Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities Educational Materials in Accessible Formats for Students with Visual Impairments and Other Print Disabilities CFDA Number 84.327D | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this grant competition?

This opportunity is the Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities grant competition titled Educational Materials in Accessible Formats for Students with Visual Impairments and Other Print Disabilities (CFDA 84.327D).

2) What federal agency is offering this funding opportunity?

The grant is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Education.

3) What is the main purpose of this grant?

The purpose is to improve access to classroom learning for students who cannot effectively use standard printed materials by ensuring core instructional materials are available in accessible formats, with a focus on timely delivery and up-to-date content.

4) Who is intended to benefit from the project funded under this competition?

The intended beneficiaries are students with visual impairments and other print disabilities who need alternatives to standard printed instructional materials.

5) What kinds of accessible formats are specifically emphasized?

The eligibility criteria specifically highlight the ability to produce, maintain, and distribute textbooks in digital audio formats for qualified students in a timely manner.

6) How does this competition fit into the broader federal effort related to students with disabilities?

This competition sits within a broader effort to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by encouraging the development, demonstration, and use of accessible technology, supporting educational media services with direct classroom value, and ensuring captioning and video description are available and appropriate for educational settings.

7) What type of award is this (grant, contract, cooperative agreement, etc.)?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

8) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally means the Department of Education expects to have substantial involvement in the project beyond issuing funds, such as ongoing coordination, monitoring, and collaboration on implementation details.

9) How many awards were anticipated under this competition?

The Department anticipated making a single award.

10) What is the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding amount was $6,500,000.

11) What is the award ceiling (maximum award amount)?

The award ceiling was listed as $6,500,000.

12) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed for applicants.

13) If there is no required match, does leveraging other support matter?

Yes. Even though a formal match is not required, the eligibility criteria emphasize the ability to leverage federal funds through other public and private contributions and through extensive volunteer engagement.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is narrowly targeted. Applicants must be national, nonprofit entities with a proven record of meeting the needs of students with visual impairments and other print disabilities through services aligned with section 674(c)(1)(D) of IDEA.

15) Does an applicant need to be national in scope?

Yes. The eligibility requirement specifies that applicants must be national nonprofit entities.

16) What kind of organizational track record is expected?

The applicant must have a proven record of meeting the needs of students with visual impairments and other print disabilities through services aligned with the referenced IDEA provision.

17) What specific operational capacity must an eligible applicant demonstrate?

An eligible applicant must demonstrate the capacity to produce, maintain, and distribute textbooks in digital audio formats for qualified students in a timely manner.

18) Are there legal or statutory references that applicants should pay attention to?

Yes. The eligibility language references section 674(c)(1)(D) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and 17 U.S.C. 121(d)(1), reflecting the specialized legal and operational framework that often governs accessible format production and distribution for individuals with print disabilities.

19) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov for those applying online, using the official workflow (download the package, complete it offline, upload, and submit).

20) Could applicants submit an application by emailing it to the Department of Education?

No. The notice makes clear that applications could not be submitted by emailing an electronic copy to the Department. Submission had to occur through Grants.gov.

21) How do applicants find the correct application package on Grants.gov for this competition?

Applicants were instructed to search the CFDA number without the alpha suffix, meaning searching for 84.327 rather than 84.327D.

22) When did the application package become available?

The application package became available on February 27, 2012.

23) What was the deadline for transmittal of applications?

The deadline for transmittal of applications was April 12, 2012.

24) Is this opportunity still active?

The opportunity was later archived on May 12, 2012.

25) Where are the official, authoritative requirements for this competition published?

The announcement emphasizes that the provided description is only a synopsis and that the authoritative requirements are those published in the Federal Register.

26) What types of details should applicants look for in the Federal Register notice?

Applicants were directed to the Federal Register notice for the full set of rules, including pre-application and application requirements, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and program contacts.

27) What kinds of support contacts were mentioned for applicants?

Contact points were provided for two tracks of assistance: technical Grants.gov system support (to resolve submission or access issues) and program office support (to clarify programmatic questions about goals and expectations).