Centers for Independent Living

 

To support a Statewide network of centers for independent living (centers or CILs) and provide financial assistance to centers that comply with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act) consistent with the design included in the State Plan for Independent Living for establishing a statewide network of centers. Centers are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential, private nonprofit agencies that are operated in local communities by individuals with disabilities and provide an array of IL services that are designed to enhance independence and productivity of individuals with significant disabilities and to promote their full inclusion and integration into the mainstream of American society.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 02/05/2016 (Archived.)
Program Number
84.132
Federal Agency/Office
Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
Project Grants (Discretionary)
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available. Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available
Authorization
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title VII, Chapter 1, Part C.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Private non-profit organizations. An eligible agency under the CIL program is a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential, private nonprofit agency or a state agency in states in which no eligible private non-profit organization applies for a grant. The Rehabilitation Act and regulations require the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to make awards based on a statutory order of priority. A State’s allotment for IL Part C funds is determined according to a population-based formula. To the extent funds are available, the order of priority is as follows: existing centers that meet the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) of the Act must receive the level of funding each center received in the prior year. Existing centers that meet the Act’s standards and assurances then receive a cost-of-living increase consistent with section 721(c)(3) of the Act. If there are sufficient excess funds in a State’s allotment, and there are areas in the State that are unserved or underserved by centers, the Commissioner must fund new centers. If there are insufficient funds to fund new centers, the excess funds may be distributed to existing centers or reallotted to other States.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Individuals with significant disabilities as defined in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act and 34 CFR 364.4 of the IL program regulations. This refers to an individual with a severe physical, mental, cognitive or sensory impairment whose ability to function independently in the family or community or whose ability to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment is substantially limited and for whom the delivery of IL services will improve the ability to function, continue functioning, or move toward functioning independently in the family or community or to continue in employment.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-122 (Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations). If the center is operated by a State agency, OMB Circular A-87 is used to determine the allowability of costs. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. 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. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The Education Department General Administrative Regulations at 34 CFR Parts 74, 75 and 80, if a state agency receives the award, apply to this program. Applications should be submitted to the Department e-Grants Website or to the Department of Education, Application Control Center, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4725, according to instructions specified in the Notice Inviting Applications. The standard application kit as furnished by the Department of Education must be used for this program.
Award Procedure
New awards are made based upon the results of a competitive peer review process of applications and the review and approval of staff in various offices within the Department.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Projects may be continued based on the submission of an annual performance report (the section 704 report), and RSA’s determination that the center has met the standards and assurances under section 725(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act, and the availability of funds. Amounts of continuation awards are subject to the availability of appropriations.
How are proposals selected?
Selection criteria for this program include extent of need for the project, past performance, satisfaction of the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725, quality of key personnel, budget and cost-effectiveness, evaluation plan, plan of operation, and involvement of individuals with significant disabilities. Criteria for evaluating applications are published in program regulations at 34 CFR 366.
How may assistance be used?
Federal funds awarded under this program, the CIL program, are used for the establishment and operation of centers for independent living which offer a wide range of independent living (IL) services. Services must include independent living core services which are information and referral services, independent living skills training, peer counseling, including cross-disability peer counseling, and individual and systems advocacy. As appropriate, IL services include a combination of any other independent living services specified in the Rehabilitation Act and 34 CFR Section 364.4 of the IL program regulations. Section 721(b) of the Rehabilitation Act specifies that not less than 1.8 percent and not more than two percent of Federal funds appropriated for the CIL program must be reserved each fiscal year to provide training and technical assistance under contracts with entities who have experience in the operation of centers for independent living.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Annual and fiscal progress reports and self-evaluations (section 704 reports) must be submitted as prescribed by Section 725 (c)(8) of the Rehabilitation Act, and grant award terms and conditions. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.
Auditing
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.
Records
As required by EDGAR for non-profit recipients (34 CFR Part 74) records related to grant funding, compliance and performance must be maintained for a period of three years after completion of the grant activity and the final financial report is submitted or until all audit questions are resolved.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Rehabilitation Act Section 721(c) and 722(e).
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Existing projects are approved on an annual basis with funding on a twelve month basis. New projects are funded for five years with funding approved on a 12-month basis. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Veronica Hogan, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: veronica.hogan@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-7378.
Website Address
http://www.rsa.ed.gov/programs.cfm
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0301-0-1-506.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 13 $75,771,549; FY 14 est $78,305,000; and FY 15 est $78,305,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY 2014, the range is $4,254 to $1,335,905 The average award is $221,818.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, and 97; Program Regulations in 34 CFR Parts 364 and 366.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available

 


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