[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27577-27582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4407]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; 
Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.184E.
    Dates:
     Applications Available: May 11, 2006.
     Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 22, 2006.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2006.
    Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies (LEAs).
    Estimated Available Funds: $24,000,000. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds, the Secretary may make additional awards in FY 
2007 from the rank-ordered list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000--$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000 for small districts (1-
20 school facilities); $250,000 for medium-sized districts (21-75 
school facilities); and $500,000 for large districts (76 or more school 
facilities).

[[Page 27578]]

    Estimated Number of Awards: 71.


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


    Project Period: Up to 18 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Emergency Response and Crisis Management 
grant competition supports efforts by LEAs to improve and strengthen 
their school emergency response and crisis management plans, including 
training school personnel and students in emergency response 
procedures; communicating emergency plans and procedures with parents; 
and coordinating with local law enforcement, public safety, public 
health, and mental health agencies.
    Priorities: These priorities are from (1) the notice of final 
priorities and other application requirements for this program, 
published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35652) and 
(2) the notice of final priorities and application requirements 
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards based on the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only those applications that meet this 
priority.
    This priority is:

Improvement and Strengthening of School Emergency Response and Crisis 
Management Plans

    This priority supports local educational agency (LEA) projects to 
improve and strengthen emergency response and crisis management plans, 
at the district and school-building level, addressing the four phases 
of crisis planning: Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and 
Recovery. Plans must include: (1) Training for school personnel and 
students in emergency response procedures; (2) Coordination with local 
law enforcement, public safety, public health, and mental health 
agencies; and (3) A method for communicating school emergency response 
policies and reunification procedures to parents and guardians.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2006, and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants 
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 10 
points to an application that meets Priority 1 and we award an 
additional 5 points to an application that meets Priority 2. 
Applications that qualify for Priorities 1 and 2 will receive points 
only under Priority 1.
    These priorities are:

Priority 1--Competitive Preference Priority for LEAs That Have Not 
Previously Received a Grant Under the ERCM Program and Are Located in 
an Urban Areas Security Initiative Jurisdiction

    Under this priority, we give a competitive preference to 
applications from local educational agencies (LEAs) that (1) have not 
yet received a grant under this program and (2) are located in whole or 
in part within Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) jurisdictions, as 
determined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An 
applicant must meet both of these criteria in order to receive the 
competitive preference. Under a consortium application, all members of 
the LEA consortium need to meet both criteria to be eligible for the 
preference. Applications submitted by educational service agencies 
(ESAs) are eligible under this priority if each LEA to be served by the 
grant is located within a UASI jurisdiction and has not previously 
received funding under this program directly, or as the lead agency or 
as a partner in a consortium; however the ESA itself may have received 
a previous grant.
    Because DHS' determination of UASI jurisdictions may change from 
year to year, applicants under this priority must refer to the most 
recent list of UASI jurisdictions published by DHS when submitting 
their applications. The Governor of each State has designated a State 
Administrative Agency (SAA) as the entity responsible for applying for, 
and administering, funds under the Department of Homeland Security 
Grant Program (which includes the UASI program). The SAA is also 
responsible for defining the geographic borders for jurisdictions 
included in the UASI program. Guidance on jurisdiction definitions can 
be found at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/info200.pdf.

Priority 2--Competitive Preference Priority for LEAs That Have Not 
Previously Received a Grant Under the ERCM Program

    Under this priority, we give competitive preference to applications 
from local educational agencies (LEAs) that have not previously 
received a grant under this program. Applicants (other than educational 
service agencies (ESAs)) that have received funding under this program 
directly, or as the lead agency or as a partner in a consortium 
application under this program, will not receive competitive preference 
under this priority. For applications submitted by ESAs, each LEA to be 
served by the grant must not have received funding under this program 
directly, or as the lead agency, or as a partner in a consortium 
application, in order for the ESA to be eligible under this priority; 
however the ESA itself may have received a previous grant.
    Other Application Requirements: These requirements are from (1) the 
notice of final priorities and other application requirements for this 
program, published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2005 (70 FR 
35652) and (2) the notice of final priorities and application 
requirements published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    1. Partner Agreements. To be considered for a grant award, an 
applicant must include in its application an agreement that details the 
participation of each of the following five community-based partners: 
Law enforcement, public safety, public health, mental health, and the 
head of the applicant's local government (for example the mayor, city 
manager, or county executive). The agreement must include a description 
of each partner's roles and responsibilities in improving and 
strengthening emergency response plans at the district and school-
building level, a description of each partner's commitment to the 
sustainability and continuous improvement of emergency response plans 
at the district and school-building level, and an authorized signature 
representing the LEA and each partner acknowledging the agreement. If 
one or more of the five partners listed is not present in the 
applicant's community, or cannot feasibly participate, the agreement 
must explain the absence of each missing partner. To be considered 
eligible for funding, however, an application must include a signed 
agreement between the LEA, a law enforcement partner, and at least one 
of the other required partners (public safety, public health, mental 
health, or head of local government).
    Applications that fail to include the required agreement, including 
information on partners' roles and responsibilities and on their 
commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement (with 
signatures and explanations for missing signatures as specified above), 
will not be read.
    Although this program requires partnerships with other parties,

[[Page 27579]]

administrative direction and fiscal control for the project must remain 
with the LEA.
    2. Coordination with State or Local Homeland Security Plan. All 
emergency response and crisis management plans must be coordinated with 
the Homeland Security Plan of the State or locality in which the LEA is 
located. All States submitted such a plan to the Department of Homeland 
Security on January 30, 2004. To ensure that emergency services are 
coordinated, and to avoid duplication of effort within States and 
localities, applicants must include in their applications an assurance 
that the LEA will coordinate with, and follow, the requirements of its 
State or local Homeland Security Plan for emergency services and 
initiatives.
    3. Implementation of the National Incident Management System 
(NIMS). Applicants must agree to implement their grant in a manner 
consistent with the implementation of the NIMS in their communities. 
Applicants must include in their applications an assurance that they 
have met, or will complete, all current NIMS requirements by the end of 
the grant period.
    Because DHS' determination of NIMS requirements may change from 
year to year, applicants must refer to the most recent list of NIMS 
requirements published by DHS when submitting their applications. In 
any notice inviting applications, the Department will provide 
applicants with information necessary to access the most recent DHS 
list of NIMS requirements. Information about the Fiscal Year 2006 NIMS 
requirements for tribal governments and local jurisdictions, including 
LEAs, may be found at: http://www.fema.gov/pdf/nims/nims_tribal_local_compliance_activities.pdf.


    Note: An LEA's NIMS compliance must be achieved in close 
coordination with the local government and with recognition of the 
first responder capabilities held by the LEA and the local 
government. As LEAs are not traditional response organizations, 
first responder services will typically be provided to LEAs by local 
fire and rescue departments, emergency medical service providers, 
and law enforcement agencies. This traditional relationship must be 
acknowledged in achieving NIMS compliance in an integrated NIMS 
compliance plan for the local government and the LEA. LEA 
participation in the NIMS preparedness program of the local 
government is essential to ensure that first responder services are 
delivered to schools in a timely and effective manner. Additional 
information about NIMS implementation is available at: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm.


    4. Individuals with Disabilities. The applicant's plan must 
demonstrate that the applicant has taken into consideration the 
communication, transportation, and medical needs of individuals with 
disabilities within the school district.
    5. Infectious Disease Plan. To be considered for a grant award, 
applicants must agree to develop a written plan designed to prepare the 
LEA for a possible infectious disease outbreak, such as pandemic 
influenza. Plans must address the four phases of crisis planning 
(Mitigation/Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery) and 
include a plan for disease surveillance (systematic collection and 
analysis of data that lead to action being taken to prevent and control 
a disease), school closure decision-making, business continuity 
(processes and procedures established to ensure that essential 
functions can continue during and after a disaster), and continuation 
of educational services.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 97, 98, 99, and 299. (b) The notice of final priority and 
other application requirements published in the Federal Register on 
June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35652). (c) The notice of final priorities and 
application requirements published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $24,000,000. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds, the Secretary may make additional awards in FY 
2007 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000 for small districts (1-
20 school facilities); $250,000 for medium-sized districts (21-75 
school facilities); and $500,000 for large districts (76 or more school 
facilities).
    Estimated Number of Awards: 71.


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

    Project Period: Up to 18 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other:
    (a) Equitable Participation by Private School Children and 
Teachers. Section 9501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965, as amended (ESEA), requires that SEAs, LEAs or other entities 
receiving funds under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities 
Act are required to provide for the equitable participation of private 
school children, their teachers, and other educational personnel in 
private schools located in areas served by the grant recipient. In 
order to ensure that grant program activities address the needs of 
private school children, LEAs must engage in timely and meaningful 
consultation with private school officials during the design and 
development of the program. This consultation must take place before 
any decision is made that affects the opportunities of eligible private 
school children, teachers, and other educational personnel to 
participate.
    In order to ensure equitable participation of private school 
children, teachers, and other educational personnel, an LEA must 
consult with private school officials on issues such as: hazards/
vulnerabilities unique to private schools in the LEA's service area, 
training needs, and existing emergency management plans and crisis 
response resources already available at private schools.
    (b) Maintenance of Effort. Section 9521 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1964, as amended (ESEA), requires that LEAs 
may receive a grant only if the State educational agency finds that the 
combined fiscal effort per student or the aggregate expenditures of the 
LEA and the State with respect to the provision of free public 
education by the LEA for the preceding fiscal year was not less than 90 
percent of the combined effort or aggregate expenditures for the second 
preceding fiscal year.

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 84.184E.

[[Page 27580]]

    You may also download the application from the Department of 
Education's Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
    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 program contact 
person listed in this section.
    The public can also obtain applications directly from the program 
office: Tara Hill, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, 
SW., Room 3E340, Washington, DC. 20202-6450. Telephone: (202) 708-4850 
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.
    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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: May 11, 
2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 22, 2006.
    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: August 24, 2006.
    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 additional 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. If you choose to submit your application 
electronically, you must attach any narrative sections of your 
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF 
(Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the 
three file types specified above or submit a password protected file, 
we will not review that material.
     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 Office of Safe and 
Drug-Free Schools 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 Office of Safe and Drug-Free 
Schools at (202) 205-5722.
     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 to enable you 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.

[[Page 27581]]

    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 
84.184E), 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 
84.184E), 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 
84.184E), 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 
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. You must also submit a progress report nine months 
after the award date. This report should provide the most current 
performance and financial expenditure information as specified by the 
Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118.
    4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the 
Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program:
     Demonstration of increased number of hazards addressed by 
the improved school emergency response plan as compared to the baseline 
plan;
     Demonstration of improved response time and quality of 
response to practice drills and simulated crises; and
     A plan for and commitment to the sustainability and 
continuous improvement of the school emergency response plan by the 
district and community partners beyond the period of Federal financial 
assistance.
    These three measures constitute the Department's indicators of 
success for this program. Consequently, applicants for a grant under 
this program are advised to give careful consideration to these three 
measures in conceptualizing the approach and evaluation of their 
proposed project. If funded, applicants will be asked to collect and 
report data in their performance and final reports about progress 
toward these measures.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Tara Hill, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Room 3E340, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 708-4850 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.



[[Page 27582]]


    Dated: May 8, 2006.
Deborah A. Price,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
[FR Doc. 06-4407 Filed 5-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P