[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 15669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8418]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No: 84.265A]


State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit In-Service Training Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997

    Purpose of Program: This program is designed to support projects 
for training State vocational rehabilitation unit personnel in program 
areas essential to the effective management of the unit's program of 
vocational rehabilitation services or in skill areas that will enable 
personnel to improve their ability to provide vocational rehabilitation 
services leading to employment outcomes for individuals with 
disabilities. The State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit In-Service 
Training program responds to needs identified in the comprehensive 
system of personnel development in section 101(a)(7) of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The program may include 
training designed (a) to address recruitment and retention of qualified 
rehabilitation professionals; (b) to provide for leadership development 
and capacity building; and (c) to provide training on the amendments to 
the Act made by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992.
    Eligible Applicants: Only State agencies designated under a State 
plan for vocational rehabilitation services under section 101(a) of the 
Act are eligible to receive an award under this program.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 19, 1997.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 21, 1997.
    Applications Available: Applications will be mailed to the director 
of the Designated State Units of Vocational Rehabilitation on or about 
April 2, 1997. Extra copies of applications will be available on or 
about April 2, 1997.
    Available Funds: $5,944,350, of which $4,755,480 is available for 
allocation to designated agencies for basic awards and $1,188,870 is 
available for allocation to high quality applications (see the 
``Priorities'' section of this notice).
    Estimated Range of Base Awards: $19,795-$311,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Base Awards: $59,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 81.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimate in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, and 85; (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR Part 388; 
and (c) Secs. 385.4 and 385.40 through 385.46 of 34 CFR Part 385.

Priorities

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and Sec. 388.22 the Secretary reserves a 
portion of the funds to support some or all of the proposals that have 
been awarded a rating of 80 points or more under the criteria described 
in Sec. 388.20. In making a final selection of proposals to support 
under this program, the Secretary considers the extent to which 
proposals have exceeded a rating of 80 points and gives an absolute 
priority preference to applications that meet one or more of the 
following priorities. The Secretary funds under the quality portion of 
this program only applications that meet one or more of these absolute 
priorities:

Absolute Priority 1--Development and Dissemination of Model In-Service 
Training Materials and Practices

    The proposed project demonstrates an effective plan to develop and 
disseminate information on its State Vocational Rehabilitation In-
Service Training program, including the identification of training 
approaches and successful practices, in order to permit the replication 
of these programs by other State vocational rehabilitation units.

Absolute Priority 2--Distance Education

    The proposed project demonstrates innovative strategies for 
training State vocational rehabilitation unit personnel through 
distance education methods, such as interactive audio, video, computer 
technologies, or existing telecommunications networks.

Absolute Priority 3--Enhanced Employment Outcomes for Specific 
Populations

    The proposed project supports specialized training in the provision 
of vocational rehabilitation or related services to individuals with 
disabilities to increase the rehabilitation rate into competitive 
employment for all individuals or specified target groups.
    For applications: Applications will be mailed to the Director of 
the Designated State Units of Vocational Rehabilitation on or about 
April 2, 1997. To request an extra application package, please write 
the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 
600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3317 Switzer Building, Washington, 
D.C. 20202, or call (202) 205-8351.
    For information contact: Ms. Beverly Steburg, U.S. Department of 
Education, Region IV, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Room 18T91, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30303. Telephone: (404) 562-6336. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including 
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can 
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), 
telephone (202) 260-9950; on the Internet Gopher Server (at <a href="gopher://
gcs.ed.gov">gopher://
gcs.ed.gov</a>); or on the World Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov). However, 
the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition 
is the notice published in the Federal Register.

    Program authority:
    29 U.S.C. 770 and 771a.

    Dated: March 28, 1997.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 97-8418 Filed 4-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M