[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40548-40556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16128]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services 
and Results for Children With Disabilities; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.326A and 
84.326N.

    Note: This notice invites applications for two separate 
competitions. For key dates, contact person information, and funding 
information regarding each competition, see the chart in the Award 
Information section of this notice.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: See chart.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and improve 
results for children with disabilities by supporting technical 
assistance (TA), model demonstration projects, dissemination of useful 
information, and implementation activities that are supported by 
scientifically based research.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (v), 
these priorities are from allowable activities specified in the 
statute, or otherwise authorized in the statute (see sections 663 and 
681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)). Each 
of the absolute priorities announced in this notice corresponds to a 
separate competition as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Competition
                     Absolute priority                        CFDA No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The IDEA Partnership Project..............................       84.326A
National Dissemination Center for Children with                  84.326N
 Disabilities.............................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2008, these priorities are absolute 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for each competition, we 
consider only applications that meet the absolute priority for that 
competition.
    The priorities are:

Absolute Priority 1--The IDEA Partnership Project (84.326A)

Background
    The IDEA and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), and 
their implementing regulations contain a number of provisions related 
to the instruction and assessment of, and accountability for, students 
with disabilities that require changes in policy and practice at many 
different levels of the educational service system and in both regular 
and special education: State and district policies must change, 
teachers must be trained, administrative supports must be provided, and 
parents must be informed. Coordinating change across regular and 
special education is challenging because teachers, administrators, 
other professionals, and parents typically differ in their training, 
experiences, priorities, and perspectives.
    In order to support and facilitate the effective implementation of 
IDEA and NCLB, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has 
funded partnership projects that bring together representatives from 
national associations that have a vested interest in improving results 
for all students, including students with disabilities. These 
associations represent a wide range of interests and viewpoints in both 
regular and special education, including those of policymakers, local 
administrators, service providers, and family members. Each of these 
national associations has members working directly with administrators, 
teachers, parents, and others at the State and local levels (State and 
local affiliates) who are responsible for implementing the requirements 
of IDEA and NCLB.
    An example of how partnerships with national organizations worked 
together to support the implementation of an instructional practice 
that affects both regular and special education is the work of the 
OSEP-funded IDEA Partnership Project's National Community of Practice 
on NCLB/IDEA Collaboration. The project developed TA materials for 
their State and local affiliates to use to facilitate and promote 
schools' and districts' implementation of Response to Intervention 
(RTI) strategies. RTI was selected because changes in policies and 
practices at many different levels of the special education and regular 
education

[[Page 40549]]

systems must be made to maximize the effectiveness of RTI 
approaches.\1\
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    \1\ RTI is a multi-level approach that seeks to maximize student 
achievement. Schools provide a research-based core curriculum to all 
students in regular education and use universal screening to 
identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes. At-risk 
learners are provided with research-based interventions, and their 
progress is continuously monitored. Decisions about the intensity 
and nature of interventions that students receive and their 
potential eligibility to receive special education and related 
services are made based on the progress monitoring data (Hintz, 
2008; National Center on Response to Intervention, 2008).
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    The TA materials were designed to articulate a consistent message 
about RTI, using appropriate formats and content relevant to the 
information needed by policy makers, local administrators, service 
providers, and families to support effective implementation of RTI. 
This approach helped State and local affiliates of multiple national 
associations understand the core components of RTI, engage with each 
other in discussions about RTI, and work together to align policy with 
effective RTI implementation at all levels of the education system. For 
further information on the past work of the Partnership Project, go to 
http://www.ideapartnership.org/.
    The Department seeks to fund another Partnership project to provide 
opportunities for national associations to collaborate with each other 
and with their collective State and local affiliates to improve the 
implementation of education policies and practices in States. These 
associations and their State and local affiliates need continued 
support to engage in meaningful dialogue and problem solving that will 
improve the implementation of IDEA and NCLB within States.
Priority:
    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
support the establishment and operation of an IDEA Partnership Project 
(Partnership Project) that will strengthen and unite national 
associations, and their State and local affiliates, representing 
policymakers, service providers, local-level administrators, and 
families to collaborate to improve the implementation of IDEA and NCLB.
    To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, 
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in the 
priority. The project funded under this absolute priority also must 
meet the programmatic and administrative requirements specified in the 
priority.
    Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its 
application--
    (a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, 
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic 
model communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides 
a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the 
project;

    Note: For more information on logic models, the following Web 
site lists multiple online resources: http://www.cdc.gov/eval/resources.htm.

    (b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities section of this priority;
    (c) A plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model, for a 
formative evaluation of the proposed project's activities. The plan 
must describe how the formative evaluation will use clear performance 
objectives to ensure continuous improvement in the operation of the 
proposed project, including objective measures of progress in 
implementing the project and ensuring the quality of products and 
services;
    (d) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A one and one half day kick-off meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC within four weeks after receipt of the award, and an 
annual planning meeting held in Washington, DC with the OSEP Project 
Officer during each subsequent year of the project period.
    (2) A three-day Project Directors' Conference in Washington, DC 
during each year of the project period.
    (3) A four-day Technical Assistance and Dissemination Conference in 
Washington, DC during each year of the project period.
    (4) Two two-day trips annually to attend Department briefings, 
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by 
OSEP; and
    (e) A line item in the proposed budget for an annual set-aside of 
five percent of the award amount to support emerging needs that are 
consistent with the proposed project's activities, as those needs are 
identified in consultation with OSEP.

    Note: With approval from the OSEP Project Officer, the 
Partnership Project must reallocate any remaining funds from this 
annual set-aside no later than the end of the third quarter of each 
budget period.

    (f) Assurances that no financial commitments were made to any 
associations or membership organizations in developing this 
application. The Partnership Project will negotiate any financial 
commitments to associations during the first month of the project 
period with final approval by OSEP.
    Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
Partnership Project, at a minimum, must conduct the following 
activities:
    (a) Form a single partnership among national associations and their 
State and local affiliates that focuses on regular education and 
special education in order to meet the collective needs of the 
following four audiences:
    (1) Policymakers including, but not limited to, associations of 
chief State school officers, State boards of education, local school 
boards, State directors of special education, ESEA Title I 
coordinators, mental health coordinators, children with special health 
care needs coordinators, deans of schools of education, department 
chairs at institutions of higher education, superintendents, governors, 
and State legislators.
    (2) Service providers including, but not limited to, associations 
of regular and special education teachers, community-based providers of 
education services, vocational education teachers, related services 
providers, and paraprofessionals.
    (3) Local-level administrators including, but not limited to, 
associations of elementary, middle, and secondary school principals; 
regular and special education administrators; and administrators of 
private schools.
    (4) Families including, but not limited to, associations of parents 
and family members of children in regular and special education, and 
disability organizations representing individuals with disabilities and 
family members of individuals with disabilities.
    (b) Establish and maintain an advisory committee to review the 
activities and outcomes of the Partnership Project and provide 
programmatic support and advice throughout the project period. At a 
minimum, the advisory committee must meet on an annual basis in 
Washington, DC, and consist of individuals representing each of the 
four constituency groups listed in paragraph (a) and representatives 
from OSEP and other federally-funded TA projects. The Partnership 
Project must submit the names of proposed members of the advisory 
committee to OSEP for approval within eight weeks after receipt of the 
award.
    (c) Conduct a needs assessment of the partner organizations to 
identify their needs in relation to the implementation of IDEA and 
NCLB;
    (d) Report results of the needs assessment to the advisory 
committee within the first three months of the project period.

[[Page 40550]]

    (e) Based on the results of the needs assessment and with input 
from the advisory committee and the partnering organizations, develop 
and implement a plan annually for coordinated training, TA, 
dissemination, and outreach to the partners' State and local 
affiliates. Each annual plan must address needs related to the 
integration and coordination of regular and special education, as well 
as needs identified by OSEP in reviewing State Performance Plans and 
Annual Performance Reports. The project's annual plan, which must be 
submitted to OSEP for approval prior to implementation, must include 
the following information:
    (1) How partnering organizations will reach their members at both 
the State and local levels and work with them and each other to 
implement the plan.
    (2) How specific activities in the plan will be conducted and 
coordinated with those of other OSEP and Office of Elementary and 
Secondary Education (OESE)-funded TA centers, and a timeline for 
implementing the activities.
    (3) If the plan includes implementing research-based practices or 
interventions, how partner organizations will support State and local 
affiliates to implement those practices or interventions to effectively 
implement NCLB and IDEA.
    (4) How trainers who are members of partner organizations will be 
compensated for their training time.
    (5) How partners will leverage other resources to support planned 
activities.
    (6) How the Partnership Project will serve as a broker for TA 
services between the partners and other OSEP and OESE TA projects.
    (f) Create opportunities for the Partnership Project's partnering 
organizations to engage in cross-stakeholder communication, learning, 
and strategic planning to address the complex challenges associated 
with implementing IDEA and NCLB to improve results for children with 
disabilities.
    (g) Establish the following:
    (1) A Web site that meets a government or industry-recognized 
standard for accessibility and that links to the Web site operated by 
the Technical Assistance Coordination Center (TACC), which OSEP intends 
to fund in FY 2008.
    (2) A comprehensive, up-to-date, and searchable database of 
partners' products and activities that is accessible to all partners.
    (3) A mechanism for regularly updating partners on new developments 
in relevant legislation.
    (h) Communicate and collaborate, on an ongoing basis, with OSEP-
funded projects, including the communities of practice, the Parent 
Training and Information Centers, the TACC, and the National 
Dissemination Center for Individuals with Disabilities, which OSEP 
intends to fund in FY 2008. This collaboration could include the joint 
development of products, the coordination of TA services, and the 
planning and carrying out of TA meetings and events.
    (i) Although product development is not a primary function of this 
project, comply with the following requirements, when product 
development is needed:
    (1) If OSEP funds a TA center in the content area that is the topic 
of the proposed product, but no product currently exists that will meet 
the needs of the Partnership Project, work with the content center to 
develop a product that is research-based (i.e., consistent with 
research and theory on the topic).
    (2) Prior to developing any new product, whether paper or 
electronic, submit to the OSEP Project Officer and the Proposed Product 
Advisory Board at OSEP's TACC for approval, a proposal describing the 
content and purpose of the product.
    (3) Before submitting a draft of a product to the OSEP Project 
Officer, request input from individuals representing each of the four 
constituency groups (listed in paragraph (a)(1) through (a)(4) under 
Project Activities).
    (4) Coordinate with the National Dissemination Center for 
Individuals with Disabilities to develop an efficient and high-quality 
dissemination strategy that reaches the broad audiences to be targeted 
by the project. The Partnership Project must report to the OSEP Project 
Officer the outcomes of these coordination efforts.
    (j) Contribute, on an ongoing basis, updated information on the 
Partnership Project's services to OSEP's Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination Matrix (http://matrix.rrfcnetwork.org/), which provides 
current information on Department-funded TA services to a range of 
stakeholders.
    (k) Conduct a summative evaluation of the Partnership Project in 
collaboration with the OSEP-funded Center to Improve Project 
Performance (CIPP) as described in the following paragraphs. This 
summative evaluation must examine the outcomes or impact of the 
Partnership Project's activities in order to assess the effectiveness 
of those activities.

    Note: The major tasks of CIPP would be to guide, coordinate, and 
oversee the summative evaluations conducted by selected Technical 
Assistance, Personnel Development, Parent Training and Information 
Center, and Technology projects that individually receive $500,000 
or more funding from OSEP annually. The efforts of CIPP are expected 
to enhance individual project evaluations by providing expert and 
unbiased assistance in designing evaluations, conducting analyses, 
and interpreting data.

    To fulfill the requirements of the summative evaluation to be 
conducted under the guidance of CIPP and with the approval of the OSEP 
Project Officer, the Partnership Project must--
    (1) Hire or designate, with the approval of the OSEP Project 
Officer, a project liaison staff person with sufficient dedicated time, 
experience in evaluation, and knowledge of the Partnership Project to 
work with CIPP on the following tasks: (i) Planning for the Partnership 
Project's summative evaluation (e.g., selecting evaluation questions, 
developing a timeline for the evaluation, locating sources of relevant 
data, and refining the logic model used for the evaluation), (ii) 
developing the summative evaluation design and instrumentation (e.g., 
determining quantitative or qualitative data collection strategies, 
selecting respondent samples, and pilot testing instruments), (iii) 
coordinating the evaluation timeline with the implementation of the 
Partnership Project's activities, (iv) collecting summative data, and 
(v) writing reports of summative evaluation findings;
    (2) Cooperate with CIPP staff in order to accomplish the tasks 
described in paragraph (1) of this section; and
    (3) Dedicate $80,000 of the annual budget request for this project 
to cover the costs of carrying out the tasks described in paragraphs 
(1) and (2) of this section, implementing the Partnership Project's 
formative evaluation, and traveling to Washington, DC in the second 
year of the project period for the Partnership Project's review for 
continued funding.
    (l) Maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP Project Officer 
through monthly phone conversations and e-mail communication.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project
    In deciding whether to continue funding the Partnership Project for 
the fourth and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the 
requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), and in addition--
    (a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting in Washington, DC that will be held during the 
last half of the second year of the project period. Projects must

[[Page 40551]]

budget for travel for this one-day intensive review;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
Partnership Project; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Partnership 
Project's activities and products and the degree to which the 
Partnership Project's activities and products have contributed to 
changed practice and improved (1) collaboration across regular 
education, special education, and parent partner organizations to 
support and facilitate the effective implementation of IDEA and NCLB at 
the national, State, and local levels; (2) implementation of research-
based practices; and (3) involvement of national organizations' State 
and local affiliates in the implementation of IDEA and NCLB at the 
State and local levels.

References

Fixen, D., Blase, K., Horner, R., & Sugai, G. (2008). --Concept 
paper: Developing the capacity for scaling up evidence-based 
programs in state departments of education (retrieved on May 12, 
2008 from http://sisep.fmhi.usf.edu/docs/State_Capacity_Development_0208.pdf).
Hintz, (2008). Conceptual and Empirical Issues Related to Developing 
a Response-to-Intervention Framework. [Electronic version] 
(retrieved on May 14, 2008 from http://www.studentprogress.org/doc/Hintze2008ConceptualandEmpiricalIssuesofRTI.doc).
National Center on Response to Intervention (2008). What is RTI? 
(retrieved on May 14, 2008 from http://www.rti4success.org/).
National Research Center on Learning Disabilities. (2008). Core 
concepts of RTI. [Electronic version] (retrieved on April 10, 2008 
from http://www.nrcld.org/about/research/rti/concepts.html)

Absolute Priority 2--National Dissemination Center for Children With 
Disabilities (84.326N)

Background
    Along with an increased demand for educational accountability and 
improvement, diverse audiences, including educators and parents, have a 
greater need for information about education that addresses topics such 
as standards, assessments, and instructional practices (Petrides & 
Nodine, 2003). The increased need for information is reflected in an 
increase in the number of visits to the Web site of the National 
Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) funded by 
the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The Center is a 
central source for information on disabilities in children, the laws 
that affect children with disabilities, and effective educational and 
early intervention practices that can be implemented to improve 
outcomes for students and infants and toddlers with disabilities.
    Along with the increased need for information and the number of 
channels through which information is disseminated, individuals' 
preferences for obtaining information have changed (Caffarella, 2002; 
Kilgore, 2001). In 2005, NICHCY disseminated approximately 149,000 
printed products in English and about 55,300 printed products in 
Spanish. In 2006, NICHCY disseminated a significantly smaller number of 
printed materials (approximately 27,000 total in English and Spanish), 
presumably reflecting consumers' increased use of a variety of 
technology and electronic retrieval methods to access information.
    Current demographic patterns of students in regular education and 
special education, and of children participating in early intervention 
programs (U.S. Department of Education, 2007), indicate an increased 
prevalence of certain disabilities. Given this demographic change and 
the movement of students between regular and special education, the 
audience interested in information regarding children with disabilities 
and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is likely to 
become larger and more diverse in the future. Further, with increases 
in research and knowledge production, existing materials will need to 
be updated and revised and new materials will need to be created to 
keep pace with the increased customer demand for up-to-date 
information. Moreover, innovative approaches to dissemination, for 
example the use of diverse channels such as Webinars, will be needed to 
reach these audiences. Similarly, as education audiences increasingly 
request information through diverse channels, they also will expect 
this information to be customized and targeted. When information is 
conveyed using channels and formats aligned with the needs and 
preferences of end-users, knowledge transfer and learning may be more 
likely to occur (Hood, 2002). In sum, a new national dissemination 
center for children with disabilities is needed that will build on the 
work of NICHCY to respond to the expanding information needs and 
preferences of diverse audiences.
Priority
    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
support the establishment and operation of a National Dissemination 
Center for Children with Disabilities (Center). The Center must (a) 
develop and disseminate information about children with disabilities 
and IDEA that will be readily accessible to a broad range of audiences, 
and (b) provide leadership in the design and implementation of 
integrated, responsive, and effective information dissemination 
strategies.
    To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, 
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in this 
priority. Any project funded under this absolute priority also must 
meet the programmatic and administrative requirements specified in the 
priority.
    Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its 
application--
    (a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, 
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic 
model communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides 
a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the 
project;

    Note: The following Web site provides more information on logic 
models and lists multiple online resources: http://www.cdc.gov/eval/resources.htm

    (b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities section of this priority;
    (c) A plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model, for a 
formative evaluation of the proposed project's activities. The plan 
must describe how the formative evaluation will use clear performance 
objectives to ensure continuous improvement in the operation of the 
proposed project, including objective measures of progress in 
implementing the project and ensuring the quality of products and 
services. Specifically, the Center must examine its dissemination 
activities to ensure that the information needs of targeted audiences 
(e.g., parents, families, early intervention personnel, educators) are 
being met;
    (d) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A one and one half day kick-off meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC within four weeks after receipt of the award, and an 
annual planning meeting held in Washington, DC with the OSEP Project 
Officer during each subsequent year of the project period.
    (2) A three-day Project Directors' Conference in Washington, DC 
during each year of the project period.
    (3) A four-day Technical Assistance and Dissemination Conference in 
Washington, DC during each year of the project period.

[[Page 40552]]

    (4) Three one-day trips annually to attend Department briefings, 
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by 
OSEP; and
    (e) A line item in the proposed budget for an annual set-aside of 
five percent of the award amount to support emerging needs that are 
consistent with the proposed project's activities, as those needs are 
identified in consultation with OSEP.

    Note: With approval from the OSEP Project Officer, the Center 
must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside no 
later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period.

    Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
Center, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities:
Knowledge Development Activities
    (a) Identify and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, and 
other relevant sources, to determine the topical and informational 
needs of families, early intervention personnel, and educators. Sources 
for these data include, but are not limited to, the Regional Resource 
Centers (RRCs), Parent Technical Assistance Centers, the National Early 
Childhood Technical Assistance Center, and the Comprehensive Technical 
Assistance Centers funded through the Office of Elementary and 
Secondary Education.
    (b) Develop strategies, in cooperation with the Technical 
Assistance Coordination Center (TACC), which OSEP intends to fund in FY 
2008, to provide needed information about children with disabilities in 
a mode and manner easily accessed and understood by diverse audiences, 
including persons with limited English proficiency, individuals who 
have low literacy skills or who are not literate, and individuals with 
disabilities. Strategies must include developing informational 
materials that are universally designed (for more information on 
universal design, the following Web site provides multiple online 
resources: http://www.cast.org) and that are available in alternate 
formats (e.g., Braille) and languages. Activities must include a review 
of the efficiency and efficacy of different vehicles for disseminating 
needed information to various audiences, including those strategies 
used across OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination (TA&D) 
Network.
Technical Assistance and Dissemination Activities
    (a) Maintain a customer-service response system that enables 
individuals who request information to access that information in 
multiple ways. Points of access must include, but not be limited to, a 
toll-free telephone number, toll-free TTY, e-mail, and a Web site. 
Information response activities must include developing and 
disseminating documents and providing referrals to a broad range of 
service agencies upon request. Information services must be flexible in 
delivery format and hours of operation and be available, to the maximum 
extent possible, in multiple languages. The Web site must meet a 
government- or industry-recognized standard for accessibility and link 
to the Web site operated by TACC.
    (b) Conceptualize, design, and produce an electronic newsletter 
that informs diverse audiences about the products and services 
available from OSEP-funded projects, and, as appropriate, products and 
services available from projects funded by other offices in the 
Department.
    (c) Review IDEA-related materials developed by relevant Federal, 
State, and local public and private organizations to identify gaps in 
the information targeted for parents, families, early intervention 
personnel, and educators and offer recommendations to OSEP's TA&D 
Network to address these information gaps. Recommendations may include 
amending existing informational materials or developing new materials. 
The Center must make selected materials produced available for parents 
and families in both English and Spanish.
Leadership and Coordination Activities
    (a) Establish and maintain an advisory committee to review the 
activities and outcomes of the Center and provide programmatic support 
and advice throughout the project period. At a minimum, the advisory 
committee must meet annually, whether in person, or by phone or another 
means and consist of family members of children with disabilities, 
regular and special educators, early intervention personnel, and 
technical assistance providers, as appropriate. The Center must submit 
the names of proposed members of the advisory committee to OSEP for 
approval within eight weeks after receipt of the award.
    (b) Collaborate with relevant Federal, State, and local public and 
private organizations to plan and conduct outreach activities that 
promote awareness of disability issues using innovative technologies 
and particularly targeting remote or underserved populations. This plan 
and annual updates on its implementation must be submitted to OSEP and 
the advisory committee.
    (c) Collect the dissemination plans from OSEP's TA&D projects and 
provide feedback on ways the projects can improve their respective 
dissemination plans to reach their target audiences. Based on the 
review of these plans and a review of evidence-based dissemination 
practices, develop a comprehensive dissemination strategy for OSEP's 
TA&D Network.
    (d) Communicate and collaborate, on an ongoing basis, with OSEP-
funded projects, including TACC, the Consortium for Appropriate Dispute 
Resolution in Special Education, the National Early Childhood Technical 
Assistance Center, and the Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent 
Centers. This collaboration could include the joint development of 
products, the coordination of TA services, and the planning and 
carrying out of TA meetings and events.
    (e) Participate in, organize, or facilitate, as appropriate, OSEP 
communities of practice (http://www.tacommunities.org/) that are 
aligned with the Center's objectives as a way to support discussions 
and collaboration among key stakeholders.
    (f) Prior to developing any new product, whether paper or 
electronic, submit to the OSEP Project Officer and the Proposed Product 
Advisory Board at OSEP's TACC for approval, a proposal describing the 
content and purpose of the product.
    (g) Contribute, on an ongoing basis, updated information on the 
Center's services to OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination 
Matrix (http://matrix.rrfcnetwork.org/), which provides current 
information on Department-funded TA services to a range of 
stakeholders.
    (h) Conduct a summative evaluation of the Center in collaboration 
with the Center to Improve Project Performance (CIPP) as described in 
the following paragraphs. This summative evaluation must examine the 
outcomes or impact of the Center's activities in order to assess the 
effectiveness of those activities.

    Note: The major tasks of CIPP are to guide, coordinate, and 
oversee the summative evaluations conducted by selected Technical 
Assistance, Personnel Development, Parent Training and Information 
Center, and Technology projects that individually receive $500,000 
or more funding from OSEP annually. The efforts of CIPP are expected 
to enhance individual project evaluations by providing expert and 
unbiased assistance in designing evaluations, conducting analyses, 
and interpreting data.


[[Page 40553]]


    To fulfill the requirements of the summative evaluation to be 
conducted under the guidance of CIPP, the Center must--
    (1) Hire or designate, with the approval of the OSEP Project 
Officer, a project liaison staff person with sufficient dedicated time, 
experience in evaluation, and knowledge of the Center to work with CIPP 
on the following tasks: (i) Planning the Center's summative evaluation 
(e.g., selecting evaluation questions, developing a timeline for the 
evaluation, locating sources of relevant data, and refining the logic 
model used for the evaluation), (ii) developing the summative 
evaluation design and instrumentation (e.g., determining quantitative 
or qualitative data collection strategies, selecting respondent 
samples, and pilot testing instruments), (iii) coordinating the 
evaluation timeline with the implementation of the Center's activities, 
(iv) collecting summative data, and (v) writing reports of summative 
evaluation findings;
    (2) Cooperate with CIPP staff in order to accomplish the tasks 
described in paragraph (1) of this section; and
    (3) Dedicate $50,000 of the annual budget request for this project 
to cover the costs of carrying out the tasks described in paragraphs 
(1) and (2) of this section, implementing the Center's formative 
evaluation, and traveling to Washington, DC in the second year of the 
project period for the Center's review for continued funding.
    (i) Maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP Project Officer 
through monthly phone conversations and e-mail communication.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project
    In deciding whether to continue funding the Center for the fourth 
and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.253(a), and in addition--
    (a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting in Washington, DC that will be held during the 
last half of the second year of the project period. Projects must 
budget for travel for this one-day intensive review;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
Center; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Center's 
activities and products and the degree to which the Center's activities 
and products have contributed to changed practice and improved 
knowledge and awareness regarding the implementation of IDEA.

References

Caffarella, R.S. (2002). Planning programs for adult learners. San 
Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Hood, P. (2002). Perspectives on knowledge utilization in education. 
San Francisco: WestEd.
Kilgore, D.W. (2001). Critical and postmodern perspectives on adult 
learning. In S. Merriam (Ed). New Directions for Adult and 
Continuing Education, 89, (pp 53-61). New Jersey: Jossey-Bass 
Publishing.
Petrides, L.A. & Nodine, T.R. (2003). Knowledge management in 
education: Defining the landscape. Institute for the Study of 
Knowledge Management in Education. Available at http://www.iskme.org/what-we-do/publications/km-in-education.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education Programs, 27th 
Annual (2005) Report to Congress on the Implementation of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (2007). Washington, DC: 
Author.

    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and 
requirements. Section 681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment 
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priorities in this notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1463 and 1481.
    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 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreements.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,500,000. Please refer to the 
``Estimated Available Funds'' column of the chart in this section for 
the estimated dollar amounts for individual competitions.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    Project Period: See chart.

    Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Deadline for        Deadline for        Estimated       Estimated                       Estimated
       CFDA No. and name            Applications      transmittal of    intergovernmental      available     average size       Maximum        number of     Project  period    Contact  person
                                     available         applications           review             funds         of awards       award\*\         awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.326A--The IDEA Partnership    July 15, 2008....  August 14, 2008..  August 25, 2008....      $1,700,000      $1,700,000      $1,700,000               1  Up to 60 months..  Debra Price-
 Project.                                                                                                                                                                       Ellingstad,
                                                                                                                                                                                (202) 245-7481,
                                                                                                                                                                                Room 4097.
                                 July 15, 2008....  August 14, 2008..  August 25, 2008....
84.326N--National Dissemination  .................  .................  ...................        $800,000        $800,000        $800,000               1  Up to 60 months..  Judy Shanley
 Center for Children with                                                                                                                                                       (202) 245-6538,
 Disabilities.                                                                                                                                                                  Room 4120.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\*\We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum award for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
  Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.



[[Page 40554]]

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

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); local 
educational agencies (LEAs); public charter schools that are considered 
LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private nonprofit 
organizations; outlying areas; freely associated States; Indian tribes 
or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this 
program must make positive efforts to employ and advance in employment 
qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
    (b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this program must 
involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals with 
disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating the projects (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).

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), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: [email protected]
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify the competition to which you want to apply, as follows: CFDA 
Number 84.326A or 84.326N.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team 
listed under Alternative Format in section VIII of this notice.
    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 each competition 
announced in this notice.
    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 70 pages for each absolute priority, 
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 two-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, the references, or the letters of support. 
The page limit, however, does apply to the application narrative in 
Part III.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit or if 
you use other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: See chart.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
    Applications for grants under this program may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format 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.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII 
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for each of the competitions 
announced in this notice.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail 
or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    To comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are 
participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site. 
The Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities program, CFDA Numbers 84.326A 
and 84.326N, announced in this notice are included in this project. We 
request your participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov. 
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the 
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit 
your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant 
application to us.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Technical 
Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for 
Children with Disabilities program competitions--CFDA numbers 84.326A 
and 84.326N at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the 
downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. 
Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., 
search for 84.326, not 84.326A or 84.326N). Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application 
if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. 
When we retrieve your application from

[[Page 40555]]

Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for the competition to which you 
are applying to ensure that you submit your application in a timely 
manner to the Grants.gov system. You also can find the Education 
Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include: 
(1) Registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes 
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2) 
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative 
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. 
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step 
Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your 
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please 
note that the registration process may take five or more business days 
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to 
allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In 
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual 
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
     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.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
submit all documents electronically, including all information you 
typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal 
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental 
Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs 
(ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note 
that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the Department of Education 
Supplemental Information for SF 424--have replaced the ED 424 
(Application for Federal Education Assistance).
     If you 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 in 
this paragraph 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.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
With the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll-free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII in this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether 
your application will be accepted.

    Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

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 84.326A 
or 84.326N), 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 84.326A or 84.326N), 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.
    (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.
    (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.


[[Page 40556]]


    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 84.326A 
or 84.326N) 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 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 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application packages for each 
competition announced in this notice.
    2. Peer Review: In the past, the Department has had difficulty 
finding peer reviewers for certain competitions because so many 
individuals who are eligible to serve as peer reviewers have conflicts 
of interest. The Standing Panel requirements under IDEA also have 
placed additional constraints on the availability of reviewers. 
Therefore, the Department has determined that, for some discretionary 
grant competitions, applications may be separated into two or more 
groups and ranked and selected for funding within specific groups. This 
procedure will make it easier for the Department to find peer 
reviewers, by ensuring that greater numbers of individuals who are 
eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular group of applicants 
will not have conflicts of interest. It also will increase the quality, 
independence, and fairness of the review process, while permitting 
panel members to review applications under discretionary grant 
competitions for which they also have submitted applications. However, 
if the Department decides to select an equal number of applications in 
each group for funding, this may result in different cut-off points for 
fundable applications in each group.

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 Notice 
(GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
    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 in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in 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 directed by the Secretary 
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary also may require more frequent 
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements 
on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and 
quality of the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve 
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. These 
measures focus on the extent to which projects provide high quality 
products and services, the relevance of project products and services 
to educational and early intervention policy and practice, and the use 
of products and services to improve educational and early intervention 
policy and practice. The grantee will be required to provide 
information related to these measures.
    The grantee also will be required to report information on the 
project's performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR 
75.590).

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: See chart in the Award Information 
section of this notice for the name, room number and telephone number 
of the contact person for each competition. You can write to the 
contact at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-
2550.
    If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll-free, 
at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and 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, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, 
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can 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: July 10, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-16128 Filed 7-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P