Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/01/07/2015-00024/applications-for-new-awards-rehabilitation-training-rehabilitation-long-term-training
Timestamp: 2018-03-20 20:29:33
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Federal Register :: Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program-Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program-Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
A Notice by the Education Department on 01/07/2015
Applications Available: January 7, 2015.
80 FR 873
873-878 (6 pages)
2015-00024
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-00024 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-00024
Overview Information: Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)—Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program—Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counseling Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.129B.
Date of Pre-Application Webinar: January 15, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 9, 2015.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 7, 2015.
Purpose of Program: The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program provides financial assistance for projects that provide—
(1) Basic or advanced training leading to an academic degree in areas of personnel shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary;
(2) A specified series of courses or program of study leading to the award of a certificate in areas of personnel shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary; and
(3) Support for medical residents enrolled in residency training programs in the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Priorities: This notice includes two absolute priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), Absolute Priority 1 is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 386.1). Absolute Priority 2 is from the notice of final priority for this program, published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2013 (78 FR 66271).
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet both of these priorities.
Absolute Priority 1—Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Programs Designed to Provide Academic Training in Areas of Personnel Shortages.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for this competition, we consider only applications that propose to provide training in the priority area of rehabilitation counseling.
Absolute Priority 2—Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling.
The full text of this priority is included in the notice of final priority for this program published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2013 (78 FR 66271) and in the application package.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project: In deciding whether to continue funding any Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program for the fourth and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), and in addition—
(a) The recommendation of the RSA project officer who will monitor the reported annual performance of the grantee's training program and measure it against the projections stated in the grantee's application. This review will consider the number of students actually enrolled in the grantee's training program, the number of students who successfully enter qualifying employment with State VR agencies, and the number who obtain qualifying employment in related agencies.
(b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of the grant award have been or are being met by the grantee, including the submission of annual performance reports and annual RSA scholar payback program reports, and adherence to fiduciary responsibilities related to the budget submitted in the application; and
(c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the grantee's training program and activities and the degree to which the training program and activities and their outcomes have contributed to significantly improving the quality of VR professionals ready for employment with State VR agencies and related agencies, as measured by the percentage of students entering eligible employment under 34 CFR 386.34.
Grantees must also provide assurances that they will abide by all of the administrative and performance reporting requirements associated with the RSA scholar payback program reports and will retain all the documentation, including the scholarship agreement, exit forms, and any other documentation, necessary to ensure students understand their financial liabilities under this program (34 CFR part 386).
While applicants may not hire staff or select trainees based on race or national origin/ethnicity, they may conduct outreach activities to increase the pool of eligible minority candidates. We may disqualify and not consider for funding any applicant that indicates that it will hire or train a certain number or percentage of minority candidates.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as Start Printed Page 874adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485, and 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. (c) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 385 and 386. (d) The notice of final priority published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2013 (78 FR 66271).
The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply only to institutions of higher education (IHEs).
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $190,000-$200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $195,000.
1. Eligible Applicants: States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, including Indian tribes and IHEs.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing of at least 10 percent of the total cost of the project is required of grantees under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program. The Secretary may waive part of the non-Federal share of the cost of the project after negotiations if the applicant demonstrates that it does not have sufficient resources to contribute the entire match (34 CFR 386.30).
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.129B.
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. Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 45 pages, using the following standards:
The page limit of 45 pages applies to all of the application narrative section, Part III. We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit for Part III.
If you submit optional materials such as resumes, a bibliography, or letters of support, please limit these materials to a total of no more than 30 pages.
Please note that, if you receive funding under the competition, the abstract will be made available to the public.
3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: January 7, 2015.
Date of Pre-Application Webinar: Interested parties are invited to participate in a pre-application webinar. The pre-application webinar with staff from the Department will be held on January 15, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. Washington, DC time. The webinar will be recorded. For further information about the pre-application webinar, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual's application Start Printed Page 875remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your registration annually. This may take three or more business days to complete.
Information about SAM is available at SAM.gov. To further assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/​fund/​grant/​apply/​sam-faqs.html.
Applications for grants under the Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training competition, CFDA number 84.129B, 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 Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training competition 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 84.129, not 84.129B).
You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for Start Printed Page 876SF 424, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5055, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7591.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.129B), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.129B), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application Start Printed Page 877deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
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, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
The goal of RSA's Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program is to increase the number of qualified VR personnel, including counselors and other professional staff, working in State VR or related agencies. At least 75 percent of all grant funds must be used for direct payment of student scholarships.
Grantees are required to maintain a system that safeguards the privacy of current and former scholars from the time they are enrolled in the program until they successfully meet their service obligation through qualified employment or monetary repayment. This system must ensure that scholars sign a payback agreement and an exit form when they exit the program, regardless of whether they drop out, are removed, or successfully complete the program. Specifically, each grantee is required to maintain the following scholar information:
(a) Current contact information for all students receiving scholarships, including home address, email, and a phone number (home or cell);
(b) A point of contact for each scholar in the event that the grantee is unable to contact the student. This contact must be at least 21 years of age and may be a parent, relative, spouse, partner, sibling, or guardian;
(c) Cumulative financial support granted to scholars;
(d) Scholar debt in years;
(e) Program completion date and reason for exit for each scholar;
(f) Annual documentation from the scholar's employer(s) until the scholar completes the service obligation. This documentation must include the following elements in order to verify qualified employment: Start date of employment to the present date, confirmation of full-time or part-time employment (if the scholar is working part-time the number of hours per week must be included in the documentation), type of employment, and a description of the roles and responsibilities performed on the job. This information is required for each employer if the scholar has worked in more than one setting in order to meet the service obligation.
If the scholar is employed in a related agency, the agency must also provide documentation to validate that there is a relationship with the State VR agency. This may be a formal or informal contract, cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, or related document;
(g) Annual documentation from the scholar's IHE to verify dates of deferral, if applicable. The documentation may be prepared by the scholar's advisor or department chair and must include: Confirmation of enrollment date, estimated graduation date, confirmation that the scholar is enrolled in a full-time course of study, and confirmation of the scholar's intent to fulfill the service obligation upon completion of the program.
Grantees are required to report annually to RSA on the data elements described above using the RSA Grantee Reporting Form, OMB number 1820-0617, an electronic reporting system supported by the RSA Management Information System (RSA MIS). In addition, grantees are required to utilize all forms required by RSA to prepare and process repayment, as well as requests for deferral and exceptions. The RSA Grantee Reporting Form collects specific data, including the number of scholars entering the rehabilitation workforce, the rehabilitation field each scholar enters, and the type of employment setting each scholar chooses (e.g., State VR agency, nonprofit service provider, or professional practice group). This form allows RSA to measure results against the goal of increasing the number of qualified VR personnel working in State VR and related agencies.Start Printed Page 878
In addition, all Rehabilitation Long-Term Training grantees must submit the following quantitative and qualitative data in an annual performance report:
(a) Program activities that occurred during each fiscal year from October 1 to March 31 and projected program activities to occur from April 1 to September 30. For subsequent reporting years, grantees confirm projections made from the prior year;
(b) Summary of academic support and counseling provided to scholars to ensure successful completion;
(c) Summary of career counseling provided to scholars upon program completion to ensure that they have support during their search for qualifying employment, as well as during their initial months of their employment. This may include but is not limited to informing scholars of professional contacts, networks, and job leads, matching scholars with mentors in the field, and connecting scholars to other necessary resources and information;
(d) Summary of partnership and coordination activities with State VR agencies and community-based rehabilitation providers. This may include but is not limited to obtaining input and feedback regarding curricula from State VR agencies and community-based rehabilitation providers; organizing internships, practicum agreements, job shadowing, and mentoring opportunities; and assessing scholars at the work site;
(e) Assistance provided to scholars who may not be meeting academic standards or who are performing poorly in a practicum or internship setting;
(f) Results of the program evaluation, as well as information describing how these results will be used to make necessary adjustments and improvements to the program;
(g) Results from scholar internship, practicum, job shadowing, or mentoring assessments, as well as information describing how those results will be used to ensure that future scholars receive all necessary preparation and training prior to program completion;
(h) Results from scholar evaluations and information describing how these results will be used to ensure that future scholars will be proficient in meeting the needs and demands of today's consumers and employers;
(i) Number of scholars who began an internship during the reporting period;
(j) Number of scholars who completed an internship during the reporting period;
(k) Number of scholars who dropped out or were dismissed from the program during the reporting period;
(l) Number of scholars receiving RSA scholarships during the reporting period;
(m) Number of scholars who graduated from the program during the reporting period;
(n) Number of scholars who obtained qualifying employment during the reporting period;
(o) Number of vacancies filled in the State VR agency with qualified counselors from the program during the reporting period;
(p) A budget and narrative detailing expenditures covering the period of October 1 through March 31 and projected expenditures from April 1 through September 30. The budget narrative must also verify progress towards meeting the 10 percent match requirement. For subsequent reporting years, grantees will confirm projections made from the prior year; and
(q) Other information, as requested by RSA, in order to verify substantial progress and effectively report program impact to Congress and key stakeholders.
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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5055, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7258 or by email: roseann.ashby@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or TTY, call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Dated: January 2, 2015.
[FR Doc. 2015-00024 Filed 1-6-15; 8:45 am]