FR Doc E9-12903[Federal Register: June 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 105)]
[Notices]
[Page 26656-26661]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jn09-39]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; Technology and Media Services for Individuals With
Disabilities--National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials
(AIM); Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY)
2009
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.327T.
DATES: Applications Available: June 3, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 6, 2009.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 1, 2009.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of the Technology and Media
Services for Individuals with Disabilities program are to: (1) Improve
results for children with disabilities by promoting the development,
demonstration, and use of technology, (2) support educational media
services activities designed to be of educational value in the
classroom setting to children with disabilities, and (3) provide
support for captioning and video description of educational materials
that are appropriate for use in the classroom setting.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 674
and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2009 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition,
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we
consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities--
National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM).
Background: IDEA requires that the individualized education program
for each child with a disability be designed to enable the child to be
involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum (20
U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(II)(aa)). Some children with disabilities,
however, experience a significant barrier to making progress in the
general education curriculum because they cannot effectively utilize
print instructional materials such as textbooks (Rose & Meyer, 2002;
Rose, Meyer & Hitchcock, 2005; Stahl, 2007). For example, studies show
that, for many children with disabilities, a neurologically based
reading dysfunction limits their ability to read and learn from print
instructional materials (Shaywitz, 1998; 2002; 2005; 2006).
The 2004 amendments to IDEA required the Secretary to establish the
National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and
required States to adopt NIMAS for the purpose of providing
instructional materials in specialized formats in a timely manner for
use in elementary and secondary schools by children who are blind or
who have print disabilities (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(23)(A)). The 2004
amendments also established the National Instructional Materials Access
Center (NIMAC) as a national repository to receive and store NIMAS
source files and make them available to States.
State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies
(LEAs) now obtain NIMAS file sets directly from publishers or from
NIMAC and convert those files into specialized formats for use by
students who need accessible instructional materials (AIM). The files
obtained from NIMAC may only be used for children with disabilities who
are eligible under IDEA and meet the definition of blind or other
persons with print disabilities in the Act to Provide Books for the
Adult Blind (2 U.S.C. 135a), which establishes eligibility criteria for
individuals served by the Library of Congress (LOC) regulations (36 CFR
701.6(b)(1)). These eligibility criteria cover individuals who are
blind, have other visual disabilities, are unable to read or use
standard print as a result of physical limitations, or have reading
disabilities resulting from organic dysfunction. The regulations
implementing Part B of IDEA require SEAs and LEAs to ensure that
children with disabilities who need instructional materials in
accessible formats, but are not included under the LOC definition of
blind or other persons with print disabilities or who need materials
that cannot be produced from NIMAS files obtained through NIMAC,
receive those instructional materials in a timely manner (34 CFR
300.172(b)(3) and 300.210(b)(3)).
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded the NIMAS TA
Center (http://www.nimas.cast.org) in September 2004 to support the
implementation of NIMAS-related requirements and to provide technical
assistance (TA) and information to SEAs, LEAs, and other stakeholders
in the preparation, delivery, and conversion of NIMAS file sets.
However, the NIMAS TA Center targeted its efforts on addressing the
need for AIM for children eligible under LOC regulations. A recent
national survey of States found that the implementation of NIMAS is
underway within States, but that States have encountered difficulty in
developing and implementing unified distribution systems for AIM to
serve the needs of all children with disabilities (Project Forum,
2007). SEAs and LEAs need sustained TA to provide high-quality
materials in a timely manner and to improve their distribution systems
because of the complexity of developing and implementing a unified
distribution system that is responsive to IDEA requirements, the LOC
criteria for eligibility, and section 121 of the Copyright Act.\1\
State systems must address simultaneously the concerns of multiple
participants in the system, including students and families, teachers,
local schools, SEAs and LEAs, educational publishers, software
developers, accessible media producers (AMPs), and distributors.
Continued TA can help States develop efficient State distribution
systems so that all children with disabilities receive AIM in a timely
manner.
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\1\ The Chafee Amendment to Chapter 1 of Title 17, United States
Code, adds section 121, establishing a limitation on the exclusive
rights in copyrighted works. The Amendment allows authorized
entities to reproduce or distribute copies or phonorecords of
previously published nondramatic literary works in specialized
formats exclusively for use by blind or other persons with
disabilities.
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Priority: The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative
agreement to support the establishment and operation of a national
center on AIM (Center). The Center will provide TA to SEAs, LEAs, and
other stakeholders: (1) To improve the implementation of NIMAS; and (2)
to develop and implement unified distribution systems in SEAs that will
improve the timely delivery of high-quality AIM to all children with
disabilities who need instructional materials in accessible formats.
To be considered for funding under this absolute priority,
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in this
priority. Any project funded under this 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
[[Page 26657]]
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 a summative evaluation to be conducted by an
independent third party;
(e) 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) A four-day Technical Assistance and Dissemination Conference in
Washington, DC, during each year of the project period.
(4) A one-day trip annually to attend Department briefings,
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by
OSEP; and
(f) 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 Center
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 Center, at a
minimum, must conduct the following activities:
Knowledge Development Activities
(a) Identify and document current approaches used by SEAs and LEAs,
where appropriate, for developing and implementing efficient, unified
distribution systems for the delivery of AIM to all children with
disabilities who require instructional materials produced in accessible
formats. This activity should occur during the first year of the
project.
(b) Describe in detail the necessary components of efficient,
unified distribution systems for the delivery of AIM in a timely
manner. These components must include but are not limited to the
following:
(1) Implementation of tracking systems that provide for digital
rights management and measure timely delivery.
(2) Coordination with textbook adoption authorities and assistive
technology projects within SEAs.
(3) Utilization of existing general education distribution systems,
resource centers, and professional development systems. This knowledge
development activity should occur during the first and second years of
the project.
Technical Assistance and Dissemination Activities
(a) Work directly with SEAs to ensure that distribution systems are
high-quality and deliver AIM in a timely manner to children with
disabilities. To address this requirement the Center must--
(1) Work directly with a minimum of ten States to assist the SEAs
in developing and implementing a plan to develop a unified distribution
system or improve their existing distribution system for AIM;
(2) Develop and coordinate a national TA network comprised of a
cadre of experts that the Center will use to provide TA to SEAs, LEAs,
and other stakeholders to develop a unified distribution system or
improve their existing State distribution systems for the delivery of
AIM to children with disabilities; and
(3) Disseminate information to SEAs and LEAs about improving the
timely delivery of AIM and increasing the quantity and improving the
quality of commercially available AIM through their print instructional
materials adoption processes, procurement contracts, or other practices
or instruments used for purchase of print instructional materials (34
CFR 300.172(c)).
(4) Disseminate information to SEAs and LEAs on developing and
implementing a unified distribution system that is responsive to IDEA
requirements, the LOC criteria for eligibility, and section 121 of the
Copyright Act.
(b) Provide a continuum of general TA and dissemination (TA&D)
activities, (e.g., managing Web sites, listservs, and communities of
practice, and holding training institutes) to assist SEAs--
(1) In developing and implementing quality indicators of their
distribution systems that: Define high-quality AIM, describe the State
definition of ``timely manner'' (34 CFR 300.172(a)(2)) and use that
definition to assess whether children who need AIM receive these
materials in a timely manner, identify elements that support an
efficient flow of materials in the distribution system, and use
effective protocols for digital rights management;
(2) In providing exemplars and other information to publishers,
AMPs, and other stakeholders on the use of NIMAS (e.g., in support for
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) and Mathematical Markup Language
(MathML)). The following Web sites provide information on SVG and
MathML: http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG and www.w3.org/Math; and
(3) To the maximum extent possible, in meeting their obligation to
work collaboratively with the State agency responsible for assistive
technology programs (34 CFR 300.172(d); 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(23)(D)).
(c) Prepare and disseminate reports, documents, practice guides,
and other materials on the implementation of State distribution systems
for the delivery of AIM, the quality indicators related to an effective
distribution system, the use of AIM, and related topics, as requested
by OSEP, for specific audiences, including parents, teachers, textbook
selection committees, and SEA administrators.
(d) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility and that links to the Web site
operated by the Technical Assistance Coordination Center (TACC).
Leadership and Coordination Activities
(a) On an annual basis, compile and share data, in collaboration
with other currently funded OSEP centers, on the implementation of
NIMAS. To complete this activity, the Center must--
(1) Review and summarize NIMAS-related data from sources such as
IDEA State Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and the updated State
Performance Plans (SPPs). The following Web site provides more
information on APRs and SPPs: http://www.rrfcnetwork.org/content/view/409/47/;
(2) Prepare a summary report annually on the status of the
implementation of NIMAS and disseminate the findings of the
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summary report to OSEP, SEAs, LEAs, and other stakeholders; and
(3) Provide recommendations to OSEP on the most meaningful and
useful ways to analyze and aggregate the data reported by States on
IDEA Part B indicators relevant to NIMAS implementation at the national
level. The following Web site provides more information on the SEAs'
adoption of NIMAS: http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/monitor/nimac.html.
(b) Establish and maintain an advisory committee to review the
activities and outcomes of the Center and provide programmatic support
and advice throughout the project period. At a minimum, the advisory
committee must meet on an annual basis and must include: SEA and LEA
personnel involved with the distribution of AIM, textbook adoption
personnel, individuals with disabilities or parents of children with
disabilities, OSEP-funded technology grants that relate to NIMAS and
that improve results for children with disabilities, and other
stakeholders and project directors of Department-funded centers that
relate to the implementation of NIMAS requirements. The Center must
submit the names of the proposed members of the advisory committee to
OSEP for approval within eight weeks after receipt of the award.
(c) Communicate and collaborate with currently funded OSEP projects
including NIMAC; Bookshare.org for Education; Recording for the Blind &
Dyslexic; the NIMAS center (which OSEP intends to fund in FY 2009); and
TACC. This collaboration could include the joint development of
products, the coordination of TA services, and the planning and
carrying out of TA meetings and events, including the convening of an
annual meeting of these projects to ensure a well-designed national
distribution system for SEAs and LEAs and to reduce duplication of
effort and improve the delivery time for specialized formats.
(d) Communicate and collaborate with postsecondary groups to help
facilitate coordinated efforts between the K-12 and postsecondary AIM
distribution systems, as appropriate.
(e) Participate in, organize, or facilitate, as directed by OSEP,
communities of practice (http://www.tacommunities.org/) that are
aligned with the Center's objectives as a way to support discussions
and collaboration among key stakeholders.
(f) Prior to developing any new product, whether paper or
electronic, submit to the OSEP Project Officer and the Proposed Product
Advisory Board at OSEP's TACC for approval, a proposal describing the
content and purpose of the product.
(g) Coordinate with the National Dissemination Center for
Individuals with Disabilities to develop an efficient and high-quality
dissemination strategy that reaches broad audiences. The Center must
report to the OSEP Project Officer the outcomes of these coordination
efforts.
(h) Contribute, on an ongoing basis, updated information on the
Center's services to OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination
Matrix (http://matrix.rrfcnetwork.org/), which provides current
information on Department-funded TA services to a range of
stakeholders.
(i) Conduct formative and summative evaluations of the Center that
are aligned with the evaluation plan. These evaluations must examine
the outcomes or impact of the Center's activities in order to assess
the effectiveness of those activities. These evaluations will be
reported to OSEP at least annually in the case of the formative
evaluation and at the end of the project period for the summative
evaluation.
(j) 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 Center 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 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
Center; and
(c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Center's
activities and products, and the degree to which the Center's
activities and products have contributed to the development and
improvement of State distribution systems for the efficient delivery of
AIM for children with disabilities.
References:
Mueller, E. & Burdett, P. (2007). The National Instructional
Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS): Current State
Implementation. Project Forum: Alexandria, VA.
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. 1474 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: $1,000,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2010 from the list of
unfunded applicants from this competition.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $1,000,000 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.
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: 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).
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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/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 competition as follows: CFDA number 84.327T.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team listed under
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the
application narrative 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, abstracts, 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.
However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative
section (Part III).
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit or if
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: June 3, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 6, 2009.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site, 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 of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 1, 2009.
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 of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications
If you choose to submit your application to us electronically, you
must use e-Application, accessible through the Department's e-Grants
Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
While completing your electronic application, you will be entering
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this
competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait
until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
The hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m.
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are
posted on the e-Grants Web site.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you submit your application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF
(Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the
three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password
protected file, we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number
(an identifying number unique to your application).
Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
(1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
[[Page 26660]]
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by
hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
(1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2) (a) E-Application is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date; or
(b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If e-Application is unavailable due
to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application
deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users
who have initiated an e-Application.
Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of e-Application. If e-Application is available, and,
for any reason, you are unable to submit your application
electronically or you do not receive an automatic acknowledgment of
your submission, you may submit your application in paper format by
mail or hand delivery in accordance with the instructions in this
notice.
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 following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.327T), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery
If you 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
84.327T), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail
or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this grant
notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application
Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: In the past, the Department has
had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain competitions 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
Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final
[[Page 26661]]
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 Technology and Media Services for Individuals with
Disabilities program. These measures focus on the extent to which
projects provide high-quality products and services, are relevant to
improving outcomes for children with disabilities, and contribute to
improving outcomes for children with disabilities. We will collect data
on these measures from the project funded under this competition.
The grantee will be required to report information on its project's
performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR 75.590).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Slade, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4175, Potomac Center Plaza
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7527.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free,
at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS,
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. 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.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated
authority to Andrew J. Pepin, Executive Administrator for the Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to perform the functions
of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
Dated: May 28, 2009.
Andrew J. Pepin,
Executive Administrator for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. E9-12903 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P