[Federal Register: August 27, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 166)] [Notices] [Page 46897-46898] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr27au99-46] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.235H] Special Demonstration Programs Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 Purpose of Program To provide financial assistance to projects that expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services for individuals with disabilities. Eligible Applicants State vocational rehabilitation agencies; community rehabilitation programs; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, including institutions of higher education. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 4, 2000. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 4, 2000. Applications Available: October 5, 1999. Available Funds: $3,800,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$275,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 14-16. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Maximum Award: In no case does the Secretary make an award greater than $275,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding this maximum amount. Project Period: Up to 60 months. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 369. Priorities Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) the Secretary is particularly interested in applications that meet one or more of the following invitational priorities. However, an application that meets one or more of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other applications: Invitational Priority 1--Special Demonstrations to Increase Employment Outcomes, Especially Self-Employment, Telecommuting, or Business Ownership, for American Indians With Disabilities Who Reside on or Near Reservations or in Urban Settings Projects that would increase the employment opportunities by providing vocational rehabilitation services to American Indians with disabilities. Projects that would provide services to American Indians, and may provide training and instruction to other nonprofit agencies to provide these services, to achieve vocational outcomes related to self- employment, telecommuting, or business ownership. Services may include, but are not limited to, technical assistance and other consultation services to conduct market analyses, develop business plans, and obtain loans, occupational licenses, tools, equipment, initial stocks and supplies for eligible individuals. Invitational Priority 2--Programs That Demonstrate Methods of Providing Affordable Transportation Services to Individuals With Disabilities Projects that would demonstrate methods of providing affordable transportation services to individuals with disabilities who are employed, seeking employment, or receiving vocational rehabilitation services from public or private organizations and who reside in geographic areas in which public transportation or paratransit service is not available. Invitational Priority 3--Projects Focusing on Career Advancement Projects that would demonstrate service delivery models that would further high quality employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Projects that would provide services, which may include, but is not limited to, training, education, counseling, placement, and follow-up activities that would allow the individuals with disabilities to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete for jobs with the potential for career advancement and higher wages and benefits. Projects may also provide services to improve career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities who are employed. Selection Criteria In evaluating an application for a new grant under this competition, the Secretary uses selection criteria chosen from the general selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The selection criteria to be used for this competition will be provided in the application package for this competition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Martin or Alfreda Reeves, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3314, Switzer Building, Washington, DC. 20202-2650. Telephone: (202) 205-8494 or (202) 205-9361. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1- 800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact persons listed in the preceding paragraph. For Applications Contact: 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- [[Page 46898]] 576-7734. You may also contact ED Pubs via its Web site (http:// www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html) or its E-mail address (ed pubs@inet.ed.gov). If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.235H. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternate format by contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 205-8351. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1- 800-877-8339. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the application package. Electronic Access to This Document You may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at either of the following sites: http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm http://www.ed.gov/news.html To use the PDF you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you have questions about using the 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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b). Dated: August 19, 1999. Curtis L. Richards, Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. 99-22036 Filed 8-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-U