FR Doc 04-9053
[Federal Register: April 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 77)]
[Notices]
[Page 21511-21514]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ap04-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services
and Results for Children With Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on
Deaf-Blindness; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2004
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.326U.
DATES: Applications Available: April 22, 2004.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 26, 2004.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 26, 2004.
Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs), local
educational agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education (IHEs),
other public agencies, nonprofit private organizations, for-profit
organizations, outlying areas, freely associated States, and Indian
tribes or tribal organizations.
Estimated Available Funds: $400,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $400,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 24 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: This program provides technical assistance and
information that (1) support States and local entities in building
capacity to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional
services and results for children with disabilities and their families;
and (2) address goals and priorities for improving State systems that
provide early intervention, educational, and transitional services for
children with disabilities and their families.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections
661(e)(2) and 685 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2004 this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that
meet this priority.
Background: As a result of the uniqueness and complexity of serving
children and young adults who are deaf-blind, there is a significant
need to provide and disseminate information on a national basis to
those with deaf-blindness and to their families, stakeholders, service
providers, and other interested parties. The current trend of these
children to live and attend neighborhood schools has caused an increase
in the number and variety of individuals who require access to current,
organized, authoritative, and synthesized information pertaining to
deaf-blindness.
In an effort to effectively address this informational need and to
improve results for children who are deaf-blind, the following priority
supports a national clearinghouse that will make widely available
evidence-based research, specialized knowledge, effective practices,
and other informational resources related to deaf-blindness.
Statement of Priority: This priority is:
The establishment and operation of a national clearinghouse on
deaf-blindness to improve outcomes for children and individuals who are
deaf-blind.
The clearinghouse must--
(a) Identify, collect, organize, and disseminate information
related to deaf-blindness, including research-based and other practices
that are supported by statistical data or other evidence establishing
their effectiveness in improving results for children who are deaf-
blind. Information made available through the clearinghouse shall
relate, at a minimum, to the following items--
(1) Early intervention, special education, and related services,
for children with deaf-blindness;
(2) Related medical, health, social, and recreational services;
(3) The nature of deaf-blindness and the barriers to education and
employment that it causes;
(4) Identified legal issues that are currently affecting persons
with deaf-blindness; and
(5) Postsecondary education and transitional services for
individuals with deaf-blindness.
(b) Disseminate evidence-based research and information on deaf-
blindness to a wide variety of audiences employing multiple
dissemination mechanisms and approaches, including the establishment
and maintenance of a user-friendly Web site that permits the
downloading of all clearinghouse information databases and incorporates
hotlinks to other relevant information sources. The databases must also
include national bibliographic, personnel, and organizational
resources;
(c) Employ state-of-the-art technology, while linking researchers
with practitioners in order to identify, collect, develop, and
disseminate information;
(d) Assist State and local educational agencies, including these
agencies' projects under Projects for Children and Young Adults who are
Deaf-Blind program--CFDA 84.326C, and other related agencies and
organizations, in developing and implementing systemic-change goals
supported by available evidence-based research for children with deaf-
blindness;
(e) Respond to information requests from professionals, parents,
students, institutions of higher education, and other interested
individuals. The clearinghouse shall also develop and implement
appropriate strategies for disseminating information to under-
represented groups, including those with limited English proficiency;
(f) Carry out clearinghouse activities by collaborating with
appropriate agencies, organizations, and consumer and parent groups
that have specific expertise in addressing the needs of children with
deaf-blindness and building capacity to improve results for these
children;
(g) Develop a broad, coordinated network of professionals, parents,
related organizations and associations, mass media, other
clearinghouses, and governmental agencies at the Federal, regional,
State, and local level for purposes of promoting awareness of issues
related to deaf-blindness and referring individuals to appropriate
resources;
(h) Expand and broaden the use of current informational resources
by developing materials that synthesize evidence-based research, best
practices, and emerging knowledge into easily understandable products
with accessible formats; and
(i) Establish and implement a comprehensive system of evaluation to
determine the impact of the clearinghouse activities on children with
deaf-blindness, identify relevant achievements, and identify strategies
for improvement, on an annual basis.
(j) The projects funded under this priority must budget for a two-
day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC during each year of
the project.
(k) The project's Web site must include relevant information and
documents in an accessible form.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally
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offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed
priorities. However, section 661(e)(2) of IDEA makes the public comment
requirements inapplicable to the priority in this notice.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1461 and 1485.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
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: Cooperative agreements.
Estimated Available Funds: $400,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $400,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 24 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs, LEAs, IHEs, other public agencies,
nonprofit private organizations, for-profit organizations, outlying
areas, freely associated States, and Indian tribes or tribal
organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this
notice must make positive efforts to employ and advance in employment
qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this notice must
involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals with
disabilities in planning, implementing, and evaluating the projects
(see section 661(f)(1)(A) of IDEA).
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 84.326U.
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 Contract
Services Team 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. You must limit Part III to
the equivalent of no more than 40 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, the references, 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 22, 2004.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 26, 2004. The dates
and times for the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand
(including a courier service or commercial carrier) are in the
application package for this competition. The application package also
specifies the hours of operation of the e-Application Web site.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 26, 2004.
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: Instructions and requirements for
the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier
service or commercial carrier) are in the application package for this
competition.
Application Procedures:
Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to
comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make
procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy.
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined
that proposed rulemaking is not required.
Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications: We are
continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic submission of
applications to include additional formula grant programs and
additional discretionary grant competitions. The Special Education--
Technical Assistance and Dissemination of Services and Results for
Children with Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on Deaf-Blindness
competition--CFDA Number 84.326U is one of the competitions included in
the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the Special
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination of Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on Deaf-
Blindness competition, you may submit your application to us in either
electronic or paper format.
The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant
Application System (e-Application). If you use e-Application
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you will be entering data online while completing your application. You
may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. If you
participate in this voluntary pilot project by submitting an
application electronically, the data you enter online will be saved
into a database. We request your participation in e-Application. We
shall continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for its
improvement.
If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
Your participation is voluntary.
When you enter the e-Application system, you
will find information about its hours of operation. We strongly
recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to
initiate an e-Application package.
You will not receive additional point value
because you submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will
we penalize you if you submit an application in paper format.
You may 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.
Your e-Application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your
application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement, which 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 Application for
Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center
after following these steps:
1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
2. The institution'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)
260-1349.
We may request that you give us original
signatures on other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot
for the Special Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination of
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--National
Clearinghouse on Deaf-Blindness competition and you are prevented from
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 have initiated
an e-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
during the last hour of operation (that is, 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 acknowledgement 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.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Special
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination of Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities--National Clearinghouse on Deaf-
Blindness competition at: http://e-grants.ed.gov
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are
listed in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. 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.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act (GPRA), the Department is currently developing measures
that will yield information on various aspects of the quality of the
Technical Assistance to Improve Services and Results for Children with
Disabilities program (e.g., the extent to which projects use high
quality methods and materials, provide useful products and services,
and contribute to improving results for children with disabilities).
Data on these measures will be collected from the projects funded under
this notice.
Grantees will also be required to report information on their
projects' performance in annual reports to the Department (EDGAR, 34
CFR 75.590).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Grants and Contracts Services
Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room
3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 1-202-
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.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the Grants and Contracts Services Team 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.
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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 15, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-9053 Filed 4-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P