48436 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 160 / Friday, August 18, 2006 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Special Demonstration Programs— 

Model Demonstrations for Assistive 

Technology Reutilization 

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services, Department of 

Education. 

ACTION: Notice of final priorities. 

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for 

the Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) 

announces final priorities under the 

Special Demonstration Programs 

administered by the Rehabilitation 

Services Administration (RSA). The 

Assistant Secretary may use one or more 

of these priorities for competitions in 

fiscal year (FY) 2006 and later years. 

This notice announces two priorities— 

a priority for model demonstrations for 

assistive technology (AT) device 

reutilization and a priority for a 

National Assistive Technology Device 

Reutilization Coordination and 

Technical Assistance Center (Center). 

These priorities are intended to increase 

access to AT devices for individuals 

with disabilities. The term ‘‘AT 

devices’’ includes a wide range of AT, 

such as computers, durable medical 

equipment, augmentative and 

alternative communication, and other 

devices. 

EFFECTIVE DATE: These priorities are 

effective September 18, 2006. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jeremy Buzzell, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 

room 5025, Potomac Center Plaza, 

Washington, DC 20202–2800. 

Telephone: (202) 245–7319 or via 

Internet: Jeremy.Buzzell@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD), you may call 

the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1– 

800–877–8339. 

Individuals with disabilities may 

obtain this document in an alternative 

format (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, or computer diskette) on 

request to the contact person listed 

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of the Special Demonstration 

Programs is to provide financial 

assistance to projects that expand and 

improve the provision of rehabilitation 

and other services for individuals with 

disabilities. The projects to be 

supported under these priorities are 

intended to improve the provision of AT 

to individuals with disabilities. 

We published a notice of proposed 

priorities (NPP) for this program in the 

Federal Register on April 26, 2006 (71 

FR 24800). The NPP included a 

background statement that described 

our rationale for each priority proposed 

in that notice. This notice of final 

priorities (NFP) contains several 

significant changes from the NPP. These 

changes are explained in the following 

Analysis of Comments and Changes. 

Analysis of Comments and Changes 

In response to our invitation in the 

NPP, 17 parties submitted comments on 

the proposed priorities. An analysis of 

the comments and of any changes in the 

priorities since publication of the NPP 

follows. We discuss substantive issues 

by topic under the number of the 

priority to which they pertain. Due to 

the nature and number of changes made 

in the priorities, OSERS significantly 

reorganized the priorities, including 

renumbering some sections and deleting 

others. 

Generally, we do not address 

technical and other minor changes and 

suggested changes the law does not 

authorize us to make under the 

applicable statutory authority. 

Priority 1—Model Demonstrations for 

AT Device Reutilization 

Priority 1—General 

Comments: Four commenters 

recommended that the amount of funds 

to cover indirect costs be limited to no 

more than 10 percent of the grant award 

in order to ensure that most of the grant 

funds are used for direct services. 

Discussion: It is not necessary to limit 

indirect costs in the final priority 

because 34 CFR 373.22 limits indirect 

costs to 10 percent of the total direct 

cost base or the grantee’s actual indirect 

costs, whichever is less. 

Change: None. 

Comment: One commenter requested 

greater specificity about requiring 

grantees to provide plans for sustaining 

their projects beyond the project period 

of this grant. 

Discussion: Programs can be sustained 

in many ways, so OSERS agrees that a 

clarification of what is meant by this 

requirement will be helpful to potential 

applicants. 

Change: OSERS replaced section (c) of 

Priority 1 with a new section (a)(ii) of 

Priority 1 to clarify that the project must 

be designed to sustain itself through its 

own activities beyond the project period 

of the grant. 

Priority 1—Eligibility Requirements 

Comments: Three commenters 

suggested that interstate collaborations 

be allowed to apply for grants under 

Priority 1. 

Discussion: Eligible parties already 

are allowed to apply as a group 

pursuant to 34 CFR 75.127 through 

75.129 and 34 CFR 373.2(a)(6). 

Change: OSERS replaced section (b) 

of Priority 1 with new sections (a)(iii) 

and (a)(iv) of Priority 1 to clarify that 

projects may serve a State or group of 

States. 

Comments: Three commenters 

suggested that grants be limited to one 

per State. One of these commenters 

would allow an exception if one project 

involved a single State and another 

involved that same State in a multi-State 

or regional project. 

Discussion: Limiting grants to one per 

State may undermine the competitive 

grant process and reduce the quality of 

services to individuals with disabilities, 

because high quality applications from 

one State would be passed over for low 

quality applications from another State. 

Additionally, as is stated elsewhere in 

this notice, statewide delivery of 

services will not be a requirement of 

applicants. Limiting the grants to one 

per State may prevent a State from 

achieving more comprehensive services 

through multiple grants. 

Change: None. 

Priority 1—Scope of Services 

Comments: Two commenters 

recommended that rather than requiring 

projects under Priority 1 to include all 

types of AT, serve people with all types 

of disabilities, and be statewide, that 

grantees be allowed to determine what 

AT they will reutilize, what types of 

disabilities will be served, and whether 

they will serve the entire State. 

Discussion: OSERS understands that 

different capacities and expertise are 

required to reutilize particular types of 

devices. Additionally, it is possible that 

a project can best meet the needs of 

individuals with disabilities in 

particular areas of a State rather than on 

a statewide basis. Therefore, OSERS 

agrees that projects should have 

discretion to determine what types of 

devices they will reutilize and whether 

they have the capacity to serve 

statewide. However, individuals with 

diverse disabilities can benefit from 

similar devices; therefore, it is not 

appropriate to give States the discretion 

to limit the type of disability served. 

Change: OSERS has removed 

language from section (a) of Priority 1 

requiring that projects be statewide and 

recycle all types of AT. 

Priority 1—Requirements for Project 

Operations 

Comments: Three commenters 

recommended that grantees under 

Priority 1 be required to use 


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professional technicians to refurbish the 

recycled devices. 

Discussion: Existing device 

reutilization projects use various models 

to successfully reutilize AT devices and 

rely on a wide range of expertise. Given 

the diversity of programs nationally and 

the lack of agreed-upon best practices 

for device reutilization, imposing such a 

requirement would unfairly restrict 

applications from viable programs. 

However, OSERS agrees that it is 

important to encourage the 

establishment of best practices in the 

field of AT device reutilization. 

Changes: OSERS deleted sections 1(d) 

and 2(a) of Priority 2 and added sections 

(a)(ii), (a)(iv), and (b)(iv) to Priority 2 to 

require the Center to investigate and 

nationally disseminate best practices 

and to explore the need for and 

feasibility of developing standards of 

practice. 

Priority 1—Collaboration 

Comments: Four commenters 

suggested that every grantee under 

Priority 1 be required to collaborate 

with the Statewide Assistive 

Technology Program (Statewide AT 

Program) funded under the Assistive 

Technology Act of 1998, as amended 

(AT Act), in their State, and two 

commenters recommended requiring an 

assurance from the Statewide AT 

Program in their State that the grantee’s 

application supplements and 

coordinates with the Statewide AT 

Program’s reutilization activities. 

Discussion: Because Statewide AT 

Programs conduct reutilization 

activities, OSERS agrees that projects 

funded under Priority 1 should 

collaborate with Statewide AT Programs 

to ensure better services to individuals 

with disabilities in their States. 

However, requiring an applicant under 

Priority 1 to provide an assurance in its 

application from the Statewide AT 

Program in its State that the application 

supplements and coordinates these 

reutilization activities would unfairly 

limit applications and undermine the 

competitive process. Requiring such an 

assurance from the Statewide AT 

Program would allow the Statewide AT 

Program to determine what entities can 

apply under Priority 1 by agreeing to or 

refusing to provide an assurance to an 

entity. 

Change: OSERS replaced section (b) 

of Priority 1, with a new section (a)(iii), 

which requires that grantees coordinate 

and collaborate with reutilization 

activities funded under the AT Act. 

However, an assurance from the grantee 

under the AT State Grant program will 

not be required as part of the 

application. OSERS also included in 

section (a)(iii) language from section (h) 

in the NPP requiring that funds be used 

to supplement and not supplant the 

efforts of the Statewide AT Program. 

Comments: One commenter 

recommended including a list of 

partners with whom grantees funded 

under Priority 1 should be required to 

collaborate, including AT Act programs, 

alternative financing programs, 

vocational rehabilitation agencies, 

education agencies, and vendors. An 

additional two commenters suggested 

that grantees be required to partner with 

manufacturers and suppliers of AT to 

conduct reutilization. 

Discussion: OSERS agrees that 

collaboration is important for projects 

funded under Priority 1. 

Change: OSERS replaced section (b) 

with a new section (a)(iv), which 

requires that grantees collaborate with 

relevant entities as appropriate, 

including the National Assistive 

Technology Device Reutilization 

Coordination and Technical Assistance 

Center funded under Priority 2, as well 

as State agencies that fund AT, 

alternative financing programs, vendors 

and manufacturers of AT, and other 

relevant entities and organizations. 

Priority 1—Compliance with 

Regulations and Standards of Practice 

Comments: Two commenters want to 

require grantees under Priority 1 to 

collaborate with manufacturers to 

establish standards for useful life by 

device type, minimum training and 

expertise for refurbishing and repair 

staff, and guidelines for training and 

education of clients and caregivers. 

Discussion: OSERS agrees that it may 

be important to establish standards or 

best practices in device reutilization. 

However, if each project funded under 

Priority 1 works separately with 

manufacturers to establish standards, 

the standards will be inconsistent. 

Change: OSERS added section (a)(iv) 

to Priority 2 to require the Center to 

explore the need for and feasibility of 

developing standards of practice. 

Comments: Two commenters 

recommended that all grantees under 

Priority 1 be required to submit an 

assurance of compliance with all 

appropriate State and Federal 

requirements pertinent to the reuse, 

recycling, and sanitization of devices. 

Discussion: While OSERS 

understands that projects may need 

assistance in understanding the 

appropriate State and Federal 

requirements, Priority 1 projects are 

subject to State and Federal 

requirements regardless of an additional 

assurance. Therefore, such an assurance 

is unnecessary. We believe it would be 

appropriate for the Center funded under 

Priority 2 to provide technical 

assistance to Priority 1 grantees on State 

and Federal requirements. 

Change: OSERS has added sections 

(a)(iii) and (b)(iii) to Priority 2 requiring 

the Center funded under Priority 2 to 

disseminate information and to provide 

technical assistance related to relevant 

State and Federal requirements to 

projects funded under Priority 1. 

Comments: Three commenters 

requested a requirement that all model 

demonstrations develop and maintain 

standards of practice and develop 

protocols for referrals to AT 

practitioners to provide evaluations. 

Discussion: OSERS agrees that it may 

be important to develop standards of 

practice or procedures for referral. 

However, if each project funded under 

Priority 1 works separately to develop 

standards of practice or procedures for 

referrals, the standards and procedures 

will be inconsistent. 

Change: OSERS added section (a)(iv) 

to Priority 2 to require the Center to 

explore the need for and feasibility of 

developing standards of practice for AT 

device reutilization nationally. 

Priority 1—Data Collection and 

Reporting 

Comments: Three commenters 

recommended that projects under 

Priority 1 be required to report to 

manufacturers when a reuse project has 

possession of a device and when a 

device has been involved in an injury or 

death. 

Discussion: We agree that these types 

of reports may be beneficial. However, 

if each project funded under Priority 1 

works separately with manufacturers to 

provide that information, reporting will 

not be standardized or reliable. 

Change: OSERS added section (a)(v) 

to Priority 2 to require the Center to 

explore the necessity, feasibility, and 

development of reporting to AT 

manufacturers by Priority 1 grantees. 

Comments: One commenter 

recommended that one data collection 

system be formed by RSA, the Center 

funded under Priority 2, and the 

grantees, rather than having each 

grantee form its own system. An 

additional commenter recommended 

that grantees under Priority 1 use 

common measurement standards that 

are developed by the Center under 

Priority 2. 

Discussion: OSERS agrees that a 

unified system of measuring and 

collecting data should be developed, 

which was intended by the NPP. 

Change: OSERS replaced section (d) 

in Priority 1 and section 1(g) in Priority 

2 with a new section (b)(i) of Priority 1 


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and section (b)(v) of Priority 2 to clarify 

that RSA, the Center in Priority 2, and 

projects funded under Priority 1 will 

work together to develop a unified 

system of measuring and collecting data 

and to identify appropriate outcome 

measures and methods of collecting 

data. 

Comments: Four commenters 

recommended that the data collection 

requirements for Priority 1 be the same 

as the data collection requirements for 

device reutilization programs under the 

AT Act. An additional three 

commenters wanted to require that 

Priority 1 projects identify and collect 

data to measure clinical outcomes of 

individuals served by device 

reutilization programs. 

Discussion: OSERS believes that 

developing appropriate data collection 

requirements and identifying outcomes 

is important. OSERS agrees that data 

reported by projects funded under 

Priority 1, at a minimum, should meet 

the data collection requirements for 

device reutilization under the AT Act. 

However, restricting the data collection 

requirements solely to the requirements 

under the AT Act would limit the data 

collection before the full data needs of 

projects funded under Priority 1 have 

been explored. Additionally, while 

OSERS agrees that measuring outcomes, 

including clinical outcomes, of those 

served by reutilization programs may be 

important, outcome measurement will 

be inconsistent if grantees under 

Priority 1 separately develop methods of 

outcome measurement. 

Change: OSERS eliminated specific 

data collection requirements by deleting 

sections (e) through (g) of Priority 1. 

Instead, OSERS added sections (b)(i) 

and (b)(ii) to Priority 1 and sections 

(b)(v) and (b)(vi) to Priority 2 to require 

that the Center funded under Priority 2 

and projects funded under Priority 1 

work together with RSA to develop a 

data collection system, including 

identifying appropriate outcomes and 

outcome measures. 

Priority 2— National AT Device 

Reutilization Coordination and 

Technical Assistance Center 

Priority 2—Eligibility and Collaboration 

with Stakeholders 

Comments: Three commenters wanted 

to require entities that apply under 

Priority 2 to have direct experience 

reutilizing devices in order to be 

eligible. 

Discussion: While OSERS agrees that 

the expertise from those with direct 

experience reutilizing devices is 

important, eligibility requirements are 

established in section 303(b)(2)(A) of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 

and 34 CFR 373.2. 

Change: None. 

Comments: Four commenters 

recommended that under Priority 2 the 

grantee be required to create an advisory 

and oversight committee comprised of 

stakeholders. An additional three 

commenters wanted to limit eligibility 

under Priority 2 to applicants who 

constitute a collaborative of entities that 

are stakeholders in reutilization of AT. 

Discussion: OSERS agrees that the 

Center funded under Priority 2 should 

work with a variety of stakeholders. 

However, while the eligibility 

requirements established in 34 CFR 

373.2 allow applications by consortia, 

OSERS does not believe it is appropriate 

to restrict applications to consortia of 

stakeholders. In addition, while OSERS 

believes that the Center should be 

required to collaborate with 

stakeholders, effective collaboration 

with stakeholders can be achieved in 

many ways. Therefore, OSERS does not 

believe that it is necessary to require the 

Center to have an advisory committee. 

The grantee should have discretion as to 

the method by which it collaborates and 

with whom it collaborates. 

Changes: OSERS replaced sections 

2(c) and 2(e) of Priority 2 with new 

sections (a) and (c)(v) of Priority 2 to 

clarify that collaboration with 

stakeholders is a requirement of the 

Center funded under Priority 2. 

Priority 2—Scope of Work 

Comments: Two commenters 

recommended that the Center be used to 

identify regulatory issues and ensure 

compliance. 

Discussion: OSERS agrees that the 

identification and dissemination of 

State and Federal requirements 

governing device reutilization is 

important and that this should be a key 

responsibility of the Center funded 

under Priority 2. However, while a 

Center can disseminate and provide 

technical assistance about requirements, 

it cannot enforce these requirements. 

Change: OSERS replaced section 1(a) 

of Priority 2 with a new section (b), 

which includes (b)(iii) requiring the 

Center to disseminate information and 

provide technical assistance on 

compliance with State and Federal 

requirements regarding AT device 

utilization. 

Comment: One commenter suggested 

funding Priority 2 prior to funding 

Priority 1 to identify regulatory issues 

and standards of practice prior to the 

operation of model demonstrations 

under Priority 1. 

Discussion: There are many device 

reutilization projects already in 

existence, and there are many instances 

in which developing or expanding 

reutilization represents an immediate 

need for States. Further, OSERS believes 

that the projects funded under Priority 

1 must be able to provide input into the 

development of any standards of 

practice. Therefore, it would not be 

appropriate to delay the funding of 

projects under Priority 1. 

Change: None. 

Comment: None. 

Discussion: OSERS believes that 

reutilization of AT devices can be an 

important part of a national strategy to 

respond to the needs of individuals with 

disabilities involved in natural 

disasters. The Center funded under 

Priority 2 and the projects funded under 

Priority 1 present an opportunity to 

develop a coordinated effort to collect 

and distribute reutilized AT devices 

following a natural disaster. 

Change: OSERS added section (c)(vi) 

to Priority 2 requiring the Center to 

develop a plan for device reutilization 

to meet the AT needs of individuals 

with disabilities who are affected by 

natural disasters. 

Note: This notice does not solicit 

applications. In any year in which we choose 

to use one or more of these priorities, we 

invite applications through a notice in the 

Federal Register. When inviting applications 

we designate each priority as absolute, 

competitive preference, or invitational. The 

effect of each type of priority follows: 

Absolute priority: Under an absolute 

priority we consider only applications 

that meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(3)). 

Competitive preference priority: 

Under a competitive preference priority 

we give competitive preference to an 

application by either (1) awarding 

additional points, depending on how 

well or the extent to which the 

application meets the competitive 

priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) 

selecting an application that meets the 

competitive priority over an application 

of comparable merit that does not meet 

the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)). 

Invitational priority: Under an 

invitational priority we are particularly 

interested in applications that meet the 

invitational priority. However, we do 

not give an application that meets the 

invitational priority a competitive or 

absolute preference over other 

applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)). 

Priorities 

Priority 1—Model Demonstrations for 

AT Device Reutilization 

This priority supports projects that 

propose model demonstrations to 

establish or expand AT device 


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reutilization to serve consumers in a 

State or group of States. Projects funded 

under this priority must—

(a) Establish a new AT device 

reutilization project, expand an existing 

AT device reutilization project, or 

coordinate a partnership of AT device 

reutilization projects in a State or group 

of States, that—

(i) Meets the AT needs of individuals 

with disabilities without regard to type 

of disability; 

(ii) Is designed to sustain itself 

through its own activities beyond the 

project period of the grant; 

(iii) Coordinates and collaborates 

directly with, and supplements but does 

not supplant, reutilization activities in 

that State or group of States funded 

under section 4 of the Assistive 

Technology Act of 1998, as amended; 

and 

(iv) Coordinates and collaborates with 

providers of AT devices and AT services 

in the State or group of States and other 

relevant entities as appropriate, 

including the National AT Device 

Reutilization Coordination and 

Technical Assistance Center (Center) 

funded by the Department, as well as 

State agencies that fund AT, alternative 

financing programs, vendors and 

manufacturers of AT, and other relevant 

entities and organizations; and 

(b) Participate in data collection by—

(i) Working with RSA and the Center 

to develop a unified data collection 

system, including identifying 

appropriate outcomes and outcome 

measures; and 

(ii) Collecting and reporting data on 

activities and outcomes as determined 

by RSA. 

Priority 2—National AT Device 

Reutilization Coordination and 

Technical Assistance Center 

This priority supports a National AT 

Device Reutilization Coordination and 

Technical Assistance Center that will 

address issues of national significance 

in AT device reutilization; provide 

technical assistance to AT device 

reutilization projects funded by the 

Department under the Model 

Demonstrations for AT Device 

Reutilization priority (Model 

Demonstrations Projects) and from other 

sources; and coordinate and network AT 

device reutilization projects funded 

both under the Model Demonstrations 

Projects and from other sources. 

(a) To address issues of national 

significance in AT device reutilization, 

the Center funded under this priority 

must collaborate with public and 

private AT stakeholders (including 

providers of AT devices, AT services, 

and funding for AT at the State and 

Federal level; vendors and 

manufacturers of AT; and other relevant 

entities and organizations) to—

(i) Identify national issues that affect 

AT device reutilization; 

(ii) Investigate the national scope, 

trends, best practices, and impact of AT 

device reutilization; 

(iii) Identify Federal and State 

policies that affect AT device 

reutilization; 

(iv) Explore the need for and 

feasibility of developing standards of 

practice for AT device reutilization 

nationally; 

(v) Explore the necessity, feasibility, 

and development of reporting 

information to AT manufacturers; and 

(vi) Address issues on the national 

level, such as building relationships 

among AT device vendors and 

manufacturers and projects funded 

under Model Demonstration Projects 

and working on liability and 

reimbursement issues. 

(b) To provide technical assistance to 

reutilization projects funded both under 

Model Demonstrations Projects and 

from other sources, the Center funded 

under this priority must—

(i) Assist AT device reutilization 

projects with establishment, expansion, 

improvement, and sustainability by 

disseminating information about best 

practices and successful models for AT 

device reutilization; 

(ii) Conduct follow-up activities that 

are designed to enable AT device 

reutilization programs to continue 

beyond the three years of Federal 

funding; 

(iii) Disseminate information on 

Federal and State policies that affect AT 

device reutilization and how projects 

should ensure compliance with these 

policies; 

(iv) Disseminate information on 

standards of practice in AT device 

reutilization, if applicable; 

(v) Work with projects funded under 

Model Demonstrations Projects, 

stakeholders, and RSA to identify 

appropriate outcome measures and 

methods of collecting data; and 

(vi) Work with RSA and grantees 

under Model Demonstrations Projects to 

develop a unified data collection system 

for use by these grantees. 

(c) To coordinate and network 

reutilization projects funded under 

Model Demonstrations Projects and 

from other sources, the Center must—

(i) Establish a national network of 

statewide AT device reutilization 

systems funded under Model 

Demonstration Projects and supported 

by other entities; 

(ii) Facilitate information and 

resource exchange among grantees; 

(iii) Encourage interstate activities 

among grantees; 

(iv) Nationally market and promote 

AT device reutilization to individuals 

with disabilities and other stakeholders; 

(v) Collaborate with relevant national 

organizations and national networks; 

and 

(vi) Develop a plan for how AT device 

reutilization projects can meet the AT 

needs of individuals with disabilities 

who are affected by natural disasters. 

Executive Order 12866 

This notice of final priorities has been 

reviewed in accordance with Executive 

Order 12866. Under the terms of the 

order, we have assessed the potential 

costs and benefits of this regulatory 

action. 

The potential costs associated with 

the notice of final priorities are those 

resulting from statutory requirements 

and those we have determined as 

necessary for administering this 

program effectively and efficiently. 

In assessing the potential costs and 

benefits—both quantitative and 

qualitative—of this notice of final 

priorities, we have determined that the 

benefits of the final priorities justify the 

costs. 

We have also determined that this 

regulatory action does not unduly 

interfere with State, local, and tribal 

governments in the exercise of their 

governmental functions. 

Summary of Potential Costs and 

Benefits 

The potential costs associated with 

these final priorities are minimal, while 

the benefits are significant. Grantees 

will increase the number of individuals 

with disabilities who obtain the AT they 

need. Grantees may anticipate costs 

associated with completing the 

application process in terms of staff 

time, copying, and mailing or delivery. 

The use of electronic application 

technology reduces mailing and copying 

costs significantly. 

Intergovernmental Review 

This program is subject to Executive 

Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 

CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the 

Executive order is to foster an 

intergovernmental partnership and a 

strengthened federalism. The Executive 

order relies on processes developed by 

State and local governments for 

coordination and review of proposed 

Federal financial assistance. 

This document provides early 

notification of our specific plans and 

actions for this program. 

Applicable Program Regulations: 34 

CFR part 373. 


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Electronic Access to This Document 

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index.html. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Number 84.235V Special Demonstration 

Programs) 

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b). 

Dated: August 16, 2006. 

John H. Hager, 

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services. 

[FR Doc. 06–7030 Filed 8–17–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services; Overview 

Information; Special Demonstration 

Programs—Model Demonstrations for 

Assistive Technology (AT) Device 

Reutilization; Notice Inviting 

Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 

Year (FY) 2006 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

(CFDA) Number: 84.235V–1. 

Dates: Applications Available: August 

18, 2006. 

Deadline for Transmittal of 

Applications: September 18, 2006. 

Eligible Applicants: The following 

types of organizations are eligible for 

assistance under this program: 

(1) State vocational rehabilitation 

agencies. 

(2) Community rehabilitation 

programs. 

(3) Indian tribes or tribal 

organizations. 

(4) Other public or nonprofit agencies 

or organizations, including institutions 

of higher education. 

(5) For-profit organizations. 

(6) Consortia that meet the 

requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 and 

75.129. 

Estimated Available Funds: 

$2,000,000. 

Estimated Range of Awards: 

$100,000–$200,000. 

Estimated Average Size of Awards: 

$150,000. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 10. 

Note: The Department is not bound by any 

estimates in this notice. 

Project Period: Up to 36 months. 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of 

the Special Demonstration Programs is 

to provide financial assistance to 

eligible entities to expand and improve 

the provision of rehabilitation and other 

services for individuals with 

disabilities. 

Priority: This priority is from the 

notice of final priorities for this 

program, published elsewhere in this 

issue of the Federal Register. 

Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 this 

priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 

CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only 

applications that meet this priority. 

This priority is: 

Model Demonstrations for AT Device 

Reutilization 

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 773(b). 

Applicable Regulations: (a) The 

Education Department General 

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 

34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 

84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The 

regulations for this program in 34 CFR 

part 373. (c) The notice of final 

priorities, published elsewhere in this 

issue of the Federal Register. 

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 

apply to all applicants except federally 

recognized Indian tribes. 

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 

apply to institutions of higher education 

only. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Discretionary grants. 

Estimated Available Funds: 

$2,000,000. 

Estimated Range of Awards: 

$100,000–$200,000. 

Estimated Average Size of Awards: 

$150,000. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 10. 

Note: The Department is not bound by any 

estimates in this notice. 

Project Period: Up to 36 months. 

III. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants: The following 

types of organizations are eligible for 

assistance under this program: 

(1) State vocational rehabilitation 

agencies. 

(2) Community rehabilitation 

programs. 

(3) Indian tribes or tribal 

organizations. 

(4) Other public or nonprofit agencies 

or organizations, including institutions 

of higher education. 

(5) For-profit organizations. 

(6) Consortia that meet the 

requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 and 

75.129. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This 

program does not involve cost sharing 

or matching. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address To Request Application 

Package: Education Publications Center 

(ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 

20794–1398. Telephone (toll free): 1–

877–433–7827. Fax: (301) 470–1244. If 

you use a telecommunications device 

for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll 

free): 1–877–576–7734. 

You may also contact ED Pubs at its 

Web site: www.ed.gov/pubs/ 

edpubs.html or you may contact ED 

Pubs at its e-mail address: 

edpubs@inet.ed.gov. 

If you request an application from ED 

Pubs, be sure to identify this 

competition as follows: CFDA number 

84.235V–1. 

Individuals with disabilities may 

obtain a copy of the application package 

in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, 

large print, audiotape, or computer 

diskette) by contacting the Grants and 

Contracts Services Team, U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Avenue, SW., room 5075, Potomac 

Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–

2550. Telephone: (202) 245–7363. If you 

use a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal 

Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339. 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission: Requirements concerning 

the content of an application, together 

with the forms you must submit, are in 

the application package for this 

competition. Page Limit: The 

application narrative (Part III of the 

application) is where you, the applicant, 

address the selection criteria that 

reviewers use to evaluate your 

application. You must limit Part III to 

the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, 

using the following standards: 

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

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

and both sides. 

• Double space (no more than three 

lines per vertical inch) all text in the 

application narrative, including titles, 

headings, footnotes, quotations, 

references, and captions, as well as all 


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