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[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20168-20169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10005]

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[CFDA No.: 84.224A6]

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Notice Inviting 
Applications for a New Award for Technical Assistance Project Under the 
Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Program

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technology-Related 
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities program is to assist 
States to develop and implement comprehensive statewide systems of 
consumer-responsive technology-related assistance for individuals with 
disabilities. NIDRR has conducted prior competitions under this 
program, and 55 States and territories have received grants. NIDRR is 
now inviting applications for the purpose of providing information and 
technical assistance to States. The Secretary shall award one technical 
assistance project for the purpose of assisting the States as they work 
toward establishing a statewide comprehensive system of technology 
related for individuals of all ages. NIDRR has conducted prior contract 
competitions under this authority and has awarded contracts for the 
provision of information and technical assistance to the State grantees 
over the past six years.
    Applicants are advised to respond to the requirements of section 
106(b)(1)(B) of the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with 
Disabilities Act of 1988, as amended. In meeting the requirements of 
this section for the provision of technical assistance to States, 
applicants shall consider the input of the directors of consumer-
responsive comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related 
assistance. The applicant shall provide information on how they shall 
support a clearinghouse for activities that have been developed and 
implemented through programs funded under this title, and how they 
shall provide information and technical assistance to the State 
grantees that will: (1) Facilitate service delivery capacity building, 
training of personnel from a variety of disciplines, and improvement of 
evaluation strategies, research, and data collection; (2) foster the 
development and replication of effective approaches to information 
referral, interagency coordination of training and service delivery, 
outreach to underrepresented populations and rural populations, and 
public awareness activities; (3) improve the awareness and adoption of 
successful approaches to increasing the availability of public and 
private funding for and access to the provision of assistive technology 
devices and assistive technology services by appropriate State 
agencies; (4) assist in planning, developing, implementing, and 
evaluating appropriate activities to further extend consumer-responsive 
comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance; (5) 
promote effective approaches to the development of consumer-controlled 
systems that increase access to, funding for, and awareness of 
assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; (6) 
provide technical assistance and training to the entities carrying out 
activities funded pursuant to this title, to establish or participate 
in electronic communication activities with other States; and (7) 
provide any other appropriate information and technical assistance to 
assist the States in accomplishing the purposes of this Act.
    Eligible Applicants: Public or private agencies and organizations 
including institutions of higher education with documented experience, 
expertise and capacity in assistive technology service delivery, 
interagency coordination, and systems change and advocacy activities 
are eligible to apply.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 23, 1995.
    Applications Available: April 26, 1995. [[Page 20169]] 
    Available Funds: $750,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $750,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

    Note: The estimates of funding levels and awards in this notice 
do not bind the Department of Education to a specific level of 
funding or number of grants.

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 81, 82, 
85, and 86.
    Selection Criteria: In evaluating applications for the grant under 
this competition, the Secretary uses the selection criteria in 34 CFR 
75.210(b). Under 34 CFR 75.210(c), the Secretary is authorized to 
distribute an additional 15 points among the criteria to bring the 
total to a maximum of 100 points. For this competition, the Secretary 
distributes the additional points as follows:
    Plan of Operation: (34 CFR 75.210(b)(3)). Fifteen additional points 
are added to this criterion for a possible of 30 points.
    For Further Information Contact: Carol Cohen, U.S. Department of 
Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone 
(202) 205-5666. Individuals who use a telecommunication device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the TDD number at (202) 732-5079.
    For Applications Contact: Dianne Villines, U.S. Department of 
Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 205-9141.
    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; or on the Internet Gopher Server at 
GOPHER.ED.Gov (under Announcements, Bulletins, and Press Releases). 
However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant 
competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 2211-2271.

    Dated: April 17, 1995.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 95-10005 Filed 4-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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