Notice2025-11118
Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications (NIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 115 (Tuesday, June 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 115 (Tuesday, June 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25600-25606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11118]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Training:
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is issuing a
notice inviting applications (NIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) program.
DATES:
Applications Available: June 20, 2025.
Application Deadline: July 17, 2025.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 15, 2025.
Date of Pre-Application Resources: OSERS will provide resources
specific to this competition which will be available at <a href="https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx">https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx</a>. OSERS invites you to send questions to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ccf4f8e2fdfef58ca9a8e2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="546c607a65666d1431307a333b22">[email protected]</span></a>.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on December 23, 2024 (89 FR 104528) and available at
<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diandrea Bailey, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4A10, Washington, DC 20202-
2800. Telephone: (202) 245-6244. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#073f332936353e47626329606871"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c7478627d7e750c2928622b233a">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the RLTT program is to provide
financial assistance for academic training areas of personnel shortages
in vocational rehabilitation identified by the Secretary and published
in a notice in the Federal Register. Grantees must award at least 65
percent of project funds as scholarships (i.e., awards of financial
assistance, including disbursements or credits for student stipends,
tuition and fees, books and supplies, and student travel in conjunction
with training assignments) to students (herein referred to as RSA
scholars) enrolled in the RLTT program. The program trains RSA scholars
to possess the skills needed to address the specialized needs of
individuals with specific types of disability conditions, which may
include, but are not limited to, physical disabilities, mental health
disorders or illnesses, intellectual and developmental disabilities
(including Autism), blindness, and deaf or hard of hearing.
Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.129B, 84.129E, 84.129H, 84.129L,
84.129P, 84.129Q, and 84.129W.
OMB Control Number: 1894-0006.
Eligible Applicants: States and public or private nonprofit
agencies and organizations, including Indian Tribes and institutions of
higher education.
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $15,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
The actual number of awards will be determined by the quality of
applications submitted under each topic area. The Secretary intends to
fund at least one award in each priority or topic area. Thus, the
Secretary may fund applications out of rank order.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
Maximum Award: See chart.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Maximum award
Priority or topic area number of Average size (budget period
awards of award of 12 months)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.129B Rehabilitation Counseling................................. 23 $200,000 $200,000
84.129E Rehabilitation Technology................................. 5 175,000 175,000
84.129H Individuals Who Are Mentally Ill.......................... 15 200,000 200,000
84.129L Undergraduate Education in Rehabilitation Services........ 10 175,000 175,000
84.129P Individuals Who Are Blind, Have Low Vision................ 9 175,000 175,000
84.129Q Individuals Who Are Hard of Hearing....................... 2 150,000 150,000
84.129W Comprehensive System of Personnel Development............. 15 200,000 200,000
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We will not make awards exceeding the maximum award amounts in any
given budget period.
Priorities: This notice includes two absolute priorities and one
invitational priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 74.105(b)(2)(ii), all
the priorities are from the Notice of Final Priorities and Requirements
(NFP) published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2025, and any subsequent year in which
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, there are two absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet one of these
priorities. Each application should address only one absolute priority.
Absolute Priority 1: RLTT Program for State VR Agencies' CSPD:
Master's Degree or Certificate, Assistance Listing Number (ALN)
84.129W.
Projects that propose a CSPD project that provides training to
currently employed State VR agency personnel, including VR counselors
with disabilities. Within CSPD training, applicants may identify an
area of concentration consistent with this priority, such as vocational
evaluation and career assessment or others.
[[Page 25601]]
The academic training for all participants must meet the designated
State unit (DSU) personnel standards required under section 101(a)(7)
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and 34 CFR 361.18. The
training must also meet the qualifications for the master's degree or
academic certificate specified in the State's CSPD plans or of the
States with which the State VR counselors and other personnel are
working.
CSPD proposed projects must develop and use innovative approaches
to train VR professionals, including using cutting-edge technology or
innovative applications of advanced technology (e.g., hybrid learning
and competency-based programs) to maximize participation in, and
improve the effectiveness of, the academic training.
Absolute Priority 2: RLTT Program for Rehabilitation Topic Areas,
ALNs 84.129B, 84.129E, 84.129H, 84.129L, 84.129P, and 84.129Q.
Projects that provide academic training to RSA scholars where the
training leads to a degree (undergraduate or master's level) or
academic certificate in one of six rehabilitation topic areas that
follow. Within these topic areas, applicants may identify an area of
concentration consistent with this priority, such as vocational
evaluation and career assessment or others.
1. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counseling: Master's Degree (ALN
84.129B). Projects in this topic area must be designed to support RSA
scholars interested in pursuing a master's degree in VR counseling.
Projects must increase the skills of RSA scholars so that they are,
upon successful completion of their program of study, prepared to,
effectively and with an advanced level of expertise, help individuals
with disabilities (consumers) meet their career and personal goals and
help employers in their hiring efforts. Projects should also increase
RSA scholars understanding of and ability to support consumers access
to pre-employment transition services.
2. Rehabilitation Technology (ALN 84.129E). Projects in this topic
area must provide scholarships to RSA scholars to pursue a degree or
certificate in the application of advanced technology in rehabilitation
services, and for use in careers in rehabilitation technology.
Rehabilitation technology training includes training on the use,
applications, and benefits of technology (including assistive
technology and artificial intelligence tools) for individuals with
disabilities to achieve and/or maintain competitive integrated
employment and independence.
The rehabilitation technology training program must be designed to
ensure that RSA scholars acquire a 21st-century understanding of the
evolving technology labor force, the needs of individuals with
disabilities that might be addressed via technology, and the ways
technology can unlock individuals' strengths.
3. Rehabilitation of Individuals With Mental Health Disorders or
Illnesses (ALN 84.129H). Projects in this topic area must be designed
to support RSA scholars interested in pursuing a degree or certificate
for careers that provide specialized services to individuals who have
mental health disorders or illnesses and are participants in the State
VR programs. Additionally, projects must be designed to prepare RSA
scholars to address a range of issues in VR services for individuals
with mental health disorders or illnesses to assist them to achieve and
maintain competitive integrated employment.
4. Undergraduate Education in the Rehabilitation Services (ALN
84.129L). Projects in this topic area must train undergraduate RSA
scholars interested in pursuing careers as rehabilitation counselors or
generalists, VR paraprofessionals, or other entry-level positions in
the public VR services. Projects must also be designed to provide
training and clinical learning experiences to equip RSA scholars with
foundational knowledge of disability conditions, VR processes,
interviewing techniques, and other skills required for working with
consumers in the public VR services, including the skills to coordinate
the diagnosis and evaluation of a person's disabling condition, create
individual plans, arrange various VR services, assist VR counselors in
working with persons with disabilities in selecting a vocational goal,
provide personal and social adjustment services, conduct job placement
activities, and provide follow-up services to individuals after other
services are completed. Pre-employment transition services should be
included as part of programmatic content.
5. Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
(ALN 84.129P). Projects in this topic area must train RSA scholars
interested in pursuing a degree or certificate for careers in providing
specialized services to persons who are blind or have low vision.
Projects must be designed to provide training and hands-on experiences
in VR services for persons who are blind or have low vision to assist
them to achieve and/or maintain competitive integrated employment,
including training in orientation and mobility, methods of independent
and safe travel, and application of advanced technology.
6. Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
(ALN 84.129Q). Projects in this topic area must train RSA scholars
interested in pursuing a degree or certificate for careers in providing
specialized rehabilitation to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The training must include opportunities for RSA scholars to acquire the
necessary skills to communicate effectively with individuals who are
deaf or hard of hearing, and to assess and address the communication
needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Additionally,
projects must have plans to support RSA scholars in developing
competency in sign language/ASL and other communication methods as well
as familiarity with the use of various assistive listening devices and
application of other advanced assistive technology.
Projects must provide assistance to scholars to secure or maintain
employment with State VR agencies, where the job duties include
provision of rehabilitation of individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing (e.g., assessment services, vocational and adjustment
counseling services, provision of independent living skills training,
interpreting services, interpreter referral services, advocacy
services, and job placement services).
The academic training for all participants must meet the DSU
personnel standards required under section 101(a)(7) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and 34 CFR 361.18.
Rehabilitation topic area projects under this priority must develop
and use innovative approaches to train RSA scholars, including using
cutting-edge technology or innovative application of advanced
technology (e.g., hybrid learning or competency-based programs) to
maximize participation in, and improve the effectiveness of, the
academic training.
In addition to academic training, RSA funded projects may provide a
one-time stipend, to an amount as specified in the Notice Inviting
Applications published in the Federal Register to RSA scholars based on
identified needs for--
(a) completing an internship (e.g., room and board, travel);
(b) obtaining qualifying employment in the specific field of study
within a period of time after graduating and maintaining qualifying
employment a minimum period of time beyond the required service
obligation period as specified in the NIA; and
[[Page 25602]]
(c) utilizing a vetted employment expert or consultant to assist
the RSA scholar in securing employment within a period of time after
graduating with a State VR or related agency in the field of study as
specified in the NIA.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2025, and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets this invitational
priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.
This priority is:
Invitational Priority: Maximizing Grant Award Amount for
Scholarships.
Projects that use at least 85 percent of the total cost of a
project under this program for scholarships as defined in 34 CFR 386.4.
Requirements: For FY 2025, and any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition,
applicants must meet the following application requirements from the
NFP.
Application Requirements: All applicants must--
(a) Provide data on the current and projected employment needs and
personnel shortages in State VR agencies and other related agencies (as
defined in 34 CFR 386.4) in their local area, region, and State; and
describe how the proposed project will address those employment needs
and personnel shortages;
(b) Describe how the project will train RSA scholars, as
applicable, including how the project will provide them with an
understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals
with disabilities to ensure that the RSA scholars have a 21st century
understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals
with disabilities. Applicants must describe how, upon completion of the
training program, State VR personnel including VR counselors or RSA
scholars will be prepared to assist individuals with disabilities to
meet current demands and emerging trends in the labor market, including
how--
(1) The program provides a breadth of knowledge, experience, and
rigor that will adequately prepare scholars to meet the employment
needs and goals of VR consumers and aligns with evidence-based (as
defined in 34 CFR 77.1) practices and with competency-based skills
(e.g., advanced counseling skills, critical thinking skills, and skills
in building collaborative relationships);
(2) The program prepares RSA scholars to meet all applicable
certification standards;
(3) The program addresses new or emerging consumer employment needs
or trends at the national, State, and regional levels;
(4) The program trains RSA scholars to possess the skills needed to
address the specialized needs of individuals with specific types of
disability conditions, which may include, but are not limited to,
physical disabilities, mental health disorders or illnesses,
intellectual and developmental disabilities, blindness, and deafness;
(5) The program trains RSA scholars to understand the applications
and strategies related to the integration of advanced assistive
technology and artificial intelligence tools into VR services to fuel
competitive integrated employment in the 21st century for individuals
with disabilities and recognize the assistive technology needs of
consumers and employers who hire individuals with disabilities
throughout the rehabilitation process so that they will be better able
to coordinate the provision of appropriate advanced assistive
technology services and devices including artificial intelligence in
order to assist the consumers to obtain and retain competitive
integrated employment;
(6) The program teaches RSA scholars to work effectively with
employers, including by teaching strategies for developing
relationships with employers in their State and local areas,
identifying employer needs and skill demands, making initial employer
contacts, presenting job-ready clients to potential employers, and
conducting follow-up with employers;
(7) The program teaches RSA scholars to work effectively with state
education agencies (SEAs), and local educational agencies (LEAs),
particularly special education systems and educators. This includes
instruction on collaborating effectively with SEAs, LEAs, school
administrators, and special education teachers to ensure their
awareness of pre-employment transition services and vocational
rehabilitation transition services, and ensuring the successful
planning and provision of these services; and
(8) The latest technology is incorporated into the methods of
instruction (e.g., technology that supports the use of hybrid education
to reach scholars who live far from the university and the use of
technology to acquire labor market information);
(c) Describe their methods to--
(1) Recruit highly capable prospective State VR counselors or RSA
scholars who have the potential to successfully complete the academic
program, all required practicum and internship experiences, and the
required service obligation;
(2) Educate potential RSA scholars about the terms and conditions
of the service obligation under 34 CFR 386.4, 386.34, and 386.40
through 386.43 so that they will be fully informed before accepting a
scholarship and aware of the consequences should they fail to complete
the program;
(3) Maintain a system that ensures that RSA scholars sign a payback
agreement when they start and an exit certification form when they exit
the program, regardless of whether they drop out, are removed, or
successfully complete the program;
(4) Provide academic support and counseling to RSA scholars
throughout the course of the academic program to ensure successful
completion;
(5) Ensure that all RSA scholars complete an internship in a State
VR agency (as defined in 34 CFR 386.4) as a requirement for program
completion, unless the Secretary determines upon grantee request that
there is sufficient justification for not completing an internship;
(6) Provide career counseling, including informing RSA scholars of
professional contacts and networks, job leads, including those
available through the RSA Payback Information Management System (PIMS),
and other necessary resources and information to support RSA scholars
in successfully obtaining and retaining qualifying employment;
(7) Maintain bi-monthly contact with RSA scholars upon successful
academic training program completion and provide post-graduation
support to assist RSA scholars to achieve qualifying employment as well
as employment support, at a minimum, for the RSA scholars' initial
three to six months of employment;
(8) Maintain quarterly communication with RSA scholars after
program exit until the beginning of their service obligation date to
ensure that scholar contact information in PIMS is up to date;
(9) Maintain and safeguard credentials to access PIMS for the
timely review and approval of scholar employment; and
(10) Maintain accurate financial information on, while safeguarding
the privacy of, current and former scholars from the time they are
enrolled in the program until they successfully meet their service
obligation;
(d) Describe a plan for developing and maintaining partnerships
with State VR
[[Page 25603]]
agencies, community-based rehabilitation service providers, and LEAs
that includes--
(1) Coordination between the grantee and the State VR agencies and
community-based rehabilitation service providers that will promote
qualifying employment opportunities for RSA scholars and formalized on-
boarding and induction experiences for new hires;
(2) Formal opportunities for RSA scholars to obtain work
experiences through internships, practicum agreements, job shadowing,
and mentoring opportunities;
(3) Formal opportunities for RSA scholars to obtain work
experiences in LEAs to develop practical knowledge on effective special
education teacher-VR counselor collaborations that foster increased
awareness in LEAs of pre-employment transition services and vocational
rehabilitation transition services, and the successful planning and
provision of these services; and
(4) A scholar internship assessment tool that is developed to
ensure a consistent approach to the evaluation of scholars in a
particular program. Applicants must describe how--
(i) The tool will reflect the specific responsibilities of the
scholar during the internship;
(ii) Grantees and worksite supervisors will work together to
develop the assessment tool. Supervisors at the internship site will
complete the assessment detailing the scholar's strengths and areas for
improvement that must be addressed and provide the results of the
assessment to the grantee; and
(iii) The grantee will ensure that (A) RSA scholars are provided
with a copy of the assessment and all relevant rubrics prior to
beginning their internship, (B) supervisors have sufficient technical
support to accurately complete the assessment, and (C) scholars receive
a copy of the results of the assessment within 90 days of the end of
their internship;
(e) Describe how RSA scholars will be evaluated throughout the
program to ensure that they are proficient in meeting the needs and
demands of consumers and employers, including the steps that will be
taken to provide assistance to an RSA scholar who is not meeting
academic standards or who is performing poorly in a practicum or
internship setting;
(f) Describe how the program will be evaluated, including how--
(1) The program will determine its effectiveness over time in
filling vacancies in the State VR agency with qualified counselors or
rehabilitation professionals capable of providing quality services to
consumers;
(2) Input from State VR agencies and community-based rehabilitation
service providers will be included in the evaluation;
(3) Feedback from consumers of VR services and employers (including
the assessments described in paragraph (d)(4)) will be included in the
evaluation;
(4) Data on the State VR program from other sources, such as the
Department, will be included in the evaluation; and
(5) The data and results from the evaluation will be used to make
necessary adjustments and improvements to the program.
Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria are from 34
CFR 386.20 and 34 CFR 75.210. In responding to the selection criteria,
applications should show how the proposed project meets the absolute
priority and requirements outlined in this NIA.
(a) Relevance to State-Federal vocational rehabilitation service
program. (5 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that
shows that the proposed project appropriately relates to the mission of
the State-Federal vocational rehabilitation service program.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the project
can be expected either--
(i) To increase the supply of trained personnel available to State
and other public or nonprofit agencies involved in the rehabilitation
of individuals with disabilities through degree or certificate granting
programs; or
(ii) To improve the skills and quality of professional personnel in
the rehabilitation field in which the training is to be provided
through the granting of a degree or certificate.
(b) Nature and scope of curriculum. (30 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that
demonstrates the adequacy of the proposed curriculum.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
(i) The curriculum and teaching methods provide for an integration
of theory and practice relevant to the educational objectives of the
program.
(ii) For programs whose curricula require them, there is evidence
of educationally focused practical and other field experiences in
settings that ensure student involvement in the provision of vocational
rehabilitation, supported employment, customized employment, pre-
employment transition services, transition services, or independent
living rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with significant disabilities.
(iii) If applicable, there is evidence of current professional
accreditation by the designated accrediting agency in the professional
field in which grant support is being requested.
(c) Quality of the project design. (20 points)
(1) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified, measurable, and
ambitious yet achievable within the project period, and aligned with
the purposes of the grant program.
(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project
includes a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a
high-quality plan for project implementation, and the use of
appropriate methodological tools to enable successful achievement of
project objectives.
(iii) The extent to which there is a plan to incorporate the
project purposes, activities, or benefits into the ongoing work of the
applicant beyond the end of the project period.
(iv) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project involve the use of efficient strategies, including the
use of technology, as appropriate, and the leveraging of non-project
resources.
(d) Adequacy of resources. (15 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The adequacy of support for the project, including facilities,
equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant
organization or the lead applicant organization.
(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to
the number of persons to be served, the depth and intensity of
services, and the anticipated results and benefits.
(iii) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
(e) Quality of the management plan. (20 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project.
[[Page 25604]]
(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The feasibility of the management plan to achieve project
objectives and goals on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks.
(ii) The extent to which the project director or principal
investigator, when hired, has the qualifications required for the
project, including formal training or work experience in fields related
to the objectives of the project and experience in designing, managing,
or implementing similar projects for the target population to be served
by the project.
(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.
(iv) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project.
(f) Quality of the project evaluation or other evidence-building.
(10 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation or other
evidence-building of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation or other evidence-
building, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other
evidence-building are thorough, feasible, relevant, and appropriate to
the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other
evidence-building will provide guidance for quality assurance and
continuous improvement.
In addition to the selection criteria listed above, the Secretary
considers these factors from 34 CFR 385.33--
(a) The geographical distribution of projects in each
Rehabilitation Training program category throughout the country; and
(b) The past performance of the applicant in carrying out similar
training activities under previously awarded grants, as indicated by
such factors as compliance with grant conditions, soundness of
programmatic and financial management practices, and attainment of
established project objectives.
These criteria are outside of the non-Federal peer review process.
The criterion related to geographical distribution of projects will be
applied to fund applications out of rank order if the top-ranked
applications do not represent a geographical distribution throughout
the country. The criterion related to past performance will be applied
to all applications that are recommended for funding.
Performance Measures:
For the purposes of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the
Department has established a set of performance measures that are
designed to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness
and quality of the RLTT program. These measures are:
Performance Measure 1: The percentage of master's level counseling
graduates fulfilling their payback requirements through qualifying
employment.
Performance Measure 2: The percentage of master's level counseling
graduates fulfilling their payback requirements through qualifying
employment in State VR agencies.
Performance Measure 3: The Federal cost per master's level RSA-
supported rehabilitation counseling graduate.
Performance Measure 4: Number of scholars enrolled during the
reporting period.
Performance Measure 5: Number of scholars who dropped out or were
dismissed from the program during the reporting period.
Performance Measure 6: Number of scholars who graduated from the
program during the reporting period.
Performance Measure 7: Number of scholars who obtained employment
in a State VR agency during the reporting period.
Performance Measure 8: Number of scholars who maintained or
advanced in their employment in a State VR agency during the reporting
period.
Grant applications must include the performance targets for each
reporting period and by the end of the grant period of performance.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR parts 385 and
386. (e) The NFP published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
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 only.
Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing of 10 at least percent of
the total cost of the project is required of grantees under the
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program. The Secretary may waive part
of the non-Federal share of the cost of the project after negotiations
if the applicant demonstrates that it does not have sufficient
resources to contribute the entire match (34 CFR 386.30). The Secretary
does not, as a general matter, anticipate waiving this requirement in
the future. Furthermore, given the importance of matching funds to the
long-term success of the project, eligible entities must identify
appropriate matching funds in the proposed budget. To the extent that
the Department uses funds set aside under section 21 of the
Rehabilitation Act to make awards to minority entities or Indian tribes
to carry out activities under authorized title III programs, such as
the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program, we require cost sharing
equal to that of the programs under which the award is made.
Indirect Cost Rate Information: Under 34 CFR 75.562(c), an indirect
cost reimbursement on a training grant is limited to the recipient's
actual indirect costs, as determined by its negotiated indirect cost
rate agreement, or eight percent of a modified total direct cost base,
whichever amount is less. Indirect costs in excess of the limit may not
be charged directly, used to satisfy matching or cost-sharing
requirements, or charged to another Federal award.
Scholarships: Under 34 CFR 386.31(a), a grantee must use at least
65 percent of the total cost of the project under this program for
scholarships as defined in 34 CFR 386.4. Applicants must address this
requirement in the budget information (ED Form 524, Section B) and
budget narrative. The applicant must clearly demonstrate the amount of
stipend support to be contributed for each year of the grant in the
budget and detail in the budget narrative what the stipend will cover.
Subawards: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under this
competition may not award subgrants to entities to directly carry out
project activities described in its application.
Under 34 CFR 75.708(e), a grantee may contract for supplies,
equipment, and other services in accordance with 2 CFR part 200.
[[Page 25605]]
Application and Submission Information:
1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on December 23, 2024 (89 FR 104528) and available at <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-30488">https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-30488</a>, which contain requirements and
information on how to submit an application.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372. Information about
this process is in the application package.
3. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of
projects that may be proposed in applications for the RLTT competition,
your application may include business information that you consider
proprietary. We define ``business information'' and describe the
process we use in determining whether any of that information is
proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of
the Freedom of Information Act.
Because we plan to make successful applications available to the
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business
information.
Please designate in your application any information that you
believe is exempt from disclosure under Exemption 4. In the appropriate
Appendix section of your application, under ``Other Attachments Form,''
please list the page number or numbers on which we can find this
information.
4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
5. Recommended 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. We recommend
that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 45 pages
and (2) use the following standards:
<bullet> A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
<bullet> Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs. Use a font that is either 12 point
or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). Use one of
the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does 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 one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative, including all text in charts, tables, figures,
graphs, and screen shots.
6. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider 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.
Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you
may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the
Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an
organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State
taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the
organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and
that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private
shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's
certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly
establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item
described above if that item applies to a State or national parent
organization, together with a statement by the State or parent
organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
Note: A faith-based organization is eligible to apply for and
receive a grant under this program on the same basis as any other
private organization, consistent with Appendix A to 34 CFR part 75.
7. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Before awarding grants
under this competition the Department conducts a review of the risks
posed by applicants. The Secretary may impose specific 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.
8. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$250,000), we must make a judgment about your integrity, business
ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards--that is, the
risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make an award. In doing
so, we must consider any information about you that is in the System
for Award Management's (SAM) Responsibility/Qualification reports
(formerly referred to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS)). You may review and comment on any
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and
that is currently in the Responsibility/Qualification reports in SAM.
If the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative
agreements, and procurement contracts from the Federal Government
exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 200,
Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information to
SAM semiannually. Please review these requirements if this grant plus
all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
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
[[Page 25606]]
GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works.
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables.
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
4. 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 should you receive
funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an
exception.
(b) At the end of your project's period of performance, you must
submit a final performance report, including financial information, as
directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must
submit semiannual and annual performance reports that provide the most
current performance and financial expenditure information as directed
by the Secretary. The Secretary may also require more frequent
performance reports. For specific requirements on reporting, please go
to <a href="http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html">www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html</a>.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, 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; if the Secretary
has established performance measurement requirements, whether the
grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the performance
targets in the grantee's approved application; and whether the
continuation of the project is in the best interest of the Federal
Government.
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.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print,
audiotape, compact disc, or other accessible format.
Diana Diaz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2025-11118 Filed 6-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.