[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23441-23446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10802]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Education Research and Special 
Education Research Grant Programs

AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, 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) 2019 for the Education 
Research and Special

[[Page 23442]]

Education Research Grant Programs, Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) numbers 84.305A, 84.305C, 84.305D, 84.305H, 84.305L, 
84.324A, 84.324B, 84.324L, and 84.324N.

DATES: The dates when applications are available and the deadlines for 
transmittal of applications invited under this notice are indicated in 
the chart at the end of this notice and in the Requests for 
Applications (RFAs) that are posted at the following websites: https://ies.ed.gov/funding, https://www.ed.gov/programs/edresearch/index.html, 
and https://www.ed.gov/programs/specialedresearch/index.html.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an 
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to 
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the 
Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and available at 
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The contact person associated with a 
particular research competition is listed in the chart at the end of 
this notice, as well as in the relevant RFA and application package.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: In awarding these grants, the Institute of 
Education Sciences (Institute) intends to provide national leadership 
in expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of (1) 
developmental and school readiness outcomes for infants and toddlers 
with or at risk for a disability, (2) education outcomes for all 
students from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult 
education, and (3) employment and wage outcomes when relevant (such as 
for students who engaged in career and technical, postsecondary, or 
adult education). The Institute's research grant programs are designed 
to provide interested individuals and the general public with reliable 
and valid information about education practices that support learning 
and improve academic achievement and access to education opportunities 
for all students. These interested individuals include parents, 
educators, students, researchers, and policymakers. In carrying out its 
grant programs, the Institute provides support for programs of research 
in areas of demonstrated national need.
    Competitions in This Notice: The Institute will conduct nine 
research competitions in FY 2019 through two of its centers:
    The Institute's National Center for Education Research (NCER) will 
hold a total of five competitions--one competition in each of the 
following areas: Education research; education research and development 
centers; statistical and reseach methodology in education; partnerships 
and collaborations focused on problems of practice or policy; and low-
cost, short-duration evaluation of education interventions.
    The Institute's National Center for Special Education Research 
(NCSER) will hold a total of four competitions--one competition in each 
of the following areas: Special education research; research training 
programs in special education; low-cost, short-duration evaluation of 
special education interventions; and research networks focused on 
critical problems of policy and practice in special education.

NCER Competitions

    The Education Research Competition. Under this competition, NCER 
will consider only applications that address one of the following 
topics:
     Career and Technical Education.
     Cognition and Student Learning.
     Early Learning Programs and Policies.
     Education Leadership.
     Education Technology.
     Effective Teachers and Effective Teaching.
     English Learners.
     Improving Education Systems.
     Postsecondary and Adult Education.
     Reading and Writing.
     Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education.
     Social and Behavioral Context for Academic Learning.
     Special Topics, which include--
     Social Studies.
     Foreign Language Education.
    The Education Research and Development Centers Competition. Under 
this competition, NCER will consider only applications that address one 
of the following two topics:
     Improving Rural Education.
     Writing in Secondary Schools.
    The Statistical and Research Methodology in Education Competition. 
Under this competition, NCER will consider only applications that 
address one of the following two topics:
     Statistical and Research Methodology Grants.
     Early Career Statistical and Research Methodology Grants.
    The Partnerships and Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice 
or Policy Competition. Under this competition, NCER will consider only 
applications that address one of the following two topics:
     Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education 
Research.
     Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and 
Policies.
    The Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions 
Competitions. Under this competition, NCER will consider only 
applications that address low-cost, short-duration evaluation of 
education interventions.

NCSER Competitions

    The Special Education Research Competition. Under this competition, 
NCSER will consider only applications that address one of the following 
topics:
     Autism Spectrum Disorders.
     Cognition and Student Learning in Special Education.
     Early Intervention and Early Learning in Special 
Education.
     Families of Children with Disabilities.
     Professional Development for Teachers and School-Based 
Service Providers.
     Reading, Writing, and Language Development.
     Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education.
     Social and Behavioral Outcomes to Support Learning.
     Special Education Policy, Finance, and Systems.
     Technology for Special Education.
     Transition Outcomes for Secondary Students with 
Disabilities.
     Special Topics, which include--
     Career and Technical Education for Students with 
Disabilities.
     English Learners with Disabilities.
     Systems-Involved Students with Disabilities.
    The Research Training Programs in Special Education Competition. 
Under this competition, NCSER will consider only applications that 
address early career development and mentoring.
    The Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education 
Interventions Competitions. Under this competition, NCSER will consider 
only applications that address low-cost, short-duration evaluation of 
special education interventions.
    The Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Policy and 
Practice in Special Education Competition. Under this competition, 
NCSER will consider only applications that address research on Multi-
Tiered Systems of Support under the following topic:

[[Page 23443]]

     Research Team.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, 
and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable, 
except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 
75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-
(c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, 75.230, and 75.708. (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 in 2 CFR part 3474.

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

    Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not 
apply for this program.

II. Award Information

    Types of Awards: Discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.
    Fiscal Information: Although Congress has not yet enacted an 
appropriation for FY 2019, the Institute is inviting applications for 
these competitions now so that applicants can have adequate time to 
prepare their applications. The actual level of funding, if any, 
depends on final congressional action. The Department may announce 
additional competitions later in 2018. The actual award of grants will 
depend on the availability of funds.
    Estimated Range of Awards: See chart at the end of this notice.
    Estimated Size and Number of Awards: The size of the awards will 
depend on the scope of the projects proposed. The number of awards made 
under each competition will depend on the quality of the applications 
received for that competition, the availability of funds, and the 
following limits on awards for specific competitions and topics set by 
the Institute. See the chart at the end of this notice for additional 
information.
    The Institute may waive any of the following limits on awards for a 
specific competition or topic in the special case that the peer review 
process results in a tie between two or more grant applications, making 
it impossible to adhere to the limits without funding only some of the 
equally ranked applications. In that case, the Institute may make a 
larger number of awards to include all applications of the same rank.
    For NCER's Education Research and Development competition, we 
intend to fund one grant under the Writing topic and up to two grants 
under the Rural Education topic if they are deemed complementary rather 
than duplicative (e.g., if the research is conducted in different 
States or regions of the country, and/or addressing different problems 
or issues in rural education).
    For NCSER's Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of 
Policy and Practice in Special Education competition, we intend to fund 
no more than five Research Team grants.
    Contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2020 from the list of 
highly-rated unfunded applications from the FY 2019 competitions.

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

    Project Period: See chart at the end of this notice.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Applicants that have the ability and 
capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to 
apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit 
and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and 
institutions of higher education, such as colleges and universities.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: For information on how to 
submit an application please refer to our Common Instructions for 
Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, 
published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and 
available at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.
    2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application 
requirements for the competitions will be contained in the NCER and 
NCSER RFAs, which will be available on or before May 31, 2018, on the 
Institute's website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. The dates on which 
the application packages for these competitions will be available are 
indicated in the chart at the end of this notice.
    3. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for 
the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the 
application package for the specific competition.
    4. Submission Dates and Times: The deadline date for transmittal of 
applications for each competition is indicated in the chart at the end 
of this notice and in the RFAs for the competitions.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    5. Intergovernmental Review: These competitions are not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in CFR part 79.
    6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: For all of its grant competitions, the 
Institute uses selection criteria based on a peer-review process that 
has been approved by the National Board for Education Sciences. The 
Peer Review Procedures for Grant Applications can be found on the 
Institute's website at https://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/peer_review/application_review.asp.
    For the 84.305A, 84.305D, 84.324A, and 84.324N competitions, peer 
reviewers will be asked to evaluate the significance of the 
application, the quality of the research plan, the qualifications and 
experience of the personnel, and the resources of the applicant to 
support the proposed activities. These criteria are described in 
greater detail in the RFAs.
    For the 84.324B competition, peer reviewers will be asked to 
evaluate the significance of the application, the quality of the 
research plan, the quality of the career development plan, the 
qualifications and experience of the personnel, and the resources of 
the applicant to support the proposed activities. These criteria are 
described in greater detail in the RFA.
    For the 84.305C competition, peer reviewers will be asked to 
evaluate the significance of the application, the quality of the 
research plan for the focused program of research, the quality of the 
plans for other center activities, the quality of the management and 
institutional resources, and the qualifications and experience of the 
personnel. These criteria are described in greater detail in the RFA.
    For the 84.305H, 84.305L, and 84.324L competitions, peer reviewers

[[Page 23444]]

will be asked to evaluate the significance of the application, the 
quality of the partnership, the quality of the research plan, the 
qualifications and experience of the personnel, and the resources of 
the applicant to support the proposed activities. These criteria are 
described in greater detail in the RFAs.
    For all of the Institute's competitions, applications should 
include budgets no higher than the relevant maximum award as set out in 
the relevant RFA. The Institute will not make an award exceeding the 
relevant maximum award amount as set out in the relevant RFA.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Institute 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 Institute 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 Institute 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under these competitions the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Institute may impose specific 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.
    4. 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 the System for Award Management. 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. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual 
two-day meeting for project directors to be held in Washington, DC.
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under one of the 
competitions announced in this notice, 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 
Institute. 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 Institute under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Institute 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.
    5. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its 
education research and special education research grant programs, the 
Institute annually assesses the percentage of projects that result in 
peer-reviewed publications, the number of newly developed or modified 
interventions with evidence of promise for improving student education 
outcomes, and the number of Institute-supported interventions with 
evidence of efficacy in improving student outcomes including school 
readiness outcomes for young children and student academic outcomes and 
social and behavioral competencies for school-age students. School 
readiness outcomes include pre-reading, reading, pre-writing, early 
mathematics, early science, and social-emotional skills that prepare 
young children for school. Student academic outcomes include learning 
and achievement in core academic content areas (reading, writing, math, 
and science) and outcomes that reflect students' successful progression 
through the education system (e.g., course and grade completion; high 
school graduation; postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion). 
Social and behavioral competencies include social and emotional skills, 
attitudes, and behaviors that are important to student's academic and 
post-academic success. Additional education outcomes for students with 
or at risk of a disability (as defined in the relevant RFA) include 
developmental outcomes for infants and toddlers (birth to age three) 
pertaining to cognitive, communicative, linguistic, social, emotional, 
adaptive, functional, or physical development; and developmental and 
functional outcomes that improve education outcomes, transition to 
employment, independent living, and postsecondary education for 
students with disabilities.
    6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Institute considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in meeting 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 
Institute has established performance measurement requirements, whether 
the grantee has

[[Page 23445]]

met the performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, the Institute 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 RFA in an accessible format (e.g., braille, 
large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the appropriate 
program contact person listed in the chart at the end of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations 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 Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe 
Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this 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: May 16, 2018.
Mark Schneider,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.

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                                                                                                                                           For further
      CFDA No. and name           Application package    Deadline for transmittal    Estimated range of awards *       Project period      information
                                       available              of applications                                                                contact
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                                                      National Center for Education Research (NCER)
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84.305A Education Research...
    [ssquf] Career and
     Technical Education
    [ssquf] Cognition and
     Student Learning
    [ssquf] Early Learning
     Programs and Policies
    [ssquf] Education
     Leadership
    [ssquf] Education
     Technology
    [ssquf] Effective
     Teachers and Effective
     Teaching
    [ssquf] English Learners
    [ssquf] Improving          June 21, 2018...........  August 23, 2018.........  $100,000 to $760,000...........  Up to 5 years......  Molly Faulkner-
     Education Systems                                                                                                                    Bond
                                                                                                                                         Molly.Faulkner-
                                                                                                                                          [email protected].
    [ssquf] Postsecondary and
     Adult Education
    [ssquf] Reading and
     Writing
    [ssquf] Science,
     Technology, Engineering,
     and Mathematics
     Education
    [ssquf] Social and
     Behavioral Context for
     Academic Learning
    [ssquf] Special Topics
        [cir] Social Studies
        [cir] Foreign
         Language Education
84.305C Education Research
 and Development Centers.
    [ssquf] Improving Rural    June 21, 2018...........  August 9, 2018..........  $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.......  Up to 5 years......  Corinne Alfed
     Education                                                                                                                           Corinne.Alfed@e
                                                                                                                                          d.gov.
    [ssquf] Writing in
     Secondary Schools
84.305D Statistical and
 Research Methodology in
 Education.
    [ssquf] Statistical and    June 21, 2018...........  August 23, 2018.........  $40,000 to $300,000............  Up to 3 years......  Phill Gagne
     Research Methodology                                                                                                                Phill.Gagne@ed.
     Grants                                                                                                                               gov.
    [ssquf] Early Career
     Statistical and Research
     Methodology Grants
84.305H Partnerships and
 Collaborations Focused on
 Problems of Practice or
 Policy.
    [ssquf] Researcher-        June 21, 2018...........  August 23, 2018.........  $50,000 to $1,000,000..........  Up to 5 years......  Allen Ruby
     Practitioner                                                                                                                        [email protected]
     Partnerships in                                                                                                                      ov.
     Education Research
    [ssquf] Evaluation of
     State and Local
     Education Programs and
     Policies
84.305L Low-Cost, Short-       January 10, 2019........  March 7, 2019...........  $50,000 to $125,000............  Up to 2 years......  Phill Gagne
 Duration Evaluation of                                                                                                                  Phill.Gagne@ed.
 Education Interventions.                                                                                                                 gov.
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                                                 National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.324A Special Education
 Research.

[[Page 23446]]

 
    [ssquf] Autism Spectrum
     Disorders
    [ssquf] Cognition and
     Student Learning in
     Special Education
    [ssquf] Early
     Intervention and Early
     Learning in Special
     Education
    [ssquf] Families of
     Children with
     Disabilities
    [ssquf] Professional
     Development for Teachers
     and School-Based Service
     Providers
    [ssquf] Reading, Writing,
     and Language Development
    [ssquf] Science,
     Technology, Engineering,
     and Mathematics
     Education
    [ssquf] Social and         June 21, 2018...........  August 23, 2018.........  $100,000 to $760,000...........  Up to 5 years......  Amy Sussman
     Behavioral Outcomes to                                                                                                              Amy.Sussman@ed.
     Support Learning                                                                                                                     gov.
    [ssquf] Special Education
     Policy, Finance, and
     Systems
    [ssquf] Technology for
     Special Education
    [ssquf] Transition
     Outcomes for Secondary
     Students with
     Disabilities
    [ssquf] Special Topics
    [cir] Career and
     Technical Education for
     Students with
     Disabilities
    [cir] English Learners
     with Disabilities
    [cir] Systems-Involved
     Students with
     Disabilities
84.324B Research Training      June 21, 2018...........  August 23, 2018.........  $50,000 to $125,000............  Up to 4 years......  Katherine
 Programs in Special                                                                                                                      Taylor
 Education.                                                                                                                              Katherine.Taylo
                                                                                                                                          [email protected].
    [ssquf] Early Career
     Development and
     Mentoring
84.324L Low-Cost, Short-       January 10, 2019........  March 7, 2019...........  $50,000 to $125,000............  Up to 2 years......  Sarah Brasiel
 Duration Evaluation of                                                                                                                  Sarah.Brasiel@e
 Special Education                                                                                                                        d.gov.
 Interventions.
84.324N Research Networks      June 21, 2018...........  August 9, 2018..........  $300,000 to $1,000,000.........  Up to 5 years......  Amy Sussman
 Focused on Critical Problems                                                                                                            Amy.Sussman@ed.
 of Policy and Practice in                                                                                                                gov.
 Special Education.
    [ssquf] Research Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* These estimates are annual amounts.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Note: If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

[FR Doc. 2018-10802 Filed 5-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P