FOA-ETA-23-09.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-23-09

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.285

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 05/01/2023. 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.

On approximately April 3, 2023 a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for this 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.

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. REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH

F. REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP RESOURCES

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

APPENDIX A BASE FORMULA FUNDING

APPENDIX B BASE FORMULA FUNDING AMOUNTS

APPENDIX C SUGGESTED ABSTRACT TEMPLATE

APPENDIX D SUGGESTED PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS TABLE

APPENDIX E SUGGESTED WORK PLAN TEMPLATE

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 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Public Law 117-103, Division H, Title I for State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) Round One.

In this installment of a larger five-year plan, the Department expects to award a total of $85,000,000 to states and territories to increase their ability to serve, improve, and strategically expand the National Apprenticeship system. Of the available funds, the Department intends to award up to $40,000,000 through 54 formula-funded base grants, also referred to as the Base Formula Funding in this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). (See Appendix B for more information for the formula calculation.) The Department will also award an additional $45,000,000 through competitive funds, also referred to as Competitive Funding in this FOA, to those eligible applicants seeking to receive a combination of both Base Formula Funding and Competitive Funding. Competitive funds will be awarded through 8-10 grants, with individual grants ranging from $1,000,000 up to $6,000,000. In order to receive Competitive Funding, applicants must submit applications for both Base Formula Funding and Competitive Funding.

All applicants responding to this FOA are required, at minimum, to submit an application for the Base Formula Funding.

For more information on applying for the Base Formula Funding, please see Appendix A. The Department intends to issue amendments to this Funding Opportunity Announcement in future years to provide additional funding annually dependent on the availability of funds.

On February 17, 2021, President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to expand the Registered Apprenticeship system, which includes Registered Apprenticeship Programs (hereinafter referred to as RAPs) and pre-apprenticeship programs leading to RAPs, to reward work, rebuild the middle-class, and connect a diverse workforce to family-supporting, living wage jobs. The President called for the jobs created by rebuilding America’s infrastructure to be filled by diverse, local, well-trained workers who have the free and fair choice to join a union. This starts by expanding the Registered Apprenticeship system and investing in pipelines into Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Later that year, the President issued Executive Orders 14031, 14045, 14049, 14050, and 14075, highlighting and vowing to address the systemic barriers to equity, justice, education, excellence, economic opportunity, and equality faced by the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Latino, Native American, Black American, and LGBTQI+ populations.

President Biden underscored the need for a shared commitment between industries, including labor organizations, and the federal government to restore the country from the pandemic and ensure that “the future of America is made in America, by American workers.” With the “earn-while-you-learn” model, which acknowledges employers as the drivers of their hiring and training, RAPs are uniquely situated to remove barriers to economic opportunity and bring the potential for predictable and stable living wages to all members of their local communities.

Assisting new and emerging industries by establishing RAPs contributes to a long-term hiring strategy for businesses that will promote prosperity and sustainability, regardless of where they are located.

The Department’s goals for the SAEF Grant program are threefold:

1) Help states and territories advance the Registered Apprenticeship system as a workforce development strategy and post-secondary education career pathway that maintains the nation’s strong, adaptable, and highly skilled workforce.

2) Support integrated, statewide Registered Apprenticeship strategies and state and territory capacity to engage industry and meet the demand for new programs in both traditional and non-traditional industries, such as the Care Economy (Healthcare, Childcare, Home Care, etc.), Climate/Clean Energy, Public Sector, Educational Services (K-12 Teachers), Technology/Cybersecurity, Transportation, Hospitality, and the Supply Chain (logistics, warehouse, transportation, and manufacturing, including but not limited to the manufacturing of semi-conductors and biomanufacturing).

3) Allow states and territories to build capacity to significantly increase Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for all American workers, particularly underrepresented populations, including women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, and underserved communities, including veterans, justice-impacted individuals, youth, and those in rural communities, and to take steps to facilitate their successful start and completion of RAPs.

As a key partner within the National Apprenticeship system, states and territories are uniquely qualified to support the Administration’s priority goals of expanding, modernizing, and diversifying Registered Apprenticeship, ultimately leading to good jobs, good wages, and strong career pathways.

The Base Formula Funding option will have a grant Period of Performance (POP) of 12 months, and the Competitive Funding option will have a grant POP of 36 months. The Department intends this annual investment plan to form the basis of a longer-term strategic investment plan.

Subject to available funds, the Department is committed to awarding annual Base Formula Funding (based on a formula and dependent on availability) and providing opportunities for states and territories to apply for Competitive Funding on a yearly basis. Continuation of funding to grantees is subject to the discretion of DOL and contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee’s project, and adequate stewardship of federal funds. As appropriated funding for Registered Apprenticeship has grown each year since 2016, the Department strongly believes that consistency and reliability of federal support is critical to the sustained growth, diversification, and modernization of the National Apprenticeship system.

Eligible entities are states, as defined in 29 CFR Section 29.2. The term “State” means “any of the 50 States of the United States, District of Columbia, or any Territory or possession of the

United States.” For the purposes of this FOA, the eligible 54 U.S. States and territories include all 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and territories whose Active Apprentices exceeds 100 apprentices, i.e., Guam, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. Only territories with more than 100 registered apprentices (as of FY 22 data) are eligible to apply for Base and Competitive funds. For those territories not eligible to apply under this FOA (i.e., have fewer than 100 registered apprentices), OA will provide dedicated technical assistance to increase their capacity to apply for future year funding, contingent upon the availability of such funds. Please see Section III.A Eligible Applicants. To view the Office of Apprenticeship’s FY 2022 Data and Statistics, please visit https://www.apprenticeship.gov/data-and-statistics.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This announcement solicits applications for the SAEF grant program.

As part of a five-year investment plan, the Department is providing funding, through the SAEF grant program, for States to support State capacity and State planning to create new and expand existing RAPs while also driving system innovation and reform. Subject to available funding, the Department intends to provide, on an on-going basis, an annual formula-funded base grant to all States that apply and that meet application requirements, as well as an opportunity for States to apply for additional Competitive Funding annually. States may apply for an annual Base Formula grant and Competitive Funding, contingent upon funding remaining available over the next five years. For States that receive Competitive Funding, they may only receive that funding once during the five-year investment planning cycle. Continuation of Base Formula Funding to grantees is subject to the discretion of DOL and contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee’s project, and adequate stewardship of federal funds.

Applicants will have two options when applying for this grant program:

1. Base Formula Funding. Applicants may choose to apply for the Base Formula Funding, as described in Appendix A. Base Formula Funding amounts are specified in Appendix B.

2. Base Formula Funding, as well as Competitive Funding up to $6 million.

Those responsive applicants that are not selected for the Competitive Funding will receive only the Base Formula Funding. Further, applicants that only apply for Competitive Funding but do not apply for Base Formula funding will be found nonresponsive. If applicants are not selected for Competitive Funding in one funding cycle, applicants are encouraged to re-apply for Competitive Funding in future cycles under this grant program. Subject to available funding, it is the Department’s intent to provide an opportunity to apply for Base Formula Funding option for all eligible applicants under this grant program over five years, and the Competitive Funding option to the highest scoring applicants under this grant program.

Applicants must submit one abstract for the Base Formula Funding option, and, if applicable, an additional, second abstract for the Competitive Funding option. Applicants must complete and submit the appropriate abstract(s) for their application (see Appendix C). Please make note of the Funding Option in each abstract.

Every State applying for a grant under this FOA that meets the application requirements, as described in Appendix A, will receive a base amount of formula funding, as described in https://www.apprenticeship.gov/data-and-statistics

Appendix B, to engage in activities to strengthen the structures supporting RAPs in their State.

For Base Formula Funding allowable activities, please refer to Appendix A.

As a result of this Funding Opportunity, depending on availability of funding in subsequent years, States may receive base funds annually, for up to four more years from the start of the grant period of performance, provided their performance and expenditures of the previous year support additional funding. Each State has their own unique demographics, and each State must provide pertinent data to show and consider shortages and/or saturation in occupations. DOL wants to ensure States receive appropriate funding and resources to build up and expand their Registered Apprenticeship ecosystem. After each year, if DOL determines that a State qualifies for new Base Formula Funding, based on their growth/outcomes, they will automatically receive additional Base Formula Funding based on that year's formula, if they wish to receive Base Formula Funding again and provided funds are available. DOL will publish new Base Formula Funding amounts annually, contingent upon such funding being available, prior to future awards being made.

States that wish to only apply for the Base Formula Funding should refer to Appendices A and B for additional information on the Project Narrative requirements, allowable activities, and the Base Formula Funding amounts. Section IV.B.3. Project Narrative is only applicable to applicants wishing to apply for the Competitive Funding. States must submit separate SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative for the Base Formula Funding and Competitive Funding, if applicable. Applicants must submit one abstract for the Base Formula Funding option, and, if applicable, an additional, second abstract for the Competitive Funding Option.

PROGRAM DESIGN

The SAEF grant will expand opportunities in RAPs, as well as pre-apprenticeships that lead to RAPs. While grantees and their strategies will be diverse, within each State, they will share a set of common design elements. These common design elements include the requirements for RAPs, the quality framework for pre-apprenticeship programs, and cross-cutting principles.

A. Registered Apprenticeship Programs

RAPs are a proven model of job preparation, validated by DOL or a DOL-recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), which combine paid on-the-job learning (OJL) with related instruction (RI) to progressively increase workers’ skill levels and wages. RAPs are also a business-driven model that provide an effective way for employers to recruit, train, and retain highly skilled workers. RAPs allow workforce partners, educators, and employers to develop and apply industry standards to training programs, thereby increasing the quality and productivity of the workforce. RAPs offer job seekers immediate employment opportunities that pay sustainable wages and offer advancement along a career path as they complete their training. Graduates of RAPs receive nationally recognized, portable credentials, and their training may be applied toward further post-secondary education.

RAPs are authorized through regulations issued under the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), which are located at 29 C.F.R. Parts 29 and 30. The Office of Apprenticeship (OA), in conjunction with SAAs, registers programs for federal purposes, ensures that RAPs meet applicable federal and State laws and regulations covering RAPs, issues certificates of completion to apprentices, encourages the development of new programs through outreach and technical assistance, protects the safety and welfare of apprentices, and ensures equal employment opportunity for apprentices.

Applicants may refer to https://www.apprenticeship.gov/employers/registered-apprenticeship-program for more information on the key elements of a RAP.

B. Quality Pre-apprenticeship Programs

A pre-apprenticeship program is defined as a set of strategies designed to prepare individuals for entry into a RAP. Pre-apprenticeship programs differ from internships, job shadowing, externships, and co-ops, which may also offer individuals an opportunity to experience firsthand a profession or practice, but do not always engage in “real world” experiential learning. For the purposes of this FOA, pre-apprenticeship programs must include the following five elements to be considered a quality pre-apprenticeship program:

Designed in Collaboration with RAP Sponsors. Quality pre-apprenticeship programs are designed by organizations with input from a RAP sponsor. A pre-apprenticeship program’s educational and pre-vocational services prepare individuals to meet the entry requisites of one or more RAPs. They have training goals to teach participants a defined set of skills required and agreed upon by the RAP sponsor for entry into their programs.

The start date and length of specific pre-apprenticeship programs may vary. Ideally, pre-apprenticeship programs provide an industry-recognized credential and stipends or wages.

Meaningful Hands-on Training that Does Not Displace Paid Employees. Quality pre-apprenticeship programs provide hands-on training to individuals in 1) a workplace, 2) simulated lab experience, or 3) work-based learning environment, and which also do not supplant a paid employee, while accurately simulating the industry and occupational conditions of the partnering RAPs, which includes observing proper supervision and safety protocols.

Facilitated Entry and/or Articulation. The purpose of a pre-apprenticeship program is to train individuals for entry into a RAP. A quality pre-apprenticeship program assists in exposing participants to local, State, and national apprenticeship programs and provides direct assistance to participants applying to those programs. When possible, formalized agreements exist with RAPs that enable individuals who have successfully completed the pre-apprenticeship program to enter directly into a RAP. These may also include articulation agreements that allow the individual to earn advanced credit/placement for skills and competencies already acquired. For the purposes of this FOA, pre-apprenticeship programs must lead to enrollment in a RAP.

Sustainability through Partnerships. To support the ongoing sustainability of a quality pre-apprenticeship partnership, such partnerships collaboratively promote the use of RAPs as a preferred means for employers to develop a skilled workforce and to create career opportunities and pathways for individuals.

Access to Appropriate Supportive Services. Quality pre-apprenticeship programs facilitate access to appropriate supportive services during the program; these supportive services may continue after the participant leaves the pre-apprenticeship program and enters a RAP. Services may include counseling, transportation assistance, childcare, and rehabilitative services, among others.

https://www.apprenticeship.gov/employers/registered-apprenticeship-program https://www.apprenticeship.gov/employers/registered-apprenticeship-program

For more information on quality pre-apprenticeship programs or any subsequent information issued by the Department, please visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-notice-no-13-12.

C. Cross-cutting Principles

SAEF grants, i.e., Base Formula Funding and/or Competitive Funding, will incorporate the following cross-cutting principles into their projects to support the Administration’s goal of ensuring quality jobs for all workers:

Equity. Focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in existing programs, as well as expansion of the RAP model to new industries to improve outcomes for workers who have historically not had access to the model. DOL recognizes that expanding access, equity, and career awareness to increase participation of underrepresented populations (which may include women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, as established in 29 CFR Part 30, where that population’s participation in RAPs is significantly less than would be reasonably expected given the availability of such individuals for apprenticeship in the relevant industry, occupation, or recruitment area) and underserved communities (including veterans, justice-impacted individuals, youth, and those in rural communities) will be critical to advance registered apprenticeships.

Good Jobs/Fair Labor standards. Registered Apprenticeships, by design, are good jobs, providing good starting wages and a progressive wage increase, as well as creating pathways to long-term careers and opportunities for higher education. These grants will focus on in-demand occupations and industries that provide good-quality jobs that pay living wages in a safe and healthy workplace, with a particular emphasis on those critical industries and occupations defined by the Administration.

Support for high-quality, sustainable programs. Focus on ensuring that all RAPs have the features of high-quality apprenticeships and that efforts support a broader workforce development agenda to support a sustainable apprenticeship system on a national scale.

New opportunities for innovation, engagement, and ease of access. Focus on innovative strategies that support the expansion and modernization of Registered Apprenticeship by:

engaging with new and underrepresented organizations in the apprenticeship system (such as Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), small businesses, etc.); RAP development; creating and increasing access to apprenticeship opportunities for underrepresented populations and underserved populations; developing distance learning approaches; and leveraging technology to provide technical assistance, increase ease of access, remove barriers, and improve system alignment.

PROGRAM GOALS

For both the Base Formula Funding and Competitive Funding, this grant program will promote the development of new and/or the expansion of existing RAPs and occupations across a diverse group of industries, which can include those industries/occupations in which the Administration is particularly interested.

Applicants can propose to target any industry, based on demand and local Labor Market Information (LMI). The Department is particularly interested in the following industries:

Educational Services (K-12 Teachers), Care Economy (Healthcare, Childcare, Home Care etc.), https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-notice-no-13-12 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-notice-no-13-12

Climate/Clean Energy, Public Sector, Technology/Cybersecurity, Transportation, Hospitality, and the Supply Chain (logistics, warehouse, transportation, and manufacturing, including but not limited to the manufacturing of semi-conductors and biomanufacturing).

The Department is also interested in projects that demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability, environmental justice, or a just transition (i.e., supporting and committing to a decent-job-creating net-zero-carbon-emission economy), such as by adhering to green building practices, training in green construction practices, or otherwise demonstration of climate-friendly sustainability practices. Activities will support the building and nurturing of partnerships with new and emerging industry partners, to include labor organizations, that lead to stable, safe, good-paying jobs that allow workers the free and fair opportunity to organize.

Additionally, the Department is committed to maximizing the impact of its funds in improving the working conditions of American workers. Through the Biden Administration’s Good Jobs Initiative, the Department and the Department of Commerce have published the Good Jobs Principles, a shared vision of the core elements of a Good Job. In addressing job quality in their applications, applicants must do so in light of the job quality features described in the Principles, which can be found here.

For the Competitive Funding, ETA will prioritize funding for projects that propose to target industries in which the Administration is particularly interested: Educational Services (K-12 Teachers), Care Economy (Healthcare, Childcare, Home Care, etc.), Climate/Clean Energy, Public Sector, Technology/Cybersecurity, Transportation, Hospitality, and the Supply Chain (logistics, warehouse, transportation, and manufacturing, including but not limited to the manufacturing of semi-conductors and biomanufacturing). For applicants proposing to develop K-12 Teacher RAPs, it will be important to incorporate a wide range of partners that also include practitioner buy-in and teacher voice in the development of these RAPs. Further, key Registered Apprenticeship partners and engagements should include State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs), incorporating state licensing requirements; organized labor or representation of teacher voice; related technical instruction provider; and state or local workforce boards for supportive services.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Applicants must serve a statewide geographic scope. The geographic scope is the physical service area in which awarded applicants will serve participants.

In addition to grant funded activities listed in Appendix A Base Formula Funding, States applying for the Competitive Funding will also select relevant activities that build sustainability and substantially increase the total number and diversity of Registered Apprentices and RAPs within their State. Activities proposed for the Competitive Funding portion must build and expand on activities identified in Base Formula Funding proposals.

For States applying for the Competitive Funding, applicants must select two program activities below, in addition to the five-year plan as required for Base Formula Funding, which is a required activity for all applicants.

A five-year plan is a required activity for all applicants. Please ensure that your five-year plan for the Competitive Funding option builds upon the five-year plan for the Base Formula Funding option. For this first round of funding, applicants may submit a preliminary version, and within https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles

120 days of grant award, grantees must submit their final, detailed plan. Please refer to the guidelines below for more details on the five-year plan.

Competitive Funding will be targeted to those States with immediate readiness to adopt multiple innovative research- and evidence-based elements that drive equity in Registered Apprenticeship, as well as the capacity to expend additional funding.

States must have the ability to provide evidence of robust plans for DEIA and workforce system alignment. For the purposes of this FOA, DEIA and workforce system alignment refers to the alignment of the workforce, education, and the National Apprenticeship system. System alignment should also focus on RAP and/or pre-apprenticeship efforts in support of IIJA, CHIPS Act, and IRA implementation and/or targeting industries in which the Administration is particularly interested, such as, educational services (K-12 teachers), hospitality, care economy (Healthcare, Childcare, etc.), climate/clean energy, public sector, and/or occupations in the Supply Chain sector (logistics, warehouse, transportation, and manufacturing, including but not limited to the manufacturing of semi-conductors and biomanufacturing). Robust plans should also include strategizing and implementing employer engagement methodologies to increase RAP adoption for in-demand industries and occupations within the State; conducting internal assessments as the basis of continuous improvement (i.e., improving time frame for registering new programs); and committing to data sharing, system change, and governance requirements to comply with the law and ensure a strong and modernized Registered Apprenticeship system.

The five-year plan must include the following:

1. Be designed to include elements that address DEIA, workforce system alignment, and RAP and/or pre-apprenticeship leading to enrollment in a RAP.

2. Consider the State population distribution and how the State can better serve its underrepresented populations and communities.

3. Describe how pipelines to opportunities across industries will be built and how the State intends to reach new and emerging industries and occupational sectors, and how States will build buy-in from stakeholders.

4. Include a detailed description of the first year of activity, charting out quarterly milestones. Subsequent years can be less detailed, providing bi-annual milestones. When an applicant applies for subsequent rounds of funding, they will expand on the details of that year in their plan.

This plan will be used to measure States’ progress, which will affect future funding decisions.

The intent of the five-year plan is to have States strategically think about how they will use subsequent years’ funding to build on and improve their current activities, accomplishments, and goals. Should Congress appropriate additional funds for this purpose, we may consider up to four additional rounds of continuation awards under this solicitation. Applicants will assess and revise, as necessary, their five-year plan in future rounds of funding for this grant.

In addition to the five-year plan, applicants for the Competitive Funding option must plan a project that involves a minimum of two activities from the list below:

1. Provide a range of training services that support individuals, particularly from underrepresented populations and underserved communities, enrolled in a RAP, that may include: Related Instruction reimbursement; OJL reimbursement; development of curricula and standards for apprenticeship; online and technology-based learning;

accelerated and competency-based training that integrates academic and occupational skills training; and apprenticeship training costs and other supportive services.

2. Provide incentive funding to employers to support new or expand existing RAPs in targeted industries in which they are serving.

3. Establish statewide intermediaries or hubs to facilitate industry adoption of RAPs.

4. Provide direct funding for a range of pre-apprenticeship programs that lead directly to a RAP. Includes pre-apprenticeship activities that support underrepresented populations and underserved communities and increase opportunities to create career pathways for youth and adults.

5. Expand RAP opportunities for youth (between the ages of 16 and 24). Includes establishing and expanding partnerships that commit to expanding RAPs and/or pre-apprenticeship programs that lead to RAP enrollment for youth through coordination with industry, workforce intermediaries, labor organization, SEAs and LEAs, community colleges, youth-serving and community-based organizations, and other stakeholders. This can also include designing and launching a Civilian Climate Corps RAP targeted towards youth apprentices that can be piloted by youth and Conservation Corps groups.

6. Assist industries in creating RAPs in lower wage, entry level occupations across industries that are critical to the nation, but currently do not provide strong career pathways or credentials that encourage people to stay and grow.

7. Assist employers in creating a forward-thinking, specialized RAP that embraces available technology, targeted at addressing people with health conditions and impairments.

8. Build stronger partnerships with the State and local workforce system.

Additionally, consider ways to align and support the jobs required to implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS Act), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This can include working with employers to increase their awareness of Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the state and identify opportunities for them to join existing RAPs and/or starting new RAPs.

ETA will prioritize projects that are focused on the industries in which the Administration is particularly interested, such as educational services (K-12 teachers) that includes teacher voice, hospitality, care economy (Healthcare, Childcare, Home Care, etc.), climate/clean energy, public sector, and/or occupations in the Supply Chain sector (logistics, warehouse, transportation, and manufacturing, including but not limited to the manufacturing of semi-conductors and biomanufacturing).

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

Funding for this opportunity comes from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Public Law 117-103, Division H, Title I. This appropriation allows the Department to award funds to "expand opportunities through RAPs only registered under the National Apprenticeship Act."

This means recipients must spend these funds on activities that will create or assist in the creation of RAPs. This program will support the development of new or the expansion of existing RAPs, as described in 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

For this first round of funding, we expect availability of approximately $85 million to fund up to 54 grants awarded with Base Formula Funding described in Appendix B and an additional 8-10 grants through the competitive portion of this announcement described above. You may apply for an amount up to the Base Funding amount specified in Appendix B, or the base amount specified in Appendix B plus a ceiling amount of up to $6 million for the competitive portion.

Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement. Applicants must submit one project abstract if they are applying for the Base Formula Funding only.

Applicants must submit two project abstracts, if they are applying for the Base Formula Funding and the Competitive Funding - one for the Base Formula Funding and one for the Competitive Funding (see Appendix C). The Department reserves the right to change this amount depending on the quantity and quality of applications submitted.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 12 months with an anticipated start date of 07/01/2023. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

As specified above, the period of performance (POP) for the Base Formula Funding option is 12 months. States that are awarded the Competitive Funding will receive a second grant that will have a grant POP of 36 months. States that are awarded both the Base and Competitive funding options will need to manage their grants to ensure that the Base Formula Funding is expended within 12 months of the award start date and the Competitive Funding is expended within 36 months of the award start date.

Should Congress appropriate additional funds for this purpose, we may consider up to four additional rounds of continuation Base Formula Funding and Competitive Funding awards under this solicitation. Continuation funding to grantees is subject to the discretion of DOL and contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee’s project, and adequate stewardship of federal funds. The anticipated start date for the first round of funds is 07/01/2023.

Subject to available funding, OA plans to award annual Base Formula Funding and Competitive Funding, contingent upon funding remaining available over the next five years. For States that receive Competitive Funding, they may only receive the Competitive Funding once during the five years.

Please find below a visual POP calendar:

Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7

POP

(7/1/23- 6/30/24)

(7/1/24- 6/30/25)

(7/1/25- 6/30/26)

(7/1/26- 6/30/27)

(7/1/27- 6/30/28)

Base Funding*

Competitive Funding - Round 1^

4+

5+

*States must reapply each year to receive continuous base funding. The funding announcement for the SAEF Base Funding will be announced each year.

^States can only receive one round of Competitive Funding once during the five years of the SAEF POP. States may apply for the Competitive

Funding more than once, so if states were not awarded Competitive Funding, they may apply for Competitive Funding in subsequent rounds, subject to the availability of funds and application scores.

+Competitive Funding that is awarded to States in Year 4 and Year 5 will be completed beyond the life of the grant.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible entities are States, as defined at 29 CFR Section 29.2. The term “State” means “any of the 50 States of the United States, District of Columbia, or any Territory or possession of the United States.” For the purposes of this FOA, the eligible 54 U.S. States and territories include all 50 States of the United States, District of Columbia, and territories whose Active Apprentices exceeds 100 apprentices, i.e., Guam, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. Only territories with more than 100 registered apprentices (as of FY 22 data) are eligible to apply for Base and Competitive funds. For those territories not eligible to apply under this FOA (have less than 100 registered apprentices), OA will provide dedicated technical assistance to increase their capacity to apply for future year funding. To view the Office of Apprenticeship’s FY 2022 Data and Statistics, please visit https://www.apprenticeship.gov/data-and-statistics.

https://www.apprenticeship.gov/data-and-statistics

States (the Governor’s Office) must identify the State agency that will be the grant recipient (e.g., State Workforce Agency eligible for funding under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), State Educational Agency, or an SAA). This entity will have sole responsibility for administering the project and will serve as the grant’s fiscal agent. For States with federally recognized SAAs and where the SAA is not the State agency that will be the grant recipient, the SAA must be included as a partner. Each State is limited to one individual application for consideration under this opportunity.

A letter from the Governor (or chief elected official) must be included in the application to designate the Agency authorized to submit the State’s application.

The Governor or another chief elected official must provide a commitment letter demonstrating the State’s commitment to this grant effort. The letter must:

1. Designate the State agency to be the recipient of the award (e.g., State Workforce Agency eligible for funding under Title I of WIOA, State Educational Agency, or an SAA). For states with federally recognized SAAs and where the SAA is not the State agency that will be the grant recipient, the SAA must be included as a partner. For states that do not have a federally recognized SAA, the State must commit to work in partnership with the federal Office of Apprenticeship within the State.

2. Describe specifically how the Governor or chief elected official plans to support the expansion of quality and innovative RAPs being developed or expanded.

Applications that do not include this letter with their application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward through the merit review process. If more than one application is received from a State, the one including the designation from the Governor (or chief elected official) will be considered the eligible entity. If more than one application is received from a State and no Governor’s letter (or letter from the chief elected official) is included with each application, or more than one application is received from a State and a Governor’s letter is included with each application, ETA, in consultation with the Governor (or chief elected official), will make the determination of which agency will receive the award. If we receive multiple applications from the same State agency, we will only consider the most recently received application that meets the deadline. No more than one award per State will be executed.

This letter from the Governor must be submitted as an attachment and clearly labeled as “Governor’s Letter.” If the applicant does not submit the letter, the application will be considered incomplete and non-responsive, and it will not move forward through the merit review process.

This Letter is only required for states as defined in III.A. Please place under Required Attachments and add a heading called, “A letter from the governor or chief elected official.”

Letters sent separate from the application will not be considered.

Subject to available funds, OA intends to allow States to apply and receive funding for Competitive Funding once over the course of five years. States may apply for the Competitive Funding option each year; however, States may only receive Competitive Funding once under this five-year solicitation. Base Formula Funding will be awarded on an annual basis with a POP of one year, subject to funding availability, level of implementation of this project, and expenditure of SAEF funds in the prior year(s). Subsequent years of Base Formula Funding is not guaranteed. Future rounds of this FOA are anticipated. If States do not apply this year, they will not be precluded applying for this funding in future years.

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

The Application Federal Assistance request for Base Formula Funding does not exceed the amount specified in Appendix B plus the ceiling amount of $6 million for the Competitive Funding option

Section II.A

The Application for Federal Assistance request for Competitive Funding does not exceed $6 million (if applicable)

Section II.A

SAM Registration Section IV.B.1

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

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance for Competitive Funding (if applicable) Section IV.B.1

SF-424 forms include a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Section IV.B.1

SF-424A,Budget Information Form for Base Formula Funding option Section IV.B.2

SF-424A, Budget Information Form for Competitive Funding option (if applicable) Section IV.B.2

Governor's Letter Section III.A

Abstract for Base Formula Funding option Section IV.5

Abstract for Competitive Funding option (if applicable) Section IV.5

Budget Narrative for Base Formula Funding option

Section IV.B.2 (not scored for Base Funding option)

Budget Narrative for Competitive Funding option (if applicable) Section IV.B.2

Project Narrative for Base Formula Funding detailed in Appendix A Appendix A

Project Narrative for Competitive Funding (if applicable) Section IV.B.3

Five-year State Work Plan Appendix A or

Section IV.B.3.c.(1)

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider only one application from each organization which will include the required documents for Base Formula Funding and, if applicable, Competitive Funding. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization, we will consider only the most recently received We will consider only one application from each organization which will include the required documents for Base Formula Funding and, if applicable, Competitive Funding. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization, we will consider only the most recently received.

3. Eligible Participants

For the purposes of this program, eligible participants are persons 16 years of age and older who receive a direct grant-funded service. To encourage active apprentices to stay in their program and increase retention, grant funds may be used for registered apprentices already enrolled in a RAP. The purpose of these funds is to support new apprentices, new opportunities, retention of registered apprentices, and apprentice completion of a RAP.

Participants may be directly served with grant funds under the Base Formula Funding option.

However, targets for participants served will not be required for Base Formula Funding.

Applicants must set targets for Participant and Apprentice Outcomes and Expanding Registered Apprenticeship Program Outputs for the Competitive Funding option. Please see Section IV.B.3.b Expected Outcomes and Outputs and Appendix D Suggested Performance Outcomes and Outputs Table. If applicants select activities that do not directly result in Participant Outcomes or Program Outputs, they must propose targets related to their proposed activities.

For the purposes of the SAEF FOA, reportable individuals are not participants. A “reportable individual” is 1) an individual that has been impacted by the development or expansion of a grant-funded registered apprenticeship program; and 2) is enrolled in a RAP; and 3) is at least 16 years old. This individual is enrolled in a RAP that was developed or expanded with grant funds and is, therefore, impacted by the grant, but does not receive a direct, grant-funded participant-level service. For the purposes of this FOA, the target under “Participant and Apprentice Outcomes” entitled “Total number of individuals enrolled in a RAP that was developed using SAEF grant funds” is the target for reportable individuals. For reporting purposes, participants as well as reportable individuals are reported into WIPS.

Among the individuals eligible to receive services, the Department is particularly interested in the following groups:

1. Unemployed workers: For the purposes of this FOA, we define “unemployed worker” as individual who is without a job and who wants and is available to work. This can include the long-term unemployed, such as individuals who have been unemployed for six months or more, and youth who have dropped out of school and are seeking their first full-time job.

2. 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 lay-off from employment, or were self-employed but are now unemployed.

3. Incumbent workers: For the purposes of this FOA, incumbent workers are individuals already employed with a registered apprenticeship program sponsor before program enrollment, but who need training to upgrade their skills, advance in their careers, or retain their current position in apprenticeship occupations and industries. To qualify as an incumbent worker, an individual must have an established and documented employment history with the employer for six months or more.

4. Underemployed workers: This term refers to individuals who are not currently connected to a full-time job commensurate with the individual’s level of education, skills, or wage and/or salary earned previously, or who have obtained only episodic, short-term, or part-time employment. The RAPs must include components that will assist those who do not have particular educational prerequisites and/or experience.

You may also propose projects that could include some services for individuals who do not fall into one of the four targeted categories listed above, as long as services for these individuals align with the primary intent and focus of the proposed project and support placement into a RAP within the grant period of performance. While this is permissible, you may only provide services to a limited number of individuals who do not fall into one of the four targeted categories listed above, and that your project must still primarily focus on providing services to workers in one or more of those four targeted categories.

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.