[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: 94-8862]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 13, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
[SGA No. DAA 94-004]

 

Employment and Training Administration

Job Training Partnership Act: Youth Pilot Projects

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, Employment and Training 
Administration, under Title IV of the Job Training Partnership Act, is 
seeking grant applications to test better ways of providing effective 
employment and training services to out-of-school youth who are 
economically disadvantaged. This grant solicitation consists of two 
separate competitions--(1) single site grants in which new untested 
ideas for a youth program will be implemented at one site, or an 
existing youth program will be pilot-tested in a different site; and 
(2) multi-site grants in which an existing small-scale youth program 
will be pilot-tested in five or more additional sites. The Department 
may award an evaluation contract to an outside contractor to evaluate 
grantees' performance which will require grantees' cooperation.
    Applications may be submitted for both the single site and multi-
site grants. All information required to submit a proposal is contained 
in this announcement.

DATES: Applications 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: U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Division of Acquisition and 
Assistance, Attention: Charlotte A. Adams, Reference: SGA/DAA 94-004, 
200 Constitution Avenue, NW., room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charlotte A. Adams, Division of Acquisition and Assistance, telephone 
(202) 219-8702 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Employment and Training Administration 
(ETA) of the Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of 
funds to conduct innovative pilot projects aimed at out-of-school 
youth.
    This announcement consists of three parts: Part I--Background, Part 
II--Application Process and Part III--Reporting Requirements.

Part I--Background

    It is the Department of Labor's experience that few out-of-school 
youth programs supported by the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) 
have been effective. JTPA programs in general appear to have no 
positive impact on the earnings, employment, criminal involvement, or 
welfare dependency of male and female out-of-school youth.
    Current JTPA Title II-C programs spend an average of $2,800 per 
youth and last perhaps four or five months. It may well be that this is 
too small and too short term of an investment to expect to turn around 
the lives of economically and educationally disadvantaged youth. We 
also believe that new and different approaches to serving the needs of 
youth should be tested.
    The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) believes that more 
comprehensive and innovative second-change approaches need to be 
designed and tested that focus on the needs of youth, particularly, 
out-of-school youth, on a variety of fronts. This solicitation is a 
pilot effort by the Department and ETA to move in that direction. In 
both the single site and multi-site grants, the Department is 
particularly looking for models that are more comprehensive and 
intensive than are typically now provided by JTPA Title II-C.
    Ideally, the development of new approaches to serving youth occurs 
in several stages--
    (1) An idea or model is developed;
    (2) The idea is put into practice at one site, and then perhaps at 
a second site with some modifications;
    (3) The model program is then pilot-tested a several sites;
    (4) The model program then enters a demonstration stage in which it 
is formally evaluated using random assignment of program applicants to 
treatment and non-treatment group at several sites; and
    (5) If the random-assignment evaluation results come out positive, 
the model program is replicated widely across the country. This grant 
announcement covers stages (2) and (3) of this process--the pilot-
testing of a new approach at a first or second site or at multiple 
sites.

Part II--Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

    All private for-profit, non-profit organizations, educational 
institutions, and state and local governments can apply for both the 
single site and multi-site grants. However, any award made as a result 
of this solicitation will be non-fee bearing.

B. Funding

    Funding for this solicitation is authorized under the Job Training 
Partnership Act (JTPA) title IV-D pilot and demonstration funds. The 
Department has set aside $1 million for a number of single site pilot 
project grants, and $1 million for one multi-site pilot project grant.

C. Application Procedures

    All Information Required To Submit A Proposal is Contained in This 
Announcement.
1. Submission of Proposals
    An original and three (3) copies of the proposal shall be 
submitted. Applicants should clearly label their proposals to indicate 
whether they are applying for a single site or multi-site grant. The 
proposal shall consist of a of two (2) separate and distinct parts: 
Part I shall contain the cost proposal which includes the following 
items: Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance:'' 
(See Appendix A) and SF 424A, ``Budget'' (See Appendix B). Also, the 
budget shall include on a separate page(s) a detailed cost analysis of 
each line item in the budget.
    Part II shall contain a technical proposal that demonstrates the 
offeror's capabilities in accordance with the Statement of Work of this 
solicitation. No cost data or reference to price shall be included in 
the technical proposal. In order to assist offerors in the preparation 
of their proposals and to facilitate the expeditious evaluation by the 
panel, proposals should be organized and presented in the same 
sequential order as the Evaluation Criteria in part II(F) of this 
solicitation.
2. Hand Delivered Proposals
    Proposals must be mailed at least five days prior to the closing 
date. However, if proposals are hand delivered, they must 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 accepted. Failure to 
adhere to the above instructions will be a basis for a determination of 
non-responsiveness.
3. Late Proposals
    Any proposals 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);
    (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 days 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 envelop 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 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 postmark on both the 
receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
    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 offeror or an authorized representative. If the 
representative's identity is made known and the representative signs a 
receipt for the proposal before award.
4. Period of Performance
    The period of performance under this grant will be 12 months from 
the date of grant execution.
5. Option To Extend
    Based on the availability of funds, effective program operation and 
the needs of the Department, the grants may be funded for up to two 
additional years.

D. Matching Requirements

    The Department of Labor funding under these awards shall equal 80 
percent of the total grant cost. The awardee shall provide not more 
than 10 percent from other federal sources and the remainder from non-
federal sources. The matching funds can be in cash or in-kind.

E. Statement of Work

    Proposed projects for single site pilot projects can be either an 
existing project or a new innovative idea for serving out-of school 
youth. Projects proposed for a multisite pilot should already exist. 
Grants funded under this competition must include an evaluation 
component that tracks the implementation and operation of the pilot 
sites and the outcomes of participants. If the pilot sites appear to be 
successful, the Department at some later point may wish to formally 
evaluate these models through the random assignment of program 
applicants to treatment and non-treatment groups.
1. Single Site Grant Competition
    Under this part, the Department will provide a number of small 
grants to pilot-test new approaches to serving out-of-school youth in 
an initial site or a second site. These models will not be formally 
evaluated at this stage. This generally should be seen as an initial 
pilot project stage, which may eventually lead to pilot-testing in 
multiple sites and later to formal demonstration and evaluation. 
Applicants for these grants should explain in their proposals why the 
idea they plan to implement has the potential for serving out-of-school 
youth effectively.
    If it is a new idea to be tried for the first time, justification 
as to why the model should be successful in meeting the needs of youth 
should be provided in the proposal. If it is an existing program to be 
pilot-tested in a second site, documentation should be provided 
regarding the characteristics of enrollees in the existing program, 
services provided, and outcomes. The proposal should also demonstrate 
an understanding of what else has been tried in serving out-of-school 
youth, and how the suggested model differs from other approaches.
    The application should include an evaluation component to document 
the implementation and operation of the pilot project. The evaluation 
should not include random assignment of program applicants, but should 
document the characteristics of youth served, services provided, how 
the services were provided and outcomes of participants.
2. Multi-Site Grant Competition
    Under this part, the Department wants to pilot test a structured 
model that holds promise for serving out-of-school youth. Applicants 
under this part should make a strong case that the model they are 
proposing holds promise for serving out-of-school youth effectively. 
The model being proposed should already be in operation in at least one 
site.
    Evidence should be provided in the proposal that the model is being 
successfully implemented at the existing site. The proposal should also 
demonstrate an understanding of what else has been tried in serving 
out-of-school youth, and how the suggested model differs from other 
approaches. Documentation should be provided as to number of youth 
served, types of services provided, and outcomes.
    The multi-site pilot project that will be funded here should be 
seen as a preliminary stage to formal demonstration and evaluation. The 
model can be implemented in approximately five pilot sites across the 
country, within a State or local districts within a large metropolitan 
area. The sites do not need to be identified at the time the 
application is made.
    Applications under this part should include an evaluation component 
that tracks the implementation and operation of the program model in 
the pilot sites. The evaluation should not include random assignment of 
program applicants, but should document the characteristics of youth 
served, services provided, and outcomes of participants.
3. Program Model for Both Single and Multi-Site Grants
    If the applicant proposes to pilot-test a new idea that has never 
been tried before, the proposal should discuss why the proposed model 
holds promise for serving out-of-school youth effectively. The proposal 
should delineate the key elements of the model to be implemented, and 
provide detailed plans as to the site in which it will be operated, the 
organization that will run the program, the population of youth who 
will be the focus of the program, what services will be provided, and 
what other agencies will coordinate with the project.
    If the applicant is proposing to pilot-test an existing program in 
an additional site or in multiple sites, the proposal should discuss 
what the program does, who it serves, how it provides the service, what 
and who are involved, and the outcomes. It should discuss the dynamics 
of replicating the program in another community and the projected 
differences between the initial and new communities.
    It should also discuss the flexibility of the program and how it 
will be adapted to address the needs in the community where replication 
will occur. The proposal should discuss the planning, staff 
development, and implementation. The applicant should discuss 
preliminary communication with sites in which the pilot testing may 
occur, but no formal selection needs to be made by the time of 
application.
    The proposal should demonstrate an understanding of the needs of 
youth. If a national organization is applying for a multi-site pilot 
project, the applicant should demonstrate intimate understanding of how 
the proposed model operates and what the key elements are that need to 
be replicated in the pilot sites.
    Applicants should discuss how their model addresses the multiple 
problems of youth, such as involvement in crime, drugs, and alcohol; 
poor educational backgrounds; teenage pregnancy; lack of access to 
college; and lack of employment opportunities. Note that one mode is 
not necessarily expected to address all of these needs.
4. Target Population for Both Single and Multi-Site Grants
    Economically disadvantaged, out-of-school youth ages 14-21 are the 
focus for the single site and multi-site grants. Out-of-school youth 
can include both high school dropouts and high school graduates.
5. Project Design for Both Single and Multi-Site Grants
    The projects can focus on any number of solutions to problems 
facing out-of-school, economically disadvantaged youth. This 
solicitation is seeking both new ideas and ideas that have already been 
developed with a history of success.
    The ideas must have measurable outcomes and services must be 
provided in an organized and high-quality manner. The services can be 
provide through the school system, through a recreation center in the 
community, or through a community center. It must, however, be able to 
attract the youth to be served and it must be easily assessable. 
Applicants are asked to:
    a. Describe the program and its measurable goals/outcomes and 
strategy, including services to be provided to accomplish the goals;
    b. Identify the key elements of the model that distinguish it and 
that would need to be part of any replication effort.
    c. Identify how pilot sites will be selected;
    d. Provide a description of the steps to be taken to recruit 
participants to encourage and promote maximum participation by at-risk 
youth who are currently under-served by education and training 
programs, and to determine customer need and customer satisfaction.
    e. Describe design and implementation of the project, giving 
special attention to the feasibility of operating the project in a new 
locations.
    f. Provide assurances that grant funds will be used to start a new 
service or to replicate an existing project in new location, not to 
fund an already existing site and/or existing services.
    g. Applicants should be able to demonstrate on the basis of past or 
current experience that they have the capability to implement the 
project and achieve the goals and objectives of the project.
    h. Describe the intake procedures, individualized assessment, and 
case management approach to be used by the project.
    i. Discuss the performance measures to be used that may include: 
Youth returning to school, high school completion or equivalency; youth 
entering postsecondary institutions, apprenticeships, or other advanced 
training programs; youth placed in jobs; or youth participating in 
education, training and employment services. They may also include, 
reduced number of drug-related arrest, teenage pregnancies, greater 
involvement in community activities, such as recreation and sports, 
study groups, cultural and theater activities, etc.

F. Rating Criteria for Award for Both Single and Multi-Site Grants

    Applicants are advised that the selection of grantees for awards is 
to be made after careful review by a panel of specialists. Applicants 
are advised that discussions may be necessary in order to clarify any 
inconsistencies in their application. The panel results are advisory in 
nature to help establish a competitive range. The Grant Officer will 
make final awards based on what is in the best interests of the 
Government.
1. Quality of Program Model To Be Pilot-Tested
    Proposals will be evaluated based on the applicant's justification 
that the proposed model can have a long-term difference in the lives of 
out-of-school youth. The model should be intensive and comprehensive 
enough to turn around the lives of youth. If the model is already in 
existence, discuss its effectiveness in serving youth. (30 points).
2. Quality of Implementation Plan for Pilot-Testing the Model
    The plan should be structured for pilot-testing the program model. 
For single site pilot-tests under part II(E), the proposed site should 
be identified, and plans in place to implement the program. Matching 
funds should be committed, and the program operator identified. 
Coordination with other agencies should also be identified.
    For multi-site pilots under Part II(E), the pilot sites do not need 
to be identified, but a structured plan needs to be presented as to how 
sites will be selected, and what coordination with other agencies will 
be sought. Coordination with other agencies should also be identified. 
(30 points).
3. Experience of Grant Applicant
    Applicants should describe the experience both of the organization 
and of the staff that will be involved in the pilot program in dealing 
with out-of-school youth. An applicant should describe the success rate 
of the organization with such programs. (20 points).
4. Evaluation Approach and Planned Outcomes
    The pilot project is intended to result in a measurable increase in 
outcomes for out-of-school, economically disadvantaged youth in the 
grantee's area. The discussion must include a clear description of the 
project performance goals and accomplishments and what outcome measures 
and planned evaluation approach will be used to assess how well the 
program has met its objectives. (15 points).
5. Need for Project in Pilot Sites
    An applicant should describe the level of need for this project in 
the proposed pilot sites. It should discuss the population, such as 
age, gender, educational level, the project will serve. It should 
describe the economic and social dynamics, such as poverty, crime, 
school-drop-out, and teenage pregnancy rates, of the geographic area to 
be served. (5 points).
6. Matching Requirements
    Applicants who fail to comply with the matching requirements set 
forth in the application process shall not be considered for award.

Part III--Reporting Requirements

    The grantee shall furnish the reports and documents listed below:

A. Quarterly Financial Reports

    The grantee shall submit to the Grant Officer Technical 
Representative (GOTR) 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 Report

    The grantee shall submit to the GOTR 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. Preliminary Report (Draft Final)

    This report shall summarize, in a format to be prescribed at a 
later date, project activities, evaluation findings, implications, 
conclusions, and recommendations resulting from the project work to 
date. It shall be submitted in an original and 2 copies to the Grant 
Officer 30 days before the expiration date of the grant.

D. Final Report

    This report shall update information and reflect ETA comments in 
the draft final report. It should include a short executive summary. It 
shall be submitted in an original and 2 copies to the GOTR 30 days 
after the expiration date of the grant. Five percent of the Federal 
share of the grant is considered payment for the final evaluation 
report. Therefore, ETA will reimburse grantees in an amount not to 
exceed 95% of the grant amount until an acceptable draft final report 
is received.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 7th day of April 1994.
Janice E. Perry,
Grant Officer, ETA.

Appendices

A. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance
B. SF-424A, Budget

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M

TN13AP94.000


TN13AP94.001


[FR Doc. 94-8862 Filed 4-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-C