FOA-ETA-24-15.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Grants for Career Services and Training

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-24-15

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.264

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 05/03/2024. 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.

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

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

APPENDIX A: Program Years 2020-2023 Significant Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker States

APPENDIX B: Examples of Good Jobs Principles for Program Design

APPENDIX C: Suggested Abstract Format

APPENDIX D: Proposed Goals for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Performance Indicators

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $90,000,000 in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 167 for the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), Career Services and Training.

The period of performance is 51 months and starts July 1, 2024 and ends September 30, 2028.

Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOL will competitively award approximately 50-75 Career Services and Training grants to organizations that will provide workforce related activities to support migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents in developing skills to pursue a career of their choice in the agriculture sector and non-agriculture sectors.

The NFJP model seeks to prepare adult and youth participants for good quality jobs in a variety of careers, in several sectors. Accordingly, NFJP Career Services and Training applicants must select at least two of the Department’s eight Good Jobs Principles, which are principles that comprise a good quality job, and describe in their application how they will help participants attain jobs with these qualities. Additionally, applicants must identify one to three sector(s) (industry or cluster of occupations) and incorporate worker-centered, sector-based training as a part of their proposed project design. Given that the agricultural industry faces complex workforce challenges, which include adapting to environmental changes, under this FOA, DOL encourages applicants to submit a proposed project design that either focuses only on the agriculture sector or includes the agriculture sector as a part of the one to three sectors for their proposed project design. A sector strategy is a partnership of employers within a critical industry that brings together education, economic development, workforce systems, unions, and community organizations to identify and collaboratively meet the workforce needs of that industry within a state and local labor market. Sector-based training is where people are trained for careers in high-demand sectors that provide opportunities for positive training and employment outcomes for workers without four-year college degrees, including credential attainment, employment placement/retention, career advancement, and family-sustaining wages.

Further, many successful sector-based training programs provide wrap-around services such as career coaching, job search assistance, and other supportive services. Applicants must describe how they will work with their partners to facilitate the delivery of workforce solutions that are responsive to the needs of workers and employers of one to three sector(s) (industry or cluster of occupations), prepare workers for good jobs targeted by a sector strategy in the regional economy, and take a worker-centered approach that incorporates diverse workers’ voices from https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles underserved communities to ensure that training and other activities are relevant to the experiences and perspectives of participants.

Due to DOL’s interest in focusing on sector-based training that results in good quality jobs in the agriculture sector and non-agriculture sectors, this FOA focuses on supporting the sustainability of successful programs while encouraging new applicants to propose innovative program models. Therefore, the Department anticipates it will award up to 50 percent of grant funds to new eligible applicants that did not receive an NFJP award in the most recent competition cycle (program years 2020-2023), referred to as Category B applicants. Conversely, the Department intends to award at least 50 percent of the total available grant competition funding to returning applicants that received an NFJP award in the most recent competition cycle (program years 2020-2023), referred to as Category A applicants. With this mix of grant recipients, DOL intends to give organizations with experience delivering employment and training services but with little or no experience with a DOL NFJP grant an opportunity to implement such a program, while also allowing opportunities for previously funded NFJP grantees with a record of success to continue to deliver services. Per 20 CFR 685.200, to be eligible to receive an NFJP grant, an entity must have: 1) an understanding of the problems of migrant and seasonal farmworkers; 2) a familiarity with the agricultural industries and the labor market needs of the proposed service area; and 3) the ability to demonstrate a capacity to administer and deliver effectively a diversified program of workforce investment activities, and related assistance for eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents.

Workforce investment activities for adult participants include but are not limited to career services such as outreach, job search, and workplace readiness; training services such as occupational skills and job training, workplace training with related instruction, reskilling and skills upgrading; related assistance services such as short-term direct assistance that helps retain agricultural employment; supportive services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, and needs-related payments that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in career services and training; and housing services such as housing rehabilitation and emergency housing payments, including vouchers and cash payments, case management, and referrals services. Workforce investment activities for youth participants include but are not limited to youth services such as tutoring, solutions to increase graduation rates, work experiences, training, leadership development, mentoring, and financial literacy.

Applicants’ proposed project designs for the agricultural sector must commit to helping agricultural employers in the U.S. recruit, hire, and train agricultural workers who are available in the local area for good jobs and, when necessary, leverage the Agricultural Recruitment System. The Agricultural Recruitment System is a part of the Wagner-Peyser Employment Services. Through the Agricultural Recruitment System, State Workforce Agencies can recruit and refer qualified workers from within a state and from other states when they anticipate that there are less agricultural workers available than needed in the local area. Note: H-2A workers are not eligible to receive most NFJP services. See TEGL No. 18-16, Change 1 or in successive guidance.

ETA is requesting applications in order to make new NFJP awards for program year 2024. The actual level of funding for the program depends on final congressional action on the fiscal year 2024 appropriation. However, we are inviting applications now to allow enough time to complete the grant process if and when Congress appropriates funds for this program. In https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685/subpart-B/section-685.200 https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/resources/2021/03/26/21/22/Acquiring_Workers_for_Agricultural_Jobs_Through_the_Agricultural_Recruitment_System https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/resources/2021/03/26/21/22/Acquiring_Workers_for_Agricultural_Jobs_Through_the_Agricultural_Recruitment_System https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-18-16-change-1 distributing funds, ETA calculates allotments for Career Services and Training grantees through an administrative formula. The formula’s original methodology is described in a notice published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 27390, May 19, 1999, and subsequently updated in the Federal Register notice, 86 FR 32063 on June 16, 2021. The formula was developed for the purpose of distributing funds geographically by state on the basis of each state’s relative share of persons eligible for the program. The grant(s) awarded in a given state will depend both on the administrative formula and on the competitiveness of applications received from applicants in that state. See additional information under the Merit Review and Selection Process section of this FOA.

This FOA is only for Career Services and Training grants. DOL will publish a separate FOA for Housing grants. Grants.gov and DOL.gov| Employment and Training Administration Grants provides information about grant funding opportunities.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications for Career Services and Training grants authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) section 167, National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP).

The purpose of this program is to strengthen the ability of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents to acquire necessary skills to either stabilize or advance in their agricultural jobs or obtain employment in new industries. Through this grant, NFJP grant recipients will facilitate the delivery of workforce solutions that are responsive to the needs of workers and employers of one to three targeted sector(s) (industry or cluster of occupations). Migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents, including youth and adults, will receive quality career services and training opportunities that lead to industry-recognized credentials and good jobs in agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. This may include development of pre-apprenticeship programs linked to a Registered Apprenticeship program or an initial development of Registered Apprenticeship programs. Ultimately, an applicant’s proposed project design must result in increased access to good jobs, livable wages, and an improved quality of life for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents.

The Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2019-2020: A Demographic and Employment Profile of United States Farmworkers reports data on demographic and employment characteristics of farmworkers. Under the NFJP model, grant recipients are required to leverage their familiarity with the agricultural industries and the labor market needs of the proposed service area and their understanding of the challenges that migrant and seasonal farmworkers experience, such as wage theft, heat-related illness, exposure to pesticide, inferior housing, transportation barriers, limited access to health care, discrimination, and abuses such as human trafficking and sexual assault, to be better positioned to design, administer, and deliver effectively a diversified program of workforce investment activities.

Responsive applications will fully integrate the five core elements, which are: 1) Good Jobs Principles; 2) Sector-based Training and Employer Partnerships; 3) Other Strategic Partnerships;

4) Outreach, Enrollment, and Referral; and 5) Case Management.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/16/2021-12604/employment-and-training-administration-eta-program-year-py-2021-workforce-innovation-and-opportunity https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/16/2021-12604/employment-and-training-administration-eta-program-year-py-2021-workforce-innovation-and-opportunity https://www.grants.gov https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/naws/pdfs/NAWS%20Research%20Report%2016.pdf https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/naws/pdfs/NAWS%20Research%20Report%2016.pdf

For the purposes of this FOA, applicants must select and focus on at least two of the eight Good Jobs Principles. These principles are a shared federal vision of job quality published by the Department and the Department of Commerce that has been incorporated throughout the generational investments in communities made through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Invest in America agenda. Good jobs (or quality jobs) are the foundation of an equitable economy that lifts workers and families and makes businesses more competitive. Good jobs are at the center of the Biden-Harris Administration’s workforce priorities – and at the heart of this FOA. Equitable economies place attention on the needs of workers who have faced and continue to face exclusion, marginalization, and discrimination. As many employers recognize, providing good jobs creates a clear competitive advantage when it comes to employee recruitment, retention, and execution of a company’s mission. A good job helps workers achieve economic stability and mobility, while prioritizing diversity and worker voice. To this end, the Departments of Labor and Commerce jointly identified in 2022 eight key Good Jobs Principles. Three related resources for workforce system partners, policymakers, and practitioners are the Department of Labor’s Good Jobs Initiative site, Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 07-22, and the Department’s High Road to the Middle Class map tool.

Under this FOA, DOL encourages applicants to submit a project design that either focuses only on the agriculture sector or include the agriculture sector as one of the one to three sectors for their proposed project design, especially given the agriculture sector’s workforce challenges as well as its pivotal role in the nation’s food security and economy.

The WIOA Final Rule for NFJP, 20 CFR 685.100-20 685.550, describes the regulatory requirements that NFJP grant recipients must use to administer their programs. The DOL.gov| National Farmworker Jobs Program provides information on the law and regulations, program guidance, grant recipients, and performance reporting. Additionally, the WorkforceGPS – Agricultural Connection Community provides a collection of workforce information and technical assistance resources that support career services and training for migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

This FOA is only for Career Services and Training grants. DOL will publish a separate FOA for Housing grants. Grants.gov, DOL.gov| Employment and Training Administration Grants, and https://www.dol.gov/grants provides information about grant funding opportunities.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

Section 167 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-128) authorizes this program. This FOA is soliciting applications in order to make new NFJP awards for program year 2024. The actual level of funding for the program depends on final congressional action on the fiscal year 2024 appropriation. We are inviting applications now to allow enough time to complete the grant process if and when Congress appropriates funds for this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-07-22 https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/high-road-to-the-middle-class?_ga=2.71909779.1843247258.1690385623-1378931137.1690385623 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685?toc=1 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/agriculture https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/agriculture https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/ https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/ https://www.grants.gov https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants https://www.dol.gov/grants

We expect availability of approximately $90,000,000 to fund approximately 50-75 Career Services and Training grants. Awards made under this FOA are subject to the availability of federal funds. If additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this FOA.

Recipients that receive an award as a result of this competition in program year 2024 will also receive one grant award annually for three subsequent program years, based on annual Departmental application requirements and subject to appropriated funding. However, applications submitted under this FOA must request amounts commensurate with one-year worth of grant funding only.

DOL intends to award at least 50 percent of the total available grant competition funding to applicants that received an NFJP award in the most recent competition cycle (program years 2020-2023), referred to as Category A applicants. DOL intends to award the remainder of grant funds to other eligible applicants that did not receive an NFJP award in the most recent competition cycle (program years 2020-2023), referred to as Category B applicants. The intended proportion of Category A and Category B awards is contingent upon the receipt of responsive competitive applications under those categories.

In distributing funds, ETA calculates allotments for Career Services and Training grantees through an administrative formula. The formula’s original methodology is described in a notice published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 27390, May 19, 1999, and subsequently updated in the Federal Register notice, 86 FR 32063 on June 16, 2021.

Estimated Number of Available Grants per State

This FOA focuses on supporting successful programs and sector-based training while encouraging new applicants to propose innovative program models, especially those focusing on the agricultural sector. In support of these goals, DOL intends to award the number of grants in each state as described below that allow for greater competition within states with relatively large migrant and seasonal farmworker populations and NFJP funding allotments.

The Department plans to award at least one Career Services and Training grant in each state and Puerto Rico, but excluding Alaska and the District of Columbia. The Department will not award an NFJP grant to Alaska or the District of Columbia in this competition based on the estimated low number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The estimated funding level would be insufficient for administering a program.

DOL’s intended funding levels and number of grants by state under this competition are as follows:

• CA Allotment: DOL intends to award up to seven grants for CA. Each grant will be approximately $1 million to $8 million.

• AZ, FL, ID, IL, MI, NY, NC, OR, PR, TX, and WA Allotments: DOL intends to award a grant in each of these states, and may award up to two grants in any of these states. Each grant will be approximately $1 million to $4.9 million.

• AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT,

ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV, VT, WI, and WY Allotments: DOL intends to award one grant for each state. Each grant will be approximately $70,000 to $1.9 million.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/16/2021-12604/employment-and-training-administration-eta-program-year-py-2021-workforce-innovation-and-opportunity

Note: This list is based on the program year 2023 allotments for Career Services and Training Grants, which are available in Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 17-22, Attachment III. The total funding awarded to each state will be determined by applying the funding formula to the final fiscal year 2024 appropriation.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 51 months with an anticipated start date of 07/01/2024. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

Within this 51-month period, the recipient will receive an initial award in response to this FOA, commensurate with the funding request made for operations in year one. Annual awards are based on Departmental application requirements and availability of funds. Each of these awards will be under a separate grant number having a fiscal 15-month period of performance, from July 1 to September 30 of the subsequent calendar year. The grantee’s annual allotment must be expended within the awarded 15-month timeframe. While ETA measures performance on a 12-month program year, July 1 to June 30, the extra quarter in the period of performance allows grant recipients to have flexibility to absorb minor fluctuations in spending within the four-year cycle without the need to request extensions from year to year. Please see section VI.B.4 of this FOA regarding performance reporting requirements. Therefore, the program year is July 1 to June 30 and the period of performance is July 1 to September 30.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

Per section 167(b) of WIOA and 20 CFR 685.200, to be eligible to receive an NFJP grant, an entity must have: 1) an understanding of the problems of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers, including their dependents; 2) a familiarity with the agricultural industries and the labor market needs of the proposed service area; and 3) the ability to demonstrate a capacity to administer and deliver effectively a diversified program of workforce investment activities, including youth workforce investment activities, and related assistance for eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The Project Narrative section of this FOA is designed to elicit information from the applicants to demonstrate these three qualities.

The Department encourages education and training providers, advocacy organizations, labor or worker organizations, industry representatives, and organizations that provide services to farmworkers and other populations facing multiple barriers to employment to consider applying for this Announcement.

In this grant competition, DOL has established two distinct categories to apply for NFJP awards:

• Category A Applicant: DOL intends to award at least 50 percent of the total available grant competition funding to applicants that received an NFJP award in the most recent competition cycle (program years 2020-2023).

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-17-22

• Category B Applicant: DOL intends to award the remainder of the grant funds to other eligible applicants that did not receive an NFJP award in the most recent competition cycle (program years 2020-2023).

Note: ETA will use an applicant’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the name of an applicant’s organization, and the service area for NFJP award from the most recent competition cycle (program years 2020 -2023) to determine if they are a Category A applicant.

Service Area Requirements for Eligible Applicants

With the exception of Alaska and District of Columbia, the Department is soliciting Career Services and Training grant applications for all states and Puerto Rico, to serve the eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker population. A service area is the geographical jurisdiction in which an applicant is proposing to provide grant services and must include a state and specific county(ies) within that state. The smallest units of service for this program is a county. For example, an applicant must propose to serve a county or counties within a state, but not specific cities or townships. Grantees will be required to provide NFJP services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents in the identified county or counties within a state.

Unlike previous competition years, applicants may not submit applications for combined states (for example, VA and WV, DE and MD, and CT and RI). Applicants must submit a distinct application for each proposed state (see section III.D.2).

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

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

SAM Registration Section

IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Section

IV.B.1

SF-424 includes a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Section

IV.B.1

SF-424, Field 14, Areas Affected by Project: Includes the names of the counties in the proposed project service area within one state. (If there is a discrepancy in the service areas listed on the applicant’s SF-424 and what is discussed in the rest of the application, the Department will use the areas listed on the SF-

424.)

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

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

Applicants are required to submit a distinct application for each proposed state, including Puerto Rico. For example, if an organization seeks to apply for Career Services and Training grants in four states, such as California, New York, Minnesota, and Michigan, they must submit a separate application for each state, totaling four applications in this instance. Applicants must note in field 14 of the SF-424 the proposed service area, including state and county(ies), for the associated application.

ETA will not accept multiple grant applications for the same state by the same applicant. If ETA receives multiple applications from the same applicant for the same state, ETA will consider only the most recently received application that meets the deadline. If the most recent application is deemed non-responsive for any reason, ETA will not replace it with an earlier application.

3. Eligible Participants

The intent of this FOA is to fund projects that provide career services, training services, housing services, youth services, or related assistance services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents who are:

a. Eligible seasonal farmworker adults, eligible migrant farmworker adults, eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker youth, dependent adult of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker, or a dependent youth of an eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker, as defined in 20 CFR 685.110, including the following requirements:

i. Eligible Adults are ages 18 and older and youth are ages 14-24; and

ii. Low-income and employed in farmwork, as determined via the procedures described in TEGL No. 18-16 Change 1 or in successive guidance.

b. Other Key Requirements

i. Selective Service: Male participants aged 18 or older must register for the U.S.

Selective Service System (www.sss.gov) before being enrolled as a participant. If they turn 18 while participating, they must register at that time.

ii. Additionally, individuals who have been granted relief under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Initiative and meet NFJP eligibility requirements qualify for NFJP if they have employment authorization. Additional information is available in TEGL No. 2-14.

Specific details about NFJP program eligibility requirements and other key requirements are described in TEGL No. 18-16 Change 1 or in successive guidance. Additionally, under this

FOA:

• In line with the January 2021, Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, DOL aims to incorporate strategies that advance equity and build a strong, fair, and inclusive workforce and economy into the NFJP model. Accordingly, applicants must seek to serve the sub-populations within the farmworker community that are underserved by incorporating equity into their projects. The Executive Order defines equity as “the consistent and systematic treatment of all individuals in a fair, just, and impartial manner, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that often have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander persons and other persons of color;

members of religious minorities; women and girls; LGBTQI+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; persons who live in United States Territories;

persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and individuals who belong to multiple such communities.” Applicants must also describe their efforts to reach farmworkers and their dependents who belong to underserved communities, which are defined in the Executive Order as the communities noted above.

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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685/subpart-A/section-685.110 http://www.sss.gov https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ 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://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09. This guidance applies to programs funded under WIOA. TEGL No. 19-16 provides additional information on veteran’s priority of service and WIOA.

4. Grant Funding Requests and Minimum Number of Enrolled Participants

a. Applicants must request grant funding that is commensurate with the scope and scale of the project proposed. To ensure requested grant funds are providing the greatest benefit and leading to quality services for all participants, applicants must propose minimum number of enrolled participants for program year 2024, July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, which are based on the amount of funds requested by the applicant.

b. The Department developed the Guidelines for Minimum Number of Participants to be Enrolled based on an analysis of previous participant enrollment levels and spending trends, as described in Figure 1 below. The Department is encouraging applicants to consider these guidelines as well as other factors such as the proposed design of their program and services, including migrant and seasonal farmworkers’ and their dependents’ needs, essential supportive services that help participants successfully complete program, geographic location, industry demands, costs of career services and training, when determining the minimum number of enrolled participants. If the proposed minimum number of participants to be enrolled is higher or lower than the guidelines, applicants must explain the difference and use available data to support their explanation (for example, when determining the minimum number of participants to be enrolled consider your estimated cost-per-participant range, the type of services that will be included in your proposed project design, costs for sector specific training, and the type of supportive services that participants need to successfully engage in the program and realize their career goals).

c. Applicants must describe if the proposed project design will serve eligible adult participants (ages 18 and over), youth participants (ages 14-24), or both adult and youth participants, and provide a justification for the selected population. All applicants must clearly propose a minimum number of participants, including adult participants, youth participants, or both adult and youth participants, who will be enrolled during program year 2024, based on the minimums identified in the Figure 1, for which the applicants are seeking funding. For participants who are ages 18-24, grantees will need to either enroll them as an adult or youth, but not both. Note, the minimum number of participants does not include reportable individuals who receive services that do not trigger inclusion as participants. Applicants do not need to establish a goal for the number of reportable individuals who will receive these non-participation services as listed in TEGL No. 14- 18, Appendix III – Table C.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-14-18 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-14-18

d. The proposed minimum number of participants to be enrolled is the total number of participants that a grantee could provide services to during the program year 2024 with the requested funding amount. For example, for an applicant requesting funding in the amount of $800,000 that plans to provide career services and training to both adult and youth participants, the applicant must specify that it is requesting $800,000 and planning to serve, e.g., 30 youth participants and 50 adult participants during program year 2024.

Applicants should refer to section IV.B.3.a. Statement of Need for information on how they will be scored on the proposed minimum number of participants to be enrolled goal.

1. Category A applicants proposed minimum number of participant to be enrolled must include new participants enrolled during the program year and, if applicable, include participants carried over from the previous program year. For example, if an applicant plans to carry over 20 adult participants from the previous program year 2023 and they plan to enroll 60 adult participants in program year 2024, the total number of adult participants enrolled in program year 2024 is 80.

2. Category B applicants who did not previously have an NFJP grant, the proposed minimum number of participants to be enrolled must include only new participants. For example, if an applicant plans to enroll 60 adult participants in program year 2024, the total number of adult participants enrolled in program year 2024 is 60 adult participants.

e. The applicant’s proposed minimum number of participants to be enrolled for program year 2024 will be used to negotiate and establish goals for the three subsequent years of this four-year NFJP competition cycle. The Department plans to establish the final participant enrollment levels for program years 2024 – 2027 within the first three months after award. In general, however, NFJP grant recipients must amend program plans to reflect the funding level for each year of the grant, as described in 20 CFR 685.430, including proportionally revising participant enrollment goals commensurate with a given year’s funding levels.

Figure 1 below identifies guidelines to consider when proposing a minimum number of participants the project must enroll during the program year 2024, July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, based on an applicant’s requested funding amount. Applicants must consider these guidelines below and other factors as mentioned above.

Figure 1. Guidelines for Minimum Number of Participants to be Enrolled Based on Funding Request (Program Year 2024 - July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025) Funding Request Guideline for Minimum Number of

Participants Enrolled During Program Year

$99,999 or less 10 $100,000 - $199,000 20 $200,000 - $299,000 25 $ 300,000 or 399,999 30 $400,000 - $499,999 40 $ 500,000 - 500,499 50 $500,500 - $999,999 80 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685/subpart-D/section-685.430

$1,000,000 – 1,499,999 100 $1,500,000 – 1,999,999 150 $2,000,000 – 2,499,999 200 $2,500,000 – 2,999,999 250 $3,000,000 – 3,499,999 300 $3,500,000 – 3,999,999 350 $4,000,000 – 4,499,999 400 $4,500,000 - 4,999,999 450 $5,000,000 – 5,499,999 500 $5,500,000- 5,999,999 550 $6,000,000 – 6,499,999 600 $6,500,000 – 6,999,999 650 $7,000,000 -7,499,999 700 $7,500,000 – 7,999,999 750 $8,000,000 – 8,499,999 800 $8,500,000 – 8,999,999 850 $9,000,000 – 9,499,999 900 $9,500,000 – 9,999,999 950 $10,000,000 – 10,499,999 1000

Note: During the period of performance, ETA will assess a grantee’s program’s cost-per-participant as an indicator of how well a grantee is recruiting participants and providing quality career services and training. However, it is important to note that there is not a cost-per-individual limit under NFJP and, if necessary, grantees may spend more than their estimated average cost-per-participant for an individual if it is necessary to help a participant successfully complete career services and training. In these circumstances, grantees will be required to explain any differences in their Joint Quarterly Narrative Performance Report Template (ETA Form 9179).

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

INFORMATION

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:

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

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/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family).

• 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 organization’s legal name on the SF-424 should match its name registered in the System for Award Management at www.sam.gov. If unsure of the legal name of your organization, visit www.sam.gov to confirm.

• The organization’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number should match its information in www.sam.gov. If unsure of the EIN or UEI of your organization, visit www.sam.gov to confirm.

• 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/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family). 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 prohibits discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship 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, which prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, and national origin; Section 504 of the https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action http://www.sam.gov http://www.sam.gov http://www.sam.gov http://www.sam.gov https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

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 Unique Entity Identifier

All applicants for federal grant funding must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and must supply their UEI on the SF-424. The UEI is a 12-character (alpha-numeric) code that uniquely identifies all entities. Any entity registering to do business with the government is required to have one. UEIs are issued by SAM.gov and are a part of an entity's record in the Entity Information section of SAM.gov. If you do not have a UEI, you can get one for free at https://sam.gov.

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these requirements related to UEI:

• Grant recipients must notify potential subawardees that no entity may receive a subaward unless the entity has provided its UEI.

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

(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.

2. Project Budget You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at grants.gov/forms/forms-https://sam.gov https://www.sam.gov repository/sf-424-family). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

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 also explain their estimated cost-per-participant range based on the minimum number of participants enrolled, type of services that will be included in your proposed project design, costs for sector specific training, and the type of supportive services that participants need to successfully engage in the program and realize their career goals.

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 (including individuals hired by an employment contract) 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 Part

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 Part 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 Part 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…