Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/04/07/2015-07994/applications-for-new-awards-vocational-rehabilitation-services-projects-for-american-indians-with
Timestamp: 2017-09-20 17:04:59
Document Index: 89792831

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 75', 'art 180', 'art 3485', 'art 200', 'art 3474', 'arts 369', 'art 200']

Applications Available: April 7, 2015.
18606-18610 (5 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-07994 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-07994
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.250K.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to American Indians with disabilities who reside on or near Federal or State reservations, consistent with their individual strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, so that they may prepare for and engage in high-quality employment that will increase opportunities for economic self-sufficiency.
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 10 points to an application that meets this priority.
Continuation of Previously Funded Tribal Programs.
In making new awards under this program, we give priority to applications for the continuation of programs that have been funded under the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Start Printed Page 18607Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 84. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 369 and 371.
Estimated Available Funds: $12,607,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000-$600,000.
1. Eligible Applicants: The governing bodies of Indian tribes (and consortia of those governing bodies) located on Federal and State reservations. The definition of “Indian Tribe” was amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act enacted on July 22, 2014, to include “a tribal organization (as defined in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450(b)(l)).”
In addition, the Department published final regulations in the Federal Register on February 5, 2015 (80 FR 6452), amending the definition of “reservation” in 34 CFR 369.4 and 371.4. The amended definition now reads, “ ‘Reservation’ means a Federal or State Indian reservation; public domain Indian allotment; former Indian reservation in Oklahoma; land held by incorporated Native groups, regional corporations, and village corporations under the provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; or a defined area of land recognized by a State or the Federal Government where there is a concentration of tribal members and on which the tribal government is providing structured activities and services.”
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is required by 34 CFR 371.40.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.250K.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. These include a requirement that the applicant submit documentation demonstrating that it is a federally or State recognized tribe and is located on a Federal or State reservation, as defined by the Department in the final regulations published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2015 (80 FR 6452). See 34 CFR 369.4 and 371.4.
Each application must describe how the special application requirements stated at 34 CFR 371.21 will be met, including evidence that the applicant has or will obtain a formal cooperative agreement with the appropriate State VR agency or agencies that include strategies for collaboration and coordination of service provision.
The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you Start Printed Page 18608think you might want to apply for Federal financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.
Applications for grants under the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program, CFDA number 84.250K, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Vocational Rehabilitation Service Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.250, not 84.250K).
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing Start Printed Page 18609instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: August Martin, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5049, Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7592.
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.250K), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.250K), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
3. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, 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; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
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.Start Printed Page 18610
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established three performance measures for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program. The measures are (1) the percentage of individuals who leave the program with an employment outcome, (2) the percentage of projects that demonstrate an average annual cost per employment outcome of no more than $35,000, and (3) the percentage of projects that demonstrate an average annual cost per participant of no more than $10,000. Each grantee must annually report its performance on these measures through the Annual Progress Reporting Form (APR Form) for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program.
Job Training and Employment Common Measures: In addition, the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities APR Form requests data necessary to assess the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program's performance on supplemental measures that are comparable to the job training and employment common measures that were developed by the OMB in coordination with Federal agencies with job training programs. Each grantee is required to collect and report data for these supplemental measures as part of the annual performance report requirement, including information on: (1) The number of individuals who, during this reporting period, were still employed three months after achieving an employment outcome, (2) the number of individuals who, during this reporting period, were still employed six months after achieving an employment outcome, (3) the average weekly earnings at entry, and (4) the average weekly earnings of the individuals whose employment outcomes resulted in earnings.
For purposes of this section, the term “employment outcome” means, with respect to an individual—(A) entering or retaining full-time or, if appropriate, part-time competitive employment in the integrated labor market; (B) satisfying the vocational outcome of supported employment; or (C) satisfying any other vocational outcome the Secretary of Education may determine to be appropriate (including satisfying the vocational outcome of customized employment, self-employment, telecommuting, or business ownership). (Section 7(11) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 705(11)).
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; and if the Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the performance targets in the grantee's approved application. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, 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).
August Martin, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5049, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7410 or by email: august.martin@ed.gov.
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/​fdsys. 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 Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
[FR Doc. 2015-07994 Filed 4-6-15; 8:45 am]