RESTART_FOA-ETA-26-17.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: The Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced

Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) Initiative

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-26-17

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 17.270

Submit all applications in response to this announcement through https://www.grants.gov.

FUNDING DETAIL:

Expected Total Available Funding $81,000,000

Expected Number of Awards 20

Funding Range Per Award $1,000,000 - $5,100,000

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

Department reserves the right to apply funding from the FY 2026 appropriation, up to an additional $110,000,000 to this FOA, should sufficient qualifying awards be feasible. In the event that sufficient qualifying awards are determined, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement.

KEY DATES:

Application Deadline 04/15/2026. We must receive applications no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Expected Period of Performance Start Date 07/01/2026

Period of Performance Length 42

On approximately March 10, 2026, a pre-recorded Prospective Applicant Webcast will be available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities and available for viewing any time after that date. While review of this Webcast is strongly encouraged to support successful grant applications, it is not mandatory.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities

Table of Contents

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Cost Sharing

C. Period of Performance

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Purpose

B. Program Goals and Objectives

C. Expected Performance Outcomes

D. Funding Type

E. Eligible Participants

F. Program Authority

G. Definitions

H. Funding Restrictions, Policies and Limitations

I. Required Partnerships

IV. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

A. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

B. Project Budget, Composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative

C. Project Narrative

D. Attachments to the Project Narrative

V. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

A. How to Obtain an Application Package

B. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

C. Submission Instructions

D. Intergovernmental Review

E. Other Submission Requirements

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Responsiveness Review

B. Review Criteria

C. Review and Selection Process

D. Risk Review

VII. AWARD NOTICES

A. Award Document

B. Award Timing and Notification to Applicants

VIII. POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

B. Reporting

IX. RESOURCES

X. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

APPENDIX A: INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUIRED STATEMENT-OF-NEED

ATTACHMENT

APPENDIX B: DEFINITIONS

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

Department, or we), announces the availability of grant funds for The Reentry Employment in

Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training

(RESTART) Initiative.

We expect to award $81,000,000 in grant funds, of which at least $30,000,000 will be awarded to national or regional intermediary organizations providing workforce services to youth/young adults, and we anticipate awarding a total of 20 awards ranging from $1,000,000 to $5,100,000.

While ETA may award somewhat more than $30,000,000 for intermediary organizations due to grant applicant request amounts, ETA does not intend to award significantly more than

$30,000,000 to intermediary organizations, and plans to devote funds to states, territories, and tribes.

RESTART supports the advancement of workforce readiness skills and the attainment of employment for ex-offenders across three populations: youth (ages 15-17 years old), young adults (ages 18-24 years old), and adults (ages 25 years old and above). Funds will be awarded to eligible entities to develop programs to train ex-offenders for high-need American jobs and assist them in being productive contributors to the U.S. economy. This initiative provides those with criminal records and criminal justice-system contact placement into trainings that support in-demand industries, and it provides funding for services that evidence-based research suggests increase the likelihood of successful employment outcomes. Such training and employment services include: robust assessment of prior learning and skills; pre-apprenticeships; work-based learning through On-the-Job Training and Registered Apprenticeships; artificial intelligence

(AI), digital literacy, and financial literacy training; credential attainment; paid work experiences; unsubsidized employment placement; developing and deploying learning and employment records (LER) or comprehensive learner record (CLR) solutions where feasible including connecting corrections education with existing state LER and CLR efforts; credit for prior learning and acceleration solutions for rapid entry into postsecondary credentialing opportunities; and relevant skills training for high-demand sectors such as advanced manufacturing and the maritime sector.

For further information or technical questions about this FOA, please contact Alexander Heron, Grants Management Specialist, Office of Grants Management, at RESTART_FOA-ETA-26-

17@dol.gov and specifically reference FOA-ETA-26-17. This Announcement is available on the ETA website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants and at https://www.grants.gov.

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants

1. The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• State Government/State Government Agency

• U.S. Territory or Possession

• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally recognized)

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

• Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization

• National or Regional Intermediaries

National or Regional Intermediaries can be nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status with the

IRS, that have a national or regional scope. For the purposes of this FOA, institutions of higher education are not considered National or Regional Intermediaries. Intermediaries must, in their proposal, identify sub-grantees across three or more non-contiguous metropolitan areas or rural regions. While DOL has previously required that National or Regional intermediaries must serve areas spread across two states, in this funding opportunity, an intermediary applicant can identify sub-grantees across three or more non-contiguous metropolitan areas or rural regions within a single state. This FOA aims to have state-wide impact, which intermediaries can accomplish by working in one state or multiple states. This change will also allow intermediaries to more easily leverage the resources of the public workforce system within a state. For more information regarding the definition of National or Regional Intermediaries, see Appendix B.

Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are all organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

As previously mentioned, eligible participant definitions are as follows:

• Youth include those between the ages of 15 and 17 years old at the time of enrollment;

• Young adults are those between the ages of 18 and 24 years old at the time of enrollment;

and,

• Adults are those aged 25 years and above at the time of enrollment.

mailto:RESTART_FOA-ETA-26-17@dol.gov mailto:RESTART_FOA-ETA-26-17@dol.gov https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants https://www.grants.gov/

We will consider only one application from each national or regional intermediary organization. In their application, national or regional intermediary organizations must only propose to serve youth (ages 15-17) and/or young adults (ages 18-24) as defined above.

Applications from national and regional intermediary organizations proposing to serve adults

(ages 25 years and over) will be found non-responsive and not receive further consideration.

Eligible state, territory or tribal entities may submit a maximum of two applications which include a maximum of one to serve youth (ages 15-17) and/or young adults (ages 18-24), and a maximum of one to serve adults (ages 25 and older) as defined above.

For any eligible applicant, if we receive more than the maximum number of applications specified above, we will consider only the most recently received application(s) that met the deadline. If the most recent application(s) is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.

B. Cost Sharing

This program does not require cost sharing (including matching) funds. Applicants that include such funds 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 provides more information on leveraged resources.

For a complete understanding of this application requirement, see the 2026 Application Guide, Section II.B Cost Sharing.

C. Period of Performance

The performance period on the front page of this FOA includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Purpose

The purpose of this program is to prepare youth, young adults, and adults with criminal legal histories, young adults who have been incarcerated or involved in the criminal justice system, and young adults who have dropped out of school or other educational programs for employment. Preparation for employment under this program will align with the workforce development efforts of the Trump Administration, including but not limited to: the five pillars of the U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, Education’s blueprint for talent development, “America’s Talent Strategy: Equipping American Workers for the Golden Age” and President

Trump’s Executive Order 14269, Executive Order 14278, Executive Order 14277, and Executive

Order 14332.

The Department supports state-led initiatives that deliberately integrate RESTART grant activities with the assets, resources, and service-delivery infrastructure of the public workforce system under WIOA. RESTART grant activities must include screening potential participants for WIOA eligibility and co-enrolling those eligible participants, to increase workforce integration. In addition, the Department strongly encourages RESTART grant activities that complement state efforts and ensure that effective strategies are institutionalized, scalable, and https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/resources https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/2025/08/Americas-Talent-Strategy-Building-the-Workforce-for-the-Golden-Age.pdf https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/15/2025-06465/restoring-americas-maritime-dominance https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/28/2025-07369/preparing-americans-for-high-paying-skilled-trade-jobs-of-the-future https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/28/2025-07368/advancing-artificial-intelligence-education-for-american-youth https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/12/2025-15344/improving-oversight-of-federal-grantmaking https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/12/2025-15344/improving-oversight-of-federal-grantmaking financially sustainable following the grant period. Efforts towards a more unified public workforce system include: 1) embedding RESTART activities within American Job Centers and local service networks; 2) leveraging State and Local Workforce Development Boards, sector partnerships, Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and career pathways;

3) using state labor market information (LMI), LER or CLR solutions, and other performance data systems to target in-demand industries and populations; 4) ensuring training activities funded under this grant are aligned with the LMI and state and local list of in-demand occupations; 5) ensuring that training programs funded under this grant apply for inclusion on the applicable eligible training provider lists (ETPLs); 6) coordinating with related programs such as career and technical education activities carried out under the Carl D. Perkins Career and

Technical Education Act; and 7) coordinating with area community colleges and technical trade schools or colleges. RESTART applicants should plan to braid and align funding streams, policies, and guidance; establish governance, staffing, and data-sharing arrangements; and entrench effective practices into routine operations and state plans so that services for participants and employers can be maintained and expanded in the future. RESTART applicants are required to determine any occupations for which participants may be barred from entering due to criminal convictions. Training programs should be focused in occupations for which participants are eligible for employment and licensure.

ETA has designed the RESTART grant using relevant and available data, evidence, and evaluation results, including various studies reviewed in the Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research (CLEAR), to increase the likelihood of successful employment outcomes for those with criminal records and other justice-system involvement. Applicants may also consider proposing pre-release service delivery strategies to eligible incarcerated individuals prior to their release from custody, in order to better coordinate their service delivery post-release.

The RESTART grant reflects the Department’s particular interest in supporting high-skill, high-growth, and in-demand occupations or industry sectors and emerging industries critical to

American competitiveness and reindustrialization that can drive economic resurgence. These industries include, but are not limited to, in-demand skilled trades including shipbuilding occupations, occupations essential to the build-out of AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, transportation, domestic mineral production, and information technology including AI.

B. Program Goals and Objectives

The goals of the RESTART grant are to:

• Make communities safer by reducing crime and decreasing rates of recidivism among reentrants;

• Increase the number of workers with the skills necessary to enter job sectors with high workforce needs, aligned to the labor market demands of states and regions, such as the manufacturing, maritime, and other transportation industries; and

• Develop partnerships and pathways that lead directly to sustainable, high-wage employment and placements in Registered Apprenticeships, contributing to the Trump

Administration’s efforts to reach and surpass 1 million new active apprentices.

C. Expected Performance Outcomes

Grantees must report on four WIOA primary indicators of performance that measure employment and education outcomes, as well as two REO-specific indicators. Extensive details about those measures and minimum performance goals are outlined in Section IV.C.2.

ETA has also established the required minimum number of enrollees during the period of performance, based on the amount of funds requested by the applicant (see Figure 1 below).

Applicants must clearly identify in the project abstract the proposed number of participants to be enrolled over the life of the grant, based on the minimums identified in the table below, for which they are seeking funding. Applicants that fail to propose to serve the minimum number of participants required per the table below will be disqualified because their applications will be considered non-responsive.

Figure 1. Minimum Targets for Participants

Enrolled During the Grant Period Based on

Funding Request

Funding Request

Minimum # of

Participants Enrolled

During Grant Period

$1,000,000 – 1,499,999 200

$1,500,000 – 1,999,999 267

$2,000,000 – 2,499,999 333

$2,500,000 – 2,999,999 400

$3,000,000 – 3,499,999 467

$3,500,000 – 3,999,999 533

$4,000,000 – 4,499,999 600

$4,500,000 – 4,999,999 666

$5,000,000 – 5,100,000 680

DOL may adjust enrollment goals post-award, based on the number of applications of fundable quality received and/or changes to DOL financial efficiencies.

D. Funding Type

Funding will be provided in the form of a Grant. Throughout this FOA, all references to grants are applicable to cooperative agreements.

E. Eligible Participants

Participants eligible to receive services provided through this program may fall within three categories: (1) youth, (2) young adults, or (3) adults.

(1) For youth-serving programs, eligible participants must:

• Be at least 15 years old and not older than 17 years of age on the date of enrollment;

• Reside in the applicant’s targeted geographic area, or plan to return to the area upon release from incarceration; and

• Have left a school or other educational program prior to completion or have current or past involvement with the juvenile or adult criminal justice system, defined as:

o Current or previous incarceration or arrest;

o Under the supervision of the criminal justice system, either in out-of-home placements (e.g., residential reentry centers), on probation, or on parole;

o Alternative sentence by the juvenile or adult criminal justice system; or o Diversionary program of the juvenile or adult criminal justice system.

NOTE: Up to 10% of the total participants enrolled in youth-serving programs may qualify under the following exception:

• If they have NO criminal justice system contact, NO history of having left a school or other educational program prior to completion, but have been referred* due to displaying at least one of the following risk factors:

o Attend or attended an alternative high school for disciplinary reasons;

o Gang membership (current or prior);

o Parent who is currently or formerly incarcerated; or o Substance abuse.

*Acceptable referral entities include faith-based organizations, school counselors, clinicians, workforce boards, and criminal justice-system evaluators.

(2) For young-adult-serving programs, eligible participants must:

• Be at least 18 years old and not older than 24 on the date of enrollment;

• Reside in the applicant’s targeted geographic area, or plan to return to the area upon release from incarceration; and

• Have current or past involvement with the juvenile or adult criminal justice system, defined as:

o Current or previous incarceration or arrest;

o Under the supervision of the criminal justice system, either in out-of-home placements (e.g., residential reentry centers), on probation, or on parole;

o Alternative sentence by the juvenile or adult criminal justice system; or o Diversionary program of the juvenile or adult criminal justice system.

NOTE: Up to 10% of the total participants enrolled in young-adult-serving programs may qualify under one of the following exceptions:

• If they have NO criminal justice system contact but have left high school or other educational program prior to completion; or

• If they have NO criminal justice system contact, NO history of having left a school or other educational program prior to completion, but have been referred* due to displaying at least one of the following risk factors:

o Attend or attended an alternative high school for disciplinary reasons;

o Gang membership (current or prior);

o Parent who is currently or formerly incarcerated; or o Substance abuse.

*Acceptable referral entities include faith-based organizations, school counselors, clinicians, workforce boards, and criminal justice-system evaluators.

(3) For adult-serving programs, eligible participants must:

• Be at least 25 years old on the date of enrollment;

• Reside in the applicant’s targeted geographic area, or plan to return to the area upon release from incarceration; and

• Have had juvenile or adult criminal justice system contact, defined as one of the following:

o Current incarceration in a state correctional facility, federal correctional institution, or local or county jail for adults;** o Previous incarceration in a state correctional facility, federal correctional institution, or local or county jail and released anytime after March 31, 2020;

o Under the supervision of the criminal justice system, either in out-of-home placements (e.g., residential reentry centers), on probation, or on parole;

o Current alternative sentence by the adult criminal justice system; or, o Current diversionary program of the adult criminal justice system.

**NOTE: If eligible applicants propose to provide services within a state correctional facility, federal correctional institution, residential reentry center, or local or county jail for adults as a component of their Project Design in Section IV.C.3, then facility leadership must confirm that no other DOL-funded REO grantee is already serving the same population within the facility in the applicant's Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU)/Letter of Commitment (LOC), to avoid duplication of efforts.

Veterans' Priority for Participants

38 U.S.C. 4215 requires DOL grantees to provide priority to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for employment, training, and placement services in any job training program directly funded, in whole or in part, by DOL.

For a complete understanding of this application requirement, see the 2026 Application Guide, Section III.E Veterans’ Priority for Participants.

F. Program Authority

This grant program is authorized under the evaluations and research authority in section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and section 1101 of the Full-Year

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025, Pub. L. 119-4, which appropriated funds at the level specified and under the same authority and conditions provided in the Departments of Labor, https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section4215&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/resources

Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

(division D of Public Law 118–47).

G. Definitions

See Appendix B for definitions.

For a complete understanding of this application requirement, see the 2026 Application Guide, Section VIII.G Definitions.

H. Funding Restrictions, Policies and Limitations

All proposed project costs must be necessary and reasonable and in accordance with federal guidelines.

For a complete understanding of this application requirement, see the 2026 Application Guide, Section III.H Funding Restrictions, Policies and Limitations.

Use of Grant Funds for On-the-Job Training (for Employer Reimbursements)

Under this Announcement, on-the job training (OJT) is available only for eligible participants.

OJT is provided under a contract with an employer in the private nonprofit or private for-profit sector. Under the OJT contract, the employer pays wages to the participant, and occupational training is provided for the participant in exchange for the reimbursement to the employer of a percentage of the participant’s wage rate to compensate for the employer’s extraordinary costs of training the individual (subject to the policy exceptions described below). The OJT agreement may not be with an employer who has previously exhibited a pattern of failing to provide OJT participants with continued long-term employment with wages, benefits, and working conditions that are equal to those provided to regular employees who have worked a similar length of time and are doing the same type of work. The OJT contract must be limited to the period required for a participant to become proficient in the occupation for which the training is being provided.

Funds provided to employers for OJT must not be used to directly or indirectly assist, promote, or deter union organizing.

The period of reimbursement should be an adequate length to ensure the participant has acquired the technical skills needed for employment, but no longer than 12 months, unless the eligible participant is in a Registered Apprenticeship with the same participating employer that lasts longer than 12 months. Individuals may not be co-enrolled in other programs for the purpose of extending OJT employer reimbursement beyond 12 months. Twelve months exceeds the average length of time for current OJT activities; therefore, grantees should negotiate contracts with employers that lead transitioning participants to permanent employment as soon as possible.

Grantees may establish contracts that will be longer than 12 months for multiple participants;

however, the reimbursement for each individual that participates in OJT cannot be longer than 12 months.

The negotiated reimbursement percentage for OJT may be as high as 90 percent of the participant’s hourly wage. The Department encourages grantees to negotiate lower rates or variable rates (such as starting at the maximum allowable reimbursement rate and reducing the subsidy over time) where possible to ensure that the maximum number of participants will be served by the project.

Use of Grant Funds for Participant Wages, Stipends, Incentives, Needs-Related Payments, and Supportive Services

Organizations that receive grants through this FOA may use grant funds to pay for the wages of participants where the objective assessment and the individual development plan (IDP) indicate that work experiences are appropriate. Grantees awarded under this FOA are permitted to use grant funds or other sources to pay for stipends or subsidized wages. In addition, grantees are expected to partner with other local, state, or Federally-funded programs and resources for participant payments and other participant supports. Further, providing stipends to training enrollees for wage replacement is an allowable cost under this FOA. Payment may take the form of wages or stipends. Generally, participants may receive stipends for participating in classes and training. Wages are compensation for services performed for an employer. Grantees must comply with WIOA Section 181 and WIOA regulations detailing the applicable wage and labor standards. When paying participant stipends, grantees must maintain documentation of the process for determining the amount of the stipend and the distribution. Grantees providing wages or stipends to participants are expected to be aware of the implications under IRS provisions. Please consult www.irs.gov for more information.

In addition, grantees may provide incentive payments to participants for recognition and achievement tied to training activities and work experiences. Incentive payments must align with the goals of the grant. The grantee must have policies and procedures in place governing the award of incentives; any incentives provided under the grant must align with these organizational policies. Generally, incentive payments are considered miscellaneous compensation and are taxable. Please consult www.irs.gov for more information. Under this FOA, grantees can use no more than 5 percent of the grant award for incentive payments.

Supportive services are a routine part of high-quality workforce development programs, and evidence shows that they contribute to participants completing programs. Supportive services can include, but are not limited to, childcare, transportation, food, legal assistance, financial counseling, referrals for drug treatment, provision of work tools or work clothes, and needs-related payments/emergency cash assistance. No more than 15 percent of grant funds awarded under this FOA may be used to provide supportive services. ETA strongly encourages applicants to provide necessary supportive services through partners to support individuals’ participation in employment-related activities and training.

Needs-related payments are a form of supportive services paid directly to participants that enable the individual to participate in training, when other sources of local, state, or Federally-funded programs and resources have been exhausted or the participant is determined not to be eligible for those other programs or resources. No more than 10 percent of grant funds awarded under this FOA may be used for needs-related payments, such as those authorized under WIOA to assist participants remaining in training and often used by participants to pay for food, utility bills, or other immediate needs, when other sources have been exhausted or the participant is determined not to be eligible. Needs-related payments are paid directly to participants and must tie directly to the need identified, and grantees must ensure the payments are documented to support both the participant’s need for the service as well as the actual transaction. The up to 10 percent of grant funds that may be used for needs-related payments is part of the 15 percent maximum that may be used for supportive services. Grantees must have a consistent, written http://www.irs.gov/ http://www.irs.gov/ policy in place on the provision of needs-related payments. For additional information, please review 20 CFR 680.930.

Salary and Bonus Limitations

By law, no “Employment and Training Administration” appropriated funds may be used by a recipient or subrecipient of such funds to pay the salary and bonuses of an individual, either as direct costs or indirect costs, at a rate in excess of Executive Level II. The Executive Level II salary may change yearly and is located on the OPM.gov website. This limitation does not apply to contractors (vendors) providing goods and services as defined in 2 CFR 200.331. Where states are recipients of such funds, states may establish a lower limit for salaries and bonuses paid by subrecipients. To establish these limits, states may consider the relative cost of living in the state, the salary levels for comparable state or local government employees, and the size of the organizations that administer Federal programs involved, including ETA programs. See the

Program Authority found in TEGL 10-24 for additional information.

I. Required Partnerships

All applicants must have MOUs/LOCs with their required partners. Partnerships must be clearly identified in the Project Narrative and Abstract. Required partners vary by applicant type.

1. State government/state government agency and U.S. territory or possession applicants must partner with:

a. At least 1 local reentry organization,

b. The State Workforce Development Board (SWDB),

c. The SAA, when applicable,*

d. At least 1 criminal justice system partner.

e. At least 3 employers within these targeted industries: shipbuilding, AI infrastructure build-out, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, transportation, domestic mineral production, and information technology including AI.

* In some cases, lead applicants may be SWDBs, SAAs, or criminal justice system agencies. In those cases, lead applicants that are SWDBs, SAAs, or criminal justice system agencies must identify themselves as SWDBs, SAAs, or criminal justice system agencies in their Project Narrative and Abstract to demonstrate that they satisfy the mandatory SWDB, SAA, or criminal justice system partnership requirement without an

LOC/MOU attachment. For applicants located in states without an SAA, where programs are registered by the DOL Office of Apprenticeship (OA), an LOC/MOU is not needed, and applicants must identify in their Project Narrative and Abstract that they are providing services in an OA state.

2. Indian/Native American tribal government (federally recognized or other than federally recognized) applicants and Indian/Native American tribally designated organization applicants must partner with:

a. At least 1 criminal justice system partner, and https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-10-24

b. At least 3 employers within these targeted industries: shipbuilding, AI infrastructure build-out, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, transportation, domestic mineral production, and information technology including AI.

3. National or regional intermediary applicants must partner with at least 2 sub-grantees.

For the purposes of this FOA, national or regional intermediary applicants and all sub-grantees will only use grant funds to serve the youth/young adult population(s), whereby the eligible youth/young adult participants are defined in Section III.E. If the intermediary applicant is providing direct services in addition to the required two sub-grantees, then the intermediary must also partner with:

a. At least 1 state government or state government agency which can include the

SWDB; U.S. territory or possession; Indian/Native American tribal government

(federally recognized and other than federally recognized); and/or an

Indian/Native American tribally designated organization,

b. The 1 SAA, when applicable,*

c. At least 1 criminal justice system partner, and

d. At least 3 employers within these targeted industries: shipbuilding, AI infrastructure build-out, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, transportation, domestic mineral production, and information technology including AI.

All sub-grantees must partner with the entities outlined in Section III.I.3(a-d) above, e.g., each sub-grantee must partner with at least 3 employers as described in Section

III.I.3(d).

*If the national or regional intermediary applicant was created by a federally-recognized

Indian/Native American tribal government, then the intermediary is considered an instrumentality of the tribal government and therefore, not required to provide an

LOC/MOU with an SAA, in accordance with Circular 2025-01 Circulars |

Apprenticeship.gov. National or regional intermediary applicants operating in states without an SAA are also exempt from this LOC/MOU requirement. In these cases, this should be identified in the applicant's Project Narrative and Abstract. Please visit

Apprenticeship System | Apprenticeship.gov to determine if the state has an SAA.

National or regional intermediaries must also submit LOCs/MOUs with their sub-grantee(s).

Those sub-grantee LOCs/MOUs must contain the following:

• A statement confirming that the national or regional intermediary applicant and the sub-grantee will work together over the entirety of the 42-month grant period, beginning July

1, 2026, to implement all aspects of the proposed project;

• Signatures of all authorized representatives of the organizations partnering for the project proposed under this FOA and the dates signed;

• The amount of funds the sub-grantee will receive from the national or regional applicant to implement the project proposed under this FOA;

• The roles of the national or regional intermediary applicant and the sub-grantee with specific information about the execution of grant program activities proposed in the project narrative and the participant services to be delivered;

• A statement confirming that it is the sub-grantee's responsibility to ensure all partners adhere to the requirements of the project proposed under this FOA; and https://www.apprenticeship.gov/about-us/legislation-regulations-guidance/circulars https://www.apprenticeship.gov/about-us/legislation-regulations-guidance/circulars https://www.apprenticeship.gov/about-us/apprenticeship-system

• A statement confirming that it is the national or regional intermediary applicant’s responsibility to provide data on a quarterly basis to DOL and that the sub-grantee will fully cooperate with the national or regional intermediary applicant in their effort to collect the required data.

NOTE: Exceptions to these mandatory partnerships will be made for states or tribes with a population under 1,000,000 people, as identified in the most recent data from the U.S. Census

Bureau. These applicants must partner with and provide LOCs/MOUs with: the SAA; at least 1 local criminal justice system partner; and at least 1 employer within these targeted industries:

shipbuilding, AI infrastructure build-out, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, transportation, domestic mineral production, and information technology including AI.

IV. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

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

A. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”;

B. Project Budget, composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative;

C. Project Narrative; and

D. Attachments to the Project Narrative.

You must make sure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application. You must submit your application in one package. Documents received separately will be tracked separately and will not be attached to your application for review.

A. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

You must complete the SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”.

For a complete understanding of this application requirement, see the 2026 Application Guide, Section IV.A SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance.

B. Project Budget, Composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative

You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form and a Budget Narrative. The Budget and Budget Narrative do not count against the page limit requirements for the Project Narrative.

For a complete understanding of this application requirement, see the 2026 Application Guide, Section IV.B Project Budget, Composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative.

C. Project Narrative

You must include a Project Narrative with your application. The Project Narrative shows that the applicant can implement the grant project explained in this Announcement. Applicants must describe how they will meet the requirements listed below. Applicants must show that their planned activities will meet the project goals. As appropriate, applicants should see Section IX.

Resources, E. DOL’s Clearinghouse for Evaluation and Research (CLEAR) for starting places to find research that could provide evidence of a sound approach.

The Project Narrative is limited to 25 double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11-inch pages with Times

New Roman 12-point text font and 1-inch margins. It must include the section headers listed below. The agency will evaluate the Project Narrative using the evaluation criteria identified in

Section VI.B. We will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit (except for attachments listed in Section IV.D that impact the scoring of the application).

1. Statement of Need (Up to 14 Points)

i. If applying as a non-intermediary organization, identify the number of participants that the applicant will serve. If applying as an intermediary organization, indicate the number of participants that each sub-grantee will serve, as well as the total cumulative number of participants to be served by all sub-grantees combined. All applicants must identify the target age group (youth, young adults, and/or adults) to be served. (Up to 2 Points)

ii. All applicants must:

a. Identify the proposed service area(s) for the grant project and 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;

b. Demonstrate that there is a sufficient pool of eligible potential participants in the target area(s) to recruit into the program; and

c. Provide evidence to support the number of proposed participants in each of the areas to be served. Specify the poverty rate, crime rate, and labor force participation rate, using American Community Survey (ACS) data (poverty rate), data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report - Crime in the United

States (crime rate), and the United States Census Bureau data (labor force participation rate), respectively. Specify these rates for each county, Indian

Reservation or Native Land, or contiguous Census Tracts proposed to be the target area(s) of the grant. Applicants proposing to serve more than one target area must provide for each of the target areas a table that lists the total population, the number of persons in poverty, the crime rate per 100,000 residents, and the labor force participation rate for those ages 24 and below (for applicants proposing to serve youth and/or young-adults) or for those ages 25 and above (for applicants proposing to serve adults) in each of the Census Tracts in the target area. In addition to the table, applicants must provide a map showing that the Census

Tracts are contiguous. This map can be a screenshot of the Census website the applicant used in accessing the ACS Census Tract data. Additionally, national or regional intermediary applicants serving multiple target areas must calculate weighted crime and poverty rates and attach a table with all data necessary to make those calculations. Detailed instructions are in Appendix A. (This table attachment will not count towards the application page limit.) (Up to 6 Points)

iii. Applicants must describe existing service delivery offerings and demonstrate that the service delivery is lacking for the target population in the intended target area(s). (Up to

2 Points)

iv. Applicants must describe how this project will complement available services, and how the project can address needs for services in coordination with other efforts in the state or region(s). To receive full points, state applicants must include a letter of support from the state Governor. Intermediary applicants and tribal organization applicants can meet this requirement with a letter of support from the state Governor, Tribal government, or other stakeholders that coordinate service delivery within the proposed service area. Letters from Members of Congress will not be reviewed in scoring. (Up to 4 Points)

2. Expected Outcomes and Outputs (Up to 6 Points)

i. Clearly identify the outcome(s) and output(s) that will result from the project. Outcomes are the measurable results of the project. They are the positive benefits or negative changes or measurable characteristics that occur as a result of project activities or outputs. Outputs are tangible products or services that result from the project. For example, say an organization receives a grant to address a need for more workers in all health-related fields. An outcome of the project is an increase in graduates in health-related fields by 5 percent. An output of the project is the creation of 3 additional courses in health-related fields. (Up to 2 Points)

ii. Applicants must describe a clear and realistic plan to track and report performance on the

WIOA primary indicators and REO-specific goals below, including staff and/or partner roles in tracking and reporting. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with state and local workforce development boards around data collection. Applicants may propose their own additional performance measures with specific numeric goals. Plans for tracking and reporting performance data should include pre- and post-release from incarceration, if applicable, and must include co-enrollment of participants in WIOA, if applicable. For those applicants planning to serve youth/young adults and adults, tracking and reporting of performance on the WIOA primary indicators and REO-specific goals below must be done separately such that youth and young adult participants are tracked and reported together, while adult participants are tracked and reported separately. (Up to 4 Points)

WIOA Primary Indicators of Performance: Youth & Young Adult Populations

• Education & Employment Rate – Second Quarter After Exit. (Minimum goal is 75 percent.)

• Education & Employment Rate – Fourth Quarter After Exit. (Minimum goal is 70 percent.)

• Median Earnings – Second Quarter After Exit. (Minimum goal is $5,000.)*

• Credential Attainment. (Minimum goal is 80 percent.)

WIOA Primary Indicators of Performance: Adult Populations

• Employment Rate – Second Quarter After Exit. (Minimum goal is 75 percent.)

• Employment Rate – Fourth Quarter After Exit. (Minimum goal is 70 percent.)

• Median Earnings – Second Quarter After Exit. (Minimum goal is $7,000.)*

• Credential Attainment. (Minimum goal is 85 percent.)

Additional information on these performance indicators is available in Training and

Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 10-16, Change 3: Performance Accountability

Guidance for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Core Programs.

As part of their data collection, all grantees must request participants’ social security numbers (SSNs). This is subject to change pending further ETA guidance.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-10-16-change-3 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-10-16-change-3 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-10-16-change-3

*Median Earnings – Second Quarter After Exit goals take into consideration that many participants work part-time initially. Grantees awarded under this FOA will be required to track and report part-time versus full-time employment.

REO-Specific Goals: Youth, Young Adult, and Adult Populations

• Enrollment in a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). (Minimum goal is 10 percent.)*

• Recidivism rate. (Minimum goal is lower than the most recently available state-wide recidivism rate for the state(s) in which the grantee is operating.)

*To be eligible to enroll in a RAP, individuals must be at least 16 years old. Because youth-serving applicants under this FOA can serve individuals ages 15 to 17, a portion of their participants may not be eligible to enroll in a RAP. For youth-serving applicants, the minimum goal for enrollment in a RAP is 10 percent of participants who are eligible to enroll in a RAP.

3. Project Design (Up to 58 Points)

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

Grant applicants must describe how the strength of their proposed strategies will ensure that the stated goals are met or exceeded. Plans and strategies are to be specific, quantifiable statements and clearly linked to each WIOA primary indicator of performance and REO-specific goal. Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the project will accomplish the proposed work and include timelines for completion of work. Clearly specify if the project proposed in the application will serve youth and/or young adults or only adults. Describe participant recruitment plans, including a feasible process to identify, select, and wait-list participants. Include a three to six month planning period. (Up to 8 Points)

ii. Describe the amount and strength of evidence and data available that supports the project design. Link the proposed strategies to the identified outcomes and cite rigorous evaluation studies conducted to support the proposed strategies, as appropriate. If no compelling evidence or data exists due to the innovative nature of the proposed project, describe the information, experiences, and assumptions that suggest the project might produce the intended outcomes. (Up to 4 Points)

iii. Describe specific industries on which the grant will focus, using documentation of labor market information (LMI) demonstrating high regional need for workers trained in those industries. ETA intends to consider industry in making grant selections, and targeted industries include: shipbuilding, AI infrastructure build-out, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, transportation, domestic mineral production, and information technology including AI. Mere mention of these industries is not adequate for full points.

Applicants should demonstrate the local labor market’s need for workers in these industries, such as local economic activity or economic development that would result in employment for workers in these industries. Applicants should also describe how this target industry is reflected in the proposed project’s grant activities, employer partners, and training plans. (Up to 8 Points)

iv. Account for all functions or activities identified in the application. State the reason for taking the proposed approach rather than other approaches. If planning to serve youth and young adults within the same project, specify how participants from each population will be served separately from participants in the other population(s). Due to the unique safety, development, education, training, and social needs of each age group, applicants proposing to serve youth and young adults in the same project must clearly and specifically describe how their project will be designed to service the populations separately and ensure that youth participants do not interact with young adult participants, and vice versa. Identify any potential barriers and describe how the project will be able to overcome those barriers. For applicants planning to serve currently incarcerated individuals or individuals under criminal justice system supervision, include viable procedures to provide services in the event of restrictions to internet and/or grantee staff access inside the correctional facility, residential reentry center, etc. (Up to 8 Points)

At a minimum, grant program activities must include:

• Training programs, including classroom training or work-based training such as On-the-

Job training, pre-apprenticeships, or Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Such training must result in an industry-recognized credential and prepare participants for employment in jobs in-demand in the regional economy, and, where appropriate, can include AI coursework;

• Career development services which must at a minimum include:

o Screening for WIOA eligibility and co-enrollment when eligible;

o High-quality assessments of prior learning and skills to inform training and employment services;

o Foundational skills development, including digital and financial literacy, soft skills development; and workplace etiquette and professionalism; and o Job search strategies.

• IDP creation and implementation;

• Provision of or referral to supportive…