[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47375-47380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19477]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Assistive Technology Alternative 
Financing Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.224D


DATES: 
    Applications Available: August 8, 2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 7, 2012.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: Many individuals with disabilities do not have 
the private financial resources to purchase the assistive technology 
(AT) they need. In addition, programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and 
vocational rehabilitation cannot meet the growing demand for AT. 
Financial loan services, such as alternative financing programs (AFPs), 
offer individuals with disabilities affordable options that can 
significantly enhance their access to AT. These programs offer 
alternatives to the traditional payment options of public assistance 
and out-of-pocket financing and maximize independence and participation 
in society by individuals with disabilities through the acquisition of 
AT.
    Between 2000 and 2006, the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) awarded competitive one-year grants to 
33 States under title III of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT 
Act of 1998) for the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of AFPs. 
The AFPs featured one or more alternative financing mechanisms that 
provided loans for individuals with disabilities and their family 
members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives to 
purchase AT devices and services.
    Although only funded for one year, these AFPs were required to 
implement a sustainability plan and maintain permanent programs that 
continue project activities after the end of the project period. The 
AFPs are still operating. The 33 States that currently operate a title 
III AFP received a cumulative total of $60,285,260 in Federal funding 
during fiscal years 2000 through 2006. From FY 2000 through the end of 
FY 2011, AFPs, using alternative financing mechanisms such as a 
revolving loan or partnership loan program, have processed 12,341 loans 
totaling $135,199,949 in financial assistance for the purchase of AT 
devices and services, an amount more than twice the original Federal 
funding.
    To build upon the success of these AFPs, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub. L. 112-74) provided OSERS an additional 
$1,996,220 for competitive grants to support AFPs that help individuals 
with disabilities purchase assistive technology devices. The AFPs may 
include a low-interest loan fund, an interest buy-down program, a 
revolving loan fund, a loan guarantee or an insurance program, or 
another mechanism that is approved by the Secretary.
    As stated in the conference report accompanying the FY 2012 
appropriations bill (House Report 112-331), the conferees' goal in 
providing these funds is to allow greater access to affordable 
financing to help people with disabilities purchase the specialized 
technologies needed to live independently, to succeed at school and 
work, and to otherwise live active and productive lives.
    The conference report also states the conferees' intent that 
applicants should incorporate credit-building activities in their 
programs, including financial education and information about other 
possible funding sources. The conference report further states that 
successful applicants should emphasize consumer choice and control and 
build programs that will provide financing for the full array of AT 
devices and services and ensure that all people with disabilities, 
regardless of type of disability or health condition, age, level of 
income, and residence have access to the program.
    Priority: This priority is established under section 437(d)(1) of 
the General Education Provisions Act (Pub. L. 112-123).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2012, this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is:

Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program

    This priority is for one-year grant awards to support AFPs that 
assist individuals with disabilities to obtain funding for AT devices 
and services.
    In order to meet this priority, the applicant must establish or 
expand one or more of the following types of AFPs:
    (1) A low-interest loan fund.
    (2) An interest buy-down program.
    (3) A revolving loan fund.
    (4) A loan guarantee or insurance program.
    (5) Another mechanism that is approved by the Secretary.
    AFPs must be designed to allow individuals with disabilities and 
their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized 
representatives to purchase AT devices or services. If family members, 
guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives (including 
employers who have been designated by an individual with a disability 
as an authorized representative) receive AFP support to

[[Page 47376]]

purchase AT devices or services, the purchase must be on behalf of an 
individual with a disability, i.e., the AT device or service that is 
purchased must be solely for the benefit of that individual.
    To be considered for funding, an applicant must identify the type 
or types of AFP to be supported by the grant and submit all of the 
following assurances:
    (1) Permanent Separate Account: An assurance from the applicant 
that--
    (a) All funds that support the AFP, including funds repaid during 
the life of the program, will be deposited in a permanent separate 
account and identified and accounted for separately from any other 
funds;
    (b) If the grantee administering the program invests funds within 
this account, the grantee will invest the funds in low-risk securities 
in which a regulated insurance company may invest under the law of the 
State; and
    (c) The grantee will administer the funds with the same judgment 
and care that a person of prudence, discretion, and intelligence would 
exercise in the management of the financial affairs of that person.
    (2) Permanence of the Program: An assurance that the AFP will 
continue on a permanent basis.
    An applicant's obligation to implement the AFP consistent with all 
of the requirements, including reporting requirements, continues until 
there are no longer any funds available to operate the AFP and all 
outstanding loans have been repaid. If a grantee decides to terminate 
its AFP while there are still funds available to operate the program, 
the grantee must return the funds remaining in the permanent separate 
account to the U.S. Department of Education except for funds being used 
for grant purposes, such as loan guarantees for outstanding loans. 
However, before closing out its grant, the grantee also must return any 
principal and interest remitted to it on outstanding loans and any 
other funds remaining in the permanent separate account, such as funds 
being used as loan guarantees for those loans.
    (3) Consumer Choice and Control: An assurance that, and information 
describing the manner in which, the AFP will expand and emphasize 
consumer choice and control.
    (4) Supplement-Not-Supplant: An assurance that the funds made 
available through the grant to support the AFP will be used to 
supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local public 
funds expended to provide alternative financing mechanisms.
    (5) Use and Control of Funds: An assurance that--
    Funds comprised of the principal and interest from the account 
described in paragraph (1) Permanent Separate Account of this priority 
will be available solely to support the AFP.
    This assurance regarding the use and control of funds applies to 
all funds derived from the AFP including the original Federal award, 
AFP funds generated by either interest bearing accounts or investments, 
and all principal and interest paid by borrowers of the AFP who are 
extended loans from the permanent separate account.
    (6) Indirect Costs: An assurance that the percentage of the funds 
used for indirect costs will not exceed 10 percent of the portion of 
the grant award that is used annually for program administration 
(excluding funds used for loan activity).
    For each 12-month budget period, grantees must recalculate their 
allowable indirect cost rate, which may not exceed 10 percent of the 
portion of the grant award that is used annually for program 
administration.
    (7) Administrative Policies and Procedures: An assurance that the 
applicant receiving a grant under this priority will submit to the 
Secretary for review and approval within the 12 month project period 
the following policies and procedures for administration of the AFP:
    (a) A procedure to review and process in a timely manner requests 
for financial assistance for immediate and potential technology needs, 
including consideration of methods to reduce paperwork and duplication 
of effort, particularly relating to need, eligibility, and 
determination of the specific AT device or service to be financed 
through the program.
    (b) A policy and procedure to ensure that individuals are allowed 
to apply for financing regardless of type of disability or health 
condition, age, income level, location of residence in the State, or 
type of AT device or service for which financing is requested through 
the program. It is permissible for programs to target individuals with 
disabilities who would have been denied conventional financing as a 
priority for AFP funding.
    (c) A procedure to ensure consumer choice and consumer-controlled 
oversight of the program.
    (8) Data Collection: An assurance that the applicant will collect 
and report data requested by the Secretary in the format, with the 
frequency, and using the method established by the Secretary until 
there are no longer any funds available to operate the AFP and all 
outstanding loans have been repaid.
    (9) Credit Building Activities: An assurance that the AFP will 
incorporate credit-building activities into their programs, including 
financial education and information about other possible funding 
sources.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Within this absolute priority, 
we give competitive preference to applications that address the 
following priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(C)(2)(i), we award up to an 
additional 10 points to an application that proposes to establish an 
AFP or up to an additional 5 points to an application that proposes to 
expand an existing AFP, depending on how well the application meets 
these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Need to Establish an AFP (10 additional points.): This applies to 
an applicant located in a State or outlying area where an AFP grant has 
not been previously awarded under title III of the AT Act of 1998: 
Alaska, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of 
Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode 
Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
    Need to Expand an AFP (5 additional points.): This applies to an 
applicant located in a State or outlying territory where an AFP grant 
has been previously awarded under title III of the AT Act of 1998, but 
the State or territory has received less than a total of $1 million in 
Federal grant funds under title III of the AT Act of 1998 during fiscal 
years 2000 through 2006 for the operation of its AFP: Arizona, 
Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Washington, Wyoming, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and Virgin Islands.

Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the 
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to 
comment on proposed priorities. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, 
allows the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements and 
regulations governing the first grant competition under a new or 
substantially revised program authority. This is the first grant 
competition for this program, as authorized under the Fiscal Year 2012 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, and therefore qualifies for this 
exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the

[[Page 47377]]

Secretary has decided to forego public comment on the proposed absolute 
and competitive preference priorities under section 437(d)(1)of GEPA. 
The absolute and competitive preference priorities will apply to the FY 
2012 grant competition only.

    Program Authority: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub. 
L. 112-74).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension 
and debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. In general, EDGAR applies 
to these grants except to the extent it is inconsistent with the 
purpose and intent of the requirements in this notice. Specifically, 
grantees are exempt from Sec.  80.25(i) regarding interest earned on 
advances, and the addition method in Sec.  80.25(g)(2) applies to 
program income rather than the deduction method in Sec.  80.25(g)(1). 
Also, Sec. Sec.  75.560-75.564 do not apply to the extent that these 
sections of EDGAR are inconsistent with the AFP requirement that 
indirect costs cannot exceed 10 percent of the costs to administer the 
program.

    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: $1,986,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: Up to $993,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2 to 5.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $993,000 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 Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State and outlying area agencies; 
community-based organizations that are operated for individuals with 
disabilities and have a board of directors on which a majority of the 
members are individuals with disabilities or the family members, 
guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

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: 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) or a text telephone (TTY), 
call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: [email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program as follows: CFDA Number 84.224D.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) 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. You must limit the application narrative 
[Part III] to the equivalent of no more than 24 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. 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 for 
Federal Assistance; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the 
one-page abstract, the eligibility statement, the curriculum vitae, the 
bibliography, the letters of recommendation, or the information on the 
protection of human subjects. However, the page limit does apply to all 
of the application 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: August 8, 
2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 7, 2012.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (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: 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. The Secretary 
has decided to waive the full 60-day review period for State comments 
on new applications because there would not be enough time after the 
end of the 60-day comment period for the Secretary to make awards 
before the end of the fiscal year, when the funds appropriated to this 
program would no longer be available for obligation by the Department.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, Central Contractor Registry, and System for Award Management: 
To

[[Page 47378]]

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)--and, after July 24, 2012, with the System 
for Award Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR or SAM 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 or SAM 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 registration annually. This may take three or more 
business days to complete. Information about SAM is available at 
SAM.gov.
    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 at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    7. 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 Assistive Technology Alternative 
Financing program, CFDA Number 84.224D, must be submitted 
electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at 
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 email 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 the Assistive 
Technology Alternative Financing program at 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 84.224, not 84.224D).
    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 program 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 www.G5.gov.
     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.
    If you submit your application electronically, you must upload any 
narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as 
files in a PDF (Portable Document) read-only, non-modifiable format. Do 
not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file 
type other than a read-only, non-modifiable 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 email. 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.

[[Page 47379]]

    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: Robert Groenendaal, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5025, 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 84.224D), 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 84.224D), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application 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.

[[Page 47380]]

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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act 
of 1993 (GPRA) directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the 
effectiveness of their programs by engaging in strategic planning, 
setting outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program 
results against those goals. The goal of the AFP is to reduce cost 
barriers to obtaining AT devices and services by providing alternative 
financing mechanisms that allow individuals with disabilities and their 
family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives to 
purchase AT devices and services. The following measure has been 
developed for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the AFP: The 
cumulative amount loaned to individuals with disabilities per $1 
million in cumulative Federal investment. Grantees will report data for 
use in calculating these measures through the data collection system 
required by the Secretary as stated in paragraph (8) in the list of 
required assurances in the absolute priority in this notice.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Robert Groenendaal, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5025, PCP, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7393 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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 compact disc) 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: 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: 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.

    Dated: August 3, 2012.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-19477 Filed 8-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P