Applications for New Awards; Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals With Disabilities-Educational Materials in Accessible Formats for Children and Students With Visual Impairments and Print Disabilities, 23776-23785 [2017-10664]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23776-23785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10664]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Educational Technology, Media, and 
Materials for Individuals With Disabilities--Educational Materials in 
Accessible Formats for Children and Students With Visual Impairments 
and Print Disabilities

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for Educational 
Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities--
Educational Materials in Accessible Formats for Children and Students 
with Visual Impairments and Print Disabilities, Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.327D.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 24, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 10, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 6, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Knollman, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5076, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-5108. Telephone: (202) 245-6425.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The 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 (AEM) 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)(1)(D) and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act (IDEA), as amended (20 U.S.C. 1474(c)(1)(D) and 1481(D)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2017 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 Materials in Accessible Formats for Children and 
Students with Visual Impairments and Print Disabilities.
    Background:
    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
establish and operate a center that will provide free

[[Page 23777]]

educational materials,\1\ including textbooks, in accessible formats to 
eligible children and students-- individuals who are: (1) Blind, have a 
visual impairment, have a physical disability, or have a print 
disability; (2) certified by a competent authority as unable to read 
typical printed material as a result of physical limitations (e.g., 
dyslexia, specific reading disability, and disabilities in which 
students are unable to manipulate standard books and materials); and 
(3) enrolled in elementary or secondary schools (as defined by the 
State) or postsecondary or graduate schools.\2\ AEM include, but are 
not limited to: Electronic text, braille, audio files, description, 
closed captioning, and tactile graphics.
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    \1\ For the purposes of this priority, we are using the term 
``educational materials'' as it is used in section 674(c)(1)(D) of 
IDEA.
    \2\ For the purposes of this priority, eligible elementary and 
secondary children and students may be receiving services or 
modifications under IDEA, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities 
Act of 1990 (ADA); eligible postsecondary students may be receiving 
modifications, academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services 
under section 504 or Title II.
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    IDEA requires the provision of free educational materials, 
including textbooks and instructional materials, in accessible formats 
to eligible children and students. State educational agencies (SEAs) 
and local educational agencies (LEAs) must provide materials in 
accessible formats in a timely manner (IDEA Part B, section 
612(a)(23)(B) and section 613(a)(6)(B)).
    Further, under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended, institutions of higher education (IHEs), SEAs, and LEAs must 
provide educational materials in accessible formats as a means to 
accommodate students who are blind, have a visual impairment, have a 
physical disability, or have a print disability. The accessible formats 
are needed to provide these students with an equal educational 
opportunity. 34 CFR 104.4.
    Title II of the ADA is also applicable and requires, among other 
things, that public entities, including public IHEs, ensure that 
students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in 
school activities and ensure that communication with students with 
disabilities is as effective as communication with students without 
disabilities, through the provision, in a timely manner, of auxiliary 
aids and services. 28 CFR 35.160.
    As a condition of this grant, the materials and textbooks must be 
provided in formats that are of high quality and meet industry 
standards for accessibility (e.g., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 
(WCAG) 2.0 Level AA Standard, EPUB Accessibility 1.0).\3\
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    \3\ For additional information on WCAG 2.0, please refer to 
www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag; for additional information on EPUB 
Accessibility 1.0, please refer to www.idpf.org/epub/a11y/techniques/techniques.html.
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    To help ensure the free distribution of educational materials in 
accessible formats, Congress has granted exceptions to copyright 
holders' exclusive rights to replication and distribution through the 
Chafee Amendment, which authorizes entities to reproduce or distribute 
copies of previously published works in specialized, accessible formats 
exclusively for use by eligible children and students.
    In the 2015-2016 school year, States reported that there were 
29,186 enrolled students, ages 3 through 21, who were deaf-blind or had 
a visual impairment, and 2,357,143 had a specific learning disability, 
some of whom would typically qualify as having a print disability (U.S. 
Department of Education, 2016). Over the past 10 years, work under this 
program has provided more than 400,000 students with access to AEM, 
which have been downloaded more than 3,350,000 times. These numbers 
continue to grow daily (www.bookshare.org).
    This center will increase the production, availability, 
distribution, and use of AEM across grade levels and across ability 
levels. In order to do so, the center will upgrade available software 
to reflect new and emerging technology, increase the number of 
educational titles, reduce the time it takes to make accessible digital 
materials available, and improve the quality of these materials.
    Priority:
    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
establish and operate a center that will provide free educational 
materials,\4\ including textbooks and instructional materials, in 
accessible formats for eligible children and students--those who are: 
(1) Blind, have a visual impairment, have a physical disability or have 
a print disability; (2) certified by a competent authority as unable to 
read normal printed material as a result of physical limitations (e.g., 
dyslexia, specific reading disability, and disabilities in which 
students are unable to manipulate standard books and materials); and 
(3) enrolled in elementary or secondary (as defined by the State) or 
postsecondary, or graduate schools.\5\ Prior investments established a 
center to acquire educational materials, convert those materials into 
AEM, and distribute AEM to eligible children and students. These, and 
new AEM produced by the center funded under this priority, must remain 
available to eligible children and students after the end date of the 
project. In addition, it is critical to expand the availability, 
quality, and use of AEM, and apply new and emerging technology 
solutions to support efficient and effective production and 
distribution. The center must achieve, at a minimum, the following 
expected outcomes:
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    \4\ For the purposes of this priority, we are using the term 
``educational materials'' as it is used in section 674(c)(1)(D) of 
IDEA.
    \5\ For the purposes of this priority, eligible elementary and 
secondary children and students may be receiving services under 
IDEA, section 504, or Title II of the ADA; eligible postsecondary 
students may be receiving modifications, academic adjustments, or 
auxiliary aids and services under section 504 or Title II.
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    (a) The provision of AEM for use by eligible children and students. 
Materials must be provided in a timely manner and directly to eligible 
children and students or to SEAs, LEAs, postsecondary institutions, 
graduate schools, and vocational rehabilitation agencies requesting 
materials.
    (b) The provision of free, high-quality, up-to-date software needed 
by eligible children and students, families, schools, LEAs, SEAs, 
postsecondary schools, and vocational rehabilitation agencies to use 
the AEM.
    (c) The incorporation of the most efficient, cost-effective 
technology available to provide timely access to AEM that can be used 
across multiple accessible formats, including, at a minimum, braille-
ready files, audio, standard text, standard text with audio, and large 
print.
    (d) The production and distribution of high-quality, user-friendly 
AEM, including digital text, braille-ready files, and audio formats, 
using files that are consistent with the current industry standards and 
guidelines (e.g., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, 
Level AA Standard, EPUB Accessibility 1.0).
    (e) The production of tools and software that can be used by 
developers, producers, publishers, and others to embed accessibility 
features into textbooks and educational materials during their initial 
development and production.
    (f) The distribution of AEM to traditionally underserved eligible 
children and students (e.g., students living in poverty, homeless 
students, and culturally and linguistically diverse students including 
English learners).

[[Page 23778]]

    In addition to these programmatic requirements, to be considered 
for funding under this priority, applicants must meet the application 
and administrative requirements in this priority, which are:
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Project Design,'' how the proposed project will--
    (1) Achieve its goals, objectives, and intended outcomes. To meet 
this requirement, the applicant must provide--
    (i) Measurable intended project outcomes;
    (ii) The logic model by which the proposed project will achieve its 
intended outcomes. A logic model used in connection with this priority 
communicates how a project will achieve its intended outcomes and 
provides a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations 
of the project.

    Note:  Rather than use the definition of ``logic model'' in 34 
CFR 77.1(c), OSEP uses the definition in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of 
these application requirements. This definition, unlike the 
definition in 34 CFR 77.1(c), differentiates between logic models 
and conceptual frameworks. The following Web sites provide more 
information on logic models: www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel 
and www.osepideasthatwork.org/resources-grantees/program-areas/ta-ta/tad-project-logic-model-and-conceptual-framework.

    (iii) 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 quality of products and services;
    (iv) A plan to implement the services and provide the products that 
are described in the Products and Services section of this priority;
    (v) A plan that focuses on improving the quality, timeliness, ease 
of use, and access to AEM for eligible children and students;
    (vi) A plan to ensure that eligible children and students will 
continue to be able to access at no cost the educational materials, 
including textbooks, in accessible formats, when the center is no 
longer federally funded, including a plan to:
    (A) Provide software that is compatible for use with currently 
available devices. Examples include e-readers, smart phones, tablets, 
and data pads; and
    (B) Anticipate future needs and technologies across the five years 
of the project;
    (vii) A plan to ensure that materials and technologies are, to the 
maximum extent allowable under the law, openly licensed educational 
resources \6\ through an open licensing authority;
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    \6\ Openly licensed educational resources are teaching, 
learning, and research resources that reside in the public domain or 
have been released under a license that permits their use, 
modification, and sharing with others. Open resources may be full 
online courses or digital textbooks or more granular resources such 
as images, videos, and assessment items.
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    (viii) Cost and efficiency measures, or a plan for cost and 
efficiency measures, for the production of AEM;
    (ix) A detailed digital rights management plan that will be 
implemented during the project and will protect the interests of rights 
holders while maintaining ease of access to AEM for eligible children 
and students;
    (x) A plan to consult with publishers, software developers, other 
manufacturers of AEM for eligible children and students, and the 
National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) \7\ to ensure 
that the project uses the most efficient, cost-effective technology 
available to provide timely access to AEM. This plan should also 
address strategies to work towards universal applicability across all 
interfaces and media formats;
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    \7\ For more information regarding the NIMAC, please see: 
www.nimac.us/.
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    (xi) A plan for how the project will coordinate across multiple 
partners to include IHEs, SEAs, and LEAs to reduce costs of production 
and duplication of materials, and to improve the timeliness of 
distribution;
    (xii) Information on how the project will develop and implement a 
plan for increasing IHE, SEA, and LEA use of the project's resources 
and AEM as part of their systems for providing educational material in 
accessible formats to eligible students;
    (xiii) A plan for a data system that collects information on the 
free educational materials produced, provided, distributed to, and 
downloaded by, eligible children and students; and
    (xiv) A description of how the project will ensure that project 
activities are conducted in compliance with section 121 of the 
copyright law, as amended (www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#121).
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Project Products and Services,'' how the proposed 
project will--
    (1) Provide AEM, including textbooks, to SEAs and LEAs for use by 
eligible children and students. The AEM must be provided at no cost to 
the children, students, families, schools, SEAs and LEAs;
    (2) Provide AEM to eligible students. Materials may be provided 
directly to eligible students or to postsecondary and graduate schools 
and vocational rehabilitation agencies requesting AEM on behalf of 
eligible students. The AEM and any specialized software needed to use 
the materials must be provided at no cost to eligible students, 
postsecondary and graduate schools, and vocational rehabilitation 
agencies. The project may not assess fees to individual eligible 
students or to institutions, including postsecondary schools, graduate 
schools, and vocational rehabilitation agencies;
    (3) Provide free high-quality, up-to-date software needed to use 
and access the AEM by eligible children, students, families, schools, 
LEAs and SEAs, postsecondary and graduate schools, and vocational 
rehabilitation agencies. The project must also keep up to date on 
emerging technologies and implement changes and updates to technology, 
software, and other material to ensure that they continue to meet 
industry standards;
    (4) Incorporate the most efficient, cost-effective technology 
available to provide timely access to AEM that can be used across 
alternative media formats;
    (5) Produce high-quality, user-friendly AEM, including digital 
text, Braille-ready files, and audio formats. Materials produced as 
part of this cooperative agreement must include accessible digital 
images, charts, formulas, and graphics;
    (6) Produce AEM using files that are consistent with the current 
industry standards for the production of AEM;
    (7) Encourage and support the inclusion of accessibility features 
that are embedded during the development and production of the AEM by 
publishers and producers, where possible; and
    (8) Provide AEM for historically underserved eligible children and 
students (e.g., students living in poverty, homeless students, and 
culturally and linguistically diverse students).
    (c) In the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of 
the Evaluation Plan,'' include an evaluation plan for the project. The 
evaluation plan must describe: measures of progress in implementation, 
including the criteria for determining the extent to which the 
project's products and services have

[[Page 23779]]

reached its target population; measures of intended outcomes or results 
of the project's activities in order to evaluate those activities; and 
how well the goals or objectives of the proposed project, as described 
in its logic model, have been met.
    (d) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how--
    (1) The proposed project will encourage applications for employment 
from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been 
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
disability, as appropriate;
    (2) The proposed key project personnel, consultants, and 
subcontractors have the qualifications and experience to carry out the 
proposed activities and achieve the project's intended outcomes;
    (3) The applicant and any key partners have adequate resources to 
carry out the proposed activities; and
    (4) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the 
anticipated results and benefits.
    (e) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how--
    (1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the project's 
intended outcomes will be achieved on time and within budget. To 
address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
    (i) Clearly defined responsibilities for key project personnel, 
consultants, and subcontractors, as applicable; and
    (ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks;
    (2) The proposed project will allocate key project personnel and 
any consultants and subcontractors and how these allocations are 
appropriate and adequate to achieve the project's intended outcomes;
    (3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the products and 
services provided are of high quality, relevant, and useful to 
recipients;
    (4) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of 
perspectives, including those of families, educators, TA providers, 
researchers, and policy makers, among others, in its development and 
operation;
    (5) The proposed project will establish and maintain an advisory 
committee consisting of representatives from an SEA and an LEA; 
representatives from community colleges and four-year IHEs; 
representatives from vocational rehabilitation agencies; eligible 
children and students, parents or family members of individuals with 
blindness, visual impairments, physical disabilities, and print 
disabilities; and representatives of schools or other institutions 
where AEM are used. The purpose of this advisory committee is to 
provide the project with input and ongoing advice on the project's 
goals, objectives, products, and services. The project must submit the 
proposed membership of the advisory committee to OSEP for approval 
within eight weeks after receipt of the award;
    (6) The project will communicate and collaborate on an ongoing 
basis with OSEP-funded projects (see www.osepideasthatwork.org/find-center-or-grant/find-a-center), including NIMAS-related projects. 
Activities could include jointly developing products, training 
sessions, and materials; and improving the AEM delivery system to 
ensure timely and easy access; and
    (7) The project will maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP 
project officer through bi-monthly phone conferences, email 
communication, and face-to-face meetings, as appropriate.
    (f) Address the following application requirements. The applicant 
must--
    (1) Include, in Appendix A, a logic model that depicts, at a 
minimum, the goals, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes of the 
proposed project;
    (2) Include, in Appendix A, a conceptual framework for the project;
    (3) Include, in Appendix A, personnel-loading charts and timelines, 
as applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the 
narrative;
    (4) Include, in the budget, attendance at the following:
    (i) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting in Washington, DC, 
after receipt of the award, and an annual planning meeting in 
Washington, DC, with the OSEP project officer and other relevant staff 
during each subsequent year of the project period.

    Note: Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award 
teleconference must be held between the OSEP project officer and the 
grantee's project director or other authorized representative. The 
primary purpose of this meeting will be to review the Department's 
grantee requirements, discuss the project's planned activities and 
budget, and confirm the expectations for the project's performance 
measures and evaluation.

    (ii) A two and one-half day project directors' conference in 
Washington, DC, during each year of the project period;
    (iii) Two annual two-day trips to attend Department briefings, 
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by 
OSEP, and to meet with the OSEP project officer and other funded 
projects for the purposes of cross-project collaboration and 
information exchange; and
    (iv) A one-day intensive 3+2 review meeting in Washington, DC, 
during the last half of the second year of the project period;
    (5) Include, in the budget, a line item for an annual set-aside of 
five percent of the grant amount to support emerging needs that are 
consistent with the proposed project's intended outcomes, as those 
needs are identified in consultation with and approved by the OSEP 
project officer. With approval from the OSEP project officer, the 
project must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside 
no later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period; and
    (6) Maintain a high-quality Web site, with an easy-to-navigate 
design, that meets government or industry-recognized standards for 
accessibility; and
    (7) Include, in Appendix A, an assurance to assist OSEP with the 
transfer of pertinent resources and products and to maintain the 
continuity of services to States during the transition to this new 
award period, as appropriate.
    Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
    In deciding whether to continue funding the project for the fourth 
and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.253(a), as well as--
    (a) The recommendation of a 3+2 review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting that will be held during the last half of the 
second year of the project period;
    (b) The timeliness with which, and how well, the requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
project; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the project's 
products and services and the extent to which the project's products 
and services are aligned with the project's objectives and likely to 
result in the project achieving its intended outcomes.
    References:

Chafee Amendment to the Copyright Law. (1996). 17 U.S.C. 121 [1]. 
Retrieved from www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#121.
U.S. Department of Education. (2016). IDEA section 618 data 
products: Static tables (2014-2015). Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/programs/osepidea/618-data/static-tables/#partb-cc.


[[Page 23780]]


    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. Section 
681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment requirements of the 
APA inapplicable to the priority in this notice.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1474 and 1481.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$30,047,000 for the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for 
Individuals with Disabilities program for FY 2017, of which we intend 
to use an estimated $8,500,000 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 2018 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $8,500,000 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 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: 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.
    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: IHEs 
and private nonprofit organizations suitable to carry out the 
activities proposed in the application.
    (b) The grantee may award subgrants 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 must, with 
respect to the aspects of their proposed project relating to the 
absolute priority, involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of 
individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning, 
implementing, and evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of 
IDEA).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. 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 TDD or a 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 84.327D.
    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 VII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and form 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. We recommend 
that you (1) limit Part III to no more than 70 pages, and (2) use 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.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover 
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the 
abstract (follow the guidance provided in the application package for 
completing the abstract), the table of contents, the list of priority 
requirements, the resumes, the reference list, the letters of support, 
or the appendices. However, the recommended page limit does apply to 
all of Part III, the application narrative, including all text in 
charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 24, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 10, 2017.
    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. If the 
Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual 
with a disability in connection with the application

[[Page 23781]]

process, the individual's application remains subject to all other 
requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 6, 2017.
    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), 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: 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 Educational Materials in 
Accessible Formats for Children and Students with Visual Impairments 
and Print Disabilities competition, CFDA number 84.327D, 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 Educational 
Materials in Accessible Formats for Children and Students with Visual 
Impairments and Print Disabilities 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 84.327D).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at 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

[[Page 23782]]

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 Portable 
Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF 
file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only 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 application 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.
     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 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 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: Gregory Knollman, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5158, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. 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 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.327D), 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.


[[Page 23783]]


    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 84.327D), 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 as follows:
    a. Quality of project design (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes 
intended to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified 
and measurable;
    (ii) The extent to which there is a conceptual framework underlying 
the proposed research or demonstration activities and the quality of 
that framework;
    (iii) The extent to which the services are of sufficient quality, 
intensity, and duration to lead to outcomes to be achieved by the 
proposed project;
    (iv) The extent to which the proposed activities constitute a 
coherent, sustained program of research and development in the field 
including, as appropriate, a substantial addition to an ongoing line of 
inquiry;
    (v) The extent to which the proposed project includes a thorough, 
high-quality plan for project implementation, and the use of 
appropriate methodological tools to ensure successful achievement of 
project objectives;
    (vi) The extent to which the proposed development efforts include 
adequate quality controls and, as appropriate, repeated testing of 
products; and
    (vii) The extent to which the services provided by the proposed 
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
    b. Quality of project products and services (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the products and 
services to be provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the products and/or services to 
be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and 
treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups 
that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, 
national origin, gender, age or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the products and services to be provided by 
the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and 
effective practice;
    (ii) The extent to which the products and services are of 
sufficient quality, intensity and duration to lead to the outcomes 
intended to be achieved by the proposed project;
    (iii) The extent to which the products and services to be provided 
by the proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate 
partners for maximizing the effectiveness of project products and 
services; and
    (iv) The likely utility of the products and services that will 
result from the proposed project including their potential for being 
used effectively in a variety of other settings.
    c. Quality of the evaluation plan (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and intended 
outcomes of the proposed project;
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes;
    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible; and
    (iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
timely guidance for quality assurance.
    d. Adequacy of project resources (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources, including 
the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel (i.e., project director and project staff);
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of project consultants or subcontractors;
    (iii) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization and key 
partners;
    (iv) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits;
    (v) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project; 
and
    (vi) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed 
project.
    e. Quality of the management plan (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within

[[Page 23784]]

budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and 
milestones for accomplishing project tasks;
    (ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project;
    (iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project;
    (iv) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and 
continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project; and
    (v) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives 
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including 
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of 
disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of 
services, or others, as appropriate.
    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.
    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.
    5. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2), we must make a judgment about 
your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under 
Federal awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before 
we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about 
you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred 
to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any 
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and 
that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. 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.
    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

[[Page 23785]]

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. 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 Management Support Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5113, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 
20202-2500. 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: May 19, 2017.
Ruth E. Ryder,
Deputy Director, Office of Special Education Programs, Delegated the 
duties of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-10664 Filed 5-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P