Applications for New Awards; Training and Information for Parents of Children With Disabilities-Parent Training and Information Centers, 9814-9822 [2016-04254]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9814-9822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04254]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Training and Information for Parents 
of Children With Disabilities--Parent Training and Information Centers

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY:

Overview Information

    Training and Information for Parents of Children with 
Disabilities--Parent Training and Information Centers Notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.328M.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 26, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 11, 2016.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 10, 2016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to ensure that 
parents of children with disabilities receive training and information 
to help improve results for their children.
    Priority: This competition has one absolute priority. In accordance 
with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (v), this priority is from allowable 
activities

[[Page 9815]]

specified in the statute, or otherwise authorized in the statute (see 
sections 671 and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act (IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications 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:
    Parent Training and Information Centers.

Background

    The purpose of this priority is to fund one regional Pacific Parent 
Training and Information Center (PTI) designed to meet the information 
and training needs of parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth 
with disabilities, ages birth through 26 (collectively, ``children with 
disabilities''), and the information and training needs of youth with 
disabilities, living in American Samoa, the Federated States of 
Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of 
Palau. The 2015 notice inviting applications for new awards for CFDA 
84.328M included the Pacific region. However, we received no 
applications for the Pacific region PTI. The fiscal year 2015 funding 
was used to supplement the PTI in Hawaii to provide services in the 
Pacific and help build the organizational capacity of eligible Pacific 
entities to respond to this notice.
    More than 35 years of research and experience has demonstrated that 
the education of children with disabilities can be made more effective 
by strengthening the ability of parents to participate fully in the 
education of their children at school and at home (see section 
601(c)(5)(B) of IDEA). PTIs help parents set high expectations for 
their children with disabilities and provide parents with the 
information and training they need to help their children meet those 
expectations. The following Web site provides further information on 
the work of currently funded PTIs: www.parentcenterhub.org.
    Consistent with section 671(b) of IDEA, PTIs help families: (a) 
Navigate systems that provide early intervention, special education, 
general education, postsecondary options, and related services; (b) 
understand the nature of their children's disabilities; (c) learn about 
their rights and responsibilities under IDEA; (d) expand their 
knowledge of evidence-based (as defined in this notice) education 
practices to help their children succeed; (e) strengthen their 
collaboration with professionals; (f) locate resources available for 
themselves and their children, which connects them to their local 
communities; and (g) advocate for improved student achievement, 
increased graduation rates, and improved postsecondary outcomes for all 
children through participation in school reform activities. In 
addition, PTIs have helped youth with disabilities have high 
expectations for themselves, understand their rights and 
responsibilities, and learn self-advocacy skills. PTIs have also 
partnered with Federal, State, and local agencies, providing expertise 
on how to better support families and youth with disabilities as they 
access IDEA services.
    The PTI to be funded through this priority will build on the 
program's history by helping youth become effective self-advocates and 
by providing parents with information, individual assistance, and 
training to enable them to: (a) Ensure that their children are included 
in general education classrooms and extracurricular activities with 
their peers; (b) help their children meet developmental and academic 
goals; (c) help their children meet challenging expectations 
established for all children, including college- and career-ready 
academic standards; and (d) prepare their children to achieve positive 
postsecondary outcomes that lead to lives that are as productive and 
independent as possible.

Priority

    The Department intends to fund one grant to establish and operate 
one PTI to serve the Pacific region. Based on the quality of 
applications received, the Department intends to fund this PTI to serve 
the following outlying areas in the Pacific: American Samoa, Guam, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the freely 
associated States as authorized in section 610 of IDEA: The Federated 
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the 
Republic of Palau. For purposes of this notice, the covered 
jurisdictions will be referred to as ``States.''
    At a minimum, the PTI must: (a) Increase parents' \1\ capacity to 
help their children with disabilities \2\ improve their early learning, 
school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes; and (b) increase youth with 
disabilities' capacity to be effective self-advocates.
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    \1\ Section 602(23) of IDEA defines ``parent'' to include 
natural, adoptive, and foster parents; guardians; individuals acting 
in the place of natural or adoptive parents, and individuals 
assigned to be surrogate parents.
    \2\ The term ``disabilities'' refers to the full range of 
disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA.
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    To be considered for funding under this priority, an applicant must 
meet the application, programmatic, and administrative requirements of 
this priority. Applicants must--
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will, within 
the area served by the center--
    (1) Address the needs of parents of children with disabilities for 
high-quality services that increase parents' capacity to help their 
children with disabilities improve their early learning, school-aged, 
and postsecondary outcomes. To meet this requirement, the applicant 
must--
    (i) Present appropriate information on the needs of parents, 
including underserved parents, low-income parents, parents with limited 
English proficiency, parents of incarcerated youth with disabilities, 
and parents with disabilities;
    (ii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices in providing training 
and information to a variety of audiences, including underserved 
parents, low-income parents, parents with limited English proficiency, 
parents of incarcerated youth with disabilities, and parents with 
disabilities;
    (iii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices in outreach and 
family-centered services;
    (iv) Demonstrate knowledge of current evidence-based education 
practices and policy initiatives to improve outcomes in early 
intervention and early childhood, general and special education, 
transition services, and postsecondary options; and
    (v) Demonstrate knowledge of how to identify and work with 
appropriate partners in the Pacific, including local providers and lead 
agencies providing Part C services under IDEA; State and local 
educational agencies; State child welfare agencies; disability-specific 
systems and entities serving families, such as the State's protection 
and advocacy system; and other nonprofits serving families in order to 
improve outcomes; and
    (2) Address the needs of youth with disabilities for high-quality 
services that increase their capacity to be effective self-advocates. 
To meet this requirement, the applicant must--
    (i) Present appropriate information on the needs of youth with 
disabilities, including underserved youth, incarcerated youth, youth in 
foster care, and youth with limited English proficiency;

[[Page 9816]]

    (ii) Demonstrate knowledge of best practices in providing training 
and information to youth with disabilities;
    (iii) Demonstrate knowledge of current evidence-based education 
practices and policy initiatives in self-advocacy; and
    (iv) Demonstrate knowledge of how to work with appropriate partners 
serving youth with disabilities, including State and local agencies, 
other nonprofits, and Independent Living Centers that are providing 
assistance such as postsecondary education options, employment 
training, and supports.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under 
``Quality of the Project Services,'' how the proposed project will--
    (1) Use a project logic model (see paragraph (f)(1) of this 
priority) to guide the development of project plans and activities 
within the area served by the center;
    (2) Develop and implement an outreach plan to inform parents of 
children with disabilities of how they can benefit from the services 
provided by the PTI, including--
    (i) Parents of children who may be inappropriately identified as 
having a disability;
    (ii) Underserved parents, including parents who are underserved 
based on race or ethnicity;
    (iii) Parents with limited English proficiency;
    (iv) Low-income parents; and
    (v) Parents with disabilities;
    (3) Develop and implement an outreach plan to inform youth with 
disabilities of how they can benefit from the services provided by the 
PTI;
    (4) Provide high-quality services that increase parents' capacity 
to help their children with disabilities improve their early learning, 
school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes. To meet this requirement, the 
applicant must include information as to how the services will--
    (i) Increase parents' knowledge of--
    (A) The nature of their children's disabilities, including their 
children's strengths and academic, behavioral, and developmental 
challenges;
    (B) The importance of having high expectations for their children 
and how to help them meet those expectations;
    (C) The local, State, and Federal resources available to assist 
them and their children and local resources that strengthen their 
connection to their communities;
    (D) IDEA, Federal IDEA regulations, and State implementation of 
IDEA, including--
    (1) Their rights and responsibilities under IDEA, including 
procedural safeguards and dispute resolution;
    (2) Their role on Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and 
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams and how to effectively 
participate on IFSP and IEP Teams; and
    (3) How services are provided under IDEA;
    (E) Other relevant educational and health care legislation, 
including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA); section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended (section 504); and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
(ADA);
    (F) Transition services at all levels, including: Part C early 
intervention to Part B preschool, preschool to elementary school, 
elementary school to secondary school, secondary school to 
postsecondary education and workforce options, and re-entry of 
incarcerated youth to school and the community;
    (G) How their children can have access to the general education 
curriculum, including access to college- and career-ready academic 
standards and assessments, extracurricular and enrichment opportunities 
available to all children, and other initiatives to make students 
college- and career-ready;
    (H) How their children can have access to inclusive early learning 
programs, inclusive general education classrooms and settings, and 
extracurricular and enrichment opportunities available to all children;
    (I) Evidence-based early intervention and education practices that 
improve early learning, school-aged, and postsecondary outcomes;
    (J) School reform efforts to improve student achievement and 
increase graduation rates; and
    (K) The use of data to inform instruction and advance school reform 
efforts;
    (ii) Increase parents' capacity to--
    (A) Effectively support their children with disabilities and 
participate in their children's education;
    (B) Communicate effectively and work collaboratively in partnership 
with early intervention service providers, school-based personnel, 
related services personnel, and administrators;
    (C) Resolve disputes effectively; and
    (D) Participate in school reform activities to improve outcomes for 
children;
    (5) Provide high-quality services that increase youth with 
disabilities' capacity to be effective self-advocates. To meet this 
requirement, the applicant must include information as to how the 
services will--
    (i) Increase the knowledge of youth with disabilities about--
    (A) The nature of their disabilities, including their strengths and 
of their academic, behavioral, and developmental challenges;
    (B) The importance of having high expectations for themselves and 
how to meet those expectations;
    (C) The resources available to support their success in secondary 
and postsecondary education and employment and full participation in 
their communities;
    (D) IDEA, section 504, ADA, and other legislation and policies that 
affect people with disabilities;
    (E) Their rights and responsibilities while receiving services 
under IDEA and after transitioning to post-school programs, services, 
and employment;
    (F) How they can participate on IEP Teams; and
    (G) Supported decisionmaking necessary to transition to adult life; 
and
    (ii) Increase the capacity of youth with disabilities to advocate 
for themselves, including communicating effectively and working in 
partnership with providers;
    (6) Use various methods to deliver services, including in-person 
and remotely through the use of technology;
    (7) Use best practices to provide training and information to adult 
learners and youth;
    (8) Establish cooperative partnerships with any Community Parent 
Resource Centers under section 672 of IDEA; and
    (9) Network with local, State, and national organizations and 
agencies, such as the Part C State Interagency Coordination Council, 
the Part B State Advisory Panel, and protection and advocacy agencies 
that serve parents and families of children with disabilities, to 
better support families and children with disabilities to effectively 
and efficiently access IDEA services.
    (c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under 
``Quality of the Evaluation Plan,'' how--
    (1) The applicant will evaluate how well the goals or objectives of 
the proposed project, as described in its logic model, have been met by 
undertaking a formative evaluation and a summative evaluation, 
including a description of how the applicant will measure the outcomes 
proposed in the logic model (see paragraph (f)(1) of this priority). 
The description must include--
    (i) Proposed evaluation methodologies, including proposed 
instruments, data collection methods, and analyses; and
    (ii) Proposed criteria for determining if the project has reached 
and served youth with disabilities and parents, including underserved 
parents of children with disabilities; and

[[Page 9817]]

    (2) The proposed project will use the evaluation results to examine 
its implementation and its progress toward achieving intended outcomes.
    (d) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how--
    (1) The proposed personnel, consultants, and contractors have the 
qualifications and experience to carry out the proposed activities and 
achieve the intended outcomes identified in the project logic model 
(see paragraph (f)(1) of this priority);
    (2) The applicant will encourage applications for employment from 
persons who are members of groups that have historically been 
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, linguistic 
diversity, gender, age, or disability, as appropriate; and
    (3) The applicant and key partners have adequate resources to carry 
out the proposed activities.
    (e) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how--
    (1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the intended 
outcomes identified in the project logic model (see paragraph (f)(1) of 
this priority) will be achieved on time and within budget;
    (2) The time of key personnel, consultants, and contractors will be 
sufficiently allocated to the project;
    (3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the services 
provided are of high quality;
    (4) The board of directors will be used to provide appropriate 
oversight to the project;
    (5) The proposed project benefits from a diversity of perspectives, 
including those of parents, providers, and administrators in the area 
to be served by the center;
    (6) The proposed project will ensure that the Annual Performance 
Reports submitted to the Department will--
    (i) Be accurate and timely;
    (ii) Include information on the projects' outputs and outcomes; and
    (iii) Include, at a minimum, the number and demographics of parents 
and youth to whom the PTI provided information and training, the 
parents' and youth's unique needs, and the levels of service provided 
to them; and
    (7) The project management and staff will--
    (i) Make use of the technical assistance (TA) and products provided 
by the Center on Parent Information and Resources, Regional Parent 
Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), Native American PTAC, Military 
PTAC, and other TA centers funded by the Office of Special Education 
Programs (OSEP), as appropriate, in order to serve parents of children 
with disabilities and youth with disabilities as effectively as 
possible;
    (ii) Participate in developing individualized TA plans with the 
Regional PTAC as appropriate; and
    (iii) Facilitate one site visit from the Regional PTAC during the 
grant cycle.
    (f) In the narrative or appendices as directed, the applicant 
must--
    (1) Include, in Appendix A, a logic model that depicts, at a 
minimum, the goals, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes of the 
proposed project. A logic model \3\ communicates how a project will 
achieve its intended outcomes and provides a framework for both the 
formative and summative evaluations of the project;
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    \3\ The following Web sites provide more information on logic 
models: www.researchutilization.org/matrix/logicmodel_resource3c.html and www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel/index.asp.
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    (2) Include, in Appendix A, person-loading charts and timelines, as 
applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the 
narrative;
    (3) Include, in the budget, attendance by the project director at 
one OSEP meeting in Washington DC annually, to be determined by OSEP; 
and

    Note:  Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award 
teleconference must be held between the OSEP project officer and the 
grantee's project director and other authorized representatives.

    (4) Include a statement in the narrative about how the project will 
maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-recognized 
standards for accessibility and that includes, at a minimum, a current 
calendar of upcoming events, free informational publications for 
families, and links to Webinars or other online multimedia resources.

Definitions

    For the purposes of this priority:
    Evidence-based means supported by strong theory.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and 
requirements. Section 681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment 
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priority in this notice.

    Program Authority:  20 U.S.C. 1471 and 1481.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget 
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.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grant.
    Estimated Available Funds: $200,000.
    Contingent on 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.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $200,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Parent organizations.

    Note: Section 671(a)(2) of IDEA defines a ``parent 
organization'' as a private nonprofit organization (other than an 
institution of higher education) that--
    (a) Has a board of directors--
    (1) The majority of whom are parents of children with 
disabilities ages birth through 26;
    (2) That includes--
    (i) Individuals working in the fields of special education, 
related services, and early intervention; and
    (ii) Individuals with disabilities; and
    (3) The parent and professional members of which are broadly 
representative of the population to be served, including low-income 
parents and parents of limited English proficient children; and
    (b) Has as its mission serving families of children with 
disabilities who are ages birth through 26, and have the full range 
of disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA.


[[Page 9818]]


    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a 
grantee may award subgrants--to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application--to the following types of entities: 
Nonprofit organizations.
    (b) The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified 
in an approved application.
    4. Other General Requirements: (a) Recipients of funding under this 
program must make positive efforts to employ and advance in employment 
qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
    (b) Each applicant for, and recipient of, funding under this 
program must involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of 
individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning, 
implementing, and evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of 
IDEA).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet, from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
    To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address: 
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/. To obtain a copy from 
ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: 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 competition as follows: CFDA number 84.328M.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Carmen Sanchez, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-
6595. If you use a TDD or TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), 
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under 
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to 
no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, reference citations, and captions, as well as 
all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
     Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit and double-spacing requirements do 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 abstract (follow the guidance provided in the 
application package for completing the abstract), the table of 
contents, the list of priority requirements, the resumes, the reference 
list, the letters of support, or the appendices. However, the page 
limit and double-spacing requirements do apply to all of Part III, the 
application narrative, including all text in charts, tables, figures, 
graphs, and screen shots.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit in the 
application narrative section.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 26, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 11, 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 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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 10, 2016.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry), 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

[[Page 9819]]

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: 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 Parent Training and Information 
Centers competition, CFDA number 84.328M, 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 Parent 
Training and Information Centers 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 84.328, not 84.328M).
    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 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. 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 
(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

[[Page 9820]]

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: Carmen Sanchez, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. FAX: (202) 245-7590.
    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 84.328M), 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.

    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 84.328M), 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 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 program are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 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

[[Page 9821]]

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. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past, 
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain 
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as 
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The standing panel 
requirements under section 682(b) of IDEA also have placed additional 
constraints on the availability of reviewers. Therefore, the Department 
has determined that for some discretionary grant competitions, 
applications may be separated into two or more groups and ranked and 
selected for funding within specific groups. This procedure will make 
it easier for the Department to find peer reviewers by ensuring that 
greater numbers of individuals who are eligible to serve as reviewers 
for any particular group of applicants will not have conflicts of 
interest. It also will increase the quality, independence, and fairness 
of the review process, while permitting panel members to review 
applications under discretionary grant competitions for which they also 
have submitted applications. However, if the Department decides to 
select an equal number of applications in each group for funding, this 
may result in different cut-off points for fundable applications in 
each group.
    4. 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 a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and 
quality of the Training and Information for Parents of Children with 
Disabilities program. The measures focus on the extent to which 
projects provide high-quality products and services, the relevance of 
project products and services to educational and early intervention 
policy and practice, and the use of products and services to improve 
educational and early intervention policy and practice. Projects funded 
under this competition are required to submit data on these measures as 
directed by OSEP.
    Grantees will be required to report information on their project's 
performance in annual and final performance reports to the Department 
(34 CFR 75.590).
    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: Carmen Sanchez, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-6595.

    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the 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, Potomac Center Plaza, 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

[[Page 9822]]

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 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 23, 2016.
Michael K. Yudin,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2016-04254 Filed 2-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P