Applications for New Grants under the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 1890-0001(SC)

U.S. DEPARTMENTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20202-2800

----APPLICATION KIT FOR NEW GRANTS

UNDER

SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS

MODEL DEMONSTRATIONS FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY REUTILIZATION

AND

National Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center

CFDA NUMBER: 84.235V-1 and 84.235V-2

FORM APPROVED

OMB No. 1820-0018 EXP. DATE--------

SF FORM 424, 04/30/2009

DATED MATERIAL - OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLOSING DATE:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FIRST HALF OF APPLICATION PACKAGE PROGRAM SPECIFIC

SUBJECT SECTION

Dear Applicant Letter A

Notice of Final Priorities B

Notice Inviting Applications for Model Demonstration

Projects for Device Reutilization C

Selection Criteria for Applications for Model Demonstration

Projects for Device Reutilization D

Notice Inviting Applications for National

Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and

Technical Assistance Center E

Selection Criteria for Applications for National

Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and

Technical Assistance Center F

34 CFR section 373 G

REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Dear Applicant:

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) invites new applications under Special Demonstration Programs. Please take a few moments to read this letter carefully as it includes important information related to the grant competition.

The purpose of Special Demonstration Programs is to expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by supporting activities that increase the provision, extent, availability, scope, and quality of rehabilitation services. Under Special Demonstration Programs, RSA will fund model demonstrations for the reutilization of assistive technology and a technical assistance center to support these model demonstrations.

Please be sure your application addresses each of the following appropriately:

• The maximum funding levels contained in the Notices Inviting Application are strictly enforced. Failure to adhere to them will result in rejection of your application.

• Part III of the application narrative, is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria used by reviewers in evaluating the application. The applicant must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 50 pages for 84.235V-1 and 60 pages for 84.235V-2, using the following standards:

1. A “page” is 8.5” x 11”, on one side only with 1” margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.

2. You must 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.

If you use a proportional computer font, you may not use a font smaller than a 12-point font or an average character density greater than 18 characters per inch. If you use a nonproportional font or a typewriter, you may not use more than 12 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.

If, in order to meet the page limit, you use print size, spacing, or margins smaller than the standards specified in this notice, the Secretary will not consider your application for funding.

Please remember that peer reviewers are instructed that appendix material is to be considered supplemental material to support or show evidence supporting statements made in the

narrative. They are neither requested nor expected to consider appendix material in rating applications.

Applicants should become familiar with the selection criteria contained in this application kit (see Section D for 235V-1 or F for 235V-2). These criteria will be used by reviewers and Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) staff to evaluate all applications. Your application should respond to each identified criterion since failure to do so will put your application at a significant disadvantage. Reviewers of applications report that an application written in a format that follows the peer review criteria and contains a separate budget section, greatly facilitates the review process.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS (EDGAR)

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Special Demonstrations Programs grants are subject to the requirements of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations at 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86, 97, and 99. These regulations set forth all general rules affecting application submittal, review, grant awarding, and post-award administration of Department of Education grant programs.

Generally, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Special Demonstrations Programs grants are subject to the requirements for “Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs and Activities,” found in 34 CFR Part 79 of EDGAR. For these priorities, Intergovernmental Review has been waived.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants for multi-year projects are required to provide detailed budget information for each project year. The Department will determine at the time of the initial award, the funding levels for each year of the grant award. RSA requires annual performance and financial status reports, and uses those reports to determine progress and to make a decision as to whether or not to continue funding the project. These reports must be submitted to the designated RSA Project Officer.

APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

You must submit your application electronically. Please refer to the Notice Inviting Applications in this package for instructions submitting your application.

Applicants may contact the Competition Manager to discuss any matters relating to this competition. The Competition Manager is Jeremy Buzzell, who may be reached at (202) 245-7319.

Sincerely,

/s/

Thomas Finch, Ph.D.

Chief

Service Programs Unit

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

U.S. Department of Education

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

Please note that the Grants.gov site works differently than the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) e-Application system. To facilitate your use of Grants.gov, this document includes important submission procedures you need to be aware of to ensure your application is received in a timely manner and accepted by the Department of Education.

1. REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration is a one-time process that may take five or more days to complete. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application until all of the Get Started steps are complete. For detailed information on the Get Started Steps, please go to: http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted.

2. SUBMIT EARLY – We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application. Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then process it after it is fully uploaded. The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on a number of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application will vary as well. If Grants.gov rejects your application (see step three below), you will need to resubmit successfully before 4:30 pm on the deadline date.

Note: To submit successfully, you must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when your organization registered with the CCR (Central Contractor Registry).

3. VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK – You will want to verify that Grants.gov and the Department receive your Grants.gov submission timely and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your application was received, login to Grants.gov and click on the Check Application Status link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or Agency Tracking Number Assigned.

If the date/time received is later than 4:30 p.m. Washington, D.C. time, on the closing date, your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting validation by Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application has not been received successfully. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on the Grants.gov site: http://www.grants.gov/assets/ApplicationErrorTips.doc. If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the instructions below. Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail about the status of your application. Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your application has been received timely and validated successfully.

Submission Problems – What should you do?

If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or use the customer support available on the Web site: http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport.

If electronic submission is optional and you have problems that you are unable to resolve before the deadline date and time for electronic applications, please follow the transmittal instructions for hard copy applications in the Federal Register notice and get a hard copy application postmarked by midnight on the deadline date.

If electronic submission is required, you must submit an electronic application before 4:30 p.m., unless you follow the procedures in the Federal Register notice and 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. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

Please note, once you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your computer. Please be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to logon to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application. (This is different from e-Application, where you are working online and saving data to the Department’s database.) You must provide on your application the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered with the CCR.

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/ForApplicants for help with Grants.gov and click on the links in the lower right corner of the screen under Applicant Tips and Tools. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Submit Application Tips found on the Grants.gov homepage http://www.grants.gov.

Dial-Up Internet Connections

When using a dial up connection to upload and submit your application, it can take significantly longer than when you are connected to the Internet with a high-speed connection, e.g. cable modem/DSL/T1. While times will vary depending upon the size of your application, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to complete your grant submission using a dial up connection. If you do not have access to a high-speed connection and electronic submission is required, you may want to consider following the instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

MAC Users

If you do not have a Windows operating System, you will need to use a Windows Emulation program to submit an application using Grants.gov. For additional information, review the PureEdge Support for Macintosh white paper published by Pure Edge: http://www.grants.gov/GrantsGov_UST_Grantee/!SSL!/WebHelp/MacSupportforPureEdge.pdf, and/or contact Grants.gov Customer Support (http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport) for more information. If you do not have a Windows emulation program and electronic submission is required, please follow instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

SECTION B

NOTICE OF FINAL PRIORITIES

SECTION B

NOTICE OF FINAL PRIORITIES

4000‑01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Special Demonstration Programs--Model Demonstrations for Assistive Technology Reutilization

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priorities.

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) announces final priorities under the Special Demonstration Programs administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2006 and later years. This notice announces two priorities--a priority for model demonstrations for assistive technology (AT) device reutilization and a priority for a National Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center (Center). These priorities are intended to increase access to AT devices for individuals with disabilities. The term “AT devices” includes a wide range of AT, such as computers, durable medical equipment, augmentative and alternative communication, and other devices.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These priorities are effective September 18, 2006(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 via Internet:

[email protected]

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 contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The purpose of the Special Demonstration Programs is to provide financial assistance to projects that expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services for individuals with disabilities. The projects to be supported under these priorities are intended to improve the provision of AT to individuals with disabilities.

We published a notice of proposed priorities (NPP) for this program in the Federal Register on April 26, 2006 (71 FR 24800). The NPP included a background statement that described our rationale for each priority proposed in that notice. This notice of final priorities (NFP) contains several significant changes from the NPP. These changes are explained in the following Analysis of Comments and Changes.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

In response to our invitation in the NPP, 17 parties submitted comments on the proposed priorities. An analysis of the comments and of any changes in the priorities since publication of the NPP follows. We discuss substantive issues by topic under the number of the priority to which they pertain. Due to the nature and number of changes made in the priorities, OSERS significantly reorganized the priorities, including renumbering some sections and deleting others.

Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes and suggested changes the law does not authorize us to make under the applicable statutory authority.

Priority 1--Model Demonstrations for AT Device Reutilization

Priority 1--General

Comments: Four commenters recommended that the amount of funds to cover indirect costs be limited to no more than 10 percent of the grant award in order to ensure that most of the grant funds are used for direct services.

Discussion: It is not necessary to limit indirect costs in the final priority because 34 CFR 373.22 limits indirect costs to 10 percent of the total direct cost base or the grantee’s actual indirect costs, whichever is less.

Change: None.

Comment: One commenter requested greater specificity about requiring grantees to provide plans for sustaining their projects beyond the project period of this grant.

Discussion: Programs can be sustained in many ways, so OSERS agrees that a clarification of what is meant by this requirement will be helpful to potential applicants.

Change: OSERS replaced section (c) of Priority 1 with a new section (a)(ii) of Priority 1 to clarify that the project must be designed to sustain itself through its own activities beyond the project period of the grant.

Priority 1--Eligibility Requirements

Comments: Three commenters suggested that interstate collaborations be allowed to apply for grants under Priority 1.

Discussion: Eligible parties already are allowed to apply as a group pursuant to 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 and 34 CFR 373.2(a)(6).

Change: OSERS replaced section (b) of Priority 1 with new sections (a)(iii) and (a)(iv) of Priority 1 to clarify that projects may serve a State or group of States.

Comments: Three commenters suggested that grants be limited to one per State. One of these commenters would allow an exception if one project involved a single State and another involved that same State in a multi-State or regional project.

Discussion: Limiting grants to one per State may undermine the competitive grant process and reduce the quality of services to individuals with disabilities, because high quality applications from one State would be passed over for low quality applications from another State. Additionally, as is stated elsewhere in this notice, statewide delivery of services will not be a requirement of applicants. Limiting the grants to one per State may prevent a State from achieving more comprehensive services through multiple grants.

Change: None.

Priority 1--Scope of Services

Comments: Two commenters recommended that rather than requiring projects under Priority 1 to include all types of AT, serve people with all types of disabilities, and be statewide, that grantees be allowed to determine what AT they will reutilize, what types of disabilities will be served, and whether they will serve the entire State.

Discussion: OSERS understands that different capacities and expertise are required to reutilize particular types of devices. Additionally, it is possible that a project can best meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in particular areas of a State rather than on a statewide basis. Therefore, OSERS agrees that projects should have discretion to determine what types of devices they will reutilize and whether they have the capacity to serve statewide. However, individuals with diverse disabilities can benefit from similar devices; therefore, it is not appropriate to give States the discretion to limit the type of disability served.

Change: OSERS has removed language from section (a) of Priority 1 requiring that projects be statewide and recycle all types of AT.

Priority 1--Requirements for Project Operations

Comments: Three commenters recommended that grantees under Priority 1 be required to use professional technicians to refurbish the recycled devices.

Discussion: Existing device reutilization projects use various models to successfully reutilize AT devices and rely on a wide range of expertise. Given the diversity of programs nationally and the lack of agreed-upon best practices for device reutilization, imposing such a requirement would unfairly restrict applications from viable programs. However, OSERS agrees that it is important to encourage the establishment of best practices in the field of AT device reutilization.

Changes: OSERS deleted sections 1(d) and 2(a) of Priority 2 and added sections (a)(ii), (a)(iv), and (b)(iv) to Priority 2 to require the Center to investigate and nationally disseminate best practices and to explore the need for and feasibility of developing standards of practice.

Priority 1--Collaboration

Comments: Four commenters suggested that every grantee under Priority 1 be required to collaborate with the Statewide Assistive Technology Program (Statewide AT Program) funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended (AT Act), in their State, and two commenters recommended requiring an assurance from the Statewide AT Program in their State that the grantee’s application supplements and coordinates with the Statewide AT Program’s reutilization activities.

Discussion: Because Statewide AT Programs conduct reutilization activities, OSERS agrees that projects funded under Priority 1 should collaborate with Statewide AT Programs to ensure better services to individuals with disabilities in their States. However, requiring an applicant under Priority 1 to provide an assurance in its application from the Statewide AT Program in its State that the application supplements and coordinates these reutilization activities would unfairly limit applications and undermine the competitive process. Requiring such an assurance from the Statewide AT Program would allow the Statewide AT Program to determine what entities can apply under Priority 1 by agreeing to or refusing to provide an assurance to an entity.

Change: OSERS replaced section (b) of Priority 1, with a new section (a)(iii), which requires that grantees coordinate and collaborate with reutilization activities funded under the AT Act. However, an assurance from the grantee under the AT State Grant program will not be required as part of the application. OSERS also included in section (a)(iii) language from section (h) in the NPP requiring that funds be used to supplement and not supplant the efforts of the Statewide AT Program.

Comments: One commenter recommended including a list of partners with whom grantees funded under Priority 1 should be required to collaborate, including AT Act programs, alternative financing programs, vocational rehabilitation agencies, education agencies, and vendors. An additional two commenters suggested that grantees be required to partner with manufacturers and suppliers of AT to conduct reutilization.

Discussion: OSERS agrees that collaboration is important for projects funded under Priority 1.

Change: OSERS replaced section (b) with a new section (a)(iv), which requires that grantees collaborate with relevant entities as appropriate, including the National Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center funded under Priority 2, as well as State agencies that fund AT, alternative financing programs, vendors and manufacturers of AT, and other relevant entities and organizations.

Priority 1--Compliance with Regulations and Standards of Practice

Comments: Two commenters want to require grantees under Priority 1 to collaborate with manufacturers to establish standards for useful life by device type, minimum training and expertise for refurbishing and repair staff, and guidelines for training and education of clients and caregivers.

Discussion: OSERS agrees that it may be important to establish standards or best practices in device reutilization. However, if each project funded under Priority 1 works separately with manufacturers to establish standards, the standards will be inconsistent.

Change: OSERS added section (a)(iv) to Priority 2 to require the Center to explore the need for and feasibility of developing standards of practice.

Comments: Two commenters recommended that all grantees under Priority 1 be required to submit an assurance of compliance with all appropriate State and Federal requirements pertinent to the reuse, recycling, and sanitization of devices.

Discussion: While OSERS understands that projects may need assistance in understanding the appropriate State and Federal requirements, Priority 1 projects are subject to State and Federal requirements regardless of an additional assurance. Therefore, such an assurance is unnecessary. We believe it would be appropriate for the Center funded under Priority 2 to provide technical assistance to Priority 1 grantees on State and Federal requirements.

Change: OSERS has added sections (a)(iii) and (b)(iii) to Priority 2 requiring the Center funded under Priority 2 to disseminate information and to provide technical assistance related to relevant State and Federal requirements to projects funded under Priority 1.

Comments: Three commenters requested a requirement that all model demonstrations develop and maintain standards of practice and develop protocols for referrals to AT practitioners to provide evaluations.

Discussion: OSERS agrees that it may be important to develop standards of practice or procedures for referral. However, if each project funded under Priority 1 works separately to develop standards of practice or procedures for referrals, the standards and procedures will be inconsistent.

Change: OSERS added section (a)(iv) to Priority 2 to require the Center to explore the need for and feasibility of developing standards of practice for AT device reutilization nationally.

Priority 1--Data Collection and Reporting

Comments: Three commenters recommended that projects under Priority 1 be required to report to manufacturers when a reuse project has possession of a device and when a device has been involved in an injury or death.

Discussion: We agree that these types of reports may be beneficial. However, if each project funded under Priority 1 works separately with manufacturers to provide that information, reporting will not be standardized or reliable.

Change: OSERS added section (a)(v) to Priority 2 to require the Center to explore the necessity, feasibility, and development of reporting to AT manufacturers by Priority 1 grantees.

Comments: One commenter recommended that one data collection system be formed by RSA, the Center funded under Priority 2, and the grantees, rather than having each grantee form its own system. An additional commenter recommended that grantees under Priority 1 use common measurement standards that are developed by the Center under Priority 2.

Discussion: OSERS agrees that a unified system of measuring and collecting data should be developed, which was intended by the NPP.

Change: OSERS replaced section (d) in Priority 1 and section 1(g) in Priority 2 with a new section (b)(i) of Priority 1 and section (b)(v) of Priority 2 to clarify that RSA, the Center in Priority 2, and projects funded under Priority 1 will work together to develop a unified system of measuring and collecting data and to identify appropriate outcome measures and methods of collecting data.

Comments: Four commenters recommended that the data collection requirements for Priority 1 be the same as the data collection requirements for device reutilization programs under the AT Act. An additional three commenters wanted to require that Priority 1 projects identify and collect data to measure clinical outcomes of individuals served by device reutilization programs.

Discussion: OSERS believes that developing appropriate data collection requirements and identifying outcomes is important. OSERS agrees that data reported by projects funded under Priority 1, at a minimum, should meet the data collection requirements for device reutilization under the AT Act. However, restricting the data collection requirements solely to the requirements under the AT Act would limit the data collection before the full data needs of projects funded under Priority 1 have been explored. Additionally, while OSERS agrees that measuring outcomes, including clinical outcomes, of those served by reutilization programs may be important, outcome measurement will be inconsistent if grantees under Priority 1 separately develop methods of outcome measurement.

Change: OSERS eliminated specific data collection requirements by deleting sections (e) through (g) of Priority 1. Instead, OSERS added sections (b)(i) and (b)(ii) to Priority 1 and sections (b)(v) and (b)(vi) to Priority 2 to require that the Center funded under Priority 2 and projects funded under Priority 1 work together with RSA to develop a data collection system, including identifying appropriate outcomes and outcome measures.

Priority 2-- National AT Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center

Priority 2--Eligibility and Collaboration with Stakeholders

Comments: Three commenters wanted to require entities that apply under Priority 2 to have direct experience reutilizing devices in order to be eligible.

Discussion: While OSERS agrees that the expertise from those with direct experience reutilizing devices is important, eligibility requirements are established in section 303(b)(2)(A) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and 34 CFR 373.2.

Change: None.

Comments: Four commenters recommended that under Priority 2 the grantee be required to create an advisory and oversight committee comprised of stakeholders. An additional three commenters wanted to limit eligibility under Priority 2 to applicants who constitute a collaborative of entities that are stakeholders in reutilization of AT.

Discussion: OSERS agrees that the Center funded under Priority 2 should work with a variety of stakeholders. However, while the eligibility requirements established in 34 CFR 373.2 allow applications by consortia, OSERS does not believe it is appropriate to restrict applications to consortia of stakeholders. In addition, while OSERS believes that the Center should be required to collaborate with stakeholders, effective collaboration with stakeholders can be achieved in many ways. Therefore, OSERS does not believe that it is necessary to require the Center to have an advisory committee. The grantee should have discretion as to the method by which it collaborates and with whom it collaborates.

Changes: OSERS replaced sections 2(c) and 2(e) of Priority 2 with new sections (a) and (c)(v) of Priority 2 to clarify that collaboration with stakeholders is a requirement of the Center funded under Priority

2.

Priority 2--Scope of Work

Comments: Two commenters recommended that the Center be used to identify regulatory issues and ensure compliance. Discussion: OSERS agrees that the identification and dissemination of State and Federal requirements governing device reutilization is important and that this should be a key responsibility of the Center funded under Priority 2. However, while a Center can disseminate and provide technical assistance about requirements, it cannot enforce these requirements.

Change: OSERS replaced section 1(a) of Priority 2 with a new section (b), which includes (b)(iii) requiring the Center to disseminate information and provide technical assistance on compliance with State and Federal requirements regarding AT device utilization.

Comment: One commenter suggested funding Priority 2 prior to funding Priority 1 to identify regulatory issues and standards of practice prior to the operation of model demonstrations under Priority 1.

Discussion: There are many device reutilization projects already in existence, and there are many instances in which developing or expanding reutilization represents an immediate need for States. Further, OSERS believes that the projects funded under Priority 1 must be able to provide input into the development of any standards of practice. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to delay the funding of projects under Priority 1.

Change: None.

Comment: None.

Discussion: OSERS believes that reutilization of AT devices can be an important part of a national strategy to respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities involved in natural disasters. The Center funded under Priority 2 and the projects funded under Priority 1 present an opportunity to develop a coordinated effort to collect and distribute reutilized AT devices following a natural disaster.

Change: OSERS added section (c)(vi) to Priority 2 requiring the Center to develop a plan for device reutilization to meet the AT needs of individuals with disabilities who are affected by natural disasters.

Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in which we choose to use one or more of these priorities, we invite applications through a notice in the Federal Register. When inviting applications we designate each priority as absolute, competitive preference, or invitational. The effect of each type of priority follows:

Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority we consider only applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).

Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference priority we give competitive preference to an application by either (1) awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent to which the application meets the competitive priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets the competitive priority over an application of comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).

Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority we are particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).

PRIORITIES:

Priority 1--Model Demonstrations for AT Device Reutilization

This priority supports projects that propose model demonstrations to establish or expand AT device reutilization to serve consumers in a State or group of States. Projects funded under this priority must--

(a) Establish a new AT device reutilization project, expand an existing AT device reutilization project, or coordinate a partnership of AT device reutilization projects in a State or group of States, that--

(i) Meets the AT needs of individuals with disabilities without regard to type of disability;

(ii) Is designed to sustain itself through its own activities beyond the project period of the grant;

(iii) Coordinates and collaborates directly with, and supplements but does not supplant, reutilization activities in that State or group of States funded under section 4 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended; and

(iv) Coordinates and collaborates with providers of AT devices and AT services in the State or group of States and other relevant entities as appropriate, including the National AT Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center (Center) funded by the Department, as well as State agencies that fund AT, alternative financing programs, vendors and manufacturers of AT, and other relevant entities and organizations; and

2. Participate in data collection by--

(i) Working with RSA and the Center to develop a unified data collection system, including identifying appropriate outcomes and outcome measures; and

(ii) Collecting and reporting data on activities and outcomes as determined by RSA.

Priority 2--National AT Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center

This priority supports a National AT Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center that will address issues of national significance in AT device reutilization; provide technical assistance to AT device reutilization projects funded by the Department under the Model Demonstrations for AT Device Reutilization priority (Model Demonstrations Projects) and from other sources; and coordinate and network AT device reutilization projects funded both under the Model Demonstrations Projects and from other sources.

(a) To address issues of national significance in AT device reutilization, the Center funded under this priority must collaborate with public and private AT stakeholders (including providers of AT devices, AT services, and funding for AT at the State and Federal level; vendors and manufacturers of AT; and other relevant entities and organizations) to--

(i) Identify national issues that affect AT device reutilization;

(ii) Investigate the national scope, trends, best practices, and impact of AT device reutilization;

(iii) Identify Federal and State policies that affect AT device reutilization;

(iv) Explore the need for and feasibility of developing standards of practice for AT device reutilization nationally;

(v) Explore the necessity, feasibility, and development of reporting information to AT manufacturers; and

(vi) Address issues on the national level, such as building relationships among AT device vendors and manufacturers and projects funded under Model Demonstration Projects and working on liability and reimbursement issues.

(b) To provide technical assistance to reutilization projects funded both under Model Demonstrations Projects and from other sources, the Center funded under this priority must--

(i) Assist AT device reutilization projects with establishment, expansion, improvement, and sustainability by disseminating information about best practices and successful models for AT device reutilization;

(ii) Conduct follow-up activities that are designed to enable AT device reutilization programs to continue beyond the three years of Federal funding;

(iii) Disseminate information on Federal and State policies that affect AT device reutilization and how projects should ensure compliance with these policies;

(iv) Disseminate information on standards of practice in AT device reutilization, if applicable;

(v) Work with projects funded under Model Demonstrations Projects, stakeholders, and RSA to identify appropriate outcome measures and methods of collecting data; and

(vi) Work with RSA and grantees under Model Demonstrations Projects to develop a unified data collection system for use by these grantees.

(c) To coordinate and network reutilization projects funded under Model Demonstrations Projects and from other sources, the Center must--

(i) Establish a national network of statewide AT device reutilization systems funded under Model Demonstration Projects and supported by other entities;

(ii) Facilitate information and resource exchange among grantees;

(iii) Encourage interstate activities among grantees;

(iv) Nationally market and promote AT device reutilization to individuals with disabilities and other stakeholders;

(v) Collaborate with relevant national organizations and national networks; and

(vi) Develop a plan for how AT device reutilization projects can meet the AT needs of individuals with disabilities who are affected by natural disasters.

Executive Order 12866

This notice of final priorities has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we have assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.

The potential costs associated with the notice of final priorities are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as necessary for administering this program effectively and efficiently.

In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative and qualitative--of this notice of final priorities, we have determined that the benefits of the final priorities justify the costs.

We have also determined that this regulatory action does

not unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal

governments in the exercise of their governmental

functions.

Summary of potential costs and benefits

The potential costs associated with these final priorities are minimal, while the benefits are significant. Grantees will increase the number of individuals with disabilities who obtain the AT they need. Grantees may anticipate costs associated with completing the application process in terms of staff time, copying, and mailing or delivery. The use of electronic application technology reduces mailing and copying costs significantly.

Intergovernmental Review

This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.

This document provides early notification of our specific plans and actions for this program.

Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 373.

Electronic Access to This Document

You may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:

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

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.235V Special Demonstration Programs)

PROGRAM AUTHORITY: 29 U.S.C. 773(b).

Dated:

___________/s/___________________ John H. Hager,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

SECTION C

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR MODEL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR

DEVICE REUTILIZATION

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR MODEL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR DEVICE REUTILIZATION

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Overview Information

Special Demonstration Programs--Model Demonstrations for Assistive Technology (AT) Device Reutilization

Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year

(FY) 2006.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.235V-1

Dates:

Applications Available: August 18, 2006.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 18, 2006.

Eligible Applicants: The following types of organizations are eligible for assistance under this program:

(1) State vocational rehabilitation agencies.

(2) Community rehabilitation programs.

(3) Indian tribes or tribal organizations.

(4) Other public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, including institutions of higher education.

(5) For-profit organizations.

(6) Consortia that meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 and 75.129.

Estimated Available Funds: $2,000,000.

Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$200,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $150,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Special Demonstration Programs is to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services for individuals with disabilities.

Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priorities for this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.

This priority is:

Model Demonstrations for AT Device Reutilization

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b).

Applicable Regulations: (a) 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. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 373. (c) The notice of final priorities, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

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: $2,000,000.

Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$200,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $150,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: The following types of organizations are eligible for assistance under this program:

(1) State vocational rehabilitation agencies.

(2) Community rehabilitation programs.

(3) Indian tribes or tribal organizations.

(4) Other public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, including institutions of higher education.

(5) For-profit organizations.

(6) Consortia that meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 and 75.129.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost sharing or matching.

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: www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or you may contact ED Pubs 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 84.235V-1.

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 50 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: August 18, 2006.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 18, 2006.

Applications for grants under this competition 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 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 in this notice.

We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, in order to ensure that these FY 2006 grants are made before September 30, 2006, the 60-day intergovernmental review period has been waived.

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 Special Demonstration Programs--Model Demonstrations for AT Device Reutilization–CFDA Number 84.235V-1 must be submitted electronically using the 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 Special Demonstration Programs--Model Demonstrations for AT Device Reutilization at: http://www.grants.gov You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search.

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 time and date stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

• The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.

• You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf

• To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must complete all of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include (1) registering your organization, (2) registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov.

• 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 typically included on the following forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424--have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). 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 above 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 an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-mail that will include 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 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 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 as described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date, please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice under For Further Information Contact, and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). 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 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: Extensions referred to 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 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: Jeremy Buzzell, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5025, Potomac Center Plaza, 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 applicable following address:

By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.235V-1)

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 84.235V-1)

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 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 84.235V-1)

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 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 the appropriate place on the SF 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

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are 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 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. 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 specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118.

4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) 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. Given that little is known about appropriate outcomes of device reutilization, performance measures will be developed and implemented with the input of grantees and stakeholders during the grant period. Once developed, OSERS will require all grantees to use the same measures.

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: [email protected]

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: 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: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html

Dated:

________________/s/____________________

John H. Hager,

Assistant Secretary for

Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services.

SECTION D

Selection Criteria for Applications for Model Demonstration

Projects for Device Reutilization

SECTION D

Selection Criteria for Applications for Model Demonstration

Projects for Device Reutilization

The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Because no points are assigned to the selected

factors, the Secretary evaluates each factor within each criterion equally.

(a) Quality of the project design. (25 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs.

(iii) The quality of the proposed demonstration design and procedures for documenting project activities and results.

(iv) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating the proposed project will result in information to guide possible replication of project activities or strategies, including information about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the project.

(v) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of Federal financial assistance.

(vi) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources.

(vii) The extent to which the proposed project will establish linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing services to the target population.

(viii) The extent to which the proposed project encourages consumer involvement.

(ix) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.

(x) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.

(b) Quality of project services. (15 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services.

(ii) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.

(iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for maximizing the effectiveness of project services.

(iv) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are focused on those with greatest needs.

(c) Adequacy of resources. (15 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the lead applicant organization.

(ii) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.

(iii) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project.

(iv) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes, activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or organization at the end of Federal funding.

(v) The potential for continued support of the project after Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of appropriate entities to such support.

(d) Quality of the management plan. (25 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.

(ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project.

(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services from the proposed project.

(e) Quality of the project evaluation. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.

(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate to the context within which the project operates.

(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.

(iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible.

(v) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide timely guidance for quality assurance.

(vi) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes.

(vii) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other settings.

SECTION E

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR DEVICE REUTLIZATION COORDINATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR DEVICE REUTLIZATION COORDINATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Overview Information

Special Demonstration Programs--National Assistive Technology (AT) Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center

Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year

(FY) 2006.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.235V-2

Dates:

Applications Available: August 18, 2006.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 18, 2006.

Eligible Applicants: The following types of organizations are eligible for assistance under this program:

(1) State vocational rehabilitation agencies.

(2) Community rehabilitation programs.

(3) Indian tribes or tribal organizations.

(4) Other public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, including institutions of higher education.

(5) For-profit organizations.

(6) Consortia that meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 and 75.129.

Estimated Available Funds: $258,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Special Demonstration Programs is to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services for individuals with disabilities.

Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priorities for this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.

This priority is:

National Assistive Technology (AT) Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b).

Applicable Regulations: (a) 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. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 373. (c) The notice of final priorities, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

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: Cooperative agreement.

Estimated Available Funds: $258,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: The following types of organizations are eligible for assistance under this program:

(1) State vocational rehabilitation agencies.

(2) Community rehabilitation programs.

(3) Indian tribes or tribal organizations.

(4) Other public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, including institutions of higher education.

(5) For-profit organizations.

(6) Consortia that meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 and 75.129.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost sharing or matching.

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: www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or you may contact ED Pubs 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 84.235V-2.

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 60 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: August 18, 2006.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: (September 18, 2006.

Applications for grants under this competition 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 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 in this notice.

We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, in order to ensure that these FY 2006 grants are made before September 30, 2006, the 60-day intergovernmental review period has been waived.

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 Special Demonstration Programs--National AT Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center-CFDA Number 84.235V-2 must be submitted electronically using the 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 Special Demonstration Programs--National AT Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center at: http://www.grants.gov You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search.

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 time and date stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

• The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.

• You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf

• To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must complete all of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include (1) registering your organization, (2) registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov.

• 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 typically included on the following forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424--have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). 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 above 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 an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-mail that will include 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 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 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 as described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date, please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice under For Further Information Contact, and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). 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 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: Extensions referred to 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 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: Jeremy Buzzell, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5025, Potomac Center Plaza, 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 applicable following address:

By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.235V-2)

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 84.235V-2)

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 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 84.235V-2)

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 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 the appropriate place on the SF 424 the CFDA number – and suffix letter, if any – of the competition under which you are submitting your application.

3. 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

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are 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 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. 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 specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118.

4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) 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. Given that little is known about appropriate outcomes of device reutilization, performance measures will be developed and implemented with the input of the grantee and stakeholders during the grant period. Once developed, OSERS will require all grantees to use the same measures.

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: [email protected]

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: 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: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html

Dated:

___/s/_________________

John H. Hager,

Assistant Secretary for

Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services.

SECTION F

Selection Criteria for Applications for National Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center

Selection Criteria for Applications for National Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center

The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Because no points are assigned to the selected

factors, the Secretary evaluates each factor within each criterion equally.

(a) Quality of the project design. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs.

(iii) The quality of the proposed demonstration design and procedures for documenting project activities and results.

(iv) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of Federal financial assistance.

(v) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources.

(vi) The extent to which the proposed project will establish linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing services to the target population.

(vii) The extent to which the proposed project encourages consumer involvement.

(viii) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.

(ix) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.

(b) Quality of project services. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services.

(ii) The extent to which entities that are to be served by the proposed technical assistance project demonstrate support for the project.

(iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.

(iv) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.

(v) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for maximizing the effectiveness of project services.

(vi) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the leveraging of non-project resources.

(vii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are focused on those with greatest needs.

(c) Quality of project personnel. (10 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or principal investigator.

(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel.

(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.

(d) Adequacy of resources. (10 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the lead applicant organization.

(ii) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.

(iii) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project.

(iv) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes, activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or organization at the end of Federal funding.

(v) The potential for continued support of the project after Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of appropriate entities to such support.

(e) Quality of the management plan. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.

(ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project.

(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services from the proposed project.

(iv) The extent to which the time commitments of the project director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project.

(v) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of services, or others, as appropriate.

(f) Quality of the project evaluation. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.

(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate to the context within which the project operates.

(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.

(iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible.

(v) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide timely guidance for quality assurance.

(vi) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes.

(vii) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other settings.

SECTION G

34 CFR part 373

34 CFR part 373

TITLE 34--EDUCATION

REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PART 373--SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS

Subpart A--General

Sec.

373.1 What is the purpose of the Special Demonstration Programs?

373.2 Who is eligible for assistance?

373.3 What regulations apply?

373.4 What definitions apply?

373.5 Who is eligible to receive services and to benefit from activities

conducted by eligible entities?

373.6 What are the priorities and other factors and requirements for

competitions?

Subpart B--How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

373.10 What selection criteria does the Secretary use?

373.11 What other factors does the Secretary consider when making a

grant?

Subpart C--What Conditions Must Be Met by a Grantee?

373.20 What are the matching requirements?

373.21 What are the reporting requirements?

373.22 What are the limitations on indirect costs?

373.23 What additional requirements must be met?

373.24 What are the special requirements pertaining to the protection,

use, and release of personal information?

Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b), unless otherwise noted.

Source: 65 FR 77433, Dec. 11, 2000, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A--General

Sec. 373.1 What is the purpose of the Special Demonstration Programs?

The purpose of this program is to provide competitive grants to, or

enter into contracts with, eligible entities to expand and improve the

provision of rehabilitation and other services authorized under the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), or to further the purposes

and policies in sections 2(b) and (c) of the Act by supporting

activities that increase the provision, extent, availability, scope, and

quality of rehabilitation services under the Act, including related

research and evaluations activities.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 701(b) and (c), 711(c), and 773(b))

Sec. 373.2 Who is eligible for assistance?

(a) The following types of organizations are eligible for assistance

under this program:

(1) State vocational rehabilitation agencies.

(2) Community rehabilitation programs.

(3) Indian tribes or tribal organizations.

(4) Other public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, including

institutions of higher education.

(5) For-profit organizations, if the Secretary considers them to be appropriate.

(6) Consortia that meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 and 75.129.

(7) Other organizations identified by the Secretary and published in

the Federal Register.

(b) In competitions held under this program, the Secretary may limit

competitions to one or more types of these organizations.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 773(b)(2))

Sec. 373.3 What regulations apply?

The following regulations apply to this program:

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations

(EDGAR) as follows:

(1) 34 CFR part 74 (Administration of Grants and Agreements with

Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-profit

Organizations).

(2) 34 CFR part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).

(3) 34 CFR part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department

Regulations).

(4) 34 CFR part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of

Education Programs and Activities).

(5) 34 CFR part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants

and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).

(6) 34 CFR part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).

(7) 35 CFR part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).

(8) 34 CFR part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension

(Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace

(Grants)).

[[Page 407]]

(9) 34 CFR part 86 (Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention).

(10) 34 CFR part 97 (Protection of Human Subjects).

(11) 34 CFR part 99 (Family Educational Rights and Privacy).

(b) The regulations in this part 373.

(c) The regulations in 48 CFR part 31 (Contracts Cost Principles and

Procedures).

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c))

Sec. 373.4 What definitions apply?

The following definitions apply to this part:

Act means the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.)

Early intervention means a service delivery or model demonstration

program for adults with disabilities designed to begin the

rehabilitation services as soon as possible after the onset or

identification of actually or potentially disabling conditions. The

populations served may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Individuals with chronic and progressive diseases that may

become more disabling, such as multiple sclerosis, progressive visual

disabilities, or HIV.

(b) Individuals in the acute stages of injury or illness, including,

but not limited to, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, stroke, burns, or

amputation.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c))

Employment outcome is defined in 34 CFR 361.5.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c))

Individual with a disability is defined as follows:

(a) For an individual who will receive rehabilitation services under

this part, an individual with a disability means an individual--

(1) Who has a physical or mental impairment which, for that

individual, constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to

employment; and

(2) Who can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from

vocational rehabilitation services.

(b) For all other purposes of this part, an individual with a

disability means an individual--

(1) Who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially

limits one or more major life activities;

(2) Who has a record of such an impairment; or

(3) Who is regarded as having such an impairment.

(c) For purposes of paragraph (b) of this definition, projects that

carry out services or activities pertaining to Title V of the Act must

also meet the requirements for ``an individual with a disability'' in

section 7(20)(c) through (e) of the Act, as applicable.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C 705(20)(A) and (B))

Individual with a significant disability means an individual--

(a) Who has a severe physical or mental impairment that seriously

limits one or more functional capacities (such as mobility,

communication, self-care, self-direction, interpersonal skills, work

tolerance, or work skills) in terms of an employment outcome;

(b) Whose vocational rehabilitation can be expected to require

multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of

time; and

(c) Who has one or more physical or mental disabilities resulting

from amputation, arthritis, autism, blindness, burn injury, cancer,

cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, deafness, head injury, heart disease,

hemiplegia, hemophilia, respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction, mental

retardation, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy,

musculo-skeletal disorders, neurological disorders (including stroke and

epilepsy), paraplegia, quadriplegia and other spinal cord conditions,

sickle-cell anemia, specific learning disabilities, end-stage renal

disease, or another disability or combination of disabilities determined

on the basis of an assessment for determining eligibility and vocational

rehabilitation needs to cause comparable substantial functional

limitation.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 705(21)(A))

Informed choice means the provision of activities whereby

individuals with disabilities served by projects under this part have

the opportunity to be

[[Page 408]]

active, full partners in the rehabilitation process, making meaningful

and informed choices as follows:

(a) During assessments of eligibility and vocational rehabilitation

needs.

(b) In the selection of employment outcomes, services needed to

achieve the outcomes, entities providing these services, and the methods

used to secure these services.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c))

Rehabilitation services means services provided to an individual

with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an

employment outcome that is consistent with the strengths, resources,

priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed

choice of the individual. Rehabilitation services for an individual with

a disability may include--

(a) An assessment for determining eligibility and vocational

rehabilitation needs by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate,

an assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology;

(b) Counseling and guidance, including information and support

services to assist an individual in exercising informed choice;

(c) Referral and other services to secure needed services from other

agencies;

(d) Job-related services, including job search and placement

assistance, job retention services, follow-up services, and follow-along

services;

(e) Vocational and other training services, including the provision

of personal and vocational adjustment services, books, tools, and other

training materials;

(f) Diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental impairments;

(g) Maintenance for additional costs incurred while the individual

is receiving services;

(h) Transportation;

(i) On-the-job or other related personal assistance services;

(j) Interpreter and reader services;

(k) Rehabilitation teaching services, and orientation and mobility

services;

(l) Occupational licenses, tools, equipment, and initial stocks and

supplies;

(m) Technical assistance and other consultation services to conduct

market analysis, develop business plans, and otherwise provide resources

to eligible individuals who are pursuing self-employment or

telecommuting or establishing a small business operation as an

employment outcome;

(n) Rehabilitation technology, including telecommunications,

sensory, and other technological aids and devices;

(o) Transition services for individuals with disabilities that

facilitate the achievement of employment outcomes;

(p) Supported employment services;

(q) Services to the family of an individual with a disability

necessary to assist the individual to achieve an employment outcome;

(r) Post-employment services necessary to assist an individual with

a disability to retain, regain, or advance in employment; and

(s) Expansion of employment opportunities for individuals with

disabilities, which includes, but is not limited to--

(1) Self-employment, business ownership, and entreprenuership;

(2) Non-traditional jobs, professional employment, and work

settings;

(3) Collaborating with employers, Economic Development Councils, and

others in creating new jobs and career advancement options in local job

markets through the use of job restructuring and other methods; and

(4) Other services as identified by the Secretary and published in

the Federal Register.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 723(a))

Substantial impediment to employment means that a physical or mental

impairment (in light of attendant medical, psychological, vocational,

educational, and other related factors) hinders an individual from

preparing for, entering into, engaging in, or retaining employment

consistent with the individual's capacities and abilities.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 705(20)(A))

Youth or Young adults with disabilities means individuals with

disabilities who

[[Page 409]]

are between the ages of 16 and 26 inclusive when entering the program.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 723(a))

Sec. 373.5 Who is eligible to receive services and to benefit from

activities conducted by eligible entities?

(a)(1) For projects that provide rehabilitation services or

activities to expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation

services and other services authorized under Titles I, III, and VI of

the Act, individuals are eligible who meet the definition in paragraph

(a) of an ``individual with a disability'' as stated in Sec. 373.4.

(2) For projects that provide independent living services or

activities, individuals are eligible who meet the definition in

paragraph (b) of an ``individual with a disability'' as stated in Sec.

373.4.

(3) For projects that provide other services or activities that

further the purposes of the Act, individuals are eligible who meet the

definition in paragraph (b) of an ``individual with a disability'' as

stated in Sec. 373.4.

(b) By publishing a notice in the Federal Register, the Secretary

may identify individuals determined to be eligible under one or more of

the provisions in paragraph (a) of this section.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 723(a))

Sec. 373.6 What are the priorities and other factors and requirements

for competitions?

(a)(1) In making an award, the Secretary may limit competitions to,

or otherwise give priority to, one or more of the priority projects

listed in paragraph (b) of this section that are identified by the

Secretary and published in a notice in the Federal Register.

(2) The Secretary also will identify in the notice the following:

(i) Specific required priority project activities authorized under

section 303 of the Act that the applicant must conduct for the priority

project to be approved for funding.

(ii) Any of the additional factors listed in paragraph (c) of this

section that the Secretary may consider in making an award.

(b) Priority projects are as follows:

(1) Special projects of service delivery.

(2) Model demonstration.

(3) Technical assistance.

(4) Systems change.

(5) Special studies, research, or evaluations.

(6) Dissemination and utilization.

(7) Replication.

(8) Special projects and demonstration of service delivery for

adults who are low-functioning and deaf or low-functioning and hard of

hearing.

(9) Supported employment.

(10) Model transitional rehabilitation services for youth and young

adults with disabilities.

(11) Expansion of employment opportunities for individuals with

disabilities, as authorized in paragraph (s) of the definition of

``rehabilitation services'' as stated in Sec. 373.4.

(12) Projects to promote meaningful access of individuals with

disabilities to employment-related services under Title I of the

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and under other Federal laws.

(13) Innovative methods of promoting achievement of high-quality

employment outcomes.

(14) The demonstration of the effectiveness of early intervention

activities in improving employment outcomes.

(15) Projects to find alternative methods of providing affordable

transportation services to individuals with disabilities.

(16) Other projects that will expand and improve the provision,

extent, availability, scope, and quality of rehabilitation and other

services under the Act or that further the purpose and policy of the Act

as stated in section 2(b) and (c) of the Act.

(c) The Secretary may identify and publish in the Federal Register

for specific projects listed in paragraph (b) of this section one or

more of the following factors, including any specific elements defining

any factor (e.g., the Secretary may identify ages 16 through 21 to be

the specific age range for a particular competition):

(1) Specific stages of the rehabilitation process.

(2) Unserved and underserved populations.

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(3) Unserved and underserved geographical areas.

(4) Individuals with significant disabilities.

(5) Low-incidence disability populations.

(6) Individuals residing in federally designated Empowerment Zones

and Enterprise Communities.

(7) Types of disabilities.

(8) Specific age ranges.

(9) Other specific populations and geographical areas.

(d) The Secretary may require that an applicant certify that the

project does not include building upon or expanding activities that have

previously been conducted or funded, for that applicant or in that

service area.

(e) The Secretary may require that the project widely disseminate

the methods of rehabilitation service delivery or model proven to be

effective, so that they may be adapted, replicated, or purchased under

fee-for-service arrangements by State vocational rehabilitation agencies

and other disability organizations in the project's targeted service

area or other locations.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 773(b)(4) and (5))

Subpart B--How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

Sec. 373.10 What selection criteria does the Secretary use?

The Secretary publishes in the Federal Register or includes in the

application package the selection criteria for each competition under

this program. To evaluate the applications for new grants under this

program, the Secretary may use the following:

(a) Selection criteria established under 34 CFR 75.209.

(b) Selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210.

(c) Any combination of selection criteria from paragraphs (a) and

(b) of this section.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 723(a))

Sec. 373.11 What other factors does the Secretary consider when making

a grant?

(a) The Secretary funds only those applications submitted in

response to competitions announced in the Federal Register.

(b) The Secretary may consider the past performance of the applicant

in carrying out activities under previously awarded grants.

(c) The Secretary awards bonus points if identified and published in

the Federal Register for specific competitions.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 723(a))

Subpart C--What Conditions Must Be Met By a Grantee?

Sec. 373.20 What are the matching requirements?

The Secretary may make grants to pay all or part of the cost of

activities covered under this program. If the Secretary determines that

the grantee is required to pay part of the costs, the amount of grantee

participation is specified in the application notice, and the Secretary

will not require grantee participation to be more than 10 percent of the

total cost of the project.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 723(a))

Sec. 373.21 What are the reporting requirements?

(a) In addition to the program and fiscal reporting requirements in

EDGAR that are applicable to projects funded under this program, the

Secretary may require that recipients of grants under this part submit

information determined by the Secretary to be necessary to measure

project outcomes and performance, including any data needed to comply

with the Government Performance and Results Act.

(b) Specific reporting requirements for competitions will be

identified by the Secretary and published in the Federal Register.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 776)

Sec. 373.22 What are the limitations on indirect costs?

(a) Indirect cost reimbursement for grants under this program is

limited to the recipient's actual indirect costs, as determined by its

negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, or 10 percent of the total

direct cost base, whichever amount is less.

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(b) Indirect costs in excess of the 10 percent limit may be used to

satisfy matching or cost-sharing requirements.

(c) The 10 percent limit does not apply to federally recognized

Indian tribal governments and their tribal representatives.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c))

Sec. 373.23 What additional requirements must be met?

(a) Each grantee must do the following:

(1) Ensure equal access and treatment for eligible project

participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been

underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or

disabilities.

(2) Encourage applications for employment from persons who are

members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on

race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disabilities.

(3) Advise individuals with disabilities who are applicants for or

recipients of the services, or the applicants' representatives or the

individuals' representatives, of the availability and purposes of the

Client Assistance Program, including information on means of seeking

assistance under that program.

(4) Provide, through a careful appraisal and study, an assessment

and evaluation of the project that indicates the significance or worth

of processes, methodologies, and practices implemented by the project.

(b) A grantee may not make a subgrant under this part. However, a

grantee may contract for supplies, equipment, and other services, in

accordance with 34 CFR part 74, subpart C--Post-Award Requirements,

Procurement Standards.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c) and 717)

Sec. 373.24 What are the special requirements pertaining to the

protection, use, and release of personal information?

(a) All personal information about individuals served by any project

under this part, including lists of names, addresses, photographs, and

records of evaluation, must be confidential.

(b) The use of information and records concerning individuals must

be limited only to purposes directly connected with the project,

including project reporting and evaluation activities. This information

may not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, other than in the

administration of the project unless the consent of the agency providing

the information and the individual to whom the information applies, or

his or her representative, has been obtained in writing. The Secretary

or other Federal officials responsible for enforcing legal requirements

have access to this information without written consent being obtained.

The final products of the project may not reveal any personal

identifying information without written consent of the individual or his

or her representative.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 711(c))

Program Application Indirect Cost Instructions

The Department of Education (ED) reimburses grantees for its portion of indirect costs that a grantee incurs. Any grantee charging indirect costs to a grant from this program must use the indirect cost rate (ICR), negotiated with its cognizant agency, i.e., either the Federal agency from which it has received the most direct funding, subject to indirect cost support, the particular agency specifically assigned cognizance by the Office of Management and Budget or the State agency that provides the most subgrant funds to the grantee.

Note: Applicants should pay special attention to specific questions on the application budget form (ED 524) about their cognizant agency and the ICR they are using in their budget.

If an applicant selected for funding under this program has not already established a current ICR with its cognizant agency as a result of current or previous funding, ED will require it to do so within 90 days after the date the grant was issued by ED. Applicants should be aware that ED is very often not the cognizant agency for its own grantees. Rather, ED accepts, for the purpose of funding its awards, the current ICR established by the appropriate cognizant agency.

An applicant that has not previously established an indirect cost rate with the Federal government or a State agency under a Federal program and that is selected for funding will not be allowed to charge its grant for indirect costs until it has negotiated a current indirect cost rate agreement with its cognizant agency.

Applicants are encouraged to use their accountant (or CPA) to calculate an indirect cost rate using information in the IRS Form 990, audited financial statements, actual cost data or a cost policy statement that such applicants are urged to prepare (but NOT submit to ED) during the application process.

Applicants should use this proposed rate in their application materials and indicate which of the above methods was used to calculate the rate. Guidance for creating a cost policy statement can be obtained by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Applicants with questions about using indirect cost rates under this program should contact the program contact person shown elsewhere in this application package or in the Federal Register application notice of MM/DD/YYYY, (FILL IN FED REG CITE HERE).