FR Doc 05-4740
[Federal Register: March 10, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 46)]
[Notices]
[Page 11954-11958]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10mr05-55]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR)--Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR)
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133S-1.
DATES: Applications Available: March 10, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 9, 2005.
Eligible Applicants: Small business concerns as defined by the
Small Business Administration (SBA) at the time of the award. This
definition is included in the application package.
All technology, science, or engineering firms with strong research
capabilities in any of the priority areas listed in this notice are
encouraged to participate.
Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and
universities or other non-profit organizations are permitted, but the
small business concern must serve as the grantee.
If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the
eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA.
Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make a
SBIR award until the SBA makes a determination.
Estimated Available Funds: $1,275,000 for new Phase I awards.
Note: The estimated amount of funds available for new Phase I
awards is based upon the estimated threshold SBIR allocation for
OSERS, less prior commitments for Phase II continuation awards.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $75,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $75,000 for a single budget period of 6 months.
Note: Maximum award amount includes direct and indirect costs
and fees.
Estimated Number of Awards: 17.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 6 months for Phase I.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to stimulate
technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of
small business in meeting Federal research or research and development
(R/R&D) 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.
Note: NIDRR supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom
Initiative (NFI). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/.
The goals of the SBIR program are in concert with NIDRR's 1999-2003
Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
Through the implementation of the NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks
to--(1) improve the quality and utility of disability and
rehabilitation research; (2) foster an exchange of expertise,
information, and training to facilitate the advancement of knowledge
and understanding of the unique needs of traditionally underserved
populations; (3) determine best strategies and programs to improve
rehabilitation outcomes for underserved populations; (4) identify
research gaps; (5) identify mechanisms of integrating research and
practice; and (6) disseminate findings.
Background
The Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000 (Act) was enacted on
December 21, 2000. The Act requires certain agencies, including ED, to
establish SBIR programs by reserving a statutory percentage of their
extramural research and development budgets to be awarded to small
business concerns for R/R&D through a uniform, highly competitive
three-phase process.
The three phases of the SBIR program are:
Phase I: Phase I projects determine, insofar as possible, the
scientific or technical merit and feasibility of ideas submitted under
the SBIR program. The application should concentrate on research that
will significantly contribute to proving the scientific or technical
feasibility of the approach or concept and that would be a prerequisite
to further Department support in Phase II.
Phase II: Phase II projects expand on the results of and further
pursue the development of Phase I projects. Phase II is the principal
R/R&D effort. It requires a more comprehensive application, outlining
the effort in detail including the commercial potential. Phase II
applicants must be Phase I awardees with approaches that appear
sufficiently promising as a result of Phase I. Awards are for periods
of up to 2 years in amounts up to $500,000.
Phase III: In Phase III, the small business must use non-SBIR
capital to pursue commercial applications of the R/R&D. Also, under
Phase III, Federal agencies may award non-SBIR follow-on funding for
products or processes that meet the needs of those agencies.
All SBIR projects funded by NIDRR must address the needs of
individuals with disabilities and their families. 29 U.S.C. 762.
Activities may include exploring the uses of technology to ensure equal
access to education, employment, community environments, and
information for individuals with disabilities and improving the quality
and utility of disability and rehabilitation research.
Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested
in applications that address one of the following priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2005 these priorities are
invitational
[[Page 11955]]
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application
that meets one of these invitational priorities a competitive or
absolute preference over other applications. The invitational
priorities relate to innovative research utilizing new technologies to
address the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.
These priorities are:
(1) Development of technology to support access, promote
integration, or foster independence of individuals with disabilities in
the workplace, recreational activities or educational settings.
(2) Development of technology to enhance sensory or motor function
of individuals with disabilities.
(3) Development of technology to support transition into post-
secondary educational or employment settings for individuals with
disabilities.
(4) Development of accessible information technology including Web
access technology, unique software, and other systems and devices that
promote access to information in educational, employment and community
settings including access to voting technology.
(5) Development of technology to support independent access to
health care services in the community.
Each applicant should describe the approaches they expect to use to
collect empirical evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of the
technology they are proposing in an effort to assess the efficacy and
usefulness of the technology.
Note: Applicants are encouraged to consider universal design
principles and guidelines for more accessible design. Universal
design is defined as ``the design of products and environments to be
usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the
need for adaptation or specialized design.'' (The Center for
Universal Design, 1997. The Principles of Universal Design, Version
2.0. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University. Web:
http://www.ncsu.edu/www/ncsu/design/sod5/cud/univ_design/ud.htm.
)
Accessible design of consumer products minimizes or alleviates
barriers that reduce the ability of individuals with disabilities to
effectively or safely use standard consumer products (For more
information see--
http://www.trace.wisc.edu/docs/consumer_product_guidelines/consumer.pcs/disabil.htm.
)
Program Authority: The Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000,
Pub. L. 106-554 (15 U.S.C. 631 and 638) and title II of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84,
85, 97, 98 and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $1,275,000 for new Phase I awards.
Note: The estimated amount of funds available for new Phase I
awards is based upon the estimated threshold SBIR allocation for
OSERS, less prior commitments for Phase II continuation awards.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $75,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $75,000 for a single budget period of 6 months.
Note: Maximum award amount includes direct and indirect costs
and fees.
Estimated Number of Awards: 17.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 6 months for Phase I.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Small business concerns as defined by the
SBA at the time of the award. This definition is included in the
application package.
All technology, science, or engineering firms with strong research
capabilities in any of the priority areas listed in this notice are
encouraged to participate.
Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and
universities or other non-profit organizations are permitted, but the
small business concern must serve as the grantee.
If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the
eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA.
Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make a
SBIR award until the SBA makes a determination.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You may obtain an
application package via Internet or from the ED Publications Center (ED
Pubs). To obtain a copy via Internet use the following address:
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
To obtain a copy of
the application package from ED Pubs, write or call the following: 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 84.133S-1.
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 under 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
(narrative) to the equivalent of no more than 25 pages, excluding any
documentation of prior multiple Phase II awards, if applicable, and
required forms, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5[sec] x 11[sec], on one side only, with
1[sec] margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Single space 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
that 10 pitch (characters per inch). Standard black type should be used
to permit photocopying.
Draw all graphs, diagrams, tables, and charts in black
ink. Do not include glossy photographs or materials that cannot be
photocopied in the body of the application.
The page limit does not apply to the budget section, including the
narrative budget justification; the one-page abstract; the resumes; the
bibliography; the letters of support; certifications; statements;
related application(s) or award(s); or documentation of multiple Phase
II awards, if applicable.
The application package will provide instructions for completing
all components to be included in the application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (ED Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED
Form 524) and other required forms; an abstract, certifications, and
statements; a technical content project narrative (subject to the page
limits); and related application(s) or award(s) and
[[Page 11956]]
documentation of multiple Phase II awards, if applicable.
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. Content Restrictions: If an applicant chooses to respond to the
invitational priorities and an application is relevant to more than one
priority, the applicant must decide which priority is most relevant to
the application and submit the application under that priority only.
There is no limitation on the number of different applications that an
applicant may submit under this competition. An applicant may submit
separate applications on different topics, or different applications on
the same priority. However, each application must respond to only one
priority.
4. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: March 10, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 9, 2005. Applications
for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically
using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information
(including dates and times) about how to submit your application
electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to
section IV. 7. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
5. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Small Business Innovative
Research Program--CFDA Number 84.133S-1 must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site. Through this site, you
will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-
mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Small
Business Innovative Research Program--CFDA Number 84.133S-1 at: http://www.grants.gov.
You must search for the downloadable application
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA
number's alpha suffix in your search.
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted with a
date/time received by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will not
consider your application if it was received by the Grants.gov system
later than 4:30 p.m. on the application deadline date. When we retrieve
your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are
rejecting your application because it was submitted after 4:30 p.m. on
the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that
your application is submitted timely to the Grants.gov system.
To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a D-U-
N-S Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You
should allow a minimum of five business days to complete the CCR
registration.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information typically included on the Application for Federal
Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction
Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Any
narrative sections of your application should be attached as files in a
.DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying
number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system; and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Carol Cohen, U.S.
[[Page 11957]]
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6035, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Fax: (202) 245-7323.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier), your application to the Department. 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 84.133S-
1), 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 84.133S-
1), 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You 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 84.133S-1), 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 Application for Federal Education
Assistance (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
from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed 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.
Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on
how and when to submit the report.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR
examines information submitted by SBIR grantees as part of their Final
Report to determine:
The degree to which the grantees are conducting high-
quality research, as reflected in the appropriateness of study designs,
the rigor with which accepted standards of scientific and engineering
methods are applied, and the degree to which the research builds on and
contributes to the level of knowledge in the field;
The number of new or improved tools and products developed
or tested with NIDRR funding that improve measurement and data
collection procedures and enhance the design and evaluation of
disability and rehabilitation interventions, products and devices; and
The number of new or improved assistive and universally
designed technologies, products, and devices developed by grantees that
improve outcomes, increase access, and have potential to be transferred
to industry for commercialization.
VII. Agency Contact
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 via Internet:
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) 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
[[Page 11958]]
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: March 4, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-4740 Filed 3-9-05; 8:45 am]
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