PKG00261019-instructions.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR:

The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Career Services and Training Grants and Housing Grants

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-20-08

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.264

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

May 14, 2020. 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: Donna Kelly, Grant Officer

Reference FOA-ETA-20-08

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N4673

Washington, D.C. 20210

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. SERVICE AREAS

C. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

D. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

3. Eligible Participants

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

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

2. Project Budget

3. Project Narrative

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Methods (up to 10 points)

Planning Phase (up to 6 points)

Outreach and Enrollment (up to 6 points)

Case Management (up to 8 points)

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, PROCESS, AND ADDRESS

1. Hardcopy Submission

2. Electronic Submission through Grants.gov

D. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

E. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

1. Indirect Costs

2. Administrative Cost Limitation

3. Salary and Bonus Limitations

4. Intellectual Property Rights

5. WIOA Infrastructure

6. Minimum spending of 70 percent on Employment and Training Services (Career

Services and Training grants)

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. Standards for Evaluating the Applicant’s Response to each Requirement

C. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

1. Merit Review and Selection Process

2. Risk Review Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

1. Administrative Program Requirements

2. Other Legal Requirements

3. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions

4. Special Program Requirements

C. REPORTING

1. Quarterly Financial Reports

2. Quarterly Performance Reports

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. WEB-BASED RESOURCES

B. INDUSTRY COMPETENCY MODELS AND CAREER CLUSTERS

C. WORKFORCEGPS RESOURCES

D. SKILLSCOMMONS RESOURCES

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the

Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $91,896,000 in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 167 for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Programs, also known as the National Farmworker Jobs Program

(NFJP). A portion of NFJP funding, $545,000, will be set aside for other discretionary purposes.

Of the approximately $91,351,000 available for NFJP grants, the Department intends to award approximately $85,229,000 for Career Services and Training Grants to fund an estimated 52 grants. As specified in the NFJP appropriation (P.L. 116-94), grantees must spend at least 70 percent of this grant on employment and training services; this requirement is explained in detail in Section IV.E.6 of this FOA. Further, approximately $6,122,000 is available for Housing

Grants to fund an estimated 7-20 grants. For Housing Grants, the Department will award at least

70 percent of the funds for permanent housing.

Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOL will award grants through a competitive process to organizations providing career services, training services, youth services, related assistance services, and housing assistance to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. Through the provision of these services, grantees will work toward the goals of NFJP: to help farmworkers and their dependents acquire necessary skills to either stabilize or advance in their agricultural jobs or obtain employment in new industries or occupations. See Section VI.B.4.b - Special Program Requirements for information on performance measures. Section 167(a) of WIOA requires a grant competition every four years for NFJP. These awards will have a 51-month period of performance and will fund program years (PY) 2020 – 2023, that is, July 1, 2020 to September 30, 2024 (note that, within this period, this grant is renewable annually for a total of four years based on annual Departmental application requirements and subject to the availability of funds).

The Department allocates funds for Career Services and Training Grants through an administrative formula. The formula was developed for the purpose of distributing funds geographically by State service area, on the basis of each State service area’s relative share of persons eligible for the program.1 Except for the District of Columbia, eligible applicants from all states, including Puerto Rico, are eligible to operate NFJP grants. The Department allocates funds for Housing Grants based on the services and service areas described in an applicant’s program plans and the legislative requirement to award at least 70 percent of funds for permanent housing. Please note, Housing Grant applicants are not required to submit an application that includes both permanent housing and temporary housings services. However, Housing Grant applicants must clearly explain how they plan to expend Housing grant funds in their proposed budget, including the planned proportions of permanent and temporary housing

1 Additional information on the formula used for Program Year 2019 WIOA, NFJP Grantee Allotments is available in the following Federal Register Notice https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/11/2019-

14731/program-year-py-2019-workforce-innovation-and-opportunity-act-wioa-section-167-national-farmworker at

84 FR 33087 (July 11, 2019).

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/11/2019-14731/program-year-py-2019-workforce-innovation-and-opportunity-act-wioa-section-167-national-farmworker https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/11/2019-14731/program-year-py-2019-workforce-innovation-and-opportunity-act-wioa-section-167-national-farmworker expenditures. The Department will take into account the amount of funding each applicant is proposing to spend on permanent housing to ensure the funding requirement is met.

The National Office plans to hold a prospective applicant webinar. Event information will be announced on the Agricultural Connection community of practice site:

https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Announcement solicits applications for NFJP. The purpose of this program is to counter chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents who depend primarily on jobs in agricultural labor performed across the country. NFJP assists eligible Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, including youth and adults, and their dependents, to receive career services, training services, housing assistance services, youth services, and other related assistance services, including emergency services, that help stabilize their current agriculture jobs as well as acquire new skills they need to start careers that provide higher wages and year-round employment. To support better economic outcomes for farmworkers, NFJP also works to meet a critical need for safe and sanitary permanent and temporary housing. Grant activities are described in 20 CFR 685.330, 685.340, 685.350, 685.360, 685.370, and 685.380. Part 685 – National Farmworker Jobs Program Under Title I of

WIOA is available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f3ada9b1cf5de8a5f3e6dfcf7609ca8a&mc=true&node=pt20.4.685&rgn=div5.

Additional information about services provided under NFJP are available at:

https://www.doleta.gov/Farmworker/.

NFJP grantees awarded under this announcement must actively partner with the State Monitor

Advocates and nearby American Job Centers to deliver comprehensive, work-based learning services and create pathways that lead to better economic outcomes for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. NFJP grantees are required one-stop partners and subject to the provisions relating to such partners. If not previously established, grantees are expected to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the local Workforce Development

Board, within the first six months of receiving an award, which establishes the respective responsibilities for providing access to NFJP services through the One-stop delivery system.

Additional information about MOU with the local Workforce Development Board and

Infrastructure Funding is available in the Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 17-

16:

https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=4968.

Career Services and Training Grants

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers face unique challenges due to the nature of their work, and often experience wage theft, heat-related illness, exposure to pesticide, inferior housing, https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/ https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f3ada9b1cf5de8a5f3e6dfcf7609ca8a&mc=true&node=pt20.4.685&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f3ada9b1cf5de8a5f3e6dfcf7609ca8a&mc=true&node=pt20.4.685&rgn=div5 https://www.doleta.gov/Farmworker/ https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=4968 transportation barriers, limited access to health care, discrimination, and other abuses.

Additionally, farmworkers may experience other barriers to employment that are listed under

WIOA Section 3(24), which includes low-income individuals, individuals with a disability, older individuals, sex-offenders, homeless individuals, youth who are in or have aged out of the foster care system, and individuals who are English language learners. Through this grant, eligible participants will receive quality career services and training opportunities within their local communities that lead to industry-recognized credentials in agriculture or other sectors, and ultimately better earnings and quality of life. Grantees will provide services through a case management approach emphasizing customer choice and ensure that all services are focused on customer’s needs. The Department expects grantees to develop new, and utilize existing, partnerships with the local workforce network, including but not limited to community colleges and training institutions, and provide work-based learning opportunities, including opportunities to enter apprenticeship that accomplish the Department’s performance goals.

WIOA emphasizes the role of employers in successful workforce development strategies.

Grantees will actively develop and sustain strong employer relationships that lead to win-win outcomes for both participants and employers. Grantees will partner with employers to build knowledge of industries, inform program design, generate resources, and broaden its reach within the workforce development network.

See 20 CFR part 685 for more information on basic components of NFJP service delivery approach, career services, youth services, and training services.

Housing Grants

There is a severe shortage of adequate farmworker housing across the country. Many farmworkers live in crowded dwellings, lack quality drinking water, or experience other unsafe and/or unsanitary conditions. Additionally, many farmworkers are isolated from community resources, such as medical care or grocery stores. Because there are so few living options, rent may be very high and out of reach for a single individual or low-income family. NFJP Housing

Grants provide housing assistance services including temporary and permanent housing, and related assistance services, including emergency assistance. These grants are intended to increase the living options available to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families so that they can retain their employment and have a decent quality of life.

Housing services may include:

Permanent housing that is owner-occupied, or occupied on a permanent, year-round basis

(notwithstanding ownership) as the eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker’s primary residence to which he/or she returns at the end of the work or training day.

Temporary housing that is not owner-occupied and is used by migrant and seasonal farmworkers whose employment requires occasional travel outside their normal commuting area.

Please note NFJP funds used for housing assistance must ensure the provision of safe and sanitary temporary and permanent housing that meets Federal housing standards. For more https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=58b92faf9ad1d56577d6d54312775a58&mc=true&node=pt20.4.685&rgn=div5 information about these standards, as well as the types of housing services that grantees may provide, please see 20 CFR 685.360.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 167 authorizes this program.

The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law 116-94, appropriated funding for this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $85,229,000 to fund approximately 52 grants. 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 grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement. To serve as a guide when determining your requested award amount, see the NFJP Program Year 2019 Career

Services and Training Grant Fund Allocations, which are available at:

https://www.doleta.gov/farmworker/grants/career-services/.

We expect availability of approximately $6,122,000 to fund approximately 7 to 20 grants. The

NFJP appropriation (P.L. 116-94) requires that at least than 70 percent of this funding be spent on permanent housing services. 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 grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement. To serve as a guide when determining your requested award amount, see the NFJP Program Year 2019 Housing Grant Fund Allocations, which is available at:

https://www.doleta.gov/farmworker/grants/housing-grants/.

Note for All Grants

Applicants, including current grantees, may submit an application for a Career Services and

Training, a Housing Grant, or both;

If an applicant is interested in applying for both types of grants, applicants must submit a full separate application for each type of grant;

Applicants may be selected to receive both a Career Services and Training Grant and a

Housing Grant; and https://www.doleta.gov/farmworker/grants/career-services/ https://www.doleta.gov/farmworker/grants/housing-grants/

Additionally, for Career Services and Training Grants applicants must specify and justify their target population (adults, youth, or both) in their Project Narrative (see Section IV.B.3.a) –

Statement of Need).

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This grant is renewable annually for a total of four years based on annual Departmental application requirements and subject to the availability of funds, with an anticipated award date of July 1, 2020. We anticipate that each year’s award will have a period of performance of 15 months, from July 1 to September 30 of the subsequent calendar year. While ETA measures performance on a 12-month program year, the extra quarter in the period of performance will allow the grantees the flexibility to absorb minor fluctuations in spending within the four-year cycle without the need to request extensions from year to year.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Per 20 CFR 685.200, to be eligible to receive an NFJP grant, an entity must have: 1) an understanding of the problems of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers (including their dependents); 2) a familiarity with the agricultural industries and the labor market needs of the proposed service area; and 3) the ability to demonstrate a capacity to administer and deliver effectively a diversified program of workforce investment activities (including youth workforce investment activities) and related assistance for eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

The Department encourages applications from organizations who may not have received NFJP grants in the past.

Furthermore, applicants will receive priority consideration of two bonus points if the applicant (if applying as a non-intermediary organization) or at least one subgrantee (if applying as an intermediary organization) has at least one-census tract in their target area designated by the

Secretary of Treasury as a qualified opportunity zone; applicants will not receive additional bonus points for more than one opportunity zone sub-grantee. For more information on opportunity zones, go to: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions.

B. SERVICE AREAS

Additionally, the Department will consider the service areas requirements listed below:

For the purposes of this announcement, Career Services and Training grant applications are being solicited for a single NFJP grant per state, including Puerto Rico, to serve the eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker population within that state, with the following exceptions:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

No application will be accepted to operate NFJP in the District of Columbia due to the small relative share of eligible participants and seasonal agricultural employment;

Between four and six entities will be selected to provide NFJP services in California;

Connecticut and Rhode Island are a combined service delivery area;

Delaware and Maryland are a combined service delivery area; and

Applications for the two combined state service delivery areas listed above must consider the two states as a single geographic area.

For the purposes of this announcement, Housing grant applications are being solicited for service areas designated by the applicant and may be for:

A single state;

Multiple contiguous states; and

Portions of one or more contiguous states.

The smallest units of service for this program are counties; for example, an applicant may elect to serve a set of counties within a state, but not specific cities or townships. Grantees will be required to provide services to all county(ies) that they identify.

C. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

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

D. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

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

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider up to two applications from each organization for a proposed State service area.

For example, an organization may submit an application for a Career Services and Training

Grant, a Housing Grant, or both for a proposed State service area. For example, if an organization wants to apply for four Career Services and Training grants in California, New

York, Minnesota, and Michigan, they must submit four applications. Furthermore, if a the same organization wants to apply for four Career Services and Training grants and four Housing grants in CA, New York, Minnesota, and Michigan, they must submit eight applications.

3. Eligible Participants

a) Participants Eligible to Receive Training

The intent of this FOA is to fund projects that provide career services, training services, housing assistance services, youth services, and related assistance services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents.

Additional program eligibility information is in the TEGL 18-16:

https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_18-16.pdf.

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

SAM Registration Section IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance includes 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

Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form Section IV.a.1

Opportunity Zone Information Section IV.a.2 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_18-16.pdf

(1) Career Services and Training Grants

On the date of application for enrollment, in order to receive Career Services and Training, an individual must be either a(n):

Eligible seasonal farmworker adult;

Eligible migrant farmworker adult;

Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker youth; or

The dependent of a migrant and seasonal farmworker;

and

A low-income individual who faces multiple barriers to economic self-sufficiency as defined in section 6 of TEGL 18-16.

(2) Housing Grants

On the date of application for enrollment, in order to receive permanent Housing Assistance

Services, an individual must be either a(n):

Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker;2

Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker family;3

Other individual;4 or

Other families,5 and

A low-income individual who faces multiple barriers to economic self-sufficiency as

On the date of application for enrollment, in order to receive temporary Housing Assistance

Services, an individual must be either a(n):

Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker;6 or

Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworker family;7

And

2 The same definitions for migrant farmworker and seasonal farmworker used for Career

Services and Training Grants apply to Housing Grants.

3 The family of an eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers includes the eligible Migrant and

Seasonal Farmworker and all the individuals identified under the definition of dependent pursuant to 20 CFR 685.110.

4 Pursuant to 20 CFR 685.400, permanent housing developed or renovated (construction of new housing units or the rehabilitation of existing housing structures) with NFJP funds must be promoted and made widely available to, but occupancy is not restricted to, eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers. While occupancy of year-round and migrant rental units is not restricted to NFJP-eligible farmworkers, the strong link between housing assistance and the economic objectives of NFJP should translate directly into broad access by NFJP-eligible farmworkers to housing assistance. Providing housing assistance to NFJP-eligible farmworkers should be a priority.

5 See footnotes 2 and 3.

6 See footnote 2.

7 See footnote 3.

Low-income individual who faces multiple barriers to economic self-sufficiency as

(3) Additional Eligibility Considerations

Please note additional program participant eligibility information is available on the May 2018

Frequently Asked Questions document:

https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/resources/2018/04/30/16/18/NFJP_Program_Eligibility_

FAQ_May_2018. The NFJP Eligibility Flowchart will help applicants better understand the eligibility requirements for NFJP participants, and is available at:

https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/resources/2018/11/07/21/26/NFJP-Eligibility-Flowchart.

Pursuant to WIOA Section 189(h) Enforcement of Military Selective Service Act, for Career

Services and Training Grants and Housing Grants, NFJP male participants must meet the registration requirements of the Military Selective Service Act by registering for Selective

Service as required. Additional information is available in TEGL 18-16.

Please note that TEGL 18-16 and TEGL 2-14 specify DOL policy regarding NFJP eligibility for individuals granted relief under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In those guidance documents, DOL noted that an individual who has been granted relief under DACA and has employment authorization documents may be eligible to receive NFJP services

(provided that the individual meets all other program eligibility requirements). As of the publication of this FOA, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not accepting requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under

DACA; however, due to federal court orders, USCIS is accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. Further, with some exceptions noted in its guidance, USCIS is continuing to operate the DACA policy on the terms in place before DACA was rescinded on

September 5, 2017 until further notice. For more information, see the USCIS DACA

“Response to January 2018 Preliminary Injunction – July 17, 2019 Update”; as of the publication of this FOA, this USCIS documentation is posted here:

https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-response-january-

2018-preliminary-injunction.

Note that pending legal actions in federal court may potentially impact the status of DACA recipients, including their eligibility for work authorization. Depending on the outcome of these legal actions, DOL expects to issue updated guidance regarding service provision to

DACA recipients, including any impact that such court actions may have on DACA recipients’ eligibility for NFJP services. However, until the legal actions are concluded and any such guidance is issued, NFJP grantees must continue to follow existing DOL policy in TEGL 18-16 and TEGL 2-14.

https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/resources/2018/04/30/16/18/NFJP_Program_Eligibility_FAQ_May_2018 https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/resources/2018/04/30/16/18/NFJP_Program_Eligibility_FAQ_May_2018 https://farmworker.workforcegps.org/resources/2018/11/07/21/26/NFJP-Eligibility-Flowchart https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-response-january-2018-preliminary-injunction https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-response-january-2018-preliminary-injunction

b) Veterans’ Priority for Participants

38 U.S.C. 4215 requires grantees to provide priority of service to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services in any job training program directly funded, in whole or in part, by DOL. The regulations implementing this priority of service are at 20 CFR Part 1010. In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two qualified candidates for a service, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the veterans’ priority of service provisions require that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans’ priority. ETA’s Training and

Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-09 (issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816. This guidance applies to programs funded under WIOA. For additional information on veteran’s priority of service and

WIOA, please see TEGL 19-16. TEGL 19-16 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm, contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

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

1. 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.

https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851 http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action

The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by an individual with authority to enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant is considered the Authorized Representative of the applicant. As stated in block 21 of the SF-424 form, the signature of the

Authorized Representative on the SF-424 certifies that the organization is in compliance with the Assurances and Certifications form SF-424B (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

In addition, subject to the provisions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 42

U.S.C. § 2000bb, the applicant’s Authorized Representative’s signature in block 21 of the SF-

424 form constitutes assurance by the applicant of compliance with the following requirements in accordance with the WIOA 188 rules issued by the Department at 29 CFR 38.25 which includes the following language:

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under

Title I WIOA, the grant applicant assures that it has the ability to comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws: Section 188 of the WIOA, which, as interpreted through Departmental regulations, prohibits discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship status or participation in any WIOA Title I—financially assisted program or activity; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color and national origin; Section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities; The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs.

The grant applicant also assures, subject to RFRA, that as a recipient of WIOA Title I financial assistance [as defined at 29 CFR 38.4(zz)], it will comply with 29 CFR part 38 and all other regulations implementing the laws listed above. This assurance applies to the grant applicant's operation of the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, and to all agreements the grant applicant makes to carry out the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity. The grant applicant understands that the United

States has the right to seek judicial enforcement of this assurance. Note that the RFRA applies to all federal law and its implementation. If an applicant organization is a faith-based organization that makes hiring decisions on the basis of religious belief, it may be entitled to receive federal financial assistance under this grant solicitation and maintain that hiring practice. If a faith-based organization is awarded a grant, the organization will be provided with more information.

a) Requirement for DUNS Number

All applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities must have a DUNS number, and must supply their DUNS Number on the SF-424. The DUNS Number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. If you do not have a DUNS

Number, you can get one for free through the D&B website:

https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.

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

Numbers:

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

Grant recipients may not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its

DUNS number.

(See Appendix A to 2 CFR Part 25.)

b) Requirement for Registration with SAM

Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. Find instructions for registering with SAM at https://www.sam.gov.

A recipient must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application under consideration. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of initial registration or subsequently update its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate, and complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply and to receive the award. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the Grant Officer is ready to make a federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

2. Project Budget

You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at 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

SF-424A. Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of this https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do https://www.sam.gov/ award. Valuation of leveraged resources follows the same requirements as match. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

Each category should include the total cost for the period of performance. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative. Please note Career Services and Training Grant applicants must clearly demonstrate in their budget narrative that proposed expenditures on employment and training services equal or exceed the 70 percent minimum threshold as detailed in Section IV.E.6. Housing Grant applicants must describe the proposed funding amounts for permanent housing assistance services and/or temporary housing assistance services when describing each cost category in their Budget Narrative (personnel, fringe benefits, etc.). For every one of those cost categories below, the applicant must estimate how much of it would be allocated to permanent vs. temporary housing activities using a reasonable basis for allocation.

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 200.33 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.

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 has never received a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

(NICRA), and your organization 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 (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 the definitions below to assist you in your calculation.

2 CFR 200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

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/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/business-operations-center/cost-determination.

Note that the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative must include the PY 2020 grant amount requested for the specific State service area identified in the applicant’s project.

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

Applicants should list the same requested federal grant amount on the SF-424, SF-424A, and

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

3. Project Narrative

a. Statement of Need (up to 12 points)

To receive full points on the two relevant rating factors below (depending on whether you are applying for a Career Services and Training Grant or a Housing Grant), your narrative must fully and convincingly satisfy the specifications for each:

Career Services and Training Grant and Housing Grant applicants must describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the need for assistance in the proposed service area(s), including the nature and scope of the problem, and the consequences of not addressing the need (up to 6 points).

o Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information whenever possible.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/business-operations-center/cost-determination https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/business-operations-center/cost-determination o Identify if the application is for a Career Services and Training Grant or

Housing Grant;

o Demonstrate, with a thorough description, a comprehensive understanding of employment challenges, including contributing factors, that migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents experience by providing a thorough description of these challenges and contributing factors; and o Use agricultural data and relevant Labor Market Information data to illustrate a compelling need for NFJP services in the proposed State service area(s).

Career Services and Training Grant applicants must (up to 6 points):

o Specify if you propose to serve eligible adult participants, youth participants, or both and provide a justification for the selected population. If you choose to serve only adults or youth, you must explain and provide supporting data that demonstrates that the targeted population(s) exists in the proposed State service area(s) and that the targeted population needs this assistance.

o Discuss the socio-economic conditions and employment outlook of the proposed service area, including an identification of the growth or high-demand industries or occupations that you will focus on.

Housing Grant applicants must (up to 6 points):

o Describe a comprehensive understanding of housing challenges in the proposed

State service areas, and how migrant and seasonal farmworkers are impacted by housing challenges and face difficulty in obtaining and retaining a job, or achieving career mobility.

b. Project Design (up to 30 points)

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

Note that the NFJP performance measures and associated reporting requirements are specified in the Performance Goals section under the Special Program Requirements included later in this FOA. While applicants are not required to specify numerical outcome targets as part of the application, successful applicants will negotiate final performance outcome goals with the

Department within the first 90 days of the period of performance (as noted in the aforementioned Performance Goals section).

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Methods (up to 10 points)

To receive full points on this rating factor, your narrative must fully and convincingly satisfy the specifications below:

Career Services and Training Grants: Evidence-Informed Approaches and Methods

(up to 10 points)

Outline the customer-centered design approaches and methods that you will use for basic career services, individualized career services, and training services, and convincingly demonstrate how selected activities will lead to new or upgraded employment for participants by meeting the demands of the local area’s business needs, or lead to further education (as appropriate for the targeted population). Applicants must describe evidence to support the choice of approaches;

Propose methods to provide training opportunities for participants that lead to the following outputs and outcomes:

o Prepare the participant to work in in-demand industries for the communities being served;

o Meet the hiring needs of local employers;

o Provide the participant with an industry-recognized, stackable and portable credential, occupational or state license, apprenticeship, secondary school diploma, or associate degree; and/or o Lead to an agricultural employment upgrade;

Provide evidence to show the identified approaches and methods are evidence-informed interventions;8

Describe an effective plan to provide related assistance services, which is a short-term form of direct assistance designed to assist eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers to retain or stabilize their agricultural employment. Grantees may not include individuals who receive only related assistance services in their WIOA performance measures as these individuals are not participants. However, consistent with the guidance in section 8 of TEGL 18-16, individuals receiving related assistance services and certain other services are participants and can be included in the grantee’s WIOA performance measures (See TEGL 18-16, Section 8 for more information on NFJP enrollment https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_18-16_acc.pdf); and

Thoroughly describe your experience in developing career services and training activities, including apprenticeships and work-based learning, and how you will transfer that experience to this award (if awarded).

Housing Grants: Evidence-Informed Approaches and Methods (up to 10 points)

Describe in detail the customer-centered approaches and methods that you will use to maximize the number of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families receiving housing services to realize the program’s purpose and describe how such methods will support participants’ immediate employment and education goals and lead to better economic outcomes for farmworkers and their families;

Provide evidence to show the identified approaches and methods are evidence-informed interventions;

8 Evidence-informed interventions bring together the best available research, professional expertise, and input from the target population to identify and deliver services that have promise to achieve positive outcomes for the target population.

https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_18-16_acc.pdf

Thoroughly describe your experience in providing safe and sanitary housing that addresses a critical need for the availability of permanent housing and/or temporary options for farmworkers and their families; and

List the type(s) of housing services, permanent housing services…