[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25694-25696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10475]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Final Priorities; National Institute on Disability, Independent
Living, and Rehabilitation Research--Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects Program
AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and
Human Services.
ACTION: Final priority.
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CFDA Numbers: 84.133A-5 and 84.133A-6.
SUMMARY: The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
announces priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects (DRRPS) Program administered by the National Institute on
Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Specifically, we announce two priorities for DRRPs on (1) Center on
Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (84.133A-5) and (2)
Projects for Translating Disability and Rehabilitation Research into
Practice (84.133A-6). The Administrator of the Administration for
Community Living may use these priorities for competitions in fiscal
year (FY) 2015 and later years. We take this action to focus research
attention on an area of national need. We intend for these priorities
to contribute to improved outcomes for people with disabilities through
improved uptake of research-based knowledge.
DATES: Effective Date: These priorities are effective June 4, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 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) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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
The purpose of NIDILRR's DRRPs, which are funded through the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is
to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act 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 significant 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, utilization, dissemination, and
technical assistance.
An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b). Additional information on
the DRRP program can be found at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
Program Authority: 29 U.S. C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
We published a notice of proposed priorities (NPP) for this program
in the Federal Register on March 13, 2015 (80 FR 13378). That notice
contained background information and our reasons for proposing the
particular priorities.
There are no differences between the proposed priorities and these
final priorities.
Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of
proposed priorities, one party submitted comments on the proposed
priorities.
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 priorities.
Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and
of any changes in the priorities since publication of the NPP follows.
Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (Priority 1)
We received no comments on this priority.
Projects for Translating Disability and Rehabilitation Research Into
Practice (Priority 2)
Comment: One commenter asked whether NIDILRR intends the grants to
be made under this priority to support the translation and use of
development-based outputs, as well as research-based knowledge and
products. This commenter stated that if NIDILRR does intend to support
the translation and use of development-based outputs, we should
consistently include such language throughout the priority.
Discussion: We do not agree with the commenter that there is a
solid and clear distinction between research-based and development-
based outputs. NIDILRR program regulations define ``development'' in
terms of its basis in research. CFR 350.16 defines development as the
use of ``knowledge and understanding gained from research to create
materials, devices, systems, or methods beneficial to the target
population, including design and development of prototypes and
[[Page 25695]]
processes.'' The purpose of this priority, as stated in the notice of
proposed priority, is to support the translation of research-based
findings or products of past or present NIDILRR-funded grants into use
or adoption by their stakeholders. Applicants may propose to translate
and promote the use of findings or products of any past or present
NIDILRR grantee, including those engaged in research or development
activities, as long as the products of those grants are based on
research.
Changes: None.
Final Priorities
Priority 1--Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research
The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
proposes a priority for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Project to serve as the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment
Research (Center). The purpose of the proposed Center on KT for
Employment Research is to promote the use of employment research
findings to improve practices and policies that support improved
employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. The center will
achieve this purpose by (1) working with employment-focused NIDILRR
grantees to identify research findings that can be used to improve
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, (2) identifying
areas in which stakeholders' needs for research-based knowledge are
most pressing, and (3) investigating and promoting effective strategies
to increase the appropriate use of the best available research-based
knowledge in the field.
Under this priority, the Center must be designed to contribute to
the following outcomes:
(a) Increased understanding of processes and practices that will
lead to successful knowledge translation in the field of employment for
individuals with disabilities;
(b) Increased adoption and use of relevant research findings funded
by NIDILRR and other entities, to improve employment of individuals
with disabilities; and
(c) Increased capacity of NIDILRR's employment-focused grantees to
plan and engage in knowledge translation activities.
The Center must contribute to these outcomes by conducting rigorous
research, development, technical assistance, dissemination, and
utilization activities to increase successful knowledge translation of
employment research to improve employment of individuals with
disabilities. In planning and conducting all activities, the Center
must partner with relevant stakeholders such as employment-focused
researchers, individual with disabilities, consumer organizations,
employers, State and Federal agencies, and others as appropriate.
Priority 2--Projects for Translating Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Into Practice
The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
proposes a priority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
(DRRP). These DRRP grants will serve as Projects for Translating
Disability and Rehabilitation Research into Practice. The purpose of
these projects is to support the translation of research findings or
products of past or present NIDILRR-funded grants into use or adoption
by their stakeholders. Under this priority, grantees must successfully
move NIDILRR-sponsored research-based findings or products into actual
use or adoption in real-life contexts. Grantees under this priority
must also document and disseminate the knowledge translation methods
that they used to facilitate the adoption or use of findings or
products by stakeholders.
Each knowledge translation grant under this priority must be
conducted in partnership with relevant stakeholders. These stakeholders
must be actively engaged in the planning, implementation, and
evaluation of all knowledge translation grant activities. Grantees
under this priority must contribute to the following outcomes:
(1) Use or adoption of NIDILRR-sponsored findings or products by
relevant stakeholders;
(2) Changes in policy, practice, or systems that are intended to
improve the lives of individuals with disabilities as a result of the
use or adoption of NIDILRR-sponsored findings or products; and
(3) Increased understanding of promising practices for knowledge
translation in disability, independent living, and rehabilitation
research.
Grantees under this priority must contribute to these outcomes by--
(a) Identifying research-based findings or products from a NIDILRR-
funded grant or grants that are ready for use or adoption in real-world
settings, as well as the context or setting in which they will be used
or adopted;
(b) Identifying or developing, and then implementing a knowledge
translation plan to facilitate the use or adoption of findings or
products in (a) by key stakeholders; and
(c) Identifying measures to evaluate the success of the uses or
adoptions achieved under (b).
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 (45 CFR 75).
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 (45 CFR 75); or (2) selecting an
application that meets the priority over an application of comparable
merit that does not meet the priority (45 CFR 75).
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 (45 CFR 75).
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 to use these priorities, we invite applications
through a notice in the Federal Register.
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Dated: April 29, 2015.
John Tschida,
Director, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and
Rehabilitation Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-10475 Filed 5-4-15; 8:45 am]
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