Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, 43458-43463 [2014-17605]

Download as PDF emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES 43458 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2014 / Notices 2. August 14, 2014, Winn Room, Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California 92118. Additional information concerning meeting times and locations is available on the EIS Web site (https:// www.nbccoastalcampuseis.com) and through local news media. Federal, state, and local agencies and officials, and interested groups and individuals, are encouraged to provide comments during the public comment period, in person at the public meetings (orally or in writing), or in writing online at https:// www.nbccoastalcampuseis.com or via the U.S. Postal Service. Comments will not be accepted through social media. Written comments on the Draft EIS should be postmarked or received (online) no later than September 22, 2014, to ensure they become part of the official record. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements. For Mailing Written Comments and Further Information Contact: NBC Coastal Campus EIS Project Manager (Attn: Ms. Teresa Bresler), 2730 McKean Street, Building 291, San Diego, California 92136. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare this Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on June 29, 2012 (77 FR 38781). Scoping meetings were held on July 17 and 18, 2012. The scoping period concluded on August 14, 2012, following a 15-day extension of the scoping period that was announced on July 31, 2012 (77 FR 45345). Comments received during the public scoping period were considered during preparation of the Draft EIS. The proposed NBC Coastal Campus would involve the construction, operation, and maintenance of an academic campus at Silver Strand Training Complex-South (SSTC-South), San Diego, California. The proposed campus would be comprised of 1.5 million square feet of space to include a mix of instructional and administrative facilities supporting logistics, operations, training, and administration. Implementation of the proposed action would occur over a 10year period. The purpose of this action is to: (1) Provide logistics and operational support buildings, classrooms, storage and administrative facilities to accommodate growth of NSWC on the west coast; and, (2) maintain Congressionally-mandated increased training and operational readiness requirements for NSWC. However, the current NSWC operational support, classroom and tactical skills instruction and administrative facilities, primarily VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:34 Jul 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 located at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado, are inadequate to meet mission requirements. Moreover, expansion potential at that location is limited. Therefore, the proposed action would meet the needs of NSWC by optimizing the use of space within the existing NBC footprint, thereby allowing NSWC to support fluctuating organizational structure and mandated mission requirements. In addition to the no action alternative, three development alternatives are evaluated in the Draft EIS. Alternative 1 (SSTC-South Bunker Demolition Alternative) would consolidate NSWC facilities at one location on SSTC-South. This alternative would include design and construction of logistical support buildings, equipment use and maintenance training facilities, classroom and tactical skills instruction buildings, storage and administrative facilities, utilities, fencing, roads, and parking. A new controlled entry point would provide immediate access to/ from State Route 75 and a historic bunker would be demolished to facilitate campus construction. Alternative 2 (SSTC-South Bunker Retention Alternative) would include all the components of Alternative 1 within the same footprint but would include retention of the historic bunker, thereby resulting in a smaller developable footprint. Alternative 3 (MultiInstallation Alternative) would site necessary NSWC facilities at more than one location to include NAB Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island, in addition to SSTC-South. This alternative would include retention of the historic bunker similar to Alternative 2. The Draft EIS contains a comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action, including impacts on land use and recreation, geology and soils, air quality, hazardous materials and waste, water quality and hydrology, noise, biological resources, cultural resources, traffic and circulation, socioeconomics and environmental justice, public health and safety, utilities and public services, coastal uses and resources, and aesthetics. The Draft EIS was distributed to Federal, state, and local agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and organizations. Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public review at the following libraries: 1. Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California 92118. 2. Imperial Beach Library, 810 Imperial Beach Boulevard, Imperial Beach, California 91932. PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3. City of San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Boulevard, San Diego, California 92101. An electronic copy of the Draft EIS is available for viewing or downloading at https://www.nbccoastalcampuseis.com. A paper copy of the Executive Summary or a single compact disc of the Draft EIS will be made available upon written request. Dated: July 21, 2014. N. A. Hagerty-Ford, Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2014–17581 Filed 7–24–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research—Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Overview Information National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)— Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program— Improving Methods of Evaluating Return on Investment for the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Program Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133A–10. DATES: Applications Available: July 25, 2014. Deadline for Letter of Intent to Apply: August 22, 2014. Date of Pre-Application Meeting: August 15, 2014. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 3, 2014. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities, including international activities, to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology, that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM 25JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2014 / Notices employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social selfsufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most significant disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act). emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) The purpose of NIDRR’s DRRPs program, which is funded through the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. It does so by developing methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent living and employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most significant disabilities. DRRPs carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as specified and defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, training, demonstration, development, utilization, dissemination, and technical assistance. An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b). Additional information on the DRRP program can be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/ programs/drrp/. Priority: NIDRR has established one absolute priority for this competition. This priority is from the notice of final priority for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: Improving Methods of Evaluating Return on Investment for the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program (VR Program) Note: The full text of this priority is included in the notice of final priority for this program published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register and in the application package for this competition. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:34 Jul 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a). 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 debarment and suspension regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 350. (d) The notice of final priority published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. 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: $500,000. Maximum Award: $500,000. We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $500,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register. Estimated Number of Awards: 1. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 60 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: States; 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: This competition 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. PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43459 If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program as follows: CFDA number 84.133A–10. 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. Notice of Intent to Apply: Due to the broad nature of the priority in this competition, and to assist with the selection of reviewers for this competition, NIDRR is requesting all potential applicants to submit a letter of intent (LOI). The submission is not mandatory and the content of the LOI will not be peer reviewed or otherwise used to rate an application. Each LOI should be limited to a maximum of four pages and include the following information: (1) The title of the proposed project, the name of the applicant, the name of the Project Director or Principal Investigator (PI), and the names of partner institutions and entities; (2) a brief statement of the vision, goals, and objectives of the proposed project and a description of its activities at a sufficient level of detail to allow NIDRR to select potential peer reviewers; (3) a list of proposed project staff including the Project Director or PI and key personnel; (4) a list of individuals whose selection as a peer reviewer might constitute a conflict of interest due to involvement in proposal development, selection as an advisory board member, co-PI relationships, etc.; and (5) contact information for the Project Director or PI. Submission of an LOI is not a prerequisite for eligibility to submit an application. NIDRR will accept the optional LOI via mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or commercial carrier) or email, by August 22, 2014. The LOI must be sent to: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202, email: marlene.spencer@ed.gov. For further information regarding the LOI submission process, contact Marlene Spencer at (202) 245–7532. 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 E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM 25JYN1 43460 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2014 / Notices more than 100 pages, using the following standards: • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. • Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative. 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 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 page limit does apply to all of the application narrative section (Part III). Note 1: Please submit an appendix that lists every collaborating organization and individual named in the application, including staff, consultants, contractors, and advisory board members. We will use this information to help us screen for conflicts of interest with our reviewers. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Note 2: An applicant should consult NIDRR’s Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013–2017 (78 FR 20299) (Plan) when preparing its application. The Plan is organized around the following research domains: (1) Community Living and Participation; (2) Health and Function; and (3) Employment. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: July 25, 2014. Deadline for Letter of Intent to Apply: August 22, 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 preapplication meeting will be held on August 15, 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:34 Jul 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 individual consultation, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 3, 2014. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV.7. Other Submission Requirements of this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 two to five 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 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 Improving Methods of Evaluating Return on Investment for the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Program DRRP competition, CFDA E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM 25JYN1 emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2014 / Notices number 84.133A–10, 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 this DRRP competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.133, not 84.133A). 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:34 Jul 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department’s G5 system home page at www.G5.gov. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format. • You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: The Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—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. 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 your application, 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 from Grants.gov and send you an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application. This second notification indicates that the Department has PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43461 received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application). These emails do not mean that your application is free of any disqualifying errors. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submitted application has met all of the Department’s requirements, including submitting all attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) read-only, nonmodifiable format, as described 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 the 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. E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM 25JYN1 43462 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2014 / Notices 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, 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. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 84.133A–10) 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. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:34 Jul 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: (1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133A–10) 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department— (1) You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245– 6288. V. Application Review Information 1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 350.54 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 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM 25JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2014 / Notices 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. • The percentage of new NIDRR grants that assess the effectiveness of interventions, programs, and devices using rigorous methods. NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their Annual Performance Reports for these reviews. 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). emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:34 Jul 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 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 5037, 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: July 22, 2014. Melody Musgrove, Director, Office of Special Education Programs. [FR Doc. 2014–17605 Filed 7–24–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Notice of Filings #1 Take notice that the Commission received the following electric corporate filings: Docket Numbers: EC14–113–000. Applicants: Headwaters Wind Farm LLC. Description: Application for Authorization for Disposition of Jurisdictional Facilities and Request for Expedited Action of Headwaters Wind Farm LLC. Filed Date: 7/17/14. Accession Number: 20140717–5098. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/7/14. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43463 Docket Numbers: ER10–2498–002. Applicants: South Carolina Electric & Gas Company. Description: South Carolina Electric & Gas Company submits an updated market power analysis. Filed Date: 7/14/14. Accession Number: 20140717–0002. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/12/14. Docket Numbers: ER13–107–007. Applicants: South Carolina Electric & Gas Company. Description: Order No. 1000 Refile to be effective 4/19/2013. Filed Date: 7/17/14. Accession Number: 20140717–5094. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/7/14. Docket Numbers: ER14–1409–000. Applicants: ISO New England Inc. Description: Response to the June 27, 2014 Commission Staff Letter of ISO New England Inc. under ER14–1409. Filed Date: 7/17/14. Accession Number: 20140717–5101. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/31/14. Docket Numbers: ER14–1578–001. Applicants: PacifiCorp. Description: OATT EIM Compliance Filing to be effective 6/20/2014. Filed Date: 7/18/14. Accession Number: 20140718–5077. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/8/14. Docket Numbers: ER14–2414–000. Applicants: Dominion Solar Gen-Tie, LLC. Description: Supplement to Shared Facilities Agreement to be effective N/A. Filed Date: 7/18/14. Accession Number: 20140718–5064. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/8/14. Docket Numbers: ER14–2459–000. Applicants: Rumford Falls Hydro LLC. Description: Rumford Falls Hydro LLC MBR Filing to be effective 7/18/2014. Filed Date: 7/17/14. Accession Number: 20140717–5096. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/7/14. Docket Numbers: ER14–2460–000. Applicants: Ohio Valley Electric Corporation. Description: Compliance Amending Attachment O & P to OATT to be effective 7/17/2014. Filed Date: 7/18/14. Accession Number: 20140718–5001. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/8/14. Docket Numbers: ER14–2461–000. Applicants: PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. Description: PPL submits SA 3880— Notice of Assignment of FERC Rate Schedule No. 23 to be effective 9/17/2010. E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM 25JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43458-43463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17605]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research--Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Projects and Centers 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--
Improving Methods of Evaluating Return on Investment for the State 
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Program

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2014.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133A-10.


DATES: 
    Applications Available: July 25, 2014.
    Deadline for Letter of Intent to Apply: August 22, 2014.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: August 15, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 3, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and 
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related 
activities, including international activities, to develop methods, 
procedures, and rehabilitation technology, that maximize the full 
inclusion and integration into society,

[[Page 43459]]

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 Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs)

    The purpose of NIDRR's DRRPs program, which is funded through the 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is 
to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the 
Rehabilitation Act. It does so by developing methods, procedures, and 
rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent 
living and employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities, 
especially individuals with the most significant disabilities. DRRPs 
carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as 
specified and defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, 
training, demonstration, development, utilization, dissemination, and 
technical assistance.
    An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in 
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of 
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this 
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b). Additional information on 
the DRRP program can be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/drrp/index.html.
    Priority: NIDRR has established one absolute priority for this 
competition. This priority is from the notice of final priority for the 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, 
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:

Improving Methods of Evaluating Return on Investment for the State 
Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program (VR Program)

    Note: The full text of this priority is included in the notice 
of final priority for this program published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register and in the application package for this 
competition.


    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).

    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 debarment and suspension 
regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The regulations for this program in 
34 CFR part 350. (d) The notice of final priority published elsewhere 
in this issue of the Federal Register.

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

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


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: States; 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: This competition 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 program as follows: CFDA number 84.133A-10.
    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.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: Due to the broad nature of the priority 
in this competition, and to assist with the selection of reviewers for 
this competition, NIDRR is requesting all potential applicants to 
submit a letter of intent (LOI). The submission is not mandatory and 
the content of the LOI will not be peer reviewed or otherwise used to 
rate an application.
    Each LOI should be limited to a maximum of four pages and include 
the following information: (1) The title of the proposed project, the 
name of the applicant, the name of the Project Director or Principal 
Investigator (PI), and the names of partner institutions and entities; 
(2) a brief statement of the vision, goals, and objectives of the 
proposed project and a description of its activities at a sufficient 
level of detail to allow NIDRR to select potential peer reviewers; (3) 
a list of proposed project staff including the Project Director or PI 
and key personnel; (4) a list of individuals whose selection as a peer 
reviewer might constitute a conflict of interest due to involvement in 
proposal development, selection as an advisory board member, co-PI 
relationships, etc.; and (5) contact information for the Project 
Director or PI. Submission of an LOI is not a prerequisite for 
eligibility to submit an application.
    NIDRR will accept the optional LOI via mail (through the U.S. 
Postal Service or commercial carrier) or email, by August 22, 2014. The 
LOI must be sent to: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue, room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 
20202, email: marlene.spencer@ed.gov.
    For further information regarding the LOI submission process, 
contact Marlene Spencer at (202) 245-7532. 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

[[Page 43460]]

more than 100 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative. 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 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 page limit does apply to all of the application 
narrative section (Part III).

    Note 1: Please submit an appendix that lists every collaborating 
organization and individual named in the application, including 
staff, consultants, contractors, and advisory board members. We will 
use this information to help us screen for conflicts of interest 
with our reviewers.


    Note 2: An applicant should consult NIDRR's Long-Range Plan for 
Fiscal Years 2013-2017 (78 FR 20299) (Plan) when preparing its 
application. The Plan is organized around the following research 
domains: (1) Community Living and Participation; (2) Health and 
Function; and (3) Employment.

    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: July 25, 2014.
    Deadline for Letter of Intent to Apply: August 22, 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 August 15, 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: September 3, 2014.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV.7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    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 two to five 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 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 Improving Methods of Evaluating 
Return on Investment for the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) 
Services Program DRRP competition, CFDA

[[Page 43461]]

number 84.133A-10, 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 this DRRP 
competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not 
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 
84.133, not 84.133A).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not 
review that material. 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 your application, 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 from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application. 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 emails do not mean that your application is free of any 
disqualifying errors. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements, 
including submitting all attachments to your application as files in a 
PDF (Portable Document) read-only, non-modifiable format, as described 
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 the 
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.


[[Page 43462]]


    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, 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 84.133A-10) LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

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

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.133A-10) 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7039, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

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

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 350.54 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

[[Page 43463]]

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.
     The percentage of new NIDRR grants that assess the 
effectiveness of interventions, programs, and devices using rigorous 
methods.
    NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their 
Annual Performance Reports for these reviews.
    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 5037, 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: July 22, 2014.
Melody Musgrove,
Director, Office of Special Education Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-17605 Filed 7-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.