[Notices]               
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From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jy98-169]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.811A]

 
Systems-Change Projects to Expand Employment Opportunities for 
Individuals With Mental or Physical Disabilities, or Both, Who Receive 
Public Support; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Uear (FY) 1998

    Purpose of Program: To provide financial assistance to model 
demonstration projects that stimulate and advance systems change in 
order to expand employment outcomes for individuals with mental or 
physical disabilities, or both, who are participants in Federal, State, 
and local public support programs.
    Eligible Applicants: Consortiums composed of, at a minimum, the 
State vocational rehabilitation agency, the State welfare agency, the 
State educational agency, the State agency responsible for 
administering the Medicaid program, and an agency administering an 
employment or employment training program supported by the U.S. 
Department of Labor.
    Deadline for Receipt of Applications: September 3, 1998.
    In order to ensure timely receipt and processing of applications, 
an application must be received on or before the deadline date 
announced in this application notice. The Secretary will not consider 
an application for funding if it is not received by the deadline date 
unless the applicant can show proof that the application was: (1) sent 
by registered or certified mail not later than five days before the 
deadline date; or (2) sent by commercial carrier not later than two 
days before the deadline date. An applicant must show proof of mailing 
in accordance with 34 CFR 75.102 (d) and (e). Applications delivered by 
hand must be received by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time on the deadline date. 
For the purposes of this program competition, the Secretary does not 
apply 34 CFR 74.102(b) which requires an application to be mailed, 
rather than received, by the deadline date.

    Note: All applications must be received on or before the 
deadline date. This requirement takes exception to the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR 
75.102. In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 
U.S.C. 553), it is the practice of the Secretary to offer interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, 
this amendment to EDGAR makes procedural changes only and does not 
establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A), proposed rulemaking is not required.

    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 18, 1998.
    Applications Available: July 8, 1998.
    Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$600,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $500,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, and 85.
    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 Sec. 75.210 of EDGAR. The 
selection criteria to be used for this competition will be provided in 
the application package for this competition.
    For Applications Contact: The Grants and Contracts Service Team 
(GCST), U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., 
Room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 205-8351. The preferred method for requesting applications is to 
FAX your request to (202) 205-8717. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternate format by contacting the GCST. However, the 
Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard 
forms included in the application package.

For Further Information Contact: Pedro Romero, U.S. Department of 
Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3316, Switzer Building, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-2650. Telephone: (202) 205-9797. Individuals who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    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 person listed in the preceding 
paragraph.

Electronic Access to This Document

    Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or 
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web 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 toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
    Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an 
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511 
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option 
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.

    Note: The official version of a document is the document 
published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority: Section 12(a)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 762(b)(3)).

    Dated: July 1, 1998.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 98-18058 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
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