FR Doc E9-5099[Federal Register: March 11, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 46)]
[Notices]               
[Page 10659-10664]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11mr09-173]                    

                                  

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Part III





Department of Education





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Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; Readiness 
and Emergency Management for Schools; Notice Inviting Applications for 
New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009; Notice


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; 
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.184E.
    Dates:
    Applications Available: March 11, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 14, 2009.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 15, 2009.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: Past emergencies, such as the events of 
September 11, 2001, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and emergencies 
related to other natural and man-made hazards, reinforce the need for 
schools and communities to plan for traditional crises and emergencies, 
as well as other catastrophic events. The Readiness and Emergency 
Management for Schools (REMS) grant program provides funds to local 
educational agencies (LEAs) to establish an emergency management 
process that focuses on reviewing and strengthening emergency 
management plans, within the framework of the four phases of emergency 
management (Prevention-Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and 
Recovery). The program also provides resources to LEAs to provide 
training for staff on emergency management procedures and requires that 
LEAs develop comprehensive all-hazards emergency management plans in 
collaboration with community partners, including local law enforcement; 
public safety, public health, and mental health agencies; and local 
government.
    Priorities: These priorities are from the notice of final 
priorities and requirements for this program, published elsewhere in 
this issue of the Federal Register.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2009 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:

Develop and Enhance Local Emergency Management Capacity

    Under this priority, we support LEA projects designed to create, 
strengthen, or improve emergency management plans at the LEA and 
school-building levels and build the capacity of LEA staff so that the 
LEA can continue the implementation of key emergency management 
functions after the period of Federal funding. Projects must include a 
plan to create, strengthen, or improve emergency management plans, at 
the LEA and school-building levels, and within the framework of the 
four phases of emergency management: Prevention-Mitigation, 
Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Projects must also include: (1) 
Training for school personnel in emergency management procedures; (2) 
coordination, and the use of partnerships, with local law enforcement, 
public safety or emergency management, public health, and mental health 
agencies, and local government to assist in the development of 
emergency management plans at the LEA and school-building levels; (3) a 
plan to sustain the local partnerships after the period of Federal 
assistance; (4) a plan for communicating school emergency management 
policies and reunification procedures for parents and guardians and 
their children following an emergency; and (5) a written plan for 
improving LEA capacity to sustain the emergency management process 
through ongoing training and the continual review of policies and 
procedures.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2009 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 10 
points to an application that meets Priority 1 and we award an 
additional 5 points to an application that meets Priority 2. 
Applications that meet both Priorities 1 and 2 will receive points only 
under Priority 1.
    These priorities are:

Priority 1--LEAs That Have Not Previously Received a Grant Under the 
REMS Program (CFDA Number 84.184E) and Are Located in an Urban Areas 
Security Initiative Jurisdiction

    Under this priority, we give a competitive preference to 
applications from LEAs that (1) have not yet received a grant under 
this program (CFDA Number 84.184E) and (2) are located in whole or in 
part within Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) jurisdictions, as 
determined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 
Applicants, including educational services agencies (ESAs), must meet 
both of these criteria in order to meet this priority. Under a 
consortium application, all members of the LEA consortium, including 
any ESAs, must meet both criteria to meet this priority.
    Because DHS's determination of UASI jurisdictions may change from 
year to year, applicants under this priority must refer to the most 
recent list of UASI jurisdictions published by DHS when submitting 
their applications.

    Note: The Governor of each State has designated a State 
Administrative Agency (SAA) as the entity responsible for applying 
for and administering funds under the Department of Homeland 
Security Grant Program (which includes the UASI program). The SAA is 
also responsible for defining the geographic borders for 
jurisdictions included in the UASI program. Guidance on jurisdiction 
definitions and the most recent list of UASI jurisdictions (see 
pages 22 and 23) can be found at 
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/hsgp/fy09_hsgp_guidance.pdf.

Priority 2--LEAs That Have Not Previously Received a Grant Under the 
REMS Program (CFDA Number 84.184E)

    Under this priority, we give competitive preference to applications 
from LEAs that have not previously received a grant under this program 
(CFDA Number 84.184E). Applicants, including educational service 
agencies (ESAs), that have received funding under this program 
directly, or as the lead agency or as a partner in a consortium 
application under this program, will not meet this priority. Under a 
consortium application, all members of the LEA consortium must meet 
this criterion to meet this priority.
    Application Requirements: The following requirements apply to all 
applications submitted under this competition:

1. Partner Agreements

    To be considered for a grant award, an applicant must include in 
its application an agreement that details the participation of each of 
the following five community-based partners: The law enforcement 
agency, the public safety or emergency management agency, the public 
health agency, the mental health agency, and the head of the 
applicant's local government (for example the mayor, city manager, or 
county executive). The agreement must include a description of each 
partner's roles and responsibilities in improving and strengthening 
emergency management plans at the LEA and school-building levels, a 
description of each partner's commitment to the continuation and 
continuous improvement of emergency management plans at the LEA and 
school-building levels, and the signature of an authorized 
representative of the LEA and each partner acknowledging the agreement. 
For consortium

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applications, each LEA to be served by the grant must submit a complete 
set of partner agreements with the signature of an authorized 
representative of the LEA and each corresponding partner acknowledging 
the agreement.
    If one or more of the five partners listed in this requirement is 
not present in the applicant's community, or cannot feasibly 
participate, the agreement must explain the absence of each missing 
partner. To be considered eligible for funding, however, an application 
must include a signed agreement between the LEA, a law enforcement 
partner, and at least one of the other required partners (public safety 
or emergency management agency, public health agency, mental health 
agency, or the head of the local government).
    Applications that fail to include the required agreement, including 
information on partners' roles and responsibilities and on their 
commitment to continuation and continuous improvement (with signatures 
and explanations for missing signatures as specified above), will not 
be read.
    Although this program requires partnerships with other parties, 
administrative direction and fiscal control for the project must remain 
with the LEA.

2. Coordination With State or Local Homeland Security Plan

    All emergency management plans receiving funding under this program 
must be coordinated with the Homeland Security Plan of the State or 
locality in which the LEA is located. To ensure that emergency services 
are coordinated, and to avoid duplication of effort within States and 
localities, applicants must include in their applications an assurance 
that the LEA will coordinate with and follow the requirements of its 
State or local Homeland Security Plan for emergency services and 
initiatives.

3. Infectious Disease Plan

    To be considered for a grant award, applicants must agree to 
develop a written plan designed to prepare the LEA for a possible 
infectious disease outbreak, such as pandemic influenza. Plans must 
address the four phases of emergency management (Prevention-Mitigation, 
Preparedness, Response, and Recovery) and include a plan for disease 
surveillance (systematic collection and analysis of data that lead to 
action being taken to prevent and control a disease), school closure 
decision making, business continuity (processes and procedures 
established to ensure that essential functions can continue during and 
after a disaster), and continuation of educational services.

4. Food Defense Plan

    To be considered for a grant award, applicants must agree to 
develop a written food defense plan that includes the four phases of 
emergency management (Prevention-Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, 
and Recovery) and is designed to safeguard the LEA's food supply, 
including all food storage and preparation facilities and delivery 
areas within the LEA.

5. Individuals With Disabilities

    Applicants must agree to develop plans that take into consideration 
the communication, medical, and evacuation needs of individuals with 
disabilities within the schools in the LEA.

6. Implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)

    Applicants must agree to implement their grant in a manner 
consistent with the implementation of the NIMS in their communities. 
Applicants must include in their applications an assurance that they 
have met, or will complete, all current NIMS requirements by the end of 
the grant period.
    Because DHS' determination of NIMS requirements may change from 
year to year, applicants must refer to the most recent list of NIMS 
requirements published by DHS when submitting their applications. 
Information about the FY 2008 NIMS requirements for tribal governments 
and local jurisdictions, including LEAs, can be found at: 
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/CurrentYearGuidance.shtm.

    Note: An LEA's NIMS compliance must be achieved in close 
coordination with the local government and with recognition of the 
first-responder capabilities held by the LEA and the local 
government. As LEAs are not traditional response organizations, 
first-responder services will typically be provided to LEAs by local 
fire and rescue departments, emergency medical service providers, 
and law enforcement agencies. This traditional relationship must be 
acknowledged in achieving NIMS compliance in an integrated NIMS 
compliance plan for the local government and the LEA. LEA 
participation in the NIMS preparedness program of the local 
government is essential in ensuring that first-responder services 
are delivered to schools in a timely and effective manner. 
Additional information about NIMS implementation is available at: 
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 97, 98, 99, and 299. (b) The notice of final priorities and 
requirements, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register. (c) The notice of final eligibility requirement for the 
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools discretionary grant programs 
published in the Federal Register on December 4, 2006 (71 FR 70369).

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $26,000,000. The actual level of 
funding, if any, depends on final Congressional action. However, we are 
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process if Congress appropriates funds to this program. Contingent upon 
the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make 
additional awards later in FY 2009 and in FY 2010 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000 for a small-size LEA (1-
20 education facilities); $250,000 for a medium-size LEA (21-75 
education facilities); and $500,000 for a large-size LEA (76 or more 
education facilities).
    Estimated Number of Awards: 104.

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

    Project Period: Up to 18 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    LEAs, including charter schools that are considered LEAs under 
State law, that do not currently have an active grant under the REMS 
program (CFDA Number 84.184E). For the purpose of this eligibility 
requirement, a grant is considered active until the end of the grant's 
project or funding period, including any extension of those periods 
that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds. This eligibility 
requirement is from the notice of final eligibility requirement 
published in the Federal Register on December 4, 2006 (71 FR 70369).

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    This competition does not require cost sharing or matching.

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3. Other

(a) Equitable Participation by Private School Children and Teachers
    Section 9501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 
as amended (ESEA), requires that State educational agencies (SEAs), 
LEAs, or other entities receiving funds under the Safe and Drug-Free 
Schools and Communities Act provide for the equitable participation of 
private school children, their teachers, and other educational 
personnel in private schools located in areas served by the grant 
recipient. In order to ensure that grant program activities address the 
needs of private school children, LEAs must engage in timely and 
meaningful consultation with private school officials during the design 
and development of the program. This consultation must take place 
before any decision is made that affects the opportunities of eligible 
private school children, teachers, and other education personnel to 
participate.
    In order to ensure equitable participation of private school 
children, teachers, and other educational personnel, an LEA must 
consult with private school officials on such issues as: Hazards/
vulnerabilities unique to private schools in the LEA's service area, 
training needs, and existing emergency management plans and resources 
already available at private schools.
(b) Maintenance of Effort
    Section 9521 of the ESEA permits LEAs to receive a grant only if 
the SEA finds that the combined fiscal effort per student or the 
aggregate expenditures of the LEA and the State with respect to the 
provision of free public education by the LEA for the preceding fiscal 
year was not less than 90 percent of the combined fiscal effort or 
aggregate expenditures for the second preceding fiscal year.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    You can obtain an application package via the Internet or from the 
Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the 
Internet, use the following address: 
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html. To obtain 
a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, 
or call the following: Education Publications Center, 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), 
call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: 
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program or competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.184E.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team listed under 
Accessible Format in section VIII 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.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications Available: March 11, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 14, 2009.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (http://Grants.gov), or 
in paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including 
dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, 
or in paper format by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section 
IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 15, 2009.

4. Intergovernmental Review

    This competition is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the 
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the 
application package for this competition.

5. Funding Restrictions

    We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the 
Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications
    We are participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov 
Apply site. The REMS grant competition, CFDA number 84.184E, is 
included in this project. We request your participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov. 
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.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the REMS grant 
competition at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the 
downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA 
number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search 
(e.g., search for 84.184, not 84.184E).
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
     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 date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after

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4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, 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 submission 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 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov at 
http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf. 
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see 
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include 
(1) registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes 
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2) 
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative 
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. 
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step 
Registration Guide (see 
http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). 
You also must provide on your 
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please 
note that the registration process may take five or more business days 
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to 
allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In 
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual 
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you submit your application in paper format.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
submit all documents electronically, including all information you 
typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal 
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental 
Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs 
(ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC 
(document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If 
you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in 
this paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review 
that material.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application 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.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether 
your application will be accepted.

    Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail
    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the 
original and two copies of your application, 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 84.184E), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    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.
    (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.
    (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 submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) 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 
84.184E), 550 12th

[[Page 10664]]

Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-
4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 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 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix 
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your 
application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification 
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this 
notification 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 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 notify you informally, also.
    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 in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in 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 directed by the Secretary 
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent 
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For this competition, you 
must also submit an interim report nine months after the award date. 
For specific requirements on reporting, please go to 
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measure: We have identified the following key 
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance 
measure for assessing the effectiveness of the REMS grant program: The 
average number of National Incident Management System (NIMS) course 
completions by key personnel at the start of the grant compared to the 
average number of NIMS course completions by key personnel at the end 
of the grant.
    This GPRA measure constitutes the Department's indicator of success 
for this program. Applicants for a grant under this program are advised 
to give careful consideration to this measure in designing their 
proposed project, including considering how data for the measure will 
be collected. Grantees will be required to collect and report, in their 
interim and final performance reports, baseline data and data on their 
progress with regard to this measure.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Sara Strizzi, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 800, Denver, CO 80204-2512. 
Telephone: (303) 346-0924 or by e-mail: sara.strizzi@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on 
request to the program contact person listed under For Further 
Information Contact: in section VII in this notice.
    Electronic Access to this Document: You can 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 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.

    Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated 
authority to William Modzeleski, Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for 
the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools to perform the functions of 
the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.

    Dated: March 4, 2009.
William Modzeleski,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
[FR Doc. E9-5099 Filed 3-10-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P