FINAL_Veteran and Spouse Transitional Assistance Grant Program (VSTAGP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Outreach, Transition, and Economic Development

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Outreach, Transition and Economic

Development is responsible for the Veteran and Spouse Transitional Assistance Grant

Program (VSTAGP) grant award process.

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR

VSTAGP

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER VA-VSTAGP-24-001

ASSISTANCE LISTING 64.058

KEY DATES The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 08/23/2024.

Applications must be received no later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES • Applications can be submitted in response to this solicitation through

Grants.gov.

• Applicants must submit applications in electronic format only. Only electronic applications will be accepted.

• For complete application and submission information, including online application instructions, please refer to Section IV.

Applications Available 07/23/2024

Deadline for Transmittal of

Applications

08/23/2024

Executive Summary

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Purpose

B. Program Authority

Ii. Award Information

A. Award Type And Amount

B. Period Of Performance

C. Eligible Applicants

D. Cost Sharing Or Matching

1. Application Screening Criteria

2. Priority Considerations

3. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

4. Eligible Participants

III. Application And Submission Information

A. How To Obtain An Application Package

B. Content And Form Of Application Submission

1. SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

2. Requirement for UEI Number

3. Requirement for Registration with System for Award Management (SAM)

4. Project Budget SF-424A Form

5. Budget Narrative

6. Required Abstract and Grants.gov Forms

7. Project Narrative

8. Project Design

9. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity

10. Past Performance and Programmatic Capability

11. Budget and Budget Narrative

12. Required Attachments

13. Requested Attachments

C. Submission Date, Time, Process, and Address

1. Electronic Submission

2. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

3. How to Submit an Application to VA via Grants.gov

4. Late Applications

D. Intergovernmental Review

E. Funding Restrictions

1. Indirect Costs

2. Intellectual Property Rights

IV. Application Review Information

A. Criteria

B. Review And Selection Process

1. Merit Review and Selection Process

2. Risk Review Process

V. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative And National Policy Requirements

1. Administrative Program Requirements

2. Other Legal Requirements

3. Safeguarding Data Including PII

C. Record Retention

D. Use of Contracts and Sub-awards

E. Closeout of Grant Award

1. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions

2. Special Program Requirements

F. Reporting

1. Quarterly Financial Reports

2. Quarterly Performance Report

G. Continuity Of Operations

H. Closeout

I. Agency Contacts

VI. Additional Resources

Web-Based Resources

VII. OMB Information Collection

VIII. Appendix A

IX. Appendix B

X. Appendix C

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Outreach, Transition and Economic

Development (OTED), announces the availability of approximately $4 million in grant funds authorized under the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health

Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-315 § 4304).

P.L. 116-315 § 4304 established a grants program to provide transition assistance to former members of the Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged from the Armed Forces and to their spouses. Grant applicants, herein called applicants, shall provide services such as resumé assistance, interview training, job recruitment training, and other related services that lead to successful transition.

Under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), VA intends to award 10 or more grants of up to $500,000 each year with an initial 1-year period of performance. VA may execute the option to renew awards for up to 4 additional years at $500,000 per year.

This program requires 1:1 cost sharing or matching funds. VA expects awards to begin on 09/1/2024 and end on 08/31/2025. This performance period includes necessary implementation, start-up, execution, and follow-up activities.

https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ315/PLAW-116publ315.pdf

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

Every year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave U.S. military service and return to life as civilians, a process known as the military-to-civilian transition. Many but not all of these former Service members successfully make the transition independently.

OTED, in response to P.L. 116–315 § 4304, will issue grants to eligible organizations that provide transition services to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged and their spouses. Transition services include resumé assistance, interview training, job recruitment training, and related services that lead directly to a successful transition. Related services include but are not limited to employment placement services, employment education and/or training, referrals to employment, resumé assistance, and interview training. P.L. 116-315 § 4304 broadly establishes which organizations may be eligible for a grant and stipulates that such grants must be awarded based on a competitive application process. P.L. 116–315 §

4304 gives preference to organizations that either provide multiple forms of serv ices or are located in a state with (a) a high rate of unemployment among veterans, (b) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for recently separated members of the Armed

Forces, or (c) a labor force or economy that has been significantly impacted by a covered public health emergency.

Service providers must be capable of leveraging community resources to meet the specific needs of the individual veteran. According to a study published in November

2015, more than 8,500 veterans, active-duty Service members, National Guard and

Reserve members, and military dependents identified their most significant transition challenges as: navigating VA programs, benefits, and services (60%), finding a job

(55%), adjusting to civilian culture (41%), addressing financial challenges, (40%) and applying military-learned skills to civilian life (39%) (Zoli et al. 29).1

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

P.L. 116-315 § 4304 authorizes this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant. VA intends to award 10 or more grants annually. We expect the availability of approximately $4 million in grant funds for the first year of awards. Applicants may apply for up to $500,000 per year, with a total of up to $2,500,000 over 5 years. Although this grant has a 5-year period of performance, budget documents must reflect the first year of funding only. VA will have the option to annually renew awards for up to 4 additional years. Awards made under this announcement are subject to the availability of Federal funds and the quality of applications. If additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this

Announcement with any resulting awards being granted for the same period of time.

1 Corri Zoli et al., Missing Perspectives: Servicemembers’ Transition from Service to Civilian Life.

(Syracuse: Syracuse University, 2015).

https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ315/PLAW-116publ315.pdf https://benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/docs/mct-report-2018.pdf https://benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/docs/mct-report-2018.pdf

We will reject any application that requests VA funding exceeding $500,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 60 months, with an anticipated start date of 09/01/2024 and an end date of 08/31/2028. This performance period includes all necessary implementation, start-up activities, execution, and follow-up activities. The first 3 months of the period of performance (90 days) is the start-up period. The final 3 months of the period of performance (90 days) is the follow-up period. See Appendix A for the definition of “Start-up Period” and “Follow-up Period.”

C. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations and entities are eligible to apply:

• State Government

• County Government

• Local Government

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHE)

• Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)

• Nonprofit organizations

• Nonprofit faith-based organizations

See Appendix A for the definition of “Nonprofit IHE” and “Nonprofit faith-based organization.”

Applicants applying with a nonprofit status must meet the definition of a nonprofit organization found at 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 and provide Internal Revenue Service (IRS) documentation. This document must be uploaded as an attachment and specifically labeled “Nonprofit.”

In accordance with section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-65)

(codified at 2 U.S.C. § 1611), nonprofit entities incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive

Federal funds or grants.

If the lead applicant proposes to engage in partnerships, which may include sub-awards, the applicant must describe the roles and expected contributions of the sub-awardees. Lead applicants must provide a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU), Letter of Commitment or draft sub-award agreement.

Please note that all elements of 2 C.F.R. § 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) apply to any organization that carries out a Federal award as a recipient or subrecipient, including for-profit organizations. This includes the monitoring and examination of their records.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/1611 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1

D. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program requires cost sharing or matching funds. VA will fund no more than 50% of the total proposed budget. Applicants proposing total project budgets above

$1,000,000 may apply for no more than $500,000. A recipient's failure to provide the statutorily required matching or cost sharing amount (and any voluntarily committed amount in excess) may result in the disallowance of Federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal financial reports. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on proposed budgets.

1. Application Screening Criteria

Use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package to ensure that the application has met all the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. We urge you to use this checklist to ensure that your application contains all required items. If your application does not meet all the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the merit review process.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section

IV.C

Eligibility

III.A

All components of the application submitted through

Grants.gov are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt. (We will attempt to open the document but will not take any additional measures in the event of problems with opening.)

IV.C.1

2. Priority Considerations

In accordance with P.L. 116-315 § 4304, VA seeks to award grants to organizations that provide multiple forms of the following services: resumé assistance, interview training, job recruitment training, and related services, or are located in states with:

• A high rate of unemployment among veterans,

• A high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for recently separated members of the Armed Forces, or

• A labor force or economy that has been significantly impacted by a covered public health emergency.

Application Requirements Instructions Complete?

Application Federal funds request does not exceed the 1-year ceiling amount of $500,000

II.A

System for Award Management Registration (SAM) (The SAM registration process may take several weeks to complete.)

IV.B.1

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

SF-424A, Budget Information Form (1 year, not to exceed $500,000)

IV.B.2

Budget Narrative (1 year, not to exceed $500,000)

IV.B.2

Project Narrative

IV.B.4

Abstract

IV.B.3

The term “covered public health emergency” is defined in 42 U.S.C. § 247d as a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS), such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

3. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

There is a limit of one application per submitting organization serving the same participant population and in the same geographic service area per application cycle. If more than one application from the same organization for the same physical location serving the same participant population is submitted, only the most recent application submitted will be accepted. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, it will not be replaced with an earlier application.

4. Eligible Participants

Participants served by this program include former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged as well as their spouses. VA now recognizes all same-sex marriages without regard to a veteran’s current or previous state of residence.2

2 https://www.va.gov/opa/marriage/ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/247d https://www.va.gov/opa/marriage/

III. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This Announcement, found at Grants.gov, contains all the requisite information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting:

• Outreach, Transition, and Economic Development, U.S. Department of Veterans

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420-0001

• Telephone: 202-461-9412

• If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS toll-free at 1-800-877-8339

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this NOFO must consist of five separate and distinct parts:

• SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance,

• Project Budget composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative,

• Required Grants.gov Forms,

• Project Narrative, and

• Attachments to the Project Narrative.

NOTE: The Technical Proposal, which includes the Project Narrative and attachments, is limited to 50 pages total. The page limit for the Technical Proposal does not apply to the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), budget, budget narrative, abstract, the

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, or a Cost Allocation Plan (CAP) or

MOUs/letters from participating organizations and agencies. You must ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.

1. SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

You must complete the SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html).

In the address field, fill out the nine-digit (plus hyphen) ZIP code. Nine-digit ZIP codes can be looked up on the United States Postal Service website at https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action.

The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by an individual with the authority to enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant is considered the Authorized

Representative of the applicant. As stated in block 21 of the SF-424, the signature of the Authorized Representative on the SF-424 certifies that the organization is in compliance with the Assurances and Certifications form SF-424B (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html).

You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action

2. Requirement for UEI Number

All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities must have a UEI number and must supply their UEI number on the SF-424. The UEI number is a 12-character alphanumeric number that uniquely identifies a business entity. If you do not have a UEI number, you can get one through the SAM.gov website at https://www.sam.gov/.

Grant recipients authorized to make sub-awards must meet these requirements related to UEI numbers:

• Grant recipients must notify potential sub-awardees that no entity may receive a sub-award unless the entity has provided its UEI number and

• Grant recipients may not make a sub-award to an entity unless the entity has provided its UEI number. (See Appendix A to 2 C.F.R. Part 25.)

3. Requirement for Registration with System for Award Management

(SAM)

Applicants must register with SAM before submitting an application. The SAM registration process may take several weeks to complete. Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with SAM and register as soon as possible. Find instructions for registering with SAM at https://www.sam.gov.

A grant recipient must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration.

To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ initial registration or subsequently update its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate, and complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply for and receive the award. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the Grant Officer is ready to make a Federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

4. Project Budget SF-424A Form

Applicants must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html) reflecting the first year of funding only. Applicants must include detailed budgets for their proposed project. In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained below. Applicants must propose a budget that supports the targeted population, the service delivery area(s), and the veterans to be served.

In addition, proposed allocations must be proportional to the resources needed to implement the proposed project. For example, in the project narrative, applicants may propose to serve a large service delivery area that includes several counties or states.

The allocation in the budget for staff conducting outreach must be proportional to the outreach resources needed to accomplish a multi-county/multi-state outreach effort.

Line items in the budget must comply with the proposed project design. For example, if the project design includes training for 30 veterans to obtain a Solar Installation License, there must be an allocation in the budget for 30 veterans to attend training for Solar

Installation.

Note: Each object class cost category must include the total cost for the first year of the period of performance only.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and/or grantee performance, awarded applicants will have the option to apply for continuation funding 1 year at a time for up to an additional 4 years. The Secretary may consider, among other things: whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; and if the Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the progress towards achieving performance targets in the grantee’s approved application.

All costs, whether supported by VA funds or required cost sharing contributions, must be reasonable, necessary to accomplish project objectives, allowable in accordance with 2 C.F.R. 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles, auditable, and incurred during the period of performance. All costs are subject to audit, record retention, and other requirements set forth in 2 C.F.R. 200 Subpart F.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-F

For-profit organizations must follow the cost principles set forth in 2 C.F.R. § 31.2 (FAR

31.2).

5. Budget Narrative

The Budget Narrative must provide a description and justification of all costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing matching funds to support grant activities. Matching funds include all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of Federal funds. All shared costs or matching funds and contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must meet all of the criteria listed under 2 C.F.R. § 200.306(b). Applicants are required to provide matching funds to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

Applicants are required to provide a detailed Budget Narrative for the first year of potential grant funding. A suggested budget template with examples has been included as Appendix B. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

Personnel: List all staff positions by title (both current and proposed), including the roles and responsibilities. For each position, give the annual salary, the percentage of time devoted to the project, and the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/chapter-1/subchapter-E/part-31/subpart-31.2 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306

Fringe Benefits: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise the organization’s fringe benefit costs, such as health insurance, Federal Insurance

Contributions Act (FICA), and retirement.

Travel: For grantee staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, mileage, per diem, the estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other costs for each type of travel. You must include funds and allowable expenses to provide for travel to and from an annual post-award conference at a to-be-determined national location

(e.g., Washington, DC) and professional conference(s) and/or training(s). Travel expenditures may not exceed 10% of the total VSTAGP funds requested in the application, to include travel to U.S. territories. No international travel will be funded.

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase that has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful life of more than 1 year (see

2 C.F.R. § 200.33 for the definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity and unit cost per item, and the purpose of the equipment. Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are supplies, not “Equipment.” In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded quarter of the grant.

Supplies: Identify categories of supplies (e.g., office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the item, quantity, and unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “Equipment” (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.94 for the definition of Supplies).

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and sub-awards separately. Contracts are defined according to 2 C.F.R. § 200.22 as a legal instrument by which a non-Federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award. A sub-award, defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.92, means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a Federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a

Federal program. For each proposed contract and sub-award, specify the purpose and activities to be provided as well as the estimated cost.

Construction: Construction costs are not allowed, and as such, this line must be left as zero. Minor alterations to adjust an existing space for grant activities (such as a classroom alteration) may be allowable. We do not consider this as construction; you must show the costs on other appropriate lines, such as “Contractual.”

Other: Provide clear and specific descriptions of items, including costs, for each item so that we can determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable. List items, such as participant stipends or incentives or other participant expenses not covered elsewhere.

Indirect Costs: If you include an amount for indirect costs (through a Negotiated

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or De Minimis) on the SF-424A budget form, then include one of the following:

• If you have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), provide a current version of the NICRA or

• If you intend to claim indirect costs using the 10% de minimis rate, please confirm that your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 C.F.R. §

200.414(f). Clearly state that your organization does not have a current NICRA and that it is not one described in Appendix VII(D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified

Total Direct Costs (MTDC) (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.68 below for definition) as their cost allocation base. Provide an explanation of which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Note that there are various items not included in the calculation of MTDC. See the definitions below to assist you in your calculation.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 200.68, Modified Total Direct Cost means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first

$25,000 of each sub-award (regardless of the period of performance of the sub-awards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each sub-award in excess of $25,000. Other items may be excluded only when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

or

• Applicants that do not have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate and do not claim the de minimis rate may elect to negotiate a rate. In this instance, applicants will be required to submit a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Proposal alongside its application submission for funding consideration.

Note that the SF-424, SF-424A and Budget Narrative must include the Federal grant amount requested for the first year only.

Show matching funds on the SF-424 and SF-424A. You should describe the allocation of matching funds in the Budget Narrative.

Applicants should list the same requested Federal grant amount on the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative. If minor inconsistencies are found between the budget amounts specified on the SF-424, SF-424A and the Budget Narrative, VA will consider the SF-424 the official funding amount requested. However, if the amount specified on the SF-424 would render the application nonresponsive, the Grant Officer will use his or her discretion to determine whether the intended funding request (and match if applicable) is within the responsive range.

Recipients are responsible for maintaining auditable records of the source and use of matching funds. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.306.

6. Required Abstract and Grants.gov Forms

a. Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form

Provide the primary location and any other locations where the project activity will occur during the period of performance. You may include multiple performance sites.

If you need to add more locations than the form allows, enter the information in a separate file and add it to the "Additional Locations" section.

b. Abstract

You must submit an Abstract, a one-page summary with key contacts, summarizing the proposed project, including, but not limited to, the scope of the project and proposed outcomes and performance measures. Omission of the Abstract will result in your application being eliminated from consideration. Any required information missing from the Abstract may impact scoring. See III.C.1 for a list of items that will result in the disqualification of your application. The abstract does not count toward either the

15-page Project Narrative or the overall 50-page Technical Proposal limitation.

c. Certification Regarding Lobbying (conditionally required)

If you are requesting an award greater than $100,000, you must submit the

Certification Regarding Lobbying form. This form contains certifications that are required of the applicant organization regarding lobbying. Please note that a duly authorized representative of the applicant organization must attest to the applicant’s compliance with these certifications. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.450 and 31 U.S.C. § 1352.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/2/200.450 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/1352

d. Standard Form-LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities”

(conditionally required)

If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the Standard Form-LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,” in accordance with its instructions, shall be submitted. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.450 and

31 U.S.C. § 1352.

7. Project Narrative

The Project Narrative will consist of the following five sections, as described in greater detail below. The Project Narrative must demonstrate your capability to implement the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this Announcement. It provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project to include outcomes. Outcome description should include how the use of funds will drive anticipated/expected outcomes. The Project Narrative must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well-organized so reviewers can understand the proposed project.

The Project Narrative is limited to 15 double-spaced, single-sided 8.5 x 11-inch pages with Times New Roman 12-point text font and one-inch margins. You must number the pages of the Project Narrative beginning with page number “1”. We will not read or https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/2/200.450 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/1352 consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process.

The following instructions provide all the information needed to complete the Project

Narrative. Carefully read and consider each section and include all required information in your Project Narrative. The agency will evaluate the Project Narrative using the evaluation criteria identified in Section V, subsection A. You must use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Project Narrative.

a. Statement of Need

Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which they develop a complete, comprehensive, and coherent narrative containing the following information. The applicant must identify the population category of former Service members and spouses they intend to serve (See Section III.C.2. for population categories). VA strongly encourages applicants to conduct an environmental scan of what services are currently available in their proposed project area and identify any gaps in services to former

Service members and their spouses. In conducting this scan, applicants should consider undertaking outreach and engagement activities to directly hear from/engage with former Service members and their spouses on their transitional assistance needs and the existing challenges to having those needs met. Applicant responses must be specific to the service delivery area. In addition, the applicant must identify the specific geographical service delivery area to be served, to include Congressional district(s) or

Native American tribal area contained within the proposed geographic service delivery area. The applicant also must document, including citing available data sources, the need for the proposed project by discussing the following:

• The potential number or concentration of former Service members and spouses in the proposed service delivery area,

• The rate of former Service members and spousal unemployment in the proposed service delivery area,

• The rate of usage of employment benefits for recently separated members of the

Armed Forces and spouses in the proposed service delivery area, and

• A description of the significant impacts on the state’s labor force or economy due to a covered public health emergency, to include, but not limited to COVID-19.

Examples of potential significant impacts on a state’s labor force or economy are, but not limited to, impact on unemployment rate, impact on average earnings, and impacts on availability supportive family services such as childcare.

Additionally, the applicant must identify any sub-groups of veterans, and/or spouses who are likely experiencing inequitable access to jobs, job training programs, and/or other employment services in the proposed service area and cite evidence supporting this identification and how the proposed funding could address those impacts.

8. Project Design

Applicants must describe their overall approach and strategy for providing a set of evidence-based and/or evidence-informed employment services leading to the successful transition of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged as well as their spouses that are appropriate for the specific service area and consider the specific needs of any sub-groups identified in the Statement of Need.

The strategy must include procedures for outreach, assessment, intake, services, and follow-up activities that enhance the likelihood of a successful transition. Applicants must also identify and fully describe the support services that will be provided to participants as part of the applicant’s strategy to promote, prepare, and improve the participant’s transition. Provide a participant flow chart, Gantt chart, or similar graphic to show the sequence and mix of services, and if available, a logic model depicting the proposed project’s theory of change and outcomes. The chart is not counted toward the

15-page limit associated with the Project Narrative; however, it will be counted toward the overall Technical Proposal 50-page limit.

a. Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed program will promote active outreach to, recruitment of, and engagement (as defined in Appendix A) with former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged as well as their spouses. Applicants must design, develop, and execute program promotion and awareness activities as a part of their outreach. Applicants must explain how their program will reach out to potentially eligible individuals and how they will collaborate with local entities that may serve former members of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as their spouses (e.g., faith-based organizations, social service agencies, community-based clinics, other job training organizations, etc.), within their proposed geographic service delivery area to introduce the program to eligible participants. VA strongly encourages applicants to reach out to sub-groups of veterans and/or spouses who are likely experiencing inequitable access to jobs, job training programs, and/or other employment services in the proposed service area. Applicants are also encouraged to describe how they will take into consideration the language, norms, and accessibility needs of program participants, especially program participants who may not be reached through traditional means. Additionally, VA strongly encourages applicants to use outreach, recruitment, and engagement strategies, as appropriate and feasible, to better identify the transitional assistance needs of potentially eligible individuals, surface existing barriers to obtaining services, and seek input on the design and delivery of existing and new services.

b. Assessment and Intake

Applicants must fully explain how they will design and implement their proposed assessment and intake process. Applicants must design the assessment and intake process to maximize the long-term success of participants who are enrolled into the program and must include a process of identifying and addressing the barriers to transition former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged and their spouses face. Applicants must explain how potential participants will receive or be referred to appropriate support services to overcome barriers to transition such as, but not limited to, physical rehabilitation, drug or alcohol treatment, and health care, including mental health services and housing.

Note: To be considered responsive in this section of the proposal, applicants must project the number of individuals to be assessed and the number of participants projected to be enrolled into the program.

See Appendix A for the definition of “Enrolled Participant.” Once grantees identify potential participants, they must assess each individual’s abilities, interests, needs, and barriers to employment, as such an assessment is critical to the potential success of a veteran enrolled in the program. During the intake or enrollment process, grantees must describe the assessment of the individual’s skills and knowledge gaps to determine the types of services needed to assist the individual. Services may include career technical training, soft skills training, aptitude testing, counseling, transportation needs, childcare needs, or referral to other services.

c. Employment Services

Applicants must demonstrate how they will provide formal, evidence-based employment and training service plans for their participants. Proposals should address gaps in services for the local service area and address the needs of the population being served. Applicants must address how they will manage and note the progress their participants make within a formal case management process. Historically effective employment and training strategies can be found at Department of Labor’s (DOL)

Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research (https://clear.dol.gov/) and HHS’

Pathways to Work Evidence Clearing House (https://pathwaystowork.acf.hhs.gov/).

Applicants must note the specific services proposed for each participant to maintain and file:///C:/Users/vacowillia3/Desktop/Working%20Docs/Clearinghouse%20for%20Labor%20Evaluation%20and%20Research%20(https:/clear.dol.gov/) https://pathwaystowork.acf.hhs.gov/ improve his or her state of job readiness and employability within an Individual

Employment Plan (IEP) developed for each participant. The intent of the development of the initial IEP, and the expected process that grantees must implement to periodically update, is to help facilitate and monitor the participant’s progress toward implementation of Career Services (see Appendix A) and a successful long-term Family-Sustaining employment or Self-Sufficient employment (see Appendix A) outcome.

Applicants must clearly show through a comprehensive and coherent narrative how they will place veterans into jobs that achieve family-sustaining employment or self-sufficient employment. Successful applicants will provide a detailed description of placement strategies that are based on local labor market information and collaboration with employers, other job training programs, and the local American Job Center.

Note: To be considered responsive in this section of the proposal, applicants must project the number of participants placed into employment, projected placement rate and projected average wage at placement.

See Appendix A for the definitions of “Placed into Employment,” “Placement Rate,” and

“Average Wage at Placement.” All awarded grantees are required to place no less than

85% of enrolled participants into family-sustaining employment.

Applicants for grant funding must research placement strategies that will succeed in their service delivery area. Some potential job placement strategies are on-the-job training (OJT), registered apprenticeship, pre-arranged placements, direct hire, collaboration with temporary to permanent agencies, partnerships with trade schools that guarantee high permanent employment placement rates, Federal Government employment initiatives and partnerships with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small

Businesses, and other innovative public-private partnerships. Applicants must demonstrate how they will directly provide or refer participants to the following employment services: job search workshops, job counseling, resumé writing techniques, interviewing skills, OJT or registered apprenticeship, job development services, and unsubsidized employment placement. Applicants for grant funding are encouraged to research DOL’s Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research

(https://clear.dol.gov/) and HHS’ Pathways to Work Evidence Clearing House

(https://pathwaystowork.acf.hhs.gov/). Additionally, VA is strongly supportive of placement strategies that will achieve “good jobs” as described in the DOL and

Department of Commerce “Good Jobs Principles (https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles).”

In addition, applicants must demonstrate how their participants, who are assessed as

“ready to enter employment,” will be referred to American Job Centers, as appropriate.

You can find a listing of local American Job Centers at:

https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/american-job-centers.aspx. Regarding OJT, grant funds may not subsidize a participant’s wages.

However, reasonable costs of providing training and additional costs related to the training are permitted.

https://clear.dol.gov/ https://clear.dol.gov/ https://pathwaystowork.acf.hhs.gov/ https://pathwaystowork.acf.hhs.gov/ https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/american-job-centers.aspx https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/american-job-centers.aspx

Applicants must use local labor market information to clearly identify specific job or training opportunities, and barriers to achieving employment within occupations and industries that are in demand within the geographical area to be served. Applicants must address how they will successfully target occupations that are locally in demand and address challenges to employment. Applicants also must demonstrate how program participants will be placed into jobs, or into training, with career growth potential and with sufficiently high wages to ensure long-term self-sufficiency.

Applicants also must describe the applicant’s local employer and training network, to include a list of training entities and employers who have pledged to hire and train participants. VA will not include this list in the 15-page limit associated with the Project

Narrative; however, it will count toward the overall Technical Proposal 50-page limit.

Applicants must also demonstrate how they will conduct follow-up and retention services to track a participant’s continued progress for as long as four quarters after a participant is placed into employment. We encourage applicants to present creative approaches and incentives to successfully address and sustain high levels of employment retention. Examples of such approaches are peer-to-peer coaching, mentoring, alumni programs, childcare, eldercare, transportation and clothing vouchers, and other follow-up and retention-oriented services. Additional employment retention strategies can be researched at DOL’s Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and

Research (https://clear.dol.gov/) and HHS’ Pathways to Work Evidence Clearing House

(https://pathwaystowork.acf.hhs.gov/). If the applicant plans to use State Unemployment

Insurance data to substantiate the applicant’s follow-up results, we suggest that the https://clear.dol.gov/ https://clear.dol.gov/ applicant include any MOU or other formal agreement that enables the applicant to obtain such information. These MOUs, or other formal agreements, do not count toward either the 15-page Project Narrative or the overall

50-page Technical Proposal limitation.

d. Linkages and Transition Services

VA will assess applicants on the extent to which they develop a complete, comprehensive, and coherent narrative. Applicants must demonstrate how they plan to coordinate their proposed activities with a wide array of Federal, state, and local support service programs and their associated agencies and/or organizations. Applicants must demonstrate how they will refer and coordinate program participants to agencies and organizations that provide appropriate and necessary support services, such as health care, housing, and rehabilitative services as their participants need. These services may include but are not limited to alcohol and drug treatment and recovery support, therapeutic services, posttraumatic stress disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury assessments and treatment, domestic abuse and sexual trauma counseling and care, vision and dental services, and physical and mental health services.

Applicants must submit a list of their local area network of service providers that offer and provide services to benefit program participants. For each linkage, the applicant must identify the provider, the source of complementary funding related to the specific services provided by the organization, and the type of linkages/referral system established or proposed. This list will not count toward the 15-page limit associated with the Project Narrative; however, it will count toward the overall Technical Proposal

50-page limit.

e. Employer Engagement

Applicants must describe a clear plan to proactively engage employers, using empirical evidence on effective engagement strategies when possible. The proposed employer engagement plan must be designed to achieve family-sustaining employment or self-sufficient employment opportunities resulting in placement of VSTAGP participants into employment in the job market. Examples of employer engagement activities include but are not limited to, the following:

• Outreach and networking plans with employers, including engagement with prevalent or growing industry sectors in the applicant’s service delivery area,

• Assessment of employers’ talent needs, work environment, and other factors relevant to candidate placement, and

• Provision of or capacity to connect employers to services, in addition to candidate; placement (e.g., apprenticeships, OJT, work-based learning, ongoing support and retention, veteran and civilian employee supports and resources, and employer recognition).

The engagement plan should include both public and private employers. Applicants must provide labor market information that supports the plan to engage employers.

9. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity

All applicants must fully describe their organization’s ability to manage the operational, administrative, programmatic, and financial reporting requirements; including the capacity to collect data, as specified within this NOFO. Applicants must describe key staff skills, experience, biographies, history, knowledge, qualifications, capabilities, and office locations and provide an organizational chart. Organizational charts, staff resumés, and detailed staff capability statements do not count toward either the

15-page Project Narrative limit or the overall Technical Proposal 50-page limit.

10. Past Performance and Programmatic Capability

VA seeks to award grants to organizations that have experience providing the types of services that lead to the successful transition of former members of the U.S. Armed

Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged as well as their spouses. Applicants are required to describe a comparable or complementary program that they have (i.e., similar in size, scope, and relevance to this grant opportunity) operated during the previous 5 years. In addition, to fully meet this requirement, each applicant must submit a chart of past performance to include targeted performance goals and outcomes.

11. Budget and Budget Narrative

The Budget and Budget Narrative will be used to evaluate this section. Please see

Section IV.B.2 for information on the requirements. The Budget and Budget Narrative do not count against the page limit requirements for the Project Narrative.

a. Attachments to the Project Narrative

In addition to the Project Narrative, you must submit attachments. All attachments must be clearly labeled. Attachments listed below will be excluded from the 50-page

Technical Proposal page limit. The Budget and Budget Justification do not count against the page limit requirements for the Technical Proposal.

You must not include additional materials such as general letters of support. You must submit your application in one package because documents received separately will be tracked separately and will not be attached to the application for review.

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