[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7806-7815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4580]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D, Demonstration
Program: Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) for Fiscal Year 1995
(Now Being Completed in Fiscal Year 1996)
AGENCY: Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant
Applications (SGA 96-01).
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SUMMARY: All information required to submit a proposal is contained in
this announcement. All applicants for grant funds should read this
notice in its entirety. The Women's Bureau (Washington, D.C.), U.S.
Department of Labor (USDOL), announces a grant competition for
demonstration program authorized under the Nontraditional Employment
for Women (NEW) Act funded through Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA),
Title IV-D funds administered by the Employment and Training
Administration. The NEW Act amends the Job Training Partnership Act
(JTPA) and is incorporated into the subsequent Job Training Reform
Amendments of 1992. With the Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA)
96-01, the Women's Bureau expects to award grants to six States, the
maximum allowed by the NEW legislation.
This notice describes the background, the application process,
statement of work, evaluation criteria, and reporting requirements for
Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA 96-01). WB anticipates that up
to a total amount of $1.5 million will be available for the support of
all grants using demonstration funding.
DATES: One (1) ink-signed original, complete grant application (plus
five (5) copies of the Technical Proposal and three (3) copies of the
Cost Proposal shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor,
Office of Procurement Services, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, not later than 4:45 p.m., Eastern
Daylight Saving Time, April 26, 1996, or be postmarked by the U.S.
Postal Service on or before that date. Hand delivered applications must
be received by the Office of Procurement Services by that time.
ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to the U.S. Department of
Labor, Office of Procurement Services, Attention: Lisa Harvey,
Reference SGA 96-01, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Harvey, Office of Procurement
Services, Telephone (202) 219-6445 [not a toll-free number]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of five parts:
Part I describes the background and purpose of the demonstration
program and identifies demonstration policy and topics. Part II
describes the application process and provides detailed guidelines for
use in applying for demonstration grants. Part III includes the
Statement of Work for the demonstration projects. Part IV identifies
and defines the evaluation criteria to be used in reviewing and
evaluating applications. Part V describes the deliverables and
reporting requirements.
[[Page 7807]]
Part I. Background
A. The Women's Bureau
The WB will provide the policy leadership in this project.
Improving women's employment opportunities and other employment related
equity and social issues has been the driving force of the Women's
Bureau since its inception in 1920. Within the Department of Labor, the
Director serves as the policy advisor on women's issues to the
Secretary and other DOL agencies charged with improving the economic
and worklife of American workers.
The Women's Bureau identifies nontraditional occupations as good
jobs, characterized by employment growth, employee benefits relative to
the local economic conditions. Such jobs include health and pension
benefits, above average earnings that can provide self-sufficiency for
women and their families. Statistically, nontraditional occupations
(NTOs) is one in which less than 25 percent of the persons employed in
an occupational group are women. Further, NTOs include a broad array of
skilled technical and computer-based occupations in manufacturing,
transportation, public utilities and communications industries, as well
as the apprenticeable skilled trades in the building and construction
industry.
B. NEW Policy
WB has a history of promoting the recruitment, retention and
promotion of women in nontraditional jobs. The Bureau encourages women
to CONSIDER the wide array of occupations nontraditional to women as a
way of becoming self-sufficient. These occupations include skilled,
blue-collar trades, technical jobs in the business service, health
care, telecommunications, and public utilities among other good jobs
where women are underrepresented. These are industries projected to
have above average growth into the 21st Century and to pay a living
wage with benefits.
The NEW Act exemplary demonstration program funding must develop
and/or supplement, not supplant funding already in place to train,
place, or support the movement of women in nontraditional employment.
Grant funds must not be used as ``replacement'' funds for activities
that are currently funded through other Federal programs, such as other
JTPA titles, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology
Education Act, etc. Therefore, NEW Act grant funds can be used in
addition to, but not instead of, other Federal funds to expand or
enhance programs.
The NEW Act provisions encourage efforts by the Federal, State, and
local levels of government aimed at providing a wider range of
opportunities for women under the JTPA; to provide incentives to
establish programs that will train, place, and retain women in
nontraditional fields; and to facilitate coordination between the JTPA
and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act
to maximize the effectiveness of resources available for training and
placing women in nontraditional employment.
The NEW Act demonstration program grant awards are funded under
JTPA Title IV-D. The funding is set at $1.5 million, annually, to make
up to six (6) awards for fiscal years 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 (with
the current Solicitation for Grant Applications).
C. NEW Authorities
The grants were first authorized under the Nontraditional
Employment for Women (NEW) Act, Public Law 102-235, signed December
1991, effective July 1992. The NEW Act amends the Job Training
Partnership Act (JTPA) and is incorporated into the subsequent Job
Training Reform Amendments of 1992. Further, under an intra-agency
agreement, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the
Women's Bureau (WB) jointly administer the NEW Act, with the Women's
Bureau having responsibility for the implementation of the
demonstration program grants to States' provisions.
D. Purpose of the NEW Demonstration Grants
In the fourth and final year of competitive NEW Act grants, the
Department expects States to use NEW Act funds to continue and expand
its activities to make JTPA more responsive to women in a broad array
of occupations nontraditional to women by focusing on the JTPA system
and its training and placement programs under Title II-A. Along with
seeking geographic and race-ethnic diversity in program participants
over the four years of the NEW demonstration program, the NEW
legislation requires that the USDOL also consider how programs reflect
in making the NEW demonstration proposed program grant awards:
(1) the level of coordination between the JTPA and other resources
available for training women in nontraditional employment, i.e., Carl
D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, Intermodal
Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), Department of Housing
and Urban Development, etc., and other Federal, State and local job
training resources;
(2) the extent of private sector involvement in the development and
implementation of training programs under the JTPA;
(3) the extent to which the initiatives proposed by a State
supplement or build upon existing efforts in a State to train and place
women in nontraditional employment;
(4) the extent to which a State is prepared to disseminate
information on its demonstration training programs, and
(5) the extent to which a State is prepared to produce materials
that allow for replication of such State's demonstration training
program.
Part II. Application Process
A. Eligible Applicants
The State is the eligible applicant for a NEW demonstration grant
award. The Governor of each State, as is the case with JTPA Titles II
and III, is the recipient of awards under the NEW Act. Governors in
turn designate an agency at the State level to administer JTPA for the
State; that agency can apply for the NEW grants on behalf of the
Governor and the State. The criteria for what States can do with the
funds to implement the NEW demonstration grants, i.e., subgrants is as
prescribed in the NEW Act and follows.
States receiving grants under this demonstration program may use
such funds to:
award grants to service providers in the State to design
and implement programs that train and otherwise prepare women for
nontraditional employment. States choosing to award funds directly to
service providers may only award grants to community-based
organizations, educational institutions, or other service providers
that have demonstrated success in occupational skills training; and
award grants to (1) service delivery areas (SDAs) that
plan and demonstrate the ability to train, place and retain women in
nontraditional employment or to (2) service delivery areas on the basis
of exceptional past performance in training, placing and retaining
women in nontraditional employment. The State must also ensure, when
awarding grants to service delivery areas on the basis of prior
exceptional performance, that such prior success is not attributable or
related to the activities of a service provider receiving funds
directly from the State, as described in the previous paragraph. For
example, the State may not award funds to SDA 5 on the basis of its
program having an
[[Page 7808]]
85 percent placement rate if the program was actually conducted by a
community-based organization, and the placement rate is a result of
exceptional job development on the CBO's part, and the CBO has received
funds under this grant.
States and their subgrantees/subcontractors have the option of
retaining up to 10 percent of NEW grant funds to pay for administrative
costs associated with the demonstration (including travel), assist and/
or facilitate coordination to statewide approaches, or provide
technical assistance to service providers. The 10 percent limitation on
administrative costs is prescribed in the NEW Act itself and cannot be
changed by the Department. Administrative costs are defined in the
Final Rule for the JTPA, 20 CFR Part 626, et al., see 627.440(d)(5)
Administration. (As published in the Federal Register on Tuesday,
December 29, 1992, Vol. 57, No. 250, Page 62041). Note the provision in
Section K, below, which states if the total administrative costs exceed
10% of the grant proposal, the proposal will be considered non-
responsive.
B. Contents
To be considered responsive to the Solicitation for Grant
Applications (SGA), the application must consist of the following
separate sections. ANY PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THESE STANDARDS
MAY BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE TO THIS SGA AND WILL NOT BE EVALUATED.
To be considered responsive to the Solicitation for Grant
Applications (SGA), each application must consist of and follow the
order of the sections listed in Part III of this solicitation. The
applicant must also include information which the applicant believes
will address the selection criteria identified in Part IV. Technical
proposals shall not exceed 25 single sided, double spaced, 10 to 12
pitch typed pages (not including attachments). Any proposals that do
not conform to these standards shall be deemed nonresponsive to this
SGA and will not be evaluated.
To facilitate proposal evaluation, the applicant shall submit
separate sections entitled ``Technical Proposal'' and ``Business
Proposal'' (one original and five copies of the Technical Proposal and
one original and two copies of the Business Proposal). These sections
must be physically separate (i.e., the Business Proposal must start on
a new page).
1. Technical Proposal
Each proposal shall include (a) a two (2) page abstract which
summarizes the proposal and makes clear how the proposed project will
improve JTPA-sponsored programs to be more responsive to women in
nontraditional training and placement, including responses to items 1-5
under Part III, Section B; and (b) a full description of the State's
proposed project for an exemplary demonstration project to train and
place women in nontraditional occupations; how it fits with the State's
JTPA Title II-A training and placement; and how the project will
provide for capacity building to make the State's JTPA system more
responsive to women in nontraditional activities after the proposed NEW
Project funding is complete. No cost data or reference to price shall
be included in the technical proposal.
2. Cost Proposal
The cost (business) proposal must be separate from the technical
proposal. The transmittal letter, all letters of support, and public
policy certificates shall be attached to the business proposal, which
shall consist of the following:
a. Standard Form 424: Application for Federal Assistance, signed by
an official from the applicant organization who is authorized to enter
the organization into a grant agreement with the Department of Labor.
b. Budget Information: Budget Information must consist of the
following: ``Budget Information,'' Sections A-F of Standard Budget Form
424A. (Use the forms and instructions provided, with the following
qualifications)
(1) In Section A, Budget Summary, enter in column (e), the amount
of Federal funds applied for; enter in column (f) the total value of
any match/in-kind contributions. Provide totals in column (g) and row
5.
(2) In Section B, Budget Categories, enter detailed separate cost
breakdowns for both the amount of Federal funds requested in the grant
application (entered in column 1) and the total amount of in-kind
services and/or matching funds that shall be made available (column 2).
Column (3) line i, enter the grantee and subgrantee direct
administrative cost. Subgrantee/subcontractor and grantee indirect
administrative costs must be entered in Column (3) line j. Line (k),
Column 3 represents the total Federal dollars to support administrative
charges to the grant project. This total cannot exceed 10% of total
Federal dollars requested. Any grant proposal which exceeds the 10%
maximum (or which does not report administrative costs in Column 3)
will be considered non-responsive and will not be evaluated. Although
administrative costs charged to the Department are limited, there is no
limitation for administrative charges supported with matching funds.
Matching resources can be used to support the complete range of
activities allowed under this legislation. (See JTPA Final Rule, 20 CFR
Part 626 et al., at 627.440(d)(5) as referenced on Page 7 of Part I for
allowable administrative costs). The grantee must ensure that all
administrative costs, grantee and subgrantee, are clearly indicated on
the budget back-up (See paragraph C of this Section.)
The object class category entitled ``j. Indirect Charges'' shall
not be used when it is proper and appropriate to direct charge costs
relating to the program. The indirect charges object class category is
properly used to display costs based on (a) an approved, negotiated
indirect cost rate with either the Department of Labor (DOL) or another
cognizant Federal Government audit agency; or (b) a proposed rate based
on a cost allocation plan that might be used as a 90-day billing rate
for the grant award until the grantee can negotiate an acceptable and
allowable rate with the Office of Cost Determination of DOL.
It is not required that project functions or activities within the
proposed project be listed in separate columns of Section B, unless the
functions or activities are disparate.
Note that the total requested in Column 5 will always be the sum of
Columns 1 and 2 only, as Column 3 represents the administrative portion
of Column 1 funds.
(3) In Section C, Non-Federal Resources, enter the amounts of
proposed matching funds and/or in-kind contributions from each source,
Federal and non-Federal. Specify the sources. Provisions governing the
allowability and valuation of in-kind contributions are contained in 29
CFR Part 97 for State and local governments, all others see 29 CFR Part
95.
(4) In Section D, Forecasted Cash Needs, provide a non-cumulative
breakout of projected expenditures for each quarter for both the
Federal funds (line 13) and the Match/In Kind funds (line 14), along
with Totals (line 15).
c. Budget Back-up Information: As an attachment to the Standard
Budget Forms, the applicant must provide at a minimum, and on separate
sheet(s), program/administrative costs which include the following
information (applicants are encouraged to use the attached budget back-
up format that provides for display of all the required information):
[[Page 7809]]
(1) A breakout of all personnel costs by position title, salary
rates and percent of time of each position to be devoted to the
proposed project;
(2) An explanation and breakout of extraordinary fringe benefit
rates and associated charges (i.e., rates exceeding 35% of salaries and
wages);
(3) An explanation of the purpose and composition of, and method
used to derive the costs of each of the following: travel, equipment,
supplies, sub-agreements and any other costs. The applicant shall
include costs of any required travel described in the attached Special
Provisions. Mileage charges shall not exceed 30 cents per mile.
(4) Description/specification of and justification for equipment
purchases, if any. Any non-expendable personal property having a unit
acquisition cost of $500 or more, and a useful life of two or more
years must be specifically identified (State and local governments see
29 CFR Part 97, all others see 29 CFR Part 95).
(5) Identification of all sources of matching funds and explanation
of the derivation of the value of matching/in-kind services. For
instance, in-kind contributions may result from the required program
coordination with JTPA and other resources or, in the delivery of
services, where existing programs are being utilized to complement and
supplement the demonstration program.
Applicants are advised that information and dollar amounts provided
in the budget back-up must be consistent with and therefore, easily
cross-walked to Section B, Object Class Category, of the Standard
Budget Forms. They should also be consistent with the budget narrative
contained in the application.
d. Budget Narrative:
(1) A narrative explanation of the budget which describes all
proposed costs and indicates how they are related to the operation of
the project.
(2) This shall include, at a minimum, an identification of staff
associated with the program and a description of their duties relative
to the program. The description shall justify the percentages of staff
time being charged to the grant.
(3) Travel, equipment, supplies, contractual (including subgrants),
and other charges in the budget shall be explained and justified with
respect to the project approach.
(4) Provide this information separately for the amount of requested
Federal funding and the amount of proposed match/in-kind contribution.
e. Indirect Cost Information: If indirect charges are claimed in
the proposed budget, the applicant must provide on a separate sheet,
the following information:
(1) Name and address of cognizant Federal audit agency;
(2) Name, address and phone number (including area code) of the
Government auditor;
(3) Documentation from the cognizant agency indicating:
(a) Indirect cost rate and the base against which the rate should
be applied;
(b) Effective period (dates) for the rate;
(c) Date last rate was computed and negotiated;
(4) If no government audit agency computed and authorized the rate
claimed, provide brief explanation of computation, who computed and the
date; if the applicant is awarded a grant, the proposed indirect rate
must be submitted to a Federal audit agency within 90 days of award for
approval.
C. Funding Levels
The Department expects to make six awards to States, the maximum
allowed under the NEW Act. Proposal (i.e., grant application) funding
requests should average $250,000.
D. Length of Grant and Grant Awards
The initial performance period for the grants awarded under this
SGA shall be for eighteen (18) months of program performance, with the
option to extend for up to three months as a no cost extension to
complete final reports. Each applicant shall reflect in their
application the intention to begin operation no later than June 1996.
E. Submission
One (1) ink-signed original, complete grant application (plus five
(5) copies of the Technical Proposal and two (2) copies of the Business
Proposal) shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of
Procurement Services, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20210, not later than 4:45 pm EDT, April 26, 1996.
Hand delivered applications must be received by the Office of
Procurement Services by that time.
Any application received at the Office of Procurement Services
after 4:45 pm EDT will not be considered unless it is received before
award is made and:
1. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than April
21, 1996;
2. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due
solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the U.S.
Department of Labor at the above address; or
3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day
Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5:00 pm at the place
of mailing April 24, 1996.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a
late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S.
Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible,
an application received after the above closing time and date shall be
processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped or
otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression)
that is readily identifiable without further action as having been
applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the
date of mailing. Therefore, applicants shall request that the postal
clerk place a legible hand cancellation bull's-eye postmark on both the
receipt and the wrapper or envelope.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a
late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Mail Next Day Service-Post
Office to Addressee is the date entered by the post office receiving
clerk on the ``Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee''
label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the same meaning
as defined above. Therefore, applicants shall request that the postal
clerk place a legible hand cancellation bull's-eye postmark on both the
receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at
the U.S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Office of
Procurement Services on the application wrapper or other documentary
evidence of receipt maintained by that office.
Applications sent by telegram or facsimile (FAX) will not be
accepted.
Part III. Statement of Work--Key Features
A. Introduction--Program Focus
State applicants are encouraged to submit proposals to provide
technical assistance and program development to cause and sustain
systemic change in their JTPA system: (1) to build the capacity of JTPA
systems to promote and provide training and placement nontraditional
for women in JTPA and; (2) to develop new initiatives or supplement
existing exemplary training and placement programs that are responsive
to the needs of JTPA-eligible women in nontraditional occupations
(NTOs) training and placement. Special consideration will be given to
programs modeled on the contextual or integrated
[[Page 7810]]
learning concept incorporated in JTPA Title II-A training and
placement. Skill training activities should have the support of JTPA
Title II-A training funds in addition to NEW Act demonstration program
grant funding.
Moreover, the USDOL is seeking States with proposals that build on
and/or support demonstrated experience in the following areas:
--provide evidence of demonstrated experience and commitment to the
goals and objectives of the NEW Act since its implementation in 1992;
--provide evidence of the use of technical assistance to build the
capacity of their JTPA system to institutionalize exemplary
nontraditional training and placement to JTPA-eligible women in
whatever employment and training process emerges, i.e., One-Stop Career
Centers, Workforce Development Centers, etc.;
--provide evidence of implementing systemic change in JTPA service
delivery to increase the participation of women in nontraditional
occupations (NTOs) training and placement;
--provide evidence of cooperation and coordination of programs/services
to support JTPA-eligible women in nontraditional occupational training
and placement;
In addition, in awarding NEW grants, the Department of Labor will give
priority consideration to States with JTPA systems that have both (1)
established goals of 15 percent or more for training and placing women
in a broader range of JTPA training and placement of women in
nontraditional occupations (NTOs) and (2) where there is an increase of
JTPA-eligible women in NTOs since the implementation of NEW in July
1992 that has measured more than 25 percent over the July 1992-July
1995 (or most recent) period. The activities of JTPA systems that
reflect such leadership goals and results can provide guidance to the
JTPA system nationwide, as well as the employment and training
community, more generally.
In addition to the following specifications, please read Part I
Background, Section D ``Purpose of NEW Demonstration Grants'' for a
full consideration of the USDOL's program expectations for making NEW
grant awards.
B. Program Design--Key Features
To be fully responsive to this SGA, proposal submission should
address the following issues in the introduction and summary of the
proposal for this SGA:
1. A concise and direct statement, including statistical outcomes,
of the goals and objectives for the State's JTPA system and its
commitment to training and placing JTPA-eligible women in
nontraditional occupations (NTOs) from its Governor's Coordination and
Special Services Program (GCSSP). Priority consideration will be given
to State proposals with statewide statistical goals of 15 percent or
more and a 25 percent increase over the July 1992-1995.
2. A statistical table of women in JTPA nontraditional training
and placement, 1992-1993--numbers and as a percent of total training
and placement and as a percent of women's training and placement.
Priority consideration will be given to State proposals that also cross
tabulate the training and placement data by occupation, industry, and
wages data.
3. A concise and direct statement on how the proposed activities
will broaden the range of training and placement of women in the JTPA
system.
4. A concise and direct statement on how proposed activities will
empower the JTPA system to institutionalize strategies to support women
in nontraditional training and placement.
5. The State proposal's program design focuses on which of the
following:
* * * A new initiative building on other State NEW- specific
activities;
* * * An expansion or supplement to ongoing State NEW-specific
activities;
* * * Largely client focus on training and placement;
* * * Largely provides for JTPA capacity building;
Each of the design features below should be clearly identified by
using the feature identifier as a ``side head'' above the description
(i.e., see State Involvement., below) in its proposal submission for a
NEW Demonstration Program:
1. State's Involvement. The Bureau expects the State to be an
active participant in the development of the proposed program
activities and in the implementation of the demonstration program once
a grant has been awarded. Therefore, applicants should describe the
activities conducted by the State, whether through the State JTPA
liaison, the State JTPA agency, or both, for proposal development and
program implementation and how the proposal is expected to impact--not
only to enhance and/or expand its nontraditional training and
employment opportunities for JTPA-eligible women under an existing JTPA
program, but to provide technical assistance to provide capacity
building to cause systemic change in the State JTPA service delivery to
women in nontraditional training and placement.
2. Private Sector Involvement. The extent of private sector
involvement in the development and implementation of training programs
under the JTPA could include, but are not limited to, the following
activities: joint ventures in skill training and the development of
effective and efficient administrative and management skills; industry
instructors for classroom and/or integrated or contextual learning
programs to increase the training and placement of JTPA-eligible women
in nontraditional careers. Also see Linkages and Coordination
immediately below.
3. Linkages and Coordination. The NEW Act calls for coordination
between JTPA and other resources available (Federal and/or State) for
training women in nontraditional employment, both in the Governor's
Coordination and Special Services Plan (GCSSP) developed for Title II-A
and for the demonstration grants. Therefore, any linkages and
collaborative efforts that exist between JTPA and other programs, such
as registered apprenticeship programs or the Carl D. Perkins Vocational
and Applied Technology Education Act (Perkins), Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), Department of Housing and Urban
Development, etc., and other Federal, State and local job training
resources: (a) between JTPA and other entities, such as Federal and/or
State contractors or State agencies responsible for work that is
nontraditional for women (such as highway construction), or (b) other
linkages established specifically for purposes of this demonstration
must be clearly identified and defined, including those articulated in
the GCSSP for Title II-A. In addition, the Department expects that the
private sector, in their roles as members of Private Industry Councils
(PICs), employers or members of Apprenticeship Committees will be
called upon to play a strategic role in the design and/or delivery of
training, certainly in the placement of JTPA-eligible women in
nontraditional occupations. JTPA entities should consider and describe
how they have or may work with the government mega-projects (large
project of two or more years, costing at least $2,000,000, directly
funded or assisted by government funds) in their area to develop jobs
for NEW trainees.
4. Existing Efforts and/or New Initiatives. The extent to which the
initiatives proposed by State proposals
[[Page 7811]]
supplement or build upon existing efforts in a State to train and place
women in nontraditional employment. Program activities funded under
this grant may consist of new initiatives or further development of
existing programs, or a combination. Proposals shall describe any new
initiatives to be implemented through this grant; the demonstrated
effectiveness and efficiency of existing programs in achieving the
goals of the NEW Act and the enhancements to be undertaken under this
grant; and, in cases where the programmatic approach calls for a
combination of new and existing programs, a description of how the new
activities and existing programs will complement each other and enhance
and promote an increase of women in nontraditional occupations in the
JTPA System.
5. Use of Funds. The Technical Proposal of CBO applicants shall
describe both known and anticipated expenditures that may arise in the
conduct of the proposed grant activities related to NEW--List
activities on which grant funds will be expended, not the specific
amount. The Department is also interested in hearing about any leverage
activities anticipated with NEW funds, particularly when developing NEW
linkages and coordination of services. More specifically, list any
leverage of funds activities taken or anticipated with this grant--any
partnerships, linkages or coordination of activities, combining of
streams of funding, etc. Finally, list activities on which grant funds
will be expended by subgrantees (if applicable).
6. Replication. The extent to which a State is prepared to produce
materials that allow for replication of its demonstration grant
program, including capacity building and training and placement
activities. As previously mentioned, it is the Department's intent that
activities funded under the NEW Act lead to systemic changes that
institutionalize nontraditional training within JTPA and a specified
geographic area. Proposals shall indicate the strategies to be used to
encourage and promote the continuation of activities once the NEW
demonstration grant support has ended.
7. Dissemination. The extent to which the State's proposal includes
activities to disseminate information on its demonstration training
programs. The Department believes that one way of encouraging and
promoting institutionalization of nontraditional training within a
grantee's area is to plan for replication of successful programs and to
disseminate information about both the demonstration and existing model
programs. For that reason, proposals shall include a discussion on the
extent to which the State is prepared to accomplish dissemination of
information and the extent to which they are prepared to produce
materials for replication of the demonstration training programs.
8. Evaluation Approach. The Final Report on the NEW Project shall
describe expected impacts on participants as a result of the training
programs. These impacts shall be measurable and attainable and may
include awareness/orientation sessions to increase women's knowledge of
opportunities in nontraditional occupations, attainment of training
competencies, placement in registered apprenticeship training,
completion of training, wage at placement, occupation at placement, and
retention in employment. The discussion shall also include information
on whether the proposed grant amount is sufficient to accomplish
measurable goals; if, in linking with other programs, additional
financial resources are expected, the proposal shall identify the
source(s) of funds and their intended use.
Part IV. Evaluation Criteria and Selection
Applicants are advised that selection for grant award is to be made
after careful evaluation of technical applications by a panel. Each
panelist will evaluate applications against the various criteria on the
basis of 100 points. The scores will then serve as the primary basis to
select applications for potential award. Clarification may be requested
of grant applicants if the situation so warrants.
1. Technical Criteria Points
Points
a. State Commitment and Involvement..................... 25
b. Quality of Overall Program; Use of Funds; Supplement
and/or Expand.......................................... 20
c. Private Sector Involvement with NEW; Linkages and
Coordination........................................... 20
d. Replication and Dissemination........................ 20
e. Evaluation Approach.................................. 15
2. Cost Criteria
Proposals will be scored, based on their costs in relation to other
proposals submitted in response to this SGA. Specifically, the lowest
priced proposal will receive 150 points, based on the following
formula:
(lowest priced proposal/proposal cost) x 150
All other proposals will receive points using the above formula.
For example, if the lowest priced proposal had a total Federal budget
of $5,000, it would receive a cost score of 150. If another proposal
had a total Federal budget of $10,000, it would receive a score of 75
(i.e., $5,000/$10,000) x 150).
3. Total Score
Technical quality of proposals will be weighted three (3) times the
estimated price in ranking proposals, for purposes of selections for
award.
To elaborate, using the above example, if the proposal requesting
$5,000 of Federal funding received a technical score of 87, the Total
Score would be 411 points (i.e., (87 x 3) + 150 = 411); if the
proposal requesting $10,000 of Federal funding received a technical
score of 120, the Total Score would be 435 (i.e., (120 x 3) + 75 =
435).
4. Criteria for Award
Proposals received will be evaluated by a review panel based on the
criteria immediately following. The panel's recommendations will be
advisory, and final awards will be made based on the best interests of
the Government, taking into account such factors as technical quality,
geographic balance, and other factors.
The Department wishes to make it clear that it is not simply the
best-written proposals that will be chosen, but rather those which
demonstrate the greatest State commitment to the goals of the NEW Act
and which best incorporate the principal features of this
demonstration.
5. Allowable Cost
Payment up to the amount specified in the grant shall be made only
for allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs actually incurred in
conducting the work under the grant. The determination of allowable
costs shall be made in accordance with the following applicable Federal
Cost principles:
State and Local Governments--OMB Circular A-87
Educational Institutions--OMB Circular A-21
Non-Profit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122
Profit Making Commercial Firms--FAR 48 CFR Part 31.
Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.
6. Administrative Provisions
The grant awarded under this SGA shall be subject to the following
administrative standards and provisions:
[[Page 7812]]
29 CFR Part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements Governing
Department of Labor Grants and Agreements (does not apply to grants
with State and local Governments and Indian Tribes);
Section 165 of the Job Training Partnership Act Reports, Recordkeeping
and Investigations (applicable to grants funded with JTPA funds);
29 CFR Part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments;
29 CFR Part 96--Audits of Federally Funded Grants, Contacts and
Agreements.
7. Grant Assurances and Certifications
The applicant must include the attached assurances and
certifications.
Part V. Deliverables
1. No later than four (4) weeks after award, the grantee shall meet
with the Women's Bureau to discuss program activities, timelines, and
evaluation design for comment and final approval. The Women's Bureau
will provide input orally and in writing, if necessary, within ten (10)
working days after the meeting.
2. No later than eight (8) weeks after award, the grantee shall
provide the Women's Bureau with a detailed Program Execution and
Implementation Plan, including any subgrantee arrangements, for comment
and final approval. The Women's Bureau shall provide written comments,
if necessary, within ten (10) working days.
3. No later than twelve (12) weeks after award, the grantee shall
begin the program of nontraditional training for women.
4. Quarter progress reports should include:
a. A description of overall progress on work performed during the
reporting period, including (1) number and profiles (including selected
photos) of participants in prevocational and skilled training or
placed, including JTPA Title II-A female participants; awareness
activities; JTPA staff capacity building activities; during the period;
(2) systemic workplace and policy changes--actual or in process; (3)
public presentations; (4) media articles or appearances; (5)
publications disseminated and (6) publications developed.
b. An indication of any current problems which may impede
performance and the proposed corrective action.
c. A discussion of work to be performed during the next reporting
period. Include any job development or technical assistance with mega-
projects and other employers to provide employment for women in
nontraditional occupations.
Between scheduled reporting dates the grantee shall also
immediately inform the Grant Officer's Technical Representative of
significant developments affecting the grantee's ability to accomplish
the work.
5. No later than forty-eight (48) weeks after award, the grantee
shall submit a Replication and Dissemination Plan that describes the
grantee's plans for disseminating information about the demonstration
program and for future replication of the demonstration in other
geographic areas. The Women's Bureau shall provide written comments, if
necessary, within twenty (20) working days. The Bureau's comments shall
be incorporated into the plan.
6. No later than fifty-two (52) weeks after award, the grantee
shall submit, in one (1) camera ready copy and one (1) diskette (IBM
compatible; WordPerfect 5.1), an integrated draft report of the process
and results of the training program completed during the year. The
report shall include, at a minimum, context, impact and the
relationship between this program and ongoing programs in the labor
market delivery area, preliminary data on planned versus actual
accomplishments, characteristics of participants, participant outcomes,
wage and occupation at placement, and the follow-up activities planned
for the program. The Women's Bureau will provide written comments on
the draft report within twenty (20) working days if substantive
problems are identified. The grantee's response to these comments shall
be incorporated into the final report.
7. No later than sixty-four (64) weeks after award, the grantee
shall submit one (1) camera ready copy and one (1) diskette (IBM
compatible, WordPerfect 5.1) of the final report. The report shall
cover findings, final performance data, evaluation results (where
applicable), and plans for follow-up of participants. The Final Report
should be designed, developed and written along professionally accepted
standards. Copies of training curricula shall be included, as well as
the final plan for replication and dissemination of information. An
Executive Summary of the findings and recommendations, if any, shall
either be included in the report or accompany the report.
Signed at Washington, D.C. on February 23, 1996.
Dated: February 23, 1996.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
Appendix A
Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
The Department of Labor will not award a grant or agreement where
the grantee/recipient has failed to accept the ASSURANCES AND
CERTIFICATIONS contained in this section. By signing and returning this
signature page, the grantee/recipient is providing the certifications
set for below:
A. Assurances--Non-Construction programs
B. Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower
Tier Transaction
C. Certifications Regarding Lobbying: Debarment, Suspension, Drug-Free
Workplace
D. Certification of Release of Information
E. Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Requirement of JTPA
Applicant Name:--------------------------------------------------------
Date:------------------------------------------------------------------
If there is any reason why one of the assurances or certifications
listed cannot be signed, please explain. Applicant need only submit and
return this signature page with the grant application. All other
instructions shall be kept on file by the applicant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature of Authorized Certifying Official
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant Organization
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Submitted
Please Note: This signature page and any pertinent attachments which
may be required by these assurances and certifications shall be
attached to the applicant's Cost Proposal.
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[FR Doc. 96-4580 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]
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