[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8866]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 13, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
[SGA No. DAA 94-005]
Employment and Training Administration
Job Training Partnership Act: Model Apprenticeship Instruction
Program
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and solicitation for grant
application (SGA).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training
Administration (ETA), under Title IV, part D, of the Job Training
Partnership Act (JTPA) is soliciting proposals for the development of
model training materials to assist high school students who may not
attend college to learn about the carpentry trade and how to perform in
it and, in so doing, to facilitate their entry into the work force.
Funding for this solicitation will come from Title IV, part D of
JTPA. DOL has set aside up to $300,000 for this competitive
procurement. As a result of this solicitation, one (1) award will be
made for a period of fifteen (15) months with the possibility of two
(2) option years.
DATES: Application for grant awards will be accepted commencing April
13, 1994. The closing date for receipt of applications shall be May 16,
1994, at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time).
ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to the Division of Acquisition
and Assistance, Attention: Willie E. Harris, Reference: SGA/DAA 94-005,
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, room
S-4203, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Willie E. Harris, Division of Acquisition and Assistance. Telephone
(202) 219-8702 (this is not a toll free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of five parts:
Part I--Background, Part II--Application Process, Part III--Statement
of Work, Part IV--Evaluation Criteria, and Part V--Reporting
Requirements.
Part I--Background
Seventy-five percent of America's young people do not achieve a
college degree. Many of these young people are not equipped with the
basic academic and occupational skills needed in an increasingly
complex labor market. It is well established that the low-skill, high-
paying manufacturing jobs that once provided decent employment for
relatively unskilled Americans no longer exist.
Therefore, many high school graduates do not find stable, career-
track jobs for five to ten years after graduation. In today's highly
competitive global economy, business performance is determined in large
part by the knowledge and skills of workers. The technological
pressures make employers reluctant to take a chance on inexperienced
high school graduates whose diplomas signal nothing about their skills,
knowledge, and ability to perform increasingly difficult work.
The lack of effective tools to aid high school students gain the
necessary skills to enable them in making the transition from school to
work successfully has also had a significant economic impact on those
students. In the 1980s, the gap in earnings between high school
graduates and college graduates doubled; for those without high school
diplomas, the gap grew even wider.
Congress took cognizance of this lack of a comprehensive and
effective school-to-work transition system in report language
accompanying the Department of Labor's Fiscal Year 1993 appropriation
legislation in referring to programs that would benefit high school
students who may not attend college. Such programs would ideally offer
junior and senior year high school students the opportunity to begin
learning a trade while still in school and, upon their graduation, they
would have the opportunity to be placed in a full-time registered
apprenticeship program.
In addition, school-to-work programs assist students in making the
transition from school to a good first job on a high skill, high wage
career track. Combining learning at the worksite with learning in
school, school-to-work programs establish a partnership between schools
and employers and prepare students for either a high quality job
requiring technical skills or further education and training.
Part II--Application Process
A. Eligible Applicants
The award under this competition will be made to a non-profit
organization.
B. Submission of Proposal
An original and three (3) copies of the proposal shall be
submitted. The proposal shall consist of two (2) separate and distinct
parts:
Part I shall contain the cost proposal, consisting of the following
items: Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,''
and SF 424A, ``Budget'' (Appendix A). Also, the budget shall include on
a separate page(s) a detailed cost analysis of each line item in the
budget.
Part II shall include a technical proposal that demonstrates the
offeror's capabilities in accordance with its Statement of Work
contained in this announcement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to
submit a technical proposal of less than thirty (30) pages in length
(exclusive of appendices) which sets forth the applicant's explanation
of how it proposes to accomplish the elements described in the
Statement of Work.
No cost data or reference to price shall be included in the
technical proposal. In order to assist applicants in the preparation of
their proposals and to facilitate the expeditious evaluation by the
review panel, proposals should be organized and presented in the same
sequential order as the Evaluation Criteria in Part IV of this
announcement.
C. Hand-Delivered Proposals
Proposals must be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the
closing date. However, if proposals are hand-delivered, they shall be
received at the designated place by 2 p.m., Eastern Time by May 16,
1994. All overnight mail will be considered to be hand-delivered and
must be received at the designated place by the specified closing date.
Telegraphed and/or faxed proposals will not be honored. Failure to
adhere to the above instructions will be a basis for a determination of
nonresponsiveness.
D. Late Proposals
Any proposal received at the office designated in the solicitation
after the exact time specified for receipt will not be considered
unless it is received before award is made and it--
(1) Was sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail
not later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified for
receipt of application (e.g., an offer submitted in response to a
solicitation requiring receipt of applications by the 20th of the
month must have been mailed by the 15th); or
(2) Was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day
Service--Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the
place of mailing two working day prior to the date specified for
receipt of proposals. The term ``working days'' excludes weekends
and U.S. Federal holidays.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a
late proposal sent either by U.S. Postal Service registered or
certified mail is the U.S. postmark both on the envelope or wrapper and
on the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. Both postmarks
must show a legible date or the proposal shall be processed as if
mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped, or otherwise placed
impression (exclusive of a postage meter machine impression) that is
readily identifiable without further action as having been supplied and
affixed by employees of the U.S. Postal Service on the date of mailing.
Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk to 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 date of mailing of a
late proposal sent by ``Express 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 both 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 should request the postal clerk
to place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's eye'' on both the receipt
and the envelope or wrapper.
E. Withdrawal of Proposals
Proposals may be withdrawn by written notice or telegram (including
mailgram) received at any time before award. Proposals may be withdrawn
in person by an applicant or an authorized representative thereof, if
the representative's identity is made known and the representative
signs a receipt for the proposal before award.
F. Period of Performance
The period of performance will be 15 months from the date of the
grant award.
G. Funding
DOL has set aside up to $300,000 for this competitive procurement.
H. Option To Extend
Based on the availability of funds, effective program operation and
the needs of DOL, the grant may be extended for up to two option years.
Part III--Statement of Work
The primary focus of this grant will be to develop model materials,
including interactive videos and slides, in carpentry aimed at
facilitating the transition from school to a registered apprenticeship
program appropriate for use by all high school juniors and seniors not
planning to attend college. For purposes of this solicitation, a
``registered apprenticeship program'' is defined as one registered by
the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in the Department of Labor or
by a State apprenticeship agency recognized and approved as the
appropriate body for State registration and approval of local
apprenticeship programs and agreements for Federal purposes.
A. Deliverables
The principal deliverable for this grant shall be a comprehensive
curriculum for an instructional program in carpentry. The deliverable
shall include:
1. Phased sets of interactive video materials that will provide
a substantial introduction to carpentry;
2. Accompanying materials to include supplemental workbooks and
testing materials to enable the student to progress on a self-paced
basis and to evaluate his or her own progress in the course; and
3. Certification testing materials including hands-on projects
to enable an instructor to determine whether the student has gained
enough knowledge to receive credit for that portion of the
curriculum.
While not mandatory, favorable consideration will be given to those
proposals which include an additional certification process that also
provides a student entry into a registered apprenticeship program after
successfully completing the secondary school curriculum.
In demonstrating various tasks associated with carpentry, the
materials should take into account recent technical advances in the
development of tools and materials and appropriate safety and health
standards and procedures that are in consonance with the use of those
tools and materials. Within budgetary and other relevant constrains,
the materials developed should be state of the art, taking full
advantage of modern audio-visual instructional technology.
Part IV--Evaluation Criteria
Prospective offerors are advised that the selection of the grantee
for the award is to be made after careful evaluation of proposals by an
evaluation panel within DOL. Each panelist will evaluate the proposals
based on the following factors:
A. Technical Approach (40 Points)
The proposal shall describe in detail the curriculum to be
established which is aimed at facilitating the transition from school
to a registered apprenticeship program. In addition, if the proposal
contains a certification process which provides that a student who
successfully completes the secondary school curriculum will be afforded
entry into a registered apprenticeship program, the process should be
fully explained.
B. Coordination and Linkages (20 Points)
The proposal should enumerate established or proposed linkages with
existing registered apprenticeship programs and with regional and
national associations representing secondary education.
C. Organizational Capacity (20 Points)
The proposal must provide a background description of how the
particular entity which will have responsibility for this project is
organized and the types and quality of services it provides. Background
in general areas related to training and apprenticeship such as labor-
management relations or in specific areas such as in-depth experience
in apprenticeable crafts should be enumerated. Specific examples of
projects similar to the one proposed for support that offeror has
administered should be included.
D. Experience (20 Points)
The proposal must identify proposed staff and provide a discussion
of staff experience in the areas of apprenticeship programs and their
capacity to develop model training materials, including interactive
videos and slides. It should also enumerate the facilities needed to
conduct the project. These resources should be adequate to the work
described in the application. The staff would have the required skills
and demonstrated ability to produce the expected outcomes. The staffing
pattern must clearly link responsibilities to project tasks.
Applicants are advised that discussions may be necessary in order
to clarify any inconsistencies in their applications. The panel results
are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer. The final
decision on the award will be based on what is most advantageous to the
Federal Government as determined by the ETA Grant Officer.
Part V--Reporting Requirements
The grantee shall furnish the reports and documents listed below:
A. Quarterly Financial Reports
The grantee shall submit to the project officer within 30 days
following the end of each quarter, three copies of a quarterly
Financial Status Report (SF 269) until such time as all funds have been
expended or the period of availability has expired.
B. Quarterly Progress Reports
The grantee shall submit to the project officer within 30 days
following the end of each quarter, three copies of a quarterly progress
report. Reports shall include the following in brief narrative form:
(1) A description of overall progress of work activities
accomplished during the reporting period.
(2) An indication of current problems, if any, which may delay
performance and proposed corrective action.
(3) Program status and financial data/information relative to
expenditure rate versus budget, anticipated staff changes, etc.
C. Final Report
A draft final report which summarizes project activities and
results of the project shall be submitted 60 days before the expiration
date of the grant award. The final report shall be submitted in 3
copies by the expiration of the grant.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 7th day of April.
Janice E. Perry,
Grant Officer, Division of Acquisition and Assistance.
Appendices
A. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance
B. SF-424A, Budget
BILLING CODE 4510-10-M
TN13AP94.004
TN13AP94.005
[FR Doc. 94-8866 Filed 4-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-10-C
