Applications for New Award; Technical Assistance To Improve State Data Capacity-National Technical Assistance Center To Improve State Capacity To Accurately Collect and Report IDEA Data, 29338-29344 [2013-11967]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29338-29344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11967]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Award; Technical Assistance To Improve State 
Data Capacity--National Technical Assistance Center To Improve State 
Capacity To Accurately Collect and Report IDEA Data

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

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Technical Assistance to Improve State Data Capacity--National 
Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Accurately 
Collect and Report IDEA Data Notice inviting applications for a new 
award for fiscal year (FY) 2013.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.373Y.


DATES: 
    Application Available: May 20, 2013.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 19, 2013.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 17, 2013.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance to 
Improve State Data Capacity program is to improve the capacity of 
States to meet their Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 
data collection and reporting requirements under sections 616 and 618 
of the IDEA. Funding for the program is authorized under section 
611(c)(1) of the IDEA, which gives the Secretary the authority to 
reserve funds appropriated under section 611 of the IDEA to provide 
technical assistance (TA) authorized under section 616(i) of the IDEA. 
Section 616(i) requires the Secretary to review the data collection and 
analysis capacity of States to ensure that data and information 
determined necessary for implementation of sections 616 and 618 of the 
IDEA are collected, analyzed, and accurately reported. It also requires 
the Secretary to provide TA, where needed, to improve the capacity of 
States to meet the data collection requirements under the IDEA.
    Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priority for 
this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2013 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:

National Technical Assistance Center To Improve State Capacity To 
Accurately Collect and Report IDEA Data

    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
support the establishment and operation of a National Technical 
Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Accurately Collect and 
Report IDEA Data (Data Center). The Data Center will provide TA to 
improve the capacity of States to meet IDEA data collection and 
reporting requirements by:
    (a) Improving data infrastructure by coordinating and promoting 
communication and effective data governance strategies among relevant 
State offices including State educational agencies (SEAs) and State 
lead agencies, local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, early 
intervention service (EIS) providers, and TA providers to improve the 
quality of the IDEA data;
    (b) Using results from the Department's auto-generated error 
reports to communicate with State IDEA Data Managers and other relevant 
stakeholders in the State (e.g., EDFacts Coordinator) about data that 
appear to be inaccurate and provide support to the State (as needed) to 
enhance current State validation procedures to prevent future errors in 
State-reported IDEA data;
    (c) Using the results of the Department's review of State-reported 
data to help States ensure that data are collected and reported from 
all programs providing special education and related services within 
the State;
    (d) Addressing personnel training needs by developing effective 
informational tools (e.g., training modules) and resources (e.g., 
cross-walk documents about IDEA and non-IDEA data elements) about data 
collection and reporting requirements that States can use to train 
personnel in schools, programs, agencies, and districts;
    (e) Supporting States in submitting data into EDFacts by 
coordinating with EDFacts TA providers (i.e., Partner Support Center; 
see www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/support.html) about IDEA-
specific data reporting requirements and providing EDFacts reports and 
TA to States to help them improve the accuracy of their IDEA data 
submissions;
    (f) Improving IDEA data validation by using results from data 
reviews conducted by the Department to work with States to generate 
tools (e.g., templates of data dashboards) that can be used by States 
to accurately communicate data to local data-consumer groups (e.g., 
school boards, the general public) and lead to improvements in the 
validity and reliability of data required by IDEA; and
    (g) Using results from the Department's review of State-reported 
Annual Performance Report (APR) data to provide intensive and 
individualized TA to improve the accuracy of qualitative information 
provided in the APR about the State's efforts to improve its 
implementation of the requirements and purposes of IDEA, and to more 
accurately target its future improvement activities.

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    The TA provided by the Data Center must be directed at all relevant 
parties within a State that can affect the quality of IDEA data and 
must not be limited to State special education or early intervention 
offices. The Data Center's TA must primarily target data issues 
identified through the Department's review of IDEA data. TA needs can 
also be identified by a State's review of IDEA data or other relevant 
means, but TA must be based on an identified need related to improving 
IDEA data accuracy or timeliness. Effectiveness of the Data Center's TA 
will be demonstrated through changes in a State's capacity to collect 
and report valid and reliable IDEA data and resolve identified data 
issues.
    Funding for the Data Center is authorized under section 611(c)(1) 
of the IDEA, which gives the Secretary the authority to reserve funds 
appropriated under section 611 of the IDEA to provide TA authorized 
under section 616(i) of the IDEA. Section 616(i) requires the Secretary 
to review the data collection and analysis capacity of States to ensure 
that data and information determined necessary for implementation of 
sections 616 and 618 of the IDEA are collected, analyzed, and 
accurately reported. It also requires the Secretary to provide TA, 
where needed, to improve the capacity of States to meet the data 
collection requirements under the IDEA.
    To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, 
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in this 
priority. Any project funded under this priority also must meet the 
programmatic and administrative requirements specified in the priority.
    Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its 
application--
    (a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, 
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the project. A logic model 
communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides a 
framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the 
project;

    Note: The following Web site provides more information on logic 
models and lists multiple online resources: www.cdc.gov/eval/resources/index.htm;

    (b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities section of this priority;
    (c) A plan, linked to the project's logic model, for a formative 
evaluation of the project's activities. The plan must describe how the 
formative evaluation will use clear performance objectives to ensure 
continuous improvement in the operation of the project, including 
objective measures of progress in implementing the project and ensuring 
the quality of products and services;
    (d) A budget for a summative evaluation to be conducted by an 
independent third party;
    (e) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC, after receipt of the award, and an annual planning 
meeting held in Washington, DC, with the Office of Special Education 
Programs (OSEP) project officer and other relevant staff during each 
subsequent year of the project period.

    Note: Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award 
teleconference must be held between the OSEP project officer and the 
grantee's project director or other authorized representative;

    (2) A three-day project directors' conference in Washington, DC, 
during each year of the project period;
    (3) A three-day data conference up to twice each year in 
Washington, DC, and planned by the National Center for Education 
Statistics (NCES) for data professionals from all levels of government 
to discuss technical and policy issues related to the collection, 
maintenance, and use of education data, new evidence-based practices 
related to data, and Department initiatives about data collection and 
reporting, during each year of the project period;
    (4) A one-day intensive review meeting that will be held in 
Washington, DC, during the last half of the second year of the project 
period; and
    (5) Up to 36 days per year on-site at the Department to participate 
in meetings about IDEA data; meet with EDFacts staff, as appropriate; 
conduct conference sessions with program staff from States, LEAs, 
schools, EIS providers, and other local programs that contribute to the 
State data system to meet IDEA data collection requirements (e.g., NCES 
conferences); coordinate TA activities with other Department TA 
initiatives including, but not limited to, the Privacy TA Center (see 
www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/ptac/), Statewide Longitudinal 
Database Systems TA (see https://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/), 
Implementation and Support Unit TA (see www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/implementation-support-unit/), and EDFacts Partner Support 
Center (see www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/support.html); and 
attend other meetings as requested by OSEP; and
    (f) A line item in the budget for an annual set-aside of four 
percent of the grant amount to support emerging needs that are 
consistent with the project's activities, as those needs are identified 
in consultation with OSEP.

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

    Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
Data Center, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities:

Technology and Tools

    (a) Assist relevant parties in the State in the development of data 
validation procedures and tools; and
    (b) Assist States in creating or enhancing TA tools that build 
local staff capacity to accurately collect and report data under IDEA 
Parts B and C that is required to be reported to the Department and the 
public under sections 616 and 618 of the IDEA (e.g., reviewing current 
State training efforts and consulting with the SEA or State lead agency 
about materials and methods to improve efficiency or effectiveness of 
State training strategies); tools must be designed to improve the 
capacity of States to meet IDEA data requirements.

TA and Dissemination Activities

    (a) Provide TA to State data submitters and local data collectors 
on various data quality issues; topics must include summaries of data 
quality issues evident from data reviews that will be primarily 
conducted by the Department; as appropriate, technology should be used 
to convey information efficiently and effectively (e.g., webinars);
    (b) Develop an agenda for information sessions, which can be 
conducted at conferences or through webinars, specific to required IDEA 
data and submit the agenda for approval by OSEP. The purpose of the 
sessions is to ensure that State IDEA Data Managers have current 
knowledge and tools to collect, analyze, and accurately report IDEA 
data to the Department and gain new knowledge and tools that can be 
used to build data capacity at the local level;
    (c) Provide a range of general and targeted TA products and 
services \1\ on evidence-based practices that result in valid and 
reliable data and build the

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capacity of data collectors to collect valid and reliable data (e.g., 
State IDEA Data Manager training webinars for newly hired staff, white 
papers, technical briefs, review of data systems for usability 
improvements); all TA must improve the capacity of States to meet IDEA 
data requirements; all TA inquiries and responses must be recorded and 
be accessible to the OSEP project officer;
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    \1\ For information about universal/general, targeted/
specialized, and intensive/sustained TA, see https://tacc-epic.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/site/162/ConceptFrmwrkLModel%2BDefsAug2012.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIMS3GHWZEDKKDRDQ&Expires=1367515628&Signature=8o%2FKA2BtZN3JjV1KS2ZIj1xUHhA%3D.
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    (d) Conduct approximately eight intensive on-site TA visits each 
year focused on improving the capacity of States to meet IDEA data 
requirements. Visits should be distributed among Part C and Part B 
programs based on need and consultation with OSEP. On-site TA visits 
should be coordinated with other Department on-site visits (e.g., 
EDFacts, OSEP monitoring), to the extent that coordination will lead to 
improvements in the collection, analysis, and accurate reporting of 
IDEA Part B data at the school, LEA, and State levels and of IDEA Part 
C data by EIS providers and at the EIS program and State levels. All 
intensive TA visits should include State IDEA Data Managers, EDFacts 
Coordinators (as appropriate), and other relevant State parties. TA 
activities should emphasize building staff or data system capacity at 
State and local levels. Intensive TA may include a broad range of 
activities to meet the needs of each State. For example, an intensive 
TA activity may include the review of the data systems used by the 
State to identify system usability improvements to increase data use 
and data quality. The TA visits may include local data collectors or 
reporters, such as representatives from local EIS providers, and must 
focus on: (1) Resolving an identified data validity issue or system 
capacity issue; (2) achieving measurable outcomes; and (3) ``mapping'' 
the relationship of the data validity issue or system capacity issue 
with other IDEA data elements that are likely to be affected by the 
data validity issue or system capacity issue;
    (e) Plan and conduct data analytic workshops for local data 
collectors and reporters, which can be conducted at conferences or 
through webinars, to improve the capacity of States to meet IDEA data 
collection requirements. The workshops must target interdisciplinary 
teams of professionals from a small group of LEAs or EIS providers from 
each participating State to analyze the validity of data about a 
targeted issue relevant to infants, toddlers, children, or students 
with disabilities (e.g., ensuring consistency in data reporting on 
outcomes in all local programs in the State) and lead to plans that can 
be used by the EIS providers or LEAs to improve their IDEA data 
collection and reporting, as well as inform State-level data quality 
initiatives;
    (f) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility and is targeted to local and 
State data collectors. TA material developed by the Data Center, 
including the results of analyses conducted to improve State capacity 
to collect and report IDEA data, may be posted on the Data Center site. 
Note that the Department will post IDEA section 618 data collection 
instructions (e.g., EDFacts file specifications) on www.ed.gov/edfacts 
and will publish IDEA section 618 data on a *.gov Web site (e.g., 
www.data.gov/education);
    (g) Support States in verifying the accuracy and completeness of 
IDEA data prior to submission to the Department through activities such 
as data analyses, including ensuring that data are consistent with data 
about students with disabilities reported in other data collections 
(e.g., ensure that counts of students with disabilities reported to 
meet IDEA reporting requirements align appropriately with counts 
reported for other Federal programs); analytic activities must be 
linked to improving State capacity to meet the IDEA data collection 
requirements;
    (h) Solicit and compile State recommendations for automated data 
validation procedures that can be built into EDFacts to support States 
in submitting accurate data. Examples include business rules that would 
prevent States from submitting invalid data (e.g., greater than 100 
percent of assessment participants scoring proficient) and alerts that 
would ask the States to verify the accuracy of improbable data prior to 
completion of the submission (e.g., no data where non-zero counts are 
expected);
    (i) Prepare and disseminate topical reports, documents, and other 
materials that support States in meeting IDEA data collection and 
reporting requirements;
    (j) Develop guidance documents and tools for States to use to 
communicate with local data collectors and reporters about new or 
changing data requirements; the Data Center should communicate with 
States using current technology; and
    (k) Support States in meeting APR submission requirements, 
including by--
    (1) As needed, evaluating sampling plans developed by States to 
report APR data based on a sample of districts, schools, or EIS 
providers;
    (2) Evaluating the quality, accuracy, and validity of State 
Performance Plan (SPP) and APR quantitative data; and
    (3) Using results from the Department's review of APR data to 
support States in their analyses of available data so that States can 
provide accurate qualitative information to the Department about their 
efforts to meet the requirements and purposes of the IDEA, and to more 
accurately target future improvement activities in their SPPs and APRs.

Leadership and Coordination Activities

    (a) Consult with representatives from State and local educational 
agencies and State Part C lead agencies and EIS providers; school or 
district administrators; IDEA data collectors; data system staff 
responsible for IDEA data quality; data system management or data 
governance staff; and other consumers of State-reported IDEA data and 
informed stakeholders, as appropriate, on TA needs of stakeholders as 
they relate to the activities and outcomes of the Data Center, and 
provide a list of these representatives to OSEP within eight weeks of 
receiving its grant award notice. For this purpose, the Data Center may 
convene meetings, whether in person, by phone, or other means, or may 
consult with people individually about the activities and outcomes of 
the Data Center;
    (b) Communicate and coordinate, on an ongoing basis, with other 
Department-funded projects to: (1) Develop products to improve data 
collection capacity (e.g., What Works Clearinghouse); (2) support State 
monitoring of IDEA implementation through data use; and (3) develop and 
disseminate resources about data privacy issues (e.g., Privacy TA 
Center; see www.ed.gov/ptac); and
    (c) Maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP project officer.

Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project

    In deciding whether to continue funding the project for the fourth 
and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.253(a), and in addition--
    (a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting in Washington, DC, that will be held during the 
last half of the second year of the project period;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
project; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the project's 
activities and products and the degree to which the project's 
activities and products have

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contributed to changed practice and improved State capacity to collect 
and report high-quality data required under sections 616 and 618 of the 
IDEA.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1411(c), 1416(i), and 1418(c).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department debarment and 
suspension regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice of final 
priority for this competition, published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register.

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


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $6,500,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $6,500,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. 
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitation 
Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in 
the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months with an optional additional 24 
months based on performance. Applications must include plans for both 
the 36-month award and the 24-month extension.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs; LEAs, including public charter 
schools that are considered LEAs under State law; IDEA Part C State 
lead agencies; IHEs; other public agencies; private nonprofit 
organizations; outlying areas; freely associated States; Indian tribes 
or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: The project funded under this competition must make 
positive efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified 
individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of the IDEA).

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: 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) or a text telephone (TTY), 
call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.373Y.
    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 competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to 
the equivalent of no more than 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. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section (Part 
III).
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if 
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 20, 2013.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 19, 2013.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 17, 2013.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, Central Contractor Registry, and System for Award Management: 
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)--and, after July 24, 2012, with the System 
for Award Management

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(SAM), the Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR or SAM 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 or SAM 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 registration annually. This may take three or more 
business days to complete. Information about SAM is available at 
SAM.gov.
    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 at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    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 National Technical Assistance 
Center to Improve State Capacity to Accurately Collect and Report IDEA 
Data, CFDA number 84.373Y, 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 the National 
Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Accurately 
Collect and Report IDEA Data competition at www.Grants.gov. You must 
search for the downloadable application package for this competition by 
the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your 
search (e.g., search for 84.373, not 84.373Y).
    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 www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. 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.
     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 (a Department-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

[[Page 29343]]

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 
prevents 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: Richelle Davis, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4052, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2600. FAX: (202) 245-7617.
    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 84.373Y), 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 84.373Y), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, 
Sundays, and Federal holidays.

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

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past, 
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain 
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as 
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The standing panel 
requirements under section 682(b) of the IDEA also have placed 
additional constraints on the availability of reviewers. Therefore, the 
Department has determined that, for some discretionary grant 
competitions, applications may be separated into two or more groups and 
ranked and selected for funding within specific groups. This procedure 
will make it easier for the Department to find peer reviewers, by 
ensuring that greater numbers of individuals who are eligible to serve 
as

[[Page 29344]]

reviewers for any particular group of applicants will not have 
conflicts of interest. It also will increase the quality, independence, 
and fairness of the review process, while permitting panel members to 
review applications under discretionary grant competitions for which 
they also have submitted applications. However, if the Department 
decides to select an equal number of applications in each group for 
funding, this may result in different cut-off points for fundable 
applications in each group.
    4. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR part 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); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your 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 APR 
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 
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The goal of the Data Center is to provide 
TA that will improve the capacity of States to meet IDEA data 
collection and reporting requirements. Under the Government Performance 
and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on the effectiveness and quality of the Technical 
Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for 
Children with Disabilities program. We are proposing to use the 
measures established for the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to 
Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program to 
assess the performance of the Technical Assistance to Improve State 
Data Capacity program. See www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/funding.html. The Department will use these measures to assess the 
extent to which this program provides high-quality products and 
services, the relevance of project products and services to educational 
and early intervention policy and practice, and the usefulness of 
products and services to improve State data capacity to collect and 
report IDEA data. Grantees will be required to report information on 
their project's performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR 
75.590).
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review 
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes 
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds 
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richelle Davis, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4052, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-7401 or by email: 
richelle.davis@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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 or a TTY, 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: 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: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: May 15, 2013.
Michael Yudin,
Delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-11967 Filed 5-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P