FR Doc 2010-9644
[Federal Register: April 26, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 79)]
[Notices]
[Page 21610-21613]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ap10-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Overview Information: State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit In-
Service Training; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2010
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.265A and
84.265B.
Dates: Applications Available: April 26, 2010.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 25, 2010.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2010.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: This program is designed to support projects
for training State vocational rehabilitation (VR) unit personnel in
program areas essential to the effective management of the unit's
program of VR services and in skill areas that will enable personnel to
improve their ability to provide VR services leading to employment
outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The State VR Unit In-
Service Training program responds to needs identified in the
comprehensive system of personnel development (CSPD) of the State plan
to address recruitment and retention of qualified rehabilitation
professionals, to provide for succession planning, and to provide for
leadership development and capacity building.
Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), these
priorities are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 388.22).
Under 34 CFR 388.21(b), the Secretary reserves funds to support some or
all of the proposals that have been awarded a rating of 80 points or
more under the selection criteria described in 34 CFR 388.20.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2010 these priorities are absolute
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and 34 CFR 388.21(b), we consider
for quality awards only applications that meet one or more of the
following absolute priorities.
Priority 1--Development and Dissemination of Model In-Service
Training Materials and Practices: The proposed project demonstrates an
effective plan to develop and disseminate information on its State VR
In-Service Training program, including the identification of training
approaches and successful practices, in order to permit the replication
of these programs by other State VR units.
Priority 2--Distance Education: The proposed project demonstrates
innovative strategies for training State VR unit personnel through
accessible distance education methods, such as interactive audio,
video, computer technologies, or existing telecommunications networks.
Priority 3--Enhanced Employment Outcomes for Specific Populations:
The proposed project supports specialized training in the provision of
VR or related services to individuals with disabilities to increase the
rehabilitation rate into competitive employment for all individuals or
specified target groups.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 721 and 772.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34
CFR parts 385 and 388.
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: The total amount of funding available
for these awards in FY 2010 is $5,664,900, including $4,531,920 for
basic awards (CFDA Number 84.265A) and $1,132,980 for quality awards
(CFDA Number 84.265B). Basic awards are calculated annually and
distributed according to staffing levels of the State agencies obtained
from data on the Annual Vocational Rehabilitation Program/Cost Report
(RSA-2). The total amount of basic awards is not more than 80 percent
of the total available for State VR Unit In-Service Training. The
minimum level of a basic award is one-third of one percent of the funds
available. For FY 2010 that amount is $18,883 (34 CFR 388.21(a)(3)).
Applicants must apply for the basic award and for the quality award
separately.
Note: (1) The actual funding amounts for basic awards will be
calculated based on the FY 2009 RSA-2 data submitted by State VR Units.
(2) The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Estimated Range of Awards: $18,883-$295,000 for basic awards and
$15,000-$85,000 for quality awards.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $70,811 for basic awards and
$56,649 for quality awards.
Estimated Number of Awards: 80 basic awards and 20 quality awards.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
The following chart lists, by State agency, the estimated available
funds for basic awards based on the FY 2010 funding level and the RSA-2
data for the most recent reporting period (FY 2009).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
available
State funds for
basic awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama................................................. $94,020
Alaska.................................................. 18,883
American Samoa.......................................... 18,883
Arizona................................................. 76,780
Arkansas (Blind)........................................ 18,883
Arkansas (General)...................................... 80,690
California.............................................. 287,571
Colorado................................................ 39,457
Connecticut (Blind)..................................... 18,883
Connecticut (General)................................... 23,461
Delaware (Blind)........................................ 18,883
Delaware (General)...................................... 18,883
District of Columbia.................................... 19,551
Florida (Blind)......................................... 44,078
Florida (General)....................................... 153,383
Georgia................................................. 152,317
Guam.................................................... 18,883
Hawaii.................................................. 18,883
Idaho (Blind)........................................... 18,883
Idaho (General)......................................... 24,527
Illinois................................................ 96,331
Indiana................................................. 55,452
Iowa (Blind)............................................ 18,883
Iowa (General).......................................... 44,611
Kansas.................................................. 34,480
Kentucky (Blind)........................................ 18,883
Kentucky (General)...................................... 71,271
Louisiana............................................... 61,673
Maine (Blind)........................................... 18,883
Maine (General)......................................... 19,551
Maryland................................................ 73,048
Massachusetts (Blind)................................... 21,150
Massachusetts (General)................................. 75,181
Michigan (Blind)........................................ 18,883
Michigan (General)...................................... 95,975
Minnesota (Blind)....................................... 18,883
Minnesota (General)..................................... 72,693
Mississippi............................................. 91,532
Missouri (Blind)........................................ 18,883
Missouri (General)...................................... 48,699
Montana................................................. 18,883
Nebraska (Blind)........................................ 18,883
Nebraska (General)...................................... 33,769
Nevada.................................................. 19,551
New Hampshire........................................... 18,883
New Jersey (Blind)...................................... 18,883
New Jersey (general).................................... 44,966
New Mexico (Blind)...................................... 18,883
New Mexico (General).................................... 25,949
New York (Blind)........................................ 24,705
New York (General)...................................... 134,366
North Carolina (Blind).................................. 32,170
North Carolina (General)................................ 152,850
North Dakota............................................ 18,883
Northern Mariana........................................ 18,883
Ohio.................................................... 106,106
Oklahoma................................................ 59,363
Oregon (Blind).......................................... 18,883
Oregon (General)........................................ 37,502
Pennsylvania............................................ 199,949
Puerto Rico............................................. 221,632
Rhode Island............................................ 18,883
South Carolina (Blind).................................. 18,883
South Carolina (General)................................ 191,951
[[Page 21611]]
South Dakota (Blind).................................... 18,883
South Dakota (General).................................. 18,883
Tennessee............................................... 99,708
Texas (Blind)........................................... 88,511
Texas (General)......................................... 245,626
Utah.................................................... 47,632
Vermont (Blind)......................................... 18,883
Vermont (General)....................................... 19,906
Virgin Islands.......................................... 18,883
Virginia (Blind)........................................ 30,037
Virginia (General)...................................... 115,348
Washington (Blind)...................................... 18,883
Washington (General).................................... 53,142
West Virginia........................................... 53,142
Wisconsin............................................... 51,187
Wyoming................................................. 18,883
Total................................................... $4,531,920
------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: State agencies designated under a State
plan for VR services under section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (Act). Each designated State agency (DSA) is eligible
to receive an award under the basic award program.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Grantees under the State VR Unit In-
Service Training program must provide at least 10 percent of the total
cost of the project (34 CFR 388.30(a)), except that under 34 CFR
388.30(b), grantees designated to receive a minimum share of one third
of one percent of the sums made available for the fiscal year are
required to provide at least four percent of the total costs of the
project.
3. Other: Under the VR State Grants program, each State is required
in its State plan to establish detailed procedures for a CSPD,
including how the State will address the current and projected
personnel training needs (34 CFR 361.18).
Note: Under 34 CFR 75.562(c)(1) and (4), an indirect cost
reimbursement for grantees under this program is limited to the
grantee's actual indirect costs, as determined by its negotiated
indirect cost rate agreement.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Applications for Basic and Quality Awards: You must apply for
the basic award and for the quality award separately, i.e., you need to
complete and submit separate forms for each award, including the
Application for Federal Education Assistance (SF 424), Budget
Information--Non-Construction Program (ED 524), and all necessary
assurances and certifications.
2. Address to Request Application Package:
ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria,
VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll
free: 1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also:
http://www.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify this program or competition as follows: 84.265A for a basic
award and 84.265B for a quality award.
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 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: Part III of the application, the application narrative,
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 45 pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side
only, with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section in Part
III.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit or if
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: April 26, 2010.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 25, 2010.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site. For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV.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: August 24, 2010.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for 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 program 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 State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit
In-Service Training--CFDA Number 84.265A for basic award and 84.265B
for quality award must be submitted electronically using e-Application,
accessible through the Department's e-Grants Web site at:
http://e-grants.ed.gov.
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
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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.
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.
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
program 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your
application as files in a .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:
Please note the following: (1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this
form.
(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 e-Application
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.
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 e-Application system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
e-Application;
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
prevents 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: Douglas Zhu, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5029, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2800. Fax: (202) 245-6824.
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 any exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.265A or 84.265B), 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.
[[Page 21613]]
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with
your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.265A or 84.265B), 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 the
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 34 CFR 388.20. The selection criteria for
this competition are in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: The procedures used for reviewing
and selecting applications for an award are in 34 CFR 75.210 and 34 CFR
388.20. Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for
an award include: (a) the geographical distribution of projects; and
(b) the past performance of the applicant in carrying out similar
training activities under previously awarded grants, as indicated by
factors such as compliance with grant conditions, soundness of
programmatic and financial management practices, and attainment of
established project objectives (34 CFR 385.33(a) and (b)).
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 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
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements
on reporting, please go to
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act
(GPRA) of 1993 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. The primary objective of the State VR Unit
In-Service Training program is to maintain and upgrade the knowledge
and skills of personnel currently employed by State VR agencies.
Grantees must provide training that responds to the needs identified in
the CSPD as required by section 101(a)(7) of the Act.
In order to measure the success of the State VR Unit In-Service
Training program grantees in meeting this objective, State VR agencies
are required to submit performance data through the in-service annual
performance report and their State plans. At a minimum, the annual
performance report must include data on the percentage of currently
employed State VR agency counselors who meet their States' CSPD
standards.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Douglas Zhu, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5029, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-6037 or via Internet:
douglas.zhu@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Services (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.
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: April 21, 2010.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-9644 Filed 4-23-10; 8:45 am]
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