vets ivtp 15-02 amend 1.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Veteran’s Employment & Training Service

Funding Opportunity Announcement

FOA-VETS-15-02

Amendment One

Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program

AGENCY: Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), Department of Labor

ACTION: Amendment to FOA-VETS-15-02

SUMMARY: Through the DOL Employment and Training Administration (ETA), VETS announced on Aug 3, 2015, the availability of funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP) grants to be awarded through a competitive process. The FOA is amended to change eligibility for applications for IVTP to ensure sufficient number of applications to maintain a minimum level of competition. It also changes the closing date from September 2, 2015 to September 11, 2015. The document is hereby amended as follows:

1. Key Dates:

Old Text

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is September 2, 2015. Applications must be received no later than 4:00:00 p.m.

Eastern Daylight Time.

New Text

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is September 11, 2015. Applications must be received no later than 4:00:00 p.m.

Eastern Daylight Time.

2. Executive Summary paragraph 2:

Grants awarded under this FOA will allow VETS to evaluate the benefits of linking the HVRP and IVTP programs as part of a demonstration (pilot) project. In the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, Congress granted VETS the additional authority to serve veterans who have recently been released from incarceration who are at risk of homelessness (Division G, Title 1, Public Law 113-235).

HVRP grantees are already working with veterans who are homeless and were recently released from incarceration. Combining the unique experience of HVRP grantees with the targeted focus of IVTP could maximize the use of federal funds while meeting the needs of these uniquely disadvantaged veterans. This combination would help fill a service gap identified by our technical assistance grantees, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Department of Justice. VETS would like to test this theory with the intention, dependent on subsequent authorization and appropriations, that we provide a full and open competition once we have determined if this model works. IVTP will be evaluated using the most rigorous designs appropriate and will include formative designs, implementation studies and outcome analysis.

New Text

Grants awarded under this FOA will allow VETS to evaluate the benefits of linking the HVRP and IVTP programs as part of a demonstration (pilot) project. In the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, Congress granted VETS the additional authority to serve veterans who have recently been released from incarceration who are at risk of homelessness (Division G, Title 1, Public Law 113-235).

HVRP grantees are already working or have already worked with veterans who are homeless and were recently released from incarceration. Combining the unique experience of HVRP grantees with the targeted focus of IVTP could maximize the use of federal funds while meeting the needs of these uniquely disadvantaged veterans.

This combination would help fill a service gap identified by our technical assistance grantees, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Department of Justice. VETS would like to test this theory with the intention, dependent on subsequent authorization and appropriations, that we provide a full and open competition once we have determined if this model works. IVTP will be evaluated using the most rigorous designs appropriate and will include formative designs, implementation studies and outcome analysis.

3. The Executive Summary, paragraph 3:

Old Text:

Additionally, because we are requiring partnerships with penal institutions to ensure that transitioning veterans are effectively served, we are further limiting the applicants to current HVRP grantees that have prior experience with IVTP. This limitation is necessary because our experience with penal institutions and the research of our Technical Assistance grantees indicates that it is difficult to obtain the proper clearances to work in correctional institutions. This background experience is particularly necessary given that these grants will be awarded after the Program Year (PY) 2015 has begun, and applicants will have limited time to implement their proposed programs.

New Text:

Additionally, because we are requiring partnerships with penal institutions to ensure that transitioning veterans are effectively served, we are further limiting the applicants to current or recent HVRP grantees that were awarded an IVTP grant during 2010. This limitation is necessary because our experience with penal institutions and the research of our Technical Assistance grantees indicates that it is difficult to obtain the proper clearances to work in correctional institutions. This background experience is particularly necessary given that these grants will be awarded after the Program Year (PY) 2015 has begun, and applicants will have limited time to implement their proposed programs.

4. The Executive Summary, paragraph 5:

Old Text:

Eligible applicants must be current HVRP grantees that have previously been awarded an IVTP grant and must have been successful as indicated in the past performance Section (IV)(B)(4)(d) under the terms of its HVRP grant. This FOA contains all the information and forms necessary to apply for grant funding under this IVTP demonstration (pilot) project. DOL may publish future amendments to this solicitation on www.grants.gov. All applicants must check www.grants.gov regularly to ensure that they have the latest information regarding any updates to this FOA.

New Text:

Eligible applicants must be current or recent HVRP grantees and who previously were awarded an IVTP grant in 2010 and must have been successful as indicated in the past performance Section (IV)(B)(4)(d) under the terms of its HVRP grant. This FOA contains all the information and forms necessary to apply for grant funding under this IVTP demonstration (pilot) project. DOL may publish future amendments to this solicitation on www.grants.gov. All applicants must check www.grants.gov regularly to ensure that they have the latest information regarding any updates to this FOA.

5. Section (II)(B)(2)

2. Wage Subsidy: Applicants may propose using funds for wage subsidies.

However, wage subsidies are limited generally to On-The-Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and/or Transitional Jobs (TJ) strategies in which the participant is:

1) in job-driven training (see Appendix 2 for a definition of job driven training) and 2) the employer expects to hire the participant at the end of the training. Funds may be used to pay wages for up to 90 days at the local living wage (see http://livingwage.mit.edu/) for up to 20 hours per week. In order to use IVTP funds for OJT or TJ, the applicant must develop an agreement with the employer, stipulating the terms of the subsidy, duration of the training, and expected outcome and retain that agreement. The agreement must stipulate that IVTP funds will be transferred to the employer and then from the employer to the employee as part of the employee’s http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://livingwage.mit.edu/ wages. IVTP funds can also be used to pay for OJT in the manner described in the DOL Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program rules.

New Text

2. Wage Subsidy: Applicants may propose using funds for wage subsidies.

However, wage subsidies are limited generally to On-The-Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and/or Transitional Jobs (TJ) strategies in which the participant is:

1) in job-driven training (see Appendix 2 for a definition of job driven training) and 2) the employer expects to hire the participant at the end of the training. Funds may be used to pay wages for up to 90 days at the local living wage (see http://livingwage.mit.edu/) for up to 20 hours per week. In order to use IVTP funds for OJT or TJ, the applicant must develop an agreement with the employer, stipulating the terms of the subsidy, duration of the training, and expected outcome and retain that agreement. The agreement must stipulate that IVTP funds will be transferred to the employer and then from the employer to the employee as part of the employee’s wages. IVTP funds can also be used to pay for OJT in the manner described in the DOL Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program rules. Applicants who wish to obtain a copy of these rules should contact the individual identified in Section VII.

6. Section (III)(C):

Old Text:

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: Eligible applicants are current, successful HVRP grantees as indicated in the past performance Section (IV)(B)(4)(d) with an active HVRP award through the end of PY 2015 (June 30, 2016). In addition, an applicant must have experience as a prior IVTP grantee.

New Text:

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: Eligible applicants must have been awarded an HVRP grant since 2010 and been a successful grantee as indicated in the past performance Section (IV)(B)(4)(d). In addition, an applicant must have been awarded an IVTP grant in 2010.

7. Section (III)(B):

Old Text

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance begins from the date of the notice of award and ends on June 30, 2016 (PY2015) unless modified by the Grant Officer. Awards are anticipated to be made by September 15, 2015 with the performance period as follows:

1. September 15, 2015 - September 30, 2015: Start-up period. During the Start-up period, grantees are expected to finalize arrangements with penal institutions, parole http://livingwage.mit.edu/ organizations and other partners and establish internal controls to ensure HVRP and IVTP participants are properly reported with no duplications (no simultaneous enrollment in HVTP and IVTP).

2. October 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016: Grantees to perform as outlined in this FOA.

3. July 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017: Grantees must follow-up and report on IVTP participants that entered employment during the active performance period.

Grantees must expense all program funds (including all funds to be used for follow-up activities) by March 31, 2017.

New Text

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance begins from the date of the notice of award and ends on June 30, 2016 (PY2015) unless modified by the Grant Officer. Awards are anticipated to be made by October 1, 2015.

1. October 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016: Grantees to perform as outlined in this FOA (no simultaneous enrollment in HVTP and IVTP).

2. July 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017: Grantees must follow-up and report on IVTP participants that entered employment during the active performance period.

Grantees must expense all program funds (including all funds to be used for follow-up activities) by March 31, 2017.

8. Section (IV)(C)

Old Text

The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is September 2, 2015. Applications must be submitted either electronically on www.grants.gov or in hard copy by mail or by hand delivery (including overnight delivery).

New Text

The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is September 11, 2015. Applications must be submitted either electronically on www.grants.gov or in hard copy by mail or by hand delivery (including overnight delivery).

9. Section (IV)(B)(4)(D) Text and Chart:

d. Past Performance – Programmatic Capability: Applicants will receive points based on the two previous year’s HVRP achievement of the proposed targets for Enrollment, Placement Rate and Cost per Placement. Applicants must submit, as an attachment to the Project Narrative, a chart of past performance that identifies the three performance goals and the actual annual performance for the past two program years for their HVRP grant. In the chart, applicants must identify the expected level of performance (targets) for each goal and the actual outcomes (results) for each goal. Applicants should format the chart as below:

d. Past Performance – Programmatic Capability: Applicants will receive points based on the two most recent, previous year’s HVRP achievement for the proposed targets for Enrollment, Placement Rate and Cost per Placement.

Applicants must submit, as an attachment to the Project Narrative, a chart of past performance that identifies the three performance goals and the actual annual performance for the past two program years for their HVRP grant. In the chart, applicants must identify the expected level of performance (targets) for each goal and the actual outcomes (results) for each goal. Applicants should format the chart as below:

Old Chart

PY 2014

Target

PY 2014

Result

PY 2013

Target

PY 2013

Result

Enrollment

Placement Rate

Cost Per Placement

Retention Rate

New Chart

PY 20XX

Target

PY 20XX

Result

PY 20XX

Target

PY 20XX

Result

Enrollment

Placement Rate

Cost Per Placement

Retention Rate

10. (IV)(B)(4), fourth bullet set

• For all required partners and additional partners, applicants must:

o Describe how partners will be utilized to support program operations and ensure that all required services are available to all program participants;

o Identify how the program partners will work together to ensure that each of the interim and longer-term performance outcomes and outputs (as identified in the Expected Outcomes and Outputs (Appendix 3) will be met;

o Describe how roles and communication will be coordinated with and among the partners;

o Identify each partner (including parole officers) that will be used to support program operations and describe their roles and responsibilities, including the extent to which they will contribute tangible resources that support program implementation and goals;

o Describe how local employers/industry partners will be engaged to ensure that services to participants are in line with employer needs and will lead to future employment; and o For all partnerships with penal institutions, the applicant must also include a written commitment from the penal institutions involved ensuring the necessary access to the penal institution.

• For all required partners and additional partners, applicants must:

o Describe how partners will be utilized to support program operations and ensure that all required services are available to all program participants;

o Identify how the program partners will work together to ensure that each of the interim and longer-term performance outcomes and outputs (as identified in the Expected Outcomes and Outputs (Appendix 3) will be met;

o Describe how roles and communication will be coordinated with and among the partners;

o Identify each partner (including parole officers) that will be used to support program operations and describe their roles and responsibilities, including the extent to which they will contribute tangible resources that support program implementation and goals;

o Describe how local employers/industry partners will be engaged to ensure that services to participants are in line with employer needs and will lead to future employment; and o For all partnerships with penal institutions, the applicant must also include a written commitment from the penal institutions involved ensuring the necessary access to the penal institution.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Erika Beasley, Grants Management Specialist, Office of Grants Management, at (202) 693‐3906, Beasley.Erika@dol.gov.

Signed August 13, 2015 in Washington, D.C. by:

Donna Kelly Grant Officer, Employment & Training Administration mailto:Beasley.Erika@dol.gov