[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22084-22090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9625]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training:
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information: Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-
Term Training notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2011.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.129 B, L,
P, and Q.
Note: This notice invites applications for four separate
competitions. For funding information regarding each of the four
competitions, refer to the chart under Award Information in section
II of this notice.
DATES: Applications Available: April 20, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 6, 2011. Deadline
for Intergovernmental Review: August 3, 2011.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program
(Training Program) provides financial assistance for--
(1) Projects that provide basic or advanced training leading to an
academic degree in areas of personnel shortages in rehabilitation as
identified by the Secretary;
(2) Projects that provide a specified series of courses or program
of study leading to the award of a certificate in areas of personnel
shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary; and
(3) Projects that provide support for medical residents enrolled in
residency training programs in the specialty of physical medicine and
rehabilitation.
Priorities: This notice includes two absolute priorities, one
competitive preference priority, and one invitational priority. In
order to receive funding under any of the competitions announced in
this notice, an applicant must meet Absolute Priority 1. An
[[Page 22085]]
applicant for funding under CFDA No. 84.129B (Rehabilitation
Counseling) also must meet Absolute Priority 2.
Absolute Priority 1: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii),
this priority is from 34 CFR 386.1. For FY 2011 and any subsequent year
in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from these
competitions, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training programs designed to provide
academic training in areas of personnel shortages.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for each competition, we consider only
applications that propose to provide training in the priority areas of
personnel shortages listed in the following chart.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFDA No. Priority area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.129B.......................... Rehabilitation Counseling.
84.129L.......................... Undergraduate Education in the
Rehabilitation Services.
84.129P.......................... Specialized Personnel for
Rehabilitation of Individuals who
are Blind or Have Vision
Impairments.
84.129Q.......................... Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are
Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolute Priority 2 (CFDA No. 84.129B): This priority is from the
notice of final priority for this program, published in the Federal
Register on January 15, 2003 (68 FR 2166). For FY 2011 and any
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from the competition for CFDA No. 84.129B, this priority is
an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for this competition,
we consider only applications that meet this absolute priority and
Absolute Priority 1.
This priority is:
Partnership with the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
(84.129B--Rehabilitation Counseling).
This priority supports projects that will increase the knowledge of
students of the role and responsibilities of the vocational
rehabilitation (VR) counselor and of the benefits of counseling in
State VR agencies. This priority focuses attention on and intends to
strengthen the unique role of rehabilitation educators and State VR
agencies in the preparation of qualified VR counselors by increasing or
creating ongoing collaboration between institutions of higher education
and State VR agencies.
Projects funded under this priority must include within the degree
program information about and experience in the State VR system.
Projects must include partnering activities for students with the State
VR agency including experiential activities, such as formal internships
or practicum agreements. In addition, experiential activities for
students with community-based rehabilitation service providers are
encouraged.
Projects must include an evaluation of the impact of project
activities.
Competitive Preference Priority: This competitive preference
priority is from the notice of final supplemental priorities and
definitions for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal
Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486). For FY 2011 and any
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition, this priority is a competitive
preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an
additional 5 points to an application that meets this priority.
This priority is:
Building Evidence of Effectiveness.
Projects that propose evaluation plans that are likely to produce
valid and reliable evidence in the following priority area:
Identifying and improving practices, strategies, and policies that
may contribute to improving outcomes.
Under this priority, at a minimum, the outcome of interest is to be
measured multiple times before and after the treatment for project
participants and, where feasible, for a comparison group of non-
participants.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in which
we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105 (c) (1), we do not give an application that meets this
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications.
This priority is:
Demonstrating Evidence of a High-Quality Plan for a Successful
Long-Term Rehabilitation Training Program.
The Department invites applicants to provide detailed plans on how
they will ensure the quality of VR training funded by this grant and
improve employment outcomes for students. We encourage applicants to
include the following in their applications--
(a) A detailed recruitment plan that discusses how the applicant
will recruit students into its VR training program and how it will
address enrollment shortages;
(b) A comprehensive plan that details how many students the
applicant plans to enroll in its training program and fund using these
grant funds and how the applicant will ensure that students not only
stay enrolled in the program but graduate with a degree in a specific
area of study related to VR;
(c) A detailed plan on how the applicant will assist students in
finding employment in a State VR Agency or other VR employment that is
considered ``acceptable'' under the provisions of the RSA Scholar
Payback Program; and
(d) An explanation of how the applicant plans to track students
after graduation or termination from its training program and collect
the employment information required for the annual RSA Scholar Payback
Program report.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
In deciding whether to continue funding any Long-Term Training
program for the fourth and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), and in addition--
(a) The recommendation of the RSA project officer who will monitor
the reported annual performance of the grantee's training program and
measure it against the projections stated in the grantee's application.
This includes the number of students actually enrolled in the grantee's
training program and the number of students who successfully enter
employment with State VR Agencies.
(b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of
the grant award have been or are being met by the grantee, including
the submission of annual performance reports and annual RSA Scholar
Payback Program reports, and adherence to fiduciary responsibilities
related to the budget submitted in the application; and
(c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the grantee's
training program and activities and the degree to which the training
program and activities and their outcomes have contributed to
significantly improving the quality of VR professionals ready for
employment with State VR Agencies. This will be measured by the
percentage of students entering employment deemed acceptable for
fulfilling the payback obligation.
Grantees must also provide assurances that they will abide by all
of the administrative and performance reporting requirements associated
with the RSA Payback report and will retain all the necessary
documentation including the Scholars Agreement and Exit forms and any
other documentation necessary to ensure students understand their
financial liabilities under this program (34 CFR part 386).
[[Page 22086]]
Note: While applicants may not hire staff or select trainees
based on race or national origin/ethnicity, they may conduct
outreach activities to increase the pool of eligible minority
candidates. RSA may disqualify and not consider for funding any
applicant that indicates that it will hire or train a certain number
or percentage of minority candidates.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34
CFR parts 385 and 386. (c) The notice of final priority for this
program, published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2003 (68 FR
2166). (d) The notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions
for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal Register on
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486).
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 Awards: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$33,251,000 for the Training Program for FY 2011, of which we intend to
use an estimated $1,150,000 for these competitions. 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 before the end of the current fiscal year if Congress
appropriates funds for this program.
Note: Please refer to the ``Maximum Award'' column of the chart
in this section for the estimated dollar amounts for individual
competitions.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications for the competitions announced in this notice, we may make
additional awards in FY 2011 from the lists of unfunded applicants from
individual competitions.
Estimated Range of Awards: $75,000-$150,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000.
Maximum Award: See chart.
Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program Application Notice for Fiscal
Year 2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum
award (per Estimated
CFDA No. Priority area budget number of
year) awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.129B............. Rehabilitation 150,000 5
Counseling.
84.129L............. Undergraduate Education 100,000 1
in the Rehabilitation
Services.
84.129P............. Specialized Personnel 100,000 1
for Rehabilitation of
Individuals who are
Blind or Have Vision
Impairments.
84.129Q............. Rehabilitation of 100,000 2
Individuals Who are
Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the
maximum amount for each individual competition for a single budget
period of 12 months. For projects funded under 84.129B, the maximum
amount for a single budget period of 12 months is $150,000. For all
other competitions in this notice, the maximum amount is $100,000 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 Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice. The Secretary may decide to increase or decrease the number
of grants awarded in each specific priority area based on factors
such as the quality of the applications received.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States and public or nonprofit agencies and
organizations, including Indian tribes and institutions of higher
education.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing of at least 10 percent of
the total cost of the project is required of grantees under the
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program. The Secretary may waive part
of the non-Federal share of the cost of the project after negotiations
if the applicant demonstrates that it does not have sufficient
resources to contribute the entire match (34 CFR 386.30).
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 by 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 the 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: 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 package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify the competition as follows: CFDA number 84.129 B, L, P, or Q.
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 these competitions.
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.
[[Page 22087]]
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 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, the references, 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 20,
2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 6, 2011.
Applications for grants under these competitions must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). 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. 7. 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 3, 2011.
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 these competitions.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant
database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number
can be created within one business day.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take
three or more business days to complete.
In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov,
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
these competitions 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 Training:
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training competitions--CFDA numbers 84.129 B,
L, P, and Q must be submitted electronically using 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.
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.
You may access the electronic grant application for the
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training competitions
at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable
application package for these competitions by the CFDA number. Do not
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for
84.129, not 84.129B).
Please note the following:
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
[[Page 22088]]
submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the
application package for these competitions 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
under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home page at http://www.G5.gov.
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 .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a
file type other than a .PDF or submit a password-protected file, we
will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
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 the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system; 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
prevent 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: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5055, 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 84.129 B, L, P, or Q), 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 84.129 B, L, P, or Q), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
[[Page 22089]]
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 these
competitions are from 34 CFR 75.210 and 34 CFR 386.20 and are listed in
the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
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: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) 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
of 1993 (GPRA) directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the
effectiveness of programs by engaging in strategic planning, setting
outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program results
against those goals.
The goal of the Rehabilitation Services Administration's (RSA)
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program is
to increase the number of qualified VR personnel, including counselors
and other professional staff, working in State VR or related agencies.
At least 75 percent of all grant funds must be used for direct payment
of student scholarships.
Grantees are required to track current and former RSA scholars and
maintain accurate information on them from the time they are enrolled
in the program until they successfully meet their payback requirements.
Specifically, each grantee is required to maintain information on the
cumulative support granted to RSA scholars, scholar debt in years,
program completion date and reason for exit for each scholar, dates
each scholar's work begins and is completed to meet his or her payback
agreement, type of employment scholars attain, all current contact
information for scholars including home address, and the place of
employment of individual scholars.
Grantees are required to report annually to RSA on these data
elements using the RSA Grantee Reporting Form, OMB number 1820-0617, an
electronic reporting system supported by the RSA Management Information
System (RSA MIS). The RSA Grantee Reporting Form collects specific
data, including the number of RSA scholars entering the rehabilitation
workforce, the rehabilitation field each scholar enters, and the type
of employment setting each scholar chooses (e.g., State agency,
nonprofit service provider, or practice group). This form allows RSA to
measure results against the goal of increasing the number of qualified
VR personnel working in State VR and related agencies.
All Rehabilitation Long-Term Training grantees must also submit
information in their annual report that details their relationship with
State VR agencies including any information demonstrating articulation
agreements, internships for RSA scholars, or employment of program
graduates in the State VR agency. Grantees must also include evidence
that they are recruiting, admitting and graduating students who intend
to secure employment with State VR agencies and provide evidence that
they understand students must pay back their scholarship through
acceptable employment.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
[[Page 22090]]
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. Department of
Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., room 5055, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-
7258 or by e-mail: [email protected].
If you use a TDD, call the 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 Service 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: 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 via the Federal Digital System
at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site 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). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
Dated: April 15, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-9625 Filed 4-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P