Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training, 22084-22090 [2011-9625]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22084-22090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9625]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: 
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-
Term Training notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal 
year (FY) 2011.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.129 B, L, 
P, and Q.

    Note: This notice invites applications for four separate 
competitions. For funding information regarding each of the four 
competitions, refer to the chart under Award Information in section 
II of this notice.


DATES: Applications Available: April 20, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 6, 2011. Deadline 
for Intergovernmental Review: August 3, 2011.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program 
(Training Program) provides financial assistance for--
    (1) Projects that provide basic or advanced training leading to an 
academic degree in areas of personnel shortages in rehabilitation as 
identified by the Secretary;
    (2) Projects that provide a specified series of courses or program 
of study leading to the award of a certificate in areas of personnel 
shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary; and
    (3) Projects that provide support for medical residents enrolled in 
residency training programs in the specialty of physical medicine and 
rehabilitation.
    Priorities: This notice includes two absolute priorities, one 
competitive preference priority, and one invitational priority. In 
order to receive funding under any of the competitions announced in 
this notice, an applicant must meet Absolute Priority 1. An

[[Page 22085]]

applicant for funding under CFDA No. 84.129B (Rehabilitation 
Counseling) also must meet Absolute Priority 2.
    Absolute Priority 1: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), 
this priority is from 34 CFR 386.1. For FY 2011 and any subsequent year 
in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from these 
competitions, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Rehabilitation Long-Term Training programs designed to provide 
academic training in areas of personnel shortages.
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for each competition, we consider only 
applications that propose to provide training in the priority areas of 
personnel shortages listed in the following chart.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             CFDA No.                          Priority area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.129B..........................  Rehabilitation Counseling.
84.129L..........................  Undergraduate Education in the
                                    Rehabilitation Services.
84.129P..........................  Specialized Personnel for
                                    Rehabilitation of Individuals who
                                    are Blind or Have Vision
                                    Impairments.
84.129Q..........................  Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are
                                    Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Absolute Priority 2 (CFDA No. 84.129B): This priority is from the 
notice of final priority for this program, published in the Federal 
Register on January 15, 2003 (68 FR 2166). For FY 2011 and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applicants from the competition for CFDA No. 84.129B, this priority is 
an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for this competition, 
we consider only applications that meet this absolute priority and 
Absolute Priority 1.
    This priority is:
    Partnership with the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency 
(84.129B--Rehabilitation Counseling).
    This priority supports projects that will increase the knowledge of 
students of the role and responsibilities of the vocational 
rehabilitation (VR) counselor and of the benefits of counseling in 
State VR agencies. This priority focuses attention on and intends to 
strengthen the unique role of rehabilitation educators and State VR 
agencies in the preparation of qualified VR counselors by increasing or 
creating ongoing collaboration between institutions of higher education 
and State VR agencies.
    Projects funded under this priority must include within the degree 
program information about and experience in the State VR system. 
Projects must include partnering activities for students with the State 
VR agency including experiential activities, such as formal internships 
or practicum agreements. In addition, experiential activities for 
students with community-based rehabilitation service providers are 
encouraged.
    Projects must include an evaluation of the impact of project 
activities.
    Competitive Preference Priority: This competitive preference 
priority is from the notice of final supplemental priorities and 
definitions for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal 
Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486). For FY 2011 and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applicants from this competition, this priority is a competitive 
preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an 
additional 5 points to an application that meets this priority.
    This priority is:
    Building Evidence of Effectiveness.
    Projects that propose evaluation plans that are likely to produce 
valid and reliable evidence in the following priority area:
    Identifying and improving practices, strategies, and policies that 
may contribute to improving outcomes.
    Under this priority, at a minimum, the outcome of interest is to be 
measured multiple times before and after the treatment for project 
participants and, where feasible, for a comparison group of non-
participants.
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105 (c) (1), we do not give an application that meets this 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    This priority is:
    Demonstrating Evidence of a High-Quality Plan for a Successful 
Long-Term Rehabilitation Training Program.
    The Department invites applicants to provide detailed plans on how 
they will ensure the quality of VR training funded by this grant and 
improve employment outcomes for students. We encourage applicants to 
include the following in their applications--
    (a) A detailed recruitment plan that discusses how the applicant 
will recruit students into its VR training program and how it will 
address enrollment shortages;
    (b) A comprehensive plan that details how many students the 
applicant plans to enroll in its training program and fund using these 
grant funds and how the applicant will ensure that students not only 
stay enrolled in the program but graduate with a degree in a specific 
area of study related to VR;
    (c) A detailed plan on how the applicant will assist students in 
finding employment in a State VR Agency or other VR employment that is 
considered ``acceptable'' under the provisions of the RSA Scholar 
Payback Program; and
    (d) An explanation of how the applicant plans to track students 
after graduation or termination from its training program and collect 
the employment information required for the annual RSA Scholar Payback 
Program report.
    Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
    In deciding whether to continue funding any Long-Term Training 
program for the fourth and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the 
requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), and in addition--
    (a) The recommendation of the RSA project officer who will monitor 
the reported annual performance of the grantee's training program and 
measure it against the projections stated in the grantee's application. 
This includes the number of students actually enrolled in the grantee's 
training program and the number of students who successfully enter 
employment with State VR Agencies.
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the grant award have been or are being met by the grantee, including 
the submission of annual performance reports and annual RSA Scholar 
Payback Program reports, and adherence to fiduciary responsibilities 
related to the budget submitted in the application; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the grantee's 
training program and activities and the degree to which the training 
program and activities and their outcomes have contributed to 
significantly improving the quality of VR professionals ready for 
employment with State VR Agencies. This will be measured by the 
percentage of students entering employment deemed acceptable for 
fulfilling the payback obligation.
    Grantees must also provide assurances that they will abide by all 
of the administrative and performance reporting requirements associated 
with the RSA Payback report and will retain all the necessary 
documentation including the Scholars Agreement and Exit forms and any 
other documentation necessary to ensure students understand their 
financial liabilities under this program (34 CFR part 386).


[[Page 22086]]


    Note:  While applicants may not hire staff or select trainees 
based on race or national origin/ethnicity, they may conduct 
outreach activities to increase the pool of eligible minority 
candidates. RSA may disqualify and not consider for funding any 
applicant that indicates that it will hire or train a certain number 
or percentage of minority candidates.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 
CFR parts 385 and 386. (c) The notice of final priority for this 
program, published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2003 (68 FR 
2166). (d) The notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions 
for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486).

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


    Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions 
of higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Awards: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$33,251,000 for the Training Program for FY 2011, of which we intend to 
use an estimated $1,150,000 for these competitions. 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 before the end of the current fiscal year if Congress 
appropriates funds for this program.

    Note:  Please refer to the ``Maximum Award'' column of the chart 
in this section for the estimated dollar amounts for individual 
competitions.

    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications for the competitions announced in this notice, we may make 
additional awards in FY 2011 from the lists of unfunded applicants from 
individual competitions.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $75,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000.
    Maximum Award: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

 Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program Application Notice for Fiscal
                                Year 2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Maximum
                                                award  (per   Estimated
      CFDA No.              Priority area          budget     number of
                                                   year)        awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.129B.............  Rehabilitation                150,000            5
                       Counseling.
84.129L.............  Undergraduate Education       100,000            1
                       in the Rehabilitation
                       Services.
84.129P.............  Specialized Personnel         100,000            1
                       for Rehabilitation of
                       Individuals who are
                       Blind or Have Vision
                       Impairments.
84.129Q.............  Rehabilitation of             100,000            2
                       Individuals Who are
                       Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the 
maximum amount for each individual competition for a single budget 
period of 12 months. For projects funded under 84.129B, the maximum 
amount for a single budget period of 12 months is $150,000. For all 
other competitions in this notice, the maximum amount is $100,000 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 Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice. The Secretary may decide to increase or decrease the number 
of grants awarded in each specific priority area based on factors 
such as the quality of the applications received.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: States and public or nonprofit agencies and 
organizations, including Indian tribes and institutions of higher 
education.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing of at least 10 percent of 
the total cost of the project is required of grantees under the 
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program. The Secretary may waive part 
of the non-Federal share of the cost of the project after negotiations 
if the applicant demonstrates that it does not have sufficient 
resources to contribute the entire match (34 CFR 386.30).

    Note:  Under 34 CFR 75.562(c), an indirect cost reimbursement on 
a training grant is limited to the recipient's actual indirect 
costs, as determined by its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, 
or eight percent of a modified total direct cost base, whichever 
amount is less. Indirect costs in excess of the limit may not be 
charged directly, used to satisfy matching or cost-sharing 
requirements, or charged to another Federal award.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: ED Pubs, U.S. Department 
of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll 
free: 1-877-433-7827. Fax: (703) 605-6794. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: https://www.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify the competition as follows: CFDA number 84.129 B, L, P, or Q.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team listed under 
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for these competitions.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the 
application narrative (Part III) to the equivalent of no more than 45 
pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.

[[Page 22087]]

     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The 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, the references, or the letters of support. 
However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative 
section (Part III).
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if 
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: April 20, 
2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 6, 2011.
    Applications for grants under these competitions 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. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Deadline for 
Intergovernmental Review: August 3, 2011.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program 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 these competitions.
    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 Central Contractor Registry: 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 Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one business day.
    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 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to 
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, 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 CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take 
three or more business days to complete.
    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 in the 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see https://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
these competitions 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 Rehabilitation Training: 
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training competitions--CFDA numbers 84.129 B, 
L, P, and Q 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 
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training competitions 
at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for these competitions by the CFDA number. Do not 
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 
84.129, not 84.129B).
    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

[[Page 22088]]

submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the 
application package for these competitions to ensure that you submit 
your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can 
also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov 
under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home page at https://www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must attach any narrative sections of your application 
as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a 
file type other than a .PDF 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 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether 
your application will be accepted.


    Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     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 
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: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5055, PCP, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Fax: (202) 245-7591.
    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 84.129 B, L, P, or Q), 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.
    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 84.129 B, L, P, or Q), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.


[[Page 22089]]


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 these 
competitions are from 34 CFR 75.210 and 34 CFR 386.20 and are listed in 
the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we 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 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 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.
    4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act 
of 1993 (GPRA) directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the 
effectiveness of programs by engaging in strategic planning, setting 
outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program results 
against those goals.
    The goal of the Rehabilitation Services Administration's (RSA) 
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program is 
to increase the number of qualified VR personnel, including counselors 
and other professional staff, working in State VR or related agencies. 
At least 75 percent of all grant funds must be used for direct payment 
of student scholarships.
    Grantees are required to track current and former RSA scholars and 
maintain accurate information on them from the time they are enrolled 
in the program until they successfully meet their payback requirements. 
Specifically, each grantee is required to maintain information on the 
cumulative support granted to RSA scholars, scholar debt in years, 
program completion date and reason for exit for each scholar, dates 
each scholar's work begins and is completed to meet his or her payback 
agreement, type of employment scholars attain, all current contact 
information for scholars including home address, and the place of 
employment of individual scholars.
    Grantees are required to report annually to RSA on these data 
elements using the RSA Grantee Reporting Form, OMB number 1820-0617, an 
electronic reporting system supported by the RSA Management Information 
System (RSA MIS). The RSA Grantee Reporting Form collects specific 
data, including the number of RSA scholars entering the rehabilitation 
workforce, the rehabilitation field each scholar enters, and the type 
of employment setting each scholar chooses (e.g., State agency, 
nonprofit service provider, or practice group). This form allows RSA to 
measure results against the goal of increasing the number of qualified 
VR personnel working in State VR and related agencies.
    All Rehabilitation Long-Term Training grantees must also submit 
information in their annual report that details their relationship with 
State VR agencies including any information demonstrating articulation 
agreements, internships for RSA scholars, or employment of program 
graduates in the State VR agency. Grantees must also include evidence 
that they are recruiting, admitting and graduating students who intend 
to secure employment with State VR agencies and provide evidence that 
they understand students must pay back their scholarship through 
acceptable employment.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review 
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes 
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds 
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget. In making a continuation grant, the 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

[[Page 22090]]

receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. Department of 
Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, 
SW., room 5055, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-
7258 or by e-mail: roseann.ashby@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by 
contacting the Grants and Contracts Service 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: 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: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, 
as well as all other documents of this Department published in the 
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.

    Dated: April 15, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-9625 Filed 4-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P