FR Doc E5-535
[Federal Register: February 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 26)]
[Notices]
[Page 6849-6850]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe05-39]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research;
Grant Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants Program
Standing Review Panels; recruiting peer reviewers.
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SUMMARY: The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR) is recruiting peer reviewers to serve on standing
review panels for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants
Program.
DATES: We must receive your nomination on or before March 11, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Cohen, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6035, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7303 or by email:
carol.cohen@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) by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The purpose of the SBIR program is to stimulate technological
innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business
in meeting Federal research or research and development needs, increase
the commercial application of Department of Education (ED) supported
research results, and improve the return on investment from Federally-
funded research for economic and social benefits to the Nation. This
competitive grants program provides the
[[Page 6850]]
incentive for small businesses to profit from the commercialization of
technology, products, and services developed through research and
development activities funded under the NIDRR sponsored SBIR program.
The SBIR program has three-phases: Phases I--startup, Phase II--
evaluate commercialization potential, and Phase III--move from the
laboratory into the marketplace. However, NIDRR only supports Phase I
and Phase II SBIR projects. Phase I grants allow entities to determine,
insofar as possible, the scientific or technical merit and feasibility
of ideas submitted under the SBIR program. Applications for Phase I
focus on research that will contribute to proving the scientific or
technical feasibility of the approach, concept or product identified in
the proposal, which is a prerequisite for continued ED support in Phase
II. The purpose of Phase II is to expand on the results of and to
further pursue the development of Phase I projects and to begin to
explore the potential for commercialization.
What Are Standing Review Panels?
Phase I and II SBIR grant award decisions are made with the input
of standing review panels. Standing review panels are groups of
individuals with experience or expertise in specific scientific areas
or areas of research. The standing review panels mechanism enhances
consistency during a given review cycle and across review cycles.
Panels evaluate the scientific and technical merit of grant
applications. Individuals are assigned to panels based on their
expertise and the priority area(s) assigned to review panels.
What Are the Qualifications of a Standing Review Panel Member?
NIDRR obtains the services of the best-qualified reviewers for
standing review panels, including those with disabilities and those
from diverse backgrounds. NIDRR is interested in obtaining the services
of individuals with training, education, expertise and/or knowledge in
a range of areas supported by the 1999-2003 NIDRR long-range research
plan (Plan) (e.g., assistive technology, health and function,
employment and vocational rehabilitation, independent living and
community integration, education and transition activities, and
engineering). The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the following
site:
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
Individuals may qualify to be peer reviewers on the basis of
education, training and professional expertise or some combination of
personal and professional experience. Employees of the Federal
government are not eligible to serve as peer reviewers for the SBIR
grants program.
How Long Will Members of the Standing Review Panel Serve?
Generally, reviewers serve for three-year terms on the Standing
Panels with one review per year.
How Can I Become a Standing Review Panel Member?
Individuals are nominated to serve as a standing review panel peer
reviewer through self-nomination or nomination by another individual.
If you are interested in participating as a reviewer, we request that
you submit the following information to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
1. A statement indicating an interest to serve on an SBIR standing
review panel and the area(s) of expertise identified from the topic
areas enumerated above as well as an indication of knowledge in the
following: (1) Small Business Operations and Management; and (2)
Product Design, Innovation, Evaluation and Commercialization.
2. Curriculum Vitae or resume detailing areas of expertise and
experience.
If you nominate another individual, please contact that individual
to determine if the prospective nominee is willing to serve and provide
the same information as above.
Standing review panel nominees will be contacted by NIDRR by
telephone or e-mail no later than June 15, 2005.
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: February 3, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E5-535 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
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