Capacity Building for Traditionally Underserved Populations (84.315)

Program

84.315 Capacity Building for Traditionally Underserved Populations

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Special Education And Rehabilitative Services

Authorization

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Section 21.

Program Number

84.315

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To enhance the capacity and increase the participation of historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions of higher education, and other institutions of higher education where minority enrollment is at least 50 percent, in competitions for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants are limited to: awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to carry out activities under the programs authorized under titles II, III, VI, and VII of the Rehabilitation Act; awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to conduct research, training, technical assistance, or related activities, to improve services provided under the Rehabilitation Act, especially services provided to individuals from minority backgrounds; and awards to eligible entities to provide outreach and technical assistance to minority entities and Indian tribes to promote their participation in activities funded under the Rehabilitation Act.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States and public and nonprofit agencies and organizations may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Historically Black colleges and universities; (2) Hispanics serving institutions of higher education; (3) Indian tribal colleges and universities (4) other institutions of higher education whose minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent; and (5) Indian Tribes.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process that the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the program office for more information.

Award Procedure

All new applications are reviewed by a panel of at least three individuals. Each panel will generally include two or more nonfederal consultants with experience and training in the proposed area of training. Each panel will include a person with a disability and an individual from a minority background.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The range of approval/disapproval time is approximately 120 to 150 days following the application deadline.

Appeals

Other - Not Specified.

Renewals

Renewals are available only through the new application process. Projects with an approved multi-year project period may be continued based on the availability of appropriated funds and an annual review of accomplishments to determine satisfactory performance.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Projects generally may be supported for 1 to 5 years, with budget periods of 12-months. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual financial and progress reports must be submitted as required by the grant award's terms and conditions. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits must be conducted on a continuing basis or at scheduled intervals, usually once a year, but at least once every 2 years. Institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program- specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

As required by EDGAR.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Some program accomplishments include the following: (1) Extensive training on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and other key disability legislation; (2) the establishment of State-wide consortia of public agencies and organizations to better coordinate the delivery of vocational rehabilitation and other related services to persons with disabilities from minority backgrounds; (3) sponsoring and co-sponsoring of national and regional conferences of rehabilitation providers such as the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR) and others; (4) establishment of rehabilitation training programs at colleges and universities; (5) increase in the number of applications and funding of projects from minority institutions of higher education; (6) implementation of national satellite broadcasts to discuss rehabilitation with participants from institutions of higher education, rehabilitation State agencies, independent living centers, supported employment programs and other agencies and organizations involved in the administration of rehabilitation programs. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0301-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $2,288,558; FY 09 est $2,353,180; FY 10 est $2,353,180

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Education Department General Administrative Regulations. For more information contact the program office.

Related Programs

84.406 Capacity Building for Traditionally Underserved Populations, Recovery Act.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Ellen Chesley Department of Education, OSERS Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202-2649 Email: ellen.chesley@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-7300

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/index.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Projects have supported training, technical assistance, and related activities provided by minority institutions of higher education and Indian tribes and to improve services provided under the Rehabilitation Act, especially services provided to individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The selection criteria contained in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations are used to evaluate this program.