Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research-Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, 21733-21738 [2015-09024]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices
review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive
Order 12866 defines a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ as an action likely to
result in a rule that may—
(1) Have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more, or
adversely affect a sector of the economy,
productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities in a material way (also
referred to as an ‘‘economically
significant’’ rule);
(2) Create serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impacts of entitlement grants, user fees,
or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
stated in the Executive order.
This final regulatory action is not a
significant regulatory action subject to
review by OMB under section 3(f) of
Executive Order 12866.
We have also reviewed this final
regulatory action under Executive Order
13563, which supplements and
explicitly reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing
regulatory review established in
Executive Order 12866. To the extent
permitted by law, Executive Order
13563 requires that an agency—
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only
upon a reasoned determination that
their benefits justify their costs
(recognizing that some benefits and
costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the
least burden on society, consistent with
obtaining regulatory objectives and
taking into account—among other things
and to the extent practicable—the costs
of cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative
regulatory approaches, select those
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public health and safety,
and other advantages; distributive
impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify
performance objectives, rather than the
behavior or manner of compliance a
regulated entity must adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available
alternatives to direct regulation,
including economic incentives—such as
user fees or marketable permits—to
encourage the desired behavior, or
provide information that enables the
public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires
an agency ‘‘to use the best available
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Apr 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
techniques to quantify anticipated
present and future benefits and costs as
accurately as possible.’’ The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of
OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ‘‘identifying
changing future compliance costs that
might result from technological
innovation or anticipated behavioral
changes.’’
We are issuing this final priority only
on a reasoned determination that its
benefits justify its costs. In choosing
among alternative regulatory
approaches, we selected those
approaches that maximize net benefits.
Based on the analysis that follows, the
Administration for Community Living
(ACL), Department of Health and
Human Services believes that this
regulatory action is consistent with the
principles in Executive Order 13563.
We also have determined that this
regulatory action does not unduly
interfere with State, local, and tribal
governments in the exercise of their
governmental functions.
In accordance with both Executive
orders, ACL assessed the potential costs
and benefits, both quantitative and
qualitative, of this regulatory action.
The potential costs are those resulting
from statutory requirements and those
we have determined as necessary for
administering the ACL’s programs and
activities.
The benefits of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program have been well
established over the years, as projects
similar to the one envisioned by the
final priority have been completed
successfully, and the proposed priority
will generate new knowledge through
research. The new RRTC will generate,
disseminate, and promote the use of
new information that would improve
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities in the areas of community
living and participation, employment,
and health and function.
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 ACL published in
the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
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
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21733
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: April 14, 2015.
John Tschida,
Director, National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation
Research.
[FR Doc. 2015–09034 Filed 4–17–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Applications for New Awards; National
Institute on Disability, Independent
Living, and Rehabilitation Research—
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers
Administration for Community
Living, Department of Health and
Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information:
National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDILRR)—Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers (RRTC)—
Employment Policy and Measurement
Notice inviting applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.133B–3.
DATES:
Applications Available: April 20,
2015.
Note: On July 22, 2014, President Obama
signed the Workforce Innovation
Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA was
effective immediately. One provision of
WIOA transferred the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR) from the Department of Education to
the Administration for Community Living
(ACL) in the Department of Health and
Human Services. In addition, NIDRR’s name
was changed to the Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDILRR). For FY 2015, all
NIDILRR priority notices will be published as
ACL notices, and ACL will make all NIDILRR
awards. During this transition period,
however, NIDILRR will continue to review
grant applications using Department of
Education tools. NIDILRR will post
previously-approved application kits to
grants.gov, and NIDILRR applications
submitted to grants.gov will be forwarded to
the Department of Education’s G–5 system
for peer review. We are using Department of
Education application kits and peer review
systems during this transition year in order
to provide for a smooth and orderly process
for our applicants.
E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM
20APN1
21734
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: May
11, 2015.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply:
May 26, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: June 19, 2015.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers Program
is to plan and conduct research,
demonstration projects, training, and
related activities, including
international activities to develop
methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology. The Program’s activities are
designed to maximize the full inclusion
and integration into society,
employment, independent living, family
support, and economic and social selfsufficiency of individuals with
disabilities, especially individuals with
the most severe disabilities, and to
improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation
Act).
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers
The purpose of the RRTCs, which are
funded through the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program, is to achieve the goals
of, and improve the effectiveness of,
services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act through welldesigned research, training, technical
assistance, and dissemination activities
in important topical areas as specified
by NIDILRR. These activities are
designed to benefit rehabilitation
service providers, individuals with
disabilities, family members,
policymakers and other research
stakeholders. Additional information on
the RRTC program can be found at:
https://www2.ed.gov/programs/rrtc/
index.html#types.
Priorities: There are two priorities for
the grant competition announced in this
notice. The General RRTC Requirements
priority is from the notice of final
priorities for the Rehabilitation Research
and Training Centers, published in the
Federal Register on February 1, 2008
(73 FR 6132). Priority two is from the
notice of final priority for this program,
published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2015 and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition, these
priorities are absolute priorities. Under
45 CFR part 75 we consider only
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Apr 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
applications that meet these program
priorities.
These priorities are:
Priority 1—General RRTC
Requirements.
Note: The full text of this priority is
included in the notice of final priorities for
the Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers, published in the Federal Register on
February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6132) and in the
application package for this competition.
Priority 2—RRTC on Employment
Policy and Measurement.
Note: The full text of this priority is
included in the notice of final priority
published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register and in the application
package for this competition.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and
764(b)(2).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Department of Health and Human
Services General Administrative
Regulations in 45 CFR part 75; (b) Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards in 45
CFR part 75, subpart F; (c) 45 CFR part
75 Non-procurement Debarment and
Suspension; (d) 45 CFR part 75
Requirement for Drug-Free Workplace
(Financial Assistance); (e) The
regulations for this program in 34 CFR
part 350; (f) The notice of final priorities
for the RRTC Program published in the
Federal Register on February 1, 2008
(73 FR 6132); and (g) The notice of final
priority for this program, published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $875,000.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2015 and any subsequent year from the
list of unfunded applicants from this
competition.
Maximum Award: $875,000.
We will reject any application that
proposes a budget exceeding the
Maximum Amount for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Administrator
of the Administration for Community
Living may change the maximum
amount through a notice published in
the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: 60 months.
We will reject any application that
proposes a project period exceeding 60
months. The Administrator of the
Administration for Community Living
may change the project period through
a notice published in the Federal
Register.
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States; public
or private agencies, including for-profit
agencies; public or private
organizations, including for-profit
organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes
and tribal organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
competition does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: You can obtain an application
package via grants.gov, or by contacting
Patricia Barrett: U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., room 5142, PCP,
Washington, DC 20202–2700.
Telephone: (202) 245–6211 or by email:
patricia.barrett@acl.hhs.gov.
If you request an application from
Patricia Barrett, be sure to identify this
competition as follows: CFDA number
84.133B–3.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit, are in
the application package for the
competition announced in this notice.
Notice of Intent to Apply: Due to the
open nature of the RRTC priority
announced here, and to assist with the
selection of reviewers for this
competition, NIDILRR is requesting all
potential applicants submit a letter of
intent (LOI). The submission is not
mandatory and the content of the LOI
will not be peer reviewed or otherwise
used to rate an applicant’s application.
Each LOI should be limited to a
maximum of four pages and include the
following information: (1) The title of
the proposed project, the name of the
applicant, the name of the Project
Director or Principal Investigator (PI),
and the names of partner institutions
and entities; (2) a brief statement of the
vision, goals, and objectives of the
proposed project and a description of its
proposed activities at a sufficient level
of detail to allow NIDILRR to select
potential peer reviewers; (3) a list of
proposed project staff including the
Project Director or PI and key personnel;
(4) a list of individuals whose selection
as a peer reviewer might constitute a
conflict of interest due to involvement
in proposal development, selection as
an advisory board member, co-PI
relationships, etc.; and (5) contact
information for the Project Director or
PI. Submission of a LOI is not a
prerequisite for eligibility to submit an
application.
NIDILRR will accept the optional LOI
via mail (through the U.S. Postal Service
E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM
20APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices
or commercial carrier) or email, by May
26, 2015. The LOI must be sent to:
Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 550 12th
Street, SW., Room 5142, PCP,
Washington, DC 20202; or by email to:
Patricia.Barrett@acl.hhs.gov.
For further information regarding the
LOI submission process, contact Patricia
Barrett at (202) 245–6211.
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. We recommend that
you limit Part III to the equivalent of no
more than 100 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. You are not
required to double space titles,
headings, footnotes, references, and
captions, or text in charts, tables,
figures, and graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does 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
one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support.
However, the recommended page limit
does apply to all of the application
narrative section (Part III).
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Note: Please submit an appendix that lists
every collaborating organization and
individual named in the application,
including staff, consultants, contractors, and
advisory board members. We will use this
information to help us screen for conflicts of
interest with our reviewers.
An applicant should consult NIDRR’s
Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013–
2017 (78 FR 20299) (Plan) when
preparing its application. The Plan is
organized around the following research
domains: (1) Community Living and
Participation; (2) Health and Function;
and (3) Employment.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: April 20,
2015.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting:
Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting
and to receive information and technical
assistance through individual
consultation with NIDILRR staff. The
pre-application meeting will be held on
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Apr 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
May 11, 2015. Interested parties may
participate in this meeting by
conference call with NIDILRR staff from
the Administration for Community
Living between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time. NIDILRR staff
also will be available from 3:30 p.m. to
4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
same day, by telephone, to provide
information and technical assistance
through individual consultation. For
further information or to make
arrangements to participate in the
meeting via conference call or to arrange
for an individual consultation, contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of
this notice.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply:
May 26, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: June 19, 2015.
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 delivery if you qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV.
7. Other Submission Requirements of
this notice.
We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who
need an accommodation or auxiliary aid
in connection with the application
process should contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If
the Department provides an
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an
individual with a disability in
connection with the application
process, the individual’s application
remains subject to all other
requirements and limitations in this
notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System
Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award
Management: To do business with the
Department of Health and Human
Services, 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
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21735
Management (SAM) (formerly the
Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), 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. 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 entered into the
SAM database by an entity. 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,
you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the
information to be available in Grants.gov and
before you can 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: https://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
E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM
20APN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
21736
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices
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
Employment Policy and Measurement,
CFDA Number 84.133B–3, 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 RRTC on
Employment Policy and Measurement
competition atwww.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 84.133, not
84.133B).
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Apr 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
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 https://www.G5.gov.
• 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—NonConstruction 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 PDF
(Portable Document) read-only, nonmodifiable format. Do not upload an
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you
upload a file type other than a readonly, non-modifiable PDF or submit a
password-protected file, we will not
review that material. 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.) The
Department then will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send a
second notification to you by email.
This second notification indicates that
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the Department has received your
application and has assigned your
application a PR/Award number (an EDspecified identifying number unique to
your application).
• 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. You
also may mail your application by
following the mailing instructions
described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
section VII of this notice and provide an
explanation of the technical problem
you experienced with Grants.gov, along
with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number. We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the
Grants.gov system and that the problem
affected your ability to submit your
application by 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a
determination is made on 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
E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM
20APN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices
• 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: Patricia Barrett, U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202–2700. FAX:
(202) 245–7323.
Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail
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 84.133B–3) 550 12th
Street SW. Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza 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 Administrator of the
Administration for Community Living
of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Apr 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after
the application deadline date, we will
not consider your application.
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.
Note for Mail of Paper Applications: If you
mail 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 program
under which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will
mail to you a notification of receipt of your
grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call
the U.S. Department of Education
Application Control Center at (202) 245–
6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
350.54 and are listed in the application
package.
2. Review and Selection Process: Final
award decisions will be made by the
Administrator, ACL. In making these
decisions, the Administrator will take
into consideration: ranking of the
review panel; reviews for programmatic
and grants management compliance; the
reasonableness of the estimated cost to
the government considering the
available funding and anticipated
results; and the likelihood that the
proposed project will result in the
benefits expected. Under section 75.205,
item (3) history of performance is an
item that is reviewed.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, the Administrator of the
Administration for Community Living
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 Health and
Human Services 45 CFR part 75.
3. Special Conditions: Under 45 CFR
part 75 the Administrator of the
Administration for Community Living
may impose special 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 45
CFR part 75, as applicable; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;
or is otherwise not responsible.
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21737
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we send you a Notice of
Award (NOA); or we may send you an
email containing a link to access an
electronic version of your NOA. 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 NOA. The
NOA 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 45 CFR part 75 should you receive
funding under the competition. This
does not apply if you have an exception
under 45 CFR part 75.
(b) At the end of your project period,
you must submit a final performance
report, including financial information,
as directed by the Administrator of the
Administration for Community Living.
If you receive a multi-year award, you
must submit an annual performance
report that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by the
Administrator of the Administration for
Community Living under 45 CFR part
75. All NIDILRR grantees will submit
their annual and final reports through
NIDILRR’s online reporting system and
as designated in the terms and
conditions of your NOA. The
Administrator of the Administration for
Community Living may also require
more frequent performance reports
under 45 CFR part 75. For specific
requirements on reporting, please go to
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
appforms/appforms.html.
(c) FFATA and FSRS Reporting
The Federal Financial Accountability
and Transparency Act (FFATA) requires
data entry at the FFATA Subaward
Reporting System (https://
www.FSRS.gov) for all sub-awards and
sub-contracts issued for $25,000 or more
as well as addressing executive
compensation for both grantee and subaward organizations.
For further guidance please see the
following link: https://www.acl.gov/
E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM
20APN1
21738
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices
Funding_Opportunities/Grantee_Info/
FFATA.aspx.
If you receive a multi-year award, you
must submit an annual performance
report that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information. Annual and Final
Performance reports will be submitted
through NIDILRR’s online Performance
System and as designated in the terms
and conditions of your NOA. At the end
of your project period, you must submit
a final performance report, including
financial information.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Note: NIDILRR will provide information by
letter to successful grantees on how and
when to submit the report.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDILRR assesses the quality
of its funded projects through a review
of grantee performance and
accomplishments. Each year, NIDILRR
examines a portion of its grantees to
determine:
• The number of products (e.g., new
or improved tools, methods, discoveries,
standards, interventions, programs, or
devices developed or tested with
NIDILRR funding) that have been judged
by expert panels to be of high quality
and to advance the field.
• The average number of publications
per award based on NIDILRR-funded
research and development activities in
refereed journals.
• The percentage of new NIDILRR
grants that assess the effectiveness of
interventions, programs, and devices
using rigorous methods.
NIDILRR uses information submitted
by grantees as part of their Annual
Performance Reports for these reviews.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award, the Administrator
of the Administration for Community
Living may consider, under 45 CFR part
75, the extent to which a grantee has
made ‘‘substantial progress toward
meeting the objectives in its approved
application.’’ This consideration
includes the review of a grantee’s
progress in meeting the targets and
projected outcomes in its approved
application, and whether the grantee
has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application
and budget. In making a continuation
grant, the Administrator 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.
Continuation funding is also subject to
availability of funds.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:56 Apr 17, 2015
Jkt 235001
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., room 5142, PCP,
Washington, DC 20202–2700.
Telephone: (202) 245–6211 or by email:
patricia.barrett@acl.hhs.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at
1–800–877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
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 Adobe 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.
Dated: April 14, 2015.
John Tschida,
Director, National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation
Research.
[FR Doc. 2015–09024 Filed 4–17–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Applications for New Awards; National
Institute on Disability, Independent
Living, and Rehabilitation Research
—Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers
Administration for Community
Living, Department of Health and
Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information:
National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDILRR)—Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers (RRTC)—
Employment for Individuals with
Blindness or other Visual Impairments.
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Notice inviting applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.133B–5.
DATES:
Applications Available: April 20,
2015.
Note: On July 22, 2014, President Obama
signed the Workforce Innovation
Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA was
effective immediately. One provision of
WIOA transferred the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR) from the Department of Education to
the Administration for Community Living
(ACL) in the Department of Health and
Human Services. In addition, NIDRR’s name
was changed to the Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDILRR). For FY 2015, all
NIDILRR priority notices will be published as
ACL notices, and ACL will make all NIDILRR
awards. During this transition period,
however, NIDILRR will continue to review
grant applications using Department of
Education tools. NIDILRR will post
previously-approved application kits to
grants.gov, and NIDILRR applications
submitted to grants.gov will be forwarded to
the Department of Education’s G–5 system
for peer review. We are using Department of
Education application kits and peer review
systems during this transition year in order
to provide for a smooth and orderly process
for our applicants.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: May
11, 2015.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to
Apply: May 26, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: June 19, 2015.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers Program
is to plan and conduct research,
demonstration projects, training, and
related activities, including
international activities to develop
methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology. The Program’s activities are
designed to maximize the full inclusion
and integration into society,
employment, independent living, family
support, and economic and social selfsufficiency of individuals with
disabilities, especially individuals with
the most severe disabilities, and to
improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation
Act).
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers
The purpose of the RRTCs, which are
funded through the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program, is to achieve the goals
E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM
20APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21733-21738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09024]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers
AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and
Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information:
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)--Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers (RRTC)--Employment Policy and Measurement
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
2015.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133B-3.
DATES: Applications Available: April 20, 2015.
Note: On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed the Workforce
Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA was effective immediately.
One provision of WIOA transferred the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) from the Department
of Education to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in the
Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, NIDRR's name
was changed to the Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). For FY 2015, all NIDILRR priority
notices will be published as ACL notices, and ACL will make all
NIDILRR awards. During this transition period, however, NIDILRR will
continue to review grant applications using Department of Education
tools. NIDILRR will post previously-approved application kits to
grants.gov, and NIDILRR applications submitted to grants.gov will be
forwarded to the Department of Education's G-5 system for peer
review. We are using Department of Education application kits and
peer review systems during this transition year in order to provide
for a smooth and orderly process for our applicants.
[[Page 21734]]
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: May 11, 2015.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: May 26, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 19, 2015.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related
activities, including international activities to develop methods,
procedures, and rehabilitation technology. The Program's activities are
designed to maximize the full inclusion and integration into society,
employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social
self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially
individuals with the most severe disabilities, and to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
The purpose of the RRTCs, which are funded through the Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to achieve
the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training,
technical assistance, and dissemination activities in important topical
areas as specified by NIDILRR. These activities are designed to benefit
rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, family
members, policymakers and other research stakeholders. Additional
information on the RRTC program can be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/rrtc/#types.
Priorities: There are two priorities for the grant competition
announced in this notice. The General RRTC Requirements priority is
from the notice of final priorities for the Rehabilitation Research and
Training Centers, published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2008
(73 FR 6132). Priority two is from the notice of final priority for
this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which
we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 45 CFR
part 75 we consider only applications that meet these program
priorities.
These priorities are:
Priority 1--General RRTC Requirements.
Note: The full text of this priority is included in the notice
of final priorities for the Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers, published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2008 (73
FR 6132) and in the application package for this competition.
Priority 2--RRTC on Employment Policy and Measurement.
Note:
The full text of this priority is included in the notice of
final priority published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register and in the application package for this competition.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Department of Health and Human
Services General Administrative Regulations in 45 CFR part 75; (b)
Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 45 CFR part 75, subpart F; (c)
45 CFR part 75 Non-procurement Debarment and Suspension; (d) 45 CFR
part 75 Requirement for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance); (e)
The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 350; (f) The notice of
final priorities for the RRTC Program published in the Federal Register
on February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6132); and (g) The notice of final priority
for this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $875,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 and any
subsequent year from the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition.
Maximum Award: $875,000.
We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the
Maximum Amount for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Administrator of the Administration for Community Living may change the
maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: 60 months.
We will reject any application that proposes a project period
exceeding 60 months. The Administrator of the Administration for
Community Living may change the project period through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies,
including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations,
including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal
organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via grants.gov, or by contacting Patricia Barrett:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 5142, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-6211 or
by email: patricia.barrett@acl.hhs.gov.
If you request an application from Patricia Barrett, be sure to
identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.133B-3.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for the competition
announced in this notice.
Notice of Intent to Apply: Due to the open nature of the RRTC
priority announced here, and to assist with the selection of reviewers
for this competition, NIDILRR is requesting all potential applicants
submit a letter of intent (LOI). The submission is not mandatory and
the content of the LOI will not be peer reviewed or otherwise used to
rate an applicant's application.
Each LOI should be limited to a maximum of four pages and include
the following information: (1) The title of the proposed project, the
name of the applicant, the name of the Project Director or Principal
Investigator (PI), and the names of partner institutions and entities;
(2) a brief statement of the vision, goals, and objectives of the
proposed project and a description of its proposed activities at a
sufficient level of detail to allow NIDILRR to select potential peer
reviewers; (3) a list of proposed project staff including the Project
Director or PI and key personnel; (4) a list of individuals whose
selection as a peer reviewer might constitute a conflict of interest
due to involvement in proposal development, selection as an advisory
board member, co-PI relationships, etc.; and (5) contact information
for the Project Director or PI. Submission of a LOI is not a
prerequisite for eligibility to submit an application.
NIDILRR will accept the optional LOI via mail (through the U.S.
Postal Service
[[Page 21735]]
or commercial carrier) or email, by May 26, 2015. The LOI must be sent
to: Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 550
12th Street, SW., Room 5142, PCP, Washington, DC 20202; or by email to:
Patricia.Barrett@acl.hhs.gov.
For further information regarding the LOI submission process,
contact Patricia Barrett at (202) 245-6211.
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. We recommend that you limit
Part III to the equivalent of no more than 100 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. You are not required to double
space titles, headings, footnotes, references, and captions, or text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does 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 one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative section (Part III).
Note: Please submit an appendix that lists every collaborating
organization and individual named in the application, including
staff, consultants, contractors, and advisory board members. We will
use this information to help us screen for conflicts of interest
with our reviewers.
An applicant should consult NIDRR's Long-Range Plan for Fiscal
Years 2013-2017 (78 FR 20299) (Plan) when preparing its application.
The Plan is organized around the following research domains: (1)
Community Living and Participation; (2) Health and Function; and (3)
Employment.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: April 20, 2015.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting and to receive information and
technical assistance through individual consultation with NIDILRR
staff. The pre-application meeting will be held on May 11, 2015.
Interested parties may participate in this meeting by conference call
with NIDILRR staff from the Administration for Community Living between
1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Washington, DC time. NIDILRR staff also will
be available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
same day, by telephone, to provide information and technical assistance
through individual consultation. For further information or to make
arrangements to participate in the meeting via conference call or to
arrange for an individual consultation, contact the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: May 26, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 19, 2015.
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 delivery if you
qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement,
please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission Requirements of this
notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the
Department of Health and Human Services, 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) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), 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. 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 entered into the SAM database by
an entity. 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, you will need to
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in
Grants.gov and before you can 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: https://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
[[Page 21736]]
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 Employment Policy and Measurement,
CFDA Number 84.133B-3, must be submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site atwww.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 RRTC on
Employment Policy and Measurement competition atwww.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 84.133, not 84.133B).
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 https://www.G5.gov.
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 PDF (Portable Document)
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not
review that material. 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.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by email. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
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. You also may
mail your application by following the mailing instructions described
elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that the
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on 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
[[Page 21737]]
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: Patricia Barrett, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room
5142, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. FAX: (202)
245-7323.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail 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 84.133B-3) 550 12th Street SW. Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza 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 Administrator of
the Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
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.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
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.
Note for Mail of Paper Applications: If you mail 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 program under which you are submitting
your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 350.54 and are listed in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: Final award decisions will be made
by the Administrator, ACL. In making these decisions, the Administrator
will take into consideration: ranking of the review panel; reviews for
programmatic and grants management compliance; the reasonableness of
the estimated cost to the government considering the available funding
and anticipated results; and the likelihood that the proposed project
will result in the benefits expected. Under section 75.205, item (3)
history of performance is an item that is reviewed.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Administrator
of the Administration for Community Living 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 Health and Human Services
45 CFR part 75.
3. Special Conditions: Under 45 CFR part 75 the Administrator of
the Administration for Community Living may impose special 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 45 CFR part 75,
as applicable; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is
otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we send you a
Notice of Award (NOA); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your NOA. 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 NOA. The NOA 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 45 CFR part 75
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 45 CFR part 75.
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Administrator of the Administration for Community Living. If you
receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance
report that provides the most current performance and financial
expenditure information as directed by the Administrator of the
Administration for Community Living under 45 CFR part 75. All NIDILRR
grantees will submit their annual and final reports through NIDILRR's
online reporting system and as designated in the terms and conditions
of your NOA. The Administrator of the Administration for Community
Living may also require more frequent performance reports under 45 CFR
part 75. For specific requirements on reporting, please go to
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
(c) FFATA and FSRS Reporting
The Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA)
requires data entry at the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (https://www.FSRS.gov) for all sub-awards and sub-contracts issued for $25,000
or more as well as addressing executive compensation for both grantee
and sub-award organizations.
For further guidance please see the following link: https://
www.acl.gov/
[[Page 21738]]
Funding_Opportunities/Grantee_Info/FFATA.aspx.
If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information. Annual and Final Performance reports
will be submitted through NIDILRR's online Performance System and as
designated in the terms and conditions of your NOA. At the end of your
project period, you must submit a final performance report, including
financial information.
Note: NIDILRR will provide information by letter to successful
grantees on how and when to submit the report.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDILRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through a review of grantee performance and accomplishments. Each year,
NIDILRR examines a portion of its grantees to determine:
The number of products (e.g., new or improved tools,
methods, discoveries, standards, interventions, programs, or devices
developed or tested with NIDILRR funding) that have been judged by
expert panels to be of high quality and to advance the field.
The average number of publications per award based on
NIDILRR-funded research and development activities in refereed
journals.
The percentage of new NIDILRR grants that assess the
effectiveness of interventions, programs, and devices using rigorous
methods.
NIDILRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their
Annual Performance Reports for these reviews.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the
Administrator of the Administration for Community Living may consider,
under 45 CFR part 75, the extent to which a grantee has made
``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives in its approved
application.'' This consideration includes the review of a grantee's
progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes in its approved
application, and whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner
that is consistent with its approved application and budget. In making
a continuation grant, the Administrator 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. Continuation funding
is also subject to availability of funds.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5142, PCP,
Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-6211 or by email:
patricia.barrett@acl.hhs.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS),
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
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 Adobe 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.
Dated: April 14, 2015.
John Tschida,
Director, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and
Rehabilitation Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-09024 Filed 4-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P
