1 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFI CE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVI CES

WASHI NGTON, D.C. 20202
- 2575 

## FY **(enter year**  **) APPLICATION PACKAGE FOR NEW GRANTS**  UNDER THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH 

## DISABILTY REHABIL ITATION RESEARC H PROJECTS ( D RRP )

(enter name of competition) **CFDA NUMBER: 84.133 A**  **- (enter schedule #)** 

FORM APPROVED

OMB No. 1820
- 0027, EXP. DATE xx /xx /xxxx

SF FORM 424, xx /xx/xxxx **DATED MATERIAL -**  **OPEN IMMEDIATELY** 

# CLOSING DATE: **(enter date)**2 

### TABLE O **F CONTENTS Section A**  Dear Applicant Letter **Section B** Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards **Section C** Notice of Final Priorit ies **Section D** Background Statement **Section E** General Requirements of D RRP **Section F** Selection Criteria **Section G** Pro tection of Human Subjects **Section H** Application Format and Instructions

 Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)  Table of Contents  Abstract  ED Budget Information Non
- Construction Programs (ED
- 524)  Budget Narrative  Project Narrative  General Education Provisions Act ( GEPA ) Requirements

– Section 427  GG Lobb yi ng Form (90
- 0013)  Faith Based Survey

on EEO  ED Supplemental Form for SF 424 SF LLL Disclosure of Lobb yi ng  Vitae/Bibliograph y/ Letters of Support **Section I** Frequently Asked Questions DUNS Number Instructions **Section J** Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

Application Transmittal Instructions **Section K** Voluntary

L etter of Intent **Section L**  Required Forms and Form Instructions **Section M**  Application Checklist

Paperwork Burden Statement3 

# SECTION **A DEAR APPLICANT LETTER** 4 ( **enter date** )

Dear Applicant: The Secretary

invites applications for a new award in fiscal y ear (FY) ( **enter year** ) under the Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects , ( **enter the name of the priority**  ) (CFDA Number
- 84.133 A
- ( **enter the schedule number** ) ). NIDRR is seeking applications that address all elements of the priorit y and that propose appropriate, high
- quality research methodologies. It is critical that proposals describe expected public benefits, especiall y benefits for individuals with disabilities, and propose projects that are designed to demonstrate outcomes that are consistent with the proposed goals. The purpose of the DRRP program is to plan and conduct research, demonstr ation projects, training, and related activities to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society , employ ment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self
- suffi ciency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The start date for new awards for the (FY) ( **enter year**  ) programs will be no later than October 1, ( **enter year** )
. APPLICATION PROCEDURES This application package contains information and the required forms for potential applicants to apply and be considered for a FY ( **enter year** ) grant award under this competition, including the published Federal Register notice dated ( **enter date published** ) . The background statement from the Notice of Proposed Priorities is in Section D. The closing date (application deadline) is **(enter date)**
. Potential applicants are advised to read the materials in this application package carefully
. Please pay

particular attention to the information contained in the Notice Inviting Applications on the eligible applicants and the dollar amount available for this competition , Section F

– the Selection Criteria, Section G

– Protection of Human Subjects, and Section H

– Application Format and Instructions . Applications must be responsive to the absolute priority in Section C and the statutory , regulatory , and general requirements for the D RRP program in Section E. The application narrative should be written in the order of the selection criteria in Section F. The selection criteria will be used by the reviewers to evaluate the application.5

Page 2, Dear Applicant
**Include a one -**  **page abstract**  . The abstract is a critical component of the proposal, and it should describe the purpose, target population to be served during the project period, planned goals and objectives, proposed methodological approach, and anticipated project outcomes. A WARD AMOUNTS, REQUIRED COST SHARE and AWARD AMOUNTS, REQUIED COST SHARE, AND INDIRECT COST RATE We will reject an y application that proposes a budget exceeding the amount of ( **enter amount** ) for a single budget period of 12 months for the ( **enter name** ) ( CFDA Number
- 84.133 A
- (enter **schedule)** ). A minimum c ost sharing of up to 1% is required and can be negotiated at the time of the grant award if not included in the application . Cost share can be a reduced indirect cost rate, donated FTE, donated space, and/or donated equipment. The indirect cost rate is y our institution’s federally

negotiated rate. APPLICATION SUBMISSI ON PROCEDURES You **must** submit your application electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site. See Section B, Notice Inviting Applicati ons and Section J, Application Transmittal Instructions. **NOTE** : You will be uploading sections of your application by heading. There is a heading for: (1) Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) ; (2) Table of Contents; (3) Abstract; (4) ED Budg et Information Non
- Construction Programs (ED
- 524); (5) Budget Narrative; (6) Project Narrative; (7) General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements

– Section 427; (8) GG Lobb yi ng Form (90
- 0013); (9) Faith Based Survey on EEO; (10) ED Supplement al Form for SF 42 4; (11 ) SF LLL Disclosure of Lobb yi ng; and (12) Vitae/Bibliograph y/ Letters of Support. There is a file size limitation to each section , and you may upload onl y one document under each heading. Therefore, in order to make sure that all of your materials are uploaded successfull y, yo u will need to combine multiple original documents for a heading (e.g., letters, resumes) into a single document before uploading. Electronic copies must be fully uploaded on the Grants.gov site b y 4:30:00 pm , Washington DC time on the closing date, **(enter date)** . This process may take several hours. Therefore, please allow several hours or a full day to submit your application. If there is a submission error, additional time will be needed to correct the er ror and resubmit. **We encourage you to read Section J** 

**– Grants.**  **g ov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants** 6

Page 3

– Dear Applicant
PROGRAM REGULAT IONS These grants are subject to the requirements of the Education Department General Administrativ e Regulations (EDGAR), in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 97, which set forth general rules affecting the submittal, review, grant award, and post
- award administration for Department of Education grant programs. TECHNI CALASSI STANCE Pre
- Application Meeting : A pre
- application meeting will be held between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on ( **enter date** ) by

teleconference. Interested parties are invited to participate in the pre
application meeting to discuss the funding priority and to receive information and technical assistance. You must contact ( **enter name** ) at ( **enter email address** ) by ( **enter date** ) in order to participate in this meeting. NI DRR staff also will be available to provide information and technical assistance via individual phone consultations from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on (enter **date** )

. Requests for individual consultations during this one hour window must be made in advance to ( **enter name** )
. If you have an y questions about the information in this application package, please contact (enter **name** ) at ( **enter email address** ) o r by telephone at ( **enter phone number**  ) or ( **enter name** ) at ( **enter email address** ) o r by telephone at ( **enter phone number** ) . Individuals who use a telecommunications device (TDD) may call the Federal Relay

Service ( FRS) at 1
- 800
- 877
- 8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday
. If you experience problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1
- 800
- 518
- 4726. Thank you for your interest in th i s program. Sincerel y,
(insert name) Director, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research7 

# SECTION **B NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW** 

**AWARDS**8



### INSERT PUBLISHED NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW **A WARDS** 9 

# SECTION C **NOTICE OF FINAL PRIORITY PUBLISHED: (ENTER DATE)** 10 

### INSERT PUBLISHED NOTICE OF FINAL PRIORITY11 

# SECTION **D BACKGROUND STATEMENT** 12 

### INSERT BACKGROUND STATEMENT13 

# SECTION E **GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF DRRPS**14



### General Di sability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Requirements Background: NI DRR proposes the following General DRRP Requirements priority because it believes that the effectiveness of an y DRRP (including an y DBTAC) depends on, among other things, how well the DRRP coordinates its research efforts with the research of other NIDRR
- funded projects, involves individuals with disabilities in its activities, and identifies specific anticipated outcomes that are linked to its objectives in applying for DRRP funding. Accordingl y, NIDRR intends to use the General DRRP Requirements in conjunction with all of the other DRRP priorities NIDRR proposes. Priority : To meet this priority , the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) must

— (a) Coordinate on research projects of mutual interest with relevant NIDRR
- funded projects, as identified through consultation with the NIDRR project officer; (b) Involve individuals with disabilities in planning and implementing the DRRP’s research, training , and dissemination activities, and in evaluating its work; and (c) Identify

anticipated outcomes (i.e., advances in knowledge or changes and improvements in policy , practice, behavior, and sy stem capacit y) that are linked to the applicant’s stated grant objectives.15 

# SECTION **F SE**  **LE CTION CRITERIA** 

***** The selection criteria that are listed in this section are taken directly from the Federal regulations for this NIDRR
- administered program ( C.F.R 350.54 ). They are a subset of all of the selection criteria that are available for NIDRR’s use, and we provide them here as an example. For every grant competition that NIDRR administers under this p rogram, NIDRR will choose the criteria that match the requirements of the specific priority that is being competed. *****16 Selection Criteria The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application for the National Data and Statistical Center for the Burn Model Systems **(a) Responsiveness to an absolute or competitive priority (15 points total).**  (1) The Secretary considers the responsiveness of the application to the absolute or competitive priority published in the Federal Register. (2) In determining the responsiveness of the application to the absolute or competitive priority, the Secretary considers the following factors: (i) The extent to which the applicant addresses all requirements of the absolute or competitive priority. (ii) The e xtent to which the applicant's proposed activities are likely to achieve the purposes of the absolute or competitive priority. **(b) Quality** 

**of the project design (40 points total).**  (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors: (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly speci fied and measurable. (ii) The quality of the methodology to be employed in the proposed project. (iii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other id entified needs. (iv) The extent to which the proposed development efforts include adequate quality controls and, as appropriate, repeated testing of products. (v) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or related effort s, and with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources. **(c) Training**  **(10 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 proje ct. (2) In determining the extent to which the design is likely to be effective in accomplishing the objectives of the project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:17

(i) The extent to which the proposed training materials are likely to be effective, including consideration of their quality, clarity, and variety. (ii) The extent to which the proposed training methods are of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration. **(d) Technical A** 

**ssistance (10 points total).**  (1) The Secretary co nsiders 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 one or more of the following factors: (i) The extent to which the methods for providing technical assistance are of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration. (ii) 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. **(e) Plan of evaluation (5 points total).**  (1) The Secretary considers th e 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) Impleme nting the plan of operation; and (B) Achieving the project's intended outcomes and expected impacts. (ii) 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; and (B) Are objective, and quantifiable or qualitative, as appropriate. **(f) Project staff (15 points total).**  (1) The Secretary consid ers the quality of the project staff.18

(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 underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (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. (ii) The extent to which the commitment of staff time is adequate to accomplish all the proposed activities of the project. (iii) The extent to which the key personnel are knowledgeable about the methodology and literature of pertinent subject areas. **(g) Ad**  **equacy**

**and reasonableness of the budget (5 points total).**  (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy and the reasonableness of the proposed budget. (2) In determining the adequacy and the reaso nableness 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. (ii) The extent to which the budget for the project, including any subcontra cts, is adequately justified to support the proposed project activities.19 

# SECTION **G PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS** 20 

### Protection of Human Subjects Research activities involving human subjects supported b y awards under these programs are subject to Department of Education Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects. You do **not** need an assurance or IRB approval as a condition of appl yi ng for this competition. If you marked "Yes" for Item 3 of Department of Education Supplemental In formation for SF 424, you must provide a human subjects "exempt research" or "nonexempt research" narrative. Insert the narrative(s) in the space provided. If yo u have multiple projects and need to provide more than one narrative, please indicate which p roject each set of responses address es . **A. Exempt Research Narrative.** If you marked "Yes" for item 3 a. and designated exemption numbers(s), provide the "exempt research" narrative. The narrative must contain sufficient information about the involve ment of human subjects in the proposed research to allow a determination b y ED that the designated exemption(s) are appropriate. The narrative must be succinct. In addition, narratives are required for each participating partner if research is being cond ucted at other sites. **B. Nonexempt Research Narrative.** If you marked "No" for item 3 a. you must provide the "nonexempt research" narrative. The narrative must address the seven points. Although no specific page limitation applies to this section o f the application, be succinct. Copies of the Department of Education regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects as well as other documents are available on the website below. For more information call (202) 260
- 3353 or go on
- line the Protectio n of Human Subjects in research Web Site:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/humansub.html21 

# SECTION **H APPLICATION FORMAT**  **AND INSTRUCTIONS**22 

### APPLICATION FORMAT **AND INSTRUCTIONS** Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (grants.gov) by

the closing date unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement **.** It is recommended that your electronic application (or paper application if you have requested and been approved for a waiver), be organized in the following manner and include the following: **NOTE** : You will be uploading sections of your application by heading. There is a heading for: (1) Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424); (2) Table of Contents; (3) Abstra ct; (4) ED Budget Information Non
- Construction Programs (ED
- 524); (5) Budget Narrative; (6) Project Narrative; (7) General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements

– Section 427; (8) GG Lobb yi ng Form (90
- 0013); (9) Faith Based Survey on EEO; (10 ) ED Supplemental Form for SF 424; (11) SF LLL Disclosure of Lobb yi ng; and (12) Vitae/Bibliograph y/ Letters of Support
. There is a file size limitation to each section and you may onl y upload one document under each heading. Therefore, in order to mak e sure that all of your materials are uploaded successfull y, yo u will need to combine multiple original documents for a heading (e.g., letters, resumes) into a single document before uploading. **1. Application for Federal Assistance**  **(Form SF 424)** T his form requires basic identifying information about the applicant and the application. Applicants should note that there are multiple D RRP s open and use the **RELEVANT** CFDA and Title from the NFP/NIA
. **2. Table of Contents**  The Table of Contents s hows where and how the important sections of y our proposal are organized. While the application will be submitted electronically , the reviewers will use printed copies during the review process. The Table of Contents will assist them in more efficientl y and effectively evaluating your application. Upload the Table of Contents to Optional Forms: Other Attachments
. **3. Abstract**  The ONE
- PAGE abstract should be a comprehensive description of what the whole (all ye ars) project is, not a description of the competency of the institution or project director. It is not an executive summary . It can be single or double
- spaced. Upload the Abstract to ED Abstract. **4. ED Budget Information Non**  **- Construction Programs (ED**  **- 524)**  Remember that you must pr ovide complete budget information for each ye ar of the proposed project. Use the Budget Narrative heading to upload. Please report Federal Funds in Section A

– Budget Summary and Non
- Federal F unds in Section B

– Budget Summary
.23

Specific instructions for completing the budget forms are provided within this application package
. Name : Enter the Name of the applicant organization(s) or institution(s) in the space provided. Personnel (Line 1): Enter project personnel salaries and wages only . Include fe es and expenses for consultants on line 6. Fringe Benefits (Line 2): The institution’s normal fringe benefits contribution may be charged to the program. Leave this line blank if fringe benefits applicable to direct salaries and wages are treated as par t of the indirect cost. Travel (Line 3): Indicate the travel costs of employees and participants only. In clude travel of persons such as consultants and trainees on line 6. Equipment (L ine 4): Indicate the cost of tangible, non
- expendable personal pro pert y that has usefulness greater than one ye ar and acquisition costs that are the lesser of the capitalization level established b y the applicant entity for financial statement purposes or $5,000 per article. L ower limits may be established to maintain c onsistency with the applicant’s policy
. Supplies (line 5): Show all tangible personal property except that on line 4. Contractual (line 6): The contractual category should include all costs specificall y incurred with actions that the applicant takes in conjunction with an established internal procurement s ys tem. Include consultant fees, expenses, and travel costs in this category if the consultant’s services are obtained through a written binding agreement or contract. Construction (line 7): Not appl icable. Other (line 8): Indicate all direct costs not covered on lines 1
- 6. For example, include costs such as space rental, required fees, honoraria and travel (where a contract in not in place for services), stipends, training, and communication and printing costs. Total Direct Costs (line 9): The sum of lines 1
- 8. Indirect Costs (line 10): There is no restricted indirect cost rate for this program. Use your institution’s f

ederall y negotiated rate. Training Stipends (line 11): There are three t ypes of projects that might include budget requests for stipends, tuition allowance, or other ty pes of similar charges to support the objectives of the project: Fellowship or Scholarship Programs Educational Training Projects Projects where stu dents receive tuition remission or other forms of compensation, as, or in lieu of wages.24

Total Cost (line 12): This should equal to sum of lines 9
- 11 (total direct costs + indirect + stipends). The sum for column one, labeled Project Year 1 (a), should also be equal to item 18a on the application cover sheet (SF Form 424). Cost Share: Please include this information on the ED Form 524, Section B

– Budget Summary , Non
- Federal Funds

– Tab 2 and in your budget narrative
. **5. Budget Narrative**  This part requires an itemized budget breakdown for the project y ear and the basis for estimating the costs of personnel salaries, benefits, project staff travel, materials and supplies, consultants and subcontracts, indirect costs and any other projected expenditures. Address Cost Share in a separate section of the budget narrative labeled “Cost Share
. ” Please provide an itemized budget breakdown for each project ye ar. Upload the Budget Narrative to the Budget Narrative Section
. **6. Project**  **Narrative** Th e application narrative responds t o the General Requirements for DRRP’s found in Section E and the Selection Criteria found in Section F of this application package. The reviewers will use this section to evaluate y our application. Upload the Project Nar

rative to the Project Narrative Section. Each applicant is encouraged to limit the project narrative to the equivalent of no more than 125 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.  Us e 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.  In clude all critical information in the program narrative, minimizing the need for additional appendices.  Ensure that you attach **.PDF files only** for an y attachments to your application. PDF files are the onl y Education approved file t yp e accepted as detailed in the Federal Register application notice. Applicants must submit individual .PDF files only when attaching files to their application. Specificall y, the Department will not accept an y attachments that contain files within a file, such as PDF Portfolio files. Any

attachments uploaded that are not .PDF files or are password prote cted files will not be read. If y ou need assistance converting y our files to a .pdf format, please refer to this Grants.gov webpage with links to conversion programs: http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp#pdf_conversion_programs25

**NOTE:** The recommended page limit does not apply to the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) , the budget narrativ e, the forms , the one page abstract , the resumes , the bi bliograph y, or the letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the project narrative section. **7. General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements** 

**– Section 427**  Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (othe r than an individual person) to include in its application a description of the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, its f ederally
- assisted program for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. **8. GG Lobbying Form (90**  **- 0013)**  Instructions for completing this form are included o n the grants.gov website. **9. Faith Based Survey on EEO**  Instructions for completing this form are included o n the grants.gov website. **10. ED Supplemental Form for SF 424**  Instructions for completing this form are included o n the grants.gov website. **11. SF LLL Disclosure of Lobbying**  Instructions for completing this form are included o n the grants.gov website. **12. Vitae**  **/Biblio graphy/Letters of Support**  Vitae of staff or consultants should include the individual's title and role in the proposed project, and other information that is specificall y pertinent to this proposed project. 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. Upload the Vitae/Bibliograph y/ Letters of Support to the Other Attachments
- Op tional S ection.26 

# SECTION **I FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS**  **DUNS NUMBER INSTRUCTIONS**27 

### FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. CAN IGET AN EXTENSI ON OF THE DUE DATE? In the case of most competitions the answer is 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 ; this extension will identify who is eligible to appl y for a given competition. There are no extensions or exceptions to the due date made for individual applicants. Additionally , there are provisions for extension for Grants.gov, per the guidance included in the application package. 2. WHAT SHOULD BE IN CLUDED IN THE APPLICATION? The application should include the follow ing: (1) Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424); (2) Table of Contents; (3) Abstract; (4) ED Budget Information Non
- Construction Programs (ED
- 524); (5) Budget Narrative; (6) Project Narrative; (7) General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requir ements

– Section 427; (8) GG Lobbying Form (90
- 0013); (9) Faith Based Survey on EEO; (10) ED Supplemental Form for SF 424; (11) SF LLL Disclosure of Lobb yi ng; and (12) Vitae/Bibliography /L etters of Support . The budgets for all y ears, including a de tailed budget narrative, should be included. If collaboration with another organization or individual is involved in any

proposed activity , the application should include assurances of participation by the other parties, including written agreements or le tters 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 widel y 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 generall y not helpful to include such things as brochures, general capabilit y statements of collaborating organizations, maps, copies of publications, or descriptions of other projects completed b y the applicant. 3. WHAT FORMAT SHOULD BE USED FOR THE APPLICATION? NI DRR generally

advises applicants to organize the project narrative to follow the selection criteria
. The specific review criteria vary according to the specific programs and are included in this application package. Additionally , applicants should provide clearl y stated h ypotheses or research questions , goals, objectives, expected outcomes, and public benefit of the research or development project. The application should be organized to provide a thorough description of the methods and target population(s) and supported by evidence of need for the project, as identified i n the relevant literature; citations are useful and may strengthen the proposal. Specific information on the format can be found in Section H

– Application Format and Instructions of this application package. 4. ARE THERE PAGE LIMI TS TO MY APPLICATION? The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 125 pages, using the following stan dards: (1) A “page” is 8.5" x 11", on one side onl y, with 1" margins at the top, bottom, and both sides; (2) Double
- space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotati ons, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables,28

figures, and graphs; (3) Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch); (4) Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, C ourier New or Arial; and (5) In clude all critical information in the program narrative, minimizing the need for additional appendices
. 5. MAY I SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO MORE THAN ONE OPEN NIDRR PROGRAM COMPETI TI ON AT A TIME OR MORE THAN ONE APPLICATION TO A PARTI CULAR PROGRAM COMPETI TI ON? Yes. You may

submit more than one application in any given competition. You may submit to as many open competitions for which an application is responsive to the program requirements. However, each competition is unique and the selection criteria will vary from one competition to another. It is import ant that each separate application include the required materials for that particular competition. 6. DO I NEED AN ABSTRACT AND WHAT SHOULD IT INCLUDE? Yes , you do need an ab stract . The abstract is used by both the peer reviewers and the program staff in the review and processing of the application. The ONE
- PAGE abstract should be a comprehensive description of the project (all y ears), not a description of the competency of the institution or project director. It is not an executive summary . It can be single or double
- spaced. Upload to ED Abstract
. 7. WHAT I S THE ALLOWABLE INDIRECT COST RATE? For the Disabilit y Rehabilitation Research Projects (133A) applicants must have a current indirect cost rate agreement to charge indirect costs to a grant. The maximum amount of the award includes both direct and indirect costs (ED Budget Information non
- Construction programs (ED
- 524) . The Department’s Indirect Cost Group has more inf ormation on what you should know about indirect cost rates at its Web site: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/fipao/abouticg.html 8. CAN PROFIT MAKING BUSINESSES APPLY FOR GRANTS? Yes; however, for
- profit organizations will not be able to collect a fee or profit on the grant. It varies b y program. 9. CAN INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR GRANTS? Individuals are not eligible to apply for the Disability

Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP ). 10. CAN NIDRR STAFF ADVI SE ME WHETHER MY PROJECT I S OF IN TEREST TO N IDRR OR LIKELY TO BE FUNDED? No. NIDRR staff can only advise you of the requirements of the program in which you propose to submit your application. However, staff cannot advise y ou as to whether or not your subject area or proposed approach is likely t o receive approval. 11. HOW DO I ENSURE THAT MY APPLI CATION WILL BE REVIEWED UNDER THE CORRECT COMPETITION?29

Applicants must clearl y include the competition title and CFDA number, on the Standard Form 424, and include a project title that describes the projec t, based on the competition. 12. HOW SOON AFTER SUBMITTING MY APPLICATION CAN I FIND OUT IF IT WI LL BE FUNDED? The time from closing date to grant award date varies from program to program. Generall y speaking, NIDRR makes awards within six to seven month s after the closing date. Unsuccessful applicants generall y will be notified within that time frame as well. When NIDRR is able to release information on the status of grant applications, it will notify applicants by

letter. This information is **not** post ed on the NIDRR homepage or the Grants.gov website. 13. WHAT START DATE SHOULD I USE ON MY APPLICATION? For the purpose of estimating a project start date, the applicant should estimate approximately six to seven months from the closing date, preferably October 1. You must have a start date that allows y ou to complete an Annual Performance Report (APR) by May 31 st with a minimum of six month of activities to report on. 14. IF MY APPLICATION IS SUCCESSFUL , CAN I ASSUME IWILL GET THE REQUESTED BUDGET A MOUNT IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS? No. Funding in subsequent y ears is subject to availability of funds and project performance. 15. WI LL ALL APPROVED APPLICATIONS BE FUNDED? No. Peer review can result in more applications being determined to be worthy of co nsideration for funding than available resources allow. Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to consider resubmitting applications in future competitions. Funded applications will be notified in the manner described in #12. 16. HOW DO THE REPORTING REQ UI REMENTS I N SUBSEQUENT YEARS IMPACT ON MY APPLICAT ION? Successful applicants with multi
- year grants must submit an Annual Performance Report (APR) demonstrating and documenting their progress in meeting approved project objectives and their success in ad dressing the performance measures outlined in the Notice Inviting Applications. Grantees must also provide the most current financial and performance measure data for each ye ar of the project. Grantees will also be required to submit a final performance report, 90 day s after the end of the project period. T he APR is submitted electronicall y via a web
- based s ys tem. This sy stem is maintained by a contractor
. Grantees are provided an appropriate URL and personal password to access the sy stem. The contrac tor will also send newly funded grantees information about when and how to submit their APR. The Department use s the applicant’s performance data for program management and administration, in such areas as determining new and continuation funding and planning technical assistance. Grantees are required to participate fully in an y evaluation of the NIDRR program carried out by the Department of Education. 17. DO I HAVE TO INCLUDE COST SHARE I N MY APPLICATION? NI DRR has cost share requirements for the Dis ability Rehabilitation Research Projects (133A) in accordance with statutory (29 USC 762), regulatory (34 CFR Section 350.52), and administrative30

requirements
. This information should be reflected on the SF 424 #18. ( B ) , the ED 524 form
- Section B ( Budge t Summary Non
- Federal Funds ) , and in the budget narrative for each ye ar. A minimum amount of up to 1% of the total yearly budget amount is r equired ; however, you may include more than 1%. If the cost share amount is changed for a competition, it will be announced in the Notice Inviting Applications. For more information, see EDGAR 74.23 and 84.24. 18. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO ABOUT HUMAN SUBJECTS PROTECTI ON IN MY RESEARCH? If you are planning research involving human subjects at an y time during the proje ct period, you check “Yes” in the Human Subjects section of the ED supplement to the SF 424 form. If y ou checked “Yes,” you need to indicate whether the research is exempt or not exempt from the protection of human subjects requirements of EDGAR part 97 a nd if you have an IRB number. You will need to fill out the human subjects narrative for each site where the research is being conducted. The program and the Department’s human subjects staff review the applicant’s response against the application itself to determine its accuracy . They contact you for additional information or clarification, if needed. More information can be found in the instructions for the SF 424 form and in this application package in the Human Subjects section. 19. MUST I SUBMIT M Y APPLI CATION VIA GRANTS.GOV? Applications for grants for this competition must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Appl y site at www.Grants.gov . Through this site, you will be able to download a cop y of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit yo ur application. You may not e - mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. **We will reject your applicatio**  **n if you submit it in paper format unless, you qu**  **alify for one of the exc**  **eptions to the electronic submiss ion 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.**  20
. HOW WI LL I RECEIVE F UNDING FOR THE ADDITIONAL YEARS OF MY GRANT (CONTINUATION AWARD) ? 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 ap plication.” 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)31 

### DUNS NUMBER INSTRUCTIONS
NOTE: Check with your fiscal office to see if your institution has an assigned DUNS before conta cting Dun & Bradstreet D
- U
- N
- S No.: Please provide the applicant's D
- U
- N
- S Number. You can obtain your

D
- U
- N
- S Number at no charge b y calling **1 -**  **800 -**  **234 -**  **3867** or b y completing a D
- U
- N
- S Number Request Form. The form can be obtained via the Internet at the f

ollowing URL: http://www.dnb.com/US/duns_update/index.html The D
- U
- N
- S Number is a unique nine
- digit number that does not convey any information about the recipient. A built in check digit helps assure the accuracy of the D
- U
- N
- S Number. The ninth digit of each number is the check digit, which is mathematically related to the other digits. It lets computer s ys tems determine if a D
- U
- N
- S Number has been entered correctly
. Dun & Bradstreet, a global information services provider, has assigned D
- U
- N
- S numbe rs to over 43 million companies worldwide. **Live help Monday**  **- Friday 8am**  **- 6pm (EST) Dial 1.800.234.3867**  Note: Electronic submission via Grants.gov must use DUNS number your organization used when it registered in the Central Contractor Registry
.32 

# SEC **TION J**  **G RANTS**  **. GOV**  **SUBMISSION PROCEDURES AND**

**TIPS FOR APPLICANTS APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS** 33 **IMPORTANT**

**— PLEASE READ FIRST**  **U.S. Department of Education** Grants.gov Submission Procedures and

Tips for Applicants To facilitate your use of Grants.go v, this document includes important submission procedures you need to be aware of to ensure your application is received in a timely manner and accepted by the Department of Education. ATTENTION

—

Adobe Forms and PDF Files Required Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe forms. Therefore, applicants will need to download the latest version of Adobe reader (at least Adobe Reader 8.1.2). Information on computer and operating system compatibility with Ad obe and links to download the latest version is available on Grants.gov. W e strongly recommend that you review these details on www.Grants.gov before completing and submitting your application. In addition, applicant s should submit their application a day or two in advance of the closing date as detailed below. Also, applicants are required to upload their attachments in .pdf format only. (See details below under “Attaching Files

—Additional Tips.”) If you have any questions regarding this matter please email the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or call 1
- 800
- 518
- 4726. 1) **REGISTER EARLY** Grants.gov registration may take five or more business day s to complete. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application until all of the Registration steps are complete. For detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to : http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp [Note: Your organization will need to update its Central Contractor Registry (CCR) registration annually .] 2) **SUBMIT EARLY We strongly recommend that you do no**  **t wait until the last day to submit your application. Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then**  **process it after it is fully uploaded.** The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on a number of factors includin g the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application will vary as well. If Grants.gov rejects y our application (see step three below), you will need to resubmit successfull y t o Grants.gov before 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time on the deadline date. **Note :**  To submit successfully , you must provide the DUNS number on y our application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.g ov. This DUNS number is ty pically the same number used when your organization registered with the CCR (Central Contractor Registry). If you do not enter the same DUNS number on your application as the DUNS you registered with, Grants.gov will reject your application. 3) **VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK** You will want to verify

that Grants.gov received y our application submission on time and that it was validated successfully . To see the date/time your application was received, login to Grants.gov and click on the Tr ack M y Application link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time, on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency , or Agency34

Tracking Number Assi gned. Once the Department of Education receives your application from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Number (PR/award number) will be assigned to your application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track M y Application link. If the date/tim e received is later than 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time, on the deadline date, your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting validation by

Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application has not been received successfully . Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on the Grants.gov site : http://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant_faqs.jsp#54 . For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader Error Messages document at http://www.grants.gov/assets/AdobeReaderErrorMessages.pdf . If y ou discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the instructions below. Note: You will receive a series of confi rmations both online and via e
- mail about the status of y our application. Please do not rely solel y on e - mail to confirm whether your application has been received timely

and validated successfully
. Submission Problems

—What should you do? If you have p roblems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1
- 800
- 518
- 4726 or http://www.grants.gov/contactus/contactus.jsp , or access the Grants.gov Self
- Service web portal at : https://grants
portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants If electronic submission is optional and you have problems that you are unable to resolve before the deadl ine date and time for electronic applications, please follow the transmittal instructions for hard cop y applications in the Federal Register notice and get a hard copy application postmarked b y midnight on the deadline date. If electronic submission is required , you must submit an electronic application before 4:30:00 p.m., unless you follow the procedures in the Federal Register notice and 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 yo u qualify for one of these exceptions. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.) Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov Please note, once you download an ap plication from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your computer. Please be sure to note where yo u are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to logon to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application. **You mus t provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you**  **registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov.** Please go to http://www.grants.gov/contactus/cont actus.jsp for help with Grants.gov. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Submit Application FAQs found on the Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/applicants/submit_application_faqs.jsp
. Dial
- Up Internet Connections **When using a dial up connection to upload and submit y our application, it can**  **take significantly**

**longer than when y ou are connected to the Internet with a high**  **** **spee d connection, e.g. cable modem/DSL/T1. While times will var** **y depending upon the size of y**  **our application, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to**35

**complete your grant submission using a dial up connection.** If you do not have access to a high - speed con nection and electronic submission is required, you may want to consider following the instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. **(See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)**  MAC Users For MAC compatibility

information, review the Operating Sy stem Platform Compatibility Table at the following Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp
. **If electronic submission is required and you are concerned about your ability to submit**  **electronically as a non -** **windows user, please follow instructions in the Federal Register notice**  **to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.**  (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.) Attaching Files

—

Additional Tips Please note the following tips rel ated to attaching files to your application, especially the requirement that applicants **only include read**  **- only, non**  **- modifiable .PDF files**  in their application: 1. Ensure that you attach **.PDF files only** for any attachments to your application, and they must be in a **read -**  **only, non -**  **modifiable format** . PDF files are the only Education approved file type accepted as detailed in the Federal Register application notice. Applicants must submit individual .PDF files only when attaching files to their application. Spe cifically, the Department will not accept any attachments that contain files within a file, such as PDF Portfolio files, or an interactive or fillable .PDF file. Any attachments uploaded that are not .PDF files or are password protected files will not be read. If you need assistance converting your files to a .pdf format, please refer to the following Grants.gov webpage with links to conversion programs under the heading of additional resources : http://www.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp 2. Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission. Therefore, each file uploaded to your application package should have a unique file name. 3. When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names. Uploaded files must be less than 50 characters, contain no spaces, no special characters (example:
- , &, *, %, /, #, \) including periods (.), blank spaces and accent marks. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department. 4. Applicants should limit the size of their file a ttachments. Documents submitted that contain graphics and/or scanned material often greatly increase the size of the file attachments and can result in difficulties opening the files. For reference, the average discretionary grant application package tot als 1 to 2 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission. 2/201236 Application Transmittal Instructions for Mail o r Hand Deliver y i f a Wa iver Has Been Obtained Submission of Paper Applications by Mail. If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address : By m ail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention : (CFDA number 84.133A
- 6) LBJ Basement Level 1 400 Maryland Avenue, SW. Washington, DC 20202
- 4260 Regardless of which address y ou use, y ou must show proo f of mailing consisting of one of the following: 1. A legibl y 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 uniforml y provide a dated postmark. Before rel yi ng on this meth od, you should check with your local post office. 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 b y hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of y our 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 84.1 33A
- 6) 550 12th Street, SW. Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza Washington, DC 20202
- 426037

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries dail y between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturday s, Sunday s, and Federal holiday s. Not e 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, i f an y, of the competition under which you are submitting y our 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 ap plication deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245
- 6288.38



### APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAIL OR HAND

**DELIVERY IF A WAIVER HAS BEEN OBTAINED**  Submission of Paper Applications by Ma il : If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the f ollowing address: By mail through the U.S. Postal Service : U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: (CFDA number 84.133 A
- (enter schedule number) ) LBJ Basement Level 1 400 Maryland Avenue, SW. Washington, DC 20202
- 4260 Re gardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following: (1) A legibl y 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 date d shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier. (4) An y 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 yo ur application. Note : The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before rel yi ng 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 ele ctronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) m ay deliver your paper application to the Department b y hand. You must deliver the39

original and two copies of y our application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Departm ent at the following address: U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133 A
- (enter schedule number) ) 550 12th Street, SW. Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza Washington, DC 20202
- 4260 The Application Control Cente r accepts hand deliveries dail y between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturday s, Sunday s, and Federal holiday s. **Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications** : I f 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 an y, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and (2) The Applicatio n 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
- 6288.40 

# SECTION K **VOLUNTARY LETTER OF INTENT**41



### Notice of Intent to Apply : Due to the open nature of the XXXX competition, and to assist with the selection of reviewers for this competition, NIDRR is requesting all potential applicants to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). The submission is not mandatory and the content of the LOI will not be peer reviewed or otherwise used to rate an applicant’s application. Each LOI should be limited to a maximum of four pages and inc lude the following information: (1) the title of the proposed project, which final priorit y will be addressed, the name of the compan y, the name of the Project Director or Principal Investigator (PI), and the names of partner institutions and entities; (2 ) a brief statement of the vision, goals, and objectives of the proposed project and a description of its activities at a sufficient level of detail to allow NI DRR to select potential peer reviewers; (3) a list of proposed project staff including the Proje ct Director or PI and key personnel; (4) a list of individuals whose selection as a peer reviewer might constitute a conflict of interest due to involvement in proposal development, selection as an advisory

board member, co
- PIrelationships, etc.; and (5) contact information for the Project Director or PI. Submission of a L OIis a prerequisite for eligibility to submit an application. NI DRR will accept the optional L OIvia surface mail, e
- mail, or facsimile by (I NSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBL ICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER). The LO I must be sent to: Surface mail: Person’s Name, U.S. Department of Education, 550 12th Street, SW, room XXXX, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202; or fax (202) 245
- 7323; or e
- mail: persons.name@ed.gov For further information regarding the LOI requirement contact Person’s Name at (202) 245
- XXXX.42 

# SECTION **L REQUIRED FORMS**  **A nd**  **FORM INSTRUCTIONS**43 

### APPLICATION FORMS All electronic and paper (if a waiver has been submitted and approved) applications submitted to NI DRR must include the following forms/ parts:

 Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)  Table of Contents  Abstract  ED Budget Information Non
- Construction Programs (ED
- 524)  Budget Narrative  Project Narrative  General Education Provisions A ct (GEPA) Requirements

– Section 427  GG Lobb yi ng Form (90
- 0013)  Faith Based Survey

on EEO  ED Supplemental Form for SF 424  SF LLL Disclosure of Lobbying  Vitae/Bibliograph y/ Letters of Support A separate application must be submitted for each grant sought. No grant may be awarded unless the completed application forms have been received. All above forms are mandatory and must be submitted with the application
. I f an item does not appear to be relevant , write "NA" for not applicable. Instructions for each form are provided on the Grants.gov website.44 

# SECTION **M APPLICATION CHECKLIST** 45



### _____________________________________________________________

**APPLICATION CHECKLIST** [ ] Did y ou complete the registration process for Grants.gov for the mandatory electronic submission on www.grants.gov ? Does your application include each of the following? [ ] Cover page (SF 424) marked appropriatel y with **84.133 A**  **- (enter schedule number)**  **.** D ownload of correct package for **84.133 A**  **- (enter schedule number)**  appl ying e lectronicall y [ ] Priority

Topic identified in the Descriptive Title in Block 1 2 of the SF 424 [ ] Budget form (ED form 524) with dollar amounts not exceeding the maximum in any y ear [ ] Required Cost Share included on side “B ” of the ED 524 and expl ained in the budget narrative for each ye ar [ ] Budget narrative for each y ear with arithmetic checked for accuracy [ ] Program narrative, including abstract and responses to the selection criteria [ ] Assurances and Certifications (from the forms li st in section K) [ ] Correctl y uploaded files on Grants.gov [ ] Narrative on the Protection of Human Subjects Did you do each of the following? [ ] Submit application on or before **(insert deadline date) .**  [ ] Fully

complete the upload of your appli cation and receive successful validation of the submission before 4:30:00 pm , Washington, D.C. time on the closing date
. [ ] Provide the required 1 original and 2 copies of the application if submitting by post, hand
- delivery , or carrier service
. ( If po ssible, please also send 9 additional paper copies and a disk copy
. )46 

### PAPERWORK BURDEN STATEMENT According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection display s a vali d OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 200 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and comp leting and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefits (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the program regulations under 34 CFR Parts 350
- 360)
. Send comments regard ing the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210
- 4537 or email IC DocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1820
- 0027. Note: Please do not return the completed application to this address.