34326 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 127 / Monday, July 1, 1996 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Nos.: 84.133F, 84.133G, and 84.133P]

Office of Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services National

Institute on Disability and

Rehabilitation Research Notice Inviting

Applications for New Awards Under

Certain Programs for Fiscal Year 1997

Note to Applicants: This notice is a

complete application package. Together with

the statute authorizing the programs and

applicable regulations governing the

programs, including the Education

Department General Administrative

Regulations (EDGAR), this notice contains

information, application forms, and

instructions needed to apply for a grant

under these competitions.

These programs support the National

Education Goal that calls for all Americans

to possess the knowledge and skills

necessary to compete in a global economy

and exercise the rights and responsibilities of

citizenship.

The estimated funding levels in this notice

do not bind the Department of Education to

make awards in any of these categories, or to

any specific number of awards or funding

levels, unless otherwise specified in statute.

Applicable Regulations: The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR),

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

and 86; and the following program

regulations:

Research Fellowships—34 CFR Part

356.

Field Initiated Research—34 CFR

Parts 357.

Research Training and Career

Development Program—34 CFR Part

360.

Program Title: Rehabilitation

Research Fellowships.

CFDA Number: 84.133F.

Purpose: The purpose of this program

is to build research capacity by

providing support to highly qualified

individuals to perform research on the

rehabilitation of disabled persons.

Selection Criteria: The Secretary

evaluates applications for fellowships

according to the following criteria in 34

CFR 356.30.

(a) Quality and level of formal

education, previous work experience,

and recommendations of present or

former supervisors or colleagues that

include an indication of the applicant’s

ability to work creatively in scientific

research; and

(b) The quality of a research proposal

of no more than 12 pages containing the

following information:

(1) The importance of the problem to

be investigated to the purpose of the Act

and the mission of NIDRR.

(2) The research hypotheses or related

objectives and the methodology and

design to be followed.

(3) Assurance of the availability of

any necessary data resources,

equipment, or institutional support,

including technical consultation and

support where appropriate, required to

carry out the proposed activity.

Eligible Applicants: Individuals only

are eligible to apply for research

fellowships under this program.

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 761a(d).

APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS, CFDA NO. 84.133F

Funding priority

Deadline for

transmittal of

applications

Estimated

number of

awards

Maximum award amount

(per year)*

Project

period

(months)

Research Fellowships ........................................... 8/30/96 10 Merit: $30,000 Distinguished: $40,000 ................. 12

Note: The Secretary will reject without consideration or evaluation any application that proposes a project funding level that exceeds the stated

maximum award amount (See 34 CFR 75.104(b)).

Program Title: Field-Initiated

Research.

CFDA Number: 84.133G.

Purpose: This program is designed to

encourage eligible parties to originate

valuable ideas for research and

demonstration, development, or

knowledge dissemination projects to

improve the lives of individuals with

disabilities, and to support research and

demonstration, development, or

knowledge dissemination projects as

described in program regulations that

address important activities not

supported by Institute-funded research

or that complement that research in a

promising way.

Note: The ‘‘Design of the project’’ section

of the selection criteria for the Field-Initiated

Research (FIR) program (Section 357.32(b))

includes different sets of selection criteria

relating to three types of projects: research

and demonstration projects, knowledge

dissemination projects, and development

projects. An applicant for an FIR grant

should clearly identify on the cover page of

the application which one of the three types

of projects is being proposed. The ‘‘Design of

project’’ selection criteria that will be used to

review an application will be based on the

applicant’s identification of the type of

project that is being proposed.

Selection Criteria: The Secretary uses

the following criteria to evaluate an

application under this program.

(a) Importance of the problem. (20

points) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the extent to

which—

(1) The proposed project addresses a

problem that is significant to persons

with disabilities or to those who provide

services to them;

(2) The proposed project is likely to

produce new and useful knowledge,

techniques, or devices that will develop

or disseminate solutions to problems

confronting persons with disabilities;

and

(3) The application addresses the

needs of individuals with disabilities

from minority backgrounds.

(b) Design of the project. (45 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each

application for a research and

demonstration project to determine the

extent to which—

(i) The review of the literature is

appropriate and indicates familiarity

with the relevant current research;

(ii) The research hypotheses are

theoretically sound and based on

current knowledge;

(iii) The sample populations are

adequate and appropriately selected;

(iv) The data collection instruments

and methods are appropriate and likely

to be successful;

(v) The data analysis measures are

appropriate; and

(vi) The application discusses the

anticipated research results and

demonstrates how those results would

satisfy the original hypotheses.

(2) The Secretary reviews each

application for a knowledge

dissemination project to determine the

extent to which—

(i) The need for the information has

been demonstrated;

(ii) The target populations are

appropriately specified;

(iii) The dissemination methods are

appropriate to the target population;

(iv) The materials for dissemination

are prepared in media accessible to the

target population; and

(v) There are adequate means of

documenting and evaluating the

effectiveness of the dissemination

activity.
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 127 / Monday, July 1, 1996 / Notices 34327

(3) The Secretary reviews each

application for a development project to

determine the extent to which—

(i) The proposed project will use the

most effective and appropriate

technology available in developing the

new device or technique;

(ii) The proposed development is

based on a sound conceptual model that

demonstrates an awareness of the stateof-the-art in technology;

(iii) Devices or techniques will be

developed and tested in an appropriate

environment;

(iv) The applicant considers the costeffectiveness and usefulness of the

device or technique to be developed for

persons with disabilities; and

(v) The applicant discusses the

potential for commercial or private

manufacture, marketing, and

distribution of the product.

(c) Personnel. (20 points) The

Secretary reviews each application to

determine the extent to which—

(1) The key personnel have adequate

training and experience in the required

discipline to conduct the proposed

activities;

(2) The allotment of staff time is

adequate to accomplish the proposed

activities; and

(3) The applicant ensures that

personnel are selected for employment

without regard to race, color, national

origin, gender, age, or handicapping

conditions.

(d) Management and Evaluation. (15

points) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the extent to

which—

(1) The resources of the applicant are

adequate, appropriate, and accessible to

individuals with disabilities;

(2) The proposed budget is adequate

and appropriate for the activities to be

carried out;

(3) There is a plan, appropriate to the

type of field-initiated project, to

evaluate the effectiveness of the project

in accomplishing its goals and

objectives;

(4) The applicant provides a plan of

operations, appropriate to the type of

field-initiated project, indicating that it

will achieve the project objectives in a

timely and effective manner; and

(5) Appropriate collaboration with

other agencies is assured.

Eligible Applicants: Public and

private organizations, including

institutions of higher education and

Indian tribes and tribal organizations,

are eligible to apply for awards under

this program.

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762.

APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 FIELD-INITIATED RESEARCH, CFDA NO. 84.133G

Funding Priority

Deadline for

transmittal of

applications

Estimated

number of

awards

Maximum award amount (per

year)*

Project

period

(months)

Field-Initiated Research ...................................................................... 9/30/96 25 $125,000 36

NOTE: The Secretary will reject without consideration or evaluation any application that proposes a project funding level that exceeds the stated maximum award amount (See 34 CFR 75.104(b)).

Program Title: Research Training and

Career Development Program

CFDA Number: 84.133P.

Purpose: The purpose of this program

is to expand capability in the field of

rehabilitation research by supporting

projects that provide advanced training

in rehabilitation research. These

projects provide research training and

experience at an advanced level to

individuals with doctorates or similar

advanced degrees who have clinical or

other relevant experience, including

experience in management or basic

science research, in fields pertinent to

rehabilitation, in order to qualify those

individuals to conduct independent

research on problems related to

disability and rehabilitation.

Invitational Priorities: The Secretary

is particularly interested in applications

that address one of the following

invitational priorities. However, under

34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) an application that

meets an invitational priority does not

receive competitive or absolute

preference over other applications. The

invitational priorities are:

1. Training individuals with

disabilities in advanced research in

disability and rehabilitation-related

fields.

2. Training individuals from minority

backgrounds, particularly individuals

with disabilities from minority

backgrounds, in advanced disability and

rehabilitation research.

Selection Criteria: The Secretary uses

the following criteria in 34 CFR 360.31

to evaluate applications under this

program.

(a) Importance and potential

contribution. (20 points) The Secretary

reviews each application to determine

to what degree—

(1) The applicant is responsive to any

priority established under § 360.32;

(2) The applicant proposes to provide

training in a rehabilitation discipline or

area of study in which there is a

shortage of qualified researchers, or to

provide training to a trainee population

in which there is a need for more

qualified researchers, such as clinicians

in rural areas, or clinicians who are

directly experienced with underserved

populations; and

(3) The applicant is likely to make a

significant increase in the number of

trained rehabilitation researchers.

(b) Quality of proposed training

program. (40 points) The Secretary

reviews each application to determine

to what degree—

(1) The applicant’s proposed

recruitment program is likely to be

effective in recruiting highly qualified

trainees;

(2) The proposed didactic and

classroom training programs emphasize

scientific methodology are

multidisciplinary, comprehensive, and

appropriate to the level of the trainees,

and are likely to produce qualified

independent researchers;

(3) The quality and extent of the

academic mentorship, guidance, and

supervision to be provided to each

individual trainee are of a high level

and are likely to produce highly

qualified researchers;

(4) The type, extent, and quality of the

proposed clinical and laboratory

research experience, including the

opportunity to participate in research on

meaningful topics at an advanced level,

are likely to develop individuals with

the capacity to perform independent

research; and

(5) The opportunities for collegial and

collaborative activities, exposure to

outstanding scientists in the field, and

opportunities to participate in the

preparation of scholarly or scientific

publications and presentations are

extensive and appropriate.

(c) Personnel and resources

committed to the project. (30 points)

The Secretary evaluates each

application to determine to what

degree—

(1) The activities of the project will be

implemented by sufficient and qualified

staff who are outstanding scientists in

the field;
34328 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 127 / Monday, July 1, 1996 / Notices

(2) The project director and other key

staff are experienced in the delivery of

advanced research training as well as

knowledgeable about the methodology

and literature of pertinent subject areas;

(3) All required disciplines are

effectively included; and

(4) The applicant possesses the

appropriate facilities, laboratories, and

access to clinical populations and

organizations representing persons with

disabilities to support the conduct of

advanced clinical rehabilitation

research.

(d) Management and operating plans.

(l0 points) The Secretary evaluates each

application to determine to what

degree—

(1) There is an effective plan of

operation that ensures proper and

efficient administration of the project;

(2) There is an effective plan for

collaboration with other institutions of

higher education and organizations

whose participation is necessary to

ensure effective classroom and clinical

research training;

(3) The applicant, as part of its

nondiscriminatory employment

practices, will ensure that its personnel

are selected without regard to race,

color, national origin, gender, age or

handicapping condition;

(4) The applicant has provided an

adequate plan for the use of facilities,

resources, supplies and equipment;

(5) The budget for the project is

reasonable and adequate to support the

proposed activities; and

(6) The applicant provides an

appropriate plan for the evaluation of all

phases of the project.

Eligible Applicants: Institutions of

higher education are eligible to receive

awards under this program.

Program Authority: 29. U.S.C. 761a(k).

APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, CFDA NO.

84.133P

Funding priority

Deadline for

transmittal of

applications

Estimated

number of

awards

Maximum award amount

(per year)*

Project

period

(months)

Research Training and Career Development Program ..................... 8/30/96 3 $150,000 60

Note: The Secretary will reject without consideration or evaluation any application that proposes a project funding level that exceeds the stated

maximum award amount (See 34 CFR 75.104(b)).

Instructions for Application Narrative

The Secretary strongly recommends

that the narrative for Field-Initiated

Research and Research Training and

Career Development applications be

limited to no more than 40 doublespaced, typed pages (on one side only),

not including appendices. This

recommended page limit applies only to

the narrative and not to the application

forms, assurances, certifications and

attachments to those forms, assurances,

and certifications.

The research proposal for a

Fellowship application must be limited

to no more than 12 pages (34 CFR

356.30(b)).

Instructions for Transmittal of

Applications

(a) If an applicant wants to apply for

a grant, the applicant shall—

(1) Mail the original and two copies

of the application on or before the

deadline date to: U.S. Department of

Education, Application Control Center,

Attention: (CFDA # [Applicant must

insert number and letter]), Washington,

DC 20202–4725, or

(2) Hand deliver the original and two

copies of the application by 4:30 p.m.

[Washington, DC time] on the deadline

date to: U.S. Department of Education,

Application Control Center, Attention:

(CFDA # [Applicant must insert number

and letter]), Room #3633, Regional

Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets,

SW., Washington, DC.

(b) An applicant must show one of the

following as proof of mailing:

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

postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the

date of mailing stamped by the U.S.

Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or

receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing

acceptable to the Secretary.

(c) If an application is mailed through

the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary

does not accept either of the following

as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by

the U.S. Postal Service.

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

uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before

relying on this method, an applicant should

check with its local post office.

(2) An applicant wishing to know that

its application has been received by the

Department must include with the

application a stamped self-addressed

postcard containing the CFDA number

and title of this program.

(3) The applicant must indicate on the

envelope and—if not provided by the

Department—in Item 10 of the

Application for Federal Assistance

(Standard Form 424) the CFDA

number—and letter, if any—of the

competition under which the

application is being submitted.

Application Forms and Instructions

The appendix to this application is

divided into four parts. These parts are

organized in the same manner that the

submitted application should be

organized. These parts are as follows:

PART I: Application for Federal

Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4–

88)) and instructions.

PART II: Budget Form—NonConstruction Programs (Standard Form

524A) and instructions.

PART III: Application Narrative.

Additional Materials

Estimated Public Reporting Burden.

Assurances—Non-Construction

Programs (Standard Form 424B).

Certification Regarding Lobbying,

Debarment, Suspension, and Other

Responsibility Matters: and Drug-Free

Work-Place Requirements (ED Form 80–

0013).

Certification Regarding Debarment,

Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary

Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered

Transactions (ED Form 80–0014) and

instructions. (NOTE: ED Form GCS–014

is intended for the use of primary

participants and should not be

transmitted to the Department.)

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

(Standard Form LLL (if applicable) and

instruction. This document has been

marked to reflect statutory changes. See

the notice published by the Office of

Management and Budget at 61 FR 1413

(January 19, 1996).

An applicant may submit information

on a photostatic copy of the application

and budget forms, the assurances, and

the certifications. However, the

application form, the assurances, and

the certifications must each have an
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 127 / Monday, July 1, 1996 / Notices 34329

original signature. No grant may be

awarded unless a completed application

form has been received.

For Applications Contact: In order to

obtain an application package, contact

William H. Whalen, U.S. Department of

Education, 600 Independence Avenue

SW., Switzer Building, Room 3411,

Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:

(202) 205–9141. Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202)

205–8887.

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

GOPHER.ED.GOV (under

Announcements, Bulletins, and Press

Releases); or on the World Wide Web at

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

However, the official application

notice for a discretionary grant

competition is the notice published in

the Federal Register.

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760–762.

Dated: June 19, 1996.

Judith E. Heumann,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services.

Appendix

Application Forms and Instructions

Applicants are advised to reproduce

and complete the application forms in

this Section. Applicants are required to

submit an original and two copies of

each application as provided in this

Section.

Frequent Questions

1. CAN I GET AN EXTENSION OF THE

DUE DATE?

No! On rare occasions the Department

of Education may extend a closing date

for all applicants. If that occurs, a notice

of the revised due date is published in

the Federal Register. However, there are

no extensions or exceptions to the due

date made for individual applicants.

2. WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN

THE APPLICATION?

The application should include a

project narrative, vitae of key personnel,

and a budget, as well as the Assurances

forms included in this package. Vitae of

staff or consultants should include the

individual’s title and role in the

proposed project, and other information

that is specifically pertinent to this

proposed project. The budgets for both

the first year and all subsequent project

years should be included.

If collaboration with another

organization is involved in the proposed

activity, the application should include

assurances of participation by the other

parties, including written agreements or

assurances of cooperation. It is not

useful to include general letters of

support or endorsement in the

application.

If the applicant proposes to use

unique tests or other measurement

instruments that are not widely known

in the field, it would be helpful to

include the instrument in the

application.

Many applications contain

voluminous appendices that are not

helpful and in many cases cannot even

be mailed to the reviewers. It is

generally not helpful to include such

things as brochures, general capability

statements of collaborating

organizations, maps, copies of

publications, or descriptions of other

projects completed by the applicant.

3. WHAT FORMAT SHOULD BE USED

FOR THE APPLICATION?

NIDRR generally advises applicants

that they may organize the application

to follow the selection criteria that will

be used. The specific review criteria

vary according to the specific program,

and are contained in this Consolidated

Application Package.

4. MAY I SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO

MORE THAN ONE NIDRR

PROGRAM COMPETITION OR

MORE THAN ONE APPLICATION

TO A PROGRAM?

Yes, you may submit applications to

any program for which they are

responsive to the program requirements.

You may submit the same application to

as many competitions as you believe

appropriate. You may also submit more

than one application in any given

competition.

5. WHAT IS THE ALLOWABLE

INDIRECT COST RATE?

The limits on indirect costs vary

according to the program and the type

of application. Applicants in the

Research Training and Career

Development program should limit

indirect charges to 8 percent. Applicants

in the Field-Initiated Research program

should limit indirect charges to the

organization’s approved rate. If the

organization does not have an approved

rate, the application should include an

estimated actual rate. Fellowship

awards are made to individuals,

therefore indirect cost rates do not

apply.

6. CAN PROFITMAKING BUSINESSES

APPLY FOR GRANTS?

Yes. However, for-profit organizations

will not be able to collect a fee or profit

on the grant, and in some programs will

be required to share in the costs of the

project.

7. CAN INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR

GRANTS?

No. Only organizations are eligible to

apply for grants under NIDRR programs.

However, individuals are the only

entities eligible to apply for fellowships.

8. CAN NIDRR STAFF ADVISE ME

WHETHER MY PROJECT IS OF

INTEREST TO NIDRR OR LIKELY

TO BE FUNDED?

No. NIDRR staff can advise you of the

requirements of the program in which

you propose to submit your application.

However, staff cannot advise you of

whether your subject area or proposed

approach is likely to receive approval.

9. HOW DO I ASSURE THAT MY

APPLICATION WILL BE

REFERRED TO THE MOST

APPROPRIATE PANEL FOR

REVIEW?

Applicants should be sure that their

applications are referred to the correct

competition by clearly including the

competition title and CFDA number,

including alphabetical code, on the

Standard Form 424, and including a

project title that describes the project.

10. HOW SOON AFTER SUBMITTING

MY APPLICATION CAN I FIND

OUT IF IT WILL BE FUNDED?

The time from closing date to grant

award date varies from program to

program. Generally speaking, NIDRR

endeavors to have awards made within

five to six months of the closing date.

Unsuccessful applicants generally will

be notified within that time frame as

well. For the purpose of estimating a

project start date, the applicant should

estimate approximately six months from

the closing date, but no later than the

following September 30.

11. CAN I CALL NIDRR TO FIND OUT

IF MY APPLICATION IS BEING

FUNDED?

No. When NIDRR is able to release

information on the status of grant

applications, it will notify applicants by

letter. The results of the peer review

cannot be released except through this

formal notification.

12. IF MY APPLICATION IS

SUCCESSFUL, CAN I ASSUME I

WILL GET THE REQUESTED

BUDGET AMOUNT IN

SUBSEQUENT YEARS?

No. Funding in subsequent years is

subject to availability of funds and

project performance.

13. WILL ALL APPROVED

APPLICATIONS BE FUNDED?

No. It often happens that the peer

review panels approve for funding more
34330 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 127 / Monday, July 1, 1996 / Notices

applications than NIDRR can fund

within available resources. Applicants

who are approved but not funded are

encouraged to consider submitting

similar applications in future

competitions.

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P