Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 24, 1995 / Notices 27639

applications for these Centers, describe the

entities that are eligible to apply for RRTC

grants. The Secretary does not intend to

amend those regulations by further restricting

eligibility for this Center grant. However, the

Secretary believes that additional language

inserted into the Background and the

activities of the priority indicate the

expectation that consumers and consumer

organizations will have important roles in the

RRTC.

Changes: The final paragraph of the

Background statement has been amended to

add ‘‘Any Center to be funded under this

priority must involve consumers and

consumer-run organizations in the planning,

management, and operations of the Center

and must consider the perspectives of

individuals with LTMI in all aspects of its

research and related programs.’’

Comment: Several commenters suggested

modifications to the information

dissemination components of the priority.

Some questioned the appropriateness of the

dissemination activity centered around the

use of electronic information networks, since

they believe that consumers, consumer

organizations, and many other communitybased service providers do not have access to

the necessary electronic technology. One

commenter recommended that the priority

include an activity for developing a

consumer information exchange.

Discussion: The Secretary believes that

applicants should have the flexibility to

propose how they will develop and

disseminate strategies to increase the sharing

of information.

Changes: The final activity in the priority

has been amended to read ‘‘develop and

disseminate strategies to increase the

effectiveness of information-sharing among

and between consumer and provider

organizations, researchers, and peer

organizations.

Improved Outcomes for Low-Functioning

Deaf Individuals

Comment: One commenter stated that the

RRTC should be required to address the

needs of deaf-blind individuals who meet the

profile of low-functioning.

Discussion: The Secretary points out that

the priority requires the new Center to

coordinate activities with related projects

funded by RSA and OSEP, which do serve

individuals who are deaf-blind. Applicants

for a grant under this priority may address

needs of deaf-blind individuals as the

priority now exists. However, the Secretary

does not require that they do so.

Changes: None.

Recommendations for Additional Priorities

Comment: Several commenters

recommended that NIDRR establish RRTCs

addressing the needs of individuals with

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD); one

recommended a center on assistive

technology for inclusion, and a substantial

number urged the establishment of an RRTC

on community integration for individuals

with mental retardation.

Discussion: The Secretary is considering

these suggestions for future priorities. In part

as a response to these comments, the

Secretary published a Notice of Proposed

Priority for a dissemination and technical

assistance center on Facilitating Community

Integration for Individuals with Mental

Retardation in the Federal Register of March

31, 1995 (60 FR 16760). The Secretary also

reminds all commenters that NIDRR sponsors

a Field-Initiated Research program under

which potential applicants may submit

applications for research related to any area

of disability and rehabilitation.

Changes: None.

[FR Doc. 95–12767 Filed 5–23–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.133B]

Office of Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services; National

Institute on Disability and

Rehabilitation Research; Notice

Inviting Applications for Certain New

Awards Under the Rehabilitation

Research and Training Centers (RRTC)

for Fiscal Year (FY) 1995

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: This notice is a

complete application package. The

notice contains information, application

forms, and instructions needed to apply

for a grant under this competitions. The

final priorities for the Rehabilitation

Research and Training Centers (RRTC)

program are published in this issue of

the Federal Register. This consolidated

application package includes the closing

date, estimated funding, and application

forms necessary to apply for an award

under this program’s competition.

Potential applicants should consult the

statement of the final priority published

in this issue to ascertain the substantive

requirements for their applications.

The estimated funding level in this

notice does not bind the Department of

Education to make awards or to any

specific number of awards or funding

levels.

This notice of final priorities supports

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

and citizenship.

APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995, REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTERS CFDA NO. 84.133B

Funding priority

Deadline for

transmittal of

applications

Estimated

number

of awards

Estimated

size of

awards

(per year)

Project

period

(months)

Independent living and disability policy .................................................................................. July 21, 1995 .. 1 $400,000 60

Independent living center management and services ............................................................ July 21, 1995 .. 1 650,000 60

Peer support in rehabilitation of long-term mental illness ...................................................... July 21, 1995 .. 1 545,000 60

Improved outcomes for low-functioning deaf individuals ....................................................... July 21, 1995 .. 1 400,000 60

Applications available: May 25, 1995.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: (a) The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR),

34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82,

85, 86; (b) the regulations for this

program in 34 CFR Parts 350 (amended

April 5, 1995, (60 FR 17426)) and 352

(amended April 5, 1995, (60 FR 17429));

and (c) the notice of final priorities

published elsewhere in this issue of the

Federal Register.

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: Rehabilitation

Research and Training Centers conduct

coordinated and advanced programs of

rehabilitation research, provide

training—including undergraduate,

graduate, and in-service training—to

research and other rehabilitation

personnel, and assist individuals to

more effectively provide rehabilitation

services.

Selection Criteria: The Secretary uses

the following selection criteria to

evaluate applications under this

program.

(a) Relevance and importance of the

research program (20 points). The

Secretary reviews each application to

determine to what degree—

(1) The proposed activities are

responsive to a priority established by

the Secretary and address a significant

need of a disabled target population and

rehabilitation service providers;

(2) The overall research program of

the Center includes appropriate

interdisciplinary and collaborative

research activities, is likely to lead to
27640 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 24, 1995 / Notices

new and useful knowledge in the

priority area, and is likely to become a

nationally recognized source of

scientific knowledge; and

(3) The applicant demonstrates that

all component activities of the Center

are related to the overall objective of the

Center, and will build upon and

complement each other to enhance the

likelihood of solving significant

rehabilitation problems.

(b) Quality of the research design (35

points). The Secretary reviews each

application to determine to what

degree—

(1) The applicant proposes a

comprehensive research program for the

entire project period, including at least

three interrelated research projects;

(2) The research design and

methodology of each proposed activity

are meritorious in that—

(i) The literature review is appropriate

and indicates familiarity with current

research in the field;

(ii) The research hypotheses are

important and scientifically relevant;

(iii) The sample populations are

appropriate and significant;

(iv) The data collection and

measurement techniques are

appropriate and likely to be effective;

(v) The data analysis methods are

appropriate; and

(vi) The applicant assures that human

subjects, animals, and the environment

are adequately protected; and

(3) The application discusses the

anticipated research results and

demonstrates how those results would

satisfy the original hypotheses and

could be used for planning future

research, including generation of new

hypotheses where applicable.

(c) Quality of the training and

dissemination program (25 points). The

Secretary reviews each application to

determine the degree to which—

(1) The proposed plan for training and

dissemination provides evidence that

research results will be effectively

disseminated and utilized based on the

identification of appropriate and

accessible target groups; the proposed

training materials and methods are

appropriate; the proposed activities are

relevant to the regional and national

needs of the rehabilitation field; and the

training materials and dissemination

packages will be developed in alternate

media that are usable by people with

various types of disabilities.

(2) The proposed plan for training and

dissemination provides for—

(i) Advanced training in rehabilitation

research;

(ii) Training rehabilitation service

personnel and other appropriate

individuals to improve practitioner

skills based on new knowledge derived

from research;

(iii) Training packages that make

research results available to service

providers, researchers, educators,

individuals with disabilities, parents,

and others;

(iv) Technical assistance or

consultation that is responsive to the

concerns of service providers and

consumers; and

(v) Dissemination of research findings

through publication in professional

journals, textbooks, and consumer and

other publications, and through other

appropriate media such as audiovisual

materials and telecommunications.

(vi) Dissemination of research

findings and other materials in

appropriate formats and accessible

media for use by individuals with

various disabilities.

(d) Quality of the organization and

management (20 points). The Secretary

reviews each application to determine

the degree to which—

(1) The staffing plan for the Center

provides evidence that the project

director, research director, training

director, principal investigators, and

other personnel have appropriate

training and experience in disciplines

required to conduct the proposed

activities; the commitment of staff time

is adequate to conduct all proposed

activities; and the Center, as part of its

nondiscriminatory employment

practices, will ensure that its personnel

are selected for employment without

regard to race, color, national origin,

gender, age, or handicapping

conditions;

(2) The budgets for the Center and for

each component project are reasonable,

adequate, and cost-effective for the

proposed activities;

(3) The facilities, equipment, and

other resources are adequate and are

appropriately accessible to persons with

disabilities;

(4) The plan of operations is adequate

to accomplish the Center’s objectives

and to ensure proper and efficient

management of the Center;

(5) The proposed relationships with

Federal, State, and local rehabilitation

service providers and consumer

organizations are likely to ensure that

the Center program is relevant and

applicable to the needs of consumers

and service providers;

(6) The past performance and

accomplishments of the applicant

indicate an ability to complete

successfully the proposed scope of

work;

(7) The application demonstrates

appropriate commitment and support by

the host institution and opportunities

for interdisciplinary activities and

collaboration with other institutions;

and

(8) The plan for evaluation of the

Center provides for an annual

assessment of the outcomes of the

research, the impact of the training and

dissemination activities on the target

populations, and the extent to which the

overall objectives have been

accomplished.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Institutions of

higher education and public or private

agencies and organizations collaborating

with institutions of higher education,

including Indian tribes and tribal

organizations, are eligible to apply for

awards under this program.

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

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,

D.C. 20202–4725, or

(2) Hand deliver the original and two

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

[Washington, D.C. 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, S.W., Washington, D.C.

(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
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 24, 1995 / Notices 27641

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 ED–80–0014)

and instructions. (NOTE: ED Form ED–

80–0014 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

instructions; and Disclosure Lobbying

Activities Continuation Sheet (Standard

Form LLL-A).

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

original signature. No grant may be

awarded unless a completed application

form has been received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: In

order to obtain an application package,

contact William H. Whalen, U.S.

Department of Education, 600

Independence Avenue S.W., Switzer

Building, Room 3411, Washington, D.C.

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; 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. 760–762.

Dated: May 18, 1995.

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 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 FIR, AND Innovation

grants programs 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.

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.

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 the title of the

priority to which they are responding.

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. Those budget projections are necessary

and helpful for planning purposes. However,

a complete budget and budget justification

must be submitted for each year of the project

and there will be negotiations on the budget

each year.

13. Will all approved applications be

funded?
27642 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 24, 1995 / Notices

No. It often happens that the peer review

panels approve for funding more 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.

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[FR Doc. 95–12768 Filed 5–23–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–C