Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program-Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, 66344-66350 [2013-26495]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66344-66350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26495]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: 
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program--Vocational Rehabilitation 
Counseling

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-
Term Training Program--Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.129B.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: November 5, 2013.
    Dates of Pre-Application Webinars: November 20, 2013, December 4, 
2013, and January 8, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 3, 2014.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 4, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program 
provides financial assistance for--
    (1) Projects that provide basic or advanced training leading to an 
academic degree in areas of personnel

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shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary;
    (2) Projects that provide a specified series of courses or program 
of study leading to the award of a certificate in areas of personnel 
shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary; and
    (3) Projects that provide support for medical residents enrolled in 
residency training programs in the specialty of physical medicine and 
rehabilitation.
    Priorities: This notice includes two absolute priorities. In order 
to receive funding in the competition announced in this notice, an 
applicant must meet both absolute priorities.
    Absolute Priority 1: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), 
this priority is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 386.1). 
For FY 2014 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:
    Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Programs Designed to Provide 
Academic Training in Areas of Personnel Shortages.
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for this competition, we consider only 
applications that propose to provide training in the priority area of 
rehabilitation counseling.
    Absolute Priority 2: This priority is from the notice of final 
priority for this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register. For FY 2014 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:
    Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling.
    Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
    In deciding whether to continue funding any Long-Term Training 
program for the fourth and fifth years, the Secretary will, as part of 
its review under 34 CFR 75.253(a), consider the following--
    (a) The recommendation of the RSA project officer who will review 
the grantee's training program against the projections stated in the 
grantee's application. This review will take place during the last half 
of the third year of the project period.
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the grant award have been or are being met by the grantee, including 
the submission of annual performance reports and annual RSA Scholar 
Payback Program reports, and adherence to fiduciary responsibilities 
related to the budget submitted in the application; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the grantee's 
training program and activities and the degree to which the training 
program and activities and their outcomes have contributed 
significantly to improving consumer access to qualified rehabilitation 
counselors who are prepared to adequately address their employment 
needs and goals.
    As a result, when awarding scholarships, grantees must inform 
scholars at the onset of the program that the scholarship is dependent 
upon: (1) Availability of funding, and (2) a program review to 
determine continuance of a fourth and fifth year of funding.

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

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 86, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension and 
debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The regulations in 34 CFR 
parts 385 and 386. (d) The notice of final priority for this program, 
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 only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $9,166,902.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $190,000-$200,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $195,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $200,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 46.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

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

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

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet, from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
    To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address: 
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 from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.129B.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc)

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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 the 
application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 45 pages, using 
the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     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.
    The page limit does apply to all of the application narrative 
section, Part III. Therefore, we will reject your application if you 
exceed the page limit in Part III or exceed the equivalent of the page 
limit if you apply other standards.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: November 5, 2013.
    Dates of Pre-Application Webinars: Interested parties are invited 
to participate in pre-application webinars. The pre-application 
webinars with staff from the Department will be held on November 20, 
2013, December 4, 2013, and January 8, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., Washington, 
DC time. The webinars will be recorded. For further information about 
the pre-application webinars, visit the National Clearinghouse of 
Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) at www.ncrtm.org.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 3, 2014.
    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: April 4, 2014.
    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, 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 System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the 
government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active 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 SAM registration process may take seven or more business days 
to complete. If you are currently registered with the SAM, 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/aapplicants/get_registered.jsp.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Rehabilitation Training: 
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training competition, CFDA Number 84.129B, 
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 
Rehabilitation

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Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training 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 84.129, not 
84.129B).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for 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 (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether 
your application will be accepted.

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

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system;
    and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
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: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5055, PCP, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7591.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies

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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 84.129B), 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 84.129B), 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 34 CFR 386.20 and are listed in the 
application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); 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 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act 
of 1993 (GPRA) directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the 
effectiveness of programs by engaging in strategic planning, setting 
outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program results 
against those goals.
    The goal of RSA's Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term 
Training program is to increase the number of qualified vocational 
rehabilitation (VR) personnel, including counselors and other 
professional staff, working in State VR or related agencies. At least 
75 percent of all grant funds must be used for direct payment of 
student scholarships.
    Grantees are required to maintain a system that safeguards the 
privacy of current and former scholars from the time they are enrolled 
in the program until they successfully meet their service obligation 
through qualified employment or monetary repayment. This system must 
ensure that scholars sign a payback agreement and an exit form when 
they exit the program, regardless of whether they drop out, are 
removed, or successfully complete the program. Specifically, each 
grantee is required to maintain the following scholar information:
    (a) Current contact information for all students receiving 
scholarships, including home address, email, and a phone number (home 
or cell);
    (b) A point of contact for each scholar in the event that the 
grantee is unable to contact the student. This contact must be at least 
21 years of age and may

[[Page 66349]]

be a parent, relative, spouse, partner, sibling, or guardian;
    (c) Cumulative financial support granted to scholars;
    (d) Scholar debt in years;
    (e) Program completion date and reason for exit for each scholar;
    (f) Annual documentation from the scholar's employer(s) until the 
scholar completes the service obligation. This documentation must 
include the following elements in order to verify qualified employment: 
Start date of employment to the present date, confirmation of full-time 
or part-time employment (if the scholar is working part-time the number 
of hours per week must be included in the documentation), type of 
employment, and a description of the roles and responsibilities 
performed on the job. This information is required for each employer if 
the scholar has worked in more than one setting in order to meet the 
service obligation.
    If the scholar is employed in a related agency, the agency must 
also provide documentation to validate that there is a relationship 
with the State VR agency. This may be a formal or informal contract, 
cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, or related 
document;
    (g) Annual documentation from the scholar's institution of higher 
education to verify dates of deferral, if applicable. The documentation 
may be prepared by the scholar's advisor or department chair and must 
include: Confirmation of enrollment date, estimated graduation date, 
confirmation that the scholar is enrolled in a full-time course of 
study, and confirmation of the scholar's intent to fulfill the service 
obligation upon completion of the program.
    Grantees are required to report annually to RSA on the data 
elements described above using the RSA Grantee Reporting Form, OMB 
number 1820-0617, an electronic reporting system supported by the RSA 
Management Information System (RSA MIS). In addition, grantees are 
required to utilize all forms required by RSA to prepare and process 
repayment, as well as requests for deferral and exceptions. The RSA 
Grantee Reporting Form collects specific data, including the number of 
scholars entering the rehabilitation workforce, the rehabilitation 
field each scholar enters, and the type of employment setting each 
scholar chooses (e.g., State VR agency, nonprofit service provider, or 
professional practice group). This form allows RSA to measure results 
against the goal of increasing the number of qualified VR personnel 
working in State VR and related agencies.
    In addition, all Rehabilitation Long-Term Training grantees must 
submit the following quantitative and qualitative data in an annual 
performance report:
    (a) Program activities that occurred during each fiscal year from 
October 1 to March 31 and projected program activities to occur from 
April 1 to September 30. For subsequent reporting years, grantees 
confirm projections made from the prior year;
    (b) Summary of academic support and counseling provided to scholars 
to ensure successful completion;
    (c) Summary of career counseling provided to scholars upon program 
completion to ensure that they have support during their search for 
qualifying employment, as well as during their initial months of their 
employment. This may include but is not limited to informing scholars 
of professional contacts, networks, and job leads, matching scholars 
with mentors in the field, and connecting scholars to other necessary 
resources and information;
    (d) Summary of partnership and coordination activities with State 
VR agencies and community-based rehabilitation providers. This may 
include but is not limited to obtaining input and feedback regarding 
curricula from State VR agencies and community-based rehabilitation 
providers; organizing internships, practicum agreements, job shadowing, 
and mentoring opportunities; and assessing scholars at the work site;
    (e) Assistance provided to scholars who may not be meeting academic 
standards or who are performing poorly in a practicum or internship 
setting;
    (f) Results of the program evaluation, as well as information 
describing how these results will be used to make necessary adjustments 
and improvements to the program;
    (g) Results from scholar internship, practicum, job shadowing, or 
mentoring assessments, as well as information describing how those 
results will be used to ensure that future scholars receive all 
necessary preparation and training prior to program completion;
    (h) Results from scholar evaluations and information describing how 
these results will be used to ensure that future scholars will be 
proficient in meeting the needs and demands of today's consumers and 
employers;
    (i) Number of scholars who began an internship during the reporting 
period;
    (j) Number of scholars who completed an internship during the 
reporting period;
    (k) Number of scholars who dropped out or were dismissed from the 
program during the reporting period;
    (l) Number of scholars receiving RSA scholarships during the 
reporting period;
    (m) Number of scholars who graduated from the program during the 
reporting period;
    (n) Number of scholars who obtained qualifying employment during 
the reporting period;
    (o) Number of vacancies filled in the State VR agency with 
qualified counselors from the program during the reporting period;
    (p) A budget and narrative detailing expenditures covering the 
period of October 1 through March 31 and projected expenditures from 
April 1 through September 30. The budget narrative must also verify 
progress towards meeting the 10 percent match requirement. For 
subsequent reporting years, grantees will confirm projections made from 
the prior year; and
    (q) Other information, as requested by RSA, in order to verify 
substantial progress and effectively report program impact to Congress 
and key stakeholders.
    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: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. Department of 
Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue 
SW., Room 5055, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-
7258 or by email: roseann.ashby@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or TTY, call the Federal Relay Service, 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

[[Page 66350]]

print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of 
this notice.
    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: October 30, 2013.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-26495 Filed 11-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P