PKG00249481-instructions.pdf

VETS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP), Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP), and the Homeless Female Veterans’ and Veterans’ with Families Program (HFVVWF) (referred to collectively as HVRP)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-VETS-19-01

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.805

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is April 26, 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: Kia Mason, Grant Officer Reference FOA-VETS-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, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), is responsible for the grant award process of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service grant program.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), announces the availability of approximately $13,500,000 in grant funds, authorized under Title 38 of United States Code (U.S.C.), Sections 2021 and 2023 for the HVRP program.

Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOL will award grants of up to $500,000 for a 12-month period of performance, which is expected to begin on July 1, 2019 and end on June 30, 2020. This performance period includes all necessary implementation, start-up, and follow up activities.

Historically, HVRP grantees have demonstrated the following:

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• Clear need for the program based upon current statistical or empirical evidence, including the numbers and characteristics of the eligible veterans who are homeless in their proposed service delivery area;

• Ability to develop and implement strategies with attainable goals for job training based on Labor Market Information (LMI) and evidence-based practices;

• Ability to collaborate and coordinate with organizations to ensure that local, state, and federal resources are used effectively and efficiently to expedite the reintegration of eligible veterans into the labor force;

• Ability to deliver or connect participants to effective job training, counseling, and other wraparound services, such as the provision of housing and necessary health services as the means for expediting the reintegration of eligible veterans into the labor force;

• Ability to provide services specifically tailored to the needs of female homeless veterans and homeless veterans with families as appropriate;

• Ability to provide services specifically tailored to the needs of incarcerated or recently incarcerated veterans who are at risk of homelessness as appropriate; and

• Ability to provide services to chronically homeless1 veterans as appropriate.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

The purpose of this program is to provide services to reintegrate homeless veterans into the labor force by placing them into meaningful employment and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. Meaningful employment is defined as open and competitive paid employment, in line with the homeless veteran’s aspirations, talents, and abilities.

Ideally, the employment should provide a family sustaining wage or, in other words, at least the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet his or her basic financial needs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released the 2018 Point In-Time (PIT) count2, which reflects that 37,878 veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2018. The 2018 PIT count suggests a reduction of 5.4 percent of veterans experiencing homelessness since 2017. Local estimates of veteran homelessness can be viewed at https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5772/2018-pit-estimate-of-veteran-homelessness-in-the-us/.

1 A chronically homeless person is an individual who has been continuously homeless for one (1) year or more or has experienced at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the last three (3) years with a combined length of time homeless of least 12 months. Please note this definition of chronically homeless differs from the definition used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the individual is not required to have a verified disability.

2 The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, Part 1, December 2018, https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2018-AHAR-Part-1.pdf https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_132 https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_132 https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5772/2018-pit-estimate-of-veteran-homelessness-in-the-us/ https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5772/2018-pit-estimate-of-veteran-homelessness-in-the-us/ https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2018-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

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The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) stated in, Homelessness in America: Focus on Veterans3 just over 9 percent of all adults experiencing homelessness in the United States are veterans of the U.S. Military. Most veterans who experience homelessness are men over age 50 living in urban areas. Older veterans are expected to be a majority of the population of veterans who experience or are at risk of homelessness in the coming years. As members of this group get older, they are likely to have increasingly complex and age-related needs. Women make up about 9% of veterans who were experiencing homelessness. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) report, veteran women are more than twice as likely as non-veteran women to experience homelessness.4 Less than 3 percent of veterans experiencing homelessness (2.9 percent) were in families with children. The VA further reports, veteran women experiencing homelessness are more likely to be part of a family with children, compared to veteran men. USICH reported, among veterans who experience homelessness, and particularly among those who have PTSD or other behavioral health disorders, involvement in the criminal justice system may be both a risk factor for homelessness and/or a consequence of homelessness. About one-half of all veterans experiencing homelessness who have participated in VA homeless assistance programs are involved in the justice system.5

To meet the fluctuations in population and the changing needs of veterans experiencing homelessness, grant recipients are expected to provide an array of client-centered services utilizing a case management approach that directly assists homeless veterans and provides critical linkages to a variety of support services available in their local communities. This program is focused on obtaining employment and veterans should receive the job training and employment services they need to re-enter the labor force.

Job placement, job training, job development, career counseling, and resume preparation are among the services that must be provided. Grant recipients must address the complex employment-related needs and provide support services to meet the needs of this population, through either direct services or preferably through a robust referral system.

Examples of support services include clothing; temporary, transitional, and permanent housing; medical and substance abuse treatment; childcare; and transportation assistance.

The most successful projects leverage partnerships with local and national organizations to provide these support services.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

38 U.S.C. §§ 2021 and 2023.

3 U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (June 2018) Homelessness in America: Focus on Veterans, www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Homelessness_in_America._Focus_on_Veterans.pdf 4 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, July 2016. Homeless Evidence & Research Roundtable Series: Women Veterans and Homelessness, https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/nchav/docs/HERS-Womens-Proceedings.pdf 5 U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (June 2015) Breaking the Cycle of Veteran Incarceration and Homelessness: Emerging Community Practices, https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Justice_Involved_Veterans.pdf https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Homelessness_in_America._Focus_on_Veterans.pdf https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/nchav/docs/HERS-Womens-Proceedings.pdf https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Justice_Involved_Veterans.pdf

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II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant. We expect availability of approximately $13,500,000 in grant funds. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $500,000.

Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of Federal funds.

If additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement. We also reserve the right to proportionally reduce or increase the size of a requested award for an applicant selected for funding under this solicitation to ensure adequate geographic coverage.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is expected to begin on July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, unless modified by the Grant Officer. We expect that grantees will begin program operations on July 1, 2019. This performance period includes all necessary implementation, start-up, and follow up activities.

C. CONTINUATION OF FUNDING

Recipients may be eligible for two additional years of funding contingent on Congress appropriating additional funds for this purpose and grantee performance.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• State Government

• County Government

• City or Township Government

• Special District Government

• U.S. Territory or Possession

• Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education

• Private Institution of Higher Education

• Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)

• Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)

• Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization

• Public and Indian Housing Agencies

• Nonprofit Organizations

• For-profit/commercial entities

• State and Local Workforce Development Boards (SWDBs/LWDBs) established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

• Other State and Local Government Agencies

• Faith-based organizations

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B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. The inclusion of such funds is not one of the application screening criteria to be considered, and applications that include any form of cost sharing or matching will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Instead, the agency considers any resources that will be contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources.

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria You should use the list below as a guide when preparing your application package to ensure that the application has met all of the screening criteria. Note that this list is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. If your application does not meet all of the screening criteria, it will be deemed nonresponsive and will not move forward through to 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.2

Application for Federal funds does not exceed the ceiling amount of $500,000 Section II.A

SAM Registration Section IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Section IV.B.1

SF-424 includes 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

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Two required letters of support from:

1. State Workforce Agency (SWA) or local American Job Center (AJC); and

2. HUD Continuum of Care (CoC)6

Both letters must be included as attachments or the application will be deemed non-responsive and will not move forward through the merit review process.

Section IV.B.3

Abstract (included as an attachment) Section IV.B.4

Competitive Grants Planned Goals Chart (see Attachment B) Section IV.B.4

2. Priority Populations and Number of Applications Applicants may Submit This Announcement establishes the following three (3) priorities:

1) Priority 1 (HVRP priority) is for applications that meet the requirements of this Announcement but do not fall under Priorities 2 or 3.

2) Priority 2 (HFVVWF priority) is for applicants proposing to use 100 percent of their funding to serve homeless female veterans’ and veterans’ with families.

3) Priority 3 (IVTP priority) is for applicants proposing to use 100 percent of their funding to serve recently incarcerated veterans.

The Department plans to make at least one (1) award under both Priority 2 and Priority 3, if the applications are competitive.

Applicants must identify in the abstract if an application is Priority 1 (HVRP), Priority 2 (HFVVWF), or Priority 3 (IVTP). If one single priority is not explicitly identified in the abstract, the application will be reviewed under Priority 1 (HVRP). There will be no additional changes or discussions of this priority determination during or after the competition. There will be NO exceptions.

Applicants may submit multiple applications to serve the same service delivery area, if each application is for a different priority. Applicants may also identify one or more service delivery areas for each unique application submitted.

The service delivery area is defined as county, parish, independent city, or Native American tribal area. See Attachment A for definitions.

6 The Continuum of Care (CoC) program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities. For the full definition see Attachment A.

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The service delivery area and corresponding priority MUST be stated clearly in the abstract. DOL will not read the entire application to make this determination.

Applicants will receive prioroity consideration of two (2) bonus points if the applicant’s proposed service delivery area is in a qualified Opportunity zone as designated by the Secretary of Treasury; applicants will not receive additional bonus points for more than one Opportunity Zone. For more information on Opportunity Zones, go to: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions.

Multiple grant applications with the same service delivery area and the same priority, will not be accepted by the same applicant. If we receive multiple applications from the same applicant for the same service delivery area and priority, we will only consider the most recently received application that meets the deadline. If the most recent application is deemed non-responsive for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.

3. Eligible Participants

The intent of this Announcement is to fund projects that provide job training, employment, and related support services to eligible veterans. An eligible veteran is entitled to receive grant services under Sections 2021 and 2023 of Title 38 of the United States Code. Under 38 U.S.C. 2023, this program can serve incarcerated veterans.

The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Section 701, amended Section 2021(a) of Title 38, U.S.C, by expanding the definition under HVRP, to include:

• Homeless veterans (including veterans who were homeless but found housing during the 60-day period preceding the date on which the veteran begins to participate in a program under this section);

• Veterans participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs supported housing program for which rental assistance is provided pursuant to section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) or the Tribal HUD- VA Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) program;

• Indians who are veterans and receiving assistance under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.);

• Veterans described in section 2023(e) of this title or any other veterans who are transitioning from being incarcerated; and

• Veterans participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs rapid rehousing and prevention program authorized in section 2044 of this title.

Additionally, the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act of 2019 also expanded the eligibility criteria for HVRP to include veterans who were homeless at some point within the 60 days prior to https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

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HVRP program entry and veterans who are at risk of homelessness within the next 60 days. Please not that while these veterans at risk of homelessness are eleigible participants, this Announcement encourages applicants to focus on veterans who are currently homeless.

A Homeless Veteran is defined as:

• A person who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;

• A person living in a supervised public or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living arrangements;

• A person who resided in a shelter or place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where he or she temporarily resided;

• A person with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground;

• A person who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, provided that: (i) Residence will be lost within 60 days of the date of application for homeless assistance; (ii) No subsequent residence has been identified; and (iii) The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing;

• A person, defined as homeless under other federal statutes, who have experienced a long period without permanent housing; have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves over such period; and can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time because of chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, the presence of a child or youth with a disability, or multiple barriers to employment; or

• A person who is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the individual’s or family’s current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, and who have no other residence and lack the resources or support network to obtain other permanent housing.

An Incarcerated Veteran: Veterans who have been convicted as an adult and imprisoned under municipal, county, tribal, federal, or state law and fall into one of the following categories:

• Category 1 – The veteran was released within the previous 12 months from a penal institution into homelessness and needs employment assistance;

• Category 2 – The veteran has been incarcerated for at least six (6) months and is scheduled for release within six (6) months with no known housing destination and needs employment assistance;

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• Category 3 – The veteran was released within the previous 12 months from a penal institution into temporary or permanent housing, but is now at imminent risk of homelessness and needs employment assistance; or

• Category 4 – The veteran is a resident of an institution that provides long-term care for mental illness and is scheduled for release with no known housing destination and needs employment assistance.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This Announcement, found at www.Grants.gov, contains all of the requisite information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this Announcement 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 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 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 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.

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

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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 at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.

Grant recipients authorized to make sub-awards must meet the following requirements related to DUNS Numbers:

• Grant recipients must notify potential sub-awardees that no entity may receive a sub-award from you unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to you.

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

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

Requirement for Registration with SAM Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM), using Chrom or other supported browser before submitting an application. Find instructions for registering with SAM at https://uscontractorregistration.com/sam-registration/.

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 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 may 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 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.

Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A.

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do https://uscontractorregistration.com/sam-registration/ https://uscontractorregistration.com/sam-registration/

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Each category should include the total cost for the period of performance. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

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. You should include funds and allowable expenses to provide for an annual post-award conference, professional conference, or trainings to travel to and from an estimated national location. Travel expenditures may not exceed 10 percent of the total HVRP funds requested in the application.

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 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 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 categories of supplies (e.g. office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the item, quantity, and the 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.

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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 augment 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 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 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

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The definition of MTDC in 2 CFR 200.68 no longer allows for any sub-contracts to be included in the calculation. You will also 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, SF-424A, and budget narrative must include the entire Federal grant amount requested.

Do not show leveraged resources, as described in Section III.B., 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 to be 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 ability to implement the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this FOA. 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 15 pages, double-spaced, single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch, 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.

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

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The following instructions provide the necessary information to complete the Project Narrative. Carefully read and consider each section, and include the 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

Present current evidence to support the need for the proposed project, including any supporting evidence that identifies the nature and extent of the need and the reasons the proposed service delivery area will benefit from HVRP services. The description will include both quantitative and qualitative information as listed below:

1. Clearly state at the onset, your selected priority (as described in Section III.C.2), the specific service delivery area you propose to serve, if your service delivery area is urban or non-urban (see Attachment D). The service delivery area must be identified by county, parish, independent city, or Native American tribal area.

• For each priority selected include the number of eligible veterans in need in your proposed service delivery area and the demographic information describing the employment and job training needs of the local employers.

• Estimates of sheltered and unsheltered homeless veterans in the identified service delivery area (cite the date of the reported estimates).

Local estimates of veteran homelessness can be found at https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5772/2018-pit-estimate-of-veteran-homelessness-in-the-us/.

• Supporting evidence that clearly demonstrates the nature and extent of the employment-related needs or problems facing eligible veterans in the identified service delivery area.

• Labor market conditions in the identified service delivery area, including in-demand occupations as determined by the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB), industry, or employers, and the types of jobs and careers that are in demand.

• Factors in the service delivery area contributing to the problem or the circumstances creating the need.

• Unemployment and poverty rates for the identified service delivery area.

• How you propose to support the Mayor or Governor’s pledge to end homelessness, if applicable.

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• If using the Department of Veterans Affairs, Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) data to support need, identify the number of participants that meet the HVRP homeless and at risk definition.

The distinction between urban and non-urban areas will be used in determining the starting points for you to use in deriving planned performance goals for your project. Utilize Attachment D, which identifies the 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) in population, in 2017, as estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau, which are considered urban areas. Areas not listed in Attachment D are considered non-urban.

For applicants proposing to serve both urban and non-urban areas, please identify your service delivery area as urban if over half of the population you propose to serve is in an urban area.

In cases where there are other HVRP grantees who are already serving homeless veterans in a proposed service delivery area (see Attachment C), you must submit justification that an additional award is needed to serve the homeless veteran population. Your justification must include the service delivery area, the remaining participants available to be served, and the reasons why another award will enhance HVRP services being provided within the identified service delivery area. You must also include the name of the current grantee and the number of veterans by priority it serves (see Attachment C).

b) Expected Outcomes

Grantees are required to have measurable outcomes in order to maximize the impact of federal grant dollars. Each grantee will be required to report on progress toward its planned goals on a quarterly basis each year and at the end of the grant. This is the first time grantees will report outcomes on three WIOA performance indicators, scored as part of the application, Section V.A.

2.

Overall success or failure of a grant-funded project is based on seven performance indicators. Performance on each active participant performance indicator will be defined as a range, bounded by an upper value representing the performance goal and a lower value representing 85 percent of the performance goal. Performance below 85 percent of the goal on a critical performance indicator will be considered failure of that indicator. Please refer to Attachment A for definitions of the performance indicators. You will provide numeric goals for the following performance indicators in the Competitive Grants Planned Goals Chart (see Attachment B):

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1. number of participants enrolled;

2. placement rate for all exiters;

3. average hourly wage at placement;

4. placement rate for the chronically homeless7;

5. percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment in the second quarter after exit from the program;

6. percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment in the fourth quarter after exit from the program; and

7. median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment in the second quarter after exit from the program.

We recognize there are differences in labor markets, both when developing active participant performance indicators and comparing urban to non-urban areas. In order to account for these differences when proposing goals, we ask you to use the adjusted PY 2017 values in Table 1 as a starting point. These values may be further adjusted to account for the ease or difficulty in serving a particular group based on characteristics and other mitigating factors, and should be justified in the project narrative.

Applications selected for funding that submitted extremely low active participant planned outcomes will be subject to revision as a condition of the grant award. As this is the first year of establishing post-program outcome performance indicators, VETS does not yet have the baseline data necessary to set extremely low planned values. However, VETS will analyze the PY 2019 actual outcome data and set extremely low planned values for the WIOA indicators in PY 2020.

The term “extremely low planned outcomes” is defined for active participant performance indicators as an outcome value where 90 percent or more of the grants awarded are expected to meet or exceed in PY 2019. With the exception of the total number of enrollments, the “extremely low planned outcomes” was determined using PY 2017 actual outcome data. An “extremely low planned outcome” is not specified for the total number of enrollments.

The active participant indicator and the associated extremely low planned values are:

• The planned Placement Rate for All Exiters – less than 57 percent;

7 A chronically homeless person is an individual who has been continuously homeless for one (1) year or more or has experienced at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the last three (3) years with a combined length of time homeless of least 12 months. Please note this definition of chronically homeless differs from the definition used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the individual is not required to have a verified disability.

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• The planned Average Hourly Wage at Placement – less than $11.00 per hour; and

• The Placement Rate for the Chronically Homeless – less than 51 percent.

PY 2017 actual HVRP outcome data reported by 155 grant recipients were used to derive the averages outlined in Table 1. The highest and lowest five data outliers were removed from data when calculating the averages. Please note a grant is considered to be operating in an urban area if its service area falls into one of the 75 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas as determined by the Bureau of the Census. (See Attachment D.)

Table 1

Goal Setting Parameters Program Year 2017 Cost Per Enrollment, Placement Rates, and

Average Hourly Wage

c) Project Design

You must describe your overall strategy for providing employment and job training services. Services must be delivered through a client-centered case management approach that imparts relevant skills, connects participants with local employment opportunities, and leads to improvements in employment and earnings over time. You must describe the types of support services to be offered to participants and the approaches to provide these support services.

Please note, if you are applying under Priority 2 (HFVVWF) or Priority 3 (IVTP), you are limited to serving only individuals who are part of that Priority’s special population group.

All strategies must address:

8 Used to determine the total enrollments for your project. It should not be confused with the average cost per placement. For example, if an urban area applicant proposed to spend $500,000 in its application, then the calculated enrollment result is 218 (500,000/2,290=218).

Urban Area Average Non-Urban Area Average

Cost Per Enrollment8 $2,473 $2,774

Placement Rate for All Exiters 69 percent 64 percent

Average Hourly Wage at Placement $13.36 $12.88

Placement Rate for the Chronically Homeless 66 percent 60 percent

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i. Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement – You must describe in your application how your program will conduct effective client outreach, recruitment, and engagement to meet your participant enrollment goals, including the use of Stand Down9 events. For example, effective outreach strategies may include HUD CoC coordinated entry, or inclusion in a local or state plan to end homelessness. The description must include evidence to support the proposed recruitment and engagement strategy with references from published research studies, government reports, or the applicant’s experience showing the strategy yielded positive results.

Outreach, recruitment, and engagement must include an active phase that is non-threatening, persistent over time, and offers a flexible array of services, including help with basic survival needs. Effective engagement, recruitment, and outreach also builds on actions that show commitment to client choice, maintenance of dignity, and investment in a relationship.

You must describe how your project will promote the active engagement of industry, employers, and employer associations in determining the available types of occupations and the skills needed to pursue in-demand jobs and careers.

ii. Intake and Assessment – You must explain and provide cited examples of how you will design and implement your proposed intake and assessment process to serve eligible veterans. This evidence should reference published research studies, government reports, or the applicant organization’s experience that shows the strategy yielded positive results in the past.

You must demonstrate that your proposed intake process involves the collection of necessary information on individuals seeking services in order to determine eligibility for the program and for the assessment of the types of services needed to assist the eligible veteran in gaining and retaining meaningful employment. The assessment is the foundation for the development of the participant service plan and budget used by the case manager in coordinating services on behalf of the participant. The assessment should determine employment, job training, and related support services needed for the participant to meet employment goals.

9 Stand Downs are typically one- to three-day events providing supplies and services to homeless veterans, such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings and benefits counseling.

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The assessment process must demonstrate how you will determine a participant’s readiness to enter employment following the receipt of services, including the use of information about the individual’s strengths, preferences, medical, social and environmental issues, and behavioral and cognitive status. For example, when responding to this requirement, list assessment tools that will be used to screen for vocational aptitude, employment interests, work history, and physical or psychological barriers. Explain how the project will provide the expertise needed to administer, understand the results, and communicate the results to the participant.

iii. Employment and Job Training – You must describe in your application the employment and job training strategy that will be made available to participants in obtaining and retaining meaningful employment. Please note a minimum of 80 percent of your participants must receive one (1) or more job training services, through referral or the grantee’s direct services. Some examples of job training that may be provided to participants are on-the-job training (OJT), customized job training, upgrading or retraining, other work-based learning, and occupational skills training provided by an institution.

Please note that placement into an unsubsidized apprenticeship is considered placement into employment.

You must also describe in your application how you will develop a formal employment and job training plan for each participant. This plan must be based on an individual’s job training needs assessment.

You must indicate how you will manage and document participant progress within a formal case management process. The description must include evidence to support the proposed employment and job training strategy. For example, evidence may be a narrative describing how the job training process works. This evidence must reference research studies, government reports, or the applicant organization’s experience showing the strategy yielded positive results in the past.

Employment and job training strategies described in a service plan must be focused on in-demand jobs that impart relevant skills, add value, and sought-after skills within the existing job-market, and should align with, and leverage other federal education and job training program resources. Optimally, this plan should include a focus on the referenced in-demand occupations or jobs as determined by the LWDB in the Statement of Need. You must describe the array of employment and job training you will make available to participants. For definitions of various types of job training provided

20 | P a g e to HVRP grantees see Attachment A. Some examples of employment and job training include:

• Career technical skills training;

• Occupational skills training;

• OJT or internships;

• Classroom job training or any job training normally conducted in an institutional setting; and

• Customized job training

The employment and job training received by participants may be provided directly through the grant or provided to participants through partnerships with an AJC or other training organizations.

All grant recipients are required to enroll their participants in an AJC and receive a direct service from a Wagner-Peyser Act, Jobs for Veterans State Grant, or another WIOA-Title I-funded service offered through the AJC. Please refer to Veterans’ Program Letter (VPL) 03- 16, https://www.dol.gov/vets/VMS/VPLs/VPL-03- 16.pdfhttps://www.dol.gov/vets/VMS/VPLs/VPL-03-16.pdf for complete details.

iv. Linkages and Support Services – Stable housing, health care, and other support services are critical in helping homeless veterans reintegrate into the labor force. You must describe how you will partner and coordinate with these and other support service programs, including penal institutions and halfway houses, if appropriate.

The linkages must also include employment and job training services.

For example, does your program or partnership leverage Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services, or state vocational rehabilitation programs? Does your program or partnership leverage the GI Bill for job training? Grant recipients should consider the GI Bill as a primary resource when helping participants access job training. Does your program or partnerships leverage apprenticeship programs?

Applicants must also identify support services for overcoming barriers to employment to include, but not limited to: physical rehabilitation, drug or alcohol treatment, childcare, transportation, and mental health services.

As part of the plan for support services, you must also propose a specific housing assistance strategy. You must describe in your https://www.dol.gov/vets/VMS/VPLs/VPL-03-16.pdf https://www.dol.gov/vets/VMS/VPLs/VPL-03-16.pdf https://www.dol.gov/vets/VMS/VPLs/VPL-03-16.pdf

21 | P a g e application how participants will be rapidly re-housed and highlight the provisions that will be made for program participants to access emergency, temporary, transitional, and/or permanent housing through various community resources. Examples of these resources include, but are not limited to:

• The SSVF program, which rapidly rehouses homeless veterans and their families;

• The VA’s Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program, which funds emergency and transitional housing programs;

• Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) food and shelter programs, which provides emergency food and shelter;

• HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program, which provides permanent housing for eligible homeless veterans;

• HUD CoC program, which coordinates housing for…