[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33734-33740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14349]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems 
(SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects

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

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 33735]]

Overview Information

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) and Special 
Projects and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injury Program--Spinal Cord 
Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative 
Research Projects; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.133N-1 and 
84.133A-15.


    Note:  This notice invites applications for the first of two 
related competitions and announces key information for both 
competitions. For key dates and funding information regarding each 
competition, see the chart in the Award Information section of this 
notice (chart).


DATES: Applications Available: See chart.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: June 30, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Programs: The competitions announced in this notice are 
conducted under two separate programs: The Special Projects and 
Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injury Program (the SCIMS Centers 
program--84.133N-1 competition) and the Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research Projects (DRRPs) program (the SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative 
Research Projects--84.133A-15 competition).

Special Projects and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injuries Program

    The SCIMS centers program is funded through the Special Projects 
and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injuries Program. This program 
provides assistance for projects that provide comprehensive 
rehabilitation services to individuals with spinal cord injuries and 
conducts spinal cord research, as specified in 34 CFR 359.10 and 
359.11.

DRRP Program

    The SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects are funded 
under the DRRP program. DRRPs are designed to improve the effectiveness 
of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(Rehabilitation Act) 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/rschstatresearch/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
    Priorities: This notice includes three priorities, which correspond 
to the two competitions announced in this notice as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Competition                    Priority or priorities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFDA No. 84.133N-1................  Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
                                     (SCIMS) Centers.
CFDA No. 84.133A-15...............  Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
                                     (SCIMS) Multi-Site Collaborative
                                     Research Projects.
                                    General Disability and
                                     Rehabilitation Research Projects
                                     (DRRP) Requirements priority.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The SCIMS Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research 
Projects priorities are from the notice of final priorities and 
selection criterion published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register. The General DRRP Requirements priority is from the notice of 
final priorities published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2006 
(71 FR 25472).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants, these priorities are 
absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for each competition, 
we consider only applications that meet the applicable priority or 
priorities for that competition.
    These priorities are:
    1. Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers.
    2. Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Multi-Site 
Collaborative Research Projects.
    3. General Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) 
Requirements priority.

    Note:  The full text of these priorities are included in the 
pertinent notices of final priority or priorities published in the 
Federal Register and in the application package for this program.


    Program Authority:  29 U.S.C. 760 and 764(a) and 764(b)(4).

    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 
parts 350 and 359. (c) The notice of final priorities published in the 
Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). (d) The notice of 
final priorities and selection criterion for the SCIMS program and the 
DRRP program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: See chart.
    Estimated Range of Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Award: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    Project Period: See chart.

[[Page 33736]]



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                                                                                                               Maximum
                                                                                                 Estimated      award
                                   Applications       Deadline for     Estimated    Estimated     average      (budget     Estimated
     CFDA number and name           available        transmittal of    available     range of     size of     period of    number of     Project period
                                                      application        funds        awards       awards     12 months)     awards
                                                                                                                 1 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCIMS Centers (84.133N-1).....  June 9, 2011.....  August 8, 2011...   $6,500,000          \3\     $464,000          \4\           14  Up to 60 months.
                                                                                   $439,000-$4                  $489,000
                                                                                        89,000
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative  Letters inviting   The Department      $1,800,000  $850,00-900     $900,000     $900,000            2  Up to 60 months.
 Research Projects (84.133A-     applications       will establish                        ,000
 15).                            will be mailed     the deadline
                                 to each            date for the
                                 successful         competition in
                                 applicant of the   the letter it
                                 SCIMS              provides to each
                                 competition.       eligible
                                 Applications       applicant under
                                 will be            this notice.
                                 available online
                                 at the time of
                                 the mailing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the Maximum Amount. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
  Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published the Federal Register.
\2\ The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
\3\ SCIMS Centers will be funded at varying amounts up to the maximum award based on the numbers of SCIMS database participants from whom Centers must
  collect follow-up data. Centers that have previously been SCIMS grantees with significantly larger numbers of database participants will receive
  higher funding within the specified range, as determined by NIDRR after the applicant is selected for funding. Applicants should include in their
  budgets specific estimates of their costs for follow-up data collection. Funding will be determined individually for each successful applicant, up to
  the maximum allowed, based upon the documented workload associated with the follow-up data collection, the other costs of the grant, and the overall
  budgetary limits of the program.
\4\ SCIMS Centers must spend at least 15 percent of their annual budget on participating in at least one module project. Module projects are described
  in the notice of final priorities and selection criterion, published elsewhere in the Federal Register.


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

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) For the SCIMS Centers Competition (84.133N-1): States; public 
or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private 
organizations, including for-profit organizations; institutions of 
higher education; and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
    (b) For the SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects 
Competition (84.133A-15): Grantees under the FY 2011 SCIMS Centers 
competition. Successful grantees under the SCIMS competition will be 
invited by letter to apply for funding as a lead center under the SCIMS 
Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects Competition.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The SCIMS Centers Competition 
announced in this notice does not involve cost sharing or matching. The 
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects Competition announced 
in this notice does require cost sharing (4 CFR 350.62(a)), which 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: 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 competition as follows: CFDA numbers 84.133N-1 and 84.133A-15.
    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 competition.
    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. For both competitions 
announced in this notice, we recommend that you limit Part III to the 
equivalent of no more than 100 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, 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).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    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 page limit does apply to all of the application 
narrative section (Part III).
    The application package for each of the competitions announced in 
this notice 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 project narrative; resumes of staff; 
and other related materials, if applicable.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: See chart.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to 
participate in a pre-application meeting to discuss the funding 
priorities and to receive information and technical assistance through 
individual consultation. The pre-application meeting will be held on 
June 30, 2011. Interested parties may participate in this meeting by 
conference call between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. After the meeting,

[[Page 33737]]

NIDRR staff also will be available from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on that 
same day to provide information and technical assistance through 
individual consultation.
    For further information or to make arrangements to attend by 
conference call, or for an individual consultation, contact Lynn 
Medley, U.S. Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza, room 5040, 
550 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 245-7338 or 
by e-mail: [email protected].
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
    Applications for grants under each of the competitions announced in 
this notice must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply 
site (http://www.grants.gov). 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. 7. Other 
Submission Requirements of 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 
of 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: These programs are 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. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one business day.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to 
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not 
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN 
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will 
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take 
three or more business days to complete.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) Be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
    7. Other Submission Requirements. Applications for grants under 
these competitions 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 Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems 
(SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects, 
CFDA number 84.133N-1 and 84.133A-15, must be submitted electronically 
using 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.
    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.
    You may access the electronic grant application for Spinal Cord 
Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative 
Research Projects at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the 
downloadable application package for these competitions by the CFDA 
number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search 
(e.g., search for 84.133, not 84.133N).
    Please note the following:
     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.
     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 under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at http://www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your

[[Page 33738]]

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 upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) 
format only. If you upload a file type other than a .PDF 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 of 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.

    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 the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; 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 
prevent 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: Lynn Medley, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5140, PCP, 
Washington, DC 20202-2700. Fax: (202) 245-7323.
    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 84.133N-1 or 84.133A-15), 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 address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.133N-1 or 83.133A-15), 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,

[[Page 33739]]

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 the SCIMS Centers 
competition are from 34 CFR 359.31, and are listed in the application 
package. The selection criteria for the SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative 
Research Projects are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR, 34 CFR 350.54, and 
the criterion established in the NFP; these selection criteria will be 
listed in the application package for the SCIMS Multi-Site 
Collaborative Research Projects competition.
    The Secretary is interested in hypothesis-driven research and 
development projects. To address this interest it is expected that 
applicants will articulate goals, objectives, and expected outcomes for 
the proposed research and development activities. It is critical that 
proposals describe expected public benefits, especially benefits for 
individuals with disabilities, and propose projects that are optimally 
designed to demonstrate outcomes that are consistent with the proposed 
goals. Applicants are encouraged to include information describing how 
they will measure outcomes, including the indicators that will 
represent the end-result, 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, including a discussion of measures of effectiveness.
    Submission of this information is voluntary except where required 
by the selection criteria listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

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.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) 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.
    4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its 
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects 
through a review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR 
examines a portion of its grantees to determine:
     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 NIDRR grants that assess the 
effectiveness of interventions, programs, and devices using rigorous 
methods.
    NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their 
Annual Performance Reports (APRs) for these reviews.
    Department of Education program performance reports, which include 
information on NIDRR programs, are available on the Department's Web 
site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/sas/index.html.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review 
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes 
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds 
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Either Lynn Medley or Marlene Spencer 
as follows:
    Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, 
SW., Room 5140, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-
7338 or by e-mail: [email protected].
    Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, 
SW.,

[[Page 33740]]

Room 5133, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 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 
(Federal Relay Service) FRS, toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System 
at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site 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). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: http://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: June 6, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-14349 Filed 6-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-