Next Level Now Techncial Assistance FOA -- Amendment One.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Funding Opportunity Announcement

FOA-ETA-25-35

Amendment One

Next Level Now Technical Assistance Collaborative

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor

ACTION: Amendment to FOA-ETA-25-35

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor, announced on December 6, 2024, the availability of funding for the Next Level Now Technical Assistance Collaborative to be awarded through a competitive process.

This closing date for this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is extended to February 25, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants wishing to resubmit a revised application during the extended period may do so; however, in accordance with Section III.C.2 of this FOA, “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 that met the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.”

The document is hereby amended as follows:

Key Dates

The Key Dates section is deleted and replaced with the following:

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is February 25, 2025. 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.

Executive Summary

The third paragraph is deleted and replaced with the following:

The goals of this funding opportunity are to support the modernization of the workforce system to: 1) improve the quality of employment and training services provided through WIOA Title I and the Wagner-Peyser Act to the nation’s job seekers and employers; and 2) increase the workforce system’s efficacy, performance, and efficiency by helping grantees comply with federal requirements in managing federally-funded training and employment programs.

The seventh paragraph is deleted and replaced with the following:

To support the modernization of the public workforce system, specific evidence-based technical assistance topics should include: 1) Workforce system innovations, such as virtual and hybrid service delivery, and use of Artificial Intelligence; 2) WIOA Governance; 3) Fiscal and Administrative Management such as, but not limited to, cost allocation principles, financial reporting, internal controls, subaward administration, and cash management; 4) Sector Partnerships and Employer Engagement Strategies; and 5) Performance Management.

Section I.A. Program Purpose

The sixth paragraph is deleted and replaced with the following:

Successful applicant(s) must demonstrate the capacity to provide a broad range of TA and subject matter expertise in key topics that DOL and the TA Collaborative identify as priorities, both within this FOA as well as based on assessed needs of the public workforce system throughout the course of the period of performance. At a minimum, such topics include responding to the evolving needs of the economy, responding to the need to modernize service delivery, as well as addressing ongoing implementation and program management issues among public workforce system grantees and partners.

The seventh paragraph is deleted and replaced with the following:

Applicants must demonstrate how they will provide technical assistance on promising and evidence-based practices to increase the workforce system’s efficacy, performance, and efficiency in the following areas: 1) Workforce system innovations, such as virtual and hybrid service delivery, and use of Artificial Intelligence; 2) WIOA Governance; 3) Fiscal and Administrative Management such as, but not limited to cost allocation principles, financial reporting, internal controls, subaward administration, and cash management; 4) Sector Partnerships and Employer Engagement Strategies;

and 5) Performance Management. These foci may evolve during the subsequent years of the cooperative agreement based on the overall workforce environment and the areas of greatest TA need.

Section I.A.2.a Program Goals and Allowable Activities

The first paragraph for Goals is deleted and replaced with the following:

a. Goals. The goals of this technical assistance cooperative agreement are to support the modernization of the workforce system to 1) improve the quality of employment and training services provided through WIOA Title I and the Wagner-Peyser Act to the nation’s job seekers and employers; and 2) increase the workforce system’s efficacy, performance, and efficiency by helping grantees comply with federal requirements in managing federally-funded training and employment programs.

Section I.A.2.b Program Goals and Allowable Activities

The fourth bullet under the second paragraph for General Technical Assistance (TA) Activities is deleted and replaced with the following:

• Deploy subject matter expertise and deliver TA in the following areas identified by ETA as a priority 1) Workforce system innovations, such as virtual and hybrid service delivery, and use of Artificial Intelligence; 2) WIOA Governance; 3) Fiscal and

Administrative Management such as, but not limited to cost allocation principles, financial reporting, internal controls, subaward administration, and cash management;

4) Sector Partnerships and Employer Engagement Strategies; and 5) Performance Management.

Section IV.B.3.a.2.i Project Narrative – Execution: Methodology, Delivery, and Partnerships

The first paragraph (2.i.) is deleted and replaced with the following:

i. Methodology (Up to 4 points) Applicants may receive up to 4 points based on the extent to which they describe in detail the strategies they will pursue under the cooperative agreement to develop and provide technical assistance on implementing evidence-based practices, where available, and promising practices where there is less evidence in the following areas, specified in Section I.A: 1) Workforce system innovations, such as virtual and hybrid service delivery, and use of Artificial Intelligence; 2) WIOA Governance; 3) Fiscal and Administrative Management such as, but not limited to cost allocation principles, financial reporting, internal controls, subaward administration, and cash management; 4) Sector Partnerships and Employer Engagement Strategies; and 5) Performance Management. Additionally, Section I. A. 2. General TA Activities includes a list of the minimum of activities that the NLN TA Collaborative must do to meet the requirements of the cooperative agreement. Applicant’s will be scored on the extent to which they clearly describe a feasible plan for completing these activities.

Section IV.B.3.d.3.v. and vi, Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity and Qualifications of Key Personnel

The last two bullets (v. and vi.) are deleted and replaced with the following:

v. Performance Management.

Section IV.C Submission Date, Time, Process, and Address

The first and second paragraphs are deleted and replaced with the following:

Due Date for Applications: February 25, 2025

You must submit your application electronically on https://www.grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of February 25, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application before the closing date to minimize the risk of late receipt. We will not review applications received after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. We will not accept applications sent by hard-copy, e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (FAX).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL dfandp_awards@dol.gov.

Signed February 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. by:

Carla Wills Grant Officer, Employment and Training Administration http://www.grants.gov/