FOA-ETA-23-31-Amendment One 6-21-23.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Funding Opportunity Announcement

FOA-ETA-23-31

Amendment One

DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor

ACTION: Amendment to FOA-ETA-23-31

SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration announced on April 5, 2023, the availability of funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program to be awarded through a competitive process.

The document is hereby amended as follows:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following language is added under the Lead Applicants sub-heading (new language in bold):

• State, county, and local governments, including cities and townships, and State Workforce Agencies (State government agencies that receive funds pursuant to the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.) to administer the state’s public labor exchange activities or the lead state agency responsible for the administration of WIOA title I activities). State and Local Government are defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Per the definition in 2 CFR 200.1, local government also includes any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-State or local government.

SECTION I.C. TARGET INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS

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

The DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program will fund projects that propose to develop a skilled workforce leading to or supporting middle- to high-skilled career pathways in advanced manufacturing; information technology; and professional, scientific, and technical occupations that support renewable energy, transportation, and broadband infrastructure sectors. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure that the proposed occupations align with the intent of the FOA and pertain to workforce development activities in the design, construction, modernization, and maintenance of the nation’s infrastructure as outlined in the Executive Summary, Section I.A., and Appendices A and E.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecfr.gov%2Fcurrent%2Ftitle-2%2Fsubtitle-A%2Fchapter-II%2Fpart-200%2Fsubpart-A%2Fsubject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c%2Fsection-200.1%23p-200.1(Local%2520government)&data=05%7C01%7CScheib.Gregory%40dol.gov%7C6221e338a5fe4bff9a2508db61e41f5b%7C75a6305472044e0c9126adab971d4aca%7C0%7C0%7C638211404624239514%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RV0ye%2Fvwv%2BVJbH462eqqYiAQMTbTHr0fUxjvZpZn%2BX0%3D&reserved=0

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

If this occupation is not within the H-1B industries identified in Appendix A, the application must provide data showing that the proposed occupation is one for which a significant number of H-1B visas have been certified and demonstrate that the training for this occupation supports the renewable energy, transportation, and/or broadband infrastructure sectors.

SECTION I.D. GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE

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

The geographic scope is the physical service area in which awarded applicants will serve participants. Applicants must identify the geographic scope of the proposed project:

• Local/regional means serving part or all of an economic region within one state or a contiguous economic region that may cross more than one state. This also includes serving part or all of one Economic Development District (EDD) as recognized by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Agency (https://eda.gov/edd/).

• Statewide means serving an entire state or multiple contiguous or non-contiguous economic regions or EDDs within one state.

• National means serving multiple economic regions or EDDs in multiple states. The service area does not need to be contiguous.

The following language is added under the Development Track: Developing and Implementing Local/Regional Worker-Centered Sector Strategy Programs sub-heading (new language in bold):

Applicants who select the Development Track must 1) establish a program within one identified local/regional service area; 2) explain how their proposed training model both leverages evidence-based training strategies and implements innovative and unproven strategies to support the proposed sector strategy model; and 3) describe the partnership status prior to the submission of the application (i.e., new partnership, partially established partnership, or fully established partnership). Applicants submitting proposals for the Development Track cannot implement projects at the Statewide or National level.

SECTION I.E. PROGRAM DESIGN AND ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES

The following language is added under the Registered Apprenticeship Programs sub-heading (new language in bold):

Applicants proposing RAPs in states with federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs) may need to include the SAA as a required grant partner depending on the geographic scale of the program being proposed (See Section III.A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS as amended).

The following language is added under the Incumbent Worker Training sub-heading (new language in bold):

Incumbent worker training is offered to provide existing workers with the skills to move into advanced manufacturing, information technology, and/or professional, scientific, and technical services occupations related to renewable energy, transportation, and/or broadband infrastructure sectors.

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following language is added under the Eligible Lead Applicants sub-heading (new

• State, County, and Local Governments, including cities and townships, and State Workforce Agencies (State government agencies that receives funds pursuant to the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.) to administer the State’s public labor exchange activities or the lead state agency responsible for the administration of WIOA title I activities). State and Local Government are defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Per the definition in 2 CFR 200.1, local government also includes any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-State or local government.

The following language is added under the Required Partners (Scaling Track) sub-heading (new language in bold):

• Workforce Development Entities: Entities involved in administering the public workforce system established under WIOA, including State and Local WDBs and Indian and Native American Program entities eligible for funding under WIOA Section 166 (29 U.S.C.

3221). These organizations have expertise in workforce development and may provide leadership in implementing the following types of activities: (1) understanding and analyzing the need for education and training in the local area, including identifying targeted advanced manufacturing, information technology, and/or professional, scientific, and technical services occupations supporting renewable energy, transportation or broadband infrastructure industry sector strategies; addressing hiring needs, identifying target populations, and providing relevant sources of data, including labor market information and other tools or reports; (2) assessing potential participants for the grant program; (3) identifying and referring candidates for education and training in the grant program; (4) providing additional supportive services; (5) connecting and placing participants with employers that have job openings; and (6) collecting, tracking, and reporting participant data to ETA.

• State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs): Applicants proposing Registered Apprenticeship

Programs in states with federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs) may need to include the SAA as a required grant partner depending on the geographic scale of the program being proposed. (Required only if applicant is proposing to provide https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecfr.gov%2Fcurrent%2Ftitle-2%2Fsubtitle-A%2Fchapter-II%2Fpart-200%2Fsubpart-A%2Fsubject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c%2Fsection-200.1%23p-200.1(Local%2520government)&data=05%7C01%7CScheib.Gregory%40dol.gov%7C6221e338a5fe4bff9a2508db61e41f5b%7C75a6305472044e0c9126adab971d4aca%7C0%7C0%7C638211404624239514%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RV0ye%2Fvwv%2BVJbH462eqqYiAQMTbTHr0fUxjvZpZn%2BX0%3D&reserved=0

RAP training.)

The intent of this requirement is to ensure that when a grantee is establishing a new

Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) in an SAA state, it is being done with the recognition of the SAA in order to ensure it is registered. If the geographic scope is national, rather than local or state level, this requirement is not necessary.

o If a lead applicant proposes a project with a National geographic scope that offers a RAP, the lead applicant is not required to partner with a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) as part of the “DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program Partnership” if they are partnered with a DOL National Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor. Therefore, in this scenario, the lead applicant is not required to provide a letter of commitment from an SAA.

o If the lead applicant proposes a project that offers a RAP with either a

Local/Regional or Statewide geographic scope and their proposed project service area includes a state with a federally-recognized SAA, the lead applicant is required to partner with the SAA to ensure the apprenticeship will be registered. To demonstrate the active involvement of the required partners, lead applicants must provide signed documentation of commitments—such as signed letters of commitment, memoranda of understanding, a partnership agreement, or other types of signed agreements—that demonstrate the commitment of each partner (Section IV.B.3. Project Narrative).

o Applicants that propose a project with a Local/Regional or Statewide geographic scope that does not include a state with a federally-recognized SAA are not required to include an SAA as a partner, nor are they required to provide documentation of this partnership.

The following language is added under the Optional Partners sub-heading (new language in

We strongly encourage applicants to collaborate with other partners that can support and advance the work of proposed training programs. These include nonprofit organizations specializing in advanced manufacturing, information technology, and/or professional, scientific, and technical services occupations that support renewable energy, transportation and/or broadband infrastructure sectors…

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

B. 3. Project Narrative

The following language is added under the Statement of Need sub-heading (new language in

ii. Occupational Need (4 Points)

• Applicants must clearly identify occupations along career pathways leading to middle- to high-skilled H-1B occupation(s) in the advanced manufacturing; information technology;

and/or professional, scientific, and technical services occupations that support renewable energy, transportation, or broadband infrastructure sectors from the list in Appendix A.

If a proposed occupation is not an H-1B industry listed in Appendix A, the application must provide data showing that the occupation is in-demand in the proposed service area, on a career pathway to a middle- to high-skilled occupation that supports the renewable energy, transportation and/or broadband infrastructure sectors; and is one for which a significant number of H-1B visas have been certified. Applicants must use verifiable data to make this demonstration, such as data provided by DOL’s Foreign Labor Certification Data Center. (2 points)

• …Applicants must also describe how the occupations selected will increase the pipeline of skilled workers in high-quality jobs to support renewable energy, transportation, or broadband infrastructure sectors… (2 points)

E. Funding Restrictions

The following language is added:

Grant Recipient Technical Assistance Training Grantees are required to participate in all ETA training activities related to grantee orientation, financial management and reporting, performance reporting, product dissemination, and other technical assistance training as appropriate during the grant period. These sessions may occur via conference calls, virtual events such as webinars, and in-person meetings. Applicants should budget for at least two staff members to attend up to two in-person events in Washington, D.C. during the life of the grant.

APPENDIX D: SUGGESTED ABSTRACT FORMAT

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

7. State, County, and Local Governments, including cities and townships, and State Workforce Agencies (State government agencies that receives funds pursuant to the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.) to administer the State’s public labor exchange activities or the lead state agency responsible for the administration of WIOA title I activities). State and Local Government are defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Per the definition in 2 CFR 200.1, local government also includes any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-State or local government.

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

Name of the State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs): Applicants proposing RAPs in states with federally-recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs) may need to include the SAA as a https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecfr.gov%2Fcurrent%2Ftitle-2%2Fsubtitle-A%2Fchapter-II%2Fpart-200%2Fsubpart-A%2Fsubject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c%2Fsection-200.1%23p-200.1(Local%2520government)&data=05%7C01%7CScheib.Gregory%40dol.gov%7C6221e338a5fe4bff9a2508db61e41f5b%7C75a6305472044e0c9126adab971d4aca%7C0%7C0%7C638211404624239514%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RV0ye%2Fvwv%2BVJbH462eqqYiAQMTbTHr0fUxjvZpZn%2BX0%3D&reserved=0 required grant partner depending on the geographic scale of the program being proposed (See Section III.A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS as amended).

The following language under the Targeted H-1B Occupations heading is added (new

• H-1B occupation(s) for which a significant number of H-1B visas have been certified (Note: Applicants must provide data showing that the occupation is in-demand in the proposed service area, on a career pathway to a middle- to high-skilled occupation for which a significant number of H-1B visas have been certified with verifiable data such as DOL’s Foreign Labor Certification Data Center), and supporting the renewable energy, transportation or broadband infrastructure sectors:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Ariam Ferro, Grants Management Specialist, Office of Grants Management, at IN_FOA-ETA-23-31@dol.gov.

Signed June 21, 2023 in Washington, D.C. by:

Brinda Ruggles Grant Officer, Employment and Training Administration mailto:IN_FOA-ETA-23-31@dol.gov

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR