[Federal Register: June 13, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 114)]
[Notices]
[Page 32167-32170]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13jn01-112]
[[Page 32167]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Part VI
Department of Education
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Inviting
Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 for New Awards for the
Alternative Financing Program and a Pre-Application Meeting; Notice
[[Page 32168]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.224C]
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Notice Inviting
Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 for New Awards for the
Alternative Financing Program and a Pre-Application Meeting
ACTION: Notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2001 for new
awards for the Alternative Financing Program and a pre-application
meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We invite applications for new grant awards for FY 2001 for
the Alternative Financing Program authorized under title III of the
Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act).
Purpose of the Program: The Alternative Financing Program (AFP)
created a new Federal program to pay a share of the cost of the
establishment or expansion, and administration of, an alternative
financing program for assistive technology (AT). We take this action in
order to award one year grants or cooperative agreements to States and
outlying areas to establish or maintain alternative financing projects
to increase access AT for individuals with disabilities. Currently,
major service programs such as Medicaid, special education, vocational
rehabilitation, and to a limited extent, Medicare, provide AT devices
and services for eligible individuals. In some instances, individuals
with disabilities purchase AT with private funds however, many
individuals and their families do not have the necessary resources to
obtain the AT they need. Loan programs offer individuals with
disabilities attractive options that significantly enhance their access
to AT.
This competition focuses on projects designed to meet a priority
that we have chosen from allowable activities specified in the program
statute (see 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v)) and sections 301-305 of the
Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 3051-3055).
National Education Goals
The eight National Education Goals focus the Nation's education
reform efforts and provide a framework for improving teaching and
learning.
This notice addresses the National Education Goal that every adult
American will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills
necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 14, 2001.
Application Available: June 15, 2001.
Project Period: 12 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 20.
Award Amount: Program minimum: none; Program maximum: none.
Note: The total amount available in FY 2001 for the AFP is $14.7
million. We are no longer required to award a minimum of $500,000 to
States, outlying areas are no longer restricted to a maximum of
$105,000, nor are we required to distribute any remaining funds
among those States based on population and density. In order for
NIDRR to have increased flexibility and to insure a greater number
of funding options within the total allocation for this program,
NIDRR encourages applicants to submit and clearly identify in the
application, multiple and alternative budgets. Applicants should
include the required matching funds and the necessary materials for
each of the different amounts proposed.
Matching Requirement: The Federal share of the cost of the
Alternative Financing Program must not be more than 75 percent.
Therefore, applicants must match at least 25 percent of the total
program cost. A State is no longer required to receive a minimum award
of $500,000; an outlying area is no longer restricted to a maximum
award of $105,000. The State or outlying area must provide the non-
Federal share of the cost of the AFP in cash, from State, local, or
private sources.
Background
Technical Assistance: In FY 2000, NIDRR funded a technical
assistance project to provide information and technical assistance to
States and outlying areas including assistance in preparing
applications for grants under this Act. Applicants are encouraged to
contact RESNA at 703-524-6686 ext. 301 or through e-mail;
nmeidenbauer@resna.org for assistance with their applications.
Eligible Applicants: Parties eligible to apply for the AFP are
States and outlying areas that receive or have received grants under
the AT State Grant Program (section 101 of the AT Act).
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 81, 82,
85, and 86.
Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to
participate in a pre-application meeting to discuss the funding
priorities for the AFP and to receive technical assistance through
individual consultation and information about the funding priority. The
pre-application meeting will be held on July 10, 2001. You may attend
either in person or by conference call at the Department of Education,
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Switzer
Building, Room 3065, 330 C St. SW, Washington, DC between 10:00 a.m.
and 12 noon. NIDRR staff will also be available at this location from
1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on that same day to provide technical assistance
through individual consultation and information about the funding
priority. For further information or to make arrangements to attend
contact Donna Nangle, Switzer Building, room 3414, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 205-5880. If you use a
telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (202) 205-
4475.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities at the Public Meetings
The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities,
and a sign language interpreter will be available. If you need an
auxiliary aid or service other than a sign language interpreter in
order to participate in the meeting (e.g., other interpreting service
such as oral, cued speech, or tactile interpreter; assistive listening
device; or materials in alternate format), notify the contact person
listed in this notice at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting
date. Although we will attempt to meet a request we receive after this
date, we may not be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid
or service because of insufficient time to arrange it.
Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and sections 301-305 of title III of the
AT Act, we consider only applications that meet the priority. We will
establish the AFP in order to provide assistance to States and to
outlying areas so that individuals with disabilities of all ages and
their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized
representatives will have increased access to funding for AT devices
and services through alternative financing mechanisms (loans).
Consistent with sections 301-305 of the Act, the requirements are as
follows:
(a) Each grantee must enter into a contract with a community-based
organization (including a group of such organizations), such as Centers
for Independent Living, that has individuals with disabilities involved
in organizational decision making at all organizational levels, to
administer the alternative-financing program. The contract must: (1)
Include a provision requiring that the program funds, including the
Federal and non-Federal
[[Page 32169]]
shares of the cost of the program, be administered in a manner
consistent with the provisions of this title; (2) include provisions
for oversight and evaluation to protect Federal financial interests;
and (3) require the community-based organization to enter into a
contract with a commercial lending institution or State or outlying
area financing agency.
(b) Each grantee and any community-based organization that enters
into a contract with the State or outlying area, must submit, 12 months
after receipt of the fiscal year 2001 award, each of the following
policies, procedures, data, and information: (1) A procedure to review
and process in a timely manner requests for financial assistance for
immediate and potential technology needs, including consideration of
methods to reduce paperwork and duplication of effort, particularly
relating to need, eligibility, and determination of the specific AT
device or service to be financed through the project; (2) a policy and
procedure to assure that access to the AFP shall be given to consumers
regardless of type of disability, age, income level, location of
residence in the State or outlying area, or type of AT device or AT
service for which financing is requested through the program; and (3) a
procedure to assure consumer-controlled oversight of the program.
(c) Each grantee must provide the following information: (1) The
ratio of funds provided by the State for the AFP to funds provided by
the Federal Government; (2) the type of alternative financing mechanism
used and the community-based organization with which the State or
outlying area entered into a contract; (3) the following information
concerning each disabled individual served by the project: The amount
of assistance, type of AT device or AT service financed through the
project, type of disability, age, gender, race, ethnicity,
socioeconomic status, primary language, geographic location within the
State or outlying area, employment status, whether the consumer is part
of an underrepresented population or rural population, and whether the
consumer tried to secure financial support from other sources and, if
so, a description of those sources.
(d) Each grantee must provide one or a combination of the
following: (1) A low-interest loan fund; (2) an interest buy-down
program; (3) a revolving loan fund; (4) a loan guarantee or insurance
program; (5) a program operated by a partnership among private entities
for the purchase, lease, or other acquisition of AT devices or AT
services; or (6) another mechanism that meets the requirements of this
program and is described in an application, peer reviewed and approved
by the Department.
(e) Each grantee must provide matching funds so that the Federal
share of the cost of the AFP is not more than 75 percent. A State is no
longer required to receive a minimum award of $500,000; an outlying
area is no longer restricted to a maximum award of $105,000; the State
or outlying area match must be at least 25 percent of the total program
cost.
(f) Each applicant must provide the following assurances in its
application: (1) The State or outlying area will provide the non-
Federal share of the cost of the AFP in cash, from State, local, or
private sources; (2) the State or outlying area will continue the AFP
after Federal funding has terminated on a permanent basis; (3) the
State or outlying area will provide information describing the manner
in which, the program will expand and emphasize consumer choice and
control; (4) the State or outlying area will supplement and not
supplant other Federal, State, and local public funds expended to
provide any currently operating AFP in the State or outlying area. The
State or outlying area must use new State-level or outlying area-level
funds to match the Federal share. The State or outlying area may not
use existing spending, such as Title I AT Act funds, that are used to
support an existing AFP, to match the Federal grant; (5) the State or
outlying area will place all funds that support the AFP, including
funds repaid during the life of the program, in a permanent separate
account, apart from any other fund; (6) the State's or outlying area's
community-based organization will invest funds in low-risk securities
in which a regulated insurance company may invest under the law of the
State or the outlying area if the organization administering funds
invests funds within this account; (7) the State's or outlying area's
community-based organization will administer the funds with the same
judgement and care that a person of prudence, discretion, and
intelligence would exercise in the management of the financial affairs
of such person; (8) funds comprised of the principal and interest from
the State or outlying area account for this activity will be available
to support the AFP; (9) any interest or investment income that accrues
on or derives from such funds after such funds have been placed under
the control of the organization administering the AFP, but before those
funds are distributed for purposes of supporting the program, will be
the property of the organization administering the program; and (10)
the State or outlying area will limit the indirect costs of the total
amount available for the AFP to 10 percent, including both the Federal
and State or outlying area funds.
In addition, the project must:
(a) Provide in accessible formats materials that can be used by
potential loan applicants and lending institutions to obtain, share and
disseminate information on loan availability, eligibility requirements
and procedures and general loan related updates;
(b) Coordinate and share information, resources and with the State
and outlying area AT Act projects; and
(c) Conduct and submit to NIDRR and the AFTAP an annual evaluation
of its activities using the data collection instrument developed by the
Alternative Financing Technical Assistance Project.
Selection criteria: In evaluating an application for a new grant
under this competition, we use selection criteria chosen from the
selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score for all criteria
is 100 points. The selection criteria to be used for this competition
will be provided in the application package for this competition.
Application Procedures
Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to
comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make
procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy.
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined
that proposed rulemaking is not required.
Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications
The U.S. Department of Education is expanding its pilot project of
electronic submission of applications to include certain formula grant
programs, as well as additional discretionary grant competitions. The
Alternative Financing Program--CFDA 84.224C is one of the programs
included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the
Alternative Financing Program, you may submit your application to us in
either electronic or paper format.
The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant
Application System (e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS) portion of the
Grant Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your
participation in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its
[[Page 32170]]
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the
following:
Your participation is voluntary.
You will not receive any additional point value or penalty
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
You can submit all documents electronically, including the
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
Fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal
Assistance (ED 424) after following these steps:
1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
2. Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative
signs this form.
3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic
acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying
number unique to your application).
4. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED
424.
5. Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center within three
working days of submitting your electronic application. We will
indicate a fax number in e-APPLICATION at the time of your submission.
We may request that you give us original signatures on all
other forms at a later date.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Alternative
Financing Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
We have included additional information about the e-APPLICATION
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic
Applications) in the application package.
For Applications Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs),
P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-
7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for
the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs via its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html or its E-mail address (edpubs@inet.ed.gov). If you
request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this
competition as follows: CFDA number 84.224C.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone:
(202) 205-8351. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Services (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an
alternative format the standard forms included in the application
package.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., room 3414, Switzer Building,
Washington, D.C. 20202-2645. Telephone: (202) 205-5880. Individuals who
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the TDD
number at (202) 205-4475. Internet: Donna.Nangle@ed.gov.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, or computer diskette)
on request to the contact person listed in the preceding paragraph.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may review this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at the previous site. If you have questions about using PDF, call
the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-
6498; or in the Washington, D.C., area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: 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 on GPO access at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3051-3058.
Dated: June 7, 2001.
Francis V. Corrigan,
Deputy Director, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research.
[FR Doc. 01-14809 Filed 6-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P