FOA-ETA-21-08 WORC 3.pdf

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR:

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC): A Grant Initiative for the Appalachian and Delta Regions

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-21-08

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.280

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is July 21, 2021. We must receive applications no later than 4:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

3. Eligible Participants

4. Allowable Activities

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

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

2. Project Budget

3. Project Narrative

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, PROCESS, AND ADDRESS

1. Hardcopy Submission

D. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

E. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

1. Indirect Costs

2. Salary and Bonus Limitations

3. Intellectual Property Rights

4. Credential Transparency

5. Use of Grant Funds for Participant Wages

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

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A. CRITERIA

1. Statement of Need and Strategic Alignment

2. Project Description

3. Expected Results and Sustainability

4. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity

5. Budget and Budget Narrative

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

1. Merit Review and Selection Process

2. Risk Review Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

1. Administrative Program Requirements

2. Other Legal Requirements

3. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions

4. Special Program Requirements

C. REPORTING

1. Quarterly Financial Reports

2. Quarterly Performance Reports

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. WEB-BASED RESOURCES

B. INDUSTRY COMPETENCY MODELS AND CAREER CLUSTERS

C. WORKFORCEGPS RESOURCES

D. SKILLSCOMMONS RESOURCES

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) (www.arc.gov) and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) (www.dra.gov), announces the availability of approximately $29.2 million in grant funds, authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), for the third round of Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative demonstration grants. The funding, as described in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94), will build on previous rounds of WORC grants and fund projects supporting rural communities in aligning workforce development efforts with economic development plans, serving the following areas hard-hit by economic transition and recovering slowly:

• The Appalachian region, as defined in 40 U.S.C. 14102(a)(1), and

• The Lower Mississippi Delta (Delta) region, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 2009aa(2).

The goal of this grant opportunity is to create economic prosperity, gainful employment, and high-quality career outcomes for workers (as identified in Section III.C.3. of this FOA) who reside in the Appalachian and Delta regions, enabling them to remain and thrive in these communities. The WORC Initiative provides funding to eligible applicants proposing to meet this goal with a project addressing the employment and training needs of the local and regional workforce, created in collaboration with community partners and aligned with existing economic and workforce development plans and strategies.

Successful applicants will demonstrate clear strategies to provide needed career, training, and support services to eligible individuals in counties, parishes, and/or areas currently underserved by other resources, so they may secure good jobs in stable, high-demand occupations. Eligible individuals served under this grant include dislocated workers, new entrants to the workforce, and incumbent workers.

The Department encourages applicants to propose strategies to achieve economic opportunity and address historical inequities, especially in Energy Communities (as defined in Section IV.B.3(a)); such strategies might:

• Address and promote racial equity through adjustments in recruitment, service design, implementation, and support services that aim to provide equitable access and outcomes to communities of color, immigrants, and other marginalized groups; include partnerships with a range of organizations that support the applicant’s ability to reach out to and deliver equitable services to marginalized groups; or improve data collection and analysis that allows the applicant to disaggregate program outcomes by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, and income in order to improve performance outcomes for marginalized groups;

• support eligible individuals impacted by substance use disorder;

• demonstrate flexible approaches to service delivery to allow for in-person, virtual, socially-distanced, or hybrid models of services and training; or

• address the transformation in energy production by including in the service area Energy

Communities that currently or historically have had a high concentration of employment in energy extraction and related industries.

http://www.arc.gov/ http://www.dra.gov/

Successful applicants will demonstrate collaboration with ARC and DRA, and clearly identify coordinated strategies to expand the capacity and effectiveness of the applicant in administering federal funds to provide workforce services in these communities. To this end, ARC and DRA will provide technical assistance to prospective applicants in their respective regions, as well as provide assistance and support to grantees across the life of the initiative, including through sharing of promising practices, curricula and resources developed by existing grantees. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit www.arc.gov or www.dra.gov for more information, including dates and locations for pre-application technical assistance meetings.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Announcement solicits applications for the WORC Initiative for grants serving the Appalachian and Delta regions. The purpose of this program is to demonstrate the alignment of regionally driven, comprehensive approaches to addressing economic distress and the necessary workforce development activities to ensure dislocated and other workers in the regions are capable of succeeding in current and future job opportunities. Successful long-term economic growth strategies build upon bottom-up, community-led plans that promote economic resilience and maximize regional strengths. The WORC Initiative grants take a long-term view toward assisting eligible communities, including those energy communities that currently or historically have had a high concentration of employment in energy extraction and related industries, in diversifying their economies by investing in developing a skilled workforce through training and other approaches that aligns with local strategies developed by regional partners. This long-term view also acknowledges the impact of the opioid crisis and the significant challenges it presents to a community’s workforce. To address these challenges, ETA encourages applicants to include within their applications strategies to address the employment and training needs of individuals affected by substance use disorder in their communities.

The goal of this grant opportunity is to create economic prosperity, gainful employment, and high-quality career outcomes for workers in impacted ARC and DRA regions, enabling them to remain and thrive in these communities. Successful applicants must demonstrate coordinated workforce strategies in the ARC and DRA regions and help the regions address workforce training and employment needs to help achieve long-term economic success.

Successful applications will propose projects that demonstrate clear and consistent strategies, activities, and partnerships designed to achieve the goal of the initiative.

Applicants are encouraged to address systemic and programmatic barriers that have created employment and economic inequities for historically marginalized populations, particularly Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and other communities who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants are encouraged to meaningfully partner with community residents, stakeholders, and experts in designing, implementing, and evaluating the proposed project.

Please note that for projects proposing equipment purchases or capital improvement activities, applicants must address how these proposed expenditures will facilitate the WORC goal and http://www.arc.gov/ http://www.dra.gov/ explain how these expenditures will assist in the sustainability of the WORC grants through successful employment and training activities.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

WIOA sec. 169(c), as well as Title I, Division A, Title I of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94), authorizes this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $29.2 million to fund approximately 30 grants. You may apply for an amount ranging from $150,000 up to $1.5 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.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for these grants will be no more than 36 months with an anticipated start date of September 30, 2021. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• State Government

• County Government

• City or Township Government

• State or Local Workforce Development Board

• Special District Government

• Regional Organization

• Independent School District

• Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education

• Indian/Native American Tribal Government (federally recognized)

• Indian/Native American Tribal Government (other than federally recognized)

• Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization

• Public/Indian Housing

• Nonprofit Organization with IRS 501(c)(3) Status

• Nonprofit Organization without IRS 501(c)(3) Status

• Private Institution of Higher Education

• Hispanic-serving Institution

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

Among eligible applicants listed above, the applicant agency or organization must also demonstrate collaboration or engagement with at least two employer/industry partners, as well as a public workforce system partner such as a State or Local Workforce Development Board, American Job Center operator or partner program, other training provider, or similar entity, and should partner with other appropriate organizations serving the economic, workforce, and other needs of the community(ies) the application proposes to serve. These other organizations could include community-and faith-based organizations; human services agencies, academic institutions such as local school systems, universities, and community colleges; or other organizations providing job training. Such partnerships expand project capacity to reach and serve grant participants by leveraging and building upon existing community efforts, resources, and networks to benefit workers and address dislocated workers’ employment and training needs. Partnerships also help to sustain the delivery of effective career and training services to address workforce needs.

Applicants are also required to demonstrate that they will only enroll eligible participants who live in the ARC or DRA regions. Applicants may train eligible participants for jobs that are located outside of either of the regions, so long as the applicant clearly demonstrates that employment in these occupations will not require participants to relocate outside the region.

Such jobs must clearly align with the overall intent of the grant application and the statement of need.

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

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

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.

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 consider only the most recently received

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.2

Application for federal funds is within the funding range of $150,000 to $1,500,000 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-424A, Budget Information Form Section IV.B.2

Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2

Project Narrative Section IV.B.3 Applicant Designation (Separate Attachment):

Designation of ARC or DRA Region and Service Area Map

Section IV.B.4 application that met the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.

3. Eligible Participants

a) Participants Eligible to Receive Training and Other Employment-Related Services The intent of this FOA is to fund projects that create economic prosperity, gainful employment, and high-quality career outcomes for eligible workers who live in impacted ARC and DRA regions, enabling them to remain and thrive in these communities. This goal may be achieved through grant projects providing or facilitating the delivery of employment and training services to help eligible individuals pursue or advance in full-time employment aligned with community- or regionally-defined priorities.

Applicants must propose a project that serves workers in one or more of the following three targeted categories: new entrants to the workforce, dislocated workers, and/or incumbent workers. The definitions for each category are as follows:

i. New Entrants to the Workforce: For the purposes of this FOA, we consider “new entrants to the workforce” to refer to those who have never worked before or who have been out of the workforce for a long enough time to make it as if they are entering the workforce for the first time. For example, this may include, but is not limited to, the long-term unemployed and formerly incarcerated individuals. Also eligible, consistent with federal and state wage and employment laws, are youth who are enrolled in high school and are currently or will be eligible to be employed before or within six months after the end of the grant lifecycle, and youth who have dropped out of school and are seeking their first full-time job.

ii. Dislocated Workers: For the purposes of this FOA, this term refers to individuals who were terminated or laid-off or have received a notice of termination or layoff from employment; or were self-employed but are now unemployed.

iii. Incumbent Workers: For the purposes of this FOA, this term refers to individuals who are employed but need training to secure full-time employment, advance in their careers, or retain their current occupations. This includes low-wage and medium-wage workers who need to upgrade their skills to retain employment or advance in their careers, and workers who are currently working part-time.

Within these categories, applicants may serve a wide range of individuals, such as high school or postsecondary students, individuals requiring adult basic and other education programs, individuals with disabilities, veterans, individuals with Limited English Proficiency, and individuals impacted by substance use disorder. Applicants are encouraged to prioritize outreach and recruitment among people and communities who have historically experienced systemic and programmatic inequities in employment and economic outcomes, including but not limited to people of color; immigrants and refugees; individuals with disabilities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) individuals.

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 (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 1010. In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two qualified candidates for a service, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the veterans’ priority of service provisions require that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans’ priority. ETA’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-09 (issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816. This guidance applies to programs funded under WIOA. For additional information on veteran’s priority of service and WIOA, please see TEGL 19-16. TEGL 19-16 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851.

The priority for veterans and their spouses is a requirement that applies when enrolling participants into an awarded grant. The language is included here to ensure that all applicants understand that, should they receive an award, this priority must be followed. It is not a scoring criteria for this FOA.

While this grant does not require priority of service to low-income individuals as required in the WIOA Adult program, the WORC Initiative grants are intended to support participants with barriers to employment, and the Department intends that such participants will be included as appropriate.

4. Allowable Activities Allowable grant activities include:

a) Training and Work-Based Learning Models Workforce training strategies must align with the target community’s or region’s strategic plan or economic development priorities. Some of the allowable training and learning approaches include, but are not limited to:

• traditional classroom training; or

• work-based learning, such as Registered Apprenticeships, customized training programs, incumbent worker training, on-the-job training, internships, or other work experiences. These may occur before or after layoff, in order to help facilitate reemployment.

Note: Applicants are encouraged to investigate existing training curricula and approaches, including those housed on the Skills Commons website at www.skillscommons.org. However, if existing curricula or appropriate tools do not exist that align with, or meet the goals of, the https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851 https://ion.workforcegps.org/resources/2017/03/09/12/20/Work-Based_Learning_-_Adult_and_Dislocated_Worker_Programs https://apprenticeship.gov/ http://www.skillscommons.org/ proposed project, applicants may propose to use grant funds to develop appropriate curricula, with supporting documentation demonstrating that such curricula does not currently exist and will align with the purpose of the project design. For example, applicants may develop appropriate curricula in consultation with the appropriate State Apprenticeship Agency or DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship, as appropriate..

b) Other Employment-Related Activities Allowable employment-related activities include, but are not limited to:

• employability skills training, such as punctuality and professional conduct;

• in-depth participant assessment and evaluation to identify employment barriers and develop individual employment plans; and

• career planning (including via a career pathway approach), job coaching, and job matching services.

c) Innovative Service Delivery Strategies WORC Initiative projects may also address unique circumstances facing Appalachian and Delta region communities by developing and implementing innovative service delivery strategies that address economic and workforce-related challenges. Such innovations might include application of new business models, products, services, technology, or capital improvements/equipment.

Online and technology-enabled (including hybrid, or a blend of online and classroom instruction) learning strategies provide participants an opportunity to balance the competing demands of work and family with acquiring new knowledge and skills at a time, place, and/or pace that are convenient for them. The use of technology to deliver training online, modularize content delivery and accelerate course delivery (among other strategies) can help increase access to education and training programs, especially in rural areas. In addition, new and emergent technologies, such as interactive simulations, personalized and virtual instruction, educational gaming, and digital tutors, offer the opportunity to improve the quality of online instruction, especially in ways that can increase opportunities for learning, support student success, and connect students with in-demand job opportunities.

In light of broad shifts in the economy to more virtual and hybrid learning and working, applicants may choose to focus their efforts towards building their capacity to facilitate online conversion and to become fully operational within a context of distance learning, or to address other unique challenges in addressing the needs of dislocated workers and other workers in the Appalachian and Delta regions in communities covered by the proposed grant. Such approaches might include, but are not limited to:

• expanding broadband access to provide distance learning;

• developing or enhancing partnerships with a broad range of regional institutions, including libraries, community colleges, and others, to collaborate in needs identification and implementation of new strategies;

• developing or enhancing partnerships with organizations;

• increasing availability of mobile service units, such as custom vehicles equipped with technology, and other technology-enabled solutions to flexibly deliver training, outreach, and/or employment in remote areas;

• establishing employer models to expand onsite support services for new and existing employees recovering from substance use disorders;

• technology literacy training or support that facilitates use of online and technology-enabled training;

• developing or expanding use of online or hybrid online and in-person training, employment services, and work experiences;

• using software tools to implement virtual student services to support career and academic planning;

• deploying technology intensively to create competency-based, self-paced, skills-based learning, and making interactive resources, such as simulations and videos, widely accessible;

• expanding professional development opportunities for faculty and adjunct instructors to enable them to become proficient at technology-enabled learning and to create an active and engaging online learning experience for students;

• increasing investment in campus-wide centers for teaching and learning that support the shift to online learning; this may include engaging external support for needs assessments, IT system and cyber audits and similar skills sets that may not be available internally;

• developing new, industry-specific bridging programs that assist target populations gain skills to fill short- and long-term needs of local employers;

• expanding successful employer training programs that teach how to create supportive work environments for new and existing employees impacted by substance use disorder; and

• developing new, or enhancing existing, partnership strategies for sustainable job growth.

d) Participant Support Services Support services are necessary activities or resources that enable eligible individuals to participate in career and training services or to gain or retain employment. Grant recipients may offer support services to dislocated workers and other eligible workers directly or through partner organizations, based upon the specific needs and focus of the project plan.

Generally, customized support service strategies meet the specific needs of an individual and may include, but are not limited to:

• assistance with transportation;

• assistance with child care and dependent care;

• provision of stipends, wages, or other incentives to ensure select participants are able to participate in the program or to obtain/retain employment;

• linkages to community services, including services offered by partner organizations designed to support grant participants;

• assistance with uniforms or other appropriate work attire and work-related tools, including such items as eye glasses and protective eye gear;

• assistance with laptops or tablets, books, fees, school supplies, and other necessary items for students enrolled in training, work-based learning, or other elements of the proposed grant project;

• payments and fees for employment and training-related applications, tests, and certifications;

• mental health services, including rehabilitation and treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) with inpatient treatment or intensive outpatient treatment/program (IOP) limited to 8-12 weeks;

• SUD recovery workforce strategies such as, but not limited to, recovery coaches, job/career coaches, and health navigator services; and

• training site and/or workplace substance use testing and/or drug screening for trainees, when required by the career or workplace the individual in training to enter.

Note: Applicants proposing to include support services for participants exceeding 20 percent of the total grant award must receive prior approval from the grant officer.

e) Employer Support Services All applicants are required to demonstrate partnership with at least two employers as part of this grant. However, providing direct services to employers as part of grant activities is also important, and applicants are encouraged to provide services to employers, particularly small and medium-sized employers. This can most easily be accomplished by coordinating with local business services teams at American Job Centers or other local business and economic development partners. Efforts may focus on individual employers or have an industry-based approach for clusters or sectors, including but not limited to:

• designing/disseminating toolkits and training for employers to develop standards/processes for SUD recovery-friendly workplaces;

• providing peer coaches, counseling, and worksite mentoring programs;

• creating, expanding, or enhancing apprenticeships, internships, and other work experiences, including subsidies of apprentice and intern wages;

• creating customized training programs; and

• establishing school-to-work type activities.

In addition to meeting the workforce needs of these employers, applicants are encouraged to consider, and incorporate where feasible, other roles that employers may play in grant activities.

f) Purchasing Equipment and Making Renovations Capital expenditures, such as the purchase of equipment or capital improvements, are allowable with prior approval from the Grant Officer, provided they directly facilitate or address the employment and training needs of dislocated workers or other workers in the communities served by the proposed project. These expenditures must follow the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 CFR Part 200, and the DOL supplemental requirements at 2 CFR Part 2900. For capital expenditures and equipment, see 2 CFR 200.439. Following a WORC grant award, a grantee must seek and receive written ETA approval in a subsequent modification request for all equipment purchases and renovations. The modification must demonstrate how these purchases and renovations will assist in the successful employment and training of participants. Award of a grant under this FOA does not constitute prior written approval of equipment purchase or renovations mentioned in the initial application.

Possible allowable capital improvements must be designed to address the employment and training needs of dislocated workers and other workers in the area covered by the grant and include, but are not limited to, improvements to buildings or equipment that would materially increase their value or useful life, including the cost to put the asset or improvement in place.

For buildings, this could include the cost of upgrading, installing, or retrofitting a building’s internal systems or utilities (e.g., electrical, plumbing, HVAC, communications) to accommodate training courses or equipment. This could also include structural improvements or upgrades, including the relocation, modification, retrofitting, or enhancement of interior load-bearing walls or interior floors to accommodate training courses or equipment. This could also include implementing and/or enhancing the information technology infrastructure used to provide education and training and related activities.

Minor alterations, renovations, or rearrangements of buildings, facilities, or equipment, if specific to the project, are also allowable with prior written approval from the Grant Officer, provided they facilitate or address the employment and training needs of dislocated workers or other workers in the Appalachian and Delta regions. Minor alterations, renovations, or rearrangements may include the activities and associated costs of relocating, modifying, replacing, or adding items (e.g. switches and outlets) related to internal environments (e.g.

temperature, humidity, ventilation, and acoustics), and installation of fixed equipment (including fume hoods and audio/visual equipment).

Allowable costs also include leasing space that is used for the grant participant education, training, and related activities, as well as the altering or renovating of such facilities (in accordance with the Federal Cost Principles at 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E and the DOL supplemental requirements at 2 CFR Part 2900, Subpart E). Allowable renovations include those related to federal architectural accessibility obligations requiring facilities to be readily accessible to, and usable by, qualified individuals with disabilities.

Following grant award, grantees must submit a subsequent grant modification request to obtain written Grant Officer approval before acquiring equipment or proceeding with proposed capital expenditures, renovation, or alteration of facilities. The Grant Officer must determine that all proposed equipment, capital improvements, and/or alterations and renovation are:

1) allocable, necessary, and reasonable;

2) tied to specific grant-related deliverables and outcomes outlined in the grantee’s statement of work (SOW), including capacity-building and/or training outcomes;

3) consistent with the FOA; and

4) aligned with equipment requirements as outlined in 2 CFR Part 200. Applicants proposing in their SOW to spend grant funds on capital improvements and/or alterations and renovations must demonstrate how these expenditures will support the expansion and/or improvement of their project’s education and training programs addressing the needs of dislocated workers and other needs of workers in the Appalachian and Delta regions.

Prohibited activities with regard to capital expenditures include new construction or property acquisition.

Generally, WORC applicants should not propose that more than 50 percent of their project budget be allocated to allowable equipment purchases or renovations. However, where an applicant can successfully demonstrate that equipment purchases or renovations represent a critical component of the development of a necessary training facility or program, and other non-capital costs are supported by other federal or non-federal resources, an application may request to exceed the 50 percent threshold. In such cases, it is incumbent upon the applicant to demonstrate how use of these funds for equipment purchases or renovations will facilitate necessary workforce training or other allowable service delivery for workers. The applicant must fully develop every section of the Project Narrative, relative to the proposed project focusing on capital or equipment expenditures.

Grantees must complete all activities related to capital expenditures and other alterations within the period of performance of the grant.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and https://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, composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative;

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. The SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” You must complete the SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1).

• In the address field, fill out the nine-digit (plus hyphen) zip code. Find nine-digit zip codes 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1

In addition, subject to the provisions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb, the applicant’s Authorized Representative’s signature in block 21 of the SF- 424 form constitutes assurance by the applicant of compliance with the WIOA 188 rules issued by the Department at 29 CFR 38.25 which includes the following language:

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under Title I WIOA, the grant applicant assures that it has the ability to comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws: Section 188 of the WIOA, which, as interpreted through Departmental regulations, prohibits discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship status 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, subject to RFRA, that as a recipient of WIOA Title I financial assistance [as defined at 29 CFR 38.4(zz)], it will comply with 29 CFR part 38 and all other regulations implementing the laws listed above. This assurance applies to the grant applicant's operation of the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, and to all agreements the grant applicant makes to carry out the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity. The grant applicant understands that the United States has the right to seek judicial enforcement of this assurance. Note that the RFRA applies to all federal law and its implementation. If an applicant organization is a faith-based organization that makes hiring decisions on the basis of religious belief, it may be entitled to receive federal financial assistance under this grant solicitation and maintain that hiring practice. If a faith-based organization is awarded a grant, the organization will be provided with more information.

a) 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:

https://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 unless the entity has provided its DUNS number.

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

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

(See, Appendix A to 2 CFR section 25.)

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

A recipient must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application under consideration. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of initial registration or subsequently update its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate, and complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply and to receive the award. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the Grant Officer is ready to make a federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

2. Project Budget You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at:

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

a) Budget Narrative The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. It must separate the primary cost components of each line item, which when added together provide the line item total. It must also provide the basis for the costs, and the function or use of particular items. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities.

Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of this award.

Valuation of leveraged resources follows the same requirements as match. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

Each category should include the total cost for the period of performance. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

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

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

Travel: For grantee staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, mileage, per diem, estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other costs for each type of travel. Applicants who would like to attend any post-award technical assistance events will https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 need to request funding for travel costs under the Travel line item; ARC and DRA may host no more than three, two-day technical assistance events through the life of these grants.

Applicants are encouraged to follow federal per diem rates when calculating costs for travel (e.g. meals, lodging, transportation, mileage). More information on federal per diem rates can be found at https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase that has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item.

Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are supplies, not “equipment.” In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant.

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

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately.

Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.1 as a legal instrument by which a non-federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a federal award. A subaward, defined by 2 CFR 200.1, means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a federal program.

For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose and activities to be provided, and the estimated cost.

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

Other: Provide clear and specific detail, including costs, for each item so that we are able to determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable. List items, such as stipends or incentives, not covered elsewhere.

Indirect Costs: If you include an amount for indirect costs (through a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or De Minimis) on the SF-424A budget form, then include one of the following:

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

https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates or

b) If you intend to claim indirect costs using the 10 percent de minimis rate, please confirm that your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 CFR 200.414(f). Clearly state that your organization does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, and is not one described in 2 CFR 200, Appendix VII (D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total Direct Costs (see 2 CFR 200.1 below for definition) as their cost allocation base. Provide an explanation of which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Note that there are various items not included in the calculation of Modified Total Direct Costs. See the definitions below to assist you in your calculation.

• 2 CFR 200.1 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may 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.

The definition of MTDC in 2 CFR 200.1 no longer allows for any sub-contracts to be included in the calculation. You will also note that participant support costs are not included in modified total direct cost. Participant support costs are defined below.

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

See Section IV.B.4. and Section IV.E.1 for more information. Additionally, the following link contains information regarding the negotiation of Indirect Cost Rates at DOL:

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/business-operations-center/cost-determination.

Note that the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative must include the entire federal grant amount requested (not just one year).

Do not show leveraged resources on the SF-424 and SF-424A. You should describe leveraged resources in the Budget Narrative.

Applicants should list the same requested federal grant amount on the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative. If minor inconsistencies are found between the budget amounts specified on the SF-424, SF-424A, and the Budget Narrative, ETA will consider the SF-424 the official funding amount requested. However, if the amount specified on the SF-424 would render the https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/business-operations-center/cost-determination https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/business-operations-center/cost-determination application nonresponsive, the Grant Officer will use his or her discretion to determine whether the intended funding request (and match if applicable) is within the responsive range.

3. 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…