[Federal Register: April 26, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 79)]
[Notices]
[Page 21594-21606]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ap05-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Workforce Investment Act--Migrants and Seasonal Farmworker
Programs Solicitation for Grant Applications--National Farmworker Jobs
Program, Housing Assistance for Program Year 2005
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: New. Initial announcement of a grant competition for operating
the Housing Assistance portion of the National Farmworkers Jobs Program
(NFJP), under Section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(WIA), 29 U.S.C. 9201.
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Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 04-07.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.264.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (the Department or DOL),
Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Office of National
Programs (ONP), Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs (DSFP),
announces a grant competition for operating the housing assistance
portion of the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), under Section
167 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), 29 U.S.C. 9201. All
applicants for grant funds should read this notice in its entirety.
Section 167, paragraph (a) of WIA requires the Secretary to award
grants or contracts on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the
purposes of carrying out the activities authorized under Section 167.
Although housing assistance is identified in WIA as one of the
allowable activities under the NFJP, Congressional appropriations
language directs the Department to make available a specific amount of
the funds appropriated for the NFJP for migrant and seasonal
farmworkers housing assistance grants, and that no less than 70 percent
of the specified amount must be used for permanent housing activities.
Therefore, under this solicitation, of the $4,544,682 appropriated for
NFJP housing assistance, approximately $3,131,217 will be available for
permanent housing assistance and approximately $1,413,465 for temporary
and/or emergency housing assistance.
Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this
announcement is May 27, 2005. Applications must be received at the
address below no later than 5 p.m. eastern time.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be directed to the U.S. Department of
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Room N-4438, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
I. Supplementary Information
Funding Opportunity Description
The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training
Administration, Office of National Programs, Division of Seasonal
Farmworker Programs is requesting applications for grants to operate
the housing assistance portion of the National Farmworker Jobs Program
(NFJP) in accordance with section 167 of WIA, 29 U.S.C. 9201. The NFJP
serves economically disadvantaged persons who primarily depend on
employment in agricultural labor performed within the United States,
including Puerto Rico, and who experience chronic unemployment or
underemployment. Housing assistance is a supportive service offered to
assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers to retain employment or enter
into or complete training. Funds for housing assistance activities are
made available through the NFJP appropriation included in the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447).
Housing assistance under the NFJP became available three decades
ago as a tool to improve economic outcomes for farmworkers and was
included as one of a number of supportive services to assist
farmworkers to retain employment or enter into and/or remain in
training. The NFJP regulations consider housing assistance as one of a
number of related assistance and/or supportive services available to
eligible farmworkers through the NFJP (20 CFR 669.430). Over time,
however, a strong link between the provision of housing assistance and
achievement of employment, training, and earnings gains has eroded.
To once again establish a strong link between housing assistance
activities and improved economic outcomes for farmworkers, the
Department engaged in a dialogue process with current and former
housing assistance grantees to develop a set of principles and
definitions of housing assistance that renewed the focus on employment
and training objectives in future solicitations/competitions. The
results of the dialogue are the Guiding Principles and Definitions that
follow:
Guiding Principles
Housing assistance should leverage improved economic outcomes for
farmworkers--Housing assistance should enable migrant and seasonal
farmworkers to retain employment, enter into, or complete job training
activities, and improve their earnings. Housing is a service that
supports the economic objectives of the NFJP.
Housing assistance services, and the strategies used to deliver
them, should meet the needs of all farmworkers--Farmworkers seeking to
improve their economic future have diverse housing needs. Moreover,
these needs are not static but change over time. Strategies used to
meet these diverse and dynamic housing assistance needs must be
flexible and based on a mix of permanent and temporary housing and
emergency assistance solutions tailored to regional and local needs.
Housing developed with WIA 167 (NFJP) funding should be actively
marketed, and broadly accessible, to NFJP-eligible farmworkers--While
occupancy of year-round and migrant rental units is not restricted to
NFJP-eligible farmworkers, the strong link between housing assistance
and the economic objectives of the NFJP should translate directly into
broad access by NFJP farmworkers to housing assistance. Providing
housing assistance to NFJP-eligible farmworkers should be a priority.
Definitions
Permanent Housing (and its corresponding housing assistance
services) is defined as housing intended to be owner-occupied, or
occupied on a permanent, year-round basis (notwithstanding ownership)
as the farmworker's primary residence to which he/she typically returns
at the end of the work or training day, and assists the farmworker to
stay employed or enter into or complete job training.
Permanent housing (services) includes: rental units, single family,
duplexes, and other multi-family structures, dormitory, group home and
other housing types that provide short-term, seasonal, or year-round
housing opportunities in permanent structures. Modular structures,
manufactured housing or mobile units placed on permanent foundations
and supplied with appropriate utilities and other infrastructure are
also considered permanent housing.
Managing permanent housing assistance activities may require
investments in development services, project management, resource
development to secure acquisition,
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construction/renovation and operating funds, property management
services and program management. New construction, purchase of existing
structures, and rehabilitation of existing structures, as well as the
infrastructure, utilities and other improvements necessary to complete
or maintain those structures may also be considered part of managing
permanent housing.
Temporary housing (and its corresponding housing services,
including emergency housing assistance) is defined as housing intended
to meet the farmworker's need to temporarily occupy a unit of housing
for reasons related to seeking or retaining employment, or engaging in
training. It is not owner-occupied housing, and those farmworkers most
likely to utilize it are those engaged in migratory employment or
seasonal workers whose employment requires occasional travel outside
their normal commuting area.
Temporary housing includes housing units intended for temporary
occupancy located in permanent structures, such as rental units in an
apartment complex. Yurts, mobile structures, and tents that provide
short-term, seasonal housing opportunities are also included. They may
be moved from site to site, dismantled and re-erected when needed for
farmworker occupancy, closed during the off-season, or other similar
arrangements.
Temporary housing may also be off-farm housing operated independent
of employer interest in or control of the housing, or on-farm housing
operated by a non-profit but located on property owned by an
agricultural employer.
Managing temporary housing assistance may involve property
management of temporary housing facilities, case management and
referral services, and emergency housing payments, including vouchers
and cash payments for rent/lease and utilities.
Applicants must design their programs around the aforementioned
Guiding Principles and Definitions. Separate applications (and separate
budgets) will be required depending on the services proposed: permanent
housing assistance only; temporary and/or emergency housing assistance;
or a mix of both permanent and temporary services.
Applicants may propose to provide permanent housing assistance
services only or temporary/emergency housing assistance services only.
The proposal must describe the proposed housing services to be provided
and discuss the reasons why the proposed service mix is best suited to
meet the employment and training and program performance objectives of
the NFJP. Awards made in cases where housing assistance services are
proposed in a single category only (permanent or temporary/emergency)
will reflect ETA's compliance with the Congressional mandate that
seventy (70) percent of housing assistance funds be used to provide
permanent housing assistance services.
Applicants proposing to offer a mix of housing assistance services
must clearly describe the permanent and temporary/emergency housing
assistance services proposed to be provided, and discuss the reasons
why the proposed service mix is best suited to meet the employment and
training and program performance objectives of the NFJP. Separate
budgets must be submitted for permanent and temporary/emergency housing
assistance, respectively. These separate budget requests must conform
to the Congressional mandate that seventy (70) percent of housing
assistance funds be used to provide permanent housing assistance
services.
Housing assistance under the NFJP is subject to the requirements of
WIA Section 167 and the Department's regulations at 20 CFR part 669.
This program is also subject to the requirements of 29 CFR parts 93
(New Restrictions on Lobbying), 96 (Audit Requirements), and 98
(Debarment, Suspension, and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements); as well
as the Department's non-discrimination regulations at 29 CFR part 34
and the non-discrimination regulations implementing WIA Section 188 at
29 CFR part 37. Applicants should be familiar with and consult the WIA
regulations at 20 CFR parts 660 through 671 in developing their grant
proposals. Should the regulations at part 669 of WIA conflict with
regulations elsewhere in 20 CFR, the regulations at part 669 will
control.
In addition, this program is subject to the provisions of the
``Jobs for Veterans Act,'' Public Law 107-288, which provides priority
of service to veterans and certain of their spouses in all Department
of Labor-funded job training programs. Please note that, to obtain
priority of service, a veteran must first meet the NFJP's eligibility
requirements.
During PY 2005, DSFP will work with grantees to develop a reporting
and performance management and accountability system that allows for
improved tracking of activities and performance results. Until such
system is established, applicants awarded grants will be expected to
report in narrative form on a quarterly basis. Instructions will be
provided to organizations once grants are awarded.
II. Award Information
The type of assistance instrument to be used for the NFJP Housing
Assistance program is a grant. Grants awarded through this solicitation
will be for a two-year period, as prescribed in WIA Section 167. Please
be advised that the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-
447) provided funding for the NFJP for PY 2005 only (July 1, 2005,
through June 30, 2006). Therefore, second year funding will be
dependent on the availability of funding through the FY 2006
appropriations process.
The amount available nationally for the NFJP Housing Assistance
program is $4,544,682. The FY 2005 appropriation for this program
provides that no less than 70 percent of this amount shall be used for
permanent housing activities. Therefore, approximately $3,131,217 will
be available for permanent housing activities, and $1,413,465 will be
available for temporary and emergency housing activities. Applicants
are reminded that separate budgets and descriptions of activities are
required for permanent and temporary and/or emergency housing
assistance, in cases where the applicant organization intends to
provide both types of services.
In the past, housing grantees have typically provided housing
assistance services in more than one State or area of a State.
Therefore, for applications covering more than one area, applicants
will be required to submit detailed information about the services to
be provided in each of the areas covered by the proposal, including
information regarding sub-grantees, if any. The application will also
have to provide a detailed budget for each of the sub-grantees and
describe the housing assistance services to be conducted by each sub-
grantee. Applications that propose to use sub-grantees but contain one
budget for the entire project, without the breakdown for the sub-
grantees, will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
The number and funding amount of a grant will vary depending on the
number of applications received and found to be fundable. In the past,
awards have ranged from approximately $150,000 to approximately
$1,000,000.
Note: Selection of an organization as a grantee does not
constitute approval of the grant application as submitted. Before
the actual grant is awarded, the Department may enter into
negotiations about such items as program components, the budget
proposal, staffing and funding levels, and administrative systems in
place to support grant implementation. If the negotiations do not
result in a mutually acceptable submission, the Grant Officer
reserves the
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right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the
application.
III. Eligibility Information
Eligible Applicants: Applicants need not be a current or prior
housing assistance grantee to establish eligibility to be awarded a
grant under this solicitation. State agencies and State Boards, LWIBs,
and faith-based and community organizations are examples of the
entities eligible to apply for a grant award.
To provide housing assistance services to eligible migrant and
seasonal farmworkers under WIA Section 167, whether permanent,
temporary/emergency, or a mix of both, the Department will select those
proposals that are deemed most responsive to the requirements of this
solicitation, as reviewed and scored during the review panel process.
To that end, proposals must show that the applicant:
--Has an understanding of the housing market in the area(s) they
propose to serve, as well as an understanding of the housing needs of
migrant and seasonal farmworkers;
--Has a familiarity with the housing conditions in the proposed service
area, the housing assistance available from other agencies in the
service area, and the impact of both those elements on the housing
needs of farmworkers; and
--Has the capacity to effectively administer a housing assistance
program with the proper administrative and fiscal oversight and
integrity.
Additionally, to be responsive to the requirements of this
solicitation, applicants must demonstrate how the proposed service plan
will support the Guiding Principles described in Section I of this
solicitation.
Applicants must describe their collaboration and working
relationships with other agencies in the proposed service area that may
provide housing or employment assistance, such as the One-Stop system
and the wider community of social service agencies, including faith-
based and community organizations. The proposal should describe the
expected results of those relationships on the development of and
enhanced housing assistance services for farmworkers under this grant,
if an award is made.
Cost Sharing or Matching--The WIA Section 167 program does not
require grantees to share costs or provide matching funds.
Other Eligibility Criteria--In accordance with 29 CFR part 98,
entities that are debarred or suspended are excluded from Federal
financial assistance and are ineligible to receive a WIA Section 167
housing assistance grant.
Prior to awarding a grant, the Department will conduct a
responsibility review of each potential grantee through available
records. The responsibility review relies on testing available records
to determine if an applicant has a satisfactory history of accounting
for Federal funds and property. The responsibility review is
independent of the competitive process. Applicants failing to meet the
requirements of this section may be disqualified for selection as
grantees, irrespective of their standing in the competition. Any
applicant not selected as a result of the responsibility review will be
advised of their appeal rights. The responsibility tests that will be
applied are those present in the WIA regulations (20 CFR 667.170).
Legal Rules Pertaining to Inherently Religious Activities by
Organizations That Receive Federal Financial Assistance--The government
is generally prohibited from providing direct financial assistance for
inherently religious activities. Please note that, in this context, the
term direct financial assistance means financial assistance that is
provided directly by a government entity or an intermediate
organization, as opposed to financial assistance that an organization
receives as the result of the genuine and independent private choice of
a beneficiary. These grants may not be used for religious instruction,
worship, prayer, proselytizing, or other inherently religious
activities. Neutral, non-religious criteria that neither favor nor
disfavor religion must be utilized in the selection of grant recipients
and sub-recipients.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Address To Request Application Package--This SGA includes all
information and forms needed to apply for this funding opportunity. If
additional copies of forms are needed, they can be found at http://www.doleta.gov/msfw
.
Content and Form of Application Submission--An application must
include two (2) separate and distinct parts: Part I--a cost proposal,
and Part II--a technical proposal. Applications that fail to adhere to
the instructions in this section will be considered non-responsive and
will not be considered. Part I of the proposal is the Cost Proposal and
must include the following items:
A cover letter, an original plus two (2) copies of the
proposal, and an ink-signed original SF 424, ``Application for Federal
Assistance,'' (Appendix A) must be submitted. Beginning October 12,
2003, all applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities are
required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number (see OMB Notice of
Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402, dated June 27, 2003). Applicants
must supply their DUNS number in item 5 of the new SF 424
issued by OMB (Rev. 9-2003). The DUNS number is a nine-digit
identification number that uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access this Web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or
call 1-866-705-5711.
The Standard Form (SF) 424-A (Appendix B). In preparing
the budget form, the applicant must provide a concise narrative
explanation to support the request. The budget narrative should break
down the budget and discuss precisely how the administrative costs
support the project goals.
Part II of the application is the Technical Proposal,
which demonstrates the applicant's capabilities to plan and implement
the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this
solicitation. The Technical Proposal should be limited to 20 numbered
pages, double-spaced and single-sided, in 12-point text font and one-
inch margins. Letters of support and any required attachments will not
be subject to the page limitations; letters of support will not be
included in the materials provided to the panel for review of the
proposal.
No cost data or reference to prices should be included in
the Technical Proposal. Instead, applicants should include a two-page
abstract summarizing the proposed project and applicant profile
information including the applicant's name, the project title, and the
funding level requested. The two-page abstract is not included in the
20-page limitation.
Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be
considered.
Submission Dates and Times
The closing date for receipt of applications under this
announcement is May 27, 2005. Applications must be received at the
address below no later than 5 p.m. eastern time. Applications sent by
e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (fax) will not be accepted. Applications
that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will not be
honored. No exceptions to the mailing and delivery
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requirements set forth in this notice will be granted.
Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Reference SGA/DFA PY 04-07, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4438, Washington, DC 20210. Applicants
are advised that mail delivery in the Washington, DC area may be
delayed due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand-delivered
proposals will be received at the above address.
Applicants may apply online at http://www.grants.gov. For
applicants submitting electronic applications via grants.Gov, it is
strongly recommended that you immediately initiate and complete the
``Get Started'' steps to register with grants.gov, at http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted.
Registration will probably take multiple
days to complete which should be factored into plans for electronic
application submission in order to avoid facing unexpected delay that
could result in the rejection of your application. It is recommended
that applicants experiencing problems with electronic submission submit
their application by overnight mail until the electronic issues are
resolved.
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 the U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail no later
than the fifth calendar day before the date specified for receipt of
applications (e.g.; an application required to be received by the 20th
of the month must be postmarked by the 15th of that month); or (b) was
sent by the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail or Online to addressee no
later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing or electronic submission one
(1) day prior to the date specified for receipt of applications. It is
highly recommended that online submissions be completed one working day
prior to the date specified for receipt of applications to ensure that
the applicant still has the option to submit by U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail in the event of any electronic submission problems. ``Post
marked'' means a printed, stamped, or otherwise place 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. Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk to place
a legible hand cancellation ``bull's eye'' postmark on both the receipt
and the package. Failure to adhere to the above instructions will be
basis for a determination of nonresponsiveness.
Intergovernmental Review--Executive Order (E.O.) No. 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and the implementing
regulations at 29 CFR part 17 are applicable to this program. Under
these requirements, an applicant must provide a copy of the funding
proposal for comment to the States that have established a consultation
process under the E.O. Applications must be submitted to the State's
Single Point of Contact (SPOC), no later than the deadline for
submission of the application to the Department. For States that have
not established a consultative process under E.O. 12372, but have a
State Workforce Investment Board (State Board), the State Board will be
the SPOC. For WIA implementation purposes, this consultative process
fulfills the requirement of WIA Section 167(e) concerning consultation
with Governors and Local Workforce Investment Boards (LWIB). To
strengthen the implementation of the E.O., the Department establishes a
timeframe for the treatment of comments from the State's SPOC on WIA
Section 167 applications (including housing assistance). The SPOC must
submit comments, if any, to the Department and the applicant no later
than 30 days after the deadline for submission of the application. The
applicant's response to the SPOC comments, if any, must be submitted to
the Department no later than 15 days after the postmarked date of the
comments from the SPOC. The Department will notify the SPOC of its
decision regarding the SPOC comments and the applicant's response, and
implement that decision within 10 days after notification to the SPOC.
The names and addresses of the SPOCs are listed in the Office of
Management and Budget's (OMB) home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html
.
Funding Restrictions--As mentioned earlier in this document,
appropriations language requires that no less than 70 percent of the
funds available through this solicitation must be spent on permanent
housing activities. Given this requirement, applicants should clearly
identify the types of housing assistance services that will be provided
to farmworkers, particularly in cases where an applicant is proposing
to provide both permanent and temporary housing assistance.
Applicants are advised that the requirement to spend 70 percent of
the funds available through this solicitation on permanent housing may
affect the number of applications funded and/or the amount of funding
per grant.
Administrative costs are limited to fifteen (15) percent of the
grant (see definition of administrative costs at 20 CFR part 667.220).
Administrative costs higher than fifteen (15) percent will not be
approved.
Other Submission Requirements--All other submission materials are
identified in the various sections of this solicitation.
V. Application Review Information
Criteria--The following full review criteria, totaling a maximum of
100 points, applies to all applications:
Understanding the Housing Assistance Needs of the Eligible Migrant and
Seasonal Farmworkers in the Proposed Service Area(s)--20 Points
Understanding the housing market in the proposed service area(s)
and the problems faced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers in accessing
that market is critical to the formulation of an effective housing
assistance strategy. In addition, an effective strategy of outreach to
migrant and seasonal farmworkers is essential to meeting their housing
assistance needs.
Applicants must describe the housing market in the proposed service
area(s), including a description of employer-provided housing, if any;
publicly-subsidized housing, if any; and the problems encountered by
migrant and seasonal farmworkers in accessing affordable housing.
Include a discussion of the problems faced by migrant and seasonal
farmworkers in getting and keeping a job, or in participating in
training activities that lead to improved economic outcomes, as a
result of housing needs going unmet. Applicants must also describe
their strategy for identifying and conducting outreach to eligible
farmworkers with housing needs. In cases where a number of different
organizations are jointly applying, this section must include the
requested information for each of the areas covered by the potential
sub-grantee organizations.
Scoring on this factor will be based on the quality of the
applicant's analysis of the housing market in the area(s) of proposed
services, including any studies and analyses conducted to determine
farmworker housing assistance needs. Scoring will also take into
account the quality of the
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applicant's analysis of housing assistance available through other
housing assistance organizations, including faith-based and community
organizations, and the applicants' plans to integrate their housing
assistance services with those already present in the proposed area(s).
The applicant's analysis must demonstrate a depth of knowledge about
the housing market in the service area(s) and how housing availability
impacts a farmworker's ability to obtain and retain employment, or
participate in training or other activities that lead to improved
economic outcomes.
Familiarity With the Proposed Service Area(s)--20 Points
Familiarity with the housing conditions in the proposed service
area(s) and the housing assistance available from other sources in that
area(s) is essential to providing housing assistance services that are
appropriate for the migrant and seasonal farmworkers in need of
services and to assure non-duplicative use of WIA Section 167 housing
assistance funds.
Applicants must provide an analysis of the housing assistance
resources available from all sources in the proposed service area(s),
including employer-sponsored housing, State and local agencies, the
One-Stop system, and housing assistance organizations, including faith-
based and community organizations. Applicants must describe their
efforts to engage these resources on behalf of farmworkers, including
any successful efforts in the past, and the results of those efforts.
Applicants must also describe the strategies they propose for eligible
migrant and seasonal farmworkers, emphasizing the different strategies
for each farmworker population. In cases where a number of different
organizations are jointly applying, this section must include the
requested information for each of the areas covered by the potential
sub-grantees.
Scoring on this factor will be based on the comprehensiveness and
quality of the mapping of housing assistance resources available from
sources other than WIA Section 167 funds, and the effectiveness of the
applicant's strategy for using other housing assistance funds to
maximize the housing assistance services available to migrant and
seasonal farmworkers.
Administrative Capacity--20 Points
The capacity to effectively administer a housing assistance program
is contingent on effective and efficient systems to assure program and
fiscal oversight and integrity.
Applicants must describe the management information and performance
management systems to be used for reporting, and its performance
accountability and management, fiscal management, and case management
systems. The applicant must include a clear description of its
experience with performance management systems and how the results
achieved were applied to improved customer service. The discussion
should include a description of how eligibility to receive housing
assistance services will be determined, including how that ties to
improved employment outcomes, as well a discussion of whether the
criteria used to determine eligibility differs among migrant and
seasonal farmworker groups, and, if so, what the differences are, and
the rationale for them.
Applicants must also describe their recordkeeping system in
sufficient detail to demonstrate that it is sufficient to prepare
financial reports and to trace funds to adequate levels of expenditures
to ensure lawful spending.
Please note that in cases where a number of different organizations
are applying together, the lead agency will be expected to prepare a
``roll-up'' or aggregated report that clearly identifies the
expenditures of each sub-grantee individually, as well as the combined
total.
The WIA Section 167 housing assistance program is required to use
electronic reporting via the Internet. The applicant must describe its
capacity to provide the equipment (including PCs, software for word
processing and spreadsheets, individual e-mail accounts), access
(including Internet access), and staff qualified to perform on-line
reporting.
Scoring on this factor will be based on the quality and
comprehensiveness of evidence presented to demonstrate that the
applicant has effective management, program and fiscal accounting and
reporting systems.
Proposed Activities and Services--40 Points
The applicant's discussion of the proposed approach to providing
specific housing assistance services (permanent, temporary/emergency,
or both) is the most important single element of the application. With
regard to the requirements below, this section should clearly indicate
whether different housing services strategies will be employed to meet
the housing and related employment and training needs of seasonal
farmworkers versus migrant farmworkers.
Permanent Housing Assistance
Applicants proposing to carry out permanent housing activities only
must describe their system for identifying farmworkers in need of
permanent housing assistance, including the process for eligibility
determination and coordination with the NFJP grantee and the overall
One-Stop system in the state to ensure that the housing assistance
supports an employment outcome or training objective for farmworkers
eligible for NFJP services.
The plan must describe all the phases of the permanent housing
project, including pre-development activities, housing development,
construction, lease-up, and post-leasing activities (or the activities
leading to successful rehabilitation of existing permanent housing),
and include a timeline that estimates the length of time required for
each project to be undertaken. It must include a description of the
housing counseling activities to be provided to farmworkers (including
information on first-time home ownership); technical assistance to
other housing organizations, if appropriate; and a description of the
system that will be used to capture the number of referrals made from
the NFJP grantee or other One-Stop system partners to permanent housing
facilities or units established through a permanent housing program.
The plan should include an estimate of the number of farmworkers to be
assisted through the permanent housing program, and an estimate of how
many of those farmworkers are also NFJP-eligible farmworkers.
Temporary and/or Emergency Housing Assistance
Applicants proposing to carry out temporary and/or emergency
housing assistance only must describe their system for identifying
farmworkers in need of temporary and/or emergency housing assistance,
including the process for eligibility determination and coordination
with the NFJP grantee in the State to ensure that the housing
assistance supports an employment outcome or training objective for
those farmworkers who are NFJP-eligible, as well as other One-Stop
partner programs that might make referrals. The plan must include a
description of the case management approach to be used and the way the
organization proposes to manage the delivery of temporary and/or
emergency housing assistance services. It must also describe the
specific housing assistance services to be offered and the estimated
number of migrant and seasonal farmworkers to be served through each
proposed service
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(i.e., temporary and emergency housing, respectively). Separate
information should be provided for temporary housing and for emergency
housing. The plan must also describe how eligible farmworkers' housing
assistance will be coordinated with training and related assistance
services provided through the NFJP grantee if the applicant did not
apply for or is not awarded an NFJP grant, as well as the Local
Workforce Investment Board(s), which oversees strategic planning for
all One-Stop partner programs.
Permanent and Temporary/Emergency Housing Assistance--Applicants
proposing to conduct a plan of service that encompasses both permanent
and temporary and emergency housing activities must provide all of the
information requested above.
All applicants are responsible for clearly identifying the
organization that will be responsible for delivering the services,
whether permanent or temporary and/or emergency, in each proposed
service area, i.e., the descriptions requested above must be included
for each organization that will deliver housing services in cases where
a number of different organizations are jointly applying.
Scoring on this factor will be based on evidence that the applicant
has effectively used its knowledge and experience as presented in the
sections listed above, as applicable, to develop a housing assistance
strategy and plan of service that successfully meets the objectives of
the Guiding Principles described in Section I of this solicitation and
is appropriately tailored to meet the needs of migrant and seasonal
farmworkers in the service area(s).
Review and Selection Process
The Grant Officer will select potential grantees utilizing all
information available to him/her. A review panel will rate each
proposal according to the criteria specified in this solicitation.
Panel reviews are critical to the selection of grantees but are
advisory in nature, and their recommendations are not binding on the
Grant Officer. The Grant Officer may, at his/her discretion, request an
applicant to submit additional or clarifying information if needed to
make a selection. Please note that selections may be made without
further contact with the applicants. In such situations, an award will
be based on the SF 424, which constitutes a binding offer.
VI. Award Administration Information
Award Notices
The Grant Officer will notify applicants, in writing, if they are
selected as potential grantees. The notification will invite each
potential grantee to negotiate the final terms and conditions of the
grant as applicable, will establish a reasonable time and place for
negotiations, and will indicate the specific service delivery area and
amount of funds to be allocated under the grant. FY 2005 funds will be
awarded for the period July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, and will be
available for expenditure for two years.
An applicant that is not selected as a potential grantee or whose
application has been denied in whole or in part by the Department will
be notified in writing by the Grant Officer and advised of all appeal
rights.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements
There are no additional administrative or national policy
requirements besides those discussed elsewhere in this solicitation.
Reporting
Reporting for the WIA Section 167 housing assistance program is
under development; applicants awarded grants will be apprised of the
progress of the development and the implications for grantees. Grantees
will be required to submit reports on financial expenditures on a
quarterly basis. In addition, until the reporting system is
operational, grantees will be required to submit narrative reports on
program participation and participant outcomes.
VII. Agency Contacts
Questions related to this solicitation may be directed to Ms. Mamie
Williams, Grants Management Specialist, phone (202) 693-3341; fax:
(202) 693-2879 (this is not a toll-free number). Please include a
contact name, fax and telephone number.
This announcement is also being made available on the ETA Web site
at http://doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm and http://www.grants.gov.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 21st day of April, 2005.
James W. Stockton,
Grant Officer.
Attachments:
Appendix A: SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance
Appendix B: SF-424 (A)--Budget Information Form
Appendix C: OMB Survey N. 1890-0014: Survey on Ensuring Opportunity for
Applications
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