FOA-ODEP-23-11.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Disability Employment Policy

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: EMPLOYER ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCE NETWORK ON

DISABILITY INCLUSION (EARN)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ODEP-23-11

ASSISTANCE LISTING: 17.720

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is June 23, 2023. We must receive applications no later than 11:59 p.m. 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.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), is responsible for the grant award process for the Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Information on a pending Prospective Applicant Webinar will be posted to this FOA’s Grants.gov page in the coming days. While a review of the Webinar is strongly encouraged to support successful grant applications, it is not mandatory. The Webinar will provide specific information related to this funding opportunity and guidance on how to apply. Applicants will also be able to ask questions during the Webinar.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Purpose

B. Program Authority

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

C. OTHER INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, AND PROCESS

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

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

APPENDIX A

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $2,000,000 in grant funds authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Public Law 117-328.

The work completed under this new cooperative agreement will build upon the prior work of the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN). The current Cooperative Agreement No. OD-33975-19-75-4-36 was issued in 2019. Since 2001, ODEP has funded various iterations of EARN. This national employer-focused policy, research, and technical assistance center provides information and resources to help employers recruit, hire, retain and advance people with disabilities.

The Department expects to award a total of approximately $10 million for one cooperative agreement, to be provided in annual increments of approximately $2 million during a five-year period of performance. Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement, applicants must apply for, and submit budget documents requesting no more than $2 million for the first year of operation. Subsequent incremental awards will be dependent upon federal funds availability, along with progressive project expenditures and outcomes.

The Department is committed to improving access to Good Jobs for all American workers.

EARN’s workplace research, policy development, and technical assistance center identifies and promotes the adoption of innovative and equitable evidence-based policy and practice solutions.

These solutions help public and private sector employers of all sizes recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities into good jobs, including those from historically underserved communities. Executive Order 14091 defines “underserved communities” as “those populations as well as geographic communities that have been systematically denied the opportunity to participate fully in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as defined in Executive Orders 13985 and 14020.” “Good Jobs” have been defined by the Departments of Labor and Commerce to be those that reflect certain Good Jobs Principals, including DEIA.

EARN’s policy process includes analysis of current employment policies and practices, identification of workplace barriers, development of actionable policy and practice solutions for employer adoption, promotion of these through targeted communication channels, and evaluation of employer implementation. Wider adoption of disability-inclusive policies and practices depend upon engaged employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities.

To support policy adoption, EARN convenes a diverse range of organizations (i.e. ODEP Alliance Partners, the Circle, the Federal Exchange on Employment and Disability, and the Inclusion at Work Leadership Council). EARN identifies employers and labor management partnerships who adopt innovative policies and practices, analyzes and documents those policies and practices, and promotes their successes through the center’s website. EARN’s robust website at http://www.AskEARN.org also serves as a central repository of best and emerging polices, practices, and employment models from national employer-focused organizations.

EARN will continue to focus on expanding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of its work. This meets the goal of Executive Orders 13985, 14035, and 14091 to ensure the Federal Government and the economy work for all Americans, including people from historically underserved communities. The EARN cooperative agreement awardee will be https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/goodjobs/Good-Jobs-Summit-Principles-Factsheet.pdf https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/alliances https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/alliances https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/about/history/2006 https://askearn.org/page/federal-exchange-on-employment-and-disability-feed https://askearn.org/page/earn-partners http://www.askearn.org/ expected to engage a group of national employer intermediaries and labor management partnerships as well as intermediaries representing historically underserved communities. These groups will comprise the Inclusion at Work Leadership Council. The Inclusion at Work Leadership Council facilitates stakeholder engagement to assist EARN in identifying and promoting effective policies and practices to help employers recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities.

Community intermediary members of the Inclusion at Work Leadership Council will be expected to represent historically underserved communities. These organizations should be rooted in and work directly with members of historically underserved communities. Community intermediaries include community-based networks, alliances, commissions, or other organizations that can facilitate EARN’s engagement with their membership. Community intermediaries may or may not have experience in the field of disability and employment. However, it is expected that they represent individuals from underserved communities, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color;

members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Community intermediary members of the Inclusion at Leadership Council will ensure EARN’s workplace policy and practice solutions are culturally responsive and address the employment barriers of people with disabilities from historically underserved communities.

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 institution 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 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 applicant 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.

In addition to the consortium, the lead applicant will propose members for the Inclusion at Work Leadership Council collaborative. Members proposed in response to this solicitation may include current Inclusion at Work Leadership Council members. At a minimum, the collaborative will consist of at least five (5) national employer intermediary groups and labor management partnerships as well as include at least five (5) intermediary organizations representing historically underserved communities. The latter organizations will ensure workplace policy and practice solutions are culturally responsive and address the employment barriers of people with disabilities from historically underserved communities.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Purpose

This Announcement solicits applications under funding opportunity Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).

The purpose of this program is to identify and promote adoption of innovative and equitable evidence-based policy and practice solutions to help public and private sector employers of all sizes recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities, including those from historically underserved communities. The awardee will accomplish this by:

• engaging with, and soliciting input from, employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities to identify and understand challenges related to creating more disability-inclusive workplaces;

• conducting research and policy analysis to identify inclusive and equitable policy and practice solutions to address the challenges identified;

• collaborating with employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities to develop equitable tools and resources tailored to support implementation of policy and practice solutions;

• providing technical assistance and promoting adoption of equitable and innovative policies, practices, tools, and resources; and

• evaluating center processes, stakeholder engagement, and impact of these policies and practices, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities.

The entity awarded the EARN cooperative agreement will conduct research that values the perspectives of historically underserved groups, conduct policy analysis to identify and validate effective disability-inclusive policy and practice models, translate that knowledge into engaging tools for employers and intermediary organizations, and provide technical assistance and training to help employers of all sizes, both public and private, create inclusive workplace cultures that support high-quality employment of people with disabilities.

The successful applicant must have the demonstrated capacity to conduct high quality research and policy analysis and identify new and innovative areas for research and policy inquiry. The awardee must also have demonstrated capacity to engage with employers and employer intermediaries and develop technical assistance materials that meet employer needs. In addition, the awardee will have the demonstrated capacity to address employer inclusion of workers with disabilities who are also members of other historically underserved communities. As defined by Executive Order (EO) 13985 and 14020, the term “underserved communities” refers to those populations as well as geographic communities that have been systematically denied the opportunity to participate fully in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. Historically underserved communities, include but are not limited to: Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color;

members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

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

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/03/11/2021-05183/establishment-of-the-white-house-gender-policy-council

B. Program Authority

This funding is appropriated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-

328) and authorized by 29 U.S.C. § 557b.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement.

We expect availability of approximately $2,000,000 to fund one cooperative agreement. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $2,000,000. Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional awardees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement.

The Department expects to award a total of approximately $10 million for this cooperative agreement, to be provided in annual increments of approximately $2 million during a five-year period of performance. Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement, applicants must submit budget documents requesting no more than $2 million for the first year of operation. Subsequent incremental awards will be dependent upon federal funds availability, along with progressive project expenditures and outcomes.

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

• Twice 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; and

• 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).

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 60 months with an anticipated start date of 09/30/2023. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

We anticipate total availability of approximately $10,000,000 over a 60-month period of performance. The selected recipient will receive approximately $2,000,000 annually, subject to productive program outcomes based on the EARN Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) requirements and the availability of federal funds. The initial 24-month period of performance will award approximately $2,000,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and $2,000,000 in FY 2024. A second grant number with a subsequent three-year period of performance is anticipated to be awarded in FY 2025. In FY 2025, approximately $2,000,000 will be awarded with incremental funding awards of approximately $2,000,000 for FY 2026 and $2,000,000 for 2027.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

06 (Public and State controlled institutions of higher education)

12 (Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education)

20 (Private institutions of higher education)

Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

Eligible applicants are consortia with a lead applicant that 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 institution 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 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 applicant 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 submitted by the lead applicant must clearly identify all consortium members and document the 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. Partnerships with additional relevant organizations and subject-matter experts are encouraged in order to effectively meet the requirements of this FOA.

Applicants must have a formal consortium partnership with entities from the other eligible applicant category, as documented by a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). The MOUs must describe the roles of the partners towards achieving grant objectives. If there is not an MOU from each of the required partners, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Applicants must identify and provide written commitment from the partners for this project. See section IV.B.4 for additional information.

Applicants must identify their institution type in Section 9 of the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance. Please note that all elements of 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) and 2 CFR Part 2900 (DOL’s Supplement to 2 CFR Part 200) apply to any entity that carries out a federal award as a recipient or sub-recipient, including for-profit organizations. This includes the monitoring and the examination of their records.

The award recipient will serve as DOL’s counterpart in the cooperative agreement. The recipient must be the organization specified in Section 8 of the SF-424 Application Form. Additionally, the recipient must be: (1) DOL’s point of contact to receive and respond to all inquiries or communications under this FOA and any subsequent cooperative agreement; (2) the entity with authority to withdraw or draw down funds through the Department of Health and Human Services - Payment Management System (HHS-PMS); (3) the entity responsible for coordinating with DOL on all deliverables, including all technical and financial reports related to the project, regardless of which partnership member performed the work; (4) the entity that may request or agree to a revision of the cooperative agreement; (5) the entity with overall responsibility for carrying out the programmatic functions of the cooperative agreement, as well as for the stewardship of all expenditures under the cooperative agreement; (6) the entity responsible for coordinating with any evaluator, including participating in an evaluation and other studies; and

(7) the entity responsible for working with DOL to close out the cooperative agreement.

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

Application Screening Criteria

Please use the checklist below as a guide when preparing the application package to ensure that the application has met all the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. If the application does not meet all the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the merit review process, therefore applicants are strongly urged to utilize this checklist as a guide.

Number of Applications Applicants May Submit We will consider only one application from each organization. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization, we will consider only the most recently received

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C Y/N

Eligibility Section III.A Y/N

The components of the application are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt. (An attempt will be made to open the document, but additional measures will not be taken in the event there are problems with opening it.)

Section

IV.C.2 Y/N

Application for federal funds request does not exceed the ceiling amount of $2,000,000 Section II. A Y/N

Applicant has registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintains an active account.

Section

IV.B.1 Y/N

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Section

IV.B.1 Y/N

SF-424 includes a Unique Entity Identifier Section

IV.B.1 Y/N

SF-424A, Budget Information Form Section

IV.B.2 Y/N

Budget Narrative Section

IV.B.2 Y/N

Project Narrative Section

IV.B.3 Y/N

Abstract Section

IV.B.4 Y/N

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Consortium Members

Section

IV.B.4 Y/N

Formal Letters of Commitment (LOC) from at least ten (10) Inclusion at Work Leadership Council members to include employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and community intermediaries representing historically underserved communities.

Section

IV.B.4 Y/N

application that met the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.

Allowable Use of Funds This funding will provide one cooperative agreement to a recipient working collaboratively with associated partners to plan for and establish the framework (i.e. personnel, technology, facilities, etc.) necessary for effective program implementation and for support of any related evaluation of

EARN.

The recipient of this cooperative agreement may use awarded funding to cover their organization’s reasonable, necessary and allocable expenses required for the effective implementation of program requirements associated with this initiative. Recipients may use funding to pay project staff to perform work associated with the program requirements of the cooperative agreement. Recipients may also use funds to conduct routine, internal program management activities.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.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

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative.

You must ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.

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

You must complete the SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1).

• 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 must match the name registered in the System for Award Management at https://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 http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action https://www.sam.gov/ 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/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

a. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number

All applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities must have a UEI and must supply their UEI on the SF-424.The UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric 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 your organization does not have a UEI, one can be obtained for free at https://sam.gov.

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

• 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. If you do not renew your SAM registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov. Registration and renewal can take up to ten business days to 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 approve a federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive the federal award and use that determination as a basis for approving a federal award to another applicant.

2. Project Budget

You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

a. Budget Narrative The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://sam.gov/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Part%2025 https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1

SF-424A. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities. Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of this award. Applicants are advised that leveraging resources may increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

Personnel: List all staff positions by title (both current and proposed) 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 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 200.1for 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 categories 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 (pens paper, etc.), list the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR 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 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 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: 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 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 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 200, Appendix VII(D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total Direct Costs (defined by DOL below) 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): To avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect cost, DOL defines MTDC as all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, and travel 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.

• 2 CFR 200.1 Participant Support Costs: These are 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/business-operations-center/cost-determination.

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.

SF-424, SF-424A and Budget Narrative: The SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative must reflect the federal funding request for the first year of the cooperative agreement, which may not exceed $2,000,000. 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, ODEP 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 30 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 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. Statement of Need (Up to 5 Points) Applicants must demonstrate their understanding of the need for the program described within this Announcement. Scoring is based on the extent to which the applicant addresses the following:

1.Describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms the nature and scope of the problem.

Incorporate demographic data whenever possible.

• Explain your understanding of the need for the proposed project and show how developing model employer policies and practices addresses that need. Demonstrate the value in improving the quality of the data reporting on the different demographics as it relates to DEIA and people with disabilities. Incorporate outcome and demographic data whenever possible (2 points).

• Describe how you will determine the need for workplace research, policy development, and technical assistance to help employers recruit, hire, retain and advance people with disabilities, with a focus on high-quality employment opportunities (1 point).

• Describe planned strategies to build upon the existing work of the current EARN Center, which is exhibited at www.askearn.org, to address current policy needs. Explain the strategy you will use to conduct outreach to community intermediary members representing a variety of demographics, including Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Show how this information will be used to assess and prioritize the identified areas for policy assistance. (2 points) https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.askearn.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7CGriffith.Roxann.S%40DOL.GOV%7C27ceb7de514a41a9ebe108dafe30d86b%7C75a6305472044e0c9126adab971d4aca%7C0%7C0%7C638101782986528336%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=E6hX5XtDwjMKsOH4v51O3HrMuVJCc1StmqrRm%2BOxZqw%3D&reserved=0

B. Project Design (Up to 40 points) The successful applicant will describe their comprehensive plan for providing the services and accomplishing the goals discussed in section I.A. (Program Purpose) of the FOA.

Applicants are scored according to the extent to which they describe the project design narrative within their comprehensive plan. This plan should include goals, strategies, activities, objectives, measures, and timelines that the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) will use in meeting the five project goals outlined below.

1. Engaging with and soliciting input from employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries from historically underserved communities to identify and understand community-specific challenges for creating more disability-inclusive workplaces (Up to 8 points):

Applicants must have extensive experience and demonstrated capacity to engage employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, disability organizations, and community organizations to conduct research with the goal of advancing employer-focused policy and practices. To demonstrate this, applicants must:

a. Provide a detailed explanation of how the consortium is prepared and qualified to engage with employers and intermediaries to identify challenges faced by employers and by workers with disabilities in the recruitment, hiring, on-boarding, retention, and advancement employment life cycle stages. The applicant must describe how engagement will enhance its work to conduct research, develop policy recommendations, develop actionable products for employer implementation, promote adoption of these products, evaluate the effectiveness of these products, and deliver training and technical assistance.

b. Provide a detailed explanation of how the consortium will develop a strategy for EARN to advance, through stakeholder engagement activities, policy solutions and practices aligned with the Inclusion at Work Framework.

c. Describe a strategy for incorporating the involvement of intermediaries representing individuals with disabilities and historically underserved communities within EARN’s policy development work.

d. Describe how it will implement an annual series of at least four (4) listening sessions and/or an annual in-person Think Tanks for setting policy.

2. Conducting research and policy analysis to identify inclusive and equitable policy and practice solutions to address the challenges identified (Up to 6 points):

Applicants must have extensive experience and demonstrated capacity to perform research (e.g., primary and secondary research, surveys, focus groups, listening sessions, Think Tanks) and policy analysis necessary to develop recommendations for employer-focused policy and adoption. To demonstrate this, applicants must:

a. Explain how the consortium is prepared and qualified to conduct high quality research, policy analysis (including analysis of legislation, regulations, and sub-regulatory guidance), and policy development activities on a wide variety of topics related to improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities from all communities.

Relevant topics could include:

• Conducting an equity gap employment analysis.

• Developing policy and practice briefs based on elements of the Inclusion at Work

Framework.

• Enhancing the Mental Health Toolkit to include resources for underserved communities.

• Developing tools and resources for small businesses related to creating a more disability-inclusive workplace.

b. Provide a detailed description of the overall strategy the consortium will use to identify, develop, and validate new and innovative policy and practice models including models that take into account historically underserved communities.

c. Identify research and policy development ideas that the consortium believes will be critical to enhancing, expanding, and supporting workplace DEIA efforts. These ideas should be based on experience and expertise in engaging with employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities to implement policy solutions and practices identified in the research.

3. Collaborating with employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities to develop equitable tools and resources tailored to support implementation of policy and practice solutions (Up to 8 points):

In this section, the applicant must include a detailed explanation of how the consortium is prepared and qualified to develop evidence-based policy and practice products. These toolkits, curricula, learning guides, model practice guides, policy briefs, checklists, etc. must be expertly reviewed and should be provided to ODEP in final form. This section must provide the following information:

a. Explain how the applicant will demonstrate results in translating the research into the highest-quality, user-friendly, resources and tools to assist employers, and other relevant stakeholders in integrating effective policies and practices. Special efforts must be made to ensure these are written in plain language and use culturally and linguistically competent approaches towards respecting cultural values, beliefs, and practices of all stakeholders including those from historically underserved communities. Specific examples of prior related research and policy work may be included in the project narrative appendix as attachments. See Section IV.A.4.a.

b. Explain in detail how the applicant will build upon EARN’s existing resources to enhance the policy and technical assistance center.

4. Providing technical assistance and promoting adoption of equitable and innovative policies, practices, tools, and resources (Up to 12 points):

In this section, the applicant must provide a detailed explanation of how the policies and practices developed by EARN will be effectively communicated to employers and employer intermediaries including those from underserved communities. Applicants must provide the following information:

a. Explain how the applicant will develop and implement an annual communication plan that demonstrates results in promoting EARN products to assist employers and other relevant stakeholders in integrating effective policies and practices. In addition, provide innovative approaches (e.g., multimedia, articles placed in strategic news outlets) to reach new audiences including small and medium size businesses, employers from underserved communities, and labor management partnerships. These innovative approaches are expected to be detailed in an annual communication plan. The plan must be updated annually.

b. Explain how the applicant will use innovative and traditional approaches to provide technical assistance (e.g., webinars, targeted presentations at national conferences, expansion of the Inclusion at Work curriculum).

c. Explain how the applicant will demonstrate results creating expert-level training, outreach documents, and materials in accessible formats (in accordance with Section 508 standards at a minimum) for all audiences, including those from underserved communities. Include a sample of such materials in the attachments.

d. Explain how the applicant will demonstrate results in hosting and enhancing AskEARN.org. This should include a plan to:

• Transition the website from the current awardee

• Maintain and enhance the current website functionality

• Increase usage of the website by employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities

• Enhance the engagement capabilities of the site by instituting innovative tools and approaches towards receiving feedback from users

• Ensure full accessibility of the website using Section 508 standards as a minimum threshold

5. Evaluating center processes, stakeholder engagement, and business impact of these policies and practices with a particular emphasis on underserved communities. (Up to 6 points):

In this section, the applicant must provide a detailed evaluation plan (i.e., metrics for all activities) for assessing how the products EARN developed impact the behavior of employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities. Applicants must:

a. Explain how they will demonstrate results in evaluating the progress of the funding opportunity announcement requirements, engagement of stakeholders, and overall business impacts of EARN’s research, products, and technical assistance.

b. Propose methods that the project will use to address the stated outcomes and outputs.

Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the project will accomplish the proposed work and include timelines for completion of work.

c. Account for all functions or activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work and state the reason for taking the proposed approach rather than other approaches. Identify any potential barriers and describe how the project will overcome those barriers.

d. Fully describe the partnerships in place for the project and provide written commitments from those partners.

C. Expected Outcomes and Outputs (Up to 10 points)

1.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.

Applicants will be scored on the extent to which:

a. The applicant describes their approach to policy development and technical assistance including methods for measuring and assessing outcomes and outputs resulting from those activities. This description must include how the applicant would deliver relevant and effective policies and tools focusing on employer’s proficiency recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing people with disabilities as well as…