[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11456]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
[SGA No. DAA 94-007]

 

Job Training Partnership Act: Business Partnership Grants

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and solicitation for grant 
applications (SGA).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA), under Title IV of the Job Training Partnership 
Act (JTPA), is announcing the availability of demonstration funds under 
the Business Partnership Grants program.
    Grants will be awarded to eligile non-profit organizations to 
support the participation and involvement of the private sector in 
specific new initiatives involving national employment and training 
programs. These initiatives are (1) School-to-Work Programs which are 
sponsored jointly by the Departments of Labor and Education; (2) Skill 
Standards Initiatives and (3) Reemployment Program Strategy, which 
includes both Worker Adjustment Services and One-Stop Career Centers.
    Multiple grant awards may be made in each category. The estimated 
total amount of funds available under this solicitation is $1.8 million 
for all categories. Awards will be for a twelve month period with up to 
two option years.
    Applicants must identify which of the above categories they are 
applying for on the face sheet of their application. All information 
and forms needed to apply for funding under this solicitation are 
included in this announcement.

DATES: Applications for grant awards will be accepted commencing May 
11, 1994. The closing date for receipt of applications shall be June 
15, 1994, at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the address below.

ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Division of Acquisition and 
Assistance, Attention: Ms. Reda Harrison, Reference: SGA No. DAA 94-
007, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Reda Harrison, Division of Acquisition and Assistance, Telephone: 
(202) 219-8702 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of four parts: 
Part I--Background, Part II--Application Process, Part III--Statement 
of Work, and Part IV--Evaluation Criteria.

Part I--Background

    The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration 
(ETA), in collaboration with other Federal agencies, has undertaken a 
series of initiatives: (1) To enhance the effectiveness of and to 
better coordinate the services provided through a variety of programs 
and (2) to enhance the competitiveness of the American worker. An 
important aspect of these initiatives is to elicit the participation 
and involvement of private sector firms both by a direct approach to 
major firms and by developing strategies and materials that will 
provide assistance to State and local officials in dealing with small 
and medium-size employers.
    A key tenet of this effort is that the delivery of programs should 
be customer-focused. To accomplish this, there is a need to elicit 
direct input from a broad range of employers on the services available 
through various ETA programs and to obtain detailed views of these 
private sector ``customers'' on ways to ultimately improve services to 
employment and training clients.
    It is important for potential grantees to recognize that the 
support requested depends to a substantial degree on the enactment of 
legislation proposed or to be proposed to the Congress. While the 
Department favors the enactment of such legislation, there is no 
assurance that such bills will be enacted or that there will not be 
substantial revisions in the bills enacted into law.

Part II--Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

    Awards under this Solicitation will be made to non-profit 
organizations.

B. Submission of Proposals

    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'' 
(Appendix No. 1) and SF 424A, ``Budget'' (Appendix No. 2). 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 
applicant's capabilities in accordance with the Statement of Work 
contained in this announcement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
submit a technical proposal of less than one hundred fifty (150) 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 preparing 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 should be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the 
closing date. However, if proposals are hand-delivered, they must be 
received at the designate place by 2 p.m., Eastern Time by June 15, 
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.

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 12 months from the date of 
execution.

G. Funding

    DOL has set aside up to $1.8 million to be disbursed for all 
categories.

H. Option to Extend

    Based on the availability of funds, effective program operation, 
and the needs of the Department, the grants may be extended for up to 
two option years.

Part III--Statement of Work

    Each of the following initiatives has a specific set of parameters, 
activities, and tasks:

A. School-to-Work

    The United States is the only industrialized nation that lacks a 
comprehensive system to help its youth acquire the knowledge, skills 
and information about the labor market necessary to make an effective 
transition from school to career-oriented work. Three-fourths of 
America's high school students enter the workforce without college 
degrees.
    Many do not possess the basic academic and occupational skills 
necessary for the workplace or to pursue further education.
    The Departments of Labor and Education have made the development of 
a school-to-work system a high priority. The ``School-to-Work 
Opportunities Initiative'' builds on earlier work of the two 
Departments as well as exemplary programs at the State and local 
levels. The ``School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994'' was developed 
by the Departments of Labor and Education and was signed into law by 
the President on May 4, 1994.
    This legislation provides a broad framework for effective school-
to-work strategies and seed money for statewide and local 
implementation of school-to-work systems. During Fiscal Year 1994, the 
Departments are using pre-existing legislative authority to begin 
developmental activities.
    As envisioned, States and localities will have considerable 
flexibility to design and implement programs which fit their individual 
circumstances and unique needs. However all programs will share some 
basic components:
    1. Work-based learning that provides a planned program of job 
training and experience, paid work experience, workplace mentoring and 
instruction in workplace competencies and in a broad variety of 
elements of an industry.
    2. School-based learning that provides career exploration and 
career counseling, instruction in a career major (selected no later 
than the 11th grade), a program of study that is based on high academic 
and skill standards and typically involves at least one year of post 
secondary education, and periodic evaluations to identify students' 
academic strengths and weaknesses.
    3. Connecting Activities that coordinate involvement of employers, 
schools and students, matching students and work-based learning 
opportunities, and training teachers, mentors, and counselors.
    Students, upon successful completion, will receive a high school 
diplomas, or its equivalent; a certificate or diploma from a post-
secondary institution, if appropriate; and a skill certificate.
    At the State level, the Governor, the chief state school officials 
and state agency officials responsible for job training and employment, 
economic development, post secondary education and other appropriate 
offices will collaborate in the planning and development of the state 
school to work system. At the local level, partnerships that consist of 
employers, secondary and post secondary education institutions, labor 
organizations and other local community and business leaders will 
design and administer school-to-work programs.
    The Departments of Labor and Education are supporting State and 
local developmental and implementation activities by providing grants 
and through research, evaluation, technical assistance and other 
support activities. For those States who are ready to move beyond 
developmental activities, the two Departments are making available a 
limited number of larger, multi-year implementation grants. States will 
be selected to receive these grants through a competitive process with 
an anticipated award date of July 1994.
    Employers must play a critical role in designing and implementing 
school to work strategies. Successful programs will require the active 
involvement of the business community. Employers, in partnership with 
labor, must define the skill requirements for jobs, participate equally 
in the governance of the program, offer quality learning experiences 
for the students at the worksite, and provide jobs for students and 
graduates.
    Thus, development of an effective school-to-work ``system'' 
requires the active involvement of a substantial portion of this 
nation's business community. Accomplishing this objective is a daunting 
and challenging task. Employers must be convinced that it is in their 
best interest to participate in such arrangements.
    Employers who agree to participate may need assistance in 
developing the capacity to transform their workplaces into quality 
learning environments a well as assuming other partnership roles. 
Experience to date suggests that a multitude of approaches are needed 
to effectively mobilize this nation's business community.
    State Officials involved in school-to-work transition have 
indicated that this is an area where federal assistance is needed. 
Accordingly, applicants interested in this portion of the solicitation 
shall explain how they intend to accomplish the following objectives:
    1. Create awareness among the business community about the 
``School-to-Work Opportunities Initiative'' in general and, more 
specifically the business role in developing and administering the 
system;
    2. Build demand among the business community to participate in 
local partnerships;
    3. Develop capacity of business to participate as an active partner 
in local school-to-work opportunities program;
    4. Broker the formation of coalitions of business and of local 
partnerships among business, education, labor (where appropriate) and 
community organizations to develop and administer local school-to-work 
opportunities programs.
    Provide direct assistance to State and local programs in achieving 
employer involvement and assistance in developing effective local 
programs. This may entail training of State and local staff, on-site 
involvement to obtain major employer representation and participation 
in the local School-to-Work Program and other assistance as requested 
by local or state programs.
    States and localities will be organizing their implementation of 
school-to-work systems around broad industry/occupational clusters. 
Accordingly, the Department is seeking to complement State and local 
effort by providing business related assistance focused around broad 
industry clusters.
    Thus, the Department is seeking applicants that can organize their 
efforts around broad industry groups that would at least include: 
Manufacturing, service, retail and wholesale trade, and finance, 
insurance and real estate. Within each sector, applicants must be able 
to demonstrate their ability to enlist the support of both leading edge 
companies and small and mid-size firms.
    In addition, applicants must indicate the major occupational 
clusters within each industry sector that the organization believes 
offers the greatest potential for inclusion in school-to-work 
transition opportunities programs. The Department is seeking to work 
closely with the applicant(s) that is selected for these partnership 
activities, but not to prescribe the methods the applicant will employ 
to accomplish the objectives laid out above. The Department recognizes 
that those applicants which have demonstrated the capability to deliver 
services have established methods and processes for reaching and 
supporting the employer community.
    Each applicant proposal for this section of the Statement of Work 
must include:
    1. A comprehensive implementation plan for providing targeted 
assistance to States as they move forward to implement their school-to-
work transition systems. Such plan must have specific actions what will 
be accomplished within the grant period.
    2. A brief description of all proposed technical assistance guides, 
videos, promotional materials, newsletters and other materials and 
publications developed under this grant. Complete drafts of these 
materials are to be submitted for review and, as necessary revision 
prior to publication/release.
    3. A listing of significant events sponsored by the organization 
that relates to the objectives of this grant, regardless of whether 
this is the primary purpose of the event.
    4. A plan for assessment of the incentives, both financial and 
nonfinancial, that will be required to recruit their members 
participation in local school-to-work opportunities programs, on a 
large-scale basis.

B. Skill Standards

    The Department wants to promote the active involvement of business 
organizations in the development of national voluntary skill standards. 
Once established these standards are designed to meet the needs of the 
current and potential workforce, from high school dropouts to graduates 
of school-to-work. programs, from dislocated workers to workers 
progressing along a career path. Business participation and leadership 
in these activities is critical to achieving our major objectives of a 
common language of skill classification and a portable credential.
    Therefore, proposals submitted in response to this section of the 
Statement of Work should include a strategy, implementation plan and 
timetable for the following elements:
    1. Marketing. To include information sharing, promotion and 
generate interest among the business community, broadly defined, of 
activities in this area and informing workers of the benefits of the 
system for enhancing their ability to enter or reenter the workforce or 
move up in a career progression;
    2. Coalition Building. To prepare the business community for 
participation in voluntary partnerships encourage by the National Skill 
Standards Board to be established under the GOALS 2000: Educate 
American Act (this would include stimulating business participation as 
well as courting business partnerships with representatives from the 
education and training community, State and local governments, 
community-based organizations and organized labor);
    3. Research. To draw the linkage between high performance work 
organization, skill standards and competitiveness gains, and to examine 
the connection between the human resource requirements of ISO 9000 and 
the Malcolm Baldrige Award using skill standards as a tool.

C. Reemployment Program Activities

    Each year more than one-fourth of the workforce move to new jobs 
either to advance careers or to rebound from a job loss. The 
Administration plans a major investment to help experienced workers 
move from one job to the next to equip workers with skills needed for 
the new jobs of the future.
    Currently, over 60 Federal programs deliver job training and 
employment services to Americans--each with its own funding mechanisms, 
eligibility criteria and range of services. DOL/ETA presently 
administers six separate programs focused on dislocated workers: 
Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance, Defense 
Conversion Program, Defense Diversification Program, Clean Air 
Employment Transition Assistance, Trade Adjustment Assistance and North 
Atlantic Free Trade Act-Bridge.
    Applicants seeking to submit a proposal for this portion of the 
solicitation shall include the following:
    1. One-Stop Career Centers. Grantees will propose a strategy for 
developing effective local support for one-stop career centers and the 
local level governance approach to such centers. This will require the 
development of an approach to building business support for Workforce 
Investment Boards, where they are created and for training of both 
members of such boards and staff.
    (a) The grantees will develop and introduce a strategic planning 
model to assist local areas on implementing effective governance of one 
stop career centers and the relationship of such centers to the needed 
services. This will include the dissemination of workforce investment 
principles and presentations to major employer organizations and their 
membership of these principles to obtain support and participation.
    (b) Develop and disseminate, in consultation with ETA, models (or 
best practices) for implementing workforce Investment Boards, with 
specific emphasis on the relationship with existing structures such as 
Private Industry Councils or other existing local boards;
    (c) Develop and provide methods to build capacity and/or orient 
board members to ensure success; and,
    (d) Provide recommendations on staffing needs for such local 
bodies.
    (2) Worker Adjustment. The Worker Adjustment initiative will 
require grantees, in consultation with ETA, to undertake research 
efforts and disseminate technical assistance and training materials to 
support worker adjustment services for experienced workers. Proposals 
shall include:
    (a) Review of the delivery structure for delivery of rapid response 
assistance, how it is controlled, what role substate grantees play and 
``best practices'' of effective Dislocated Worker Units.
    (b) Examination of effective layoff aversion through rapid response 
and dissemination of what has been tried, what has worked, who does it 
and how much it costs.
    (c) Technical assistance material on relocation opportunities for 
discrete groups of dislocated technical, professional and managerial 
workers. To what extent have organizations developed systems to match 
clusters of dislocated professionals with job openings in other areas 
and what can be undertaken to expand or enhance these efforts.
    (d) Examination of various approaches and development of a specific 
approach for obtaining customer feedback (including participants, 
hiring employers and discharging employers) concerning their services 
offered and the timing of such services.
    (e) Examination of the delivery structure for dislocated worker 
services--What organizations are substate grantees under Title III? How 
many are Title II administrative entities? How many use essentially the 
same process for dislocated workers as disadvantaged workers? What is 
the delivery structure for workers receiving services under TAA? What 
recommendations can be made for improving or restructuring the delivery 
of these services, especially under a comprehensive program approach?

PART IV--EVALUATION CRITERIA

    Prospective offerors are advised that the selection of grantees for 
awards is to be made after careful evaluation of proposals by an 
evaluation panel within DOL. 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. Panelists will evaluate the proposals on the 
basis of the following factors:

A. Design and Approach of Project (40 points)

    Applicant's planned approach for accomplishing the objectives set 
forth in the Statement of Work. This includes a basic understanding of 
the initiatives as reflected in the planning, development and 
implementation of the program(s): The soundness of the plan to 
accomplish the goals and the objectives and the establishment of 
measurable outcomes.

B. Content, Scope and Quality of Proposed Project (40 points)

    Consideration will be given to such factors as: organizational 
structure, program components and activities, staffing and resources 
and the ability of offer to accomplish the goals and objectives of the 
Initiatives.

C. Demonstrated Capacity to Establish Linkages and Leverage Resources 
(20 points)

    The ability of the offerer to complete the objectives set forth in 
the Statement of Work, to provide necessary linkages with complementary 
programs, the business community, schools, State and local training 
agencies and other organizations providing employment and training 
services. Also evaluated will be the soundness of plans for linking 
community resources and their active participation in program 
objectives.

D. Costs

    Costs shall be rated separately. Costs will be analyzed to 
determine reasonableness. Available resources should be adequate for 
the services proposed in the application.
    Please indicate costs separately for each major activity area 
(School-to-Work, skill standards or Reemployment program). The cost in 
each areas must be reasonable in view of the anticipated results. 
Applicants should document their expected costs and justify why they 
consider these costs reasonable.
    Applicants must indicate for each major area the principle 
personnel to be assigned. If the work or most of the work would be 
performed by a subgrantee, include information on the proposed 
subgrantee organization and its principle personnel to be assigned to 
the planned work.
    Applicants are advised that awards may be made to more than one 
organization for a given cluster, i.e. Skill Standards, and that awards 
may be made in all or selected clusters. Awards may not be made in a 
cluster area in which proposals are rated technically unacceptable.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 5th day of May.
Janice E. Perry,
Grant Officer, Division of Acquisition and Assistance.

Appendices

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

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M

TN11MY94.012


TN11MY94.013


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[FR Doc. 94-11456 Filed 5-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-C