Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Research Fellowships Program, 8688-8693 [2014-03214]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8688-8693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03214]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research--Research Fellowships Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Research Fellowships Program Notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133F-1.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 13, 2014.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: March 6, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 14, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Research Fellowships Program 
is to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified 
individuals, including those who are individuals with disabilities, to 
conduct research on the rehabilitation of individuals with 
disabilities.
    Fellows must conduct original research in an area authorized by 
section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Section 204 
authorizes research, demonstration projects, training, and related 
activities, the purposes of which are to develop methods, procedures, 
and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and 
integration into society, employment, independent living, family 
support, and economic and social self-sufficiency, of individuals with 
disabilities, especially individuals with the most significant 
disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized 
under the Act.

    Note: An applicant should consult NIDRR's Long-Range Plan for 
Fiscal Years 2013-2017 (78 FR 20299, April 4, 2013) (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: The Research Fellowships Program permits two types of 
fellowships, Distinguished and Merit. At this time, NIDRR is choosing 
to fund Merit Fellowships. Under the Merit Fellowship 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.
    This priority is:
    The Secretary is particularly interested in applications from 
eligible applicants who are individuals with disabilities.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(e).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 75.60 and 75.61, and parts 
77, 81, 82, 84, 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 356. (d) The regulations in 34 CFR 350.51 and 
350.52.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested

[[Page 8689]]

$110,000,000 for the NIDRR program for FY 2014, of which we intend to 
use an estimated $375,000 for Merit Fellowships. 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 from the list of 
approved but unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $74,500 to $75,000 for Merit 
Fellowships. (This fellowship is described in the Eligible Applicant 
section of this notice.)
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $74,500.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $75,000 for Merit Fellowships for a single year. The 
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: Five.

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

    Project Period: 12 months. We will reject any application that 
proposes a project period other than 12 months. The Assistant Secretary 
for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may 
change the maximum project period through a notice published in the 
Federal Register.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible individuals must: (1) SAtisfy the 
requirements of 34 CFR 75.60 and 75.61 and (2) have training and 
experience that indicate a potential for engaging in scientific 
research related to the solution of rehabilitation problems of 
individuals with disabilities.
    To be eligible for a Merit Fellowship, an individual must have 
either advanced professional training or experience in independent 
study in an area which is directly pertinent to disability and 
rehabilitation.

    Note: Institutions are not eligible to be recipients of research 
fellowships.

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following 
address: 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 84.133F.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the 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 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 24 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. You are not required to double 
space titles, headings, footnotes, references, captions, or 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 page limit for the application narrative does not apply to the 
documents you upload to the Grants.gov Apply site under the other two 
headings: ED Project Abstract and Other Attachments. The ED Project 
Abstract Form should contain only your one-page abstract. The Other 
Attachments Form should contain all other attachments, including your 
bibliography, eligibility statement, resume/curriculum vitae, and 
letters of recommendation/support. Information regarding the protection 
of human subjects, if applicable, should be included under the Other 
Attachments Form or in the place provided on the SF-424 Supplemental 
Form. You do not need to upload a table of contents for your 
application, as this will be automatically generated by Grants.gov.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    In concert with the balance principle described in NIDRR's Long-
Range Plan, for Fiscal Years 2013-2017 (78 FR 20299, April 4, 2013), 
applicants for Merit Fellowships should specify in their abstract and 
application narrative which of NIDRR's major domains of individual 
well-being their research 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: February 13, 2014.
    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 March 6, 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 individual consultation, contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 14, 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

[[Page 8690]]

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 competition is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Applicants are not required to submit a 
budget with their proposal.
    The Merit Fellowship awards are one Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 
award. Fellows must work principally on the fellowship during the term 
of the fellowship award. We define ``one FTE'' as equal to 40 hours per 
week. No fellow is allowed to be a direct recipient of Federal 
government grant funds in addition to those provided by the Merit 
Fellowship grant (during the duration of the fellowship award 
performance period). Fellows may, subject to compliance with their 
institution's policy on additional employment, work on a Federal grant 
that has been awarded to the fellow's institution. Merit Fellows may be 
allowed to dedicate additional hours beyond their one FTE requirement 
for the fellowship to other work during their fellowship grant 
performance period, if this is in keeping with the guidelines offered 
by their home institutions. In other words, NIDRR defers to the 
guidelines of the fellows' home institutions regarding the 
admissibility of work in excess of the one FTE dedicated to the 
fellowship. NIDRR strongly recommends that any additional hours be 
limited to .25 FTE (or 10 hours per week), but requires that additional 
hours not exceed .5 FTE (or 20 hours per week).
    To satisfy the requirement that fellows devote one FTE to the 
fellowship work, applicants must include in their Eligibility Statement 
a plan for how they will fulfill the obligation to work principally on 
the fellowship during the term of the fellowship award. We will reject 
your application if you fail to include such a plan in your Eligibility 
Statement.
    We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the 
Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Requirements for Registering for Grants.gov and Submitting Your 
Application:
    All individuals applying for a research fellowship must register at 
www.Grants.gov prior to submitting their application. To register with 
Grants.gov you must know the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) of the 
grant opportunity you are applying for. You can obtain this number by 
searching Grants.gov using the CFDA number, 84.133. This search will 
lead you to available NIDRR solicitations and identify the FON for 
each. You will use the FON to register in Grants.gov. Once you register 
with Grants.gov, to facilitate the safe and secure transfer of your 
application to the Department, you will be asked to create a profile 
with your username and password, which will be used to identify you 
within the system, and create an electronic signature. Details on 
registering with Grants.gov as an individual are outlined in the 
following Grants.gov tutorial: www.grants.gov/assets/IndividualRegistrationOverview.html.
    To register with Grants.gov, you do not have to provide a Data 
Universal Numbering System Number, a Taxpayer Identification Number, or 
your Social Security Number (SSN). You also do not have to complete a 
Central Contractor Registry or System for Award Management registration 
in order to access Grants.gov or submit your application.
    However, your SSN is required to complete your application for a 
research fellowship.
    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 Research Fellowships Program, 
CFDA Number 84.133F-1, must be submitted electronically using the 
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this 
site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, 
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You 
may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Research 
Fellowships Program 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 84.133, not 84.133F).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
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.
     To ensure that you submit your application in a timely 
manner to the Grants.gov system, you should review and follow the 
Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through 
Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this 
program. 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. In

[[Page 8691]]

addition, for specific guidance and procedures for submitting an 
application through Grants.gov, please refer to the Grants.gov Web site 
at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. 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. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors. You 
will be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but 
you must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application and send you an email with a 
unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the of the Department's 
requirements, including submitting only PDF documents, as prescribed in 
this notice and in the application instructions.
     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: Patricia Barrett, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, 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 84.133F-1), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.

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    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 84.133F-1), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center 
accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 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 competition 
are from 34 CFR 356.30 through 356.32 and are listed in the application 
package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); 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 extent to which 
grantees are conducting high-quality research and related activities 
that lead to high-quality products. Performance measures for the 
Research Fellowships Program include--:
     The number of NIDRR-supported fellows, post-doctoral 
trainees, and doctoral students who publish results of NIDRR-sponsored 
research in refereed journals;
     The percentage of grantee research and development that 
has appropriate study design, meets rigorous standards of scientific 
and/or engineering methods, and builds on and contributes to knowledge 
in the field; and
     The average number of publications per award based on 
NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals.
    NIDRR evaluates the overall success of individual research and 
development grants through a review of grantee performance and 
products. For these reviews, NIDRR uses information submitted by 
grantees as part of their final performance report. Approved final 
performance report guidelines require grantees to submit information 
regarding research methods, results, outputs, and outcomes. Because 
grants made under the Research Fellowships Program are limited to a 
maximum of 12 months, they are not eligible for continuation awards.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-6211 or by email: 
patricia.barrett@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

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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: February 10, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-03214 Filed 2-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P