foa-eta-15-07.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for Training to Work 3 – Adult Reentry

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ETA-15-07

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.270

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is May 1, 2015. Applications must be received no later than 4:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Addresses: Mailed applications must be addressed to:

U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, Office of Grants Management Attention: Melissa Abdullah, Grant Officer Reference FOA-ETA-15-07 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N4716 Washington, DC 20210

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $27 million in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Second Chance Act of 2007 for Training to Work 3 – Adult Reentry (T2W3).

This Training to Work 3 – Adult Reentry (T2W3) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) provides the opportunity for organizations to develop and implement career pathways programs in demand sectors and occupations for men and women, including veterans, and people with disabilities, who are at least 18 years old and who are enrolled in work release programs (WRP). Additionally, grantees must provide a strategy to prioritize services to veterans that are in these WRPs. Career pathways are frameworks that help to define and map out a sequence of education, training and workforce skills training resulting in skilled workers that meet employers’ needs. Career pathways link and coordinate education and training services in ways that enable workers to attain necessary credentials and, ultimately, employment. T2W3 is aligned with the Department’s goal to make our Federal employment and training programs more job-driven.

Successful applicants will:

1) establish a committed Career Pathways Collaborative (CPC) led by the grantee (a nonprofit organization, such as a faith-based or community-based organization) and including representatives from the workforce system, WRP, and employers and/or industry associations. The CPC leadership team will create a career pathways program(s) with identified career pathways in a demand sector(s) within their community and defined, specific roles and responsibilities for each organization; and

2) provide an integrated set of critical participant-level services, such as case management and skills training, that enable participants to enter and advance along the identified career pathways as they acquire additional skills.

ETA plans to award approximately 20 grants of up to $1,360,000 each to serve male and female ex-offenders, referred to in this FOA as returning citizens.

Applicants may only submit one application in response to this FOA. Grantees may not expend more than $8,000 per participant from these grant funds. This limit does not include leveraged funds. These grants have a performance period of operation of 39-months, which includes a planning period, implementation phase, and follow-up period.

Additionally, grants will be awarded to grantees operating in areas with high-poverty and high-crime rates and have a large proportion of returning citizens that typically experience higher rates of recidivism. Priority must be given to those returning citizens that are veterans.

As a participant in the Promise Zone Initiative, DOL is cooperating with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Agriculture, and nine (9) other federal agencies to support comprehensive revitalization efforts in 20 of the highest poverty urban, rural and tribal communities across the country. Applicants that submit a certification (HUD Form 50153) signed by an authorized representative of the lead organization of a Promise Zone designated by HUD or the Department of Agriculture supporting the application will receive 2 priority consideration points. To view the list of designated Promise Zones and lead organizations please go to www.hud.gov/promisezones.

http://www.hud.gov/promisezones

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Announcement solicits applications for T2W3. The purpose of this program is to assist returning citizens transition back into their communities by gaining industry-recognized credentials and securing employment.

The Department seeks to continue to emphasize programs that involve employers and industry associations in the program design, particularly in identifying the skills and credentials that meet employers’ needs in their communities that participants need to acquire to enter into and continue along career pathways.

Linking credentials to career pathways is essential to the Department’s goal of making our Federal employment and training programs more job-driven. The Department is committed to funding systemic and sustainable efforts that include the development and adoption of career pathways models to better align the goals and funding streams of organizations that provide education, training, workforce development, and supportive services (to learn more about Implementing Career Pathways visit www.doleta.gov/performance/trainingtutorials/ppt/ta_forum_career_pathways_workshop.ppt).

These grants will support a leadership team of key organizations in defining and implementing a career pathways program specifically for men and women in WRPs to improve their workforce outcomes by helping them to attain industry-recognized credentials. Investing in the skill development of individuals while they are in WRPs and transitioning back into the community helps returning citizens find work more quickly and obtain the measurable and specific skills needed to move into and continue along career pathways.

Career pathways programs provide clear sequences of coursework that leads to credentialing and potential jobs. Career pathways help individuals of varying skill levels identify and earn credentials valued by employers, enter into rewarding careers in demand sectors and occupations, and advance to increasingly higher levels of education and employment. Utilizing this approach in T2W3 will aid men and women as they navigate demand industry sectors, earn the industry-recognized credentials that employers have identified as necessary for positions within the career pathways and take advantage of additional opportunities for education and training, including work-based learning. These comprehensive education and training systems are particularly suited to meet the needs of working learners and non-traditional populations, such as returning citizens, because education and training offerings can be tailored to match each participant’s needs.

For the purpose of this Announcement, the term WRP refers to:

• Residential reentry centers (RRC), formerly called halfway houses, that are operated under contract with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP);

• Monitored home confinement; and

• Work release centers (WRC), which are typically located in areas where RRCs do not exist and may include those created by intergovernmental agreements between BOP http://www.doleta.gov/performance/trainingtutorials/ppt/ta_forum_career_pathways_workshop.ppt and state or local jails or those that are operated by or have a contract to operate under the authority of the local correctional facility. The WRCs allow participants to leave the jail to work or find employment for a specified period of time each day and return to the jail as their residence.

For more information on residential reentry centers go to:

http://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/residential_reentry_management_centers.jsp.

This FOA is an opportunity to fully leverage and align existing complementary employment and supportive services available to returning citizens through nonprofit organizations (such as faith-and-community-based organizations), the workforce system, and WRPs in local communities. Each works closely with employers, and this project will integrate their existing employer engagement efforts. These grants provide an opportunity to articulate and test career pathways for men and women in WRPs with the goal of successfully reentering their communities. Grantees must develop and implement career pathways programs at two levels, through: 1) a committed and engaged Career Pathways Collaborative (CPC) made up of employers or industry groups and organizations that serve male and female returning citizens and are able to define career pathways in demand sector(s) based on their participants’ needs, employer needs, and the needs of the local community; and 2) the actual service delivery to individual participants that puts them in and on these defined career pathways. The CPC will manage and guide the program at both a strategic and an operational level to ensure that participants are moving into and along the defined career pathways.

Career Pathways Collaborative (CPC) Collaboration is the heart of career pathways programs and essential to making them successful. Career pathways require a host of organizations to engage, leverage, and blend resources, including employers, social service providers, the workforce system, and, of particular importance, education providers, including community colleges. To ensure each T2W3 program is successful, applicants will assemble a CPC that will serve as the primary coordinating body for the career pathways program. It will consist of a leadership team as well as a mix of additional organizations that will collaborate to deliver services that match the program design and delivery.

Leadership Team The role of the leadership team is to develop a career pathways program, including the identification of a career pathway(s) in a demand sector(s) within their community.

Successful applicants will establish a committed leadership team, or leverage an existing team, made up of four types of organizations. At a minimum, the leadership team must consist of: 1) the grantee, 2) the workforce system, 3) the WRP, and 4) employers and/or industry associations. Each member must have defined, specific roles and responsibilities. The leadership team will operate as the primary coordinating body for the career pathways program.

The nonprofit organization that is the eligible applicant will serve as the chair of the leadership team and the CPC. The leadership team is encouraged to include other local http://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/residential_reentry_management_centers.jsp nonprofit organizations that serve this population and that will commit to providing quality participant services and demonstrate a commitment to a long-term, sustainable career pathways program.

The leadership team will be responsible for three key activities: 1) assembling an active and engaged CPC that develops and supports the implementation of a comprehensive career pathways program with articulated, specific roles and responsibilities for each CPC member; 2) identifying and mapping-out clear career pathways in demand sectors and occupations using real-time local labor market information and active employer involvement to ensure that the training and education programs are meeting the skills needs of employers; and 3) using evidence-based research to inform the program design and delivery of participant-level services, specifically, monitoring the effectiveness of specific services and making modifications to the program as needed.

Nonprofit Organizations A nonprofit organization, such as a faith- or community-based organization, will serve as the chair of the leadership team and the CPC, as noted above, and as the eligible applicant for this FOA and the DOL grantee, if awarded. Grantees are responsible to DOL and will coordinate all components of the program to ensure successful grant operations and outcomes for participants. The grantee is responsible for coordinating all of the activities of the leadership team in defining and implementing a career pathways program specifically for men and women in WRPs in order to improve their workforce outcomes by helping them attain industry-recognized credentials.

The grantee serves as the primary service provider due to its experience and ability in providing services to returning citizens. A successful applicant has been a service provider for hard-to-serve population such as ex-offenders and has the ability to weave the unique service needs of returning citizens together to create an integrated education and training plan. This grant will enable the grantee to offer additional services through a career pathways program(s) that is planned in partnership with the leadership team and other organizations in the CPC.

Applicants must ensure that the leadership team and additional members of the CPC are committed to providing the services and fulfilling the roles and responsibilities delineated in this FOA by providing applicable Letters of Commitment or Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that demonstrate the organization’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the project.

Workforce System Each grantee is required to coordinate a leadership team of WRPs, employers and/or industry associations, and the workforce system, which includes Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs)1 and American Job Centers (AJCs). The workforce system helps

1 The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was passed on July 22, 2014, and it replaces the Workforce Investment Act. Most of the provisions of WIOA will go into effect on July 1, 2015. Under WIOA, Workforce Investment Boards are referred to as Workforce Development Boards and have different membership returning citizens and other job seekers by providing job search assistance, job placement services, career guidance, skills assessments, assistance with resume writing, and valuable connections to employers. In addition, WIBs are key sources of local labor market information necessary for identifying the industry sectors in demand within local workforce areas that are most likely to hire returning citizens. Some examples of demand sectors that have successfully and consistently hired returning citizens are advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, agriculture, transportation, distribution and logistics, and a variety of service sectors; however, each leadership team will select appropriate career pathways sectors and occupations based on their own local labor market data.

Work Release Programs (WRPs) WRPs are located in many local areas and are a bridge between life in a correctional facility and life in the community. Returning citizens in WRPs are responsible for finding and keeping regular jobs in the community and returning to the WRP during their non-work hours. They are expected to go to work every day, arrive at work on time, and complete required work tasks. For participants who have little steady job experience, a work release opportunity is invaluable. WRPs may engage employers, recruit and make referrals to jobs for returning citizens, and provide some supportive services. They may already be leveraging the services of AJCs and WIBs in their local communities.

WRPs are responsible for the accountability of their participants 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week. Grantees must be able to account for their participants’ location at all times in order for the WRP to approve the participants’ release to participate in the grantee’s program.

Employers and/or Industry Associations Employers are critical collaborators in the development of career pathways.

Most importantly, employers define the skills needed for their positions, provide work-based learning opportunities, including vocational training, internships, and registered apprenticeships, and, ultimately, offer permanent jobs as part of a career pathways program. Employers play a primary role in determining the sectors around which to build the career pathways. Employers validate labor market research and confirm the skills and credentials required for the occupations chosen. Employers also play a role in program curriculum design and instruction.

Additional Members of the Career Pathways Collaborative (CPC) Grantees are encouraged to work with additional organizations beyond the leadership team. Below is a list of the types of organizations that could play a role in supporting the project and become members of the CPC as a member of the leadership team and/or as a provider of participant-level services. Collaboration with additional organizations and certification requirements. However, for purposes of this FOA, Workforce Development Boards fulfill the same function as Workforce Investment Boards and either type of Board would be an acceptable representative of the workforce system.

is strongly encouraged, and grantees are not limited to the types of organizations listed.

Applicants must submit letters of commitment or an MOU from each member that identifies the role and responsibility of each member.

• Educational Providers and Institutions. Grantees are encouraged to include educational organizations as members of their CPCs. They are critically important players in career pathways programs given the special needs of adult learners, particularly returning citizens who may have earned educational credentials while incarcerated and are poised to pursue post-secondary education.

o Alternative Education Providers. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and education provider(s) must state how they will provide services and instruction that will help adult participants attain a high school diploma or state equivalent. Clearly describe how other collaborative organizations will be engaged to support program implementation, including their specific areas of expertise and activities for which they will be responsible. Letter(s) of Commitment or MOUs must be provided from each organization.

o Post-Secondary Education Institutions. The letter of commitment or

MOU between the grantee and the post-secondary education institution must state how the institution will provide additional instruction and education for participants that lead to career advancement.

• Housing Assistance Program Providers. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and the housing assistance program provider(s) must include referrals by the grantee to collaborating organizations and outline how they will provide assistance with securing temporary or permanent housing for program participants.

• Mental Health Treatment Centers. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and the mental health treatment centers must include referrals by the grantee to collaborating organizations and outline how they will provide timely assessments and mental health treatment for program participants.

• Substance Abuse Treatment Centers. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and the substance abuse treatment centers must include referrals by the grantee for eligible participants to receive counseling and substance abuse treatment services.

• Child Support Enforcement Agencies. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and child support enforcement agencies must include how collaborations with other agencies will assist participants with issues related to non-custodial parents.

• Legal Aid Services. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and the legal aid services must include services that are used on behalf of a participant that are related to the purposes of this grant, which include: securing driver’s licenses, expunging criminal records, creating and/or modifying child support orders, helping parents in obtaining and retaining custody of their children, and helping victims of domestic violence by obtaining protective and restraining orders.

• Social Services Agencies. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and social services agencies must include how they will assist participants in any of the following areas: securing food, transportation, clothing, child and family services, or medical assistance, support does not have to be limited to these areas.

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The letter of commitment or MOU between the grantee and vocational rehabilitation services provider must be used to refer participants with disabilities for services that assist them with participating in training and employment programs.

Participant-Level Services Grantees will provide an integrated set of critical participant-level services that enable male and female participants to enter and advance along career pathways as they acquire additional skills. The participant-level services include six core components needed to support successful reentry into the community and also ensure participant accountability to the WRPs. The core components are: 1) case management; 2) mentoring; 3) education;

4) training that leads to industry-recognized credentials in the grantee’s state or local area;

5) workforce activities that lead to employment; and 6) follow-up services. Grantees must provide all of these core services; however, not all participants have to participate in each of these activities. Additionally, applicants must develop an integrated approach to recruiting participants and should consider co-enrollment in the workforce system to provide a greater array of services for their participants; applicants are encouraged to work with their local WIBs and consider co-enrolling participants into programs authorized under WIA or under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which becomes effective July 1, 2015.

Allowable Use of Grant Funds Allowable leadership team activities and participant-level services include, but are not limited to, the following and may be performed in multiple categories of services:

Career Pathways Collaborative:

Allowable activities for the CPC include, among other things:

• Assembling a committed CPC including a leadership team and other collaborating organizations that perform function such as:

o Asset mapping to identify existing resources and organizations to support the program;

o Strategic planning to develop career pathways in a demand sector(s);

o Coordinating meetings with CPC members; and o Resource maintenance to support a strategic planning process before, during, and after the career pathways program development, implementation, and follow-up to ensure sustainability of the CPC.

• Identifying and mapping-out clear career pathways in demand sectors, which could include:

o Securing real-time labor market information data collection to identify demand sector(s);

o Convening employers and industry associations to understand their specific workforce needs in the identified demand sector(s) and occupation(s); and o Analyzing industry competency models to identify knowledge, skills, and abilities for the demand sector(s) and create occupational career pathways with this information.

• Using evidence-based research to inform program design and implementation, which could include:

o Translating evidence-based research into practice and service delivery;

o Supporting a continuous improvement process that may include assessments, staff feedback, customer feedback, and other mechanisms for capturing real-time program data; and o Examining and re-working policies across the CPC to enable greater blended funding and service delivery alignment.

Participant-Level Services:

Allowable participant-level services include, among other things:

• Case Management o Assistance with the development of Individual Career Plans (ICPs) for participants and career guidance and development, including applying for post-secondary education and financial aid;

o Assistance with obtaining supportive services, such as transportation stipends or emergency assistance payments;

o Payment for legal services related to the purposes of this grant, which include: securing driver’s licenses, expunging criminal records, creating and/or modifying child support orders, helping parents in obtaining and retaining custody of their children, and helping victims of domestic violence by obtaining protective and restraining orders; and o Referrals to the following services:

Housing programs that provide temporary or permanent housing;

Mental health counseling;

Vocational rehabilitation services needed to assist persons with disabilities;

Parenting classes and services to assist with successful family reunification; and Substance abuse treatment services.

NOTE: Grantees may not directly provide assistance with substance abuse treatment, housing services, or mental health treatment services. Such assistance may be provided only through referrals.

• Mentoring Individuals and Groups o Individual and group mentoring; and o Group mentoring models such as Job Clubs that provide assistance, networking, and peer support for job seekers.

NOTE: The Department encourages collaborating with Second Chance Act (SCA) grantees that have been awarded funds for mentoring programs where possible and with other organizations that focus on mentoring to defray the costs. A listing of Second Chance Act Mentoring Grantees can be accessed at http://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/second-chance-act-mentoring-grant-program.

Education o Alternative secondary school services and career awareness classes that develop lifelong career pathways;

o Language instruction programs and services and information in appropriate languages for participants with limited English proficiency;

o Basic skills instruction and remedial education; and o Tutoring and/or preparation for state high school equivalency tests.

• Training that Leads to Industry-Recognized Credentials in State or Local Areas o Vocational skills training;

o Wages in an On-the-Job Training (OJT) framework; and o Registered Apprenticeships.

• Workforce Activities that Lead to Employment o Job placement;

o Development of cognitive and soft skills that participants will need to succeed in future jobs and that support one or more workplace competency;

o Paid and unpaid work experiences, including community service activities that offer the returning citizen the opportunity to work within the his/her community;

o Payment of stipends to participants based on their performance in the program to recognize achievements/milestones;

o Payment of employment and retention bonuses to participants based on progress reached in the employment, education, and/or training components of the grant program;

o Assistance in addressing work-related problems that arise, such as conflict and anger management; and o Assistance in securing higher-paying employment, including non-traditional jobs for women.

http://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/second-chance-act-mentoring-grant-program

Follow-up Services o Tracking of progress made by participants in employment and training after program exit; and o Assisting participants in planning and implementing next steps that lead to upward mobility.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

This program is authorized by Section 171, Pilot and Demonstration Projects, of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)2 , and Section 212 of the Second Chance Act of 2007.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant. Approximately $27 million is expected to be available to fund approximately 20 grants. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $1,360,000. 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.

Applicants must not exceed $8,000 cost-per-participant (CPP) which includes all administrative, planning, and follow-up costs. The CPP does not include leveraged funds.

The CPP is calculated by dividing the total grant award by the number of participants to be enrolled. Grantees will be held accountable for the number of participants identified to be served in their application. If the number of participants identified by the applicant is greater than the minimum identified in this Announcement, the applicant must serve the number of participants identified in the application. Applicants requesting the maximum $1,360,000 must serve at least 170 participants.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 39 months with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2015. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

2 The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (“WIOA”, Public Law 113-128) was signed into law on July 22, 2014. Most provisions of WIOA become effective July 1, 2015. Grants awarded under this FOA are authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), and the terms of the WIA will apply to these grants for the life of the grants. The performance measures for these grants are comparable to the WIA common measures.

The period of performance must include the following:

• A planning period of up to six months (grantees that do not use the entire planning period may add the unused time to their follow-up periods or end their programs early);

• A program performance period of 24 months; and

• A minimum of nine months of follow-up services provided to each participant.

To ensure that grantees are prepared to begin program implementation, the Federal Project Officer (FPO) will evaluate the completion of specific milestones within the grant’s planning phase. The Department may subject grantees who do not meet these milestones to corrective action. The application to the FOA serves as the Statement of Work. Grantees will be held accountable for providing sufficient details about the three key activities of the CPC leadership team, as well as the six core components of participant-level services to ensure successful implementation by the grantee. The following milestones must be achieved during the planning period:

• Hire core program staff, including the Project Director/Manager, Fiscal Director/Manager, and other key positions;

• Establish and hold regular planning meetings of the CPC to ensure the career pathways program is ready to successfully deliver services;

• Certify that the career pathways program has training programs that are in demand sectors within their communities and are ready for participants to immediately enroll into;

• Initiate recruitment and outreach efforts for the enrollment of participants; and

• All MOUs and service delivery contracts must be signed and in place during this planning phase.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants are:

Nonprofit Organization with IRS 501(c)(3) Status. Proof of 501(c)(3) status should be included as an attachment to the application (see Section IV.B.4 for more information).

Applicants must also be located in an urbanized area or urban cluster, as defined by the U.S.

Census Bureau.

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for this program. Please note that any resources contributed to the project are considered leveraged resources and do not constitute cost sharing or matching funds. More information on leveraged resources may be found in Section IV.B.2. Applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Cost sharing or match is not one of the application screening criteria.

C. 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 and will not be considered for funding.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

Y/N

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C

If submitted through Grants.gov, 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.

Application does not exceed the ceiling amount of $1,360,000 Section II.A

Application does not exceed the $8,000 cost-per participant limitation Section II.A

Applicant has registered with SAM and maintains an active account Section IV.B.1

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

Signed SF-424 includes a DUNS Number Section IV.B.1

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

Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2

Project Narrative Section IV.B.3

Abstract Section IV.B.4

2. Number of Applications To Be Submitted An organization may only submit one application. Multiple applications from an organization are not allowed. If multiple applications are received, the most recent application submitted will be accepted. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application. A single application may be submitted to serve multiple sites. However, each site must meet the definition an urbanized area or urban cluster, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

3. Eligible Participants

a) Participants Eligible to Receive Training Any male or female individual, including veterans, may participate in a project funded under these grants if the individual:

• is at least 18 years old on the date of enrollment;

• has been convicted as an adult and imprisoned under Federal or state law but never been convicted of a sexual offense other than prostitution; and

• is enrolled in a WRP with a release date scheduled within nine months of enrollment in the program; participants can remain in the program after release from the WRP.

NOTE: Male participants age 18 or older are required to register for selective service before services can be provided. If they turn 18 while participating, they must be registered at that time. Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 11-11, Change 2 clarifies the implementation of the Selective Service registration requirements of Section 189(h) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 for grantees funded or authorized by Title I of WIA, located at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_11-11_change2.pdf. Grantees have the discretion to enroll individuals convicted of violent offenses. However, the grantee must have a clear and consistent written enrollment policy that addresses how enrollment of program participants will be treated. Grantees may choose to have a more rigorous risk assessment for violent offenders and should note where this will be factored into enrollment eligibility.

Grantees may, at their discretion, use the Resource Allocation and Service- Matching Tool as a means for assessing the participant’s risk of reincarceration and job readiness. More information on this type of assessment tool can be found in Section VIII. E, Reentry Resources.

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 can be found at 20 CFR Part 1010. In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two qualified candidates for a service, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the veterans’ priority of service provisions require that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans’ priority. ETA’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-09 (issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 is available at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816 .

http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_11-11_change2.pdf http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm , contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

Applicants should note that hyperlinks to portions of the FOA are included in various parts of the Announcement. Applicants are required to comply with all parts of the FOA, including those parts found at the hyperlinks.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of four separate and distinct parts: (1) the SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance;” (2) Project Budget; (3) Project Narrative; and (4) attachments to the Project Narrative. It is your responsibility to 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 http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15). 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, 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 http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15 ). The SF-424B is not required to be submitted with the application.

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 following requirements in accordance with 29 CFR 37.20.

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA)3 , the grant applicant assures that it will comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws: Section 188 of the WIA, which prohibits discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States or participation in any WIA Title I—financially assisted program or activity; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as

3 As noted above in footnote 2, grants awarded under this FOA are authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), and the terms of the WIA will apply to these grants for the life of the grants.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15 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 it will comply with 29 CFR part 37 and all other regulations implementing the laws listed above. This assurance applies to the grant applicant's operation of the WIA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, and to all agreements the grant applicant makes to carry out the WIA 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.

Requirement for DUNS Number All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities are required to have a DUNS number, and must supply their DUNS Number on the SF-424. The DUNS Number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. If you do not have a DUNS Number, you can get one for free through the D&B website: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do. As authorized under 2 CFR 25, grant recipients authorized to make subawards must be aware of the following requirements related to DUNS Numbers:

• Grant recipients must notify potential subawardees that no entity may receive a subaward from you unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to you.

• Grant recipients may not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to you.

Requirement for Registration with SAM Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. Instructions for registering with SAM can be found at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/#1. 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.

2. Project Budget You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/%231 http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15

Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. It should also include a description of leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities.

Use the following guidance for preparing the budget narrative:

Personnel – List all staff positions by title (both current and proposed). Give the annual salary of each position, the percentage of each position’s time devoted to the project, the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant, and the total personnel cost for the period of performance.

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

Travel – Specify the purpose, 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 to be purchased which 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 200.33 for the definition of Equipment). List the quantity and unit cost per item. Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are supplies. In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant.

Supplies – Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR 200.94 for the definition of Supplies). The detailed budget should identify categories of supplies (e.g. office supplies). List the quantity and unit cost per item.

Contractual – Identify each proposed contract and specify its purpose and estimated cost. If applicable, identify any subrecipient agreements, including purpose and estimated costs. See Section VI.B.2.f. for more information on the distinction between contractor and subrecipient.

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 the costs must be shown on other appropriate lines such as Contractual.

Other – List each item in sufficient detail for us to determine whether the costs are reasonable or allowable. List any item, such as stipends or incentives, not covered elsewhere here.

Indirect Costs – If indirect costs are included in the budget, then include either, a) the approved indirect cost rate with a copy of the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), a description of the base used to calculate indirect costs along with the amount of the base, and the total indirect costs requested, or b) if you meet the requirements to use the 10% de minimis rate as described in 2 CFR 200.414(f), then include a description of the modified total direct costs base (see 2 CFR 200.68 for definition) used in the calculation along with the amount of the base, and the total indirect costs requested based on the 10% de minimis rate. See Section IV.B.4.

and Section IV.E.1. for more information. Additionally, the following link contains DOL-specific information: http://www.dol.gov/oasam/boc/dcd/index.htm.

Note that the entire Federal grant amount requested (not just one year) must be included on the SF-424, SF-424A, and budget narrative. No leveraged resources should be shown on the SF-424 and SF-424A. Leveraged resources should be described in the budget narrative. The requested Federal grant amount listed on the SF-424, SF-424A, and budget narrative must be the same. The funding amount included on the SF-424 will be considered the official funding amount requested if any inconsistencies are found.

3. Project Narrative

a) Preparing the Project Narrative 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.

It must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

The Project Narrative is limited to 25 double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch pages with Times New Roman 12 point text font and 1 inch margins. Any materials beyond the specified page limit will not be read or considered in the application review process. You must number the Project Narrative beginning with page number 1.

The following instructions provide all of the information needed to complete the Project Narrative. You should carefully read and consider each section, and include all required information in your Project Narrative. The Project Narrative will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria identified in Section V.A. You must use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Project Narrative:

(1) Statement of Need

Describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the need for assistance, including the nature and scope of the problem, and the consequences of not http://www.dol.gov/oasam/boc/dcd/index.htm addressing the need. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information whenever possible. Specifically:

• Identify the geographic area in which the project will be located and the name and location of each WRP in that area;

• Demonstrate that the geographic area to be served is an urbanized area or urban cluster, as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau in the most recently available census;

• Indicate the number of male and female participants, including veterans, that will be served by the project and the number of male and female individuals in WRPs in the previous year. The number of participants must be large enough to reflect a cost-per-participant amount of $8,000 or less as specified in Section II.A. For example, applicants requesting the maximum $1,360,000 must serve at least 170 participants;

• Demonstrate that the target area has a high rate of recidivism by showing that the rate of recidivism for the area to be served is higher than the county or state recidivism rates. For local data on rates of recidivism, applicants should contact their local crime reporting service, such as the police bureau’s crime statistics division or Uniform Crime Reporting service. If local data is not available, provide an estimate of the recidivism rate and explain the basis on which the estimate is made.

NOTE: The number of participants to be served must be less than or equal to the number of returning citizens enrolled in WRPs in the target area in the previous year.

(2) Expected Outcomes and Outputs

All applicants must identify and provide measurable results, or outcomes, that will result from the project and meet DOL’s outcome goals stated below.

Clearly identify the output(s) and outcomes that will result from the project.

Describe how the expected outcomes and outputs are to be achieved and are comprehensive, realistic, clear, and consistent with the identified goals.

Outputs are tangible products or services that result from the project. For example, say a community college receives a grant to address a need for more workers in all health-related fields. An output of the project is the creation of 3 additional courses in health-related fields.