FOA-ETA-23-15 SCC4 Amendment One.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment & Training Administration Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Funding Opportunity Announcement

FOA-ETA-23-15

Amendment One

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor

ACTION: Amendment to FOA-ETA-23-15

SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration announced on August 17, 2023, the availability of funds and the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the fourth round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants, to be awarded through a competitive process. This amendment revises language in the FOA.

The document is hereby amended as follows.

1. Section III.A.2 Eligible Lead Applicant (Page 24)

The following language is added (new language in bold):

NOTE: Institutions that were funded in the first three rounds of SCC as either leads or consortium members may apply as leads (or consortium members) under this fourth round if the SCC4 grant project focuses on a different industry sector (or sectors) than in prior rounds.

Specifically, lead applicants and proposed consortium members for SCC4 who are also either leads or consortium members for SCC1, SCC2, or SCC3 grants must demonstrate that they are proposing a different industry sector for SCC4 than for any of their previous SCC grants. For example, assume that College X is a member of a Round 1 SCC consortium grant that targeted two industry sectors in its proposal (Advanced Manufacturing and Healthcare). If an SCC4 lead applicant of a consortium proposes to include College X as a consortium member, the SCC4 applicant must demonstrate that it is proposing a different industry sector for SCC4 (i.e., neither Advanced Manufacturing nor Healthcare). Note that this restriction applies both to the SCC4 lead applicant and to all its proposed SCC4 consortium members; that is, in this example neither the SCC4 lead nor any members of the proposed SCC4 consortium may target Advanced Manufacturing or Healthcare in their proposed project design. In addition, note that this restriction would apply to any sub-sectors and/or career pathways within the industry for which College X previously received funding. For example, assume that College X received SCC1 funding to enhance an allied health career pathways program. In this example, the SCC4 lead applicant may not include College X in its application and propose to enhance a nursing career pathways program as its project design (for any or all its proposed SCC4 consortium members) because both career pathways are in the same industry. See Section IV.B.3.a.i. for a list of industries proposed in SCC rounds 1-3. Failure to demonstrate compliance will affect scoring. (See Section IV.B.3.a.i.)

Applicants may reference this list of SCC1, SCC2, and SCC3 grantees showing the industries for which they received funding. For the purposes of this Announcement, every institution included in a consortium is considered to be funded for any industry referenced in the abstract submitted in the grantee’s initial proposal.

2. Section III.A.3 Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (SCC) Partnership (Pages 24-25)

The following is added at the end of this sub-section:

Failure to demonstrate the inclusion of required partners will affect scoring.

3. Section IV.B.3.a.i. Labor Market Area, Sector(s), and Occupational Employer Demand (Pages 36-37)

The following is added at the end of this sub-section (new language in bold):

NOTE: Lead applicants and consortia members who are also either leads or consortium members for SCC1, SCC2, or SCC3 grants must demonstrate that they are proposing a different industry sector for SCC4 than for any previous grant, or they will receive zero points for this section. The purpose is not to direct industry choice but rather to prevent duplication of participant services for purposes of the national impact evaluation. Information to demonstrate this can be provided in the abstract (see Appendix G). Specifically, if any institution applying for SCC4 as a lead or consortium member received grant funding in SCC1, SCC2, or SCC3 for one of the following nine industries, they must demonstrate that they are proposing a different industry for their SCC4 application:

• advanced manufacturing (includes automation, robotics, and other sub-sectors)

• clean or renewable energy

• construction (including shipbuilding/repair and other sub-sectors)

• education

• healthcare (includes allied health, emergency services, nursing, and other sub-sectors)

• information technology (includes cybersecurity and other sub-sectors)

• public sector

• supply chain and logistics (includes transportation, distribution, logistics, distribution-materials management, and other sub-sectors)

• telecommunications or broadband infrastructure https://collegeconnection.workforcegps.org/resources/2023/09/07/14/05/SCC4-FOA-Past-Grantees-Listed-by-Industry https://collegeconnection.workforcegps.org/resources/2023/09/07/14/05/SCC4-FOA-Past-Grantees-Listed-by-Industry

Note: This list represents industries proposed for the first three rounds of SCC. SCC4 applicants can propose industries on this list as long as they are not the same industries for which they previously received funding. SCC4 applicants may also propose industries not on this list.

Example 1: Assume that College X is a member of a Round 1 SCC consortium grant that targeted two industry sectors in its proposal (Advanced Manufacturing and Healthcare). If an SCC4 lead applicant of a consortium proposes to include College X as a consortium member, the SCC4 applicant must demonstrate that it is proposing a different industry sector for SCC4 (i.e., neither Advanced Manufacturing nor Healthcare). Note that this restriction applies both to the SCC4 lead applicant and to all its proposed SCC4 consortium members; that is, in this example, neither the SCC4 lead nor any members of its proposed SCC4 consortium may target Advanced Manufacturing or Healthcare in their proposed project design.

Example 2: Note that this restriction would apply to any sub-sectors and/or career pathways within the industry for which College X previously received funding. For example, assume that College X received SCC1 funding to enhance an allied health career pathways program.

In this example, the SCC4 lead applicant may not include College X in its application and propose to enhance a nursing career pathways program as its project design (for any or all its proposed SCC4 consortium members) because both career pathways are in the same industry.

Applicants may reference this list of SCC1, SCC2, and SCC3 grantees showing the industries for which they received funding. For the purposes of this Announcement, every institution included in a consortium is considered to be funded for any industry referenced in the abstract submitted in the grantee’s initial proposal.

1. Section IV.E. Funding Restrictions/Credential Transparency (Page 56)

The following language is removed:

The Department wishes to ensure that individuals, employers, educators, and training providers have access to the most complete, current and beneficial information about providers, programs credentials, and competencies supported with these public, federal funds. To this end, the Department requires that information about all credentials (including but not limited to diplomas, badges, certificates, certifications, apprenticeships, licenses, and degrees of all levels and types) and competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) developed or delivered through the use of these public federal funds be made publicly accessible through the use of linked open data formats that support full transparency and interoperability, such as through the use of credential transparency description language specifications. ETA will provide specific guidance and technical assistance on data elements to include in the published open data, such as information about the credential provider, the credential and its associated competencies, delivery mode, geographic coverage, the industry sector(s) and occupation(s) for which the credential was developed, related assessments, related accreditations or other quality assurances where appropriate, costs, and available outcomes.

https://collegeconnection.workforcegps.org/resources/2023/09/07/14/05/SCC4-FOA-Past-Grantees-Listed-by-Industry https://collegeconnection.workforcegps.org/resources/2023/09/07/14/05/SCC4-FOA-Past-Grantees-Listed-by-Industry

The following language is added (new language in bold):

The Department wishes to ensure that individuals, employers, educators, and training providers have access to the most complete, current and beneficial information about providers, programs credentials, and competencies delivered with federal funds. Thus, we require that information about the industry-recognized credentials listed below be made publicly accessible through the use of linked open data formats that support full transparency and interoperability. This includes all industry-recognized credentials that are awarded using grant funds under this Announcement, where such credentials were previously developed by a grant lead or partner or will be developed using grant funds. Credentials include, but are not limited to, diplomas, badges, certificates, certifications, Registered Apprenticeships, licenses, and degrees of all levels and types. Formats may include, but are not limited to, the use of credential transparency description language specifications. ETA will provide specific guidance and technical assistance on how to meet this requirement, including data elements to include in the published open data. Grantees must submit an implementation plan and complete implementation of the plan before the period of performance ends, as specified in the technical assistance provided.

Successful applicants must take the following steps to fulfill this requirement. Technical assistance will be provided to support these steps.

• By Month 24 of the grant, submit a plan that details the process that will be used to fulfill the credential transparency requirement.

• By Month 36 of the grant, implement the plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Khanh Tran, Grants Management Specialist, Office of Grants Management, at SCC4_FOA-ETA-23-15@dol.gov.

Signed October 16, 2023 in Washington, D.C. by:

Brinda Ruggles Grant Officer, Employment and Training Administration mailto:SCC4_FOA-ETA-23-15@dol.gov