### 22763 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 83 / Friday, April 30, 2010 / Notices

Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department—

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this grant notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245–

6288.

V. Application Review Information

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 350.54 and are listed in the application package.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally,
also.

If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package
and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.

3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/ appforms/appforms.html.

Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on how and when to submit the final performance report.

4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects through a review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR examines a portion of its grantees to determine:

• The number of accomplishments (e.g., new or improved tools, methods, discoveries, standards, interventions, programs, or devices) developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert panels to be of high quality and to advance the field.

• The average number of publications per award based on NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals.

• The percentage of new NIDRR grants that assess the effectiveness of interventions, programs, and devices using rigorous methods.

NIDRR uses information submitted by grantees as part of their Annual Performance Reports (APRs) for these

reviews.

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5133, PCP, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245–7532 or by
e-mail: Marlene.Spencer@ed.gov.

If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–

877–8339.

VIII. Other Information

Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245– 7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll-free, at 1–800–877–8339.

Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at this site.

Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official

edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/

index.html. Dated: April 27, 2010. Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.

[FR Doc. 2010–10193 Filed 4–29–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION**

**Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information: Underground** 
**Railroad Educational and Cultural Program; Notice Inviting Applications**  **for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY)**

**2010**

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA) Number: 84.345A.

Dates:

Applications Available: April 30, 2010.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 14, 2010.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 13, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural (URR) Program is to preserve the Underground Railroad’s legacy and to demonstrate how the Underground Railroad’s widespread operations network transformed our Nation. In addition, the URR Programpromotes the formation of publicprivate partnerships to help disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad throughout the United States, including lessons to be drawn from the history of the Underground Railroad.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1153. Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. 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: $1,942,000.

Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000–$1,000,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $647,333 to $971,000 total for up to three years.

Estimated Number of Awards: 2 to 3.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit educational organizations that are


### 22764 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 83 / Friday, April 30, 2010 / Notices

established to research, display, interpret, and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad, including the lessons to be drawn from such history.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The Federal Government requires 4:1 cost sharing or matching for grants under the URR Program. The Federal Government will provide no more than 20 percent of the total funds for any project funded under this competition. See 20 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2). Applicants must provide the remaining funding from non-Federal public or private entities in an amount equal to or greater than four times the amount of the grant awarded under this section. All applicants are required to provide documentation to substantiate their ability to meet the cost sharing requirement.

3. Other: (a) Each nonprofit educational organization awarded a grant under this competition must establish a facility

to—

(i) House, display, interpret, and communicate information regarding the
artifacts and other materials related to the history of the Underground Railroad, including the lessons to be drawn from such history;

(ii) Maintain such artifacts and materials;

(iii) Make these efforts described in paragraph (i), available, including through electronic means, to elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and the general public.

(b) Each grantee must demonstrate substantial public and private support for the operation of the facility through the implementation of a public-private partnership between one or more State or local public entities and one or more private entities. This public-private partnership must provide the matching
funds from non-Federal sources for the support of the facility, as described in the preceding section on cost sharing or matching.

(c) Each grantee must create an endowment to fund any and all shortfalls in the costs of the on-going facility operations.

(d) Grantees may establish and
maintain a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to help disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad, including the lessons to be drawn from the history of the Underground Railroad, if such satellite centers raise 80 percent of the funds required to establish the satellite centers from non-Federal public and private sources.

(e) In addition, grantees must establish and maintain the capability to electronically link the facility with other local and regional facilities that have collections and programs that interpret the history of the Underground Railroad, including the lessons to be drawn from such history.

IV. Application and Submission
Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address: http://egrants.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/ grantapps/index.html. To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1–877– 433–7827. FAX: (703) 605–6794. If you
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1–877–576–

7734.

You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.

If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number

84.345A.

Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or
team listed under Accessible Format in
section VIII of this notice.

2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 30 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, except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures and graphs.

• Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).

• Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.

The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; the table of contents; the one page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography or citation list, the letters of partners’ or other collaborators’ commitment, or the letters from professionals who will document that the applicant creates, designates, and will raise funds for the required project
endowment.

We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.

3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: April 30, 2010.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 14, 2010.

Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-Application)accessible through the Department’s eGrants site. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements of this notice.

We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed
under For Further Information

CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this

notice.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 13, 2010.

4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this competition.

5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an


### 22765 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 83 / Friday, April 30, 2010 / Notices

exception to this requirement in
accordance with the instructions in this

section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications.

Applications for grants under the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program—CFDA number
84.345A must be submitted electronically using e-Application,accessible through the Department’s eGrants Web site at: http:// e-grants.ed.gov.

We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding
calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.

While completing your electronic application, you will be entering data
online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to

us.

Please note the following:

• You must complete the electronic submission of your grant application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process.

• The hours of operation of the eGrants Web site are 6:00 a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web

site.

• You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format.

• You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: The Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information forSF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password protected file, we
will not review that material.

• Your electronic application must comply with any page limit requirements described in this notice.

• Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may wish to print a copy of it for your records.

• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your application).

• Within three working days after submitting your electronic application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control Center after following these steps:

(1) Print SF 424 from e-Application. (2) The applicant’s Authorizing Representative must sign this form.

(3) Place the PR/Award number in theupper right hand corner of the hardcopy signature page of the SF 424.

(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at (202)

245–6272.

• We may request that you provide us original signatures on other forms at a
later date.

Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on theapplication deadline date because eApplication is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this
extension if—

(1) You are a registered user of eApplication and you have initiated an electronic application for this competition; and

(2)(a) E-Application is unavailable for
60 minutes or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date; or

(b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability before granting you an extension. To request
this extension or to confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this
notice under **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION**

**CONTACT** (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-Grants help desk at 1–888–336– 8930. If e-Application is unavailable due to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of e-Application.

Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through e-Application because—

• You do not have access to the
Internet; or

• You do not have the capacity toupload large documents to eApplication; and

• No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.

Address and mail or fax your statement to: Claire D. Cornell, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 6151, Washington, DC 20006–8544. FAX: (202) 502–7877.

Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described
in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:


### 22766 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 83 / Friday, April 30, 2010 / Notices

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.345A) LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202–4260.

You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.

If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application.

Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office.

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: CFDA Number 84.345A, 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department—

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this grant notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245–6288. V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows: significance (10 points); quality of the project design (40 points); adequacy of resources (20 points); quality of project personnel (10 points); and quality of the project evaluation (20 points).

2. Review and Selection Process:
Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for an award are in 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3). In making grant awards for this program, the Department will consider information concerning the applicant’s performance and use of funds from a prior grant in this or any other Department program, and will consider the applicant’s failure to submit an acceptable performance report for a grant in this or any other Department program.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally,
also.

If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package
and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.

3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/ appforms/appforms.html.

In the annual and final reports, applicants must provide documentation of their efforts to collect, research, display, and interpret artifacts, digital resources, and other materials that collect, preserve, and disseminate information on the Underground Railroad’s history, including the lessons to be drawn from such history. If they have created or designated satellite centers, they must provide
documentation of their creation or designation of satellite centers, an
account of the satellite centers’ activities, and documentation of the
satellite centers’ 4:1 cost share. Grantees must also provide evidence of their
creation of electronic links to other organizations and facilities that have collections and programs that interpret the history of the Underground Railroad and lessons drawn from such history.
Grantees must document their efforts to
make their resources and efforts available through electronic means to elementary and secondary schools, to institutions of higher education, and to the general public. Finally, each annual report must contain the audited financial statement of the organization for the preceding fiscal year.

4. Performance Measures: Under the
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), the following measure will be used by the Department in assessing the performance of the Underground
Railroad Educational and Cultural Program: The extent to which funded projects have been institutionalized and are able to continue after URR funding
ends.

If funded, you will be asked to collect and report data on this measure in your project’s annual performance report (EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.590).

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Claire D. Cornell, Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Room 6151, Washington, DC 20006–8544. Telephone: (202) 502–7609 or by e-mail: claire.cornell@ed.gov.

If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1–800–877–

8339.

VIII. Other Information

Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed under **FOR FURTHER**

**INFORMATION CONTACT** in section VII of
this notice.

Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the


### 22767 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 83 / Friday, April 30, 2010 / Notices

following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ fedregister. To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at this site.

Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official
edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.

Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated authority to Daniel T. Madzelan, Director, Forecasting and Policy Analysis for the Office of Postsecondary Education, to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.

Dated: April 27, 2010.

Daniel T. Madzelan, Director, Forecasting and Policy Analysis.

[FR Doc. 2010–10203 Filed 4–29–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION**

**National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—**  **Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program—**  **Disability Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP)—Transition to**  **Employment**

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA) Number: 84.133A–1.

**AGENCY :**  Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.

**ACTION :**  Notice of final priority.

**SUMMARY :**  The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by NIDRR. Specifically, this notice announces a priority for a DRRP on Transition to Employment. The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for a competition in fiscal year (FY) 2010 and later years. We take this
action to focus research attention on
areas of national need. We intend this priority to improve rehabilitation
services and outcomes for individuals
with disabilities.

**EFFECTIVE DATE :**  This priority is effective June 1, 2010.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202–2700. Telephone: (202) 245–7532 or by e-mail: marlene.spencer@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at

1–800–877–8339.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  This notice of final priority is in concert with NIDRR’s Final Long-Range Plan for FY 2005–2009 (Plan). The Plan, which was published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), can be accessed on the Internet at the following

site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/ list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.

Through the implementation of the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research; (2) foster an exchange of expertise, information, and training to facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the unique needs of traditionally underserved populations; (3) determine best strategies and programs to improve
rehabilitation outcomes for underserved populations; (4) identify research gaps; (5) identify mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and (6) disseminate findings.

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the DRRP program is to improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by developing methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent living and employment
outcomes for individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with
the most severe disabilities. DRRPs carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as specified and defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, training, demonstration, development, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance. An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b). In addition, NIDRR intends to require all DRRP applicants to meet the requirements of
the General Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Requirements priority that it published in a notice of final priorities in the Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472).

Additional information on the DRRP program can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/resprogram.html#DRRP.

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a). Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.

We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for NIDRR’s Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program in the Federal Register on December 29, 2009 (74 FR 68808). The NPP included a background
statement that described our rationale for the priority proposed in that notice.

There is one significant difference
between the NPP and this notice of final priority (NFP) as discussed in the following section.

Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the NPP, five parties submitted comments on the proposed priority. An analysis of the comments and of any changes in the priority since publication of the NPP
follows.

Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes or suggested changes the law does not
authorize us to make under the applicable statutory authority. In addition, we do not address general
comments that raised concerns not directly related to the proposed priority.

Analysis of Comments and Changes:
Comment: One commenter suggested that the priority address the effect of State budget crises on transition

programs.

Discussion: Although the priority does not explicitly include a requirement for research on State finances, nothing in the priority precludes an applicant from proposing
to examine the effect of this factor on transition programs and employment outcomes for youth with disabilities. However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring all applicants to focus on State finances. The peer review process will determine the merits of each proposal.

Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter asked how NIDRR envisions the relationshipbetween this priority and other NIDRRfunded projects that address specific populations of youth with disabilities, and whether the priority requests a focus on different subpopulations or is inclusive of all youth with disabilities.

Discussion: This priority focuses specifically on transition to employment, rather than on otheraspects of transition, such as selfdetermination or community participation. Accordingly, the targetpopulation for this priority is transitionage youth with disabilities who are at risk for poor employment outcomes, rather than all youth with disabilities. We note that under paragraph (b) of the priority, applicants must identify the specific at-risk group or groups of transition-age youth with disabilities