[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15968-15975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06422]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Training and Information for Parents 
of Children with Disabilities--Military Parent Technical Assistance 
Center

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

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Training and Information for Parents of Children with 
Disabilities--Military Parent Technical Assistance Center
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2014.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:
    84.328R.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: March 24, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 23, 2014.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 22, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to ensure that 
parents of children with disabilities receive training and information 
to help improve results for their children.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), these 
priorities are from allowable activities specified in the statute (see 
sections 671, 672, 673, and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act (IDEA)). This notice establishes one absolute priority 
and one competitive preference priority.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is: Military Parent Technical Assistance Center.

Background

    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
establish and operate a military parent technical assistance center 
(Military PTAC) to support Parent Training and Information Centers 
(PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) (collectively 
referred to as ``parent centers'') as they serve military parents \1\ 
of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities \2\ 
(hereafter referred to as ``military families'').
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    \1\ The term ``parent'' includes natural, adoptive, and foster 
parents, and individuals acting in the role of parent as defined in 
section 602(23) of IDEA.
    \2\ The term ``disabilities'' refers to the full range of 
disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA.
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    More than 35 years of research and experience has demonstrated that 
the education of children with disabilities can be made more effective 
by strengthening the ability of parents to participate fully in the 
education of their children at school and at home (see section 
601(c)(5)(B) of IDEA). Since

[[Page 15969]]

the Department first funded parent centers over 35 years ago, parent 
centers have helped parents set high expectations for their children 
with disabilities, and provided parents with the information and 
training they need to help their children meet those expectations. 
Parent centers, consistent with section 671(b) of IDEA, have 
successfully helped families: (a) Navigate systems that provide early 
intervention, special education, general education, postsecondary 
options, and related services; (b) understand the nature of their 
children's disabilities; (c) learn about their rights and 
responsibilities under IDEA; (d) expand their knowledge of evidence-
based education practices to help their children succeed; (e) 
strengthen their collaboration with professionals; (f) locate resources 
available for themselves and their children, which connects them to 
their local communities; and (g) advocate for improved student 
achievement, increased graduation rates, and improved postsecondary 
outcomes for all children, including through participation in school 
reform activities. In addition, parent centers have helped youth with 
disabilities expect more from themselves, understand their rights and 
responsibilities, and learn self-advocacy skills. Parent centers have 
been valuable partners to Federal, State, and local agencies, providing 
expertise on how to serve families and youth effectively and 
efficiently.
    The Department will fund a Military PTAC to focus on building the 
capacity of parent centers to provide effective services to military 
families. In a September 2012 report to the Senate Committee on the 
Armed Forces, the United States Government Accountability Office 
identified military families' lack of information about obtaining 
services necessary to support their children as a significant barrier 
to timely access to those services.\3\ In order to provide military 
families with the information they need and to effectively support 
them, staff at parent centers need to be knowledgeable about how 
military life affects the information and training needs of military 
families who have a child with a disability, including: (a) The 
difficulties associated with moving from one duty station to another 
(including timely access to evaluations, comparable services, 
eligibility determinations, and extended school year services); \4\ (b) 
medical and insurance issues unique to military families; (c) policies 
governing the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and Educational 
and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS); and (d) the policies 
governing how services are provided by schools managed by the 
Department of Defense.
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    \3\ U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2012, September). 
Military dependent students: Better oversight needed to improve 
services for children with special needs (GAO-12-680). Retrieved 
from www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-680.
    \4\ U.S. Department of Education. (2013, July 19). OSEP Dear 
Colleague Letter on Education for Highly Mobile Children. Retrieved 
from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/12-0392dclhighlymobile.pdf.
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    The Military PTAC will provide universal TA \5\ to all parent 
centers on the provision of effective services to military families, 
including how to refer families to EFMP and EDIS services, explain the 
benefits of those services to families, and help military families 
navigate services in and transitions to local public schools and early 
intervention programs in the States.
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    \5\ As used in this priority, ``universal TA'' means TA and 
information provided to independent users through their own 
initiative, resulting in minimal interaction with TA center staff. 
This category of TA includes information or products, such as 
newsletters, guidebooks, or research syntheses, downloaded from the 
PTAC's Web site by independent users. Brief communications by PTAC 
staff with recipients, either by telephone or email, are also 
considered universal, general TA. The following Web site provides 
more information on levels of TA: www.tadnet.org/pages/588.
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    The Military PTAC will would also provide targeted \6\ and 
intensive TA \7\ to parent centers requesting additional support to 
build their capacity to reach and provide services to military 
families. In addition, the Military PTAC, working collaboratively with 
the Department of Defense's Office of Community Supports for Military 
Families with Special Needs, will help facilitate relationships with 
the EFMP programs at the military bases within the States.
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    \6\ As used in this priority, ``targeted TA'' means TA services 
developed based on needs common to multiple recipients and not 
extensively individualized. A relationship is established between 
the TA recipient and one or more TA center staff. This category of 
TA can be one-time, labor-intensive events, such as facilitating 
strategic planning or hosting regional or national meetings. TA can 
also be episodic, less labor-intensive events that extend over a 
period of time, such as facilitating a series of conference calls on 
single or multiple topics that are designed around the needs of the 
recipients. Facilitating communities of practice can also be 
considered targeted, specialized TA. The following Web site provides 
more information on levels of TA: www.tadnet.org/pages/588.
    \7\ As used in this priority, ``intensive TA'' means TA services 
often provided on-site and requiring a stable, ongoing, negotiated 
relationship between the TA center staff and the TA recipient. The 
TA relationship is defined as a purposeful, planned series of 
activities designed to reach an outcome that is valued by the 
individual recipient. This category of TA results in changes to 
policy, program, practice, or operations that support increased 
recipient capacity or improved outcomes at one or more levels. The 
following Web site provides more information on levels of TA: 
www.tadnet.org/pages/588.
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    There is one competitive preference priority within this absolute 
priority. For an applicant under this absolute priority, the 
competitive preference priority will award additional points if the 
applicant is a parent organization. We believe such an organization 
would understand the day-to-day challenges faced by families of 
children with disabilities and their information and training needs.
    The following Web site provides further information on the work of 
the currently funded PTI serving military families: 
www.stompproject.org/.

Priority

    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
establish and operate a Military PTAC. The Military PTAC must, at a 
minimum: (a) increase knowledge in parent centers of how to provide 
effective services that meet the needs of military families (i.e., 
military parents of children with disabilities and youth with 
disabilities in military families) and that lead to improvements in 
early learning, school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes; and (b) 
increase the capacity of parent centers to reach and provide services 
to military families in their areas.
    To be considered for funding under this priority, an applicant must 
meet the application, programmatic, and administrative requirements of 
this priority. The requirements for the Military PTAC are as follows:
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will--
    (1) Address parent centers' need for knowledge of how to provide 
effective services that meet the needs of military families and 
increase their capacity to support military families, through the 
provision of universal, targeted, and intensive TA. To meet this 
requirement the applicant must--
    (i) Present information on the needs of military families, the 
different systems that provide services to these families, and the best 
practices for reaching and supporting these families;
    (ii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices for providing training 
and information to a variety of adult and youth audiences, particularly 
military families;
    (iii) Demonstrate knowledge of current evidence-based education 
practices and policy initiatives for children and youth with 
disabilities in early childhood, early learning, general and special 
education, transition services, and postsecondary programs,

[[Page 15970]]

and how those best practices can be customized to the needs of military 
families; and
    (iv) Demonstrate knowledge of current programs and resources 
available specifically for military families; the Office of Special 
Education Programs (OSEP) technical assistance and dissemination (TA&D) 
projects and other Department-funded resources; and other Federal, 
State, and local resources that serve military families; and
    (2) Result in an increased capacity of the parent centers to 
effectively support and provide services to military families.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Project Services,'' how the proposed project will--
    (1) Conduct a national assessment of the needs of parent centers 
for--
    (i) Knowledge of the needs of military families; the different 
systems that provide services to those families; and the best practices 
for reaching and supporting military families; and
    (ii) Resources and services to increase parent centers' capacity to 
reach and provide services to military families, including making 
appropriate referrals to other services that support families and 
youth.

    Note: The methods and tools that will be used to conduct the 
needs assessment will be finalized in consultation with the Center 
for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), the Regional PTACs, the 
Native American PTAC, and the OSEP project officer in order to 
assure coordination and avoid duplication;

    (2) Use a conceptual framework and project logic model (see 
paragraphs (f)(1-2)) to guide the development of project plans and 
activities; and
    (3) Provide universal and targeted TA, as appropriate, to parent 
centers on best practices in reaching and supporting military families 
and supporting the participation of military parents of children with 
disabilities in school reform activities, that--
    (i) Includes training for a variety of audiences (e.g., parent 
center directors, staff, and members of the boards of directors);
    (ii) Increases parent centers' capacity to provide information and 
training to military families on evidence-based education practices 
that lead to improved early learning, school-aged, and postsecondary 
outcomes; college- and career-ready standards and assessments; school 
reform efforts to improve student achievement and increase graduation 
rates; and the use of data to inform instruction and enhance school 
reform efforts;
    (iii) Increases parent centers' capacity to provide training to 
youth with disabilities in military families on their rights and 
responsibilities and to build their self-advocacy skills;
    (iv) Is available in a variety of formats (e.g., newsletters, 
communities of practice, and wikis);
    (v) Uses various methods to deliver TA (in-person, remote, and Web-
based, among others);
    (vi) Uses best practices for training and providing TA to adult 
learners;
    (vii) Uses technology to increase its efficiency and effectiveness;
    (viii) Addresses the needs identified through the needs assessment 
in paragraph (b)(1);
    (ix) Responds to emerging educational and policy initiatives that 
affect military families; and
    (x) Makes use of existing knowledge and expertise within parent 
centers, the CPIR, the Regional PTACs, and the Native American PTAC;
    (4) Create new training and information materials for parent 
centers to use with staff members and military families that are 
responsive to the changing needs of parent centers;
    (5) Provide intensive TA to parent centers that request it. The 
intensive TA must include--
    (i) Methods for identifying and accessing needed resources from 
other parent centers, the CPIR, the Regional PTACs, the Native American 
PTAC, OSEP TA&D centers, other Department-funded resources, and 
national and State centers focused on military families and the issues 
that affect them;
    (ii) Methods for acting as a broker between parent centers and 
military entities, such as EFMP and EDIS, in collaboration with the 
Office of Community Supports for Military Families with Special Needs, 
as appropriate;
    (iii) In-person, on-site visits with the parent centers in need of 
intensive TA, as appropriate; and
    (iv) Methods for following up with parent centers and providing 
ongoing support;
    (6) Disseminate information to military families about the work of 
the parent centers, OSEP's TA&D Network, OSEP initiatives, and other 
Department-funded resources and initiatives in collaboration with the 
CPIR, the Regional PTACs, and Native American PTAC; and
    (7) Refer military families who contact the Military PTAC to the 
appropriate parent centers in a manner that assures that the families' 
needs will be served and, as appropriate, incorporates TA to the parent 
centers to build their capacity to support these families.
    (c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Evaluation Plan,'' how--
    (1) The applicant will evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed 
project by undertaking a formative evaluation and a summative 
evaluation, including a description of how the applicant will measure 
the outcomes proposed in the logic model (see paragraph (f)(1)). The 
description must include--
    (i) Proposed evaluation methodologies, including proposed 
instruments, data collection methods, and analyses; and
    (ii) Proposed criteria for determining effectiveness;
    (2) The proposed project will use the evaluation results to examine 
the effectiveness of its implementation and its progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes; and
    (3) Formative evaluation activities during the project period will 
complement and coordinate with a summative evaluation. The formative 
and summative evaluation will be developed in consultation with the 
OSEP project officer.
    (d) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how--
    (1) The proposed personnel, consultants, and contractors have the 
qualifications and experience to carry out the proposed activities and 
achieve the intended outcomes identified in the project logic model 
(see paragraph (f)(1));
    (2) The applicant will encourage applications for employment from 
persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been 
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, linguistic 
diversity, gender, age, or disability, as appropriate; and
    (3) The applicant and key partners have adequate resources to carry 
out the proposed project activities.
    (e) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how--
    (1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the intended 
outcomes identified in the project logic model (see paragraph (f)(1)) 
will be achieved on time and within budget;
    (2) The time of key personnel, consultants, and contractors will be 
sufficiently allocated to the project;
    (3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the products and 
services provided are of high quality; and
    (4) The proposed project benefits from a diversity of perspectives, 
including those of parent center staff, TA providers, researchers, and 
families, among others.

[[Page 15971]]

    (f) Address the following application requirements. The applicant 
must--
    (1) Include, in Appendix A, a logic model that depicts, at a 
minimum, the goals, activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed 
project. A logic model communicates how a project will achieve its 
intended outcomes and provides a framework for both the formative and 
summative evaluations of the project.

    Note: The following Web sites provide more information on logic 
models: www.researchutilization.org/matrix/logicmodel_resource3c.html and www.tadnet.org/pages/589.

    (2) Include, in Appendix A, a conceptual framework for the project;
    (3) Include, in Appendix A, person-loading charts and timelines, as 
applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the 
narrative;
    (4) Include, in the budget, attendance at the following:
    (i) An annual planning meeting in Washington, DC, with the OSEP 
project officer and other relevant staff during each year of the 
project period.

    Note: Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award 
teleconference must be held between the OSEP project officer and the 
grantee's project director or other authorized representative.

    (ii) A three-day project directors' conference in Washington, DC, 
during each year of the project period.
    (iii) One trip annually to attend Department briefings, Department-
sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by OSEP;
    (5) Include, in the budget, a line item for an annual set-aside of 
five percent of the grant amount to support emerging needs that are 
consistent with the proposed project's intended outcomes, as those 
needs are identified in consultation with OSEP.

    Note: With approval from the OSEP project officer, the Center 
must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside no 
later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period; and
    (6) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility.

Competitive Preference Priority

    Within this absolute priority, we give competitive preference to 
applications that address the following priority. For FY 2014 and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applicants from this competition, this priority is a competitive 
preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an 
additional 5 points to an application that meets this priority.
    This priority is:
    Applicants that are parent organizations.
    Section 671(a)(2) of IDEA defines a ``parent organization'' as a 
private nonprofit organization (other than an institution of higher 
education) that--
    (A) Has a board of directors--
    (i) The majority of whom are parents of children with disabilities 
ages birth through 26;
    (ii) That includes--
    (I) Individuals working in the fields of special education, related 
services, and early intervention;
    (II) Individuals with disabilities; and
    (iii) The parent and professional members of which are broadly 
representative of the population to be served, including low-income 
parents and parents of limited English proficient children; and
    (B) Has as its mission serving families of children with 
disabilities who--
    (i) Are ages birth through 26; and
    (ii) Have the full range of disabilities described in section 
602(3) of IDEA.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and 
requirements. Section 681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment 
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priorities in this notice.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1471, 1472, 1473, and 1481.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 
82, 84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department debarment and 
suspension regulations in 2 CFR part 3485.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $295,000 for the competition announced 
in this notice for year one. In years two through four we intend to 
award an estimated $300,000 for the competition.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $295,000 for a single budget period of 12 months in 
year one and $300,000 for a single budget period of 12 months in years 
two through four. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit private organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other General Requirements:
    (a) Recipients of funding under this program must make positive 
efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with 
disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
    (b) Each applicant for, and recipient of, funding under this 
program must involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of 
individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning, 
implementing, and evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of 
IDEA).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet, from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
    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 competition as follows: CFDA number 84.328R.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Carmen Sanchez, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4057, 
Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 
245-6595. If you use a TDD or TTY, call the Federal Relay Service 
(FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package

[[Page 15972]]

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 Part III to 
no more than 50 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, reference citations, and captions, as well as 
all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
     Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
     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 and double-spacing requirement 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 abstract (follow the guidance provided in the 
application package for completing the abstract), the table of 
contents, the list of priority requirements, the resumes, the reference 
list, the letters of support, or the appendices. However, the page 
limit and double-spacing requirement does apply to all of Part III, the 
application narrative, including all text in charts, tables, figures, 
graphs, and screen shots.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit in the 
application narrative section; or if you apply standards other than 
those specified in the application package.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: March 24, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 23, 2014.
    Applications for grants under this competition 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. Deadline for 
Intergovernmental Review: July 22, 2014.
    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. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: 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 System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly 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 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-to-two business days.
    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 SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by 
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal 
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, 
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number 
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
Grants.gov. and before you can submit an application through 
Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with the SAM, 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.
    Information about SAM is available at SAM.gov. To further assist 
you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or 
updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip 
Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    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/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition 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 Military Parent Technical 
Assistance Center competition, CFDA number 84.328R, 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

[[Page 15973]]

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 Military 
Parent Technical Assistance Center competition at www.Grants.gov. You 
must search for the downloadable application package for this 
competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha 
suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.328, not 84.328R).
    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 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.
     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. Additional, detailed information on how to attach 
files is in the application instructions.
     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.
    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: Carmen Sanchez, U.S.

[[Page 15974]]

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4057, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2600. FAX: (202) 245-7617.
    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 84.328R), 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 84.328R), 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. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past, 
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain 
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as 
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The standing panel 
requirements under section 682(b) of IDEA also have placed additional 
constraints on the availability of reviewers. Therefore, the Department 
has determined that for some discretionary grant competitions, 
applications may be separated into two or more groups and ranked and 
selected for funding within specific groups. This procedure will make 
it easier for the Department to find peer reviewers by ensuring that 
greater numbers of individuals who are eligible to serve as reviewers 
for any particular group of applicants will not have conflicts of 
interest. It also will increase the quality, independence, and fairness 
of the review process, while permitting panel members to review 
applications under discretionary grant competitions for which they also 
have submitted applications. However, if the Department decides to 
select an equal number of applications in each group for funding, this 
may result in different cut-off points for fundable applications in 
each group.
    4. 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); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your 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

[[Page 15975]]

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: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and 
quality of the Training and Information for Parents of Children with 
Disabilities program. Projects funded under this competition are 
required to submit data on the following measures as directed by OSEP:
    Program Performance Measure #1: The percentage of materials used by 
PTI projects that are deemed to be of high quality.
    Program Performance Measure #2: The percentage of products and 
services deemed to be of high relevance to educational and early 
intervention policy and practice.
    Program Performance Measure #3: The percentage of all products and 
services deemed to be useful by target audiences to improve educational 
or early intervention policy or practice.
    Grantees will be required to report information on their project's 
performance in annual and final performance reports to the Department 
(34 CFR 75.590).
    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 Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carmen Sanchez, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4057, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-6595.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), 
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the 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 or a TTY, 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.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: March 14, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-06422 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P