Applications for New Awards; Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals With Disabilities-Captioned and Described Educational Media, 80339-80346 [2015-32508]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices
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CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Educational Technology, Media, and
Materials for Individuals With
Disabilities—Captioned and Described
Educational Media
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information:
Educational Technology, Media, and
Materials for Individuals with
Disabilities—Captioned and Described
Educational Media Notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2016.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.327N
Dates:
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Applications Available: December 24,
2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 22, 2016.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: April 22, 2016.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of
the Educational Technology, Media, and
Materials for Individuals with
Disabilities Program are to: (1) Improve
results for students with disabilities by
promoting the development,
demonstration, and use of technology;
(2) support educational activities
designed to be of educational value in
the classroom for students with
disabilities; (3) provide support for
captioning and video description that is
appropriate for use in the classroom;
and (4) provide accessible educational
materials to students with disabilities in
a timely manner.
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) and 681(d) of
the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1474(c)
and 1481(d)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2016 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: Educational
Technology, Media, and Materials for
Individuals with Disabilities—
Captioned and Described Educational
Media.
Background:
Section 674(c) of the IDEA requires, in
part, that the Secretary of Education
support video description, open
captioning, and closed captioning 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.
The need to support captioning and
video description that is appropriate for
use in the classroom setting continues to
grow. The National Center for
Educational Statistics reports that, in
2009, 69 percent of teachers and
students used a computer in the
classroom during instructional time
(U.S. Department of Education, 2010).
Students who were once banned from
bringing cell phones and other devices
to school are now encouraged to ‘‘Bring
Your Own Device’’ (BYOD) (Atkeson,
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2014; Chadband, 2012). Technologies
(such as video streaming, digital video
recording, digital image processing, and
other forms of multimedia) are
becoming a more integral part of
instructional practice and are replacing
older and less adaptable media sources,
such as compact discs (CDs) and digital
video discs (DVDs). In order to improve
educational outcomes and ensure
college- and career-readiness for
children with hearing or vision loss, it
is critical for them to access educational
media by utilizing captioning and video
description technologies.
Multimedia and other new and
emerging technologies are generally not
accessible to students who have hearing
or vision impairments because only a
small percentage of educational
multimedia used in the classroom is
captioned or described. Federal
requirements for captioning and video
description do not apply to many forms
of media used specifically in the
classroom, even with the expansion of
these requirements included in the
Twenty-First Century Communications
and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.
(See www.fcc.gov/guides/21st-centurycommunications-and-videoaccessibility-act-2010 for further
information.)
The ongoing challenge of ensuring
that educational materials in the
classroom are accessible to students
who have hearing or vision impairments
extends to a variety of critical content
areas, including science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
and Spanish language materials. STEM
materials are often not in accessible
formats, which creates a significant
barrier to participation for eligible
students who want to study in these
critical areas. Likewise, our experience
shows that few Spanish language
materials are captioned or described,
which likewise places unnecessary
barriers between eligible students who
speak Spanish and a great many
instructional materials for the
classroom.
In the past, Federal funds were used
to purchase the rights to educational
films and videos in order to caption and
describe media and make it available to
eligible users with disabilities.
However, recently, the national
broadcast television network program
providers and Television Access
grantees have made some accessible
educational television programs
available at no cost and available ondemand to children with disabilities
(U.S. Department of Education, March
16, 2015). As a result, all media will be
secured from program providers at no
cost to the project. In exchange, the
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project will return captioned and
described files to the program providers.
This cost-saving partnership will ensure
that additional Federal funds are
available to caption and describe more
media and that the media is made
available to eligible users, on-demand,
via computers and hand-held devices
such as tablets and cell phones.
Captioning and description services
funded under this priority are required
to keep pace with advancements in new
and emerging forms of media and
technologies, address STEM content,
and also address the needs of students
who speak Spanish.
Priority:
The purpose of this priority is to fund
a cooperative agreement to support the
establishment and operation of an
Accessible Learning Center (Center) that
will oversee the selection, acquisition,
captioning, video description, and
distribution of educational media
through a free loan service for eligible
users. We define eligible users as
students, including English learners, in
early learning and kindergarten through
grade 12 (K–12) classroom settings who
have hearing or vision impairments and
individuals, such as teachers, parents,
and paraprofessionals, who are directly
involved in these students’ early
learning or K–12 classroom instruction.
The Center will develop procedures to
identify educational media that meet the
educational needs of eligible users,
including English learners, in early
learning and K–12 classroom settings;
make arrangements for the media to be
captioned and described; and establish
strategies for the free distribution to
eligible users. Some of the activities and
procedures must focus on selecting
titles geared toward improving early
learning outcomes for preschool users
and using technologies, such as video
streaming and other forms of
multimedia, to reach eligible users in
rural and high-need schools.
Media must be made available at no
cost in Spanish for eligible users who
are learning English and live in
households where Spanish is the
dominant language. Access to highquality instructional media in the STEM
academic subjects must be provided.
The project must collaborate with the
Television Access grantees and the
national broadcast television network
program providers to make accessible
educational television programs
available at no cost to the project and
available on-demand to eligible users.
The process of distribution through the
loan service must include making the
educational media available through
restricted online access for eligible users
who are accessing the media via public
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computers and hand-held devices such
as tablets and cell phones.
To be considered for funding under
this priority, the applicant must meet
the application requirements contained
in this priority. The project funded
under this priority also must meet the
programmatic and administrative
requirements specified in the priority.
Application Requirements. An
applicant must include in its
application—
(a) A logic model that depicts, at a
minimum, the goals, activities, outputs,
and outcomes of the proposed project. A
logic model communicates how a
project will achieve its outcomes and
provides a framework for both the
formative and summative evaluations of
the project;
Note: The following Web sites provide
more information on logic models:
www.researchutilization.org/matrix/
logicmodel_resource3c.html and
www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel/
index.asp.
(b) A plan to implement the activities
described in the Project Activities
section of this priority;
(c) A plan, linked to the proposed
project’s logic model, 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
services;
(d) A budget for attendance at the
following:
(1) A one and one-half day kick-off
meeting to be held in Washington, DC,
within four weeks after receipt of the
award, and an annual planning meeting
held in Washington, DC, with the Office
of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
project officer during each subsequent
year of the project period.
(2) A three-day project directors’
meeting in Washington, DC, during each
year of the project period.
(3) A two-day trip annually to attend
Department briefings, Departmentsponsored conferences, and other
meetings, as requested by OSEP; and
(e) A line item in the proposed budget
for an annual set-aside of five percent of
the annual grant amount to support
emerging needs that are consistent with
the proposed project’s activities, as
those needs are identified in
consultation with OSEP.
Note: With approval from the OSEP project
officer, the Center must reallocate any
remaining funds from this annual set-aside
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no later than the end of the third quarter of
each budget period.
Project Activities. To meet the
requirements of this priority, the Center,
at a minimum, must conduct the
following activities:
(a) Develop and implement a plan for
operating a free online media loan
service distribution system to make it
possible for eligible users to easily
borrow media from the loan service or
to secure restricted access, on-demand,
to media via computers and hand-held
devices such as tablets and cell phones;
(b) Establish and make available
computerized registration and
application procedures, accessible via
the Internet, that will be used to register
eligible users for media access, deliver
the captioned and described media
material, and track and record consumer
feedback and usage information;
(c) Implement strategies and
procedures for identifying and
prioritizing educational media that are
not currently readily accessible to
students, but are appropriate for eligible
users attending early learning programs
and elementary and secondary schools,
including English learners, that meet the
educational needs of those students;
(d) Select media to closely match the
educational needs of eligible users,
taking into account the media most
commonly used in school districts and
early learning programs across the
Nation;
(e) Implement a plan to recommend
media to the OSEP Project Officer for
review;
(f) Make arrangements with program
producers and distributors for the
Center to acquire (at no cost) the rights
to caption, describe, and distribute
selected media, including distribution
in alternate formats, such as video
streaming;
(g) Develop strategies and procedures
for identifying, prioritizing, and
securing the rights (at no cost) to
previously captioned and described
children’s television programs that are
appropriate for eligible users, including
English learners, that meet the
educational needs of those students and
continue to make those programs
available through this free loan service
on-demand;
(h) For media that has been secured
but not previously captioned or
described, prepare quality captions and
descriptions, taking into account the
grade or developmental level of the
material, as well as the age and
vocabulary level of the likely target
audience;
(i) Ensure that 25 percent of the
materials to be captioned or described
are materials in STEM fields;
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(j) Ensure that 25 percent of the media
acquired annually is captioned and
described in Spanish at no cost for
eligible users who are learning English
and live in households where Spanish
is the dominant language;
(k) Develop and implement quality
control standards and procedures for
media after it has been captioned and
described;
(l) Provide captioned and described
files to producers and distributors so
that they are able to continue to make
the media directly accessible to
interested parties beyond the eligible
users who will be served under this
program;
(m) Provide free-of-charge disk copies
of media, if requested by eligible users,
in order to reach children with hearing
or vision impairments in rural settings
or in schools with limited broadband
support;
(n) Identify and, as appropriate,
utilize alternate delivery methods and
vehicles for media access, as new and
emerging technologies become available
for classroom use;
(o) Prepare, update, and utilize an
online catalog listing all captioned and
described media available under this
project as they become available;
(p) Maintain a Web site that meets
government or industry-recognized
standards for accessibility;
(q) Establish and maintain a
stakeholder panel of at least seven
members, which shall meet annually,
and include video producers and
distributors, captioning and description
service providers, parents and families
of students with hearing or vision loss,
public and private school
administrators, and other educational
personnel. This panel must provide
feedback to the project regarding the
usefulness of program activities and
services, taking into consideration the
input from consumers, and review the
Center’s media acquisition, captioning,
description, and distribution process in
order to ensure maximum effectiveness
of the project;
(r) Develop and maintain a
comprehensive online searchable
database containing information related
to the availability of captioned and
described educational media,
information regarding the captioned and
described media loan service,
requirements governing the use of
captioned and described media
available from the loan service, and a
list of captioning and description
service providers. In addition, the
project shall maintain a clearinghouse of
information on the subject of captioning
and description for use by consumers,
agencies, corporations, businesses,
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schools, and other interested
stakeholders;
(s) Develop strategies and use
technologies for improving the Center’s
effectiveness by replacing out-of-date
media with media containing more
current information (where
appropriate);
(t) Use and upgrade technologies to
caption and describe selected media as
newer technologies emerge;
(u) Select media that are intended to
improve early learning outcomes for
preschool children who are eligible
users; and
(v) Develop and implement strategies
to reach eligible users attending rural
and high-need schools.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
In deciding whether to continue
funding this project for the fourth and
fifth years, the Secretary will consider
the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), as
well as—
(a) The recommendation of a review
team consisting of experts selected by
the Secretary. This intensive review will
be conducted during a one-day
intensive meeting in Washington, DC,
that will be held during the last half of
the second year of the project period;
(b) The timeliness and effectiveness
with which all requirements of the
negotiated cooperative agreement have
been or are being met by the Center; and
(c) The quality, relevance, and
usefulness of the Center’s activities and
products and the degree to which the
Center’s activities and products have
contributed to an increased number of
available accessible educational media
for students with hearing or vision
impairments.
References:
Atkeson, S. (2014). N.Y.C. Schools to Open
Doors to Student Cellphones. Education
Week, October 28, 2014. Retrieved from
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/
2014/10/29/10cellphone.h34.html.
Chadband, E. (2012). Should Schools
Embrace ‘‘Bring Your Own Device’’?
NEA Today, July 19, 2012. Retrieved
from https://NEAToday.org/2012/07/19/
should-schools-embrace-bring-your-owndevice/.
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of
Education Sciences, National Center for
Education Statistics. (2010). Teachers’
Use of Educational Technology in U.S.
Public Schools: 2009 (NCES 2010–040).
Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/
fastfacts/display.asp?id=46.
U.S. Department of Education. (2015, March
16). Video-on-Demand Children’s TV
Programming Now Accessible for
Thousands of Students with Visual or
Hearing Disabilities [Press release].
Retrieved from www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/video-demand-children%E2
%80%99s-tv-programming-nowaccessible-thousands-students-visual-or-
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hearing-disabilities.
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 and requirements. 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.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,
97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB 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.
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Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative
agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$28,047,000 for the Educational
Technology, Media, and Materials for
Individuals with Disabilities program
for FY 2016, of which we intend to use
an estimated $2,000,000 for this
competition. The actual level of
funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough
time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2017 from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $2,000,000 for a single budget
period of 12 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months with
an optional additional 24 months based
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on performance. Applications must
include plans for both the 36-month
award and the 24-month extension.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: State
educational agencies (SEAs); local
educational agencies (LEAs), including
public charter schools that are
considered LEAs under State law; IHEs;
other public agencies; private nonprofit
organizations; freely associated States
and outlying areas; Indian tribes or
tribal organizations; and for-profit
organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34
CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee may
award subgrants—to directly carry out
project activities described in its
application—to the following types of
entities: SEAs; LEAs, including public
charter schools that are considered
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 suitable to carry out the
activities proposed in the application.
(b) The grantee may award subgrants
only to entities it has identified in an
approved application.
4. Other General Requirements: (a)
Recipients of funding under this
competition must make positive efforts
to employ and advance in employment
qualified individuals with disabilities
(see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Each applicant for, and recipient
of, funding under this program must
involve individuals with disabilities, or
parents of individuals with disabilities
ages birth through 26, in planning,
implementing, and evaluating the
project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of
IDEA).
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: You can obtain an application
package via the Internet or from the
Education Publications Center (ED
Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet,
use the following address: www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/grantapps/.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write,
fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. Department
of Education, P.O. Box 22207,
Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll
free: 1–877–433–7827. FAX: (703) 605–
6794. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1–877–
576–7734.
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You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its
email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application package
from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this
competition as follows: CFDA number
84.327N.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
large print, audiotape, or compact disc)
by contacting the person or team listed
under Accessible Format in section VIII
of this notice.
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 this
competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative
(Part III of the application) is where you,
the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
your application. You must limit Part III
to no more than 70 pages, using the
following standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double-space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
reference citations, and captions, as well
as all text in charts, tables, figures,
graphs, and screen shots.
• Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial. An application submitted
in any other font (including Times
Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be
accepted.
The page limit and double-spacing
requirements do not apply to Part I, the
cover sheet; Part II, the budget section,
including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and
certifications; or the abstract (follow the
guidance provided in the application
package for completing the abstract), the
table of contents, the list of priority
requirements, the resumes, the reference
list, the letters of support, or the
appendices. However, the page limit
and double-spacing requirements do
apply to all of Part III, the application
narrative, including all text in charts,
tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
We will reject your application if you
exceed the page limit in the application
narrative section or if you apply
standards other than those specified in
this notice and the application package.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 24,
2015.
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Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 22, 2016.
Applications for grants under this
competition must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (Grants.gov). For information
(including dates and times) about how
to submit your application
electronically, or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, please refer to
Other Submission Requirements in
section IV of this notice.
We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who
need an accommodation or auxiliary aid
in connection with the application
process should contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT 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.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: April 22, 2016.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
competition is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs under Executive Order 12372
is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System
Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award
Management: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must—
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number
and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly the
Central Contractor Registry), the
Government’s primary registrant
database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and
TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM
registration with current information
while your application is under review
by the Department and, if you are
awarded a grant, during the project
period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from
Dun and Bradstreet at the following
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Web site: https://fedgov.dnb.com/
webform. A DUNS number can be
created within one to two business days.
If you are a corporate entity, agency,
institution, or organization, you can
obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue
Service. If you are an individual, you
can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security
Administration. If you need a new TIN,
please allow two to five weeks for your
TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take
approximately seven business days, but
may take upwards of several weeks,
depending on the completeness and
accuracy of the data you enter into the
SAM database. Thus, if you think you
might want to apply for Federal
financial assistance under a program
administered by the Department, please
allow sufficient time to obtain and
register your DUNS number and TIN.
We strongly recommend that you
register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active,
it may be 24 to 48 hours before you can
access the information in, and submit an
application through, Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with SAM,
you may not need to make any changes.
However, please make certain that the TIN
associated with your DUNS number is
correct. Also note that you will need to
update your registration annually. This may
take three or more business days.
Information about SAM is available at
www.SAM.gov. To further assist you with
obtaining and registering your DUNS number
and TIN in SAM or updating your existing
SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: https://
www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/samfaqs.html.
In addition, if you are submitting your
application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be
designated by your organization as an
Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps
are outlined at the following Grants.gov Web
page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/
register.html.
7. Other Submission Requirements:
Applications for grants under this
competition must be submitted
electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in
accordance with the instructions in this
section.
a. Electronic Submission of
Applications.
Applications for grants under the
Captioned and Described Educational
Media competition, CFDA number
84.327N, 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
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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 Captioned and
Described Educational Media
competition at www.Grants.gov. You
must search for the downloadable
application package for this competition
by the CFDA number. Do not include
the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your
search (e.g., search for 84.327, not
84.327N).
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
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Grants.gov that are included in the
application package for this competition
to ensure that you submit your
application in a timely manner to the
Grants.gov system. You can also find the
Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov under News
and Events on the Department’s G5
system home page at www.G5.gov. In
addition, for specific guidance and
procedures for submitting an
application through Grants.gov, please
refer to the Grants.gov Web site at:
www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/
apply-for-grants.html.
• You will not receive additional
point value because you submit your
application in electronic format, nor
will we penalize you if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, as described
elsewhere in this section, and submit
your application in paper format.
• You must submit all documents
electronically, including all information
you typically provide on the following
forms: the Application for Federal
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for
SF 424, Budget Information—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 read-only,
non-modifiable Portable Document
Format (PDF). Do not upload an
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you
upload a file type other than a readonly, non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word,
Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a
password-protected file, we will not
review that material. Please note that
this could result in your application not
being considered for funding because
the material in question—for example,
the project narrative—is critical to a
meaningful review of your proposal. For
that reason it is important to allow
yourself adequate time to upload all
material as PDF files. The Department
will not convert material from other
formats to PDF. Additional, detailed
information on how to attach files is in
the application instructions.
• Your electronic application must
comply with any page-limit
requirements described in this notice.
• After you electronically submit
your application, you will receive from
Grants.gov an automatic notification of
receipt that contains a Grants.gov
tracking number. This notification
indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not
receipt by the Department. Grants.gov
will also notify you automatically by
email if your application met all the
Grants.gov validation requirements or if
there were any errors (such as
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submission of your application by
someone other than a registered
Authorized Organization
Representative, or inclusion of an
attachment with a file name that
contains special characters). You will be
given an opportunity to correct any
errors and resubmit, but you must still
meet the deadline for submission of
applications.
Once your application is successfully
validated by Grants.gov, the Department
will retrieve your application from
Grants.gov and send you an email with
a unique PR/Award number for your
application.
These emails do not mean that your
application is without any disqualifying
errors. While your application may have
been successfully validated by
Grants.gov, it must also meet the
Department’s application requirements
as specified in this notice and in the
application instructions. Disqualifying
errors could include, for instance,
failure to upload attachments in a readonly, non-modifiable PDF; failure to
submit a required part of the
application; or failure to meet applicant
eligibility requirements. It is your
responsibility to ensure that your
submitted application has met all of the
Department’s requirements.
• We may request that you provide us
original signatures on forms at a later
date.
Application Deadline Date Extension
in Case of Technical Issues with the
Grants.gov System: If you are
experiencing problems submitting your
application through Grants.gov, please
contact the Grants.gov Support Desk,
toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must
obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from
electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline
date because of technical problems with
the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
an extension until 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, the following
business day to enable you to transmit
your application electronically or by
hand delivery. You also may mail your
application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this
notice.
If you submit an application after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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
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technical problem occurred with the
Grants.gov system and that the problem
affected your ability to submit your
application by 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. We will
contact you after we determine whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in
this section apply only to the unavailability
of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov
system. We will not grant you an extension
if you failed to fully register to submit your
application to Grants.gov before the
application deadline date and time or if the
technical problem you experienced is
unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission
Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission
requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are
unable to submit an application through
the Grants.gov system because—
• You do not have access to the
Internet; or
• You do not have the capacity to
upload large documents to the
Grants.gov system;
and
• No later than two weeks before the
application deadline date (14 calendar
days or, if the fourteenth calendar day
before the application deadline date
falls on a Federal holiday, the next
business day following the Federal
holiday), you mail or fax a written
statement to the Department, explaining
which of the two grounds for an
exception prevents you from using the
Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to
the Department, it must be postmarked
no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the
Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks
before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your
statement to: Jo Ann McCann, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., Room 5162, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–
2600. FAX: (202) 245–7590.
Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail
or hand delivery instructions described
in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications
by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the
electronic submission requirement, you
may mail (through the U.S. Postal
Service or a commercial carrier) your
application to the Department. You
must mail the original and two copies
of your application, on or before the
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application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.327N), LBJ Basement
Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20202–4260.
You must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the
date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
receipt from a commercial carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing
acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education.
If you mail your application through
the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
accept either of the following as proof
of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
relying on this method, you should check
with your local post office.
We will not consider applications
postmarked after the application deadline
date.
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c. Submission of Paper Applications
by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the
electronic submission requirement, you
(or a courier service) may deliver your
paper application to the Department by
hand. You must deliver the original and
two copies of your application by hand,
on or before the application deadline
date, to the Department at the following
address: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.327N), 550 12th
Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
The Application Control Center accepts
hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time,
except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal
holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper
Applications: If you mail or hand deliver
your application to the Department—
(1) You must indicate on the envelope
and—if not provided by the Department—in
Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number,
including suffix letter, if any, of the
competition under which you are submitting
your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will
mail to you a notification of receipt of your
grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call
the U.S. Department of Education
Application Control Center at (202) 245–
6288.
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V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 75.210 and are listed in the
application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
reviewing applications in any
discretionary grant competition, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR
75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the
applicant in carrying out a previous
award, such as the applicant’s use of
funds, achievement of project
objectives, and compliance with grant
conditions. The Secretary may also
consider whether the applicant failed to
submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, the Secretary requires
various assurances including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department of
Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,
108.8, and 110.23).
3. Additional Review and Selection
Process Factors: In the past, the
Department has had difficulty finding
peer reviewers for certain competitions
because so many individuals who are
eligible to serve as peer reviewers have
conflicts of interest. The standing panel
requirements under section 682(b) of
IDEA also have placed additional
constraints on the availability of
reviewers. Therefore, the Department
has determined that for some
discretionary grant competitions,
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. However, if the
Department decides to select an equal
number of applications in each group
for funding, this may result in different
cut-off points for fundable applications
in each group.
4. Risk Assessment and Special
Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under
this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by
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applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the
Secretary may impose special
conditions and, in appropriate
circumstances, high-risk conditions on a
grant if the applicant or grantee is not
financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a
financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2
CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;
or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we notify your U.S.
Representative and U.S. Senators and
send you a Grant Award Notification
(GAN); or we may send you an email
containing a link to access an electronic
version of your GAN. We may notify
you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or
not selected for funding, we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy
requirements in the application package
and reference these and other
requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other
specific conditions in the GAN. The
GAN also incorporates your approved
application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
grant under this competition, you must
ensure that you have in place the
necessary processes and systems to
comply with the reporting requirements
in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
funding under the competition. This
does not apply if you have an exception
under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period,
you must submit a final performance
report, including financial information,
as directed by the Secretary. If you
receive a multiyear award, you must
submit an annual performance report
that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR
75.720(c). For specific requirements on
reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
(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
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Secretary establishes a data collection
period.
4. Performance Measures: Under the
Government Performance and Results
Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has
established a set of performance
measures, including long-term
measures, that are designed to yield
information on various aspects of the
effectiveness and quality of the
Educational Technology, Media, and
Materials for Individuals with
Disabilities Program. These measures
are included in the application package
and focus on the extent to which
projects are of high quality, are relevant
to improving outcomes of children with
disabilities, contribute to improving
outcomes for children with disabilities,
and generate evidence of validity and
availability to appropriate populations.
Projects funded under this competition
are required to submit data on these
measures as directed by OSEP.
Grantees will be required to report
information on their project’s
performance in annual performance
reports and additional performance data
to the Department (34 CFR 75.590 and
75.591).
5. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among
other things: Whether a grantee has
made substantial progress in achieving
the goals and objectives of the project;
whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its
approved application and budget; and,
if the Secretary has established
performance measurement
requirements, the performance targets in
the grantee’s approved application.
In making a continuation award, the
Secretary also considers whether the
grantee is operating in compliance with
the assurances in its approved
application, including those applicable
to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Jo
Ann McCann, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Room 5162, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–2600.
Telephone: (202) 245–7434.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at
1–800–877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
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an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Room 5037, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–2550.
Telephone: (202) 245–7363. If you use a
TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at
1–800–877–8339.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or PDF. To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Michael K. Yudin,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2015–32508 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2015–ICCD–0144]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Comment Request; Annual
Performance Report for the Gaining
Early Awareness for Undergraduate
Programs
Office of Postsecondary
Education (OPE), Department of
Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is
proposing a revision of an existing
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before February
22, 2016.
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
documents related to the information
collection listed in this notice, please
use https://www.regulations.gov by
searching the Docket ID number ED–
2015–ICCD–0144. Comments submitted
SUMMARY:
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in response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov by selecting the
Docket ID number or via postal mail,
commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
Please note that comments submitted by
fax or email and those submitted after
the comment period will not be
accepted. Written requests for
information or comments submitted by
postal mail or delivery should be
addressed to the Director of the
Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room
2E103, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Nofertary
Fofana, 202–502–7533.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Annual
Performance Report for the Gaining
Early Awareness for Undergraduate
Programs.
OMB Control Number: 1840–0777.
Type of Review: A revision of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 127.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80339-80346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32508]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Educational Technology, Media, and
Materials for Individuals With Disabilities--Captioned and Described
Educational Media
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information:
Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with
Disabilities--Captioned and Described Educational Media Notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.327N
Dates:
Applications Available: December 24, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 22, 2016.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 22, 2016.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of the Educational Technology,
Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program are to:
(1) Improve results for students with disabilities by promoting the
development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support
educational activities designed to be of educational value in the
classroom for students with disabilities; (3) provide support for
captioning and video description that is appropriate for use in the
classroom; and (4) provide accessible educational materials to students
with disabilities in a timely manner.
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) and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1474(c) and 1481(d)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2016 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: Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for
Individuals with Disabilities--Captioned and Described Educational
Media.
Background:
Section 674(c) of the IDEA requires, in part, that the Secretary of
Education support video description, open captioning, and closed
captioning 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.
The need to support captioning and video description that is
appropriate for use in the classroom setting continues to grow. The
National Center for Educational Statistics reports that, in 2009, 69
percent of teachers and students used a computer in the classroom
during instructional time (U.S. Department of Education, 2010).
Students who were once banned from bringing cell phones and other
devices to school are now encouraged to ``Bring Your Own Device''
(BYOD) (Atkeson,
[[Page 80340]]
2014; Chadband, 2012). Technologies (such as video streaming, digital
video recording, digital image processing, and other forms of
multimedia) are becoming a more integral part of instructional practice
and are replacing older and less adaptable media sources, such as
compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs). In order to improve
educational outcomes and ensure college- and career-readiness for
children with hearing or vision loss, it is critical for them to access
educational media by utilizing captioning and video description
technologies.
Multimedia and other new and emerging technologies are generally
not accessible to students who have hearing or vision impairments
because only a small percentage of educational multimedia used in the
classroom is captioned or described. Federal requirements for
captioning and video description do not apply to many forms of media
used specifically in the classroom, even with the expansion of these
requirements included in the Twenty-First Century Communications and
Video Accessibility Act of 2010. (See www.fcc.gov/guides/21st-century-communications-and-video-accessibility-act-2010 for further
information.)
The ongoing challenge of ensuring that educational materials in the
classroom are accessible to students who have hearing or vision
impairments extends to a variety of critical content areas, including
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and Spanish
language materials. STEM materials are often not in accessible formats,
which creates a significant barrier to participation for eligible
students who want to study in these critical areas. Likewise, our
experience shows that few Spanish language materials are captioned or
described, which likewise places unnecessary barriers between eligible
students who speak Spanish and a great many instructional materials for
the classroom.
In the past, Federal funds were used to purchase the rights to
educational films and videos in order to caption and describe media and
make it available to eligible users with disabilities. However,
recently, the national broadcast television network program providers
and Television Access grantees have made some accessible educational
television programs available at no cost and available on-demand to
children with disabilities (U.S. Department of Education, March 16,
2015). As a result, all media will be secured from program providers at
no cost to the project. In exchange, the project will return captioned
and described files to the program providers. This cost-saving
partnership will ensure that additional Federal funds are available to
caption and describe more media and that the media is made available to
eligible users, on-demand, via computers and hand-held devices such as
tablets and cell phones.
Captioning and description services funded under this priority are
required to keep pace with advancements in new and emerging forms of
media and technologies, address STEM content, and also address the
needs of students who speak Spanish.
Priority:
The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to
support the establishment and operation of an Accessible Learning
Center (Center) that will oversee the selection, acquisition,
captioning, video description, and distribution of educational media
through a free loan service for eligible users. We define eligible
users as students, including English learners, in early learning and
kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) classroom settings who have
hearing or vision impairments and individuals, such as teachers,
parents, and paraprofessionals, who are directly involved in these
students' early learning or K-12 classroom instruction.
The Center will develop procedures to identify educational media
that meet the educational needs of eligible users, including English
learners, in early learning and K-12 classroom settings; make
arrangements for the media to be captioned and described; and establish
strategies for the free distribution to eligible users. Some of the
activities and procedures must focus on selecting titles geared toward
improving early learning outcomes for preschool users and using
technologies, such as video streaming and other forms of multimedia, to
reach eligible users in rural and high-need schools.
Media must be made available at no cost in Spanish for eligible
users who are learning English and live in households where Spanish is
the dominant language. Access to high-quality instructional media in
the STEM academic subjects must be provided. The project must
collaborate with the Television Access grantees and the national
broadcast television network program providers to make accessible
educational television programs available at no cost to the project and
available on-demand to eligible users. The process of distribution
through the loan service must include making the educational media
available through restricted online access for eligible users who are
accessing the media via public computers and hand-held devices such as
tablets and cell phones.
To be considered for funding under this priority, the applicant
must meet the application requirements contained in this priority. The
project funded under this priority also must meet the programmatic and
administrative requirements specified in the priority.
Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its
application--
(a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals,
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic
model communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides
a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the
project;
Note: The following Web sites provide more information on logic
models: www.researchutilization.org/matrix/logicmodel_resource3c.html and www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel/index.asp.
(b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project
Activities section of this priority;
(c) A plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model, 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
services;
(d) A budget for attendance at the following:
(1) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting to be held in
Washington, DC, within four weeks after receipt of the award, and an
annual planning meeting held in Washington, DC, with the Office of
Special Education Programs (OSEP) project officer during each
subsequent year of the project period.
(2) A three-day project directors' meeting in Washington, DC,
during each year of the project period.
(3) A two-day trip annually to attend Department briefings,
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by
OSEP; and
(e) A line item in the proposed budget for an annual set-aside of
five percent of the annual grant amount to support emerging needs that
are consistent with the proposed project's activities, as those needs
are identified in consultation with OSEP.
Note: With approval from the OSEP project officer, the Center
must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside
[[Page 80341]]
no later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period.
Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the
Center, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities:
(a) Develop and implement a plan for operating a free online media
loan service distribution system to make it possible for eligible users
to easily borrow media from the loan service or to secure restricted
access, on-demand, to media via computers and hand-held devices such as
tablets and cell phones;
(b) Establish and make available computerized registration and
application procedures, accessible via the Internet, that will be used
to register eligible users for media access, deliver the captioned and
described media material, and track and record consumer feedback and
usage information;
(c) Implement strategies and procedures for identifying and
prioritizing educational media that are not currently readily
accessible to students, but are appropriate for eligible users
attending early learning programs and elementary and secondary schools,
including English learners, that meet the educational needs of those
students;
(d) Select media to closely match the educational needs of eligible
users, taking into account the media most commonly used in school
districts and early learning programs across the Nation;
(e) Implement a plan to recommend media to the OSEP Project Officer
for review;
(f) Make arrangements with program producers and distributors for
the Center to acquire (at no cost) the rights to caption, describe, and
distribute selected media, including distribution in alternate formats,
such as video streaming;
(g) Develop strategies and procedures for identifying,
prioritizing, and securing the rights (at no cost) to previously
captioned and described children's television programs that are
appropriate for eligible users, including English learners, that meet
the educational needs of those students and continue to make those
programs available through this free loan service on-demand;
(h) For media that has been secured but not previously captioned or
described, prepare quality captions and descriptions, taking into
account the grade or developmental level of the material, as well as
the age and vocabulary level of the likely target audience;
(i) Ensure that 25 percent of the materials to be captioned or
described are materials in STEM fields;
(j) Ensure that 25 percent of the media acquired annually is
captioned and described in Spanish at no cost for eligible users who
are learning English and live in households where Spanish is the
dominant language;
(k) Develop and implement quality control standards and procedures
for media after it has been captioned and described;
(l) Provide captioned and described files to producers and
distributors so that they are able to continue to make the media
directly accessible to interested parties beyond the eligible users who
will be served under this program;
(m) Provide free-of-charge disk copies of media, if requested by
eligible users, in order to reach children with hearing or vision
impairments in rural settings or in schools with limited broadband
support;
(n) Identify and, as appropriate, utilize alternate delivery
methods and vehicles for media access, as new and emerging technologies
become available for classroom use;
(o) Prepare, update, and utilize an online catalog listing all
captioned and described media available under this project as they
become available;
(p) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility;
(q) Establish and maintain a stakeholder panel of at least seven
members, which shall meet annually, and include video producers and
distributors, captioning and description service providers, parents and
families of students with hearing or vision loss, public and private
school administrators, and other educational personnel. This panel must
provide feedback to the project regarding the usefulness of program
activities and services, taking into consideration the input from
consumers, and review the Center's media acquisition, captioning,
description, and distribution process in order to ensure maximum
effectiveness of the project;
(r) Develop and maintain a comprehensive online searchable database
containing information related to the availability of captioned and
described educational media, information regarding the captioned and
described media loan service, requirements governing the use of
captioned and described media available from the loan service, and a
list of captioning and description service providers. In addition, the
project shall maintain a clearinghouse of information on the subject of
captioning and description for use by consumers, agencies,
corporations, businesses, schools, and other interested stakeholders;
(s) Develop strategies and use technologies for improving the
Center's effectiveness by replacing out-of-date media with media
containing more current information (where appropriate);
(t) Use and upgrade technologies to caption and describe selected
media as newer technologies emerge;
(u) Select media that are intended to improve early learning
outcomes for preschool children who are eligible users; and
(v) Develop and implement strategies to reach eligible users
attending rural and high-need schools.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
In deciding whether to continue funding this project for the fourth
and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR
75.253(a), as well as--
(a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts
selected by the Secretary. This intensive review will be conducted
during a one-day intensive meeting in Washington, DC, that will be held
during the last half of the second year of the project period;
(b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the
Center; and
(c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Center's
activities and products and the degree to which the Center's activities
and products have contributed to an increased number of available
accessible educational media for students with hearing or vision
impairments.
References:
Atkeson, S. (2014). N.Y.C. Schools to Open Doors to Student
Cellphones. Education Week, October 28, 2014. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/10/29/10cellphone.h34.html.
Chadband, E. (2012). Should Schools Embrace ``Bring Your Own
Device''? NEA Today, July 19, 2012. Retrieved from https://NEAToday.org/2012/07/19/should-schools-embrace-bring-your-own-device/.
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences,
National Center for Education Statistics. (2010). Teachers' Use of
Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009 (NCES 2010-040).
Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=46.
U.S. Department of Education. (2015, March 16). Video-on-Demand
Children's TV Programming Now Accessible for Thousands of Students
with Visual or Hearing Disabilities [Press release]. Retrieved from
www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/video-demand-children%E2%80%99s-tv-
programming-now-accessible-thousands-students-visual-or-
[[Page 80342]]
hearing-disabilities.
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 and
requirements. 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.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82,
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB 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 agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$28,047,000 for the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for
Individuals with Disabilities program for FY 2016, of which we intend
to use an estimated $2,000,000 for this competition. The actual level
of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we
are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $2,000,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months with an optional additional 24
months based on performance. Applications must include plans for both
the 36-month award and the 24-month extension.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); local
educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that are
considered LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private
nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas;
Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a
grantee may award subgrants--to directly carry out project activities
described in its application--to the following types of entities: SEAs;
LEAs, including public charter schools that are considered 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 suitable
to carry out the activities proposed in the application.
(b) The grantee may award subgrants only to entities it has
identified in an approved application.
4. Other General Requirements: (a) Recipients of funding under this
competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in
employment qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of
IDEA).
(b) Each applicant for, and recipient of, funding under this
program must involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of
individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning,
implementing, and evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of
IDEA).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/. To obtain a
copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of
Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free:
1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free:
1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at
its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.327N.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
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 this competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to
no more than 70 pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, reference citations, and captions, as well as
all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit and double-spacing requirements do not apply to Part
I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the
narrative budget justification; Part IV, the assurances and
certifications; or the abstract (follow the guidance provided in the
application package for completing the abstract), the table of
contents, the list of priority requirements, the resumes, the reference
list, the letters of support, or the appendices. However, the page
limit and double-spacing requirements do apply to all of Part III, the
application narrative, including all text in charts, tables, figures,
graphs, and screen shots.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit in the
application narrative section or if you apply standards other than
those specified in this notice and the application package.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 24, 2015.
[[Page 80343]]
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 22, 2016.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section
IV of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 22, 2016.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry), the
Government's primary registrant database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet at the
following Web site: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number can be
created within one to two business days.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database.
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow
sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We
strongly recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an
application through, Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to
make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will
need to update your registration annually. This may take three or
more business days.
Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN
in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a
SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which you can find at: 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.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Captioned and Described
Educational Media competition, CFDA number 84.327N, 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 Captioned
and Described Educational Media competition at www.Grants.gov. You must
search for the downloadable application package for this competition by
the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your
search (e.g., search for 84.327, not 84.327N).
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
[[Page 80344]]
Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this
competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely
manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education
Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on
the Department's G5 system home page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for
specific guidance and procedures for submitting an application through
Grants.gov, please refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
You must upload any narrative sections and all other
attachments to your application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note
that this could result in your application not being considered for
funding because the material in question--for example, the project
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For
that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material
from other formats to PDF. Additional, detailed information on how to
attach files is in the application instructions.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department. Grants.gov
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
These emails do not mean that your application is without any
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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. We will
contact you after we determine whether your application will be
accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system;
and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Jo Ann McCann, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5162, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2600. FAX: (202) 245-7590.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
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application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.327N), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with
your local post office.
We will not consider applications postmarked after the
application deadline date.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.327N), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between
8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past,
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The standing panel
requirements under section 682(b) of IDEA also have placed additional
constraints on the availability of reviewers. Therefore, the Department
has determined that for some discretionary grant competitions,
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. However, if the Department decides to
select an equal number of applications in each group for funding, this
may result in different cut-off points for fundable applications in
each group.
4. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in
appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant if the
applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not
responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
(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
[[Page 80346]]
Secretary establishes a data collection period.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and
quality of the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for
Individuals with Disabilities Program. These measures are included in
the application package and focus on the extent to which projects are
of high quality, are relevant to improving outcomes of children with
disabilities, contribute to improving outcomes for children with
disabilities, and generate evidence of validity and availability to
appropriate populations. Projects funded under this competition are
required to submit data on these measures as directed by OSEP.
Grantees will be required to report information on their project's
performance in annual performance reports and additional performance
data to the Department (34 CFR 75.590 and 75.591).
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Jo Ann McCann, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5162, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-7434.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS),
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting
the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5037, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington,
DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD or a TTY,
call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat
Reader, which is available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Michael K. Yudin,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-32508 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
