[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27639-27655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12768]



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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     
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                                                                                            Estimated           
                                                                Deadline for     Estimated   size of    Project 
                      Funding priority                         transmittal of    number of    awards     period 
                                                                applications       awards      (per     (months)
                                                                                              year)             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 [[Page 27640]] 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 [[Page 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--Non-Construction 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? [[Page 27642]] 
    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]
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