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lic and other nonprofit organizations and agencies for the purpose of planning, preparing for and initiating special programs to expand vocational rehabilitation services where such programs show promise of substantially increasing the number of persons vocationally rehabilitated. Such grants may be made during the fiscal years ending June 30, 1966, through June 30, 1971.

§ 401.101

Application procedure.

Application for a grant under this program may be submitted by a duly authorized officer of a State vocational rehabilitation agency or other public or private nonprofit organizations or agency which is now providing or is capable of providing vocational rehabilitation services that will lead to the placement of the handicapped in gainful occupations. The application shall be made in the form and detail required by the Commissioner and shall be submitted to the regional representative of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration. If the applicant is an organization or agency other than a State vocational rehabilitation agency, the application must have prior approval of the appropriate State vocational rehabilitation agency or agencies before submittal to the regional representative. Applicants (when other than a State vocational rehabilitation agency) shall secure prior consultation and assistance from the appropriate State vocational rehabilitation agency or agencies and the regional representative in the development of their proposals and the preparation of their applications. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the action on its application. § 401.102 Application content.

The application shall (a) describe the organization that will conduct the activities, showing the nature and scope of its present vocational rehabilitation services and the numbers of State agency clients and others rehabilitated into gainful occupations in the past 2 years; (b) describe the specific activities to be undertaken, showing how these activities will increase directly the numbers of handicapped persons prepared for and placed in gainful occupations; (c) provide for qualified and adequate staff, including a project director, and adequate supervision to accomplish the purpose of the project; (d) in the case of a grant for a private, nonprofit workshop, specify

that applicable Federal and State wage and hour standards will be observed or, in the case of a grant for a workshop operated by a State, county, or municipal government, give assurance that the workshop will comply with wage and hour standards specified by the Commissioner, which will be at least equal to those imposed by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act; (e) specify the duration of the project; (f) set forth the budget for the project and the methods for meeting costs; (g) show plans for continuation of the project activity, if appropriate, including anticipated sources of funding, after expiration of the project grant; (h) described arrangements for reporting to the State agency or agencies requested information regarding the persons served and those vocationally rehabilitated under the project; (i) contain an agreement to make such reports and to keep such records and accounts as the Commissioner may require and to make such records and accounts available for audit purposes; and (j) provide such other information as the Commissioner may find necessary to assure that the project meets requirement for approval.

§ 401.103 Project activities.

(a) Expansion projects may include but are not limited to such activities as the following, provided they will result in a substantial increase in the numbers of persons vocationally rehabilitated over the numbers currently being rehabilitated: (1) The demonstration of newly developed rehabilitation techniques and methods that have been found to be effective; (2) expansion and extension of present vocational rehabilitation services in order to serve additional disabled people; (3) the initiation of new vocational rehabilitation services or activities; (4) the initiation or expansion of vocational rehabilitation programs for groups of disabled individuals such as the homebound; (5) preparation and placement of handicapped individuals in self-employment; and (6) the employment of additional staff in workshops, rehabilitation facilities, and service programs.

(b) Expansion projects may not include: (1) Construction or substantial alteration of rehabilitation facilities, workshops, or other buildings, or the acquisition of land; (2) research unless such activity is an essential component of a project primarily designed to provide services that will increase the num

bers of handicapped individuals who will be vocationally rehabilitated; (3) staff training; or (4) activities designed primarily to improve administration unless it can be clearly shown that such improvement in administration will result directly in increased vocational rehabilitations.

§ 401.104 Federal financial participation.

The following conditions will govern Federal financial participation in approved expansion activities: (a) Federal financial participation will be available for only those expansion activities approved in the project application and only in the total amount approved in the project application; (b) Federal participation in any single expansion project shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) years; (c) the Federal share of the approved project costs shall not exceed 90 per centum; and (d) the respective Federal and grantee shares are not applied to separate parts of the project but are treated as total project expenditures. If the grantee is a State vocational rehabilitation agency, grants shall be made only if the Commissioner is satisfied that the State agency will comply with such conditions concerning the utilization of allotments and the expenditure of State funds as the Commissioner may find necessary to assure that State funds will be effectively used to earn allotments under section 2 of the act.

§ 401.105 Project revisions.

A revision to an approved project for expansion activity shall be submitted whenever necessary to reflect any material change in the scope of the project or in its operation or administration. § 401.106

Termination.

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of unexpended funds attributable to the Federal grant shall be refunded.

§ 401.107 Grant awards.

All grant awards shall be in writing, shall set forth the amount of funds granted, and shall constitute for such amounts the encumbrance of Federal funds available for such purpose on the date of the award. The initial award shall also specify the project period for which support is contemplated if the activity is satisfactorily carried out and Federal funds are available. For continuation support, grantees must make separate application in the form and detail required by the Commissioner. § 401.108

Reports.

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Payment of the Federal share of an approved expansion project may be made in advance for estimated costs of operation, or as reimbursement to the grantee and shall be subject to such requirements as the Commission may establish.

§ 401.110 Distribution of funds.

Federal funds for expansion projects (except for a reserve for priority projects) will be distributed initially each year on the basis of population so that there will be opportunity in each State to plan for orderly expansion of vocational rehabilitation services and to submit approvable applications under this subpart. Funds may be redistributed from time to time during the year if they are not to be used within the State.

§ 401.111 Factors considered in evaluating proposals.

In evaluating proposals for expansion grants a number of factors will be considered by the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, such as the following: The extent to which a project proposal

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Special project grants authorized in section 4(a) (2) (B) of the act shall be made for paying the cost of planning for the development of a comprehensive vocational rehabilitation program in each State, including the orderly development of services and resources (public and nonprofit private) so that by July 1, 1975, or sooner, vocational rehabilitation servAces will be available to all handicapped Individuals in the State. This planning shall include, among other things, estimates of present and projected vocational rehabilitation needs through 1975; assessment of the adequacy of present prograins and resources in terms of present and projected needs; and delineation and description of the specific steps necessary for the development of adequate vocational rehabilitation resources and programs within the State.

§ 401.121 Coordination with other Statewide planning.

The comprehensive Statewide planning for vocational rehabilitation shall be coordinated with other planning in the State relative to the poverty stricken, the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, the expansion of educational services for the handicapped, the construction of rehabilitation facilities under the Medical Facilities Survey and Construction Act of 1954, the construction and expansion and operation of workshops and rehabilitation facilities under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, and with such other planning as is pertinent to the provision of vocational rehabilitation services. The planning with respect to workshops and rehabilitation facilities shall utilize, to the maximum extent feasible, the efforts made under projects for which

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(a) A basic condition for the receipt of grants under this subpart is the designation by the Governor (or in the case of the District of Columbia, the Board of Commissioners) of an organization that acts for the State, has stature, and has responsibility to develop and carry out Statewide planning for the orderly development of vocational rehabilitation services adequate to meet the needs of handicapped individuals within the State. This organization shall be a Commission especially created for this planning, a legislative Commission, or a State agency whose primary role is Statewide planning or the provision of vocational rehabilitation services. If the organization designated by the Governor is not a State vocational rehabilitation agency, the State Vocational rehabilitation agency, or agencies, shall be represented on the designated organization and shall be significantly involved in the conduct of the planning.

(b) The Commission or agency must include, or utilize an Advisory Committee that includes, representatives of the State legislature (except in the case of the District of Columbia); labor; management; medical and health-related organizations and institutions; the Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped; education; the public and voluntary agencies providing rehabilitation services to the physically and mentally handicapped and other appropriate public agencies and civic groups interested in the development of rehabilitation services. Such representatives shall be outstanding leaders in their respective fields of endeavor.

(c) The Commission or agency shall designate a director or coordinator to be responsible on a full-time basis, and shall have other adequate and competent staff, for conducting the Statewide planning program. § 401.123

Application.

Application for comprehensive planning grants may be submitted by the organization designated by the Governor. Application shall be made in the form and detail required by the Commissioner. The project application shall include: (a) A description of the organization responsible for the comprehensive State

wide planning; (b) provision for a fulltime planning director or coordinator; (c) a description of the agencies, institutions, and organizations that will be involved in the planning and their respective roles; (d) a proposed budget; (e) a description of the scope and the manner in which Statewide planning will be carried out to achieve the orderly development of services and resources in the State (including vocational rehabilitation services provided by private nonprofit agencies) for making vocational rehabilitation services available to all handicapped individuals by July 1, 1975, or earlier; (f) a description of how the planning under the project will be coordinated with other pertinent planning; (g) an agreement to make such reports and to keep such records and accounts as the Commissioner may require, and to make such records available for audit purposes; (h) estimated duration of study; and (i) such other information or provisions as the Commissioner may require. Applications shall be submitted to the regional representative of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration who is available for consultation and assistance to the State on all matters pertaining to the Statewide planning including the development of the application. Applicants will be notified in writing of the action taken with respect to their applications.

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An amendment to an approved application shall be submitted whenever necessary to reflect any substantial change in the scope of the Statewide planning or in its conduct or administration.

§ 401.125 Grant period.

The grant period shall begin on the date requested by the State in its application, except that it may not begin on a date earlier than the date on which the application is approved. The grant period shall be 1 year unless otherwise approved by the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration. The grantee must make separate application for continuation support beyond the grant period.

§ 401.126 Payments for Statewide planning.

An initial payment will be made soon after an application has been approved. Subsequent payments will be made when needed and requested by the State and in amounts sufficient to meet estimated

costs of operating the project. The grant for any 1 fiscal year shall not exceed $100,000 to any one State.

§ 401.127 Use of grant funds.

(a) Grant funds may be used for the following costs of carrying out Statewide planning activities: (1) Salaries including fringe benefits of full or part-time employees of the designated organization or other State agencies to the extent that they are assigned specifically to the planning and related activities approved in the application; (2) fees or honoraria for consultants who are not otherwise regular full-time employees of the State or Federal Government or federally sponsored projects (except that such full-time employees of institutions of higher learning may receive fees or honoraria in accordance with generally applicable policies of the institution and within limits specified by the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration); (3) travel costs of employees and consultants paid from the grant and of other persons rendering services to the project; (4) services provided to the project under contract with another agency or institution, as set forth in the approved application, to carry out parts of the Statewide planning activity; (5) supplies required to carry out approved activities during the grant period; (6) amounts actually paid for rental of space, equipment, or telephones, or for postage and supplies, required by the staff of the designated organization whose salaries are paid from grant funds or who are assigned or detailed to that organization for carrying out the approved activities; and (7) preparing, publishing and distributing reports and related information.

(b) Grant funds may not be used to pay for the following: (1) Costs of services for the handicapped; (2) purchase of equipment; (3) construction, alteration, or renovation of space; (4) overhead or indirect costs; or (5) any other costs not included in the approved application.

(c) Expenditures incurred for any category of expenditures (e.g., salaries, travel, supplies) shall not without approval of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration exceed by more than 25 per centum or $1,000 (whichever is greater) the amount approved for each such expenditure category.

§ 401.128 Termination.

If for any reason the grantee discontinues an approved project, the grantee shall notify the regional representative

in writing, giving the reasons for termination, an accounting of funds granted for the project, and other pertinent information. The grant may be terminated, in whole or in part, at any time at the discretion of the Commissioner. The grantee will be given prompt notice of the termination, including the reasons therefor. Such termination shall not affect obligations incurred prior to the termination of the grant. Upon termination or completion of a project, the proportion of unexpended funds attributable to the Federal grant shall be refunded.

§ 401.129 Expenditure reports.

Reports of expenditures will be submitted in such form, detail and frequency as prescribed by the Commissioner. The final expenditure report will show total cumulative expenditures through the completion of the project.

§ 401.130 Planning reports.

(a) Annual progress reports and such interim reports as required by the Commissioner on the progress achieved and the activities conducted shall be submitted by the State organization responsible for Statewide planning.

(b) The State organization shall submit to the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration through the Governor a comprehensive final report on its activities, findings, and recommendations on Statewide planning for vocational rehabilitation at such time and in such form and detail as the Commissioner may specify.

(c) As an essential means of achieving the objective of providing rehabilitation services to all handicapped persons by July 1, 1975, or earlier, the State shall publish and widely distribute the information contained in the final report to the groups and organizations participating in the planning, to other interested groups and to the public at large.

Subpart H-State Planning Grants for Workshops and Rehabilitation Facilities

§ 401.140 Purpose.

Planning grants authorized in section 12(g) (1) of the act shall be made for the purpose of paying part of the cost of organized efforts by the State vocational rehabilitation agencies to make an initial determination of the State's needs for workshops and rehabilitation facilities,

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A State agency may, if it so desires, enter into an agreement with the vocational rehabilitation agencies of one or more other States to develop a cooperative plan for (a) determining the need for workshops and rehabilitation facilities and (b) a continuing program to assess such needs and evaluate activities related to the establishment, construction, utilization, development and improvement of workshops and rehabilitation facilities.

§ 401.143 Application content.

Applications shall be made in the form and detail required by the Commissioner and shall be submitted to the regional representative of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration. Applicants are encouraged to secure prior consultation and assistance from their regional representative in the development of their proposals and the preparation of the applications. The project application for an initial grant under this subpart shall include (a) designation of an individual with primary responsibility for the implementation of the project activities; (b) a description of the nature and scope of the activities to be undertaken during the initial grant period, and during the remainder of the project period (up to July 1, 1970), and the methods to be used in accomplishing the purposes of the project; (c) a proposed budget; (d) a description of the number and qualifications of the staff to be assigned to carry out effectively the

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