34322 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 127 / Monday, July 1, 1996 / Notices

(2) The Secretary determines the

extent to which—

(i) The technical assistance objectives

are designed to meet the purpose of the

priority and are clearly defined,

measurable, and achievable; and

(ii) The proposed technical assistance

addresses the needs of a range of

postsecondary institutions, including

academic, vocational, technical,

continuing, and adult education

programs.

(3) The Secretary determines the

extent to which each application

provides for—

(i) Use of current research findings

and information on model practices;

(ii) Methods for linking postsecondary

institutions in need of technical

assistance;

(iii) Innovative procedures for

disseminating information and

imparting skills to postsecondary

institutions, staff of these institutions,

and postsecondary students and

potential postsecondary students who

are deaf and hard of hearing; and

(iv) Innovative procedures for

collaborating and coordinating with

other entities that are involved with

broader technical assistance efforts.

(b) Plan of operation. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the quality of

the plan of operation for the project.

(2) The Secretary considers—

(i) The extent to which the

management plan will ensure proper

and efficient administration of the

project;

(ii) The quality of the activities

proposed to accomplish the goals and

objectives;

(iii) The adequacy of proposed

timelines for accomplishing those

activities; and

(iv) Effectiveness in the ways in

which the applicant plans to use the

resources and personnel to accomplish

the program’s goals and objectives.

(3) How the applicant will ensure that

project participants who are otherwise

eligible to participate are selected

without regard to race, color, national

origin, gender, age, or disability.

(c) Quality of key personnel. (15

points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the

qualifications of the key personnel the

applicant plans to use.

(2) The Secretary considers—

(i) The qualifications of the project

director and project coordinator (if one

is used);

(ii) The qualifications of each of the

other key project personnel;

(iii) The time that each person

referred in paragraphs (b)(2) (i) and (ii)

plans to commit to the project; and

(iv) How the applicant will ensure

that personnel are selected for

employment without regard to race,

color, national origin, gender, age, or

disability.

(3) To determine personnel

qualifications under (b)(2) (i) and (ii),

the Secretary considers—

(i) Experience and training in fields

related to the objectives of the project;

and

(ii) Any other qualifications that

pertain to the quality of the project.

(d) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10

points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine whether the

project has an adequate budget and is

cost-effective.

(2) The Secretary considers the extent

to which—

(i) The budget for the project is

adequate to support project activities;

and

(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to

the objectives of the project.

(e) Evaluation plan. (10 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the quality of

the evaluation plan for the project.

(2) The Secretary considers—

(i) The extent to which the applicant’s

methods of evaluation are appropriate to

the project; and

(ii) To the degree possible, the extent

to which the applicant’s methods of

evaluation are objective and produce

data that are quantifiable.

(f) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine whether the

applicant plans to devote adequate

resources to the project.

(2) The Secretary considers the

adequacy of the facilities and the

technology, equipment, and supplies

the applicant plans to use.

Intergovernmental Review

This notice is subject to the

requirements of Executive Order 12372

and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79.

The objective of the Executive Order is

to foster an intergovernmental

partnership and a strengthened

federalism by relying on processes

developed by State and local

governments for coordination and

review of proposed Federal financial

assistance. In accordance with the order,

this document is intended to provide

early notification of the Department’s

specific plans and actions for this

program.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1424a.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number: Regional Postsecondary Centers for

Individuals Who are Deaf, 84.078A)

Dated: June 25, 1996.

Judith E. Heumann,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services.

[FR Doc. 96–16640 Filed 6–28–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.078A]

Postsecondary Education Programs

for Individuals with Disabilities; Notice

Inviting Applications for New Awards

for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996

Purpose of Program: To support

projects that assist educational

institutions to implement proven

models, components of models, and

other exemplary practices, including

innovative technology, to increase and

improve postsecondary opportunities

for individuals who are deaf and hard

of hearing.

This program supports the National

Education Goal of every adult American

being literate and possessing the

knowledge and skills necessary to

compete in a global economy by helping

students who are deaf and hard of

hearing to reach higher levels of

academic achievement.

Eligible Applicants: Eligible

applicants are State educational

agencies, institutions of higher

education, junior and community

colleges, vocational and technical

institutions, and other nonprofit

educational agencies.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The

regulations in part 338; and (b) The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in

34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,

85, and 86.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 86

apply to institutions of higher education

only.

Applications Available: July 2, 1996.

Priority:

(a) The priority in the notice of final

funding priority for this program, as

published elsewhere in this issue of the

Federal Register, applies to this

competition.

(b) Within this priority, the Secretary

particularly invites applications for

projects from consortia or partnerships

with expertise in accommodating

students who are deaf and hard of

hearing in a variety of academic,

vocational, technical, continuing, and

adult education environments.

However, in accordance with EDGAR at

34 CFR 75.105 (c)(1), an application that

meets this invitational priority receives

no competitive or absolute preference
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 127 / Monday, July 1, 1996 / Notices 34323

over applications that otherwise meet

the priority.

Deadline for Transmittal of

Applications: August 2, 1996.

Deadline for Intergovernmental

Review: September 5, 1996.

Estimated Number of Awards: 4.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Available Funds: In fiscal year 1996,

the Department proposes to allocate

approximately $4,000,000 to support an

estimated 4 projects, with a range of

awards of approximately $800,000–

$1,200,000 for the first twelve months of

the project. Multi-year projects will be

level funded unless there are increases

in costs attributable to significant

changes in activity level.

Average Award: $1,000,000.

Note: The Department of Education is not

bound by any estimates in this notice.

For Applications and General

Information Contact: Requests for

applications and general information

should be addressed to: Ramon F.

Rodriguez, U.S. Department of

Education, 600 Independence Avenue,

S.W., Switzer Building, Room 3125,

Washington, D.C. 20202–2526.

Telephone: (202) 205–8555. FAX: (202)

205–9252. Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202)

205–9156. Internet:

RamonlRodriguez@ed.gov

For Technical Information Contact:

Michael Ward, U.S. Department of

Education, 600 Independence Avenue,

S.W., Switzer Building, Room 4624,

Washington, D.C. 20202–2732.

Telephone: (202) 205–8163. FAX: (202)

205–8971.

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; on the Internet Gopher Server at

GOPHER.ED.GOV (under

Announcements, Bulletins, and Press

Releases); or on the World Wide Web at

(http://www.ed.gov/money.html).

However, the official application notice

for a discretionary grant competition is

the notice published in the Federal

Register.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1424a.

Dated: June 25, 1996.

Judith E. Heumann,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and

Rehabilitation Services.

[FR Doc. 96–16639 Filed 6–28–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P