480 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2012 / Notices 

the meeting and hearing, conduct 

further reviews, and otherwise exercise 

its power under the Atomic Energy Act 

of 1954, as amended. 

Dated: January 3, 2012. 

Peter S. Winokur, 

Chairman. 

[FR Doc. 2012–44 Filed 1–3–12; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3670–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Applications for New Awards; 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects and Centers Program—Field 

Initiated Projects Program 

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services, National 

Institute on Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), 

Department of Education. 

ACTION: Notice. 

Overview Information 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects and Centers Program—Field 

Initiated Projects Program 

Notice inviting applications for new 

awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

(CFDA) Numbers: 84.133G–1 (Research) and 

84.133G–2 (Development). 

DATES: Applications Available: 

January 5, 2012. 

Deadline for Transmittal of 

Applications: March 5, 2012. 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of 

the Field Initiated (FI) Projects program 

is to develop methods, procedures, and 

rehabilitation technology that maximize 

the full inclusion and integration into 

society, employment, independent 

living, family support, and economic 

and social self-sufficiency of individuals 

with disabilities, especially individuals 

with the most severe disabilities. 

Another purpose of the FI Projects 

program is to improve the effectiveness 

of services authorized under the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. 

NIDRR makes two types of awards 

under the FI Projects program: Research 

grants (CFDA 84.133G–1) and 

development grants (CFDA 84.133G–2). 

In carrying out a research activity 

under an FI Project research grant, a 

grantee must identify one or more 

hypotheses or research questions and, 

based on the hypotheses or research 

questions identified, perform an 

intensive, systematic study directed 

toward producing (1) new scientific 

knowledge, or (2) better understanding 

of the subject, problem studied, or body 

of knowledge. 

In carrying out a development activity 

under an FI Project development grant, 

a grantee must use knowledge and 

understanding gained from research to 

create materials, devices, systems, or 

methods, including designing and 

developing prototypes and processes, 

that are beneficial to the target 

population. ‘‘Target population’’ means 

the group of individuals, organizations, 

or other entities expected to be affected 

by the project. There may be more than 

one target population because a project 

may affect those who receive services, 

provide services, or administer services. 

Note: Different selection criteria are used 

for FI Project research grants (84.133G–1) and 

development grants (84.133G–2). Applicants 

must clearly indicate in the application 

whether they are applying for a research 

grant (84.133G–1) or a development grant 

(84.133G–2) and must address the selection 

criteria relevant for their grant type. Without 

exception, NIDRR will review each 

application based on the grant designation 

made by the applicant. Applications will be 

determined ineligible and will not be 

reviewed if they do not include a clear 

designation as a research grant or a 

development grant. 

Note: This program is in concert with 

NIDRR’s currently approved long range plan 

(the Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and 

integrates many issues relating to disability 

and rehabilitation research topics. The Plan, 

which was published in the Federal Register 

on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), can be 

accessed on the Internet at: www.ed.gov/

about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html. 

Through the implementation of the 

Plan, NIDRR seeks to (1) improve the 

quality and utility of disability and 

rehabilitation research; (2) foster an 

exchange of expertise, information, and 

training to facilitate the advancement of 

knowledge and understanding of the 

unique needs of individuals with 

disabilities from traditionally 

underserved populations; (3) determine 

the best strategies and programs to 

improve rehabilitation outcomes for 

individuals with disabilities from 

underserved populations; (4) identify 

research gaps; (5) identify mechanisms 

of integrating research and practice; and 

(6) disseminate findings. 

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 764. 

Applicable Regulations: (a) The 

Education Department General 

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 

34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 

85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for 

this program in 34 CFR part 350. 

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 

apply to institutions of higher education 

(IHEs) only. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Discretionary grants. 

Estimated Available Funds: 

$4,000,000. 

Estimated Range of Awards: $195,000 

to $200,000. 

Estimated Average Size of Awards: 

$200,000. 

Maximum Award: We will reject any 

application that proposes a budget 

exceeding $200,000 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. 

Note: The maximum amount includes 

direct and indirect costs. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 20. 

Note: The Department is not bound by any 

estimates in this notice. 

Maximum Project Period: We will 

reject any application that proposes a 

project period exceeding 36 months. 

The Assistant Secretary for Special 

Education and Rehabilitative Services 

may change the maximum project 

period through a notice published in the 

Federal Register. 

III. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants: States; public 

or private agencies, including for-profit 

agencies; public or private 

organizations, including for-profit 

organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes 

and tribal organizations. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost 

sharing is required by 34 CFR 350.62 

and will be negotiated at the time of the 

grant award. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package: You can obtain an application 

package via the Internet or from the 

Education Publications Center (ED 

Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, 

use the following address: www.ed.gov/ 

fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html. 

To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, 

fax, or call the following: 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: www.EDPubs.gov or at its 

email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov. 

If you request an application from ED 

Pubs, be sure to identify this 


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competition as follows: CFDA number 

84.133G–1 or 84.133G–2. 

Individuals with disabilities can 

obtain a copy of the application package 

in an accessible format (e.g., braille, 

large print, audiotape, or compact disc) 

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. We recommend that 

you limit Part III to the equivalent of no 

more than 50 pages, using the following 

standards: 

• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5′′ x 11′′, on one side 

only, with 1′′ margins at the top, bottom, 

and both sides. 

• Double space (no more than three 

lines per vertical inch) all text in the 

application narrative, including titles, 

headings, footnotes, quotations, 

references, and captions, as well as all 

text in charts, tables, figures, and 

graphs. 

• Use a font that is either 12 point or 

larger or no smaller than 10 pitch 

(characters per inch). 

• Use one of the following fonts: 

Times New Roman, Courier, Courier 

New, or Arial. 

The recommended 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 

[Part III]. 

The application package will provide 

instructions for completing all 

components to be included in the 

application. Each application must 

include a cover sheet (Standard Form 

424); budget requirements (ED Form 

524) and narrative justification; other 

required forms; an abstract, Human 

Subjects narrative, Part III narrative; 

resumes of staff; and other related 

materials, if applicable. 

Applicants should consult NIDRR’s 

Long-Range Plan when preparing their 

applications. The Plan is organized 

around the following research domains 

and arenas: (1) Community Living and 

Participation; (2) Health and Function; 

(3) Technology; (4) Employment; and (5) 

Demographics. Applicants should 

indicate, for each application, the 

domain or arena under which they are 

applying. In their applications, 

applicants should clearly indicate 

whether they are applying for a research 

grant in the area of (1) Community 

Living and Participation; (2) Health and 

Function; (3) Technology; (4) 

Employment; or (5) Demographics. 

3. Submission Dates and Times: 

Applications Available: January 5, 

2012. 

Deadline for Transmittal of 

Applications: March 5, 2012. 

Applications for grants under this 

competition must be submitted 

electronically using the Grants.gov 

Apply site (Grants.gov). For information 

(including dates and times) about how 

to submit your application 

electronically, or in paper format by 

mail or hand delivery if you qualify for 

an exception to the electronic 

submission requirement, please refer to 

section IV. 7. 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. 

4. Intergovernmental Review: This 

program is not subject to Executive 

Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 

CFR part 79. 

5. Funding Restrictions: We reference 

regulations outlining funding 

restrictions in the Applicable 

Regulations section of this notice. 

6. Data Universal Numbering System 

Number, Taxpayer Identification 

Number, and Central Contractor 

Registry: To do business with the 

Department of Education, you must— 

a. Have a Data Universal Numbering 

System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer 

Identification Number (TIN); 

b. Register both your DUNS number 

and TIN with the Central Contractor 

Registry (CCR), the Government’s 

primary registrant database; 

c. Provide your DUNS number and 

TIN on your application; and 

d. Maintain an active CRR registration 

with current information while your 

application is under review by the 

Department and, if you are awarded a 

grant, during the project period. 

You can obtain a DUNS number from 

DUN and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 

can be created within one business day. 

If you are a corporate entity, agency, 

institution, or organization, you can 

obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue 

Service. If you are an individual, you 

can obtain a TIN from the Internal 

Revenue Service or the Social Security 

Administration. If you need a new TIN, 

please allow 2–5 weeks for your TIN to 

become active. 

The CCR registration process may take 

five or more business days to complete. 

If you are currently registered with the 

CCR, you may not need to make any 

changes. However, please make certain 

that the TIN associated with your DUNS 

number is correct. Also note that you 

will need to update your CCR 

registration on an annual basis. This 

may take three or more business days to 

complete. 

In addition, if you are submitting your 

application via Grants.gov, you must (1) 

be designated by your organization as an 

Authorized Organization Representative 

(AOR); and (2) register yourself with 

Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these 

steps are outlined at the following 

Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/

aapplicants/get_registered.jsp. 

7. Other Submission Requirements: 

Applications for grants under this 

competition must be submitted 

electronically unless you qualify for an 

exception to this requirement in 

accordance with the instructions in this 

section. 

a. Electronic Submission of 

Applications 

Applications for grants under the FI 

Projects program, CFDA Number 

84.133G–1 (Research) or 84.133G–2 

(Development), must be submitted 

electronically using the 

Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site 

at 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 email an 

electronic copy of a grant application to 

us. 

We will reject your application if you 

submit it in paper format unless, as 

described elsewhere in this section, you 

qualify for one of the exceptions to the 

electronic submission requirement and 

submit, no later than two weeks before 

the application deadline date, a written 

statement to the Department that you 

qualify for one of these exceptions. 

Further information regarding 

calculation of the date that is two weeks 

before the application deadline date is 

provided later in this section under 


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Exception to Electronic Submission 

Requirement. 

You may access the electronic grant 

application for the FI Projects 

program—CFDA Number 84.133G–1 

(Research) or 84.133G–2 

(Development)—at 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 84.133, not 

84.133G). 

Please note the following: 

• When you enter the Grants.gov site, 

you will find information about 

submitting an application electronically 

through the site, as well as the hours of 

operation. 

• Applications received by Grants.gov 

are 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 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 

time, on the application deadline date. 

Except as otherwise noted in this 

section, we will not accept your 

application if it is received—that is, date 

and time stamped by the Grants.gov 

system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, 

DC time, on the application deadline 

date. We do not consider an application 

that does not comply with the deadline 

requirements. 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 

4:30:00 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 under News 

and Events on the Department’s G5 

system home page at http://www.G5.gov. 

• You will not receive additional 

point value because you submit your 

application in electronic format, nor 

will we penalize you if you qualify for 

an exception to the electronic 

submission requirement, as described 

elsewhere in this section, and submit 

your application in paper format. 

• You must submit all documents 

electronically, including all information 

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—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all 

necessary assurances and certifications. 

• You must upload any narrative 

sections and all other attachments to 

your application as files in a .PDF 

(Portable Document) read-only, nonmodifiable format. Specifically, do not 

upload an interactive or fillable .PDF 

file. If you upload a file type other than 

a read-only, non-modifiable .PDF 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 email. 

This second notification indicates that 

the Department has received your 

application and has assigned your 

application a PR/Award number (an EDspecified 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 4:30:00 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 

4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on 

the application deadline date, please 

contact the person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in 

section VII of 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 4:30:00 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. 

Exception to Electronic Submission 

Requirement: You qualify for an 

exception to the electronic submission 

requirement, and may submit your 

application in paper format, if you are 

unable to submit an application through 

the Grants.gov system because— 

• You do not have access to the 

Internet; or 

• You do not have the capacity to 

upload large documents to the 

Grants.gov system; and 

• No later than two weeks before the 

application deadline date (14 calendar 

days or, if the fourteenth calendar day 

before the application deadline date 

falls on a Federal holiday, the next 

business day following the Federal 

holiday), you mail or fax a written 

statement to the Department, explaining 

which of the two grounds for an 

exception prevent you from using the 

Internet to submit your application. 

If you mail your written statement to 

the Department, it must be postmarked 

no later than two weeks before the 

application deadline date. If you fax 

your written statement to the 

Department, we must receive the faxed 

statement no later than two weeks 

before the application deadline date. 

Address and mail or fax your 

statement to: Lynn Medley, U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Avenue SW., room 5140, Potomac 

Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 

20202–2700. Fax: (202) 245–7323. 

Your paper application must be 

submitted in accordance with the mail 

or hand delivery instructions described 

in this notice. 


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b. Submission of Paper Applications by 

Mail 

If you qualify for an exception to the 

electronic submission requirement, you 

may mail (through the U.S. Postal 

Service or a commercial carrier) your 

application to the Department. You 

must mail the original and two copies 

of your application, on or before the 

application deadline date, to the 

Department at the following address: 

U.S. Department of Education, 

Application Control Center, Attention: 

CFDA Number 84.133G–1 (Research) or 

84.133G–2 (Development), 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 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 84.133G–1 (Research) or 

84.133G–2 (Development), 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 4:30:00 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 

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 350.54 and 350.55 and are listed in 

the application package. 

Note: There are two different sets of 

selection criteria for the FI projects program: 

One set to evaluate applications proposing to 

carry out research activities (CFDA 84.133G– 

1), and a second set to evaluate applications 

proposing to carry out development activities 

(CFDA 84.133G–2). Each applicant will be 

evaluated using the selection criteria for the 

type of project the applicant designates in its 

application. 

2. Review and Selection Process: We 

remind potential applicants that in 

reviewing applications in any 

discretionary grant competition, the 

Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 

75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the 

applicant in carrying out a previous 

award, such as the applicant’s use of 

funds, achievement of project 

objectives, and compliance with grant 

conditions. The Secretary may also 

consider whether the applicant failed to 

submit a timely performance report or 

submitted a report of unacceptable 

quality. 

In addition, in making a competitive 

grant award, the Secretary also requires 

various assurances including those 

applicable to Federal civil rights laws 

that prohibit discrimination in programs 

or activities receiving Federal financial 

assistance from the Department of 

Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 

108.8, and 110.23). 

Additional factors we consider in 

selecting an application for an award are 

as follows: 

The Secretary is interested in 

outcomes-oriented research or 

development projects that use rigorous 

scientific methodologies. To address 

this interest, applicants are encouraged 

to articulate goals, objectives, and 

expected outcomes for the proposed 

research or development activities. 

Proposals should describe how results 

and planned outputs are expected to 

contribute to advances in knowledge, 

improvements in policy and practice, 

and public benefits for individuals with 

disabilities. Applicants should propose 

projects that are designed to be 

consistent with these goals. We 

encourage applicants to include in their 

applications a description of how 

results will measure progress towards 

achievement of anticipated outcomes 

(including a discussion of measures of 

effectiveness), the mechanisms that will 

be used to evaluate outcomes associated 

with specific problems or issues, and 

how the proposed activities will support 

new intervention approaches and 

strategies. Submission of the 

information identified in this section is 

voluntary, except where required by the 

selection criteria listed in the 

application package. 

3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 

74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may 

impose special conditions on a grant if 

the applicant or grantee is not 

financially stable; has a history of 

unsatisfactory performance; has a 

financial or other management system 

that does not meet the standards in 34 

CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has 

not fulfilled the conditions of a prior 

grant; or is otherwise not responsible. 

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: (a) If you apply for a 

grant under this competition, you must 

ensure that you have in place the 

necessary processes and systems to 

comply with the reporting requirements 

in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive 

funding under the competition. This 

does not apply if you have an exception 

under 2 CFR 170.110(b). 

(b) At the end of your project period, 

you must submit a final performance 

report, including financial information, 


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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 www.ed.gov/ 

fund/grant/apply/appforms/ 

appforms.html. 

Note: NIDRR will provide information by 

letter to grantees on how and when to submit 

the performance report. 

4. Performance Measures: NIDRR 

assesses the quality of its funded 

projects through review of grantee 

performance and products. Each year, 

NIDRR examines a portion of its 

grantees to determine: 

• The number of accomplishments 

(e.g., new or improved tools, methods, 

discoveries, standards, interventions, 

programs, or devices) developed and/or 

tested with NIDRR funding that have 

been judged by expert panels to be of 

high quality and to advance the field. 

• The average number of publications 

per award that are based on NIDRRfunded research and development 

activities and are in refereed journals. 

• The percentage of new grants that 

assess the effectiveness of interventions, 

programs, and devices using rigorous 

and appropriate methods. 

Each grantee must annually report on 

its performance through NIDRR’s 

Annual Performance Report (APR) form. 

NIDRR uses APR information submitted 

by grantees to assess progress on these 

measures. 

5. Continuation Awards: In making a 

continuation award, the Secretary may 

consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the 

extent to which a grantee has made 

‘‘substantial progress toward meeting 

the objectives in its approved 

application.’’ This consideration 

includes the review of a grantee’s 

progress in meeting the targets and 

projected outcomes in its approved 

application, and whether the grantee 

has expended funds in a manner that is 

consistent with its approved application 

and budget. In making a continuation 

grant, the Secretary also considers 

whether the grantee is operating in 

compliance with the assurances in its 

approved application, including those 

applicable to Federal civil rights laws 

that prohibit discrimination in programs 

or activities receiving Federal financial 

assistance from the Department (34 CFR 

100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). 

VII. Agency Contacts 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Either Lynn Medley or Marlene Spencer 

as follows: Lynn Medley, U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Avenue SW., room 5140, PCP, 

Washington, DC 20202–2700. 

Telephone: (202) 245–7338 or by email: 

Lynn.Medley@ed.gov. Marlene Spencer, 

U.S. Department of Education, 400 

Maryland Avenue SW., room 5133, PCP, 

Washington, DC 20202–2700. 

Telephone: (202) 245–7532 or by email: 

Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov. 

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 compact disc) 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: 

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 via the Federal Digital System 

at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site 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). To use PDF you must 

have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 

available free at the site. 

You may also access documents of the 

Department published in the Federal 

Register by using the article search 

feature at: www.federalregister.gov. 

Specifically, through the advanced 

search feature at this site, you can limit 

your search to documents published by 

the Department. 

Dated: December 30, 2011. 

Alexa Posny, 

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services. 

[FR Doc. 2011–33807 Filed 1–4–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Equity and Excellence Commission 

AGENCY: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. 

Department of Education. 

ACTION: Notice of an open meeting. 

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the 

schedule and proposed agenda of an upcoming meeting of the Equity and 

Excellence Commission (Commission). 

The notice also describes the functions 

of the Commission. Notice of this 

meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) 

of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA) and is intended to notify the 

public of their opportunity to attend. 

DATES: January 23, 2012. 

Time: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern 

Standard Time. 

ADDRESSES: The Commission will meet 

in Washington, DC at the United States 

Department of Education at 400 

Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 

20202, in Barnard Auditorium. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim 

Eichner, Designated Federal Official, 

Equity and Excellence Commission, 

U.S. Department of Education, 400 

Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 

20202. Email: 

equitycommission@ed.gov. Telephone: 

(202) 453–5945. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

January 23, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 

p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Equity 

and Excellence Commission will hold 

an open meeting in Washington, DC in 

the Barnard Auditorium at the U.S. 

Department of Education’s main 

building at 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20202. 

The purpose of the Commission is to 

collect information, analyze issues, and 

obtain broad public input regarding how 

the Federal government can increase 

educational opportunity by improving 

school funding equity. The Commission 

will also make recommendations for 

restructuring school finance systems to 

achieve equity in the distribution of 

educational resources and further 

student performance, especially for the 

students at the lower end of the 

achievement gap. The Commission will 

examine the disparities in meaningful 

educational opportunities that give rise 

to the achievement gap, with a focus on 

systems of finance, and recommend 

appropriate ways in which Federal 

policies could address such disparities. 

The agenda for the Commission’s 

January 23, 2012 meeting will include 

discussion of particular language for 

certain portions of the report and 

reaching consensus on particular 

recommendations. The Commission 

may have breakout sessions, most likely 

during the second half of the meeting, 

to discuss particular issues. The 

Commission plans to discuss the 

establishment of two or more 

subcommittees to discuss 


emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES