[Federal Register: August 30, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 169)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52897-52898]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30au00-144]                         


[[Page 52897]]

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Part IV





Department of Education





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National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Office 
of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, National Institute on 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Notice Inviting Applications for 
New Awards Under Field Initiated Research Projects for Fiscal Year 
2001; Notice


[[Page 52898]]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of Final Competitive Preference Points for Fiscal Year 
2001 for the Field Initiated competition.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the addition of a competitive preference 
points for the Field Initiated competition under the National Institute 
on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal year 2001. 
We take this action to focus research attention on an area of national 
need. The additional points are intended to improve rehabilitation 
services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

DATES: This notice take effect on September 29, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205-
5880. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) you may 
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475. Internet: donna__nangle@ed.gov
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph.

    Note: This notice of final competitive preference points does 
not solicit applications. A notice inviting applications is 
published in this issue of the Federal Register.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

    On June 26, 2000 we published a notice of a proposed competitive 
preference points in the Federal Register (65 FR 39500). We received 
one letter commenting on the proposed additional competitive preference 
points by the deadline date. Except for minor editorial and technical 
revisions, there are no differences between the notice of proposed and 
these final competitive preference points.
    Comment: One commenter said that there is a need to consider the 
professional qualifications of all proposed project research personnel 
in the application, including those with disabilities.
    Discussion: In the notice inviting applications for the Field 
Initiated competition, NIDRR already includes in the project staff 
section of the selection criteria information for the peer reviewers to 
address the extent to which key personnel and other key staff have 
appropriate training and experience in the disciplines required to 
conduct all proposed activities.
    Changes: None.
    Additional Selection Criterion: We will use the selection criteria 
in 34 CFR 350.54 to evaluate applications under this program. The 
maximum score for all the criteria is 100 points; however, we will use 
the following criterion so that up to an additional ten points may be 
earned by an applicant for a total possible score of 110 points:
    Within this absolute priority, we will give the following 
competitive preference to applications that are otherwise eligible for 
funding under this priority:
    Up to ten (10) points based on the extent to which an application 
includes effective strategies for employing and advancing in employment 
qualified individuals with disabilities in projects awarded under this 
absolute priority. In determining the effectiveness of those 
strategies, we may consider the applicant's success, as described in 
the application, in employing and advancing in employment qualified 
individuals with disabilities in the project.
    For purposes of this competitive preference, applicants can be 
awarded up to a total of 10 points in addition to those awarded under 
the published selection criteria for this priority. That is, an 
applicant meeting this competitive preference could earn a maximum 
total of 110 points.
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR Part 350.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view 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 either of the 
following sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html

    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at either of the preceding sites. 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 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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133G, Field 
Initiated Research)


    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 764.

    Dated: August 23, 2000.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 00-21944 Filed 8-29-00; 8:45 am]
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