FR Doc E9-6322[Federal Register: March 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 54)]
[Notices]
[Page 12122-12126]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23mr09-37]
Download: 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Overview
Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR)--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program--Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs)--
Technology Access in Resource-Limited Environments; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133A-6.
Dates:
Applications Available: March 23, 2009.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: April 23, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 22, 2009.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the DRRP program is to improve
the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended, by developing methods, procedures, and
rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent
living and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. DRRPs carry
out one or more of the following types of activities, as specified and
defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, training,
demonstration, development, dissemination, utilization, and technical
assistance.
An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b).
Additional information on the DRRP program can be found at:
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
Priorities: NIDRR has established two priorities for this
competition. The General DRRP Requirements priority is from the notice
of final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, published in the Federal Register on
April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). The Technology Access in Resource-Limited
Environments priority is from the notice of final priorities for the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program,
published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6132).
Note: On February 1, 2008, we also published a notice in the
Federal Register (73 FR 6162) inviting applications for a number of
competitions, including one using the Technology Access in Resource-
Limited Environments priority. None of the applications we received
for this priority were successful. On June 12, 2008, we published
another notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 33420) inviting
applications for the Technology Access in Resource-Limited
Environments priority and, once again, none of the applications we
received for this priority were successful. Consequently, due to
this lack of quality applications, NIDRR is again recompeting this
priority. NIDRR is seeking applications that address all elements of
the priority and that propose appropriate, quality research
methodologies.
Accordingly, through this notice, we are inviting applications for
another competition using the Technology Access in Resource-Limited
Environments priority.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2009, these priorities are absolute
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications
that meet these priorities.
[[Page 12123]]
These priorities are:
General Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP)
Requirements and Technology Access in Resource-Limited Environments.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81,
82, 84, 85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR
part 350. (c) The notice of final priorities for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, published in the
Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472). (d) The notice of
final priority and definitions for the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers Program, published in the Federal
Register on February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6132).
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education (IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: We intend to use an estimated $950,000
for this DRRP competition. 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 for this program.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $950,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Note: The maximum amount includes direct and indirect costs.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies,
including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations,
including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is required by 34 CFR
350.62(a)(3)(i) and will be negotiated at the time of the grant award.
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 competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.133A-6.
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.
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. We recommend that you limit
Part III to the equivalent of no more than 125 pages, using the
following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative. Single spacing may be used for
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
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative section (Part III).
The application package will provide instructions for completing
all components to be included in the application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED Form
524) and narrative justification; other required forms; an abstract,
Human Subjects narrative, Part III narrative; resumes of staff; and
other related materials, if applicable.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: March 23, 2009.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting and to receive information and
technical assistance through individual consultation with NIDRR staff.
The pre-application meeting will be held on April 23, 2009. Interested
parties may participate in this meeting by conference call with NIDRR
staff from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Washington, DC time. NIDRR staff also will
be available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
same day, by telephone, to provide information and technical assistance
through individual consultation. For further information or to make
arrangements to participate in the meeting via conference call or for
an individual consultation, contact Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), room 6029, 550 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by e-mail:
Donna.Nangle@ed.gov.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 22, 2009.
Applications for grants under this program 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
[[Page 12124]]
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.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
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 program 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 Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects
competition, CFDA number 84.133A-6, 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 Disability
Rehabilitation Research Projects competition, CFDA number 84.133A-6, 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 (e.g., search for 84.133, not
84.133A).
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
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
[[Page 12125]]
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 84.133A-6), 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 84.133A-
6), 550 12th 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
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 350.54 and are listed in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: Additional factors we consider in
determining the merits of an application are as follows:
The Secretary is interested in outcomes-oriented research or
development projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. To
address this interest, applicants are encouraged to articulate goals,
objectives, and expected outcomes for the proposed research or
development activities. Proposals should describe how results and
planned outputs are expected to contribute to advances in knowledge,
improvements in policy and practice, and public benefits for
individuals with disabilities. Applicants should propose projects that
are designed to be consistent with these goals. We encourage applicants
to include in their application a description of how results will
measure progress towards achievement of anticipated outcomes (including
a discussion of measures of effectiveness), the mechanisms that will be
used to evaluate outcomes associated with specific problems or issues,
and how the proposed activities will support new intervention
approaches and strategies. Submission of the information identified in
this section V.2. Review and Selection Process is voluntary, except
where required by the selection criteria 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 Notice
(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 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 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 specific requirements
on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on
how and when to submit the final performance report.
4. Performance Measures: NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded
projects through review of grantee performance and products. Each year,
NIDRR examines a portion of its grantees to determine:
The percentage of newly-awarded NIDRR projects that are
multi-site, collaborative, controlled studies of interventions and
programs.
The number of accomplishments (e.g., new or improved
tools, methods, discoveries, standards, interventions, programs, or
devices) developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged
by expert panels to be of high quality and to advance the field.
[[Page 12126]]
The average number of publications per award based on
NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals.
The percentage of new grants that includes studies funded
by NIDRR that assess the effectiveness of interventions, programs, and
devices using rigorous methods.
NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their
annual performance reports in support of these performance measures.
Updates on the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993
(GPRA) indicators, revisions, and methods appear on the NIDRR Program
Review Web site: http://www.neweditions.net/pr/commonfiles/pmconcepts.htm.
Grantees should consult this site on a regular basis to obtain
details and explanations on how NIDRR programs contribute to the
advancement of the Department's long-term and annual performance goals.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 6029, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by e-mail:
Donna.Nangle@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), 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) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS,
toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.
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.
Dated: March 18, 2009.
Andrew J. Pepin,
Executive Administrator, Delegated the Authority to Perform the
Functions of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E9-6322 Filed 3-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P