[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80339-80346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32508]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Educational Technology, Media, and 
Materials for Individuals With Disabilities--Captioned and Described 
Educational Media

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:
    Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with 
Disabilities--Captioned and Described Educational Media Notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.327N

    Dates:
    Applications Available: December 24, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 22, 2016.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 22, 2016.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of the Educational Technology, 
Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program are to: 
(1) Improve results for students with disabilities by promoting the 
development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support 
educational activities designed to be of educational value in the 
classroom for students with disabilities; (3) provide support for 
captioning and video description that is appropriate for use in the 
classroom; and (4) provide accessible educational materials to students 
with disabilities in a timely manner.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 
674(c) and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
(IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1474(c) and 1481(d)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is: Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for 
Individuals with Disabilities--Captioned and Described Educational 
Media.
    Background:
    Section 674(c) of the IDEA requires, in part, that the Secretary of 
Education support video description, open captioning, and closed 
captioning that is appropriate for use in the classroom setting, of (a) 
television programs; (b) videos; and (c) other materials, including 
programs and materials associated with new and emerging technologies.
    The need to support captioning and video description that is 
appropriate for use in the classroom setting continues to grow. The 
National Center for Educational Statistics reports that, in 2009, 69 
percent of teachers and students used a computer in the classroom 
during instructional time (U.S. Department of Education, 2010). 
Students who were once banned from bringing cell phones and other 
devices to school are now encouraged to ``Bring Your Own Device'' 
(BYOD) (Atkeson,

[[Page 80340]]

2014; Chadband, 2012). Technologies (such as video streaming, digital 
video recording, digital image processing, and other forms of 
multimedia) are becoming a more integral part of instructional practice 
and are replacing older and less adaptable media sources, such as 
compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs). In order to improve 
educational outcomes and ensure college- and career-readiness for 
children with hearing or vision loss, it is critical for them to access 
educational media by utilizing captioning and video description 
technologies.
    Multimedia and other new and emerging technologies are generally 
not accessible to students who have hearing or vision impairments 
because only a small percentage of educational multimedia used in the 
classroom is captioned or described. Federal requirements for 
captioning and video description do not apply to many forms of media 
used specifically in the classroom, even with the expansion of these 
requirements included in the Twenty-First Century Communications and 
Video Accessibility Act of 2010. (See www.fcc.gov/guides/21st-century-communications-and-video-accessibility-act-2010 for further 
information.)
    The ongoing challenge of ensuring that educational materials in the 
classroom are accessible to students who have hearing or vision 
impairments extends to a variety of critical content areas, including 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and Spanish 
language materials. STEM materials are often not in accessible formats, 
which creates a significant barrier to participation for eligible 
students who want to study in these critical areas. Likewise, our 
experience shows that few Spanish language materials are captioned or 
described, which likewise places unnecessary barriers between eligible 
students who speak Spanish and a great many instructional materials for 
the classroom.
    In the past, Federal funds were used to purchase the rights to 
educational films and videos in order to caption and describe media and 
make it available to eligible users with disabilities. However, 
recently, the national broadcast television network program providers 
and Television Access grantees have made some accessible educational 
television programs available at no cost and available on-demand to 
children with disabilities (U.S. Department of Education, March 16, 
2015). As a result, all media will be secured from program providers at 
no cost to the project. In exchange, the project will return captioned 
and described files to the program providers. This cost-saving 
partnership will ensure that additional Federal funds are available to 
caption and describe more media and that the media is made available to 
eligible users, on-demand, via computers and hand-held devices such as 
tablets and cell phones.
    Captioning and description services funded under this priority are 
required to keep pace with advancements in new and emerging forms of 
media and technologies, address STEM content, and also address the 
needs of students who speak Spanish.
    Priority:
    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
support the establishment and operation of an Accessible Learning 
Center (Center) that will oversee the selection, acquisition, 
captioning, video description, and distribution of educational media 
through a free loan service for eligible users. We define eligible 
users as students, including English learners, in early learning and 
kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) classroom settings who have 
hearing or vision impairments and individuals, such as teachers, 
parents, and paraprofessionals, who are directly involved in these 
students' early learning or K-12 classroom instruction.
    The Center will develop procedures to identify educational media 
that meet the educational needs of eligible users, including English 
learners, in early learning and K-12 classroom settings; make 
arrangements for the media to be captioned and described; and establish 
strategies for the free distribution to eligible users. Some of the 
activities and procedures must focus on selecting titles geared toward 
improving early learning outcomes for preschool users and using 
technologies, such as video streaming and other forms of multimedia, to 
reach eligible users in rural and high-need schools.
    Media must be made available at no cost in Spanish for eligible 
users who are learning English and live in households where Spanish is 
the dominant language. Access to high-quality instructional media in 
the STEM academic subjects must be provided. The project must 
collaborate with the Television Access grantees and the national 
broadcast television network program providers to make accessible 
educational television programs available at no cost to the project and 
available on-demand to eligible users. The process of distribution 
through the loan service must include making the educational media 
available through restricted online access for eligible users who are 
accessing the media via public computers and hand-held devices such as 
tablets and cell phones.
    To be considered for funding under this priority, the applicant 
must meet the application requirements contained in this priority. The 
project funded under this priority also must meet the programmatic and 
administrative requirements specified in the priority.
    Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its 
application--
    (a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, 
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic 
model communicates how a project will achieve its 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.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel/index.asp.

    (b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities section of this priority;
    (c) A plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model, for a 
formative evaluation of the proposed project's activities. The plan 
must describe how the formative evaluation will use clear performance 
objectives to ensure continuous improvement in the operation of the 
proposed project, including objective measures of progress in 
implementing the project and ensuring the quality of products and 
services;
    (d) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC, within four weeks after receipt of the award, and an 
annual planning meeting held in Washington, DC, with the Office of 
Special Education Programs (OSEP) project officer during each 
subsequent year of the project period.
    (2) A three-day project directors' meeting in Washington, DC, 
during each year of the project period.
    (3) A two-day trip annually to attend Department briefings, 
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by 
OSEP; and
    (e) A line item in the proposed budget for an annual set-aside of 
five percent of the annual grant amount to support emerging needs that 
are consistent with the proposed project's activities, as those needs 
are identified in consultation with OSEP.

    Note: With approval from the OSEP project officer, the Center 
must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside

[[Page 80341]]

no later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period.

    Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
Center, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities:
    (a) Develop and implement a plan for operating a free online media 
loan service distribution system to make it possible for eligible users 
to easily borrow media from the loan service or to secure restricted 
access, on-demand, to media via computers and hand-held devices such as 
tablets and cell phones;
    (b) Establish and make available computerized registration and 
application procedures, accessible via the Internet, that will be used 
to register eligible users for media access, deliver the captioned and 
described media material, and track and record consumer feedback and 
usage information;
    (c) Implement strategies and procedures for identifying and 
prioritizing educational media that are not currently readily 
accessible to students, but are appropriate for eligible users 
attending early learning programs and elementary and secondary schools, 
including English learners, that meet the educational needs of those 
students;
    (d) Select media to closely match the educational needs of eligible 
users, taking into account the media most commonly used in school 
districts and early learning programs across the Nation;
    (e) Implement a plan to recommend media to the OSEP Project Officer 
for review;
    (f) Make arrangements with program producers and distributors for 
the Center to acquire (at no cost) the rights to caption, describe, and 
distribute selected media, including distribution in alternate formats, 
such as video streaming;
    (g) Develop strategies and procedures for identifying, 
prioritizing, and securing the rights (at no cost) to previously 
captioned and described children's television programs that are 
appropriate for eligible users, including English learners, that meet 
the educational needs of those students and continue to make those 
programs available through this free loan service on-demand;
    (h) For media that has been secured but not previously captioned or 
described, prepare quality captions and descriptions, taking into 
account the grade or developmental level of the material, as well as 
the age and vocabulary level of the likely target audience;
    (i) Ensure that 25 percent of the materials to be captioned or 
described are materials in STEM fields;
    (j) Ensure that 25 percent of the media acquired annually is 
captioned and described in Spanish at no cost for eligible users who 
are learning English and live in households where Spanish is the 
dominant language;
    (k) Develop and implement quality control standards and procedures 
for media after it has been captioned and described;
    (l) Provide captioned and described files to producers and 
distributors so that they are able to continue to make the media 
directly accessible to interested parties beyond the eligible users who 
will be served under this program;
    (m) Provide free-of-charge disk copies of media, if requested by 
eligible users, in order to reach children with hearing or vision 
impairments in rural settings or in schools with limited broadband 
support;
    (n) Identify and, as appropriate, utilize alternate delivery 
methods and vehicles for media access, as new and emerging technologies 
become available for classroom use;
    (o) Prepare, update, and utilize an online catalog listing all 
captioned and described media available under this project as they 
become available;
    (p) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility;
    (q) Establish and maintain a stakeholder panel of at least seven 
members, which shall meet annually, and include video producers and 
distributors, captioning and description service providers, parents and 
families of students with hearing or vision loss, public and private 
school administrators, and other educational personnel. This panel must 
provide feedback to the project regarding the usefulness of program 
activities and services, taking into consideration the input from 
consumers, and review the Center's media acquisition, captioning, 
description, and distribution process in order to ensure maximum 
effectiveness of the project;
    (r) Develop and maintain a comprehensive online searchable database 
containing information related to the availability of captioned and 
described educational media, information regarding the captioned and 
described media loan service, requirements governing the use of 
captioned and described media available from the loan service, and a 
list of captioning and description service providers. In addition, the 
project shall maintain a clearinghouse of information on the subject of 
captioning and description for use by consumers, agencies, 
corporations, businesses, schools, and other interested stakeholders;
    (s) Develop strategies and use technologies for improving the 
Center's effectiveness by replacing out-of-date media with media 
containing more current information (where appropriate);
    (t) Use and upgrade technologies to caption and describe selected 
media as newer technologies emerge;
    (u) Select media that are intended to improve early learning 
outcomes for preschool children who are eligible users; and
    (v) Develop and implement strategies to reach eligible users 
attending rural and high-need schools.
    Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
    In deciding whether to continue funding this project for the fourth 
and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.253(a), as well as--
    (a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This intensive review will be conducted 
during a one-day intensive meeting in Washington, DC, that will be held 
during the last half of the second year of the project period;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
Center; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Center's 
activities and products and the degree to which the Center's activities 
and products have contributed to an increased number of available 
accessible educational media for students with hearing or vision 
impairments.
    References:

Atkeson, S. (2014). N.Y.C. Schools to Open Doors to Student 
Cellphones. Education Week, October 28, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/10/29/10cellphone.h34.html.
Chadband, E. (2012). Should Schools Embrace ``Bring Your Own 
Device''? NEA Today, July 19, 2012. Retrieved from http://NEAToday.org/2012/07/19/should-schools-embrace-bring-your-own-device/.
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 
National Center for Education Statistics. (2010). Teachers' Use of 
Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009 (NCES 2010-040). 
Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=46.
U.S. Department of Education. (2015, March 16). Video-on-Demand 
Children's TV Programming Now Accessible for Thousands of Students 
with Visual or Hearing Disabilities [Press release]. Retrieved from 
www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/video-demand-children%E2%80%99s-tv-
programming-now-accessible-thousands-students-visual-or-

[[Page 80342]]

hearing-disabilities.

    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. 1474 and 1481.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on 
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474.

    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 (IHEs) only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$28,047,000 for the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for 
Individuals with Disabilities program for FY 2016, of which we intend 
to use an estimated $2,000,000 for this competition. The actual level 
of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we 
are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $2,000,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months with an optional additional 24 
months based on performance. Applications must include plans for both 
the 36-month award and the 24-month extension.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); local 
educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that are 
considered LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private 
nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; 
Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a 
grantee may award subgrants--to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application--to the following types of entities: SEAs; 
LEAs, including public charter schools that are considered LEAs under 
State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private nonprofit 
organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; Indian 
tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations suitable 
to carry out the activities proposed in the application.
    (b) The grantee may award subgrants only to entities it has 
identified in an approved application.
    4. Other General Requirements: (a) Recipients of funding under this 
competition 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 or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following 
address: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html. To obtain a 
copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: 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 84.327N.
    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 70 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 requirements do 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 requirements do 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 this notice and the application package.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: December 24, 2015.

[[Page 80343]]

    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 22, 2016.
    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 Other Submission Requirements in section 
IV of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 22, 2016.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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), 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 at the 
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 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 you enter into the SAM database. 
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, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and 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 Captioned and Described 
Educational Media competition, CFDA number 84.327N, 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 Captioned 
and Described Educational Media 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 84.327, not 84.327N).
    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

[[Page 80344]]

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. In addition, for 
specific guidance and procedures for submitting an application through 
Grants.gov, please refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     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 read-only, non-modifiable 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a 
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note 
that this could result in your application not being considered for 
funding because the material in question--for example, the project 
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For 
that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload 
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material 
from other formats to PDF. 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. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     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 the 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will 
contact you after we determine 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: Jo Ann McCann, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5162, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2600. FAX: (202) 245-7590.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the

[[Page 80345]]

application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.327N), 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.

    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.
    We will not consider applications postmarked after the 
application deadline date.

    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 84.327N), 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 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 
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. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in 
appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; 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 multiyear 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.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the

[[Page 80346]]

Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    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 Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for 
Individuals with Disabilities Program. These measures are included in 
the application package and focus on the extent to which projects are 
of high quality, are relevant to improving outcomes of children with 
disabilities, contribute to improving outcomes for children with 
disabilities, and generate evidence of validity and availability to 
appropriate populations. 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 performance reports and additional performance 
data to the Department (34 CFR 75.590 and 75.591).
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, 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: Jo Ann McCann, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5162, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-7434.
    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 5037, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, 
DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD or a TTY, 
call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or 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: December 21, 2015.
Michael K. Yudin,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-32508 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P