Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-Field Initiated Projects Program, 79413-79418 [2013-31279]
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and training in Alternative 2, the DoN
analyzed areas where training and
testing will continue as in the past, but
were not considered in previous
environmental analyses. Alternative 2
also includes the establishment of new
range capabilities, as well as
modifications of existing abilities;
adjustments to the type and tempo of
training and testing; and the
establishment of additional locations to
conduct activities between range
complexes.
The
complete text of the Record of Decision
(ROD) is available on the project Web
site at https://www.hstteis.com, along
with the Final Environmental Impact
Statement/Overseas Environmental
Impact Statement and supporting
documents. Single copies of the ROD
are available upon request by
contacting: Naval Facilities Engineering
Command Pacific/EV21.CS, Attn: HSTT
EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 258
Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl
Harbor, HI 96860–3134.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
Applications for New Awards; National
Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research—Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program—Field Initiated
Projects Program
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Availability of Record of
Decision for Hawaii-Southern
California Training and Testing
Department of the Navy, DOD.
Notice.
The United States Department
of the Navy (DoN), after carefully
weighing the strategic, operational, and
environmental consequences of the
proposed action, announces its decision
to conduct training and testing activities
in the Hawaii-Southern California study
area as described in Alternative 2 of the
Final Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement for Hawaii-Southern
California Training and Testing, dated
August 2013. Under Alternative 2, the
DoN will be able to meet current and
future DoN and Department of Defense
training and testing requirements. In
addition to analyzing baseline testing
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SUMMARY:
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Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
AGENCY:
AGENCY:
ACTION:
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
ACTION:
Notice.
Overview Information
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program—Field
Initiated Projects Program.
Notice inviting applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Numbers: 84.133G–1 (Research)
and 84.133G–2 (Development).
Applications Available:
December 30, 2013. Deadline for
Transmittal of Applications: February
28, 2014.
DATES:
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Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Field Initiated (FI) Projects program
is 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 severe disabilities.
Another purpose of the FI Projects
program is to improve the effectiveness
of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
NIDRR makes two types of awards
under the FI Projects program: Research
grants (CFDA 84.133G–1) and
development grants (CFDA 84.133G–2).
In carrying out a research activity
under an FI Projects research grant, a
grantee must identify one or more
hypotheses or research questions and,
based on the hypotheses or research
questions identified, perform an
intensive, systematic study directed
toward producing (1) new scientific
knowledge, or (2) better understanding
of the subject, problem studied, or body
of knowledge.
In carrying out a development activity
under an FI Projects development grant,
a grantee must use knowledge and
understanding gained from research to
create materials, devices, systems, or
methods, including designing and
developing prototypes and processes,
that are beneficial to the target
population. ‘‘Target population’’ means
the group of individuals, organizations,
or other entities expected to be affected
by the project. There may be more than
one target population because a project
may affect those who receive services,
provide services, or administer services.
Note: An applicant should consult NIDRR’s
Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013–2017
(78 FR 20299) (the Plan) when preparing its
application. The Plan is organized around the
following outcome domains: (1) Community
living and participation; (2) health and
function; and (3) employment and can be
accessed on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/
policy.html.
Priority: Under this competition we
are particularly interested in
applications that address the following
priority:
Invitational Priority: For FY 2014, this
priority is an invitational priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not
give an application that meets this
invitational priority a competitive or
absolute preference over other
applications.
The priority is:
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Projects that support research or
development activities related to the
development and application of cloud
computing for people with disabilities.
Cloud computing offers the potential to
provide accommodations that enable
people with disabilities to access
information technology more readily,
support improved management and use
of data to improve services for people
with disabilities, provide new
opportunities to communicate, and help
people with disabilities and their
families manage important data, such as
application forms and records for
services they receive. NIDRR seeks to
secure these and other potential benefits
of this emerging technology for people
with disabilities.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 764.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 86, and
97. (b) The Education Department
suspension and debarment regulations
in 2 CFR Part 3485. (c) The regulations
for this program in 34 CFR Part 350.
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Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$110,000,000 for the NIDRR program for
FY 2014, of which we intend to use an
estimated $4,000,000 for the FI Projects
competition. 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
2015 and subsequent fiscal years from
the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $195,000
to $200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$200,000.
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.
Note: The maximum amount includes
direct and indirect costs.
Estimated Number of Awards: 20.
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Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States; public
or private agencies, including for-profit
agencies; public or private
organizations, including for-profit
organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes
and tribal organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost
sharing is required by 34 CFR 350.62
and will be negotiated at the time of the
grant award.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: You can obtain an application
package via the Internet or from the
Education Publications Center (ED
Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet,
use the following address: 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
84.133G–1 or 84.133G–2.
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. We recommend that
you limit Part III to the equivalent of no
more than 50 pages, using the following
standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
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references, and captions, as well as all
text in charts, tables, figures, and
graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not
apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the
narrative budget justification; Part IV,
the assurances and certifications; or the
one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support.
However, the recommended page limit
does apply to all of the application
narrative section (Part III).
The application package will provide
instructions for completing all
components to be included in the
application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (Standard Form
424); budget requirements (ED Form
524) and narrative justification; other
required forms; an abstract, Human
Subjects narrative, and Part III narrative;
resumes of staff; and other related
materials, if applicable.
In concert with the balance principle
described in the Plan, applicants for FI
projects should specify in their abstract
and project narrative which of NIDRR’s
major outcome domains of individual
well-being their proposed project will
focus on: (a) Community living and
participation, (b) employment, or (c)
health and function. Although
applicants may propose projects that
address more than one domain, they
should select the applicable competition
based on the primary domain addressed
in their proposed project.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 30,
2013.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting:
Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting
and to receive information and technical
assistance through individual
consultation with NIDRR staff. The preapplication meeting will be held on
January 21, 2014. Interested parties may
participate in this meeting by
conference call with NIDRR staff from
the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services between 1:00
p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time. NIDRR staff also will be available
from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the same day,
by telephone, to provide information
and technical assistance through
individual consultation. For further
information or to make arrangements to
participate in the meeting via
conference call or to arrange for an
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individual consultation, contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of
this notice.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 28, 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.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR Part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section 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-to-two
business days.
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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 can take
approximately seven business days, but
may take upwards of several weeks,
depending on the completeness and
accuracy of the data entered into the
SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you
think you might want to apply for
Federal financial assistance under a
program administered by the
Department, please allow sufficient time
to obtain and register your DUNS
number and TIN. We strongly
recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active,
you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the
information to be available in Grants.gov and
before you can submit an application through
Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with
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.
Information about SAM is available at
www.SAM.gov. To further assist you
with obtaining and registering your
DUNS number and TIN in SAM or
updating your existing SAM account,
we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet,
which you can find at: https://
www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/samfaqs.html.
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/
web/grants/register.html.
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 FI
Projects program, CFDA Number
84.133G–1 (Research) or 84.133G–2
(Development), must be submitted
electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site
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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 FI Projects program,
CFDA Number 84.133G–1 (Research) or
84.133G–2 (Development) 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 84.133G).
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.
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• You should review and follow the
procedures for submitting an
application through Grants.gov that are
available at the Grants.gov Web site at
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/
applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
Answers to frequently asked questions
are available in Section E of the
Application Package for New Grants
under the Field Initiated Research
Program. Additional support
documents, telephone support, and
online support are available at the
Grants.gov Web site at www.grants.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—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
• You must upload any narrative
sections and all other attachments to
your application as files in a PDF
(Portable Document) read-only, nonmodifiable format. 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). These two automatic
notifications should not be interpreted
as evidence that your application was
correctly uploaded and that it is without
any disqualifying errors. For
instructions on how to verify that your
application was submitted on time and
was successfully validated as having no
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disqualifying errors, refer to the
document titled Grants.gov Submission
Tips: In Section E in the Application
Package for New Grants under the Field
Initiated Research Program.
• 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
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• 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: Marlene Spencer, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., Room 5133, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC
20202–2700. FAX: (202) 245–7323.
Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail
or hand delivery instructions described
in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications
by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the
electronic submission requirement, you
may mail (through the U.S. Postal
Service or a commercial carrier) your
application to the Department. You
must mail the original and two copies
of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.133G–1 (Research) or
84.133G–2 (Development)), 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.
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(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 84.133G–1 (Research) or
84.133G–2 (Development)), 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 program
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.
maindgalligan on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
350.54 and 350.55 and are listed in the
application package.
Note: Different selection criteria are used
for FI Projects research grants (84.133G–1)
and development grants (84.133G–2).
Applicants must clearly indicate in the
application whether they are applying for a
research grant (84.133G–1) or a development
grant (84.133G–2) and must address the
selection criteria relevant for their grant type.
Without exception, NIDRR will review each
application based on the grant designation
made by the applicant. Applications will be
determined ineligible and will not be
reviewed if they do not include a clear
designation as a research grant or a
development grant.
2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
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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).
Additional factors we consider in
selecting an application for an award are
as follows:
The Secretary is interested in
outcomes-oriented research or
development projects that use rigorous
scientific methodologies. To address
this interest, applicants are encouraged
to articulate goals, objectives, and
expected outcomes for the proposed
research or development activities.
Proposals should describe how results
and planned outputs are expected to
contribute to advances in knowledge,
improvements in policy and practice,
and public benefits for individuals with
disabilities. Applicants should propose
projects that are designed to be
consistent with these goals. We
encourage applicants to include in their
applications a description of how
results will measure progress towards
achievement of anticipated outcomes
(including a discussion of measures of
effectiveness), the mechanisms that will
be used to evaluate outcomes associated
with specific problems or issues, and
how the proposed activities will support
new intervention approaches and
strategies. Submission of the
information identified in this section is
voluntary, except where required by the
selection criteria listed in the
application package.
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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79417
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: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDRR assesses the quality of
its funded projects through a review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines a portion of its
grantees to determine:
• The number of products (e.g., new
or improved tools, methods, discoveries,
standards, interventions, programs, or
devices developed or tested with NIDRR
funding) that have been judged by
expert panels to be of high quality and
to advance the field.
• The average number of publications
per award based on NIDRR-funded
research and development activities in
refereed journals.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 250 / Monday, December 30, 2013 / Notices
• The percentage of new NIDRR
grants that assess the effectiveness of
interventions, programs, and devices
using rigorous methods.
For these reviews, NIDRR uses
information submitted by grantees as
part of their Annual Performance
Reports. Department of Education
program performance reports, which
include information on NIDRR
programs, are available on the
Department’s Web site: www.ed.gov/
about/offices/list/opepd/sas/.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award, the Secretary may
consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the
extent to which a grantee has made
‘‘substantial progress toward meeting
the objectives in its approved
application.’’ This consideration
includes the review of a grantee’s
progress in meeting the targets and
projected outcomes in its approved
application, and whether the grantee
has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application
and budget. In making a continuation
grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in
compliance with the assurances in its
approved application, including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
maindgalligan on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 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
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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: December 24, 2013.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2013–31279 Filed 12–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Agency Information Collection
Extension
U.S. Department of Energy.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of Energy
(DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995), intends to
extend for three years, an information
collection request (OMB Control
Number 1910–1700) with the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). The
proposed voluntary collection will
request that an individual or an
authorized designee provide pertinent
information for easy record retrieval
allowing for increased efficiencies and
quicker processing. Pertinent
information includes the requester’s
name, shipping address, phone number,
email address, previous work location,
the action requested and any identifying
data that will help locate the records
(e.g., maiden name, occupational license
number, time and place of
employment). Comments are invited on:
(a) whether the extended collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and, (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
SUMMARY:
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or other forms of information
technology.
Comments regarding this
proposed information collection must
be received on or before February 28,
2014. If you anticipate difficulty in
submitting comments within that
period, contact the person listed below
as soon as possible.
DATES:
Troy Manigault,
Departmental Records Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy, 19901
Germantown Rd, Room G–312,
Germantown, MD 20874, Phone: 301–
903–9926 (Office),
informationcollection@hq.doe.gov.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Russell Pereira, Director of EGovernment and Standards, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
DC 20585, 202–586–0338 (Office),
russell.pereira@hq.doe.gov.
This
information collection request contains:
(1) OMB No. 1910–1700; (2) Information
Collection Request Title: Records and
Administration; (3) Type of Review:
Renewal; (4) Purpose: The Privacy Act
Information Request Form (DOE Form
531), which assists the Department of
Energy in processing privacy requests
submitted by an individual or an
authorized designee where-in he or she
is requesting records the government
may maintain on them, and increases
efficiencies including, but not limited to
quicker processing of privacy requests
by asking individuals or their designees
pertinent information for easy record
retrieval; (5) Annual Estimated Number
of Respondents: 135; (6) Annual
Estimated Number of Total Responses:
135; (7) Annual Estimated Number of
Burden Hours: 45 hrs; (8) Annual
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping
Cost Burden: N/A.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Statutory Authority: The Privacy Act of
1974, 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 10 CFR 1008.7, and
DOE Order 206.1.
Issued in Washington, DC on December 23,
2013.
Troy Manigault,
Departmental Records Officer, Office of the
Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013–31222 Filed 12–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 250 (Monday, December 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79413-79418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31279]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research--Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program--Field Initiated Projects Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR)--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers
Program--Field Initiated Projects Program.
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.133G-1
(Research) and 84.133G-2 (Development).
DATES: Applications Available: December 30, 2013. Deadline for
Transmittal of Applications: February 28, 2014.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Field Initiated (FI)
Projects program is 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 severe disabilities. Another
purpose of the FI Projects program is to improve the effectiveness of
services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
NIDRR makes two types of awards under the FI Projects program:
Research grants (CFDA 84.133G-1) and development grants (CFDA 84.133G-
2).
In carrying out a research activity under an FI Projects research
grant, a grantee must identify one or more hypotheses or research
questions and, based on the hypotheses or research questions
identified, perform an intensive, systematic study directed toward
producing (1) new scientific knowledge, or (2) better understanding of
the subject, problem studied, or body of knowledge.
In carrying out a development activity under an FI Projects
development grant, a grantee must use knowledge and understanding
gained from research to create materials, devices, systems, or methods,
including designing and developing prototypes and processes, that are
beneficial to the target population. ``Target population'' means the
group of individuals, organizations, or other entities expected to be
affected by the project. There may be more than one target population
because a project may affect those who receive services, provide
services, or administer services.
Note: An applicant should consult NIDRR's Long-Range Plan for
Fiscal Years 2013-2017 (78 FR 20299) (the Plan) when preparing its
application. The Plan is organized around the following outcome
domains: (1) Community living and participation; (2) health and
function; and (3) employment and can be accessed on the Internet at
the following site: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Priority: Under this competition we are particularly interested in
applications that address the following priority:
Invitational Priority: For FY 2014, this priority is an
invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an
application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or
absolute preference over other applications.
The priority is:
[[Page 79414]]
Projects that support research or development activities related to
the development and application of cloud computing for people with
disabilities. Cloud computing offers the potential to provide
accommodations that enable people with disabilities to access
information technology more readily, support improved management and
use of data to improve services for people with disabilities, provide
new opportunities to communicate, and help people with disabilities and
their families manage important data, such as application forms and
records for services they receive. NIDRR seeks to secure these and
other potential benefits of this emerging technology for people with
disabilities.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 764.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84,
86, and 97. (b) The Education Department suspension and debarment
regulations in 2 CFR Part 3485. (c) The regulations for this program in
34 CFR Part 350.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education (IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$110,000,000 for the NIDRR program for FY 2014, of which we intend to
use an estimated $4,000,000 for the FI Projects competition. 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 2015 and subsequent
fiscal years from the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $195,000 to $200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000.
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.
Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
Estimated Number of Awards: 20.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies,
including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations,
including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal
organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is required by 34 CFR
350.62 and will be negotiated at the time of the grant award.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: 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 84.133G-1 or 84.133G-2.
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. We recommend that you limit
Part III to the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using the
following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side
only, with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative section (Part III).
The application package will provide instructions for completing
all components to be included in the application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED Form
524) and narrative justification; other required forms; an abstract,
Human Subjects narrative, and Part III narrative; resumes of staff; and
other related materials, if applicable.
In concert with the balance principle described in the Plan,
applicants for FI projects should specify in their abstract and project
narrative which of NIDRR's major outcome domains of individual well-
being their proposed project will focus on: (a) Community living and
participation, (b) employment, or (c) health and function. Although
applicants may propose projects that address more than one domain, they
should select the applicable competition based on the primary domain
addressed in their proposed project.
3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: December 30,
2013.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting and to receive information and
technical assistance through individual consultation with NIDRR staff.
The pre-application meeting will be held on January 21, 2014.
Interested parties may participate in this meeting by conference call
with NIDRR staff from the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time. NIDRR staff also will be available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the same day, by telephone, to provide
information and technical assistance through individual consultation.
For further information or to make arrangements to participate in the
meeting via conference call or to arrange for an
[[Page 79415]]
individual consultation, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 28, 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.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section 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-to-two business days.
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 can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department,
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through
Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with 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.
Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
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/web/grants/register.html.
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 FI Projects program, CFDA Number
84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development), 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 FI Projects
program, CFDA Number 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development) 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
84.133G).
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.
[[Page 79416]]
You should review and follow the procedures for submitting
an application through Grants.gov that are available at the Grants.gov
Web site at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. Answers to frequently asked questions are available in
Section E of the Application Package for New Grants under the Field
Initiated Research Program. Additional support documents, telephone
support, and online support are available at the Grants.gov Web site at
www.grants.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. 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). These two automatic
notifications should not be interpreted as evidence that your
application was correctly uploaded and that it is without any
disqualifying errors. For instructions on how to verify that your
application was submitted on time and was successfully validated as
having no disqualifying errors, refer to the document titled Grants.gov
Submission Tips: In Section E in the Application Package for New Grants
under the Field Initiated Research Program.
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: Marlene Spencer, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5133, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. FAX: (202) 245-7323.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development)), 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.
[[Page 79417]]
(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 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development)), 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 program 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 350.54 and 350.55 and are listed in the application
package.
Note: Different selection criteria are used for FI Projects
research grants (84.133G-1) and development grants (84.133G-2).
Applicants must clearly indicate in the application whether they are
applying for a research grant (84.133G-1) or a development grant
(84.133G-2) and must address the selection criteria relevant for
their grant type. Without exception, NIDRR will review each
application based on the grant designation made by the applicant.
Applications will be determined ineligible and will not be reviewed
if they do not include a clear designation as a research grant or a
development grant.
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).
Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for an
award are as follows:
The Secretary is interested in outcomes-oriented research or
development projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. To
address this interest, applicants are encouraged to articulate goals,
objectives, and expected outcomes for the proposed research or
development activities. Proposals should describe how results and
planned outputs are expected to contribute to advances in knowledge,
improvements in policy and practice, and public benefits for
individuals with disabilities. Applicants should propose projects that
are designed to be consistent with these goals. We encourage applicants
to include in their applications a description of how results will
measure progress towards achievement of anticipated outcomes (including
a discussion of measures of effectiveness), the mechanisms that will be
used to evaluate outcomes associated with specific problems or issues,
and how the proposed activities will support new intervention
approaches and strategies. Submission of the information identified in
this section is voluntary, except where required by the selection
criteria listed in the application package.
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: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through a review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR
examines a portion of its grantees to determine:
The number of products (e.g., new or improved tools,
methods, discoveries, standards, interventions, programs, or devices
developed or tested with NIDRR funding) that have been judged by expert
panels to be of high quality and to advance the field.
The average number of publications per award based on
NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals.
[[Page 79418]]
The percentage of new NIDRR grants that assess the
effectiveness of interventions, programs, and devices using rigorous
methods.
For these reviews, NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as
part of their Annual Performance Reports. Department of Education
program performance reports, which include information on NIDRR
programs, are available on the Department's Web site: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/sas/.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 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: December 24, 2013.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-31279 Filed 12-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
