Applications for New Awards; Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects, 33734-33740 [2011-14349]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 111 / Thursday, June 9, 2011 / Notices
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.
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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 program, 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://
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www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDRR assesses the quality of
its funded projects through a review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines a portion of its
grantees to determine:
• 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 NIDRR
grants 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) for these
reviews.
Department of Education program
performance reports, which include
information on NIDRR programs, are
available on the Department’s Web site:
https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/
opepd/sas/.
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
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contacts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lynn Medley or Marlene Spencer as
follows:
Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5140, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2700. Telephone: (202) 245–7338
or by e-mail: Lynn.Medley@ed.gov.
Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
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room 5133, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2700. Telephone: (202) 245–7532
or by e-mail: Marlene.Spencer@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
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: June 6, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011–14342 Filed 6–8–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Spinal
Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS)
Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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Overview Information
Full Text of Announcement
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program—
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects (DRRPs) and Special Projects
and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord
Injury Program—Spinal Cord Injury
Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers and
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2011
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Numbers: 84.133N–1 and 84.133A–
15.
Note: This notice invites applications for
the first of two related competitions and
announces key information for both
competitions. For key dates and funding
information regarding each competition, see
the chart in the Award Information section of
this notice (chart).
Applications Available: See
chart.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: June
30, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: See chart.
DATES:
Purpose of Programs: The
competitions announced in this notice
are conducted under two separate
programs: The Special Projects and
Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injury
Program (the SCIMS Centers program—
84.133N–1 competition) and the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects (DRRPs) program (the SCIMS
Multi-Site Collaborative Research
Projects—84.133A–15 competition).
Special Projects and Demonstrations for
Spinal Cord Injuries Program
The SCIMS centers program is funded
through the Special Projects and
Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injuries
Program. This program provides
assistance for projects that provide
comprehensive rehabilitation services to
individuals with spinal cord injuries
and conducts spinal cord research, as
specified in 34 CFR 359.10 and 359.11.
DRRP Program
The SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects are funded under the
DRRP program. DRRPs are designed to
improve the effectiveness of services
Competition
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The SCIMS Centers and SCIMS MultiSite Collaborative Research Projects
priorities are from the notice of final
priorities and selection criterion
published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register. The General DRRP
Requirements priority is from the notice
of final priorities published in the
Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71
FR 25472).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2011 and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applicants, these priorities are absolute
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3),
for each competition, we consider only
applications that meet the applicable
priority or priorities for that
competition.
These priorities are:
1. Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Centers.
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authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation
Act) 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, utilization, 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: This notice includes three
priorities, which correspond to the two
competitions announced in this notice
as follows:
Priority or priorities
CFDA No. 84.133N–1 .........................................
CFDA No. 84.133A–15 .......................................
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Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers.
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects.
General Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Requirements priority.
2. Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects.
3. General Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP)
Requirements priority.
Note: The full text of these priorities are
included in the pertinent notices of final
priority or priorities published in the Federal
Register and in the application package for
this program.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760 and
764(a) and 764(b)(4).
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 parts 350 and
359. (c) The notice of final priorities
published in the Federal Register on
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April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). (d) The
notice of final priorities and selection
criterion for the SCIMS program and the
DRRP program, published elsewhere in
this issue of the Federal Register.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: See chart.
Estimated Range of Awards: See
chart.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
See chart.
Maximum Award: See chart.
Estimated Number of Awards: See
chart.
Project Period: See chart.
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Maximum
award
(budget
period
of 12
months) 1 2
Estimated
number of
awards
CFDA number and
name
Applications available
Deadline for transmittal of application
SCIMS Centers
(84.133N–1).
SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects
(84.133A–15).
June 9, 2011 ...........
August 8, 2011 ........
$6,500,000
3 $439,000–
$464,000
4 $489,000
14
Up to 60 months.
$1,800,000
$489,000
$850,00–
900,000
$900,000
$900,000
2
Up to 60 months.
Letters inviting applications will be
mailed to each
successful applicant of the SCIMS
competition. Applications will be
available online at
the time of the
mailing.
The Department will
establish the
deadline date for
the competition in
the letter it provides to each eligible applicant
under this notice.
Estimated
range of
awards
Estimated
average
size of
awards
Estimated
available
funds
Project period
1 We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the Maximum Amount. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published the Federal Register.
2 The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
3 SCIMS Centers will be funded at varying amounts up to the maximum award based on the numbers of SCIMS database participants from whom Centers must
collect follow-up data. Centers that have previously been SCIMS grantees with significantly larger numbers of database participants will receive higher funding within
the specified range, as determined by NIDRR after the applicant is selected for funding. Applicants should include in their budgets specific estimates of their costs for
follow-up data collection. Funding will be determined individually for each successful applicant, up to the maximum allowed, based upon the documented workload associated with the follow-up data collection, the other costs of the grant, and the overall budgetary limits of the program.
4 SCIMS Centers must spend at least 15 percent of their annual budget on participating in at least one module project. Module projects are described in the notice
of final priorities and selection criterion, published elsewhere in the Federal Register.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants:
(a) For the SCIMS Centers
Competition (84.133N–1): States; public
or private agencies, including for-profit
agencies; public or private
organizations, including for-profit
organizations; institutions of higher
education; and Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations.
(b) For the SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects
Competition (84.133A–15): Grantees
under the FY 2011 SCIMS Centers
competition. Successful grantees under
the SCIMS competition will be invited
by letter to apply for funding as a lead
center under the SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects
Competition.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The
SCIMS Centers Competition announced
in this notice does not involve cost
sharing or matching. The SCIMS MultiSite Collaborative Research Projects
Competition announced in this notice
does require cost sharing (4 CFR
350.62(a)), which will be negotiated at
the time of the grant award.
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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
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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 from ED
Pubs, be sure to identify this
competition as follows: CFDA numbers
84.133N–1 and 84.133A–15.
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. For both competitions
announced in this notice, we
recommend that you limit Part III to the
equivalent of no more than 100 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
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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).
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not
apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the
narrative budget justification; Part IV,
the assurances and certifications; or the
one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support.
However, the page limit does apply to
all of the application narrative section
(Part III).
The application package for each of
the competitions announced in this
notice 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 project
narrative; resumes of staff; and other
related materials, if applicable.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: See chart.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting:
Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting
to discuss the funding priorities and to
receive information and technical
assistance through individual
consultation. The pre-application
meeting will be held on June 30, 2011.
Interested parties may participate in this
meeting by conference call between 10
a.m. and 12 noon. After the meeting,
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NIDRR staff also will be available from
1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on that same day to
provide information and technical
assistance through individual
consultation.
For further information or to make
arrangements to attend by conference
call, or for an individual consultation,
contact Lynn Medley, U.S. Department
of Education, Potomac Center Plaza,
room 5040, 550 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202)
245–7338 or by e-mail:
Lynn.Medley@ed.gov.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: See chart.
Applications for grants under each of
the competitions announced in this
notice must be submitted electronically
using the Grants.gov Apply site (https://
www.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.
4. Intergovernmental Review: These
programs are 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. 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
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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
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects, CFDA
number 84.133N–1 and 84.133A–15,
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
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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 Spinal Cord Injury
Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers and
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects 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 84.133, not 84.133N).
Please note the following:
• When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
• Applications received by Grants.gov
are date and time stamped. Your
application must be fully uploaded and
submitted and must be date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system no
later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date.
Except as otherwise noted in this
section, we will not accept your
application if it is received—that is, date
and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the application deadline
date. We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements. When we retrieve your
application from Grants.gov, we will
notify you if we are rejecting your
application because it was date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date.
• The amount of time it can take to
upload an application will vary
depending on a variety of factors,
including the size of the application and
the speed of your Internet connection.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the submission
process through Grants.gov.
• You should review and follow the
Education Submission Procedures for
submitting an application through
Grants.gov that are included in the
application package for this competition
to ensure that you submit your
application in a timely manner to the
Grants.gov system. You can also find the
Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov under News
and Events on the Department’s G5
system home page at https://www.G5.gov.
• You will not receive additional
point value because you submit your
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application in electronic format, nor
will we penalize you if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, as described
elsewhere in this section, and submit
your application in paper format.
• You must submit all documents
electronically, including all information
you typically provide on the following
forms: The Application for Federal
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for
SF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
• You must upload any narrative
sections and all other attachments to
your application as files in a .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 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
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
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contact the person listed under FOR
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.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
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: Lynn Medley, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., room 5140, 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.
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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 84.133N–1 or 84.133A–
15), 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 84.133N–1 or 83.133A–
15), 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,
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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 the SCIMS Centers
competition are from 34 CFR 359.31,
and are listed in the application
package. The selection criteria for the
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects are from 34 CFR
75.210 of EDGAR, 34 CFR 350.54, and
the criterion established in the NFP;
these selection criteria will be listed in
the application package for the SCIMS
Multi-Site Collaborative Research
Projects competition.
The Secretary is interested in
hypothesis-driven research and
development projects. To address this
interest it is expected that applicants
will articulate goals, objectives, and
expected outcomes for the proposed
research and development activities. It
is critical that proposals describe
expected public benefits, especially
benefits for individuals with
disabilities, and propose projects that
are optimally designed to demonstrate
outcomes that are consistent with the
proposed goals. Applicants are
encouraged to include information
describing how they will measure
outcomes, including the indicators that
will represent the end-result, 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,
including a discussion of measures of
effectiveness.
Submission of this information is
voluntary except where required by the
selection criteria 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.
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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://
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33739
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDRR assesses the quality of
its funded projects through a review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines a portion of its
grantees to determine:
• 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 NIDRR
grants 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) for these
reviews.
Department of Education program
performance reports, which include
information on NIDRR programs, are
available on the Department’s Web site:
https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/
opepd/sas/.
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
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contacts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Either Lynn Medley or Marlene Spencer
as follows:
Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Room 5140, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2700. Telephone: (202) 245–7338
or by e-mail: Lynn.Medley@ed.gov.
Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
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Room 5133, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2700. Telephone: (202) 245–7532
or by e-mail: Marlene.Spencer@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
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 (Federal
Relay Service) 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: June 6, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011–14349 Filed 6–8–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[CFDA Numbers: 84.133N–1 and 84.133A–
15]
Final Priorities and Selection Criterion;
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
AGENCY:
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Notice of final priorities and
selection criterion.
ACTION:
The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services announces (1) a priority under
the Special Projects and Demonstrations
for Spinal Cord Injuries Program for
SCIMS Centers (priority 1), and (2) a
priority and selection criterion for
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects (DRRPs) that will serve as the
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects (priority 2). The
Assistant Secretary may use one or more
of these priorities and selection criterion
for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2011
and later years. We take this action to
focus attention on areas of national
need.
SUMMARY:
Effective Date: These priorities
and selection criterion are effective July
11, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5140, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202–2700.
Telephone: (202) 245–7338 or by e-mail:
lynn.medley@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1–
800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice of final priorities and selection
criterion (NFP) is in concert with
NIDRR’s currently approved Long-Range
Plan (Plan). The Plan, which was
published in the Federal Register on
February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), can be
accessed on the Internet at the following
site: https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/
list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Through the implementation of the
Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve the
quality and utility of disability and
rehabilitation research; (2) foster an
exchange of expertise, information, and
training to facilitate the advancement of
knowledge and understanding of the
unique needs of traditionally
underserved populations; (3) determine
the best strategies and programs to
improve rehabilitation outcomes for
underserved populations; (4) identify
research gaps; (5) identify mechanisms
of integrating research and practice; and
(6) disseminate findings.
This notice proposes priorities and a
selection criterion that NIDRR intends
to use for competitions in FY 2011 and
possibly later years. However, nothing
precludes NIDRR from publishing
additional priorities if needed.
Furthermore, NIDRR is under no
obligation to make an award using
either of the priorities or the selection
DATES:
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criterion. The decision to make an
award will be based on the quality of
applications received and available
funding.
Purpose of Programs: The SCIMS
centers are funded through the Special
Projects and Demonstrations for SCI
Program and the SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects are
funded as DRRPs.
Special Projects and Demonstrations for
Spinal Cord Injuries Program
The SCIMS centers program is funded
through the Special Projects and
Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injuries
Program. This program provides
assistance for projects that provide
comprehensive rehabilitation services to
individuals with spinal cord injuries,
and conducts spinal cord research, as
specified in 34 CFR 359.10 and 359.11.
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects (DRRPs) Program
The SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects are funded as DRRPs.
DRRPs are designed to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act 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, utilization, and technical
assistance.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760 and
764(a) and 764(b)(4).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34
CFR parts 350 and 359.
We published a notice of proposed
priorities and selection criterion (NPP)
for NIDRR’s Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program in the Federal Register
on March 22, 2011 (76 FR 15961). That
notice contained background
information and our reasons for
proposing the SCIMS Center priority
and the SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects priority and selection
criterion.
Public Comment: In response to our
invitation in the NPP, nine parties
submitted comments on the proposed
priorities and selection criterion.
Generally, we do not address
technical and other minor changes. In
addition, we do not address general
comments that raised concerns not
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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33734-33740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14349]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 33735]]
Overview Information
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) and Special
Projects and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injury Program--Spinal Cord
Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.133N-1 and
84.133A-15.
Note: This notice invites applications for the first of two
related competitions and announces key information for both
competitions. For key dates and funding information regarding each
competition, see the chart in the Award Information section of this
notice (chart).
DATES: Applications Available: See chart.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: June 30, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Programs: The competitions announced in this notice are
conducted under two separate programs: The Special Projects and
Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injury Program (the SCIMS Centers
program--84.133N-1 competition) and the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects (DRRPs) program (the SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects--84.133A-15 competition).
Special Projects and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injuries Program
The SCIMS centers program is funded through the Special Projects
and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injuries Program. This program
provides assistance for projects that provide comprehensive
rehabilitation services to individuals with spinal cord injuries and
conducts spinal cord research, as specified in 34 CFR 359.10 and
359.11.
DRRP Program
The SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects are funded
under the DRRP program. DRRPs are designed to improve the effectiveness
of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(Rehabilitation Act) 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, utilization, 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/rschstatresearch/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
Priorities: This notice includes three priorities, which correspond
to the two competitions announced in this notice as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Competition Priority or priorities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFDA No. 84.133N-1................ Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Centers.
CFDA No. 84.133A-15............... Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects.
General Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects
(DRRP) Requirements priority.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The SCIMS Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research
Projects priorities are from the notice of final priorities and
selection criterion published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register. The General DRRP Requirements priority is from the notice of
final priorities published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2006
(71 FR 25472).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants, these priorities are
absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for each competition,
we consider only applications that meet the applicable priority or
priorities for that competition.
These priorities are:
1. Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers.
2. Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects.
3. General Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP)
Requirements priority.
Note: The full text of these priorities are included in the
pertinent notices of final priority or priorities published in the
Federal Register and in the application package for this program.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760 and 764(a) and 764(b)(4).
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
parts 350 and 359. (c) The notice of final priorities published in the
Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). (d) The notice of
final priorities and selection criterion for the SCIMS program and the
DRRP program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions
of higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: See chart.
Estimated Range of Awards: See chart.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
Maximum Award: See chart.
Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
Project Period: See chart.
[[Page 33736]]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum
Estimated award
Applications Deadline for Estimated Estimated average (budget Estimated
CFDA number and name available transmittal of available range of size of period of number of Project period
application funds awards awards 12 months) awards
1 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCIMS Centers (84.133N-1)..... June 9, 2011..... August 8, 2011... $6,500,000 \3\ $464,000 \4\ 14 Up to 60 months.
$439,000-$4 $489,000
89,000
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Letters inviting The Department $1,800,000 $850,00-900 $900,000 $900,000 2 Up to 60 months.
Research Projects (84.133A- applications will establish ,000
15). will be mailed the deadline
to each date for the
successful competition in
applicant of the the letter it
SCIMS provides to each
competition. eligible
Applications applicant under
will be this notice.
available online
at the time of
the mailing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the Maximum Amount. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published the Federal Register.
\2\ The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
\3\ SCIMS Centers will be funded at varying amounts up to the maximum award based on the numbers of SCIMS database participants from whom Centers must
collect follow-up data. Centers that have previously been SCIMS grantees with significantly larger numbers of database participants will receive
higher funding within the specified range, as determined by NIDRR after the applicant is selected for funding. Applicants should include in their
budgets specific estimates of their costs for follow-up data collection. Funding will be determined individually for each successful applicant, up to
the maximum allowed, based upon the documented workload associated with the follow-up data collection, the other costs of the grant, and the overall
budgetary limits of the program.
\4\ SCIMS Centers must spend at least 15 percent of their annual budget on participating in at least one module project. Module projects are described
in the notice of final priorities and selection criterion, published elsewhere in the Federal Register.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants:
(a) For the SCIMS Centers Competition (84.133N-1): States; public
or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private
organizations, including for-profit organizations; institutions of
higher education; and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
(b) For the SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects
Competition (84.133A-15): Grantees under the FY 2011 SCIMS Centers
competition. Successful grantees under the SCIMS competition will be
invited by letter to apply for funding as a lead center under the SCIMS
Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects Competition.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The SCIMS Centers Competition
announced in this notice does not involve cost sharing or matching. The
SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects Competition announced
in this notice does require cost sharing (4 CFR 350.62(a)), which 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: 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 from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CFDA numbers 84.133N-1 and 84.133A-15.
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. For both competitions
announced in this notice, we recommend that you limit Part III to the
equivalent of no more than 100 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.
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.
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 page limit does apply to all of the application
narrative section (Part III).
The application package for each of the competitions announced in
this notice 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 project narrative; resumes of staff;
and other related materials, if applicable.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: See chart.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting to discuss the funding
priorities and to receive information and technical assistance through
individual consultation. The pre-application meeting will be held on
June 30, 2011. Interested parties may participate in this meeting by
conference call between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. After the meeting,
[[Page 33737]]
NIDRR staff also will be available from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on that
same day to provide information and technical assistance through
individual consultation.
For further information or to make arrangements to attend by
conference call, or for an individual consultation, contact Lynn
Medley, U.S. Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza, room 5040,
550 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 245-7338 or
by e-mail: Lynn.Medley@ed.gov.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
Applications for grants under each of the competitions announced in
this notice must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply
site (https://www.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.
4. Intergovernmental Review: These programs are 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. 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 Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
(SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative Research Projects,
CFDA number 84.133N-1 and 84.133A-15, 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 Spinal Cord
Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers and SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects 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 84.133, not 84.133N).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5
system home page at https://www.G5.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your
[[Page 33738]]
application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you
qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as
described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in
paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
You must upload any narrative sections and all other
attachments to your application as files in a .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: Lynn Medley, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5140, 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 following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.133N-1 or 84.133A-15), 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 84.133N-1 or 83.133A-15), 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,
[[Page 33739]]
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 the SCIMS Centers
competition are from 34 CFR 359.31, and are listed in the application
package. The selection criteria for the SCIMS Multi-Site Collaborative
Research Projects are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR, 34 CFR 350.54, and
the criterion established in the NFP; these selection criteria will be
listed in the application package for the SCIMS Multi-Site
Collaborative Research Projects competition.
The Secretary is interested in hypothesis-driven research and
development projects. To address this interest it is expected that
applicants will articulate goals, objectives, and expected outcomes for
the proposed research and development activities. It is critical that
proposals describe expected public benefits, especially benefits for
individuals with disabilities, and propose projects that are optimally
designed to demonstrate outcomes that are consistent with the proposed
goals. Applicants are encouraged to include information describing how
they will measure outcomes, including the indicators that will
represent the end-result, 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, including a discussion of measures of effectiveness.
Submission of this information is voluntary except where required
by the selection criteria 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: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through a review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR
examines a portion of its grantees to determine:
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 NIDRR grants 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) for these reviews.
Department of Education program performance reports, which include
information on NIDRR programs, are available on the Department's Web
site: https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/sas/.
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
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contacts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Either Lynn Medley or Marlene Spencer
as follows:
Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., Room 5140, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-
7338 or by e-mail: Lynn.Medley@ed.gov.
Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW.,
[[Page 33740]]
Room 5133, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or
by e-mail: Marlene.Spencer@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 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
(Federal Relay Service) 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: June 6, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-14349 Filed 6-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-
