FR Doc E8-12634[Federal Register: June 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 109)]
[Notices]
[Page 32016-32022]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05jn08-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services
and Results for Children With Disabilities--Technical Assistance
Coordination Center; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2008
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.326Z.
DATES:
Applications Available: June 5, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 7, 2008.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 3, 2008.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children With
Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and to improve
results for children with disabilities by providing technical
assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating
useful information, and implementing activities that are supported by
scientifically based research.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority
is from allowable activities specified in the statute or otherwise
authorized in the statute (see sections 663 and 681(d) of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. 1400 et
seq.).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2008, this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34
[[Page 32017]]
CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this
priority.
This priority is:
Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and
Results for Children With Disabilities--Technical Assistance
Coordination Center.
Background: Under Part D of IDEA, the Office of Special Education
Programs (OSEP) developed a comprehensive Technical Assistance &
Dissemination (TA&D) Network, which is comprised of approximately 40
TA&D OSEP-funded centers that work at the national and regional levels
to improve the education of and services to eligible children with
disabilities. These centers provide TA covering a variety of areas to
State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs),
Part C lead agencies, families of children with disabilities, and
others to improve services and outcomes for children served under Part
B and Part C of IDEA. (For more information regarding Parts B and C of
IDEA see sections 611 and 631 of IDEA (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.))
Ongoing communication, collaboration, and coordination among the
centers in the OSEP TA&D Network are essential to (a) increase the
impact of the TA&D centers' efforts, (b) maximize efficiency, and (c)
ensure that products and services are non-duplicative. Furthermore,
communication, collaboration, and coordination between OSEP's TA&D
Network and other relevant federally-funded TA&D centers are necessary
to improve early intervention and education outcomes for children with
disabilities. For example, the Department's Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education (OESE) funds a Comprehensive Center on Assessments,
which provides TA to States on assessment issues related to all
children, including children with disabilities; and the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services supports the Center for Social and
Emotional Foundations for Early Learning.
Communication, collaboration, and coordination, however, are
difficult to initiate and sustain without logistical (e.g., arranging
meetings, coordinating schedules) and structural supports (e.g.,
documenting decisions, developing agendas).
OSEP funded a Federal Resource Center for Special Education (FRC)
in 2003 as a way to facilitate communication, collaboration, and
coordination among OSEP-funded Regional Resource Centers (RRCs). The
FRC worked closely with the six RRCs to help them coordinate their TA
to States. In addition to the coordination among RRCs, the FRC
coordinated, to a limited extent, the exchange of information between
the RRCs and other OSEP and Department-funded TA&D centers. (For
further information on the work of the FRC, go to
http://www.rrfcnetwork.org). In addition to more efficient use of RRC staff
time, expertise, and funds, the FRC found that RRC products and service
delivery improved when the work of the RRCs was coordinated. OSEP
believes that similar positive results can be achieved if support for
communication, collaboration, and coordination is extended beyond the
six RRCs to include all of the OSEP and other relevant Department and
federally-funded technical assistance projects, national professional
organizations, and stakeholders such as associations that are members
of the IDEA Partnership, which OSEP intends to fund in FY 2008.
Priority: The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative
agreement to support the establishment and operation of a Technical
Assistance Coordination Center (TACC) that will assist OSEP in
supporting ongoing communication, collaboration, and coordination among
the centers in the OSEP-funded TA&D Network, and between these centers
and other relevant federally-funded TA&D centers, national professional
organizations, and a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
To be considered for funding under this absolute priority,
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in this
priority. A project funded under the absolute priority also must meet
the programmatic and administrative requirements specified in the
priority.
Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its
application--
(a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals,
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic
model communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides
a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the
project;
Note: The following Web site provides more information on logic
models and lists multiple online resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/eval/resources.htm.
(b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project
Activities section of this priority;
(c) A plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model, for a
formative evaluation of the proposed project's activities. The plan
must describe how the formative evaluation will use clear performance
objectives to ensure continuous improvement in the operation of the
proposed project, including objective measures of progress in
implementing the project and ensuring the quality of products and
services;
(d) A budget for attendance at the following:
(1) A one and one half day kick-off meeting to be held in
Washington, DC within four weeks after receipt of the award, and an
annual planning meeting held in Washington, DC with the OSEP Project
Officer during each subsequent year of the project period.
(2) A three-day Project Directors' Conference in Washington, DC
during each year of the project period.
(3) Five two-day trips annually to attend Department briefings,
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings requested by OSEP;
and
(e) A line item in the proposed budget for an annual set-aside of
five percent of the grant amount to support emerging needs that are
consistent with the proposed project's activities, as those needs are
identified in consultation with OSEP.
Note: With approval from the OSEP Project Officer, the TACC must
reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside no later
than the end of the third quarter of each budget period.
Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the
TACC, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities.
Logistical Support and Coordination Activities.
(a) Facilitate ongoing communication, collaboration, and
coordination among the centers in the OSEP TA&D Network, and between
those centers and other Department-funded TA&D centers, including the
Comprehensive Centers, Equity Assistance Centers, and Regional
Educational Laboratories; relevant TA centers funded by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services; national professional
organizations, and other stakeholders, as appropriate. The TACC, at a
minimum, must--
(1) Provide logistical support to establish and maintain topical
workgroups comprised of OSEP TA&D Network center staff, including
information specialists and other TA&D staff, as appropriate, to share
information and develop coordinated TA strategies and products on
issues, priorities, and strategic initiatives identified by OSEP.
(2) Establish and maintain listservs and other electronic
mechanisms for communication, collaboration, and coordination.
[[Page 32018]]
(3) Maintain OSEP's Proposed Product Advisory Board (PPAB), which
reviews information on products proposed by the OSEP TA&D Network
centers to ensure non-duplication of products across TA&D centers.
Information about PPAB is available at: http://www.nichcy.org/ppab/index.htm.
The TACC, at a minimum, must ensure that this independent
review panel conducts a systematic review, at least twice annually and
more frequently if needed, of products proposed by the TA&D Network
centers and offer recommendations to OSEP regarding whether the
proposed products are duplicative.
(4) Maintain and expand, as appropriate, the communities of
practice Web site (http://www.tacommunities.org) to support discussions
among centers in the OSEP TA&D Network and between these centers and
other federally-funded TA&D centers on specific topical areas such as
those currently found at http://www.rrfcnetwork.org/content/view/21/49/.
The TACC must, at a minimum, maintain the facilitator section of
the Web site, organize and host facilitator community meetings, provide
training and support to current and new facilitators, and develop
communications and outreach materials about the communities of practice
that are listed at http://www.tacommunities.org/.
(5) Develop, maintain, update, and integrate, when appropriate,
searchable databases of OSEP's (i) discretionary grants, (ii) TA&D
Network centers' proposed and current products and services, and (iii)
events. This work must include, at a minimum, the following:
(i) Expanding, modifying, maintaining, and integrating, as
appropriate, the existing databases of OSEP-funded discretionary grants
and their products to assist in coordinating TA&D activities within and
across all Part D programs. These databases include the OSEP
Discretionary Projects Databases, which must be in compliance with the
2002 E-Government Act and the 2002 Federal Information Security
Management Act requirements. Information about these databases is
available at: http://www.nichcy.org/directories/sepm/default.asp and
http://www.nichcy.org/search.htm#tad.
(ii) Expanding the TA&D Matrix, which is a searchable database that
provides current information on Department-funded TA services to a
range of stakeholders, to include current information on federally-
funded early intervention and early childhood education TA services.
This matrix must be integrated with the databases mentioned in
paragraph (i). Information about the TA&D Matrix is available at:
http://matrix.rrfcnetwork.org.
(6) Maintain and update, at least twice annually, the TA&D
Placemat, which is a tool that includes the contact information for all
Department-funded TA&D centers. The current TA&D Placemat is available
at: http://www.rrfcnetwork.org/content/view/137/192/.
(7) Maintain a Web portal that includes--(i) a work area for the
OSEP TA&D Network centers to develop and share resources and products
and that links to the Web sites operated by centers in the OSEP TA&D
Network; and (ii) an events calendar that includes information on
national and regional events hosted by the OSEP TA&D Network centers
and OSEP.
(8) Provide an orientation for new OSEP TA&D Network centers and
ongoing support for existing OSEP TA&D Network centers on topics such
as: (i) PPAB product submission guidelines; (ii) TA&D Matrix data input
and maintenance; (iii) Events calendar input and maintenance; (iv)
Communities of practice participation; (v) Web site protocols; (vi)
Annual performance report (APR) schedules and updates; and (vii)
Government Performance and Results Act performance measures.
(b) Facilitate ongoing communication, collaboration, and
coordination among the OSEP TA&D Network regional centers, such as the
RRCs and the Postsecondary Education Programs Network Regional Centers.
The TACC, at a minimum, must (i) develop and maintain an area of the
Web portal for use by these regional TA&D centers, (ii) coordinate
monthly phone calls among the regional TA&D centers, and (iii)
establish and maintain topical workgroups comprised of staff across the
regional TA&D centers to identify and develop TA tools and resources.
(c) Support OSEP in sharing information with the OSEP TA&D Network,
States, national professional organizations, and other relevant
stakeholders on national priorities, issues, and initiatives. The TACC,
at a minimum, must--
(i) Provide logistical support for annual conferences hosted by
OSEP (e.g., Leadership Conference, TA&D Conference, Joint Leveraging
Resources Conference, and Summer Monitoring Institutes) as well as any
national meetings, public meetings, and hearings associated with the
reauthorization of IDEA.
(ii) Maintain and update, as appropriate, OSEP's existing IDEA Web
site (located at http://idea.ed.gov), which contains searchable
versions of the IDEA statute and regulations and resources to support
the implementation of the statute and regulations. The Web portal
referenced in paragraph (a)(7) of the Logistical Support and
Coordination Activities section must link to the IDEA Web site.
(iii) Maintain and update, as appropriate, the State Performance
Plans (SPPs) and APRs Planning Calendar, which contains information to
assist States with the preparation and timely completion of their SPPs
and APRs. The Web portal referenced in paragraph (a)(7) of the
Logistical Support and Coordination Activities section must include the
SPP and APR Planning Calendar. Information about the SPP and APR
Planning Calendar is available at:
http://www.rrfcnetwork.org/content/view/458/414/.
(iv) Develop a summary report for all SPP and APR performance and
compliance indicators using data compiled by centers within the OSEP
TA&D Network that includes information about States' progress in
meeting targets for IDEA Part B and Part C indicators, as well as any
revisions made to States' monitoring and data systems, measurement
systems, or improvement strategies. OSEP staff and the OSEP TA&D
Network centers will use this information to plan and coordinate their
TA efforts. The TACC must participate in OSEP-requested teleconferences
to discuss the findings of the summary report.
(d) Prepare and disseminate reports, documents, and other materials
on OSEP-sponsored conference proceedings, Federal initiatives and
policies, evidence-based TA practices, and related topics, as requested
by OSEP, for specific audiences, including the OSEP TA&D Network
centers, other federally-funded TA&D centers, SEAs, LEAs, and Part C
lead agencies. In consultation with the OSEP Project Officer, make
selected reports, documents, and other materials available in both
English and Spanish, when appropriate.
(e) Ensure that any Web site established or maintained by the TACC
under this priority meets a government or an industry-recognized
standard for accessibility.
Leadership and Collaboration Activities.
(a) Establish and maintain an advisory committee to review the
activities and outcomes of the TACC and provide programmatic support
and advice throughout the project period. At a minimum, the advisory
committee must
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meet on an annual basis in Washington, DC, and consist of OSEP and OESE
TA providers, SEA personnel, and families of children with
disabilities. The TACC must submit the names of proposed members of the
advisory committee to OSEP for approval within eight weeks after
receipt of the award.
(b) Communicate and collaborate, on an ongoing basis, with OSEP-
funded projects outside of the TA&D Network, including Parent Training
and Information Centers, personnel preparation projects, State
Personnel Development Grant projects, and State TA Deaf-Blind projects
to support the ongoing exchange of information and resources.
(c) Prior to developing any new product, whether paper or
electronic, submit to the OSEP Project Officer, for approval, a
proposal describing the content and purpose of the product.
(d) Collaborate with the National Dissemination Center for
Individuals with Disabilities, which OSEP intends to fund in FY 2008,
to develop an efficient and high-quality dissemination strategy that
reaches the broad audiences to be targeted by the project. The TACC
must report to the OSEP Project Officer the outcomes of these
coordination efforts.
(e) Conduct a summative evaluation of the TACC in collaboration
with the OSEP-funded Center to Improve Project Performance (CIPP) as
described in the following paragraphs. This summative evaluation must
examine the outcomes or impact of the TACC's activities in order to
assess the effectiveness of those activities.
Note: The major tasks of CIPP would be to guide, coordinate, and
oversee the summative evaluations conducted by selected Technical
Assistance, Personnel Development, Parent Training and Information
Center, and Technology projects that individually receive $500,000
or more funding from OSEP annually. The efforts of CIPP are expected
to enhance individual project evaluations by providing expert and
unbiased assistance in designing evaluations, conducting analyses,
and interpreting data.
To fulfill the requirements of the summative evaluation to be
conducted under the guidance of CIPP and with the approval of the OSEP
Project Officer, the TACC must--
(1) Hire or designate, with the approval of the OSEP Project
Officer, a project liaison staff person with sufficient dedicated time,
experience in evaluation, and knowledge of the TACC to work with CIPP
on the following tasks: (i) Planning for the TACC's summative
evaluation (e.g., selecting evaluation questions, developing a timeline
for the evaluation, locating sources of relevant data, and refining the
logic model used for the evaluation), (ii) developing the summative
evaluation design and instrumentation (e.g., determining quantitative
or qualitative data collection strategies, selecting respondent
samples, and pilot testing instruments), (iii) coordinating the
evaluation timeline with the implementation of TACC activities, (iv)
collecting summative data, and (v) writing reports of summative
evaluation findings;
(2) Cooperate with CIPP staff in order to accomplish the tasks
described in paragraph (1) of this section; and
(3) Dedicate $60,000 of the annual budget request for this project
to cover the costs of carrying out the tasks described in paragraphs
(1) and (2) of this section, implementing the TACC's formative
evaluation, and traveling to Washington, DC in the second year of the
project period for the TACC's review for continued funding.
(f) Maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP Project Officer
through monthly phone conversations and e-mail communication.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project: In deciding whether to
continue funding the TACC for the fourth and fifth years, the Secretary
will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), and in addition--
(a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting in Washington, DC that will be held during the
last half of the second year of the project period;
(b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the
TACC; and
(c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the TACC's activities
and products and the degree to which the TACC's activities and products
have contributed to changed practice and improved communication,
collaboration, and coordination among OSEP TA&D Network centers.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and
requirements. Section 681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priority in this notice.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1463 and 1481.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
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 (IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: $1,800,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,800,000.
Maximum Awards: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $1,800,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in
the Federal Register.
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: SEAs; LEAs, including public charter
schools that are considered LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public
agencies; private nonprofit organizations; outlying areas; freely
associated States; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-
profit organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this
competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in
employment qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of
IDEA).
(b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this competition
must involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals
with disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and
evaluating the projects (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).
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), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also, http://www.ed.gov/pubs/
[[Page 32020]]
edpubs.html or at its e-mail address, edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.326Z.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team
listed under Alternative Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the
application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 70 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, the references, or the letters of support.
The page limit, however, does apply to the application narrative in
Part III.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit or if
you use other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: June 5, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 7, 2008.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV.6.
Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 3, 2008.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail
or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications. To comply with the
President's Management Agenda, we are participating as a partner in the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site. The Technical Assistance
Coordination Center competition, CFDA Number 84.326Z, is included in
this project. We request your participation in Grants.gov.
If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must
use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov.
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit
your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant
application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Technical
Assistance Coordination Center competition at http://www.Grants.gov.
You must search for the downloadable application package for this
competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha
suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.326, not 84.326Z).
Please note the following:
Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30
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 and 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 and 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 steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include
(1) registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (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
[[Page 32021]]
registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application
via Grants.gov. In addition you will need to update your CCR
registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business
days to complete.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you submit your application in paper format.
If you submit your application electronically, you must
submit all documents electronically, including all information you
typically provide 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).
If you submit your application electronically, you must
attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC
(document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If
you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in
this paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review
that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice and
provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with
Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will
accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem
occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your
ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after
a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the
original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable
following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.326Z), 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 84.326Z), 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.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery,
you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of
your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date,
to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.326Z), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
2. Peer Review: In the past, the Department has had difficulty
finding peer reviewers for certain competitions
[[Page 32022]]
because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as peer reviewers
have conflicts of interest. The Standing Panel requirements under IDEA
also have placed additional constraints on the availability of
reviewers. Therefore, the Department has determined that, for some
discretionary grant competitions, applications may be separated into
two or more groups and ranked and selected for funding within the
specific groups. This procedure will make it easier for the Department
to find peer reviewers by ensuring that greater numbers of individuals
who are eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular group of
applicants will not have conflicts of interest. It also will increase
the quality, independence, and fairness of the review process while
permitting panel members to review applications under discretionary
grant competitions for which they also have submitted applications.
However, if the Department decides to select an equal number of
applications in each group for funding, this may result in different
cut-off points for fundable applications in each group.
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 Notice
(GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section in this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements
on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and
quality of the Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve
Services and Results for Children With Disabilities program. These
measures focus on the extent to which projects provide high quality
products and services, the relevance of project products and services
to educational and early intervention policy and practice, and the use
of products and services to improve educational and early intervention
policy and practice.
Grantees will be required to provide information related to these
measures in annual reports to the Department.
Grantees also will be required to report information on their
project's performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR
75.590).
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Rex Shipp or Debra Price-
Ellingstad, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Room 4178 and 4097, respectively, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7523 and 245-7481,
respectively.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll-free,
at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and 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, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS,
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: May 30, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-12634 Filed 6-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P