[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21617-21621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9635]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; Rehabilitation Capacity Building for Traditionally
Underserved Populations--Rehabilitation Capacity Building; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.315C and
84.315D.
Dates:
Applications Available: April 26, 2010.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 10, 2010.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 9, 2010.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Rehabilitation Capacity Building for
Traditionally Underserved Populations program provides financial
assistance for projects that provide training, research, technical
assistance, or related activities to improve services provided under
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), especially services
provided to individuals from minority backgrounds. Section 21 of the
Act underscores the importance of increasing the participation of
minority entities, as defined under section 21(b)(5) of the Act, in
activities funded under the Act and enhancing their capacity to carry
out these activities (29 U.S.C. 718).
Priorities: These priorities are from the notice of final
priorities for this program, published in the Federal Register on May
9, 2002 (67 FR 31700). For the purposes of these priorities, a
``minority entity'' includes a Hispanic-serving institution whose
Hispanic student enrollment is 25 percent or more of the institution's
student population.
Absolute Priority: For FY 2010 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of approved but
[[Page 21618]]
unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are
absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet these priorities.
These priorities are:
Priority 1--Establishing New Rehabilitation Training Programs (CFDA
Number 84.315C)
Projects funded must meet the requirements in section 21(b)(2)(B)
of the Rehabilitation Act.
Projects must--
(1) Enhance and increase the capacity of minority institutions of
higher education to prepare more individuals for careers in the public
vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, including individuals from
minority backgrounds;
(2) Be located at minority institutions of higher education,
including community colleges whose minority student enrollment is at
least 50 percent, that are interested in establishing new first-time
rehabilitation training programs at the associate degree, undergraduate
degree, and graduate degree levels;
(3) Include an evaluation component based upon clear, specific
performance and outcome measures; and
(4) Report the results of the evaluation in its annual performance
report.
Priority 2--Capacity Building for Minority Entities (CFDA Number
84.315D)
Projects funded must meet the requirements in section 21(b)(2)(C)
of the Rehabilitation Act.
Projects must--
(1) Provide outreach, capacity building, and technical assistance
to minority entities and Indian Tribes to promote their participation
in activities funded under the Act, including assistance to carry out
those activities;
(2) Provide a variety of training and technical assistance
activities, including grant writing workshops that focus on
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) discretionary grant
programs, the peer review process, selection criteria, training on
disability legislation (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act,
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, etc.), and technical assistance
to minority entities that are first-time recipients of grants funded
under the Act in order to increase their ability to carry out their
grants;
(3) Include an evaluation component based upon clear, specific
performance and outcome measures; and
(4) Report the results of the evaluation in its annual performance
report.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 718(b).
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except Federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $2,400,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$200,000 for 315C; $250,000-
$300,000 for 315D.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $240,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $200,000 for a single budget period of 12 months for
84.315C or exceeds $300,000 for a single budget period of 12 months for
84.315D. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards
Priority 1--CFDA Number 84.315C: 5.
Priority 2--CFDA Number 84.315D: 5.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: For priority 1, minority entities as
defined under section 21(b)(5) of the Act. Under the Act, the term
minority entity means an entity that is a historically black college or
university, a Hispanic-serving institution of higher education, an
American Indian Tribal college or university, or another institution of
higher education whose minority student enrollment is at least 50
percent.
For priority 2, a State or a public or private nonprofit agency or
organization, such as an institution of higher education or an Indian
Tribe.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
Note: Under 34 CFR 75.562(c), an indirect cost reimbursement on
a training grant is limited to the recipient's actual indirect
costs, as determined in its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement,
or eight percent of a modified total direct cost base, whichever
amount is less. Indirect costs in excess of this limit may not be
charged directly, used to satisfy matching or cost sharing
requirements, or charged to another Federal 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: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box
22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX:
(703) 605-6794. 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.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: [email protected].
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.315C or D.
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. You must limit the
application narrative (Part III) to the equivalent of no more than 45
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).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier
[[Page 21619]]
New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including
Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
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, the page
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section (Part
III).
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times
Applications Available: April 26, 2010.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 10, 2010.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site. For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, 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: August 9, 2010.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This program 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 must be submitted
electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement
in accordance with the instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications
Applications for grants under the Rehabilitation Capacity Building
for Traditionally Underserved Populations program, CFDA Number 84.315C
and D must be submitted electronically using e-Application, accessible
through the Department's e-Grants Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
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:
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this
program after 4:30:00 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 hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m.
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the
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. 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.
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 SF 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
(1) Print SF 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 SF 424.
(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to
enable you 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) E-Application is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington,
[[Page 21620]]
DC time, on the application deadline date; or
(b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 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 e-Application is unavailable due
to technical problems with the system 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 e-Application.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through e-Application because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
e-Application; and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Ellen Chesley, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5019, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7591.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. 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 84.315C or D), 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You 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 84.315C or D), 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 grant 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 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.
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
[[Page 21621]]
outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program results
against those goals. The purpose of the Rehabilitation Capacity
Building for Traditionally Underserved Populations program is to
enhance the capacity and increase the participation of minority
institutions in programs that are funded under the Act, as well as to
improve the delivery of VR services to people with disabilities,
especially people with disabilities from minority backgrounds.
In order to measure the success of capacity building grantees in
meeting this goal, each grantee is required to evaluate its activities
based upon clear, specific performance and outcome measures and report
the results of the evaluation in its annual performance report. At a
minimum, the annual performance reports must include the following:
For priority 1, grantees must report on--(1) The number and type of
new degree-granting programs established as a result of participation
in this program and the number of students enrolled; (2) the number of
undergraduate and graduate students who graduate from programs
participating in this program and the number who go to work for the
public VR program or related rehabilitation agencies; and (3) the
number of institutions receiving Council on Rehabilitation Education
(CORE) accreditation as a result of participation in this program.
For priority 2, grantees must report on--(1) The number of minority
entities and Indian Tribes that have received training and technical
assistance; (2) the number of applications submitted by first-time and
repeat applicants to RSA and NIDRR for funding; (3) the number of
applications by first-time and repeat applicants recommended for
funding by RSA and NIDRR; (4) the number of applications by first-time
and repeat applicants funded by RSA and NIDRR; and (5) the number of
funded programs by first-time and repeat applicants that have been
implemented and are operational.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Ellen Chesley, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5019, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7300 or by e-mail:
[email protected].
If you use 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.
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: April 21, 2010.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-9635 Filed 4-23-10; 8:45 am]
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