National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) on Low Vision and Blindness; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006, CFDA No. 84.133E-3 [OSERS]

FR Doc E5-7403
[Federal Register: December 16, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 241)]
[Notices]
[Page 74788-74792]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de05-47]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Overview
Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR)--Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) on
Low Vision and Blindness; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133E-3
Dates:
Applications Available: December 16, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 14, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies, including
for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-
profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and Indian
tribes and tribal organizations.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$950,000 for the Low Vision and Blindness RERC competition for FY 2006.
The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional
action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to
complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $950,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.

Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.

Number of Awards: 1.

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: The purpose of the RERC program is to improve
the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended (Act). For FY 2006, the competition for a new award
focuses on projects designed to meet the priority we describe in the
Priority section of this notice. We intend this priority to improve
rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priorities for
this program, published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2005 (70
FR 21282).

Note: On April 25, 2005, we published a notice in the Federal
Register (70 FR 21284) inviting applications under this priority.
None of the applications received for this priority were successful.

Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that
meet this priority.
This priority is:
Low Vision and Blindness: This RERC must research and develop
technologies that will improve assessment of vision impairments and
promote independence for individuals with low vision and blindness,
including those who are deaf/blind.
RERCs must focus on innovative technological solutions, new
knowledge, and concepts to promote the health, safety, independence,
active engagement in daily activities, and quality of life of persons
with disabilities. Accordingly, each RERC must:
(1) Contribute substantially to the technical and scientific
knowledge-base relevant to the priority;
(2) Research, develop, and evaluate innovative technologies,
products, environments, performance guidelines, and monitoring and
assessment tools as applicable to the priority;
(3) Identify, implement, and evaluate, in collaboration with the
relevant industry, professional associations, and institutions of
higher education, innovative approaches to expand research capacity in
the specific field of study;
(4) Monitor trends and evolving product concepts that represent and
signify future directions for technologies in the specific area of
research; and
(5) Provide technical assistance to public and private
organizations responsible for developing policies, guidelines, and
standards that affect the specific area of research.
In addition, the following requirements apply to each RERC
priority:
Each RERC must have the capability to design, build, and
test prototype devices and assist in the transfer of successful
solutions to relevant production and service delivery settings. Each
RERC must evaluate the efficacy and safety of its new products,
instrumentation, or assistive devices.
Each RERC must develop and implement, in the first three
months of the grant, a plan that describes how the RERC will include,
as appropriate, individuals with disabilities or their representatives
in all phases of its activities including research, development,
training, dissemination, and evaluation;
Each RERC must develop and implement, in the first year of
the grant and in consultation with the NIDRR-funded National Center for
the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR), a plan to disseminate
the RERC's research results to persons with disabilities, their
representatives, disability organizations, service providers,
professional journals, manufacturers, and other interested parties.
Each RERC must develop and implement, in the first year of
the grant and in consultation with the NIDRR-funded RERC on Technology
Transfer, a plan for ensuring that all new and improved technologies
developed by this RERC are successfully transferred to the marketplace.
Each RERC must conduct a state-of-the-science conference
on its respective area of research in the third year of the grant and
publish a comprehensive report on the final outcomes of the conference
in the fourth year of the grant.
Each RERC must coordinate with research projects of mutual
interest with relevant NIDRR-funded projects as identified through
consultation with the NIDRR project officer.
The RERC program is in concert with NIDRR's proposed Long-Range
Plan (Plan) published in the Federal Register on July 27, 2005 (70 FR
43522). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues relating
to disability and rehabilitation research topics. The Plan can be
accessed on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/

[[Page 74789]]

legislation/FedRegister/other/2005-3/072705d.html

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(3).

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81,
82, 84, 85, 86, and 97, (b) the regulations for this program in 34 CFR
part 350, and (c) the notice of final priority for this program,
published on April 25, 2005 (70 FR 21282) in the Federal Register.

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: The Administration has requested
$950,000 for the Low Vision and Blindness RERC competition for FY 2006.
The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional
action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to
complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $950,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.

Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.

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: States; public or private agencies,
including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations,
including for-profit organizations; institutions of higher education;
and Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: You may obtain an
application package via Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via Internet use the following
address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.

To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write or call the following: 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 84.133E.
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 program contact
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of
this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition. Page
Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where
you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use
to evaluate your application. We strongly recommend that you limit Part
III to the equivalent of no more than 125 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. Single spacing may be used for
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 suggested page limit does not apply to Part I, Application for
Federal Assistance; 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.
The application package will provide instructions for completing
all components to be included in the application. Each application must
include the ED Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance;
budget requirements (ED Form 524) and narrative justification; other
required forms; an abstract; Seven-Point Human Subjects narrative; Part
III narrative; resumes of staff; and other related materials, if
applicable.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 16, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 14, 2006.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by
mail or hand delivery, 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.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
We have been accepting applications electronically through the
Department's e-Application system since FY 2000. In order to expand on
those efforts and comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are
continuing to participate as a partner in the new government wide
Grants.gov Apply site in FY 2006. Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Centers Program--CFDA Number 84.133E-3 is one of the programs included
in this project. We request your participation in Grants.gov.
If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must
use the Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov. Through this

site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package,
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You
may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Centers Program at: http://www.Grants.gov. You

must search for the downloadable application package for this program
by the CFDA

[[Page 74790]]

number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search.
Please note the following:
Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and
must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application
if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we
retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are
rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov at http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf
.

To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see
http://www.Grants.gov/GetStarted). These steps include (1) registering

your organization, (2) registering yourself as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting authorized as an AOR
by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf). You also must provide on your

application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please
note that the registration process may take five or more business days
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to
allow you to successfully submit an application via Grants.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you submit your application in paper format.
You may submit all documents electronically, including all
information typically included on the Application for Federal Education
Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED
524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. If you choose to
submit your application electronically, you must attach any narrative
sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich
text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type
other than the three file types specified above or submit a password
protected file, we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying
number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.

Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability

If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically, or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an
application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date,
please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, and provide an explanation of the
technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with
the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to
submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a
determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

Note: Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of or technical problems with the Grants.gov system.
We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register
to submit your application to Grants.gov before the deadline date
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to
the Grants.gov system.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), 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 84.133E-
3), 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 84.133E-
3), 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.

[[Page 74791]]

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery,
you (or a courier service) 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 84.133E-
3), 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 Application for Federal Education
Assistance (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

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are
listed in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and 34 CFR 350.54. The specific
selection criteria to be used for this competition are in the
application package.

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 period, 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.

Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on
how and when to submit the report.

4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR
examines, through expert program review, a portion of its grantees to
determine:
The number of discoveries, analyses, and standards
developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert
panels to advance understanding of key concepts, issues, and emerging
trends and strengthen the evidence-base for disability and
rehabilitation policy, practice, and research.
The number of new or improved tools and methods developed
or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert panels to
improve measurement and data collection procedures and enhance the
design and evaluation of disability and rehabilitation interventions,
products, and devices.
The number of new and improved interventions, programs,
and devices developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been
judged by expert panels to be successful in improving individual
outcomes and increasing access.
The number of NIDRR-funded tools, methods, interventions,
programs, and devices developed or validated with NIDRR-funding that
meet the standards for review by independent scientific collaborations
and registries.
The number of new or improved assistive and universally
designed technologies, products, and devices developed and/or validated
by grantees that are transferred to industry for potential
commercialization.
NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their
Annual Performance Reports (APRs) for these reviews. NIDRR also
determines, using information submitted as part of the APR:
The number of publications in refereed journals that are
based on NIDRR-funded research and development activities; and
The percentage of NIDRR-supported fellows, post-doctoral
trainees, and doctoral students who publish results of NIDRR-sponsored
research in refereed journals.
Department of Education program performance reports, which include
information on NIDRR programs, are available on the Department's Web
site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/sas/index.html.

Updates on the GPRA indicators, revisions and methods appear in the
NIDRR Program Review Web site: http://www.neweditions.net/pr/commonfiles/pmconcepts.htm.

Grantees should consult these sites, on a regular basis, to obtain
details and explanations on how NIDRR programs contribute to the
advancement of the Department's long-term and annual performance goals.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6030, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by e-mail:
donna.nangle@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 245-7317 or 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

[[Page 74792]]

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.

Dated: December 12, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E5-7403 Filed 12-15-05; 8:45 am]

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