FR Doc 05-8512
[Federal Register: April 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 81)]
[Notices]
[Page 22006-22010]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ap05-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Overview
Information; State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit In-Service Training
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.265A.
Dates:
Applications Available: April 28, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 13, 2005.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 11, 2005.
Eligible Applicants: State agencies designated under a State plan
for vocational rehabilitation services under section 101(a) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Estimated Available Funds: $5,823,883.
Basic Awards: $4,659,106.
Quality Awards: $1,164,777.
Please see the chart elsewhere in this notice (see section II.
Award Information) for further information concerning the estimated
funds available to individual State agencies for Basic Awards.
Estimated Range of Awards:
Basic Awards: $19,413-$325,590.
Quality Awards: $20,000-$60,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
Basic Awards: $63,234.
Quality Awards: $40,000.
Estimated Number of Awards:
Basic Awards: 80.
Quality Awards: 30.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: This program is designed to support projects
for training State vocational rehabilitation (VR) unit personnel in
program areas essential to the effective management of the unit's
program of VR services or in skill areas that will enable staff
personnel to improve their ability to provide VR services leading to
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Priorities for Quality Awards: In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii),
[[Page 22007]]
these priorities are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR
388.22). The Secretary reserves a portion of the funds for this program
to support some or all of the proposals that have been awarded a rating
of 80 points or more under the criteria described in 34 CFR 388.20. In
making a final selection of proposals to support under this program,
the Secretary considers the extent to which proposals have exceeded a
rating of 80 points and gives an absolute preference to applications
that meet one or more of the following priorities.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2005 these priorities are absolute
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider for Quality Awards
only applications that meet one or more of these priorities.
Note: In order to be considered for a Quality Award, applicants
must submit a separate Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424).
These priorities are:
Absolute Priority 1--Development and Dissemination of Model In-Service
Training Materials and Practices
The proposed project demonstrates an effective plan to develop and
disseminate information on its State VR In-Service Training program,
including the identification of training approaches and successful
practices, in order to permit the replication of these programs by
other State VR units.
Absolute Priority 2--Distance Education
The proposed project demonstrates innovative strategies for
training State VR unit personnel through distance education methods,
such as interactive audio, video, computer technologies, or existing
telecommunications networks.
Absolute Priority 3--Enhanced Employment Outcomes for Specific
Populations
The proposed project supports specialized training in the provision
of VR or related services to individuals with disabilities to increase
the rehabilitation rate into competitive employment for all individuals
or specified target groups.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 721 and 772.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34
CFR parts 385 and 388.
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 grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $5,823,883.
Basic Awards: $4,659,106.
Quality Awards: $1,164,777.
Basic awards are calculated annually and distributed according to
staffing levels of the State agencies obtained from data on the Annual
Vocational Rehabilitation Program/Cost Report (RSA-2). The minimum
level of a basic award is one-third of one percent of the funds
available. For FY 2005 that amount is $19,413 (34 CFR 388.21(a)(3)).
The following chart lists, by State agency, the Estimated Available
Funds for Basic Awards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic awards
estimated
State available
funds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama................................................. 103,768
Alaska.................................................. 19,413
Arizona................................................. 66,170
Arkansas (General)...................................... 76,349
Arkansas (Blind)........................................ 19,413
California.............................................. 325,590
Colorado................................................ 36,450
Connecticut (General)................................... 24,300
Connecticut (Blind)..................................... 19,413
Delaware (General)...................................... 19,413
Delaware (Blind)........................................ 19,413
Florida (General)....................................... 153,354
Florida (Blind)......................................... 50,242
Georgia................................................. 151,712
Hawaii.................................................. 19,413
Idaho (General)......................................... 21,673
Idaho (Blind)........................................... 19,413
Illinois................................................ 138,084
Indiana................................................. 57,138
Iowa (General).......................................... 43,347
Iowa (Blind)............................................ 19,413
Kansas.................................................. 41,704
Kentucky (General)...................................... 76,841
Kentucky (Blind)........................................ 19,413
Louisiana............................................... 65,019
Maine (General)......................................... 20,031
Maine (Blind)........................................... 19,413
Maryland................................................ 83,081
Massachusetts (General)................................. 81,110
Massachusetts (Blind)................................... 19,413
Michigan (General)...................................... 89,155
Michigan (Blind)........................................ 19,413
Minnesota (General)..................................... 60,586
Minnesota (Blind)....................................... 19,413
Mississippi............................................. 87,185
Missouri (General)...................................... 58,452
Missouri (Blind)........................................ 19,413
Montana................................................. 19,413
Nebraska (General)...................................... 28,569
Nebraska (Blind)........................................ 19,413
Nevada.................................................. 19,413
New Hampshire........................................... 19,413
New Jersey (General).................................... 46,303
New Jersey (Blind)...................................... 19,413
New Mexico (General).................................... 28,405
New Mexico (Blind)...................................... 19,413
New York (General)...................................... 138,248
New York (Blind)........................................ 31,360
North Carolina (General)................................ 141,861
North Carolina (Blind).................................. 61,243
North Dakota............................................ 19,413
Ohio.................................................... 126,098
Oklahoma................................................ 67,646
Oregon (General)........................................ 40,062
Oregon (Blind).......................................... 19,413
Pennsylvania............................................ 164,356
Rhode Island............................................ 19,413
South Carolina (General)................................ 192,924
South Carolina (Blind).................................. 19,413
South Dakota (General).................................. 19,413
South Dakota (Blind).................................... 19,413
Tennessee............................................... 93,754
Texas (General)......................................... 243,987
Texas (Blind)........................................... 87,185
Utah.................................................... 38,256
Vermont (General)....................................... 19,413
Vermont (Blind)......................................... 19,413
Virginia (General)...................................... 81,767
Virginia (Blind)........................................ 19,413
Washington (General).................................... 58,288
Washington (Blind)...................................... 19,413
West Virginia........................................... 88,991
Wisconsin............................................... 57,959
Wyoming................................................. 19,413
District of Columbia.................................... 24,465
Puerto Rico............................................. 226,583
American Samoa.......................................... 19,413
Northern Marianna....................................... 19,413
Guam.................................................... 19,413
Virgin Islands.......................................... 19,413
---------------
Total............................................... $4,659,106
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Range of Awards:
Basic Awards: $19,413-$325,590.
Quality Awards: $20,000-$60,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
Basic Awards: $63,234.
Quality Awards: $40,000.
Estimated Number of Awards:
Basic Awards: 80.
Quality Awards: 30.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: State agencies designated under a State
plan for vocational rehabilitation services under section 101(a) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Grantees under the State Vocational
Rehabilitation Unit In-Service Training program must provide at least
10 percent of the total cost of the project (34 CFR 388.30(a)), except
that under 34 CFR 388.30(b), grantees designated to receive a minimum
share of one third of one percent of the sums made available for the
fiscal year are required to provide at least four percent of the total
costs of the project.
[[Page 22008]]
Note: Under 34 CFR 75.562(c), an indirect cost reimbursement on
a training grant is limited to the recipient's actual indirect
costs, as determined by its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement,
or eight percent of a modified total direct cost base, whichever
amount is less. Indirect costs in excess of the eight percent limit
may not be charged directly, used to satisfy matching or cost-
sharing requirements, or charged to another Federal award.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll
free): 1-877-433-7827. Fax: (301) 470-1244. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free):
1-877-576-7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site:
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html
or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.265A.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone:
(202) 245-7363. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
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: Part III of the application, the application narrative,
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to
the equivalent of no more than 35 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, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
We will reject your application if--
You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the
page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: April 28, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 13, 2005.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) available through the Department's e-Grants system. For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify
for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer
to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 11, 2005.
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. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically, unless you qualify for
an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in
this section.
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.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit
In-Service Training--CFDA Number 84.265A must be submitted
electronically using e-Application available through the Department's
e-Grants system, accessible through the e-Grants portal page at:
http://e-grants.ed.gov.
While completing your electronic application, you will be entering
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application
for this program after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do
not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application
process.
The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
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
the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary
assurances and certifications.
Any narrative sections of your application should be
attached as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF
(Portable Document) format.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
[[Page 22009]]
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number
(an identifying number unique to your application).
Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the ED 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
(1) Print ED 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the ED 424.
(4) Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application System
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of
one business day in order to transmit your application electronically,
by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
(1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2)(a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or
more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date; or
(b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore
the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all
registered users who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions
referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the
Department's e-Application 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 e-Application system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Department's e-Application 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
prevent 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: Marilyn P. Fountain,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5028,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Fax: (202) 245-7591.
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 any 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 applicable
following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.265A), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.265A), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of which address you use, 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, or
(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, or
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.265A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 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 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix letter,
if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your
application.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and 34 CFR 388.20. The selection criteria for
this competition are in the application package.
[[Page 22010]]
2. Review and Selection Process: The procedures used for reviewing
and selecting an application for an award are in 34 CFR 75.210 and 34
CFR 388.20. An additional factor we consider in selecting an
application for an award is the past performance of the applicant in
carrying out similar training activities under previously awarded
grants, as indicated by factors such as compliance with grant
conditions, soundness of programmatic and financial management
practices, and attainment of established project objectives (34 CFR
385.33(b)).
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). 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. Reporting: At the end of your project, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 34
CFR 75.118.
4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act
(GPRA) 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 primary objective of the State VR Unit
In-Service Training program is to maintain and upgrade the knowledge
and skills of personnel currently employed in the public VR system.
Grantees must provide training that responds to the needs identified in
the Comprehensive System for Personnel Development (CSPD) required in
section 101(a)(7) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
In order to measure the success of the State VR Unit In-Service
Training program grantees in meeting this objective, State VR agencies
are required to submit performance data through the in-service annual
performance report and their State plans. At a minimum, the annual
performance report must include data on the percentage of currently
employed VR State agency counselors who meet their States' CSPD
standards.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Marilyn Fountain, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5028, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7346 or by e-
mail: Marilyn.Fountain@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this
section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: April 22, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-8512 Filed 4-27-05; 8:45 am]
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