[Federal Register: July 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 44752-44753]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jy03-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
RIN 1820-ZA24
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR)
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services announces a final priority for Collaborative
Research Projects in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) under the Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program under the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal
year (FY) 2003 and later years. We take this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need. We intend this priority to improve
the rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority is effective August 29, 2003.
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 or via the Internet:
donna.nangle@ed.gov
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program
The purpose of the DRRP Program is to plan and conduct research,
demonstration projects, training, and related activities that help to
maximize the full inclusion and integration of individuals with
disabilities into society and to improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act).
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).
General DRRP Requirements
[sbull] Involve, as appropriate, individuals with disabilities or
their family members, or both, and persons who are members of groups
that have traditionally been underrepresented in all aspects of the
research as well as in design of clinical services and dissemination
activities.
[sbull] Demonstrate knowledge of culturally appropriate methods of
data collection, including understanding of culturally sensitive
measurement approaches.
[sbull] Collaborate with other related projects, including the
other funded Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) projects.
This priority supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom
Initiative (NFI) and is in concert with NIDRR's Long-Range Plan (the
Plan). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominiative.html
The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products.
We published a notice of proposed priority for the Collaborative
Research Projects in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the Federal
Register on April 16, 2003 (68 FR 18601). No comments were received.
There are no significant differences between the notice of proposed
priority and this notice of final priority.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through
a notice in the Federal Register. A notice inviting applications for
FY 2003 awards was published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2003
(68 FR 26171). When inviting applications we designate the priority
as absolute, competitive preference, or invitational. The effect of
each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by either
(1) Awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent to
which the application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or
(2) selecting an application that meets the priority over an
application of comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the
priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Background
The background statement for the following priority was published
in the notice of proposed priority on April 16, 2003 (68 FR 18601).
Priority
The Assistant Secretary intends to fund Traumatic Brain Injury
collaborative research projects for the purpose of generating new
knowledge through research to improve treatment and services delivery
outcomes for persons with TBI. A collaborative research project must:
(1) Collaborate with three or more of the 16 NIDRR TBI Model
Systems projects. The three can include the lead project plus
additional projects;
(2) Conduct research on questions of significance to TBI
rehabilitation, using clearly identified research designs such as
randomized control trials, observational research methodologies, or
longitudinal studies. The research must focus on areas identified in
the NFI and the Plan, ensuring that each project has sufficient sample
size and methodological rigor to generate robust findings. Areas of
interest include health and function, technology for function,
community integration and independent living, employment, and long-term
outcomes.
(3) Disseminate research findings to clinical and consumer
audiences, using accessible formats.
(4) Evaluate impact of research findings on improved outcomes for
persons with TBI.
Selection Criterion
The emphasis on research rigor plus the importance of the
collaborative research program require a modification to the selection
criteria for this program. The Secretary will add a criterion to
reflect increased emphasis on research management. This criterion reads
as follows: There must be a clearly delineated plan for research
management, with focus on quality controls for data collection,
management of research protocols, and provisions for oversight at
collaborating sites.
[[Page 44753]]
Executive Order 12866
This notice of final priority has been reviewed in accordance with
Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we have assessed
the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with the notice of final priority
are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we have
determined as necessary for administering this program effectively and
efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of this notice of final priority, we have determined
that the benefits of the priority justify the costs.
Summary of Potential Posts and Benefits
The potential cost associated with this priority is minimal while
the benefits are significant. Grantees may anticipate costs associated
with completing the application process in terms of staff time,
copying, and mailing or delivery. The use of e-Application technology
reduces mailing and copying costs significantly.
The benefits of the TBIMS and collaborative projects have been well
established over the years that similar projects have been completed.
This priority will generate new knowledge through research to improve
treatment and services delivery outcomes for persons with TBI through
collaborative research projects.
The benefit of this priority and application project requirements
will be the establishment of new collaborative projects that generate,
disseminate, and promote the use of new information that will improve
the options for disabled individuals to perform regular activities in
the community.
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 the following site:
http://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 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 84.133A, Disability
Rehabilitation Research Project.)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b).
Dated: July 25, 2003.
Loretta Petty Chittum,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 03-19336 Filed 7-29-03; 8:45 am]
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