Projects of national significance

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means an entity or partnership of entities that— (A) submits an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require; (B) is or includes an institution (which may be an institution of higher education), or a nongovernmental organization, that focuses on— (i) serving the needs of individuals with disabilities; or (ii) serving the needs of older adults; (C) in the case of an entity or partnership with a disability focus, has a cross-disability service focus; (D) has experience in conducting training, technical assistance, and research pertaining to consumer-directed community support services for covered individuals; (E) includes covered individuals in positions of leadership in the planning, management, and operation of the programs of training, technical assistance, and research; (F) has knowledge and experience pertaining to the implementation and enhancement of systemic and effective engagement policies, programs, and activities that promote the inclusion, needs, and civil right of covered individuals in preparation for, response to, recovery from, and mitigation of disasters; and (G) has, or will establish, an advisory council or similar entity, of which at least 51 percent of the members are covered individuals. (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 6(b). (b) Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements (1) In general The Secretary shall award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible entities on a competitive basis to carry out projects of national significance that— (A) create opportunities for individuals with disabilities and older adults to directly contribute to improving preparation for, recovery from, response to, and mitigation of disasters; (B) support the development of State, local, Tribal, and territorial policies that reinforce and promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities and older adults in Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial community preparation for disasters; and (C) support research that— (i) tracks, in the short-term and long-term, the effects of disasters on individuals with disabilities and older adults; (ii) identifies evidence-based practices that enhance inclusion of individuals with disabilities and older adults to participate in and lead preparation for disasters at Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial levels; (iii) leads to the creation of strategies and procedures to implement community level practices that decrease deaths, injuries, and harm resulting from disasters to individuals with disabilities and older adults; (iv) contributes to the protection of the civil right of covered individuals with disabilities and older adults to be free from discrimination on the basis of disability or age in programs and activities, and self-determination of those individuals and adults, while also promoting their safety and well-being during and following disasters; (v) contributes to the development of Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial policies that enhance collaboration among governmental entities, centers for independent living, VOADs, and other nongovernmental organizations, including organizations that represent and are comprised of covered individuals, to improve the inclusion of covered individuals in preparation for, response to, recovery from, and mitigation of disasters; and (vi) contributes to other efforts, as determined by the Secretary, to advance the purposes of this section. (2) Amount, quantity, and duration In awarding grants or entering into contracts or cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall— (A) to the extent practicable, ensure that each such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement is for an amount that is not less than $2,500,000 and not more than $10,000,000; (B) award or enter into not less than 4 grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements; and (C) ensure that each such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement is for a period of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years.