Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/05/2019-14371/applications-for-new-awards-rehabilitation-training-rehabilitation-long-term-training
Timestamp: 2019-07-18 22:20:47
Document Index: 143891493

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 386', 'arts 75', 'art 180', 'art 3485', 'art 200', 'art 3474', 'arts 385', 'art 79']

Federal Register :: Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program-Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program-Rehabilitation Specialty Areas
A Notice by the Education Department on 07/05/2019
Applications Available: July 5, 2019.
84 FR 32144
32144-32152 (9 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-14371 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-14371
Pre-Application Webinar Information: No later than July 10, 2019, OSERS will post pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. The webinars will be available at www2.ed.gov/​fund/​grant/​apply/​rsa/​new-rsa-grants.html.
Pre-Application Q&A Blog: No later than July 15, 2019, OSERS will open a blog where interested applicants may post questions about the application requirements for this competition and where OSERS will post answers to the questions received. OSERS will not respond to questions unrelated to the application requirements for this competition. The blog will be available at www2.ed.gov/​fund/​grant/​apply/​rsa/​new-rsa-grants.html and will remain open until July 24, 2019. After the blog closes, applicants should direct questions to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Cassandra P. Shoffler, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5122, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7827. Email: cassandra.shoffler@ed.gov.
Purpose of Program: The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program is designed to support projects that provide academic training in areas of personnel shortages identified by the Secretary to increase the number of personnel trained in providing VR services to individuals with disabilities.
In FY 2019, the Department plans to make awards in four areas: Rehabilitation Counseling (84.129B), Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Mentally Ill (84.129H), Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Vision Impairments (84.129P), and Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (84.129Q). Projects must be operated in a manner consistent with nondiscrimination requirements contained in the U.S. Constitution and the Federal civil rights laws.
Priorities: This notice includes two absolute priorities. Applicants for funding under CFDA number 84.129B (Rehabilitation Counseling) must meet Absolute Priority 1, and applicants for 84.129H (Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Mentally Ill), 84.129P (Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Vision Impairments), and 84.129Q (Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing) must meet Absolute Priority 2. Absolute Priority 1 is from the notice of final priority for this program published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2013 (78 FR 66271) (www.govinfo.gov/​content/​pkg/​FR-2013-11-05/​pdf/​2013-26500.pdf), and Absolute Priority 2 is from the notice of final priority published in the Federal Register on July 23, 2014 (79 FR 42680) (www.govinfo.gov/​content/​pkg/​FR-2014-07-23/​pdf/​2014-17370.pdf).
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2019, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet these priorities.
Absolute Priority 1: Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling.
(b) Describe how the VR counseling program will provide rehabilitation counselors the skills and knowledge that will help ensure that the individuals with disabilities that they serve can meet current demands and Start Printed Page 32145emerging trends in the labor market, including how:
(5) How the data and results from the evaluation will be used to make necessary adjustments and improvements to the program.Start Printed Page 32146
Absolute Priority 2: Rehabilitation Specialty Areas.
Under this priority, the Department funds programs leading to a master's degree or certificate in one of three specialty areas: (1) Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Mentally Ill; (2) Specialized Personnel for Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Vision Impairments; and (3) Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The goal of this priority is to increase the skills of scholars in these rehabilitation specialty areas so that, upon successful completion of their master's degree or certificate programs, they are prepared to effectively meet the needs and demands of consumers with disabilities.
(5) Ensure that all scholars complete an internship in a State VR agency or a related agency as a requirement for completion of a program leading to a master's degree. The internship must be in a State VR agency unless the VR agency does not directly perform work related to the scholar's course of study or an applicant can provide sufficient justification that it is not feasible for all students receiving scholarships to complete an internship in a State VR agency. In such cases, the applicant may require scholars to complete an internship in a related agency, as defined in 34 CFR 386.4. Circumstances that would constitute sufficient justification may include, but are not limited to, a lack of capacity at the State VR agency to provide adequate supervision of scholars during their internship experience and the physical distance between scholars and the nearest office of the State VR agency (e.g., for scholars enrolled in distance-learning programs or at rural institutions). Applicants should include a written justification in the application or provide it to RSA for review and approval by the appropriate RSA Project Officer no later than 30 days prior to a scholar beginning an internship in a related agency. For applicants proposing a certificate program, the requirement for an internship in a State VR agency or a related agency is waived unless the certificate program has an internship requirement;
(3) When applicable, a scholar internship assessment tool that is developed to ensure a consistent approach to the evaluation of scholars in a particular program. The tool should reflect the specific responsibilities of the scholar during the internship. The grantee and worksite supervisor are encouraged to work together as they see fit to develop the assessment tool. Supervisors at the internship site will complete the assessment detailing the scholar's strengths and areas for improvement that must be addressed and provide the results of the assessment to the grantee. The grantee should ensure that (i) scholars are provided with a copy of the assessment and all relevant rubrics prior to beginning their internship, (ii) supervisors have sufficient technical Start Printed Page 32147support to accurately complete the assessment, and (iii) scholars receive a copy of the results of the assessment within 90 days of the end of their internship.
Within these two absolute priorities, we are particularly interested in applications that address the following invitational priority.
Invitational Priority—Self-Employment, Business Ownership, and Telecommuting:
Applications that demonstrate through curriculum and instructional materials that the training to VR counselors includes information related providing VR services to individuals with disabilities pursuing self-employment, business ownership, and telecommuting.
Program Requirements: The program requirements for this competition are from 34 CFR part 386, and are as follows:
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 Payback Information Management System (PIMS). In addition, grantees must use 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.
Grantees are required to inform the scholars that upon graduation they will need to verify the accuracy of data in the system, submit employment data, request exceptions and deferrals, and upload documentation in PIMS; and grantees and scholars are required to inform the employers that they will be Start Printed Page 32148required to verify scholar employment information within the PIMS.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 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 as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 385 and 386. (e) The notices of final priority, published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2013 (78 FR 66271) and on July 23, 2014 (79 FR 42680).
Estimated Available Funds: $9,291,703.
Maximum Award: See chart.Start Printed Page 32149
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program—Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program—Rehabilitation Specialty Areas
[Application notice for fiscal year 2019]
84.129B Long-Term Training—Rehabilitation Counseling 30 $200,000 Up to 60 months Cassandra Shoffler, 202-245-7827, Cassandra.Shoffler@ed.gov, PCP, Room 5122.
84.129H Long-Term Training—Mental Illness 12 150,000 Up to 60 months Darryl Glover, 202-245-7339, Darryl.Glover@ed.gov, PCP, Room 5070C.
84.129P Long-Term Training—Blindness 9 150,000 Up to 60 months Karen Holliday, 202-245-7318, Karen.Holliday@ed.gov, PCP, Room 5090.
84.129Q Long-Term Training—Deafness 2 150,000 Up to 60 months Cassandra Shoffler, 202-245-7827, Cassandra.Shoffler@ed.gov, PCP, Room 5122.
1 We will not make an award exceeding $200,000 for a single budget period of 12 months for 84.129B or $150,000 for a single budget period of 12 months for 84.129H, 84.129P, and 84.129Q.
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 https://www.govinfo.gov/​content/​pkg/​FR-2019-02-13/​pdf/​2019-02206.pdf, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
3. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental review in order to make an award by the end of FY 2019.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.Start Printed Page 32150
(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of 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.Start Printed Page 32151
These criteria will be used after non-Federal reviewers score the applications. The criterion related to geographical distribution of projects will be applied to fund out of rank order if the top ranked applications do not represent a geographical distribution throughout the country. The criterion related to past performance will be applied to all applications that are recommended for funding.
When reviewing prior performance under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3) and conducting risk assessments pursuant to 2 CFR 200.205, the Secretary will consider factors such as whether applicants that have submitted applications under multiple competitions described in this notice have demonstrated sufficient institutional capacity through the commitment of adequate resources, as described in the selection criteria, and suitable past performance to fully implement multiple awards. In reviewing capacity, the Secretary will consider factors such as whether potential grantees have demonstrated sufficient staffing, an adequate pool of potential scholars, and existing relationships with VR and related agencies to place scholars from multiple grants in appropriate internships. Based on these reviews, the Secretary will take appropriate action under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), 2 CFR 200.205, and 2 CFR 3474.10, before making awards to a grantee under multiple competitions described in this notice.
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance Start Printed Page 32152report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit semiannual and annual performance reports that provide 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.
[FR Doc. 2019-14371 Filed 7-3-19; 8:45 am]