[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25694-25696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10475]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Final Priorities; National Institute on Disability, Independent 
Living, and Rehabilitation Research--Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research Projects Program

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and 
Human Services.

ACTION: Final priority.

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CFDA Numbers: 84.133A-5 and 84.133A-6.

SUMMARY: The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living 
announces priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Projects (DRRPS) Program administered by the National Institute on 
Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). 
Specifically, we announce two priorities for DRRPs on (1) Center on 
Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (84.133A-5) and (2) 
Projects for Translating Disability and Rehabilitation Research into 
Practice (84.133A-6). The Administrator of the Administration for 
Community Living may use these priorities for competitions in fiscal 
year (FY) 2015 and later years. We take this action to focus research 
attention on an area of national need. We intend for these priorities 
to contribute to improved outcomes for people with disabilities through 
improved uptake of research-based knowledge.

DATES: Effective Date: These priorities are effective June 4, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5133, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-
7532 or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and 
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related 
activities, including international activities, to develop methods, 
procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full 
inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, 
family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals 
with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe 
disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized 
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects

    The purpose of NIDILRR's DRRPs, which are funded through the 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is 
to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the 
Rehabilitation Act by developing methods, procedures, and 
rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent 
living and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, 
especially individuals with the most significant disabilities. DRRPs 
carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as 
specified and defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, 
training, demonstration, development, utilization, dissemination, and 
technical assistance.
    An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in 
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of 
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this 
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b). Additional information on 
the DRRP program can be found at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S. C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).

    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
    We published a notice of proposed priorities (NPP) for this program 
in the Federal Register on March 13, 2015 (80 FR 13378). That notice 
contained background information and our reasons for proposing the 
particular priorities.
    There are no differences between the proposed priorities and these 
final priorities.
    Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of 
proposed priorities, one party submitted comments on the proposed 
priorities.
    Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes. In 
addition, we do not address general comments that raised concerns not 
directly related to the proposed priorities.
    Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and 
of any changes in the priorities since publication of the NPP follows.

Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (Priority 1)

    We received no comments on this priority.

Projects for Translating Disability and Rehabilitation Research Into 
Practice (Priority 2)

    Comment: One commenter asked whether NIDILRR intends the grants to 
be made under this priority to support the translation and use of 
development-based outputs, as well as research-based knowledge and 
products. This commenter stated that if NIDILRR does intend to support 
the translation and use of development-based outputs, we should 
consistently include such language throughout the priority.
    Discussion: We do not agree with the commenter that there is a 
solid and clear distinction between research-based and development-
based outputs. NIDILRR program regulations define ``development'' in 
terms of its basis in research. CFR 350.16 defines development as the 
use of ``knowledge and understanding gained from research to create 
materials, devices, systems, or methods beneficial to the target 
population, including design and development of prototypes and

[[Page 25695]]

processes.'' The purpose of this priority, as stated in the notice of 
proposed priority, is to support the translation of research-based 
findings or products of past or present NIDILRR-funded grants into use 
or adoption by their stakeholders. Applicants may propose to translate 
and promote the use of findings or products of any past or present 
NIDILRR grantee, including those engaged in research or development 
activities, as long as the products of those grants are based on 
research.
    Changes: None.

Final Priorities

 Priority 1--Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research

    The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living 
proposes a priority for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Project to serve as the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment 
Research (Center). The purpose of the proposed Center on KT for 
Employment Research is to promote the use of employment research 
findings to improve practices and policies that support improved 
employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. The center will 
achieve this purpose by (1) working with employment-focused NIDILRR 
grantees to identify research findings that can be used to improve 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, (2) identifying 
areas in which stakeholders' needs for research-based knowledge are 
most pressing, and (3) investigating and promoting effective strategies 
to increase the appropriate use of the best available research-based 
knowledge in the field.
    Under this priority, the Center must be designed to contribute to 
the following outcomes:
    (a) Increased understanding of processes and practices that will 
lead to successful knowledge translation in the field of employment for 
individuals with disabilities;
    (b) Increased adoption and use of relevant research findings funded 
by NIDILRR and other entities, to improve employment of individuals 
with disabilities; and
    (c) Increased capacity of NIDILRR's employment-focused grantees to 
plan and engage in knowledge translation activities.
    The Center must contribute to these outcomes by conducting rigorous 
research, development, technical assistance, dissemination, and 
utilization activities to increase successful knowledge translation of 
employment research to improve employment of individuals with 
disabilities. In planning and conducting all activities, the Center 
must partner with relevant stakeholders such as employment-focused 
researchers, individual with disabilities, consumer organizations, 
employers, State and Federal agencies, and others as appropriate.

 Priority 2--Projects for Translating Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research Into Practice

    The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living 
proposes a priority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects 
(DRRP). These DRRP grants will serve as Projects for Translating 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research into Practice. The purpose of 
these projects is to support the translation of research findings or 
products of past or present NIDILRR-funded grants into use or adoption 
by their stakeholders. Under this priority, grantees must successfully 
move NIDILRR-sponsored research-based findings or products into actual 
use or adoption in real-life contexts. Grantees under this priority 
must also document and disseminate the knowledge translation methods 
that they used to facilitate the adoption or use of findings or 
products by stakeholders.
    Each knowledge translation grant under this priority must be 
conducted in partnership with relevant stakeholders. These stakeholders 
must be actively engaged in the planning, implementation, and 
evaluation of all knowledge translation grant activities. Grantees 
under this priority must contribute to the following outcomes:
    (1) Use or adoption of NIDILRR-sponsored findings or products by 
relevant stakeholders;
    (2) Changes in policy, practice, or systems that are intended to 
improve the lives of individuals with disabilities as a result of the 
use or adoption of NIDILRR-sponsored findings or products; and
    (3) Increased understanding of promising practices for knowledge 
translation in disability, independent living, and rehabilitation 
research.
    Grantees under this priority must contribute to these outcomes by--
    (a) Identifying research-based findings or products from a NIDILRR-
funded grant or grants that are ready for use or adoption in real-world 
settings, as well as the context or setting in which they will be used 
or adopted;
    (b) Identifying or developing, and then implementing a knowledge 
translation plan to facilitate the use or adoption of findings or 
products in (a) by key stakeholders; and
    (c) Identifying measures to evaluate the success of the uses or 
adoptions achieved under (b).

Types of Priorities

    When inviting applications for a competition using one or more 
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute, 
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal 
Register. The effect of each type of priority follows:
    Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only 
applications that meet the priority (45 CFR 75).
    Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference 
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by (1) 
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the 
application meets the priority (45 CFR 75); or (2) selecting an 
application that meets the priority over an application of comparable 
merit that does not meet the priority (45 CFR 75).
    Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are 
particularly interested in applications that meet the priority. 
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a 
preference over other applications (45 CFR 75).
    This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional 
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject 
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use these priorities, we invite applications 
through a notice in the Federal Register.

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by the Department.


[[Page 25696]]


    Dated: April 29, 2015.
John Tschida,
Director, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and 
Rehabilitation Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-10475 Filed 5-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4154-01-P