Applications for New Awards; Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities-Captioned and Described Educational Media, 25311-25317 [2011-10907]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25311-25317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10907]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Technology and Media Services for 
Individuals With Disabilities--Captioned and Described Educational 
Media

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

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities--
Captioned and Described Educational Media

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2011.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.327N.

DATES: Applications Available: May 4, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2011.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 17, 2011.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of the Technology and Media 
Services for Individuals with Disabilities program are to: (1) Improve 
results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, 
demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support educational media 
services activities designed to be of educational value in the 
classroom setting to children with disabilities; and (3) provide 
support for captioning and video description that are appropriate for 
use in the classroom setting.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute, or otherwise 
authorized in the statute (see sections 674(c) and 681(d) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).
    Absolute 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 absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:

Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities-- 
Captioned and Described Educational Media

Background

    Section 674(c) of the IDEA requires, in part, that the Secretary of 
Education support video description, open captioning, or closed 
captioning that is appropriate for use in the classroom setting, of (a) 
television programs; (b) videos; and (c) other materials, including 
programs and materials associated with new and emerging technologies.
    Recent developments in education policy and practice and 
advancements in technology have significant implications for supporting 
video description and captioning that are appropriate for use in the 
classroom setting. New and emerging technologies (such as video 
streaming, digital video recording, digital image processing, and other 
forms of multimedia) are becoming a more integral part of instructional 
practice and are replacing older, more expensive, and less adaptable 
media sources, such as compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs 
(DVDs). However, multimedia and other new and emerging technologies are 
usually not accessible to students who have hearing or vision 
impairments because only a small percentage of educational multimedia 
used in the classroom is captioned or described. For example, a recent 
survey of the top 35 educational media producers/distributors in the 
United States revealed that only slightly more than 25 percent of 
educational media is captioned by media producers/distributors and less 
than five percent of educational media is described (Described and 
Captioned Media Program, 2008). Federal requirements for captioning and 
video description do not apply to many forms of educational media, even 
with the expansion of these requirements included in the recently-
enacted Twenty-First Century

[[Page 25312]]

Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. This priority will 
help to ensure that the captioning and description services funded 
under this priority keep pace with advancements in new and emerging 
technologies so that instructional content that is delivered using new 
and emerging technologies is accessible to students, including English 
learners, who have hearing or vision impairments.
    In addition, this priority will address the critical need to ensure 
that all students receive high-quality instruction in the academic 
subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 
STEM-related television programs, videos, and other materials must be 
accessible to students who have hearing or vision impairments if they 
are to participate in, and benefit from, effective STEM instruction. 
This priority will help to ensure that STEM-related television 
programs, videos, new and emerging multimedia technologies, and other 
materials are accessible to students, including English learners, who 
have hearing or vision impairments.

Priority

    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
support the establishment and operation of an Accessible Learning 
Center (Center) that will oversee the selection, acquisition, closed 
captioning, video description, and distribution of free educational 
media through a loan service for eligible users who we are defining as 
students, including English learners, in early learning and 
kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) classroom settings, who have 
hearing or vision impairments, and individuals, such as teachers and 
paraprofessionals who are directly involved in early learning or K-12 
classroom instruction. The Center will develop procedures to be used in 
identifying educational media that meet the curricular needs of 
students, including English learners, in early learning and K-12 
classroom settings; make arrangements for the media to be screened, 
purchased, captioned, and described; and establish strategies for 
distributing and making the media available to eligible users. Some of 
the activities and procedures must focus on selecting titles geared 
toward improving early learning outcomes for young children who have 
hearing or vision impairments and using technologies such as video 
streaming and other forms of multimedia to reach children with hearing 
or vision impairments in rural and high-need schools.
    To be considered for funding under this priority, the applicant 
must meet the application requirements contained in this priority. The 
project funded under this absolute priority also must meet the 
programmatic and administrative requirements specified in the priority.
    Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its 
application--
    (a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, 
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic 
model communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides 
a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the 
project;

    Note:  The following Web sites provide more information on logic 
models:
    https://www.researchutilization.org/matrix/logicmodel_resource3c.html and https://www.tadnet.org/model_and_performance.

    (b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities section of this priority;
    (c) A plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model, for a 
formative evaluation of the proposed project's activities. The plan 
must describe how the formative evaluation will use clear performance 
objectives to ensure continuous improvement in the operation of the 
proposed project, including objective measures of progress in 
implementing the project and ensuring the quality of products and 
services;
    (d) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A one and one half day kick-off meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC, within four weeks after receipt of the award, and an 
annual planning meeting held in Washington, DC, with the Office of 
Special Education Programs (OSEP) Project Officer during each 
subsequent year of the project period.
    (2) A three-day Project Directors' Conference in Washington, DC, 
during each year of the project period.
    (3) A two-day trip annually to attend Department briefings, 
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by 
OSEP; and
    (e) A line item in the proposed budget for an annual set-aside of 
five percent of the annual grant amount to support emerging needs that 
are consistent with the proposed project's activities, as those needs 
are identified in consultation with OSEP.

    Note:  With approval from the OSEP Project Officer, the Center 
must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside no 
later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period.

    Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
Center, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities:
    (a) Develop strategies and procedures for identifying educational 
media in early learning programs and elementary and secondary schools 
that are not accessible to students, including English learners, who 
have hearing or vision impairments and that meet the curricular needs 
of those students;
    (b) Select and obtain media from license-holders for screening. 
Once the media have been screened by Center staff, select items that 
have been judged by Center staff to closely match the curricular needs 
of students identified under paragraph (a) of this priority by taking 
into account the media most commonly used in school districts and early 
learning programs across the nation that are not currently captioned or 
described;
    (c) Make arrangements with producers and distributors for the 
Center to purchase, closed caption, describe, and distribute selected 
media, including distribution in alternate formats, such as video 
streaming. Provide closed captioned and described master copies to 
producers and distributors so that they can make these accessible 
copies available to interested parties beyond the eligible users who 
will be served under this program;
    (d) For selected media purchased, prepare closed captions and 
descriptions according to the guidelines referenced in paragraph (e) 
for closed captioned and described media and taking into account the 
grade level of the material, as well as the age and vocabulary level of 
the likely target audience. Materials to be captioned or described must 
include materials in STEM fields;
    (e) To help ensure that closed captioning and description service 
providers keep up with new and emerging technologies and produce 
quality closed captioned or described products, revise or improve 
existing guidelines for closed captioning and video description that 
are currently used by closed captioning and description service 
providers. Existing guidelines include the ``Captioning Key: Guidelines 
and Preferred Techniques,'' developed by the Described and Captioned 
Media Program (DCMP) and the ``Description Key: Guidelines for the 
Description of Educational Media,'' developed through a partnership 
between DCMP and the American Federation for the Blind (AFB) in 2008. 
These guidelines can be viewed at: https://www.dcmp.org/captioningkey/

[[Page 25313]]

and https://www.dcmp.org/descriptionkey, respectively.
    (f) Develop and implement quality control standards and procedures 
for checking media after it has been closed captioned and described;
    (g) Prepare up to 150 copies of each media purchased for 
distribution through the electronic distribution system described in 
paragraph (h). These copies must be made available for loan free of 
charge to eligible users. Twenty-five percent of the media acquired 
annually also must be closed captioned and described in Spanish so that 
Spanish speakers who are learning English and who have hearing or 
vision impairments have access to the media;
    (h) Develop a plan for implementing and operating an electronic 
distribution system for online ordering from the loan service. The 
distribution system must be computerized and allow electronic ordering;
    (i) Identify and, as appropriate, utilize alternate delivery 
methods and vehicles for the loan service, as new and emerging 
technologies become available for classroom use;
    (j) Establish and make available computerized registration and 
application procedures, accessible via the Internet, that will be used 
to register eligible users for the loan service, schedule the delivery 
of captioned and described media material, and track and record 
consumer feedback and usage information;
    (k) Prepare, update, and distribute a catalog listing all closed 
captioned and described media available under this project as they 
become available. The catalog must be made available online;
    (l) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility and that links to the Web site 
operated by the OSEP-funded Technical Assistance Coordination Center 
(TACC);
    (m) Establish and maintain an advisory group of seven members, 
which shall meet annually, and include video producers and 
distributors, closed captioning and description service providers, 
parents and families of students with hearing or vision impairments, 
and public and private school administrators, and other educational 
personnel. This advisory group must develop an evaluation plan; provide 
input regarding the usefulness of program activities and services; 
review the effectiveness of the Center's media acquisition, captioning, 
description, and distribution; and make recommendations to ensure 
maximum effectiveness, including recommendations relating to the 
selection of media to be closed captioned and described based on input 
from consumers;
    (n) Develop and maintain a comprehensive database containing 
information related to the availability of closed captioned and 
described educational media; information regarding the closed captioned 
and described media loan service; requirements governing the use of 
closed captioned and described media in the grantee's collection; and 
closed captioning and description service providers. In addition, the 
project shall maintain a clearinghouse of information on the subject of 
closed captioning and description for use by consumers, agencies, 
corporations, businesses, schools, and other interested stakeholders. 
All information must be accessible via the Internet;
    (o) Develop strategies and use technologies for improving the 
Center's productivity by replacing older, more expensive, and less 
adaptable methods of captioning and describing videos;
    (p) Upgrade technologies used by the Center for captioning and 
describing selected educational media as newer technologies emerge;
    (q) Select media that are intended to improve early learning 
outcomes for young children who have hearing or vision impairments; and
    (r) Use technologies such as video streaming and other forms of 
multimedia to reach students with hearing and vision impairments 
attending rural and high-need schools.

Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project

    In deciding whether to continue this project for the fourth and 
fifth years, we will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), and 
in addition--
    (a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting in Washington, DC, that will be held during the 
last half of the second year of the project period. The Center must 
budget for travel expenses associated with this one-day intensive 
review;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
Center; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Center's 
activities and products and the degree to which the Center's activities 
and products have contributed to an increased number of available 
accessible educational media for students with hearing or vision 
impairments.

References

    Described and Captioned Media Program (2008). Educational Media 
Producers & Accessibility Survey Results (Fact Sheet), Spartanburg, SC. 
Retrieved from https://www.dcmp.org/caai/nadh226.pdf.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and 
requirements. Section 681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment 
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priority in this notice.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1474 and 1481(d).

    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

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


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,500,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2012 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from the competition.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $1,500,000 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.
    Number of Awards: 1.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); local 
educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that are 
considered LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private 
nonprofit organizations; outlying areas; freely associated States; 
Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.

[[Page 25314]]

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements-- (a) The projects funded under this 
competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in 
employment qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of 
IDEA).
    (b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this competition 
must involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals 
with disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet, from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
    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: 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 this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.327N.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
    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 this competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to 
the equivalent of no more than 50 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.
     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: May 4, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2011.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery, 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 17, 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 this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and 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 
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery.

[[Page 25315]]

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    We are participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov 
Apply site. The Captioned and Described Educational Media competition, 
CFDA number 84.327N, is included in this project. We request your 
participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use 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.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Captioned 
and Described Educational Media competition at www.Grants.gov. You must 
search for the downloadable application package for this program by the 
CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your 
search (e.g., search for 84.327, not 84.327N).
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at https://www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you submit your application in paper format.
     If you submit your application electronically, 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.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to 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.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail

    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), 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 84.327N), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not

[[Page 25316]]

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 submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of 
your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.327N), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this grant notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
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. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past, 
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain 
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as 
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The Standing Panel 
requirements under IDEA also have placed additional constraints on the 
availability of reviewers. Therefore, the Department has determined 
that, for some discretionary grant competitions, applications may be 
separated into two or more groups and ranked and selected for funding 
within specific groups. This procedure will make it easier for the 
Department to find peer reviewers, by ensuring that greater numbers of 
individuals who are eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular 
group of applicants will not have conflicts of interest. It also will 
increase the quality, independence, and fairness of the review process, 
while permitting panel members to review applications under 
discretionary grant competitions for which they also have submitted 
applications. However, if the Department decides to select an equal 
number of applications in each group for funding, this may result in 
different cut-off points for fundable applications in each group.
    4. 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: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and 
quality of the Technology and Media Services for Individuals with 
Disabilities program. These measures focus on the extent to which 
projects are of high quality, are relevant to improving outcomes of 
children with disabilities, and contribute to improving outcomes for 
children with disabilities. We will collect data on these measures from 
the project funded under this competition.
    The grantee will be required to report information on its project's 
performance in annual performance reports to the Department (34 CFR 
75.590).
    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

[[Page 25317]]

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 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: Ernest Hairston, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4070, Potomac Center Plaza 
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7366.
    If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, 
at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or 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: 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.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: https://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: April 28, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-10907 Filed 5-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P