81 FR 36895 - Applications for New Awards; Comprehensive Centers Program-National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students With Disabilities
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 110 (June 8, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 110 (June 8, 2016)
| Page Range | 36895-36902 | |
| FR Document | 2016-13587 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 36895-36902] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-13587] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Comprehensive Centers Program-- National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students With Disabilities AGENCY: Offices of Elementary and Secondary Education and Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Overview Information: Comprehensive Centers Program--National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities Notice inviting applications for a new award for fiscal year (FY) 2016. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.283D. Dates: Applications Available: June 8, 2016. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 2016. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: Section 2244 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires the Secretary to establish a comprehensive center on students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability. Comprehensive Centers are typically administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). OESE is funding this Center; however, because of the Center's subject matter, it will be administered jointly by [[Page 36896]] OESE and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). Priority: We are establishing this priority for the FY 2016 grant competition in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). Absolute Priority: This priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities. Priority: The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to establish a National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (the Center) for children in early childhood education programs through high school. The comprehensive center must: (a) Identify or develop free or low-cost evidence-based assessment tools for identifying students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability, including dyslexia impacting reading or writing, or developmental delay impacting reading, writing, language processing, comprehension, or executive functioning; (b) Identify evidence-based literacy instruction, strategies, and accommodations, including assistive technology, designed to meet the specific needs of such students; (c) Provide families of such students with information to assist such students, and as part of this activity, the Center should plan to collaborate with the parent training and information and community parent resource centers funded by the Department of Education (the Department), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) (e.g., Center for Parent Information and Resources, and Parent Technical Assistance Centers); (d) Identify or develop evidence-based professional development for teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, other school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel to-- (1) Understand early indicators of students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability, including dyslexia impacting reading or writing, or developmental delay impacting reading, writing, language processing, comprehension, or executive functioning; (2) Use evidence-based screening assessments for early identification of such students beginning not later than kindergarten; and (3) Implement evidence-based instruction designed to meet the specific needs of such students; and (d) Disseminate the products of the comprehensive center to regionally diverse State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), regional educational agencies, and schools, including, as appropriate, through partnerships with other comprehensive centers established under section 203 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9602), regional educational laboratories established under section 174 of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9564), and OSEP- and other related federally-funded technical assistance centers. Application Requirements: The following requirements apply to all applications submitted under this competition. Any application that does not include the required documents or information will not be considered. (a) Demonstrate in the narrative section of the application under ``Significance of the Project'' how the proposed project will address current and emerging training and information needs of SEAs, LEAs, technical assistance (TA) centers, schools, and practitioners to select and implement evidence-based practices that will improve literacy outcomes for students with disabilities or students who show indicators of disabilities that may prevent them from attaining full literacy skills. To meet this requirement, the applicant must-- (1) Demonstrate knowledge of current and emerging evidence-based practices in reading and literacy-related instruction, screening, assessment, and identification of students with disabilities or students who show indicators of disabilities that may prevent them from attaining full literacy skills, including knowledge of culturally responsive evidence-based practices to respond to the needs of diverse learners with disabilities; (2) Demonstrate knowledge of and previous experience with using creative approaches to disseminate evidence-based practices to a variety of entities, including parents, SEAs, LEAs, schools, Head Start, and other early childhood programs; (3) Demonstrate knowledge of and previous experience with implementing TA strategies and delivering evidence-based professional development (PD) to a variety of entities, including SEAs, LEAs, schools, Head Start, and other early childhood programs; and (4) Demonstrate how using these TA and PD strategies has resulted in SEAs, LEAs, schools, teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, other school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel adopting, implementing, and sustaining evidence-based practices in reading and literacy-related instruction. (b) Demonstrate in the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of Project Design,'' how the Center will accomplish project goals and activities. To meet this requirement, the applicant must-- (1) Describe a five-year plan for the Center to identify current and emerging training and information needs and to address the priority requirements; (2) Use a conceptual framework for developing project plans and activities, describing any underlying concepts, assumptions, expectations, beliefs, or theories, as well as the presumed relationships or linkages among these variables, and any empirical support for this framework; (3) Incorporate current research and evidence-based practices and strategies in the development and delivery of its products and services; (4) Provide TA that is of high quality and sufficient intensity and duration to achieve the intended outcomes of the proposed project. The applicant must describe how it will use TA of varying levels of intensity, based on the needs of SEAs and other entities, to assess and build the capacity of SEAs, LEAs, TA centers, schools, Head Start and other early childhood programs, and practitioners to-- (i) Assess students' literacy-related skills, including the capacity to: Identify students with disabilities or students who show indicators of disabilities that may prevent them from attaining full literacy skills, administer assessments including screening tools, evaluate the evidence base for an assessment (i.e., reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity), understand the purpose of the assessment and the skills being assessed, and interpret assessment results; (ii) Fully implement evidence-based literacy-related programs. This involves helping practitioners understand the literacy program's purpose or goal, intended population, content, and necessary implementation supports, including PD needed to implement it with fidelity; and (iii) Use evidence-based PD programs to improve practitioners' knowledge of reading and literacy-related instruction, ultimately leading to better literacy-related skills of students with disabilities or students who show indicators of disabilities that may prevent them from attaining full literacy skills; [[Page 36897]] (5) Partner with other federally funded comprehensive centers, regional educational laboratories, equity assistance centers, TA centers, parent training and information and community parent resource centers, and other related organizations to refine or develop products, create training modules, and hold meetings to both encourage collaborative activities among SEAs, LEAs, schools, Head Start and other early childhood programs, practitioners, and parents, and maximize efficiency. These partnerships should include-- (i) Using technology, including assistive technology, to achieve intended project outcomes; (ii) Collaborating with national experts, institutions of higher education, and TA providers to avoid duplicating efforts; and (iii) Collaboratively identifying measures or guidelines for detecting if, due to a disability, students are at risk of not attaining full literacy skills, not learning to read, or not reaching benchmarks. (c) In the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of the Evaluation Plan,'' include an evaluation plan for the project. The evaluation plan must-- (1) Describe performance goals, objectives, and outcomes for the project that are clearly specified and measurable in terms of the project activities to be accomplished and their stated outcomes; (2) In accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of these Application Requirements, describe the logic model by which the proposed project will achieve its intended outcomes; (3) Describe how both progress in implementation and project outcomes will be measured, including the extent to which the project's products and services will reach its target population, how intended outcomes or results are achieved, a timeline for conducting the evaluation, and data analytic strategies. (4) Specify the measures and associated instruments or sources for data appropriate to the evaluation questions, suggest analytic strategies for those data, provide a timeline for conducting the evaluation, and include staff assignments for completing the plan; (5) Describe how evaluations of performance will be used to inform and improve service delivery over the course of the grant and to refine the proposed logic model and evaluation plan, including data collection; and (6) Dedicate sufficient funds in each budget year to cover the costs of carrying out the tasks described in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of these Application Requirements and implementing the evaluation plan. (d) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how-- (1) The proposed key project personnel, consultants, and subcontractors have the qualifications and subject-matter and technical expertise to carry out the proposed activities, achieve the project's intended outcomes, and develop ongoing partnerships with leading experts and organizations nationwide to inform project activities; (2) The applicant and any key partners have adequate resources to carry out the proposed activities; (3) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the anticipated results and benefits; and (4) The proposed project will encourage applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability, as appropriate. (e) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how-- (1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the project's intended outcomes will be achieved on time and within budget. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe-- (i) Clearly defined responsibilities for key project personnel, consultants, and subcontractors, as appropriate; and (ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks. (2) Allocation of key project personnel and any consultants and subcontractors and how these allocations are appropriate and adequate to achieve the project's intended outcomes; (3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the products and services provided are of high quality; and (4) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of perspectives, including families, general and special education teachers, related services providers, TA providers, researchers, institutions of higher education, policy makers, among others, in its development and operation. (f) The applicant must-- (1) Include, in Appendix A, a logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes of the proposed project. A logic model communicates how a project will achieve its intended outcomes and provides a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the project. Note: OSEP uses this definition of logic model to differentiate between logic models and conceptual frameworks. The following Web sites provide more information on logic models: www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel and www.osepideasthatwork.org/resources-grantees/program-areas/ta-ta/tad-project-logic-model-and-conceptual-framework. (2) Include, in Appendix A, a conceptual framework for the project; (3) Include, in Appendix A, person-loading charts and timelines, as applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the narrative; (4) Include in the budget 2-day trips twice per year to attend Department briefings, Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by the Department; and (5) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry- recognized standards for accessibility. Note: Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award teleconference must be held between the project officer and the grantee's project director or other authorized representative. Definitions: These definitions apply to the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities priority in this notice. The definition of ``evidence-based'' comes from section 8002 of the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA. The definitions are as follows: Evidence-based means an activity, strategy, or intervention that (i) demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on--(I) strong evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented experimental study; (II) moderate evidence from at least one well- designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or (III) promising evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; or (ii)(I) demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such activity, strategy, or intervention is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes; and (II) includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity, strategy, or intervention. Practitioners (for the purposes of this priority) includes teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, other school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel. TA services are defined as a negotiated series of activities designed [[Page 36898]] to reach a valued outcome. This category of TA should result in changes to policy, program, practice, or operations that support increased recipient capacity or improved outcomes at one or more systems levels. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements regulations governing the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised program authority. This is the first grant competition for the Comprehensive Centers program under section 2244 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 6674, and therefore qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to forego public comment on the priority and requirements under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. The priority and requirements will apply to the FY 2016 grant competition only. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6674; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (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 as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education (IHEs) only. II. Award Information Type of Award: Cooperative agreement. Estimated Available Funds: $1,475,000. Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $1,475,000 for a single budget period of 12 months in year one and $1,500,000 for a single budget period in years 2-5. Estimated Number of Awards: 1. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 60 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: Research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the activities described in this notice. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching. 3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee may award subgrants--to directly carry out project activities described in its application--to the following types of entities: SEAs; LEAs, including public charter schools that operate as LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations suitable to carry out the activities proposed in the application. (b) The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified in an approved application. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html. To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734. You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its email address: [email protected]. If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.283D. Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice. 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 Part III to no more than 60 pages, using the following standards:A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, reference citations, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots. Use a font that is 12 point or larger. Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted. The page limit and double-spacing requirements do not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the abstract (follow the guidance provided in the application package for completing the abstract), the table of contents, the list of priority requirements, the resumes, the reference list, the letters of support, or the appendices. However, the page limit and double-spacing requirements do apply to all of Part III, the application narrative, including all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots. We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit in the application narrative section or if you apply standards other than those specified in this notice and the application package. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: June 8, 2016. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 2016. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section IV of this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application [[Page 36899]] 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 remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. 4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this competition. 5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the Department of Education, you must-- a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry), the Government's primary registrant database; c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information while your application is under review by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period. You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet at the following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number can be created within one to two business days. If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active. 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 you enter into the SAM database. Thus, if you think 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. Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48 hours before you can access the information in, and submit an application through, Grants.gov. 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. Information about SAM is available at www.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. In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. 7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants under the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities competition, CFDA number 84.283D, 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. We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement. You may access the electronic grant application for the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities 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 84.283, not 84.283D). Please note the following: When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: [[Page 36900]] www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format. 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 SF 424, Budget Information--Non- Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. You must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note that this could result in your application not being considered for funding because the material in question--for example, the project narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material from other formats to PDF. Additional, detailed information on how to attach files is in the application instructions. Your electronic application must comply with any page- limit requirements described in this notice. After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department. Grants.gov will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors (such as submission of your application by someone other than a registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you must still meet the deadline for submission of applications. Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application. These emails do not mean that your application is without any disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application requirements as specified in this notice and in the application instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements. We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues With the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. 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 instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that the problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will contact you after we determine whether your application will be accepted. Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system. Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system because-- You do not have access to the Internet; or You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system; and No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Kristen Rhoads, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. FAX: (202) 245-7619. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail. 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 84.283D), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260. You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following: (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. [[Page 36901]] (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier. (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 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. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. We will not consider applications postmarked after the application deadline date. c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery. 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 84.283D), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department-- (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and (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 deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288. V. Application Review Information 1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package. 2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable quality. In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). 3. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past, the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. Therefore, the Department has determined that for some discretionary grant competitions, applications may be separated into two or more groups and ranked and selected for funding within specific groups. This procedure will make it easier for the Department to find peer reviewers by ensuring that greater numbers of individuals who are eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular group of applicants will not have conflicts of interest. It also will increase the quality, independence, and fairness of the review process, while permitting panel members to review applications under discretionary grant competitions for which they also have submitted applications. 4. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. 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. VI. Award Administration Information 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. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b). (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides 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. (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period. 4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of the Comprehensive Center program, the Department will use three performance measures to assess the quality, relevance, and usefulness of center activities funded under this competition. These measures, adapted from a set of common measures developed to help assess performance across the Department's TA programs, are: (1) The percentage of all Comprehensive Centers' products and services that are deemed to be of high quality by qualified experts or individuals with appropriate expertise to review the substantive content of the products and services; (2) the percentage of all Comprehensive Centers' products and services that are deemed to be of high relevance to [[Page 36902]] educational policy or practice by target audiences; and (3) the percentage of all Comprehensive Centers' products and services that are deemed to be of high usefulness to educational policy or practice by target audiences. All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their performance reports, quantitative data documenting their progress with regard to these performance measures. 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 award, 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). VII. Agency Contact For Further Information Contact: Kristen Rhoads, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-6715. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339. VIII. Other Information 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) by contacting Wendell Bell, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5113, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5108. Telephone: (202) 245-7268. 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.thefederalregister.org/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 PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Dated: June 3, 2016. Ann Whalen, Delegated the Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. Sue Swenson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. 2016-13587 Filed 6-7-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 8, 2016 / Notices 36895
Any associated form(s) for this requiring an annual financial statement Committee’s Designated Federal
collection may be located within this certified by an independent Certified Officer or Point of Contact: Dr. Jane M.
same electronic docket and downloaded Public Accountant. No specific form is Arabian, Assistant Director, Accession
for review/testing. Follow the required. Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of
instructions at http:// Dated: June 3, 2016. Defense for Personnel and Readiness,
www.regulations.gov for submitting Aaron Siegel,
Room 3D1066, The Pentagon,
comments. Please submit comments on Washington, DC 20301–4000, telephone
Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison
any given form identified by docket Officer, Department of Defense.
(703) 697–9271.
number, form number, and title. Persons desiring to make oral
[FR Doc. 2016–13566 Filed 6–7–16; 8:45 am]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To presentations or submit written
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
request more information on this statements for consideration at the
proposed information collection or to committee meeting must contact Dr.
obtain a copy of the proposal and Jane M. Arabian at the address or
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
associated collection instruments, telephone number in the FOR FURTHER
please write to the Department of Office of the Secretary INFORMATION CONTACT section no later
Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, than Wednesday, June 15, 2016.
2231 Crystal Drive, Suite 520, Arlington, Defense Advisory Committee on Dated: June 3, 2016.
Virginia, 22202–3711, ATTN: Mr. James Military Personnel Testing; Notice of Aaron Siegel,
P. Holland, or call 703–697–2188, email: Federal Advisory Committee Meeting Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
james.p.holland8.civ@mail.mil. AGENCY: Under Secretary of Defense for Officer, Department of Defense.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Personnel and Readiness, Department of [FR Doc. 2016–13524 Filed 6–7–16; 8:45 am]
Title; Associated Form; and OMB Defense. BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
Number: Revitalizing Base Closure ACTION: Meeting notice.
Communities, Economic Development
Conveyance Annual Financial SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Statement; OMB Control Number 0790– publishing this notice to announce the
0004. following Federal advisory committee Applications for New Awards;
Needs and Uses: The information meeting of the Defense Advisory Comprehensive Centers Program—
collection requirement is necessary to Committee on Military Personnel National Comprehensive Center on
verify that Local Redevelopment Testing. Improving Literacy for Students With
Authority (LRA) recipients of Economic Disabilities
DATES: Thursday, July 7, 2016, from 9:00
Development Conveyances (EDCs) are in
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday, July 8, AGENCY: Offices of Elementary and
compliance with the requirement that
2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Secondary Education and Special
the LRA reinvest proceeds from the use
of EDC property for seven years. ADDRESSES: The Academy Hotel, 8110 Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Affected Public: Business or other for North Academy Boulevard, Colorado Department of Education.
profit; Not-for-profit institutions. Springs, Colorado 80920. ACTION: Notice.
Annual Burden Hours: 2,000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Number of Respondents: 50. Jane M. Arabian, Assistant Director, Overview Information:
Responses per Respondent: 1. Accession Policy, Office of the Under Comprehensive Centers Program—
Annual Responses: 50. Secretary of Defense for Personnel and National Comprehensive Center on
Average Burden per Response: 40 Readiness, Room 3D1066, The Improving Literacy for Students with
hours. Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–4000, Disabilities Notice inviting applications
Frequency: Annual. telephone (703) 697–9271. for a new award for fiscal year (FY)
Respondents are LRAs that have SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
2016.
executed EDC agreements with a Catalog of Federal Domestic
meeting is being held under the
Military Department that transferred Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.283D.
provisions of the Federal Advisory
property from a closed military Committee Act of 1972 (title 5 United DATES:
installation. As provided by 32 CFR States Code (U.S.C.), Appendix, as Applications Available: June 8, 2016.
174.9, such agreements require that the amended), the Government in the Deadline for Transmittal of
LRA reinvest the proceeds from any Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as Applications: July 25, 2016.
sale, lease or equivalent use of EDC amended), and title 41, Code of Federal Full Text of Announcement
property (or any portion thereof) during Regulations (CFR), section 102–3.150.
at least the first seven years after the Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose I. Funding Opportunity Description
date of the initial transfer of the of the meeting is to review planned Purpose of Program: Section 2244 of
property to support the economic changes and progress in developing the Elementary and Secondary
redevelopment of, or related to, the computerized tests for military Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as
installation. The Secretary of Defense enlistment screening. amended by the Every Student Succeeds
may recoup from the LRA such portion Agenda: The agenda includes an Act (ESSA), requires the Secretary to
of these proceeds not used to support overview of current enlistment test establish a comprehensive center on
the economic redevelopment of, or development timelines, test students at risk of not attaining full
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
related to, the installation. LRAs are development strategies, and planned literacy skills due to a disability.
subject to this same seven-year research for the next 3 years. Comprehensive Centers are typically
reinvestment requirement if their EDC Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting: administered by the Office of
agreement is modified to reduce the Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR Elementary and Secondary Education
debt owed to the Federal Government. 102–3.140 through 102–3.165, and the (OESE). OESE is funding this Center;
Military Departments monitor LRA availability of space, this meeting is however, because of the Center’s subject
compliance with this provision by open to the public. matter, it will be administered jointly by
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Jun 07, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM 08JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_37005/page/1.svg)
![36902 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 8, 2016 / Notices
educational policy or practice by target published in the Federal Register, in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
audiences; and (3) the percentage of all text or PDF. To use PDF you must have specific questions related to collection
Comprehensive Centers’ products and Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is activities, please contact Deborah Spitz,
services that are deemed to be of high available free at the site. 202–260–3793.
usefulness to educational policy or You may also access documents of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
practice by target audiences. Department published in the Federal Department of Education (ED), in
All grantees will be expected to Register by using the article search accordance with the Paperwork
submit, as part of their performance feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
reports, quantitative data documenting Specifically, through the advanced 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
their progress with regard to these search feature at this site, you can limit public and Federal agencies with an
performance measures. your search to documents published by opportunity to comment on proposed,
5. Continuation Awards: In making a the Department. revised, and continuing collections of
continuation award under 34 CFR Dated: June 3, 2016. information. This helps the Department
75.253, the Secretary considers, among assess the impact of its information
Ann Whalen,
other things: Whether a grantee has collection requirements and minimize
Delegated the Authority to Perform the
made substantial progress in achieving the public’s reporting burden. It also
Functions and Duties of Assistant Secretary
the goals and objectives of the project; for Elementary and Secondary Education. helps the public understand the
whether the grantee has expended funds Department’s information collection
Sue Swenson,
in a manner that is consistent with its requirements and provide the requested
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
approved application and budget; and, data in the desired format. ED is
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
if the Secretary has established soliciting comments on the proposed
[FR Doc. 2016–13587 Filed 6–7–16; 8:45 am]
performance measurement information collection request (ICR) that
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
requirements, the performance targets in is described below. The Department of
the grantee’s approved application. Education is especially interested in
In making a continuation award, the public comment addressing the
Secretary also considers whether the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
following issues: (1) Is this collection
grantee is operating in compliance with [Docket No.: ED–2016–ICCD–0066] necessary to the proper functions of the
the assurances in its approved Department; (2) will this information be
application, including those applicable Agency Information Collection
Activities; Comment Request; Race to processed and used in a timely manner;
to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
discrimination in programs or activities the Top—Early Learning Challenge
Annual Performance Report (4) how might the Department enhance
receiving Federal financial assistance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, AGENCY: Office of Elementary and information to be collected; and (5) how
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). Secondary Education (OESE), might the Department minimize the
VII. Agency Contact Department of Education (ED). burden of this collection on the
For Further Information Contact: ACTION: Notice. respondents, including through the use
Kristen Rhoads, U.S. Department of of information technology. Please note
SUMMARY: In accordance with the that written comments received in
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza, response to this notice will be
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is considered public records.
Washington, DC 20202–5076. proposing an extension of an existing
Telephone: (202) 245–6715. Title of Collection: Race to the Top—
information collection. Early Learning Challenge Annual
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the
DATES: Interested persons are invited to Performance Report.
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at
1–800–877–8339. submit comments on or before August 8, OMB Control Number: 1810–0713.
2016. Type of Review: An extension of an
VIII. Other Information ADDRESSES: To access and review all the existing information collection.
Accessible Format: Individuals with documents related to the information Respondents/Affected Public: State,
disabilities can obtain this document collection listed in this notice, please Local, and Tribal Governments.
and a copy of the application package in use http://www.regulations.gov by Total Estimated Number of Annual
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large searching the Docket ID number ED– Responses: 11.
print, audiotape, or compact disc) by 2016–ICCD–0066. Comments submitted Total Estimated Number of Annual
contacting Wendell Bell, U.S. in response to this notice should be Burden Hours: 1,320.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland submitted electronically through the Abstract: The Department of
Avenue SW., Room 5113, Potomac Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// Education and the Department of Health
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202– www.regulations.gov by selecting the and Human Services (Departments) are
5108. Telephone: (202) 245–7268. If you Docket ID number or via postal mail, requesting renewal of the currently
use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll commercial delivery, or hand delivery. approved Annual Performance Report
free, at 1–800–877–8339. Please note that comments submitted by for RTT–ELC grantees, without making
Electronic Access to This Document: fax or email and those submitted after any material change to the collection
The official version of this document is the comment period will not be instrument, instructions, frequency of
the document published in the Federal accepted. Written requests for collection or use. The information
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Register. Free Internet access to the information or comments submitted by submitted in the Annual Performance
official edition of the Federal Register postal mail or delivery should be Report is used to verify that grantees are
and the Code of Federal Regulations is addressed to the Director of the making substantial progress toward the
available via the Federal Digital System Information Collection Clearance achievement of approved objectives.
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you Division, U.S. Department of Education, This grant awarded all funds up front,
can view this document, as well as all 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room so the APR will not be used to
other documents of this Department 2E–349, Washington, DC 20202–4537. determine continuation awards, but will
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Jun 07, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM 08JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_37005/page/8.svg)
Document Created: 2016-06-08 03:10:26
Document Modified: 2016-06-08 03:10:26
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Applications Available: June 8, 2016. | |
| Contact | Kristen Rhoads, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-6715. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 36895 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR