Applications for New Awards; Activities for Underserved Populations, 34840-34846 [2023-11600]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34840-34846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11600]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Activities for Underserved 
Populations

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2023 for Activities for 
Underserved Populations Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.315C, to 
make awards to minority entities and Indian Tribes to conduct research, 
training and technical assistance, and related activities to improve 
services under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(Rehabilitation Act), especially services provided to underserved 
populations. This notice relates to the approved information collection 
under OMB control number 1820-0028.

DATES: 
    Applications available: May 31, 2023.
    Deadline for transmittal of applications: July 21, 2023.
    Date of pre-application meeting: On the date this notice is 
published in the Federal Register, the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will post a PowerPoint presentation 
specifically about Activities for Underserved Populations at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/grant-info. OSERS will conduct a pre-application 
conference call on June 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time specific to 
this competition to respond to questions. Information about the pre-
application conference call will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/grant-info. OSERS invites you to send questions to [email protected] in 
advance of the pre-application conference call. A summary of questions 
and responses will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/grant-info 
within six business days after the pre-application conference call.
    Deadline for intergovernmental review: September 28, 2023.

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 December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045), and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554. Please note that these Common 
Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen Rhinehart-Fernandez, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland

[[Page 34841]]

Avenue SW, Room 5076, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. 
Telephone: (202) 245-6103. Email: [email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: A purpose of the Activities for Underserved 
Populations program is to improve the quality, access, and delivery of 
services and the outcomes of services provided under the Rehabilitation 
Act, especially services provided to individuals with disabilities from 
underserved backgrounds, and to increase the capacity of minority 
entities and Indian Tribes to participate in activities funded under 
the Rehabilitation Act.
    Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priority and 
definition (NFP) published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2023, this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    The priority is:
    Improving the Delivery of Vocational Rehabilitation Services to, 
and the Employment Outcomes of, Individuals with Disabilities from 
Underserved Populations.
    Under this priority, the Department provides funding for a 
cooperative agreement for a minority entity or an Indian Tribe to 
provide training and technical assistance to a minimum range of 5 to 15 
State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies (Combined, General, or 
Agencies for the Blind) over a five-year period of performance so that 
the agencies are equipped to serve as role models for diversity, 
equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workforce system by 
implementing policies, practices, and service delivery approaches that 
are designed to contribute to increasing competitive integrated 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities from underserved 
populations. Further, the grantee must contribute to VR research and 
pedagogical practices that promote access to approaches that are 
racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically inclusive.
    During the first year of the project the grantee will focus on 
developing training and technical assistance material and gathering 
input and feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders including the 
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), State VR agencies, and 
other relevant partners. During the period of performance, the grantee 
must enter into agreements with the State VR agencies receiving 
training and technical assistance. Each agreement must: specify the 
level of involvement from VR agency leadership and personnel and 
include an assurance that the VR agency is committed to sustainable 
systems change across the organization for improving delivery of 
services to underserved populations; explain how data will be collected 
and shared; identify training and technical assistance needs, 
intervention strategies, and implementation timelines; and describe how 
outcomes will be measured. The grantee must have a minimum of two 
agreements in place by the end of the first year of the grant.

Application Requirements

    To be considered for funding under this priority, applicants must, 
at a minimum, propose a project that will conduct the following 
activities in a culturally appropriate manner. The Department 
encourages innovative approaches to meet this requirement. To meet this 
requirement, applicants must--
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance of the Proposed Project,'' an understanding of the 
inequities and challenges experienced by individuals with disabilities 
from underserved populations determined eligible to receive VR 
services. To meet this requirement, applicants must--
    (1) Present information and relevant data about the disparities 
that exist with respect to VR services and employment outcomes for 
underserved populations; and
    (2) Describe how the project proposes to improve VR services for, 
and competitive integrated employment outcomes of, underserved 
populations.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of Project Design,'' how the project will address inequities 
and challenges experienced by underserved populations determined 
eligible to receive VR services. To meet this requirement, applicants 
must--
    (1) Demonstrate knowledge and experience working with individuals 
with disabilities from underserved populations;
    (2) Incorporate into the project design current research and 
promising and evidence-based practices (EBPs),\1\ research about adult 
learning principles and implementation science, and relevant findings, 
recommendations, and relevant strategies identified by the Targeted 
Communities project \2\ to overcome barriers to competitive integrated 
employment and VR participation for individuals with disabilities from 
underserved populations;
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    \1\ For purposes of these requirements, ``evidence-based 
practices'' (EBPs) means, at a minimum, demonstrating a rationale 
(as defined in 34 CFR 77.1) based on high-quality research findings 
or positive evaluation that such activity, strategy, or intervention 
is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes.
    \2\ Final Report from the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical 
Assistance Center for Targeted Communities (Project E3) (PR/Award 
#H264F150003) https://ncrtm.ed.gov/library/detail/vocational-rehabilitation-technical-assistance-center-targeted-communities-project and project website: https://projecte3.com/.
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    (3) Detail how the project will collect and examine data, including 
from the RSA-911 and other relevant sources, from a minimum range of 5 
to 15 State VR agencies regarding VR applicants, VR-eligible 
individuals, and VR participants by race/ethnicity by--
    (i) Exploring patterns, changes, or shifts in demographics for 
individuals with disabilities from underserved populations;
    (ii) Exploring data, by race/ethnicity, from each State VR agency 
regarding VR applicants to identify opportunities for increased 
outreach to and referral of individuals with disabilities from 
underserved populations to VR services;
    (iii) Examining data, by race/ethnicity, from each State VR agency 
regarding selected VR services and competitive integrated employment 
outcomes at exit to identify inconsistencies or gaps in the provision 
of services;
    (iv) Examining data from each State VR agency to identify reasons 
for successful and unsuccessful closures between VR program 
participants from underserved populations and VR program participants 
who are not from underserved populations; and
    (v) Reviewing each State VR agency's service delivery model from 
eligibility determination to exit; and
    (4) Present approaches for how the information and data described 
above will be used to inform strategies to improve the delivery of 
services to individuals with disabilities from underserved populations 
for each of the identified State VR agencies. For example, applicants 
may consider conducting a needs assessment and asset map for each of 
the identified State VR agencies to identify existing programs and 
services and businesses and philanthropic organizations in the 
community, as well as potential gaps

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and opportunities for collaboration, to support individuals with 
disabilities from underserved populations in successfully obtaining 
competitive integrated employment. Applicants may also consider 
designing a long-term data collection tool and provide analytical 
support and training to the identified State VR agencies to identify 
additional data elements not captured in the RSA-911 or other case 
management systems to continually assess the quality of services and 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities from underserved populations 
and individuals with disabilities not from underserved populations.
    (c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of Project Services,'' how the project will be designed so 
that policies, practices, and service delivery approaches will 
contribute to increased competitive integrated employment outcomes for 
individuals with disabilities from underserved populations. To meet 
this requirement, applicants must--
    (1) Propose training and technical assistance activities that will 
be offered to the identified State VR agencies. Training and technical 
assistance activities will be further developed during the first year 
of the grant and described in the agreements with the identified State 
VR agencies based on needs and analysis of data. Training and technical 
assistance activities may include, but are not limited to, (i) 
assisting in State VR agency coordination and cross-agency partnerships 
with State and local agencies and community-based organizations, 
workforce programs, educational institutions, and other relevant local 
community agencies and organizations (i.e., agencies and organizations 
that provide services and supports related to mental health, substance 
use, behavioral health, intellectual developmental disabilities, and 
other areas of need such as housing, food, transportation, and 
healthcare) to strengthen outreach and awareness about VR programs and 
services, build trust between State VR agency counselors and 
individuals with disabilities from underserved populations, and connect 
individuals with disabilities from underserved populations determined 
to be VR eligible with necessary supports to successfully obtain 
competitive integrated employment; (ii) reviewing policies, practices, 
and procedures from the identified State VR agencies and providing 
recommendations to help ensure they are culturally appropriate and 
implemented in an appropriate manner; (iii) developing strategies to 
strengthen diversity in the VR workforce (e.g., reviewing hiring 
practices from the identified State VR agencies and identifying 
strategies that expand outreach to VR counselors from underserved 
populations and mentoring and coaching activities for new and existing 
VR counselors and paraprofessionals, human resource and professional 
development specialists, and VR management and leadership personnel 
from underserved populations); and (iv) any other activity that 
improves understanding, responsiveness, and delivery of services to, 
and competitive integrated employment outcomes for, individuals with 
disabilities from underserved populations;
    (2) Detail how those activities will incorporate relevant 
strategies and promising and effective practices identified by the 
Targeted Communities Project and other EBPs or related sources to the 
extent possible;
    (3) Explain how training and technical assistance activities will 
be of high quality and sufficient intensity and duration to achieve the 
intended outcomes of the project;
    (4) Describe how remote learning \3\ opportunities will be 
incorporated into the project. Remote learning opportunities should 
offer experiences that advance engagement and implementation (e.g., 
synchronous and asynchronous professional learning, professional 
learning networks or communities, and coaching), which could also be 
incorporated into Rehabilitation Counseling programs, as well as other 
training and professional development activities designed for the VR 
workforce, as appropriate. The remote learning environment must be 
accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with section 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act;
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    \3\ ``Remote learning'' means programming where at least part of 
the learning occurs away from the physical building in a manner that 
addresses a learner's educational needs. Remote learning may include 
online, hybrid/blended learning, or non-technology-based learning 
(e.g., lab kits, project supplies, paper packets).
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    (5) Describe their knowledge, skills, and experience to support the 
training and technical assistance activities described above;
    (6) Describe how the project will contribute to VR research and 
pedagogical practices that promote access to approaches that are 
racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically inclusive. To meet 
this requirement, applicants must describe how they will--
    (i) Disseminate to all State VR agencies, RSA-funded Rehabilitation 
Long-Term Training projects and technical assistance centers, 
Department-funded programs, and Federal partners, as applicable, 
training and technical assistance material, analysis of data collected, 
evidence-based and promising practices, and lessons learned;
    (ii) Develop products, such as toolkits, guides, manuals, webinars, 
and communities of learning, for instructors, facilitators, State VR 
agency directors, and human resource and professional development 
specialists to facilitate the implementation of training and technical 
assistance material in curriculum and relevant training and development 
activities; and
    (iii) Gather input and feedback from a diverse group of 
stakeholders and subject matter experts, including RSA, State VR 
agencies, and other relevant partners, throughout the project to inform 
the development and delivery of the material described above.
    (d) In the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of 
the Project Evaluation,'' include an evaluation plan for the project. 
The evaluation plan must describe--
    (1) Clear and measurable outcomes;
    (2) Approaches for measuring the effectiveness of the intervention 
strategies identified in the agreements, including standards and 
targets for measuring knowledge, skills, and abilities of State VR 
agency personnel before and after completion of training activities. To 
address this requirement, applicants must provide an approach for 
determining--
    (i) The most effective practices in improving the delivery of 
services to individuals with disabilities from underserved populations 
and the data that demonstrate the effectiveness of the practices; and
    (ii) The most effective practices in creating a culture of systems 
change within the State VR agency and the data that demonstrate the 
effectiveness of the practices;
    (3) Methodologies, including instruments, data collection methods, 
and analyses, that will be used to evaluate the project and how the 
methods of evaluation will produce quantitative and qualitative data to 
demonstrate whether the project activities achieved their intended 
outcomes;
    (4) How the evaluation will be coordinated, implemented, and 
revised, as needed, during the project. The applicant must designate at 
least one individual with sufficient dedicated time, demonstrated 
experience in

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evaluation, and knowledge of the project to coordinate and conduct the 
evaluation. This may include, but is not limited to, making revisions 
to reflect any changes or clarifications, as needed, to the model and 
to the evaluation design and instrumentation with the logic model 
(e.g., designing instruments and developing quantitative or qualitative 
data collections that permit collecting of progress data and assessing 
project outcomes);
    (5) How evaluation results will be used to improve delivery of 
services to VR program participants from underserved populations from 
eligibility determination to exit. To address this requirement, 
applicants must provide an approach to gather input and feedback that 
includes the experiences of VR program participants from underserved 
populations. Applicants may consider voluntary focus groups, use of a 
unique identifier, or another approach that adheres to consumer 
confidentiality requirements in 34 CFR 361.38; and
    (6) A process for gathering feedback from the identified State VR 
agencies for continuous improvement throughout years two, three, four, 
and five of the project.
    (e) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how applicants will ensure that--
    (1) The project's intended outcomes, including the evaluation, will 
be achieved on time and within budget through--
    (i) Clearly defined responsibilities of key project personnel, 
subawards, and contracts, as applicable;
    (ii) Procedures to track and ensure completion of the action steps, 
timelines, and milestones established for key project activities, 
requirements, and deliverables;
    (iii) Internal monitoring processes to ensure that the project is 
being implemented in accordance with the established application and 
management plan; and
    (iv) Internal financial management controls to increase efficiency 
and cost-effectiveness, including by reducing waste or achieving better 
outcomes, and how the applicant will ensure accurate and timely 
obligations, drawdowns, and reporting of grant funds, as well as 
monitoring subawards as applicable, in accordance with the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards at 2 CFR part 200 and the terms and conditions of 
the Federal award;
    (2) The allocation of key project personnel, subawards, as 
applicable, and levels of effort of key personnel are appropriate and 
adequate to achieve the project's intended outcomes;
    (3) The products and services are of high quality, relevance, and 
usefulness, in both content and delivery and are accessible to 
individuals with disabilities in accordance with section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act, as applicable;
    (4) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of 
perspectives; and
    (5) Projects will be awarded and operated in a manner consistent 
with nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Federal civil 
rights laws.
    (f) Include the following:
    (1) In Appendix A, personnel-loading charts and timelines, as 
applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the 
narrative;
    (2) In Appendix A, a logic model \4\ that depicts, at a minimum, 
the goals, activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project;
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    \4\ ``Logic model'' (also referred to as a theory of action) 
means a framework that identifies key project components of the 
proposed project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are 
hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and 
describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the 
key project components and relevant outcomes.
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    (3) An assurance to maintain a high-quality website, with an easy-
to-navigate design that is accessible to individuals with disabilities 
in accordance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as 
applicable; and
    (4) An assurance that training and technical assistance materials 
such as outreach, training curricula, presentations, reports, outcomes, 
and other relevant information will be submitted to RSA's National 
Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) (https://ncrtm.ed.gov/) at least 90 days before the end of the final budget 
period.
    Definition: The following definition is from the NFP.
    Underserved populations means Black, Latino, and Indigenous and 
Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and 
other persons of color.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 718(b)(2)(B).
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal 
civil rights laws.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84 and 
86. (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. (d) The NFP.
    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: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $910,490.
    Note: This amount will be reduced by up to $9,000 in the first year 
of the award to support peer review for this competition.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Minority entities and Indian Tribes. As 
defined in section 21(b)(5)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act, ``minority 
entity'' means a historically Black college or university, a Hispanic-
serving institution of higher education, an American Indian Tribal 
college or university, or another institution of higher education whose 
minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent. The definition of 
``Indian Tribe'' in section 7(19)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act is ``any 
Federal or State Indian tribe, band, rancheria, pueblo, colony, or 
community, including any Alaskan native village or regional village 
corporation (as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act) and a tribal organization (as defined in section 
4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 450b(l)).''
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require 
cost sharing or matching.
    b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses an 
unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding 
indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please 
see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.
    c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include 
any program-specific limitation on

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administrative expenses. All administrative expenses must be reasonable 
and necessary and conform to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 
200 subpart E of the Uniform Guidance.
    3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under 
this competition may award subgrants to directly carry out project 
activities described in its application to the following types of 
entities: Indian Tribes, institutions of higher education, and public 
and private nonprofit organizations. The grantee may award subgrants to 
entities it has identified in an approved application. Under 34 CFR 
75.708(e), a grantee may contract for supplies, equipment, and other 
services in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317-200.326, Procurement 
Standards.

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 December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045), and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554, which contain requirements and 
information on how to submit an application. Please note that these 
Common Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 
2021.
    2. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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.
    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 50 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, 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.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurances and certifications; or the abstract (follow the guidance 
provided in the application package for completing the abstract), the 
table of contents, the resumes, the reference list, the letters of 
support, or the appendices. However, the recommended page limit does 
apply to all of the application narrative, including all text in 
charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots. Applicants are 
expected to make the contents of their application accessible for 
individuals with disabilities to the maximum extent possible. Tutorials 
and resources for making documents accessible are available for free on 
RSA's National Clearinghouse for Rehabilitation Training Materials at 
https://ncrtm.ed.gov/accessibility-resources.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210, have a maximum score of 100 points, and are as 
follows:
    (a) Significance. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system 
change or improvement; and
    (ii) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase 
knowledge or understanding of rehabilitation problems, issues, or 
effective strategies.
    (b) Quality of the project design. (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 goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable;
    (ii) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating 
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible 
replication of project activities or strategies, including information 
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the 
project;
    (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;
    (v) The extent to which the proposed project will establish 
linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing 
services to the target population; and
    (vi) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous 
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.
    (c) Quality of project services. (25 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 involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services;
    (ii) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services; and
    (iii) The extent to which the results of the proposed project are 
to be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use the 
information or strategies.
    (d) Quality of the project evaluation. (25 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
valid and reliable performance data on relevant outcomes (as defined in 
34 CFR 77.1(c));
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well 
implemented, produce promising evidence (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)) 
about the project's effectiveness;
    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are

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clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will 
produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible;
    (iv) The qualifications, including relevant training, experience, 
and independence, of the evaluator; and
    (v) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.
    (e) Quality of the management plan. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestone for accomplishing 
project tasks;
    (ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project; and
    (iii) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of 
perspectives are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed 
project, including those of parents, teachers, the business community, 
a variety of disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or 
beneficiaries of services, or others, as appropriate.
    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 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 
3474.10, 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.
    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 200.206(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.
    5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 
applications in accordance with:
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United 
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

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. 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

[[Page 34846]]

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 approve a data 
collection period for a grant for a period of up to 72 months after the 
end of the project period and provide funding, separate from this 
funding opportunity, for the data collection period for the sole 
purpose of collecting, analyzing, and reporting performance measurement 
data regarding the project.
    5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of Department reporting 
under 34 CFR 75.110, we have established the following program 
performance measures:
    Measure 1: Based on the State VR agencies that received training 
and technical assistance, the number and percentage of individuals with 
disabilities from underserved populations determined eligible to 
receive VR services compared to all individuals with disabilities that 
are not from underserved populations and determined eligible to receive 
VR services.
    Measure 2: Based on the State VR agencies that received training 
and technical assistance, the number and percentage of individuals with 
disabilities from underserved populations that received VR services 
compared to all individuals with disabilities that are not from 
underserved populations that received VR services.
    Measure 3: Based on the State VR agencies that received training 
and technical assistance, the number and percentage of individuals with 
disabilities from underserved populations employed at the time of exit 
compared to all individuals with disabilities that are not from 
underserved populations and employed at the time of exit.
    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, whether 
the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving 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: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an 
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an 
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text 
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
    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.

Glenna Wright-Gallo,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-11600 Filed 5-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P