[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 89 (Monday, May 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25845-25849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11007]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS); 
Overview Information; Centers for Independent Living; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.400A and 
84.132A.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: May 10, 2010.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: May 20, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 9, 2010.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 9, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: This program provides support for planning,

[[Page 25846]]

conducting, administering, and evaluating centers for independent 
living (CILs) that comply with the standards and assurances in section 
725 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), consistent 
with the design included in the State Plan for Independent Living 
(SPIL) for establishing a statewide network of CILs.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 796f-1; American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-5 (ARRA).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR 
parts 364 and 366.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $10,229,435 from the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and $596,334 from the FY 2010 
Centers for Independent Living (CIL) appropriation. The purposes of the 
ARRA include the following:
    (1) To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery;
    (2) To assist those most impacted by the recession;
    (3) To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency 
by spurring technological advances in science and health;
    (4) To invest in transportation, environmental protection, and 
other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefit; and
    (5) To stabilize State and local government budgets in order to 
minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and 
counterproductive State and local tax increases.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$1,550,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $386,635.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 28, distributed in the following 
manner:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Estimated                                         Estimated
            States and territories                 available             Source of funds             number of
                                                     funds                                            awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska........................................        $117,089  ARRA............................               1
American Samoa................................         154,046  FY 2010 CIL Appropriation.......               1
Georgia.......................................         683,510  ARRA............................               1
Illinois......................................       1,066,604  ARRA............................               9
Maryland......................................         442,288  FY 2010 CIL Appropriation.......               2
Michigan......................................       2,330,310  ARRA............................               5
New Jersey....................................         625,000  ARRA............................               1
New York......................................       1,500,000  ARRA............................               3
North Carolina................................         987,500  ARRA............................               1
Ohio..........................................         100,000  ARRA............................               1
Tennessee.....................................       1,000,000  ARRA............................               1
Texas.........................................       1,550,000  ARRA............................               1
Washington....................................         269,422  ARRA............................               1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: For all entities except American Samoa and Maryland, the 
dollar amount in the column ``Estimated available funds'' represents 
the total amount of funding that is available to establish new CILs 
in each State. Since these funds will be used to provide more than 
one year of support for the operation of new centers, the amount 
listed is not the amount that is available annually for grant awards 
in that State. In the case of American Samoa and Maryland, however, 
the source of funds indicated in the table is the FY 2010 CIL 
appropriation, rather than ARRA, and the funds do represent the 
amount available in this year. Please refer to the application 
package for each State's annual amount per project period and the 
number of project periods applicable to each grant. The application 
package also contains information regarding the geographic area or 
areas in each State that applicants must propose to serve. The 
Department will not make awards to applicants in a State that was 
required to amend its SPIL in order to receive ARRA funds under the 
CIL program until the Department has approved the amendment to the 
SPIL.


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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible to apply, an applicant 
must--
    (a) Be a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, 
nonresidential, private nonprofit agency;
    (b) Have the power and authority to--
    (1) Carry out the purpose of part C of title VII of the Act and 
perform the functions listed in section 725(b) and (c) of the Act and 
subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366 within a community located within 
any State in which the Secretary has approved the State Plan required 
by section 704 of the Act or in a bordering State; and
    (2) Receive and administer--
    (i) Funds under 34 CFR part 366;
    (ii) Funds and contributions from private or public sources that 
may be used in support of a center; and
    (iii) Funds from other public and private programs;
    (c) Be able to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a center 
consistent with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) 
of the Act and subparts F and G of 34 CFR part 366;
    (d) Either--
    (1) Not currently be receiving funds under part C of chapter 1 of 
title VII of the Act; or
    (2) Propose the expansion of an existing center through the 
establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the 
governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board 
of the new center) at a different geographical location;
    (e) Propose to serve one or more of the geographic areas that are 
identified as unserved or underserved by the States and territories 
listed under Estimated Number of Awards in this notice; and
    (f) Submit appropriate documentation demonstrating that the 
establishment of a new center is consistent with the design for 
establishing a statewide network of centers in the State plan of the 
State or territory whose geographic area or areas the applicant 
proposes to serve.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

[[Page 25847]]

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: 
ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 
22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. 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.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: [email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program as follows: CFDA numbers 84.400A and 84.132A.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the 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 application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The program 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 the program narrative 
(Part III) to the equivalent of no more than 35 double-spaced 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 page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application and 
Instructions for Federal Assistance; Part IV, the assurances, 
certifications, and disclosures; or the one-page abstract. However, the 
page limit does apply to all of the program narrative section (Part 
III).
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit or if 
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 10, 2010.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to 
participate in a pre-application meeting and to receive information and 
technical assistance through individual consultation with 
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) staff from the Office of 
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The pre-application 
meeting will be held on May 20, 2010. Interested parties may 
participate in this meeting by conference call with RSA staff between 
1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Washington, DC time. RSA staff also will be 
available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 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 the meeting via conference call or for 
an individual consultation, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 9, 2010.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application system (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site. For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, 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: August 9, 2010.
    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 this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an 
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the Centers for Independent Living 
Program--CFDA Numbers 84.400A and 84.132A must be submitted 
electronically using e-Application, accessible through the Department's 
e-Grants Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    While completing your electronic application, you will be entering 
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this 
program after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait 
until the application deadline date to begin the application process.

[[Page 25848]]

     The hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00 
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of 
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. 
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are 
posted on the e-Grants Web site.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
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. 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.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number 
(an identifying number unique to your application).
     Within three working days after submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control 
Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
    (2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
    (4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at 
(202) 245-6272.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting 
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application 
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by 
hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
    (1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have 
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
    (2) (a) E-Application is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between 
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date; or
    (b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between 
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If e-Application is unavailable due 
to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application 
deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users 
who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions referred to in this 
section apply only to the unavailability of e-Application.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through e-Application because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
e-Application;
     and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you 
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax 
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed 
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Sean Barrett, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5016, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7590.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. 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: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.400A or 84.132A), 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You 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

[[Page 25849]]

address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, 
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.400A or 84.132A), 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 grant 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 
in 34 CFR 366.27 and are listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: In selecting an application for an 
award under this program, an additional factor we consider is comments 
regarding the application, if any, by the Statewide Independent Living 
Council in the State in which the applicant is located.

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 of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant. In addition, the GAN includes terms and 
conditions necessary for effective implementation of data collection 
and accountability requirements under the ARRA.
    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.
    Some of the funds awarded through this competition were 
appropriated under the ARRA and are subject to additional 
accountability and transparency reporting requirements, which are 
described in section 1512(c) of the ARRA. Grantees receiving funds 
provided by the ARRA must be able to distinguish these funds from any 
other funds they receive through this program. Recipients of ARRA funds 
will be required to submit quarterly reports on the expenditure of 
these funds no later than ten days after the end of each calendar 
quarter through a centralized reporting Web site administered by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): http://www.federalreporting.gov. 
The information reported at this Web site will be available to the 
Department, the White House, OMB, and the public on http://www.Recovery.gov. Additional guidance providing further detail on the 
quarterly report is available at: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/section-1512.html. Additional guidance on the use of ARRA 
funds by centers for independent living can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/print/policy/gen/leg/recovery/factsheet/rehab-act.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department measures outcomes in the 
following three areas to evaluate the overall effectiveness of projects 
funded under this competition: (1) The effectiveness of individual 
services in enabling consumers to access previously unavailable 
transportation, appropriate accommodations to receive health care 
services, and/or assistive technology resulting in increased 
independence in at least one significant life area; (2) the 
effectiveness of individual services designed to help consumers move 
out of institutions and into community-based settings; and (3) the 
extent to which projects are participating in community activities to 
expand access to transportation, health care, assistive technology, and 
housing for individuals with disabilities in their communities. 
Grantees will be required to report annually on the percentage of their 
consumers who achieve their individual goals in the first two areas and 
on the percentage of their staff, board members, and consumers involved 
in community activities related to the third area.
    All grantees will be required to submit an annual performance 
report documenting their success in addressing these performance 
measures, as well as the standards and assurances in section 725 of the 
Act.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Barrett, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5016, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7604 or by e-mail: 
[email protected].
    If you use a TDD, call the 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 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.

    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: May 5, 2010.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-11007 Filed 5-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P