[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12288-12296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5552]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; Notice of
Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for Trade
Adjustment Assistance Technical Assistance and Outreach Partnership
Grants
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA).
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Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 09-06.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.260.
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department) announces the
availability of approximately $1.2 million in grant funds authorized by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act)
from the dislocated workers assistance national reserve to provide
technical assistance and outreach to dislocated workers impacted by
foreign trade. Proposed projects must be developed and implemented
through strategic partnerships.
This SGA or solicitation provides background information on the
grant opportunity and critical elements required of projects funded
under this grant. It also describes the application submission
requirements, the process that eligible applicants must use to apply
for funds covered by this solicitation, and how grantees will be
selected. The eligible applicants for this SGA are National Employer
Associations, National Labor Union Organizations, other Labor Union
Affiliates, Non-profit Organizations and National Associations with
connections to the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA)
program or TAA-certified workers. Additional specific eligibility
guidance is included in Section III.A under ``Eligibility
Information.''
DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this
announcement is April 14, 2010. Applications must be received no later
than 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), or submitted electronically by the deadline
and in accordance with the instructions in Section IV. C. of this
solicitation.
ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department
of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/DFA
PY-09-06, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, Washington, DC
20210.
For complete ``Application and Submission Information'' please
refer to Section IV of the solicitation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rahel Bizuayene, Grants Management
Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, at (202)-693-3256 (this is
not a toll-free number). Applicants should e-mail all technical
questions to [email protected] and must specifically reference
SGA/DFA PY 09-06, and along with question(s), include a contact name,
fax and phone number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Summary
The Department of Labor (DOL or the Department) announces the
availability of approximately $1.2 million in grant funds authorized by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act)
from the dislocated workers assistance national reserve to provide
technical assistance and outreach to dislocated workers impacted by
foreign trade. Proposed projects must be developed and implemented
through strategic partnerships.
This SGA or solicitation provides background information on the
grant opportunity and describes the critical elements required of
projects funded under this grant. It also describes the application
submission requirements, the process that eligible applicants must use
to apply for funds covered by this solicitation, and how grantees will
be selected. The eligible applicants for this SGA are National Employer
Associations, National Labor Union Organizations, other Labor Union
Affiliates, Non-profit Organizations and National Associations with
connections to the TAA program or TAA-certified workers. Additional
specific eligibility guidance is included in Section III.A under
``Eligibility Information.''
Supplementary Information
The Department's Employment and Training Administration (ETA is
responsible for administering programs to assist dislocated workers
under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). This includes workers
dislocated because of foreign trade and who are therefore potentially
eligible for benefits under the TAA program authorized by the Trade Act
of 1974, as amended, a partner in the WIA One-stop delivery system. The
Recovery Act expanded the TAA program to help trade-affected workers in
the services sector of the economy as well as even greater numbers of
workers in the manufacturing sector who have lost their jobs or who are
threatened with job losses. The TAA program makes available to these
dislocated workers a variety of benefits either before or after their
job loss, including employment and case management services, job
training, income support, job search and relocation allowances, a tax
credit to help pay the costs of health insurance, and a wage supplement
to certain reemployed trade-affected workers 50 years of age and older.
Under WIA, individuals are able to access services tailored to their
employment and training needs through the One-stop delivery system,
such as: Assessment of skills and interests, job development, job
placement, counseling, training, and supportive services to enable
individuals who need such assistance to participate in training for
reemployment or to find new employment without enrolling in a training
program. While these services may also be available to trade-affected
workers through WIA-funded staff, the Recovery Act expanded the TAA
program to include additional funding to provide such employment and
case management services to this pool of dislocated workers.
The ETA is seeking to better assess State needs and to gauge
effective practices that assist workers in specific trade industry
sectors in an effort to address high unemployment levels as a result of
trade competition, and also to heighten public awareness of services,
training, and other benefits available through the TAA program. The
Secretary of Labor has made it a priority to ``Ensure Good Jobs for
Everyone'' and to ``Help Protect Middle-class and Working Family
Incomes.'' Therefore, the intent of this SGA is for grantees to provide
additional technical assistance and outreach to the dislocated worker
populations hardest hit by foreign trade to ensure that workers receive
the benefits of the TAA program to achieve this reemployment goal.
The Recovery Act expanded the TAA program to include trade-affected
workers in the services sector of the economy. The broadened pool of
[[Page 12289]]
dislocated workers eligible for TAA under the Recovery Act amendments
presents new and unique service delivery challenges for States. For
example, identifying and serving service sector workers who work
remotely when those workers are not localized in or near the State in
which the trade affected employer is based. To better understand the
specific TAA challenges, grantees should identify service delivery
issues from the industries they intend to target and address how these
challenges can be met in order to better serve TAA workers. Applicants
for this SGA should determine which manufacturing or services industry
or industries will be the focus for this grant. DOL is particularly
interested in projects which target the steady increase in unemployment
in hard-hit industries, such as the automotive industry, and other
sectors of the economy with large numbers of workers covered by TAA
certifications (TAA-certified workers), workers in services sector
industries who work at one or more remote or fixed locations, and
workers who face issues about how TAA eligibility and program
requirements interact with benefits available to them through their
employers, such as severance packages.
The Department expects that grant funds will be used to provide
outreach and direct technical assistance to trade-affected workers and
their representatives on the new provisions of the TAA program.
Grantees will work with union representatives, State and local
officials, company officials, and union and non-union workers to help
them to better understand the TAA program. This includes educating the
public, and in particular, trade-affected dislocated worker populations
in targeted industries who may not understand the TAA petition process
and benefit eligibility requirements and/or what it means to be covered
by a TAA certification. Further, grant funds may be used to help train
those filing petitions to submit more complete and accurate petition
information to the ETA. This is essential in helping the Department
ensure timely and efficient TAA petition processing. Authorized
petitioners include groups of workers, employers, unions and other duly
authorized worker representatives, and WIA One-stop delivery system and
State workforce agency staff. Successful applicants must be able to
demonstrate a unique connection to a large number of workers or other
authorized petitioners representing trade-affected populations in the
targeted industries, and also have the ability to connect with
dislocated workers in these targeted industries. Where possible, the
ETA encourages applicants to partner with other workforce development
programs in addition to the State agency operating the TAA program and/
or the WIA One-stop delivery system and fully describe how the project
intends to incorporate these linkages in its service delivery strategy
and overall project plan.
Grantees will be expected to describe outcomes and measures by
which to determine the success of the project and will be required to
report ``best practices'' or lessons learned as a result of grant
activities. Outcomes may include such things as educational materials
used to inform employers, union representatives or other worker
representatives of the interaction between severance packages and
eligibility for TAA benefits, or demonstrated strategies for
identifying and serving service sector workers who work remotely and
therefore may be more difficult to identify and serve than workers who
physically report to a single location. Best practices and/or developed
materials must be replicable and serve as a model for the TAA program
and similar programs for dislocated workers such as WIA.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Competitive grants under this SGA will fund one (1) to four (4)
projects for a combined total amount of $1.2 million to:
A. Provide direct training or technical assistance to ensure
complete and accurate TAA petition information submissions by
petitioners, which is the first step for workers to obtain TAA
benefits. Direct training or technical assistance means educating the
public, union representatives, State and local officials, company
officials, and/or workers on eligibility criteria and the petition
filing process, including providing information to union and company
officials so they can help TAA-eligible workers apply for and receive
the benefits to which they are entitled.
B. Improve the service delivery of Rapid Response activities under
the WIA to trade-affected workers, assist States to better identify
early threats of worker layoffs, and help the State agency operating
the TAA program and/or the WIA One-stop delivery system quickly
identify workers covered by certified TAA petitions.
C. Help identify and address specific challenges to TAA-certified
workers in targeted industries, such as issues related to the
interaction of certain employee severance packages with TAA eligibility
and program benefits or challenges States have in effectively providing
outreach to workers of services sector firms who work remotely, along
with any other identified challenges.
D. Establish partnerships with States to develop services and/or
service delivery strategies, including the use of National Emergency
Grants, for more effective employment and case management in States
with large numbers of TAA certifications, in particular manufacturing
industries such as automobile manufacturing, or service sector
industries that were not covered by the TAA program before enactment of
the Recovery Act.
E. Develop and propose outcomes and measures by which to determine
the success of the grantee's efforts and report on any ``best
practices'' developed or lessons learned as a result of the grant
project. Best practices must be replicable and serve as a model for the
TAA program and similar programs for dislocated workers such as WIA.
II. Award Information
A. Award Amount
ETA has approximately $1.2 million available under this competition
and expects to fund approximately one (1) to four (4) grants.
Individual grant amounts will not exceed $1.2 million. Any grant
application with a proposed value greater than $1.2 million will be
deemed non-responsive and will not be considered. ETA reserves the
right to fund applicants at an amount different from the amount
proposed in the applicant's budget based on the availability of funds.
B. Period of Performance
The period of grant performance will be up to 18 months from the
date of execution of the grant documents. This performance period
includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.
Applicants should plan to fully expend grant funds during the period of
performance while ensuring full transparency and accountability for all
expenditures.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Organizations
Eligible applicants under this SGA must demonstrate the capacity to
successfully perform the activities specified in Section I of this SGA.
Further, the ETA believes that by establishing strong partnerships
grantees will ensure that the specific targeted dislocated worker
populations are reached for this grant. For this solicitation, the ETA
recognizes that National Employer Associations, National Labor Union
Organizations or
[[Page 12290]]
other Union Affiliates, and Non-profit Organizations or National
Associations with direct relations to trade-affected populations may be
uniquely qualified and may have the established networks to reach
specific labor pools in these targeted industries. The ETA is
particularly interested in organizations that can communicate directly
with large numbers of workers in the different sectors of the economy
on which their applications focus. Eligibility is restricted to the
following types of entities under this solicitation:
National Employer Associations;
National Labor Union Organizations;
Other Labor Union Affiliates;
Non-profit Organizations and National Associations with
connections to the TAA program or trade-affected workers.
Strategic Partnerships. To be eligible for funding under this
solicitation, applicants must demonstrate that the proposed project
will be planned and operated through effective strategic partnerships
with other organizations that have established connections to trade-
affected populations. The strategic partnership(s) must include the
State agency operating the TAA program and/or the WIA One-stop delivery
system. In addition, the strategic partnership(s) may include at one or
more entity(ies) from the following three categories:
Non-profit Organizations, such as Community Organizations
which have direct access to the targeted population;
Public and Private Employers and Industry-related
Organizations;
Labor Organizations, including but not limited to Labor
Unions and Labor-Management Organizations representing the interests of
workers in the chosen sectors or industries.
By including these types of organizations in a comprehensive
partnership, applicants can ensure that they are maximizing available
resources and organizational expertise for the project, and that
individual participants in the project have all of the support that
they need to successfully meet the goals of the grant. These partners
can contribute a wide array of knowledge and help develop activities
for the project, and should work in collaboration to ensure appropriate
leveraged resources.
B. Cost Sharing
Although cost sharing or matching funds are not required as a
condition for this grant, leveraged resources are strongly encouraged
and can increase the applicant's score in Section V. A., the evaluation
criteria.
C. Veterans Priority
The Jobs for Veterans Act (Pub. L. 107-288) requires 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 DOL. The regulations
implementing this priority of service can be found at 20 CFR part 1010.
In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two
qualified candidates for a service, one of whom is a veteran or
eligible spouse, the veterans priority of service provisions require
that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority
of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain
priority of service a veteran or spouse must meet the program's
eligibility requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on
veterans' priority. ETA's Training and Employment Guidance Letter
(TEGL) No. 10-09 (issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on
implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in
all qualified job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL.
TEGL No. 10-09 is available at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. How To Obtain an Application Package
This SGA contains all of the information and links to forms needed
to apply for grant funding.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
The proposal consists of three separate and distinct parts--(1) The
cost proposal, (2) the technical proposal, and (3) attachments to the
technical proposal. Applications that do not contain all of the three
parts or that fail to adhere to the instructions in this section will
be considered non-responsive and will not be considered. It is the
applicant's responsibility to ensure that the funding amount requested
is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.
(1) The Cost Proposal
The Cost Proposal must include the following four items:
The Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal
Assistance'' (available at http://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp and http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm). The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and be
signed by an individual with authority to enter into a grant agreement.
Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on
behalf of the applicant will be considered the authorized
representative of the applicant.
Applicants must supply their D-U-N-S[supreg] number in
item 5 on the SF-424. All applicants for Federal grant and funding
opportunities are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System
(D-U-N-S[supreg]) number. See Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Notice of Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402, June 27, 2003. The D-U-N-
S[supreg] number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely
identifies business entities. Obtaining a D-U-N-S[supreg] number is
easy and there is no charge. To obtain a D-U-N-S[supreg] number,
applicants can access this Web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or
call 1-866-705-5711.
The SF-424A Budget Information Form is available at:
http://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp and
http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm. In preparing the Budget
Information Form, the applicant must provide a concise narrative
explanation to support the request, explained in detail below.
Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a description
of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. It should also
include any leveraged resources provided to support grant activities;
however, no leveraged resources should be shown on the SF-424 and SF-
424A. In addition, the applicant should address precisely how the
administrative costs support the project goals. The entire Federal
grant amount requested should be included on both the SF-424 and SF-
424A. Applicants that fail to provide an SF-424, SF-424A, a D-U-N-
S[supreg] number, and a budget narrative will be removed from
consideration prior to the technical review process.
Applicants are also encouraged, but not required, to
submit OMB Survey N. 1890-0014: Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity
for Applicants, which can be found under the Grants.gov, Tips and
Resources from Grantors, Department of Labor section at http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/tips_resources_from_grantors.jsp#13
(also referred to as Faith Based EEO Survey PDF Form).
(2) The Technical Proposal
The Technical Proposal must demonstrate the applicant's capability
to implement the grant project in
[[Page 12291]]
accordance with the provisions of this solicitation. The guidelines for
the content of the Technical Proposal are provided in Section V.A. of
this solicitation. The Technical Proposal is limited to 20 double-
spaced single-sided pages with 12 point text font and 1 inch margins.
Any materials beyond the 20-page limit will not be read. Applicants
should number the pages of the Technical Proposal beginning with page
number 1. Applicants that do not provide a Technical Proposal in their
application will be considered non-responsive and the application will
not be considered.
Applications may be submitted electronically on Grants.gov or in
hardcopy by mail or hand delivery. These processes are described in
further detail below in Section IV.C.
(3) Attachments to the Technical Proposal
In addition to the 20-page Technical Proposal, the applicant must
submit attachments to the technical proposal, which include a one-page
abstract and a letter of commitment from each project partner. Each
letter of commitment must be signed by the respective partner and
should describe its roles and responsibilities. The abstract, not to
exceed one page, must summarize the proposed project and include
applicant name, project title, a description of the area and population
to be served, the funding level requested, and a brief description of
the grant outcomes. Applicants should not send letters of commitment
separately to ETA because letters are tracked through a different
system and will not be attached to the application for review. The ETA
will not accept or review general letters of support submitted by
organizations or individuals.
These additional materials (commitment letters and abstract) do not
count against the 20-page limit for the Technical Proposal, but may not
exceed 15 pages. Any additional materials beyond the 15-page limit will
not be read.
C. Submission Process, Date, Times, and Addresses
The closing date for receipt of applications under this
announcement is April 14, 2010. Applications must be received at the
address below no later than 4 p.m. (Eastern Time). Applications sent by
e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (FAX) will not be accepted.
Applicants submitting proposals in hardcopy must submit an
application including an original signed SF-424 and one (1) ``copy-
ready'' version of all other materials required in Section IV.B. above,
free of bindings, staples or protruding tabs to ease in the
reproduction of the proposal by DOL. Applicants submitting proposals in
hard copy also must provide an identical electronic copy of the
proposal on compact disc (CD).
Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in this
notice will not be considered. No exceptions to the mailing and
delivery 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, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/
DFA, PY 09-06, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, Washington, DC
20210. Applicants are advised that mail delivery in the Washington area
may be delayed due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand-delivered
proposals will be received at the above address. All professional
overnight delivery service will be considered to be hand-delivered and
must be received at the designated place by the specified closing date
and time.
Applicants may apply online through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), however, due to the expected increase in system
activity, applicants are encouraged to use an alternate method to
submit grant applications during this heightened period of demand.
While not mandatory, DOL encourages the submission of applications thru
professional overnight delivery service.
Applications that are submitted through Grants.gov must be
successfully submitted at http://www.grants.gov no later than 4 p.m.
(Eastern Time) on April 14, 2010, and then subsequently validated by
Grants.gov. The submission and validation process is described in more
detail below. The process can be complicated and time-consuming.
Applicants are strongly advised to initiate the process as soon as
possible and to plan for time to resolve technical problems, if
necessary.
The ETA strongly recommends that before the applicant begins to
write the proposal, applicants should immediately initiate and complete
the ``Get Registered'' registration steps at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. These steps may take multiple days or
weeks to complete, and this time should be factored into plans for
electronic submission in order to avoid unexpected delays that could
result in the rejection of an application. It is strongly recommended
that applicants use the ``Organization Registration Checklist'' at
http://www.grants.gov/assets/Organization_Steps_Complete_Registration.pdf to ensure the registration process is complete.
Within two business days of application submission, Grants.gov will
send the applicant two e-mail messages to provide the status of
application progress through the system. The first e-mail, almost
immediate, will confirm receipt of the application by Grants.gov. The
second e-mail will indicate the application has either been
successfully validated or has been rejected due to errors. Only
applications that have been successfully submitted by the deadline and
subsequently successfully validated will be considered. It is the sole
responsibility of the applicant to ensure a timely submission. While it
is not required that an application be successfully validated before
the deadline for submission, it is prudent to reserve time before the
deadline in case it is necessary to resubmit an application that has
not been successfully validated. Therefore, sufficient time should be
allotted for submission (two business days) and, if applicable,
subsequent time to address errors and receive validation upon
resubmission (an additional two business days for each ensuing
submission). It is important to note that if sufficient time is not
allotted and a rejection notice is received after the due date and
time, the application will not be considered.
To ensure consideration, the components of the application must be
saved as either .doc, .xls or .pdf files. If submitted in any other
format, the applicant bears the risk that compatibility or other issues
may limit the ETA's ability to consider the application. The ETA will
attempt to open the document but will not take any additional measures
in the event of issues with opening. In such cases, the non-conforming
application will not be considered for funding.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the plethora of tools and
documents, including FAQs, which are available on the ``Applicant
Resources'' page at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp#faqs. To receive updated information about critical issues,
new tips for users and other time sensitive updates as information is
available, applicants may subscribe to ``Grants.gov Updates'' at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/email_subscription_signup.jsp.
If applicants encounter a problem with Grants.gov and do not find
an answer in any of the other resources, call 1-800-518-4726 to speak
to a Customer Support Representative or e-mail [email protected].
[[Page 12292]]
Late Applications: For applications submitted on Grants.gov, only
applications that have been successfully submitted no later than 4 p.m.
(Eastern Time) on the closing date and subsequently successfully
validated will be considered.
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, it was
properly addressed, and it was: (a) Sent by U.S. Postal Service mail,
postmarked not 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) sent by professional overnight delivery service to
the addressee not later than one working day prior to the date
specified for receipt of applications. Applicants take a significant
risk by waiting to the last day to submit by Grants.gov. ``Postmarked''
means a printed, stamped or otherwise placed impression (exclusive of a
postage meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable, without
further action, as having been supplied or affixed on the date of
mailing by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. 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 a basis
for a determination of non-responsiveness. Evidence of timely
submission by a professional overnight delivery service must be
demonstrated by equally reliable evidence created by the delivery
service provider indicating the time and place of receipt.
D. Intergovernmental Review
This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
E. Funding Restrictions
Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with
the applicable Federal cost principles. Disallowed costs are those
charges to a grant that the grantor agency or its representative
determines not to be allowed in accordance with the applicable Federal
cost principles or other conditions contained in the grant. Successful
and unsuccessful applicants will not be entitled to reimbursement of
pre-award costs.
1. Indirect Costs
As specified in OMB Circular Cost Principles, indirect costs are
those that have been incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot
be readily identified with a particular final cost objective. In order
to use grant funds for indirect costs incurred, the applicant must
obtain an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with its cognizant agency either
before or shortly after grant award.
An indirect cost rate (ICR) is required when an organization
operates under more than one grant or other activity whether Federally-
assisted or not. Organizations must use the ICR supplied by the
cognizant agency. If an organization requires a new ICR or has a
pending ICR, the Grant Officer will award a temporary billing rate for
90 days until a provisional rate can be issued. This rate is based on
the fact that an organization has not established an ICR agreement.
Within this 90 day period, the organization must submit an acceptable
indirect cost proposal to their cognizant Federal agency to obtain a
provisional ICR.
2. Administrative Costs
Under this SGA, an entity that receives a grant to carry out a
project or program may not use more than 10 percent of the amount of
the grant to pay administrative costs associated with the program or
project. Administrative costs could be direct or indirect costs, and
are defined at 20 CFR 667.220. Administrative costs do not need to be
identified separately from program costs on the SF-424A Budget
Information Form. They should be discussed in the budget narrative and
tracked through the grantee's accounting system. To claim any
administrative costs that are also indirect costs, the applicant must
obtain an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement from its cognizant Federal
agency.
3. Salary and Bonus Limitations
Under Public Law 109-234 and Public Law 111-8, Section 111, none of
the funds appropriated in Public Law 111-5 or prior Acts under the
heading ``Employment and Training'' that are available for expenditure
on or after June 15, 2006, shall be used by a recipient or sub-
recipient of such funds to pay the salary and bonuses of an individual,
either as direct costs or indirect costs, at a rate in excess of
Executive Level II. These limitations also apply to grants funded under
this SGA. The salary and bonus limitation does not apply to vendors
providing goods and services as defined in OMB Circular A-133. See TEGL
No. 5-06 at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2262.
4. Intellectual Property Rights
The Federal Government reserves a paid-up, nonexclusive and
irrevocable license to reproduce, publish or otherwise use, and to
authorize others to use for Federal purposes: (i) The copyright in all
products developed under the grant, including a subgrant or contract
under the grant or subgrant; and (ii) any rights of copyright to which
the grantee, subgrantee or a contractor purchases ownership under an
award (including but not limited to curricula, training models,
technical assistance products, and any related materials). Such uses
include, but are not limited to, the right to modify and distribute
such products worldwide by any means, electronically or otherwise.
Federal funds may not be used to pay any royalty or licensing fee
associated with such copyrighted material, although they may be used to
pay costs for obtaining a copy which is limited to the developer/seller
costs of copying and shipping. If revenues are generated through
selling products developed with grant funds, including intellectual
property, these revenues are program income. Program income is added to
the grant and must be expended for allowable grant activities.
If applicable, the following needs to be on all products developed
in whole or in part with grant funds:
``This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S.
Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The
solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect
the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department
of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind,
express or implied, with respect to such information, including any
information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy
of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness,
adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is
copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an
organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial
purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization
of the copyright owner.''
F. Other Submission Requirements
Withdrawal of Applications. Applications may be withdrawn by
written notice at any time before an award is made.
[[Page 12293]]
V. Application Review Information
A. Application Criteria Review Information
This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be
used to evaluate the proposals under this grant solicitation. The
criteria and respective point values are:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Criterion Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Need.............................................. 10
Project Management and Organizational Capacity................. 25
Strategic Partnerships and Work Plan........................... 40
Outcomes and Deliverables...................................... 25
Bonus--Leveraged Resources..................................... 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Statement of Need (10 Points)
The applicant must fully demonstrate a clear understanding of the
Trade Act of 1974, as amended, including the provisions added by the
Recovery Act, and describe how the scope of the project addresses the
stated needs. As such, the project needs to specifically focus on
significant worker dislocations in major industries, such as the
automotive industry, and clearly demonstrate how the project will
target those industries, identify and target relevant stakeholders, and
the scope of the project proposed. Given the rapidly changing economic
conditions, applicants should use the most current and relevant sources
of data available, including TAA certification data, to demonstrate
knowledge of layoffs and conditions facing workers in the automotive or
other manufacturing and/or service industries. The data should be used
to support the intended technical assistance and outreach needs of the
trade-affected workers in the targeted industries.
Points for this section will be based on the applicant's
comprehensive demonstration of each of the following factors:
a. The applicant must present a clear need for Federal funding of
the proposed project for trade-affected workers in the targeted
industries by citing data sources and describing the pre-analysis that
has been conducted to support the need for the proposed project. (3
points.)
b. Based on the statement of need, the applicant must provide a
complete description of the geographic location(s) of the trade-
affected populations of the targeted industries and the rationale
behind selecting the specific industry or industries for the project.
(2 points.)
c. The proposal must briefly describe the problem(s) or issue(s)
being faced by trade-affected workers in the targeted industries and
the States administering the TAA program for those workers. Examples of
specific challenges include, but are not limited to, issues related to
the interaction of certain employee severance packages with TAA
eligibility and program benefits, or challenges States have in
effectively identifying and providing outreach to workers of a services
sector firm who work remotely, rather than on the site at a specific
facility. The proposal must also show how the applicant intends to: (1)
Address the TAA program-related needs of workers in these industries;
(2) increase their awareness of the expanded TAA program, and its new
eligibility criteria and benefits; and (3) work with and enhance the
ability of States to address the identified issue while developing
effective service strategies for the trade-affected workers in the
targeted industries. (2 points.)
d. The applicant must demonstrate specific knowledge of State
unemployment insurance provisions related to trade readjustment
allowance eligibility and health coverage tax credit eligibility in the
States in which these trade-affected workers in the targeted industries
are located. (5 points.)
Applicants may draw from a variety of resources to inform this
criterion, including labor market data such as projections, industry
data, internal organizational data, and data on the subject population
within the context of the national economy.
2. Project Management and Organizational Capacity (25 Points)
The applicant must fully describe its capacity and, if applicable,
the capacity of its partners, to effectively staff the proposed
project. The application must also fully describe the applicant's
fiscal, administrative, and performance management capacity to
implement the key components of the project. Scoring under this
criterion will be based on the extent to which applicants provide
evidence of the following:
a. Staff Capacity (5 points). The applicant should provide strong
evidence that the applicant, and if applicable, its partners, will have
the staff experience and capability to implement the proposed project.
The description of staff capacity should include the proposed staffing
pattern for the project, including program management and
administrative staff, and program staff experience involved in each
local project. The applicant must demonstrate that the role(s) and time
commitment for the proposed staff are sufficient to ensure proper
direction, management, implementation, and timely completion of the
project.
b. Fiscal, Administrative, and Performance Management Capacity (10
points). The application must provide strong evidence that the
applicant, and if applicable, its partners, have the fiscal,
administrative, and performance management capacity to effectively
administer the grant. Discussion of this capacity should include:
(i) A full description of the applicant's capacity, including its
systems, processes, and administrative controls that will enable it to
comply with Federal rules and regulations related to the grant's fiscal
and administrative requirements; (3 points) and
(ii) A full description of the applicant's capacity, including its
systems and processes that will support the grantee's activities and
ability to develop a ``best practices'' report. The applicant may cite
relationships with the State agency operating the TAA program and/or
the WIA One-stop delivery system along with other public workforce
systems, as appropriate. (7 points)
c. Applicant's Experience (10 points). The applicant must
demonstrate its experience leading or participating significantly in a
comprehensive partnership, and the demonstrated experience of the
applicant, its required partners, and if applicable, its local
affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners, in
implementing outreach, technical assistance, and/or best practices
initiatives of similar focus, size, and scope. It is important that the
applicant relate its experience with the TAA program and identify any
interactions with the trade-affected dislocated worker populations. The
discussion should include:
i. Specific examples of the applicant's experience in leading or
participating significantly in a partnership that included a wide range
of stakeholders, including a description of the programmatic goals of
the project, and a demonstration of the results achieved by that
project. (5 points.)
ii. Specific examples of the applicant's or its partners'
knowledge, experience and interaction with the TAA program and TAA-
certified workers, and its experience working with State, local, union,
employer, or other One-stop delivery system partners. (5 points.)
3. Strategic Partnerships and Work Plan (40 Points)
This criterion is the heart of the proposal, and a successful score
in this section will require the applicant to provide a clear
explanation of the planned strategy, its strategic use of partnerships,
what industries the
[[Page 12294]]
proposal targets, and how the plan will be implemented. The applicant
must provide a detailed description of its plan to do all of the
following:
i. Ensure that eligible petitioners are equipped to submit TAA
petitions that contain complete and accurate information, which is the
first step for workers to obtain TAA benefits, either through direct
training or technical assistance. In part, this means educating
workers, union representatives, State and local officials, and company
officials on eligibility criteria, and the petition filing process,
including providing information to union and company officials so they
can help TAA-eligible workers with the next steps toward receiving
benefits.
ii. Improve the service delivery of Rapid Response activities under
the WIA to trade-affected workers, assist States to better identify
early threats of worker layoffs, and help the State agency operating
the TAA program and/or WIA One-stop delivery system quickly identify
workers covered by certified TAA petitions.
iii. Help identify and address specific challenges to TAA-certified
workers in the targeted industries such as issues related to the
interaction of certain employee severance packages with TAA eligibility
and program benefits or challenges States have in effectively providing
outreach to workers of a services sector firm who work remotely along
with other identifiable challenges.
iv. Establish partnerships with States to develop services and/or
service delivery strategies, including the use of National Emergency
Grants, for more effective employment and case management in States
with large numbers of TAA certifications in industries that were not
covered by the TAA program before enactment of the Recovery Act.
Points for this criterion will be awarded for the following
factors.
a. Strategy (10 points)
The applicant must provide a cohesive strategy for convening and
aligning partners to achieve the project goals as described above. The
applicant should fully demonstrate the following:
i. Describe the specific roles of the applicant and project
partners at all levels, including the services, expertise, and
activities that partners will contribute to the goals of the grant. (4
points.)
ii. Describe the overall strategy for identifying the challenges
workers in targeted industries face in obtaining TAA program benefits
and efforts to meet those challenges to make TAA program benefits
available to them. (3 points.)
iii. Describe any unique qualifications or established networks
that allow the applicant to reach specific labor pools and their
authorized representatives in these targeted industries. Explain the
organization's capabilities to provide more direct outreach and
technical support to a greater number of services sector and
manufacturing industry workers through its partnerships. (3 points.)
b. Work Plan (30 points)
i. The Work Plan must include a timeline of planned activities and
milestones, with an explanatory narrative (5 points). The applicant
should fully demonstrate the following:
A coherent plan that demonstrates the applicant's complete
comprehension of all the activities and responsibilities required to
implement each phase of the project and achieve projected outcomes;
The demonstrated feasibility and reasonableness of the
timeline for accomplishing all necessary implementation activities;
ii. The Work Plan must include a table detailing the planned
activities required to implement each phase of the project. For each
activity, include the start date, end date, project partner(s) with
primary responsibility for the activity, and key tasks associated with
each activity. At key project milestones, list the target dates and
associated outcomes. (5 points.)
iii. The applicant must demonstrate that the outreach and technical
assistance activities it proposes, as generally described in the
Supplementary Information section of this SGA, will help trade-affected
workers become more aware of the new provisions of the TAA program and
better educated on how to petition for TAA certification and apply for
TAA program benefits and services after obtaining that certification.
Further, successful applicants must demonstrate how these efforts will
help improve the quality of TAA petitions received by the ETA. (10
points.)
iv. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to identify various
challenges related to providing TAA program benefits across the States
with targeted industries and present a plan to overcome those
challenges. This section may include a discussion of case management
and related assessment/counseling services available to TAA-certified
workers under the WIA as it relates to the provision of such services
funded by the TAA program. (5 points.)
v. The Work Plan must demonstrate the methodology by which
successful project outcomes will be measured and/or goals completed.
This also includes describing research and fact finding methods to
describe best practices and lessons learned from the project. (5
points.)
4. Outcomes and Deliverables (25 Points)
Applicants will be evaluated on a full demonstration of the
following:
A. A description of the anticipated outcomes, including how the
applicant intends to measure outcomes. (2 points.)
B. The extent to which the project outcomes are realistic and
consistent with the objectives of the project and the needs of workers
in the target industries. (2 points.)
C. How project outcomes will result in capacity building to enable
workers in the targeted industries to seek and more effectively benefit
from the receipt of TAA. (8 points.)
D. What percentage of workers in the targeted industries will
benefit from technical assistance and outreach and how these efforts
will effectively serve as a model for States. (3 points.)
E. The ability of the applicant to achieve the stated outcomes
within the period of performance. (5 points.)
F. How the applicant intends to identify issues and challenges and
use outcome information to identify lessons learned and make best
practices available to a wide range of stakeholders. (5 points.)
5. Leveraged Resources (5 Bonus Points)
Applicants may describe any funds and/or other resources that will
be leveraged to support grant activities and how these resources will
be used to contribute to the proposed outcomes for the project as
described in Section V. A. 4. of this solicitation. This includes funds
and other resources leveraged from businesses, labor organizations,
education and training providers, and/or Federal, State, and local
government programs. Applicants will be awarded bonus points on the
extent to which they fully demonstrate the amount of leveraged
resources provided, the type(s) of leveraged resources provided, the
strength of commitment to provide these resources, the breadth and
depth of the resources provided, and how well the resources support the
proposed grant activities and outcomes.
B. Review and Selection Process
Applications for grants under this solicitation will be accepted
after the publication of this announcement until the closing date. A
technical review panel will make careful evaluation of applications
against the criteria. These criteria are based on the policy goals,
priorities, and emphases set forth in this SGA. Up to 105 points may be
awarded
[[Page 12295]]
to an application, based on the required information described in
Section V. A. The ranked scores will serve as the primary basis for
selection of applications for funding, in conjunction with other
factors such as the availability of funds and which proposals are most
advantageous to the government. The panel results are advisory in
nature and not binding on the Grant Officer, and the Grant Officer may
consider any information that comes to his/her attention. The ETA may
elect to award the grant(s) with or without discussions with the
applicants. Should a grant be awarded without discussions, the award
will be based on the applicant's signature on the SF-424, including
electronic signature via E-Authentication on http://www.grants.gov,
which constitutes a binding offer by the applicant.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
All award notifications will be posted on the ETA Homepage (http://www.doleta.gov). Applicants selected for award will be contacted
directly before the grant's execution and non-selected applicants will
be notified by mail.
Selection of an organization as a grantee does not constitute
approval of the grant application as submitted. Before the actual grant
is awarded, DOL/ETA may enter into negotiations about such items as
program components, 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 right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the
application.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
1. Administrative Program Requirements
All grantees will be subject to all applicable Federal laws,
regulations, and the applicable OMB Circulars. The following statutory
and administrative standards and provisions may be applicable to the
grants awarded under this SGA:
a. Non-Profit Organizations--OMB Circulars A-122 (Cost Principles)
and 29 CFR part 95 (Administrative Requirements).
b. Educational Institutions--OMB Circulars A-21 (Cost Principles)
and 29 CFR part 95 (Administrative Requirements).
c. State and Local Governments--OMB Circulars A-87 (Cost
Principles) and 29 CFR part 97 (Administrative Requirements).
d. Profit Making Commercial Firms--Federal Acquisition Regulation
(FAR)-48 CFR part 31 (Cost Principles), and 29 CFR part 95
(Administrative Requirements).
e. All entities must comply with 29 CFR parts 93 (new restrictions
on lobbying) and 98 (debarment, suspension and drug-free workplace
requirements), and, where applicable, 29 CFR parts 96 (audit
requirements) and 99.
f. 29 CFR part 2, subpart D--Equal Treatment in Department of Labor
Programs for Religious Organizations, Protection of Religious Liberty
of Department of Labor Social Service Providers and Beneficiaries.
g. 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.
h. 29 CFR part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial
Assistance.
i. 29 CFR part 33--Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of
Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of
Labor.
j. 29 CFR part 35-- Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the
Department of Labor.
k. 29 CFR part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial
Assistance.
l. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law
111-5, 123 Stat. 115, Division A, Title VIII and Division B, Title I,
Subtitle I (February 17, 2009).
m. The Trade Act of 1974, Public Law 93-618, as amended (codified
at 19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.).
n. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220, 112
Stat. 939 (codified as amended at 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) and 20 CFR
part 667 (General Fiscal and Administrative Rules).
o. 29 CFR part 29 & 30--Apprenticeship Equal Employment Opportunity
in Apprenticeship and Training.
p. 29 CFR part 37--Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and
Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
q. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. 2000bb,
applies to all Federal law and its implementation. If your organization
is a faith-based organization that makes hiring decisions on the basis
of religious belief, it may be entitled to receive Federal financial
assistance under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act and maintain
that hiring practice even though section 188 of the Workforce
Investment Act contains a general ban on religious discrimination in
employment. If you are awarded a grant, you will be provided with
information on such an exemption upon request.
r. Ensuring the Health and Safety of Participants Under WIA Section
181(a)(4)--Health and safety standards established under Federal and
State law otherwise applicable to working conditions of employees are
equally applicable to working conditions of participants engaged in
providing technical assistance and other activities. Applicants that
are awarded grants through this SGA are reminded that these health and
safety standards apply to participants in these grants.
s. In accordance with section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995 (Pub. L. 104-65) (2 U.S.C. 1611) non-profit entities incorporated
under Internal Revenue Service Code section 501(c)(4) that engage in
lobbying activities are not eligible to receive Federal funds and
grants.
Except as specifically provided in this SGA, the ETA's acceptance
of a proposal and an award of Federal funds to sponsor any programs(s)
does not provide a waiver of any grant requirements and/or procedures.
For example, the OMB Circulars require that an entity's procurement
procedures must ensure that all procurement transactions are conducted,
as much as practical, to provide open and free competition. If a
proposal identifies a specific entity to provide 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 a partner named in the application.
2. The Following American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub.
L. 111-5) Provisions Apply to Grants Awarded Under This SGA
Prospective applicants are advised that, if they receive an award,
they must comply with all requirements of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. Applicants are advised to review the Act and
implementing OMB guidance in the development of their proposals.
Requirements include, but are not limited to:
a. Adherence to all grant clauses and conditions as they relate to
Recovery Act activity.
b. Prohibition on expenditure of funds for activities at any casino
or other
[[Page 12296]]
gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course or swimming pool.
c. Compliance with the requirements to obtain a D-U-N-S[supreg]
number and register with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). ETA has
issued additional guidance related to theses reports which can be found
in the TEGL No. 29-08, dated June 10, 2009.
d. Submission of required reports in accordance with Section 1512
of the Recovery Act. These reports will be due quarterly within 10 days
of the end of the reporting period and are in addition to the ETA-
required reports addressed in Section VI.C of this SGA. The ETA will
issue additional guidance related to these reports and their submission
requirements shortly.
Implementing OMB guidance may be found at http://www.recovery.gov.
C. Reporting
Quarterly financial reports, quarterly progress reports, and MIS
data will be submitted by the grantee electronically. The grantee is
required to provide the reports and documents listed below:
Quarterly Financial Reports. A Quarterly Financial Status
Report (ETA 9130) is required until such time as all funds have been
expended or the grant period has expired. Quarterly reports are due 45
days after the end of each calendar year quarter. Grantees must use
DOL's On-Line Electronic Reporting System. Information and instructions
on using the system will be provided to grantees.
Quarterly Performance Reports. The grantee must submit a
quarterly progress report within 45 days after the end of each calendar
year quarter. In order to submit these quarterly reports, grantees will
be expected to track participant-level data on the individuals who are
involved in training and other services provided through the grant and
report on participant status in a variety of fields and outcome
categories, as well as provide narrative information on the status of
the grant. The last quarterly progress report that grantees submit will
serve as the grant's Final Performance Report. This report should
provide both quarterly and cumulative information on the grant's
activities. It must summarize project activities, project outcomes, and
other deliverables. DOL will provide grantees with formal guidance on
the data and other information that is required to be collected and
reported on either a regular basis or special request basis. Grantees
must agree to meet DOL reporting requirements.
Record Retention. Applicants should be aware of Federal
guidelines on record retention, which require grantees to maintain all
records pertaining to grant activities for a period of not less than
three years from the time of final grant close-out.
VII. Agency Contacts
For further information regarding this SGA, please contact Rahel
Bizuayene, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal
Assistance, at (202) 693-3256 (this is not a toll-free number).
Applicants should e-mail all technical questions to
[email protected] and must specifically reference SGA/DFA PY 09-
06, and along with question(s), include a contact name, fax and phone
number. This announcement is being made available on the ETA Web site
at http://www.doleta.gov/grants and at http://www.grants.gov.
VIII. Additional Resources of Interest to Applicants
A. Other Web-Based Resources
DOL maintains a number of Web-based resources that may be of
assistance to applicants. America's Service Locator (http://www.servicelocator.org) provides a directory of our nation's One-Stop
Career Centers.
IX. Other Information
OMB Information Collection No. 1225-0086, Expires November 30, 2012
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless such
collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden
for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per
response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing
data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing
and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding
the burden estimated or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the
U.S. Department of Labor, to the attention of Darrin A. King,
Departmental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N1301,
Washington, DC 20210. Comments may also be e-mailed to [email protected]. Please do not return the completed application to this
address. Send it to the sponsoring agency as specified in this
solicitation.
This information is being collected for the purpose of awarding a
grant. The information collected through this SGA will be used by DOL
to ensure that grants are awarded to the applicant best suited to
perform the functions of the grant. Submission of this information is
required in order for the applicant to be considered for award of this
grant. Unless otherwise specifically noted in this announcement,
information submitted in the application is not considered to be
confidential.
Please be advised that the Grant Officer for this competition is
James Stockton.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 9th day of March, 2010.
Eric Luetkenhaus,
Grant Officer, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-5552 Filed 3-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P