FOA-ETA-24-18.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: National Farmworker Jobs Program Housing Services Grants

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-24-18

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.264

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is June 28, 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

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. SERVICE AREAS

C. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

D. 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. WORKFORCEGPS RESOURCES

C. SKILLSCOMMONS RESOURCES

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

APPENDIX A Suggested Abstract Format

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $6,500,000 in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 167 for the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), Housing Services. The period of performance is 51 months and starts July 1, 2024, and ends September 30, 2028. The NFJP model aims to connect eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents to permanent housing that is owner-occupied, or occupied on a permanent, year-round basis (notwithstanding ownership).

The permanent housing must be the person’s primary residence to which they return to at the end of the work or training day. Additionally, the NFJP model aims to provide temporary housing that is not owner-occupied to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers whose employment requires occasional travel outside their normal commuting area. The Department will award at least 70 percent of the funds for permanent housing.

Although farmworkers are the keystone of the U.S. agriculture industry, farmworker households tend to have high rates of poverty and live disproportionately in housing that is in poor condition.

Additionally, homelessness and affordable housing shortages continue to be a challenge across the U.S., including in agricultural regions, which significantly impacts the availability of affordable, accessible, and safe and sanitary housing for farmworkers. To address these challenges, under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOL will competitively award approximately eight NFJP housing grants to organizations that propose project designs that provide housing services in one or more of the following states: California, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington. Based on the Program Year 2023 results of the allotment formula that DOL used for the NFJP Career Services and Training grants, these 12 states have the highest estimated number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. By focusing on these 12 states, the Department is able to increase the availability of NFJP housing services in service areas where there are the most eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Additionally, to maximize the impact of the limited NFJP housing funds during the grant’s period of performance, DOL encourages applicants to propose project designs that result in enhanced access to permanent housing and temporary housing for eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents by using approaches that are responsive to peoples’ immediate and near-term needs (for example, address homelessness, prevent homelessness, improve safety and sanitary standards of existing housing).

NFJP Housing activities are described in WIOA 20 CFR 685.360.

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 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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685/subpart-C/section-685.360

This FOA is only for Housing grants. DOL has published a separate FOA for Career Services and Training grants. Grants.gov and Funding Opportunities | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov) provides information about grant funding opportunities.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

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

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers often face distinctive housing challenges due to the nature of their work, including substandard living conditions, overcrowding, and lack of basic amenities.

For example, according to the Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2019-2020: A Demographic and Employment Profile of United States Farmworkers, 30 percent of farmworkers (and 39 percent of migrant workers) lived in “crowded” dwellings, defined in the survey as housing units in which the number of persons per room was greater than one. The need to work collaboratively to create solutions to improve access to affordable, accessible, and safe and sanitary housing for farmworkers and their families has never been greater.

The purpose of this program is to facilitate the delivery of housing solutions that are responsive to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers’ and their dependents’ immediate and near-term needs (for example, address homelessness, prevent homelessness, improve safety and sanitary standards of existing housing). Having access to safe and sanitary housing assists people in achieving their education and career goals, which can lead to improved economic mobility.

Under the NFJP program model, grant recipients are required to leverage their understanding of the challenges that migrant and seasonal farmworkers experience, and familiarity with state and local labor markets and housing needs to deliver housing services that coordinate with workforce investment activities in the proposed service area. To that end, responsive proposals will fully integrate five core elements: 1) Housing Solutions; 2) Workforce Investment Strategies; 3) Strategic Partnerships; 4) Outreach, Enrollment, and Referral; and 5) Case Management.

For the purposes of this FOA, applicants must propose a project that will focus on providing permanent housing only or providing permanent and temporary housing. Focusing on or incorporating permanent housing solutions offers more stability and community integration for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Permanent housing results in more sustainable and practical support for the workforce needs of migrant and seasonal farmworkers which makes it a more strategic choice than temporary accommodations. The NFJP appropriation (most recently, in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, P.L. 118-47) includes a specific appropriation “for migrant and seasonal housing” and requires that at least 70 percent of this funding be spent on permanent housing services. The WIOA Final Rule for NFJP, 20 CFR 685.100-20 and CFR 685.550, describes the regulatory requirements that NFJP grant recipients must use to administer their programs. The types of permanent housing and temporary housing services are explained in 20 CFR 685.360. Note, NFJP Career Services and Training grantees may provide housing services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers as described in their program plan.

https://grants.gov/ https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities 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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-685/subpart-C/section-685.360

For the purpose of this FOA, the Department of Labor is emphasizing the following permanent housing services in Figure 1 and temporary housing services in Figure 2 because these types of services respond to the immediate housing needs of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents.

Figure 1. Permanent Housing Services

Figure 2. Temporary Housing Services

Permanent housing is owner-occupied, or occupied on a permanent, year-round basis notwithstanding ownership. Permanent housing units are intended for permanent occupancy such as rental units, single family homes, duplexes, and other multi-family structures, dormitories, and group homes. Other examples of permanent housing units include modular structures, manufactured houses, or mobile units placed on permanent foundations and supplied with appropriate utilities, among others.

Since having access to safe and sanitary housing assists people in achieving their education and career goals, permanent housing services must respond to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers’ and their dependents’ immediate and near-term housing needs. Therefore, under this FOA, the Department is encouraging grantees to focus on housing that is move-in ready rather than housing in earlier stages of development. The Department prefers applications that propose projects centered on getting migrant and seasonal farmworkers into permanent housing, such as:

• Property management services (for example, identify and assist eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers to connect to “move-in” ready permanent housing, ensure requests are met for accessible housing for people with disabilities and other individuals, and oversee maintenance and repair services); or

• Rehabilitation of existing structures, including improvements to infrastructure and utilities, among others, necessary to maintain existing structures may be considered part of managing permanent housing that is owner-occupied or occupied by an individual/family on a permanent, year-round basis.

Other examples of allowable permanent housing services include:

• Case management, including referral services

• Short-term mortgage assistance/ rental assistance for permanent housing

• Permanent housing relocation costs

• Tenant rights workshops, including advocacy training for Housing Liaisons who assist with raising awareness of housing needs

Temporary Housing is not owner occupied and is used by migrant and seasonal farmworkers whose employment requires occasional travel outside their normal community area.

Temporary Housing units are intended for temporary occupancy but are located in permanent structures, such as rental units in an apartment complex or mobile structures that provide

This FOA is only for Housing grants. DOL has published a separate FOA for Career Services and Training grants. Grants.gov and Funding Opportunities | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov) provides information about grant funding opportunities.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

Section 167 of the WIOA (Public Law 113-128) authorizes this program. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public Law 118-47, appropriated funding for this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $6,500,000 to fund approximately eight Housing grants in California, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington. Based on the Program Year 2023 results of the allotment formula that DOL used for the NFJP Career Services and Training grants, these 12 states have the highest estimated number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Awards will range from approximately $500,000 to no more than $1,500,000. The NFJP appropriation (P.L. 118-

47) requires that at least 70 percent of this funding be spent on permanent housing services.

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 short-term, seasonal housing opportunities. Temporary structures may be moved from site to site, dismantled and re-erected when needed for migrant and seasonal farmworker occupancy, closed during the off-season, or handled through other similar arrangements. Other examples of temporary housing include:

• Off-farm housing operated independently of employer interest in, or control of, the housing;

• On-farm housing located on property owned by an agricultural employer and operated by an entity such as an agricultural employer or non-profit; or

• Other housing types that provide short-term, seasonal, or temporary housing opportunities in temporary structures.

Under this FOA, the Department of Labor encourages applicants to propose projects that incorporate temporary housing services that respond to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers’ and their dependents’ immediate and near-term housing needs. Temporary housing services include but are not limited to:

• Case management, including referral services

• Emergency housing payments, including vouchers and cash payments for rent/lease and utilities

• Housing rights education to tenants, including awareness of housing safety and sanitary standards https://grants.gov/ https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities applications submitted in response to this FOA. Unlike the NFJP Career Services and Training grants, the Department does not use a formula for NFJP Housing Grants. The award amount is based on an applicant’s proposed project and the results of the competition. See the Merit Review and Selection Process section of this FOA for additional information.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 51 months with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

Within the 51-month period, grants are renewable annually for a total of four years based on annual Departmental application requirements and availability of funds. We anticipate that each year’s award will have a fiscal period of performance of 15-months, from July 1 to September 30 of the subsequent calendar year. 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 flexibility to absorb minor fluctuations in spending within the four-year cycle without the need to request extensions from year to year. Therefore, the Program Year is July 1 to June 30, and the fiscal period of performance for each year’s award 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.

Further, the department will only award NFJP Housing Funds to provide housing services in service areas located in one or more of the 12 states specified in Section III.B below.

Applications that propose to serve areas outside these 12 states will be deemed non-responsive and will not be scored.

The Department encourages education and training providers, tenant and housing organizations, advocacy organizations, labor or worker organizations, industry representatives, and organizations that provide services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and other populations facing multiple barriers to employment to apply.

B. SERVICE AREAS

The Department anticipates awarding approximately eight grants. Note, an applicant’s proposed service area(s) must be located in one or more of the following states: California, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington. To make the most effective use of the funding available for these NFJP Housing grants, the Department is focusing only on the states with the highest estimated population of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers based on the Program Year 2023 results of the allotment formula that the Department used for the NFJP Career Services and Training grants.

Applicants must identify the service area(s) where they intend to provide NFJP housing services.

A service area is the geographical jurisdiction in which a grantee is awarded to operate, and must be identified as the state(s) and the specific county or counties within each state that the project will serve. The smallest unit of service for this program is a county. Therefore, an applicant must propose to serve a county or set of 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 counties within a state.

C. 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 Department 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.

D. 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

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

Application federal funds request does not exceed the ceiling amount of $1,500,000.00 Section II.A

SAM Registration Section IV.B

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Section IV.B SF-424 includes a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Section IV.B

SF-424 (Field 14, Areas Affected by Project) includes all counties in the proposed project service area within state(s). (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.3.a

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

ETA will consider only one application from each organization.

An applicant may apply to serve a single service area or may submit an application to serve multiple service areas (for example, multiple counties within a state, or multiple states and counties).

Applicants must note in field 14 of the SF-424, Areas Affected by Project, their proposed service area(s), including state and county or counties.

If ETA receives multiple applications from the same organization, ETA will consider only the most recently received application that meets the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified 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 housing services that result in enhanced access to permanent housing and temporary housing for farmworkers and their dependents who are:

1. 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:

a. Adults are ages 18 and older OR youth are ages 14-24; and

b. Low-income and employed in farmwork, as determined via the procedures described in TEGL 23-10, TEGL No. 18-16 Change 1 or successive guidance.

2. Other Key Requirements:

a. 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.

b. 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.

Note: Per 20 CFR 685.360, housing grantees must provide housing services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Permanent housing may include new construction as well as rehabilitation of existing structures. Permanent housing developed with NFJP funds must be promoted and made widely available to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. When grantees develop permanent housing with NFJP funds and are not able to identify eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers to fill the available housing, the grantee must demonstrate that they promoted and made every effort to make the permanent housing available to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. If they are unsuccessful with their efforts, they may request approval from the Department to make unoccupied permanent housing available to other individuals and other families who do not meet the program eligibility requirements as described in TEGL No. 18-16 Change 1 or in successive guidance. This does not apply to temporary housing, which grantees must only provide to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

4. Advancing Equity

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 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/ eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents who belong to the underserved communities described above. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate how they will effectively serve eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents who are limited English proficient (LEP) by providing language assistance as required by Section 188 of WIOA.

Specifically, applicants must be prepared to comply with the requirements of 29 CFR 38.9 to “take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to each limited English proficient (LEP) individual served or encountered so that LEP individuals are effectively informed about and/or able to participate in the program or activity.” It is noted that the requirement to ensure meaningful language access for beneficiaries, participants and applicants to a NFJP program is compulsory under the law.

5. Veterans’ Priority for Participants

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 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. For additional information on veteran’s priority of service and WIOA, please see TEGL No. 19-16. TEGL No. 19-16 is available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-19-16.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and Funding Opportunities | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov), contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

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

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

2. Project Budget, composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative;

3. Project Narrative; and 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://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-19-16 http://www.grants.gov/

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. Applicants must request a funding amount reflecting operational needs for Program Year 2024.

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.

• 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 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 https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family 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-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.

The Budget Narrative must explain the estimated cost-per-participant range.

https://sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/

Each category should include the total estimated cost for operational needs in Program Year 2024. 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 award. A subaward, defined by 2 CFR Part 200.1 means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a federal program.

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

Construction: For the purpose of this FOA, the Department is emphasizing the permanent housing services listed in Figure 1 and temporary housing services in Figure 2 in section I.A.

of this FOA because these types of services address the immediate housing needs of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. Using grant funds for new construction is discouraged. For permanent housing services, renovations or rehabilitations of existing structures for grant activities may be allowable. We do not consider renovations or rehabilitations of existing structures as construction and you must show the costs on other appropriate lines such as Contractual. Construction costs noted in the budget require a subsequent amendment seeking prior approval of the Grant Officer.

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

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

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

or

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

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

• Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) Definition: To avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, DOL defines MTDC as all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards and subcontracts under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward or subcontract in excess of $25,000.

• You will also note that participant support costs are not included in modified total direct costs. Participant support costs are defined below.

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

See Section IV.B.4. and Section IV.E.1 for more information. Additionally, the following link contains information regarding the negotiation of Indirect Cost Rates at DOL:

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

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

Indirect-type costs (such as top management salaries, financial oversight, human resources, payroll, personnel, auditing costs, accounting and legal, etc. used for the general oversight and administration of the organization) must not be classified as direct costs; these types of costs are recovered as part of charging the de minimis or NICRA rate. Note that the SF-424, SF- 424A, and Budget Narrative must include the federal grant amount requested for Program Year 2024 only.

Do not show leveraged resources on the SF-424 and SF-424A. You should describe leveraged resources in the Budget Narrative.

Applicants should list the same requested federal grant amount on the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative. If minor inconsistencies are found between the budget amounts specified on the SF-424, SF-424A, and the Budget Narrative, ETA will consider the SF-424 the official funding amount requested. However, if the amount specified on the SF-424 would render the application nonresponsive, the Grant Officer will use his or her discretion to determine whether the intended funding request (and match if applicable) is within the responsive range.

3. Project Narrative

The Project Narrative must demonstrate your capability to implement the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this Announcement. It provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project design. It must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well-organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project design.

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

We will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process, except as specified in the Attachments to the Project Narrative section in this

FOA.

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

NOTE:

• Full points will not be given for simply repeating the requirements stated below or elsewhere in the Announcement. For example, if the applicant is asked, “Describe in detail how the applicant will use a data-driven decision-making process to communicate expectations,” they will not receive full points (and may receive zero points) for simply saying, “We will use a data-driven decision-making process to communicate expectations.” To receive full points, the applicant must describe, in their own words, how they will meet the stated requirement, and convincingly demonstrate that they are using a sound approach.

• DOL encourages using a table format where useful. Tables must be legible but are not required to be 12-point font.

• Responsive proposals will fully integrate five core elements, which are: 1) Housing Solutions; 2) Workforce Investment Strategies; 3) Strategic Partnerships; 4) Outreach, Enrollment, and Referral; and 5) Case Management. Note, an applicant’s project narrative must address each of these five core elements for each proposed service area, including state(s) and county or counties.

a. Statement of Need (Up to 10 Points)

Scoring for this criterion is based on the clarity, logical flow, robust support, and accurate analysis of the data presented in the subsequent factors.

i) Target Service Area (up to 2 points)

• Applicants must clearly identify the project’s proposed service area in the Project

Narrative and in Field 14 (Areas Affected by Project) of the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. The service area must only include counties in one or more of the following states: California, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington. Applicants may not propose to serve counties in other states under this FOA.

• For the purpose of this FOA, a service area includes a state and specific county or counties within a state. The smallest unit of service area for this program is a county. The applicant should not identify specific cities or townships. Grantees will be responsible to provide NFJP services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents in the approved service area. Note, the proposed service area must be located in one or more of the following states:

California, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington.

ii) Target Population (up to 8 points)

• Applicants must describe any unique housing needs that eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents have in each proposed service area, including state(s) and county or counties. Applicants must provide data to support the explanation.

• Applicants must describe if the proposed project design will serve eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers, eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker families, or both, and provide a justification for the selected population.

• All applicants must clearly identify the proposed number of participants that will receive permanent housing only or permanent housing and temporary housing services in each county in each proposed service area, during Program Years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. Note, Program Year 2024 begins July 1, 2024 and ends June 30, 2025. Note that for this scoring element, applicants must provide the number of participants by county even if the service area includes multiple counties in the same state. If an applicant’s proposed project will focus on providing permanent housing services only, then describe the number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and the number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker families that will receive permanent housing in each county, during Program Year 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. If an applicant’s proposed project will focus on providing permanent housing and temporary housing services, then describe the number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and the number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker families that will receive permanent housing and temporary housing services in each county, during Program Years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027.

Note: The information provided on the proposed number of participants to be served in each county may impact your approved award amount if your application is successful. If there is a discrepancy with the proposed participant numbers provided across the application, the Department will defer to the proposed participant numbers in the Project Abstract.

b. Project Design (Up to 40 Points)

Applicants must propose approaches and methods for effectively serving participants and outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the project will achieve the proposed project outputs and outcomes and include timelines for completion of key milestones.

i) Housing Solutions: Approaches and Methods (up to 10 points)

• Applicants must describe their plans to facilitate the delivery of housing solutions that are responsive to the needs of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. The plan must include one to three housing goals, resources, activities, desired results of activities, and outcomes. Clearly explain the type(s) of housing services that your proposed project will focus on: permanent housing only or both permanent and temporary housing services for each in each identified service area, including state(s) and county or counties.

• Applicants must describe their plans to prioritize the delivery of housing services that address the immediate and near-term housing needs of participants (for example, address homelessness, prevent homelessness, improve safety and sanitary standards of existing housing), as described in Figure 1 and Figure 2 in section I.A. of this FOA.

• Applicants must describe the data that they used to inform their proposed project’s design and approaches.

ii) Workforce Investment Strategies (up to 8 points) Although the primary purpose of these grants is to provide housing services, DOL acknowledges the strong connection between having access to affordable, accessible, safe and sanitary housing, and economic mobility. Therefore, applicants must provide a comprehensive narrative description that addresses: a) the overall current state of education and employment needs that eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents have within each proposed service area, including…