Overview Information; Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006; (OSDFS)

FR Doc 06-4407
[Federal Register: May 11, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 91)]
[Notices]
[Page 27577-27582]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11my06-130]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information;
Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.184E.
Dates:
Applications Available: May 11, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 22, 2006.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies (LEAs).
Estimated Available Funds: $24,000,000. Contingent upon the
availability of funds, the Secretary may make additional awards in FY
2007 from the rank-ordered list of unfunded applicants from this
competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000--$500,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000 for small districts (1-
20 school facilities); $250,000 for medium-sized districts (21-75
school facilities); and $500,000 for large districts (76 or more school
facilities).

[[Page 27578]]

Estimated Number of Awards: 71.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.

Project Period: Up to 18 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The Emergency Response and Crisis Management
grant competition supports efforts by LEAs to improve and strengthen
their school emergency response and crisis management plans, including
training school personnel and students in emergency response
procedures; communicating emergency plans and procedures with parents;
and coordinating with local law enforcement, public safety, public
health, and mental health agencies.
Priorities: These priorities are from (1) the notice of final
priorities and other application requirements for this program,
published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35652) and
(2) the notice of final priorities and application requirements
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards based on the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3) we consider only those applications that meet this
priority.
This priority is:

Improvement and Strengthening of School Emergency Response and Crisis
Management Plans

This priority supports local educational agency (LEA) projects to
improve and strengthen emergency response and crisis management plans,
at the district and school-building level, addressing the four phases
of crisis planning: Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and
Recovery. Plans must include: (1) Training for school personnel and
students in emergency response procedures; (2) Coordination with local
law enforcement, public safety, public health, and mental health
agencies; and (3) A method for communicating school emergency response
policies and reunification procedures to parents and guardians.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2006, and any subsequent
year in which we make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 10
points to an application that meets Priority 1 and we award an
additional 5 points to an application that meets Priority 2.
Applications that qualify for Priorities 1 and 2 will receive points
only under Priority 1.
These priorities are:

Priority 1--Competitive Preference Priority for LEAs That Have Not
Previously Received a Grant Under the ERCM Program and Are Located in
an Urban Areas Security Initiative Jurisdiction

Under this priority, we give a competitive preference to
applications from local educational agencies (LEAs) that (1) have not
yet received a grant under this program and (2) are located in whole or
in part within Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) jurisdictions, as
determined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An
applicant must meet both of these criteria in order to receive the
competitive preference. Under a consortium application, all members of
the LEA consortium need to meet both criteria to be eligible for the
preference. Applications submitted by educational service agencies
(ESAs) are eligible under this priority if each LEA to be served by the
grant is located within a UASI jurisdiction and has not previously
received funding under this program directly, or as the lead agency or
as a partner in a consortium; however the ESA itself may have received
a previous grant.
Because DHS' determination of UASI jurisdictions may change from
year to year, applicants under this priority must refer to the most
recent list of UASI jurisdictions published by DHS when submitting
their applications. The Governor of each State has designated a State
Administrative Agency (SAA) as the entity responsible for applying for,
and administering, funds under the Department of Homeland Security
Grant Program (which includes the UASI program). The SAA is also
responsible for defining the geographic borders for jurisdictions
included in the UASI program. Guidance on jurisdiction definitions can
be found at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/info200.pdf.

Priority 2--Competitive Preference Priority for LEAs That Have Not
Previously Received a Grant Under the ERCM Program

Under this priority, we give competitive preference to applications
from local educational agencies (LEAs) that have not previously
received a grant under this program. Applicants (other than educational
service agencies (ESAs)) that have received funding under this program
directly, or as the lead agency or as a partner in a consortium
application under this program, will not receive competitive preference
under this priority. For applications submitted by ESAs, each LEA to be
served by the grant must not have received funding under this program
directly, or as the lead agency, or as a partner in a consortium
application, in order for the ESA to be eligible under this priority;
however the ESA itself may have received a previous grant.
Other Application Requirements: These requirements are from (1) the
notice of final priorities and other application requirements for this
program, published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2005 (70 FR
35652) and (2) the notice of final priorities and application
requirements published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
1. Partner Agreements. To be considered for a grant award, an
applicant must include in its application an agreement that details the
participation of each of the following five community-based partners:
Law enforcement, public safety, public health, mental health, and the
head of the applicant's local government (for example the mayor, city
manager, or county executive). The agreement must include a description
of each partner's roles and responsibilities in improving and
strengthening emergency response plans at the district and school-
building level, a description of each partner's commitment to the
sustainability and continuous improvement of emergency response plans
at the district and school-building level, and an authorized signature
representing the LEA and each partner acknowledging the agreement. If
one or more of the five partners listed is not present in the
applicant's community, or cannot feasibly participate, the agreement
must explain the absence of each missing partner. To be considered
eligible for funding, however, an application must include a signed
agreement between the LEA, a law enforcement partner, and at least one
of the other required partners (public safety, public health, mental
health, or head of local government).
Applications that fail to include the required agreement, including
information on partners' roles and responsibilities and on their
commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement (with
signatures and explanations for missing signatures as specified above),
will not be read.
Although this program requires partnerships with other parties,

[[Page 27579]]

administrative direction and fiscal control for the project must remain
with the LEA.
2. Coordination with State or Local Homeland Security Plan. All
emergency response and crisis management plans must be coordinated with
the Homeland Security Plan of the State or locality in which the LEA is
located. All States submitted such a plan to the Department of Homeland
Security on January 30, 2004. To ensure that emergency services are
coordinated, and to avoid duplication of effort within States and
localities, applicants must include in their applications an assurance
that the LEA will coordinate with, and follow, the requirements of its
State or local Homeland Security Plan for emergency services and
initiatives.
3. Implementation of the National Incident Management System
(NIMS). Applicants must agree to implement their grant in a manner
consistent with the implementation of the NIMS in their communities.
Applicants must include in their applications an assurance that they
have met, or will complete, all current NIMS requirements by the end of
the grant period.
Because DHS' determination of NIMS requirements may change from
year to year, applicants must refer to the most recent list of NIMS
requirements published by DHS when submitting their applications. In
any notice inviting applications, the Department will provide
applicants with information necessary to access the most recent DHS
list of NIMS requirements. Information about the Fiscal Year 2006 NIMS
requirements for tribal governments and local jurisdictions, including
LEAs, may be found at: http://www.fema.gov/pdf/ nims/nims--tribal--

local--compliance --activities.pdf.

Note: An LEA's NIMS compliance must be achieved in close
coordination with the local government and with recognition of the
first responder capabilities held by the LEA and the local
government. As LEAs are not traditional response organizations,
first responder services will typically be provided to LEAs by local
fire and rescue departments, emergency medical service providers,
and law enforcement agencies. This traditional relationship must be
acknowledged in achieving NIMS compliance in an integrated NIMS
compliance plan for the local government and the LEA. LEA
participation in the NIMS preparedness program of the local
government is essential to ensure that first responder services are
delivered to schools in a timely and effective manner. Additional
information about NIMS implementation is available at: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm
.

4. Individuals with Disabilities. The applicant's plan must
demonstrate that the applicant has taken into consideration the
communication, transportation, and medical needs of individuals with
disabilities within the school district.
5. Infectious Disease Plan. To be considered for a grant award,
applicants must agree to develop a written plan designed to prepare the
LEA for a possible infectious disease outbreak, such as pandemic
influenza. Plans must address the four phases of crisis planning
(Mitigation/Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery) and
include a plan for disease surveillance (systematic collection and
analysis of data that lead to action being taken to prevent and control
a disease), school closure decision-making, business continuity
(processes and procedures established to ensure that essential
functions can continue during and after a disaster), and continuation
of educational services.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81,
82, 84, 85, 97, 98, 99, and 299. (b) The notice of final priority and
other application requirements published in the Federal Register on
June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35652). (c) The notice of final priorities and
application requirements published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except Federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $24,000,000. Contingent upon the
availability of funds, the Secretary may make additional awards in FY
2007 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$500,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000 for small districts (1-
20 school facilities); $250,000 for medium-sized districts (21-75
school facilities); and $500,000 for large districts (76 or more school
facilities).
Estimated Number of Awards: 71.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.

Project Period: Up to 18 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other:
(a) Equitable Participation by Private School Children and
Teachers. Section 9501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, as amended (ESEA), requires that SEAs, LEAs or other entities
receiving funds under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
Act are required to provide for the equitable participation of private
school children, their teachers, and other educational personnel in
private schools located in areas served by the grant recipient. In
order to ensure that grant program activities address the needs of
private school children, LEAs must engage in timely and meaningful
consultation with private school officials during the design and
development of the program. This consultation must take place before
any decision is made that affects the opportunities of eligible private
school children, teachers, and other educational personnel to
participate.
In order to ensure equitable participation of private school
children, teachers, and other educational personnel, an LEA must
consult with private school officials on issues such as: hazards/
vulnerabilities unique to private schools in the LEA's service area,
training needs, and existing emergency management plans and crisis
response resources already available at private schools.
(b) Maintenance of Effort. Section 9521 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1964, as amended (ESEA), requires that LEAs
may receive a grant only if the State educational agency finds that the
combined fiscal effort per student or the aggregate expenditures of the
LEA and the State with respect to the provision of free public
education by the LEA for the preceding fiscal year was not less than 90
percent of the combined effort or aggregate expenditures for the second
preceding fiscal year.

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 84.184E.

[[Page 27580]]

You may also download the application from the Department of
Education's Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html
.

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 in this section.
The public can also obtain applications directly from the program
office: Tara Hill, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., Room 3E340, Washington, DC. 20202-6450. Telephone: (202) 708-4850
or by e-mail: tara.hill@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.
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.
3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: May 11,
2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 22, 2006.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants system, 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.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2006.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 additional 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. If you choose to submit
your application to us electronically, you must use e-Application
available through the Department's e-Grants system, accessible through
the e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

While completing your electronic application, you will be entering
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application
for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do
not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application
process.
The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
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 must 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. 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.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment that 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 ED 424 to the Office of Safe and
Drug-Free Schools after following these steps:
(1) Print ED 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant'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 Office of Safe and Drug-Free
Schools at (202) 205-5722.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other 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 the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of
one business day to enable you 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 you have
initiated an electronic 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
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 acknowledgment 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. If the system is down and therefore
the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all
registered users who have initiated an e-Application.
Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. If the e-
Application system is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to
submit your application electronically or you do not receive an
automatic acknowledgment of your submission, you may submit your
application in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with
the instructions in this notice.

[[Page 27581]]

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
84.184E), 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
84.184E), 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.

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
84.184E), 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 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
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. You must also submit a progress report nine months
after the award date. This report should provide the most current
performance and financial expenditure information as specified by the
Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118.
4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the
following performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the
Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program:
Demonstration of increased number of hazards addressed by
the improved school emergency response plan as compared to the baseline
plan;
Demonstration of improved response time and quality of
response to practice drills and simulated crises; and
A plan for and commitment to the sustainability and
continuous improvement of the school emergency response plan by the
district and community partners beyond the period of Federal financial
assistance.
These three measures constitute the Department's indicators of
success for this program. Consequently, applicants for a grant under
this program are advised to give careful consideration to these three
measures in conceptualizing the approach and evaluation of their
proposed project. If funded, applicants will be asked to collect and
report data in their performance and final reports about progress
toward these measures.

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Tara Hill, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Room 3E340, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 708-4850 or by e-mail: tara.hill@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) 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 Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.

[[Page 27582]]

Dated: May 8, 2006.
Deborah A. Price,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
[FR Doc. 06-4407 Filed 5-10-06; 8:45 am]

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