Independent Living Services For Older Individuals Who Are Blind, Recovery Act (84.399)

Program

84.399 Independent Living Services For Older Individuals Who Are Blind, Recovery Act

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education

Authorization

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title VII, Chapter 2. ; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Public Law 111-5.

Program Number

84.399

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide independent living services to individuals aged 55 or older who are blind, whose severe visual impairments make competitive employment extremely difficult to obtain, but for whom independent living goals are feasible.

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

Federal funds are used to improve or expand independent living services. Among the services provided are those to help correct or modify visual disabilities, provide eyeglasses and other visual aids, provide services and equipment to enhance mobility and self-care, provide training in Braille and other services to help older individuals who are blind adjust to blindness, provide teaching services in daily living activities, and other supportive services that enable individuals to live more independently. Funds can also be used to improve public understanding of the problems faced by visual older individuals who are blind.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None

Beneficiary Eligibility

None

Credentials/Documentation

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

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

There is no separate application required for this program. Agencies are eligible to receive funds for this program under the Recovery Act if they have a current approved application under Independent Living�Services for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program (CFDA 84.177). 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

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Agencies with a current approved application under CFDA 84.177 do not need to submit an application to receive funds under the Recovery Act because these funds will be made available to each Agency based on the Agency�s established eligibility for FY 2009 funds under CFDA 84.177.

Award Procedure

The Recovery Act funds will be awarded based on the formula allocations for States authorized under section 752(j) of the Rehabilitation Act. A grant in the amount of this allocation will be forwarded to all eligible Agencies by the end of March 2009.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Title VIII, Chapter 2.

Matching Requirements: Cost-sharing of $1 for each $9 of Federal grant funding is required.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are available for obligation at the Federal level until September 30, 2010. Grantees have an additional 12-month period to obligate their funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds will be released by electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for direct grant programs. Annual and quarterly progress reports; annual budget and case service reports; annual financial reports are required. Grantees will report on how funds under this program are spent and the results of those expenditures. Grantees receiving funding under the Recovery Act may be required to report at the end of each quarter on the amount of grant funds obligated and expended; all activities for which those funds were obligated and expended; the completion status of those activities; the estimated number of jobs created or retained by the project and those activities; and detailed information on any contracts awarded with grant funds. Specific reporting requirements will be included in grant award documents. Contact the program office for more information. 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. Any additional audit requirements will be included in grant award documents.

Records

As required by EDGAR for direct grant programs. Generally, records related to grant funds, compliance, and performance must be maintained for a period of 5 years after completion.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: N/A. Fiscal Year 2009: Funds were awarded to 56 designated State units. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0302-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $34,300,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In FY 09, the range of awards is expected to be $3,170 to $3,707,077.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Section 752 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, and 34 CFR 367, as amended.

Related Programs

84.132 Centers for Independent Living; 84.169 Independent Living_State Grants; 84.177 Rehabilitation Services_Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind; 84.398 Independent Living State Grants, Recovery Act ; 84.400 Centers for Independent Living, Recovery Act.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

William Bethel Department of Education, OSERS 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Rm. 5057, PCP, Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: william.bethel@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-6775

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/programs/rsailob/index.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Projects awarded under CFDA 84.177 have extended services to subgroups of the older blind population that are vulnerable to premature or unnecessary institutionalization as well as to older deaf-blind persons. These projects provide services in both rural and urban areas and about half of the grantees make sub-grants to community nonprofit agencies to deliver services. In addition to in-home and/or facility- based service provisions, mobile units and community mini-centers are available near the residences of persons being served. All projects provide comprehensive independent living services. Fiscal Year 2009: N/A. Fiscal Year 2010: N/A.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Selection criteria for the current, approved applications under this program were based on the extent of need for the project, the plan of operation, the quality of key personnel, the budget and cost-effectiveness, the evaluation plan, the adequacy of resources, the service comprehensiveness, and the likelihood of sustaining program. Criteria for selecting projects are published in program regulation at 34 CFR 367.