[Federal Register: June 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 37794-37798]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jn05-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as Amended--Assistive
Technology Alternative Financing Program; Notice Inviting Applications
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.224C.
Dates: Applications Available: June 30, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 1, 2005.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 28, 2005.
Eligible Applicants: States that received grants under section 101
of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 as in effect on the day before
the date of enactment of the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (old AT
Act).
Estimated Available Funds: $3,900,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000 to $3,900,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 4.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as
amended (AT Act), authorizes support for activities that increase the
availability of, funding for, access to, provision of, and training
about assistive technology (AT) devices and AT services. Under section
4(e)(2) of the AT Act, the Secretary is authorized to provide support
for States to develop, support, expand, or administer alternative
financing programs (AFPs) to allow individuals with disabilities and
their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized
representatives to purchase AT devices and services. For FY 2005,
section 4(b)(2)(D) of the AT Act allows the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) to award grants to States or outlying areas on a
competitive basis for periods of one year in accordance with the
requirements of title III of the old AT Act, as modified by the FY 2005
appropriations bill, to pay for the Federal share--not more than 75
percent--of the cost of AFPs featuring one or more alternative
financing mechanisms.
Priorities: We are establishing these priorities for the FY 2005
grant competition only, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the
General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2005 this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that
meet this priority.
This priority is:
Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program
Under section 301(b) of the old AT Act, a State must establish or
expand one or more of the following types of AFPs:
(1) A low-interest loan fund.
(2) An interest buy-down program.
(3) A revolving loan fund.
(4) A loan guarantee or insurance program.
(5) A program operated by a partnership among private entities for
the purchase, lease, or other acquisition of AT devices or AT services.
(6) Another mechanism that meets the requirements of title III of
the old AT Act and is approved by the Secretary.
The AFPs are designed to allow individuals with disabilities and
their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized
representatives to purchase AT devices or services. If family members,
guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives (including
employers who have been designated by an individual with a disability
as an authorized representative) receive AFP support to purchase AT
devices or services, the purchase must be on behalf of an individual
with a disability, i.e., the AT device or service that is purchased
must be solely for the benefit of that individual.
An applicant must identify the type or types of AFP to be supported
by the grant and must submit the following assurances:
(1) Nature of the Match: An assurance that the State will provide
the non-Federal share (not less than 25 percent) of the cost of the AFP
in cash, from State, local, or private sources (sections 301(d) and
303(b)(1) of the old AT Act, as modified by the 2005 appropriations
bill). An applicant must identify the amount of Federal funds the State
is requesting, the amount of cash that the State will provide as a
match, and the source of the cash.
(2) Permanent Separate Account: An assurance that the State will
ensure that--
(a) All funds that support the AFP, including funds repaid during
the life of the program, will be placed in a permanent separate account
and identified and accounted for separately from any other fund;
(b) If the organization administering the program invests funds
within this account, the organization will invest the funds in low-risk
securities in which a regulated insurance company may invest under the
law of the State; and
(c) The organization will administer the funds with the same
judgment and care that a person of prudence, discretion, and
intelligence would exercise in the management of the financial affairs
of that person (section 303(b)(5) of the old AT Act).
During the first 12-month budget period, a grantee must deposit its
matching funds and its Federal award funds in the permanent and
separate account.
(3) Permanence of the Program: An assurance that the AFP will
continue on a permanent basis (section 303(b)(2) of the old AT Act).
A State's obligation to implement the AFP consistent with all of
the requirements, including reporting requirements, continues until
there are no longer any funds available to operate the AFP and all
outstanding loans have been repaid. If a State decides to terminate its
AFP while there are still funds available to operate the program, the
State must return the Federal share of the funds remaining in the
permanent separate account to RSA (e.g., 75 percent if the original
State to Federal match was 1 to 3) except for funds being used for
grant purposes, such as loan guarantees for outstanding loans. However,
before closing out its grant, the State also must return the Federal
share of any principal and interest remitted to it on outstanding loans
and any other funds remaining in the permanent separate account, such
as funds being used as loan guarantees for those loans.
(4) Consumer Choice and Control: An assurance that, and information
describing the manner in which, the AFP will expand and emphasize
[[Page 37795]]
consumer choice and control (section 303(b)(3) of the old AT Act).
(5) Supplement Not Supplant: An assurance that the funds made
available through the grant to support the AFP will be used to
supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local public
funds expended to provide alternative financing mechanisms (section
303(b)(4) of the old AT Act).
(6) Contract With a Community-Based Organization: An assurance that
the State will enter into a contract with a community-based
organization (CBO) (including a group of CBOs) that has individuals
with disabilities involved in organizational decisionmaking at all
organizational levels, to administer the AFP. The contract must--
(a) Include a provision requiring that the program funds, including
the Federal and non-Federal shares of the cost of the program, be
administered in a manner consistent with the provisions of title III of
the old AT Act;
(b) Include any provision the Secretary requires concerning
oversight and evaluation necessary to protect Federal financial
interests; and
(c) Require the CBO to enter into a contract, to expand
opportunities under title III of the old AT Act and facilitate
administration of the AFP, with commercial lending institutions or
organizations or State financing agencies (section 304 of the old AT
Act).
During the first 12-month budget period, a grantee must enter into
the contract with a CBO and ensure that the CBO has entered into the
contract with the commercial lending institutions or organizations or
State financing agencies.
(7) Use and Control of Funds: An assurance that--
(a) Funds comprised of the principal and interest from the account
described in paragraph (2) Permanent Separate Account of this priority
will be available to support the AFP; and
(b) Any interest or investment income that accrues on or derives
from those funds after the funds have been placed under the control of
the organization administering the AFP, but before the funds are
distributed for purposes of supporting the program, will be the
property of the organization administering the program (section
303(b)(6) of the old AT Act).
This assurance regarding the use and control of funds applies to
all funds derived from the AFP including the original Federal award,
the State matching funds, AFP funds generated by either interest
bearing accounts or investments, and all principal and interest paid by
borrowers of the AFP who are extended loans from the permanent separate
account.
(8) Indirect Costs: An assurance that the percentage of the funds
made available through the grant that is used for indirect costs will
not exceed 10 percent (section 303(b)(7) of the old AT Act).
For each 12-month budget period, grantees must recalculate their
allowable indirect cost rate, which may not exceed 10 percent of the
amount of funds in the permanent and separate account and any
outstanding loans from that account.
(9) Administrative Policies and Procedures: An assurance that the
State and any CBO that enters into a contract with the State under
title III of the old AT Act will submit to the Secretary the following
policies and procedures for administration of the AFP:
(a) A procedure to review and process in a timely manner requests
for financial assistance for immediate and potential technology needs,
including consideration of methods to reduce paperwork and duplication
of effort, particularly relating to need, eligibility, and
determination of the specific AT device or service to be financed
through the program.
(b) A policy and procedure to ensure that access to the AFP must be
given to consumers regardless of type of disability, age, income level,
location of residence in the State, or type of AT device or AT service
for which financing is requested through the program.
(c) A procedure to ensure consumer-controlled oversight of the
program (section 305 of the old AT Act).
Grantees must submit the administrative policies and procedures
required in this assurance within 12 months of the start of the grant.
(10) Data Collection: An assurance that the State will collect and
report data requested by the Secretary in the format, with the
frequency, and using the method established by the Secretary until
there are no longer any funds available to operate the AFP and all
outstanding loans have been repaid.
(11) Collaboration With the Statewide AT Program: An assurance that
the AFP will enter into a written agreement with that State's statewide
AT program supported under section 4 of the AT Act to coordinate
activities appropriately.
Competitive Preference Priorities: Within this absolute priority,
we give competitive preference to applications that address the
following priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an
additional 7 points to an application, depending on how well the
application meets these priorities.
These priorities are:
Need to Establish an AFP (5 additional points). This applies to a
State that has not previously received a grant under title III of the
old AT Act.
Need to Expand an AFP (3 additional points). This applies to a
State that has previously received a grant or grants under title III of
the old AT Act but has received less than a total of $1 million in
grant funds for the operation of its AFP.
Commitment of Matching Funds (2 additional points). This applies to
States that submit with their application a letter of commitment from a
State, local, or private source that pledges to provide the non-Federal
share (25 percent) of the cost of the AFP in cash within 12 months of
the receipt of the grant award.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. Ordinarily, this
practice would have applied to the absolute and competitive preference
priorities for the Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program.
Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA (20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1)), however, allows the
Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements regulations governing
the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised
program authority. This is the first grant competition for this program
under the AT Act since it was amended by the 2004 amendments and
modified by the FY 2005 appropriations bill and therefore qualifies for
this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary
has decided to forego public comment on the proposed absolute and
competitive preference priorities under section 437(d)(1). The absolute
and competitive preference priorities will apply to the FY 2005 grant
competition only.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $3,900,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000 to $3,900,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 4.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months.
[[Page 37796]]
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States that received grants under section
101 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 as in effect on the day
before the date of enactment of the Assistive Technology Act of 2004
(old AT Act).
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The Federal share of the cost of the
AFP must not be more than 75 percent (sections 301(d) and 303(b)(1) of
the old AT Act, as modified by the 2005 appropriations bill).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs), 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), you may call (toll free):
1-877-576-7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html
or you may contact ED Pubs 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 84.224C.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative 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, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone:
(202) 245-7363. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
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. You must limit Part III to
the equivalent of no more than 20 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, including 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).
The 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, you must
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that--
Exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or
Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other
standards.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: June 30, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 1, 2005.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants system, or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by
mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission
Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 28, 2005.
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.
If you choose to submit your application to us electronically, you
must use e-Application available through the Department's e-Grants
system, accessible through the e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov
.
While completing your electronic application, you will be entering
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application
for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do
not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application
process.
The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
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.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary
assurances and certifications.
Any narrative sections of your application must be
attached as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF
(Portable Document) format.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number
(an identifying number unique to your application).
Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the ED 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
(1) Print ED 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the ED 424.
(4) Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
[[Page 37797]]
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of
one business day in order to transmit your application electronically,
by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
(1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2) (a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or
more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date; or
(b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore
the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all
registered users who have initiated an e-Application.
Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. If the e-
Application system is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to
submit your application electronically or you do not receive an
automatic acknowledgment of your submission, you may submit your
application in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with
the instructions in this notice.
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 applicable
following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.224C), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.224C), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of which address you use, 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, or
(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, or
(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
84.224C), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 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 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix letter,
if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your
application.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant
application receipt acknowledgment 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: In evaluating an application for a grant
under this competition, RSA will determine if an applicant has
submitted the required assurances and if an applicant qualifies for
competitive preference points.
2. Review and Selection Process: RSA will use an internal
application review process to determine whether all the necessary
assurances and required program information have been submitted.
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 also notify you informally.
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. Until there are no longer funds available to operate
the AFP and all outstanding loans have been repaid, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in
34 CFR 75.118 and collect and report data as requested by the
Secretary.
4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act
(GPRA) of 1993 directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the
effectiveness of their programs by engaging in strategic planning,
setting outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program
results against those goals. The goal of the AFP is to reduce cost
barriers to obtaining AT devices and services by providing alternative
[[Page 37798]]
financing mechanisms that allow individuals with disabilities and their
family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives to
purchase AT devices and services. The following two measures have been
developed for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the AFP: (1) The
percent of individuals with disabilities receiving loans who would have
been denied conventional financing. (2) The amount loaned to
individuals with disabilities per $1 million in Federal investment.
Grantees will report data for use in calculating these measures through
the data collection system required by the Secretary as stated in
paragraph (10) in the list of required assurances in the absolute
priority in this notice.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremy Buzzell, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5025, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7319 or by e-mail:
jeremy.buzzell@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this
section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may 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: June 24, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-12954 Filed 6-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P