[Federal Register: December 11, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 239)] [Notices] [Page 65200-65201] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.235W] Special Projects and Demonstrations for Providing Vocational Rehabilitation Services to Individuals With Disabilities; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 Purpose of Program: To provide financial assistance to projects for expanding or otherwise improving vocational rehabilitation and other rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. Eligible Applicants: State agencies; other public agencies and organizations, including Indian tribes; and nonprofit private agencies and organizations. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 18, 1997. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 19, 1997. Applications Available: December 11, 1996. Available Funds: $2,958,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $180,000--$220,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 13-16. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Maximum Award: In no case does the Secretary make an award greater than $220,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding this maximum amount. Project Period: Up to 36 months. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, and 85; and (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 369 and 373. [[Page 65201]] Priorities Competitive Preference Priority The competitive preference priority concerning Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities in the notice of final priorities for this program, published in the Federal Register on December 9, 1994 (59 FR 63860), applies to this competition. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) the Secretary gives preference to applications that meet the following competitive priority. The Secretary awards 10 bonus points to an application that meets this competitive priority in a particularly effective way. These bonus points are in addition to any points the application earns under the selection criteria for the program: Competitive Preference Priority--Providing Program Services in an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community Under this program the Secretary gives competitive preference to applications that-- (1) Propose the provision of substantial services in Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities; and (2) Propose projects that contribute to the strategic plan of the Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community and that are made an integral component of the Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community activities. Under this program a project is considered to be providing substantial services if a minimum of 51 percent of the persons served by the project reside within the Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community. Invitational Priorities Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) the Secretary is particularly interested in applications that meet one or more of the following invitational priorities. However, an application that meets one or more of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other applications: Invitational Priority 1--Projects To Increase Client Choice Projects that emphasize and demonstrate effective ways to increase the choices and involvement of eligible clients in the rehabilitation process, including the selection of goals, services, and the providers of vocational rehabilitation services. Invitational Priority 2--Programs To Demonstrate Early Intervention Strategies Projects that provide early intervention in providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with chronic and progressive diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Projects should demonstrate the utility of early intervention in providing vocational evaluation, training, and counseling services to develop new careers and employment or to improve job retention. Invitational Priority 3--Projects Focusing on Career Advancement Projects that demonstrate service delivery models that further high quality employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities by providing services to ensure that those individuals possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete for jobs with potential for career advancement and by providing services to improve career advancement opportunities for individuals who are employed. FOR APPLICATIONS CONTACT: Joyce R. Jones, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3038 Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2649; or call (202) 205-8351. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Martin or Alfreda Reeves, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3314, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2650. Telephone: (202) 205-8494 or (202) 205-9361. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 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. Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), telephone (202) 260-9950; on the Internet Gopher Server (at gopher:// gcs.ed.gov/); or on the World Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov). This information can also be viewed on the Rehabilitations Services Administration's electronic bulletin board, telephone (202) 401-6147. However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Authority: 29 U.S.C. 777a(a)(1). Dated: December 4, 1996. Judith E. Heumann, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. 96-31386 Filed 12-10-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P