Notice2025-11607
Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance on State Data Collection-Technical Assistance on State Data Collection-National Technical Assistance Center To Improve State Capacity To Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part B and Part C Fiscal Data
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 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for a Technical Assistance on State Data Collection--Technical Assistance on State Data Collection--National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part B and Part C Fiscal Data.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 120 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26991-26998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11607]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance on State Data
Collection--Technical Assistance on State Data Collection--National
Technical Assistance Center To Improve State Capacity To Collect,
Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part B and Part C Fiscal Data
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for a
Technical Assistance on State Data Collection--Technical Assistance on
State Data Collection--National Technical Assistance Center to Improve
State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part
B and Part C Fiscal Data.
DATES:
Applications Available: June 25, 2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 2025.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 25, 2025.
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="http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs">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: Charles D. Kniseley, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4A127, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 245-6313. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#43002b22312f26306d082d2a30262f263a0326276d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4d0e252c3f21283e630623243e282128340d2829632a223b">[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
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance on
State Data Collection program is to improve the capacity of States to
meet the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) data
collection and reporting requirements. Funding for the program is
authorized under section 611(c)(1) of
[[Page 26992]]
IDEA, which gives the Secretary the authority to reserve not more than
one-half of one percent of the amounts appropriated under Part B for
each fiscal year to provide technical assistance (TA) activities
authorized under section 616(i), where needed, to improve the capacity
of States to meet the data collection and reporting requirements under
Parts B and C of IDEA. The maximum amount the Secretary may reserve
under this set-aside for fiscal year 2025 is $42,657,297, cumulatively
adjusted by the rate of inflation. For fiscal year 2025 the Secretary
plans to reserve $27,500,000. Section 616(i) of IDEA requires the
Secretary to review the data collection and analysis capacity of States
to ensure that data and information determined necessary for
implementation of sections 616 and 642 of IDEA are collected, analyzed,
and accurately reported to the Secretary. It also requires the
Secretary to provide TA, where needed, to improve the capacity of
States to meet the data collection requirements, which include the data
collection and reporting requirements in sections 616 and 618 of IDEA.
In addition, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public
Law 118-47, gives the Secretary authority to use funds reserved under
section 611(c) of IDEA to ``administer and carry out other services and
activities to improve data collection, coordination, quality, and use
under Parts B and C of the IDEA.'' Further Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2024, Public Law 118-47, Division D, Title III, 138 Stat. 460, 685
(2024).
Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.373F.
OMB Control Number: 1820-0028.
Priority: This competition includes one absolute priority. This
priority is from the notice of final priority (NFP) for this program
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute 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 absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to
Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part B and Part C
Fiscal Data.
Background:
The Department prioritizes supporting States in meeting the
requirements of IDEA to collect, report, analyze, and use valid and
reliable IDEA fiscal data; and assisting them in ensuring that funds
are used consistent with IDEA requirements to implement effective
programs and services that improve outcomes for infants, toddlers,
children, and youth with disabilities and their families. While States
have identified benefits to effectively collecting and using their
fiscal data to meet the requirements under IDEA and ensure that they do
not experience monetary consequences because of inaccurate data, they
have expressed the need for support in building their knowledge and
expertise to help ensure compliance with IDEA's fiscal data
requirements, and to use the data to identify issues and improve State
systems.
The Department has found that because of the complex nature and
high-stakes need for meeting IDEA fiscal requirements, changes in
Federal fiscal reporting requirements, modifications in State funding
formulas, turnover in State staff, and organizational changes, States
request and readily take advantage of TA activities devoted to the
development and operationalization of IDEA fiscal policies and
procedures, systems to collect and report complex IDEA fiscal data to
improve IDEA programs, and strategies to address fiscal system needs.
Priority:
The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to
establish and operate the National Technical Assistance Center to
Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate
IDEA Part B and Part C Fiscal Data (Fiscal Data Center).
The Fiscal Data Center will provide TA to improve the capacity of
States to meet the IDEA Part B and Part C fiscal data collection
requirements under IDEA sections 618 and 642 and increase States'
knowledge of the underlying IDEA fiscal requirements and calculations
necessary to submit valid and reliable data for the following
collections: (1) Maintenance of State Financial Support (MFS) in
Section V of the IDEA Part B Annual State Application; (2) local
educational agency (LEA) Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Reduction and
Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS); (3) Description of Use
of IDEA Part B Section 611 Funds reserved for State administration and
other State-level activities in Section III of the IDEA Part B Annual
State Application; (4) Description of Use of Federal IDEA Part C Funds
for the Lead Agency (LA) and the Interagency Coordinating Council in
Section III of the IDEA Part C Annual State Application; (5) IDEA Part
C MOE requirements; (6) Restricted Indirect Cost Rate/Cost Allocation
Plan Information in Sections III and IV of the IDEA Part C Annual State
Application; and (7) Part C Subgranting, in Section III.F. of the Part
C Annual State Application.
The Fiscal Data Center must be designed to achieve, at a minimum,
the following expected outcomes:
(a) Increased capacity of States to collect, report, analyze, and
use high-quality IDEA Part B and Part C fiscal data;
(b) Increased capacity of States to accurately perform calculations
related to IDEA Part B and Part C statutory and regulatory fiscal
requirements, and submit valid and reliable fiscal data under IDEA Part
B and Part C;
(c) Improved State fiscal infrastructure to communicate and
coordinate effective IDEA Part B and Part C fiscal data collections and
reporting strategies among relevant State offices, including State
educational agencies (SEAs), LAs and other State agencies, LEAs,
schools, public charter schools that are LEAs, and early intervention
services (EIS) programs or providers;
(d) Increased capacity of States to submit accurate and timely IDEA
Part B and Part C fiscal data, and enhance State validation procedures
to prevent errors in State-reported IDEA fiscal data;
(e) Increased capacity of States to train personnel to meet the
IDEA Part B and Part C fiscal data collection and reporting
requirements under sections 616, 618, and 642 of IDEA; and
(f) Increased capacity of SEAs and LAs to work with LEAs, including
public charter schools that are LEAs, and EIS programs or providers to
analyze and use IDEA fiscal data to identify issues and address those
issues through monitoring, TA, and partner involvement.
In addition to these programmatic requirements, to be considered
for funding under this priority, applicants must meet the application
and administrative requirements in this priority, which are:
(a) Describe, in the narrative section of the application under
``Significance,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Address the current and emerging needs of States and local
systems to collect, report, analyze, and use high-quality IDEA Part B
and Part C fiscal data. To meet this requirement, the applicant must--
(i) Demonstrate knowledge of how SEAs, LAs, LEAs, including public
charter schools that are LEAs, and EIS programs and providers are
meeting IDEA Part B and Part C fiscal data collection and reporting
requirements and the underlying statutory and regulatory fiscal
requirements, as well
[[Page 26993]]
as knowledge of State and local data collection systems, as
appropriate; and
(ii) Present applicable national, State, and local data to show the
current capacity needs of SEAs, LAs, LEAs, including public charter
schools that are LEAs, and EIS programs and providers to meet IDEA Part
B and Part C fiscal data collection and reporting requirements; and
(2) Improve how SEAs and LAs use IDEA section 618 fiscal data as a
means of both improving data quality and identifying programmatic
strengths and areas for improvement, and indicate the likely magnitude
or importance of the improvements.
(b) Describe, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the project design,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Achieve its goals, objectives, and intended outcomes. To meet
this requirement, the applicant must provide--
(i) Measurable intended project outcomes; and
(ii) In Appendix A, the logic model (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1) by
which the proposed project will achieve its intended outcomes that
depicts, at a minimum, the goals, activities, outputs, and intended
outcomes of the proposed project;
(2) Use a conceptual framework (and provide a copy in Appendix A)
to develop project plans and activities, describing any underlying
concepts, assumptions, expectations, beliefs, or theories, as well as
the presumed relationships or linkages among these variables, and any
empirical support for this framework;
(3) Be based on current research and make use of evidence-based \1\
practices (EBPs). To meet this requirement, the applicant must
describe--
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\1\ For the purposes of these requirements, ``evidence-based''
means the proposed project component is supported by one or more of
strong evidence, moderate evidence, promising evidence, or evidence
that demonstrates a rationale (as such terms are defined in 34 CFR
77.1).
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(i) The current research on the capacity of SEAs, LEAs, including
public charter schools that are LEAs, LAs, and EIS providers to report
and use IDEA Part B and Part C data submitted under section 616 and
section 618, as a means of both improving data quality and identifying
strengths and areas for improvement; and
(ii) How the proposed project will incorporate current research and
EBPs in the development and delivery of its products and services;
(4) Develop products and provide services that are of high quality
and sufficient intensity and duration to achieve the intended outcomes
of the proposed project. To address this requirement, the applicant
must describe--
(i) How it proposes to expand the knowledge base for States on--
(A) Fiscal data management and data system integration needed for
IDEA Part B and Part C data collection and reporting;
(B) IDEA fiscal data validation that leads to improvements in the
validity and reliability of fiscal data required by IDEA; and
(C) Effective ways to communicate fiscal data to local consumers
(e.g., parents, LEAs, including public charter schools that are LEAs,
EIS programs or providers, the general public);
(ii) Its proposed approach to universal, general TA,\2\ which must
describe--
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\2\ ``Universal, general TA'' means TA and information provided
to independent users through their own initiative, resulting in
minimal interaction with TA center staff and including one-time,
invited or offered conference presentations by TA center staff. This
category of TA also includes information or products, such as
newsletters, guidebooks, or research syntheses, downloaded from the
TA center's website by independent users. Brief communications by TA
center staff with recipients, either by telephone or email, are also
considered universal, general TA.
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(A) The intended recipients, including the type and number of
recipients, that will receive the products and services;
(B) The products and services that the project proposes to make
available;
(C) The development and maintenance of a high-quality website, with
an easy-to-navigate design, that meets or exceeds government- or
industry-recognized standards for accessibility; and
(D) The expected reach and impact of universal, general TA;
(iii) Its proposed approach to targeted, specialized TA,\3\ which
must describe--
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\3\ ``Targeted, specialized TA'' means TA services based on
needs common to multiple recipients and not extensively
individualized. A relationship is established between the TA
recipient and one or more TA center staff. This category of TA
includes one-time, labor-intensive events, such as facilitating
strategic planning or hosting regional or national conferences. It
can also include episodic, less labor-intensive events that extend
over a period of time, such as facilitating a series of conference
calls on single or multiple topics that are designed around the
needs of the recipients. Facilitating communities of practice can
also be considered targeted, specialized TA.
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(A) The intended recipients, including the type and number of
recipients, that will receive the products and services;
(B) The products and services that the project proposes to make
available; and
(C) The proposed approach to measure the readiness of potential TA
recipients to work with the project, including, at a minimum, an
assessment of potential recipients' current infrastructure, available
resources, and ability to build capacity at the local level;
(iv) Its proposed approach to intensive, sustained TA,\4\ which
must describe--
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\4\ ``Intensive, sustained TA'' means TA services often provided
on-site and requiring a stable, ongoing relationship between the TA
center staff and the TA recipient. ``TA services'' are defined as
negotiated series of activities designed to reach a valued outcome.
This category of TA should result in changes to policy, program,
practice, or operations that support increased recipient capacity or
improved outcomes at one or more systems levels.
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(A) The intended recipients, including the type and number of
recipients from a variety of settings and geographic distribution, that
will receive the products and services;
(B) Its proposed approach to addressing States' challenges
reporting high-quality IDEA fiscal data to the Department and the
public, which should, at a minimum, include providing virtual and on-
site consultation to the SEA or LA to--
(1) Implement model practices for the management of IDEA data and
data system integration policies, procedures, processes, and activities
within the State;
(2) Develop, use, or adapt tools to meet State-specific IDEA data
needs;
(3) Develop a sustainability plan for the State to continue the
management of IDEA data and data system integration work in the future;
and
(4) Implement a cybersecurity plan to ensure a secure IDEA fiscal
data system;
(C) Its proposed approach to measure the readiness of SEAs and LAs
to work with the project, including their commitment to the initiative,
alignment of the initiative to their needs, current infrastructure,
available resources, and ability to build capacity at the State and
local levels;
(D) Its proposed plan to prioritize States with the greatest need
for intensive TA to receive products and services;
(E) Its proposed plan for assisting SEAs and LAs to build or
enhance training systems that include professional development based on
adult learning principles and coaching;
(F) Its proposed plan for working with appropriate levels of the
education system (e.g., SEAs, LAs, regional TA providers, LEAs,
including public charter schools that are LEAs, local EIS programs and
providers, and families) to ensure that there is communication between
each level and that there are systems in place to support the
collection, reporting, analysis, and use
[[Page 26994]]
of high-quality IDEA fiscal data as well as IDEA fiscal data management
and data system integration; and
(G) The expected impact of intensive, sustained TA; and
(v) How the proposed project will intentionally engage families of
children with disabilities and individuals with disabilities in the
development, implementation, and evaluation of its products and
services across all levels of TA;
(5) Develop products and implement services that maximize
efficiency. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
(i) How the proposed project will use technology to achieve the
intended project outcomes;
(ii) With whom the proposed project will collaborate and the
intended outcomes of this collaboration, including the process by which
the proposed project will collaborate with Department-funded centers
(including privacy TA centers such as the DaSy Center that provides
Department-funded TA on early childhood data privacy, and the Privacy
Technical Assistance Center) and other federally funded TA centers to
develop and implement a coordinated TA plan when they are involved in a
State; and
(iii) How the proposed project will use non-project resources, such
as non-Federal funds and in-kind contributions, to achieve the intended
project outcomes, to achieve the intended project outcomes; and
(6) Systematically disseminate information, products, and services
to varied intended audiences. To address this requirement the applicant
must describe--
(i) The variety of dissemination strategies the project will use
throughout the five years of the project to promote awareness and use
of its products and services;
(ii) How the project will tailor dissemination strategies across
all planned levels of TA to ensure that products and services reach
intended recipients, and those recipients can access and use those
products and services;
(iii) How the project's dissemination plan is connected to the
proposed outcomes of the project; and
(iv) How the project will evaluate and correct all digital products
and external communications to ensure they meet or exceed government or
industry-recognized standards for accessibility.
(c) In the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of
the project evaluation or other evidence-building,'' describe how the
project will develop an evaluation plan in consultation with, and to be
implemented by, a third-party evaluator.\5\ The evaluation plan must--
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\5\ A ``third-party'' evaluator is an independent and impartial
program evaluator who is contracted by the grantee to conduct an
objective evaluation of the project. This evaluator must not have
participated in the development or implementation of any project
activities, except for the evaluation activities, nor have any
financial interest in the outcome of the evaluation.
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(1) Articulate formative and summative evaluation questions,
including important process and outcome evaluation questions. These
questions must be related to the project's proposed logic model
required under paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of these application and
administrative requirements;
(2) Describe how progress in and fidelity of implementation, as
well as project outcomes, will be measured to answer the evaluation
questions. In measuring progress of implementation across all levels of
TA, the plan must include criteria for determining the extent to which
the project's products and services reached intended recipients; data,
including feedback from recipients, on how recipients used the products
and services; and the impact of the products and services. The plan
must also specify sources for data, and measures and instruments
appropriate to the evaluation questions, including information on
reliability and validity of the measures and associated instruments
where appropriate;
(3) Describe strategies for analyzing data and how data collected
as part of this plan will be used to inform and improve service
delivery over the course of the project and to refine the proposed
logic model and evaluation plan, including subsequent data collection;
(4) Provide a timeline for conducting the evaluation and include
staff assignments for completing the plan. The timeline must indicate
that the data will be available annually for the Annual Performance
Report and at the end of Year 2; and
(5) Dedicate sufficient funds in each budget year to cover the
costs of developing or refining the evaluation plan in consultation
with a third-party evaluator, as well as the costs associated with the
implementation of the evaluation plan by the third-party evaluator.
(d) Describe, in the narrative section of the application under
``Adequacy of resources,'' how--
(1) The project will make positive efforts to employ and advance in
employment qualified individuals with disabilities;
(2) The applicant and any key partners have adequate resources to
carry out the proposed activities;
(3) The proposed project will have processes, resources, and funds
in place to provide access for project staff, contractors, and
partners, who require digital accessibility accommodations; \6\ and
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\6\ For information about digital accessibility and
accessibility standards from Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act,
visit <a href="https://sites.ed.gov/idea/topic-areas/#Accessibility-Creating-Content">https://sites.ed.gov/idea/topic-areas/#Accessibility-Creating-Content</a>.
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(4) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the
anticipated results and benefits, and funds will be spent in a way that
increases their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
(e) Describe, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the management plan,''--
(1) How the proposed management plan will ensure that the project's
intended outcomes will be achieved on time and within budget. To
address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
(i) Clearly defined responsibilities for key project personnel,
consultants, and subcontractors, as applicable; and
(ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks;
(2) Allocations of key project personnel and any consultants and
subcontractors and how these allocations are appropriate and adequate
to achieve the project's intended outcomes;
(3) How the proposed key project personnel, consultants, and
subcontractors have the qualifications and experience to carry out the
proposed activities and achieve the project's intended outcomes;
(4) How the proposed management plan will ensure that the products
and services provided are of high quality, relevant, and useful to
recipients; and
(5) How the proposed project will benefit from a variety of
perspectives, including those of families, educators, TA providers,
researchers, and policy makers, among others, in its development and
operation.
(f) Address the following application requirements. The applicant
must--
(1) Include, in Appendix A, personnel-loading charts and timelines,
as applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the
narrative;
(2) Include, in the budget, attendance at the following:
(i) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting in Washington, DC,
after receipt of the award, and an annual planning meeting in
Washington, DC, with the OSEP project officer and other relevant
[[Page 26995]]
staff during each subsequent year of the project period.
Note: Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award
teleconference must be held between the OSEP project officer and the
grantee's project director or other authorized representative;
(ii) A three-day project directors' conference in Washington, DC,
during each year of the project periods, provided that, if the meeting
is conducted virtually, the project must reallocate unused travel funds
no later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period; and
(iii) Three annual two-day trips to attend Department briefings,
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by
OSEP; and
(3) Include, in the budget, a line item for an annual set-aside of
five percent of the grant amount to support emerging needs that are
consistent with the proposed project's intended outcomes, as those
needs are identified in consultation with, and approved by, the OSEP
project officer. With approval from the OSEP project officer, the
project must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside
no later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period;
(4) Budget at least 50 percent of the grant award for providing
targeted and intensive TA to States; and
(5) Include, in Appendix A, an assurance to assist OSEP with the
transfer of pertinent resources and products and to maintain the
continuity of services to States during the transition to a new award
at the end of this award period, as appropriate.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1411(c), 1416(i), 1418(c), 1418(d),
1442, 1482; Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public Law
118-47, Division D, Title III, 138 Stat. 460, 685 (2024).
Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal
civil rights laws.
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 (OMB)
Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension
(Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Guidance for
Federal Financial Assistance in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended
as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) 34 CFR
300.702. (e) The NFP.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education (IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: $3,900,000 in year one and $4,200,000 in
years two through five.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2026 from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition.
Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $3,900,000 for a
single budget period of 12 months in year one and $4,200,000 for a
single budget period of 12 months in years two through five.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs; State lead agencies under Part C of
the IDEA; LEAs, including public charter schools that are considered
LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private nonprofit
organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; Indian
Tribes or Tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require
cost sharing or matching.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses an
unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding
indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please
see <a href="http://www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ofo#Indirect-Cost-Division">www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ofo#Indirect-Cost-Division</a>.
c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include
any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All
administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to
Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Guidance
for Federal Financial Assistance.
3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under
this competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project
activities described in its application--to the following types of
entities: IHEs, nonprofit organizations suitable to carry out the
activities proposed in the application, and other public agencies. The
grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified in an
approved application or that it selects through a competition under
procedures established by the grantee, consistent with 34 CFR
75.708(b)(2).
4. Other General Requirements:
(a) Recipients of funding under this competition must make positive
efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with
disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Applicants for, and recipients of, funding must, with respect
to the aspects of their proposed project relating to the absolute
priority, involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of
individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning,
implementing, and evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of
IDEA).
IV. 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="http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs">www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs</a>, which contain requirements and information on how to
submit an application.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this
competition. Please note that, under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we have shortened
the standard 60-day intergovernmental review period in order to make
awards by the end of FY 2025.
3. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative 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 70 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, reference citations, and captions, as well
[[Page 26996]]
as all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
<bullet> Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
<bullet> Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the
assurances and certifications; or the abstract (follow the guidance
provided in the application package for completing the abstract), the
table of contents, the list of priority requirements, the resumes, the
reference list, the letters of support, or the appendices. However, the
recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative,
including all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen
shots.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows:
(a) Significance (10 points).
The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project.
In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the specific nature and magnitude of gaps
or challenges are identified and the extent to which these gaps or
challenges will be addressed by the services, supports, infrastructure,
or opportunities described in the proposed project.
(2) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in
systemic change that supports continuous, sustainable, and measurable
improvement.
(b) Quality of the project design (35 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) 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.
(2) The quality of the logic model or other conceptual framework
underlying the proposed project, including how inputs are related to
outcomes.
(3) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project reflect up-to-date knowledge and an evidence-based project
component.
(4) The extent to which the training or professional development
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient
quality, intensity, and duration to build recipient and project
capacity in ways that lead to improvements in practice among the
recipients of those services.
(5) 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.
(c) Quality of the project evaluation or other evidence-building
(20 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation or other
evidence-building of the proposed project. In determining the quality
of the evaluation or other evidence-building, the Secretary considers
the following factors:
(1) 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.
(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other
evidence-building are designed to measure the fidelity of
implementation of the project.
(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other
evidence-building will provide performance feedback and provide
formative, diagnostic, or interim data that is a periodic assessment of
progress toward achieving intended outcomes.
(4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other
evidence-building include the use of objective performance measures
that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and
will produce quality data that are quantitative and qualitative.
(d) Adequacy of resources (15 points).
The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The adequacy of support for the project, including facilities,
equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant or the
lead applicant organization.
(2) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
(3) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the
proposed project and the costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
(e) Quality of the management plan (20 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) The extent to which the key personnel in the project, when
hired, have the qualifications required for the proposed project,
including formal training or work experience in fields related to the
objectives of the project, and represent or have lived experiences of
the target population.
(4) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality and
accessible products and services from the proposed project for the
target population.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
In the event there are two or more applications with the same final
score, and there are insufficient funds to fully support each of these
applications, the scores under selection criterion (b) Quality of the
project design will be used as a tiebreaker. If the scores remain tied,
then the scores under selection criterion (d) Adequacy of resources
will be used to break the tie.
3. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past,
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The standing panel
requirements under section 682(b) of
[[Page 26997]]
IDEA also have placed additional constraints on the availability of
reviewers. Therefore, the Department has determined that for some
discretionary grant competitions, applications may be separated into
two or more groups and ranked and selected for funding within specific
groups. This procedure will make it easier for the Department to find
peer reviewers by ensuring that greater numbers of individuals who are
eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular group of applicants
will not have conflicts of interest. It also will increase the quality,
independence, and fairness of the review process, while permitting
panel members to review applications under discretionary grant
competitions for which they also have submitted applications.
4. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR
3474.10, 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.
5. 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.
6. In General: In accordance with the Guidance for Federal
Financial Assistance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting
applications in accordance with--
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR
200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN), or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We also may notify you
informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. 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 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 in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to <a href="http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html">www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html</a>.
5. Performance Measures: 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
Technical Assistance on State Data Collection program. These measures
are:
<bullet> Program Performance Measure #1: The percentage of TA and
dissemination products and services deemed to be of high quality by an
independent review panel of experts qualified or individuals with
appropriate expertise to review the substantive content of the products
and services.
<bullet> Program Performance Measure #2: The percentage of TA and
dissemination products and services deemed by an independent review
panel of qualified experts or members of the target audiences to be of
high relevance to educational and early intervention policy or
practice.
<bullet> Program Performance Measure #3: The percentage of TA and
dissemination products and services deemed by an
[[Page 26998]]
independent review panel of qualified experts or members of the target
audiences to be useful in improving educational or early intervention
policy or practice.
<bullet> Program Performance Measure #4: The cost efficiency of the
Technical Assistance on State Data Collection Program includes the
percentage of milestones achieved in the current annual performance
report period and the percentage of funds spent during the current
fiscal year.
The measures apply to projects funded under this competition, and
grantees are required to submit data on these measures as directed by
OSEP.
Grantees will be required to report information on their project's
performance in annual and final performance reports to the Department
(34 CFR 75.590).
The Department will also closely monitor the extent to which the
products and services provided by the project meet needs identified by
stakeholders and may require the project to report on such alignment in
its annual and final performance reports.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; 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 (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Other Information
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.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other Department documents published in the
Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access Department documents published in the Federal
Register by using the article search feature at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Diana Diaz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2025-11607 Filed 6-24-25; 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.