[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18438-18447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07930]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With 
Disabilities--Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for Technical 
Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for 
Children with Disabilities--Early Childhood Systems Technical 
Assistance Center, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 
84.326P.

DATES: Applications Available: April 19, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 5, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 2, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Martin Eile, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-5108. Telephone: (202) 245-7431.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and to improve 
results for children with disabilities by providing technical 
assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating 
useful information, and implementing activities that are supported by 
scientifically based research.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 663 
and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 
(20 U.S.C. 1463 and 1481)(d)).
    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:
    Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center.
    Background:
    To improve outcomes for, and protect the rights of, infants, 
toddlers, and preschool children (young children) with disabilities and 
their families, States must have effective systems \1\ for implementing 
IDEA and providing high-quality services under Part C and Part B, 
section 619. Effective systems must include implementation supports \2\ 
that enable local programs and practitioners to implement, with 
fidelity, services and interventions \3\ supported by evidence (as 
defined in this notice). The majority of States, however, have 
identified areas for improvement within their systems (Lucas et al., 
2015), and local programs often lack necessary implementation supports.
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    \1\ For the purpose of this priority, ``systems'' include: 
governance; finance; personnel and workforce; data; accountability 
and quality improvement; and quality standards (The Early Childhood 
Technical Assistance Center, 2015).
    \2\ For the purpose of this priority, ``implementation 
supports'' include: professional development and training; ongoing 
consultation and coaching; performance assessments; data systems to 
support decision making; administrative supports; and systems 
interventions to align policies and funding mechanisms across 
multiple levels of a system (Fixsen, Blas[eacute], Naoom, & Wallace, 
2009).
    \3\ For the purpose of this priority, ``interventions'' include 
the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) recommended practices. The 
DEC recommended practices bridge the gap between research and 
practice, providing guidance to families of young children with 
disabilities and practitioners who work with them. The practices 
have been shown to result in better outcomes for young children with 
disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them 
(Division for Early Childhood, 2014).
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    States can use the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP),\4\ a 
comprehensive, multiyear plan that is focused on improving a State-
identified measureable result (SIMR), to plan how to enhance their 
systems to better implement IDEA and interventions based on evidence. 
States reported in their SSIPs multiple challenges that affect States' 
abilities to successfully implement their SSIPs, including the high 
turnover of State administrators and limited collaboration across those 
agencies that are part of delivering high-quality inclusive 
programs.\5\
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    \4\ Each State was required to submit an SSIP as part of its 
State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report beginning in 
Federal Fiscal Year 2013. Each State identified a SIMR under Parts C 
and B of IDEA.
    \5\ IDEA Part C requires that, to the maximum extent 
appropriate, factoring in each child's routines, needs, and 
outcomes, early intervention services be made available to all 
eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities in ``natural 
environments,'' including the home and community settings in which 
children without disabilities participate. IDEA Part B, section 619 
requires that to the maximum extent appropriate, all children with 
disabilities, including preschool children with disabilities, must 
be educated in the least restrictive environment, and removal from 
the regular education environment occurs only if the nature and 
severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes 
with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved 
satisfactorily.
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    In order to increase high-quality inclusive opportunities for 
children with disabilities, State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
coordinators must be active collaborators with other early childhood 
systems (e.g., home visiting programs, Head Start programs, child care 
programs, public preschool programs) and engage in broader early 
childhood initiatives within the State. Further, IDEA Part C and Part 
B, section 619 coordinators report that they are often not included as 
partners on State and local leadership teams that are developed to 
address broader early childhood initiatives, but that collaboration 
with their IDEA counterparts is necessary for developing and increasing 
access and meaningful participation in inclusive settings for young 
children with disabilities.
    This priority will fund a cooperative agreement to establish and 
operate a national Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center 
(Center). The Center will provide TA to States to enable them to 
maintain high-quality systems with implementation supports to implement 
IDEA consistent with its requirements and to provide high-quality IDEA 
services for young children with disabilities and their families. The 
Center will work with IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 coordinators 
to increase their competencies to lead systemic improvements and work 
collaboratively with other early childhood systems to increase access 
to, and participation in, high-quality inclusive programs for young 
children with disabilities.
    Priority:
    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
establish and operate an Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance 
Center to achieve, at a minimum, the following:

[[Page 18439]]

    (a) Increased capacity of State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
programs to improve and sustain State systems (including governance, 
finance, personnel and workforce, data, accountability and quality 
improvement, and quality standards) to effectively implement IDEA 
regulations and deliver high-quality IDEA services to improve outcomes 
for young children with disabilities and their families.
    (b) Increased capacity of State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
programs to include implementation supports within their State systems 
to support local programs in delivering effective services and 
interventions for young children with disabilities and their families.
    (c) Increased capacity of State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
programs to implement their SSIPs and make progress towards meeting 
their SIMRs to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities 
and their families.
    (d) Improved State and local systems to increase access to, and 
participation in, high-quality, inclusive programs for young children 
with disabilities.
    (e) Increased knowledge, skills, and competencies of IDEA Part C 
and Part B, section 619 coordinators to lead systemic improvement 
efforts, actively engage in broader early childhood initiatives, use TA 
effectively, and build more effective and sustainable State systems 
that provide high-quality services and inclusive learning opportunities 
that improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their 
families.
    In addition to these programmatic requirements, to be considered 
for funding under this priority, applicants must meet the application 
and administrative requirements in this priority. The Office of Special 
Education Programs (OSEP) encourages innovative approaches to meet 
these requirements, which are:
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will--
    (1) Address the current and emerging needs of States under IDEA 
Part C and Part B, section 619 programs to implement and sustain high-
quality, effective, and efficient systems that have the implementation 
supports in place to support local programs in delivering effective 
services and the DEC Recommended Practices within inclusive programs to 
improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their 
families. To meet this requirement the applicant must--
    (i) Present applicable national and State data demonstrating the 
needs of States to improve their systems to implement IDEA, deliver 
high-quality IDEA services for young children with disabilities and 
their families, implement DEC Recommended Practices, and increase 
opportunities to participate in inclusive programs;
    (ii) Demonstrate knowledge of current issues and ongoing challenges 
to implementing IDEA in a manner consistent with its statutory and 
regulatory provisions, implementing the SSIP to improve outcomes for 
young children with disabilities and their families, increasing the 
capacity of Part C and Part B, section 619 coordinators to effectively 
lead systemic improvement, and supporting collaborative relationships 
between early childhood and IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
programs;
    (iii) Demonstrate knowledge of broader early childhood initiatives 
and how IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 programs and children with 
disabilities could be included within the initiatives; and
    (iv) Present information about the current capacity of IDEA Part C 
and Part B, section 619 programs and coordinators to support systemic 
change and implement the recommendations in the Policy Statement on 
Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs 
(U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, 2015).
    (2) Improve IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 systems to ensure 
implementation of IDEA, and build capacity to support local programs to 
implement, scale up, and sustain high-quality services and inclusive 
programs, and indicate the likely magnitude or importance of the 
improvements.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Project Services,'' how the proposed project will--
    (1) Ensure equal access and treatment to members of groups that 
have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. To meet this requirement, the 
applicant must describe how it will--
    (i) Identify the needs of the intended recipients for TA and 
information; and
    (ii) Ensure that TA services and products meet the needs of the 
intended recipients;
    (2) Achieve its goals, objectives, and intended outcomes. To meet 
this requirement, the applicant must provide--
    (i) Measurable intended project outcomes; and
    (ii) The logic model by which the proposed project will achieve its 
intended outcomes. A logic model used in connection with this priority 
communicates how a project will achieve its intended outcomes and 
provides a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations 
of the project;
    (3) Use a conceptual framework to develop project plans and 
activities, describing any underlying concepts, assumptions, 
expectations, beliefs, or theories, as well as the presumed 
relationships or linkages among these variables, and any empirical 
support for this framework;

    Note: Rather than use the definition of ``logic model'' in 34 
CFR 77.1(c), OSEP uses the definition in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of 
these application requirements. This definition, unlike the 
definition in 34 CFR 77.1(c), differentiates between logic models 
and conceptual frameworks. 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.

    (4) Be based on current research and make use of practices 
supported by evidence. To meet this requirement, the applicant must 
describe--
    (i) The current research on the effectiveness of systems change, 
capacity building, and inclusive practices that will inform the TA and 
related research-based improvement strategies;
    (ii) The current research about adult learning principles and 
implementation science or improvement science that will inform the 
proposed products; and
    (iii) How the proposed project will incorporate current research 
and practices supported by evidence in the development and delivery of 
its TA products and services;
    (5) Develop products and provide services that are of high quality 
and sufficient intensity and duration to achieve the intended outcomes 
of the proposed project. To address this requirement, the applicant 
must describe--
    (i) How it proposes to identify or develop the knowledge base on: 
How to implement components of an effective IDEA Part C and Part B, 
section 619 system identified in the Early System Framework for 
Building High-Quality Early Intervention and Preschool Special 
Education Programs (Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, 2015); 
implementation supports within the system to support providers in 
delivering effective services and implementing DEC Recommended 
Practices; and indicators of high-quality inclusion and how States, 
districts, and

[[Page 18440]]

early childhood programs are implementing high-quality inclusive 
programs;
    (ii) Its proposed approach to universal, general TA,\6\ which must 
identify the intended recipients of the products and services under 
this approach and should include, at minimum--
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    \6\ ``Universal, general TA'' means TA and information provided 
to independent users through their own initiative, resulting in 
minimal interaction with TA center staff and including one-time, 
invited or offered conference presentations by TA center staff. This 
category of TA also includes information or products, such as 
newsletters, guidebooks, or research syntheses, downloaded from the 
TA center's Web site by independent users. Brief communications by 
TA center staff with recipients, either by telephone or email, are 
also considered universal, general TA.
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    (A) A plan for ensuring that IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
program staff, other early childhood providers, and relevant TA centers 
can easily access and use products and services developed by the 
proposed project;
    (B) A plan for increasing awareness and recognition at the national 
level of how IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 services and young 
children with disabilities and their families can be intentionally 
included within broader early childhood initiatives; and
    (C) A plan for years 3-5 that describes activities, including 
developing and strengthening existing resources, guidance, and tools 
focused on supporting all IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 programs 
in implementing IDEA requirements and supporting the programs in 
meeting their SIMRs.
    (iii) Its proposed approach to targeted, specialized TA,\7\ which 
must identify--
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    \7\ ``Targeted, specialized TA'' means TA services based on 
needs common to multiple recipients and not extensively 
individualized. A relationship is established between the TA 
recipient and one or more TA center staff. This category of TA 
includes one-time, labor-intensive events, such as facilitating 
strategic planning or hosting regional or national conferences. It 
can also include episodic, less labor-intensive events that extend 
over a period of time, such as facilitating a series of conference 
calls on single or multiple topics that are designed around the 
needs of the recipients. Facilitating communities of practice can 
also be considered targeted, specialized TA.
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    (A) The intended recipients of the products and services under this 
approach;
    (B) Its proposed approach to measure the readiness of potential TA 
recipients to work with the project, assessing, at a minimum, their 
current systems, available resources, and ability to build capacity at 
the local level;
    (C) The process by which the proposed project will collaborate with 
OSEP-funded centers and other federally funded TA centers to develop 
and implement a coordinated TA plan when they are involved in a State;
    (D) The process by which the proposed project will collaborate with 
the proposed Early Childhood Personnel Center to develop the content of 
professional development for IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
coordinators to increase their knowledge, skills, and competencies; and
    (E) The process by which the proposed project will increase its TA 
efforts to States in years 3-5 to achieve the intended project 
outcomes;
    (iv) Its proposed approach to intensive, sustained TA,\8\ which 
must identify--
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    \8\ ``Intensive, sustained TA'' means TA services often provided 
on-site and requiring a stable, ongoing relationship between the TA 
center staff and the TA recipient. ``TA services'' are defined as 
negotiated series of activities designed to reach a valued outcome. 
This category of TA should result in changes to policy, program, 
practice, or operations that support increased recipient capacity or 
improved outcomes at one or more systems levels.
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    (A) The intended recipients of the products and services under this 
approach;
    (B) Its proposed approach to measure the readiness of the State 
IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 programs to work with the project, 
including their commitment to the initiative, alignment of the 
initiative to their needs, current systems, available resources, and 
ability to build capacity at the local level;
    (C) Its proposed plan for assisting State IDEA Part C and Part B, 
section 619 programs to build training systems that include 
professional development based on adult learning principles and 
coaching;
    (D) Its proposed plan for working with appropriate levels of the 
Part C and Part B, section 619 and early childhood systems (e.g., 
regional TA providers, early intervention service programs and 
providers, local educational agencies (LEAs), Head Start programs, 
child care programs, home visiting programs, public preschools) and 
families to ensure that there is communication between each level and 
that there are systems in place to support the use of research-based 
practices;
    (E) The process by which the proposed project will collaborate with 
OSEP-funded centers and other federally funded TA centers to develop 
and implement a coordinated TA plan when they are involved in a State;
    (F) The process by which the proposed project will ensure the use 
of effective TA practices and continuously evaluate the practices to 
improve the delivery of TA; and
    (G) The process by which the proposed project will increase its TA 
efforts in years 3-5 to support all IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 
programs in implementing IDEA requirements and meeting their SIMRs.
    (6) Develop products and implement services that maximize 
efficiency. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
    (i) How the proposed project will use technology to achieve the 
intended project outcomes;
    (ii) With whom the proposed project will collaborate and the 
intended outcomes of this collaboration; and
    (iii) How the proposed project will use non-project resources to 
achieve the intended project outcomes.
    (c) In the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of 
the Evaluation Plan,'' include an evaluation plan for the project as 
described in the following paragraphs. The evaluation plan must 
describe: Measures of progress in implementation, including the 
criteria for determining the extent to which the project's products and 
services have reached its target population; measures of intended 
outcomes or results of the project's activities in order to evaluate 
those activities; and how well the goals or objectives of the proposed 
project, as described in its logic model, have been met.
    (d) Demonstrate in the narrative section of the application under 
``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how--
    (1) The proposed project will encourage applications for employment 
from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been 
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
disability, as appropriate;
    (2) The proposed key project personnel, consultants, and 
subcontractors have the qualifications and experience to carry out the 
proposed activities and achieve the project's intended outcomes;
    (3) The applicant and any key partners have adequate resources to 
carry out the proposed activities; and
    (4) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the 
anticipated results and benefits.
    (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 project's 
intended outcomes will be achieved on time and within budget. To 
address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
    (i) Clearly defined responsibilities for key project personnel, 
consultants, and subcontractors, as applicable; and

[[Page 18441]]

    (ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks;
    (2) Allocation of key project personnel and any consultants and 
subcontractors and how these allocations are appropriate and adequate 
to achieve the project's intended outcomes;
    (3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the products and 
services provided are of high quality, relevant, and useful to 
recipients; and
    (4) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of 
perspectives, including those of families, educators, TA providers, 
doctoral and post-doctoral scholars, researchers, and policy makers, 
among others, in its development and operation.
    (f) Address the following application requirements. 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;
    (2) Include, in Appendix A, a conceptual framework for the project;
    (3) Include, in Appendix A, personnel-loading charts and timelines, 
as applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the 
narrative;
    (4) Include, in the budget, attendance at the following:
    (i) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting in Washington, DC, 
after receipt of the award, and an annual planning meeting in 
Washington, DC, with the OSEP project officer and other relevant staff 
during each subsequent year of the project period.

    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 or other authorized representative;

    (ii) A two and one-half day project directors' conference in 
Washington, DC, during each year of the project period;
    (iii) Four trips annually to attend Department briefings, 
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by 
OSEP; and
    (iv) A one-day intensive 3+2 review meeting in Washington, DC, 
during the last half of the second year of the project period;
    (5) Include, in the budget, a line item for the following:
    (i) An annual set-aside of five percent of the grant amount to 
support emerging needs that are consistent with the proposed project's 
intended outcomes, as those needs are identified in consultation with 
and approved by the OSEP project officer. With approval from the OSEP 
project officer, the project must reallocate any remaining funds from 
this annual set-aside no later than the end of the third quarter of 
each budget period;
    (ii) An annual budget of a minimum of $500,000 to address the need 
to increase knowledge and implement high-quality inclusive practices 
across early childhood systems;
    (iii) An annual budget of a minimum of $200,000 to address the 
needs in the finance systems for Part C; and
    (iv) An annual budget of a minimum of $50,000 to collaborate with 
the proposed Early Childhood Personnel Center, if funded, to increase 
the knowledge, skills and competencies of IDEA Part C and Part B, 
section 619 coordinators
    (6) Engage doctoral students or post-doctoral fellows in the 
project to increase future leaders in the field who are knowledgeable 
on effective IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 systems, 
implementation supports, interventions to support inclusion in early 
childhood programs, and effective TA practices;
    (7) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility; and
    (8) Include, in Appendix A, an assurance to assist OSEP with the 
transfer of pertinent resources and products and to maintain the 
continuity of services to States during the transition to this new 
award period, as appropriate.
    Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
    In deciding whether to continue funding the 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 3+2 review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting that will be held during the last half of the 
second year of the project period;
    (b) The timeliness with which, and how well, the requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
project; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the project's 
products and services and the extent to which the project's products 
and services are aligned with the project's objectives and likely to 
result in the project achieving its intended outcomes.
    Definitions:
    For the purposes of this priority:
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
    Supported by evidence means supported by at least strong theory.

    References:

Division for Early Childhood. (2014). DEC recommended practices in 
early intervention/early childhood special education 2014. Retrieved 
from www.dec-sped.org/recommendedpractices.
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. (2015). A system 
framework for building high-quality early intervention and preschool 
special education programs. Retrieved from the ECTA Web site: http:/
/ectacenter.org/~pdfs/pubs/ecta-system_framework.pdf.
Fixsen, D. L., Blas[eacute], K. A., Naoom, S. F., & Wallace, F. 
(2009). Core implementation components. Research on Social Work 
Practices, 19(5), 531-540.
Lucas, A., Kahn, L., Derrington, T., Whaley, K., Winer, A., Nelson, 
R., * * * Taylor, C. (2015). State of the states on systemic 
improvement planning: A national overview of Phase 1 SSIPs 
[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://ectacenter.org/googleresults.asp?q=State%20of%20the%20States.
National Professional Development Center on Inclusion. (August, 
2011). Competencies for early childhood educators in the context of 
inclusion: Issues and guidance for States. Chapel Hill, NC: The 
University of North Carolina, FPG Child Development Institute, 
Author.
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services. (2015). Joint policy statement on inclusion of children 
with disabilities in early childhood programs. Washington, DC: 
Author. Retrieved from www.ed.gov/early-learning/inclusion.

    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. 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. 1463 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.


[[Page 18442]]



II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Further Continuing and Security 
Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, would provide, on an annualized 
basis, $54,345,000 for the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to 
Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program, of 
which we would use an estimated $3,400,000 in Years 1 and 2, and 
$5,400,000 in Years 3-5 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.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $3,400,000 in Years 1 and 2, and $5,400,000 in Years 
3-5 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 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies; local 
educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that 
operate as 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: IHEs 
and private nonprofit 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 
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 must, with 
respect to the aspects of their proposed project relating to the 
absolute priority, 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 TDD or a 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 84.326P.
    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 VII 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 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: April 19, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 5, 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. 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: 
August 2, 2017.
    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.

[[Page 18443]]

    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, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: 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 Early Childhood Systems Technical 
Assistance Center competition, CFDA number 84.326P, 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 Early 
Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center 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 84.326, not 
84.326P).
    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 Portable 
Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF 
file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only 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

[[Page 18444]]

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 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 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: Julia Martin Eile, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-5108. 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 84.326P), 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:

[[Page 18445]]

(CFDA Number 84.326P), 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: (a) Significance (5 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the proposed project will address specific 
gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities that 
have been identified.
    (ii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project.
    (b) Quality of the project services (40 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (ii) The extent to which there is a conceptual framework underlying 
the proposed activities and the quality of that framework.
    (iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and 
effective practice.
    (iv) The extent to which the proposed products and services are of 
sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to lead to the outcomes 
intended to be achieved by the proposed project.
    (v) The extent to which the products and services to be developed 
and provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient 
strategies, including the use of technology, collaboration with 
appropriate partners, and the leveraging of non-project resources.
    (c) Quality of the project evaluation (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
data and performance feedback for examining the effectiveness of 
project implementation strategies and the progress toward achieving 
intended outcomes.
    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will produce 
quantitative and qualitative data that demonstrate the project has met 
intended outcomes.
    (d) Adequacy of project resources (15 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources, including 
the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel (i.e., project director, project staff, and 
project consultants or subcontractors).
    (ii) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization and key 
partners.
    (iii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the anticipated results and benefits.
    (e) Quality of management plan (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director, project staff, and project consultants or subcontractors are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.
    (iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project.
    (iv) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives 
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including 
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of 
disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of 
services, or others, as appropriate.
    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,

[[Page 18446]]

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.
    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.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, 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 Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve 
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. The 
Department will use these measures, which 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. 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., 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

[[Page 18447]]

your search to documents published by the Department.

    Dated: April 14, 2017.
Ruth E. Ryder,
Deputy Director, Office of Special Education Programs, delegated the 
duties of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-07930 Filed 4-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P