FOA-ETA-17-03.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR:

YouthBuild

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-17-03

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.274

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is May 9, 2017. We must receive applications no later than 4:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

A pre-recorded Prospective Applicant Webinar will be available on-line no later than March 31, 2017 at https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm, under the YouthBuild Funding Opportunity Announcement heading and available for viewing any time after that date. While a review of this Webinar is strongly encouraged to support successful grant applications, it is not mandatory.

ADDRESSES: Address mailed applications to:

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, Office of Grants Management Attention: Brinda Ruggles, Grant Officer Reference FOA-ETA-17-03 200 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), plans to award approximately $80 million in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Pub. L. 113-128) for YouthBuild.

Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOL will award grants through a competitive process to organizations to oversee the provision of education, occupational skills training, and employment services to at-risk youth while performing meaningful work and service to their communities. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, DOL hopes to serve https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm approximately 5,250 participants during the grant period of performance, with approximately 80 projects awarded across the country. Individual grants will range from $700,000 to $1.1 million and require an exact 25 percent match from applicants, using sources other than federal funding. Any resources contributed to the project in addition to the 25 percent matching funds will be considered leveraged resources. The grant period of performance for this FOA is 40 months, including a four-month planning period.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Announcement solicits applications for the YouthBuild program. The purpose of this program is to fund organizations to provide education, occupational skills training, leadership development and post-program placement opportunities to at-risk youth.

YouthBuild is a community-based alternative education program for youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are high school dropouts, adjudicated youth, youth aging out of foster care, youth with disabilities, homeless youth, and other disconnected youth populations. The YouthBuild program simultaneously addresses several core issues important to low-income communities: affordable housing, education, employment, leadership development, and energy efficiency. The YouthBuild model balances project-based academic learning and occupational skills training to prepare disadvantaged youth for career placement. The academic component assists youth who are often significantly behind in basic skill development in obtaining a high school diploma or state high school equivalency credential. The occupational skills training component prepares at-risk youth to gain placement into career pathways and/or further education or training, and also supports the goal of increasing affordable housing within communities by teaching youth construction skills learned by building or significantly renovating homes for sale or rent to low-income families or transitional housing for homeless families or individuals.

Under WIOA, Registered Apprenticeship and Career Pathways are greatly emphasized as strategies to increase employment opportunities. In the DOL WIOA Final Rule at 20 CFR, 688.120, YouthBuild programs funded by the Department are recognized as pre-apprenticeship programs. Grantees funded under this announcement are expected to develop program models that align with the definition of pre-apprenticeship as described in part 688 of the Final Rule:

Pre-apprenticeship, as defined in § 681.480, means a program designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”; 50 Stat.664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.)(referred to in this part as a “registered apprenticeship” or “registered apprenticeship program”) and includes the following elements:

1) Training and curriculum that aligns with the skill needs of employers in the economy of the State or region involved;

2) Access to educational and career counseling and other supportive services, directly or indirectly;

3) Hands-on, meaningful learning activities that are connected to education and training activities, such as exploring career options, and understanding how the skills acquired through coursework can be applied toward a future career;

4) Opportunities to attain at least one industry-recognized credential; and

5) A partnership with one or more registered apprenticeship programs that assists in placing individuals who complete the pre-apprenticeship program in a registered apprenticeship program.

Grantees awarded under this announcement should be actively developing the connection points described above and developing relationships and pathways that lead to Registered Apprenticeship placements.

Also under WIOA, there is a greater emphasis on the role of employers in successful workforce development strategies, and a requirement to report on the effectiveness in serving employers performance indicators. Grantees awarded under this announcement are expected to actively develop new employer relationships and strengthen existing connections. As a required One-Stop system partner, YouthBuild grantees should be accessing and leveraging the strengths of the One-Stop system to support participant success. This may include, but is not limited to, job development support through One-Stop system partners, employer connections, basic assessment and referral services, supportive service provision, and transition services for post-exit placements and continuing education and training.

Additionally, grantees that have been previously funded by the Department may include occupational skills training in other in-demand industries in addition to construction skills training. This expansion into additional in-demand industries is the “Construction Plus” component. Under WIOA, DOL is emphasizing YouthBuild programs’ role as required partners of the One-Stop Career Centers. All YouthBuild programs must adhere to the requirements of being a One-Stop partner. Partnering with One-Stop Career Centers provides an opportunity for YouthBuild grantees to increase the number of eligible applicants, have greater access to local employers, and develop the ability to directly access information regarding changes to local workforce needs and respond with program changes accordingly.

In order to preserve one of the core aspects of the YouthBuild program as a construction skills training program, all YouthBuild grant programs must offer construction skills training. Construction skills training is central to the overall philosophy of the YouthBuild program and can provide a visible transformational experience for young people who have rarely had opportunities to see tangible and positive results from their efforts. New applicants for DOL funding must demonstrate success with core construction skills training and are not eligible to offer other occupational training as first-time YouthBuild grantees.

Because one of the goals of the YouthBuild program is to provide affordable housing, all prospective applicants must demonstrate their commitment to increasing the supply of permanent housing for homeless and/or low-income individuals and families. The construction of affordable housing benefits the community where the affordable housing is built or renovated, and also provides youth with an opportunity to give back to their communities and work and learn in a team environment. YouthBuild grantees must accomplish this goal by having a sufficient number of youth enrolled in and completing the construction skills training component to enable the program to build or substantially renovate at least one unit of housing within the grant period of performance. Each program must also have access to a work site to use for on-site construction training. The construction work sites built and renovated by YouthBuild participants must only be constructed for homeless and/or low-income individuals and families to reside in. Please note that the requirements of the YouthBuild regulations at 20 CFR 688.730 require a minimum of a 5-year restrictive covenant.

To build or substantially renovate at least one unit of housing requires the new construction or substantial renovation of single-family homes or apartment/condominium/townhouse complexes, or the construction or substantial renovation of a single dwelling within a complex. Substantial renovation includes those activities that will provide YouthBuild participants with significant construction experience and knowledge that will prepare them for entry-level employment in the construction industry and are tied to the construction curriculum used by the program. Painting or cleaning apartments and simple weatherization tasks do not constitute substantial renovation or a sufficiently comprehensive level of construction training to satisfy the requirement that each program build or substantially renovate a unit of housing, and thus, do not qualify as work sites. For guidance on qualifying work sites, please refer to Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 06-15:

http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=6610.

The YouthBuild Final Rule regulation (20 CFR part 688) was published on August 19, 2016.

This regulation clarifies the requirements of the YouthBuild program as authorized under WIOA for program providers and participants. The regulation sets the standards under which YouthBuild program providers can carry out the goals of the program. The YouthBuild regulation can be found at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-08- 19/pdf/2016-15975.pdf. For more information on the YouthBuild program, please go to:

www.doleta.gov/youth_services/YouthBuild.cfm.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

This program is authorized by Section 171(i) of WIOA (Pub. L. 113-128), and 20 CFR part 688.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=6610 https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-08-19/pdf/2016-15975.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-08-19/pdf/2016-15975.pdf http://www.doleta.gov/youth_services/YouthBuild.cfm

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $80,000,000 to fund approximately 80 grants. You may apply for an amount ranging from $700,000 to a ceiling amount of up to $1.1 million.

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.

Due to the complex nature of the YouthBuild program model and the interest in expanding YouthBuild beyond construction skills training, this FOA is focused on ensuring that an adequate number of established YouthBuild programs are funded while newly-funded YouthBuild programs establish effective operation and delivery of services outlined in each of the required program components. Therefore, the Department intends to award at least 70 percent of the total available funding for this competition for the grants to eligible applicants that the DOL YouthBuild program has previously funded and which have demonstrated success in the program. The remainder of funds will be awarded to qualifying organizations not fitting this description, further described in Section III.A.

below.

The Department’s intended mix of grant awards to new and previously-funded applicants will ensure that organizations with little experience with a DOL YouthBuild grant have an opportunity to implement a new DOL YouthBuild program, while allowing for continued support to the existing, previously-funded YouthBuild grants that have demonstrated success.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is forty (40) months with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2017. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities. This includes:

• a planning period of up to four months to complete the planning milestones below;

• two years of active program services (education, occupational skills training, and youth leadership development activities) for one or more cohorts of youth; and

• an additional twelve months of follow-up support services and tracking of participant outcomes for each cohort of youth.

Applicants are required to describe, as an attachment to the application, the activities they expect to undertake during the planning period in order to ensure that they may begin active program services on schedule. Applicants may be prepared to start the active program services sooner than described above. If so, they must explain the rationale for why the planning period is less than four months; beginning active programs services earlier does not shorten the period of performance. A minimum of five percent of total funds should be reserved for the twelve-month follow-up period. Grantees must fully expend grant funds during the period of performance. Therefore, applicants must carefully consider their ability to spend the level of funding requested during the allotted time while ensuring full transparency and accountability for all expenditures.

Grantees must ensure the achievement of the following milestones during the planning period:

• hiring of or committing of additional core program staff (including the Project Director, Construction Trainer(s), Classroom Teacher(s), Case Manager(s), Job Developer(s) positions), if needed;

• Reaching out to the local One-Stop Center to discuss MOU requirements, such as the infrastructure costs and plans for collaborating with other required partners, including employers, at a minimum;

• solidifying relationships with all necessary partners for the successful delivery of services;

• initiating recruitment and outreach efforts for enrollment of participants;

• reconfirming work site financing and access (see Section IV.B.4.(b) for more information); and

• reconfirming match sources and amounts.

Please note that while the core program staff described above do not need to be in place at the time of application, the Department expects applicants to describe the plan to recruit and train for each core position.

The Federal Project Officer (FPO) will review the completion of these milestones within the grant’s planning period. DOL may subject grantees who have not met these milestones to corrective action.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

Eligible applicants for these grants are public or private non-profit agencies. These organizations include rural, urban, or Native American agencies that have previously served disadvantaged youth in a YouthBuild or other similar program. These agencies or organizations may include, but are not limited to:

• a community-based organization;

• a faith-based organization;

• an entity carrying out activities under the WIOA, such as a Local Workforce

Development Board;

• a community action agency;

• a state or local housing development agency;

• an Indian tribe or other agency primarily serving Native Americans (including those living on reservations), Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives;

• a community development corporation;

• a state or local youth service or conservation corps;

• any other entity eligible to provide education or employment training under a federal program; or

• an entity in an area designated as a Promise Zone or member of a Promise Zone collaboration, if applicable. For more information on about Promise Zones go to http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/e conomicdevelopment/programs/pz

Grantees who received funding from the FY 2016 YouthBuild competition [FOA-ETA-16- 10] are funded through mid-February 2020, and these grantees (based on their unique Employer Identification Numbers) are not eligible to participate in this competition.

Additionally, only one grant will be awarded to an individual organization. An individual organization must have a unique Employer Identification Number and its program services shall not be administered at the same location as any other YouthBuild grantee.

Among eligible applicants listed above, the applicant agency or organization must also maintain a local presence in any identified target communities to be served.

Applicant Types This FOA distinguishes between new applicants for DOL YouthBuild funding (those applicants that have never received a DOL YouthBuild award, have not received an award within the last six grant cycles, or have not yet completed their first DOL YouthBuild grant) and established applicants (those applicants that have previously received at least one YouthBuild grant from DOL which is near completion and provides sufficient performance outcomes for review). Carefully consider the requirements below and apply under the appropriate category (Category A or Category B), being sure to respond to the application instructions (project narrative, evaluation criteria, and attachments) that correspond to your category.

This FOA refers to previously-funded applicants as “Category A applicants.” DOL intends to award at least 70 percent of the available grant funds to applicants in Category A. As of the date of publication of this FOA, a Category A applicant must meet the following requirements:

a) At least one of the applicant’s previous grants must have been awarded from a competition that took place in FY 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014; and

b) The applicant must not have received an award in the FY 2016 (FOA-ETA-16-10) competition.

Note that applicants that have been previously funded by DOL’s YouthBuild program, but not within the past six grant competitions (i.e. the applicant has not received a YouthBuild award since FY 2010 or earlier), will now be considered as new applicants who must apply http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/economicdevelopment/programs/pz http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/economicdevelopment/programs/pz under Category B. Previously, these applicants would have still been considered as Category A applicants. This change will provide applicants who have not been funded under the YouthBuild program in recent years to demonstrate growth and increased success in serving disconnected youth through improved organizational capacity, implementation of best practices, and more relevant performance outcomes than those available prior to FY 2011.

This FOA refers to new applicants as “Category B applicants.” DOL intends to award up to 30 percent of grant funds for awards to applicants in Category B. All applicants that do not meet the requirements for Category A above must apply as Category B. Category B applicants fall into one of these categories:

a) Applicants that did not receive a YouthBuild award in FY 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014 but received a DOL YouthBuild award in one or more of the following grant competitions: FY 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and/or 2015; or

b) Applicants that have never received a DOL YouthBuild award.

Note that grantees that were funded by DOL for the first time in FY 2015 are included with new applicants because DOL will not have sufficient information to fairly evaluate their application against previously-funded applicants. During this competition, these grantees will not have completed their grant’s active service cycle (as defined by the two-year period during which they are enrolling and serving active participants). The performance outcomes for YouthBuild are long-term in nature, and DOL will not have sufficient information on the performance of FY 2015 grantees to evaluate them based on their past performance.

As noted in the previous section, grantees funded in FY 2016 (FOA-ETA-16-10), regardless of any previous grant awards from DOL for YouthBuild funding, are not eligible to participate in this competition under Category A or Category B and should not respond to this FOA. The following chart summarizes the requirements specified in this section:

Applicant Type: Category A Category B Not Eligible to

Apply Grant Classes Included:

Those funded at least once in FYs

2011, 2012, 2013 or

• FY 2015 First-Time Grantees

• Applicants last funded by DOL’s YouthBuild program in FY 2010 or earlier

• Applicants last funded in FY 2010 or earlier prior to receiving a FY 2015 grant award

Any applicant who received an FY

2016 DOL-funded YouthBuild grant

• Those never funded by the DOL YouthBuild program

Percent of Grant Funds Available: At least 70 percent Up to 30 percent N/A

Construction Plus Eligible: YES NO N/A

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program requires cost sharing or matching funds. Such funds may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions and equal to 25 percent of the total Federal awarded amount to the grant recipient. Any resources contributed to the project in addition to cost sharing or matching funds will be considered leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources. To be allowable as part of match, an expenditure must be an allowable charge for federal grant funds and considered necessary and reasonable to accomplish the project or program objectives. DOL will make determinations of allowable costs in accordance with the applicable Federal Cost Principles as indicated in section IV.E.

If the cost would not be allowable as a grant-funded charge, then DOL cannot count it toward the applicant’s matching funds.

The recognition of documentation of match has changed since the release of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards:

Final Rule at 2 CFR part 200 and OMB’s approved exceptions for DOL at 2 CFR 2900.

2 CFR 2900.8 Cost sharing or matching states that: In addition to the guidance set forth in 2 CFR 200.306(b) for Federal awards from the Department of Labor, the non-Federal entity accounts for funds used for cost sharing or match within their accounting systems as the funds are expended. It is no longer sufficient or adequate to receive and report monies as match; the monies must be expended on the program in order for it to be counted as match.

Expenditures of match funds must be reported on the recipient share section of the ETA- 9130 Form.

Additionally, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.306, match amount must be verifiable from the non-Federal entity’s records, not included as contributions for any other Federal award, are necessary and reasonable for accomplishment of project or program objectives and not provided by the Federal government under another Federal award.

DOL encourages applicants to leverage additional resources beyond the required match to supplement grant activities. Applicants must count and document as leveraged funds any cash or in-kind resources committed beyond 25 percent of the grant award amount required as matching funds.

Both matching funds and leveraged resources can come from a variety of sources, including but not limited to: the public sector (e.g., state or local governments); the non-profit sector (e.g., community organizations, faith-based organizations, or education and training institutions); the private sector (e.g., businesses or industry associations); the investor community (e.g., angel networks or economic development entities); and the philanthropic community (e.g., foundations).

Examples of Match Sources that Do Not Qualify:

Funding Source Type of Match Reason Match does not

Qualify Work site Applicant lists full value of home as in-kind match Only the portion of match that involves direct training of YouthBuild participants can be applied toward match

– not the full value of the house.

Federal funds from another agency or through pass-through entity

Applicant lists pass-through grant as match

Federal funds do not qualify as a match source, even where the immediate funder was not Federal. In this case, a Federal agency awarded funds to a non-profit which then provided them to the applicant to be used on the current grant.

These funds are still Federal in source. Federal funds cannot be used to meet a matching or cost sharing requirement unless expressly authorized by that Federal agency. It is the responsibility of the grant recipient to confirm and document such authority in its records.

For the purposes of the grant application, match letters of commitment must contain:

• Letterhead of contributing agency

• Written signature of authorized individual at the contributing agency, dated between the publication date and application date of this FOA

• Total dollar value of commitment, per year of grant and overall

• The source of match funds

• Detailed calculations showing how the total dollar value was derived o For match based on participants served, the calculation should be: __ participants enrolled x ___ cost of training/class/session per participant per year x __years of the commitment = total commitment Example: XYZ Community College is committing 10 slots per year in a computer programming class. The match commitment letter must read: 10 slots X $500 per slot x 2 years = $10,000 o For match based on staff time, the calculation should be: __hours per year (or percentage of FTE) x __hourly rate (or annual salary) x __years of commitment = total commitment Example: Applicant is committing Executive Director for 20% of the

FTE over the life of the grant. The match commitment letter must read: 20% x $75,000 per year x 3 years = $45,000 o For match based on a set resource, the calculation should be: __monthly rate x __months per year x __years of commitment = total commitment Example: ABC Organization is committing office space for the program. The match commitment letter must read: 800 square feet x $2.00/sq. ft. x 12 months x 3 years = $57,600

Calculations must be clear and able to be replicated by reviewers. Applicants proposing to use their own non-Federal resources to provide match must also have a letter of commitment that details the same information as above.

Please be reminded that these letters of commitment are not sufficient nor do they meet the supporting documentation requirements of cost sharing and matching as specified in 2 CFR 200.306. DOL recognizes match at the time it is expended as specified at 2 CFR 2900.8 and not when it is earned or received. Additionally, the grant recipient must apply the same supporting documentation requirement to tracking match expenditures as it would grant expenditures.

Matching Waiver for U.S. Insular Areas, Pursuant to 48 U.S.C. §1469a(d) Pursuant to 48 U.S.C. § 1469a(d), for the purposes of this FOA, DOL does not require any match for grants made to the governments of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Accordingly, DOL does not require these areas to include a match commitment in their applications and these applications will not be screened out on that basis. However, even though DOL does not require matching funds from these areas, it encourages these areas to leverage resources, including dollars from Federal sources.

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.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C.

Eligibility Section III.A.

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 for Federal funds request within the grant award range of $700,000 to $1.1 million Section II.A.

SAM Registration Section IV.B.1

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

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

SF-424 lists the cost sharing or match amount on line 18b. Section IV.B.2

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

Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2

Project Narrative Section IV.B.3

Work Site Description (ETA-9143) with required attachments (no more than 3 work sites should be submitted since only three will be reviewed)

Section

IV.B.3(B)(2)

Applicant indicates one contiguous service area or closely located communities within a metropolitan service area, defined by the zip codes, or identifies separate and severable target communities but indicates local presence in each identified community

Section III.C.5

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider only one application from each organization. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization, we will only consider the most recently received application that met the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application. This requirement applies to both Category A and Category B applicants.

3. Eligible Participants

a) Participants Eligible to Receive Training The intent of this FOA is to fund projects that provide education/training services to any individual who:

1) is between the ages of 16 and 24 on the date of enrollment; and

2) is a member of a low-income family, a youth in foster care (including youth aging out of foster care), an offender, a youth who is an individual with a disability, a child of an incarcerated parent, a homeless youth, a migrant youth; and

3) is a school dropout, or an individual who was a school dropout and has subsequently reenrolled (as provided in WIOA Sec. 171(e)(1) Eligible Participants);

As it relates to determining which youth are considered out-of-school youth (OSY), the Department does not consider providers of Adult Education under YouthBuild programs to be “schools.” Therefore, WIOA youth programs may consider a youth to be OSY for purposes of WIOA youth program eligibility if they are attending Adult Education provided under YouthBuild.

Up to, but not more than, 25 percent of the participants in the program may be youth who do not meet criteria 2 or 3 above, but they must:

• be basic skills deficient, despite attainment of a high school diploma or its state-recognized equivalent; or

• have been referred by a local secondary school for participation in a YouthBuild program leading to the attainment of a high school diploma or its state-recognized equivalent.

NOTE: Male participants aged 18 or older must register for the U.S. Selective Service System (www.sss.gov) before services can be provided. If they turn 18 while participating, they must register at that time.

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 http://www.sss.gov/ 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.

4. Cost per Participant

The Department expects that the cost per participant will be between $15,000 and $18,000, and must not exceed $18,000. The Department calculates the expected cost-per-participant by dividing the total DOL grant award by the number of participants the grantee expects to enroll.

5. Target Community Service Area

Please note that the Department evaluates applications on the need of the proposed service area. For YouthBuild programs, the Department considers not only the need for the services to youth participants in this area, but also the area’s need for affordable housing.

Applicants must refer to one contiguous service area or closely located communities within a metropolitan service area, defined by the zip codes to be served. If an applicant proposes to serve multiple service areas that are not contiguous or closely located, they must document that there is a local organizational presence (office or office sharing agreement with a non-YouthBuild organization) in a physical space sufficient to provide program services, including work site access, within each service area proposed.

The Department expects applicants to provide services only within their proposed service area(s), both in terms of recruitment and enrollment of youth and the work sites used by grantees for construction training. Grantees may, however, recruit and enroll up to 20 percent of eligible youth from beyond the targeted service area, if necessary. Work sites must be within a reasonable commuting distance of the target community at a minimum but grantees should focus on securing work sites within the target community where possible.

6. Industry-Recognized Credentials

Participation in the YouthBuild program should lead to the attainment of a stackable and portable credential, certification or degree that employers recognize and use in hiring decisions. A credential is considered stackable when it is part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time and move an individual along a career pathway or up a career ladder. A credential is considered portable when it is recognized and accepted as verifying the qualifications of an individual in other settings - either in other geographic areas, at other educational institutions, or by other industries or employing companies.

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

Refer to guidance from TEGL 15-10 (http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL15- 10.pdf) regarding industry-recognized credentials. The term credential refers to an attestation of qualification or competence issued to an individual by a third party (such as an educational institution or an industry or occupational certifying organization) with the relevant authority or assumed competence to issue such a credential. WIOA includes a credential attainment performance measure for which YouthBuild programs will be accountable. The WIOA Final Rule and TEGL 10-16 “Performance Accountability Guidance for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I, Title II, Title III and Title IV Core Programs,” found at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=8226, define the credential attainment measure. Any credential proposed in the application that is determined not to qualify for the purposes of the credential attainment measure will require a modification to the grant agreement after award.

Examples of credentials that may qualify include:

• Educational Diplomas and Certificates (typically for one academic year or less of study);

• Educational Degrees, such as an associate’s (2-year) or bachelor’s (4-year) degree;

• Registered Apprenticeship Certificate;

• Occupational Licenses (typically, but not always, awarded by state government agencies); and

• Industry-recognized or professional association certifications, also known as personnel certifications.

7. Travel and Technical Assistance

All applicants should include in their budget funds to cover travel to DOL-sponsored technical assistance training events. DOL expects YouthBuild programs to attend DOL-sponsored (not to be confused with YouthBuild USA-sponsored) events for each year of program operation. This would include, at a minimum, one national New Grantee Orientation during the first year of their grant award; one Management Information System (MIS) training in the first year of grant award and as new staff are hired; construction train-the-trainer events, as needed; and one regional peer-to-peer training event each year which will be held in the city where ETA’s regional office for that grantee’s region is located. DOL expects programs to send multiple levels of staff to specialized training that is offered either at learning exchanges or in specific training programs. These are important professional development opportunities for program staff. For example, the Department offers construction training certification several times a year in various locations across the country. In addition to sending the construction supervisor, grantees may consider sending the classroom instructor(s) as well, to create stronger connections between educational and construction components of YouthBuild programs. Applicants may also budget grant funds for participation in other non-DOL sponsored events, such as those sponsored by YouthBuild USA or other government or non-governmental entities. It is http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL15-10.pdf http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL15-10.pdf https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=8226 expected that funds allocated to travel outside of DOL-sponsored events are reasonable and provide a direct benefit to the program.

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.

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.

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

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

• You must complete the SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1- V2.1.pdf .

• 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 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/forms/sample/SF424B-V1.1.pdf). You do not need to submit the SF-424B 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.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424B-V1.1.pdf

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under Title I WIOA , the grant applicant assures that it will comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws: Section 188 of the WIOA, 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 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 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 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.

• Requirement for DUNS Number

All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities must 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 .

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these 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.

(See Appendix A to 2 CFR section 25.)

• 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 can at https://www.sam.gov .

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do 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:

http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424A-V1.0.pdf). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. It should also include 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) that will work directly on this grant. 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, number of staff, 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 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, not “equipment”. In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant.

http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424A-V1.0.pdf

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

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

For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose and 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 any item, such as stipends or incentives, not covered elsewhere here.

Indirect Costs: If you include indirect costs in the budget, 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 has never received a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), and your organization is not one described in Appendix VII of 2 CFR 200, paragraph (D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total Direct Costs (see 2 CFR 200.68 below for definition) as their cost allocation base. Provide an explanation of which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Note that there are various items not included in the calculation of Modified Total Direct Costs. See below the definitions to assist you in your calculation.

2 CFR 200.68 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 only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

You will note that participant support costs are not included in modified total direct cost. Participant support costs are defined below.

2 CFR 200.75 Participant Support Cost means…