[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79063-79068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30707]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Overview 
Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research (NIDRR)--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and 
Centers Program--Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs)

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2009.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.133A-3 and 
84.133A-4.


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

    Dates: Applications Available: See chart.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: See chart.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the DRRP program is to improve 
the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973, as amended, by developing methods, procedures, and 
rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent 
living and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, 
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. DRRPs carry 
out one or more of the following types of activities, as specified and 
defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, training, 
demonstration, development, dissemination, utilization, and technical 
assistance.
    An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in 
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of 
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this 
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b).
    Additional information on the DRRP program can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
    Priorities: NIDRR has established three separate priorities for the 
two competitions announced in this notice. The General DRRP 
Requirements priority, which applies to all DRRP competitions, is from 
the notice of final

[[Page 79064]]

priorities (NFP) for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Projects and Centers Program, published in the Federal Register on 
April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). The remaining two priorities are from the 
NFP for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers 
Program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2009, these priorities are absolute 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for each competition (designated 
by CFDA number in the following chart), we consider only applications 
that meet both the General DRRP Requirements priority and the absolute 
priority designated for that competition.
    These priorities are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Corresponding
                  Absolute priority                     competition CFDA
                                                             number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General DRRP Requirements............................      84.133A-3 and
                                                               84.133A-4
Research and Technical Assistance Center on                    84.133A-3
 Vocational Rehabilitation Program Management........
Center on the Effective Delivery of Rehabilitation             84.133A-4
 Technology by State Vocational Rehabilitation
 Agencies to Improve Employment Outcomes.............
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: The full text of each of these priorities is included in 
the notice of final priorities published elsewhere in this issue of 
the Federal Register and in the applicable application package.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR 
part 350. (c) The notice of final priorities for the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, published in the 
Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). (d) The notice of 
final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Projects and Centers Program, published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$7,650,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2009. The actual 
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Award: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    Project Period: See chart.

                                   Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Deadline for                Estimated
                                Applications   transmittal  Date of pre-   average      Maximum     Estimated
     CFDA number and name         available        of       application    size of      award *     number of       Project period       Contact person
                                              applications    meeting       awards                    awards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.133A-3 Research and              12/24/08      02/23/09      1/13/09   $1,495,000   $1,500,000            1  Up to 60 mos..........  Donna Nangle
 Technical Assistance Center                                                                    *                                        (202) 245-7462
 on Vocational Rehabilitation                                                                                                            Rm 6029.
 Program Management.
84.133A-4 Center on the             12/24/08      02/23/09      1/13/09      495,000    500,000 *            1  Up to 60 mos..........  Donna Nangle
 Effective Delivery of                                                                                                                   (202) 245-7462
 Rehabilitation Technology by                                                                                                            Rm 6029.
 State Vocational
 Rehabilitation Agencies to
 Improve Employment Outcomes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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.


    Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.


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

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies, 
including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, 
including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal 
organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is required by 34 CFR 
350.62(a)(3)(i) and will be negotiated at the time of the grant award.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following 
address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html. To 
obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: 
Education Publications Center, 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/

[[Page 79065]]

edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: [email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
these competitions as follows: CFDA number 84.133A-3 or 84.133A-4.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the applicable 
application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large 
print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or 
team listed under Accessible 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 applicable application package for these 
competitions.
    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. We recommend that you limit 
Part III to the equivalent of no more than 125 pages, using the 
following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative. Single spacing may be used for 
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).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover 
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of 
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the 
application narrative section (Part III).
    The application package will provide instructions for completing 
all components to be included in the application. Each application must 
include a cover sheet (Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED Form 
524) and narrative budget justification; other required forms; an 
abstract, Human Subjects narrative, Part III narrative; resumes of 
staff; and other related materials, if applicable.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: See chart.
    Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to 
participate in any of the pre-application meetings held for the 
competitions announced in this notice and to receive information and 
technical assistance through individual consultation with NIDRR staff. 
The dates for each of the competitions' pre-application meetings are 
listed in the chart in the Award Information section in this notice. 
Interested parties may participate in these meetings by conference call 
with NIDRR staff from the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services on the dates listed in the chart between 1 p.m. 
and 3 p.m., Washington, DC time. For each meeting, NIDRR staff also 
will be available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the same day, by 
telephone, to provide information and technical assistance through 
individual consultation. For further information or to make 
arrangements to participate in any of these meetings via conference 
call or for an individual consultation, contact Donna Nangle, U.S. 
Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), room 6029, 550 
12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by 
e-mail: [email protected].
    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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    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.
    We are participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov 
Apply site. The Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects 
competitions, CFDA numbers 84.133A-3 and 84.133A-4, 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 Disability 
Rehabilitation Research Projects competitions--CFDA numbers 84.133A-3 
and 84.133A-4 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 84.133, not 84.133A-3 or 84.133A-4).
    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 accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
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.

[[Page 79066]]

     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 this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also 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 following address:
    By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA number 84.133A-
3 or 84.133A-4), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    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.

    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,

[[Page 79067]]

Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA number 84.133A-3 or 
84.133A-4), 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 4:30:00 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 these 
competitions are from 34 CFR 350.54 and are listed in the application 
package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: Additional factors we consider in 
selecting an application for an award are as follows:
    The Secretary is interested in outcomes-oriented research or 
development projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. To 
address this interest, applicants are encouraged to articulate goals, 
objectives, and expected outcomes for the proposed research or 
development activities. Proposals should describe how results and 
planned outputs are expected to contribute to advances in knowledge, 
improvements in policy and practice, and public benefits for 
individuals with disabilities. Applicants should propose projects that 
are designed to be consistent with these goals. We encourage applicants 
to include in their application a description of how results will 
measure progress towards achievement of anticipated outcomes (including 
a discussion of measures of effectiveness), the mechanisms that will be 
used to evaluate outcomes associated with specific problems or issues, 
and how the proposed activities will support new intervention 
approaches and strategies. Submission of the information identified in 
this section V.2. Review and Selection Process is voluntary, except 
where required by the selection criteria listed 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 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 may also 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.

    Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on 
how and when to submit the final performance report.

    4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its 
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects 
through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR 
examines a portion of its grantees to determine:
     The percentage of newly-awarded NIDRR projects that are 
multi-site, collaborative, controlled studies of interventions and 
programs.
     The number of accomplishments (e.g., new or improved 
tools, methods, discoveries, standards, interventions, programs, or 
devices) developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged 
by expert panels to be of high quality and to advance the field.
     The average number of publications per award based on 
NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals.
     The percentage of new grants that include studies funded 
by NIDRR that assess the effectiveness of interventions, programs, and 
devices using rigorous and appropriate methods.
    NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their 
Annual Performance Reports (APRs) in support of these performance 
measures.
    Updates on the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 
(GPRA) indicators, revisions, and methods appear on the NIDRR Program 
Review Web site: http://www.neweditions.net/pr/commonfiles/pmconcepts.htm.
    Grantees should consult this site on a regular basis to obtain 
details and explanations on how NIDRR programs contribute to the 
advancement of the Department's long-term and annual performance goals.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6029, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by e-mail: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, 
at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the applicable application package in an 
accessible 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

[[Page 79068]]

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: December 19, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-30707 Filed 12-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P