FOA-ETA-22-03_.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: Growth Opportunities

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-22-03

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.270

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 04/21/2022. We must receive applications no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

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

This FOA has two closing dates. We must receive your application by 4/21/2022 to be considered for Round 1 and 10/05/2022 to be considered for Round 2. See Section II. Award Information for more information on Rounds 1 and 2.

On approximately March 15, 2022, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page about the funding opportunity will be available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities. Please check this link frequently for future updates, as additional FAQs may be added. A pre-recorded Prospective Applicant Webinar will also be available at the same link 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.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities

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

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, PROCESS AND ADDRESS

D. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

E. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

C. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. WEB-BASED RESOURCES

B. INDUSTRY COMPETENCY MODELS AND CAREER CLUSTERS

C. WORKFORCEGPS RESOURCES

D. SKILLSCOMMONS RESOURCES

E. DIRECTIONS FOR USING CENSUS DATA TO IDENTIFY HIGH-POVERTY AREAS

IN URBAN OR RURAL AREAS AND INDIAN RESERVATIONS OR NATIVE LANDS .52

F. DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE CENSUS DATA TO IDENTIFY POVERTY LEVEL OF

INDIAN RESERVATIONS, OKLAHOMA TRIBAL STATISTICAL AREAS, NATIVE

ALASKAN VILLAGES, OR NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS

G. PAST DOL EVALUATIONS AND EVIDENCE

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $85,000,000 in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Section 169 for the Growth Opportunities (GO) program.

This program prepares justice-involved youth and young adults for employment through education and training, paid work experiences, mentorship, and leadership development, and contributes to community violence intervention among youth and young adults. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local and regional government entities, federally recognized Indian and Tribal governments, and independent school districts. The funding range for grant awards is approximately $2-4 million.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Announcement solicits applications for the Growth Opportunities program.

The purpose of this program is to introduce and prepare justice-involved youth and young adults for the world of work through placement into paid work experiences, and on a path to more equitable career opportunities with their peers. In addition to paid work experiences, the program encompasses occupational education and training in in-demand industries, leadership development, a mentorship component, and post-work experience placement into unsubsidized employment and/or education. These grants focus on youth and young adults most impacted by community violence to advance equity, particularly in areas of concentrated crime and poverty as well as communities that have recently experienced significant unrest. This program contributes to the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive strategy to combat gun violence and other violent crime, in part, with preventative measures that are proven to reduce violent crime and support public safety and community well-being.

The goals of the grant are to:

Help youth and young adults to increase their conflict resolution skills and develop strategies to prevent and avoid violence.

Introduce and prepare youth for the world of work.

Help youth identify career interests, attain relevant skills and gain work experience.

Provide income to youth, to start them on the path of earning living wages and obtaining high quality jobs and careers.

Grants will be awarded to organizations that can serve as the lead applicant for a group of service providers, and have overall fiscal and administrative responsibility of a resultant grant. Eligibility information, including required partnerships, is further outlined in Section III.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260), for ex-offender activities under Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), authorizes this program. The Round 2 competition for funding under this program is tentative pending availability of FY 2022 appropriations.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $85,000,000 to fund approximately 29 grants. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $4,000,000. Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement.

Direct applicants may apply for up to $2,000,000 in funding, and intermediary applicants may apply for up to $4,000,000. Section III.A Eligible Applicants defines these two applicant types.

Pending availability of funds, we intend to fund the Growth Opportunities program in two competitive rounds. The same FOA will be used for each round.

Anticipated Funding Available

Anticipated Number of Awards

Award Ceiling & Eligible Applicant Types

Round 1 $40,000,000 12

$2,000,000 – Direct Applicants

$4,000,000 – Intermediary Applicants

Round 2 $45,000,000 17

$2,000,000 – Direct Applicants

$4,000,000 – Intermediary Applicants

Applications for each round should be prepared and submitted following the requirements and processes outlined in this FOA. Subject to receiving applications of fundable quality, ETA intends for approximately 50 percent of Round 2 funds to be awarded to applicants that have not received a previous Reentry Employment Opportunities grant.

Applications from Direct Applicants or Intermediary Applicants that meet minimum eligibility criteria in Round 1 but do not receive funding will automatically be included in the Round 2 competition, unless the applicant notifies ETA that they are withdrawing their application. Applicants may also choose to submit an updated application for Round 2. If the updated application is deemed non-responsive for any reason, the Round 1 application review results will be used for Round 2 selections.

DOL intends to award at least 65 percent of Round 1 and 60 percent of Round 2 available grant funds to intermediary applicants.

Additionally, pending availability of funds and satisfactory performance, grantees from Rounds 1 and 2 may be eligible for a future, limited competition to extend follow-up services to program participants.

All awards made under the current Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, we reserve the right in each round to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 42 months with an anticipated start date of 06/01/2022. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

In addition to the Round 1 anticipated start date of 06/01/2022 mentioned above, subject to available funding, there will be an additional round, also with a period of performance of 42 months. The anticipated start dates are as follows:

Round 1 – 06/01/2022 Round 2 – 01/02/2023

This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

County governments City or township governments Special district governments

Regional government organization Independent school districts Indian/Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits other than institutions of higher education having a 501(c)(3) status with the

IRS, including union training funds, faith-based, women’s, minority, and community-based organizations

Among eligible applicants listed above, the applicant agency or organization must also choose to submit its application in just one of two FOA applicant categories—direct or intermediary.

(1) Applicant Types This FOA distinguishes between two applicant types—direct and intermediary. Carefully consider the requirements below and apply under the appropriate category; and make certain to respond to the application instructions (project narrative, evaluation criteria, and attachments) that correspond to your category.

i. Direct applicants must be an eligible organization listed above, and deliver direct services to all enrolled participants. Direct applicants must have partnerships with other organizations. See below for details on required partnerships.

ii. Intermediary applicants (intermediaries) must be an eligible organization listed above;

and must support the delivery of direct services by their sub-grantees. Intermediary applicants must facilitate the replication of best practices across multiple sub-grantees, and provide sub-grantees with administrative and fiscal support or management to ensure compliance with DOL requirements. Intermediaries must, in their proposal, identify sub-grantees (which may be affiliates or local offices) across three or more non-contiguous metropolitan areas or rural regions, which must be spread across at least two states (unless the three non-contiguous areas or regions are in California or Texas). These two states are exceptions to the rule because of their exceptionally large populations and square mileage, relative to other states. Additionally, intermediaries or their sub-grantees must have a distinct justice system partner in each of the three metropolitan areas or rural regions (see below for more details).

(2) Partnerships Mandatory Partnerships Direct and intermediary applicants must demonstrate active involvement of the mandatory partners by providing signed documentation of commitments from the mandatory partners, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letter of Commitment (LOC) signed by an authorizing agent of the partner organization that describes the roles of the partners toward achieving grant objectives. If there is not a MOU or LOC from each of the required partners, the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed. Applicants must identify, and provide a written commitment from the following mandatory partners for this project:

i. Violence Prevention or Intervention partner—defined as an individual or organization with significant experience in delivering culturally competent outreach to individuals with a high risk of committing violence (and/or becoming a victim) to interrupt the cycle of violence. The Violence Prevention partner must be familiar with and respected by individuals at a high risk of violence, and work in partnership with a justice system office. Examples include: violence interrupters; hospital intervention programs; local clergy or faith-based organizations; and individuals or organizations with established violence-prevention programs.

ii. Justice System partner—defined as a regional or local government partner that agrees to collaborate with the Violence Prevention partner; for example, to assist with referral of high-risk individuals to the program, share documents or data, including risk assessments, with participant consent where appropriate. Examples include: Police, Sheriffs, District Attorneys, Community Corrections, Courts and Public Defenders.

iii. Employer partners—defined as organizations – such as labor unions – or businesses (public, private or nonprofit) that commit to serve as work experience sites.

iv. Sub-grantees (applicable to intermediary applicants only)—defined as the organizations (which may be affiliates or local offices of the intermediary organization) that will deliver direct career services to participants on behalf of the intermediary applicant. Sub-grantees can serve multiple regions, and may also serve as a required partner.

For intermediary applicants, the required MOUs or LOCs for Mandatory Partnerships i-iii may be between sub-grantees and partners. MOUs or LOCs between intermediary applicants and mandatory partners must name a sub-grantee as party to the agreement, and explain the sub-grantee’s responsibilities, if any.

Recommended Partnerships Grantees are encouraged to collaborate with agencies and businesses besides the mandatory partners to leverage resources and deliver holistic and wrap-around services, such as a local Workforce Development Board. Applicants should identify organizations who will support program goals with job placement opportunities, workforce services, social services, childcare, transportation, housing, mentorship, addiction treatment, and mental health treatment for participants. Applicants are encouraged to provide written commitments from recommended partners.

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.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C

Eligibility Section III.A

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

Section

IV.C.2

Application federal funds request does not exceed the ceiling amount of $2M for direct applicants and $4M for intermediary applicants.

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

Documentation of Commitment from All Mandatory Partners Sections III.A.2 and IV.B.3.d.1

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider only one application from each organization per round. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization, we will consider only the most recently received application from that round that met the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application from that round. However, if a Round 2 application is deemed non-responsive for any reason, the applicant’s Round 1 review results will be used to make Round 2 selections. While we will consider only one application from each organization, organizations (including applicants) may be included as partners on other applications.

3. Eligible Participants

a. Participants Eligible to Receive Training

The intent of this FOA is to fund projects that provide education and workforce services to justice-involved youth and young adults, and youth most impacted by community violence, so they may pursue or advance in an educational or career pathway within the grant period of performance.

Eligible participants must:

i. Be at least 15 years old and not older than 24 years of age on the date of enrollment;

and

ii. Reside in the targeted geographic area, or plan to return to the area upon release from custody, or upon the conclusion of an out-of-home placement; and

iii. Have been expelled from a school OR had juvenile or adult justice system contact, defined as:

Current or previous incarceration; or arrest;

Probation; parole; or out-of-home placement;

Alternative sentence by the juvenile or adult justice system;

Diversionary program of the juvenile or adult justice system; and

iv. Have one or more of the following risk-factors associated with delinquent or criminal activity:

Juvenile or criminal record of a violent offense/infraction or crimes against persons, as defined by state law enforcement. Examples include assault, homicide, intimidation, kidnapping/abduction, manslaughter, sex offenses, and robbery.

Attend or attended an alternative high school for disciplinary reasons Left high school before completion Gang membership (current or prior) Parent who is currently or formerly incarcerated Diagnosed by clinician or told by a school official of attention deficit disorder or attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD) or other learning disabilities; or has or had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in school

Assessed as having anti-social attitudes/beliefs (by clinician or justice system or mandatory violence prevention partner)

Substance misuse before age 12.

There are multiple forms of acceptable source documentation for the risk-factors above, including but not limited to: school records, or signed statements or emails from current or former school officials, teachers or other school staff. Self-attestation may be used for a number of eligibility criteria, including but not limited to parents' incarceration, ADD or ADHD diagnosis, school IEP, and early substance abuse. However, self-attestation should only be used if acceptable documentation is unavailable. Participant contact with juvenile or criminal justice system must be verified with documentation from a justice system agency.

NOTE: Up to 35% of participants may be documented direct referrals from a justice system or mandatory violence prevention partner without prior involvement in the juvenile or adult criminal justice system or school expulsion. Up to 10% of participants may be individuals who left high school before completion without prior involvement in the juvenile or adult criminal justice system or school expulsion. Additionally, up to 10% of participants may reside outside the targeted geographic area.

b. Veterans’ Priority for Participants

38 U.S.C. 4215 requires grantees to provide priority of service to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services in any job training program directly funded, in whole or in part, by DOL. The regulations implementing this priority of service are at 20 CFR Part 1010. In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two qualified candidates for a service, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the veterans’ priority of service provisions require that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans’ priority. ETA’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-09 (issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816.

4. Target Service Area Please note that DOL evaluates applications on the need of the proposed service area (also referred to as “target area”). For the GO grant program, DOL considers not only the need for the services to participants in this area, but also the area’s level of poverty and crime. Applicants must use American Community Survey data to define counties, Indian Reservations or Native Lands, or contiguous Census Tracts as target areas for their grants. Direct applicants proposing to serve multiple service areas that are not contiguous or closely located must provide the address of a local organizational presence (office, affiliate, sub-grantee or partner organization) in a physical space sufficient to provide program services within each service area proposed.

5. Target Age Group This FOA requires applicants to choose a participant age group to serve—either youth (15-18 years old) or young adults (18-24 years old). Carefully consider the unique safety, development, education, training, and social needs of each age group, and make certain to address those unique needs in your project narrative. Serving both age groups is not an option.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

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

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of four separate and distinct parts:

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

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

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

The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by an individual with authority to enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant is considered the Authorized Representative of the applicant. As stated in block 21 of the SF-424 form, the signature of the 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.

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

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under Title I WIOA, the grant applicant assures that it has the ability to comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws: Section 188 of the WIOA and its implementing regulations at 29 CFR Part 38, which prohibit discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship or status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or participation in any WIOA Title I— financially assisted program or activity; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, http://www.Grants.gov https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1

Page 11 of 58 which prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, and national origin;

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities; The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs.

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

a. Requirement for 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.

(See Appendix A to 2 CFR Part 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.

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.

https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do https://www.sam.gov

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. 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.

The Budget Narrative must demonstrate that the cost-per-participant for Direct Applicants is at or under $12,500. The cost-per-participant for Intermediary Applicants must be at or under $11,500.

Each category should include the total estimated 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 estimated costs for each type of travel.

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

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

Supplies: Identify the cost of supplies (e.g., general office supplies, desk/chairs, laptops/printers, other specialty items) in the detailed budget per category. Except for general office supplies, 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a federal program.

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

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

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

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

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

or

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

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

2 CFR 200.1 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may be excluded only when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs. The definition of MTDC in 2 CFR 200.1 no longer allows any sub-contracts to be included in the calculation. You will also note that participant support costs are not included in modified total direct cost. Participant support costs are defined below.

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

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

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 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 limited to 25 double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch pages with Times New Roman 12-point text font and 1-inch margins. You must number the Project Narrative beginning with page number 1.

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

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

a. Statement of Need (Up to 12 Points)

The GO program focuses on areas with high rates of crime and poverty, as well as communities that have recently experienced significant unrest.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division

1. Poverty Rate (Up to 4 points) The application must provide American Community Survey (ACS) data to show the poverty rate of counties, Indian Reservation or Native Land, or contiguous Census Tracts proposed to be the target areas of the grant. See Section VIII below for instructions on using ACS data. The application must include as an attachment a table that lists the total population and number of persons in poverty in each of the proposed Census Tracts in the target area. The total number of persons in poverty in all of the combined Census Tracts divided by the combined population of all of the proposed Census Tracks is the required poverty rate of the proposed target area. Also, a map must be provided in the attachment showing that the Census Tracts are contiguous. This map can be a screenshot of the Census website the applicant used in accessing the ACS Census Tract data. If an entire county or Indian Reservation or Native Land is proposed as a target area, the applicant does not need to provide a table or map, and only needs to state in the application the poverty rate of the county or Indian Reservation or Native Land that the Census website provides. If an entire county is not planned to be the target area, applicants will need to identify contiguous Census Tracts rather than entire cities as target areas.

Applicants proposing to serve more than one target area must provide for each of the target areas a table that lists the total population and number of persons in poverty in each of the Census Tracts in the target area, and a map showing that the Census Tracts are contiguous. Applicants serving more than one target area must also provide a summary table that lists the total population and population in poverty of each of the proposed target areas. The total number in poverty of the combined target areas divided by the total population of the combined target areas is the required poverty rate for the applicant.

DOL will score applicants based on the weighted average poverty rate across all counties, Indian Reservations or Native Land, or contiguous Census Tracts proposed to be the target areas of the grant.

If the weighted average poverty rate in the proposed target area(s) is 25% or higher: 4 Points

If the weighted average poverty rate in the proposed target area(s) is between 20% and 24.99%: 2 Points.

Applicants proposing a target area with a weighted average poverty rate less than 20% will get 0 points for this criterion. Applicants not providing the ACS data attachment for all target areas will receive 0 points.

2. Violent Crime Rate (Up to 6 points) The application must provide data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report, Crime in the United States, if available for the target areas, to show the violent crime rate per 100,000 residents. This FBI violent crime data is available at the FBI website https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-6. Table 6 from Crime in the United States, 2019 lists Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in alphabetical order, and includes violent crime data for principal cities within the MSAs. The third column in the table shows the population and the fourth column provides the violent crime data for the respective MSA and city.

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-6 https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-6

If the target area is in an MSA and comprised of Census tracts within one principal city, then use the data provided for that principal city. Divide the number of violent crimes by the population, and then multiply the result by 100,000 to determine the required violent crime rate.

If the target area is in an MSA and comprised of Census tracts not confined to one principal city listed, then the "Rate per 100,000 inhabitants" for that MSA provided in the table is the required violent crime rate.

If the target area is not in an MSA listed in Table 6, applicants may use the violent crime rate of their county, Indian Reservation, or Native Land. Only these applicants may use data from other sources. Permissible data sources are limited to the following: official reports, briefs, or documents disseminated by federal, state, local, or Tribal law enforcement, public safety, or public health agencies during or after 2018.

In all cases, the applicant must provide documentation of its data source. Applicants not providing data documentation for all target areas will receive 0 points.

Applicants serving more than one target area must provide a summary table that lists the population and number of violent crimes for each of the proposed target areas. The total number of violent crimes of the combined target areas, divided by the total population of the combined target areas, multiplied by 100,000, is the average violent crime rate per 100,000 residents required for the applicant.

DOL will score applicants based on the average violent crime rate across all MSAs, principal cities, counties, Indian Reservations, and/or Native Lands that the applicant proposes to serve.

If the average violent crime rate is 500 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants or higher: 6 Points.

If the average violent crime rate is between 370 and 499.99 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants : 4 Points.

Applicants proposing a target area with a violent crime rate less than 370 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants will get 0 points for this criterion.

3. Recent Community Unrest (Up to 2 points) A wave of significant unrest in the United States has recently highlighted the need for innovative public safety solutions in communities across the nation. These grants focus on youth and young adults most impacted by community violence in order to provide growth opportunities and employment; both are associated with lower-risk behavior.

Describe both quantitatively and qualitatively the nature of any significant community unrest that has taken place in your target areas in 2019 to the present. If this has resulted in the development of new, or expansion of existing, civic partnerships or projects aiming to prevent or reduce community violence, please summarize those efforts and their connection, if any, to this proposal. The violence prevention projects may have been organized by the public sector (government) or private sector (including nonprofits, community-based and faith-based organizations).

Communities that experienced significant unrest and used that opportunity to develop new and/or expand existing community violence prevention projects will receive two points. Communities that experienced significant unrest and have not organized a violence prevention response yet will receive one point.

b. Performance Measurement, Outcomes, and Outputs (Up to 12 Points)

The applicant must describe its process to monitor, track, measure, and manage grant performance to ensure all planned goals and deliverables are achieved.

1. Performance Measurement (Up to 6 points)

Applicants will be scored based on a complete description of their methods and tools to track and report the required outputs and outcomes. This must include the roles of software, staff and partners.

WIOA Primary Indicators of Performance:

The Department expects grantees to track and report the following WIOA performance indicators as specified in WIOA section 116(b)(2)(A)(i). If awarded, applicants are expected to meet the specified performance goals.

i. Education & Employment Rate - Second Quarter after Exit. 70%

ii. Education & Employment Rate - Fourth Quarter after Exit. 60%

iii. Median Earnings - Second Quarter after Exit. $5,750

iv. Credential Attainment. 50%

v. Measurable Skills Gains. 70%

Additional information on these performance indicators can be found in Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 10-16, Change 1: 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=3255. The Department will calculate the median earnings outcome on behalf of grantee. The Department may determine additional targets or revise targets for WIOA measures post-award.

REO-specific Indicators In addition to WIOA performance indicators, grantees must track and report the following REO-specific indicators of performance:

i. Arrests for violent crimes that are committed after program entry. The goal is less than 5%.

https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=3255

ii. Recidivism—defined as the percentage of participants convicted of a new crime committed within 12 months of release from a correctional facility or placement on probation. The conviction may occur at any time during the performance period. For each participant, recidivism shall be measured from their most recent release prior to enrollment or, if incarcerated at the time of enrollment, from their first release post-enrollment. The goal for this measure is less than 10%.

iii. Applicants must describe a clear and realistic plan to track and report arrests, recidivism, and returns-to-incarceration based on the definitions and parameters provided in this FOA. Plans should specify the intended source(s) of criminal justice data, and staff and/or partner roles in tracking and reporting. DOL prefers applicants establish or update data-sharing agreements with justice system partners to track justice outcomes rather than relying on unofficial commitments, word-of-mouth, or public databases maintained by courts, corrections facilities and other justice agencies.

iv. Pending availability of funds and satisfactory progress, ETA may consider holding a limited competition among awarded GO grantees for additional funds to provide continued follow-up services (up to 24-months), including mentorship and conflict resolution, and supportive services to participants enrolled during the original period of performance; to enroll and provide services to new participants;

and to continue performance measurement.

v. NOTE: As part of data collection, all REO grantees are directed to request participants’ social security numbers (SSNs). While REO grantees are required to request participants’ SSNs, participants cannot be denied services if they choose not to disclose.

2. Logic Model (Up to 6 points)

Grant applicants must show how their program outputs relate to desired outcomes with the aid and brevity of a logic model. Clearly identify the key inputs, outputs, and outcomes that comprise program operations and program success. For the purposes of this project, outputs are tangible products, services, and activities generally scheduled and controlled by the applicant. For example, outputs may include assessments completed, trainings provided, and workshops delivered. In contrast, outcomes are the positive benefits and changes (or lack thereof) for participants and employers that result from program activities and outputs. For example, measurable outcomes may include cognitive developments, behavior changes, and income increases.

The logic model must include the required performance indicators from the previous subsection 3.b)(1). A “key” or table that explains abbreviations or symbols used in the logic model may be included, but additional lengthy descriptions or explanations should not be included. Instead, explain and describe program operations, methods, and strategies in the appropriate narrative section and refer back to the logic model as needed. The logic model must be 1-2 pages, the majority of which should be a visual representation of the relationships between inputs, outputs and outcomes.

Applicants will be scored on their Logic models based on completely addressing the factors listed below, not the quality of graphics or artistic appeal.

i. Clarity

ii. Inclusion of the required components

iii. Strength of connections between the outputs and outcomes, measured by the evidence provided of those programmatic strategies in the Project Design section

iv. Degree of alignment between the Logic Model and the overall Project Design

For more information on developing a logic model, please see the resource(s) available on ETA’s WorkforceGPS website:…