28284 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 1995 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services

[CFDA Nos.: 84.133F and 84.133G]

National Institute on Disability and

Rehabilitation Research; Notice

Inviting Applications for New Awards

Under Certain Programs for Fiscal

Year (FY) 1996

Note to Applicants: This notice is a

complete application package. Together with

the statute authorizing the programs and

applicable regulations governing the

programs, including the Education

Department General Administrative

Regulations (EDGAR), this notice contains

information, application forms, and

instructions needed to apply for a grant

under these competitions.

These programs support the National

Education Goal that calls for all Americans

to possess the knowledge and skills

necessary to compete in a global economy

and exercise the rights and responsibilities of

citizenship.

Note: The estimated funding levels in this

notice do not bind the Department of

Education to make awards in any of these

categories, or to any specific number of

awards or funding levels, unless otherwise

specified in statute.

Applicable Regulations: The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR),

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

and 86; and the following program

regulations:

Research Fellowships—34 CFR part

356 (amended September 22, 1993 (58

FR 49419) and April 5, 1995 (60 FR

17431)).

Field Initiated Research—34 CFR

parts 350 (amended April 5, 1995 (60 FR

17426)) and 357 (amended September

22, 1993 (58 FR 49419)).

Program Title: Rehabilitation

Research Fellowships

CFDA Number: 84.133F

Purpose: The purpose of this program

is to build research capacity by

providing support to highly qualified

individuals to perform research on the

rehabilitation of disabled persons.

Note: The Secretary requires all research

fellows to work full time on authorized

fellowship activities (see 34 CFR 356.41).

Selection Criteria: The Secretary

evaluates applications for fellowships

according to the following criteria in 34

CFR 356.30.

(a) Quality and level of formal

education, previous work experience,

and recommendations of present or

former supervisors or colleagues that

include an indication of the applicant’s

ability to work creatively in scientific

research; and

(b) The quality of a research proposal

of no more than 12 pages containing the

following information:

(1) The importance of the problem to

be investigated to the purpose of the Act

and the mission of NIDRR.

(2) The research hypotheses or related

objectives and the methodology and

design to be followed.

(3) Assurance of the availability of

any necessary data resources,

equipment, or institutional support,

including technical consultation and

support where appropriate, required to

carry out the proposed activity.

Eligible Applicants: Individuals only

are eligible to apply for research

fellowships under this program.

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

APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

[Research Fellowships, CFDA No. 84.133F]

Funding priority

Deadline

for transmittal of

applications

Estimated

No. of

awards

Estimated

size of

awards

(per year)

Project

period

(months)

Research fellowships ....................................................................................................................... 10/20/95 10 40,000 12

Applications Available: May 30, 1995.

Program Title: Field-Initiated

Research (CFDA Number: 84.133G).

Purpose: This program is designed to

encourage eligible parties to originate

valuable ideas for research and

demonstration, development, or

knowledge dissemination projects to

improve the lives of individuals with

disabilities, and to support research and

demonstration, development, or

knowledge dissemination projects as

described in program regulations that

address important activities not

supported by Institute-funded research

or that complement that research in a

promising way.

Selection Criteria: The Secretary uses

the following criteria to evaluate an

application under this program.

(a) Importance of the problem. (20

points) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the extent to

which—

(1) The proposed project addresses a

problem that is significant to persons

with disabilities or to those who provide

services to them; and

(2) The proposed project is likely to

produce new and useful knowledge,

techniques, or devices that will develop

or disseminate solutions to problems

confronting persons with disabilities.

(3) The application addresses the

needs of individuals with disabilities

from minority backgrounds.

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

(1) The Secretary reviews each

application for a research and

demonstration project to determine the

extent to which—

(i) The review of the literature is

appropriate and indicates familiarity

with the relevant current research;

(ii) The research hypotheses are

theoretically sound and based on

current knowledge;

(iii) The sample populations are

adequate and appropriately selected;

(iv) The data collection instruments

and methods are appropriate and likely

to be successful;

(v) The data analysis measures are

appropriate; and

(vi) The application discusses the

anticipated research results and

demonstrates how those results would

satisfy the original hypotheses.

(2) The Secretary reviews each

application for a knowledge

dissemination project to determine the

extent to which—

(i) The need for the information has

been demonstrated;

(ii) The target populations are

appropriately specified;

(iii) The dissemination methods are

appropriate to the target population;

(iv) The materials for dissemination

are prepared in media accessible to the

target population;

(v) There are adequate means of

documenting and evaluating the

effectiveness of the dissemination

activity.

(3) The Secretary reviews each

application for a development project to

determine the extent to which—
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 1995 / Notices 28285

(i) The proposed project will use the

most effective and appropriate

technology available in developing the

new device or technique;

(ii) The proposed development is

based on a sound conceptual model that

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

(iii) Devices or techniques will be

developed and tested in an appropriate

environment;

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

device or technique to be developed for

persons with disabilities; and

(v) The applicant discusses the

potential for commercial or private

manufacture, marketing, and

distribution of the product.

(c) Personnel. (20 points) The

Secretary reviews each application to

determine the extent to which—

(1) The key personnel have adequate

training and experience in the required

discipline to conduct the proposed

activities;

(2) The allotment of staff time is

adequate to accomplish the proposed

activities; and

(3) The applicant ensures that

personnel are selected for employment

without regard to race, color, national

origin, gender, age, or handicapping

conditions.

(d) Management and Evaluation. (15

points) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the extent to

which—

(1) The resources of the applicant are

adequate, appropriate, and accessible to

individuals with disabilities;

(2) The proposed budget is adequate

and appropriate for the activities to be

carried out;

(3) There is a plan, appropriate to the

type of field-initiated project, to

evaluate the effectiveness of the project

in accomplishing its goals and

objectives;

(4) The applicant provides a plan of

operations, appropriate to the type of

field-initiated project, indicating that it

will achieve the project objectives in a

timely and effective manner; and

(5) Appropriate collaboration with

other agencies is assured.

Eligible Applicants: Public and

private organizations, including

institutions of higher education and

Indian tribes and tribal organizations,

are eligible to apply for awards under

this program.

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

APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

[Field-Initiated Research, CFDA No. 84.133G]

Funding Priority

Deadline

for transmittal of

applications

Estimated

No. of

awards

Estimated

size of

awards

(per year)

Project

period

(months)

Field-initiated research ..................................................................................................................... 9/29/95 15–20 125,000 36

Applications Available: May 30, 1995.

Instructions For Transmittal of

Applications

(a) If an applicant wants to apply for

a grant, the applicant shall—

(1) Mail the original and two copies

of the application on or before the

deadline date to: U.S. Department of

Education, Application Control Center,

Attention: (CFDA # [Applicant must

insert number and letter]), Washington,

DC 20202–4725, or

(2) Hand deliver the original and two

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

[Washington, DC time] on the deadline

date to: U.S. Department of Education,

Application Control Center, Attention:

llll(CFDA # [Applicant must insert

number and letter]), Room #3633,

Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D

Streets, SW., Washington, DC.

(b) An applicant must show one of the

following as proof of mailing:

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

postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the

date of mailing stamped by the U.S.

Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or

receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing

acceptable to the Secretary.

(c) If an application is mailed through

the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary

does not accept either of the following

as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by

the U.S. Postal Service.

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

uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before

relying on this method, an applicant should

check with its local post office.

(2) An applicant wishing to know that its

application has been received by the

Department must include with the

application a stamped self-addressed

postcard containing the CFDA number and

title of this program.

(3) The applicant must indicate on the

envelope and—if not provided by the

Department—in Item 10 of the Application

for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424)

the CFDA number—and letter, if any—of the

competition under which the application is

being submitted.

Application Forms and Instructions

The appendix to this application is

divided into four parts. These parts are

organized in the same manner that the

submitted application should be

organized. These parts are as follows:

PART I: Application for Federal

Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4–

88)) and instructions.

PART II: Budget Form—NonConstruction Programs (Standard Form

524A) and instructions.

PART III: Application Narrative.

Additional Materials

Estimated Public Reporting Burden.

Assurances—Non-Construction

Programs (Standard Form 424B).

Certification Regarding Lobbying,

Debarment, Suspension, and Other

Responsibility Matters: and Drug-Free

Work-Place Requirements (ED Form 80–

0013).

Certification Regarding Debarment,

Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary

Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered

Transactions (ED Form 80–0014) and

instructions.

(Note: ED Form GCS–014 is intended for

the use of primary participants and should

not be transmitted to the Department.)

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

(Standard Form LLL (if applicable) and

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,
28286 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 1995 / Notices

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 23, 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 all

subsequent project years should be included.

If collaboration with another organization

is involved in the proposed activity, the

application should include assurances of

participation by the other parties, including

written agreements or assurances of

cooperation. It is not useful to include

general letters of support or endorsement in

the application.

If the applicant proposes to use unique

tests or other measurement instruments that

are not widely known in the field, it would

be helpful to include the instrument in the

application.

Many applications contain voluminous

appendices that are not helpful and in many

cases cannot even be mailed to the reviewers.

It is generally not helpful to include such

things as brochures, general capability

statements of collaborating organizations,

maps, copies of publications, or descriptions

of other projects completed by the applicant.

3. WHAT FORMAT SHOULD BE USED FOR

THE APPLICATION?

NIDRR generally advises applicants that

they may organize the application to follow

the selection criteria that will be used. The

specific review criteria vary according to the

specific program, and are contained in this

Consolidated Application Package.

4. MAY I SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO

MORE THAN ONE NIDRR PROGRAM

COMPETITION OR MORE THAN ONE

APPLICATION TO A PROGRAM?

Yes, you may submit applications to any

program for which they are responsive to the

program requirements. You may submit the

same application to as many competitions as

you believe appropriate. You may also

submit more than one application in any

given competition.

5. WHAT IS THE ALLOWABLE INDIRECT

COST RATE?

The limits on indirect costs vary according

to the program and the type of application.

Applicants in the FIR and SCI 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. Applicants for projects in the

Research Training and Career Development

program are limited to an indirect rate of 8

percent. There are no indirect charges

permitted in the Fellowship program.

6. CAN PROFITMAKING BUSINESSES

APPLY FOR GRANTS?

Yes. However, for-profit organizations will

not be able to collect a fee or profit on the

grant, and in some programs will be required

to share in the costs of the project.

7. CAN INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR

GRANTS?

No. Only organizations are eligible to apply

for grants under NIDRR programs. However,

individuals are the only entities eligible to

apply for fellowships.

8. CAN NIDRR STAFF ADVISE ME

WHETHER MY PROJECT IS OF INTEREST

TO NIDRR OR LIKELY TO BE FUNDED?

No. NIDRR staff can advise you of the

requirements of the program in which you

propose to submit your application.

However, staff cannot advise you of whether

your subject area or proposed approach is

likely to receive approval.

9. HOW DO I ASSURE THAT MY

APPLICATION WILL BE REFERRED TO THE

MOST APPROPRIATE PANEL FOR

REVIEW?

Applicants should be sure that their

applications are referred to the correct

competition by clearly including the

competition title and CFDA number,

including alphabetical code, on the Standard

Form 424, and including a project title that

describes the project.

10. HOW SOON AFTER SUBMITTING MY

APPLICATION CAN I FIND OUT IF IT WILL

BE FUNDED?

The time from closing date to grant award

date varies from program to program.

Generally speaking, NIDRR endeavors to

have awards made within five to six months

of the closing date. Unsuccessful applicants

generally will be notified within that time

frame as well. For the purpose of estimating

a project start date, the applicant should

estimate approximately six months from the

closing date, but no later than the following

September 30.

11. CAN I CALL NIDRR TO FIND OUT IF MY

APPLICATION IS BEING FUNDED?

No! When NIDRR is able to release

information on the status of grant

applications, it will notify applicants by

letter. The results of the peer review cannot

be released except through this formal

notification.

12. IF MY APPLCIATION 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 justificaiton

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?

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. 95–3064 Filed 5–26–95; 8:45 am]

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