[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19595-19604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07969]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Training and Information for Parents 
of Children With Disabilities--Parent Training and Information Centers

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--
Parent Training and Information Centers

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2014

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

DATES: 
    Applications Available: April 9, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 27, 2014.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 23, 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.
    Priority: This competition has one absolute priority. In accordance 
with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (v), this priority is from allowable 
activities specified in the statute, or otherwise authorized in the 
statute (see sections 671 and 681(d) of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this

[[Page 19596]]

priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.

Background

    The purpose of this priority is to fund 24 Parent Training and 
Information Centers (PTIs) designed to meet the information and 
training needs of parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth 
with disabilities, ages birth through 26 (collectively, ``children with 
disabilities''), and the information and training needs of youth with 
disabilities living in the States served by the centers.
    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 the Department first funded PTIs over 35 
years ago, they 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. 
The following Web site provides further information on the work of 
currently funded PTIs: www.parentcenterhub.org.
    PTIs, 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 through 
participation in school reform activities. In addition, PTIs have 
helped youth with disabilities have high expectations for themselves, 
understand their rights and responsibilities, and learn self-advocacy 
skills. PTIs have been valuable partners to Federal, State, and local 
agencies, providing expertise on how to better support families and 
youth with disabilities so that they can effectively and efficiently 
access IDEA services.
    The PTIs to be funded through this priority will build on the 
strong history of the program by helping youth become effective self-
advocates and by providing parents with information, individual 
assistance, and training to enable them to: (a) Ensure that their 
children are included in general education classrooms and 
extracurricular activities with their peers; (b) help their children 
meet developmental and academic goals; (c) help their children meet 
challenging expectations established for all children, including 
college- and career-ready academic standards; and (d) prepare their 
children to achieve positive postsecondary outcomes that lead to lives 
that are as productive and independent as possible.

Priority

    The Department intends to fund 24 grants to establish and operate 
24 PTIs. Based on the quality of applications received, the Department 
intends to fund one PTI in each of the following States: \1\ Arizona, 
Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, 
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New 
Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South 
Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, 
and Wyoming.
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    \1\ Under section 602(31) of IDEA, the term ``State'' includes 
the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.
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    At a minimum, the PTIs must: (a) Increase parents' \2\ capacity to 
help their children with disabilities \3\ improve their early learning, 
school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes; and (b) increase youth with 
disabilities' capacity to be effective self-advocates.
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    \2\ 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.
    \3\ The term ``disabilities'' refers to the full range of 
disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA.
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    To be considered for funding under this priority, an applicant must 
meet the application, programmatic, and administrative requirements of 
this priority. The requirements are as follows:
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will, within 
its State--
    (1) Address the needs of parents of children with disabilities for 
high-quality services that increase parents' capacity to help their 
children with disabilities improve their early learning, school-aged, 
and postsecondary outcomes. To meet this requirement the applicant 
must--
    (i) Present appropriate information on the needs of parents, 
including underserved parents, low-income parents, parents with limited 
English proficiency, parents of incarcerated youth with disabilities, 
and parents with disabilities;
    (ii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices on providing training 
and information to a variety of audiences, including underserved 
parents, low-income parents, parents with limited English proficiency, 
parents of incarcerated youth with disabilities, and parents with 
disabilities;
    (iii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices in outreach and 
family-centered services; and
    (iv) Demonstrate knowledge of current evidence-based education 
practices and policy initiatives to improve outcomes in early 
intervention and early childhood, general and special education, 
transition services, and postsecondary options, including, if 
applicable to its State, the PROMISE initiative; and
    (v) Demonstrate knowledge of how to identify and work with 
appropriate partners in the State, including local providers and lead 
agencies providing Part C services; State and local educational 
agencies; State child welfare agencies; disability-specific systems and 
entities serving families, such as the State's protection and advocacy 
system; and other nonprofits serving families in order to improve 
outcomes; and
    (2) Address the needs of youth with disabilities for high-quality 
services that increase their capacity to be effective self-advocates. 
To meet this requirement the applicant must--
    (i) Present appropriate information on the needs of youth with, 
including underserved youth, incarcerated youth, youth in foster care, 
and youth with limited English proficiency;
    (ii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices on providing training 
and information to youth with disabilities;
    (iii) Demonstrate knowledge of current evidence-based education 
practices and policy initiatives in self-advocacy; and
    (iv) Demonstrate knowledge of how to work with appropriate partners 
serving youth with disabilities, including State and local agencies, 
other nonprofits, and Independent Living Centers that are providing 
assistance such as postsecondary education options, employment 
training, and supports.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under 
``Quality of the Project Services,'' how the proposed project will--
    (1) Use a project logic model (see paragraph (f)(1) of this 
priority) to guide the development of project plans and activities 
within its State;

[[Page 19597]]

    (2) Develop and implement an outreach plan to inform parents of 
children with disabilities of how they can benefit from the services 
provided by the PTI, including--
    (i) Parents of children who may be inappropriately identified as 
having a disability;
    (ii) Underserved parents, including parents who are underserved 
based on race or ethnicity;
    (iii) Parents with limited English proficiency;
    (iv) Low-income parents; and
    (v) Parents with disabilities;
    (3) Develop and implement an outreach plan to inform youth with 
disabilities of how they can benefit from the services provided by the 
PTI;
    (4) Provide high-quality services that increase parents' capacity 
to help their children with disabilities improve their early learning, 
school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes. To meet this requirement the 
applicant must include information as to how the services will--
    (i) Increase parents' knowledge of--
    (A) The nature of their children's disabilities, including their 
children's strengths, and academic, behavioral, and developmental 
challenges;
    (B) The importance of having high expectations for their children 
and how to help them meet those expectations;
    (C) The local, State, and Federal resources available to assist 
them and their children and local resources that strengthen their 
connection to their communities;
    (D) IDEA, Federal IDEA regulations, and State implementation of 
IDEA, including:
    (1) Their rights and responsibilities under IDEA, including 
procedural safeguards and dispute resolution;
    (2) Their role on Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and 
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams and how to effectively 
participate on IFSP and IEP Teams; and
    (3) How services are provided under IDEA;
    (E) Other relevant educational and health care legislation, 
including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended (Section 504); and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
    (F) Transition services at all levels, including: Part C early 
intervention to Part B preschool, preschool to elementary school, 
elementary school to secondary school, secondary school to 
postsecondary education and workforce options, and re-entry of 
incarcerated youth to school and the community;
    (G) How their children can have access to the general education 
curriculum, including access to college- and career-ready academic 
standards and assessments, extracurricular and enrichment opportunities 
available to all children, and other initiatives to make students 
college- and career-ready;
    (H) How their children can have access to inclusive early learning 
programs, inclusive general education classrooms and settings, and 
extracurricular and enrichment opportunities available to all children;
    (I) Evidence-based early intervention and education practices that 
improve early learning, school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes;
    (J) School reform efforts to improve student achievement and 
increase graduation rates; and
    (K) The use of data to inform instruction and advance school reform 
efforts;
    (ii) Increase parents' capacity to--
    (A) Effectively support their children with disabilities and 
participate in their children's education;
    (B) Communicate effectively and work collaboratively in partnership 
with early intervention service providers, school-based personnel, 
related services personnel, and administrators;
    (C) Resolve disputes effectively; and
    (D) Participate in school reform activities to improve outcomes for 
children;
    (5) Provide high-quality services that increase youth with 
disabilities' capacity to be effective self-advocates. To meet this 
requirement the applicant must include information as to how the 
services will--
    (i) Increase the knowledge of youth with disabilities about--
    (A) The nature of their disabilities, including their strengths, 
and of their academic, behavioral, and developmental challenges;
    (B) The importance of having high expectations for themselves and 
how to meet those expectations;
    (C) The resources available to support their success in secondary 
and postsecondary education and employment and full participation in 
their communities;
    (D) IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and other legislation and policies that 
affect people with disabilities;
    (E) Their rights and responsibilities while receiving services 
under IDEA and after transitioning to post-school programs, services, 
and employment;
    (F) How they can participate on IEP Teams; and
    (G) Supported decisionmaking necessary to transition to adult life; 
and
    (ii) Increase the capacity of youth with disabilities to advocate 
for themselves, including communicating effectively and working 
collaboratively in partnership with providers;
    (6) Use various methods to deliver services, including in-person 
and remotely through the use of technology;
    (7) Use best practices for providing training and information to 
adult learners and youth;
    (8) Establish cooperative partnerships with any Community Parent 
Resource Centers (CPRCs) and any other PTIs funded in the State under 
sections 672 and 671 of IDEA, respectively; and
    (9) Network with local, State, and national organizations and 
agencies, such as protection and advocacy agencies that serve parents 
and families of children with disabilities, to better support families 
and children with disabilities to effectively and efficiently access 
IDEA services.
    (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) of this 
priority). The description must include--
    (i) Proposed evaluation methodologies, including proposed 
instruments, data collection methods, and analyses;
    (ii) Proposed criteria for determining effectiveness, to include, 
at a minimum, the effectiveness of strategies used to reach and serve 
youth with disabilities and parents, including underserved parents of 
children with disabilities; and
    (2) The proposed project will use the evaluation results to examine 
the effectiveness of its implementation and its progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    (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) of this priority);
    (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

[[Page 19598]]

    (3) The applicant and key partners have adequate resources to carry 
out the proposed 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) of 
this priority) 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 services 
provided are of high quality;
    (4) The board of directors will be used to provide appropriate 
oversight to the project;
    (5) The proposed project benefits from a diversity of perspectives, 
including those of parents, providers, and administrators in the State 
served by the center;
    (6) The proposed project will ensure that the Annual Performance 
Reports submitted to the Department will--
    (i) Be accurate and timely;
    (ii) Include information on the projects' outputs and outcomes; and
    (iii) Include, at a minimum, the number and demographics of parents 
and youth to whom the PTI provided information and training, the 
parents' and youth's unique needs, and the levels of service provided 
to them; and
    (7) The project management and staff will--
    (i) Make use of the technical assistance (TA) and products provided 
by the OSEP-funded Center on Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), 
Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), Native American 
PTAC, Military PTAC, and other TA centers as appropriate, including the 
PROMISE TA Center (if funded), in order to serve parents of children 
with disabilities and youth with disabilities as effectively as 
possible;
    (ii) Participate in developing individualized TA plans with the 
Regional PTAC as appropriate; and
    (iii) Facilitate one site visit from the Regional PTAC during the 
grant cycle.
    (f) In the narrative under ``Required Project Assurances'' or 
appendices as directed, the applicant must--
    (1) Include in Appendix A a logic model that depicts, at a minimum, 
the goals, activities, outputs, and intended 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 person-loading charts and timelines, as 
applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the 
narrative;
    (3) Include in the budget attendance by the project director at one 
OSEP meeting in Washington, DC annually, to be determined by OSEP; and

    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 and other authorized representatives.

    (4) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility and that includes, at a minimum, 
a current calendar of upcoming events, free informational publications 
for families, and links to Webinars or other online multimedia 
resources.
    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 priority in this notice.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1471 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: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $6,645,988 for FY 2014.
    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.
    Information concerning funding amounts for individual States for 
this competition is provided in the ``Maximum Award'' columns of the 
table in this section.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See table.
    Maximum Award: See table.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See table.
    Project Period: See table.
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

[[Page 19599]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN09AP14.003

BILLING CODE 4000-01-C

    Note 1: Consistent with 34 CFR 75.104(b), we will reject any 
application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum award for a 
single budget period of 12 months. The

[[Page 19600]]

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a 
notice published in the Federal Register.


    Note 2: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.


    Note 3: Maximum awards for each fiscal year vary due to the 
consolidation of the PTI competition schedule.

    Project Period: In order to allocate resources equitably, create a 
unified system of service delivery, and provide the broadest coverage 
for the parents and families in every State, the Department is making 
awards to PTIs in five-year cycles for each State. In FY 2014, 
applications for five-year awards will be accepted for the following 
States: Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, 
Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, 
Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode 
Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, 
West Virginia, and Wyoming. These projects will be funded for a period 
up to 60 months.
    Estimated Project Awards: Project award amounts are for a single 
budget period of 12 months.
    The Department took into consideration current funding levels, 
population distribution, poverty rates, and low-density enrollment when 
determining the award amounts for grants under this competition. For 
the States listed in the funding table, one award may be made for up to 
the amounts listed in the table to a qualified applicant for a PTI 
Center to serve the entire State.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Parent organizations.

    Note: 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--
    (1) The majority of whom are parents of children with 
disabilities ages birth through 26;
    (2) That includes--
    (i) Individuals working in the fields of special education, 
related services, and early intervention; and
    (ii) Individuals with disabilities; and
    (3) 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 are ages birth through 26, and have the full range 
of disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA.

    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 84.328M.
    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 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: April 9, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 27, 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

[[Page 19601]]

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 23, 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 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 www.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 Parent Training and Information 
Centers competition, CFDA number 84.328M, 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 Parent 
Training and Information Centers 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 84.328M).
    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

[[Page 19602]]

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. 
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 84.328M) 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 84.328M) 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, 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

[[Page 19603]]

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 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. The measures focus on the extent to which 
projects provide high-quality products and services, the relevance of 
project products and services to educational and early intervention 
policy and practice, and the use of products and services to improve 
educational and early intervention policy and practice. Projects funded 
under this competition are required to submit data on these measures as 
directed by OSEP.
    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-

[[Page 19604]]

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: April 4, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-07969 Filed 4-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P