Workforce Data Quality 10 FOA-ETA-25-32.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: Workforce Data Quality Initiative - WDQI Round 10

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-25-32

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.261

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 05/27/2025. We must receive applications no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Submit all applications in response to this solicitation through https://www.grants.gov. For complete application and submission information, including online application instructions, please refer to Section IV.

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. COST SHARING

C. OTHER INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, PROCESS AND ADDRESS

D. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

E. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

C. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. WEB-BASED RESOURCES

B. INDUSTRY COMPETENCY MODELS AND CAREER CLUSTERS

C. WORKFORCEGPS RESOURCES

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

APPENDIX A

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $11,600,000 in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 169 for the Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI).

State and local stakeholders have expressed the need for dedicated funding to modernize their longitudinal database systems and the supplemental data infrastructure required for effective data linkages. The Department prioritizes evidence-based services and accountability mechanisms that ensure workers are connected to job opportunities.

Section 169 of WIOA describes the purpose and objectives of rigorous and continuous evaluation and research activities to examine the impacts and cost effectiveness of education and workforce programs.

As such, states need well-developed data infrastructures to support high-quality evaluations and research activities that identify the programs and services that are most effective. WDQI grants are a critical resource for states who seek to modernize and advance sustainable longitudinal data infrastructures, such as by establishing policies, procedures, and guidelines for inter-agency data sharing.

ETA plans to award up to 5 grants with a maximum award of $2,500,000 to eligible State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) to modernize their state longitudinal database system and infrastructure.

Upon award, DOL expects selected SWAs to collaborate with other award recipients to produce outputs that will benefit all the states in consortium, and potentially other states too.

Additional background information on the WDQI and prior grant recipients is available here.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This announcement solicits applications for the WDQI program.

The purpose of this program is to support the modernization of state workforce longitudinal administrative databases and related workforce data initiatives to achieve specific Departmental objectives listed below in this section and Appendix A. Collecting and analyzing longitudinal data can provide a comprehensive picture of how certain education and training programs may lead to employment in related fields and whether jobseekers are obtaining training-related employment in such fields.

Longitudinal data collection and analyses can also serve as a tool to clearly identify and assess the impact of training on workers’ earnings throughout their careers. Through such comprehensive analyses, states can identify the service delivery strategies that lead to the greatest improvement in employment opportunities, particularly for individuals facing barriers to employment.[1] Such analyses also ensure states can identify and demonstrate the impact of education and workforce programs on employment outcomes.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/performance/wdqi

Capturing data linkages over time can also support state and local leaders in identifying the education and training services that are the most effective pathways to success in the workforce.

Through such research and analyses, state and local leaders can equip individuals with data-driven analyses and information that ensures individuals can make informed choices about their education and career(s). These data linkages create opportunities for states to more efficiently and effectively serve the training needs of their workforce system by unlocking key insights about worker pathways.

In addition to workforce longitudinal administrative databases, the Department is interested in supporting complementary advancements in state data infrastructure for the development actionable data tools to better match American workers with available jobs, recognize skills acquired across all modes of learning, and improve alignment between education systems and labor market demand. Several states are currently engaged in projects to develop skills-based talent ecosystems through the development and adoption of Learning and Employment Records or similar mechanisms. Accelerating and scaling these efforts and fostering further innovation will improve the value of workforce data for its end users.

WDQI grants provide funding to eligible SWAs to accomplish some or all of the following objectives:

• Link Workforce and Education Data o Include participant-level data from programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Registered Apprenticeship. Please see Project Design Section c.ii for a complete list of programs.

o Include case management, fiscal, and other relevant databases.

o Strengthen data linkages that facilitate performance, evaluation, research, statistical, and longitudinal analysis.

• Enhance Eligible Training Provider (ETP) Reporting o Use grant funds to support all facets of ETP reporting and development for federal, state and training providers. This includes facilitating ETP data collection, reporting, and data analysis. ETP data is a resource for job seekers, American Job Centers, and states to make informed choices about the type and location of the best training opportunities by comparing programs, credentials, occupations, and labor markets.

• Promote Data-Driven Strategies and Outcomes o Use longitudinal data to assess the impact and effectiveness of federally and state-supported education and job training programs and identify evidence-based practices, including those for individuals facing barriers to employment.

o Enable states to pursue enhancing wage records to increase analytic capacity and support program effectiveness and efficiencies.

• Design Customer-Focused Reports o Develop user-friendly products to help customers make informed decisions on education and training programs based upon outcomes and cost-efficiencies.

o Develop or enhance the use of linked, open, and interoperable data on credentials, such as through the development of a credential registry, to identify credentials of value in the labor market.

• Enhance Data Governance o Establish a governing body that is responsible for developing and implementing data policies and processes and addressing high priority data quality issues.

o Improve local workforce development board access to and integration with the state’s workforce longitudinal data while ensuring compliance with federal and state privacy laws.

• Develop Actionable Data Tools to Support Worker Mobility o Establish, enhance, or connect to a system of interoperable learning and employment records that provides individuals who choose to participate in such system ownership of a verified and secure record of their skills and achievements and the ability to share the record with employers and education providers.

o Create or participate in a data exchange for collecting and using standards-based job and employment data including, at a minimum, job titles or occupational codes.

[1] WIOA defines “Individuals with a barrier to employment” at sec. 3(24) [29 USC 3102(24)] as follows:

(24) Individual with a barrier to employment

The term "individual with a barrier to employment" means a member of 1 or more of the following populations:

(A) Displaced homemakers.

(B) Low-income individuals.

(C) Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, as such terms are defined in section 3221 of this title.

(D) Individuals with disabilities, including youth who are individuals with disabilities.

(E) Older individuals.

(F) Ex-offenders.

(G) Homeless individuals (as defined in section 12473(6) of title 34), or homeless children and youths (as defined in section 11434a(2) of title 42).

(H) Youth who are in or have aged out of the foster care system.

(I) Individuals who are English language learners, individuals who have low levels of literacy, and individuals facing substantial cultural barriers.

(J) Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers, as defined in section 3222(i) of this title.

(K) Individuals within 2 years of exhausting lifetime eligibility under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

(L) Single parents (including single pregnant women).

(M) Long-term unemployed individuals.

(N) Such other groups as the Governor involved determines to have barriers to employment.

OTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION

Partnerships with Research Universities or Other Entities

SWAs without the internal capacity to operate the longitudinal administrative database may need to partner with an external entity (such as a research university or a private, for-profit, or non-profit organization) to develop, maintain, and use the workforce longitudinal administrative database, both operationally and for research purposes. In addition, SWAs with existing partnerships with external entities may propose to maintain those partnerships, and SWAs may propose partnerships with external entities for reasons other than lack of internal capacity. SWAs proposing to have their workforce longitudinal administrative databases operated by an outside entity should ensure that staff work closely with the state education agency. A proven model employed by many successful states is to have a state research university build and maintain the workforce longitudinal administrative database.

We will also consider alternative models that maintain the privacy and confidentiality of personally identifiable information (PII) consistent with federal and state laws and result in high-quality databases under the WDQI grant program. This may include partnerships with a consortium of state workforce agencies, such as a multistate data collaborative, that have the capacity to build interoperable, cross-state data infrastructure.

If a SWA chooses to partner with a research university or other research entity, the SWA must consider the following in its development of the partnership model:

• The research partner must have a demonstrated capacity to assist in the collection and storage or linkage of the longitudinal workforce administrative data;

• The research partner must be able to ensure that the data collected will be stored, accessed, and used in accordance with local, state, and federal confidentiality and PII protective provisions; and

• The research partner will be responsible for processing data requests, conducting in-depth data analysis, preparing standard reports, responding to requests for additional papers, and reporting on state and local workforce and education issues and trends as requested by external entities, consistent with all applicable federal and state privacy laws.

• When working with a state research university or research organization, applicants must investigate additional security measures that the Institutional Review Board (IRB) may require of that university or research organization. The IRB must give approval for the state research institution’s involvement in this partnership. The IRB must base its approval on the applicant’s plan for confidential transfer, storage, and usage of data and protection of PII.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

WIOA Section 169 (29 U.S.C. § 3224) authorizes 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 $11,600,000 to fund approximately 5 grants. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $2,500,000. Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. If additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement. Any grant application with a proposed value greater than $2,500,000 will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered and reviewed further. Applications submitted in response to this FOA will be awarded funds appropriated in FY 24 or in FY 25 for the Workforce Data Quality Initiative.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 36 months with an anticipated start date of 07/01/2025. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) - SWAs in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The following States’ SWAs have active WDQI grants through 6/30/2026 and are therefore ineligible to apply: Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

B. COST SHARING

This program does not require cost sharing. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing 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.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

C. 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.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C

Eligibility Section III.A

The components of the application are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt. (We will attempt to open the document, but will not take any additional measures in the event of problems with opening.)

Section

IV.C.2

Application federal funds request does not exceed the ceiling amount of $2,500,000 Section II.A

SAM Registration Section

IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Section

IV.B.1

SF-424 includes a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 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

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider only one application from each organization. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization, we will consider only the most recently received application that met the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.

3. Eligible Participants

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://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities 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/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family).

• In the address field, fill out the nine-digit (plus hyphen) zip code. Nine-digit zip codes can be looked up on the USPS website at https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action.

• The organization’s legal name on the SF-424 should match its name registered in the System for Award Management at www.sam.gov. If unsure of the legal name of your organization, visit www.sam.gov to confirm.

• The organization’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number should match its information in www.sam.gov. If unsure of the EIN or UEI of your organization, visit www.sam.gov to confirm.

• 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/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09 http://www.Grants.gov https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action http://www.sam.gov http://www.sam.gov http://www.sam.gov http://www.sam.gov https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

In addition, the applicant’s Authorized Representative’s signature in block 21 of the SF-424 form constitutes assurance by the applicant of compliance with the WIOA 188 rules issued by the Department at 29 CFR 38.25.

The grant applicant also assures, 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.

a. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier

All applicants for federal grant funding must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and must supply their UEI on the SF-424. The UEI is a 12-character (alpha-numeric) code that uniquely identifies all entities. Any entity registering to do business with the government is required to have one. UEIs are issued by SAM.gov and are a part of an entity's record in the Entity Information section of SAM.gov. If you do not have a UEI, you can get one for free at https://sam.gov.

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these requirements related to UEI:

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

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

(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 grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

https://sam.gov https://www.sam.gov

a. Budget Narrative The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities. Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of this award. Valuation of leveraged resources follows the same requirements as cost sharing. 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 estimated cost for the period of performance. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

Personnel: List all staff positions by title (including individuals hired by an employment contract) 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 estimated costs for each type of travel.

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase that has an estimated acquisition cost of $10,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $10,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item.

Items with a unit cost of less than $10,000 are supplies, not “equipment.” In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant.

Supplies: Identify the cost of supplies (e.g., general office supplies, desk/chairs, laptops/printers, other specialty items) in the detailed budget per category. Except for general office supplies, list the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Supplies).

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately.

Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.1 as a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient conducts procurement transactions under a federal award. A subaward, defined by 2 CFR 200.1 means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to contribute to the goals and objectives of the project by carrying 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 15 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 does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, and is not one described in 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix VII(D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total Direct Costs (defined by DOL below) 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.

Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) Definition: To avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, DOL defines MTDC as all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $50,000 of each subaward or subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards and subcontracts 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 or subcontract in excess of $50,000.

You will also note that participant support costs are not included in modified total direct costs. Participant support costs are defined below.

2 CFR 200.1 Participant Support Cost means direct costs that support participants (see definition for Participant in § 200.1) and their involvement in a Federal award, such as stipends, subsistence allowances, travel allowances, registration fees, temporary dependent care, and per diem paid directly to or on behalf of participants.

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/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division.

Indirect-type costs (such as top management salaries, financial oversight, human resources, payroll, personnel, auditing costs, accounting and legal, etc. used for the general oversight and administration of the organization) must not be classified as direct costs; these types of costs are recovered as part of charging the de minimis or NICRA rate. Note that the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative must include the entire federal grant amount requested (not just one year).

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 is within the responsive range.

3. Project Narrative

The Project Narrative must demonstrate your capability to implement the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this Announcement. It provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well-organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

The Project Narrative is limited to 20 double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch pages with Times New Roman 12-point text font and 1-inch margins. You must number the Project Narrative beginning with page number 1.

We will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process.

The following instructions provide all of the information needed to complete the Project Narrative. Carefully read and consider each section, and include all required information in your Project Narrative. The agency will evaluate the Project Narrative using the evaluation criteria identified in Section V.A. You must use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Project Narrative.

a. Statement of Need (Up to 8 Points)

Scoring under this criterion will be based on the extent to which the following factors are clearly and accurately addressed:

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division

• Applicants must clearly articulate the need to modernize their state workforce longitudinal administrative database including the nature and scope of any identified problems and consequences of not addressing the need.

• Applicants must clearly articulate their need to achieve the objectives as outlined in Section I.A. above.

• If the applicant is planning to partner with a research entity, or has existing partnerships, the application must describe the state’s need to outsource the activity (e.g., describe limitations of capacity, or decision to maintain an existing partnership).

b. Expected Outcomes and Outputs (Up to 18 Points)

1. Clearly identify the output(s) and outcome(s) that will result from the project. Outputs are tangible products or services that result from the project. Examples of WDQI outputs could include products such as public facing dashboards or reports and infographics.

Outcomes are the measurable results of the project. They are the positive benefits, negative changes, or measurable characteristics that occur as a result of project activities or outputs. Examples of WDQI outcomes could include results such as an increase in job seekers matching with employment due to using public facing dashboards. These outcomes and outputs must help address the needs and objectives the applicant identified in the Statement of Need. (Up to 4 points).

2. The applicant must clearly explain the state’s objective in a sentence or two, for each of the following major activities listed below: (Up to 14 points).

• Link Workforce and Education Data;

• Enhance ETP Reporting;

• Promote Data-Driven Strategies and Outcomes;

• Design Customer-Focused Reports;

• Enhance Data Governance; and

• Develop Actionable Data Tools to Support Worker Mobility

c. Project Design (Up to 52 Points)

We will score this criterion based on the extent to which the following factors are clearly, accurately and convincingly addressed:

1. Applicants must outline a plan that describes the scope, required activities, and work necessary to accomplish the project requirements listed below. The project design must include a timeline for the completion of work. The timeline will be updated quarterly throughout the grant period of performance. Applicants must summarize work done to modernize their existing capacity for longitudinal administrative databases. (Up to 4 points)

2. For all activities proposed in the application, applicants must state the reason for the proposed approach, cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the activities, identify any potential barriers, and describe how the project will be able to overcome those barriers. DO NOT include proprietary information in the application. (Up to 4 points)

The project design requirements are broken out below. Please refer to the section below for specific requirements. The application must address the following: (Up to 44 points)

3. Database Design, Data Quality Assurance, and Proposed Uses (Up to 6 points)

• Applicants with a comprehensive and operational workforce longitudinal administrative database must clearly describe the existing database design, including data analysis functionality, and provide a detailed description of any plans to upgrade the current design and/or data content, as appropriate.

• Applicants must specify the actual record layout for the data files contained in the database, and any proposed changes to the record layout. This layout must include the format for the data records, and the format and definition of each included data field.

Applicants should incorporate data elements from the PIRL for the workforce and education programs required under WIOA.

• Applicants must confirm the actual use of the following database design element:

o Personal Identifier

• Applicants must confirm the actual use of the personal identifier, explain how the SSN or tax ID number serves as a unique identifier, and discuss any plans to advance the current system for assigning the unique identifiers to link across multiple systems.

• Applicants also must describe their current plan for linking data in the workforce longitudinal databases to, consistent with FERPA requirements, unique identifiers in the state’s education databases.

• Applicants must provide a clear description of how they will improve current data validation measures and other quality assurance measures used to promote the quality, completeness, validity, and reliability of the data collected.

• Applicants must describe the ability to link K-12 and post-secondary education records to workforce records. Applicants must also discuss the data governance structure and plans to expand the breadth of data.

4. Scope of Longitudinal Workforce Data (Up to 10 points)

• Applicants must list the programs that are currently included in the database and identify programs that the state plans to include.

• Applicants must confirm that, at a minimum, the database includes disaggregated individual-record data (including wage record information) for the following:

o WIOA title I programs;

o Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFLA) program, authorized under WIOA title II;

o Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program, authorized under Title I of the

Rehabilitation Act, 1973, as amended by WIOA title IV;

o Employment Service program authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended by WIOA title III;

o Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers program under the Trade Act of 1974, title II, as amended, and Trade Readjustment Allowances program data;

o UI wage record information from quarter-to-quarter measuring employment and income earning gains;

o UI benefit data including demographic information associated with UI benefit payments;

o Federal employment data;

o Department of Health and Human Services’ TANF;

o Department of Agriculture’s SNAP;

o Registered Apprenticeship; and o Data from other similar programs that may yield workforce-related outcomes.

5. Partnership with the State Education Agency (Up to 4 points)

• Applicants must describe how they plan to continue their relationship with their State Education Agency leading the SLDS initiative, if applicable, and any other agencies that are essential to the implementation of the proposal. As specified in Section IV.B.4, the applicant must provide (as an attachment) a signed letter of agreement between the State Workforce and Education Agencies and, if applicable, signed letter(s) of agreement between the State Workforce Agency and other Agencies.

6. Other Inter- and Intra-state Agency Partnerships (Up to 4 points)

• Participant data may be supplied by organizations within the SWA as well as outside agencies within and across state lines. Partnerships with state economic, human services, and other agencies (such as the state revenue department or Department of Motor Vehicles) provide an opportunity to match individual level data to the workforce longitudinal database. Applicants must identify current partnerships and describe their plan for maintaining these partnerships. Applicants also must detail their strategy for expanding to other agencies inside and outside the state workforce system. Applicants must identify the specific agency(ies), provide a reference for their authority, and document their willingness to provide regular access to their data. Documentation of proposed and/or existing partner relationships may include brief descriptions of existing or proposed MOUs, letters of support, and/or detailed plans for working relationships and shared responsibilities. In all cases, SWAs must forge partnerships to gather relevant workforce and education data.

• Applicants must describe their plans to form partnerships with a consortium of state workforce agencies, such as a multistate data collaborative, that have the capacity to build interoperable, cross-state data infrastructure.

7. Data Sharing Agreements (DSA) (Up to 4 points)

• For each program data set included in the workforce longitudinal administrative database, applicants must submit copies of DSAs with the agencies that are responsible for the collection, retention, use, and release of the programmatic data. DSAs included as attachments to the Project Narrative will not count against the page limit.

• The DSA must outline the storage, permissible use, ongoing maintenance, and disposition of the data and address the following requirements:

o How partners will exchange data;

o The purposes for which the partners will use the data;

o How and when the applicant will disseminate data;

o Which entity maintains control of the data;

o Which entity actually owns the data;

o The intended methods of ensuring confidential collection, use, and storage of the data; and o Which entities inside and outside of the data-sharing agreements will have access to the data.

• DSAs that involve the disclosure of PII from education records must:

o Designate the entity collecting the data as the authorized representative of the

State educational authority to evaluate a federally or State supported education program;

o Specify: (a) the PII to be disclosed; (b) the purpose for which the PII is disclosed to the authorized representative as stated in 34 CFR 99.35; and (c) a description of the activity with sufficient specificity to make clear that the work falls within the exception of 34 CFR 99.31(a)(36), including a description of how the entity will use the PII;

o Require the authorized representative to destroy the PII when the PII is no longer needed;

o Specify the time period in which the entity must destroy the PII; and o Establish policies and procedures, consistent with FERPA and other federal and state confidentiality and privacy provisions, to protect PII from further disclosure (except back to the disclosing entity) and unauthorized use, including limiting use of PII to only authorized representatives with legitimate interests in the evaluation of a federal or state-supported program. DSAs also should contain specific plans for secure data transfer and storage.

• DSAs that involve the disclosure of Unemployment Compensation (UC) information must:

o Include a description of the specific information to be disclosed and the purposes for which the information is sought.

o Require the recipient to use disclosed information only for purposes authorized by law and consistent with the written agreement it entered into meeting the requirements of 20 CFR 603.10.

o Include a description of the format and timing of requests for information and responses to those requests.

o Provide for paying the State UC agency for any costs of furnishing the information. Grantees may use grant funds to pay costs associated with any disclosure of UC information. However, we expect disclosures to involve no more than an incidental amount of staff time and no more than nominal processing costs.

o Include the following statement: “Access to information under the agreement is limited to authorized representatives for the purposes listed in this agreement and authorized representatives will only access the information for those purposes.”

o Provide for safeguarding the information disclosed, as required by section 20 CFR 603.9.

o Authorized representatives must not retain information with PII disclosed for longer than such period of time as the State or State UC agency deems appropriate on a case-by-case basis. The length of the retention period will be determined by the purpose for the disclosure, required under 20 CFR 603.10(b)(1), and any retention laws to which the recipient is subject.

o After the disclosure has served its purpose, the recipient must dispose of the confidential information. Disposal means return of the information to the disclosing State or State UC agency or destruction of the information as directed by the State or State UC agency. Disposal includes deletion of PII by the State or State UC agency in lieu of destruction. 20 CFR 603.9(b)(1)(vi).

o Require recipients to maintain a system sufficient to allow an audit of compliance with safeguards and security requirements. 20 CFR 603.9(b)(1)(vii).

o Provision for on-site inspections of the entity holding the confidential information to check that the entity is meeting the requirements of the State’s law and the agreement. 20 CFR 603.10(b)(1)(vi).

• The Department encourages the production of full- or limited-scope public use data files that the SWA (or an agreed upon designated host) will host.

• Grantees should consider developing DSAs with the DOL to obtain individual-level data for various programs for which DOL is the data administrator. The Department encourages the production of full- or limited-scope public use data files that will be hosted by the SWA or an agreed upon designated host. Applicants should also discuss, in detail, any potential barriers to sharing data with partner agencies, and discuss feasible proposed solutions to overcome these barriers.

8. State-based Wage Data Matching Systems (Up to 4 points)

• Applicants must clearly describe their ability to implement or expand their state-based wage data matching infrastructure to improve performance reporting capabilities, including reporting of outcomes for eligible training providers. The description should include how this integration will support the successful implementation of the performance accountability requirement under WIOA.

9. Design Customer – Focused Reports (Up to 6 points)

• Applicants must include their plans to conduct analysis and research projects that provide information about statewide performance of the workforce system. The database should facilitate the evaluation of what works at the state, inter- state, and federal levels. The database also should make available information about participant demographics and service receipt. Applicants must describe the policy questions that they will use the longitudinal administrative database to answer. Applicant must also describe the extensive research and analysis products that will be generated beyond the regular reporting and analysis requirements.

• All applicants must describe their plan to produce and disseminate workforce provider performance information and outcomes to the public in a standardized, easy to understand format (e.g., dashboard, scorecards, or integrated digital platforms), consistent with all applicable federal and state privacy laws, including any initiatives the applicant plans to engage to support credential transparency (if applicable).

10. Enhance ETP Reporting (Up to 6 points)

• Applicants must include their plans for enhancing ETP reporting. These plans must include how the applicant will expand the breadth of data, including increasing the number of qualified training providers that report data; how the applicant will improve data quality through technical assistance or engaging in consultations with training providers; improve data security; align data across systems while ensuring formatting requirements are aligned across systems and disseminating data to the public by launching new public portals, adding features and/or redesign public portals.

d. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity (up to 10 Points)

We will score this criterion based on the extent to which the applicant clearly and accurately addresses the following factors:

1. Applicants must provide a description of the following in their proposed or existing staffing structure (DO NOT include names, salaries, or any other personal information within the Project Narrative or the Abstract) (Up to 6 points):

o Describe how the Database or Project Manager is qualified to oversee the upgrade to the database and why they are qualified to work with large and complex longitudinal administrative databases.

o The duties and responsibilities of the data analyst(s). The position descriptions of proposed staff positions including knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as examples of the kinds of previous experience that make a candidate for the position highly qualified to assist with planning, implementing, and conducting analysis with these workforce longitudinal databases.

o Describe how each staff member will be expected to facilitate or contribute to the various data-sharing partnerships. Verify that state employees (with the workforce agency, other agencies, or a state research institution for example) are already subject to state and institutional laws, regulations, or procedures governing confidential data-sharing and/or transfer and be sure to include this in your description of such staff under this section.

2. Describe any data governance structures, policies, and procedures in place to ensure the proper management and use of state workforce data assets. Include a description of any data governance body with authority and oversight for management and use of workforce data assets and any policies and procedures related to data management and use.

Additionally, describe the agency’s involvement in any multi-agency data governance structure with authority and oversight of state workforce data assets. (This is based in part on the definition in the playbook for the Federal Data Strategy). (Up to 4 points)

e. Past Performance – Programmatic Capability (Up to 6 Points)

Scoring under this criterion will be based on the extent to which the following factors are clearly and accurately addressed related to WDQI components:

1. Describe the lead applicant’s prior experience in the development of a state workforce longitudinal administrative database, or capacity to establish or expand the state workforce longitudinal administrative database during the grant period. This could include evidence of existing partnerships, prior experience in developing or connecting longitudinal databases to scale, and developing data-sharing agreements in prior programs; (Up to 2 points)

2. Explains the extent to which partners have experience in deploying…