Notices. Notice; comment request

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 4000-01-M DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 4, 2008. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, publishes that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following:

(1)Type of review requested, e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement;

(2)Title;

(3)Summary of the collection;

(4)Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information;

(5)Respondents and frequency of collection; and

(6)Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites public comment. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues:

(1)Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department;

(2)will this information be processed and used in a timely manner;

(3)is the estimate of burden accurate;

(4)how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(5)how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Dated: January 29, 2008. Angela C. Arrington, IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management. Office of Postsecondary Education *Type of Review:* Extension of a currently approved collection. *Title:* Annual Student Activities Report for the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program. *Frequency:* Annually. *Affected Public:* Not-for-profit institutions. *Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:* Responses: 190. Burden Hours: 570. *Abstract:* This information collection provides the U.S. Department of Education with information needed to determine if fellows have made substantial progress toward meeting the program's objectives and allows program staff to monitor and evaluate time-to-degree completion and the graduation rate. The Congress has mandated (through the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993) that the U.S. Department of Education provide documentation about the progress being made by the program. Program staff have made minor adjustments to the report to improve the clarity of the document, and to ensure more effective data collection and evaluation of program performance. However, the current burden estimate of three hours per response remains the same, pending feedback from respondents after the approved Annual Student Activities Report is extended and implemented. Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from *http://edicsweb.ed.gov* , by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 3571. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to *ICDocketMgr@ed.gov* or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to *ICDocketMgr@ed.gov* . Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. [FR Doc. E8-1958 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Overview Information; Enhanced Assessment Instruments; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year

(FY)2007 Funds Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA)Number: 84.368A. Dates: *Applications Available:* Feburary 4, 2007. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* April 4, 2008. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* The purpose of this program is to enhance the quality of assessment instruments and systems used by States for measuring the achievement of all students. *Priorities:* This competition includes four absolute priorities and three competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), the absolute priorities are from section 6112 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The competitive preference priorities are from Appendix E to the notice of final requirements for optional State consolidated applications submitted under section 9302 of the ESEA, published in the **Federal Register** on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967). *Absolute Priorities:* For FY 2007 funds, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet one or more of these priorities. These priorities are: *Absolute Priority 1.* Collaborate with institutions of higher education, other research institutions, or other organizations to improve the quality, validity, and reliability of State academic assessments beyond the requirements for these assessments described in section 1111(b)(3) of the ESEA. *Absolute Priority 2.* Measure student academic achievement using multiple measures of student academic achievement from multiple sources. *Absolute Priority 3.* Chart student progress over time. *Absolute Priority 4.* Evaluate student academic achievement through the development of comprehensive academic assessment instruments, such as performance and technology-based academic assessments. *Competitive Preference Priorities:* Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional 35 points to an application, depending on the extent to which an application meets competitive preference priorities. For FY 2007 funds, these priorities are: *Competitive Preference Priority 1.* Accommodations and alternate assessments (up to 20 points). Applications that can be expected to advance practice significantly in the area of increasing accessibility and validity of assessments for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency, or both, including strategies for test design, administration with accommodations, scoring, and reporting. *Competitive Preference Priority 2.* Collaborative efforts (up to 10 points). Applications that are sponsored by a consortium of States. *Competitive Preference Priority 3.* Dissemination (up to 5 points). Applications that include an effective plan for dissemination of results. Note: The full text of the competitive preference priorities is included in the notice of final requirements published in the **Federal Register** on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967). *Program Authority:* 20 U.S.C. 7301a and 7842. *Applicable Regulations:*

(a)The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

(b)The notice of final requirements published in the **Federal Register** on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967). II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grants. *Estimated Available Funds:* $7,500,000 in FY 2007 funds. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $500,000-$2,000,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* $1,500,000. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 5. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 18 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. *Eligible Applicants:* State educational agencies

(SEAs)as defined in section 9101(41) of the ESEA and consortia of such SEAs. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* This competition does not require cost sharing or matching. 3. *Other:* An application from a consortium of SEAs must designate one SEA as the fiscal agent. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* You can access the electronic grant application for the Enhanced Assessment Grants Program at *http://www.Grants.gov.* You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.368, not 84.368A). You can also obtain a copy of the application package by contacting the program contact persons listed under *Agency Contact* in section VII of this notice. Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team listed under *Agency Contact* in section VII of this notice. 2. *Content and Form of Application Submission:* Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. *Page Limit:* The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application and the absolute and competitive preference priorities. You must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 pages, using the following standards: • A “page” is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. • Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. • A font no smaller than 10.0 point for all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables figures, and graphs. (Font sizes that round up to 10, such as 9.7 point, will be considered as smaller than 10.0.) The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet, budget section (chart and narrative), assurances and certifications, response regarding research activities involving human subjects, GEPA 427 response, one-page abstract, personnel resumes, and letters of support; however, discussion of how the application meets the absolute priorities, how well the application meets the competitive preference priorities, and how well the application addresses each of the selection criteria must be included within the application narrative and therefore is subject to the page limit. Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other standards. 3. *Submission Dates and Times:* *Applications Available:* February 4, 2008. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* April 4, 2008. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the *Grants.gov* Apply site ( *Grants.gov* ). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV.6. *Other Submission Requirements* in this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. 4. *Intergovernmental Review:* This competition is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. *Funding Restrictions:* We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the *Applicable Regulations* section in this notice. 6. *Other Submission Requirements:* Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. If duplicate applications are submitted, the last application submitted will be considered and not the application submitted earlier. a. *Electronic Submission of Applications.* Applications for grants under the Enhanced Assessment Grants Program, CFDA Number 84.368A, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide *Grants.gov* Apply site at *http://www.Grants.gov.* Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.* Please note the following: • When you enter the *Grants.gov* site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by *Grants.gov* are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the *Grants.gov* system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the *Grants.gov* system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we retrieve your application from *Grants.gov* , we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the *Grants.gov* system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through *Grants.gov* . • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through *Grants.gov* that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the *Grants.gov* system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to *Grants.gov* at *http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.* • To submit your application via *Grants.gov* , you must complete all steps in the *Grants.gov* registration process (see *http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp* ). These steps include

(1)registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR);

(2)registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and

(3)getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the *Grants.gov* 3-Step Registration Guide ( *see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf* ). You also must provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application via *Grants.gov* . In addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format. • You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms—the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424—have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). • You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic application must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from *Grants.gov* an automatic notification of receipt that contains a *Grants.gov* tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by *Grants.gov* only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your application from *Grants.gov* and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application). • We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. *Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System:* If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through *Grants.gov* , please contact the *Grants.gov* Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a *Grants.gov* Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the *Grants.gov* system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with *Grants.gov* , along with the *Grants.gov* Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the *Grants.gov* system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted. Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the *Grants.gov* system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to *Grants.gov* before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the *Grants.gov* system. *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement:* You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the *Grants.gov* system because— • You do not have access to the Internet; or • You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the *Grants.gov* system; and • No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Gregory Dennis, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3W243, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Fax:

(202)205-4921. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. *Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address: *By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.368A), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or *By mail through a commercial carrier:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.368A), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506. Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1)A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2)A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3)A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4)Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1)A private metered postmark.

(2)A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. *Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.368A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department—

(1)You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

(2)The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at

(202)245-6288. V. Application Review Information *Selection Criteria:* The selection criteria for this competition are from Appendix E to the notice of final requirements published in the **Federal Register** on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967) and are listed in the application package. 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 Notice (GAN). We may notify you informally, also. 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 in this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the *Applicable Regulations* section in 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. *Reporting:* 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 multi-year 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 *http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.* Grantees will be expected to include in performance reports documentation of their success in addressing the performance measures identified in section 4 below. ED will provide grant recipients with the appropriate form and related instructions for addressing these reporting requirements. In addition, ED staff will contact grantees periodically for informal updates during the period of the grant. 4. *Performance Measures:* Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has developed three measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the Enhanced Assessment Grants:

(1)The number of States that participate in pilot activities described in each grant application;

(2)the number of States that participate in Enhanced Assessment Grants projects funded by this competition; and

(3)the number of presentations on grant activities made by grantees at national conferences sponsored by professional education organizations, the number of papers on grant activities submitted for publication in refereed journals, and the number of other products disseminated to the assessment community. In addition, under GPRA, the Department has established the following measures to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Enhanced Assessment Grants Program:

(1)For each grant cycle and as determined by an expert panel, the percentage of Enhanced Assessment Grants that address program priorities by producing significant research regarding assessment systems, assessments, or related methodologies, products, or tools;

(2)the percentage of grantees that twice during the period of their grants make available to SEA staff in non-participating States and to assessment researchers information on advancements in assessments resulting from the Enhanced Assessment Grants through presentations at national conferences, publications in refereed journals, or other products disseminated to the assessment community; and

(3)for each grant cycle and as determined by an expert panel, the percentage of Enhanced Assessment Grants that yield significant research, methodologies, products, or tools specifically regarding accommodations and alternate assessments for students with disabilities and limited English proficient students. VII. Agency Contact *For Further Information Contact:* Valeria Ford or Collette Roney, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3W118, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone:

(202)260-0934, or by e-mail: *Valeria.Ford@ed.gov* or *Collette.Roney@ed.gov.* If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339. VIII. Other Information *Alternative Format:* Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to one of the program contact persons listed under *For Further Information Contact* in section VII in this notice. *Electronic Access to This Document:* You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.* To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at

(CFDA)Number: 84.250D. *DATES:* *Applications Available:* February 11, 2008. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* May 5, 2008. *Eligible Applicants:* The governing bodies of Indian tribes (and consortia of those governing bodies) located on Federal and State reservations. *Estimated Available Funds:* $11,000,000. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $350,000-$1,000,000. *Maximum Award:* For applicants that are current grantees under the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program (i.e., applicants that received funding in FY 2007), the maximum award amount for the first project year is the greater of

(a)$365,000 or

(b)an amount equal to 102.8 percent of the applicant's approved budget for the applicant's FY 2007 grant (an increase of 2.8 percent). For applicants that are not current grantees under the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program, the maximum award amount for the first project year is $360,000. In addition, the Secretary may limit any proposed increases in funding for project years two through five to the annual estimated percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPIU). The estimated percentage increase in the CPIU over the prior year for project year two (FY 2009) is approximately 3 percent and for project years three through five (FY 2010-FY 2012) is approximately 2.3 percent. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 21-22. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 60 months. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* The purpose of this program is to provide vocational rehabilitation

(VR)services to American Indians with disabilities who reside on or near Federal or State reservations, consistent with their individual strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and informed choice, so that they may prepare for and engage in gainful employment, including self-employment, telecommuting, or business ownership. *Priority:* In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from section 121(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 741). *Competitive Preference Priority:* For FY 2008, this priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 10 points to an application, depending on how well the application meets this priority. This priority is: *Continuation of Previously-Funded Tribal Programs* In making new awards under this program, we give priority consideration to applications for the continuation of tribal programs that have been funded under this program. *Program Authority:* 29 U.S.C. 741. *Applicable Regulations:*

(a)The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, and 97.

(b)The regulations in 34 CFR parts 369 and 371. II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grants. *Estimated Available Funds:* $11,000,000. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $350,000-$1,000,000. *Maximum Award:* For applicants that are current grantees under the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program (i.e., applicants that received funding in FY 2007), the maximum award amount for the first project year is the greater of

(a)$365,000 or

(b)an amount equal to 102.8 percent of the applicant's approved budget for the applicant's FY 2007 grant (an increase of 2.8 percent). For applicants that are not current grantees under the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program, the maximum award amount for the first project year is $360,000. In addition, the Secretary may limit any proposed increases in funding for project years two through five to the annual estimated percentage change in the CPIU. The estimated percentage increase in the CPIU over the prior year for project year two (FY 2009) is approximately 3 percent and for project years three through five (FY 2010-FY 2012) is approximately 2.3 percent. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 21-22. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 60 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. *Eligible Applicants:* The governing bodies of Indian tribes (and consortia of those governing bodies) located on Federal and State reservations. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* See 34 CFR 371.40. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. Fax:

(301)470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734. You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: *http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html* or at its e-mail address: *edpubs@inet.ed.gov.* If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.250D. Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team listed under *Alternative Format* in section VIII of this notice. 2. *Content and Form of Application Submission:* Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. 3. *Submission Dates and Times:* *Applications Available:* February 11, 2008. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* May 5, 2008. Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically using the *Grants.gov* Apply site ( *Grants.gov* ), or in paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. *Other Submission Requirements* in this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under *For Further Information Contact* in section VII in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. 4. *Intergovernmental Review:* This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. *Funding Restrictions:* We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the *Applicable Regulations* section in this notice. 6. *Other Submission Requirements:* Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery. a. *Electronic Submission of Applications* . To comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are participating as a partner in the Governmentwide *Grants.gov* Apply site. The Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities, CFDA Number 84.250D, is included in this project. We request your participation in *Grants.gov* . If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must use the Governmentwide *Grants.gov* Apply site at *http://www.Grants.gov* . Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. You may access the electronic grant application for Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians With Disabilities at *http://www.Grants.gov* . You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.250, not 84.250D). Please note the following: • Your participation in *Grants.gov* is voluntary. • When you enter the *Grants.gov* site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by *Grants.gov* are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the *Grants.gov* system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the *Grants.gov* system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we retrieve your application from *Grants.gov* , we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the *Grants.gov* system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through *Grants.gov* . • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through *Grants.gov* that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the *Grants.gov* system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to *Grants.gov* at *http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf* . • To submit your application via *Grants.gov* , you must complete all steps in the *Grants.gov* registration process (see *http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp* ). These steps include

(1)registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR);

(2)registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and

(3)getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the *Grants.gov* 3-Step Registration Guide (see *http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf* ). You also must provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application via *Grants.gov* . In addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you submit your application in paper format. • If you submit your application electronically, you must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms—the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424—have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). • If you submit your application electronically, you must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic application must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from *Grants.gov* an automatic notification of receipt that contains a *Grants.gov* tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by *Grants.gov* only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your application from *Grants.gov* and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application). • We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. *Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System:* If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through *Grants.gov* , please contact the *Grants.gov* Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a *Grants.gov* Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the *Grants.gov* system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed under *For Further Information Contact* in section VII in this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with *Grants.gov* , along with the *Grants.gov* Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the *Grants.gov* system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted. Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the *Grants.gov* system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to *Grants.gov* before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the *Grants.gov* system. b. *Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.* If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address: *By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.250D), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260 or *By mail through a commercial carrier:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.250D), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506. Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1)A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2)A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3)A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(1)A private metered postmark.

(2)A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. *Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.* If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.250D), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. *Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:* If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department—

(202)245-6288. V. Application Review Information *Selection Criteria:* The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are in the application package. The selection criteria may total 100 points, plus the 10 competitive preference priority points (see section I. *Competitive Preference Priority* ). 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). We may notify you informally, also. 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 in this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the *Applicable Regulations* section in 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. *Reporting:* 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 multi-year 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 also may require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to *http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html* . 4. *Performance Measures:* Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established three performance measures for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities program. The measures are

(1)the percentage of individuals who leave the program with an employment outcome,

(2)the percentage of projects that demonstrate an average annual cost per employment outcome of no more than $35,000, and

(3)the percentage of projects that demonstrate an average annual cost per participant of no more than $10,000. Each grantee must annually report its performance on these measures through the Annual Progress Reporting Form for the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) Program. In addition, this program is part of the Administration's job training and employment common measures initiative. The common measures for job training and employment programs targeting adults are—entered employment (percentage employed in the first quarter after program exit); retention in employment (percentage of those employed in the first quarter after exit that were still employed in the second and third quarter after program exit); earnings increase (percentage change in earnings pre-registration to post-program and first quarter after exit to third quarter after exit); and efficiency measure (annual cost per employment outcome and per participant). The Department is currently working toward implementing these common measures. Each grantee will be required to collect and report data for the common measures when implemented. VII. Agency Contact *For Further Information Contact:* August Martin, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5088, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20204-2800. Telephone:

(202)245-7410. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339. VIII. Other Information *Alternative Format:* Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone:

(202)245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339. *Electronic Access to This Document:* You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister* . To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at

(202)512-1530. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the **Federal Register** . Free Internet access to the official edition of the **Federal Register** and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: *http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html* . Dated: January 30, 2008. Tracy R. Justesen, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. E8-1982 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; EAC's Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). ACTION: Notice; comment request. SUMMARY: The EAC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed information collection, EAC's Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual. Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for approval of this information collection by the Office of Management and budget; they also will become a matter of public record. This notice requests comments solely on the four criteria above. A separate notice will be published on the Federal Register to request substantive comments on the proposed information collection; please refer to the EAC's Web site, *http://www.eac.gov,* for further information regarding the submission of substantive comments. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before 5 p.m. EDT on April 4, 2008. ADDRESSES: Comments and recommendations on the proposed information collection must be submitted in writing through either:

(1)Electronically to *pracomments@eac.gov.* or

(2)U.S. postal mail to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1225 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, *Attn:* Laiza N. Otero, Election Research Specialist. To ensure receipt and proper handling, comments submitted via U.S. postal mail shall clearly indicate that they are in response to this **Federal Register** notice by writing “Paperwork Reduction Act” in the heading section of the letter. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the EAC's Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual, please, write to the above address or contact Laiza N. Otero, Election Research Specialist, at

(202)566-3100. You may also view the proposed collection instrument by visiting the EAC's Web site at *http://www.eac.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Title:* Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual. *OMB Number:* Pending. *Type of Review:* Regular submission. *Needs and Uses:* Section 231(b) of the Help America Vote Act

(HAVA)of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15371(b)) requires that the EAC provide for the accreditation and revocation of accreditation of independent, non-federal laboratories qualified to test voting systems to Federal standards. Generally, the EAC considers for accreditation those laboratories evaluated and recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST)pursuant to HAVA Section 231(b)(1). However, consistent with HAVA Section 231(b)(2)(B), the Commission may also vote to accredit laboratories outside of those recommended by NIST upon publication of an explanation of the reason for any such accreditation. In order to meet its statutory requirements under HAVA Section 15371(b), the EAC has developed the EAC's Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program. The procedural requirements of the program are established in the proposed information collection, the EAC *Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual.* Although participation in the program in voluntary, adherence to the program's procedural requirements is mandatory for participants. The procedural requirements of this Manual will supersede any prior laboratory accreditation requirements issued by the EAC. This manual shall be read in conjunction with the EAC's *Voting System Testing and Certification Program Manual* (OMB 3265-0004). *Affected Public:* Voting system test laboratories. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 8. *Total Annual Responses:* 8. *Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 200 hours. Thomas R. Wilkey, Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission. [FR Doc. 08-453 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]

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