52654 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Fiscal 

Year 2018 National Defense 

Authorization Act, the DON announces 

that the NNPP, a joint activity of the 

DON and the Department of Energy 

(DOE), NNPP will convert from the 

General Schedule (GS) Classification 

and Pay System and the DON Interim 

Performance Management System 

(IPMS) to the NNSA pay and 

performance System, also known as the 

NNSA Demonstration Project. This 

conversion will align DON employees of 

the NNPP with their counterparts in the 

DOE, NNSA, and bring parity to the pay 

and performance systems within the 

Nuclear Propulsion workforce. 

DATES: This conversion will become 

effective September 22, 2022. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Edward Rose, 412–476–7204, or 

edward.rose@nrp.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When the 

Naval Sea Systems Command 

(NAVSEA) Headquarters converted to 

the DoD Civilian Acquisition Workforce 

Personnel Demonstration Project 

(AcqDemo), Naval Reactors chose to opt 

out of AcqDemo in anticipation of 

aligning with the DOE, NNSA 

Demonstration Project. Section 

3116(a)(3) of the Fiscal Year 2018 

NDAA authorized NNPP to convert its 

DON employees to the NNSA System 

with the concurrence of the Secretary of 

the Navy. The Secretary of the Navy 

approved the transition of NNPP’s DON 

civilian personnel to the NNSA 

Demonstration Project Personnel 

Management System on February 5, 

2019. NNPP has been working with the 

NAVSEA Office of Civilian Human 

Resources to promulgate the conversion 

and plan the implementation through 

relevant DON and DoD offices. After 

providing data and supporting 

documentation, the DoD Defense 

Civilian Personnel Advisory Service has 

given approval to commence with the 

planning and implementation upon 

publishing of this notice. The 

implementation will require, among 

other actions, coordination with the 

DFAS, final notice to employees, 

developing NNPP procedures, creating 

new position descriptions, and 

processing pay plan adjustment 

personnel actions. 

The NNSA Demonstration Project was 

designed by NNSA, with participation 

of and review by the DOE and the Office 

of Personnel Management. The NNSA 

Demonstration Project modifies the GS 

Classification and Pay System by 

creating broad career paths, establishing 

pay bands within each career path 

which may cover more than one GS 

grade, eliminates longevity-based step 

progression, and provides for annual 

pay adjustments based on performance. 

The NNPP has experienced higher-thanaverage attrition and has had difficulty 

filling positions, with pay/grade 

frequently cited as the reason for 

declination by candidates. 

As a joint DON/DOE organization, 

Naval Reactors has historically managed 

its civilian workforce under each 

respective agency’s personnel 

management system. The Fiscal Year 

(FY) 2018 National Defense 

Authorization Act states that the 

Director of the Naval Nuclear 

Propulsion Program (NNPP) may, ‘‘with 

concurrence of the Secretary of the 

Navy,’’ apply NNSA DEMO to all nonexecutive competitive service 

employees of the NNPP, thereby 

strengthening Naval Reactors’ 

recruitment and retention of the highestquality technical and professional 

workforce. This move aligns with the 

goal of shifting away from tenure-based 

personnel systems to performance-based 

personnel management systems while 

streamlining administrative processes 

inherent in managing Naval Reactors’ 

employees under two different systems. 

All DON NNPP current GS employees 

and vacant GS positions will be 

converted, excluding any Schedule C 

excepted service positions. There are 

approximately 210 affected positions, 

with all but about 40 of those positions 

located at the Washington Navy Yard. 

These positions will remain as DON 

positions. The NNPP will adopt the 

NNSA Demonstration Project Policies 

and Procedures Manual, dated March 

2008, which will also be used by the 

servicing Human Resources Office and 

the Defense Finance Accounting Service 

(DFAS) to implement and support the 

NNPP. The intent of this notice is to 

promulgate this conversion to 

stakeholders within the Departments of 

Energy, Defense, and Navy. Affected 

employees are not represented by a 

labor union. 

Dated: September 17, 2021. 

J.M. Pike, 

Commander, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, 

U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20510 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Applications for New Awards; National 

Center for Information and Technical 

Support for Postsecondary Students 

With Disabilities Program 

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary 

Education, Department of Education. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Education 

(Department) is issuing a notice inviting 

applications (NIA) for a new award for 

fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the National 

Center for Information and Technical 

Support for Postsecondary Students 

with Disabilities Program, Assistance 

Listing Number 84.116D. This notice 

relates to the approved information 

collection under OMB control number 

1894–0006. 

DATES: 

Applications Available: September 

22, 2021. 

Deadline for Transmittal of 

Applications: October 22, 2021. 

Deadline for Intergovernmental 

Review: December 21, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for 

obtaining and submitting an 

application, please refer to our Common 

Instructions for Applicants to 

Department of Education Discretionary 

Grant Programs, published in the 

Federal Register on February 13, 2019 

(84 FR 3768), and available at 

www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019- 

02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shedita Alston, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 

Room 2B194, Washington, DC 20202– 

4260. Telephone: (202) 453–7090. 

Email: Shedita.Alston@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 

telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay 

Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– 

8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of 

this program is to support a National 

Center for Information and Technical 

Support for Postsecondary Students 

with Disabilities (the Center) to provide 

technical assistance and information on 

best and promising practices for 

students with disabilities as they 

transition to or attend postsecondary 

education. Institutions of higher 

education (IHEs), as well as elementary 

and secondary schools, have legal 

obligations under two civil rights laws 

prohibiting disability discrimination, 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973, as amended (Section 504) (29 

U.S.C. 794), and the Americans with 

Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended 

(ADA) (42 U.S.C. 12101–12213). The 

technical assistance and information 

provided by the Center can help 

students, parents, and educational 

officials in determining how to meet 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices 52655 

these obligations and ensure the rights 

of students with disabilities. In 

particular, the Center can assist students 

with disabilities and their families in 

understanding that in IHEs, students 

with disabilities have different rights 

and protections than they had in 

secondary school under Section 504 and 

the Individuals with Disabilities 

Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. 1400 et 

seq. Students with disabilities and their 

parents need to understand the 

differences in these rights and 

responsibilities as students with 

disabilities enter college and pursue 

postsecondary education. Specifically, 

unlike students in secondary school, 

postsecondary students with disabilities 

are responsible for requesting the 

academic adjustments, auxiliary aids 

and services, and other accommodations 

they need to have equal educational 

opportunity and are expected to comply 

with reasonable procedures that an IHE 

may have concerning documentation of 

disability and the need for 

accommodations under Section 504 and 

the ADA. 

Note: A more detailed explanation of 

the different rights and responsibilities 

of students with disabilities in 

secondary school and postsecondary 

institutions can be found in two 

pamphlets issued by the Department’s 

Office for Civil Rights: ‘‘Transition of 

Students With Disabilities To 

Postsecondary Education: A Guide for 

High School Educators,’’ available at: 

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ 

ocr/transitionguide.html, and ‘‘Students 

with Disabilities Preparing for 

Postsecondary Education: Know Your 

Rights and Responsibilities,’’ available 

at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/ 

list/ocr/transition.html. 

Priority: This notice contains one 

absolute priority. In accordance with 34 

CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is 

from section 777(a) of the Higher 

Education Act of 1965, as amended 

(HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1140q(a)). 

Absolute Priority: For FY 2021 and 

any subsequent year in which we make 

awards from the list of unfunded 

applicants from this competition, this 

priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 

CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only 

applications that meet this priority. 

This priority is: 

Entities that can demonstrate the 

experience and capacity to improve 

postsecondary recruitment, transition, 

retention, and completion rates of 

students with disabilities by providing 

the following: 

1. Assistance to students and families. 

The Center must provide information 

and technical assistance to students 

with disabilities and the families of 

students with disabilities to support 

students across the broad spectrum of 

disabilities, including— 

(a) Information to assist individuals 

with disabilities who are prospective 

students of an IHE in planning for 

postsecondary education while the 

students are in secondary school; 

(b) Information and technical 

assistance provided to individualized 

education program teams (as defined in 

20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)) for secondary 

school students with disabilities, and to 

early outreach and student services 

programs, including programs 

authorized under subparts 2, 4, and 5 of 

title IV of the HEA, to support students 

across a broad spectrum of disabilities 

with the successful transition to 

postsecondary education; 

(c) Research-based supports, services, 

and accommodations which are 

available in postsecondary settings, 

including services provided by other 

agencies such as vocational 

rehabilitation; 

(d) Information on student mentoring 

and networking opportunities for 

students with disabilities; and 

(e) Effective recruitment and 

transition programs at postsecondary 

educational institutions. 

2. Assistance to institutions of higher 

education. The Center must provide 

information and technical assistance to 

faculty, staff, and administrators of IHEs 

to improve the services provided to, the 

accommodations for, the retention rates 

of, and the completion rates of, students 

with disabilities in higher education 

settings, which may include— 

(a) Collection and dissemination of 

best and promising practices and 

materials for accommodating and 

supporting students with disabilities, 

including practices and materials 

supported by the grants, contracts, or 

cooperative agreements authorized 

under subparts 1, 2, and 3 of title VII, 

part D, of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1140q); 

(b) Development and provision of 

training modules for higher education 

faculty on exemplary practices for 

accommodating and supporting 

postsecondary students with disabilities 

across a range of academic fields, which 

may include universal design for 

learning and practices supported by the 

grants, contracts, or cooperative 

agreements authorized under subparts 1, 

2, and 3 of title VII, part D, of the HEA 

(20 U.S.C. 1140q); and 

(c) Development of technology-based 

tutorials for higher education faculty 

and staff, including new faculty and 

graduate students, on best and 

promising practices related to support 

and retention of students with 

disabilities in postsecondary education. 

3. Information collection and 

dissemination. The Center will be 

responsible for building, maintaining, 

and updating a database of disability 

support services information with 

respect to IHEs, or for expanding and 

updating an existing database of 

disabilities support services information 

with respect to IHEs. This database must 

be made available to the general public 

through a website built to high technical 

standards of accessibility practicable for 

the broad spectrum of individuals with 

disabilities. This database and website 

must include available information on— 

(a) Disability documentation 

requirements; 

(b) Support services available; 

(c) Links to financial aid; 

(d) Accommodations policies; 

(e) Accessible instructional materials; 

(f) Other topics relevant to students 

with disabilities; and 

(g) The information in the report 

described in paragraph (5) below. 

4. Disability support services. The 

Center must work with organizations 

and individuals with proven expertise 

related to disability support services for 

postsecondary students with disabilities 

to evaluate, improve, and disseminate 

information related to the delivery of 

high quality disability support services 

at IHEs. 

5. Review and report. Not later than 

three years after the establishment of the 

National Center, and every two years 

thereafter, the National Center must 

prepare and disseminate a report to the 

Secretary and the authorizing 

committees analyzing the condition of 

postsecondary success for students with 

disabilities. The report must include— 

(a) A review of the activities and the 

effectiveness of the programs authorized 

under title VII, part D of the HEA; 

(b) Annual enrollment and graduation 

rates of students with disabilities in 

IHEs from publicly reported data; 

(c) Recommendations for effective 

postsecondary supports and services for 

students with disabilities, and how such 

supports and services may be widely 

implemented at IHEs; 

(d) Recommendations on reducing 

barriers to full participation for students 

with disabilities in higher education; 

and 

(e) A description of the strategies with 

a demonstrated record of effectiveness 

in improving the success of such 

students in postsecondary education. 

6. Staffing of the Center. In hiring 

employees of the National Center, the 

National Center must consider the 

expertise and experience of prospective 

employees in providing training and 

technical assistance to practitioners. 

Note: Websites established or 

maintained to carry out any project 

52656 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices 

funded under this competition must 

meet WCAG 2.1 standards (Source: 

https://www.w3.org/WAI/standardsguidelines/wcag/glance/). Documents 

posted on grantee websites must, at a 

minimum, meet the Department’s 

accessibility standards set out at: 

https://www2.ed.gov/web-guidance/ 

accessibility/index.html. 

Definitions: The following definitions 

are from sections 101 and 103 of the 

HEA. 

Institution of higher education— 

(1) Means an educational institution 

in any State that— 

(i) Admits as regular students only 

persons having a certificate of 

graduation from a school providing 

secondary education, or the recognized 

equivalent of such a certificate, or 

persons who meet the requirements of 

section 484(d) of the HEA; 

(ii) Is legally authorized within such 

State to provide a program of education 

beyond secondary education; 

(iii) Provides an educational program 

for which the institution awards a 

bachelor’s degree or provides not less 

than a 2-year program that is acceptable 

for full credit toward such a degree, or 

awards a degree that is acceptable for 

admission to a graduate or professional 

degree program, subject to review and 

approval by the Secretary; 

(iv) Is a public or other nonprofit 

institution; and 

(v) Is accredited by a nationally 

recognized accrediting agency or 

association, or if not so accredited, is an 

institution that has been granted preaccreditation status by such an agency 

or association that has been recognized 

by the Secretary for the granting of preaccreditation status, and the Secretary 

has determined that there is satisfactory 

assurance that the institution will meet 

the accreditation standards of such an 

agency or association within a 

reasonable time; and 

(2) Also includes— 

(i) Any school that provides not less 

than a 1-year program of training to 

prepare students for gainful 

employment in a recognized occupation 

and that meets the provision of 

paragraphs (1)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v); and 

(ii) A public or nonprofit private 

educational institution in any State that, 

in lieu of the requirement in paragraph 

(1)(i), admits as regular students 

individuals— 

(A) Who are beyond the age of 

compulsory school attendance in the 

State in which the institution is located; 

or 

(B) Who will be dually or 

concurrently enrolled in the institution 

and a secondary school. 

Universal design for learning means a 

scientifically valid framework for 

guiding educational practice that— 

(1) Provides flexibility in the ways 

information is presented, in the ways 

students respond or demonstrate 

knowledge and skills, and in the ways 

students are engaged; and 

(2) Reduces barriers in instruction, 

provides appropriate accommodations, 

supports, and challenges, and maintains 

high achievement expectations for all 

students, including students with 

disabilities and students who are 

limited English proficient. 

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 

1140q(a). 

Note: Projects will be awarded and 

must be operated in a manner consistent 

with the nondiscrimination 

requirements contained in the Federal 

civil rights laws. 

Applicable Regulations: (a) The 

Education Department General 

Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR 

parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 

99. (b) The Office of Management and 

Budget Guidelines to Agencies on 

Governmentwide Debarment and 

Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR 

part 180, as adopted and amended as 

regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 

part 3485. (c) The Uniform 

Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for 

Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as 

adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 

3474. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Cooperative 

agreement. 

Estimated Available Funds: 

$1,980,000. 

Contingent upon the availability of 

funds and the quality of applications, 

we may make additional awards in 

subsequent years from the list of 

unfunded applications from this 

competition. 

Estimated Average Size of Award: 

$1,980,000. 

Maximum Award: We will not make 

an award exceeding $1,980,000 for a 

project period of 48 months. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 1. 

Note: The Department is not bound by 

any estimates in this notice. 

Project Period: Up to 48 months. 

III. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants: Under section 

777(a)(3) of the HEA, an ‘‘eligible 

entity’’ is an IHE (as defined in this 

notice); a nonprofit organization; or a 

partnership of two or more IHEs or 

organizations, with demonstrated 

expertise in: 

(a) Supporting students with 

disabilities in postsecondary education; 

(b) Technical knowledge necessary for 

the dissemination of information in 

accessible formats; 

(c) Working with diverse types of 

IHEs, including community colleges; 

and 

(d) The subjects necessary to support 

students across the broad spectrum of 

disabilities. 

2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This 

competition does not require cost 

sharing or matching. 

b. Administrative Cost Limitation: 

This program does not include any 

program-specific limitation on 

administrative expenses. All 

administrative expenses must be 

reasonable and necessary and conform 

to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR 

part 200 subpart E of the Uniform 

Guidance. 

c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This 

program uses a restricted indirect cost 

rate of 8 percent. For more information 

regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a 

negotiated indirect cost rate, please see 

www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/ 

intro.html. 

3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this 

competition may not award subgrants to 

entities to directly carry out project 

activities described in its application. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Application Submission 

Instructions: Applicants are required to 

follow the Common Instructions for 

Applicants to Department of Education 

Discretionary Grant Programs, 

published in the Federal Register on 

February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and 

available at www.govinfo.gov/content/ 

pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, 

which contains requirements and 

information on how to submit an 

application. 

2. Intergovernmental Review: This 

program is subject to Executive Order 

12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR 

part 79. Information about 

Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs under Executive Order 12372 

is in the application package for this 

program. 

3. Funding Restrictions: We reference 

regulations outlining funding 

restrictions in the Applicable 

Regulations section of this notice. 

4. Recommended Page Limit: The 

application narrative is where you, the 

applicant, address the selection criteria 

that reviewers use to evaluate your 

application. We recommend that you (1) 

limit the application narrative to no 

more than 50 pages and (2) use the 

following standards: 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices 52657 

• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5′′ x 11′′, on one side 

only, with 1′′ margins at the top, bottom, 

and both sides. 

• Double space (no more than three 

lines per vertical inch) all text in the 

application narrative, including titles, 

headings, footnotes, quotations, 

references, and captions as well as all 

text in charts, tables, figures, and 

graphs. 

• Use a font that is either 12 point or 

larger, and no smaller than 10 pitch 

(characters per inch). 

• Use one of the following fonts: 

Times New Roman, Courier, Courier 

New, or Arial. 

The recommended page limit does not 

apply to the cover sheet; the budget 

section, including the narrative budget 

justification; the assurances and 

certifications; or the one-page abstract. 

However, the recommended page limit 

does apply to all of the application 

narrative. 

Note: The Budget Information-NonConstruction Programs Form (ED 524) 

Sections A–C are not the same as the 

narrative response to the Budget section 

of the selection criteria. 

V. Application Review Information 

1. Selection Criteria: The selection 

criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 

75.210 and from section 777(a) of the 

HEA (20 U.S.C. 1140q(a)). Applicants 

should address each of the following 

selection criteria separately for each 

proposed activity. The selection criteria 

are worth a total of 100 points; the 

maximum score for each criterion is 

noted in parentheses. 

(a) Demonstration of Eligibility. 

(Maximum 25 Points) 

(1) The Secretary considers whether 

the applicant has demonstrated 

expertise and experience sufficient to 

meet the requirements to be an eligible 

entity under section 777(a)(3) of the 

HEA. 

(2) In considering eligibility, the 

Secretary considers the following 

factors: 

(i) Demonstrated expertise in 

supporting students with disabilities in 

postsecondary education; 

(ii) Demonstrated expertise in 

technical knowledge necessary for the 

dissemination of information in 

accessible formats; 

(iii) Demonstrated expertise in 

working with diverse types of IHEs, 

including community colleges; and 

(iv) Demonstrated expertise in the 

subjects necessary to support students 

across the broad spectrum of 

disabilities. 

(b) Quality of the Project Design. 

(Maximum 15 Points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the design of the proposed 

project. 

(2) In determining the quality of the 

design of the proposed project, the 

Secretary considers the following 

factors: 

(i) The extent to which the design of 

the proposed project is appropriate to, 

and will successfully address, the needs 

of the target population or other 

identified needs; 

(ii) The extent to which the design for 

implementing and evaluating the 

proposed project will result in 

information to guide possible 

replication of project activities or 

strategies, including information about 

the effectiveness of the approach or 

strategies employed by the project; 

(iii) The extent to which the proposed 

project will establish linkages with 

other appropriate agencies and 

organizations providing services to the 

target population; 

(iv) The extent to which the proposed 

project is designed to build capacity and 

yield results that will extend beyond the 

period of Federal financial assistance; 

(v) The extent to which performance 

feedback and continuous improvement 

are integral to the design of the 

proposed project. 

(vi) The extent to which the design of 

the proposed project reflects up-to-date 

knowledge from research and effective 

practice. 

(vii) The extent to which the 

applicant demonstrates that it has the 

resources to operate the project beyond 

the length of the grant, including a 

multi-year financial and operating 

model and accompanying plan; the 

demonstrated commitment of any 

partners; evidence of broad support 

from stakeholders (e.g., State 

educational agencies, teachers’ unions) 

critical to the project’s long-term 

success; or more than one of these types 

of evidence. 

(c) Quality of Project Services. 

(Maximum 15 Points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the services to be provided by 

the proposed project. 

(2) In determining the quality of the 

services to be provided by the proposed 

project, the Secretary considers the 

quality and sufficiency of strategies for 

ensuring equal access and treatment for 

eligible project participants who are 

members of groups that have 

traditionally been underrepresented 

based on race, color, national origin, 

gender, age, or disability. 

(3) In addition, the Secretary 

considers: 

(i) The extent to which the services to 

be provided by the proposed project are 

appropriate to the needs of the intended 

recipients or beneficiaries of those 

services; 

(ii) The likelihood that the services to 

be provided by the proposed project 

will lead to improvements in the 

achievement of students as measured 

against rigorous academic standards; 

(iii) The extent to which the services 

to be provided by the proposed project 

involve the collaboration of appropriate 

partners for maximizing the 

effectiveness of project services; and 

(iv) The extent to which the technical 

assistance services to be provided by the 

proposed project involve the use of 

efficient strategies, including the use of 

technology, as appropriate, and the 

leveraging of non-project resources. 

(d) Quality of Project Personnel. 

(Maximum 15 Points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the personnel who will carry 

out the proposed project. 

(2) In determining the quality of 

project personnel, the Secretary 

considers the extent to which the 

applicant encourages applications for 

employment from persons who are 

members of groups that have 

traditionally been underrepresented 

based on race, color, national origin, 

gender, age, or disability. 

(3) In addition, the Secretary 

considers the following factors: 

(i) The qualifications, including 

relevant training and experience, of the 

project director or principal 

investigator; 

(ii) The qualifications, including 

relevant training and experience, of key 

project personnel; and 

(iii) The qualifications, including 

relevant training and experience, of 

project consultants or subcontractors. 

(e) Quality of the Management Plan. 

(Maximum 10 Points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the management plan for the 

proposed project. 

(2) In determining the quality of the 

management plan, the Secretary 

considers the following factors: 

(i) The adequacy of the management 

plan to achieve the objectives of the 

proposed project on time and within 

budget, including clearly defined 

responsibilities, timelines, and 

milestones for accomplishing project 

tasks; 

(ii) The adequacy of procedures for 

ensuring feedback and continuous 

improvement in the operation of the 

proposed project; 

52658 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices 

(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for 

ensuring high-quality products and 

services from the proposed project; 

(iv) The extent to which the time 

commitments of the project director and 

principal investigator and other key 

project personnel are appropriate and 

adequate to meet the objectives of the 

proposed project; and 

(v) How the applicant will ensure that 

a diversity of perspectives are brought to 

bear in the operation of the proposed 

project, including those of parents, 

teachers, the business community, a 

variety of disciplinary and professional 

fields, recipients or beneficiaries of 

services, or others, as appropriate. 

(f) Quality of the Project Evaluation. 

(Maximum 20 Points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the evaluation to be 

conducted of the proposed project. 

(2) In determining the quality of the 

evaluation to be conducted for the 

proposed project, the Secretary 

considers the following factors: 

(i) The extent to which the methods 

of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and 

appropriate to the goals, objectives, and 

outcomes of the proposed project; 

(ii) The extent to which the methods 

of evaluation provide for examining the 

effectiveness of project implementation 

strategies; 

(iii) The extent to which the methods 

of evaluation include the use of 

objective performance measures that are 

clearly related to the intended outcomes 

of the project and will produce 

quantitative and qualitative data to the 

extent possible; and 

(iv) The extent to which the methods 

of evaluation will provide performance 

feedback and permit periodic 

assessment of progress toward achieving 

intended outcomes. 

2. Review and Selection Process: We 

remind potential applicants that in 

reviewing applications in any 

discretionary grant competition, the 

Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 

75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the 

applicant in carrying out a previous 

award, such as the applicant’s use of 

funds, achievement of project 

objectives, and compliance with grant 

conditions. The Secretary may also 

consider whether the applicant failed to 

submit a timely performance report or 

submitted a report of unacceptable 

quality. 

In addition, in making a competitive 

grant award, the Secretary also requires 

various assurances including those 

applicable to Federal civil rights laws 

that prohibit discrimination in programs 

or activities receiving Federal financial 

assistance from the Department (34 CFR 

100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). 

A panel of three non-Federal 

reviewers will review and score each 

application in accordance with the 

selection criteria. A rank order funding 

slate will be made from this review. An 

award will be made in rank order 

according to the average score received 

from the combined peer review points. 

In a tie-breaking situation under this 

program, preference will be given to the 

applicant with the highest score under 

the ‘‘Quality of the Project Design’’ 

criterion. If there is still a tie after 

implementing the first tiebreaker, 

preference will be given to the applicant 

with the highest score under the 

‘‘Quality of Project Services’’ criterion. 

If there is still a tie after applying the 

secondary tiebreaker, preference will be 

given to the applicant with the highest 

score under the ‘‘Quality of the 

Management Plan’’ selection criterion. If 

there is still a tie after applying a third 

tiebreaker, preference will be given to 

the applicant with the highest score 

under the ‘‘Quality of the Project 

Evaluation’’ selection criterion. 

3. Risk Assessment and Specific 

Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 

200.206, before awarding grants under 

this competition the Department 

conducts a review of the risks posed by 

applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.8, the 

Secretary may impose specific 

conditions and, under 2 CFR 3474.10, in 

appropriate circumstances, high-risk 

conditions on a grant if the applicant or 

grantee is not financially stable; has a 

history of unsatisfactory performance; 

has a financial or other management 

system that does not meet the standards 

in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 

fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; 

or is otherwise not responsible. 

4. Integrity and Performance System: 

If you are selected under this 

competition to receive an award that 

over the course of the project period 

may exceed the simplified acquisition 

threshold (currently $250,000), under 2 

CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a 

judgment about your integrity, business 

ethics, and record of performance under 

Federal awards—that is, the risk posed 

by you as an applicant—before we make 

an award. In doing so, we must consider 

any information about you that is in the 

integrity and performance system 

(currently referred to as the Federal 

Awardee Performance and Integrity 

Information System (FAPIIS)), 

accessible through the System for 

Award Management. You may review 

and comment on any information about 

yourself that a Federal agency 

previously entered and that is currently 

in FAPIIS. 

Please note that, if the total value of 

your currently active grants, cooperative 

agreements, and procurement contracts 

from the Federal Government exceeds 

$10,000,000, the reporting requirements 

in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, 

require you to report certain integrity 

information to FAPIIS semiannually. 

Please review the requirements in 2 CFR 

part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant 

plus all the other Federal funds you 

receive exceed $10,000,000. 

5. In General: In accordance with the 

Office of Management and Budget’s 

guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all 

applicable Federal laws, and relevant 

Executive guidance, the Department 

will review and consider applications 

for funding pursuant to this notice 

inviting applications in accordance 

with— 

(a) Selecting recipients most likely to 

be successful in delivering results based 

on the program objectives through an 

objective process of evaluating Federal 

award applications (2 CFR 200.205); 

(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain 

telecommunication and video 

surveillance services or equipment in 

alignment with section 889 of the 

National Defense Authorization Act of 

2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) (2 CFR 200.216); 

(c) Providing a preference, to the 

extent permitted by law, to maximize 

use of goods, products, and materials 

produced in the United States (2 CFR 

200.322); and 

(d) Terminating agreements in whole 

or in part to the greatest extent 

authorized by law if an award no longer 

effectuates the program goals or agency 

priorities (2 CFR 200.340). 

VI. Award Administration Information 

1. Award Notices: If your application 

is successful, we notify your U.S. 

Representative and U.S. Senators and 

send you a Grant Award Notification 

(GAN); or we may send you an email 

containing a link to access an electronic 

version of your GAN. We may notify 

you informally, also. 

If your application is not evaluated or 

not selected for funding, we notify you. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements: We identify 

administrative and national policy 

requirements in the application package 

and reference these and other 

requirements in the Applicable 

Regulations section of this notice. 

We reference the regulations outlining 

the terms and conditions of an award in 

the Applicable Regulations section of 

this notice and include these and other 

specific conditions in the GAN. The 

GAN also incorporates your approved 

application as part of your binding 

commitments under the grant. 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices 52659 

3. Open Licensing Requirements: 

Unless an exception applies, if you are 

awarded a grant under this competition, 

you will be required to openly license 

to the public grant deliverables created 

in whole, or in part, with Department 

grant funds. When the deliverable 

consists of modifications to pre-existing 

works, the license extends only to those 

modifications that can be separately 

identified and only to the extent that 

open licensing is permitted under the 

terms of any licenses or other legal 

restrictions on the use of pre-existing 

works. Additionally, a grantee or 

subgrantee that is awarded competitive 

grant funds must have a plan to 

disseminate these public grant 

deliverables. This dissemination plan 

can be developed and submitted after 

your application has been reviewed and 

selected for funding. For additional 

information on the open licensing 

requirements, please refer to 2 CFR 

3474.20. 

4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a 

grant under this competition, you must 

ensure that you have in place the 

necessary processes and systems to 

comply with the reporting requirements 

in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive 

funding under the competition. This 

does not apply if you have an exception 

under 2 CFR 170.110(b). 

(b) At the end of your project period, 

you must submit a final performance 

report, including financial information, 

as directed by the Secretary. If you 

receive a multiyear award, you must 

submit an annual performance report 

that provides the most current 

performance and financial expenditure 

information as directed by the Secretary 

under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary 

may also require more frequent 

performance reports under 34 CFR 

75.720(c). For specific requirements on 

reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/ 

fund/grant/apply/appforms/ 

appforms.html. 

5. Performance Measures: Under the 

Government Performance and Results 

Act of 1993 and 34 CFR 75.110, the 

following three performance measures 

will be used in assessing the 

performance of the National Center for 

Information and Technical Support for 

Postsecondary Students with 

Disabilities Program: 

1. The extent to which the project 

serves students with disabilities, 

families of students with disabilities, 

individualized education program 

teams, and individualized plan for 

employment teams, including growth in 

numbers served over time, and 

improved user satisfaction ratings with 

the services received; 

2. The extent to which the project 

provides information and technical 

assistance to faculty, staff, and 

administrators of IHEs aimed at 

improving accommodation, retention, 

and completion rates of students with 

disabilities, including growth in the 

number of persons and institutions 

served over time, and improved user 

satisfaction ratings with services 

received, baseline change over time in 

retention, and completion rates of 

students with disabilities at the 

institutions served; and 

3. The extent and growth over time in 

utilization of the database of disability 

services information by IHEs, including 

improved user satisfaction ratings of the 

accessibility and utility of the 

information provided. 

These measures constitute the 

Department’s indicators of success for 

this program. Consequently, we advise 

an applicant for an award under this 

program to give careful consideration to 

the operationalization of the measures 

in conceptualizing the approach and 

evaluation for its proposed project. 

If funded, you will be required to 

collect and report data in your project’s 

annual performance report (34 CFR 

75.590). 

VII. Other Information 

Accessible Format: On request to the 

program contact person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 

individuals with disabilities can obtain 

this document and a copy of the 

application package in an accessible 

format. The Department will provide the 

requestor with an accessible format that 

may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or 

text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 

file, braille, large print, audiotape, or 

compact disc, or another accessible 

format. 

Electronic Access to This Document: 

The official version of this document is 

the document published in the Federal 

Register. You may access the official 

edition of the Federal Register and the 

Code of Federal Regulations at 

www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can 

view this document, as well as all other 

documents of this Department 

published in the Federal Register, in 

text or Portable Document Format 

(PDF). To use PDF, you must have 

Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 

available free at the site. 

You may also access documents of the 

Department published in the Federal 

Register by using the article search 

feature at www.federalregister.gov. 

Specifically, through the advanced 

search feature at this site, you can limit 

your search to documents published by 

the Department. 

Michelle Asha Cooper, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary 

Education. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20496 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

[Docket No.: ED–2021–SCC–0137] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Comment Request; Project 

To Support America’s Families and 

Educators (Project SAFE) Grant 

Application 

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education (OESE), 

Department of Education (ED). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 

requesting the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) to conduct an 

emergency review of a new information 

collection. 

DATES: The Department requested 

emergency processing from OMB for 

this information collection request on 

September 16, 2021. As a result, the 

Department is providing the public with 

the opportunity to comment under the 

full comment period. Interested persons 

are invited to submit comments on or 

before November 22, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the 

documents related to the information 

collection listed in this notice, please 

use http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching the Docket ID number ED– 

2021–SCC–0137. Comments submitted 

in response to this notice should be 

submitted electronically through the 

Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://

www.regulations.gov by selecting the 

Docket ID number or via postal mail, 

commercial delivery, or hand delivery. 

If the regulations.gov site is not 

available to the public for any reason, 

ED will temporarily accept comments at 

ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the 

docket ID number and the title of the 

information collection request when 

requesting documents or submitting 

comments. Please note that comments 

submitted by fax or email and those 

submitted after the comment period will 

not be accepted. Written requests for 

information or comments submitted by 

postal mail or delivery should be 

addressed to the Director of the Strategic 

Collections and Clearance Governance 

and Strategy Division, U.S. Department 

of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW,