Applications for New Awards; Coordinating Center for Transition Programs for Students With Intellectual Disabilities Into Higher Education, 27731-27735 [2020-10021]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 91 (Monday, May 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27731-27735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10021]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Coordinating Center for Transition 
Programs for Students With Intellectual Disabilities Into Higher 
Education

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications (NIA) for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2020 
for the Coordinating Center for Transition Programs for Students with 
Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education--Model Comprehensive 
Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual 
Disabilities Program-Coordinating Center (TPSID-CC), Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.407B. This notice relates to the 
approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 11, 2020.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 10, 2020.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an 
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to 
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the 
Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at 
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shedita Alston, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 260-24, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7090. Email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the TPSID program is to support 
a national coordinating center charged with conducting and 
disseminating research on strategies to promote positive academic, 
social, employment, and independent living outcomes for students with 
intellectual disabilities. The TPSID-CC will establish a comprehensive 
research and evaluation protocol for TPSID programs; administer a 
mentoring program matching current and new TPSID grantees based on 
areas of expertise; and coordinate longitudinal follow-up data 
collection and technical assistance to TPSID grantees on programmatic 
components and evidence-based practices. The TPSID-CC will also provide 
technical assistance to build the capacity of kindergarten through 
grade 12 transition services and support postsecondary education 
inclusive practices, among other activities.
    Background: As part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 
2008, Congress authorized the TPSID-CC for institutions of higher 
education (IHEs) that offer inclusive comprehensive transition and 
postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities, 
including institutions funded under the Transition Programs for 
Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) program. Since that 
time, the TPSID-CC has played a vital role in supporting the work of 
TPSID grantees, including identifying and disseminating best practices, 
promoting the development of high-quality performance measures, and 
collecting valuable information about the provision of postsecondary 
education for students with intellectual disabilities.
    Priority: This notice contains one absolute priority. In accordance 
with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from section 777(b) of 
the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1140q(b)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2020 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:
    A grant recipient must use grant funds to establish a coordinating 
center for IHEs that offer inclusive comprehensive transition and 
postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities, 
including IHEs participating in grants authorized by the TPSID program. 
The TPSID-CC must provide such programs recommendations related to the 
development of standards for such programs, technical assistance for 
such programs, and evaluations for such programs. The TPSID-CC must 
establish and maintain a coordinating center that must--
    (1) Serve as the technical assistance entity for all comprehensive 
transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual 
disabilities;
    (2) Provide technical assistance regarding the development, 
evaluation, and continuous improvement of such programs;
    (3) Develop an evaluation protocol for such programs that includes 
qualitative and quantitative methodologies for measuring student 
outcomes and program strengths in the areas of academic enrichment, 
socialization, independent living, and competitive or supported 
employment;
    (4) Assist recipients of grants under the TPSID program in efforts 
to award a meaningful credential to students with intellectual 
disabilities upon the completion of such programs, which credential 
must take into consideration unique State factors;
    (5) Develop recommendations for the necessary components of such 
programs, such as--
    (i) Academic, vocational, social, and independent living skills;
    (ii) Evaluation of student progress;
    (iii) Program administration and evaluation;
    (iv) Student eligibility; and
    (v) Issues regarding the equivalency of a student's participation 
in such programs to semester, trimester, quarter, credit, or clock 
hours at an IHE, as the case may be;
    (6) Analyze possible funding streams for such programs and provide 
recommendations regarding the funding streams;
    (7) Develop model memoranda of agreement for use between or among 
IHEs and State and local agencies providing funding for such programs;
    (8) Develop mechanisms for regular communication, outreach, and 
dissemination of information about comprehensive transition and 
postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities to 
those

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institutions that have grants authorized under the TPSID program and to 
families and prospective students;
    (9) Host a meeting of all recipients of grants authorized under the 
TPSID program not less often than once each year; and
    (10) Convene a workgroup to develop and recommend model criteria, 
standards, and components of such programs as described in paragraph 
(5) that are appropriate for the development of accreditation 
standards, which workgroup must include--
    (i) An expert in higher education;
    (ii) An expert in special education;
    (iii) A disability organization that represents students with 
intellectual disabilities;
    (iv) A representative from the National Advisory Committee on 
Institutional Quality and Integrity; and
    (v) A representative of a regional or national accreditation agency 
or association.
    Definitions: The definition of ``comprehensive transition and 
postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities'' is 
from section 760(1) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1140(1)). The definition of 
``student with an intellectual disability'' is from section 760(2) of 
the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1140(2)).
    Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students 
with intellectual disabilities means a degree, certificate, or 
nondegree program that--
    (A) Is offered by an IHE;
    (B) Is designed to support students with intellectual disabilities 
who are seeking to continue academic, career and technical, and 
independent living instruction at an IHE in order to prepare for 
gainful employment;
    (C) Includes an advising and curriculum structure;
    (D) Requires students with intellectual disabilities to participate 
on not less than a half-time basis as determined by the institution, 
with such participation focusing on academic components, and occurring 
through one or more of the following activities:
    (i) Regular enrollment in credit-bearing courses with nondisabled 
students offered by the institution.
    (ii) Auditing or participating in courses with nondisabled students 
offered by the institution for which the student does not receive 
regular academic credit.
    (iii) Enrollment in noncredit-bearing, nondegree courses with 
nondisabled students.
    (iv) Participation in internships or work-based training in 
settings with nondisabled individuals; and
    (E) Requires students with intellectual disabilities to be socially 
and academically integrated with nondisabled students to the maximum 
extent possible.
    Student with an intellectual disability means a student--
    (A) With a cognitive impairment, characterized by significant 
limitations in--
    (i) Intellectual and cognitive functioning; and
    (ii) Adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and 
practical adaptive skills; and
    (B) Who is currently, or was formerly, eligible for a free 
appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1140q(b).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 
86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Government-
wide 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 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: Up to $2,000,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent fiscal years 
from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Maximum Awards: We will not make an award exceeding $2,000,000 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: 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Under section 777(b)(1) of the HEA, an 
``eligible entity'' means an entity, or a partnership of entities, that 
has demonstrated expertise in the fields of--
    (1) Higher education;
    (2) The education of students with intellectual disabilities;
    (3) The development of comprehensive transition and postsecondary 
programs for students with intellectual disabilities; and
    (4) Evaluation and technical assistance.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to 
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of 
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal 
Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at 
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which 
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
    2. 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 program.
    3. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative to no more than 70 pages and (2) use the 
following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, and no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The recommended page limit applies to the application narrative. 
However, the recommended page limit does not apply to the Application 
for Federal Assistance form (SF-424); the ED SF-424 Supplement form; 
the Budget Information--Non-Construction

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Programs form (ED 524); the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page project abstract, the program profile form, and supporting budget 
narrative. Please include a separate heading when responding to the 
absolute priority.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this 
program are from 34 CFR 75.210. The points assigned to each criterion 
are indicated in parentheses. Applicants may earn up to a total of 100 
points for the selection criteria.
    (a) Need for project (up to 10 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (ii) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (iii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    (b) Quality of the project design (up to 20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs.
    (ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project 
includes a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a 
high-quality plan for project implementation, and the use of 
appropriate methodological tools to ensure successful achievement of 
project objectives.
    (iii) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (iv) The extent to which the design of the proposed project 
reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
    (c) Quality of project services (up to 20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or 
beneficiaries of those services.
    (ii) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the 
proposed project will lead to improvements in the skills necessary to 
gain employment or build capacity for independent living.
    (d) Quality of project personnel (up to 15 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will 
carry out the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    (e) Adequacy of resources (up to 15 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
lead applicant organization.
    (ii) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project.
    (iii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits.
    (iv) The potential for continued support of the project after 
Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated 
commitment of appropriate entities to such support.
    (f) Quality of the project evaluation (up to 20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the project evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible.
    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress towards 
achieving intended outcomes.
    (iv) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this program, the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose specific 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

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CFR part 200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior 
grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may 
review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal 
agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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 also notify you 
informally.
    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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you 
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to 
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in 
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of 
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those 
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent 
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or 
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. 
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant 
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. 
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your 
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional 
information on the open licensing requirements, please refer to 2 CFR 
3474.20.
    4. 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.
    5. Performance Measures:
    The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 directs Federal 
departments and agencies to improve the effectiveness of their programs 
by engaging in strategic planning, setting outcome-related goals for 
programs, and measuring program results against those goals. The goal 
of the TPSID-CC Program is to provide--(a) recommendations related to 
the development of standards for inclusive comprehensive transition and 
postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities; (b) 
technical assistance for such programs; and (c) evaluations for such 
programs. To assess the success of the grantee in meeting these goals, 
in addition to other information, the grantee's annual performance 
report must include--
    (a) The percentage of inclusive comprehensive transition and 
postsecondary programs assisted by the TPSID-CC that meet evidence-
based, center-developed standards for necessary program components, 
reported across each standard; and
    (b) The percentage of students with intellectual disabilities who 
are enrolled in programs assisted by the TPSID-CC who complete the 
programs and obtain a meaningful credential, as defined by the TPSID-CC 
and supported through empirical evidence.
    In addition, the TPSID-CC will work closely with the Federal 
project officer to develop additional performance measures, performance 
targets, and data collection methodologies that are aligned with this 
work. Data must be collected by the TPSID-CC on accreditation standards 
and communications with recognized accrediting agencies, descriptions 
and analyses of funding streams, and the impact of the TPSID-CC's 
technical assistance activities related to outreach and dissemination. 
These additional performance measures will capture formative data about 
the quality, usefulness, relevance, and efficiency of the TPSID-CC's 
technical assistance and evaluation services.
    6. 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. 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

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listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. 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.

Robert L. King,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2020-10021 Filed 5-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P