[Federal Register: May 29, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 103)]
[Notices]
[Page 32106-32124]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29my03-152]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Disability Employment Policy
[SGA 03-07]
Working for Freedom, Opportunity and Real Choice Through
Community Employment (WorkFORCE) Action Grant Initiative
AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; solicitation for grant
applications (SGA).
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This notice contains all of the necessary information and forms
needed to apply for grant funding. (SGA 03-07)
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability
Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of $2.5 million to
award up to 6 competitive Working for Freedom, Opportunity and Real
Choice through Community Employment (WorkFORCE) Action Grant Initiative
grants ranging from approximately $400,000 to $625,000 to continue its
support for increasing and improving employment opportunities that
allow individuals with disabilities to: (1) Move from nursing homes or
other institutions and residential facilities into the community; (2)
continue living in the community; (3) achieve economic self-
sufficiency; and (4) attain full access to, and participation in their
communities. These demonstration grants will begin or expand the
delivery and implementation of customized community employment
opportunities for individuals with disabilities so that they may live,
work, and fully participate in their communities.
The purpose of these grants, therefore, is to develop and document
the capability of individuals transitioning from segregated
environments (such as nursing homes, institutions, and segregated day
environments) to: (1) Successfully participate in community employment
through utilization of customized strategies; (2) increase their
earnings and economic power through participation in such employment;
and (3) live, work and fully participate in their communities. The
WorkFORCE Action Grants will be funded for a one-year period and may be
renewed for a period of up to four additional years at varying funding
levels (see Section IV) depending upon the availability of funds and
the efficacy of the project activities.
The applicants scoring the highest when evaluated pursuant to the
criteria set forth in Part VII, in conjunction with considerations by
the Grant Officer delineated in Part IX of this Solicitation for Grant
Application will be awarded WorkFORCE Action Grants.
Eligibility: Non-profit organizations, including faith-based and
community organizations, working in coordination with the One-Stop
delivery system, as provided under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
(Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), are eligible applicants for
WorkFORCE Action Grants.
DATES: Applications will be accepted on May 29, 2003. The closing date
for receipt of applications under this announcement is July 14, 2003.
Applications must be received by 4:45 p.m. (ET) at the address below.
No exceptions to the mailing and hand-delivery conditions set forth in
this notice will be granted. Applications that do not meet the
conditions set forth in this notice will be considered non-responsive.
ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor,
Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Willis, Reference SGA
03-07, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
Telefacsimile (Fax) applications will not be accepted. Applicants are
advised that mail in the Washington area may be delayed due to mail
decontamination procedures.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cassandra Willis, U.S. Department of
Labor, Procurement Services Center, telephone (202) 693-4570 (this is
not a toll-free number), prior to the closing deadline. Persons who are
deaf or hard of hearing may contact DOL via the Federal Relay Service,
(800) 877-8339. This announcement will also be published on the
Internet on the ODEP's online Home Page at: http://www2.dol.gov/odep.
Award notifications will also be published on the ODEP homepage.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Part I. Delivery of Applications
1. Late Applications
Any application received after the exact date and time specified
for receipt at the office designated in this notice will be considered
non-responsive, unless it is received before awards are made and it (a)
is determined that its late receipt was caused by DOL error; (b) was
sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail not later than
the fifth calendar day before the date specified for receipt of
applications (e.g., an application submitted in response to a
solicitation requiring receipt of applications by the 20th of the month
must have been post marked by the 15th of that month); or (c) was sent
by the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service to addressee
not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing two working days prior to
the date specified for receipt of applications. The term ``working
days'' excludes weekends and Federal holidays. ``Post marked'' means a
printed, stamped or otherwise placed impression (exclusive of a postage
meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable, without further
action, as having been supplied or affixed on the date of mailing by an
employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
2. Withdrawal of Applications
Applications may be withdrawn by written notice or telegram
(including mail gram) received at any time before an award is made.
Applications may be withdrawn in person by the applicant or by an
authorized representative thereof, if the representative's identity is
made known and the representative signs a receipt of the proposal.
3. Hand-Delivered Proposals
It is preferred that applications be mailed at least five days
prior to the closing date. To be considered for funding, hand-delivered
applications must be received by 4:45 p.m., ET, at the specified
address. Failure to adhere to the above instructions will be basis for
a determination of non-responsiveness. Overnight express mail from
carriers other than the U.S. Postal Service will be considered hand-
delivered applications and must be received by the above specified date
and time.
Part II. Authority
Omnibus Appropriations Resolution, 2003, Public Law 108-7;
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106-554, 29 U.S.C.
557b.
Part III. Background
In Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581, 119 S.Ct. 2176 (1999) (the
``Olmstead decision''), the Supreme Court construed Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to require states to place
qualified individuals with mental disabilities in community settings,
rather than in institutions, whenever treatment professionals determine
that such placement is appropriate, the affected persons do not oppose
such placement, and the state can reasonably accommodate the placement,
taking into account the resources available to the state and the
[[Page 32107]]
needs of others with disabilities. The Department of Justice
regulations implementing Title II of the ADA require public entities to
administer their services, programs, and activities in the most
integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals
with disabilities. See 28 CFR 35.130(d).
In Olmstead, the Supreme Court stated that institutional placements
of people with disabilities who can live in, and benefit from,
community settings perpetuates the unwarranted assumptions that persons
so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community
life. The Supreme Court stated that ``recognition that unjustified
institutional isolation of persons with disabilities is a form of
discrimination reflect[ed] two evident judgements'': (1)
``Institutional placements of people with disabilities who can live in,
and benefit from, community settings perpetuates the unwarranted
assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of
participating in community life''; and (2) ``confinement in an
institution severely diminishes everyday life activities of
individuals, including family relations, social contacts, work options,
economic independence, educational advancement, and cultural
enrichment.'' Olmstead, 119 S.Ct. 2176, 2179, 2187 [emphasis added].
This decision affects not only all persons in institutions and
segregated settings, but also people with disabilities who are at risk
of institutionalization, including people with disabilities on waiting
lists to receive community based services and supports.
The Court indicated that one way states can show they are meeting
their obligations under the ADA and the Olmstead decision is to develop
a ``comprehensive, effectively working plan for placing qualified
people with mental disabilities in less restrictive settings.''
Olmstead at 2179. Based on this, almost all states are in the process
of developing, or have already developed such plans.
In support of these state efforts, President George W. Bush issued
Executive Order 13217: Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals
with Disabilities (the Olmstead Executive Order) on June 18, 2001, in
which he extended application of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision
to all Americans with disabilities, and called upon selected Federal
agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor, to help support
governors in their implementation of the Olmstead decision. In support
of these state efforts and in response to the direction set forth in
Executive Order 13217, the ODEP is issuing this SGA for WorkFORCE
Action Grants.
In March 2002, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services,
Tommy G. Thompson, submitted a report to President Bush, titled
Delivering on the Promise, on behalf of the Departments of Labor (DOL),
Justice (DOJ), Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing
and Urban Development (HUD), Transportation (DOT), Veterans Affairs
(VA), the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM). This report detailed actions being planned
by the aforementioned agencies to eliminate barriers and promote
community integration. See http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/final. In this
report, the DOL and other Federal agencies noted that successful
Olmstead planning and implementation efforts must include competitive
employment and employment-related supports. Delivering on the Promise
identifies several key concerns related to employment that must be
addressed, including:
[sbull] Fragmentation of existing employment services;
[sbull] Isolation and segregation of people with disabilities from
``mainstream'' or generic employment programs and services;
[sbull] Lack of access to health insurance;
[sbull] The complexity of existing work incentives that are meant
to encourage and/or support work efforts;
[sbull] Lack of control and choice in selecting employment training
and service providers;
[sbull] Inadequate work opportunities resulting from attitudinal
barriers based on historical and erroneous stereotypes; and
[sbull] Lack of accurate data on employment of people with
disabilities needed to measure progress in eliminating barriers to
their employment.
Many strategies exist for creating and expanding competitive
employment opportunities in the community, including those for
individuals who have been segregated in institutions, nursing homes,
sheltered workshops and day activity programs. Many promising
strategies have emerged through decades of research and demonstration
projects, and through other public and private activities promoting
increased choice and self-determination for people with disabilities.
These include multiple ``customized'' employment approaches such as
supported employment and supported entrepreneurship; individualized job
development; job carving and restructuring; use of personal agents
(including individuals with disabilities and family members);
development of micro-boards, micro-enterprises, cooperatives and small
businesses; and the use of personal budgets and other forms of
individualized funding that provide choice and control to the person
and promote self-determination.
Accordingly, last year the ODEP awarded 12 WorkFORCE Coordinating
Grants, totaling $1,599,910 and three WorkFORCE Action Grants, totaling
$1,983,067. This initiative represented the ODEP's support for
increasing and improving employment opportunities for the population
covered by the Olmstead decision, and is demonstrating that such
individuals can successfully achieve employment and participate in
community life.
The additional WorkFORCE Action Grants represented by this SGA are
meant to build on the ODEP's existing WorkFORCE Grant Initiative.
Expanding the number of projects funded under the WorkFORCE Grant
Initiative will enhance the development of information that can inform
the policy development activities of the ODEP, and provide an
opportunity for implementation of projects designed under the WorkFORCE
Coordinating Grants awarded by the ODEP last year. Additionally, these
grants support the President's New Freedom Initiative. The New Freedom
Initiative is designed to increase the number of people with
disabilities who enter, re-enter, and remain in the workforce. By
emphasizing the need to increase the capacity of federally-supported
employment and training programs to serve people with significant
disabilities, including those covered by the Olmstead decision and
Executive Order, the current SGA will further the New Freedom
Initiative's goals of increased integration of Americans with
disabilities into the workforce.
The grants awarded under this SGA will also complement other
Federal and state initiatives already underway to make working and
living in the community a reality for more people with disabilities,
including the state planning and implementation efforts under the U.S.
Supreme Court's Olmstead decision; the Olmstead Executive Order; the
Department of Health and Human Services Systems Change Grants; the ODEP
Work Incentive, Customized Employment, and Technical Assistance and
Training to Providers initiatives; and other related grant
opportunities and efforts by the DOL, the HHS, and the SSA under the
Workforce Investment Act
[[Page 32108]]
(WIA) and the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act
(TWWIIA). The WorkFORCE grants will utilize the resources and
incentives of these and other initiatives to create competitive
employment opportunities for individuals eligible under the Olmstead
decision and the Executive Order. The resulting employment
opportunities for people with disabilities eligible for these programs
are essential to accomplish the goal of full integration within the
community.
In addition, these grants will support implementation of
coordinated workforce development envisioned under the WIA. The WIA
established comprehensive reform of existing Federal job training
programs, consolidating multiple programs into a unified system and
bringing multiple Federal programs together as required partners in the
One-Stop delivery system established under the WIA. The One-Stop
Centers, which comprise the heart of this system, are in a position to
expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities by helping
to ensure that the workforce system is accessible both physically and
programmatically. To accomplish this, however, additional state and
local organizations must be involved, including community based
providers of customized employment services. Additional partners
necessary to the success of this endeavor for people with disabilities
include, but are not limited to, the following: State programs for
individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities; Medicaid;
mental health and substance abuse agencies and organizations;
transportation and assistive technology providers; Small Business
Development Centers; secondary education programs; community colleges;
University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities;
foundations; and faith-based and community organizations.
In particular, it is essential that One-Stop Centers have available
a variety of eligible training providers in their respective
communities to meet the needs of individuals seeking employment. This
includes faith-based and community organizations with expertise in
customized employment strategies for assisting people with disabilities
to achieve choice-based employment. Such innovative partnerships with
the One-Stop system hold the promise of dramatically increasing both
employment and wages for people with disabilities, in part by
increasing their choices for integrated, competitive employment,
business ownership, entrepreneurship, and other customized employment
options.
In response to these considerations and in view of the potential
resources described above, the ODEP will continue its Working for
Freedom, Opportunity and Real Choice through Community Employment
(WorkFORCE) Grant Initiative by awarding WorkFORCE Action Grants that
develop and/or expand the capacity of communities to provide
individually determined, customized employment, in partnership with the
workforce development system.
Part IV. Funding Availability and Period of Performance
The ODEP anticipates awarding up to 6 grants, ranging from
approximately $400,000 to $625,000 per year, totaling $2.5 million, to
develop demonstration programs to support the development and
coordination of customized community employment opportunities in non-
stereotypical jobs for people with disabilities who want to: (1) Move
from nursing homes, residential facilities, or other segregated
environments into the community; (2) continue living in the community;
(3) achieve economic self-sufficiency; and (4) attain full access to,
and participation in, their communities. This grant initiative is
founded in the belief that to fully participate in community life, such
individuals must have the opportunity for employment.
These demonstration grants will be awarded for one year, with four
additional option years possible, depending upon the availability of
funds and the efficacy of grant activities, established by independent
reviews conducted by the ODEP or its designees. It is envisioned that
if funding continues for the full five years, the funding for years
four and five will be at successively lower rates with funding during
year four at 80 percent of the third year funds, and funding during
year five at 60 percent of the third year funds. Grantees are expected
to use this grant to leverage and develop other public and private
resources to ensure sustainability.
Part V. Eligible Applicants and Required Partnerships
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for these demonstration grants are non-profit
organizations including faith-based and community organizations
(although not 501(c)(4) entities subject to the Lobbying Disclosure
Act). To be determined eligible, applicants must:
1. Successful applicants must indicate their intent to register as
eligible training providers in their states and coordinate with their
local One-Stop Career Center(s);
2. In addition, successful applicants will not utilize certificates
authorized under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act in their
implementation of project activities and will utilize only individually
determined customized employment strategies in securing employment for
the target population.
Required Partnerships
The purpose of the WorkFORCE Action Grants is to demonstrate the
employment potential of people with disabilities through techniques for
accomplishing community employment in non-stereotypical integrated
settings, utilizing customized employment strategies. These efforts
must include the involvement of many key partners, especially those
with direct involvement in their area's One-Stop Career Centers.
The target populations to be served are people with disabilities
who are either unemployed or under-employed and who are:
[sbull] In non-work (i.e., day activity, social clubs), segregated
work, or transitioning to work settings; or,
[sbull] Expected to be or are determined to be covered under the
Olmstead decision and Executive Order and therefore part of the state
overall Olmstead planning and implementation process; or,
[sbull] Awaiting employment services and supports following a move
from a residential facility, or as part of a plan to move into a
community under the Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead and the
Olmstead Executive Order.
In addition, this program is subject to the provisions of the
``Jobs for Veterans Act,'' Public Law 107-288, which provides priority
of service to veterans and certain of their spouses in all Department
of Labor-funded job training programs. Please note that, to obtain
priority of service, a veteran must meet that program's eligibility
requirements. Comprehensive policy guidance is being developed and will
be issued in the near future.
The target groups to be served by these grants are intended to be
those persons with disabilities who are both defined above and who have
been among the hardest to serve due to low expectations for employment,
lack of employment skills, limited independent living experiences or
other individualized needs and supports.
Applicants must:
1. Submit a letter signed by their state's governor, or his or her
designee for overall Olmstead implementation, that the proposed grant
activities will be regarded as an official demonstration
[[Page 32109]]
program playing a vital role in the state's Olmstead employment
implementation effort(s). Moreover, this letter must describe how the
lessons learned under implementation of the WorkFORCE Action Grant will
be utilized to benefit other communities throughout the state, and
thereby provide expanded customized community employment options for
people who are covered under the Olmstead decision and Executive Order.
2. Grant applications must include evidence of current
collaboration and partnerships with a wide variety of state agencies,
entities and individuals. Some of the agencies and organizations that
should be considered for inclusion are:
[sbull] Employment and training agencies;
[sbull] State and local Workforce Investment Boards and their One-
Stop Career Centers;
[sbull] State agencies for substance abuse, vocational
rehabilitation, education, Medicaid, mental retardation, mental health,
public health, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
[sbull] State Developmental Disability Councils and University
Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities;
[sbull] Small Business Development Centers,
[sbull] Independent Living programs;
[sbull] Community colleges, benefits counseling and assistance
programs;
[sbull] Lending and financial institutions, whose expertise,
services, or funds could contribute to employment services and supports
needed to secure competitive, customized community employment outcomes
for the target group;
[sbull] Faith-based and community organizations;
[sbull] Community rehabilitation providers;
[sbull] Family members, consumers, employers, and any other key
agencies or constituencies needed to offer a comprehensive service
delivery model.
Part VI. Format Requirements for Grant Application
General Requirements
Applicants must submit one (1) paper copy with an original
signature and two (2) additional paper copies of their signed proposal.
To aid with the review of applications, USDOL also encourages
Applicants to submit an electronic copy of their proposal on a disc or
CD using Microsoft Word. Applicants who do not provide an electronic
copy will not be penalized. The Application Narrative must be double-
spaced with standard one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides) on 8\1/
2\ x 11 papers, and be presented on single-sided, numbered pages with
the exception of format requirements for the Executive Summary. The
Executive Summary must be limited to no more than two single-spaced,
single-sided pages on 8\1/2\ x 11 papers with standard one-inch margins
(top, bottom, and sides) throughout. A font size of at least twelve
(12) pitch is required throughout. Applications that fail to meet these
requirements will be considered non-responsive.
The three required sections of the application are:
Section I--Project Financial Plan
Section II--Executive Summary--Project Synopsis
Section III--Project Narrative (including Attachments, not to exceed
seventy-five (75) pages)
Mandatory requirements for each section are provided as follows in
this application package. Applications that fail to meet the stated
mandatory requirements of each section will be considered non-
responsive.
Mandatory Application Requirements
[sbull] Section I. Project Financial Plan (Budget) [The Project
Financial Plan will not count against the application page limits.]
Section I of the application must include the following three required
parts:
(1) Completed ``SF 424--Application for Federal Assistance'' (See
Appendix A of this SGA for required form.)
(2) Completed ``SF 424A--Budget Information Form'' by line item for
all costs required to implement the project design effectively. (See
Appendix B of this SGA for required forms.)
(3) Budget Narrative and Justification that provides sufficient
information to support the reasonableness of the costs included in the
budget in relation to the service strategy and planned outcomes.
The application must include one SF-424 with the original
signatures of the legal entity applying for grant funding and two
additional copies. Applicants shall indicate on the SF-424 the
organization's IRS status, if applicable. Under the Lobbying Disclosure
Act of 1995, section 18 (29 U.S.C. 1611), an organization described in
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages in
lobbying activities will not be eligible for the receipt of Federal
funds constituting an award, grant, or loan. (See 2 U.S.C. 1611; 26
U.S.C. 501(c)(4).) For item 10 of the SF-424, the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for the program is 17.720.
The Budget Narrative and Justification must describe all costs
associated with implementing the project that are to be covered with
grant funds. Grantees must support the travel and associated costs with
sending at least one representative to the annual ODEP Policy
Conference for Grantees, to be held in Washington, DC, at a time and
place to be determined. Grantees must comply with the ``Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to
State and Local Governments,'' (also known as the ``Common Rule'')
codified at 29 CFR part 97, and ``Grants and Agreements with Institutes
of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations
(also known as OMB Circular A-110), codified at 29 CFR part 95 and must
comply with the applicable OMB cost principles circulars, as identified
in 29 CFR 95.27 and 29 CFR 97.22(b).
Grantees may use funds in a flexible manner, as determined
appropriate by input from stakeholders and identified needs, so long as
requirements for outcome and evaluation data and other requirements of
Federal statutes, regulations, administrative requirements, and OMB
circulars and the requirements delineated in this SGA are met.
In addition, the budget must include on a separate page a detailed
cost analysis of each line item. Justification for administrative costs
must be provided. Approval of a budget by the DOL is not the same as
the approval of actual costs. The individual signing the SF-424 on
behalf of the applicant must represent and be able to legally bind the
responsible financial and administrative entity for a grant should that
application result in an award. The applicant must also include the
Assurances and Certifications Signature Page (Appendix C).
[sbull] Section II. Executive Summary--Project Synopsis (The
Executive Summary is limited to no more than two single-spaced, single-
sided pages on 8\1/2\ x 11 paper with standard margins throughout).
Each application shall include a project synopsis that identifies the
following:
[sbull] The applicant;
[sbull] The amount of funds requested;
[sbull] The planned period of performance;
[sbull] The list of partners, as appropriate;
[sbull] An overview of how the applicant will identify the
population to be served (including the estimated number and types of
disability), the environments such individuals are currently
experiencing (such as institutions, nursing homes, segregated day
programs, etc.), and methods that will be used to promote community
employment, including customized
[[Page 32110]]
employment strategies listed in this SGA; and
[sbull] An overview of the plan for sustainability once Federal
funding ceases.
[sbull] Section III. Project Narrative (The Project Narrative plus
attachments are limited to no more than seventy-five (75), 8\1/2\ x 11
pages, double-spaced with standard one-inch margins (top, bottom, and
sides), and must be presented on single-sided, numbered pages. Note:
The Financial Plan, the Executive Summary, and the Appendices are not
included in the seventy-five (75)-page limit.) The requirements for the
project narrative are described below under Part VII--Statement of
Work.
All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, and captions, as well as all text in charts,
tables, figures, and graphs must be double-spaced (no more than three
lines per vertical inch); and, if using a proportional computer font,
use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density
no greater than 18 characters per inch (if using a non-proportional
font or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters per inch).
Applications that fail to meet these requirements will be considered
non-responsive.
Part VII. Government Requirements/Statement of Work [Project Narrative]
The purpose of the WorkFORCE Action Grants is to demonstrate the
employment potential of people with disabilities through techniques for
accomplishing community employment in non-stereotypical integrated
settings, utilizing customized employment strategies. These efforts
must include the involvement of many key partners, especially those
with direct involvement in their area's One-Stop Career Centers, as
described in Section V above.
For purposes of this solicitation, customized employment means
individualizing the employment relationship between employees and
employers in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an
individualized determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of
the person with a disability, and is also designed to meet the specific
needs of the employer. It may include approaches such as supported
employment; supported entrepreneurship; individualized job development;
job carving and restructuring; use of personal agents (including
individuals with disabilities and family members); development of
micro-boards, micro-enterprises, cooperatives and small businesses; and
use of personal budgets and other forms of individualized funding that
provide choice and control to the person and promote self-
determination. These and other job development or restructuring
strategies result in job responsibilities being customized and
individually negotiated to fit the needs of individuals with
disabilities. Customized employment assumes the provision of reasonable
accommodations and supports necessary for the individual to perform the
functions of a job that is individually negotiated and developed.
Each applicant for these grants shall describe its plan for
expanding capacity for, and provision of, customized employment
opportunities to the target groups as defined in Part V above.
The Project Narrative, or Section III of the grant application,
should provide complete information on how the applicant will address
the following DOL priorities for fiscal year 2003:
(1) Increase the availability of skill training, employment
opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities; and
(2) Develop comprehensive One-Stop Centers, which are welcoming and
are valued providers of choice by customers with disabilities seeking
workforce assistance by assuring the availability of staff trained on
disability issues, personalized employment counseling, knowledgeable
support that addresses employment barriers and work incentives, and the
availability of accommodations and technologies for diverse
disabilities.
Proposals will be rated based upon the quality of the applicant's
response in addressing the four criteria described below in terms of a
comprehensive strategic approach that addresses the ODEP's priorities
noted above. The four criteria (Statement of Need/National
Significance, Comprehensive Service Strategy, Sustainability, and
Management Plan and Outcomes) MUST be addressed and the applicant's
accomplishments or status with regard to each item provided.
The ODEP, however, does not expect the applicant to fully
incorporate every item listed as part of their strategy and proposal
design. The ODEP recognizes that the needs and requirements of each
state and community may be different, and therefore, some of the
options identified may be more relevant than others in a particular
state.
1. Statement of Need/Significance of the Project (15 Points)
The purpose of the Statement of Need criteria is to establish the
overall status of disability issues relevant to the targeted population
in the applicant's state; to identify strengths and deficiencies to be
addressed by the applicant's proposal; to identify the overall scope of
the proposal's objectives and design; to present the applicant's need
for the grant resources; to demonstrate significance of the proposed
project; and to demonstrate the current and proposed partnerships and
collaborative efforts to develop or demonstrate promising new
strategies, practices, and/or innovations. The narrative in this
section should include:
(1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase
knowledge or understanding of problems, issues, or effective strategies
for community-based organizations and other potential partners to use
customized employment strategies to increase employment, choice and
wages, and influence systems change for the Olmstead covered
population.
(2) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates an understanding
of the issues the state and proposed geographic area are currently
facing in their overall Olmstead implementation efforts;
(3) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a clear
understanding of customizing employment and the range of strategies it
can incorporate;
(4) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to yield
findings that may be used by other appropriate agencies and
organizations;
(5) The extent to which the proposed project involves the
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build
upon, or are alternatives to, existing strategies;
(6) The extent to which the promising practices of the proposed
project will be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use the
information or strategies;
(7) The potential replicability (national significance) of the
proposed project or strategies, including, as appropriate, the
potential for implementation in a variety of settings; and
(8) The importance or magnitude of the results, which are likely to
be attained by the proposed project.
In evaluating the quality of the proposal narrative, the ODEP will
consider the applicant's identified needs and proposed approaches to
addressing the needs in the context of the ODEP's priorities.
2. Comprehensive Service Strategy (30 Points)
The purpose of the Comprehensive Service Strategy criteria is to
identify the approach proposed by the grantee to implement the
WorkFORCE Action Grant. In general, this requires extensive
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linkages and on-site knowledge of applicable resources that address
multiple disability issues and barriers to community integration and
employment that are commonly experienced by the Olmstead covered
population.
A. Staff Capacity--the applicant must:
(1) Describe the proposed staffing of the project. Identify how it
will ensure that trained staff with adequate knowledge of diverse
disabilities, knowledge of diverse customized employment strategies,
and employment-related experience for the target population will be
available to provide grant related services.
(2) Summarize the qualifications, including relevant education,
training and experience of key project personnel, as well as project
consultants or subcontractors, including their qualifications, relevant
training and experience. Attach copies of resumes in the Appendices.
(3) Describe the applicant's experience in serving people with
disabilities and in providing customized employment services.
(4) Describe 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.
B. Proposed Project Design and its Evaluation--the application must
address the proposed design for the WorkFORCE Action Grant, including
its response to the requirements outlined in Part V (Eligible
Applicants and Required Partnerships) of this Solicitation.
The Project Design must:
(1) Address the movement of individuals from segregated settings to
customized employment opportunities in the community;
(2) Work in coordination with their state's Olmstead lead agency on
their state's overall Olmstead plan, and describe how they will
contribute to the development of their state's plan and implementation
strategy related to employment;
(3) Integrate customized employment strategies with their state's
employment programs and services, including existing services available
through the One-Stop Centers, the state and local Workforce Investment
Boards, and their partners;
(4) Coordinate their efforts with existing Olmstead activities and
programs including grant activities and initiatives funded by the SSA,
the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services at HHS, and grant
activities and initiatives funded by the Center for Mental Health
Services of HHS;
(5) Develop customized employment opportunities in a variety of
occupations and industries based on the strengths, needs, and desires
of the individual with a disability, including self-employment and
entrepreneurship where appropriate. Services and supports must be
organized in ways that provide informed choice and promote self-
determination;
(6) Establish employer involvement; track and respond to customer
service and satisfaction for both persons with disabilities and
employers; and provide services, including follow-up services, to
ensure job retention and career development;
(7) Collaborate with other faith-based and community organizations
in their state in order to expand opportunities for customized
employment for the target group. This includes facilitating the
availability and use of customized employment strategies by such
organizations, as well as facilitating such organizations registering
as eligible training providers with their local One-Stop Career
Centers;
(8) Educate relevant stakeholders and systems personnel about
changes needed to increase customized community employment outcomes for
individuals with disabilities;
(9) Consider the usefulness of increasing the availability of
personal agents and job development personnel offering customized
services through customer-controlled approaches that result in
customized employment. One possible area of focus could include
demonstrating the effectiveness of paying family members or other
individuals with disabilities to serve as personal agents when selected
by the individual with a disability to assist in negotiating and
implementing employment plans and services;
(10) Incorporate use of funds leveraged across several systems
available to people with disabilities through personal budgets and
other forms of self-directed accounts.
In evaluating the quality of the proposed project design, ODEP will
also consider the following factors:
(a) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable;
(b) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population and other identified needs and the quality of the
applicant's plans for recruiting and retaining the target population;
(c) The extent to which the design of the proposed project provides
procedures and approaches for collaboration and coordination with key
agencies and organizations and identification of critical roles;
(d) The extent to which the design of the proposed project provides
clear understanding of and experience with utilization of customized
employment strategies for increasing employment, choice and earnings of
individuals with significant disabilities;
(e) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated,
including demonstrated support from the state governor or designated
Olmstead agency and commitment from key organizations, employers, and
agencies;
(f) The extent to which the applicant encourages involvement of
people with disabilities and their families, experts and organizations,
and other relevant stakeholders in project activities;
(g) The extent to which the design of the project will facilitate
an increase in the number of faith-based and community organizations
that register as eligible training providers or as providers of
supplemental and supportive services with their local One-Stop Center;
(h) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project;
(i) The extent to which the management plan for project
implementation is likely to achieve the objectives of the proposed
project on time and within budget; and
(j) The extent to which the proposed project design features
innovative strategies to implement customized employment and choice.
Letters of Commitment. Applicants can include letters of support if
they provide specific commitments. Such letters can increase an
applicant's score by showing that the commitments in the text of the
proposal are serious. Form letters will not be considered. See also
Part V.
3. Sustainability (25 Points)
The purpose of the sustainability criteria is to identify
strategies for ensuring that activities funded under the grant will
continue once federal funding ceases. Sustainability objectives must be
built into the project design and ongoing project operation. Applicants
must:
(1) Identify resources and partnerships that are an integral
element of the project. Projects funded under this SGA must leverage a
combination of Federal, state, and local public sector resources, as
well as local non-profit sector resources for purposes of
sustainability. Accordingly, in this section the applicant should
enumerate
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these resources, describe any specific existing contractual
commitments, and provide concrete evidence of sustainability;
(2) Identify activities and in-kind elements of sustained support.
ODEP considers detailed commitments for specific new activities as more
important than promises of in-kind supports in showing sustained
support for the project. Grants recently received from another agency
can be discussed in the proposal, but the applicant should be precise
about which activities preceded this grant and which will occur because
of the grant;
(3) Detail how Federal, state, and local public sector commitments
contribute to the sustainability of this project following completion
of the grant. Examples of such commitments could include: commitment
from state vocational rehabilitation, one-stop center, state
developmental disability, state Medicaid, or state general revenue
funding to support expanded customized employment services for
individuals securing employment through the agency; status as
Employment Network under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive
Improvement Act providing customized employment services to eligible
ticket-holders; private sector funding through foundations, financial
or lending agencies, or other relevant collaborative arrangements for
continuing provision or expansion of customized employment services in
the community.
In evaluating the quality of the plan for sustainability, ODEP will
also consider the following factors to be of particular importance:
(a) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the grant period,
including the quality of the applicant's plans for implementing the
project's activities in years four and five when Federal funding will
be reduced.
(b) The likelihood of the applicant successfully securing state
ownership and participation in these projects when the grant funds
cease.
(c) The extent to which partnerships with outside entities
(including public and private disability and faith-based and community
organizations) and funding from additional Federal, state, and local
resources will be effectively leveraged and utilized in continuing the
WorkFORCE Action activities after the expiration of this grant. See
Part V.
4. Management and Outcomes (30 Points)
The purpose of the Management and Outcomes criteria is to determine
whether the applicant has developed an adequate management plan to
effectively carry out the objectives and scope of the proposed project
on time and within budget, to describe the predicted outcomes resulting
from activities funded under this SGA, and to identify the ``methods of
evaluation'' that will be used by the grantee to determine success.
Applicants should provide a detailed management plan, which
identifies the critical activities, time frames, and responsibilities
for effectively implementing the project, including the evaluation
process for assuring successful implementation of grant objectives.
In addition, applicants should outline the strategy for documenting
and reporting the activities undertaken during the life of the grant
for the ODEP's future use in working with other grantees and
constituencies.
In evaluating the management and outcomes criteria, the ODEP
considers the following factors to be of particular importance:
(a) The extent to which the proposed budget and narrative
justifications are adequate to support the proposed project;
(b) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project;
(c) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies;
(d) The extent to which the evaluation will provide information to
other programs about effective strategies suitable for replication or
testing in other settings;
(e) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the
objective use of performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data;
(f) The extent to which the methods of evaluation measure in both
quantitative and qualitative terms, program results and satisfaction of
customers, both people with disabilities and employers;
(g) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products
and services from the proposed project;
(h) The extent to which the principal investigator and other key
personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the
proposed projects;
(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support and
sustain the proposed project activities over the projected five-year
period.
(j) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
Part VIII. Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring
The ODEP is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation
of each competitive grant project in accordance with the provisions of
this announcement and the terms of the grant award document.
Applicants should assume that ODEP staff, or their designees, will
conduct on-site project reviews periodically. Reviews will focus on
timely project implementation, performance in meeting the grant's
programmatic goals and objectives, expenditures of grant funds on
allowable activities, integration and coordination with other resources
and service providers in the local area, project management and
administration of project activities. WorkFORCE Action Grants may be
subject to other additional reviews at the discretion of the ODEP.
Reporting
Grantees will be required to submit quarterly financial and
narrative progress reports. In addition, all grantees will be expected
to provide information on individuals with disabilities securing
employment through use of customized strategies (including information
on types of jobs, wages, and benefits secured by specific individuals
with disabilities) and other areas addressed through the linkages and
networks facilitated by project activities.
Grantees will be required to submit periodic financial and
participation reports. Specifically the following reports will be
required:
A. Quarterly reports: The quarterly report is estimated to take ten
hours to complete. The form for the Quarterly Report will be provided
by the ODEP. The ODEP will work with the grantee to help refine the
requirements of the report, which will, among other things, include
measures of ongoing analysis for continuous improvement and customer
satisfaction.
B. Standard Form 269; Financial Status Report Form (FSR) will be
completed on a quarterly basis, using the on-line electronic reporting
system.
C. Final Project Report: The final report will include an
assessment of project performance and outcomes achieved. The final
report is estimated to take 20 hours. This report will be submitted in
hard copy and on electronic disk using a format and
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following instructions, which will be provided by the DOL. A draft of
the final report is due to the ODEP 45 days before the termination of
the grant. The final report is due to the DOL 60 days following the
termination of the grant.
All grantees must agree to cooperate with an independent evaluation
to be conducted by the ODEP. The ODEP will arrange for and conduct this
independent evaluation of the outcomes, impacts, and accomplishments of
each funded project. Grantees must agree to make available records on
all parts of project activity, including participant employment and
wage data, and to provide access to personnel, as specified by the
evaluator(s), under the direction of the ODEP. This independent
evaluation is separate from the ongoing evaluation for continuous
improvement required of the grantee for project implementation. The
ODEP's evaluation of the WorkFORCE Action Grants includes a process
evaluation that includes extensive information pertaining to
achievements under the grant, summary information, number of people
with disabilities receiving services, number of people employed through
the One-Stop system and other sources.
Grantees must also agree to work with the ODEP in its various
technical assistance efforts in order to freely share with others what
is learned about delivering customized employment services to the
Olmstead population. Grantees must agree to collaborate with other
research institutes, centers, studies, and evaluations that are
supported by the DOL and other relevant Federal agencies, as
appropriate. Finally, Grantees must agree to actively utilize the
programs sponsored by the ODEP, including the Job Accommodation
Network, (http://www.jan.wvu.edu), and the Employer Assistance Referral
Network (http://www.earnworks.com).
Part IX. Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
All applications will be reviewed for compliance with the
requirements of this notice. A careful evaluation of applications will
be made by a technical review panel, which will evaluate the
applications against the rating criteria listed in this SGA. The panel
results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer.
The ODEP may elect to award grants with or without discussion with the
offeror. In situations without discussions, an award will be based on
the offeror's signature on the SF-424, which constitutes a binding
offer. The Grant Officer may consider any information that is available
and will make final award decisions based on what is most advantageous
to the Government, considering such factors as:
[sbull] Panel findings;
[sbull] Geographic distribution of the competitive applications and
based on location of the existing Olmstead WorkFORCE Action Grants
(Boston, MA; Peoria, IL; and, Decatur, GA) and;
[sbull] Assuring a variety of program designs; and
[sbull] Availability of funds
X. Administration Provisions
A. Administrative Standards and Provisions
Grantees are strongly encouraged to read these regulations before
submitting a proposal. The grant awarded under this SGA shall be
subject to the following as applicable:
[sbull] 29 CFR part 95--Grants and Agreements With Institutions of
Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations, and
With Commercial Organizations, Foreign Governments, Organizations Under
the Jurisdiction of Foreign Governments, and International
Organizations;
[sbull] 29 CFR part 96-- Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts,
and Other Agreements.
[sbull] 29 CFR part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirement for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
B. Allowable Cost
Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with
the following applicable Federal cost principles:
[sbull] State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87
[sbull] Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122
[sbull] Profit-Making Commercial Firms--48 CFR part 31
Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.
C. Grant Assurances
As a condition of the award, the applicant must certify that it
will comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity
provisions of the following laws:
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 31--Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted
programs of the Department of Labor, effectuation of Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of
Disability in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from
Federal Assistance. (Implementing section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act, 29 U.S.C. 794)
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial
Assistance. (Implementing title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.)
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 37--Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity
Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), (Implementing
Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act, 29 U.S.C. 2938)
The applicant must include assurances and certifications that it
will comply with these laws in its grant application. The assurances
and certifications are attached as Appendix C.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 20th day of May, 2003
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
Appendix A. Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF-424
Appendix B. Budget Information Sheet, Form SF-424A
Appendix C. Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
Appendix D. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity
BILLING CODE 4510-CX-P
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[FR Doc. 03-13400 Filed 5-28-03; 8:45 am]