Applications for New Awards; Research Fellowships Program, 77505-77510 [2011-31947]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2011 / Notices
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[FR Doc. 2011–31949 Filed 12–12–11; 8:45 am]
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Department of Education.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Dated: December 7, 2011.
Darrin King,
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[FR Doc. 2011–31960 Filed 12–12–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Research Fellowships Program
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Service, National Institute
AGENCY:
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77505
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR), Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
Overview Information: Research
Fellowships Program; Notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2012.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133F–1.
DATES: Applications Available:
December 13, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 13, 2012.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Research Fellowships Program is to
build research capacity by providing
support to highly qualified individuals,
including those who are individuals
with disabilities, to perform research on
the rehabilitation of individuals with
disabilities.
Note: This program is in concert with
NIDRR’s currently approved long range plan
(the Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and
integrates many issues relating to disability
and rehabilitation research topics. The Plan,
which was published in the Federal Register
on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8166), can be
accessed on the Internet at the following site:
https://www2.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/
other/2006–1/021506d.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.
Priorities: This competition contains
one absolute priority and two
invitational priorities. In accordance
with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the
absolute priority is from the regulations
for this program (34 CFR 356.10).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2012, 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:
Research Fellowships Program
Fellows must conduct original
research in an area authorized by
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section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (the Act). Section 204
authorizes research, demonstration
projects, training, and related activities,
the purposes of which are to develop
methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology that maximize the full
inclusion and integration into society,
employment, independent living, family
support, and economic and social selfsufficiency, of individuals with
disabilities, especially individuals with
the most significant disabilities, and to
improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Act.
Within this absolute priority, we are
particularly interested in applications
that address the following invitational
priorities.
Invitational Priority: Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an
application that meets these invitational
priorities a competitive or absolute
preference over other applications.
These priorities are:
(1) The Secretary is particularly
interested in applications from eligible
applicants who are individuals with
disabilities.
(2) The Secretary is particularly
interested in applications that result in
practical methods of improving
participation and community living and
employment outcomes for individuals
with disabilities.
Note: The Secretary is interested in
outcomes-oriented research projects that use
rigorous scientific methodologies. To address
this interest, applicants are encouraged to
articulate goals, objectives, and expected
outcomes for the proposed research
activities. Proposals should describe how
results and planned outputs are expected to
contribute to advances in knowledge or
improvements in policy and practice.
Applicants should propose projects that are
optimally designed to be consistent with
these goals. Submission of the information
identified under this paragraph is not
required by law or regulation, but is desired.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(e).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR 75.60 and 75.61, and parts 77,
82, 84, 85, and 97. (b) The regulations
for this program in 34 CFR part 356. (c)
The regulations in 34 CFR 350.51 and
350.52.
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II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$110,485,000 for the NIDRR program for
FY 2012, of which we intend to use an
estimated $505,000 for the Research
Fellowships Program. The actual level
of funding, if any, depends on final
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congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough
time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2013 from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $60,000
to $65,000 for Merit Fellowships and
$70,000 to $75,000 for Distinguished
Fellowships. (These fellowships are
described in the Eligible Applicant
section of this notice.)
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$63,000 for Merit Fellowships and
$73,000 for Distinguished Fellowships.
Maximum Awards: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $65,000 for Merit
Fellowships and $75,000 for
Distinguished Fellowships 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.
Estimated Number of Awards: Seven
total, including both Merit Fellowships
and Distinguished Fellowships.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months. We
will reject any application that proposes
a project period exceeding 12 months.
The Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum project
period through a notice published in the
Federal Register.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible
individuals must: (1) satisfy the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.60 and 75.61
and (2) have training and experience
that indicate a potential for engaging in
scientific research related to the
solution of rehabilitation problems of
individuals with disabilities. The
program provides two categories of
Research Fellowships: Merit
Fellowships and Distinguished
Fellowships.
(a) To be eligible for a Merit
Fellowship, an individual must have
either advanced professional training or
experience in independent study in an
area which is directly pertinent to
disability and rehabilitation.
Note: In the most recent competitions for
this program, Merit Fellowship recipients
had research experience at the doctoral level.
(b) To be eligible for a Distinguished
Fellowship, an individual must have
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seven or more years of research
experience in subject areas, methods, or
techniques relevant to rehabilitation
research and must have a doctorate,
other terminal degree, or comparable
academic qualifications.
Note: Institutions are not eligible to be
recipients of Research Fellowships.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
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 program as
follows: CFDA number 84.133F.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
large print, audiotape, or compact disc)
by contacting the person or team listed
under Accessible Format in section 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
program.
Page Limit: The application narrative
(Part III of the application) is where you,
the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
your application. You must limit the
application narrative (Part III) to the
equivalent of no more than 24 doublespaced 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.
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• 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; the one-page abstract; the
eligibility statement; the curriculum
vitae; the bibliography; the letters of
recommendation; or the information on
the protection of human subjects.
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: December 13,
2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 13, 2012.
Applications for grants under this
program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (Grants.gov). For information
(including dates and times) about how
to submit your application
electronically, or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, please refer to
section IV. 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: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: Applicants
are not required to submit a budget with
their proposal. The Merit Fellowships
and Distinguished Fellowships awards
are one Full Time Equivalent (FTE)
awards. The Fellow must work
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principally on the fellowship during the
term of the fellowship award. We define
‘‘one FTE’’ as equal to 40 hours per
week. No Fellow is allowed to be a
direct recipient of Federal government
grant funds in addition to those
provided by the Merit or Distinguished
Fellowship grant (during the duration of
the Fellowship award performance
period). Fellows may, subject to
compliance with their institution’s
policy on additional employment, work
on a Federal grant that has been
awarded to the Fellow’s institution.
We reference regulations outlining
funding restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Requirements for Registering for
Grants.gov and Submitting Your
Application:
All individuals applying for a
Research Fellowship must register with
www.Grants.Gov prior to submitting
their application. To register with
Grants.gov you must know the Funding
Opportunity Number (FON) of the Grant
opportunity you are applying for. This
number is available on the Research
Fellowship Program Notice Inviting
Applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2012. Once you register with
www.Grants.gov using the FON, you
will be asked to create a profile with
your username and password, which
will be used to identify you within the
system and create an electronic
signature to have your grant application
forwarded to the appropriate
government agency safely and securely.
Details on registering for
www.Grants.gov as an individual are
outlined in the following Grants.gov
tutorial (see https://www.grants.gov/
assets/
IndividualRegistrationOverview.html).
To register for Grants.gov you do not
have to provide a Data Universal
Numbering System Number (DUNS), a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
or your Social Security Number. You
also do not have to complete a CCR
registration in order to access Grants.gov
or submit your application.
However, your Social Security
Number is required to complete your
application for a Research Fellowship.
7. Other Submission Requirements:
Applications for grants under this
program 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
Research Fellowships Program—CFDA
Number 84.133F–1 must be submitted
electronically using the
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Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site
at www.Grants.gov. Through this site,
you will be able to download a copy of
the application package, complete it
offline, and then upload and submit
your application. You may not email an
electronic copy of a grant application to
us.
We will reject your application if you
submit it in paper format unless, as
described elsewhere in this section, you
qualify for one of the exceptions to the
electronic submission requirement and
submit, no later than two weeks before
the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you
qualify for one of these exceptions.
Further information regarding
calculation of the date that is two weeks
before the application deadline date is
provided later in this section under
Exception to Electronic Submission
Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant
application for Research Fellowships
Program 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 84.133, not 84.133F).
Please note the following:
• When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
• Applications received by Grants.gov
are date and time stamped. Your
application must be fully uploaded and
submitted and must be date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system no
later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date.
Except as otherwise noted in this
section, we will not accept your
application if it is received—that is, date
and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system—after 4:30 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the application deadline
date. We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements. When we retrieve your
application from Grants.gov, we will
notify you if we are rejecting your
application because it was date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
• The amount of time it can take to
upload an application will vary
depending on a variety of factors,
including the size of the application and
the speed of your Internet connection.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the submission
process through Grants.gov.
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• 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 program to
ensure that you submit your application
in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education
Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov under News and Events on
the Department’s G5 system home page
at https://www.G5.gov.
• You will not receive additional
point value because you submit your
application in electronic format, nor
will we penalize you if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, as described
elsewhere in this section, and submit
your application in paper format.
• You must submit all documents
electronically, including all information
you typically provide on the following
forms: The Application for Federal
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for
SF 424, 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) read-only, nonmodifiable format only. Do not upload
an interactive or fillable .PDF file. If you
upload a file type other than a readonly, non-modifiable .PDF or submit a
password-protected file, we will not
review that material. Additional,
detailed information on how to attach
files is in the application instructions.
• 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 email.
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
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obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from
electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline
date because of technical problems with
the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
an extension until 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, the following
business day to enable you to transmit
your application electronically or by
hand delivery. You also may mail your
application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this
notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
section VII 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 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
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no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the
Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks
before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your
statement to: Marlene Spencer, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., Room 5133, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC
20202–2700. FAX: (202) 245–7643.
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 84.133F–1), 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
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date, to the Department at the following
address: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.133F–1,) 550 12th
Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
The Application Control Center
accepts hand deliveries daily between 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC
time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and
Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper
Applications: If you mail or hand deliver
your application to the Department—
(1) You must indicate on the envelope
and—if not provided by the Department—in
Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number,
including suffix letter, if any, of the
competition under which you are submitting
your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will
mail to you a notification of receipt of your
grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call
the U.S. Department of Education
Application Control Center at (202) 245–
6288.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
356.30 through 356.32 and are listed in
the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
reviewing applications in any
discretionary grant competition, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR
75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the
applicant in carrying out a previous
award, such as the applicant’s use of
funds, achievement of project
objectives, and compliance with grant
conditions. The Secretary may also
consider whether the applicant failed to
submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, the Secretary also requires
various assurances including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department of
Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,
108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR
74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may
impose special conditions on a grant if
the applicant or grantee is not
financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a
financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 34
CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has
not fulfilled the conditions of a prior
grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
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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 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 review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines a portion of its
grantees to determine the extent to
which grantees are conducting highquality research and related activities
that lead to high quality products.
Performance measures for the Research
Fellowships program include—
• The percentage of NIDRR-supported
fellows, post-doctoral trainees, and
doctoral students who publish results of
NIDRR-sponsored research in refereed
journals;
• The percentage of grantee research
and development that has appropriate
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77509
study design, meets rigorous standards
of scientific and/or engineering
methods, and builds on and contributes
to knowledge in the field; and
• The number of publications per
award based on NIDRR-funded research
and development activities in refereed
journals.
NIDRR evaluates the overall success
of individual research and development
grants through a review of grantee
performance and products. NIDRR uses
information submitted by grantees as
part of their final performance report for
these reviews. Approved final
performance report guidelines require
grantees to submit information
regarding research methods, results,
outputs, and outcomes.
VII. Agency Contact
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 email:
Lynn.Medley@ed.gov. Marlene Spencer,
U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5133,
PCP, Washington, DC 20202–2700.
Telephone: (202) 245–7532 or by email:
Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal
Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1 (800)
877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) by
contacting the 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
E:\FR\FM\13DEN1.SGM
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77510
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2011 / Notices
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: December 8, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011–31947 Filed 12–12–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Small
Business Innovation Research
Program (SBIR)—Phase I
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, National
Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR),
Department of Education
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information
Small Business Innovation Research
Program (SBIR)—Phase I Notice is
inviting applications for new awards for
fiscal year (FY) 2012.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.133S–1.
DATES:
Applications Available: December 13,
2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 13, 2012.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Purpose of Program: The purposes of
this program are to stimulate
technological innovation in the private
sector, strengthen the role of small
business in meeting Federal research or
research and development (R/R&D)
needs, increase the commercial
application of research supported by the
U.S. Department of Education
(Department), and improve the return
on investment from federally funded
research for economic and social
benefits to the Nation.
Note: This program is in concert with
NIDRR’s currently approved long range plan
(the Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and
integrates many issues relating to disability
and rehabilitation research topics. 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
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Jkt 226001
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 individuals with
disabilities from traditionally
underserved populations; (3) determine
best strategies and programs to improve
rehabilitation outcomes for individuals
with disabilities from underserved
populations; (4) identify research gaps;
(5) identify mechanisms of integrating
research and practice; and (6)
disseminate findings.
Executive Order 13329 states that
continued technological innovation is
critical to a strong manufacturing sector
in the United States economy and
ensures that Federal agencies assist the
private sector in its manufacturing
innovation efforts. The Department’s
SBIR program encourages innovative
research and development (R&D)
projects that are manufacturing-related,
as defined by Executive Order 13329.
Manufacturing-related R&D
encompasses improvements in existing
methods or processes, or wholly new
processes, machines, or systems. The
projects supported under the
Department’s SBIR program encompass
a range of manufacturing-related R&D,
including projects leading to the
manufacture of such items as artificial
intelligence or information technology
devices, software, and systems. For
more information on Executive Order
13329, please visit the following Web
site: https://www.sba.gov/sbir/
execorder.html or contact Lynn Medley
at: lynn.medley@ed.gov.
Background
The Small Business Reauthorization
Act of 2000 (Act) was enacted on
December 21, 2000. The Act requires
certain agencies, including the
Department, to establish SBIR programs
by reserving a statutory percentage of
their extramural R&D budgets to be
awarded to small business concerns
through a uniform, highly competitive
three-phase process.
The three phases of the SBIR program
are:
Phase I: Phase I projects determine,
insofar as possible, the scientific or
technical merit and feasibility of ideas
submitted under the SBIR program. An
application for Phase I should
concentrate on research that will
contribute significantly to proving the
scientific or technical feasibility of the
approach or concept. Scientific or
technical feasibility is a prerequisite to
the Department’s provision of further
support in Phase II. Phase I awards are
for a period of up to six months in an
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Sfmt 4703
amount up to a maximum total of
$75,000.
Phase II: Phase II projects expand on
the results of and further pursue the
development of Phase I projects. Phase
II is the principal R/R&D effort of the
SBIR program. Applications for Phase II
projects must be more comprehensive
than applications for Phase I projects;
Phase II applications must outline the
proposed effort in detail, including the
commercial potential of projects or
processes developed or researched
during the Phase I project. Phase II
applicants must be Phase I grantees with
approaches that appear sufficiently
promising as a result of their efforts in
Phase I. Phase II awards are for periods
of up to two years in amounts up to a
maximum total of $500,000 over a
period of two years.
Phase III: In Phase III, the small
business grantee must use non-SBIR
capital to pursue commercial
applications of the R/R&D. Also, under
Phase III, Federal agencies may award
non-SBIR follow-on funding for
products or processes that meet the
needs of those agencies.
All SBIR projects funded by NIDRR
must address the needs of individuals
with disabilities. (See 29 U.S.C. 760).
Activities may include: Conducting
manufacturing-related R&D that
encompasses improvements in existing
methods or processes, or wholly new
processes, machines, or systems;
exploring the uses of technology to
ensure equal access to education,
employment, community environments,
and information for individuals with
disabilities; and improving the quality
and utility of disability and
rehabilitation research.
Priorities: NIDRR has established five
invitational priorities for this
competition.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2012
and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition, these
priorities are invitational priorities.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not
give an application that meets one of
these invitational priorities a
competitive or absolute preference over
other applications.
Each of the following invitational
priorities relates to innovative research
utilizing new technologies to address
the needs of individuals with
disabilities. Under this competition we
are particularly interested in
applications that address one of the five
invitational priorities. These
invitational priorities are:
(1) Increased independence of
individuals with disabilities in the
workplace, recreational settings, or
E:\FR\FM\13DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77505-77510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31947]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Research Fellowships Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Service,
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR),
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information: Research Fellowships Program; Notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133F-1.
DATES: Applications Available: December 13, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 13, 2012.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Research Fellowships Program
is to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified
individuals, including those who are individuals with disabilities, to
perform research on the rehabilitation of individuals with
disabilities.
Note: This program is in concert with NIDRR's currently approved
long range plan (the Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates
many issues relating to disability and rehabilitation research
topics. The Plan, which was published in the Federal Register on
February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8166), can be accessed on the Internet at
the following site: https://www2.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2006-1/021506d.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.
Priorities: This competition contains one absolute priority and two
invitational priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii),
the absolute priority is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR
356.10).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2012, 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:
Research Fellowships Program
Fellows must conduct original research in an area authorized by
[[Page 77506]]
section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act).
Section 204 authorizes research, demonstration projects, training, and
related activities, the purposes of which are to develop methods,
procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full
inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living,
family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency, of
individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most
significant disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Act.
Within this absolute priority, we are particularly interested in
applications that address the following invitational priorities.
Invitational Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an
application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or
absolute preference over other applications.
These priorities are:
(1) The Secretary is particularly interested in applications from
eligible applicants who are individuals with disabilities.
(2) The Secretary is particularly interested in applications that
result in practical methods of improving participation and community
living and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Note: The Secretary is interested in outcomes-oriented research
projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. To address this
interest, applicants are encouraged to articulate goals, objectives,
and expected outcomes for the proposed research activities.
Proposals should describe how results and planned outputs are
expected to contribute to advances in knowledge or improvements in
policy and practice. Applicants should propose projects that are
optimally designed to be consistent with these goals. Submission of
the information identified under this paragraph is not required by
law or regulation, but is desired.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(e).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 75.60 and 75.61, and parts
77, 82, 84, 85, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR
part 356. (c) The regulations in 34 CFR 350.51 and 350.52.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$110,485,000 for the NIDRR program for FY 2012, of which we intend to
use an estimated $505,000 for the Research Fellowships Program. The
actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action.
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2013 from the list of
unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $60,000 to $65,000 for Merit Fellowships
and $70,000 to $75,000 for Distinguished Fellowships. (These
fellowships are described in the Eligible Applicant section of this
notice.)
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $63,000 for Merit Fellowships and
$73,000 for Distinguished Fellowships.
Maximum Awards: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $65,000 for Merit Fellowships and $75,000 for
Distinguished Fellowships 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.
Estimated Number of Awards: Seven total, including both Merit
Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months. We will reject any application
that proposes a project period exceeding 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may change
the maximum project period through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible individuals must: (1) satisfy the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.60 and 75.61 and (2) have training and
experience that indicate a potential for engaging in scientific
research related to the solution of rehabilitation problems of
individuals with disabilities. The program provides two categories of
Research Fellowships: Merit Fellowships and Distinguished Fellowships.
(a) To be eligible for a Merit Fellowship, an individual must have
either advanced professional training or experience in independent
study in an area which is directly pertinent to disability and
rehabilitation.
Note: In the most recent competitions for this program, Merit
Fellowship recipients had research experience at the doctoral level.
(b) To be eligible for a Distinguished Fellowship, an individual
must have seven or more years of research experience in subject areas,
methods, or techniques relevant to rehabilitation research and must
have a doctorate, other terminal degree, or comparable academic
qualifications.
Note: Institutions are not eligible to be recipients of
Research Fellowships.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
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 program as follows: CFDA number 84.133F.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under
Accessible Format in section 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 program.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the
application narrative (Part III) to the equivalent of no more than 24
double-spaced pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
[[Page 77507]]
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; the one-page abstract; the
eligibility statement; the curriculum vitae; the bibliography; the
letters of recommendation; or the information on the protection of
human subjects. 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: December 13, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 13, 2012.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV. 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: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: Applicants are not required to submit a
budget with their proposal. The Merit Fellowships and Distinguished
Fellowships awards are one Full Time Equivalent (FTE) awards. The
Fellow must work principally on the fellowship during the term of the
fellowship award. We define ``one FTE'' as equal to 40 hours per week.
No Fellow is allowed to be a direct recipient of Federal government
grant funds in addition to those provided by the Merit or Distinguished
Fellowship grant (during the duration of the Fellowship award
performance period). Fellows may, subject to compliance with their
institution's policy on additional employment, work on a Federal grant
that has been awarded to the Fellow's institution.
We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the
Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Requirements for Registering for Grants.gov and Submitting Your
Application:
All individuals applying for a Research Fellowship must register
with www.Grants.Gov prior to submitting their application. To register
with Grants.gov you must know the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) of
the Grant opportunity you are applying for. This number is available on
the Research Fellowship Program Notice Inviting Applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012. Once you register with www.Grants.gov
using the FON, you will be asked to create a profile with your username
and password, which will be used to identify you within the system and
create an electronic signature to have your grant application forwarded
to the appropriate government agency safely and securely. Details on
registering for www.Grants.gov as an individual are outlined in the
following Grants.gov tutorial (see https://www.grants.gov/assets/IndividualRegistrationOverview.html).
To register for Grants.gov you do not have to provide a Data
Universal Numbering System Number (DUNS), a Taxpayer Identification
Number (TIN) or your Social Security Number. You also do not have to
complete a CCR registration in order to access Grants.gov or submit
your application.
However, your Social Security Number is required to complete your
application for a Research Fellowship.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program 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 Research Fellowships Program--
CFDA Number 84.133F-1 must be submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this
site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package,
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You
may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for Research
Fellowships Program 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 84.133, not 84.133F).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
[[Page 77508]]
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 program to ensure that you
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home
page at https://www.G5.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, 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)
read-only, non-modifiable format only. Do not upload an interactive or
fillable .PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable .PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not
review that material. Additional, detailed information on how to attach
files is in the application instructions.
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 email. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1 (800) 518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 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 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: Marlene Spencer, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5133, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. FAX: (202) 245-7643.
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 84.133F-1), 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
[[Page 77509]]
date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133F-
1,) 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington,
DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 356.30 through 356.32 and are listed in the application
package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR
examines a portion of its grantees to determine the extent to which
grantees are conducting high-quality research and related activities
that lead to high quality products. Performance measures for the
Research Fellowships program include--
The percentage of NIDRR-supported fellows, post-doctoral
trainees, and doctoral students who publish results of NIDRR-sponsored
research in refereed journals;
The percentage of grantee research and development that
has appropriate study design, meets rigorous standards of scientific
and/or engineering methods, and builds on and contributes to knowledge
in the field; and
The number of publications per award based on NIDRR-funded
research and development activities in refereed journals.
NIDRR evaluates the overall success of individual research and
development grants through a review of grantee performance and
products. NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their
final performance report for these reviews. Approved final performance
report guidelines require grantees to submit information regarding
research methods, results, outputs, and outcomes.
VII. Agency Contact
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 email: Lynn.Medley@ed.gov. Marlene
Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room
5133, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or by
email: Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free,
at 1 (800) 877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting
the 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
[[Page 77510]]
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: December 8, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-31947 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
