Research Fellowships (F)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20202-2575

FY 2007 APPLICATION KIT FOR NEW GRANTS

UNDER

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM

CFDA NUMBER: 84.133F

FORM APPROVED

OMB No. 1820-0027, EXP. DATE 02/28/2007

ED FORM 424, 02/28/2008

DATED MATERIAL - OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLOSING DATE: XXX X, 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section A Dear Applicant Letter……

Section B Notice Inviting Applications……

Page B-X: Program Requirements

Page B-X: Instructions for Applications

Page B-X: Instructions for Grants.gov

Page B-X: Instructions for Transmitting Paper Copies of the Application

Section C Selection Criteria ……

SECTION

A

DEAR APPLICANT LETTER

Dear Applicant:

The Secretary invites applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2007 under the Research Fellowship program (84.133F), also known as the Mary E. Switzer Fellowship.

Prior to completing the grant application, please review the Federal Register Notice included in this application package.

Only individuals are eligible for this competition. Institutes of Higher Education or other entities cannot submit this competition for the individual either by grants.gov (electronically) or by paper.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

This application package contains information and the required forms for potential applicants to apply and be considered for a FY 2007 grant award under this competition and the Notice Inviting Applications published in the Federal Register notice dated September 26, 2006.

Potential applicants are advised to read the materials carefully, particularly the information on how to prepare an application, the protection of human subjects, the format and addresses for submitting, and the selection criteria (Section C) used by the reviewers to evaluate each application.

These instructions indicate that you can either submit your application electronically through the grants.gov system or you can mail (postmarked) or hand-deliver or by carrier service one original and two copies of your application on or before the application deadline date, to the address list in Section B, see page B-10. The closing date (application deadline) is Monday, November 27, 2006.

If you are submitting by paper

NIDRR would appreciate that you include seven additional copies of your application to facilitate the peer review process (8 copies in all). In addition, NIDRR requests that you submit a disk copy of your application. Also, we would like to suggest that the original copy of the application be secured with a binder clip in order to facilitate any additional copying that might be required.

If you are submitting electronically

We are encouraging you to submit your application electronically. We strongly suggest that you carefully check your submission to ensure that you have attached files in one of the three acceptable file formats and that the files are attached in the appropriate fields. We also strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.

We encourage you to read Section D -- Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants 

The program narrative must address the selection criteria included in this application packet (Section C). To facilitate the peer review process, you should address the criteria in the order presented. Each proposal should include a one-page abstract. The abstract is a critical component of the proposal, and it should highlight the purpose, target population to be served during the project period, planned goals and objectives, innovative strategies and research methods to be utilized, project outcomes, and dissemination. Proposal should also include an eligibility statement, curriculum vitae, and letters of recommendation, and information on human subjects protection (if applicable). No budget is required.

There is a restriction on the number of pages for this competition. Applicants must include all of their material for the narrative (Part III) within the 24 double-spaced page limit. This page limit does not include the forms, abstract, bibliography, eligibility statement, curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation or information on the protection of human subjects.

PROGRAM RULES

These grants are subject to the requirements of Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Part 77, 82, 84, and 85, which set forth general rules affecting the submittal, review, grant award, and post-award administration for Department of Education grant programs.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

If you have any questions about the information in this application packet, please contact Donna Nangle at [email protected] or by telephone at (202) 245-7462. Individuals who use a telecommunications device (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday. If you need help with 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.

Thank you for your interest in this program.

Sincerely,

//signed//

Steven James Tingus, M.S., C.Phil.

Director,

National Institute on Disability

and Rehabilitation Research

SECTION

B

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW AWARDS

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS (NIA)

HOLDING SPACE

Each NIA includes particular information on the priority. This can include description of the program; number & amount of award(s); eligibility; how and where to apply.

SECTION

C

SECTION CRITERIA

Selection Criteria

The Secretary evaluates applications for Fellowships according to the following criteria in 34 CFR 356.30.

(a) Quality and level of formal education (worth 15 points), previous work experience (worth 20 points), and recommendations of present or former supervisors or colleagues that include an indication of the applicant's ability to work creatively in scientific research (worth 15 points); and

(b) The quality of a research proposal of no more than 24 double spaced pages containing the following information: (1) The importance of the problem to be investigated to the purpose of the Rehabilitation Act and the mission of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) (worth 10 points). (2) The research hypotheses or related objectives and the methodology and design to be followed (worth 30 points). (3) Assurance of the availability of any necessary data resources, equipment, or institutional support, including technical consultation and support where appropriate, required to carry out the proposed activity (worth 10 points).

The application should include all required forms, an abstract, a project narrative, an eligibility statement, a curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, and information on the protection of human subjects.

Any letters of recommendation received separately from the application will not be forwarded to the reviewers. If the applicant proposes to use unique tests or other measurement instruments that are not widely known in the field, it would be helpful to include the instrument in the application.

Many applications contain voluminous appendices that are not helpful and in many cases cannot even be mailed to the reviewers. It is generally not helpful to include such things as brochures, general capability statements of collaborating organizations, maps, copies of publications, or descriptions of other projects completed by the applicant.