2020-16686.pdf

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36 See Fair Lending Report of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Apr. 2020), 85 FR 27395, https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/ documents/cfpb_2019-fair-lending_report.pdf.

37 See Patrice Alexander Ficklin et al., Innovation spotlight: Providing adverse action notices when using AI/ML models (July 7, 2020), https:// www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/ innovation-spotlight-providing-adverse-action-notices-when-using-ai-ml-models/.

38 15 U.S.C. 1691(d).

39 See Fair Lending Report of the Bureau of

Consumer Financial Protection (Apr. 2020), 85 FR 27395 (May 8, 2020), https:// files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_2019-fair-lending_report.pdf; Patrice Alexander Ficklin et al., Innovation spotlight: Providing adverse action notices when using AI/ML models (July 7, 2020), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/ innovation-spotlight-providing-adverse-action-notices-when-using-ai-ml-models/. 40 15 U.S.C. 1691(d)(3); 12 CFR 1002.9(b)(2).

guidance on how to address situations where creditors seek to ascertain the continuance of public assistance benefits in underwriting decisions?

9. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: As the Bureau noted in its annual fair lending report to Congress dated April 30, 2020 36 and a blog post dated July 7, 2020,37 financial institutions are starting to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) across a range of functions. For example, they are used as virtual assistants that can fulfill customer requests, in models to detect fraud or other potential illegal activity, as compliance monitoring tools, and in credit underwriting. Should the Bureau provide more regulatory clarity under ECOA and/or Regulation B to help facilitate innovation in a way that increases access to credit for consumers and communities in the context of AI/ ML without unlawful discrimination? If so, in what way(s)?

Another important issue is how lenders using complex AI/ML models satisfy ECOA’s adverse action notice requirements. ECOA requires creditors to provide consumers with the principal reason(s) for a denial of credit or other adverse action.38 These notice provisions serve important anti-discrimination, educational, and accuracy purposes. There may be questions about how institutions can comply with these requirements if the reasons driving an AI/ML decision are based on complex interrelationships.39 Should the Bureau modify requirements or guidance concerning notifications of action taken, including adverse action notices, under ECOA and/or Regulation B to better empower consumers to make more informed financial decisions and/ or to provide additional clarity when credit underwriting decisions are based in part on models that use AI/ML? If so, in what way(s)?

10. ECOA Adverse Action Notices:

Under ECOA and Regulation B, a statement of reasons for adverse action must be specific and indicate the principal reason(s) for the adverse action.40 The Bureau understands from direct engagement and its supervisory work that stakeholders continue to have questions about this requirement.

Should the Bureau provide any additional guidance under ECOA and/or Regulation B related to when adverse action has been taken by a creditor, requiring a notification that includes a statement of specific reasons for the adverse action? If so, in what way(s)?

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 5511(c).

III. Signing Authority

The Director of the Bureau, having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating the authority to electronically sign this document to Laura Galban, a Bureau Federal Register Liaison, for purposes of publication in the Federal Register.

Dated: July 28, 2020.

Laura Galban, Federal Register Liaison, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

[FR Doc. 2020–16722 Filed 7–31–20; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–AM–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Housing Program at Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: On July 16, 2020, the United States Air Force (USAF) signed the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Housing Program at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Mike Ackerman, AFCEC/CZN, Bldg 1, 2261 Hughes Ave.

(STE 155), JBSA-Lackland, TX 78236– 9853, (210) 925–2741;

michael.ackerman.2@us.af.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USAF has decided to implement the first phase of Alternative 2, specifically renovation of 30 historic housing units and the demolition of government-owned non-historic housing located on Yount Drive. This decision will support the near-term housing needs of WPAFB’s key and essential leaders.

The Air Force’s decision, documented in the Record of Decision, was based on analysis provided in the Final

Environmental Impact Statement, and includes inputs from the public and regulatory agencies. The Final Environmental Impact Statement was made available to the public on May 29, 2020 through a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (Volume 85, Number 104, Page 32390) with a review period that ended on June 29, 2020.

Authority: This Notice of Availability is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR part 1506.6) implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and the Air Force’s Environmental Impact Analysis Process (32 CFR parts 989.21(b) and 989.24(b)(7)).

Adriane Paris, Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 2020–16729 Filed 7–31–20; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5001–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards:

Rehabilitation Training: Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center-Quality Management and Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center-Quality Employment

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for a Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management (VRTAC–QM) and a Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC–QE), Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers 84.264J and 84.264K. The VRTAC–QM and VRTAC–QE will focus on identified national needs and improvement of the number and quality of employment outcomes under the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program and raise expectations for all people with disabilities.

DATES:

Applications Available: August 3, 2020.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 2, 2020.

Date of Pre-Application Meeting: The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will post a PowerPoint presentation that provides general information related to the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s (RSA’s) discretionary

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46604 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 149 / Monday, August 3, 2020 / Notices grant competitions and PowerPoint presentations specifically related to the VRTAC–QM and VRTAC–QE competitions at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/ RSAGrantInfo.aspx. OSERS will conduct a pre-application meeting via conference call to respond to questions specific to the VRTAC–QM and the VRTAC–QE. Information about the pre-application meeting will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx prior to the date of the call. OSERS invites you to send questions about the VRTAC–QM to 84.264J@ed.gov and the VRTAC–QE to 84.264K@ed.gov in advance of the pre-application meetings.

The VRTAC–QM and VRTAC–QE pre-application meeting summaries of questions and answers, will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/ RSAGrantInfo.aspx approximately six business days after the pre-application meeting.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR–2019– 02–13/pdf/2019–02206.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For VRTAC–QM: Douglas Zhu, U.S.

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5095, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202– 2800. Telephone: (202) 245–6037.

Email: 84.264J@ed.gov.

For VRTAC–QE: Felipe Lulli, U.S.

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5101, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202– 2800. Telephone: (202) 245–7425.

Email: 84.264K@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– 8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), RSA makes grants to States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations (including institutions of higher education) to pay part of the cost of projects to provide State VR agency personnel with training and technical assistance designed to assist in increasing the numbers of, and upgrading the skills of, qualified personnel (especially rehabilitation counselors) who are trained in providing vocational, medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities, who are trained to assist individuals with communication and related disorders, and who are trained to provide other services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. Projects must be awarded and operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the U.S.

Constitution and the Federal civil rights laws.

Priorities: Priorities 1 and 2 are from the notice of final priorities, requirements, and definitions for this program published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register (NFP).

Applicants must address either Absolute Priority 1 or Absolute Priority 2, in the budget information (ED Form 524, Section B) and budget narrative.

Applicants may apply for both priorities if they submit separate applications and demonstrate in each application that it has sufficient institutional capacity to fully implement multiple awards, including the required cost share.

Absolute Priorities: For FY 2020, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, 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: Vocational

Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management.

The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to establish a Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management (VRTAC–QM).

The VRTAC–QM will provide intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance to State VR agencies on quality management strategies that will enable VR agencies to improve service delivery to, and employment outcomes achieved by, individuals with disabilities. For States that request intensive training and technical assistance, the training and technical assistance will upgrade and increase the competencies, skills, and knowledge of VR personnel, enabling them to assess current VR program performance and to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for improvement, and threats (SWOT) that impact the effectiveness of VR agency service delivery and the quality of employment outcomes. This SWOT assessment will be based on a review of a wide variety of information sources, including, but not limited to, RSA’s monitoring findings and recommendations; State audit reports;

consumer feedback provided in public hearings and through consumer satisfaction surveys; results of comprehensive statewide needs assessments; and input from workforce development partners, community rehabilitation programs, and other VR stakeholders. Based on SWOT assessments, the center and VR agency personnel will develop individualized intensive training and technical assistance agreements designed to provide personnel with skills and strategies they need to address the weaknesses identified in the SWOT assessments to improve service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The center will also provide VR agency personnel with technical assistance on evaluating whether the quality management strategies they adopt lead to increasing the percentage of participants who achieve an MSG and exit the program with an employment outcome and to modify those strategies, if necessary, to achieve continuous program improvement. In addition to the intensive training and technical assistance, the VRTAC–QM also will provide targeted training and technical assistance and universal training and technical assistance to State VR agencies on a broad range of quality management strategies and practices, both programmatic and fiscal, to address needs common to many agencies.

With regard to program management and performance, the VRTAC–QM’s training and technical assistance will support the assessment, development, and enhancement of staff knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the following functions in order to improve service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities:

• Analyzing the State VR agency’s comprehensive system of personnel development to identify strengths and weaknesses in staff’s ability to understand and address factors affecting program performance and designing management strategies to address these deficits.

• Analyzing case service data to identify trends and inconsistencies in program performance, and developing strategies to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of services provided, including addressing inconsistencies in the quality and quantity of employment outcomes achieved by various groups of

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46605 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 149 / Monday, August 3, 2020 / Notices individuals with disabilities served by the program.

• Understanding statutory and regulatory requirements related to performance management, including calculations for the common performance measures required under WIOA and factors that may be affecting the agency’s performance on these measures.

• Conducting quality assurance and performance improvement, including the use of data for performance management systems and the implementation of the common performance measures required by

WIOA.

• Strategic planning to address aspects of the SWOT assessment that pose challenges and barriers to improving service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, particularly students and youth with disabilities and individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities.

• Implementing effective and efficient policies for delivering pre-employment transition services under section 113, VR services under section 103(a), and supported employment services under title VI of the Rehabilitation Act.

• Understanding the relationship to important outcomes of various cost containment measures, such as implementing an order of selection giving priority for services to individuals with the most significant disabilities, establishing a financial needs test for various services, implementing policies for consumer participation in the cost of services, and implementing the requirement to seek comparable services and benefits for certain services, among others.

Under the VR program, agencies must comply with several complex Federal fiscal requirements related to maintenance of effort, reallotment, reservation of funds for pre-employment transition services, and match, among others. VR agencies must understand, track, assess, and adjust, when necessary, program activities to meet these requirements while maximizing program outcomes. Additionally, the lack of knowledge and skills in fiscal and resource management can negatively affect the ability of VR agency personnel to meet consumer needs, for example, necessitating the implementation of orders of selection limiting the numbers of eligible individuals served in the VR program.

With regard to effective resource management, the training and technical assistance will support the assessment, development, and enhancement of staff knowledge, skills, and abilities to ensure that—

• Resources, including program funds and personnel, are being used for allowable purposes and innovative employment strategies and supports that maximize employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, including students and youth with disabilities and individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities;

• Programs have sound internal controls and reliable reporting systems upon which to base fiscal and programmatic decision-making to support attainment of program goals and objectives, including those related to increasing the numbers and qualifications of service delivery personnel; and

• Resources, including program funds and personnel, are maximized for program needs.

The following are examples of activities the VRTAC–QM may undertake to address weaknesses in resource management:

• Assess grantee financial management processes used to support attainment of fiscal and programmatic outcomes (for example, whether an agency’s fiscal processes support the accurate tracking and reporting of non- Federal funds to maximize the drawdown of Federal award funds to support attainment of employment outcomes). The assessment will be used to identify areas for improvement in fiscal processes that will assist the agency in meeting program goals.

• Assess personnel training and technical assistance needs to identify gaps in fiscal knowledge, skills, and abilities that prevent the agency from effective and efficient resource utilization necessary to achieve employment outcomes.

• Provide intensive training and technical assistance on financial planning to maximize program resources and attainment of program goals and objectives, maximizing opportunities for funds matching, avoiding potential maintenance of effort and match penalties, and meeting the reservation of funds requirement for pre-employment transition services in order to increase resources available for service delivery.

• Provide technical assistance on implementing Federal, State, and program fiscal requirements, including internal controls, in an efficient and effective manner to reduce unnecessary burden and to focus efforts on program outcomes.

• Provide technical assistance on the identification, collection, and analysis of program and fiscal data necessary for program management and maximizing available resources to support consumer services.

Absolute Priority 2: Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment.

The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to establish a Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC–QE).

The purpose of the VRTAC–QE is to upgrade and increase the competencies, skills, and knowledge of VR personnel to implement and sustain employment strategies and supporting practices that enable individuals with disabilities to achieve quality employment and career advancement, particularly competitive integrated employment as defined in the Rehabilitation Act. The center will include strategies and practices that meet the needs and promote the quality employment of individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities, students and youth with disabilities, and traditionally underserved populations. The VRTAC– QE will implement a coordinated plan to provide intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance to State VR agencies on a broad range of employment strategies and supporting practices.

Employment strategies for consideration include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Career pathways education, training, and supports in high-demand occupations, including those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

(b) Registered and industry-recognized apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.

(c) Supported employment and customized employment.

(d) Customized training and credential programs to meet employer demand.

(e) Self-employment and entrepreneurship, including services available under the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program.

(f) Business engagement and employer supports, including dual customer models such as Progressive Employment.

Supporting practices for consideration include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Practices to enhance the employment capacity of individuals with the most significant disabilities receiving supported employment

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(2) Pre-employment transition services that prepare students with disabilities and transition services that prepare youth with disabilities to identify career interests through work-based learning and early career exploration opportunities, including internships and job shadowing, with a focus on high-demand and STEM careers.

(3) Career counseling techniques and resources, including labor market information tools such as Career Index Plus.

(4) Strategies involving workforce development partners, community rehabilitation programs, and other community-based organizations to provide the comprehensive support services that individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities need to succeed, such as the Integrated Resource Teams model.

(5) Approaches that encourage VR clients to enter and remain engaged in the VR process, such as rapid engagement, motivational interviewing, benefits counseling, and financial empowerment training, and vehicles such as the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) tax-free accounts for individuals with disabilities.

(6) Community outreach strategies to expand the pool of potential VR applicants and referral sources, including traditionally underserved populations.

Requirements: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, the following requirements apply to the VRTAC–QM and VRTAC–QE. The requirements are from the NFP.

Project Requirements of Priority 1 To meet the requirements of this priority, the VRTAC–QM must, at a minimum, conduct one or more of the following activities:

(1) Establish a committee on quality management of State VR programs that meets at least semi-annually to obtain individual advice and recommendations for the project.

The committee must include, but is not limited to, individuals with disabilities, representatives from State VR agencies, representatives from community rehabilitation programs, stakeholders, and individuals with subject matter expertise in improving outcomes through effective program and resource management and in employment strategies for people with disabilities. At a minimum, the committee members will provide individual input and recommendations pertaining to the implementation of the project and the project evaluation and quality assurance plan.

(2) Establish a state-of-the-art website and information technology (IT) platform for communicating with State VR agencies and ensure that all products produced by the VRTAC–QM and posted on the website meet government and industry-recognized standards for accessibility.

The website will become a key training and technical assistance delivery vehicle; a major communication center for the VRTAC– QM and State VR agencies; and the central repository of information about quality management strategies and practices that will form the basis for intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance.

(3) Complete a comprehensive review of programmatic and fiscal quality management strategies and practices for VR services for individuals with disabilities to achieve employment outcomes and develop an overarching training and technical assistance plan for the project. Both the review and the plan must be made available to the public, ensuring applicable privacy requirements are met.

The purpose of the review is to identify those strategies and practices for inclusion in VRTAC–QM’s overarching training and technical assistance plan. The center will develop an analytical framework and selection criteria against which to evaluate potential strategies and practices. The analysis will focus on: State VR agency needs and priorities, up-to-date information on quality management strategies and practices that have proven to be effective in the field of rehabilitation as well as other public and private sectors of the economy that may have applicability to the management of VR agencies, and quantitative and qualitative research on the effectiveness of the identified program and resource management strategies and practices leading to improved service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Sources of information used for this review may include: State VR agency interviews and consultations;

information from such sources as the RSA–911 Case Service Report aggregate data, general labor market data and information, Unified or Combined State Plans, and RSA monitoring reports; and information and resources generated by technical assistance centers funded by the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services.

The overarching training and technical assistance plan must include, at a minimum—

(a) Quality management strategies and practices that result in improved service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, including the rationale for their selection;

(b) Conceptual framework for the selected strategies and practices, including key assumptions, expectations, and presumed relationships or linkages among strategies and practices;

(c) Nature and scope of the intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance to be provided in support of the selected strategies and practices; and

(d) Protocols and timelines for requesting and obtaining training and technical assistance.

(4) Provide intensive training and technical assistance to State VR agencies.

Intensive training and technical assistance will be provided to increase State VR agencies’ capacity to adopt, expand, or sustain programmatic and fiscal quality management strategies and practices that improve the quality of service delivery and employment outcomes. Intensive training and technical assistance will be provided on-site, over an extended period, under the terms of signed intensive training and technical assistance agreements between the VRTAC–QM and the participating State VR agencies.

Numerical targets for the number of intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be included in the cooperative agreement between RSA and the VRTAC–QM. Agreements will reflect the participating VR agencies’ needs and priorities, goals, and objectives. They must include the following components:

(a) Quality management strategies and practices to be implemented by the State VR agency and that result in improved service delivery and employment outcomes.

(b) Nature and scope of the training and technical assistance to be provided by the VRTAC–QM.

(c) Roles and responsibilities of the VRTAC–QM, State VR agency, other workforce development partners, community rehabilitation programs, and other partners, including the commitment of resources.

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1 ‘‘Logic model’’ (also referred to as a theory of action) means a framework that identifies key project components of the proposed project (i.e., the active ‘‘ingredients’’ that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the key project components and relevant outcomes.

(d) Logic model 1 that includes:

Performance outcomes, targets, and baselines; project activities, inputs, and outputs; and data collection and analysis commitments.

The intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be developed based on the VRTAC–QM and participating VR agency’s review and analysis of such information sources as Unified or Combined State Plans; RSA– 911 and other performance data; general labor market data and information; RSA monitoring reports; State audit reports;

and a review of pertinent Federal, State, and local resources in the State, including existing employment and training programs.

(5) Provide targeted training and technical assistance and universal training and technical assistance on programmatic and fiscal quality management strategies and practices that lead to effective and efficient service delivery and quality employment outcomes.

(6) Coordinate training and technical assistance with other technical assistance centers.

The VRTAC–QM must coordinate the provision of training and technical assistance with the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment and other RSA-funded technical assistance and training centers. This coordination is particularly critical when developing intensive training and technical assistance agreements with the VR agencies to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts. The VRTAC–QM must also coordinate with other technical assistance centers funded by the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services.

(7) Present at a national conference or regional forums or specialized meetings throughout the grant period, with special focus in the fifth year of the grant to disseminate the VRTAC–QM’s summative findings and results.

The primary objectives are to help State VR agencies to expand and sustain their VRTAC–QM programmatic and fiscal management strategies and practices that result in improved service delivery and employment outcomes by promoting an exchange of ideas and experiences with other participating VR agencies and to encourage other State VR agencies to consider adopting

VRTAC–QM strategies and practices. In addition, the VRTAC–QM will explore cost-effective approaches such as virtual convenings to engage VR agencies and partners who may be unable to attend in-person meetings.

(8) Develop a plan for an evaluation, including a timeline for the evaluation and measurement benchmarks, that will assess the effect of the center’s training and technical assistance on the service delivery and employment outcomes achieved by the VR agencies that received the center’s services. This should be done through an analysis of the quality, relevance, and usefulness of VRTAC–QM training and technical assistance activities designed to improve State VR agencies’ program and resource management and lead to improved service delivery and achievement of high-quality employment outcomes and career advancement.

Project Requirements of Priority 2 To meet the requirements of this priority, the VRTAC–QE must, at a minimum, conduct one or more of the following activities:

(1) Establish a state-of-the-art website and IT platform for communicating with State VR agencies and ensure that all products produced by the VRTAC–QE and posted on the website meet government and industry-recognized standards for accessibility.

The website will become a key training and technical assistance delivery vehicle; a major communication center for the VRTAC– QE, State VR agencies, workforce development partners, and other professionals; and the central repository of information about employment strategies and practices that will form the basis for intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance.

(2) Complete a comprehensive review of effective strategies and practices leading to quality employment for individuals with disabilities and develop an overarching training and technical assistance plan for the project.

Both the review and the plan must be made available to the public, ensuring applicable privacy requirements are met.

The purpose of the review is to identify employment strategies and supporting practices for inclusion in VRTAC–QE’s overarching training and technical assistance plan. The center will develop an analytical framework and selection criteria against which to evaluate potential strategies and practices. The analysis will focus on:

State VR agency needs and priorities;

up-to-date information on national trends, barriers, challenges, and opportunities regarding quality employment for individuals with disabilities, including factors leading to successful employment of individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities, students and youth with disabilities, and traditionally underserved populations; and quantitative and qualitative research on the effectiveness of the identified strategies and practices.

Sources of information for this review may include, but are not limited to, State VR agency interviews and consultations; analyses of aggregate RSA–911 Case Service Report data, Unified or Combined State Plans, and RSA monitoring reports; information and tools generated by RSA’s vocational rehabilitation technical assistance centers and special demonstration projects, available on the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials website; and other resources funded by the U.S.

Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, and institutions of higher education.

The overarching training and technical assistance plan must include, at a minimum—

(a) Employment strategies and supporting practices, including the rationale for their selection;

(b) Conceptual framework for the selected strategies and practices, including key assumptions, expectations, and presumed relationships or linkages among strategies and practices;

(c) Nature and scope of the intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance to be provided in support of the selected strategies and practices; and

(d) Protocols and timelines for requesting and obtaining training and technical assistance.

(3) Provide intensive training and technical assistance to State VR agencies.

Intensive training and technical assistance will be provided to increase the capacity of State VR agencies to adopt, expand, or sustain employment strategies and supporting practices that improve the quality of employment outcomes. Intensive training and technical assistance will be provided on-site, over an extended period, under the terms of signed intensive training and technical assistance agreements between the VRTAC–QE and the participating State VR agencies.

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2 ‘‘Logic model’’ (also referred to as a theory of action) means a framework that identifies key project components of the proposed project (i.e., the active ‘‘ingredients’’ that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the key project components and relevant outcomes.

Numerical targets for the number of intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be included in the cooperative agreement between RSA and the VRTAC–QE. Agreements will reflect the participating VR agencies’ needs and priorities, goals, and objectives. They must include the following components:

(a) Employment strategies and supporting practices to be implemented by the State VR agency.

(b) Nature and scope of the training and technical assistance to be provided by the VRTAC–QE.

(c) Roles and responsibilities of the VRTAC–QE, State VR agency, workforce development partners, community rehabilitation programs, and other partners, including the commitment of resources.

(d) Logic model 2 that includes: State-specific performance outcomes, targets, and baselines; project activities, inputs, and outputs; and data collection and analysis commitments.

The intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be developed based on the VRTAC–QE and participating VR agency’s review and analysis of such information sources as Unified or Combined State Plans; RSA– 911 and other performance data; RSA monitoring reports; relevant labor market information; and a review of pertinent Federal, State, and local resources in the State, including existing employment and training programs.

Intensive training and technical assistance will be implemented in coordination with, and leveraging the resources of, State and local workforce development partners and other parties specified in the intensive training and technical assistance agreement.

(4) Provide targeted training and technical assistance meeting the identified needs of a limited number of State VR agencies, as well as universal training and technical assistance broadly available to all State VR agencies and their partners.

(5) Coordinate training and technical assistance with other technical assistance centers.

The VRTAC–QE must coordinate the provision of training and technical assistance with the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management and other RSA-funded training and technical assistance investments. This coordination is particularly critical when developing intensive training and technical assistance agreements with the VR agencies to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts. The VRTAC–QE must also coordinate with other training and technical assistance resources funded by the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, and other pertinent Federal or State organizations, and institutions of higher education, as appropriate.

(6) Disseminate VRTAC–QE summative findings and results through a national conference or regional forums or specialized meetings throughout the grant period and at with special focus in the fifth year of the grant. The primary objectives are to help State VR agencies to expand and sustain their VRTAC–QE strategies and practices and to encourage other State VR agencies to consider adopting some VRTAC–QE strategies and practices by promoting an exchange of ideas and experiences with other participating VR agencies. To maximize the dissemination of project findings and results throughout the grant period and with special focus in the fifth year, the VRTAC–QE will explore cost-effective approaches such as virtual convenings to engage VR agencies and partners who may be unable to attend in-person meetings.

(7) Develop a plan for an evaluation, including a timeline for the evaluation and measurement benchmarks, that will assess VRTAC–QE employment strategies and supporting activities’ effect on VR participants’ employment outcomes and career advancement. The evaluation will also assess the quality, relevance, and usefulness of the VRTAC–QE’s training and technical assistance in improving State VR agencies’ ability to identify and implement the appropriate strategies and practices.

Application Requirements: The following application requirements apply to both Priority 1 and Priority 2.

The Department encourages innovative approaches to meet these requirements.

Applicants must—

(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ‘‘Quality of the Evaluation Plan,’’ how the proposed project will meet the evaluation requirements of the priority.

Applicants must describe the anticipated implementation steps, milestones, and timelines for the development of a logic model for the project. The logic model must include data elements, inputs, activities, outputs, and short-term and long-term performance indicators regarding—

(1) Quantitative outcomes resulting from the program management or employment strategies and practices, including—

(i) Quality and timeliness of the VR processes and services;

(ii) Number and quality of employment outcomes;

(iii) VR participants’ employment or career-readiness;

(iv) Cost-effectiveness; and

(v) Sustainability;

(2) Quality, relevance, and usefulness of the project’s training and technical assistance activities;

(3) Quantitative or qualitative insights about the relationship between strategies, practices, and training and technical assistance activities on critical outcomes for VR personnel, VR clients, and key partners, including through—

(i) Pre- and post-training assessments;

(ii) Comparison groups;

(iii) Focus groups; or

(iv) Success stories.

(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ‘‘Adequacy of Project Resources,’’ how the applicant will ensure that—

(1) The proposed project will encourage applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have historically been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability, as appropriate;

(2) Projects will be operated in a manner consistent with nondiscrimination requirements contained in the U.S. Constitution and the Federal civil rights laws;

(3) Key project personnel, consultants, and subcontractors have the qualifications and experience to meet all the requirements of the priority, including expertise in—

(i) Programmatic areas addressed in the Project Requirements section of the priority;

(ii) Program and resource management and oversight;

(iii) Knowledge translation and dissemination, including the effective use of communication technologies; and

(iv) Project evaluation leading to continuous improvement, including qualitative and quantitative assessments;

(4) The applicant and key partners have adequate resources to carry out the proposed project activities, and achieve anticipated project outcomes and impact on the VR services to individuals with disabilities, including assurances that the proposed allocation of human and financial resources for project

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46609 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 149 / Monday, August 3, 2020 / Notices evaluation will be enough to meet the requirements in section (a) of the application requirement regarding the ‘‘Quality of the Evaluation Plan,’’ above;

and

(5) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the anticipated results and benefits.

(c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ‘‘Quality of the Management Plan,’’ how the applicant will ensure that—

(1) The project’s intended outcomes, including implementation of the evaluation plan, will be achieved on time and within budget, through—

(i) Clearly defined responsibilities of key project personnel, consultants, and contractors, as applicable;

(ii) Procedures to track and ensure completion of the action steps, timelines, and milestones established for key project activities, requirements, and deliverables, in accordance with the cooperative agreement between RSA and the applicant;

(iii) Internal monitoring processes to ensure that the project is being implemented in accordance with an established project performance plan, including timelines and milestones; and

(iv) Financial and budgetary oversight processes to ensure timely obligations and reporting of grant funds, in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR part 200 and the terms and conditions of the Federal award;

(2) The allocation of key project personnel, consultants, and contractors—including levels of effort of key personnel—will be appropriate and adequate to achieve the project’s intended outcomes, including an assurance that key personnel will have enough availability to ensure timely communications with stakeholders and

RSA;

(3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the products and services are of high quality, relevance, and usefulness, in both content and delivery; and

(4) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of perspectives, including those of State and local personnel, providers, researchers, and policy makers, among others, in its development and operation.

Additional Application Requirements for Priority 1

The following application requirements apply only to priority 1 (VRTAC–QM). The Department encourages innovative approaches to meet these requirements. Applicants must—

(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ‘‘Significance of the Project,’’ how the proposed project will increase State VR agencies’ capacity to improve the quality of VR services and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities by enabling VR agencies to develop and implement efficient and effective program and resource management techniques leading to increases in the numbers and improved skills of VR counselors and other service delivery personnel. To meet this requirement, the applicant must demonstrate—

(1) Knowledge about State VR program challenges, opportunities, barriers, and trends regarding program and resource management or quality employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities including those with significant and the most significant disabilities, students and youth with disabilities, and traditionally underserved populations;

(2) Knowledge about Federal, State, and nongovernment initiatives to promote program and resource management and quality employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, particularly in response to requirements under WIOA;

(3) The proposed project’s potential to contribute to these Federal, State, and nongovernment initiatives by assisting State VR agencies in equipping personnel with the necessary skills and training to implement the substantive provisions of the Rehabilitation Act introduced by WIOA that are designed to improve the quality of employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities; and

(4) How the proposed project will increase State VR agencies’ capacity to implement program and resource management strategies leading to improved VR services, employment outcomes, and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under ‘‘Quality of Project Services,’’ how the proposed project will achieve the goals, objectives, and intended outcomes of this priority. To meet this requirement, the applicant must describe its plan for implementing the project, including major implementation activities, timelines, and milestones (particularly for the initial fiscal year), as well as key assumptions and expectations, presumed relationships or linkages among variables, and underlying rationale and empirical support, for the following Project Requirements of the priority:

(1) State-of-the-art website.

Applicants must describe how the website will serve as an effective communication center, training and technical assistance delivery vehicle, and repository of information about quality management or employment strategies and practices, including—

(i) Expected features and capabilities, including information-delivery and stakeholder-convening technologies;

and

(ii) Anticipated uses of…