[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31151-31163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15318]
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[[Page 31152]]
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D, Demonstration
Program: Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations
AGENCY: Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant
Applications (SGA 96-05).
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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 and respond to its specificity. The U.S.
Department of Labor (DOL), Women's Bureau (WB) announces its
Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) first authorized under the
Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act by
its competitive technical assistance grant program for community-based
organizations (CBOs). The WANTO competitive grant program is funded
through Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D demonstration
program. WANTO is co-administered by the Women's Bureau (WB) and the
Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), Employment and Training
Administration (ETA), with the WB having responsibility for
implementing the competitive technical assistance program grants. The
Department expects to award up to five (5) grants to Community-Based
Organizations (CBOs) to provide technical assistance to private sector
employers and labor organizations to encourage the employment of women
in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations in private sector
employment.
With this year's competition, the Department will give priority
consideration to applications where proposals are:
(1) LARGE PROJECT SPECIFIC: The proposed technical assistance
program (submitted by a CBO with documented activity-specific
experience) is designed to assist private sector employers and labor
organizations (with large project contracts) to increase women's
employment on large employment projects (multi-year and $multi-million)
in private and/or public economic development (including building)
projects in construction, transportation, utilities and
telecommunications industries. Such technical assistance activities
include strategies for developing and implementing changes in workplace
policy and work practices to support the employment of women,
particularly in entering and completing registered apprenticeship
employment programs.
(2) COMPUTER-BASED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK: The proposed program
(submitted by a CBO with documented activity-specific experience) is
designed to provide for the maintenance and development of regional and
national computer-based telecommunications networks to provide
customized off-site technical assistance to small and medium size
private sector employers and labor organizations in their development
and implementation of strategies to make workplace policy and work
practice changes to support the recruitment, training, and retention of
women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations in individual
private sector workplaces. Such technical assistance activities should
promote the employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations.
(3) GEOGRAPHIC SPECIFIC: The proposed technical assistance program
(submitted by a CBO with documented activity-specific experience) is
designed to implement activities to strengthen technical assistance to
private-sector employers and labor organizations in the Southeast and
Southwest regions of the United States who want assistance in the
development and implementation of strategies that provide for workplace
changes in policies and work practices to support women in
apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations, particularly as cited in
(1) and (2) above. Such technical assistance activities should promote
the employment of minority women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations.
MOREOVER, the Department will give up to twenty-five (25) bonus
rating points to proposals reflecting the above criteria when the
proposal includes (1) established partnership with the employers and
labor organizations that expands the dollar amount, size and scope of
the proposal; and (2) specific and written commitment with timeline for
the employment of women in registered apprenticeship and/or
nontraditional employment.
This notice describes the background, the application process,
statement of work, evaluation criteria, and reporting requirements for
Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA 96-05). WB anticipates that a
total amount of $610,000 will be available for the support of all
grants using demonstration funding. The WB will provide the technical
and policy leadership with this project.
DATES: One (1) ink-signed original, complete grant application (plus
five (5) copies of the Technical Proposal and two (2) copies of the
Cost Proposal) shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor,
Office of Procurement Services, Room N-5416, Reference SGA 96-05, 200
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, not later than 4:45
p.m. EST, July 31, 1996. All 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 96-05, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of five parts:
Part I describes the background of this WANTO grant program and
identifies its policy and topics. Part II describes the application
process, providing detailed guidelines for use in applying for
demonstration grants. Part III includes the Statement of Work and Key
Features of the demonstration program. Part IV identifies and defines
the evaluation criteria to be used in reviewing and evaluating
applications. Part V describes the deliverables and reporting
requirements.
Part I. Background
Improving women's employment opportunities and other employment
related equity and social issues to promote women in the work force 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 workplace life of American
workers.
The Women's Bureau has a history of encouraging women to consider
the wide array of apprenticeable and other occupations nontraditional
to women. These jobs include the traditional skilled trades such as
carpenter, plumber, electrician, sheetmetal worker, or welder in the
construction industry, as well as jobs in the electronics industries,
other technical jobs that require computer-based skills to customize,
service, build and repair precision machinery in manufacturing, and
other technical computer-based jobs in the service sector industries
such as health care, finance, utilities, telecommunications and
transportation. In fulfilling their responsibilities to promote
profitable employment opportunities for women, the Bureau of
Apprenticeship and Training and the Women's Bureau have come together
to
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jointly administer the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional
Occupations (WANTO) Act and its technical assistance demonstration
program grants.
The Women's Bureau co-administers WANTO with the Bureau of
Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), formerly the Apprentice-Training
Service. BAT was established in 1937 as the national administrative
agency in the Department of Labor to carry out the objectives of the
National Apprenticeship Law, guided by the recommendations of the
Federal Committee on Apprenticeship. BAT has the objective to stimulate
and assist industry in the development, expansion, and improvement of
apprenticeship and training programs designed to provide the skilled
workers required by the American economy.
Definitions. Nontraditional Occupations are those where women
account for less than 25 percent of the persons employed in a single
occupational group. Generally speaking, Apprenticeship includes a
formal paid training-work agreement where labor and management work
together to promote learning on the job; to support the ``hands on''
learning, there must be related theoretical instruction (often
classroom). After completing the program standards successfully--
usually 3 to 5 years--the apprentice is awarded a certificate of
completion by either the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training or the
State Apprenticeship Committee Agency.
A. Authorities
The technical assistance grants were first authorized under the
Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act,
Public Law 102-530, approved October 27, 1992. Funded through the Job
Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D, the Bureau of
Apprenticeship (BAT/ETA) and the Women's Bureau have a Intra-agency
Agreement to co-administer WANTO. The WB has responsibility for
implementing the Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) process for
the Technical Assistance (TA) grants to Community-Based Organizations
(CBOs).
B. Purpose of the Demonstration
The purpose of the WANTO demonstration program is to provide
technical assistance to employers and labor organizations to encourage
the increased employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations.
Further, in accordance with the directives of the Women in
Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act, the Women's
Bureau is continuing to develop a data bank of (1) employers and labor
organizations seeking technical assistance and (2) organizations with
experience working to promote the employment of women in apprenticeship
and nontraditional employment. The Bureau will update and expand its
directory of apprenticeship and nontraditional training and employment
programs serving women to function as a catalyst in developing a
listing of employers and labor organizations and experienced NTO
community-based organizations (CBOs) into a data base referred to as
the ``WANTO Referral Network.'' To list your preapprenticeship,
apprenticeship, or nontraditional occupational training or placement
program with the Bureau's ``WANTO Referral Network,'' please provide
the following information:
(1) Program Name:
(2) Administrative Agency:
(3) Address:
(4) Executive Director:
(5) Contact Person:
(6) Contact Telephone Number:
(7) Brief Description of Services:
Please send your response to: Women's Bureau, Office of the
Secretary, WANTO Network, Room S-3317, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. (Telephone (202)
219-8913 x114)
Part II. Application Process
A. Eligible Applicants
1. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are eligible applicants to
receive technical assistance grants. The term ``community-based
organization'' as defined in section 4(5) of the Job Training
Partnership Act (29 U.S.C 1501(5)), means private nonprofit
organizations which are representative of communities or significant
segments of communities and which provide job training services. For
this solicitation communities or significant segments of communities
are the private nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated
experience administering programs that recruit, select, train, place,
retain, and otherwise prepare women for employment in apprenticeship
and other nontraditional occupations (NTO).
2. Employers and Labor Organizations are eligible to receive
technical assistance provided by community-based organizations
receiving WANTO grants. To be selected to receive technical assistance,
employers, and labor organizations must submit a technical assistance
request either (1) directly to the Department of Labor, OASAM, Office
of Procurement Services, Attention: Lisa Harvey, Washington, D.C. 20210
or (2) the request may be included with the CBOs with whom there is an
agreement to partnership in preparing the response to SGA 96-05.
B. Contents
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 20 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 NON-RESPONSIVE TO THIS
SGA AND WILL NOT BE EVALUATED.
1. Technical Proposal
Each proposal shall include (a) a two (2) page abstract which
summarizes the proposal and (b) a full description of the CBO's program
for technical assistance, including information required in Part III
and IV. 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 and the grant assurances and
certifications form (Appendix A) shall be attached to the business
proposal, which shall consist of the following:
a. Standard Form 424 ``Application for Federal Assistance,''
(Appendix B) signed by an official from the applicant organization who
is authorized to enter the organization into a grant agreement with the
Department of Labor. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
(CFDA) is 17.700;
b. Standard Budget Form 424A ``Budget Information Form,'' (Appendix
C); and
c. Budget Narrative: Provide a narrative explanation of the budget
which describes all proposed costs and indicates how they are related
to the operation of the project. Provide this information separately
for the amount of requested Federal funding and the amount of proposed
Non-Federal contribution. In those applications which propose to fund
staff positions, the budget narrative must provide information which
describes the
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number of proposed positions by title and by the amount of staff time
and salary charged to Federal and Non-Federal funding resources. The
Budget Narrative provides the detailed description of the costs
reflected on the SF 424A.
C. Funding Levels
The Department expects to have $610,000 to be disbursed through
WANTO grants. The Department expects to make up to five (5) awards to
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The Women's Bureau expects awards
to range from approximately $75,000 to $150,000.
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 September
30, 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 Cost
Proposal must 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 EST, July 31, 1996. All
applications must be received by the Office of Procurement Services by
that time. Applications sent by telegram or facsimile (FAX) will not be
accepted.
Any application received at the Office of Procurement Services
after 4:45 pm EST 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 the
fifth calendar day before July 31, 1996 (i.e., not later than July 26,
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 two working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays,
prior to July 31, 1996 (i.e., not later than 5:00 pm July 29, 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.
Part III. Statement of Work--Key Features
A. Introduction
The Women's Bureau (Washington, D.C.) announces the Solicitation
for Grant Applications (SGA) for competitive grant awards first funded
under the technical assistance program authorized by the Women in
Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act and funded
through JTPA Title IV-D. Since then, the Employment and Training
Administration, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (ETA/BAT) has
continued to fund the program through JTPA Title IV-D and transfer
funds to the WB to continue the technical assistance program authorized
under the WANTO Act. The WB anticipates a transfer of funds amounting
to $610,000 for Fiscal Year 1996 and expects to make up to five (5)
grants to CBOs that will provide direct technical assistance to change
the workplaces of private sector job creators--employers and labor
organizations--to make private sector workplaces more supportive to
increasing the employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations (NTO).
1. CBOs may solicit employers and labor organizations that request
technical assistance in preparing their workplace to promote women in
apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations (NTOs) and include such
agreements in their proposal in response to SGA 96-05. Priority will be
given to proposals that include specific provisions to providing
technical assistance to employers and labor organizations with (1)
contracts for work on large employment projects; (2) regional and
national computer-based telecommunications networks; and (3) emphasis
on geographic areas of the Southeast and Southwest.
2. At the same time, the Department will continue to build an
inventory (as directed by the WANTO legislation) of workplace technical
assistance requests from employers and labor organizations to promote
the increase in employment of women in apprenticeship and
nontraditional occupations sent directly to the Office of Procurement
Services, Room N-5416, Reference SGA 96-05, U.S. Department of Labor,
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, Attention: Lisa
Harvey.
3. Technical assistance requests from both CBOs (as a part of the
technical proposal) and requests sent directly to the Department of
Labor by employers and labor organizations should be in writing.
4. The Department will award only one grant per CBO, with or
without multiple service providers or subcontractors. The total amount
of each grant will depend upon the total amount of direct technical
assistance to be provided. Applicants should provide estimated cost
(hourly or fixed rates) for specific technical assistance services they
are prepared to perform in the cost proposal.
5. Since the thrust of this SGA is technical assistance to
employers and labor organizations to attain workplace change responsive
to the increase in women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations, the program of this SGA is designed to be employer-
workplace driven. Allowable grant activities do not include CBO
capacity building services, or the operation of CBO ongoing training
activities unless they are directly related to the provision of
technical assistance to make job creators' workplaces--employers and
labor organizations--more responsive to increased employment and
support for
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women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.
B. Program Requirements
The Department, through this competition, is seeking Community-
Based Organization grantees with a record of accomplishment, with
overall organizational experience and facilities, and with staff who
can demonstrate the necessary technical knowledge and experience that
can ensure successful completion of provision of technical assistance
to employers and labor organizations.
In the grant application process, Community-Based Organization
grant applicants should include a specific program for providing
technical assistance to mega project contractors and others, including
the name and address of projects that they have developed working
relationships with for this round of WANTO activities. CBOs are also
required to present evidence of their experience, qualifications,
technical knowledge of programs to assist job creators to recruit,
select, train, place and retain women in apprenticeship and
nontraditional occupations.
1. Provide Technical Assistance
Community-Based Organization (CBO) Eligibility: Definition. The
term ``community-based organization'' as defined in section 4(5) of the
Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C 1501(5)), means private
nonprofit organizations which are representative of communities or
significant segments of communities that provide job training services.
a. For this solicitation, the significant segment of communities
are organizations that have demonstrated and documented experience in
providing and administering programs that prepare women for employment
in apprenticeable occupations or other nontraditional occupations.
b. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), for this competition, do
not include for profit or public entities such as, the Job Training
Partnership System, hospitals, educational institutions--schools,
colleges and universities.
2. Community-Based Organizations: Scope of Work
The Women's Bureau, is seeking Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
with a record of accomplishment in the areas related to increasing the
employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.
a. CBOs will provide Technical Assistance (TA) to employers and
labor organizations to assist them in preparing their workplaces to
increase the employment of women in apprenticeship training and
nontraditional occupations.
Each proposal for funding should include a direct and specific
statement on how the proposed activities will increase the employment
of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional employment in private
sector workplaces, increasing self-sufficiency for them and their
families. . . . Each proposal for funding should include (1) a specific
feasibility study/examination to produce a proposed ``plan of action''
for providing technical assistance to employers and labor organizations
included with the proposal; (2) plan for assessing and evaluating the
technical assistance activities provided during the grant period, in
addition to the grant's final report; (3) plan for a ``how-to-do-it''
technical assistance manual as a result of the grant activities.
3. Scope of CBO Technical Assistance Activities--Key Features
CBOs' technical assistance tasks include employer or labor
organization requests that will promote the increased employment of
women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations in the
requester's workplace. These technical assistance activities include
strategies to implement policy and work practices changes which may
include a wide variety of technical assistance to prepare, recruit,
promote and retain women in apprentice and nontraditional employment.
While WANTO proposals can be submitted for any employer and/or
labor organization technical assistance program that is designed to
increase the employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations, the Department will give priority consideration to
applications where proposals focus on:
(1) LARGE PROJECT SPECIFIC: The proposed technical assistance
program (submitted by a CBO with documented activity-specific
experience) is designed to assist private sector employers and labor
organizations (with large project contracts) to increase women's
employment on large (multi-year and $multi-million) in private and/or
public economic development (including building) projects in
construction, transportation, utilities and telecommunications
industries. Such technical assistance activities include strategies for
developing and implementing changes in workplace policy and work
practices to support the employment of women, particularly in entering
and completing registered apprenticeship employment programs.
(2) COMPUTER-BASED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK: The proposed program
(submitted by a CBO with documented activity-specific experience) is
designed to provide for the maintenance and development of regional and
national computer-based telecommunications networks to provide
customized off-site technical assistance to small and medium size
private-sector employers and labor organizations in their development
and implementation of strategies to make workplace policy and work
practice changes to support the recruitment, training, and retention of
women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations in individual
private-sector workplaces. Such technical assistance activities should
promote the employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations.
(3) GEOGRAPHIC SPECIFIC: The proposed technical assistance program
(submitted by a CBO with documented activity-specific experience) is
designed to implement activities to strengthen technical assistance to
private-sector employers and labor organizations in the Southeast and
Southwest regions of the United States who want assistance in the
development and implementation of strategies that provide for workplace
changes in policies and work practices to support women in
apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations, particularly as cited in
(1) and (2) above. Such technical assistance activities should promote
the employment of minority women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations.
MOREOVER, the Department will award twenty-five (25) bonus rating
points to proposals reflecting the above criteria when the proposal
includes (1) established partnership with the employers and labor
organizations that expands the dollar amount, size and scope of the
proposal; and (2) specific and written commitment with timeline for the
employment of women in registered apprenticeship and/or nontraditional
employment.
4. Capabilities and Qualifications of CBO and Staff
Applicant CBOs are asked to provide information on organizational
capacity, organizational management and staffing charts, and technical
assistance experience with employers and labor organization,
qualifications of the principal investigator(s) and staff who will
provide both the ``hands on'' services and related written products
that describe the project activities in a professional manner in the
management and staff loading plans. In addition,
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applicant CBOs shall provide responses to items a-e and their subparts
listed below:
a. Briefly describe and
* * * Provide complete resumes that describe the qualifications of
persons to provide technical assistance in the area of increasing
employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.
Include both education and work experience.
* * * Provide work references, to support principal investigator
and support staff qualifications to provide technical assistance in the
area of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.
* * * Briefly describe physical resource facilities that support
your organization's human resources delivery of the technical
assistance--book and video library, conference rooms, computer hardware
and software, etc.
b. Briefly describe your organization's experience in preparing
women to gain employment in apprenticeable occupations or other
nontraditional occupations;
* * * Briefly describe your organization's current services.
* * * State your organization's current funding level and sources
of funds.
* * * Describe your organization's experience and success in the
provision of services to women in preparing them for gainful employment
in apprenticeable and other nontraditional occupations.
* * * Describe what your organization would consider as its most
outstanding success over the last two years?
* * * Provide customer references that specifically support your
organization's experience and qualifications to provide technical
assistance in the area of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations.
c. Briefly describe your organization's experience in delivering
technical assistance.
* * * Briefly describe the geographic location of your
organization's technical assistance services and any experience in
policy and/or written technical publications, including ``how-to.''
* * * Include (in the appendix) copies of publications, such as,
policy papers/studies, manuals or ``how-tos'' and feasibility studies
related to women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations that
your organization has developed.
* * * Briefly describe target groups of women to which your
organization has provided recruitment, training, placement, retention
and promotion services; for what types of occupations and industries.
* * * Briefly describe your organization's relationship with the
Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training or the State Apprenticeship
Committee.
d. Briefly describe your organization's experience working with the
business community to prepare business to place women in apprenticeable
occupations or other nontraditional occupations;
* * * Briefly describe your organization's relationship and
experience with employers and labor unions who offer apprenticeable and
nontraditional occupations.
* * * Briefly describe the type(s) of technical assistance to
employers provided previously by your organization. What were the
results of these services.
* * * Provide business references to support your work with the
business community to prepare business to place women in apprenticeship
and nontraditional occupations.
* * * Briefly list the employer and labor unions for which your
organization has provided technical assistance.
e. List the tradeswomen or women in nontraditional occupations as
active members of your organization, as either employed staff or board
members.
* * * List name, trade, and organizational position of tradeswomen
and other women in nontraditional occupations on staff or on your
organization's Board of Directors.
* * * Include the dates when tradeswomen served in active paid or
unpaid positions in your organization.
In addition, all applications must also include a management and
staff loading plan. The management plan is to include a project
organization chart and accompanying narrative which differentiates
between elements of the applicant's staff and subcontractors or
consultants who will be retained.
The staff loading plan must identify all key tasks and the person-
days required to complete each task. Labor estimates for each task must
be broken down by individuals assigned to the task, including
subcontractors and consultants. All key tasks must be charted to show
time required to perform them by months or weeks.
5. Use of Funds
The Technical Proposal of CBO applicants shall describe both known
and anticipated expenditures that may arise in the conduct of providing
technical assistance to and on employers and labor organizations
relevant to workplace change for women in apprenticeship and
nontraditional occupations. The Department is also seeking proposals
with leverage or other partnership activities that will enlarge the
dollar amount, size, and scope of the proposed WANTO financial
application.
a. List activities on which grant funds will be expended but not
the dollar cost.
b. List any leverage of funds activities taken or anticipated with
this grant--any partnerships, linkages or coordination of activities,
cooperative funding, etc.
c. List specific activities on which grant funds will be expended
by subgrantees (if applicable) but not the dollar cost.
6. Continuation of Activities
The Technical Proposal of CBO applicants shall describe any
anticipated strategies proposed by them to encourage and promote the
continuation or expansion of grant activities beyond the grant's period
of program performance.
a. Briefly describe your organization's approach and activities to
support and encourage employers and labor organizations in your/their
efforts to continue activities that support women employed in
apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations in their workplaces after
they are in the workplace and after the completion of this project.
b. Briefly describe how your organization will approach employers
and organizations to incorporate technical assistance into labor/
management agreements and/or employer policy and work practice changes
as a result of this WANTO technical assistance funding.
c. To what extend will the changed policy and work practices be
made a part of supervisory and employee employment handbooks?
G. Technical Assistance Requests
1. The Department is seeking technical assistance requests from
private-sector employers and labor organizations who want to receive
technical assistance provided by the community-based organizations with
WANTO grant funds to provide such assistance. Requesting employers and
labor organizations should submit technical assistance requests to the
Department of Labor, Attention: Lisa Harvey, Office of Procurement
Services, Room N-5416, Reference SGA 96-05, 200 Constitution Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
2. Employers and Labor Organizations may also choose to submit
their technical assistance requests to community-based organizations
they have established a partnership with in
[[Page 31157]]
the CBO's application to the Department of Labor for grant award. A
description of the technical assistance request, name and address of
the requester shall be attached to the end of the Technical Proposal.
Part IV. Evaluation Criteria and Selection
Applicants are advised that selection for a 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 and a maximum additional 25 points for the
bonus category.
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. Please see Part III.,
Section B. for additional information on the elements against which
proposal will be reviewed.
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Points
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1. Technical Criteria
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a. Capabilities and Qualifications of CBO and Staff........ 50
b. Use of Funds............................................ 25
c. Continuation of Activities..............................
25
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2. Bonus Points
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(See Part III, B-3, Scope of CBOs' Technical Assistance
Activities--Key Features)
Total................................................ 25
a. Proposal Focus on Large Project; Telecommunications
Network or Southeast/Southwest Geographic Area combined
with...................................................... 5
b. Established Partnership................................. 10
c. Written Commitment...................................... 10
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3. 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 25 points, based on the following formula:
(lowest priced proposal/proposal cost) x 25
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 25. If another proposal had
a total Federal budget of $10,000, it would receive a score of 12.5
(i.e. $5,000/$10,000) x 25).
4. Total Score
Using the above example, if the proposal requesting $5,000 of
Federal funding received a technical score of 50, the Total Score would
be 75 points (50 + 25 = 75); if the proposal requesting $10,000 of
Federal funding received a technical score of 75, the Total Score would
be 87.5.
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, including but not limited to such factors as technical
quality, geographic balance.
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 experience and commitment to assisting
business to successfully recruit, train, and retain women in
apprenticeable occupations and nontraditional occupations and to expand
the employment and self-sufficiency options of women.
During the technical panel evaluation of all proposals and
requests, the Department will bring together CBO qualifications and
capabilities with employers/labor unions and other nonunion labor
organizations requests to develop final grant activities. In addition,
the Department will also consider geographic coverage and occupational/
industrial impact in the final TA grant awards, as well as broadening
coverage of different CBO service providers.
Allowable Costs: Determinations 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 31.2
Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.
Administrative Provisions: The grant awarded under this SGA shall
be subject to the following administrative standards and provisions:
29 CFR Part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments; for all others
29 CFR Part 95.
29 CFR Part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded Grants,
Contracts and Agreements.
Part V.
A. Deliverables
(This section is provided only so that grantees may more accurately
estimate the staffing budgetary requirements when preparing their
proposal. Applicants are to exclude from their cost proposal the cost
of any requested travel to Washington, D.C.)
1. No later than four (4) weeks after award, the grantee shall meet
with the Women's Bureau and the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training
to discuss technical assistance activities, timelines, and technical
assistance outcomes assessment for comment and final approval. At that
time the grantee's final technical assistance requests and CBOs will be
matched. The CBO and the Department will discuss and make decisions on
the following program activities:
a. The number of employers and labor organizations to be served.
b. The methodology to be used to change management and employee
attitudes about women in non- traditional occupations.
c. The types of systemic change anticipated by technical assistance
strategies anticipated to be incorporated into employer ongoing
recruitment, hiring, training and promotion of women in apprenticeship
and apprenticeable nontraditional occupations.
[[Page 31158]]
d. The occupational, industrial and geographical impact
anticipated.
e. The supportive services to be provided to employers and women
after successful placement into apprenticeship or apprenticeable
nontraditional occupations.
f. The plan for the development and maintenance of a relationship
with the State level of the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship and
Training.
The Women's Bureau and the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training
will provide input orally and in writing, if necessary, within ten (10)
working days after the Post-Award Meeting.
2. No later than ten (10) weeks after award, the grantee and the
Women's Bureau will confirm the employers and labor organizations to be
served with WANTO grant funds in a final ``plan of action'' that can be
added to as requests increase. Such a plan will reflect the grantee's
study/examination workplace via an on-site visit and review of the
feasibility of the TA request by the employer.
3. No later than twelve (12) weeks after award, the grantee shall
begin the program of technical assistance to employers and labor
organizations to recruit, promote and retain women in apprenticeable
occupations and other nontraditional training for women, characterized
by employment growth and above average earnings.
4. No later than sixteen (16) weeks after award, the first
quarterly progress report of work done under this grant will be due.
Thereafter, quarterly reports will be due ten (10) working days after
the end of each of the three remaining quarters.
Quarterly progress reports should include:
a. A description of overall progress on work performed during the
reporting period, including (1) number, name, address, size of the
workplace, including proportion of women with brief profiles of
employers and labor organizations provided technical assistance during
the period; (2) systemic workplace and policy changes--actual or in
process, including the hiring and promotion of women already in the
workplace, career ladders or other training activities; (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.
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 sixty (64) weeks after award, the grantee shall
submit, three (3) copies of the draft final report, an integrated draft
report of the process and results of the technical assistance
activities during the year. The Women's Bureau and the Bureau of
Apprenticeship and Training 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.
6. No later than seventy-four (74) weeks after award, the grantee
shall submit one (1) DOL customer-ready camera ready copy and four (4)
copies of the final report; one (1) diskette (IBM compatible,
WordPerfect 5.1) of the Final Report. The report shall cover findings,
final performance data, outcome results and assessment, and employer or
labor organization plans for follow-up of participants. Copies of
technical assistance curricula shall be included, as well as any plans
for replication and dissemination of information. An Executive Summary
of the findings and recommendations, shall either be included in the
report or accompany the report.
Signed at Washington, D.C. June 7, 1996.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
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Appendices
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[FR Doc. 96-15318 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-C
