Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 97 / Thursday, May 18, 2000 / Notices 31757

and transition assistance to CILs and

Statewide Independent Living Councils

under Part C of Title VII of the

Rehabilitation Act.

Priority 2: IL and the New Paradigm of

Disability

The Assistant Secretary will establish

an RRTC on IL and the New Paradigm

of Disability that will facilitate the

development of innovative independent

living strategies to meet the challenges

of the 21st century. This Center will

promote an understanding of

independent living concepts and

practices in the context of the physical

and social environments noted in the

new paradigm of disability, including

assessment of the application of

independent living to the changing

universe of disability. In carrying out

these purposes, the Center must:

(1) Develop an analytical framework

for research on living independently

that incorporates the definition of IL,

the contextual framework of disability

and an accessible community, and the

changing universe of disability as

articulated in the Plan, and is grounded

in social science theory and methods;

(2) Identify and evaluate strategies to

promote accessible cost-effective

advocacy and generic community

services for individuals with significant

disabilities, and address specifically at

least one changing universe population;

(3) Evaluate the use of peer networks

and communication channels to assist

individuals with disabilities to maintain

wellness, access community services,

and participate in community life,

including education and employment;

(4) Assess the concept and application

of independent living for diverse

populations of cultural and linguistic

minorities, including but not limited to

those from Indian tribes and tribal

organizations, Latinos and Asians and

identify and evaluate culturally

appropriate independent living

approaches and strategies to assist

individuals within these groups to

attain self-determined independent

living goals; and

(5) Provide training and information

for CILs, policy makers, including

business leaders and educators,

administrators, and advocates on

research findings and identified

strategies.

In carrying out these purposes, the

project must coordinate with other

NIDRR, including Section 21 Leadership

Training and the RRTCs on Disability

Statistics and Persons with Disabilities

from Minority Backgrounds, and OSERS

grantees and community-based

organizations that focus on independent

living, the Center on Emergent

Disability, the National Center for the

Dissemination of Disability Research,

and the RSA training and technical

assistance provider under Part C of Title

VII of the Rehabilitation Act.

Electronic Access to This Document

You may view this document, as well

as all other Department of Education

documents published in the Federal

Register, in text or Adobe Portable

Document Format (PDF) on the Internet

at either of the following sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm

http://www.ed.gov/news.html

To use the PDF you must have the

Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is

available free at either of the preceding

sites. If you have questions about using

the PDF, call the U.S. Government

Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–

888–293–6498; or in the Washington,

D.C. 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.access.gpo.gov/nara/

index.html.

Applicable Program Regulations: 34

CFR Part 350

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760–762.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number: 84.133B, Rehabilitation Research

and Training Centers)

Dated: May 11, 2000.

Judith E. Heumann,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services.

[FR Doc. 00–12502 Filed 5–17–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.133B]

Office of Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services, National

Institute on Disability and

Rehabilitation Research, Notice

Inviting Applications for New

Rehabilitation Research Training

Centers for Fiscal Year 2000

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: This notice

is a complete application package.

Together with the statute authorizing

the programs and applicable regulations

governing the programs, including the

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR),

this notice contains information,

application forms, and instructions

needed to apply for a grant under these

competitions.

These programs support the National

Education Goal that calls for all

Americans to possess the knowledge

and skills necessary to compete in a

global economy and exercise the rights

and responsibilities of citizenship.

The estimated funding levels in this

notice do not bind the Department of

Education to make awards in any of

these categories, or to any specific

number of awards or funding levels,

unless otherwise specified in statute.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR),

34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 85,

and 86; Disability and Rehabilitation

Research Projects and Centers—34 CFR

Part 350, and the Notice of Final Priority

published elsewhere in this issue of the

Federal Register.

PRE-APPLICATION MEETINGS:

Interested parties are invited to

participate in a pre-application meeting

to discuss the funding priority for the

two RRTCs on Improved Management of

Centers for Independent Living (CIL)

Programs and Services and Independent

Living (IL) and the New Paradigm of

Disability and to receive technical

assistance through individual

consultation and information about the

funding priorities.

A pre-application meeting for the

RRTC on Improving Service and

Supports for Individuals with LongTerm Mental Illness will be held on

June 13, 2000 at the Department of

Education, Office of Special Education

and Rehabilitative Services, Switzer

Building, Room 3065, 330 C St. SW,

Washington, DC between 10:00 a.m. and

12:00 a.m.

The pre-application meeting for the

Independent Living priorities will be

held on June 15, 2000 at the Department

of Education, Office of Special

Education and Rehabilitative Services,

Switzer Building, Room 3065, 330 C St.

SW, Washington, DC between 10:00

a.m. and 12:00 a.m.

NIDRR staff will also be available at

this location on from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00

p.m. on that same day of the meeting to

provide technical assistance through

individual consultation and information

about the funding priorities. NIDRR will

make alternate arrangements to

accommodate interested parties who are

unable to attend the pre-application

meeting in person. For further

information or to make arrangements to

attend either in person or by telephone

contact the following: for the preapplication meeting on the Long-Term

Mental Illness priority contact Connie

Pledger, Switzer Building, room 3423,

400 Maryland Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202)

31758 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 97 / Thursday, May 18, 2000 / Notices

205–4352. And for the pre-application

meeting on the Independent Living

priority contact David Keer, Switzer

Building, room 3431, 400 Maryland

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202.

Telephone (202) 205–5633. If you use a

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf

(TDD), you may call (202) 205–4475.

Assistance to Individuals with

Disabilities at the Public Meetings

The meeting site is accessible to

individuals with disabilities, and a sign

language interpreter will be available. If

you need an auxiliary aid or service

other than a sign language interpreter in

order to participate in the meeting (e.g.

other interpreting service such as oral,

cued speech, or tactile interpreter;

assistive listening device; or materials in

alternate format), notify the contact

person listed in this Notice at least two

weeks before the scheduled meeting

date. Although we will attempt to meet

a request we receive after this date, we

may not be able to make available the

requested auxiliary aid or service

because of insufficient time to arrange

it.

APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000 REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTERS

[CFDA No. 84–133B]

Funding priority Deadline for transmittal of applications

Estimated

number of

awards

Award

amount

(per year)*

Project

period

(months)

84.133B–1 Improved management of CIL programs and services.July 17, 2000 ........................................................ 1 $500,000 60

84.133B–5 IL and the new paradigm of disability July 17, 2000 ........................................................ 1 500,000 60

84.133B–7 Improving service and supports for

individuals.

July 17, 2000 ........................................................ 1 550,000 60

Program Title: Rehabilitation

Research and Training Center.

CFDA Number: 84.133B.

Purpose of Program: RRTCs are

operated in collaboration with

institutions of higher education or

providers of rehabilitation services or

other appropriate services. RRTCs serve

as centers of national excellence and

national or regional resources for

providers and individuals with

disabilities and the parents, family

members, guardians, advocates or

authorized representatives of the

individuals.

RRTCs conduct coordinated,

integrated, and advanced programs of

research in rehabilitation targeted

toward the production of new

knowledge to improve rehabilitation

methodology and service delivery

systems, to alleviate or stabilize

disabling conditions, and to promote

maximum social and economic

independence of individuals with

disabilities.

RRTCs provide training, including

graduate, pre-service, and in-service

training, to assist individuals to more

effectively provide rehabilitation

services. They also provide training

including graduate, pre-service, and inservice training, for rehabilitation

research personnel and other

rehabilitation personnel.

RRTCs serve as informational and

technical assistance resources to

providers, individuals with disabilities,

and the parents, family members,

guardians, advocates, or authorized

representatives of these individuals

through conferences, workshops, public

education programs, in-service training

programs and similar activities.

RRTCs disseminate materials in

alternate formats to ensure that they are

accessible to individuals with a range of

disabling conditions.

Eligible Applicants: Parties eligible to

apply for grants under this program are

States, public or private agencies,

including for-profit agencies, public or

private organizations, including forprofit organizations, institutions of

higher education, and Indian tribes and

tribal organizations.

Selection Criteria: The Assistant

Secretary uses the following selection

criteria to evaluate applications for

RRTCs on Improved Management of CIL

Programs and Services, IL and the New

Paradigm of Disability and Improving

Service and Supports for Individuals

with Long-Term Mental Illness (See

section 350.54). The total maximum

score for the criteria is 100 points.

(a) Importance of the problem (9

points total). (1) The Secretary considers

the importance of the problem.

(2) In determining the importance of

the problem, the Secretary considers the

following factors:

(i) The extent to which the applicant

clearly describes the need and target

population (3 points).

(ii) The extent to which the proposed

activities address a significant need of

those who provide services to

individuals with disabilities (3 points).

(iii) The extent to which the proposed

project will have beneficial impact on

the target population (3 points).

(b) Responsiveness to an absolute or

competitive priority (4 points total). (1)

The Secretary considers the

responsiveness of the application to an

absolute or competitive priority

published in the Federal Register.

(2) In determining the application’s

responsiveness to the absolute or

competitive priority, the Secretary

considers the extent to which the

applicant’s proposed activities are likely

to achieve the purposes of the absolute

or competitive priority (4 points).

(c) Design of research activities (35

points total). (1) The Secretary considers

the extent to which the design of

research activities is likely to be

effective in accomplishing the objectives

of the project.

(2) In determining the extent to which

the design is likely to be effective in

accomplishing the objectives of the

project, the Secretary considers the

following factors:

(i) The extent to which the research

activities constitute a coherent,

sustained approach to research in the

field, including a substantial addition to

the state-of-the-art (5 points).

(ii) The extent to which the

methodology of each proposed research

activity is meritorious, including

consideration of the extent to which—

(A) The proposed design includes a

comprehensive and informed review of

the current literature, demonstrating

knowledge of the state-of-the-art (5

points);

(B) Each research hypothesis is

theoretically sound and based on

current knowledge (5 points);

(C) Each sample population is

appropriate and of sufficient size (5

points);

(D) The data collection and

measurement techniques are

appropriate and likely to be effective (5

points); and (E) The data analysis

methods are appropriate (5 points).

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 97 / Thursday, May 18, 2000 / Notices 31759

(iii) The extent to which anticipated

research results are likely to satisfy the

original hypotheses and could be used

for planning additional research,

including generation of new hypotheses

where applicable (5 points).

(d) Design of training activities (11

points total). (1) The Secretary considers

the extent to which the design of

training activities is likely to be effective

in accomplishing the objectives of the

project.

(2) In determining the extent to which

the design is likely to be effective in

accomplishing the objectives of the

project, the Secretary considers the

following factors:

(i) The extent to which the proposed

training materials are likely to be

effective, including consideration of

their quality, clarity, and variety (2

points).

(ii) The extent to which the proposed

training methods are of sufficient

quality, intensity, and duration (2

points).

(iii) The extent to which the proposed

training content—

(A) Covers all of the relevant aspects

of the subject matter (1 point); and

(B) If relevant, is based on new

knowledge derived from research

activities of the proposed project (1

point).

(iv) The extent to which the proposed

training materials, methods, and content

are appropriate to the trainees,

including consideration of the skill level

of the trainees and the subject matter of

the materials (2 points).

(v) The extent to which the proposed

training materials and methods are

accessible to individuals with

disabilities (1 point).

(vi) The extent to which the applicant

is able to carry out the training

activities, either directly or through

another entity (2 points).

(e) Design of dissemination activities

(8 points total). (1) The Secretary

considers the extent to which the design

of dissemination activities is likely to be

effective in accomplishing the objectives

of the project.

(2) In determining the extent to which

the design is likely to be effective in

accomplishing the objectives of the

project, the Secretary considers the

following factors:

(i) The extent to which the content of

the information to be disseminated—

(A) Covers all of the relevant aspects

of the subject matter (1 point); and

(B) If appropriate, is based on new

knowledge derived from research

activities of the project (1 point).

(ii) The extent to which the materials

to be disseminated are likely to be

effective and usable, including

consideration of their quality, clarity,

variety, and format (2 points).

(iii) The extent to which the methods

for dissemination are of sufficient

quality, intensity, and duration (2

points).

(iv) The extent to which the materials

and information to be disseminated and

the methods for dissemination are

appropriate to the target population,

including consideration of the

familiarity of the target population with

the subject matter, format of the

information, and subject matter (1

point).

(v) The extent to which the

information to be disseminated will be

accessible to individuals with

disabilities (1 point).

(f) Design of technical assistance

activities (4 points total). (1) The

Secretary considers the extent to which

the design of technical assistance

activities is likely to be effective in

accomplishing the objectives of the

project.

(2) In determining the extent to which

the design is likely to be effective in

accomplishing the objectives of the

project, the Secretary considers the

following factors:

(i) The extent to which the methods

for providing technical assistance are of

sufficient quality, intensity, and

duration (1 point).

(ii) The extent to which the

information to be provided through

technical assistance covers all of the

relevant aspects of the subject matter (1

point).

(iii) The extent to which the technical

assistance is appropriate to the target

population, including consideration of

the knowledge level of the target

population, needs of the target

population, and format for providing

information (1 point).

(iv) The extent to which the technical

assistance is accessible to individuals

with disabilities (1 point).

(g) Plan of operation (4 points total).

(1) The Secretary considers the quality

of the plan of operation.

(2) In determining the quality of the

plan of operation, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of the plan of

operation to achieve the objectives of

the proposed project on time and within

budget, including clearly defined

responsibilities, and timelines for

accomplishing project tasks (2 points).

(ii) The adequacy of the plan of

operation to provide for using resources,

equipment, and personnel to achieve

each objective (2 points).

(h) Collaboration (2 points total). (1)

The Secretary considers the quality of

collaboration.

(2) In determining the quality of

collaboration, the Secretary considers

the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the applicant’s

proposed collaboration with one or

more agencies, organizations, or

institutions is likely to be effective in

achieving the relevant proposed

activities of the project (1 point).

(ii) The extent to which agencies,

organizations, or institutions

demonstrate a commitment to

collaborate with the applicant (2

points).

(i) Adequacy and reasonableness of

the budget (3 points total). (1) The

Secretary considers the adequacy and

the reasonableness of the proposed

budget.

(2) In determining the adequacy and

the reasonableness of the proposed

budget, the Secretary considers the

following factors:

(i) The extent to which the costs are

reasonable in relation to the proposed

project activities (1 point).

(ii) The extent to which the budget for

the project, including any subcontracts,

is adequately justified to support the

proposed project activities (2 points).

(j) Plan of evaluation (7 points total).

(1) The Secretary considers the quality

of the plan of evaluation.

(2) In determining the quality of the

plan of evaluation, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the plan of

evaluation provides for periodic

assessment of progress toward—

(A) Implementing the plan of

operation (1 point); and

(B) Achieving the project’s intended

outcomes and expected impacts (1

point).

(ii) The extent to which the plan of

evaluation will be used to improve the

performance of the project through the

feedback generated by its periodic

assessments (1 point).

(iii) The extent to which the plan of

evaluation provides for periodic

assessment of a project’s progress that is

based on identified performance

measures that—

(A) Are clearly related to the intended

outcomes of the project and expected

impacts on the target population (2

points); and

(B) Are objective, and quantifiable or

qualitative, as appropriate (2 points).

(k) Project staff (9 points total). (1)

The Secretary considers the quality of

the project staff.

(2) In determining the quality of the

project staff, the Secretary considers the

extent to which the applicant

encourages applications for employment

from persons who are members of

groups that have traditionally been

31760 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 97 / Thursday, May 18, 2000 / Notices

underrepresented based on race, color,

national origin, gender, age, or disability

(1 point).

(3) In addition, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the key

personnel and other key staff have

appropriate training and experience in

disciplines required to conduct all

proposed activities (2 points).

(ii) The extent to which the

commitment of staff time is adequate to

accomplish all the proposed activities of

the project (2 points).

(iii) The extent to which the key

personnel are knowledgeable about the

methodology and literature of pertinent

subject areas (2 points).

(iv) The extent to which the project

staff includes outstanding scientists in

the field (2 points).

(l) Adequacy and accessibility of

resources (3 points total). (1) The

Secretary considers the adequacy and

accessibility of the applicant’s resources

to implement the proposed project.

(2) In determining the adequacy and

accessibility of resources, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the applicant

is committed to provide adequate

facilities, equipment, other resources,

including administrative support, and

laboratories, if appropriate (2 points).

(ii) The extent to which the facilities,

equipment, and other resources are

appropriately accessible to individuals

with disabilities who may use the

facilities, equipment, and other

resources of the project (1 point).

Instructions for Application Narrative

The Assistant Secretary strongly

recommends the following:

(a) A one-page abstract;

(b) An application narrative (i.e., Part

III that addresses the selection criteria

that will be used by reviewers in

evaluating individual proposals) of no

more than 125 pages double-spaced (no

more than 3 lines per vertical inch) 8–

1/2′× 11′′pages (on one side only) with

one inch margins (top, bottom, and

sides). The application narrative page

limit recommendation does not apply

to: Part I—the electronically scannable

form; Part II—the budget section

(including the narrative budget

justification); and Part IV—the

assurances and certifications; and

(c) A font no smaller than a 12-point

font and an average character density no

greater than 14 characters per inch.

Instructions for Transmittal of

Applications

(a) If an applicant wants to apply for

a grant, the applicant must—

(1) Mail the original and two copies

of the application on or before the

deadline date to: U.S. Department of

Education, Application Control Center,

Attention: (CFDA # 84.133B [Applicant

should include title]), Washington, DC

20202–4725, or

(2) Hand deliver or express mail the

original and two copies of the

application by 4:30 p.m. [Washington,

DC time] on or before the deadline date

to: U.S. Department of Education,

Application Control Center, Attention:

(CFDA # 84.133B [Applicant should

include title]), Room #3633, Regional

Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets,

SW., Washington, DC 20202.

(b) An applicant must show one of the

following as proof of mailing:

(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.

(c) If an application is mailed through

the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary

does 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.

Notes:

(1) The U.S. Postal Service does not

uniformly provide a dated postmark.

Before relying on this method, an

applicant should check with its local

post office.

(2) An applicant wishing to know that

its application has been received by the

Department must include with the

application a stamped self-addressed

postcard containing the CFDA number

and title of this program.

(3) The applicant must indicate on the

envelope and—if not provided by the

Department—in Item 10 of the

Application for Federal Assistance

(Standard Form 424) the CFDA

number—and letter, if any—of the

competition under which the

application is being submitted.

Application Forms and Instructions

The appendix to this application is

divided into four parts. These parts are

organized in the same manner that the

submitted application should be

organized. These parts are as follows:

Part I: Application for Federal

Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 1/

12/1999) and instructions.

Part II: Budget Form—NonConstruction Programs (Standard Form

524A) and instructions.

Part III: Application Narrative.

Additional Materials

Estimated Public Reporting Burden.

Assurances—Non-Construction

Programs (Standard Form 424B).

Certification Regarding Lobbying,

Debarment, Suspension, and Other

Responsibility Matters: and Drug-Free

Work-Place Requirements (ED Form 80–

0013).

Certification Regarding Debarment,

Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary

Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered

Transactions (ED Form 80–0014) and

instructions. (NOTE: ED Form GCS–014

is intended for the use of primary

participants and should not be

transmitted to the Department.)

Certification of Eligibility for Federal

Assistance in Certain Programs (ED

Form 80–0016).

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

(Standard Form LLL (if applicable) and

instructions; and Disclosure Lobbying

Activities Continuation Sheet (Standard

Form LLL–A).

An applicant may submit information

on a photostatic copy of the application

and budget forms, the assurances, and

the certifications. However, the

application form, the assurances, and

the certifications must each have an

original signature. No grant may be

awarded unless a completed application

form has been received.

For Applications Contact: The Grants

and Contracts Service Team (GCST),

Department of Education, 400 Maryland

Avenue S.W., room 3317, Switzer

Building, Washington, D.C. 20202 or

call (202) 205–8207. Individuals who

use a Telecommunications Device for

the Deaf (TDD) may call the TDD

number at (202) 205–9860. The

preferred method for requesting

information is to FAX your request to

(202) 205–8717.

Individuals with disabilities may

obtain a copy of the application package

in an alternate format by contacting the

GCST. However, the Department is not

able to reproduce in an alternate format

the standard forms included in the

application package.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.,

room 3414, Switzer Building,

Washington, D.C. 20202–2645.

Telephone: (202) 205–5880 or TDD

(202) 205–4475. Internet:

Donna_Nangle@ed.gov

Electronic Access to This Document

You may view this document, as well

as all other Department of Education

documents published in the Federal

Register, in text or Adobe Portable

Document Format (PDF) on the Internet

at either of the following sites:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 97 / Thursday, May 18, 2000 / Notices 31761

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm

http://www.ed.gov/news.html

To use the PDF you must have the

Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is

available free at either of the preceding

sites. If you have questions about using

the 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 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.access.gpo.gov/nara/

index.html

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Numbers: 84.133B, Rehabilitation Research

Training Centers)

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760–762.

Dated: May 11, 2000.

Judith E. Heumann,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services.

Appendix—Application Forms and

Instructions

Applicants are advised to reproduce and

complete the application forms in this

Section. Applicants are required to submit an

original and two copies of each application

as provided in this Section. However,

applicants are encouraged to submit an

original and seven copies of each application

in order to facilitate the peer review process

and minimize copying errors.

Frequent Questions

1. Can I Get an Extension of the Due Date?

No. On rare occasions the Department of

Education may extend a closing date for all

applicants. If that occurs, a notice of the

revised due date is published in the Federal

Register. However, there are no extensions or

exceptions to the due date made for

individual applicants.

2. What Should Be Included in the

Application?

The application should include a project

narrative, vitae of key personnel, and a

budget, as well as the Assurances forms

included in this package. Vitae of staff or

consultants should include the individual’s

title and role in the proposed project, and

other information that is specifically

pertinent to this proposed project. The

budgets for both the first year and all

subsequent project years should be included.

If collaboration with another organization

is involved in the proposed activity, the

application should include assurances of

participation by the other parties, including

written agreements or assurances of

cooperation. It is not useful to include

general letters of support or endorsement in

the application.

If the applicant proposes to use unique

tests or other measurement instruments that

are not widely known in the field, it would

be helpful to include the instrument in the

application.

Many applications contain voluminous

appendices that are not helpful and in many

cases cannot even be mailed to the reviewers.

It is generally not helpful to include such

things as brochures, general capability

statements of collaborating organizations,

maps, copies of publications, or descriptions

of other projects completed by the applicant.

3. What Format Should Be Used for the

Application?

NIDRR generally advises applicants that

they may organize the application to follow

the selection criteria that will be used. The

specific review criteria vary according to the

specific program, and are contained in this

Consolidated Application Package.

4. May I Submit Applications to More Than

One NIDRR Program Competition or More

Than One Application to a Program?

Yes. You may submit applications to any

program for which they are responsive to the

program requirements. You may submit the

same application to as many competitions as

you believe appropriate. You may also

submit more than one application in any

given competition.

5. What Is the Allowable Indirect Cost Rate?

The limits on indirect costs vary according

to the program and the type of application.

The Rehabilitation Research Training Centers

are limited to a 15% indirect cost rate.

6. Can Profitmaking Businesses Apply for

Grants?

Yes. However, for-profit organizations will

not be able to collect a fee or profit on the

grant, and in some programs will be required

to share in the costs of the project.

7. Can Individuals Apply for Grants?

No. Only organizations are eligible to apply

for grants under NIDRR programs. However,

individuals are the only entities eligible to

apply for fellowships.

8. Can NIDRR Staff Advise me Whether my

Project is of Interest to NIDRR or Likely to be

Funded?

No. NIDRR staff can advise you of the

requirements of the program in which you

propose to submit your application.

However, staff cannot advise you of whether

your subject area or proposed approach is

likely to receive approval.

9. How do I Assure That my Application Will

be Referred to the Most Appropriate Panel for

Review?

Applicants should be sure that their

applications are referred to the correct

competition by clearly including the

competition title and CFDA number,

including alphabetical code, on the Standard

Form 424, and including a project title that

describes the project.

10. How Soon After Submitting my

Application Can I Find Out if it Will be

Funded?

The time from closing date to grant award

date varies from program to program.

Generally speaking, NIDRR endeavors to

have awards made within five to six months

of the closing date. Unsuccessful applicants

generally will be notified within that time

frame as well. For the purpose of estimating

a project start date, the applicant should

estimate approximately six months from the

closing date, but no later than the following

September 30.

11. Can I Call NIDRR to Find Out if my

Application is Being Funded?

No. When NIDRR is able to release

information on the status of grant

applications, it will notify applicants by

letter. The results of the peer review cannot

be released except through this formal

notification.

12. If my Application is Successful, Can I

Assume I Will Get the Requested Budget

Amount in Subsequent Years?

No. Funding in subsequent years is subject

to availability of funds and project

performance.

13. Will all Approved Applications be

Funded?

No. It often happens that the peer review

panels approve for funding more applications

than NIDRR can fund within available

resources. Applicants who are approved but

not funded are encouraged to consider

submitting similar applications in future

competitions.

Estimated Public Reporting Burden

Public reporting burden for these

collections of information is estimated to

average 30 hours per response, including the

time for reviewing instructions, searching

existing data sources, gathering and

maintaining the data needed, and completing

and reviewing the collection of information.

Send comments regarding this burden

estimate or any other aspect of these

collections of information, including

suggestions for reducing this burden, to: the

U.S. Department of Education, Information

Management and Compliance Division,

Washington, DC 20202–4651; and to the

Office of Management and Budget,

Paperwork Reduction Project 1820–0027,

Washington, DC 20503.

Rehabilitation Research Training Center

(CFDA No. 84.133B) 34 CFR Part 350.

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[FR Doc. 00–12503 Filed 5–17–00; 8:45 am]

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