[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8234-8236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3416]
[[Page 8234]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program,
etc.
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information:
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project--Center on Knowledge
Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133A-13.
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) administered by the National
Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically,
this notice announces a priority for a center on knowledge translation
for disability and rehabilitation research (KTDRR Center). The
Assistant Secretary may use this priority for a competition in fiscal
year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need.
DATES: Effective Date: This priority is effective March 15, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or by
email: [email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This notice of final priority (NFP) is in concert with NIDRR's
currently approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan, which was
published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8166),
can be accessed at the following Web site: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Through the implementation of the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve
the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research; (2)
determine effective methods to improve community living, employment,
and health outcomes for underserved populations; (3) identify research
gaps; (4) identify mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and
(5) disseminate findings.
This notice announces a priority that NIDRR intends to use for a
DRRP competition in FY 2012 and possibly later years. However, nothing
precludes NIDRR from publishing additional priorities, if needed.
Furthermore, NIDRR is under no obligation to make an award for this
priority. The decision to make an award will be based on the quality of
applications received and available funding.
Purpose of Program:
The purpose of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program is to plan and conduct research, demonstration
projects, training, and related activities, including international
activities, to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into
society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic
and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities, and to
improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs)
The purpose of DRRPs, which are funded under NIDRR's Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended, by developing methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technologies that advance a wide range of independent living and
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, especially
individuals with the most severe disabilities. DRRPs carry out one or
more of the following types of activities, as specified and defined in
34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: research, training, demonstration,
development, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance.
Additional information on DRRPs can be found at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
We published a notice of proposed priority for this program in the
Federal Register on June 7, 2011 (76 FR 32971). That notice contained
background information and our reasons for proposing this particular
priority.
Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of
proposed priority, four parties submitted comments on the proposed
priority.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes. In
addition, we do not address general comments that raised concerns not
directly related to the proposed priority.
Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and
of any changes in the priority since publication of the notice of
proposed priority follows.
Comment: Two commenters suggested that the priority focus on
activities to promote the use of research findings to shape service
delivery systems and to improve outcomes for individuals with
disabilities. One of these commenters suggested that the priority focus
specifically on service delivery systems for individuals with
developmental disabilities.
Discussion: NIDRR agrees that service delivery systems for
individuals with disabilities should be informed and shaped by
disability and rehabilitation research in order to improve outcomes for
individuals with disabilities. Nothing in the priority precludes
applicants from specifically focusing on service delivery systems--
including service delivery systems for individuals with developmental
disabilities--in their knowledge translation work. Given the wide range
of intended audiences of disability and rehabilitation research listed
in the priority, NIDRR does not have a sufficient basis for requiring
all applicants to focus specifically on service delivery systems or
service delivery systems for individuals with developmental
disabilities.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters suggested that the priority be restructured
as a network of smaller grants with the goal of disseminating
disability and rehabilitation research to meet the information needs of
a wide range of audiences.
Discussion: NIDRR does not agree that a network of smaller grants
would better serve the wide range of intended audiences of disability
and rehabilitation research. NIDRR intends the KTDRR Center to serve as
the main knowledge translation (KT) resource for other NIDRR grantees,
including NIDRR grantees that serve as KT Centers. NIDRR grantees
conduct research on a broad range of disability and rehabilitation
topics, and the results of NIDRR research are applicable to a wide
range of audiences. Smaller grants would not be sufficient to ensure
that
[[Page 8235]]
grantees have the resources and levels of KT expertise that are
necessary to increase the use of disability and rehabilitation research
results by the wide range of intended audiences.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the KTDRR Center actively
consider business-specific information needs in order to promote
employment for people with disabilities.
Discussion: NIDRR agrees that businesses and other types of
employers are important audiences for a wide range of disability and
rehabilitation research and that KT efforts should take their
information needs into account. A significant percentage of NIDRR
grants focus on employment of individuals with disabilities. The
findings from these and other NIDRR grants are relevant to businesses
and other types of employers and can potentially be used to promote
employment among individuals with disabilities.
Changes: In the relevant paragraphs, paragraphs (a) and (b)(3),
NIDRR has added ``employers'' to the suggested list of intended
audiences of disability and rehabilitation research.
Comment: None
Discussion: NIDRR has determined that the requirement for the
provision of technical assistance under paragraph (b)(1) is redundant
with the more broadly stated technical assistance requirement under
paragraph (b)(6).
Changes: NIDRR has deleted paragraph (b)(1), and re-numbered
paragraph (b) accordingly.
Final Priority:
Priority--Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR Center)
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services announces a priority for a center on knowledge translation for
disability and rehabilitation research (KTDRR Center). The purpose of
the KTDRR Center is to promote the use of high-quality disability and
rehabilitation research that is relevant to the needs of intended
audiences by serving as the main knowledge translation (KT) resource
for other NIDRR grantees, including NIDRR grantees that serve as KT
centers (NIDRR KT Centers). The KTDRR Center's work will also be
available to researchers who are not NIDRR grantees, as well as to the
public.
For purposes of this priority, KT refers to a multidimensional,
active process of ensuring that new knowledge and products gained via
research and development reach intended audiences; are understood by
these audiences; and are used to improve participation of individuals
with disabilities in society. KT encompasses all steps from the
creation of new knowledge to the synthesis, dissemination, and
implementation of such knowledge, and is built upon continuing
interactions and partnerships within and between different groups of
knowledge creators and users.
Under this priority, the KTDRR Center must contribute to the
following outcomes:
(a) Increased use of valid and relevant disability and
rehabilitation research findings to inform decision-making by
individuals with disabilities and their family members, disability
advocates, service providers, researchers, educators, employers,
administrators, policy-makers, and others. The KTDRR Center must
contribute to this outcome by--
(1) Identifying standards, guidelines, and methods that are
appropriate for conducting systematic reviews and developing research
syntheses on disability and rehabilitation research. NIDRR grantees
must be able to use these standards, guidelines, and methods to
systematically assess and describe the rigor of the research, and the
quality and relevance of the evidence being considered. The standards
used to assess and describe the rigor of the research and the quality
of the evidence must be consistent with the definitions of strong and
moderate evidence in the notice of final supplemental priorities and
definitions for discretionary grant programs published in the Federal
Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486), and corrected on May 12,
2011 (76 FR 27637);
(2) Providing NIDRR grantees with technical assistance on
conducting systematic reviews and developing research syntheses in the
grantee's area of expertise, using standards, guidelines, and methods
that the KTDRR Center identifies pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this
priority. In so doing, the KTDRR Center must choose appropriate
standards, guidelines, or methods, taking into account the types of
research and stages of knowledge development in the substantive area(s)
being reviewed; and
(3) Providing NIDRR grantees with technical assistance on how to
use KT practices that are appropriate for their intended audiences, to
promote the use of systematic reviews and research syntheses in the
grantee's area of expertise.
(b) Increased knowledge of KT principles and use of current KT
practices among NIDRR grantees, including NIDRR KT Centers. The KTDRR
Center must contribute to this outcome by--
(1) Synthesizing and disseminating information from the KT
literature that can be used to improve KT practices used by NIDRR
grantees, including other NIDRR KT Centers;
(2) Identifying and showcasing promising KT practices employed by
NIDRR KT Centers, other NIDRR grantees, and other entities to increase
the use of disability and rehabilitation research findings by
individuals with disabilities and their family members, disability
advocates, service providers, researchers, educators, employers,
administrators, policy-makers, and others;
(3) Facilitating the exchange of KT information among other NIDRR
grantees, including other NIDRR KT Centers;
(4) Organizing and sponsoring events (e.g., conferences, workshops,
Webinars, and other appropriate training events) to build KT capacity
among NIDRR grantees; and
(5) Providing technical assistance on KT to other NIDRR KT Centers
and other NIDRR grantees, upon request of those centers and grantees.
Types of Priorities:
When inviting applications for a competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal
Register. The effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by (1)
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2)
selecting an application that meets the priority over an application of
comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the priority.
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose
[[Page 8236]]
to use this priority, we invite applications through a notice in the
Federal Register.
Executive Order 12866: This notice has been reviewed in accordance
with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we have
assessed the potential costs and benefits of this final regulatory
action.
The potential costs associated with this final regulatory action
are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we have
determined as necessary for administering this program effectively and
efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of this final regulatory action, we have determined
that the benefits of the final priority justify the costs.
Summary of potential costs and benefits:
The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Programs have been well established over the years in that
similar projects have been completed successfully. This final priority
will generate new knowledge through research and development. Another
benefit of this final priority is that the establishment of new DRRPs
will improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The new DRRP
will provide support and assistance for NIDRR grantees as they
generate, disseminate, and promote the use of new information that will
improve the options for individuals with disabilities to perform
activities of their choice in the community.
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363.
If you use a TDD, 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: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document,
as well as all other documents of this Department published in the
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: http://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: February 9, 2012.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-3416 Filed 2-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P