[Federal Register: August 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 157)]
[Notices]
[Page 48741-48761]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14au03-116]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.224B]
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Assistive
Technology Act Technical Assistance Program; Notice Inviting
Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003
Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application
package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and the
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR),
this notice contains all of the information, application forms, and
instructions you need to apply for a grant under this competition.
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Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Assistive Technology (AT)
Act Data Collection Project is to provide technical assistance (TA) to
the Assistive Technology (AT) Act State Grant Program Grantees and to
the Protection and Advocacy Grantees (P&A). The authority for the
Secretary to fund TA projects is contained in section 104 of the
Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act).
For FY 2003 the competition for a new award focuses on a project
designed to meet the priority we describe in the Priority section of
this application notice. We intend this priority to improve data
collection activities of the State AT projects and the P&A projects
funded under the AT Act that serve individuals with disabilities.
In order to provide applicants with a 30-day application period and
to ensure that this grant is awarded before the end of FY 2003, NIDRR
is inviting applications based on the proposed priority. NIDRR will
publish the final priority after the comment period closes.
Depending upon the comments that NIDRR receives, the final priority
may include revisions to the proposed priority. It is generally the
policy of the Department not to solicit applications before the
publication of a final priority. However, in this case, it is essential
to solicit applications on the basis of the proposed priority in order
to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare applications of
appropriate quality to be funded. Applicants are advised to begin to
develop their applications based on the proposed priority. If changes
are made in the final priority, applicants will be given an opportunity
to revise or resubmit their applications.
Eligible Applicants: Parties eligible to apply for grants under
this program are States, public, or private agencies, including for-
profit agencies.
Applications Available: August 14, 2003.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 15, 2003.
Estimated Available Funds: $428,000.
Maximum Award: $428,000 for year 1 and $300,000 each year for years
2 and 3.
Note: We will reject without consideration or evaluation any
application that proposes a budget exceeding the stated maximum
award amount in any year (See 34 CFR 75.104(b)).
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Applicable Regulations: EDGAR, 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82,
85, 86 and 97.
Priority
This competition focuses on a project designed to meet the priority
in the notice of proposed priority for this program, published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
For FY 2003, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
Selection Criteria
We use the following selection criteria from 34 CFR 75.210 to
evaluate applications under this program.
The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. The
maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses.
(a) Significance (8 points total).
(1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed
project.
(2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the extent to which the results of the proposed
project are to be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use
the information or strategies (8 points).
(b) Quality of the project design (35 points total).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable
(12 points).
(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population or other identified needs (10 points).
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project represents an
exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established for the
competition (8 points).
(iv) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,
State, and Federal resources (5 points).
(c) Quality of project services (16 points total).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be
provided by the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability (5 points).
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or
beneficiaries of those services (5 points).
(ii) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be
provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient
strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the
leveraging of non-project resources (6 points).
(d) Quality of project personnel (12 points total).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will
carry out the project.
(2) In determining the quality of proposed project personnel, the
Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages
applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that
have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability (3 points).
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director or principal investigator (5 points).
(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of key project personnel (4 points).
(e) Adequacy of resources (6 points total).
(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the
lead applicant organization (3 points).
(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed
project (3 points).
(f) Quality of the management plan (11 points total).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the
proposed
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project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timeliness, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks (6 points).
(ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project
(5 points).
(g) Quality of the project evaluation (12 points total).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project (6 points).
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible (6 points).
Application Procedures
Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for
transmitting applications differ from those in the 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
In FY 2003, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing to
expand its pilot project for electronic submission of applications to
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary
grant competitions. The Assistive Technology Act Data Collection
Project--CFDA 84.224B is one of the programs included in the
pilot project. If you are an applicant under this project, 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). Users of e-Application will be
entering data online while completing their applications. You may not
e-mail a soft 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
improvement.
If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
[sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
[sbull] You will not receive any 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. When you enter the e-
Application system, you will find information about its hours of
operation.
[sbull] You may submit all documents electronically, including the
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
[sbull] 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).
[sbull] Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following
these steps:
(1) Print ED 424 from the e-Application system.
(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.
[sbull] We may request that you give us original signatures on all
other forms at a later date.
[sbull] Closing Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If
you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot for the 84.224B
competition and you are prevented from submitting your application on
the closing 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. For us
to grant this extension--
(1) You must be a registered user of e-Application, and have
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
(2) (a) The e-Application system must be unavailable for 60 minutes
or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC,
time on the deadline date; or
(b) The e-Application system must be unavailable for any period of
time during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time
between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time) on the deadline date.
The Department must acknowledge and confirm these periods of
unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this
extension you must contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in
this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or (2) the e-GRANTS
help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
You may access the electronic grant application for the 84.224B
competition at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
Parity Instructions
Users of e-Application, a data driven system, will be entering data
online while completing their applications. This will be more
interactive than just e-mailing a soft 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 go into a
database and ultimately will be accessible in electronic form to our
reviewers.
This pilot project continues the Department's transition to an
electronic grant award process. In addition to e-Application, the
Department plans to expand the number of discretionary programs using
the electronic peer review (e-Reader) system and to increase the
participation of discretionary programs offering grantees the use of
the electronic annual performance reporting (e-Reports) system.
To help ensure parity and a similar look between electronic and
paper copies of grant applications, we are asking each applicant that
submits a paper application to adhere to the following guidelines:
[sbull] Submit your application on 8.5'' by 11'' paper.
[sbull] Leave a 1-inch margin on all sides.
[sbull] Use consistent font throughout your document. You may also
use boldface type, underlining, and italics. However, please do not use
colored text.
[sbull] Please use black and white, also, for illustrations,
including charts, tables, graphs and pictures.
[sbull] For the narrative component, your application should
consist of the number and text of each selection criterion followed by
the narrative. The text of the selection criterion, if
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included, does not count against any page limitation.
[sbull] Place a page number at the bottom right of each page
beginning with 1; and number your pages consecutively throughout your
document.
Additional Application Procedures
Appendices: Do not attach any appendices if all of your appendices
are not in electronic format. Type in the appendices section:
``Appendices are being sent separately.'' and note the date that they
are hand delivered or mailed. Put the PR/award number and the word
``Appendices'' in the upper right hand corner of each page of the
appendices. Send the entire package of appendices to: U.S. Department
of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA
84.224B)-Appendices, 7th & D Streets, SW., Room 3671, Regional Office
Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4725.
You must clearly label the outside of the envelope with the PR/
Award Number and the word ``Appendices.'' You must submit all hard copy
appendices according to the Instructions for Transmitting Applications
found elsewhere in this notice.
Instructions for Transmitting Applications
If you want to apply for a grant in paper format and be considered
for funding, you must meet the following deadline requirements:
(a) If You Send Your Application by Mail.
You must mail the original and two copies of the application on or
before the deadline date. To help expedite our review of your
application, applicants are encouraged to submit an original and seven
copies. Mail your application to: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA 84.224B), 7th &
D Streets, SW., Room 3671, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC
20202-4725.
You must show one of the following as proof of mailing:
(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.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
If you mail an application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
(b) If You Deliver Your Application by Hand.
You or your courier must hand deliver the original and two copies
of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC, time) on or before the
deadline date. To help expedite our review of your application, we
would appreciate your voluntarily including an additional seven copies
of your application. Deliver your application to: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA
84.224B), 7th & D Streets, SW., Room 3671, Regional Office Building 3,
Washington, DC 20202-4725.
The Application Control Center accepts application deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC, time), except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays. The Center accepts application
deliveries through the D Street entrance only. A person delivering an
application must show identification to enter the building.
(c) If You Submit Your Application Electronically.
You must submit your grant application through the Internet using
the software provided on the e-Grants Web site (http://e-grants.ed.gov)
by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC, time) on the deadline date.
The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6 a.m.
until 12 midnight (Washington, DC, time) Monday-Friday and 6 a.m. until
7 p.m. Saturdays. The system is unavailable on the second Saturday of
every month, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Please note that on
Wednesdays the Web site is closed for maintenance at 7 p.m.
(Washington, DC, time).
Notes
(1) 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.
(2) If you send your application by mail or if you or your courier
delivers it by hand, the Application Control Center will mail a Grant
Application Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the
notification of application receipt within 15 days from the date of
mailing the application, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-9493.
(3) If your application is late, we will notify you that we will
not consider the application.
(4) 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 (exp. 11/30/2004)) the CFDA number--and suffix
letter, if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your
application.
(5) If you submit your application through the Internet via the e-
Grants Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment when we
receive your application.
Application Forms and Instructions
The Appendix to this notice contains forms and instructions, a
statement regarding estimated public reporting burden, and various
assurances and certifications. Please organize the parts and additional
materials in the following order:
[sbull] PART I: Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424 (Exp.
11/30/2004)) and instructions.
[sbull] PART II: Budget Form--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524)
and instructions and definitions.
[sbull] PART III: Application Narrative.
[sbull] PART IV: Additional Materials.
[sbull] Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
[sbull] Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
[sbull] Certification Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension,
and Other Responsibility Matters: And Drug-Free Work-Place Requirements
(ED Form 80-0013) and instructions.
[sbull] Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions
(ED Form 80-0014) and instructions.
(Note: ED Form GCS-014 is intended for the use of primary
participants and should not be transmitted to the Department.)
[sbull] Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) and
instructions.
[sbull] Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants.
An applicant may submit information on a photocopy of the
application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications.
However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications
must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a
completed application form has been received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-2645. Telephone: (202) 205-5880 or via Internet:
Donna.Nangle@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
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audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may review this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/legislation/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.org/fr/.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3014.
Dated: August 11, 2003.
Loretta Petty Chittum,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and, Rehabilitative
Services.
Appendix--Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, you are not
required to respond to a collection of information unless it
displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number
for this collection of information is 1820-0634. Expiration date:
10/31/2003. We estimate the time required to complete this
collection of information to average 30 hours per response,
including the time to review instructions, search existing data
sources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the
collection of information. If you have any comments concerning the
accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this
form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC
20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of
your submission of this form, write directly to: Donna Nangle, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412,
Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2645.
Application Forms and Instructions
Applicants are advised to reproduce and complete the application
forms in this section. Applicants applying in paper copy format are
required to submit an original and two copies of each application as
provided in this section. However, applicants are encouraged to
submit an original and seven copies of each application in order to
facilitate the peer review process and minimize copying errors.
Frequent Questions
1. Can I Get an Extension of the Due Date?
No. On rare occasions the Department of Education may extend a
closing date for all applicants. If that occurs, a notice of the
revised due date is published in the Federal Register. However,
there are no extensions or exceptions to the due date made for
individual applicants except as noted for unavailability of the e-
APPLICATION system.
2. What Should Be Included in the Application?
The application should include an abstract, a project narrative,
vitae of key personnel, and a budget, as well as the Assurances
forms included in this package. Vitae of staff or consultants should
include the individual's title and role in the proposed project, and
other information that is specifically pertinent to this proposed
project. The budgets for both the first year and all subsequent
project years should be included.
If collaboration with another organization is involved in the
proposed activity, the application should include assurances of
participation by the other parties, including written agreements or
assurances of cooperation. It is not useful to include general
letters of support or endorsement in the application.
Many applications contain voluminous appendices that are not
helpful and in many cases cannot even be mailed to the reviewers. It
is generally not helpful to include such things as brochures,
general capability statements of collaborating organizations, maps,
copies of publications, or descriptions of other projects completed
by the applicant.
3. What Format Should Be Used for the Application?
NIDRR generally advises applicants that they may organize the
application to follow the selection criteria that will be used. The
specific review criteria vary according to the specific program, and
are contained in this Notice Inviting Applications package.
4. May I Submit Applications to More Than One NIDRR Program Competition
or More Than One Application to a Program?
Yes, you may submit applications to any program for which they
are responsive to the program requirements. No, you may not submit
more than one application to this competition.
5. What Is the Allowable Indirect Cost Rate?
The limits on indirect costs vary according to the program and
the type of application. The Technical Assistance Program does not
place any limit on indirect costs.
6. Can Profitmaking Businesses Apply for Grants?
Yes. However, for-profit organizations will not be able to
collect a fee or profit on the grant.
7. Can Individuals Apply for Grants?
No. Only organizations are eligible to apply for grants under
the Technical Assistance Program.
8. Can I Call NIDRR to Find Out if My Application Is Being Funded?
No. When NIDRR is able to release information on the status of
grant applications, it will notify applicants by letter. The results
of the peer review cannot be released except through this formal
notification.
9. If My Application Is Successful, Can I Assume I Will Get the
Requested Budget Amount in Subsequent Years?
No. Funding in subsequent years is subject to availability of
funds and project performance.
10. Will All Approved Applications Be Funded?
No. It often happens that the peer review panels approve for
funding more applications than NIDRR can fund within available
resources. Applicants who are approved but not funded are encouraged
to consider submitting similar applications in future competitions.
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[FR Doc. 03-20794 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
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