[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53898-53899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17054]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Announcing the Intent To Award a One-Year Supplement To Continue 
Operating the Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) Training 
and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Center

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announces the 
intent to award a one-year supplemental to the current grant held by 
Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) for technical assistance 
(TA) to Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs). The purpose of 
this grant is to provide TA to SILCs that supports them to operate 
effective organizations; fulfill their role in developing state plans 
for independent living; monitor, review, and evaluate the 
implementation of completed plans; and develop partnerships with 
designated state entities and other agencies to foster effective 
independent living programs. The administrative supplement for FY 2023 
will be for $246,296, which will be the total award for FY 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or comments 
regarding this program supplement, contact Peter Nye, U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, 
Administration on Disabilities, Office of Independent Living Programs; 
telephone (202) 795-7606; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    ACL is required by statute to annually set aside 1.8-2% of program 
funds to provide TA to SILCs. For more than 30 years, ILRU continues to 
receive ACL funding for TA as they are the only national TA center that 
provides TA to SILCs in every state and territory. In partnership with 
the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the Association of 
Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), and the University of 
Montana Rural Institute, ILRU's TA center, called ``IL-NET'' is 
committed to providing training and technical assistance for SILCs to 
enhance their overall efficiency and effectiveness. Their current 
funding runs through September 29, 2023.
    The IL-NET is the only national center for information, training, 
research, and technical assistance in independent living, targeting 
both urban and rural areas. It is a program of TIRR Memorial Hermann, a 
nationally recognized medical rehabilitation facility for persons with 
disabilities. The IL-NET's mission as the T&TA provider for SILCs is to 
provide training and technical assistance that supports SILCs to (1) 
operate effective organizations; (2) fulfill their role in developing 
state plans for independent living; (3) monitor, review, and evaluate 
the implementation of completed plans; and (4) develop partnerships 
with designated state entities and other

[[Page 53899]]

agencies to foster effective independent living programs.
    Program Name: Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) 
Training and Technical Assistance Center.
    Recipient: Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU).
    Period of Performance: The award will be issued for the current 
project period of September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024.
    Total Award Amount: $246,296 in FY 2023.
    Award Type: Grant Supplement.
    Statutory Authority: The statutory authority is contained in the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
    Basis for Award: ACL is completing a year-long funded evaluation 
project conducted by RTI that determines the efficacy of current TA 
approaches used by the Office of Independent Living Programs. The 
research includes recommendations as to what should be included in 
future statements of work. That project will end late September 2023; 
the findings will inform the competition for TA providers next year. 
The goal of the one-year extension supplement is to continue to meet 
statutory requirements and provide timely, efficient, and responsive 
expertise in training and technical assistance for SILCs, while 
allowing ACL to compete out the TA center for the following year, 
drawing from the results of the evaluation research. This continued 
support to the SILC network will ensure there is no lapse in TA support 
and help them to improve their outcomes, operations, and governance.

    Dated: August 4, 2023.
Richard Nicholls,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2023-17054 Filed 8-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P