[Federal Register: June 8, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 110)]
[Notices]
[Page 32052-32068]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jn04-116]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Senior Community Service Employment Program--Division of Older
Worker Programs; Solicitation for Grant Applications, Section 502(e)--
Procedures for Program Year PY 2004
Announcement Type: New. Notice of Solicitation for Grant
Applications.
Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA-04-102.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.235.
Key Dates: Deadline for submission of proposals, July 21, 2004.
Executive Summary
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), authorized
under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA), as amended by
the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-501), provides
subsidized, part-time, community service employment for low-income
persons age 55 and older who have poor employment prospects, 42 U.S.C.
3056 et seq. Through this program, older workers have access to a wide
range of SCSEP services as well as other employment assistance services
available through the One-Stop Centers of the workforce investment
system. Seniors enrolled in SCSEP can work up to 20 hours per week, and
are employed in a wide variety of community service positions at non-
profit and public facilities, including day-care centers, senior
centers, schools, hospitals, faith-based and community organizations.
These community service experiences are intended to lead to other
employment positions within the private sector.
This solicitation announces the availability of approximately $2
million in PY2004 funds for the Section 502(e) program. The Department
plans to award 4 to 10 grants with a minimum amount of $25,000 for
current SCSEP grantees and a minimum amount of $150,000 for non-current
SCSEP grantees.
The purpose of Section 502(e) of the OAA is to provide eligible
older workers with second career training and placement opportunities
with private business concerns, thus demonstrating their capabilities
and new skills. Section 502(e) provides opportunities to initiate or
enhance seniors' relationships with the private sector, promotes
collaboration with the One-Stop Delivery System, and encourages the use
of innovative strategies, including new work modes such as flex-time,
flex-place, job sharing, and other arrangements relating to reduced
physical exertion (OAA Sec. 502(e)(2)). In addition, the Section
502(e) program is one of the best vehicles for obtaining job placements
in the private for-profit sector, where wages and fringe benefits often
exceed those in the public or non-profit sector.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
This SGA seeks to fund projects that will provide eligible older
workers with second career training and placement opportunities with
private business concerns. Proposed projects must be for specific
geographic areas and must identify employers that will participate in
the project, or methods that will be used to attract employer
involvement. Proposed projects must also include innovative strategies,
including new work modes such as flex-time, flex-place, job sharing,
and other arrangements relating to reduced physical exertion.
The purpose of this section is to provide potential applicants with
the information needed to make an informed decision about whether to
apply for funds and to give a better sense of how the Section 502(e)
program operates, and what functions and responsibilities are important
to the program. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive description
and does not reflect all the requirements of the program. Applicants
who wish to learn more about the SCSEP are encouraged to review the law
at 42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq. An applicant's failure to demonstrate that
its proposed program meets the criteria in this section will make the
application non-responsive. Applicants should also review the current
regulations at 20 CFR Part 641, which were published on April 9, 2004
(69 FR 19014) and are effective on May 9, 2004, and the Older Worker
(OW) Bulletins, which may be found on ETA's Division of Older Worker
Program's homepage at http://www.doleta.gov/seniors. This additional
information will serve as background on the SCSEP program. Applicants
may use this information when drafting their responses to the Rating
Criteria in Section V of this SGA. Applicants may review ETA's homepage
at http://www.doleta.gov/sga/pdf/ApplyingGrants.pdf for information on applying for ETA grants and http://www.doleta.gov/sga/ for forms and
information relating to competition for ETA grants. Program
requirements include the following:
Seniors Served. Grantees must make sure that this project will
promote useful part-time or full-time employment opportunities for
unemployed low-income persons who are 55 years or older, and whose
incomes are no higher than 125 percent of poverty level (OAA Sec.
516(2)).
Priorities. There is a priority for service in all Department of
Labor (DOL or Department) funded workforce development programs for
veterans and certain eligible spouses under the Jobs for Veterans Act,
Pub. L. 107-288 (2002). Section 516(2) of the OAA also sets a priority
for workers over 60. The Department interprets the Jobs for Veterans
Act to harmonize the two priority provisions. Under this
interpretation, both priorities apply. That is, within the group of
eligible individuals age 60 and over, who receive a priority over
eligible individuals aged 55-59, the veteran or qualified spouse would
receive SCSEP services before non-veterans. Within the group of
individuals who are 55 to 59, veterans and qualified spouses would
again receive a priority over other eligible individuals.
Recruiting. All grantees must recruit participants from the local
SCSEP program. In doing so, Section 502(e) grantees that are not
current SCSEP grantees may be exempt from conducting some of the
program requirements, such as income certifications, assessments and
IEPs and providing worker's compensation.
Individual Employment Plans (IEP). Each SCSEP Section 502(e)
participant must have been assessed by the original
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grantee as required under the general SCSEP program. A participant's
IEP must indicate a goal of unsubsidized employment for the participant
to be co-enrolled in the Section 502(e) program.
Training. Training is an important tool to make the most effective
use of the skills and talents of participants, to facilitate placement
of participants in unsubsidized employment and to help them succeed in
that employment. How much and what type of training a grantee should
provide is based on each individual participant's IEP. Training should
also be related to high growth industries.
Other Training Resources. Grantees should seek training assistance
from all available resources, and particularly from programs operated
under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) or the Carl D. Perkins
Vocational and Technical Education Act. Where possible, co-enrollment
in Section 502(e) training and WIA activities is strongly encouraged to
leverage program funds. In addition, grantees may use the on-the-job-
experience option described in Older Worker Bulletin 04-4 to provide
private sector training opportunities using Wages and Fringe Benefits.
See Part II, section 5 for a discussion on Wages and Fringe Benefits
requirements.
Services for Individuals with Multiple Barriers to Employment. One
emphasis of this program is addressing the needs of minority, limited
English-speaking, and, where applicable, Indian eligible individuals as
well as eligible individuals who have the greatest economic need to
remove their barriers to obtaining employment. (OAA Sec.
502(b)(1)(M)). ``Greatest economic need'' is defined as need resulting
from an income level at or below the poverty. (OAA Sec. 101(27)).
Coordination with the Workforce Investment Act, One-Stop Career
Centers and SCSEP grantees, such as the states Area Agencies on Aging.
Section 502(e) projects must be coordinated with One-Stop centers
operated under WIA (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).
The Department also encourages the coordination of Section 502(e)
activities with the State aging network. In addition, under OAA Section
502(b)(4), participant assessments of eligibility, needs, and
competence under SCSEP will satisfy any condition for an assessment
under WIA and vice versa.
Geographic Locations. Another major emphasis of the program is for
participants located nationwide to have an equitable opportunity to
participate. The Department encourages applicants to offer the program
in different localities.
Other Program Considerations
New Work Modes. Grantees are required to utilize new work modes for
the participants in the program, such as flex-place, flex-time, job
sharing and reduced physical activity (OAA Sec. 502(e)(2)(A)).
Part-time or Full-time Training. Training may be part-time or full-
time. Participants may also work at regular SCSEP assignments during
the non-training hours.
Regulations
Grantees must abide by the requirements that are in place at the
time the grants are awarded, and will be responsible for adhering to
any revised requirements that go into effect during the grant period.
The applicable regulations may be found on the SCSEP Web site at:
http://www.doleta.gov/seniors.
II. Award Information
Under this solicitation, DOL anticipates that approximately $2
million will be available for grant awards in Program Year (PY) 2004
(July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005). The minimum grant that may be
awarded will be $25,000 for current SCSEP grantees, and $150,000 for
non-current SCSEP grantees. Proposals for less than $25,000 or
$150,000, respectively, will not be reviewed. The Department plans to
award between 4 and 10 grants. The Department reserves the right to
negotiate the amounts to be awarded under this competition. The
expected period of performance is from October 1, 2004, through June
30, 2005, although the Program Year is from July 1, 2004, through June
30, 2005.
DOL retains the right not to fund any or all ``eligible, responsive
and responsible'' applicants.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are: (1) States; (2) public agencies; (3)
private non-profit organizations, including faith-based and community
organizations; and (4) private business concerns. An organization that
is a private business concern may be a for-profit public service
organization such as a hospital, a day-care facility, etc., as well as
a private, for-profit company. All of these are examples of workplaces
that have profit-generating capability.
Applicants may apply as a consortium, but each member of the
consortium must meet all eligibility and responsibility tests
established in Section 515 of the OAA. Entities applying as a
consortium are also jointly and severally liable for meeting all
requirements for administering this Federally-funded program, and for
performing any resulting grant. As a part of its applications, a
consortium applicant must submit a copy of its consortium agreement
which clearly demonstrates joint and several liability.
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 shall not be
eligible for the receipt of federal funds constituting an award, grant,
or loan.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost sharing is not required to be eligible to receive Section
502(e) funds. In-kind or cash contributions are, however, encouraged.
If private sector or other appropriate non-Federal contributions are
involved, these funds may be included as a non-Federal contribution.
DOL may consider matching funds in rating cost reasonableness.
3. Other Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the applicable eligibility criteria and
responsibility tests established in Section 514 of the OAA. Any
applicant that fails to meet either of these tests will not be funded.
Except as specifically provided, DOL/ETA's 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 procedure. For example, the OMB
circulars stipulate that an entity's entire procurement procedures and
transactions, including subcontracts, must provide for free and open
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, unless
the activity is regarded as the primary work of an official partner to
the application. The official partner must therefore identify the work
it intends to do within the grant application and attach a letter of
agreement to this effect.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
This Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) includes all of the
information needed to apply for Section 502(e) funds.
[[Page 32054]]
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
A cover letter, an original plus two (2) copies of the proposal,
one (1) blue ink-signed original Standard Form (SF) 424 and one (1)
blue ink signed original SF 424A must be submitted to the U.S.
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division
of Federal Assistance, Attention: Eric Luetkenhaus, Ref. SGA/DFA-04-
102, Room N-4438, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210,
by the closing date identified in Section IV(3) below. This grant
application must have two parts: (1) a technical proposal; and (2) a
cost proposal.
Part I: Technical Proposal
The technical proposal must consist of a narrative not to exceed
twenty (20) double-spaced pages, including all attachments except as
noted below. The technical proposal must be organized in accordance
with the evaluation criteria identified in Section V(1). Applicants who
fail to follow the rating criteria format may be deemed non-responsive.
The narrative must be typed in a font size of no less than 12-pt.,
and printed on one side of the paper only. Attachments are to be placed
in a separate appendix and should include any supporting documentation,
but must be limited to meaningful information that contributes to, and/
or verifies, the proposed activities. All attachments count against the
20-page limit, with the exception of required vitae or position
descriptions, the list of current and prior government grants and
contracts, recent audits, and employer Letters of Commitment. Any
proposal that exceeds the page limit may be considered non-responsive.
Non-responsive applications will not be rated.
The cost proposal must contain the required standard forms and
budget information as described in Section IV (2) (Part II) below. It
is required that all applicants use the Rating Criteria format when
developing their proposals.
The Department will not read general letters of support. However,
the Department expects applicants to provide employer Letters of
Commitment indicating a willingness to partner with the program. The
Department will accept all employer letters, but will only read up to
15.
Part II. Cost Proposal
The cost proposal must consist of a completed Standard Form (SF)
424 ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' SF 424A ``Budget
Information Sheet,'' a detailed cost breakdown of each line item on the
SF 424A, and supporting materials as listed below. Copies of all
required forms, with instructions for completion, are included as
appendices to this SGA. Additional copies can be downloaded from the
SCSEP Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/seniors. Applicants can expect
the cost proposal to be reviewed for allowability, how the money is
allocated, and reasonableness of placement and enrollment costs. The
cost proposal must include the following items:
(1) The Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal
Assistance'' (original signed in blue ink) (See Appendix A). Applicants
must indicate on the SF 424 the organization's IRS Status, if
applicable.
Please note that, effective October 1, 2003, all applicants for
federal grant and funding opportunities are required to include a Dun
and Bradstreet (DUNS) number with their application. See OMB Notice of
Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003). The DUNS number is
a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business
entities. There is no charge for obtaining a DUNS number (although it
may take 14-30 days). To obtain a DUNS number, access the following Web
site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. Requests
for exemption from the DUNS number requirement must be made to OMB. The
Dun and Bradstreet number of the applicant should be entered in the
``Organizational Unit'' section of block 5 of the SF 424. The Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 17.235. It
must be entered on the SF 424, Block 10.
(2) A Standard Form (SF) 424A ``Budget Information Sheet'' (See
Appendix B).
(3) A detailed cost breakout of each line item on the Budget
Information Sheet, which should be labeled as ``Budget Narrative.''
Please ensure that costs reported on the SF 424A correspond accurately
with the Budget Narrative. The budget narrative must include the
following information at a minimum:
A breakout of all personnel costs by position, title,
salary rates, and percent of time of each position to be devoted to the
proposed project (including awardees);
An explanation and breakout of extraordinary fringe
benefit rates and associated charges (i.e., rates exceeding 35% of
salaries and wages);
An explanation of the purpose and composition of, and
method used to derive the costs, of each of the following: travel,
equipment, supplies, sub-awards/contracts, and any other costs. The
applicant must include costs of any required travel described in this
solicitation. Mileage charges may not exceed 37.5 cents per mile;
A description/specification of and justification for
equipment purchases, if any. Tangible, non-expendable personal property
having a useful life of more than one year and a unit acquisition cost
of $5,000 or more per unit must be specifically identified;
The source of matching and in-kind funds, if any.
(4) Assurance and Certification signature page (See Appendix D);
(5) Evidence of satisfactory financial management capability, which
must include recent financial and/or audit statements;
(6) A list, in a separate appendix, of all government grants and
contracts that the applicant or any of its affiliates has had in the
past three (3) years, including grant officer contact information. For
purposes of this SGA, the term ``affiliate'' refers to the applicant's
subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors, and successors;
(7) A copy of the applicant's most recent (within 12 months)
audited financial statement.
3. Submission Dates, Times, and Addresses
All submissions, including hand-delivered grant proposals, must be
received in the Department by 4:45 p.m., eastern time, on July 21, 2004
at the address listed in Section IV(2) above.
Dates stamped by private delivery service or by the U.S. Postal
Service are unacceptable as proof of submission; however, applicants
are advised to submit mailed documents by ``return receipt requested.''
Notice: All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the
Washington, DC, area continues to be erratic due to the concerns
involving anthrax and ricin contamination. All applicants must take
this into consideration when preparing to meet the application
deadline, as each applicant assumes the risk for ensuring a timely
submission of its application. If, because of these mail problems, or
for any other reason, the Department does not receive an application or
receives it too late to give it proper consideration, even if the
application was mailed or sent well before the closing date, the
Department may choose not to consider the application.
Please note that faxed applications will not be accepted.
Applications not received by the closing date may not be accepted.
[[Page 32055]]
Failure to adhere to any of the above instructions may be a basis
for a determination of non-responsiveness.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (EO)
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
5. Funding Restrictions
SCSEP is subject to legislated limitations on the expenditure of
title V funds. The administrative cost limitation of a SCSEP project is
13.5 percent of the Federal share; however, the Grant Officer may
increase this limit, but only up to 15 percent of the cost of the
project. (OAA Sec. 502(c)(3)). Any applicant requesting an
administrative cost higher than 13.5 percent as part of this initial
application must justify that request as part of its application. Note,
however, that submission of a justification alone does not entitle the
applicant to approval of a higher administrative cost limit. Any
decision to approve a higher administrative limit will be made on a
case-by-case basis.
Other Allowable Costs
Wages and Fringe Benefits. There is a minimum or ``floor'' on the
grant funds that must be spent on participant wages and fringe
benefits. That floor is 75 percent of the total Federal share, which
reflects Congressional concern that low-income program participants be
the primary beneficiaries of the funding. (OAA Sec. 502(c)(6)(B)). If
the applicant who is applying for Section 502(e) funding is also a
grantee for the SCSEP program, the grantee is required to maintain the
75 percent requirement for the entire funding amount, i.e., SCSEP plus
Section 502(e) funding. In addition, grantees may use wages and fringe
benefits to cover the costs of on-the-job-experience training.
Other Participant Costs. Costs that are to be used for participant
training, counseling, job development, and similar activities are known
as ``Other Participant Costs'' (OAA Sec. 502(c)(6)(A)). The available
Federal share for Other Participant Costs is that part of the Federal
grant allocation that is not used for administrative costs or
participant wages and fringe benefits. The difference between (1) the
total grant allotment and (2) the sum of the administrative costs and
participant wages and fringe benefits is called ``Other Participant
Costs.'' The formula is: Total Grant Allotment--(Administrative Costs +
Wages and Fringe Benefits) = Other Participant Costs.
Start-up Costs. Specific start-up costs are not statutorily
provided for in SCSEP projects. However, according to Section 502(c)(4)
of the OAA, the cost of administration (limited to 13.5 percent, or 15
percent with Department approval), includes the costs associated with
such goods and services required for administration of the program as
rental or purchase of equipment, utilities, office supplies, postage,
and rental and maintenance of office space. Generally, these costs are
incurred after the beginning of a grant period. However, the Department
will allow awardees who are new to the program to obtain such items up
to one month before the beginning of the start-up of the program,
consistent with the applicable OMB circulars.
Workers' Compensation. Grantees must provide the participants in
the program with workers' compensation benefits equal to that provided
by the law for covered employment. The grantee must undertake to
provide this benefit either through insurance by a recognized carrier
or by self-insurance, as authorized by State law (Section 504(b) of the
OAA).
6. Other Submission Requirements
Withdrawal of Applications. Applications may be withdrawn by
written notice or telegram (including mailgram) 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 identify is made known and the representative signs a
receipt for the proposal.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
The following review criteria, totaling a maximum score of 100
points, apply to all applications. An applicant's technical proposal
must be organized according to these criteria.
(A) Program Design--Approach, Population(s) and Area(s) Served (30
Points)
Overall Objectives. The applicant must describe the overall plan
for how it will realize the purposes of the program, which are to
assure second career training and the placement of eligible individuals
in employment opportunities with private business concerns, with an
emphasis on new work modes. The program seeks to promote employment
opportunities for unemployed, low-income persons, to foster individual
economic self-sufficiency, and to increase the number of persons who
may enjoy the benefits of unsubsidized employment (5 points).
Characteristics of Geographic Locations. The applicant must
describe the geographic area(s) that will be served by the proposed
program. The applicant must include a detailed list of the locations
broken down by (a) state, and (b) county or parish (or independent
cities not within any county, if applicable) where the project will be
conducted. Grantees that have previously conducted these projects are
encouraged to conduct their projects in different localities from year-
to-year. To receive full credit, the applicant must also discuss the
rationale for choosing such location(s) including: (1) Location of
intended employer(s), whether urban, suburban, or rural; (2) recent
poverty and unemployment rates for those areas; (3) expected
participant skills and education levels; (4) expected barriers to
employment; and, (5) additional services that the program/employer will
provide to those facing barriers to employment (12 points).
An applicant who fails to list the locations desired will be
considered non-responsive and will not be rated.
Training. The applicant must describe the types of training it will
engage in for the identified population(s) it will serve. To receive
full credit, the applicant must describe how it plans to utilize
training resources, such as those provided under the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 and though the registered Apprenticeship Program
(see Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/atels_bat) (5 points).
Participant Recruitment, Selection and Income Certification. The
applicant must describe its plan to recruit and select participants and
must:
--Explain how eligibility will be determined and documented; and
--Describe efforts to assure participation of minority, limited
English-speaking, and Indian eligible individuals, and individuals with
greatest economic need and those with poor employment prospects.
Applicants who are not current SCSEP grantees must describe how
they will coordinate with the SCSEP grantees to recruit participants (6
points).
Complaint Resolution System. The applicant must briefly discuss the
complaint resolution system that it will use in cases where a
participant wishes to dispute an adverse action or in cases where an
applicant for enrollment wishes to dispute an unfavorable determination
of eligibility. If available, provide as an attachment an example of
the written explanation of the complaint
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resolution system that is to be given to each participant (2 points).
(B) Participant Services and Unsubsidized Placements (30 Points)
The applicant must describe the services that will be provided to
the participants, either directly, through the One-Stop Center System,
or through other service providers.
Orientation and Supportive Services. Applicants must describe
participant orientation procedures. Applicants must describe the
supportive services to be provided to participants and the source(s) of
these services. The supportive services offered must be geared to help
participants obtain or retain employment, with emphasis on coordinating
with networks of faith-based or community organizations that provide
such services. Where applicable, applicants must describe the
arrangements that will be made to provide transportation assistance to
participants and/or the reimbursement rate for transportation. To
receive full credit, the applicant must also identify the source for
providing such supportive services (6 points).
Placement into Unsubsidized Employment. The applicants must:
--Describe the steps that will be taken to transition participants into
unsubsidized employment.
--Include examples or anticipated content of the cooperative
arrangements that will be made with the Workforce Investment Board and
One-Stop centers to place participants into unsubsidized employment
(OAA Sec. 502(b)(1)(O)).
--Describe placement follow-up efforts that will be utilized.
Applicants must describe the procedures to be followed in
developing assessments of participants, including assessing the job
aptitudes, job readiness, and job preferences of participants, as well
as their potential for transition into unsubsidized employment.
Training should be related to the participant's assessment and IEP as
well as to the unsubsidized employment goal. Training may also be
developmental (i.e., the skills developed will enhance the
participants' unsubsidized employment opportunities). Non-SCSEP
applicants must describe how they will ensure that the assessment and
IEP are adequate for the training opportunities developed and the
intended unsubsidized placement.
Applicants must describe how it will match participants to the
appropriate employers and ensure that participants have the support
they need to stay in their position, (i.e., provide the needed
supportive services). Applicants must also indicate what is expected to
be the average wage at placement (12 points).
Work with Area Employers and New Work Modes. The applicant must
describe how it plans to identify what the needs of area employers are,
the skills in demand, how any skills gaps might be filled, the jobs
expected to be available in the area, the strategies that it will use
to provide participants with the skills needed by employers, and
strategies it will use to match participants with employers. The
applicant must use Labor Market Information and other resources to
identify growth industries located in its areas of operation, in order
to focus on them as a source of placement and must describe how it will
obtain such information.
Applicants must describe how they will utilize new work modes such
as flex-place, flex-time, job sharing and reduced physical activity
(OAA Sec. 502(e)(2)(A)). To receive full credit, applicants must
describe how they will place participants in high growth industries
such as healthcare, retail, manufacturing, construction, and/or
transportation (12 points).
(C) Benefits to Employers (10 Points)
Applicants must describe the benefits that employers will enjoy
from participating in the program, how their needs will be addressed,
and how the service strategy will prepare participants with the skills
employers need from their employees. Applicants must identify their
project's Expected Employment Rates (EER), and show how they can place
their participants in an unsubsidized job, at a rate of 75 percent or
above. The EER is calculated by dividing the number of participants
placed in unsubsidized jobs by the total number of project
participants. This calculation must be based upon the expected
retention rate 6 months after placement (10 points).
(D) Staffing and Fiscal Oversight (30 Points)
Staffing. The applicant must describe the management structure for
the proposed project. The applicant must include a staffing plan or
project organizational chart describing the relationship between the
applicant and planned sub-grantees and/or key host agencies. The chart
must identify staff with key management responsibilities and show their
expected portion of time dedicated to the project (if less than 100
percent). The applicant must include a brief description of its
specific, relevant experience (and, as appropriate, the experience of
significant sub-grantees) in serving senior populations, serving people
with barriers to employment, and/or in administering other employment-
related or other Federal programs. The applicant must also include
position descriptions and, if available, vitae for key staff in
management and participant services (4 points).
Program Oversight and Sub-grants. The applicant must describe its
procedures for managing any proposed sub-grantees or contractors,
including training providers, to ensure effective program operations.
The applicant must provide, for example, an explanation of how it will
ensure that adequate resources are made available for local level
operations, and how it will establish a mechanism for the tracing of
funds to a level of expenditure adequate to ensure that funds have been
spent lawfully.
The applicant must describe the methods and procedures to be used
to monitor and evaluate project activities, sub-grantees, and
contractors to determine if the project is being administered in
accordance with Federal guidelines and regulations and if project goals
and timetables are being met. Include in this explanation:
--How frequently monitoring/evaluation visits will be made to projects
(generally local projects should be monitored no less than annually);
--Who will be responsible for monitoring/evaluation;
--What criteria will be used to monitor and evaluate project
activities;
--What methods will be used to prescribe remedial action when
necessary;
--What follow-up procedures will be used to ensure that any identified
problem has been remedied; and
--How sub-grantee or project reports will be validated and made part of
permanent files.
If applicable, applicants that are considering utilizing sub-
grantees or sub-contractors are also required to submit the criteria
they plan to use in selecting sub-grantees and sub-contractors. Such
applicants must provide a timeframe for competing and/or awarding sub-
grants and sub-contracts, whether awarded competitively or non-
competitively, including the planned dates of the awards and
performance (12 points).
Cost Reasonableness. Average costs per participant are estimated to
be $2,500. The applicant must justify any higher cost per participant.
The cost per placement is the Federal cost divided by
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the number of participants. Applicants are required to address the
following points:
--The expected cost per placement (total Federal cost of the project
divided by the number of participants placed); and
--If provided, describe any in-kind donations, or contributions from
states or the private sector (4 points).
Financial Monitoring. Applicants must describe how the financial
management system of sub-grantees and projects will be monitored,
including:
--Who will be responsible for monitoring sub-grantee and affiliate
expenditures;
--How frequently monitoring of expenditures will be done;
--How financial reports will be validated; and
--What follow-up procedures will be used (6 points).
Audits. Applicants must describe coverage plans to audit projects
as well as plans to audit the headquarters activities. The applicant
must provide specific references to the most recent audit and include
the name of the audit firm and the date of that audit (4 points).
Points Summary
(A) Program Design--Approach, Population(s) and Area(s) Served (30
points)
(B) Participant Services and Unsubsidized Placements (30 points)
(C) Benefits to Employers (10 points)
(D) Staffing and Fiscal Oversight (30 points)
Total = 100 points
2. Review and Selection Process
A technical review panel will evaluate applications against the
rating criteria in Section V (1). Responding alone is not grounds
enough for receiving a satisfactory score. Applications will be ranked
based on the score assigned by the panel after careful evaluation by
each panel member.
The ranking will be the primary basis used to identify applicants
as potential grantees. Proposals that do not merit a minimum score of
80 out of 100 will not be considered for an award. The panels'
conclusions are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant
Officer. In deciding whether to award a grant to an applicant, the
Grant Officer will, when appropriate, also take into account the
applicant's past performance in its prior Federal grants or contracts
for the past three (3) years as it relates to the applicant's or its
affiliate's demonstration of financial and administrative
responsibility and program performance. The information the Grant
Officer considers may include: (1) The applicant's level of cooperation
with Grant Officer(s), the applicant's Federal technical
representatives, and Federal auditors and investigators; and (2) the
sufficiency of the administrative costs to sub-grantees,
subcontractors, or other affiliates. (A list of the applicant's prior
Federal grants and contracts must be attached to the proposal). The
Department reserves the right to ask for clarification or to hold
discussions, but is not obligated to do so. In awards without
discussions, an award will be made on the applicant's signature on the
SF 424, which constitutes a binding offer. The Department further
reserves the right to select applicants out of rank order if such a
selection would, in its opinion, result in: the most effective and
appropriate combination of funding; the most effective administrative
structure (i.e., whether the organization is simply passing through
funds, or whether it is also providing oversight coordination,
monitoring, etc., for accountability purposes); meeting program goals
(i.e., serving the needs of: minorities, limited English speakers,
Indian eligible individuals, those with poor employment prospects, and
those of greatest economic need); and a broad distribution of
geographical service areas. Such items may be negotiated before we
award a grant. If the negotiations do not result in an acceptable
submission, the Department has the right to decline to fund an
applicant's proposal.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Award decisions will be made no later than September 30, 2004.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
All award notifications will be posted on the ETA Homepage at
http://www.doleta.gov. Grant awards will be made no later than
September 30, 2004. Any applicant that is not selected as a potential
grantee or whose application has been denied in part or in whole by the
Department will be notified in writing by the Grant Officer.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Grantees must comply with the provisions of the Older Americans
Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations, including the
administrative standards and limitations on title V funds identified in
20 CFR Part 641, subpart H (69 FR 19014). Additionally, all grants will
be subject to the following administrative standards and provisions, if
applicable to the particular grantee:
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;
29 CFR part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap
In Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal
Financial Assistance;
29 CFR part 35--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the
Department of Labor;
29 CFR part 37--Implementation of the Non-discrimination
and Equal Protection Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(WIA) (to the extent that grantees are One-Stop partners and
participants in the One-Stop delivery system, see 29 CFR 37.4).
29 CFR part 93--New Restrictions on Lobbying;
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;
29 CFR part 96--Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts
and Other Agreements;
29 CFR part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments; and
29 CFR part 98--Government-wide Debarment and Suspension
(Non-procurement) and Government-wide Requirement for a Drug-Free
Workplace.
In accordance with 20 CFR 641.836, projects funded under this SGA
may not involve political activities. Additionally, in accordance with
Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Public Law 104-65 (2
U.S.C. 1611), non-profit entities covered by Section 501(c)(4), of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engage in lobbying activities are
not eligible to receive Federal funds and grants. Further, this program
is subject to the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 4215, as amended by the
``Jobs for Veterans Act,'' Pub. L. 107-288, which provides priority of
service to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of
employment, training and placement services in any job training program
directly funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Labor.
Please note that, to obtain priority of service, a veteran must meet
the program's eligibility requirements. ETA Training
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and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 5-03 (September 16, 2003)
provides general guidance on the scope of the veteran's priority
statute and its effect on current employment and training programs. The
TEGL can be found at: http://ows.doleta.gov/dmstree/tegl/tegl2K1/tegl_05-03.htm.
The Department anticipates updating this guidance at the
time of WIA reauthorization and issuing individual guidance on each
affected employment and training program.
3. Reporting
The Department wants to ensure that all eligible participants are
well served by the grantees. It is strongly committed to a system-wide
continuous improvement approach, based on quality principles and
practices. Performance accountability ensures that the program is
successful and that it is aligned with the One-Stop system and with the
WIA performance measures. All selected applicants must agree to be
evaluated on performance measures as a condition of the grant award
(OAA Sec. 513(a)(5)).
New performance measures will go into effect with the new SCSEP
regulations, that were published on April 9, 2004. The Department
intends to apply common measures to all its employment and training
programs. The common measures are: (1) Entered employment; (2)
retention; and (3) earnings increase. Please refer to Training and
Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) number 7-01 for additional
information and definitions for the common measures. TEGLs can be
accessed on the DOL Web site at: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/dmstree/tegl/tegl2k1/tegl_07.01.htm.
For purposes of the Section 502(e)
program, the goal for unsubsidized placements is at least 75% of
participants, although grantees should try to place 100% of the
participants.
The grantee may be asked to collect new data during this
performance cycle. For the purposes of Section 502(e), grantees will
report progress towards their goals on a quarterly basis, as part of
their progress reports. If grantees also have a non-502(e) grant, they
will submit a separate report for their Section 502(e) grants entitled
``Private Sector Projects.'' Multiple private sector projects may be
combined into one report. Other reports may be requested as needed.
Applicants must have current computer technology and ensure that
their organizations have the capability to link to the Internet.
Reporting must be done through the EIMS system, accessed through the
Internet. The Department will provide all of the necessary instructions
to facilitate the grantee's access to the system.
Quarterly Progress Reports
In accordance with 29 CFR 97.40 or 29 CFR 95.51, each grantee must
submit a Senior Community Service Employment Program Quarterly Progress
Report (QPR). This report must be prepared to coincide with the ending
dates for Federal fiscal year quarters and must be submitted to the
Department no later than 30 days after the end of the quarterly
reporting period. If the grant period ends on a date other than the
last day of a federal fiscal year quarter, the last quarterly report
covering the entire grant period must be submitted no later than 30
days after the ending date. The Department will provide the format and
instructions for the preparation of this report.
Financial Status Reports
The following financial reporting requirements apply to title V
grants:
--An SF-269, Financial Status Report (FSR), must be submitted to the
Department within 30 days after the ending of each quarter of the
program year.
--A final FSR must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the
grant.
--All FSRs must be prepared on an accrual basis.
Should a current SCSEP grantee be a successful applicant, its
Section 502(e) costs will be collected in a separate report. Progress
reports will be required on a quarterly basis. The Department will
provide the format for the quarterly progress report.
VI. Agency Contacts
Questions should be faxed to Eric Luetkenhaus, Grant Officer,
Division of Federal Assistance at (202) 693-2705 [This is not a toll
free number]. All inquiries should include the SGA/DFA 04-102 and a
contact name, fax and phone number. For more information contact Mr.
Luetkenhaus at (202) 693-3109 [This is not a toll free number]. This
solicitation will also be published on the Internet, on ETA's SCSEP
homepage at http://www.doleta.gov/seniors, and the ETA homepage at
http://www.doleta.gov.
If assistance is needed, non-title V grantee applicants should fax
questions on identifying existing SCSEP programs and location of
current positions.
VIII. Other Information
Other Applicant Considerations
An applicant may submit multiple proposed projects within a single
proposal; however, the applicant must submit a separate budget for each
project and the narrative in the technical proposal must sufficiently
identify the services to be provided for each project. For instance, if
an applicant proposes to run a computer-related training course and a
separate furniture manufacturing training course, a separate budget
must be submitted that identifies the costs associated with each
training. The Department may choose to fund one or the other, or both.
Proposals including multiple projects must comply with the 20 page
limit for total proposal length (this is, all projects must be
discussed within 20 pages).
Signed at Washington, DC, this 28 day of May, 2004.
Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Appendices
Appendix A: Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424 SF-
424 In MS Word
Appendix B: Budget Information Sheet, Standard Form 424-A SF-424A In MS
Word
Appendix C: Standard Form 424-A Clarifying Instructions
Appendix D: Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
Appendix E: OMB No. 1890-0014: Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity For
Applicants
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[FR Doc. 04-12896 Filed 6-7-04; 8:45 am]
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