Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Overview Information, 38426-38430 [E8-15318]
Download as PDF
38426
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 130 / Monday, July 7, 2008 / Notices
Dated: July 1, 2008.
Angela C. Arrington,
IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of Management.
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Federal Student Aid
Type of Review: Extension.
Title: Experimental Sites Initiative—
Data Collection Instrument.
Frequency: Annually.
Affected Public: Not-for-profit
institutions Federal Government.
Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour
Burden:
Responses: 109.
Burden Hours: 1,650.
Abstract: This data collection
instrument will be used to collect
specific information/performance data
for the analysis of eight experiments.
This effort will assist ED/Federal
Student Aid in obtaining and compiling
information to help determine change in
the administration and delivery of Title
IV programs. The experiments cover
major financial aid processes.
Institutions are given the flexibility to
test different procedures to carry out the
intent of regulations, whereby the
Department can analyze the data and
obtain information for Title IV
regulatory and legislative changes.
Thus, the Department needs this
information in its on-going initiative to
improve the financial aid delivery
services to students and the
postsecondary institutions they attend.
Additionally, working with Congress,
the Department can use this data to
make informed decisions for future
reauthorization.
Requests for copies of the information
collection submission for OMB review
may be accessed from https://
edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the
‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and
by clicking on link number 3674. When
you access the information collection,
click on ‘‘Download Attachments’’ to
view. Written requests for information
should be addressed to U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
Requests may also be electronically
mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed
to 202–401–0920. Please specify the
complete title of the information
collection when making your request.
Comments regarding burden and/or
the collection activity requirements
should be electronically mailed to
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.
[FR Doc. E8–15319 Filed 7–3–08; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services Overview
Information
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program—
Disability Rehabilitation Research
Projects (DRRPs)—Centers on Research
and Capacity Building to Improve
Outcomes for Individuals With
Disabilities from Traditionally
Underserved Racial and Ethnic
Populations; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2008.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.133A–11.
DATES:
Applications Available: July 7, 2008.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: July
21, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 21, 2008.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the DRRP program is to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended, by developing methods,
procedures, and rehabilitation
technologies that advance a wide range
of independent living and employment
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities, especially individuals with
the most severe disabilities. DRRPs
carry out one or more of the following
types of activities, as specified and
defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through
350.19: Research, training,
demonstration, development,
dissemination, and technical assistance.
An applicant for assistance under this
program must demonstrate in its
application how it will address, in
whole or in part, the needs of
individuals with disabilities from
minority backgrounds (34 CFR
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant
may take to meet this requirement are
found in 34 CFR 350.40(b).
Additional information on the DRRP
program can be found at: https://
www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/resprogram.html#DRRP.
Priorities: NIDRR has established two
priorities for this competition. The
General DRRP Requirements priority is
from the notice of final priorities for the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, published
in the Federal Register on April 28,
2006 (71 FR 25472). The Centers on
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Research and Capacity Building to
Improve Outcomes for Individuals With
Disabilities from Traditionally
Underserved Racial and Ethnic
Populations priority is from the notice
of final priorities for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program, published elsewhere
in this issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2008, these
priorities are absolute priorities. Under
34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet these priorities.
These priorities are:
General Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects (DRRP) Requirements
and Centers on Research and Capacity
Building to Improve Outcomes for
Individuals With Disabilities from
Traditionally Underserved Racial and
Ethnic Populations.
Note: The full text of each of these
priorities is included in its notice of final
priorities in the Federal Register and in the
application package.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g)
and 764(a).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84,
85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for
this program in 34 CFR part 350. (c) The
notice of final priorities for the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, published
in the Federal Register on April 28,
2006 (71 FR 25472). (d) The notice of
final priorities for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program, published elsewhere
in this issue of the Federal Register.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds:
$1,070,000.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$355,999–$356,665.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$356,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $356,665 for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the
maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Note: The maximum amount includes
direct and indirect costs.
Estimated Number of Awards: 3.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
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Project Period: Up to 60 months.
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III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States; public
or private agencies, including for-profit
agencies; public or private
organizations, including for-profit
organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes
and tribal organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost
sharing is required by 34 CFR
350.62(a)(3)(i) and will be negotiated at
the time of the grant award.
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: https://
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
grantapps/.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write,
fax, or call the following: Education
Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398,
Jessup, MD 20794–1398. Telephone, toll
free: 1–877–433–7827. FAX: (301) 470–
1244. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free:
1–877–576–7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
site, also: https://www.ed.gov/pubs/
edpubs.html or at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED
Pubs, be sure to identify this
competition as follows: CFDA Number
84.133A–11.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an alternative format (e.g., Braille,
large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) by contacting the person or
team listed under Alternative 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. We recommend that
you limit Part III to the equivalent of no
more than 75 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. Single spacing
may be used for titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and
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captions, as well as all text in charts,
tables, figures, and graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
The recommended page limit does not
apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the
narrative budget justification; Part IV,
the assurances and certifications; or the
one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support.
However, the recommended page limit
does apply to all of the application
narrative section (Part III).
The application package will provide
instructions for completing all
components to be included in the
application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (Standard Form
424); budget requirements (ED Form
524) and narrative budget justification;
other required forms; an abstract,
Human Subjects narrative, Part III
narrative; resumes of staff; and other
related materials, if applicable.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: July 7, 2008.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting:
Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting
to discuss the priorities and to receive
information and technical assistance
through individual consultation with
NIDRR staff. The pre-application
meeting will be held on July 21, 2008.
Interested parties may participate in this
meeting by conference call with NIDRR
staff from the Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Washington,
DC time. NIDRR staff also will be
available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the same day,
by telephone, to provide information
and technical assistance through
individual consultation. For further
information or to make arrangements to
participate in the meeting via
conference call or for an individual
consultation, contact Marlene Spencer,
U.S. Department of Education, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), room 6026, 550 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 245–7532 or by e-mail:
Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 21, 2008.
Applications for grants under this
program 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
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section IV.6. Other Submission
Requirements in 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 in this notice. If
the Department provides an
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an
individual with a disability in
connection with the application
process, the individual’s application
remains subject to all other
requirements and limitations in this
notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section in this notice.
6. 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
Disability Rehabilitation Research
Projects competition, CFDA number
84.133A–11, must be submitted
electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site
at https://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 Disability
Rehabilitation Research Projects
competition—CFDA number 84.133A–
11 at https://www.Grants.gov. You must
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search for the downloadable application
package for this competition by the
CFDA number. Do not include the
CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your
search (e.g., search for 84.133, not
84.133A).
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 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 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 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 at https://eGrants.ed.gov/help/
GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
• To submit your application via
Grants.gov, you must complete all steps
in the Grants.gov registration process
(see https://www.grants.gov/applicants/
get_registered.jsp). These steps include:
(1) Registering your organization, a
multi-part process that includes
registration with the Central Contractor
Registry (CCR); (2) registering yourself
as an Authorized Organization
Representative (AOR); and (3) getting
authorized as an AOR by your
organization. Details on these steps are
outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
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Registration Guide (see https://
www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.gov
RegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also
must provide on your application the
same D–U–N–S Number used with this
registration. Please note that the
registration process may take five or
more business days to complete, and
you must have completed all
registration steps to allow you to submit
successfully an application via
Grants.gov. In addition you will need to
update your CCR registration on an
annual basis. This may take three or
more business days to complete.
• 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: 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.
Please note that two of these forms—the
SF 424 and the Department of Education
Supplemental Information for SF 424—
have replaced the ED 424 (Application
for Federal Education Assistance).
• You must attach any narrative
sections of your application as files in
a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or
.PDF (Portable Document) format. If you
upload a file type other than the three
file types specified in this paragraph or
submit a password-protected file, we
will not review that material.
• Your electronic application must
comply with any page-limit
requirements described in this notice.
• After you electronically submit
your application, you will receive from
Grants.gov an automatic notification of
receipt that contains a Grants.gov
tracking number. (This notification
indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not
receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send a
second notification to you by e-mail.
This second notification indicates that
the Department has received your
application and has assigned your
application a PR/Award number (an EDspecified identifying number unique to
your application).
• We may request that you provide us
original signatures on forms at a later
date.
Application Deadline Date Extension
in Case of Technical Issues with the
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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 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
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
section VII in 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 that problem
affected your ability to submit your
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the application deadline
date. The Department will contact you
after a determination is made on
whether your application will be
accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in
this section apply only to the unavailability
of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov
system. We will not grant you an extension
if you failed to fully register to submit your
application to Grants.gov before the
application deadline date and time or if the
technical problem you experienced is
unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission
Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission
requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are
unable to submit an application through
the Grants.gov system because—
• You do not have access to the
Internet; or
• 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
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which of the two grounds for an
exception prevent 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: Marlene Spencer, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., room 6026, PCP,
Washington, DC 20202–2700. FAX:
(202) 245–7323.
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 applicable following
address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal
Service: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA number 84.133A–11), 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20202–4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier:
U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Stop 4260,
Attention: (CFDA number 84.133A–11),
7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD
20785–1506.
Regardless of which address you use,
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.
If your application is postmarked after
the application deadline date, we will
not consider your application.
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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.
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 84.133A–11), 550 12th
Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
The Application Control Center
accepts hand deliveries daily between 8
a.m. and 4:30 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 350.54 and are listed in the
application package.
2. Review and Selection Process:
Additional factors we consider in
selecting an application for an award are
as follows:
The Secretary is interested in
outcomes-oriented research or
development projects that use rigorous
scientific methodologies. To address
this interest, applicants are encouraged
to articulate goals, objectives, and
expected outcomes for the proposed
research or development activities.
Proposals should describe how results
and planned outputs are expected to
contribute to advances in knowledge,
improvements in policy and practice,
and public benefits for individuals with
disabilities. Applicants should propose
projects that are designed to be
consistent with these goals. We
encourage applicants to include in their
application a description of how results
will measure progress towards
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achievement of anticipated outcomes
(including a discussion of measures of
effectiveness), the mechanisms that will
be used to evaluate outcomes associated
with specific problems or issues, and
how the proposed activities will support
new intervention approaches and
strategies. Submission of the
information identified in this section V.
2. Review and Selection Process is
voluntary, except where required by the
selection criteria listed in the
application package.
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). 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 in this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section in
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: 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 multi-year
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
https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
appforms/appforms.html.
Note: NIDRR will provide information by
letter to grantees on how and when to submit
the final performance report.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDRR assesses the quality of
its funded projects through review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines a portion of its
grantees to determine:
• The percentage of newly-awarded
NIDRR projects that are multi-site,
collaborative, controlled studies of
interventions and programs.
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• The number of accomplishments
(e.g., new or improved tools, methods,
discoveries, standards, interventions,
programs, or devices) developed or
tested with NIDRR funding that have
been judged by expert panels to be of
high quality and to advance the field.
• The average number of publications
per award based on NIDRR-funded
research and development activities in
refereed journals.
• The percentage of new grants that
include studies funded by NIDRR that
assess the effectiveness of interventions,
programs, and devices using rigorous
methods.
NIDRR uses information submitted by
grantees as part of their Annual
Performance Reports (APRs) in support
of these performance measures.
Updates on the Government
Performance and Results Act of 1993
(GPRA) indicators, revisions, and
methods appear on the NIDRR Program
Review Web site: https://
www.neweditions.net/pr/commonfiles/
pmconcepts.htm.
Grantees should consult this site on a
regular basis to obtain details and
explanations on how NIDRR programs
contribute to the advancement of the
Department’s long-term and annual
performance goals.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 6026, PCP, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 245–7532 or by e-mail:
Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal
Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–
877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Alternative Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer diskette)
by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS,
toll-free, at 1–800–877–8339.
Electronic Access to This Document:
You can view this document, as well as
all other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) on the Internet at the
following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/
fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site. If you have questions about
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:39 Jul 03, 2008
Jkt 214001
using PDF, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
Note: 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 on GPO
Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
Dated: July 1, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8–15318 Filed 7–3–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Innovation and Improvement;
Overview Information; High-Quality
Supplemental Educational Services
and After-School Partnerships
Demonstration; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2008.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.287N.
DATES:
Applications Available: July 7, 2008.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply:
July 21, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 12, 2008.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: September 15, 2008.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the High-Quality Supplemental
Educational Services and After-School
Partnerships Demonstration competition
is to encourage the establishment or
expansion of partnerships between
supplemental educational services (SES)
programs and 21st Century Community
Learning Centers (21stCCLC) projects in
order to increase the academic
achievement of low-income students in
Title I schools 1 identified for
improvement, corrective action, or
restructuring. Through this competition,
the Department will fund projects that
will serve as national models of how
these two federally authorized afterschool initiatives can be coordinated so
that a greater number of students enroll
in, participate in, and complete
academic after-school services that
1 A Title I school is a school that receives funds
under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
improve their achievement in reading
and mathematics.
SES programs, authorized under
section 1116(e) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended by the No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 (ESEA), provide free
academic instruction to students from
low-income families who attend a Title
I school in the second year of
improvement, in corrective action, or in
restructuring. SES programs provide
tutoring, remediation, and other
research-based educational
interventions that are consistent with
the content and instruction used by the
local educational agency (LEA) and
aligned with the State’s academic
content standards.
The 21stCCLC program, authorized
under Title IV, Part B of the ESEA,
provides opportunities for communities
to establish or expand activities in
community learning centers that offer
academic enrichment, including tutorial
services, to help students, particularly
students who attend low-performing
schools, meet State and local academic
achievement standards in core academic
subjects. The program also provides a
broad array of additional services and
activities for students and their families
that are designed to reinforce and
complement the regular academic
program of participating students.
Centers can be located in elementary or
secondary schools or other similarly
accessible facilities.
Priorities: This competition has one
absolute priority and two invitational
priorities within the absolute priority.
Absolute Priority: This priority is an
absolute priority. We are establishing
this priority for the FY 2008 grant
competition only, in accordance with
section 437(d)(1) of the General
Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20
U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
High-Quality Supplemental
Educational Services and After-School
Partnerships Demonstration.
Background: Under the ESEA,
students in low-performing Title I
schools across the country may be
eligible to participate in the 21stCCLC
and SES programs. Both programs
provide after-school services designed
to help raise students’ academic
achievement.
Evidence indicates that participation
in SES improves student academic
achievement. A recent study by the
RAND Corporation, supported by the
U.S. Department of Education
(Department), found that in five out of
the seven large urban LEAs studied in
E:\FR\FM\07JYN1.SGM
07JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 130 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38426-38430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15318]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Overview
Information
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR)--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers
Program--Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs)--Centers
on Research and Capacity Building to Improve Outcomes for Individuals
With Disabilities from Traditionally Underserved Racial and Ethnic
Populations; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2008.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133A-
11.
DATES:
Applications Available: July 7, 2008.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: July 21, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 21, 2008.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the DRRP program is to improve
the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended, by developing methods, procedures, and
rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent
living and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. DRRPs carry
out one or more of the following types of activities, as specified and
defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, training,
demonstration, development, dissemination, and technical assistance.
An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b).
Additional information on the DRRP program can be found at: https://
www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
Priorities: NIDRR has established two priorities for this
competition. The General DRRP Requirements priority is from the notice
of final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, published in the Federal Register on
April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). The Centers on Research and Capacity
Building to Improve Outcomes for Individuals With Disabilities from
Traditionally Underserved Racial and Ethnic Populations priority is
from the notice of final priorities for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2008, these priorities are absolute
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications
that meet these priorities.
These priorities are:
General Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP)
Requirements and Centers on Research and Capacity Building to Improve
Outcomes for Individuals With Disabilities from Traditionally
Underserved Racial and Ethnic Populations.
Note: The full text of each of these priorities is included in
its notice of final priorities in the Federal Register and in the
application package.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81,
82, 84, 85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR
part 350. (c) The notice of final priorities for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, published in the
Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). (d) The notice of
final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education (IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $1,070,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $355,999-$356,665.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $356,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $356,665 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
Estimated Number of Awards: 3.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
[[Page 38427]]
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies,
including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations,
including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal
organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is required by 34 CFR
350.62(a)(3)(i) and will be negotiated at the time of the grant award.
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: https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following:
Education Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398.
Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: https://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.133A-11.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team
listed under Alternative 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. We recommend that you limit
Part III to the equivalent of no more than 75 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. Single spacing may be used for
titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as
well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative section (Part III).
The application package will provide instructions for completing
all components to be included in the application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED Form
524) and narrative budget justification; other required forms; an
abstract, Human Subjects narrative, Part III narrative; resumes of
staff; and other related materials, if applicable.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: July 7, 2008.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting to discuss the priorities and
to receive information and technical assistance through individual
consultation with NIDRR staff. The pre-application meeting will be held
on July 21, 2008. Interested parties may participate in this meeting by
conference call with NIDRR staff from the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Washington, DC
time. NIDRR staff also will be available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the same day, by telephone, to provide
information and technical assistance through individual consultation.
For further information or to make arrangements to participate in the
meeting via conference call or for an individual consultation, contact
Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza
(PCP), room 6026, 550 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or by e-mail: Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 21, 2008.
Applications for grants under this program 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 section IV.6. Other Submission
Requirements in 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
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
6. 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 Disability Rehabilitation
Research Projects competition, CFDA number 84.133A-11, must be
submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site
at https://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 e-mail 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 Disability
Rehabilitation Research Projects competition--CFDA number 84.133A-11 at
https://www.Grants.gov. You must
[[Page 38428]]
search for the downloadable application package for this competition by
the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your
search (e.g., search for 84.133, not 84.133A).
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
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 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 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 at https://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/
GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see https://
www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include:
(1) Registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2)
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization.
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
Registration Guide (see https://www.grants.gov/section910/
Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please
note that the registration process may take five or more business days
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to
allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
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:
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. Please note that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the
Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424--have
replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance).
You must attach any narrative sections of your application
as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable
Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file
types specified in this paragraph or submit a password-protected file,
we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30 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 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in 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 that problem affected your
ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after
a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
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
[[Page 38429]]
which of the two grounds for an exception prevent 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: Marlene Spencer, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6026, PCP,
Washington, DC 20202-2700. FAX: (202) 245-7323.
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 applicable
following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA number 84.133A-
11), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA number 84.133A-
11), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of which address you use, 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.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
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 84.133A-11), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 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 350.54 and are listed in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: Additional factors we consider in
selecting an application for an award are as follows:
The Secretary is interested in outcomes-oriented research or
development projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. To
address this interest, applicants are encouraged to articulate goals,
objectives, and expected outcomes for the proposed research or
development activities. Proposals should describe how results and
planned outputs are expected to contribute to advances in knowledge,
improvements in policy and practice, and public benefits for
individuals with disabilities. Applicants should propose projects that
are designed to be consistent with these goals. We encourage applicants
to include in their application a description of how results will
measure progress towards achievement of anticipated outcomes (including
a discussion of measures of effectiveness), the mechanisms that will be
used to evaluate outcomes associated with specific problems or issues,
and how the proposed activities will support new intervention
approaches and strategies. Submission of the information identified in
this section V. 2. Review and Selection Process is voluntary, except
where required by the selection criteria listed in the application
package.
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). 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 in this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in 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: 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 multi-year 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 https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on
how and when to submit the final performance report.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR
examines a portion of its grantees to determine:
The percentage of newly-awarded NIDRR projects that are
multi-site, collaborative, controlled studies of interventions and
programs.
[[Page 38430]]
The number of accomplishments (e.g., new or improved
tools, methods, discoveries, standards, interventions, programs, or
devices) developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged
by expert panels to be of high quality and to advance the field.
The average number of publications per award based on
NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals.
The percentage of new grants that include studies funded
by NIDRR that assess the effectiveness of interventions, programs, and
devices using rigorous methods.
NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their
Annual Performance Reports (APRs) in support of these performance
measures.
Updates on the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993
(GPRA) indicators, revisions, and methods appear on the NIDRR Program
Review Web site: https://www.neweditions.net/pr/commonfiles/
pmconcepts.htm.
Grantees should consult this site on a regular basis to obtain
details and explanations on how NIDRR programs contribute to the
advancement of the Department's long-term and annual performance goals.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6026, PCP, Washington, DC
20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or by e-mail: Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free,
at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS,
toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: 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 on GPO Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
nara/.
Dated: July 1, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-15318 Filed 7-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P