FY26 84.326D National TA Center for PSE Deaf Application Notice and Instructions_FINAL.pdf

U.S. Department of Education

National Technical Assistance Center for Postsecondary Education and Training for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

FY 2026 Grant Competition Posted June 1, 2026

Contents Program Information

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

Costs

Submission Requirements and Deadlines

Program Description

Priorities

Selection Criteria

Performance Measures

General Requirements

Application Submission Information

Application Review Information

Award Requirements

Application Checklist

Program Information The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires the Secretary to provide annually at least $4,000,000 to address the postsecondary, vocational, technical, continuing, and adult education needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.1 Aligned with this requirement, through this competition the Department intends to establish a National Technical Assistance Center for Postsecondary Education and Training for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

This competition uses funds from three Department programs: the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities (TA&D) program; the Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities (PD) program; and the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities (ETechM2) program.

1 See IDEA Section 682(d)(1)(B).

2 According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1820-0028. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 26.5 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (P.L. 108-446, Sec. 650 and 682). If

Assistance Listing Number: 84.326D.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1462, 1463, 1474, 1481, and 1482.

OMB Control Number: 1820–0028.2

For Further Information: Eric Caruso.

Telephone: (202) 987-0151. Email:

Eric.Caruso@ed.gov.

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.

Estimated Available Funds: $4,000,000, including $1,300,000 from the TA&D program; $1,700,000 from the PD program;

and $1,000,000 from the ETechM2 program.

Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $4,000,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.3

Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Application Deadline: July 30, 2026.

Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5

U.S.C. 553) and 20 U.S.C. 1232, ED you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov.

3 Note: In each budget period of 12 months, no more than $1,300,000 may be budgeted under the TA&D program (consistent with section 663(c)(8)(C) of IDEA); no more than $1,700,000 may be budgeted under the PD program (consistent with section 662(c)(2) of IDEA); and no more than $1,000,000 may be budgeted under the ETechM2 program (consistent with section 674(b) of IDEA). Applicants must separately budget for funds under each program.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/pdf/USCODE-2024-title20-chap33-subchapIV-partB-sec1462.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/pdf/USCODE-2024-title20-chap33-subchapIV-partB-sec1463.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/pdf/USCODE-2024-title20-chap33-subchapIV-partC-sec1474.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/20/1481 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/pdf/USCODE-2024-title20-chap33-subchapIV-partD-sec1482.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/5/553 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/5/553 mailto:ICDocketMgr@ed.gov generally offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. Section 681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priority in this notice.

Note: This application notice and instructions document is the official document governing the grant competition.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants State educational agencies (SEAs); local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law; eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs);4 other public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.

Costs Cost Sharing

This program does not require cost sharing or matching.

Indirect Cost Rate Information

This program uses an unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see the ED website.

Administrative Cost Limitation

This program does not include any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses.

All administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance.

Subgrantees

Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under this competition may award subgrants— to directly carry out project activities described in its application—to the following types of entities: IHEs, nonprofit organizations suitable to carry out the activities proposed in the application, and other public agencies. The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified in an approved application or that it selects through a competition under procedures established by the grantee, consistent with 34 CFR 75.708(b)(2). However, an eligible applicant is not required to award subgrants and may instead administer the program directly. Additionally, under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) subgrantees are not authorized to further subgrant.

4 For the purpose of this competition, “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the HEA, which is inclusive of community colleges, and also includes any college or university receiving funding from the Secretary of the Interior under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (See section 602(17) of IDEA (20 U.S.C. 1401(17))).

http://www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ofo#Indirect-Cost-Division https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-75/subpart-F/subject-group-ECFR26af177f71bc305/section-75.708 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-75/subpart-F/subject-group-ECFR26af177f71bc305/section-75.708 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-75/subpart-F/subject-group-ECFR26af177f71bc305/section-75.708 https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statute-chapter-33/subchapter-i/1401/17

Submission Requirements and Deadlines

Applications Available June 1, 2026 Application Deadline July 30, 2026 Deadline for Intergovernmental Review September 28, 2026

Applicants are required to follow the 2025 Common Instructions and Information for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234) and available at ED 2025 Common Instructions.

Program Description

Priorities This notice includes one absolute priority. The absolute priority is from the allowable activities in the statute (See sections 662(c)(2), 663(c)(8)(C), 674(b) and (c), and 681(d) of IDEA; 20 U.S.C. 1462(c)(2), 1463(c)(8)(C), 1474(b) and (c), and 1481(d)).

The abstract form and the project narrative must clearly address the absolute priority.

For FY 2026, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications for this competition, this priority is an absolute priority as reflected in this document.

Absolute Priority: We consider only applications that meet the absolute priority.

Absolute Priority Title Required Priority Language National Technical Assistance Center for Postsecondary Education and Training for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Yes The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to establish and operate a National Technical Assistance Center for Postsecondary Education and Training for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Absolute Priority Program Requirements

The projects must achieve, at a minimum, the following expected outcomes:

(a) Increased numbers of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who are admitted to, persist in, and complete postsecondary, vocational, technical, and continuing and https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16571/common-instructions-and-information-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16571/common-instructions-and-information-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/pdf/USCODE-2024-title20-chap33-subchapIV-partB-sec1462.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/pdf/USCODE-2024-title20-chap33-subchapIV-partB-sec1463.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/pdf/USCODE-2024-title20-chap33-subchapIV-partC-sec1474.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/20/1481 adult education and training (postsecondary education and employment training opportunities), including at institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing;

(b) Increased capacity of LEAs, State schools for the deaf, vocational rehabilitation (VR) service providers, postsecondary institutions, institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies to collaboratively conduct outreach to promote and implement evidenced-based practices5 (EPBs) and strategies to provide postsecondary education and employment training opportunities for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing;

(c) Increased capacity of SEAs, LEAs, State schools for the deaf, State VR agencies, VR service providers, postsecondary institutions, institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies to collaboratively collect, share, and analyze data on individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who are admitted to, persist in, or completed postsecondary education and employment training opportunities for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing; and

(d) Increased body of knowledge on how to effectively utilize technology to promote access and provide accommodations (e.g., high-quality captioning, note-taking, and interpreting services) for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in all postsecondary education and employment training settings.

Absolute Priority Application Requirements:

In addition, to be considered for funding under this priority, applicants must meet the following requirements. These requirements align with the selection criteria that are proposed for this competition:

(a) Describe, in the narrative section of the application under “Significance,” how the proposed project will—

(1) Address the training and information needs of LEAs, State schools for the deaf, VR service providers, postsecondary institutions, prominent institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies to better collaborate, conduct outreach, and implement EBPs and strategies that will increase the number of individuals who are deaf or hard of

5 For the purposes of this competition, “evidence-based” means the proposed project component is supported by one or more of strong evidence, moderate evidence, promising evidence, or evidence that demonstrates a rationale (34 CFR 77.1).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-77/section-77.1 hearing who are admitted to, persist in, and complete postsecondary education and employment training opportunities. To meet this requirement, the applicant must—

(i) Present applicable national and State data to demonstrate the training and information needs of LEAs, State schools for the deaf, VR service providers, postsecondary institutions, institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies to better collaborate, conduct outreach, and implement EBPs and strategies that will increase enrollment and completion in postsecondary education and employment training opportunities for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing; and

(ii) Identify current issues and policy initiatives in secondary transition, postsecondary education, career preparation, and employment for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing that will inform the TA strategies and lead to improved outcomes; and

(2) Improve the capacity of SEAs, LEAs, State schools for the deaf, State VR agencies, VR service providers, postsecondary institutions, institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies to collect, share, analyze, and use of data on enrollment, participation, and completion in postsecondary education and employment training opportunities for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to identify effective strategies.

(b) Describe, in the narrative section of the application under “Quality of the project design,” how the proposed project will—

(1) Be based on current research and make use of EBPs;

(2) Develop products and provide TA services that are of high quality and sufficient intensity and duration to achieve increased enrollment and completion in postsecondary education and employment training opportunities for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe—

(i) The proposed approach to using technology to achieve the intended project outcomes, which must include the responsible use of technologies such as AI systems, to develop products and services and maximize project efficiencies;

Note: Review this ED guidance on the use of Federal grant funds to improve education outcomes using AI and principles for responsible use of AI.

(ii) The proposed approach to universal, general TA,6 which must describe—

(A) The intended recipients, including the type and number of recipients, that will receive the products and services;

(B) The products and services that the project proposes to make available;

(C) The state-of-the-art communication tools and platforms the project will use to improve postsecondary education and training opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing individuals;

(D) The development and maintenance of a high-quality website, with an easy-to-navigate design, that meets or exceeds government- or industry-recognized standards for accessibility; and

(E) The expected reach and impact of universal, general TA;

(iii) The proposed approach to targeted, specialized TA,7 which must describe—

(A) The intended recipients, including the type and number of recipients, that will receive the products and services;

(B) The products and services that the project proposes to make available;

(C) The proposed approach to measure the readiness of potential TA recipients to work with the project, including, at a minimum, an assessment of potential recipients’ current infrastructure, available resources, and ability to build capacity at the local level; and

(D) The expected impact of targeted, specialized TA; and

6 “Universal, general TA” means TA and information provided to independent users through their own initiative, resulting in minimal interaction with TA project staff. This category of TA also includes information or products, such as newsletters, guidebooks, or research syntheses, downloaded from the TA project's website by independent users. Brief communications by TA project staff with recipients, either by telephone or email, are also considered universal, general TA.

7 “Targeted, specialized TA” means TA services based on needs common to multiple recipients and not extensively individualized. A relationship is established between the TA recipient and one or more TA project staff. This category includes episodic, less labor-intensive events that extend over a period of time, such as facilitating a series of conference calls on single or multiple topics that are designed around the needs of the recipients. Facilitating communities of practice can also be considered targeted, specialized TA.

https://www.ed.gov/media/document/opepd-ai-dear-colleague-letter-7222025-110427.pdf

(iv) The proposed approach to intensive, sustained TA,8 which must describe—

(A) The proposed plan for working with LEAs, State schools for the deaf, VR agencies, VR service providers, postsecondary institutions, institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies to develop and implement a local model that includes the following components—

(1) A framework of EBPs and strategies that will increase the number of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who are admitted to, persist in, and complete postsecondary education and employment training opportunities, including at institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing;

(2) Structures for collaboration and outreach between different agencies and organizations within the community to effectively address the postsecondary education and employment training needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including those attending institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing;

(3) Training and professional development systems for personnel to work with deaf and hard of hearing individuals to build up their technical, academic, and soft skills for employment opportunities;

(4) Data collection, sharing, analysis, and use between different State and local agencies and organizations on enrollment, participation, and completion in, postsecondary education and employment training opportunities for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing; and

(5) A leadership team that includes representatives from the SEA, LEA, State schools for the deaf, State VR agencies, VR service providers, postsecondary institutions, institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies that will guide the implementation of the model;

(B) The proposed approach to measure the readiness of SEAs, LEAs, State schools for the deaf, State VR agencies, VR service providers, postsecondary

8 “Intensive, sustained TA” means TA services often provided on-site and requiring a stable, ongoing relationship between the TA project staff and the TA recipient. “TA services” are defined as negotiated series of activities designed to reach a valued outcome. This category of TA should result in changes to policy, program, practice, or operations that support increased recipient capacity or improved outcomes at one or more systems levels.

institutions, institutions that primarily serve students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and other relevant organizations and public agencies to work with the project, including their commitment to develop a local model and alignment of the model to their needs, current infrastructure, and available resources; and

(C) Its proposed plan to work within a minimum of 20 States over the project period to provide intensive TA to establish, implement, and sustain a local model to address the postsecondary education and employment training opportunities of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing;

(D) How the project plans to scale up the contextually specific models to other regions in the States they work intensively with.

(3) Develop products and implement services that maximize efficiency. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe—

(i) How the proposed project will support specialized institutions such as the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Gallaudet University, State schools for the deaf, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and OSERS funded projects such as the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition:

the Collaborative, the Center for Parent Information and Resources, parent training and information centers, and the intended outcomes of this support;

and

(ii) How the proposed project will use non-project resources to achieve the intended project outcomes; and

(4) Systematically disseminate information, products, and services to varied intended audiences. To address this requirement the applicant must describe the strategies the project will utilize to promote awareness and use of its products and services and how its products and communications will meet or exceed government or industry-recognized standards for accessibility.

(c) Address the following application requirements. The applicant must—

(1) Include, in Appendix A, personnel-loading charts and timelines, as applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the narrative;

(2) Provide an assurance that the project will engage doctoral students or post-doctoral fellows in the project to increase the number of future leaders in the field who are knowledgeable about postsecondary, vocational, technical, continuing, and adult education needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing;

(3) Ensure that annual project progress toward meeting project goals is posted on the project website; and

(4) Include an assurance to assist the Office of Special Education Programs with the transfer of pertinent resources and products and to maintain the continuity of services to States during the transition to a new award at the end of this award period, as appropriate.

Selection Criteria Selection criteria outline how the application will be scored. The maximum possible total score an application can receive for addressing the criteria is 100 points. The maximum possible score for addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses following the criterion. The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210.

(a) Significance (up to 10 points). The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(1) The extent to which the specific nature and magnitude of gaps or challenges are identified and the extent to which these gaps or challenges will be addressed by the services, supports, infrastructure, or opportunities described in the proposed project.

(2) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project, especially contributions toward improving teaching practice and student learning and achievement.

(3) The potential effective replicability of the proposed project or strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation by a variety of populations or settings.

(b) Quality of the project design (up to 35 points): The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified, measurable, and ambitious yet achievable within the project period, and aligned with the purposes of the grant program.

(2) The quality of the logic model or other conceptual framework underlying the proposed project, including how inputs are related to outcomes.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.210

(3) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge and an evidence-based project component.

(4) The extent to which the training or professional development services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to build recipient and project capacity in ways that lead to improvements in practice among the recipients of those services.

(5) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the leveraging of non-project resources.

(c) Quality of the project evaluation or other evidence-building (up to 20 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation or other evidence-building of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation or other evidence-building, the Secretary considers:

(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building are thorough, feasible, relevant, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.

(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building are designed to measure the fidelity of implementation of the project.

(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building will provide performance feedback and provide formative, diagnostic, or interim data that is a periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes.

(4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quality data that are quantitative and qualitative.

(d) Adequacy of resources (up to 15 points): The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.

(2) The extent to which the evaluator has the qualifications, including the relevant training, experience, and independence, required to conduct an evaluation of the proposed project, including experience conducting evaluations of similar methodology as proposed and with evaluations for the proposed population and setting.

(3) The adequacy of support for the project, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant or the lead applicant organization.

(4) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.

(5) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project and the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

(e) Quality of the management plan (up to 20 points): The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

(1) The feasibility of the management plan to achieve project objectives and goals on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.

(2) The extent to which the time commitments of the project director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project.

(3) The extent to which the project director or principal investigator, when hired, has the qualifications required for the project, including formal training or work experience in fields related to the objectives of the project and experience in designing, managing, or implementing similar projects for the target population to be served by the project.

(4) The extent to which the key personnel in the project, when hired, have the qualifications required for the proposed project, including formal training or work experience in fields related to the objectives of the project, and represent or have lived experiences of the target population.

(5) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality and accessible products and services from the proposed project for the target population.

Performance Measures ED has established a set of performance measures that are designed to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and quality of the Technical Assistance and

Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities program, and for the purposes of reporting to ED under 34 CFR 75.110.

Applications must describe:

The data collection and reporting methods the applicant would use and why those methods are likely to yield reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data.

The applicant’s capacity to collect and report reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data, as evidenced by high-quality data collection, analysis, and reporting in other projects or research.

Program Measure Description Program Performance Measure 1 The percentage of Technical Assistance and

Dissemination products and services deemed to be of high quality by an independent review panel of experts qualified to review the substantive content of the products and services.

Program Performance Measure 2 The percentage of Special Education Technical Assistance and Dissemination products and services deemed by an independent review panel of qualified experts to be of high relevance to educational and early intervention policy or practice.

Program Performance Measure 3 The percentage of all Special Education Technical Assistance and Dissemination products and services deemed by an independent review panel of qualified experts to be useful in improving educational or early intervention policy or practice.

Program Performance Measure 4 The cost efficiency of the Technical Assistance and Dissemination Program includes the percentage of milestones achieved in the current annual performance report period and the percentage of funds spent during the current fiscal year.

Long-Term Performance Measure The percentage of States receiving Special Education Technical Assistance and Dissemination services regarding scientifically or evidence-based practices for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities that successfully promote the implementation of those practices in school districts and service agencies.

Each grantee funded under this competition must collect and annually report data related to its performance on these measures in the project’s annual and final performance report https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.110 to ED in accordance with section 653(d) of IDEA and 34 CFR 75.590. Applicants should discuss in the application narrative how they propose to collect performance data for these measures.

General Requirements

(a) Recipients of funding under this competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities (section 605 of IDEA).

(b) Each applicant for, and recipient of, funding under this program must involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning, implementing, and evaluating the project (section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).

(c) Applicants for, and recipients of, funding must, where appropriate, determine whether the project has any potential for replication and adoption by other entities (section 682(a)(1)(B) of IDEA).

(d) A grantee funded under this competition must conduct an independent evaluation (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)).9

Application Submission Information Competition Resources

Resources specific to this competition will be available on the 84.326D Grant Competition webpage.

Registration

To apply, you must first be registered in two systems: SAM.gov and Grants.gov. If you are already registered, make sure your registration is active and up to date.

Grants.gov registration involves several steps, including registration on SAM.gov. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot apply until all registration steps are complete. Once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24-48 hours for the information to become available in Grants.gov. For detailed information on the registration steps, please go to: Grants.gov Applicant Registration.

Please note that your organization will need to update its SAM registration annually.

9 See 34 CFR 75.590.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.590 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-77.1#p-77.1(c) https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-special-populations/grants-special-education-and-individuals-disabilities/technical-assistance-and-dissemination/84.326D https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-special-populations/grants-special-education-and-individuals-disabilities/technical-assistance-and-dissemination/84.326D http://www.sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.590

ED strongly recommends that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application.

Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then process it after it is fully uploaded. If Grants.gov rejects your application, you will need to resubmit successfully to Grants.gov before 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

You must provide the UEI on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov. This UEI is assigned to your organization in SAM at the time your organization registers in SAM. If you do not enter the UEI assigned by SAM on your application, Grants.gov will reject your application.

A Grants.gov applicant must apply online using Workspace, a shared environment in Grants.gov where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. The Grants.gov website contains further instructions on how to apply.

Intergovernmental Review

This is subject to Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. One of the objectives of Executive Order 12372 is to strengthen federalism – or the distribution of responsibility between localities, States, and the Federal government – by fostering intergovernmental partnerships. This idea includes supporting processes that State or local governments have developed to coordinate and review proposed Federal financial grant applications. Grant applicants need to contact State Single Points of Contact (SPOC) for information on their State’s procedures. Multi-

SAM.gov

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process early.

To register, go to SAM.gov and click on "Get Started."

Click on the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register in SAM.gov.

If you need help, you can call 866-606-8220 or live chat with the Federal Service Desk.

Grants.gov

You must also have an active account with Grants.gov.

To register, go to Grants.gov and click “Register.” When ready, click on “Get Registered Now” and complete the required fields.

For more information or assistance, click on “Applicant Registration Page.”

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-79 https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/entity-registration https://sam.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/entity-checklist.pdf https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp https://grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/register https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/register.faces?INITIAL_LOAD=true https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/register.faces?INITIAL_LOAD=true https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

State applicants should follow procedures specific to each State. Further information about the SPOC and the official list of entities can be found online.

Verify Submission

Verify that Grants.gov received your application submission on time and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your application was received, log in to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or Agency Tracking Number Assigned. Once ED receives your application from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Number (PR/award number) will be assigned to your application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track My Application link.

If the date/time received is later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date, your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received,” it is still awaiting validation by Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application has not been received successfully. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found online.

For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader Software Tip Sheet. If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the instructions below. Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail about the status of your application. Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your application has been received timely and validated successfully.

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

Please go to Grants.gov support page for help. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Applicant FAQs as well as additional information on Workspace.

Submission Problems – What should you do?

If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at: support@grants.gov. You may also access the Grants.gov Self- Service Knowledge Base web portal.

https://www.ojp.gov/IntergovernmentalReviewSPOCList.pdf https://www.grants.gov/applicants/encountering-error-messages https://www.grants.gov/applicants/encountering-error-messages https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-faqs https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

Application Review Information Review and Selection Process: ED reminds potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217, information outside the rank order of applications, including: the information in each application; and any other information—

(a) Relevant to a criterion, priority, or other requirement that applies to the selection of applications for new grants;

(b) Concerning the applicant’s performance and use of funds under a previous award under any Department program; and

(c) Concerning the applicant’s failure under any Department program to submit a performance report or its submission of a performance report of unacceptable quality.

Before making awards, Department staff will screen applications submitted in accordance with the requirements in this notice to determine whether applications have met eligibility and other requirements, including whether an application may fail to meet the “General Terms and Conditions” applicable to awarded funds referenced elsewhere within this notice. This screening process may occur at various stages of the review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be ineligible will not receive a grant, regardless of whether the application was included in the peer review process. Applications not selected for funding will be informed of the Secretary's decision in accordance with 34 CFR 75.218.

Peer reviewers will read, prepare a written evaluation of, and score the assigned applications, using the selection criteria provided in this notice.

In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from ED (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.217#p-75.217(d)(3) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.217#p-75.217(d)(3) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.218 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.218 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-100.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-100.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-104.5 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-106.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-108.8 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-110.23

Award Requirements Terms and Conditions

If you are awarded a grant under this competition, you must ensure and may be required to demonstrate that Federal funds will not be used under this project in any manner that violates the United States Constitution, Title VI or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq. or 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.), the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. 7905), section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1011f), or other applicable Federal law.

Please note the provisions of Executive Orders 14151, 14168, 14173, and 14190 as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s July 29, 2025, non-regulatory “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination,” which clarifies the application of Federal antidiscrimination laws to programs or initiatives that may involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) programs.

Such activities may risk violating Federal civil rights laws and may jeopardize Federal funding. This includes any discriminatory equity ideology in violation of a Federal anti-discrimination law. A definition of “discriminatory equity ideology” is contained in Section 2(b) of Executive Order 14190. To the extent that any entity receiving grant funds under this grant uses those grant funds for such unallowable activities, ED reserves the right to take appropriate enforcement actions, including the recovery of grant funds or may pursue termination or non-continuation. The Grant Award Notification document accompanying your award may contain further terms and conditions, as necessary, to ensure grantee compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and administrative priorities.

Applicable Regulations

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3474.

Note: The regulations in 2 CFR part 3474 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes.

https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/42/2000d https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/42/2000d https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/42/2000e https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/20/1681 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/29/794 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/42/6101 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/42/12131 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/20/7905 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/20/1011f https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1409486/dl https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1409486/dl https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-75 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-77 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-79 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-81 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-82 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-84 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-86 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-97 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-98 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-99 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-180 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-3485 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-3485 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-3474 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-3474

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

Continuation Awards

In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253, ED considers, among other things:

whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if ED has established performance measurement requirements, whether the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the performance targets in the grantee's approved application, or whether the continuation of the project is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

In making a continuation award, ED also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from ED (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). In making any continuation award determination, ED may consider all relevant information.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-86 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-75.253 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-100.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-104.5 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-106.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-108.8 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/section-110.23

Application Checklist The application will require you to fill out several forms, which are listed and linked in grants.gov. See below for a description of forms and sections:

1. Standard Documents

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

ED Supplemental Information for SF-424

2. Budget Information

ED Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524)

3. ED Abstract Form

Project Abstract

4. Project Narrative

Application Narrative (Project Narrative Attachment Form)

5. Budget Narrative

Budget Narrative Attachment Form

6. Other Attachment Forms

Individual Resumes for Project Director & Key Personnel

Reference List

Appendix A

Resumes/Vitae

Letters

Supplementary Information

7. Assurances and Certifications

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)

Grants.gov Lobbying Form

Part 1: Standard Documents

❑ Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

Note: Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the SF-424 in Part I. Although this form accepts attachments, that option should not be used.

❑ ED Supplemental Information for SF-424

These forms require basic identifying information about the applicant and the application. Please provide all requested applicant information (including name, address, e-mail address and Unique Entity ID (UEI)). When applying electronically via Grants.gov, you will need to ensure that the UEI on your application is the same as the UEI your organization used when it registered with the System for Award Management.

Applicants are advised to complete the Application for Federal Assistance (Form SF

424) first. Grants.gov will automatically insert the correct Assistance Listing Number and program name automatically wherever needed on other forms.

Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the Standard Form (SF 424). Although this form accepts attachments, ED will only review materials/files attached in accordance with the instructions provided within this application.

For more information, review the instructions online.

Part 2: Budget Information

❑ ED Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524)

This part of your application contains information about the Federal funding you are requesting. Remember that you must provide all requested budget information for each year of the project and the total column in order to be considered for Federal funding. Specific instructions for completing the budget forms are provided within this application package.

Applicants must provide a summary of requested Federal funds for each line-item category included on the worksheet. Applicants should provide dollar amounts for all requested years of the desired grant award. Example form can be found here.

Instructions for completing ED Form 524 Section A:

• Name of Institution/Organization: Enter the name of the applicant in the space provided.

• Personnel (line 1): Enter project personnel salaries and wages only. Include fees and expenses for consultants on line 6.

• Fringe Benefits (line 2): The institution’s normal fringe benefits contribution may be charged to the program. Leave this line blank if fringe benefits applicable to direct salaries and wages are treated as part of the indirect cost.

• Travel (line 3): Indicate the travel costs of employees and participants only.

https://www.ed.gov/media/document/instructions-sf-424-ed-supplemental-113023.pdf…