[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 37 (Friday, February 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11738-11744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03972]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Educational Technology, Media, and
Materials for Individuals With Disabilities Program--Television Access
Projects
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for
Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with
Disabilities--Television Access Projects, Assistance Listing Number
84.327C. This notice relates to the approved information collection
under OMB control number 1820-0028.
DATES:
Applications Available: February 26, 2021.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 27, 2021.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 28, 2021.
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 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Sheffield, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5040E, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-6725. Email:
[email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Educational Technology,
Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program is to
improve results for students with disabilities by: (1) Promoting the
development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) supporting
educational media activities designed to be of educational value in the
classroom for students with disabilities; (3) providing support for
captioning and video description that is appropriate for use in the
classroom; and (4) providing accessible educational materials to
students with disabilities in a timely manner.
Priority: This competition includes one absolute priority. In
accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority is from allowable
activities specified in the statute (see sections 674(c)(1)(D) and
681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); 20
U.S.C. 1474(c)(1)(D) and 1481(d)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2021 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:
Television Access Projects
Background: Section 674(c) of the IDEA requires, in part, that the
Secretary of Education support audio description,\1\ open captioning,
and closed captioning \2\ that is appropriate for use in the classroom
setting of (a) television programs; (b) videos; and (c) other
materials, including programs and materials associated with new and
emerging technologies.\3\ Twenty-first century K-12 classrooms and
early childhood learning environments provide enriching, differentiated
learning opportunities. For children and youth with disabilities to
fully engage in in-person, hybrid, and online learning environments,
they must have access to all instructional activities and materials.
Learners with sensory disabilities (e.g., blindness, including visual
impairment; deafness; hearing impairment; and deaf-blindness) often
require alternate means of accessing educational materials, video
programming, and online resources. Learners with other disabilities and
English learners can also benefit from accessibility features embedded
in educational media and materials (Kent et al., 2017; Teng, 2019).
When educational materials are inaccessible, students with sensory
disabilities miss out on opportunities to
[[Page 11739]]
participate fully and independently in learning (Rodriguez & Diaz,
2017).
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\1\ In October 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
adopted rule changes, including a switch from the term ``video
description'' to ``audio description'' that can be found at https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/102760142335/FCC-20-155A1.pdf. Audio
description (also known as video description or description) refers
to providing auditory access to significant visual content in a
video through spoken narration accompanying the video's soundtrack.
\2\ Closed captioning (also known as captioning) refers to
providing visual access to audio content from a video through text
displayed along with the video.
\3\ Applicants should note that other laws, including the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.; 28
CFR part 35) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (29 U.S.C. 794; 34 CFR part 104), may require that State
educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs)
provide captioning, audio description, and other accessible
educational materials to students with disabilities when these
materials are necessary to provide equally integrated and equally
effective access to the benefits of the educational program or
activity, or as part of a ``free appropriate public education'' as
defined in 34 CFR 104.33.
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Closed captioning and audio description technologies enhance
learning experiences for children and youth with disabilities and
English learners (Rodriguez & Diaz, 2017). Captioning increases the
accessibility of video programming, particularly for audience members
(children, parents, and teachers) who are deaf or have hearing loss and
for those who are temporarily unable to hear a program or who benefit
when auditory information is supported by text. Audio description
increases access to visual content, especially for people with visual
impairments or visual processing difficulties and for anyone
temporarily unable to follow a program visually.
Children and youth with deaf-blindness have a spectrum of video
access needs; therefore, captioning and audio description are most
beneficial when provided in customizable formats. For example, students
may need to change the size of captions or slow down descriptions;
others may need separate transcription documents. Different
descriptions may be required for the same video depending on individual
needs and instructional purposes.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires most television
programs to be captioned. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
also requires networks to broadcast a comparatively limited amount of
audio described programming. The FCC's requirements for captioning and
description do not apply to online media, and when previously broadcast
video is shared online, online versions may not be accessible.
The Department has made awards since 1995 to provide audio
description and captioning under the Educational Technology, Media, and
Materials for Individuals with Disabilities program. Despite these
efforts and IDEA requirements for students to be provided with
accessible instructional materials, not all video and multimedia
content used in school settings is described or captioned. Content
creators continue to produce media resources that must be remediated,
rather than ``born accessible,'' i.e., released with embedded captions
and audio description. More captioned and described content is needed,
especially to assist those who are English learners and in settings
with limited internet access, where older educational media may still
be in use.
Priority: The purpose of this priority is to fund three cooperative
agreements that will improve the learning opportunities for children
and youth with disabilities by providing access to video programming
\4\ through accessible high-quality audio description and captioning.
This access will be accomplished by making available television
programs that are appropriate for use in classroom settings and online
learning environments that are not otherwise required to be captioned
or described by the FCC. As part of the work of each project, in
consultation with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
project officer, selective media must be captioned and described in
Spanish for eligible users who are learning English and live in
households where Spanish is the dominant language.
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\4\ For the purposes of this notice, video programming is
defined consistent with 47 CFR 79.4, meaning ``programming by, or
generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a
television broadcast station, but not including consumer-generated
media.''
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The projects must achieve, at a minimum, the following expected
outcomes:
(a) Increased access to captioned and described video programming
by children with sensory disabilities and other disabilities;
(b) Increased number of described and captioned educational video
programs, both in English and in Spanish, available for use by children
with disabilities;
(c) Increased cost effectiveness and efficiency in the production
and dissemination of accessible video programming;
(d) Increased quality and usability of described and captioned
products;
(e) Increased use of technology in the projects' production and
dissemination workflows and related processes; and
(f) Increased alignment and coordination across the three 84.327C
projects and the Captioned and Described Educational Media Center
(84.327N).
In addition to these programmatic requirements, to be considered
for funding under this absolute priority, applicants must meet the
application and administrative requirements in this priority, which
are:
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Significance'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Address the need for access to educational television
programming to support equitable opportunities in early learning
programs, schools, and workplaces for transition-aged youth. To meet
this requirement, the applicant must--
(i) Present applicable national, State, regional, or local data
demonstrating the need for accessible educational television
programming in schools, online settings, and workplaces for transition-
aged youth and children and youth with disabilities, including children
with disabilities who may be underserved; and
(ii) Demonstrate knowledge of the benefits, services, or
opportunities that are available through the use of educational
television programming in schools, online settings, and workplaces that
are fully accessible to children and youth with disabilities, including
children with disabilities who may be underserved.
(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of project services,'' how the project will--
(1) Apply knowledge of the populations served by the project to
determine the preferences and unmet needs of educators, children and
youth with disabilities, and the parents of these students in selecting
the programming to be audio described, captioned, or both;
(2) Use criteria to select, produce, and add high-quality
descriptions and captioning to widely available Spanish and English
language video programming of high educational value for children and
youth with disabilities and their families, teachers, and other
professionals to use in K-12 classroom settings or online learning
environments;
(3) Identify and use new and emerging technologies and processes
that will improve the quality, availability, cost effectiveness, and
usability of accessible educational media, materials, and products for
children and youth with disabilities in the production of accessible
educational video programming;
(4) Acquire, from producers, networks, program creators, and
others, video programming to describe and caption to make the
programming accessible to children and youth with disabilities; and
(5) Develop and implement, in collaboration with the Captioned and
Described Educational Media Center (84.327N), documented routines and
processes to improve access to, and increase the collection of,
accessible educational video programming, online materials, and other
related media that make it possible for children and youth with
disabilities to participate in early learning environments, K-12
settings, and remote online environments to succeed in 21st-century
educational environments.
[[Page 11740]]
(c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Adequacy of project resources,'' how--
(1) The proposed key personnel, consultants, and contractors have
the qualifications, experience, and commitment to carry out the
proposed activities and achieve the project's intended outcomes;
(2) 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;
(3) The applicant and key partners have adequate resources to carry
out proposed project activities. To address this requirement, the
applicant must describe--
(i) The willingness of the potential television program providers
or program owners, as appropriate, to permit and facilitate the audio
description or the audio description and captioning of their programs;
(ii) Requirements and assurances that the programming that is made
accessible under this project will continue to contain those audio
descriptions and captions after the programming is aired; and
(iii) How programming audio described or captioned under this
project would not otherwise be audio described or captioned to meet the
FCC's requirements, or how this programming is specifically exempt from
the FCC's requirements; and
(4) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the
anticipated results and benefits. To address this requirement, the
applicant must describe--
(i) The total number of program hours proposed to be made
accessible through audio description, or audio description and
captioning, under this project;
(ii) The cost per hour for audio description and, if the applicant
is proposing both audio description and captioning, the cost per hour
for audio description and for captioning; and
(iii) A plan, if any, to increase the anticipated shelf-life and
distribution of educational programming described, or captioned and
described, under this project.
(d) 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
(ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks;
(2) Key personnel, consultants, and contractors will be
sufficiently allocated to the project 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, but not limited to, students and families,
early intervention service providers, educators, researchers, and other
OSEP funded projects.
(e) In the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of
the project evaluation,'' include an evaluation plan, as described in
the following paragraphs. The evaluation plan must describe measures of
progress in implementation, including the extent to which the project's
products and services have reached its target population and measures
of intended outcomes or results of the project's activities to assess
the effectiveness of those activities.
In designing the evaluation plan, the applicant must--
(1) Provide a logic model \5\ or conceptual framework that depicts,
at a minimum, the goals, activities, project evaluation, methods,
performance measures, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project;
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\5\ Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to
be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the
theoretical and operational relationships among the key project
components and relevant outcomes. See 34 CFR 77.1.
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(2) Provide a plan to implement the activities described in this
priority; and
(3) Provide a plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model or
conceptual framework, for a formative evaluation of the proposed
project's activities. The plan must describe how the formative
evaluation will use clear performance objectives to ensure continuous
improvement in the operation of the proposed project, including
objective measures of progress in implementing the project and ensuring
the quality of products and resources.
Note: The following websites provide more information on logic
models and conceptual frameworks: www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel and www.osepideasthatwork.org/resources-grantees/program-areas/ta-ta/tad-project-logic-model-and-conceptual-framework.
(f) Address the following application requirements. The applicant
must include--
(1) In Appendix A, personnel-loading charts and timelines, as
applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the
narrative; and
(2) In the budget, attendance at the following:
(i) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting in Washington, DC, or
virtually, after receipt of the award, and an annual planning meeting
in Washington, DC, or virtually, 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, or a virtual conference, during each year of the
project period.
(iii) Two annual two-day trips to attend Department briefings,
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by
OSEP; and
(iv) A one-day intensive OSEP review meeting during the last half
of the second year of the project period.
(3) Information on how the project will maintain a high-quality
website, with an easy-to-navigate design, that meets government or
industry-recognized standards for accessibility; and
(4) 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 and
at the end of this 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),
including--
(a) The recommendations of an OSEP review team consisting of
experts who have experience and knowledge in providing access to video
programming through accessible high-quality audio description and
captioning. 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
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(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.
Under 34 CFR 75.253, the Secretary may reduce continuation awards
or discontinue awards in any year of the project period for excessive
carryover balances or a failure to make substantial progress. The
Department intends to closely monitor unobligated balances and
substantial progress under this program and may reduce or discontinue
funding accordingly.
References
Feng, T. (2019). Incidental vocabulary learning for primary school
students: The effects of L2 caption type and word exposure
frequency. Australian Educational Researcher, 46(1), 113-136.
Kent, M., Ellis, K., Peaty, G., Latter, N., & Locke, K. (2017).
Mainstreaming captions for online lectures in higher education in
Australia. Curtin University. www.ncsehe.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/
2017/04/MainstreamingCaptions_FinalReport.pdf.
Rodriguez, J., & Diaz, M.V. (2017). Media with captions and
description to support learning among children with sensory
disabilities. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 5(11),
2016-2025.
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. 1474 and 1481.
Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in
Federal civil rights laws.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education (IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative agreements.
Estimated Number of Awards: 3.
Estimated Range of Awards: $650,000 to $666,000 per year.
Estimated Available Funds: $2,000,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2022 from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition.
Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $3,335,000 for
the 60-month project period.
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 (SEAs); 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.
Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51,
you may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) Proof
that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant
as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from
a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that
the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the
State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any
private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the
applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it
clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4)
any item described above if that item applies to a State or national
parent organization, together with a statement by the State or
parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit
affiliate.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses an
unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding
indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please
see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.
c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include
any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All
administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to
Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform
Guidance.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities
described in its application. Under 34 CFR 75.708(e), a grantee may
contract for supplies, equipment, and other services in accordance with
2 CFR part 200.
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. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
2. 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.
3. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you,
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the
application narrative to no more than 50 pages and (2) use the
following standards:
[[Page 11742]]
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.
The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; 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
recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative,
including all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen
shots.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows:
(a) Significance (15 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 significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by the
proposed project; and
(ii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services,
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude
of those gaps or weaknesses.
(b) Quality of project services (30 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 services to be provided by the proposed
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective
practice;
(ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for
maximizing the effectiveness of project services;
(iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended
recipients or beneficiaries of those services; and
(iv) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the
proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.
(c) Adequacy of resources and quality of project personnel (20
points).
(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the
proposed project and the quality of the personnel who will carry out
the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of project personnel, 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 the project director or principal investigator;
(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of key project personnel;
(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of project consultants or subcontractors;
(iv) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the
lead applicant organization; and
(v) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
(d) 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 include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible;
(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies;
(iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes; and
(v) The extent to which the evaluation plan clearly articulates the
key project components, mediators, and outcomes, as well as a
measurable threshold for acceptable implementation.
(e) Quality of the management plan (15 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 and principal investigator and other key project personnel 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; and
(v) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous
improvement in the operation of the proposed project.
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.
[[Page 11743]]
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
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past,
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The standing panel
requirements under section 682(b) of IDEA also have placed additional
constraints on the availability of reviewers. Therefore, the Department
has determined that for some discretionary grant competitions,
applications may be separated into two or more groups and ranked and
selected for funding within specific groups. This procedure will make
it easier for the Department to find peer reviewers by ensuring that
greater numbers of individuals who are eligible to serve as reviewers
for any particular group of applicants will not have conflicts of
interest. It also will increase the quality, independence, and fairness
of the review process, while permitting panel members to review
applications under discretionary grant competitions for which they also
have submitted applications.
4. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions, and under 2 CFR
3474.10, 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
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(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.
6. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting
applications in accordance with--
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR
200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works.
Additionally, a grantee that is awarded competitive grant funds must
have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. This
dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of the Government
Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) and reporting under 34 CFR
75.110, the Department has established a set of performance measures,
[[Page 11744]]
including long-term measures, that are designed to yield information on
various aspects of the effectiveness and quality of the Educational
Technology, Media, and Materials (ETechM2) for Individuals with
Disabilities Program. These measures are:
Program Performance Measure 1: The percentage of ETechM2
Program products and services judged to be of high quality by an
independent review panel of experts qualified to review the substantial
content of the products and services.
Program Performance Measure 2: The percentage of ETechM2
Program products and services judged to be of high relevance to
improving outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with
disabilities.
Program Performance Measure 3: The percentage of ETechM2
Program products and services judged to be useful in improving results
for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
Program Performance Measure 4.1: The Federal cost per unit
of accessible educational materials funded by the ETechM2 Program.
Program Performance Measure 4.2: The Federal cost per unit
of accessible educational materials from the National Instructional
Materials Accessibility Center funded by the ETechM2 Program.
Program Performance Measure 4.3: The Federal cost per unit
of video description funded by the ETechM2 Program.
These measures apply to projects funded under this competition, and
grantees are required to submit data on these measures as directed by
OSEP.
Grantees will be required to report information on their project's
performance in annual performance reports and additional performance
data to the Department (34 CFR 75.590 and 75.591).
6. 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: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
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 at www.govinfo.gov. 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
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
David Cantrell,
Deputy Director, Office of Special Education Programs, Delegated the
authority to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2021-03972 Filed 2-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P