Foa_Content_of_FOA-ETA-22-05.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Indian and Native American Programs - Employment and Training Grants

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-22-05

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.265

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 05/06/2022. We must receive applications no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Submit all applications in response to this solicitation through https://www.grants.gov. For complete application and submission information, including online application instructions, please refer to Section IV.

Two Prospective Applicant Webinars are scheduled for April 4 and April 5, 2022, each from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m (ET). While a review of one of the available Webinars is strongly encouraged to support successful grant applications, it is not mandatory. The Grants.gov posting of this Funding Opportunity Announcement will be updated with a Webinar link once available.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. FUNDING PRIORITY

C. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

D. OTHER INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, PROCESS AND ADDRESS

D. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

E. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

C. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. WEB-BASED RESOURCES

B. INDUSTRY COMPETENCY MODELS AND CAREER CLUSTERS

C. WORKFORCEGPS RESOURCES

D. SKILLSCOMMONS RESOURCES

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B

APPENDIX C

APPENDIX D

APPENDIX E

APPENDIX F

APPENDIX G

APPENDIX H

APPENDIX I

APPENDIX J

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $71,000,000 in grant funds, authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), for the Indian and Native American Program (INAP) Employment and Training Grants.

The Department has been providing employment and training grants to serve Indian and Native Americans for over 40 years under various laws, including the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, the Job Training Partnership Act, the Workforce Investment Act, and now WIOA. INAP supports employment and training activities for Indians and Native Americans throughout the United States by awarding grant funding to eligible entities at the local level for the provision of employment services. Grant award recipients may use funding to help all eligible Indian and Native Americans, including Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, with employment, financial assistance for education and training, and other supportive services necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Per the requirements outlined in Section 166 of WIOA and implementing regulations found at 20 CFR Part 684, the Department must hold this INAP grant competition every four years.

Recipients receiving an award as a result of this competition in Program Year 2022 will also receive one grant award annually for three subsequent program years, based on annual Departmental application requirements and subject to appropriated funding. Current recipients of the INAP Employment and Training Grants that received an award and subsequent annual allotments under the last competition in 2018 (FOA-ETA-18-05) must apply under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) if they wish to receive additional funding. The list of current recipients, along with their Program Year 2021 funding allocations, may be found at:

https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=9021.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This announcement solicits applications for the Indian and Native American Program Employment and Training Grants.

The purpose of this program is to support employment and training activities for Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals in order to: 1) develop more fully the academic, occupational, and literacy skills of such individuals; 2) make such individuals more competitive in the workforce and equip them with the entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful self-employment; and 3) promote the economic and social development of Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with the goals and values of such communities.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

Section 166 of WIOA (Pub. L. 113-128) authorizes this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a G (Grant).

We expect availability of approximately $71,000,000 to fund approximately 167 grants. Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement.

We anticipate approximately $57,000,000 of the $71,000,000 will be for Comprehensive Services Program (CSP) activities serving adult participants. The remaining $14,000,000 will be for Supplemental Youth Services Program (SYSP) activities, awarded to successful applicants receiving CSP adult funding who will also serve Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian low income youth living on or near Indian reservations and in Oklahoma, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Grant awards are based on a successful applicant’s proposed geographic service area, using a nationwide formula provided in the WIOA implementing regulations at 20 CFR 684.270 and

684.440. Applicants must be careful to provide the details of their proposed geographic service area as instructed in this FOA in Section IV.B.5.a.2, submitting both a separate attachment for this information, as well as noting the information on the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) in block 14 (Areas Affected by Project).

Recipients that receive an award as a result of this competition in Program Year (PY) 2022 will also receive one grant award annually for three subsequent program years, based on annual Departmental application requirements and subject to appropriated funding. However, applications submitted under this FOA must request amounts commensurate with one-year worth of grant funding only. To get an understanding of how geographic areas relate to funding, https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=9021 applicants can compare the funding allotments provided to recipients in PY 2021 (https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=9021) with the grantees’ geographic service areas located at: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/dinap/pdfs/2000AdultCen.pdf. For example, under the “2000 Adult Census” link, the Inter-Tribal Council of Alabama serves 63 counties in Alabama, in which a collective total of 760 unemployed and 3,273 low-income Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians reside. For this geographic service area, the Inter-Tribal Council of Alabama received $293,250 in PY 2021 adult funding.

The INAP program currently funds 167 grants with funding amounts ranging from $16,626 to $6,205,922 for the CSP (adults) and $1,068 to $3,062,220 for the SYSP (youth). The formula used to determine funding amounts is based on: 1) the number of Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians who are unemployed in the geographic service area, compared to all such persons in the United States; and 2) the number of Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians living in poverty in the service area, compared to all such persons in the United States. Applicants that are awarded a CSP (adult) grant and have reservation areas as part of their geographic service area will also receive supplemental youth funds to serve low-income Native American youth, ages 14-24, residing on or near the reservation. Applicants that include reservation areas in their application should submit a separate application package for youth funds, as described later in this FOA.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

A competition for the INAP Employment and Training Grants is held every four years.

Recipients receiving an award as a result of this competition in PY 2022 will also receive one grant award annually for three subsequent program years, based on annual Departmental application requirements, the availability of Federal funds, and satisfactory progress towards achieving the goals and objectives of the program. Each award in PYs 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 will have a separate grant number and a 36-month period of performance. The anticipated start date for each of the four program year allotments is July 1 of that program year; however, all awarded supplemental youth funds will have an effective date of April 1 of that program year. The period of performance includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

Federally recognized Indian tribes;

Tribal organizations, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b;

Alaska Native-controlled organizations;

Native Hawaiian-controlled organizations;

Indian-controlled organizations as defined at 20 CFR 684.130;

A consortium of eligible entities which meets the legal requirements for a consortium as described at 20 CFR 684.200(e);

State-recognized tribal organizations that meet the definition of an Indian-controlled organization as defined at 20 CFR 684.130 and incumbent State-recognized tribes that meet the requirements at 20 CFR 684.130; and https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=9021 https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/dinap/pdfs/2000AdultCen.pdf

Alaska Native-controlled organizations; Native Hawaiian-controlled organizations; and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

In addition and in accordance with 20 CFR 684.200(b):

A new entity (not an incumbent grantee) must have a population within the designated geographic service area which would receive at least $100,000 under the funding formula found at § 684.270(b), including any amounts received for supplemental youth services under the funding formula at § 684.440(a). The Grant Officer may consider applications that do not initially meet the $100,000 funding threshold if the Grant Officer offers— and the applicant accepts—additional geographic areas to its application in order to meet the $100,000 threshold.

And in accordance with 20 CFR 684.200(c) and (d):

Incumbent grantees with a population not meeting the dollar threshold under the funding formula and receiving INAP funding of less than $100,000 as of October 18, 2016 will be grandfathered into the program and are eligible to be awarded less than $100,000, so long as the grantees have continuously received less than $100,000 since October 18, 2016. The Department will make an exception to the $100,000 minimum for applicants that apply for WIOA funding through Public Law 102–477, as amended by Public Law 115-93, the Indian, Employment, Training, and Related Services demonstration program, if all resources to be consolidated under the Public Law 102– 477 plan total at least $100,000, with at least $20,000 derived from sec. 166 funds. However, incumbent Public Law 102–477 grantees that were receiving INA funding of less than $20,000 as of October 18, 2016 will be grandfathered into the program and are eligible to be awarded less than $20,000, so long as the grantees have continuously received less than $20,000 since October 18, 2016.

B. FUNDING PRIORITY

As discussed in 20 CFR 684.210, Federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native entities, or a consortium of such entities will have priority to receive grants under this part for those geographic service areas in which they have legal jurisdiction, such as an Indian reservation, Oklahoma Tribal Service Area (OTSA), or Alaska Native Village Service Area (ANVSA). If the Department decides not to make an award to an Indian tribe or Alaska Native entity that has legal jurisdiction over a service area, it will consult with such tribe or Alaska Native entity that has jurisdiction before selecting another entity to provide services for such areas. These priorities do not apply to service areas outside the legal jurisdiction of an Indian tribe or Alaska Native entity.

C. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Instead, the agency considers any resources contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

D. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

You should use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package to ensure that the application has met all of 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 of the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the merit review process.

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider only one application for CSP (adult) funding and only one application for SYSP (youth) funding from each organization. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization for either adult or youth funding, we will consider only the most recently received

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C

Eligibility Section III.A

The components of the application 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.)

Section IV.C.2

Application for Federal funds requests one-year of funding per Section II.A and meets the minimum threshold requirements, per instructions found in Section III.A.

Section II.A and III.A

SAM Registration Section IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Section IV.B.1

SF-424 includes a Unique Entity Identifier Section IV.B.1

SF-424A, Budget Information Form Section IV.B.2

Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2

Four-Year Strategic Plan Section IV.B.3

Signed MOU(s) or Documentation of Good Faith Effort Section

IV.B.5.3

application that met the deadline. If we disqualify the most recent application for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.

3. Eligible Participants

a. Participants Eligible to Receive Training

Participant eligibility is described in the WIOA Final Rule at 20 CFR 684.300. An individual is eligible to participate and receive services under this grant if the individual is:

1. an Indian, as determined by a policy of the INAP grantee. The grantee’s definition must at least include anyone who is a member of a Federally recognized tribe; or

2. an Alaska Native, as defined in WIOA sec. 166(b)(1); or

3. a Native Hawaiian, as defined in WIOA sec. 166(b)(3).

The individual must also be any one of the following:

1. unemployed;

2. underemployed, as defined in 20 CFR 684.130;

3. a low-income individual, as defined in sec. 3(36) of WIOA;

4. the recipient of a bona fide layoff notice which has taken effect in the last six months or will take effect in the following six-month period, who is unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation, and who is in need of retraining for either employment with another employer or for job retention with the current employer; or

5. an individual who is employed but is determined by the grantee to be in need of employment and training services to obtain or retain employment that allows for self-sufficiency.

If applicable, male applicants must also register or be registered for the Selective Service.

b. Veterans’ Priority for Participants

38 U.S.C. 4215 requires grantees to provide 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 are 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 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816.

This guidance applies to programs funded under WIOA. For additional information on veteran’s priority of service and WIOA, please see TEGL 19-16. TEGL 19-16 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851.

https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities, contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of four separate and distinct parts for the CSP adult funding:

1. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”;

2. Project Budget, composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative;

3. 4-Year Strategic Plan; and

4. Attachments to the 4-Year Strategic Plan.

You must ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.

For applicants who are eligible to receive SYSP youth funding (those whose geographic service areas include Indian Reservations, Alaska Native Villages, Alaska Native Regional Corporations (ANRCs), Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas (OTSAs), or the State of Hawaii):

In addition to submitting the application package noted above for CSP adult funding, applicants seeking SYSP youth funding must submit a second and separate application package in Grants.gov. This application is not scored, as the youth funding request is contingent upon the applicant successfully applying for the adult funding. For the youth request to be considered, however, it must include the following components:

1. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (Field #12 must include the text “INAP YOUTH FY 2022”); and the

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

3. Supplemental Youth Services Narrative, per requirements outlined in Section IV.B.4.

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#sortby=1).

In the address field, fill out the nine-digit (plus hyphen) zip code. Nine-digit zip codes can be looked up on the USPS 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 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 form, the signature of the http://www.Grants.gov https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action

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#sortby=1). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

NOTE: Entities funded under Public Law 102-477 only need to submit one SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance” for both the adult and youth program. No further documents are required in their application submission.

In addition, the applicant’s Authorized Representative’s signature in block 21 of the SF-424 form constitutes assurance by the applicant of compliance with the WIOA sec. 188 rules issued by the Department at 29 CFR 38.25, which includes the following language:

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under Title I WIOA, the grant applicant assures that it has the ability to comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws: Section 188 of the WIOA and its implementing regulations at 29 CFR Part 38, which prohibits discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship or status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or participation in any WIOA Title I— financially assisted program or activity; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, and national origin; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities; The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs.

The grant applicant also assures, that as a recipient of WIOA Title I financial assistance [as defined at 29 CFR 38.4(zz)], it will comply with 29 CFR part 38 and all other regulations implementing the laws listed above. This assurance applies to the grant applicant's operation of the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, and to all agreements the grant applicant makes to carry out the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity. The grant applicant understands that the United States has the right to seek judicial enforcement of this assurance.

a. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier

As of April 4, 2022, all applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) noted on the SF-424. The UEI replaces the DUNS number, the nine-digit identification number formerly issued via Dun and Bradstreet to uniquely identify business entities. Additional information about obtaining a UEI number and related updates may be found at the U.S. General Service Administration’s webpage for the UEI.

If the grant award or cooperative agreement recipient is authorized to make subawards under this award, then the recipient:

must notify potential subrecipients that no entity may receive a subaward from the grant award recipient until the entity has provided its UEI to the recipient; and may not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its UEI to the grant or cooperative agreement recipient. Subrecipients are not required to obtain an active SAM registration but must obtain a UEI.

b. Requirement for Registration with SAM

Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. Find instructions for registering with SAM at https://www.sam.gov.

A 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 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 and to 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.

2. Project Budget You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities. Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, excess of this award. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

In addition to describing the costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A as described below, the applicant must include in the Budget Narrative a brief explanation of the projected cost per participant, demonstrating it is at or under $5,000. Cost per participant equals the total funding request divided by the projected number of participants the applicant expects to serve.

This FOA solicits applications for four years of funding; however, the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narratives for both the adult and youth submissions must only include the Federal grant amounts for year one. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative. The description of costs provided for each of the SF-424A categories listed below must reflect the total project costs for the initial year of the project.

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.sam.gov

Fringe Benefits: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

Travel: For grantee staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, mileage, per diem, estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other costs for each type of travel.

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 lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item.

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 year of the grant.

Supplies: Identify categories of supplies (e.g., office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Supplies).

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately. Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.1 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 subaward, defined by 2 CFR 200.1 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 subaward, specify the purpose and activities to be provided, and the estimated cost.

Construction: Construction costs are not allowed and 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 and you must show the costs on other appropriate lines such as Contractual.

Other: Provide clear and specific detail, including costs, for each item so that we are able to determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable. List items, such as stipends or incentives, 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:

a) If you have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), provide an explanation of how the indirect costs are calculated. This explanation should include which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Also, provide a current version of the NICRA.

or

b) If you intend to claim indirect costs using the 10 percent de minimis rate, please confirm that your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 CFR

200.414(f). Clearly state that your organization does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, and is not one described in 2 CFR 200, Appendix VII(D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total Direct Costs (see 2 CFR 200.1 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 Modified Total Direct Costs. See the definitions below to assist you in your calculation.

2 CFR 200.1 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards 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 subaward 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. The definition of MTDC in 2 CFR 200.1 no longer allows any sub-contracts to be included in the calculation. You will also note that participant support costs are not included in modified total direct cost. Participant support costs are defined below.

2 CFR 200.1 Participant Support Cost means direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences or training projects.

See Section IV.B.4. and Section IV.E.1 for more information. Additionally, the following link contains information regarding the negotiation of Indirect Cost Rates at DOL: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division.

Do not show leveraged resources on the SF-424 and SF-424A. You should describe leveraged resources 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, ETA 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.

Request for Administrative Cost Rate Above 15 Percent: Administrative costs under this award follow the definitions in the WIOA Final Rule at 20 CFR 683.205(b) and 20 CFR

683.215. The administrative cost rate is limited to 15 percent of the total grant award. Applicants may request an increase (not to exceed 20 percent) by providing a brief written justification explaining the percentage of grant funds that the applicant requires for https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division covering all of its necessary administrative costs, as well the conditions projected to exist during the program year which will contribute to administrative costs in excess of 15 percent.

3. Four-Year Strategic Plan

WIOA sec. 166(e) requires that organizations must submit a Four-Year Strategic Plan in order to receive a grant. The Four-Year Strategic Plan 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. It must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well-organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

The Four-Year Strategic Plan is limited to 20 double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch pages with Times New Roman 12-point text font and 1-inch margins. You must number the 4-Year Strategic Plan beginning with page number 1.

We will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process.

The following instructions provide all of the information needed to complete the 4-Year Strategic Plan. Carefully read and consider each section, and include all required information in your Four-Year Strategic Plan. The agency will evaluate the Four-Year Strategic Plan using the evaluation criteria identified in Section V.A. You must use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Four-Year Strategic Plan.

The Four-Year Strategic Plan must be uploaded as the mandatory Project Narrative Form in Grants.gov.

a. Overall Service Strategy (Up to 15 Points)

Explain in detail the applicant’s overarching strategy to effectively help unemployed and low-income Native Americans become economically self-sufficient or move into the middle class. Such strategies may include career pathways or other strategies that are customized to the unique needs of the target population in the proposed geographic service area. Applicants must also identify the barriers to employment that must be addressed in the service area (e.g. cultural barriers, geographic remoteness, high poverty, etc.) and provide a persuasive explanation of how grant funds will be used to overcome those challenges. The Department encourages strategies that offer pre-apprenticeship or Registered Apprenticeship opportunities.

b. Participants Served (Up to 10 Points)

Provide the number of participants projected to be served each year, along with the demographics and characteristics of the targeted population in the proposed geographic service area. Explain the education and employment needs of the target population. Provide details on the planned activities to engage the community to facilitate effective recruitment. Additionally, if a service priority system has been established due to limited resources, describe the priority system.

c. Array of Services (Up to 15 Points)

Scoring for this criterion is based on the extent to which the applicant clearly and accurately addresses the following:

i. Describe the employment and training services to be provided to individuals, which include the services at 20 CFR 678.430, and 680.200, as well as any other services the applicant will provide.

ii. Describe the services the applicant will be provide to employers to address their needs. This may include identifying a qualified applicant pool, skills gaps, worker shortages, high turnover, soft skills training, diversity, cultural barriers etc.

iii. Describe partnerships with other non-profits, local public schools, community colleges, vocational technical schools, etc., to address the socio-economic needs of the local community such as education, housing, child care, community safety, etc.

d. Labor Market Demand (Up to 15 Points)

Scoring for this criterion is based on the extent to which the applicant clearly and accurately addresses the following:

i. Clearly and accurately describe the labor market in the applicant’s service area (e.g.

largest employers in the area and types of employers).

ii. Demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of the proposed employment and training services in addressing the labor market needs (i.e., how the education and training you plan to provide relate to the skills required by employers in your service area).

iii. Provide a persuasive explanation of how the grant funds will be used to overcome identified challenges and support improved service delivery strategies.

e. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity (Up to 15 Points)

Scoring for this criterion is based on the extent to which the applicant clearly and accurately addresses the following:

i. Describe fully the applicant organization’s current mission, structure, staffing, and relevant experience. Describe how these factors contribute to the ability of the organization to conduct the program requirements and meet program expectations.

Include information about any other federal grants the organization may have. Also provide information on your governing board, including the required number of members according to Bylaws, tribal constitution, and how many members are currently on the board. Also include how often board members meet and the length of their terms.

ii. Describe the internal controls that the applicant has in place to safeguard federal funds such as segregation of duties, conducting an annual independent audit, providing financial reports to members of the board, etc.

iii. Describe the information technology (IT) capabilities that currently exist within the organization to collect performance data required by this grant. For example, does the organization have an IT department or does it have a contract with an outside vendor? How old are the computer systems that will be used to manage this grant and if they are outdated (over 5 years old) are there plans to upgrade the equipment?

f. Past Performance - Program Capability (Up to 15 Points)

Organizations will receive points based on past performance data. Applicants must use the information below and provide the applicable past performance information.

(i) Full description of the applicant’s prior experience and performance in the development and implementation of Native American Employment and Training programs. This could include evidence of existing partnerships, prior experience in developing and implementing Native American Employment and Training Programs or other related social services programs serving Native Americans.

(ii) Demonstration that partners have experience in engaging industry, employers, and labor unions or labor-management organizations in working with Native Americans, including specific industries, employers, and labor organizations that partners have worked with in the past.

(iii) Demonstration that the applicant or partners have experience in developing and implementing Native American workforce development programs, including work experience, job placement, career counseling and demonstrated ability to integrate and work with the existing workforce system and workforce system partners including the specific workforce system partners applicants have worked with in the past. Applicants must list specific programs they have developed and the specific activities within those programs.

(iv) Demonstrated ability to serve Native Americans with barriers to employment and from historically marginalized and underserved communities, particularly the applicant’s identified geographic service area. Applicant must provide data on numbers of Native Americans with barriers served that demonstrates they have served such individuals in the past.

(v) Demonstrated ability to pilot an initiative, monitor its progress and performance, adjust practices as needed, and then effectively scale up those promising elements of the initiative to a broader set of affiliates.

g. Workforce System Relationships (Up to 5 Points)

The applicant must fully describe its current relationship with the Workforce System (i.e., Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) or State Workforce Development Boards (SWDBs) where the SWDB serves as the local WDB for the entire state).

i. Applicants who are existing grantees must list the LWDBs in their geographic service area and identify those with which you have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

If no such MOU exists with a LWDB or SWDB in your area, provide the extent to which you have made a good faith effort to enter into an MOU with the LWDB/SWDB. If you have an MOU with some LWDBs but not others, please provide an explanation. Also include an explanation of any disagreements, differences, or other issues that currently exist between applicant and the LWDBs or SWDBs, and the steps taken to resolve them as well as notable areas of cooperation or progress.

ii. Applicants must describe the services they provide through the American Job Centers (AJCs) (also known as one-stop centers), if any, and whether they are co-located with or have staff located in an AJC.

iii. New applicants or existing grantees that do not have an existing MOU with a LWDB/SWDB must demonstrate the extent to which they are knowledgeable of the public workforce system and any formal or informal working relationships they have with the public workforce system. This may include information about any partnerships or working relationships with community colleges and other higher educational institutions that provide training and workforce development programs and services.

h. Budget and Budget Narrative (Up to 10 Points)

The SF-424A Budget and the Budget Narrative will be used to evaluate this section. The SF- 424A Budget and Budget Narrative do not count against the page limit requirements for the 4-Year Strategic Plan.

i. The budget must address all project requirements and reflect proposed activities. Consistent with the description of the SF-424A in above section IV.B.2 (Project Budget), although applicants are submitting a Four-Year Strategic Plan, the Budget and Budget Narrative must only include the requested grant amounts for year one. In describing the personnel line item, applicants must provide a listing of positions that will be funded under this grant.

ii. The extent to which the budget narrative provides the required information, including a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A, and the projected cost-per-participant of the project. It must also describe leveraged resources (if applicable) to support grant activities.

iii. The totals on the SF-424A and the Budget Narrative must align.

4. Supplemental Youth Services Program Narrative (0 Points)

This is a separate narrative, required per 20 CFR 684.420, for those applicants requesting youth funding in addition to adult funding. Applicants must submit this brief narrative with their separate application package for youth funding (see Section IV.B for instructions). If you are not applying for youth funding, this narrative is not required.

The youth narrative will not be scored, as youth funding is contingent upon a successful application for adult funding. It does not count against the page limit requirements for the Four- Year Strategic Plan. The youth narrative must address the following:

i. Youth Participants Served: Identify the number of youth to be served, explain strategies for recruiting and retaining the most-in-need and/or at-risk youth, and identify projected performance outcomes.

ii. Array of Services: Describe the services to be provided to address identified needs (e.g.

services to reduce dropout rates or improve access to post-secondary education).

iii. Partnering with Education Providers: Describe planned collaborations with educational providers to academically prepare students to successfully move into post-secondary education.

iv. Cultural Identity: Describe any planned culturally relevant youth activities that academically prepare students to successfully move into post-secondary education and succeed in the workplace, while maintaining or promoting cultural identity.

5. Attachments to the Four-Year Strategic Plan In addition to the Four-Year Strategic Plan, you must submit attachments. All attachments must be clearly labeled. We will exclude only those attachments listed below from the page limit. The Budget and Budget Justification do not count against the page limit requirements for the Four- Year Strategic Plan.

You must not include additional materials such as resumés or 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.

Save all files with descriptive file names of 50 characters or fewer and use only standard characters in file names: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, and underscore (_). File names may not include special characters (e.g. &,–,*,%,/,#), periods (.), blank spaces, or accent marks, and must be unique (e.g., no other attachment may have the same file name). You may use an underscore (example:

My_Attached_File.pdf) to separate a file name.

a. Required Attachments

(1) Abstract

You must submit an up to two-page abstract summarizing the proposed project including, but not limited to, the scope of the project and proposed outcomes. Omission of the abstract will not result in your application being disqualified; the lack of the required information in the abstract, however, may impact scoring. See III.C.1 for a list of items that will result in the disqualification of your application. The abstract must include the following:

the applicant’s name;

the project title;

the funding level requested;

the geographic area to be served;

the purpose of the project;

the intended beneficiaries of the project;

the activities to be performed;

the estimated number of participants to be served;

the estimated number of participants employed in the fourth quarter after exit;

the estimated total median earnings of participants in the second quarter after exit;

the expected outcomes of the project;

the intended beneficiaries of the project; and subrecipient activities, if any.

When estimating the number of participants to be served, the average cost per participant must not exceed $5,000. Cost per participant is calculated by dividing the amount indicated on item 18.g of the SF-424 by the estimated number of participants.

(2) List of Counties (and Indian Reservations if Applicable) the Applicant Will Serve

Applicants must provide their proposed geographic service area in a separate attachment to the application. Omission of the attachment will not result in the disqualification of the application. This information is critical, however, as award amounts are determined by the number of unemployed and low-income American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians living in a geographic service area relative to all such individuals living in the United States (see 20 CFR 684.270). Supplemental youth funding is based on the number of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth between the ages of 14 and 24 living in poverty on or near an Indian reservation, Rancheria, Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area (OTSA), Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA) and the state of Hawaii (see 20 CFR 684.400 and 684.440). Applicants must do the following:

If serving an entire state, list ENTIRE STATE in the attachment. No further details are required.

If serving a portion of a state, applicants must provide the comprehensive list of counties, Indian reservations, Rancherias, OTSAs, and/or ANVSAs that comprise the proposed service area.

If you are an incumbent (current) grantee that is applying for your current/existing service area only, the attachment must only say “INCUMBENT GRANTEE PROPOSING TO SERVE EXISTING AREA.” Do not provide a detailed listing, in order to avoid making the mistake of leaving out a service area (county or reservation) that you currently serve or adding a service area that will wrongly put you in competition with another applicant or existing grantee).

The information provided in this attachment must match the information provided in the SF- 424 (Application for Federal Assistance)…