[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 132 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39381-39386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16125]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Parent Information and Training 
Program--Technical Assistance for Parent Training and Information 
Centers

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

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)--Parent Information and 
Training Program--Technical Assistance for Parent Training and 
Information Centers

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

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.235G.

DATES: Applications Available: July 10, 2014.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: July 16, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 11, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Parent Information and Training Program 
includes State-level Parent Training and Information (PTI) centers and 
one national PTI center designed to assist in the establishment, 
development, and coordination of the PTI centers funded under section 
303(c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation 
Act).
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see section 
303(c)(6) of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 773(c)(6)).
    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.
    Background: The purpose of this priority is to fund a national PTI 
center to provide technical assistance to, and coordination of, the six 
PTI centers that are funded under section 303(c) of the Rehabilitation 
Act. The purpose of the technical assistance and coordination provided 
by the national PTI center is to ensure that the individual State-level 
centers are providing information and training to individuals with 
disabilities and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, and 
other authorized representatives of such individuals (hereafter 
referred to as ``individuals with disabilities and their families'') to 
assist individuals with disabilities, including youth with disabilities 
who are of transition age, achieve their employment and independent 
living goals. Through its coordination and technical assistance 
activities, the national PTI center also will help ensure that the 
information and training provided by the individual State-level centers 
is consistent.
    In addition, the national PTI center will coordinate, to the extent 
possible, its technical assistance and the technical assistance 
provided by the six RSA-funded PTI centers with the technical 
assistance provided by PTI centers funded under section 671 of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This structured 
coordination is designed to increase the consistency of information 
provided to individuals with disabilities and their families by the 
centers funded under the Rehabilitation Act and those funded under 
IDEA.
    The Department has funded PTI centers under IDEA for over 35 years. 
Research and experience have demonstrated that the education of youth 
with disabilities can be made more effective by strengthening parents' 
ability to participate fully in their children's education at school 
and at home. For example, research has found that trainings and 
programs, including those provided by the Office of Special Education 
Programs (OSEP), provide parents with much-needed information about how 
to monitor their children's progress, be productive members of the 
Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, and support their 
children's education at school. Other factors being equal, families who 
attend OSEP-supported trainings or other types of trainings are more 
likely to be involved at school and to attend IEP meetings (Newman, 
2005).
    In addition to the PTI centers funded under IDEA, the Department 
has funded PTI centers under the Rehabilitation Act since 1993. For 
individuals with disabilities and their families, particularly for 
youth of transition age, the need for information about transition, 
vocational rehabilitation (VR), independent living, and other adult 
services is very critical. The current Federal approach to assisting 
students with disabilities in transitioning to postsecondary education 
or the workforce necessitates that students and their parents navigate 
multiple programs and service systems to piece together the supports 
these students need to achieve maximum levels of independence in 
adulthood. Under this complex structure, information dissemination and 
service coordination are essential (GAO, 2012).
    Also, although families may be familiar with the supports provided 
while an individual with disabilities is in secondary school, they may 
find that the options available for postsecondary education and 
training, including how to obtain financial aid for such options, can 
often be daunting. Without receiving accurate and timely information 
about available services, students may miss essential opportunities to 
access needed services that could mean the difference between achieving 
an optimal level of self-sufficiency and relying on public assistance 
to meet their basic needs (GAO, 2012). Finally, while many individuals 
with disabilities participate in work experiences during their 
secondary school years, additional career exploration and on-the-job 
training experiences provided through the VR service programs can 
introduce them to possibilities that had not been considered 
previously.
    For over the past 20 years, PTI centers funded under the 
Rehabilitation Act have provided information and training to thousands 
of individuals with disabilities and their families to help them better 
understand the varied eligibility requirements for, and the complex 
array of services provided by, programs that serve adults with 
disabilities. Having consistent, accurate, and user-friendly 
information available helps to ensure that individuals with 
disabilities receive the services that will help them achieve their 
employment and independent living goals.
    The final report submitted by the national PTI center funded from 
FY 2007 to FY 2011 demonstrated the need for its services. According to 
the report, the national PTI center: Disseminated to 121,706 
individuals a newsletter containing information of national interest to 
individuals with disabilities and their families; received 43,964 
requests for information and assistance and 4,684 requests for 
technology information and assistance; provided or

[[Page 39382]]

coordinated 583 workshops, training sessions, presentations, and in-
service trainings for parents and professionals; reached 33,260 parents 
and professionals through its workshops, trainings, presentations, in-
service trainings, webinars, and conferences; received 3,679,713 
visitors from the United States and 80 other countries to its Web 
sites. As these needs continue to exist, we are seeking to fund a new 
national PTI center.

References

Newman, L. (2005). Family Involvement in the Educational Development 
of Youth with Disabilities. National Longitudinal Transition Study 
2. 28 March 2005. Retrieved from: www.nlts2.org/reports/2005_03/nlts2_report_2005_03_complete.pdf.
United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2012). Report 
to the Ranking Member, Committee on Education and the Workforce, 
House of Representatives. Students with Disabilities, Better Federal 
Coordination Could Lesson Challenges in the Transition from High 
School. July 2012. Retrieved from: www.gao.gov/assets/600/592329.pdf.

    This priority is:
    Parent Information and Training Program--Technical Assistance for 
Parent Training and Information Centers.
    Under this priority a grant is awarded for the establishment or 
continuation of a national Parent Training and Information (PTI) center 
that provides technical assistance and coordination of the PTI centers 
funded under section 303(c) of the Rehabilitation Act. Specifically, 
this national PTI center will coordinate information and training 
provided by the State-level PTI centers to individuals with 
disabilities and their parents, family members, guardians, advocates, 
or authorized representatives (hereafter referred to as ``individuals 
with disabilities and their families''). To be considered for funding 
under this priority, an applicant must meet the following application, 
programmatic, and administrative requirements of this priority:
    (a) The national PTI center must coordinate and provide technical 
assistance to the PTI centers funded by the Rehabilitation Services 
Administration (RSA) to help these PTI Centers, at a minimum, to:
    (1) Assist individuals with disabilities and their families to 
better understand vocational rehabilitation (VR) and independent living 
programs and services;
    (2) Provide follow-up support for transition and employment 
programs for individuals with disabilities and their families;
    (3) Assist individuals with disabilities and their families to 
communicate more effectively with transition and rehabilitation 
personnel and other relevant professionals;
    (4) Provide support to individuals with disabilities and their 
families in the development of the individualized plan for employment;
    (5) Provide support and expertise for individuals with disabilities 
and their families in obtaining information about rehabilitation and 
independent living programs, services, and resources that are 
appropriate; and
    (6) Assist individuals with disabilities and their families to 
understand the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act, particularly 
provisions relating to employment, supported employment, and 
independent living.
    (b) In order to effectively provide coordination and technical 
assistance to the RSA-funded PTI centers on the activities in paragraph 
(a), the national PTI center may, among other activities:
    (1) Survey all RSA-funded PTI centers to determine collective and 
individualized technical assistance activities being provided and the 
gaps in information and training that exist.
    (2) Build the capacity of the network of RSA-funded PTI centers by 
conducting a set of coordinated activities, including opportunities for 
peer-to-peer information sharing using various strategies such as 
listservs, newsletters, and other community of practice strategies.
    (3) Disseminate information on promising and evidence-based 
practices that lead to high-quality employment outcomes and independent 
living for individuals with disabilities.
    (4) Share with the RSA-funded PTI centers strategies for 
communicating effectively with individuals from culturally, ethnically, 
and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
    (5) Foster development of expertise in assisting State-level RSA-
funded PTI centers as they work with individuals with disabilities, 
including youth with disabilities of transition age, and their families 
to access transition services, VR programs, and career development 
opportunities, including expertise in the provision of technical 
assistance on how to coordinate a student's Individualized Education 
Program with the individualized plan for employment so that the 
services provided to individuals with disabilities under both plans are 
more likely to lead to high-quality competitive employment in the 
integrated labor market.
    (6) Create tools to help State-level RSA-funded PTI centers to 
build their capacity to disseminate information and conduct training 
activities for individuals with disabilities, including youth with 
disabilities of transition age, and their families on the transition 
from school to adult life, available VR program services, career 
development, and related fields.
    (7) Support RSA-funded PTI centers in conducting their annual data 
collection activities on parent training outcomes and consolidating 
data into an annual report.
    (8) Conduct an annual evaluation survey of RSA-funded PTI centers 
to determine which products and services were deemed to be useful by 
PTI centers and the individuals with disabilities and families 
accessing their products and services, with particular emphasis on the 
effectiveness of those products and services designed to improve VR 
service utilization.
    (9) Coordinate with the State-level PTI centers and the parent 
technical assistance centers funded by the Office of Special Education 
Programs in disseminating information and training materials on 
transition services, VR, supported employment, independent living, and 
career development.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(c)(6).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 86, 97, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension and 
debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485.

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


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $250,000.
    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 $250,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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


[[Page 39383]]


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Private nonprofit organizations that, to 
the extent practicable, are the parent information and training centers 
established pursuant to section 671 of the IDEA.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet, 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 package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.235G.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact Tara Jordan, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5040, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-
7341 or by email: [email protected]. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call 
the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or 
compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under Accessible 
Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the 
application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 35 pages, using 
the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'' , on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
     The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; 
Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract.

    Note:  In addition to the limit of 35 pages described above, all 
other materials submitted (e.g., resumes, bibliography, or letters 
of support) cannot exceed 30 additional pages.

    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limits.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: July 10, 
2014.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: Interested parties are invited to 
participate in a pre-application webinar. The pre-application webinar 
with staff from the Department will be held on July 16, 2014. The 
webinar will be recorded. For further information about the pre-
application webinar, contact the person listed under For Further 
Information Contact in section VII of this notice. Deadline for 
Transmittal of Applications: August 11, 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, 
under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we waive the intergovernmental review in order to 
make an award by the end of FY 2014.
    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 two to five 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

[[Page 39384]]

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 Demonstration and Training 
Programs: Parent Information and Training Program--Technical Assistance 
for Parent Training and Information Centers competition, CFDA number 
84.235G, 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 
Demonstration and Training Programs: Parent Information and Training 
Program--Technical Assistance for 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 84.235, not 84.235G).
    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.
     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

[[Page 39385]]

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 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Tara Jordan, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5040, PCP, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7591.
    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 84.235G), 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 84.235G), 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 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 competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and 34 CFR 373.10 and are listed in the 
application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

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.

[[Page 39386]]

    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act 
of 1993 (GPRA) directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the 
effectiveness of programs by engaging in strategic planning, setting 
outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program results 
against those goals. The required annual report must include 
information on the following measure: the percentage of all products 
and services deemed to be useful by parent training and information 
centers to improve vocational rehabilitation service utilization. The 
data on this measure will be collected by the grantee via survey, 
assessed, and reported in the aggregate to RSA. The grantee will 
negotiate targets with RSA after the first year, which will be used to 
establish a baseline.
    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: Tara Jordan, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5040, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7341 or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD or TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VII of this notice.
    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: July 3, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-16125 Filed 7-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P