[Federal Register: August 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 150)]
[Notices]
[Page 46418-46419]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05au03-138]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA Nos.: 84.224C and 84.235T]
Alternative Financing Mechanism Program and Access to Telework
Fund Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2003
Purpose of Program: This notice invites applications for two
programs: the Alternative Financing Mechanisms Program (AFP) under
title III of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act) that is
administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR) and the Access to Telework Fund Program (Telework)
under section 303(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(Rehab Act), that is administered by the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA).
It is the policy of the Department of Education not to solicit
applications before the publication of final priorities. However, in
this case it is essential to solicit applications on the basis of the
notice of proposed priority, definitions, and application and project
requirements published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register,
because the Department's authority to obligate these funds will expire
on September 30, 2003. Applicants should base their applications on the
proposed priority, definitions, and application and project
requirements. If changes are made in the final notice in response to
public comments or other considerations, applicants will be given an
opportunity to revise or resubmit their applications.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Funds under these competitions will be used
to support projects in FY 2003.
States may jointly apply for and administer an AFP grant and a
Telework grant. These States must meet the requirements for each
priority and will compete separately under each priority.
Alternatively, States may apply for either the AFP or the Telework
grant, or both, to be administered separately. In addition, Indian
tribes are eligible to apply for Telework grants.
Priorities
Absolute Priority 1--Alternative Financing Mechanism Program (84.224C)
For FY 2003, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet the priority,
definitions, and application and project requirements.
The AFP will award grants to States to pay for the Federal share of
the cost of the establishment and administration of, or the expansion
and administration of, an AFP featuring one or more alternative
financing mechanisms to allow individuals with disabilities and their
family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives to
purchase AT devices and AT services.
Eligible Applicants: States that receive or have received grants
under section 101 of the AT Act are eligible for an AFP grant. Under
section 3(a)(13)(A) of the AT Act, State means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa,
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 80, 81, 82,
and 85.
Selection Criteria
In evaluating an application for a new grant under this
competition, we will determine if an applicant has submitted the
required assurances.
Absolute Priority 2--Access to Telework Fund Program (84.235T)
For FY 2003, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet the priority,
definitions, and application and project requirements.
The Access to Telework Fund Program will award grants to States and
Indian Tribes to pay for the Federal share of the cost of the
establishment and administration of an Access to Telework Fund
featuring one or more alternative financing mechanisms to allow
individuals with disabilities access to computers and other needed
equipment not provided by an employer to enable them to telework from
home or other remote sites.
Eligible Applicants: States as defined in the AT Act and governing
bodies of American Indian tribes located on Federal and State
reservations consistent with section 7(19)(B) of the Rehab Act are
eligible for a Telework grant. Consortia of States and American Indian
tribes are also eligible for a Telework grant.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 80, 81, 82,
and 85
Selection Criteria
In evaluating an application for a new grant under this
competition, we will determine if an applicant has submitted the
required assurances.
[[Page 46419]]
Alternative Financing Mechanism Program and Access to Telework Fund Program CFDA Nos. 84.224C and 84.235T
[Applications for FY 2003]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
CFDA No. program name Application available Deadline for transmittal of range of Estimated number of Project period
applications awards awards* (months)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.224C Alternative Financing Aug. 5, 2003............... Sept. 4, 2003.............. $500,000-2, 24 As long as the program
Mechanism Program.. 000,000 originally funded by
the AFP award is in
operation (section
303(b)(2) of the AT
Act).
84.235T Access to Telework Fund Aug. 5, 2003............... Sept. 4, 2003.............. $250,000-1, 40 As long as the program
Program.. 000,000 originally funded by
the Telework award is
in operation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
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): 1-877-576-7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs via its Web site: http://www.edpubs.org/webstore/Content/search.asp
; 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
these competitions as follows: CFDA number 84.224C (AFP) and 84.235T
(Telework).
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative 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) 205-8207. 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
alternative format the standard forms included in the application
package.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol G. Cohen. Telephone: (202) 205-
5666 or via the Internet: carol.cohen@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Application Procedures
The application procedures for these priorities are found 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 the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/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/fr/
.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b) and 29 U.S.C. 3051-3056.
Dated: July 31, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-19845 Filed 8-4-03; 8:45 am]
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