Applications for New Awards; American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services, 7329-7333 [2016-02808]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 2016 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information: American
Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Notice inviting applications for
new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.250L.
Dates: Applications Available:
February 11, 2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: April 26, 2016.
Full Text of Announcement
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I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
this program is to provide vocational
rehabilitation (VR) services to American
Indians with disabilities who reside on
or near Federal or State reservations,
consistent with their individual
strengths, resources, priorities,
concerns, abilities, capabilities,
interests, and informed choice, so that
they may prepare for, and engage in,
high-quality employment that will
increase opportunities for economic
self-sufficiency.
Priority: This competition has one
competitive preference priority. In
accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from
section 121(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C.
741(b)(4)).
Competitive Preference Priority: For
FY 2016 and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of
unfunded applicants from this
competition, this priority is a
competitive preference priority. Under
34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an
additional five points to an application
that meets this priority.
This priority is:
Continuation of Previously Funded
Tribal Programs. In making new awards
under this program, we give priority to
applications for the continuation of
programs that have been funded under
the American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services program.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 741.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 84. (b)
The Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Guidelines to Agencies on
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Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR
part 180, as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3485. (c) The Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as
adopted and amended as regulations of
the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d)
The regulations for this program in 34
CFR parts 369 and 371.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds:
$7,800,000.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2017 from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$365,000–$800,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$550,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 11.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: The governing
bodies of Indian tribes (and consortia of
those governing bodies) located on
Federal and State reservations. The
definition of ‘‘Indian tribe’’ was
amended by the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act enacted on July 22,
2014, to include ‘‘a tribal organization
(as defined in section 4(l) of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450(b)(l)).’’
In addition, the Department published
final regulations in the Federal Register
on February 5, 2015 (80 FR 6452),
amending the definition of
‘‘reservation’’ in 34 CFR 369.4 and
371.4. Under the amended definition,
‘‘reservation’’ means a Federal or State
Indian reservation; public domain
Indian allotment; former Indian
reservation in Oklahoma; land held by
incorporated Native groups, regional
corporations, and village corporations
under the provisions of the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act; or a
defined area of land recognized by a
State or the Federal Government where
there is a concentration of tribal
members and on which the tribal
government is providing structured
activities and services.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost
sharing is required by 34 CFR 371.40.
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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: ED Pubs, U.S. Department
of Education, P.O. Box 22207,
Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll
free: 1–877–433–7827. FAX: (703) 605–
6794. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1–877–
576–7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its
email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application package
from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this
program or competition as follows:
CFDA number 84.250L.
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 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. These include a
requirement that the applicant submit
documentation demonstrating that it is
a federally or State recognized tribe or
a tribal organization and is located on a
Federal or State reservation, as defined
by the Department in the final
regulations published in the Federal
Register on February 5, 2015 (80 FR
6452). See 34 CFR 369.4 and 371.4.
Note: Each application must describe how
the special application requirements stated at
34 CFR 371.21 will be met, including
evidence that the applicant has or will obtain
a formal cooperative agreement with the
appropriate State VR agency, or agencies, that
includes strategies for collaboration and
coordination of service provision.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: February 11,
2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: April 26, 2016.
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
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an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, please refer to
Other Submission Requirements in
section IV 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: 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), 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 at the following
Web site: https://fedgov.dnb.com/
webform. 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
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accuracy of the data you enter into the
SAM database. 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,
it may be 24 to 48 hours before you can
access the information in, and 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
American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services program, CFDA
number 84.250L, 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
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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 American Indian
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
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 84.250, not
84.250L).
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. In
addition, for specific guidance and
procedures for submitting an
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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, 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 read-only,
non-modifiable Portable Document
Format (PDF). Do not upload an
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you
upload a file type other than a readonly, non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word,
Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a
password-protected file, we will not
review that material. Please note that
this could result in your application not
being considered for funding because
the material in question—for example,
the project narrative—is critical to a
meaningful review of your proposal. For
that reason, it is important to allow
yourself adequate time to upload all
material as PDF files. The Department
will not convert material from other
formats to PDF.
• 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 (such as
submission of your application by
someone other than a registered
Authorized Organization Representative
or inclusion of an attachment with a file
name that contains special characters).
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 from
Grants.gov and send you an email with
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a unique PR/Award number for your
application.
These emails do not mean that your
application is without any disqualifying
errors. While your application may have
been successfully validated by
Grants.gov, it must also meet the
Department’s application requirements
as specified in this notice and in the
application instructions. Disqualifying
errors could include, for instance,
failure to upload attachments in a readonly, non-modifiable PDF; failure to
submit a required part of the
application; or failure to meet applicant
eligibility requirements. It is your
responsibility to ensure that your
submitted application has met all of the
Department’s requirements.
• 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. We will
contact you after we determine 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
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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: August Martin, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., Room 5049, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–
2800. FAX: (202) 245–7592.
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 84.250L), 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.
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(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.
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.
We will not consider applications
postmarked after the application
deadline date.
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 84.250L), 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.
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V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 75.210 of EDGAR 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
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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 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. Risk Assessment and Special
Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under
this competition, the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by
applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the
Secretary may impose special
conditions and, in appropriate
circumstances, high-risk 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 2
CFR part 200, subpart D; 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
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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 multiyear 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.
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the
Secretary may provide a grantee with
additional funding for data collection
analysis and reporting. In this case, the
Secretary establishes a data collection
period.
4. Performance Measures: Under the
Government Performance and Results
Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has
established three performance measures
for the American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services program. The
measures are:
(1) The percentage of individuals who
leave the program with an employment
outcome after receiving services under
an individualized plan for employment;
(2) The percentage of projects that
demonstrate an average annual cost per
employment outcome of no more than
$35,000; and
(3) The percentage of projects that
demonstrate an average annual cost per
participant of no more than $10,000.
However, the Department is
considering revising these measures in
order to assess the program’s
performance in areas that are aligned
with the primary indicators of
performance under section 116 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act, where appropriate.
Each grantee must annually report the
data needed to measure its performance
on the GPRA measures through the
Annual Progress Reporting Form (APR
Form) for the American Indian
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
program, including data needed to
report on revised measures once they
are implemented.
Note: For purposes of this section, the term
‘‘employment outcome’’ means, with respect
to an individual: (a) Entering or retaining
full-time or, if appropriate, part-time
competitive employment in the integrated
labor market; (b) satisfying the vocational
outcome of supported employment; or (c)
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satisfying any other vocational outcome the
Secretary may determine to be appropriate
(including satisfying the vocational outcome
of customized employment, selfemployment, telecommuting, or business
ownership) (Section 7(11) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29
U.S.C. 705(11)).
5. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among
other things: Whether a grantee has
made substantial progress in achieving
the goals and objectives of the project;
whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its
approved application and budget; and,
if the Secretary has established
performance measurement
requirements, the performance targets in
the grantee’s approved application.
In making a continuation award, 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:
August Martin, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Room 5049, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–2800.
Telephone: (202) 245–7410 or by email:
august.martin@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the
Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1–
800–877–8339.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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) on
request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site, you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Portable Document Format
(PDF). To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:52 Feb 10, 2016
Jkt 238001
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 5, 2016.
Michael K. Yudin,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2016–02808 Filed 2–10–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical
Advisory Committee (HTAC)
Department of Energy, Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice announces an
open meeting of the Hydrogen and Fuel
Cell Technical Advisory Committee
(HTAC). The Federal Advisory
Committee Act, Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat.
770, requires notice of the meeting be
announced in the Federal Register.
DATES:
Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 8:30 a.m.–
5:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 8:00 a.m.–
12:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Hilton Garden Inn
Livermore, 2801 Constitution Drive,
Livermore, CA 94550
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Email: HTAC@nrel.gov or at the mailing
address: James Alkire, Deputy
Designated Federal Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 15013
Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO
80401
SUMMARY:
Purpose of the Committee: The
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical
Advisory Committee (HTAC) was
established under section 807 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT),
Pub. L. 109–58; 119 Stat. 849.
Purpose of the Meeting: To provide
advice and recommendations to the
Secretary of Energy on the program
authorized by Title VIII of EPACT.
Tentative Agenda: (updates will be
posted on the web at: https://
hydrogen.energy.gov/advisory_
htac.html).
• HTAC Business (including public
comment period)
• DOE Leadership Updates
• Program and Budget Updates
Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Updates from Federal/State
Governments and Industry
• HTAC Subcommittee Updates
• Open Discussion Period
Public Participation: The meeting is
open to the public. Individuals who
would like to attend and/or to make oral
statements during the public comment
period must register no later than 5:00
p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 by
email at HTAC@nrel.gov. Entry to the
meeting room will be restricted to those
who have confirmed their attendance in
advance. Please provide your name,
organization, citizenship, and contact
information. Anyone attending the
meeting will be required to present
government-issued identification. Those
wishing to make a public comment are
required to register. The public
comment period will take place between
8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on April 6, 2016.
Time allotted per speaker will depend
on the number who wish to speak but
will not exceed five minutes. Those not
able to attend the meeting or have
insufficient time to address the
committee are invited to send a written
statement to HTAC@nrel.gov.
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting
will be available for public review at
https://hydrogen.energy.gov/advisory_
htac.html.
Issued in Washington, DC in February 5,
2016.
LaTanya R. Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–02791 Filed 2–10–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board, Portsmouth
Department of Energy (DOE).
Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This notice announces a
meeting of the Environmental
Management Site-Specific Advisory
Board (EM SSAB), Portsmouth. The
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub.
L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that
public notice of this meeting be
announced in the Federal Register.
DATES: Thursday, March 3, 2016, 6:00
p.m.
SUMMARY:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
7333
Ohio State University,
Endeavor Center, 1862 Shyville Road,
Piketon, Ohio 45661.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg
Simonton, Alternate Deputy Designated
Federal Officer, Department of Energy
Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, Post
Office Box 700, Piketon, Ohio 45661,
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM
11FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7329-7333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02808]
[[Page 7329]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information: American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year
(FY) 2016.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.250L.
Dates: Applications Available: February 11, 2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 26, 2016.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide
vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to American Indians with
disabilities who reside on or near Federal or State reservations,
consistent with their individual strengths, resources, priorities,
concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, so
that they may prepare for, and engage in, high-quality employment that
will increase opportunities for economic self-sufficiency.
Priority: This competition has one competitive preference priority.
In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from
section 121(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29
U.S.C. 741(b)(4)).
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from
this competition, this priority is a competitive preference priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional five points to an
application that meets this priority.
This priority is:
Continuation of Previously Funded Tribal Programs. In making new
awards under this program, we give priority to applications for the
continuation of programs that have been funded under the American
Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services program.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 741.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and
84. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines to
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 369 and
371.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $7,800,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $365,000-$800,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $550,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 11.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: The governing bodies of Indian tribes (and
consortia of those governing bodies) located on Federal and State
reservations. The definition of ``Indian tribe'' was amended by the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act enacted on July 22, 2014, to
include ``a tribal organization (as defined in section 4(l) of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
450(b)(l)).''
In addition, the Department published final regulations in the
Federal Register on February 5, 2015 (80 FR 6452), amending the
definition of ``reservation'' in 34 CFR 369.4 and 371.4. Under the
amended definition, ``reservation'' means a Federal or State Indian
reservation; public domain Indian allotment; former Indian reservation
in Oklahoma; land held by incorporated Native groups, regional
corporations, and village corporations under the provisions of the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; or a defined area of land
recognized by a State or the Federal Government where there is a
concentration of tribal members and on which the tribal government is
providing structured activities and services.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is required by 34 CFR
371.40.
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: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of
Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free:
1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free:
1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at
its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.250L.
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 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. These
include a requirement that the applicant submit documentation
demonstrating that it is a federally or State recognized tribe or a
tribal organization and is located on a Federal or State reservation,
as defined by the Department in the final regulations published in the
Federal Register on February 5, 2015 (80 FR 6452). See 34 CFR 369.4 and
371.4.
Note: Each application must describe how the special application
requirements stated at 34 CFR 371.21 will be met, including evidence
that the applicant has or will obtain a formal cooperative agreement
with the appropriate State VR agency, or agencies, that includes
strategies for collaboration and coordination of service provision.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: February 11, 2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 26, 2016.
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
[[Page 7330]]
an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to
Other Submission Requirements in section IV 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: 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), 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 at the
following Web site: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 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 you enter into the SAM database.
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, it may be 24 to 48
hours before you can access the information in, and 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 American Indian Vocational
Rehabilitation Services program, CFDA number 84.250L, 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 American
Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services 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 84.250, not 84.250L).
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. In addition, for specific guidance and
procedures for submitting an
[[Page 7331]]
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, 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 read-only, non-modifiable
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note
that this could result in your application not being considered for
funding because the material in question--for example, the project
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For
that reason, it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material
from other formats to PDF.
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
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a
registered Authorized Organization Representative or inclusion of an
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). 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 from Grants.gov 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. While your application may have been successfully
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
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. We will
contact you after we determine 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: August Martin, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5049, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7592.
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 84.250L), 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.
[[Page 7332]]
(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.
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.
We will not consider applications postmarked after the application
deadline date.
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 84.250L), 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 75.210 of EDGAR 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
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. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition, the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in
appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; 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 multiyear 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.
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In
this case, the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established three
performance measures for the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services program. The measures are:
(1) The percentage of individuals who leave the program with an
employment outcome after receiving services under an individualized
plan for employment;
(2) The percentage of projects that demonstrate an average annual
cost per employment outcome of no more than $35,000; and
(3) The percentage of projects that demonstrate an average annual
cost per participant of no more than $10,000.
However, the Department is considering revising these measures in
order to assess the program's performance in areas that are aligned
with the primary indicators of performance under section 116 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, where appropriate.
Each grantee must annually report the data needed to measure its
performance on the GPRA measures through the Annual Progress Reporting
Form (APR Form) for the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services program, including data needed to report on revised measures
once they are implemented.
Note: For purposes of this section, the term ``employment
outcome'' means, with respect to an individual: (a) Entering or
retaining full-time or, if appropriate, part-time competitive
employment in the integrated labor market; (b) satisfying the
vocational outcome of supported employment; or (c)
[[Page 7333]]
satisfying any other vocational outcome the Secretary may determine
to be appropriate (including satisfying the vocational outcome of
customized employment, self-employment, telecommuting, or business
ownership) (Section 7(11) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (29 U.S.C. 705(11)).
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, 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: August Martin, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5049, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7410 or by email:
august.martin@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service, toll
free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site, you can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or 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 5, 2016.
Michael K. Yudin,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2016-02808 Filed 2-10-16; 8:45 am]
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