Independent Living State Grants, Recovery Act (84.398)

Program

84.398 Independent Living State Grants, Recovery Act

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education

Authorization

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title VII, Chapter 1, Part B, ; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)., Public Law 111-5.

Program Number

84.398

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To assist States in maximizing the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream American society, by providing financial assistance for providing, expanding, and improving the provision of independent living services.

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds received under this Part may be used to support the operation of the Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC), States may also use funds received under this Part for one or more of the following purposes: to provide independent living services to individuals with significant disabilities; to demonstrate ways to expand and improve independent living services; to support the operations of centers for independent living; to increase the capacities of public or nonprofit agencies and organizations and other entities to develop comprehensive approaches or systems for providing independent living services; to conduct studies and analyses, gather information, develop model polices and procedures, and present information, approaches, strategies, findings, conclusions, and recommendations to Federal, State, and local policymakers in order to enhance independent living services for individuals with disabilities; to train individuals with disabilities and individuals providing services to individuals with disabilities and other persons regarding the independent living philosophy; and to provide outreach to populations that are unserved or underserved by programs under this title, including minority groups and urban and rural populations.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None

Beneficiary Eligibility

None

Credentials/Documentation

The State agency must certify the availability of State funds for matching purposes. The match for this program may be in-kind. 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 an approved State Plan for Independent Living. 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Eligible agencies in a State with an approved State Plan for Independent Living do not need to submit an application to receive funds for this program under the Recovery Act. In some States, the approved State Plan for Independent Living may need to be revised or amended to account for the increased funding available under the Recovery Act. The Department will provide additional guidance on this issue and expenditures of funds in these instances will be conditioned on the submission of a revised or amended State Plan for Independent Living.

Award Procedure

All agencies eligible for funding under an approved State Plan for Independent Living for the Independent Living State Grants program (CFDA 84.169) are eligible to receive funds provided under the Recovery Act for this program. A grant award based on each agency�s share of the formula allocation for a State of the funds provided by the Recovery Act for this program was issued on April 1, 2009. In some States, the approved State Plan for Independent Living may need to be revised or amended before the Recovery Act funds may be expended. In these instances, grant awards will be subject to a grant condition.

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 VII, Chapter 1, Part B.

Matching Requirements: Recovery Act funds will be allocated among States according to the formula in section 711 of the Rehabilitation Act using annual population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Federal share for any fiscal year is one State dollar for every Federal dollar. The State contribution may be cash or in-kind.

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. State agencies have an additional 12-month period to obligate their funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: No information provided.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for State-administered programs. Annual and quarterly progress reports; annual budget and case service reports; annual financial reports. 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. 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. The Education Department periodically conducts audits and site visits of designated State unit programs funded under Part B.

Records

As required by EDGAR for State-administered programs. Generally, States and sub-grantees must retain records related to grant funds and compliance for a period of 5 years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: N/A. Fiscal Year 2009: Funds were awarded to 78 designated State units. Fiscal Year 2010: N/A.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0302-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $18,200,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In FY 2009, the range of awards is expected to be $22,523 to $1,623,087.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Independent Living Regulations 34 CFR 364 and 365.

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; 84.399 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind, Recovery Act ; 84.400 Centers for Independent Living, Recovery Act.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

William Bethel Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: william.bethel@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-6775

Web Site Address

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

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

An approved State plan is a condition for receipt of funds under Title VII, Part B of the Rehabilitation Act.