translation Center to provide scientific results and information for 
dissemination to clinical and consumer audiences.
     Ensure participation of individuals with disabilities in 
all aspects of SCIMS research.

Proposed Priority Two and Selection Criterion for SCIMS Multi-Site 
Research Projects

Proposed Priority
    The Assistant Secretary proposes a priority for the funding of 
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) multi-site research projects 
to conduct research that contributes to evidence-based rehabilitation 
interventions and clinical practice guidelines that improve the lives 
of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
    To be eligible under this priority, an applicant must have received 
a grant under the SCIMS Centers priority. Following completion of a 
competition under the SCIMS Centers priority, the Department will 
invite successful applicants under that competition to apply for 
funding as a lead center under this SCIMS Multi-Site Research Projects 
priority.
    Each SCIMS multi-site research project must--
    1. Ensure utilization of SCIMS capacity by collaborating with three 
or more of the NIDRR-funded SCIMS centers (for a minimum of four SCIMS 
sites). Applicants may propose to include other SCI research sites that 
are not participating in a NIDRR-funded program in their multi-site 
research projects;
    2. Contribute to improved long-term outcomes of individuals with 
SCI by conducting multi-site research on questions of significance to 
SCI rehabilitation, using clearly identified research designs. The 
research must focus on one or more specific domains identified in 
NIDRR's Proposed Long-Range Plan for FY 2005-2009 (Plan), including 
health and function, participation and community living, technology, 
and employment, and ensure that the research study has appropriate 
research hypotheses and methods to generate reliable and valid 
findings;
    3. Demonstrate the capacity to carry out multi-site research 
projects,

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including the ability to coordinate research among centers; maintain 
data quality; and adhere to research protocols, confidentiality 
requirements, and data safety requirements; and
    4. Specify start up activities that will be required to mount the 
proposed multi-site research project, including infrastructure 
requirements and measurement tools. Applicants must specify in their 
applications the amount requested, not to exceed $800,000, to cover 
these start-up costs.
    In addition, applicants must address the following requirements:
     Address the needs of people with disabilities, including 
individuals from traditionally underserved populations.
     Coordinate with the NIDRR-funded Model Systems Knowledge 
Translation Center by providing scientific results and information for 
dissemination to clinical and consumer audiences.
     Ensure participation of individuals with disabilities in 
all aspects of model systems research.

Proposed Selection Criterion

    In accordance with the provisions of 34 CFR 350.53 and 350.54 and 
in addition to the selection criteria specified in those sections, the 
Secretary proposes to consider the following factor in evaluating 
applications submitted under the SCIMS multi-site research projects 
priority:
    The extent to which the applicant clearly documents its capacity to 
manage multi-site research projects, including administrative 
capabilities, experience with management of multi-site research 
protocols, and demonstrated ability to maintain standards for quality 
and confidentiality of data gathered from multiple sites.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice of proposed priorities 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 notice of proposed 
priorities are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we 
have determined as necessary for administering these programs 
effectively and efficiently.
    In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative 
and qualitative--of this notice of proposed priorities, we have 
determined that the benefits of the proposed priorities justify the 
costs.

Summary of Potential Costs and Benefits

    The potential costs associated with these proposed priorities are 
minimal while the benefits are significant.
    The benefits of the Special Projects and Demonstrations for Spinal 
Cord Injury and Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects 
Programs have been well established over the years in that similar 
projects have been completed successfully. These proposed priorities 
will generate new knowledge and technologies through research, 
development, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance 
projects.
    Another benefit of these proposed priorities are that the 
establishment of new SCIMS centers and the DRRPs conducting SCIMS 
multi-site research projects will support the President's NFI and will 
improve the lives of persons with disabilities. These centers and DRRPs 
will generate, disseminate, and promote the use of new information that 
will improve the options for individuals with disabilities to perform 
regular activities in the community.
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR parts 350 and 359.

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 84.133N, Model Spinal 
Cord Injury Centers and 84.133A, Disability Rehabilitation Research 
Projects) Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760, 764(a), and 764(b)(4).

    Dated: December 7, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-23937 Filed 12-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P