[Federal Register: February 11, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 28)]
[Notices]
[Page 6958-6970]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11fe03-100]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
[SGA/DFA 03-102]
Work Incentive Grants
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), DOL.
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.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training
Administration (ETA), announces the availability of approximately $17
million to award competitive grants designed to enhance the
employability, employment and career advancement of people with
disabilities through enhanced service delivery in the new One-Stop
delivery system established under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(WIA). The Work Incentive Grant program will provide grant funds to
consortia and/or partnerships of public and private non-profit entities
working in coordination with the One-Stop delivery system to augment
the existing programs and services and ensure programmatic access and
streamlined, seamless service delivery for people with disabilities.
DATES: Applications will be accepted commencing on February 11, 2003.
The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is
March 28, 2003. Applications must be received by 4 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 not be
honored.
ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor,
Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal Assistance,
Attention: B. Jai Johnson, SGA/DFA 03-102, 200 Constitution Avenue,
NW., Room S-4203, 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: B. Jai Johnson, Grants Management
Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, Telephone (202) 693-3301
(this is not a toll-free number). You must specifically ask for B. Jai
Johnson. Questions can also be faxed to B. Jai Johnson, Telephone (202)
693-2879, please include the SGA/DFA 03-102, a contact name, fax and
phone numbers. This announcement will also be published on the Internet
on the ETA's disAbility online Home Page at: http://wdsc.doleta.gov/disability/
, and the ETA homepage at http://www.doleta.gov. Award
notifications will also be published on the ETA 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 not be considered, unless it is received before awards are made
and it--(a) 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 (b) 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
[[Page 6959]]
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 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
Provisions relating to the One-Stop delivery system are at sections
121, 134(c), 189(c) of the Workforce Investment Act (29 U.S.C. 2841,
2864(c), 2939(c); Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49f(d) and (e) and
Department of Labor Appropriations Act for 2002 [Pub. L. 107-116].
Regulations governing the Workforce Investment Act are at 20 CFR parts
652, 660-671, (65 FR 49294 (August 11, 2000)).
Part III. Background
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) establishes
comprehensive reform of existing Federal job training programs with
amendments impacting service delivery under the Wagner-Peyser Act,
Adult Education and Literacy Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. WIA also
repeals and supersedes the Job Training Partnership Act. A number of
other Federal programs are also identified as required partners in the
One-Stop delivery system in order to provide comprehensive services for
all Americans to access the information and resources available to
assist them in the development and implementation of their career
goals. The intention of the One-Stop system is to establish programs
and employment service providers in co-located and integrated settings
that are accessible for individuals and businesses alike in
approximately 600 workforce investment areas established throughout the
nation.
WIA establishes State and Local Workforce Investment Boards focused
on strategic planning, policy development, and oversight of the
workforce system with significant authority for the Governor and chief
elected officials in local areas to build on existing reforms in order
to implement innovative and comprehensive workforce investment systems.
Recognizing that many One-Stop delivery systems may not currently have
the capacity to provide comprehensive services to people with
disabilities, the Work Incentive Grant is designed to provide seed
monies to support the development of the One-Stop infrastructure with
an objective of achieving model, seamless and comprehensive services
for people with disabilities.
Many people with disabilities are looking to the new workforce
investment system to address their employment and training needs in a
progressive, enlightened environment with cutting-edge technologies.
They also expect the One-Stop delivery system to provide comprehensive
services to meet multiple barriers, which frequently limit their access
to a productive, economically rewarding work life. These services may
include, but are not limited to, the availability of basic skill
development; vocational skill training or advanced educational
opportunities; apprenticeship and entrepreneurial training;
transportation assistance to reach training or employment sites;
housing assistance or advice on retaining existing housing upon
employment; and access to medical health coverage upon employment.
Twenty-three Work Incentive Grants were awarded at the end of October
2000 for a thirty-month period. A second round of Work Incentive Grants
were awarded in May 2002 for a twenty-four month period. If you would
like more information on round one and two Work Incentive Grant awards,
please go to http://wdsc.doleta.gov/disability/.
This Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) is for grant awards
for the Work Incentive Grant program with funds made available July 1,
2002, under the DOL Fiscal Year 2002 appropriation. The Work Incentive
Grant program is consistent with the objectives of the President's New
Freedom Initiative. This year's Work Incentive Grant announcement
continues an emphasis on addressing infrastructure inadequacies and
programmatic access of the One-Stop system for people with
disabilities, including grant funds available for procuring assistive
technology. Statement of Work criteria continues an emphasis on support
for staffing capacity but with additional language that is modeled on a
joint ETA/SSA Disability Program Navigator initiative that will soon be
piloted in several states. For more information on the Navigator
initiative, please go to: http://wdsc.doleta.gov/disability/.
Part IV. Funding Availability and Period of Performance
The Department of Labor anticipates awarding approximately 20-40
grants ranging from $100,000 to $700,000. Awards to one or more local
Workforce Investment Boards will generally be limited to no more than
$300,000. Awards to state-wide grantees (including a single local
Workforce Investment area State) will generally be limited to no more
than $700,000. Awards to current Work Incentive Grantees that submit
proposals under this SGA will be limited to $150,000 for one or more
local Workforce Investment Boards and $500,000 to state-wide grant
proposals. The period of performance will be approximately 24 months
from the date of execution by the Department. The grant funds will be
available for expenditure until June 30, 2005. The Department may elect
to extend these grants based on the availability of new funds and
satisfactory performance; but in no case may the FY 2002 Work Incentive
Grant funds made available under this notice be expended after June 30,
2005.
Part V. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are state departments of labor or applicable
state entity administering the Wagner-Peyser and Title I Workforce
Investment Act programs; state level Workforce Investment Boards; an
individual local Workforce Investment Board; or several local Workforce
Investment Boards applying jointly.
The Department of Labor encourages applicants to work in
partnership with other disability-related public and private
organizations. Partners may include: state/local public agencies such
as Vocational Rehabilitation; State Councils for Independent Living;
local Centers for Independent Living (CIL's); state mental health
agencies, state mental retardation and Developmental Disability
Councils; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies; and
private, non-profit organizations such as disability advocacy and
provider organizations, federally-funded disability grant entities,
including faith-based entities,
[[Page 6960]]
which provide services for people with disabilities.
Statewide applications must propose strategies for enhancing and
improving services to people with disabilities involving all local
workforce investment areas in the state. The Department will consider
statewide proposals from a local Workforce Investment Board, or Boards
submitting jointly, but letters of commitment from the state level
Workforce Investment Board must be included in the application.
Applications that are not statewide projects but which involve one
or more local workforce investment areas should also include letters of
commitment from each Local Board covered under the grant, or one letter
of commitment signed by all Local Boards in the local area (if all
commitments cannot be obtained, explanation must be provided).
Current Work Incentive grantees may apply under this solicitation
but must identify significant need and address outstanding deficiencies
or propose a significant improvement to the local workforce investment
system that has not been accomplished under the current grant.
Provisions regarding eligible applicants identified in the first
paragraph of this Part V are still required.
Indian and Native American Tribal entities, or consortia of Tribes,
may apply for Work Incentive Grants. These grants would involve
coordination of services and enhancements to a One-Stop system approach
for people with disabilities in a specific Indian community or covering
multiple Tribal entities that may cut across multiple States and/or
workforce investment areas. In such cases, letters of commitment from
Local Boards are not required. Grants to Indian and Native American
tribal grantees are treated differently because of sovereignty and
self-governance established under the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act allowing for the government-to-government
relationship between the Federal and Tribal Governments.
Note: Except as specifically provided, DOL/ETA acceptance of a
proposal and an award of federal funds to sponsor any program(s)
does not provide a waiver of any grant requirement and/or
procedures. For example, the OMB circulars require that an entity's
procurement procedures must require that all procurement
transactions must be conducted, as practical, to provide open and
free competition. If a proposal identifies a specific entity to
provide the services, the DOL/ETA's award does not provide the
justification or basis to sole-source the procurement, i.e., avoid
competition.
Part VI. Format Requirements for Grant Application
General Requirements--Applicants must submit one (1) copy with an
original signature and 2 additional copies of their proposal. The
Application Narrative must be double-spaced, and 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. A font size of at least
twelve (12) pitch is required throughout.
There are three required sections of the application. Requirements
for each section are provided in this application package. Applications
that fail to meet the requirements will not be considered.
Section I--Project Financial Plan
Section II--Executive Summary--Project Synopsis
Section III--Project Narrative (including Attachments, not to exceed
40 pages)
Section I. Project Financial Plan--Section I of the application
must include the following three required parts:
[sbull] Completed ``SF 424--Application for Federal Assistance''
(See Appendix A of this SGA for required form)
[sbull] Completed ``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.)
[sbull] Budget narrative/justification, which provides sufficient
information to support the reason-ableness 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 2
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 which engages in
lobbying activities shall not be eligible for the receipt of federal
funds constituting an award, grant, or loan. For item 10 of the SF 424,
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for the
program is 17.207.
The Project Financial Plan will not count against the application
page limits. The financial plan must describe all costs associated with
implementing the project that are to be covered with grant funds. All
costs should be necessary and reasonable according to the Federal
guidelines set forth in 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).
Please Note: Work Incentive Grant project designs may
incorporate procurement or implementation of software or hardware to
assure assistive and accessible technologies in the One-Stop
setting, which may equal up to 40% of the grant award.
Section II. Executive Summary--Project Synopsis [Format
requirements for the Executive Summary are limited to no more than two
single-spaced, single-sided pages] Each application shall include a
project synopsis, which identifies the following:
The applicant;
The type of organization the applicant represents;
Identification of consortium partners and the type of organizations
they represent;
The project service area;
Whether the service area is an entire local workforce investment
area, more than one local area, or all local areas in a State;
The amount of funds requested;
The planned period of performance;
The comprehensive strategy proposed for providing seamless service
delivery, for addressing the multi-faceted barriers to training and
employment that affect people with disabilities, and for improving
access for people with disabilities in the mainstream workforce system
(i.e., WIA Title I and Wagner Peyser funded programs);
The ways in which the proposal is coordinated with other disability
related grant initiatives from DOL, Department of Education (ED),
Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Social Security
Administration (SSA), Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
or other Federal partners;
--How counseling and other support needs will be addressed in the
One-Stop Center system;
--The actions already taken by the State or Local Workforce
Investment Board to address the needs of people with disabilities in
the One-Stop delivery system;
--The extent to which the One-Stop facilities and satellite site(s)
incorporate physical access for people with disabilities;
[[Page 6961]]
--The extent to which Vocational Rehabilitation is integrated or
coordinated with the One-Stop delivery system;
--Data on the extent to which people with disabilities have been
served under the Wagner-Peyser Act, and WIA and previously, under the
Job Training Partnership Act;
--The level of commitment the applicant and consortium members have
to serving people with disabilities; and
--The extent and manner in which the needs of individuals with
disabilities from diverse cultural and/or ethnic groups will be
addressed.
Section III. Project Narrative [Project Narrative plus attachments
are limited to no more than forty (40) double-spaced, single-sided,
numbered pages. Letters of general support or recommendation for a
proposal should NOT be submitted and will count against the page
limits. Note: The Executive Summary is not included in this forty (40)-
page limit.].
The Section III Project Narrative requirements are described below
under Part IV--Government Requirements/Statement of Work section.
Part VII. Government Requirements/Statement of Work
The Project Narrative, or Section III of the grant application,
should provide complete information on how the applicant will address
the following Department of Labor priorities for the Program Year (PY)
2002 Work Incentive Grant program to achieve enhancements to the basic
infrastructure and service delivery of the One-Stop system, in
particular Wagner-Peyser and WIA-funded programs:
(1) Developing 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 related to addressing employment barriers and
work incentives, and availability of accommodations and assistive
technologies for diverse disability needs.
(2) Implement strategies, which significantly increase
opportunities for skill training, career and job development for people
with disabilities resulting in self-sustaining employment and career
advancement through participation in the One-Stop system.
Proposals will be rated based upon addressing the areas listed in
the four criteria in terms of a comprehensive strategic approach that
addresses the Department's priorities noted above. The four criteria
(Statement of Need, Comprehensive Service Strategy, Innovation and
Model Services, and Demonstrated Capability) must be addressed and
include applicant accomplishments or status with regard to each item.
However, the Department does not expect the applicant to incorporate
every item listed as part of their strategy and proposal design. The
Department recognizes that the needs and requirements of each state
and/or local workforce investment area may be different, and,
therefore, some of the options identified may be more relevant than
others in order to address the Department's priorities in a particular
state and/or local area. For example, a state may have already provided
extensive assistive technology throughout their One-Stop Career Centers
and need to focus more on other accessibility or accommodation issues,
outreach to the disability community and coordination with partner
programs and, therefore, the proposal would identify this fact and not
direct significant (or any) resources to procuring assistive
technology.
With regard to the Department's priority to increase the
availability of skill training, employment opportunities and career
advancement for persons with disabilities, it has established the
following Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals for PY
2003 (July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004):
``Increase the capacity and quality of One-Stop system services for
people with disabilities who are registered in the workforce investment
area(s) receiving Work Incentive Grants.'' The performance indicators
for achieving this goal are:
[sbull] 5% more individuals with disabilities will be served than
were served in the workforce area(s) in PY 2001 under the adult,
dislocated worker and youth programs;
[sbull] Of those with disabilities served, 5% more individuals with
disabilities will be placed in unsubsidized employment after program
exit than were placed in PY 2001; and
Of those placed in the first quarter after program exit, 5% more
individuals with disabilities will be employed in the third quarter
after exit than were retained in PY 2001.
Note: When determining the focus and objectives of the applicant
proposal, it will be helpful for applicants to also review past
products and approaches taken by former grantees that are identified
on the One-Stop Toolkit Web site at: http://www.onestoptoolkit.org/
In addition to obtaining strategic approaches that may be helpful,
the Department would like to encourage leveraging of products that
have been previously developed and reduce duplication where
possible.
1. Statement of Need [25 points]
The purpose of the Statement of Need criteria is to establish the
overall status of disability related issues in the applicant's
workforce investment area, identify strengths and deficiencies to be
addressed by the applicant proposal, identify the overall scope of
proposal objectives and design, and present the applicant's need for
Work Incentive Grant resources to achieve improvements to their
workforce system for persons with disabilities. All items must be
addressed although a number of them are for information purposes. This
criteria will be rated based upon applicant needs identified and
proposed approaches to address these needs in the context of the
Department's priorities.
For proposals targeted to a specific Indian community or covering
multiple Tribal entities which may cut across multiple States and/or
local areas, describe the overall approach of the project, and identify
the inadequacies and deficiencies of the service delivery to the
applicable community, and how the project expects to address these.
A. Identify the number of workforce investment areas in the State
and the geographic jurisdiction of each local workforce investment
area(s) in the State.
B. Identify which local area(s) in the State will be covered by the
project and whether the project is Statewide, involves multiple local
areas or is for a single local area.
C. Identify whether a Work Incentive Grant award was received in
the October 2000 or May 2002 award announcements covering the
identified workforce investment areas in this application and the
reasons for application under this Solicitation for Grant Application.
D. Identify partners/consortium members if any, their primary
mission irrespective of participation in the grant proposal, and what
political and geographic jurisdictions (e.g., cities, counties,
subsections of cities/counties) they cover.
E. Describe how the project will address a primary objective of the
Work Incentive Grant program to assure the integration of people with
disabilities into the workforce investment system, including the
availability of Wagner-Peyser and WIA Title I programs and services.
F. Identify the percentage of people with disabilities in the State
and/or
[[Page 6962]]
local area, including the percentage of people who are beneficiaries of
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Social Security
Income Program (SSI).
G. Identify the most recent unemployment rate(s) in the workforce
investment area(s) covering the project.
H. Describe any significant deficiencies in the State or local
workforce investment system that represent barriers to employment for
people with disabilities and what will be accomplished under this grant
to address them.
I. Identify additional State and/or local funds and resources that
will be used to support the overall objectives of the grant and which
will assist in addressing the identified issues the grant project is
addressing.
J. Recognizing that the One-Stop delivery system may not have
extensive knowledge or skills in working with people with disabilities,
describe the level of expertise of the One-Stop system in the local
area(s) addressed in the grant and the projects plans for addressing
inadequacies.
K. Describe the overall status and actions taken to-date by the
One-Stop delivery system to address services to people with
disabilities. This should include actions that assured that: (1) State
and/or local facilities are physically and programmatically accessible;
(2) training is provided to staff; (3) the number and percent of people
with disabilities receiving services under WIA and Employment Service
programs (or Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) if applicable, during
the previous three years compared with that of people without
disabilities.
L. Describe how the applicant will increase services, skill
training, employment outcomes, job retention and career advancement for
persons with disabilities and how it will achieve the GPRA goals
identified above.
2. Comprehensive Service Strategy [25 points]
The purpose of the Comprehensive Service Strategy criteria is to
identify the approach proposed by the grantee to establish a welcoming
and seamless service delivery system for persons with disabilities. In
general, this requires extensive linkages and on-site knowledge of
applicable resources that address multiple disability issues and
barriers to employment that are commonly experienced by persons with
disabilities. Disability issues are often very complex and the
disability community is very diverse. These factors present significant
challenges to the workforce system in providing first class services to
individuals with disabilities. At the same time, the comprehensive
nature of the One-Stop Career Center system establishes an
infrastructure on the workforce that is uniquely positioned to provide
the kind of seamless service delivery that the disability community has
long been seeking. A centralized location where information on
transportation, housing, Medicare, Medicaid, SSA benefits as well as
skill training and employment services can be obtained. The Department
will be rating this criteria on the approach proposed by the applicant
to address these concerns.
The first item listed below establishes aspects of staff capacity
that may be incorporated into the applicant proposal. Please note that
applicants are not required to implement Disability Program Navigator
positions. However, it has been the experience of many previous Work
Incentive Grantees that this kind of staff capacity has been very
successful in improving overall services delivery of their One-Stop
Career Centers. As with other criteria, the Navigator description
provided is neither prescriptive, nor necessarily all inclusive, but
establishes examples of the roles and functions of such a position
depending upon the needs of the One-Stop and the skills and talents of
the individual Navigator.
A. Staff Capacity--Disability Program Navigator: Identify how you
will ensure that trained staff are available to provide counseling or
employment planning support who have adequate knowledge of diverse
disabilities. This staff capacity may include knowledge and skills that
are very similar to those incorporated in the Disability Program
Navigator initiative (joint ETA/SSA initiative identified in Part II,
Background). The Disability Program Navigator (``Navigator'') has
expertise in and knowledge of a broad range of Federal, State, local,
and private work incentive and other employment support programs. The
Navigator provides service and information to persons with
disabilities, including SSI and SSDI beneficiaries, on how to enter,
re-enter, or retain unsubsidized, competitive employment, including SSA
work incentives, other employment support programs and the Ticket to
Work program. The Navigator also provides information on these
resources to other staff and will work directly with people with
disabilities to access, facilitate, and ``navigate'' the complex
provisions under various programs, including SSA's employment support
programs. Navigators also develop comparable expertise and provides
training to One-Stop Center staff and other staff on available
resources under One-Stop programs, SSA employment support programs and
other programs, as well as to individuals with disabilities in order to
deliver a comprehensive, seamless delivery of One-Stop services and
access to programs that will meet the needs of persons with
disabilities in an effective manner. Navigators network and partner
with other agencies and organizations such as Benefits Planning,
Assistance and Outreach organizations (BPAOs), Protection and Advocacy
systems (P&As), Employment Networks (ENs), (including State Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies), etc. (e.g., SSA FOs, BPAOs, P&As, ENs)
to obtain correct information or properly refer individuals with
disabilities for additional information and services to assist them
transition to careers or maintain current employment. The Navigator may
also:
[sbull] Provide information on the following programs that support
successful entry or re-entry into the workforce: TANF programs and
services for people with disabilities, state and local mental health
and developmental disability programs and providers, Medicaid and
Medicare provisions; state and local housing provisions and supports;
transportation subsidies and programs; and other state and/or local
services designed to support employment and transition from public
benefits to careers.
[sbull] Assess, on an ongoing basis, One-Stop Career Center
facilities, services, programs and equipment to insure these are
accessible to people with disabilities;
[sbull] Work with designated Equal Employment Opportunity
officer(s), the Local Workforce Investment Board and the One-Stop
Operator to ensure that One-Stop Career Center facilities, services,
programs and equipment are accessible to people with disabilities,
including ensuring the availability of publications and materials in
alternate formats; and
[sbull] Develop expertise on state of the art rehabilitation
technology and local or regional resources that facilitate their
application in the One-Stop Center(s) and employer workplace to
accommodate diverse functional disabilities.
[sbull] Train the One-Stop Career Center Operator and Staff on:
disability etiquette; facility, communication and program accessibility
requirements; Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Section 504 (Part
32) of the Rehabilitation Act; WIA section 188
[[Page 6963]]
(Part 37) definitions and requirements; assessment tools and their
applicability.
[sbull] Assure provision of a welcoming environment for people with
disabilities through development of competence and familiarity of
issues affecting persons with disabilities throughout the local
workforce investment system.
B. Other Comprehensive One-Stop Strategies:
i. Describe changes to be achieved under the grant to create
seamless service delivery for One-Stop customers with disabilities.
ii. Describe the process that will be used to maintain and expand
the service structure for individuals with disabilities accessing the
workforce investment system, including capacity building of the
Employment Service delivery component of the One-Stop system.
iii. Identify plans and strategies to develop the capacity of the
comprehensive One-Stop Career Center to function as an Employment
Network under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act
(TWWIIA). Project plans in this regard should involve building the
capacity of the WIA Title I programs and One-Stop system so that more
in-depth services and information will be readily available to
individuals with disabilities at the comprehensive One-Stop Career
Center. The description of increased capacity should be in addition to
the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency since they are an automatic
Employment Network provider under Ticket to Work.
iv. Describe linkages with the State and local Independent Living
Center (CIL) systems; Mental Health Departments, Mental Retardation/
Developmental Disability Agencies, State Councils on Developmental
Disabilities, State Vocational Rehabilitation, and Councils on
Employment and other local provider or advocate organizations serving
individuals with developmental and/or psychiatric disabilities,
including how these agencies fit in a comprehensive service delivery
strategy.
v. Describe how people with disabilities who are not eligible for
Vocational Rehabilitation services or do not fall under the State's
Order of Selection will be served through Wagner-Peyser services or WIA
services through the Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth or National
Programs, including programs and services under the Older Americans
Act.
vi. Identify the provisions of Memoranda of Understanding or other
agreements between the partners, State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Agency, the State Rehabilitation Council, and the State or Local Boards
in terms of the provision of services to people with disabilities; the
plans for cost sharing; the arrangements for referral of people with
disabilities between W IA Title I programs and VR as appropriate; the
extent of integration and co-location of VR in One-Stop Centers,
including sharing of Management Information Systems (MIS) or
participation in case management data base technologies; the extent to
which there is joint funding of participant services or leveraging of
funds to expand access to services; and use of Individual Training
Accounts (ITA's) for people with disabilities.
Describe coordination and linkage with regional Disability Business
and Technical Assistance Centers (DBTAC's) and State Governors
Committees on Employment of People with Disabilities. For example, have
DBTAC's provided training to the One-Stop delivery system on the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, or other disability-related training? If not, are
plans to do so incorporated into the applicant project?
Identify public and private non-profit provider entities
participating under WIA and Employment Service programs, and which
barriers to employment their programs and services that are
contributing to the overall applicant proposal may address.
Specifically, describe State or local area provisions regarding
Medicaid and/or Medicare coverage; current transportation
infrastructure; how individuals with all types of disabilities will
access training, employment, housing, food stamps and other supportive
services.
vii. Describe coordination and linkages with Learning Disabilities
and Training Dissemination hub centers established under grants from
the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult
Education and how these may be used to provide services to people with
learning and other disabilities.
viii. Describe how the project will be coordinated with grant
programs, which are funded under the SSA Benefits Planning, Assistance
and Outreach Cooperative Agreement and HHS Medicaid Infrastructure
Grant programs, if applicable.
ix. Describe how the project is expected to have a positive effect
in the operation of the One-Stop delivery system.
3. Innovation and Model Services [25 points]
The purpose of the Innovation and Model Services criteria is to
identify strategies the applicant is planning to increase services and
employment outcomes for persons with disabilities that access One-Stop
Career Centers. This should be within the context of the WIA Title I
and Wagner-Peyser programs, utilizing the training or other resources
that are available since the Work Incentive Grant program is not
typically for direct services to individuals (with the exception of
staff capacity such as a Program Navigator described above).
A. Describe your strategy for substantially increasing the number
and percent of people with disabilities served, trained and entered
into unsubsidized employment through the One-Stop Center system,
particularly in WIA Title I programs. This should be related to, or
refer back to, the first year of WIA identified under the Statement of
Need and service delivery history under JTPA where applicable.
B. Describe the status of accessible technologies within the
Comprehensive One-Stop and plans to procure and implement accessible
technologies, including video interpreting services for clients who are
deaf or electronic door openers for wheelchair users, and how they
address current system deficiencies.
C. Identify the scope of technology implementations, if applicable,
and the extent to which implementation is comprehensive and across the
workforce area(s) and/or statewide.
D. Describe approaches for employment involvement and how these
will respond to meeting employer skill shortage needs.
E. Describe how opportunities for competitive employment for
individuals with disabilities will be provided or developed within the
local workforce investment area and how this is unique or different
than what is normally performed by the applicant(s).
F. Describe specific approaches for developing relationships with
and support of area employers that establish employment opportunities
for individuals with disabilities accessing the One-Stop delivery
system, including any commitments by employers to hire these
individuals.
G. Describe linkages with Business Leadership Networks (BLNs) (that
have been established in approximately 30 states) if applicable.
H. Describe strategies to foster entrepreneurial and self-
employment options using ITA's, Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
and other SSA work incentives, and Medicaid coverage for individuals
with disabilities who start or return to work.
[[Page 6964]]
I. Identify available Federal and State tax incentives available to
employers when hiring an individual with a disability; how this
information will be marketed and disseminated to employers, the
individual and workforce staff; and how employers may use such tax
credits to address structural and technological accommodation needs.
L. Describe opportunities for increasing integrated, competitive
employment through use of strategies such as individualized job
development for individuals with the most significant disabilities
currently working in segregated facilities or waiting for employment
services.
M. Identify whether assessment tools are used to identify
individuals with learning disabilities in the One-Stop delivery system,
including plans and processes to identify applicable assessment tools,
train staff and incorporate such assessments as part of the service
delivery structure.
N. Describe how public supports needed by people with disabilities
may be affected by their employment or training and State or local
conditions, and actions to sustain benefits and services following
successful job placement. For example, does the State or local area
have provisions to continue supported or Section 8A housing (The
Housing Act of 1992, Title IV), where applicable, for individuals who
enter unsubsidized employment?
O. Has the State adopted Medicaid ``buy-in'' options, or are there
Medicaid waivers that extend health care coverage for individuals who
enter employment?
P. Describe plans for outreach and marketing to the disability
community and organizations that represent or work with people with
disabilities; and plans for training disability-related organizations
on the resources and programs available to them in the One-Stop system.
Q. Identify individualized strategies that establish client control
of training funds, VR funds, ITA's, or other funding sources to which
these individuals may have access, and co-mingle funds in a seamless,
customer friendly manner, including plans for obtaining waivers to the
extent program requirements necessitate this.
R. Identify plans or strategies to deploy Ticket to Work voucher
provisions for beneficiaries of SSDI and recipients of SSI.
4. Demonstrated Capability [25 points]
The purpose of the Demonstrated Capability criteria is to determine
whether the applicant has developed adequate plans, including staff,
disability partners and other resources, to effectively carry out the
objectives and scope of the proposed project. The Department will rate
this criteria based upon the ability of the applicant to do this.
Identify how whether the State or Local Boards will include the
disability community in plans.
Identify the critical activities, time frames and responsibilities
for effectively implementing the project, including the management and
evaluation process for assuring successful implementation of grant
objectives.
Include a project organizational chart, which identifies the staff
with key management responsibilities, including a matrix of
organizational responsibilities of key entities and participating
consortium organizations, where applicable.
Describe the specific experience of the applicant(s) in serving
people with disabilities, in providing workforce services, in
addressing specific barriers to employment, in achieving expected
outcomes in the delivery of such services/programs, and in implementing
and administering specific project plans of the grant project. For
example, such information might include the local Department of
Transportation as a key partner agency addressing transportation
barriers and how this entity has participated in similar efforts in the
past and the success of these past efforts, and potential success of
coordination on the applicant(s) grant project.
Part VIII. Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring: The Department shall be 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 Department
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,
expenditure of grant funds on allowable activities, integration and
coordination with other resources and service providers in the local
area, and project management and administration in achieving project
objectives. Work Incentive Grants may be subject to other additional
reviews at the discretion of the Department.
Reporting: Grantees will be required to submit quarterly financial
and narrative progress reports under the Work Incentive Grant program
covering the workforce area(s) included in the grant project design.
DOL will analyze data of workforce investment area(s) reports submitted
annually under the Workforce Investment Standardized Record Data
(WIASARD) for workforce areas covered under the grant [Note:
Information on the WIASRD can be found under performance accountability
at http://doleta.gov/usworkforce/wia.asp].
Financial reporting will be required quarterly using the on-line
electronic reporting system for the Standard Form 269--Financial Status
Report (FSR).
A narrative progress report will be required quarterly.
The Department of Labor's evaluation of the Work Incentive Grant
program includes a process evaluation that includes extensive
information pertaining to achievements of under the grant (e.g.,
training provided to staff, coordination with disability entities,
etc.), summary information pertaining to WIA implementation and the
numbers of people with disabilities registered, receiving services, and
employed through the One-Stop system, among other areas.
The Department has established performance goals that are
consistent with the Department's (GPRA) goals as noted in the
introduction of Part VII--Government Requirements/Statement of Work.
Work Incentive Grantees will be expected to achieve these performance
goals.
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 Department may elect to award grants either 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 factors
such as:
Panel findings;
Geographic distribution of the competitive applications; and the
availability of funds.
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Signed at Washington, DC, this 6th day of February, 2003.
James W. Stockton,
Grant Officer.
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[FR Doc. 03-3338 Filed 2-10-03; 8:45 am]
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