[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88226-88234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29370]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Training and Information for Parents
of Children With Disabilities--Community Parent Resource Centers
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information
Training and Information for Parents of Children with
Disabilities--Community Parent Resource Centers Notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.328C.
[[Page 88227]]
Dates:
Applications Available: December 7, 2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 6, 2017.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 6, 2017.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to ensure that
parents of children with disabilities receive training and information
to help improve results for their children.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (v), this
priority is from allowable activities specified in the statute, or
otherwise authorized in the statute (see sections 672 and 681(d) of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2017 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:
Community Parent Resource Centers
Background: The purpose of this priority is to fund seven Community
Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) designed to meet the specific needs of
parents of children with disabilities, and youth with disabilities, who
experience significant isolation from available sources of information
and support in the geographically defined communities served by the
centers. These parents can include, for example, low-income parents,
parents with limited English proficiency, and parents with
disabilities. Youth can include, for example, youth living in low-
income households and youth with limited English proficiency.
More than 35 years of research and experience has demonstrated that
the education of children with disabilities can be made more effective
by strengthening the ability of parents to participate fully in the
education of their children at school and at home (see section
601(c)(5)(B) of IDEA). Since the Department first funded CPRCs over 20
years ago, the CPRC program has helped parents in their communities set
high expectations for children with disabilities and has provided
parents with the information and training they need to help their
children meet those expectations. Information about the Office of
Special Education's parent training and information program can be
found at: www.parentcenterhub.org.
CPRCs, consistent with section 672(b) of IDEA, help families in the
geographically defined communities identified by the applicant: (a)
Navigate systems that provide early intervention, special education,
general education, postsecondary options, and related services; (b)
understand the nature of their children's disabilities; (c) learn about
their rights and responsibilities under IDEA; (d) expand their
knowledge of evidence-based, as defined in this notice, education
practices to help their children succeed; (e) strengthen their
collaboration with professionals; (f) locate resources available for
themselves and their children, which connects them to their local
communities; and (g) advocate for improved student achievement,
increased graduation rates, and improved postsecondary outcomes for all
children through participation in school reform activities. In
addition, CPRCs may help youth with disabilities in their communities
have high expectations for themselves and understand their rights and
responsibilities. In addition, effective CPRCs can partner with local
agencies, providing expertise on how to better support families in
their communities and help them access other community supports that
empower families.
The CPRCs to be funded through this priority will provide parents
with information, individual assistance, and training to enable them
to: (a) Advocate for their children's access to appropriate services,
including access to general education classrooms and extracurricular
activities; (b) help their children meet developmental and academic
goals; (c) help their children meet challenging expectations
established for all children; and (d) prepare their children to achieve
positive postsecondary outcomes that lead to lives that are as
productive and independent as possible. In addition, all CPRCs will be
required to help youth with disabilities become effective self-
advocates.
Priority: At a minimum, the CPRCs must: (1) Increase parents'
capacity to help their children with disabilities improve their early
learning, school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes; and (2) increase
youth with disabilities' capacity to be effective self-advocates. To be
considered for funding under this priority, an applicant must meet the
application, programmatic, and administrative requirements of this
priority. Applicants must--
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Address the needs of parents of children with disabilities who
experience significant isolation from available sources of information
and support for services that increase the parents' capacity to help
their children improve their early learning, school-aged, and
postsecondary outcomes. To meet this requirement, the applicant must--
(i) Present appropriate information on the characteristics and
needs of parents in the identified community who experience significant
challenges identifying reliable sources of information and support,
including, for example, low-income parents, parents with limited
English proficiency, parents of incarcerated youth with disabilities,
and parents with disabilities;
(ii) Present appropriate information about the identified
community, including a description of its geographic area, population
demographics, and the resources available in the community to support
all families;
(iii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices in providing training
and information to parents and youth in the identified community;
(iv) Demonstrate knowledge of current evidence-based education
practices and policy initiatives to improve outcomes in early
intervention and early childhood, general and special education,
transition services, and postsecondary options, including, if
applicable to its community, the Promoting the Readiness of Minors in
Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE) initiative; and
(v) Demonstrate knowledge of how to identify and work with
appropriate partners in the community, including agencies providing
Part C services under IDEA; local educational agencies (LEAs); child
welfare agencies; disability-specific resources serving families, such
as local service providers; and other community nonprofits serving
families; and
(2) Address the needs of youth with disabilities for services that
increase their capacity to be effective self-advocates. To meet this
requirement, the applicant must--
(i) Present appropriate information on the needs of youth with
disabilities in the identified community who experience significant
isolation from available sources of information and support, including,
for example, youth who are low-income, homeless, or limited English
proficient, have dropped out of school, or are in foster care or
involved in the juvenile justice system;
[[Page 88228]]
(ii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices in providing training
and information to youth with disabilities in the identified community;
(iii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices in self-advocacy; and
(iv) Demonstrate knowledge of how to work with appropriate partners
serving youth with disabilities in the identified community, including
local agencies, other nonprofits, and Independent Living Centers that
provide assistance such as postsecondary education options, employment
training, and supports.
(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under
``Quality of the Project Services,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Use a project logic model (see paragraph (f)(1) of this
priority) to guide the development of project plans and activities
within the identified community;
(2) Develop and implement an outreach plan to inform parents of
children with disabilities and youth with disabilities in the
identified community of how they can benefit from the services provided
by the CPRC;
(3) Provide services that increase parents' capacity to help their
children with disabilities improve their early learning, school-aged,
and postsecondary outcomes. To meet this requirement, the applicant
must include information as to how the services will--
(i) Increase parents' knowledge of--
(A) The nature of their children's disabilities, including their
children's strengths and academic, behavioral, and developmental
challenges;
(B) The importance of having high expectations for their children
and how to help them meet those expectations;
(C) The local, State, and Federal resources available to assist
them and their children, and local resources that strengthen their
connection to their community;
(D) IDEA, Federal IDEA regulations, and State implementation of
IDEA, including parents' role on Individualized Family Service Plan
(IFSP) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams and how to
effectively participate on IFSP and IEP Teams;
(E) Other relevant educational and health care legislation,
including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended (ESEA); section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (section 504); and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA);
(F) Transition services at all levels, including: Part C early
intervention to Part B preschool, preschool to elementary school,
elementary school to secondary school, and secondary school to
postsecondary education and workforce options;
(G) How their children can have access to the general education
curriculum, including access to college- and career-ready academic
standards and assessments; inclusive early learning programs; inclusive
general education classrooms and settings; vocational education;
extracurricular and enrichment opportunities available to all children;
and other initiatives to make students college- and career-ready;
(H) Evidence-based early intervention and education practices that
improve early learning, school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes;
(I) Local school reform efforts to improve student achievement and
increase graduation rates; and
(J) The use of data to inform instruction and advance school reform
efforts;
(ii) Increase parents' capacity to--
(A) Effectively support their children with disabilities and
participate in their children's education;
(B) Communicate effectively and work collaboratively in partnership
with early intervention service providers, school-based personnel,
related services personnel, and administrators;
(C) Resolve disputes effectively; and
(D) Participate in school reform activities to improve outcomes for
all children;
(4) Provide services that increase youth with disabilities'
capacity to be effective self-advocates. To meet this requirement, the
applicant must include information as to how the services will--
(i) Increase the knowledge of youth with disabilities about--
(A) The nature of their disabilities, including their strengths,
and their academic, behavioral, and developmental challenges;
(B) The importance of having high expectations for themselves and
how to meet those expectations;
(C) The resources available to support their success in secondary
and postsecondary education and employment and full participation in
their communities;
(D) IDEA, section 504, ADA, and other legislation and policies that
affect people with disabilities;
(E) Their rights and responsibilities while receiving services
under IDEA and after transitioning to post-school programs, services,
and employment;
(F) How they can participate on IEP Teams; and
(G) Supported decisionmaking necessary to transition to adult life;
and
(ii) Increase the capacity of youth with disabilities to advocate
for themselves, including communicating effectively and working in
partnership with providers;
(5) Use various methods to deliver services that are appropriate in
the context of the identified community;
(6) Use best practices to provide training and information to adult
learners and youth in the identified community;
(7) Establish cooperative partnerships with any Parent Training and
Information Center and any other CPRCs funded in the State under
sections 671 and 672 of IDEA, respectively; and
(8) Network with local and State organizations and agencies, such
as the Part C State Interagency Coordinating Council, the Part B State
Advisory Panel, and protection and advocacy agencies that serve parents
and families of children with disabilities, to better support the
families and children with disabilities in the identified community to
effectively and efficiently access IDEA services.
(c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under
``Quality of the Evaluation Plan,'' how--
(1) The applicant will evaluate how well the goals or objectives of
the proposed project, as described in its logic model, have been met,
including a description of how the applicant will measure the outcomes
proposed in the logic model (see paragraph (f)(1) of this priority).
The description must include--
(i) Proposed evaluation methodologies appropriate to the scope of
the project and the identified community, including proposed
instruments, data collection methods, and analyses; and
(ii) Proposed criteria for determining if the project has reached
and served families and youth in the identified community; and
(2) The proposed project will use the evaluation results to examine
its implementation and its progress toward achieving intended outcomes.
(d) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how--
(1) The proposed personnel, consultants, and contractors have the
qualifications and experience to carry out the proposed activities and
achieve the intended outcomes identified in the project logic model
(see paragraph (f)(1) of this priority);
(2) The applicant will encourage applications for employment from
persons who are members of groups that have historically been
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin,
[[Page 88229]]
linguistic diversity, gender, age, or disability, as appropriate; and
(3) The applicant and key partners have adequate resources to carry
out the proposed activities.
(e) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how--
(1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the intended
outcomes identified in the project logic model (see paragraph (f)(1) of
this priority) will be achieved on time and within budget;
(2) The time of key personnel, consultants, and contractors will be
sufficiently allocated to the project;
(3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the services
provided are of high quality;
(4) The board of directors will be used to provide appropriate
oversight to the project;
(5) The proposed project benefits from a diversity of perspectives,
including those of parents, providers, and administrators in the
identified community;
(6) The proposed project will ensure that the Annual Performance
Reports submitted to the Department will--
(i) Be accurate and timely;
(ii) Include information on the projects' outputs and outcomes; and
(iii) Include, at a minimum, the number and demographics of parents
and youth to whom the CPRC provided information and training, and the
levels of service provided to them; and
(7) The project management and staff will--
(i) Make use of the technical assistance (TA) and products provided
by the Center on Parent Information and Resources, Regional Parent
Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), Native American PTAC, Military
PTAC, and other TA centers funded by the Office of Special Education
Programs (OSEP), as appropriate, including the PROMISE TA Center, in
order to serve parents of children with disabilities and youth with
disabilities as effectively as possible;
(ii) Participate in developing individualized TA plans with the
Regional PTAC as appropriate; and
(iii) Facilitate one site visit from the Regional PTAC during the
grant cycle.
(f) In the narrative or appendices as directed, the applicant
must--
(1) Include, in Appendix A, a logic model that depicts, at a
minimum, the goals, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes of the
proposed project. A logic model communicates how a project will achieve
its intended outcomes and provides a framework for both the formative
and summative evaluations of the project;
NOTE: The following Web sites provide more information on logic
models: www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel and
www.osepideasthatwork.org/resources-grantees/program-areas/ta-ta/tad-project-logic-model-and-conceptual-framework.
(2) Include, in Appendix A, person-loading charts and timelines, as
applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the
narrative; and
(3) Include, in the budget, attendance by the project director at
one OSEP meeting in Washington DC annually, to be determined by OSEP;
NOTE: Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award
teleconference must be held between the OSEP project officer and the
grantee's project director and other authorized representatives.
Definitions: For the purposes of this priority:
Evidence-based means supported by strong theory.
Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
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 and requirements
in this notice.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1472 and 1481.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget 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: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$27,411,000 for the Training and Information for Parents of Children
with Disabilities program for FY 2017, of which we intend to use an
estimated $700,000 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 2018 from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $100,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 7.
NOTE: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Local parent organizations.
NOTE: Section 672(a)(2) of IDEA defines a ``local parent
organization'' as a parent organization, as defined in section
671(a)(2), that--
(a) Has a board of directors the majority of whom are parents of
children with disabilities ages birth through 26 from the community
to be served; and
(b) Has as its mission serving families of children with
disabilities who--
(i) Are ages birth through 26; and
(ii) Have the full range of disabilities described in section
602(3) of IDEA.
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: State 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 suitable to carry out the activities proposed
in the application.
(b) The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has
identified in an approved application.
4. Other General Requirements:
(a) Recipients of funding under this program must make positive
efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals
with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Each applicant for, and recipient of, funding under this
program must involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of
individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning,
implementing, and evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A)
of IDEA).
[[Page 88230]]
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: 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 84.328C.
To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Carmen Sanchez,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5175,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-
6595. If you use a TDD or TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS),
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content and form of an application, together with the
forms you must submit, are in the application package for this
competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to
no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, reference citations, and captions, as well as
all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit and double-spacing 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 the application package.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 7, 2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 6, 2017.
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 6, 2017.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM), 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,
[[Page 88231]]
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 Community Parent Resource Centers
competition, CFDA number 84.328C, 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 Community
Parent Resource Centers competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search
for the downloadable application package for this competition by the
CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your
search (e.g., search for 84.328, not 84.328C).
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. 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 application
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
[[Page 88232]]
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: Carmen Sanchez, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. 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
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.328C), 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 84.328C), 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 program are
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
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
[[Page 88233]]
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.
5. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and
that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of your currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
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 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 Training and Information for Parents of Children with
Disabilities program. The measures focus on the extent to which
projects provide high-quality products and services, the relevance of
project products and services to educational and early intervention
policy and practice, and the use of products and services to improve
educational and early intervention policy and practice. Projects funded
under this competition are required to submit data on these measures as
directed by OSEP.
Grantees will be required to report information on their project's
performance in annual and final performance reports to the Department
(34 CFR 75.590).
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award 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: Carmen Sanchez, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-6595.
If you use a TDD or a 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) by contacting
the Management Support Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW.,
[[Page 88234]]
Room 5113, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2500. 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 2, 2016.
Sue Swenson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services, delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties
of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2016-29370 Filed 12-6-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P