FOA-ODEP-19-01.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Disability Employment Policy

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR:

Applications for a National Employer Policy, Research, and Technical Assistance Center on the Employment of People with Disabilities

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ODEP-19-01

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.720

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is June 24, 2019. We must receive applications no later than 4:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Address mailed applications to:

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, Office of Grants Management Attention: Mr. Jimmie Curtis, Grant Officer Reference: FOA-ODEP-19-01 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N4716 Washington, DC 20210

For complete application and submission information, including online application instructions, please refer to Section IV.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration is responsible for the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s grant award process.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (“ODEP”), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the expected availability of approximately $ 8 million in funds for one cooperative agreement to manage and operate an employer-focused policy development and technical assistance center over a 4 year (48-month) budget period. The first year of funding of $2 million for this cooperative agreement is authorized by the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019, Pub.L. No. 115-245.

The organization that is awarded the cooperative agreement as a result of this competition will receive one grant award amount annually for four consecutive years. Our expectation of the availability of approximately $ 8 million in funds for the entire 4 year (48-month) budget period is subject to the availability of Federal funds. This solicitation is a re-competition of an existing cooperative agreement. The work done under the new Center will build upon the prior work of ODEP’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).

The new Center, which will retain the name EARN, will continue to conduct research;

engage with the business community; identify effective policies and practices that support business needs; and provide resources, technical assistance, and training to help public and private sector employers (including Federal contractors) recruit, hire, retain, and advance individuals with disabilities. The new Center will differ from the current, however, in that it will have a stronger focus on policy development, research, and compliance assistance activities that will be driven and developed in collaboration with private sector business entities, including through a network of business intermediary organizations representing groups of employers. The business intermediaries will help drive the focus of policy research and compliance assistance by helping to identify employer needs in the area of disability employment.

The lead applicant must be either 1) a non-profit business school or school that includes human resources or labor-focused programs that is part of a public or private institute of higher education or 2) a non-profit research institution, which can include stand-alone research institutions or a research institution that is part of a public or private institute of higher education. The lead applicant must, at a minimum, form a consortium with the other type of eligible entity. For example, if the lead applicant is a non-profit business school, then a non-profit research institution must be included in the proposed consortium.

Similarly, if the lead application is a non-profit research institution, then a non-profit business school or school that includes human resources or labor-focused programs must be included in the proposed consortium. The lead applicant must also include in the consortium business intermediary organizations that represent groups of employers or business professionals, and may include additional, optional partners. Applicants are required to have a formal consortium partnership with entities from the other eligible applicant category, as documented by a formal memorandum of understanding, and have formal letters of support from five (5) business intermediaries interested in partnering with the applicant upon the award date.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Announcement solicits applications for one (1) cooperative agreement to continue to manage and operate EARN. The purpose of the new Center is to increase the capacity of employers to recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities through the identification and dissemination of evidence-based policies and effective practices. The awardee will accomplish this by: 1) engaging with and soliciting input from employers and business intermediaries across multiple industry sectors regarding their most pressing needs, 2) conducting research and policy analysis to identify viable practices and policy solutions to address the problems identified, and 3) collaborating with the business entities to develop and share user friendly and relevant compliance assistance resources tailored to address their needs.

EARN will also conduct research and policy studies to identify and validate effective policy and practice models, translate that knowledge into engaging formats that will be disseminated and utilized broadly by employers, and will provide technical assistance and training to employers of all sizes, both public and private, to aid them in creating inclusive cultures that support the employment of individuals with disabilities. In addition to being able to develop the networks to provide assistance through strategic engagement with business intermediary partners and other targeted business entities, the successful applicant must also have the demonstrated capacity to conduct high quality research and policy analysis and to identify new and innovative areas for research and policy inquiry.

The Department is committed to producing strong evidence on the effectiveness of its grant programs, and full participation (by grantee and any sub-grantees or sub-contractors) in any evaluation initiated by the Department is a condition of all grant awards.

B. BACKGROUND

The Need for EARN and Overview of Required Activities

Research suggests that employing people with disabilities benefits businesses in multiple ways.1 Some of these include lower turnover, increased tenure or retention, increased productivity, greater market share through a larger customer base, and increased access to a broader pool of skilled workers.2 In addition, increasing job opportunities for people with disabilities “saves the Federal and state government money by reducing dependency on cash and medical and disability benefits,” according to a 2013 Employer Assistance and Resource Network report.3 For people with disabilities, employment means greater economic self-sufficiency, an opportunity to use their skills, and more active participation in community life.

1 Hernandez, B. and McDonald, K. (2007). Exploring the Bottom Line: A Study of the Costs and Benefits of Workers with Disabilities. The Economic Impact Study. October 2007.

http://bbi.syr.edu/_assets/staff_bio_publications/McDonald_Exploring_the_Bottom_Line_2007.pdf.

2 Linklow, P., Barrington, L., Bruyère, S., Figueroa, I., and Wright, M. (2012). Leveling the Playing Field:

Attracting, engaging, and advancing people with disabilities. The Conference Board.

https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1292&context=e dicollect 3 Krepcio, K and Barnett, S. (2013). States as Model Employers of People with Disabilities: A Comprehensive Review of Policies, Practices, and Strategies. http://www.askearn.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/statemodel.pdf.

http://bbi.syr.edu/_assets/staff_bio_publications/McDonald_Exploring_the_Bottom_Line_2007.pdf https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1292&context=edicollect http://www.askearn.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/statemodel.pdf http://www.askearn.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/statemodel.pdf http://bbi.syr.edu/_assets/staff_bio_publications/McDonald_Exploring_the_Bottom_Line_2007.pdf https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1292&context=edicollect https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1292&context=edicollect http://www.askearn.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/statemodel.pdf http://www.askearn.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/statemodel.pdf

However, a significant employment gap persists between Americans with and without disabilities. At nearly 20 percent of the population, people with disabilities are one of the nation’s largest minority groups.4 Yet the most recent national disability employment statistics show that only 20.8 percent of people with disabilities participate in the workforce, compared to 68.2 percent of people without disabilities.5

To address this issue, the Federal government has taken several actions. For example, in 2014, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) promulgated regulations addressing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act6 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA).7 The Section 503 regulations require a Federal contractor to conduct utilization analyses and to apply, for the first time, a seven percent utilization goal to assess whether it is achieving equal employment opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Significant and on-going outreach and technical assistance related to recruitment, accommodations, disclosure, building an inclusive workplace, and increasing retention and return to work will be needed by the Federal contractors impacted by the regulations.

More recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued regulations for Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act that state that the Federal government must adopt employment goals for individuals with disabilities, with sub-goals for individuals with targeted disabilities.8 In addition, the regulations provide that personal assistance services should be made available to certain employees who need them because of a disability, and establish a number of other requirements designed to improve the recruitment, hiring, retention, and advancement of individuals with disabilities in the Federal workforce.9

Activities to be conducted under this cooperative agreement will support the Federal government’s efforts to increase employment for individuals with disabilities in both the Federal and private sectors. This will be accomplished by: collaborating with employers, including Federal contractors, to identify and address their most pressing disability employment related needs; conducting policy analysis and research to identify potential policy and practice solutions; and developing and disseminating high-quality, user-friendly compliance/technical assistance tools to assist employers in building a disability inclusive workforce. For example, to support Federal agencies in becoming model employers, the awardee will be expected to collaborate with the EEOC and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to analyze existing research, policies, and practices such as those related to Schedule A, Schedule D, as well as other Federal disability employment programs such as selective placement programs, special emphasis programs and other diversity initiatives in order to glean best practices.

4 Brault, M. W. (2012). Americans with Disabilities: 2010. Current Population Reports. US Census.

https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2012/demo/p70-131.pdf.

5 https://www.dol.gov/odep.

6 41 CFR Part 60–741.

7 41 CFR Part 60–300.

8 “Targeted disabilities” are defined by OPM in the SF-256. https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf256.pdf.

9 29 CFR 1614.

https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2012/demo/p70-131.pdf http://www.dol.gov/odep/ http://www.dol.gov/odep/ https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2012/demo/p70-131.pdf https://www.dol.gov/odep.

https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf256.pdf

Similarly, through the creation of the Business Intermediary Network, EARN will collaborate with private businesses of all sizes across multiple sectors by engaging with non-profit business intermediary organizations to identify and address their most pressing disability employment-related needs. Business intermediary organizations are broadly defined as trade, professional, or labor associations that are made up of businesses, member companies, and/or individuals that operate in the same market, sector, or industry and have common interests. In addition to creating a broad network of business intermediaries, the Center will create a related Intermediary Leadership Council from across the network’s organizations to gather information necessary for EARN to understand and address the needs of employers. The Center will use the Intermediary Leadership Council to ensure that research is relevant and products developed meet the needs of the Business Intermediary Network, and other employers.

Moreover, the Center will also assist Federal contractors in their efforts to include people with disabilities within their workforces, by providing resources to help them comply with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, recommending and supporting the implementation of methods of recognizing outstanding contractors, and in developing and disseminating user friendly and relevant compliance assistance resources tailored to address the specific needs of the contractor community.

The successful applicant will build on the current EARN Inclusion@Work framework.

Developed with input from a range of employers with strong track records in disability employment, the Inclusion@Work Framework is an internationally award winning, multimedia policy tool that outlines seven core components of a disability-inclusive workplace, along with a menu of strategies for achieving them. The successful applicant will use the Inclusion@Work framework to help guide its work with business intermediaries and employers, and will develop new content, including tools and resources to help employers take action to build a disability-inclusive workplace.

The new EARN Center will also help inform ODEP’s policy development by conducting research and policy analysis, including examination of legislation and regulations, that may facilitate or impede employers in their disability employment efforts. Given the broad scope of work that the Center will be required to perform, the successful applicant must have expert policy knowledge and extensive research expertise. In addition, the successful applicant must have the demonstrated capacity to effectively provide technical assistance to employers across the broad range of issues impacting disability employment. Areas of focus will include, but will not be limited to, key and current topics of interest developed with approval from ODEP such as Return to Work/Stay at Work, small business, apprenticeships, mental health, and opioid addiction.

The Center will also develop, host, manage, maintain and update a comprehensive, engaging, interactive, and accessible web portal. The portal will serve as a repository and dissemination center for employer-focused disability inclusion information and materials, including resources developed by EARN and the Business Intermediary Network funded under this cooperative agreement, and by ODEP and other disability employment policy leaders. In addition to the web portal, EARN will also utilize a wide variety of other http://www.askearn.org/inclusion-work/ strategies such as social media, multi-media, webcasts, webinars, and mobile applications to effectively engage with the business community and expand the reach and impact of its dissemination efforts.

The successful applicant must also develop measures for and collect data on performance outcomes related to its activities. The grantee should continuously assess the effectiveness of its engagement and technical assistance activities, and have a plan to track and report on the effectiveness of its activities and outcomes. ODEP is particularly interested in proposed measures that reflect the dissemination as well as the adoption of materials by employers.

C. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

This program is authorized by the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019, Pub.L. No. 115-245.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD AMOUNT AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

We expect availability of approximately $8 million over a 48-month budget period to fund one cooperative agreement. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $2 million per 12-month budget period. Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of Federal funds.

The period of performance is forty-eight (48) months with an anticipated start date of September 9, 2019. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

B. AWARD TYPE

Funding for the project will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement, requiring close cooperation and coordination between DOL and the awardee. DOL will have substantial involvement in the administration of the cooperative agreement, and input and approval must be obtained prior to conducting most activities. DOL’s involvement in cooperative agreement will consist of:

Monthly conference calls with awardees throughout the period of performance;

Prior approval of any related sub-contracts;

Prior approval of all key personnel appointments and changes;

Participation in site visits to project areas;

Providing advice and consultation to project development and management;

Providing awardees with technical and programmatic support, including training in

DOL grant administration monitoring systems, and standard procedures regarding DOL management of cooperative agreements;

Reviewing, at reasonable times, all required reporting documents pertaining to the project, including required metrics, status and technical progress reports, and quarterly financial reports. DOL will provide the format for the technical progress reports;

Oversight and approval of all outward-facing work products, including but not limited to fact sheets, training materials, press releases, and publicity-related materials regarding the project;

Oversight and approval of all content for print and online resources developed through project activities including clearing topics for material production and final document production (e.g., outreach flyers, training materials, information about the project on the applicant’s website).

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants are consortia with a lead applicant from one of the following two types of entities: a) non-profit business schools or schools that include human resources or labor-focused programs that are part of a public or private institute of higher education; or

b) non-profit research institutions, which can be part of public or private institutes of higher education or independent policy research organizations. At a minimum, the lead applicant must form a consortium with entities from the other eligible applicant category.

For example, if the lead applicant is a non-profit business school, then a non-profit research institution must be included in the proposed consortium. Similarly, if the lead application is a non-profit research institution, then a non-profit business school or school that includes human resources or labor-focused programs must be included in the proposed consortium. The lead applicant must also include business intermediary organizations in the consortium. Moreover, additional optional partners may be included.

All applications must clearly identify the lead applicant as well as all other members of the consortium, and specify and document the particular expertise of each consortium member. Among the consortium partners, there must be extensive demonstrated experience and expertise in developing policy, conducting employer-focused research, collaborating with and providing compliance/technical assistance to employers on the full range of disability employment issues, and measuring and evaluating progress towards stated goals. In addition to the requirement that at least five (5) business intermediary organizations submit letters of support for the applicant’s proposal and indicating interest in partnering with the grantee, partnerships with additional appropriate organizations and subject matter experts are encouraged to effectively meet the requirements of this FOA.

Furthermore, applicants will receive priority consideration of two (2) bonus points if the lead applicant is physically located within a census tract designated by the Secretary of Treasury as a qualified opportunity zone. For more information on Opportunity Zones, go to: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions.

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process.

Instead, the agency considers any resources contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

You should use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package to ensure that the application has met all of the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. We urge you to use this checklist to ensure that your application contains all required items. If your application does not meet all of the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the merit review process.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met

Section IV.C

Eligibility Section III.A

If submitted through Grants.gov, 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 Federal funds request does not exceed the ceiling amount of $2 million

Section II.A

SAM Registration Section IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, including a DUNS number

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

Abstract Section IV.B.4

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Consortium Members

Section IV.B.4

Formal Letters of Commitment from five (5) business intermediary organizations

Section IV.B.4

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider multiple applications from each organization. Specifically, we will consider multiple applications from the same university if the lead applicant is different—for example, if one application is from the business school and the other is from a research institution housed at the same university. If, however, duplicate applications from the same business school or research institution for the same project are successfully submitted, only the last application received by the deadline will be reviewed. If the most recent version of an application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier version of the application.

Applicants will receive priority consideration of two (2) bonus points if the lead applicant is physically located within a census tract designated by the Secretary of Treasury as a qualified opportunity zone. For more information on Opportunity Zones, go to: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions.

D. OTHER AWARD SPECIFICATIONS

1. Allowable Use of Funds

Allowable expenses under the cooperative agreement include reasonable and necessary expenses to plan for and establish infrastructure necessary for effective program implementation and for support of any related evaluation of the EARN TA Center.

Additionally, funds may be used to pay for project staff to work with and support any evaluation conducted in support of the cooperative agreement. Funds may also be used to conduct routine, internal program management activities.

2. Partnerships

The lead applicant must address three types of partnerships:

a. The applicant will outline its approach to establishing and managing the EARN

Center as a consortium of organizations. The lead applicant must be either 1) a business school or school that includes human resources or labor-focused programs that is part of a public or private institute of higher education or 2) a research institution that is either part of a public or private institute of higher education or is an independent policy research organization. At a minimum, the lead applicant must form a consortium with entities from the other eligible applicant category. For example, if the lead applicant is a business school, then a non-profit research institution must be included in the proposed consortium.

Similarly, if the lead application is a non-profit research institution, then a non-profit business school or school that includes human resources or labor-focused programs must be included in the proposed consortium. The application must include commitments from consortium members, as well as a proposal for how the organizations will work together to meet the goals of the grant.

b. In addition to the required consortium partners, the lead applicant has the flexibility to choose from additional types of entities to serve as partners on various aspects of the EARN Center. These additional partners should have relevant expertise and experience needed to help the EARN Center meet its goals under this award. Optional partners can include a range of entities with subject matter expertise, including but not limited to, nonprofits such as disability-related organizations and policy research organizations, public and private institutes of higher education, and foundations.

c. The applicant will also propose a structure for continued engagement with a network of at least ten (10) intermediaries that allows the intermediaries to connect, work collaboratively, and share information across the newly created network. This structure should include a plan to engage intermediaries when selecting topics for research, designing research approaches, developing research products, and disseminating those products. The applicant must address this plan, and must include letters of support from at least five (5) business intermediaries in the grant application. Formal commitments from the ten (10) required intermediaries will be chosen with input and approval from ODEP after the cooperative agreement is awarded.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm, 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) the SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance;”

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm

(2) Project Budget;

(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://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1- V2.1.pdf .

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 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://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424B-V1.1.pdf ).

You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

- Requirement for DUNS Number

All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities must have a DUNS number, and must supply their DUNS Number on the SF-424. The DUNS Number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. If you do not have a DUNS Number, you can get one for free through the D&B website: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do .

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these requirements related to DUNS Numbers

• Grant recipients must notify potential subawardees that no entity may receive a subaward from you unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to you.

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

(See, Appendix A to 2 CFR section 25.)

http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424B-V1.1.pdf https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do

- 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 can be found 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:

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424A-V1.0.pdf).

Please limit information provided in this form to project budget information for the first 12-months of the budget period of the project.

Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must not only provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A (which is limited to the first 12-months of the budget period of the project), it must also provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request of the entire 48-month budget period of the project. It should also include a description of leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities.

Use the following guidance for preparing the budget narrative:

Personnel: – List all staff positions by title (both current and proposed).

Give the annual salary of each position, the percentage of each position’s time devoted to the project, the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant, and the total personnel cost for the period of performance.

Fringe Benefits: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

Travel: Specify the purpose, mileage, per diem, estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other costs for each type of travel.

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your https://www.sam.gov/ http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424A-V1.0.pdf capitalization level is less than $5,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.33 for the definition of Equipment). List the quantity and 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 categories of supplies (e.g. office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the quantity and unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR 200.94 for the definition of Supplies).

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately. Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.22 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 200.92, 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 estimated cost.

Construction: Construction costs are not allowed and this line must be left as zero. Minor alterations to adjust an existing space for grant activities (such as a classroom alteration) may be allowable. We do not consider this as construction and you must show the costs on other appropriate lines such as Contractual.

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 any item, such as stipends or incentives, not covered elsewhere here.

Indirect Costs: If you include indirect costs in the budget, 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 200.414(f). Clearly state that your organization has never received a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), and your organization is not one described in Appendix VII of 2 CFR 200, paragraph (D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total Direct Costs (see 2 CFR 200.68 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 below the definitions to assist you in your calculation.

2 CFR 200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards 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 in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

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

2 CFR 200.75 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/oasam/boc/dcd/index.htm.

Note that the SF-424 and SF-424A must include the first year of funding, and the budget narrative must include the entire Federal grant amount requested (not just one year).

http://www.dol.gov/oasam/boc/dcd/index.htm

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. It must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

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.

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.

The Project Narrative should cover the entire 48-month performance period.

For the first year the narrative should include considerable specificity and detailed milestones. The narrative for the remaining years should describe how the applicant will continue to meet the goals of the FOA and include the timing of major milestones and outcomes. The applicant will be able to modify the proposed work plan for years two through four prior to the funding of those years. The applications received will be reviewed in the context of a 48-month performance period.

Applicants must use the following Section Headers for the Project Narrative:

a. Project Design

i. Comprehensive Project Work Plan

ii. Required Components and Services

1. Research and Policy Analysis and Development

2. Compliance/Technical Assistance/Training

3. Create and Support a Business Intermediary Network and

Related Leadership council

4. Maintain Positive Relationships with ODEP’s Current Partners

5. Plan to Support Federal Contractors in Implementing Section

6. Website and Broader Dissemination Plan

b. Expected Outcomes, Outputs & Performance Evaluation

c. Organizational Capacity & Qualifications of Key Personnel

d. Management Operational Plan

e. Budget and Budget Narrative

f. Opportunity Zone – Priority Consideration Bonus Points

(a) Project Design

The successful applicant will describe their comprehensive plan for providing the services and accomplishing the goals discussed in sections I.A. (Program Purpose) and I.B. (Background) of the FOA.

i. Comprehensive Project Work Plan

The Project Narrative must include a detailed Project Work Plan describing the goals, strategies, activities, objectives, measures, and timelines that the consortium will use in implementing the project.

ii. Required Components and Services.

In addition, the project narrative must contain detailed information regarding the consortium’s capacity to carry out the following required activities:

1. Research and Policy Analysis and Development

Applicants must have extensive experience and demonstrated capacity to perform evidence-based research and policy analysis related to disability employment. To demonstrate this, the project narrative should include:

a. A detailed explanation of how the consortium is prepared and qualified to conduct high quality research, policy analysis, and policy development activities (including analysis of legislation and regulations) on a wide variety of topics related to disability employment. Relevant topics could include creating disability inclusive corporate cultures; strategies to support the recruitment, hiring, and advancement of people with disabilities;

mental health; Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act;

stigma as an employment barrier; disclosure; self-identification; return on investment; and legal issues.

Additionally, the consortium should explain how it is prepared and qualified to translate the research into high-quality, user-friendly compliance/technical assistance tools to assist employers in building a disability inclusive workforce. It is anticipated that the bulk of the topics that will ultimately be the focus of EARN’s research and policy development activities will be determined in conjunction with ODEP, based on input provided through engagement with the business intermediary network discussed previously. Samples of prior related research and policy work should be included in the Appendix.

b. A detailed description of the overall strategy the consortium will use to collect data in the information necessary for identifying, validating, and disseminating new and innovative employer-driven policies and practices.

c. A proposal for at least three (3) new research and policy development ideas that the consortium believes will be useful to employers based on their experience and expertise along with a research-based rationale for the selections, related proposed activities and deliverables that will assist and engage employers in implementing recommendations identified in the research.

2. Compliance/Technical Assistance/Training

In this section, the applicant should provide a detailed explanation of why the consortium is prepared and qualified to provide expert-level compliance/technical assistance and high quality training to business intermediaries representing employers of all sizes, both public and private.

In addition, it should also provide a detailed description of its plan for providing compliance/technical assistance, which:

a. identifies its proposed target audiences, and

b. identifies specific topics and types of training, technical assistance, and knowledge transfer activities and deliverables that will be provided.

3. Creating and Supporting a Business Intermediary Network and Related Leadership Council to Identify and Address Business Needs

In this section, applicants must describe in detail how they plan to strategically create, maintain, and engage with a network of at least ten (10) intermediary organizations across multiple sectors and establish a related Intermediary Leadership Council from across the network’s organizations to gather information necessary for EARN to understand and address the needs of employers. Business intermediary organizations are broadly defined as trade, professional, or labor associations that are made up of businesses, member companies, and/or individuals that operate in the same market, sector, or industry and have common interests.

The applicant’s plan to work with intermediaries should include:

a. a strategic approach for identifying the intermediary organizations that will form an intermediary network that can identify and collaborate on the development of best practices to help employers hire people with disabilities.

A successful applicant will have existing relationships and/or establish new ones with intermediaries and will identify in its application a minimum of five (5) business intermediaries that provide letters of support indicating an interest in participating in the intermediary network in the application. Formal commitments from the ten (10) required intermediaries will be gathered after the cooperative agreement is awarded;

b. a proposed structure for continued engagement with this network that will allow the intermediaries to work collaboratively and share information to support EARN’s project activities including selecting research topics, designing research approaches, and developing and disseminating policy products and implementation tools.

4. Maintaining Positive Relationships with ODEP’s Current

Partners

The application must describe the strategy the applicant will use to meaningfully engage business related entities with whom ODEP has pre-existing relationships. Specifically, the applicant should articulate how it will:

a. effectively serve as a liaison between ODEP and “the Circle,” an informal group of businesses that meet bi-monthly, as well as with ODEP’s business-focused Alliance entities, and;

b. provide ongoing administrative support for the Federal Exchange on Employment and Disability, an interagency working group focused on information sharing, best practices, and collaborative partnerships designed to make the Federal Government a model employer of people with disabilities.

5. Plan to Support Federal Contractors in Implementing

Section 503

In this section, the applicant should articulate its detailed plan for supporting Federal contractors in implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, recommending and supporting the implementation of methods of recognizing outstanding contractors, and in fostering employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Specifically:

a. ODEP and OFCCP are in the process of developing an

Excellence in Disability Inclusion Award for outstanding federal contractors. The applicant should describe a plan to engage with those awardees and other contractors in the year following the awards. The purpose of this engagement will be to identify and disseminate best practices in implementing Section 503 from the awardees to the broader contractor community, and to help build a supportive community of contractors for compliance assistance, and;

b. the applicant should describe how it will develop and disseminate user friendly and relevant compliance assistance resources tailored to address the specific needs of the Federal contractor community.

6. Website and Broader Dissemination Plan

The applicant should describe its plan for migrating the existing askEARN.org website to its own systems to ensure continuity of site operations within 30 days of the start of the award. The applicant should also describe its strategy for hosting and maintaining the EARN web portal and disseminating the evidence-based policies and promising practices developed through the EARN Center’s Work. The https://www.dol.gov/odep/alliances/ https://www.dol.gov/odep/alliances/ http://www.askearn.org/topics/federal-state-government-employment/federal-government-employment/section-501/federal-exchange-employment-disability-feed/ http://www.askearn.org/topics/federal-state-government-employment/federal-government-employment/section-501/federal-exchange-employment-disability-feed/ http://www.askearn.org/ successful applicant must have the capacity to develop, host, manage, maintain and update a comprehensive, engaging, interactive and accessible web portal. In addition, to effectively engage with the business community and expand the reach and impact of its efforts exponentially, the successful applicant will also utilize a variety of other dissemination strategies such as social media, multi-media, webcasts, webinars, and mobile applications.

(b) Expected Outcomes, Outputs, and Performance Evaluation

The applicant should clearly identify the outcome(s) and output(s) that will result from the project. Outcomes are the measurable results of the project. They are the positive benefits, negative changes, or measurable characteristics that occur as a result of project activities or outputs. Outputs are tangible products or services that result from the project.

In addition, applicants should describe the measures, methods, techniques, and tools that will be used to evaluate the project and determine whether or not the project achieved its anticipated outcomes. Moreover, a description should be provided as to how the data will be used to inform program delivery and document the “lessons learned,” both positive and negative, from the project.

(c) Organizational Capacity & Qualifications of Key Personnel

Applicants must describe their capacity to effectively manage and carry out the programmatic, fiscal, administrative, and evaluation-related activities described…