[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17272]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration

 

Wagner-Peyser Act: One-Stop Career Center System Grants

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant 
Applications (SGA).

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SUMMARY: All Information required to submit a proposal is contained in 
this announcement. The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration (DOL/ETA) is announcing available grants for 
the planning/development and implementation of One-Stop Career Center 
Systems. The One-Stop Career Center System is the organizing vehicle 
for transforming the current fragmented array of employment and 
training programs into a coordinated information and service delivery 
system for individuals seeking first, new or better jobs and for 
employers seeking to hire new workers.
    In advancing this purpose, DOL/ETA seeks to provide a framework 
within which States, in conjunction with local entities, have the 
flexibility to design a One-Stop Career Center System which is 
customized to the particular needs of the local labor market and the 
State, but is also part of a larger State and national system. As 
envisioned, this system is characterized by its emphasis on serving its 
customers. It should meet the needs of all customers by providing a 
common core of information and services which are standard and 
universal at any access point which calls itself a ``one-stop.'' It 
should be easy to locate and use, be information-rich and offer 
customers choice in where and how to get services. This system must be 
focused on constant improvement by gauging customer satisfaction with 
services and using the information to improve the system.
    With this solicitation, the Department is focusing on creating a 
system, not merely a collection of networked individual programs. 
Federal, State and local entities need to agree on how to work in a way 
that builds on the strengths of each, recognizes the necessary role of 
each and explores the creation of new approaches and collaboratives to 
serve the customer. This system should be flexible, comprised of 
entities that are learning organizations with staff capable of leading 
and changing. This flexible system is also ``high-tech''--where 
technology is used to give and expand high-quality services to 
customers in a variety of manners and media.
    In the Department's fiscal year 1994 budget, Congress appropriated 
$50 million for One-Stop Career Centers under current Wagner-Peyser Act 
authority. These funds became available for obligation and expenditure 
effective July 1, 1994. Of the funds, $26 million will be used for 
funding the planning, development and implementation of One-Stop Career 
Center systems. Of the remaining amount, $20.5 million has been 
targeted for first year funding of a comprehensive national Labor 
Market Information System. The balance, $3.5 million, will be awarded 
to local communities under a separate SGA for local site system 
development and to serve as ``learning laboratories'' for other 
communities.
    Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis approximately 15 to 
20 States for planning and development and approximately 4 to 6 States 
for implementation of One-Stop Career Center systems. Planning and 
development grants are for a one-year period. Implementation grants are 
for a three-year period. Grant funds for the second and third years are 
contingent upon satisfactory performance in the previous year and 
availability of funds.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of proposals at the Department of 
Labor will be 2 p.m., Eastern Time, September 15, 1994. Any proposal 
not received at the designated place, date and time of delivery 
specified will not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Proposals 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 94-20, 
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) announces the availability of funds to support the planning/
development and implementation of One-Stop Career Center Systems. This 
announcement consists of five parts: Part I--Background/Description, 
Part II--Application Process, Part III--Evaluation Criteria for Award, 
Part IV--Meetings and Part V--Reporting Requirements.

Part I--Background/Description

    American workers confront an economy in continuous transition. 
Young people and other first time job seekers must try to find their 
place in a shifting labor market. Job holders find they must constantly 
learn new skills. Fewer workers can expect to be with a single firm 
throughout their work life. Employers find it harder to find new 
workers with up-to-date skills.
    There is a confusing patchwork of job training, retraining and 
benefit programs which do not efficiently address workforce security 
and career requirements. There is a clear need for a streamlined One-
Stop Career Center system which puts customers first by providing them 
with the information and access to services they need to make sound 
career decisions.
    The Department is committed to improving the quality and delivery 
of services to its ultimate customers--American workers and their 
employers. The One-Stop Career Center system is the vehicle for 
transforming this fragmented training and employment system into a 
coordinated information and service delivery system for all Americans 
seeking new jobs, better jobs, or first jobs. An essential component 
within the One-Stop system is an enhanced labor market information 
system.
    In fiscal year 1994, the Employment and Training Administration 
(ETA) is using the $50 million Congress appropriated under the Wagner-
Peyser Act to bring implementation of a voluntary, national One-Stop 
Career Center system and for first year funding of the American Labor 
Market Information System.
    ETA plans to use $26 million of the funds to award grants to 
develop and implement One-Stop Career Center systems in conjunction 
with local communities. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis 
to approximately 15 to 20 States for planning/development and to 
approximately 4 to 6 States for implementation of One-Stop Career 
Center systems.
    ETA will also issue a separate solicitation (for approximately $3.5 
million) to award grants to local communities for local One-Stop Career 
Center systems. These competitively awarded grants will be available to 
local communities that have already developed a local system and which 
would like to serve as ``learning laboratories'' for other States and 
local communities in developing One-Stop Career Center systems. It is 
anticipated that these local communities will be able to make 
enhancements to their systems and undertake a broad range of 
dissemination and technical assistance activities.
    An additional $8 million (approximately) of the remaining $20.5 
million will also be distributed to the States that receive One-Stop 
implementation grants to support labor market information needs. Those 
States selected for implementation grants will be provided with this 
additional funding for technology upgrades to support the State's LMI 
data collection--analysis and information distribution system.
    The remaining $12.5 million (approximately) in LMI funds will be 
spent to begin the building of America's Labor Market Information 
System in every State. Some funds will be available to every State 
regardless of whether the State pursues One-Stop grant funding. States 
will use these funds to meet specific LMI needs as designated by the 
States. Funds will also be provided to individual States for 
demonstration projects, to support evaluation of existing LMI products 
and the development of new ones, and to underwrite the expansion of job 
and talent banks. More detailed plans for use of these funds will be 
issued separately.

The One-Stop Career Center System Framework

    As envisioned, the One-Stop Career Center System will provide 
universal access to basic high-quality services for at least DOL funded 
programs. A guiding principle behind the One-Stop concept is that 
individuals should have access, through a One-Stop, to a broad range of 
employment, training and education services. This implies at least one 
physical location that provides comprehensive services to any 
individual seeking such services.
    Beyond this, there is a great deal of flexibility afforded at State 
and local levels to design the One-Stop system that best serves the 
community, and there are many stages of development. For example, the 
One-Stop Career Center system may be physically located in one 
comprehensive site, in many sites, through electronic and technological 
access points, or through a combination of these approaches.
    Designs may include on-site services for only selected programs in 
the One-Stop Career Center while linking to other programs. Under this 
scenario, any individual can receive information on possible 
eligibility for services which may be accessed through another service 
center--the so-called ``no wrong door.'' A design may provide full 
access to every employment and training and education program in a 
single One-Stop Career Center in the community which is linked with 
other specialized centers and electronic and technological access 
points.
    The goal of this solicitation is to accelerate the creation of a 
comprehensive, streamlined system of One-Stop Career Centers that will, 
at a minimum, provide a standard set of high quality services 
universally by investing in innovations already underway in the States 
and communities. The federal design leaves the conduct of One-Stop 
Career Center system operations as flexible as possible under the 
direction of State and local partners, while maintaining accountability 
and keeping it part of a nationwide system which is characterized by a 
high standard of quality. States, working in conjunction with 
localities, will specify the flow of funds in their proposals, allowing 
them to adapt the best systems to fit their needs.
    In awarding grants for development and implementation of One-Stop 
Career Center systems, ETA's intent is to support promising State and 
local efforts toward program integration, improved access and enhanced 
quality of services to workers and employers consistent with broadly 
defined outcomes. It is expected that statewide systemic change may be 
achieved by building on the enriching current programs.
    The Administration's proposed Reemployment Act of 1994 (REA) 
contains provisions establishing a framework for the development and 
implementation of statewide One-Stop Career Center systems. However, 
since the REA is pending in Congress, the grant solicitation criteria 
are not based on the REA, but rather on existing legislative authority. 
This solicitation is based on broad outcome objectives to be achieved 
through the One-Stop system. These broad outcome objectives that ETA 
will use in making investment decisions for One-Stop systems are:
1. Universality
    The One-Stop Center system must be one that integrates delivery of 
services under existing unemployment, employment and job training 
programs. The system must provide all populations with an array of job 
finding and employment development assistance.
2. Customer Choice
    Consistent with the principles in the Vice President's National 
Performance Review for reinventing government, these systems should 
provide customers with options and choice of where to get the services 
that best meet their needs.
3. Integrated System
    In order to provide a career center system that is comprehensive 
and accessible in ``One-Stop,'' programs, services, and governance 
structures must be as fully integrated as possible. At a minimum, the 
One-Stop system must include the DOL-funded employment and training 
programs. The highest degree of program integration and/or 
accessibility will be viewed the most favorably in the competition for 
implementation grants.
4. Performance-Driven/Outcomes-Based
    The One-Stop system must be clear in the outcomes it seeks to 
achieve and the consequences for failing to meet these outcomes. There 
must be a system to measure whether the One-Stop system performance 
actually achieved the outcomes. This should have a strong connection to 
whether the customer is satisfied with the services received.

America's Labor Market Information System (ALMIS)

    The One-Stop system will be augmented by an expanded and improved 
LMI system to benefit all Americans. Increased Federal investments--
leveraged by State and local resources--will be made in five major 
categories with key objectives:
(1) Customer Products and Services
     Improve the basic labor exchange function (including 
talent banks and electronic access to job banks).
     Improve the ability to assess skills and skill needs.
     Create common program administration tools.
     Create, upgrade, disseminate tools for easy access.
(2) Data Sets
     Create a standardized wage program.
     Collect expanded information to permit. State/Federal 
industry and occupation projections.
     Improve reliability of State and local labor force 
estimates.
     Create or acquire a database of employers.
     Enhance State Training Inventory with additional data.
     Develop consistent reports on education, training, and 
employment service programs.
     Continue process of improvement to basic Bureau of Labor 
Statistics programs.
     Improve Mass Layoff Statistics.
(3) Delivery Systems
     Develop user-friendly delivery shell with plug-in modules.
     Create a national LMI computer network to permit easy data 
transfer.
(4) LMI Organizational Structure
     Establish a high performance LMI organizational structure.
     Create LMI training infrastructure.
     Build a NOICC/SOICC training structure to provide support 
for counselors.
(5) Common Language/Technical Standards
     Develop common language of skills and occupational 
knowledge.
     Develop a common occupational classification scheme.
     Adopt national technical standards for LMI electronic 
portion.

Part II--Application Process All Information Required to Submit a 
Proposal is Contained in This Announcement

A. Eligible Applicants

    Competition for these awards is limited to States which have 
developed proposals in conjunction with appropriate local entities. 
Only the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the 
Virgin Islands are eligible to apply. The Governor must transmit the 
proposal. In transmitting the proposal, (only one per State), the State 
must include evidence of commitment among those State and local 
agencies that will participate in the activities described in the 
State's proposal.

B. Applicant Options

    States may apply for:
     A planning/developmental grant; or,
     An implementation grant; or,
     Both a planning/development and an implementation grant. 
States which are applying for an implementation grant may request 
consideration for a planning/development grant should the State not be 
selected for an implementation grant. States which would like to be 
considered for both should complete both the planning/development and 
implementation grant sections, including corresponding budgets.

C. Grant Awards

    The Department has allocated about $4.5 million for planning/
development grants. Approximately 15 to 20 grants will be awarded. The 
Department anticipates making awards of $200,000 to $400,000 based upon 
size. Size of State will be determined based on the size of the State's 
civilian labor force. While the Department does not anticipate 
increasing the total amount available for planning/development grants, 
adjustments will be considered for individual States depending upon the 
requirements of the plan and the number and quality of grant proposals 
received. The Department has allocated about $21.5 million for 
implementation grants. Implementation grants will be awarded to 
approximately 4 to 6 States. The Department anticipates funding the 
implementation grants incrementally, using the $21.5 million allocated 
for this purpose to fund the first year. Funding for the second and 
third years is contingent upon the continued availability of funds and 
upon satisfactory performance in the prior year. However, the 
Department will not make a final decision on funding until the 
implementation proposals are reviewed and evaluated.

D. Use of Funds

    Funds received under this grant may be used for activities outlined 
in the State's plan. The only exception is that funds may not be used 
for construction of new buildings.

E. Closing Date

    The closing date for receipt of proposals at the Department of 
Labor is 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, September 15, 1994. Any proposal not 
received at the designated place, date and time of delivery specified 
will not be considered.

F. Application Procedures

1. Submission of Proposal
    The proposal shall consist of two (2) separate parts:
    Part I shall contain the Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for 
Federal Assistance,'' and ``Budget Information.'' All copies of the 424 
shall have original signatures. In addition, the budget shall include--
on a separate page(s)--a detailed cost break-out of each line item on 
the Budget Information form.
    Part II shall contain technical data that demonstrates the State's 
plan and capabilities in accordance with the Contents of the 
Application detailed below. This part should address the review 
questions in sequential order.
    An original and six (6) copies of the proposal shall be submitted 
in hard copy. One diskette, 5\1/4\'' or 3\1/2\'', in WordPerfect, AMI 
Pro, MS Word, WordStar, or ASCII text format should also be submitted 
for Part II. All material should be submitted to: Charlotte Adams, 
Grants Management Specialist, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, Division of Acquisition and Assistance, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210.
2. Hand Delivered Proposals
    Proposals should be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the 
closing date. However, if proposals are hand-delivered, they shall be 
received at the designated place by 2 p.m., Eastern Time, September 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.
3. 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 was either:
    (1) Sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail not 
later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified for receipt 
of proposal (e.g., an offer submitted in response to a solicitation 
requiring receipt of proposals by the 20th of the month must have been 
mailed by the 15th); or
    (2) 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 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, offerors should request the postal clerk to place a legible 
hand cancellation ``bull's eye'' postmark on both the receipt and the 
envelope or wrapper.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late proposal sent by ``Express Mail Next Day Service--Post Office to 
Addressee'' is the date entered by the Post Office receiving clerk on 
the ``Express Mail Next Day Service--Post Office to Addressee'' label 
and the postmark on both the envelope or wrapper and on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the same meaning 
as defined above. Therefore, offerors should request the postal clerk 
to place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's eye'' postmark on both 
the receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
4. Period of Performance
    For planning and development grants, the period of performance will 
be 12 months from the date of execution of the grant. For 
implementation grants, the period of performance will be 36 months from 
the date of execution of the grant. It is expected the awards will be 
made in November 1994. It is anticipated that a total of $26 million 
for planning and development grants and for implementation grants will 
be disbursed. Grant funds for the second and third years are contingent 
upon satisfactory performance in the prior years and continued 
availability of funds.

G. Statement of Work/Grant Application

1. Description Section
    All States, regardless of whether the State is applying for a 
planning/developmental or implementation grant, must fully complete 
this section. No proposal will be considered unless each item below is 
fully addressed. Supplemental information may be provided to complete 
this section, for example, planning documents; workplans; videos; 
marketing materials; or other explanatory information.
     Work Force Development. The proposal must describe the 
actions that the State and/or local communities have already completed 
to assess current and future work force development needs and to 
prepare a strategic plan for addressing these needs. Proposal should 
reference (or include) copies of studies conducted, including 
participating State and local agencies and interest groups, and actions 
taken to implement the plan. Copies of relevant, enacted State 
legislation should also be included.
     One-Stop Career Center System Vision. The proposal must 
provide a description of the basic features of a One-Stop system in 
their State. This description should include the underlying 
assumptions, principles and objectives in developing and implementing a 
One-Stop system.
     Status of One-Stop Efforts. The proposal must describe the 
status of One-Stop efforts in local communities within the State. This 
should include the level of resources the State has already committed 
to One-Stop efforts.
     Collaboration. The proposal must include a description of 
how the Governor, local elected officials, community and business 
leaders, representatives of voluntary organizations, State and local 
agency officials responsible for job training and employment, service 
providers, and other interested organizations and individuals will 
collaborate in the development and implementation of the statewide One-
Stop system. Proposals should contain specific examples of 
collaboration such as a description of the worker profiling and 
reemployment services system, memoranda of understanding, agreements 
among State and local officials, composition and responsibilities of 
State and local work force development entities, etc.
     Labor Market Information. Proposal must describe the 
State's present capacity to deliver high quality labor market 
information to the customers of the One-Stop system.
     Agency Contact. The Proposal must identify the program 
official(s) who will have lead responsibility for administering this 
grant. In designating such individual(s), the State should also outline 
the duties and responsibilities of this individual(s). Also, the 
proposal must address how this program official(s) will insure the full 
participation of all participating State and local agencies that have 
been identified as partners in this planning and developing process.
     Financial Management. The proposal must designate a fiscal 
agent to receive and be accountable for grant funds and must describe 
how the funds will be awarded and managed at the State and local 
levels.
2. Planning/Development Grants
    States which have not developed a plan for implementation of a One-
Stop Career Center system statewide may apply for planning/development 
grants. These funds may be used for a wide-range of planning and 
developmental activities. It should be noted that planning/development 
grants may be used in a situation where the State is not ready to move 
forward with statewide implementation of a One-Stop system, but a local 
community is poised to implement a One-Stop career center system 
locally. This community may, in collaboration with the State, apply for 
a planning/development grant that may be used exclusively for local 
site implementation. Some States may find that this approach of 
beginning with one or more local sites is appropriate as a first step 
towards developing a statewide system. States seeking planning/
development grants must provide the following additional information.
     Strategic Plan. The proposal should describe the 
activities that the State proposes to undertake during the 12-month 
grant period in the planning and development of the One-Stop Career 
Center system. This plan should include activities that are being 
funded from this grant as well as from other sources. Examples of 
activities that a State may elect to undertake include:
     Initiating a planning process aimed at building a One-Stop 
system;
     Identifying or establishing an appropriate State-local 
structure to administer the One-Stop Career Center system;
     Identifying and designating substate areas for the One-
Stop Career Center system;
     Identifying or establishing broad-based partnerships among 
employers, labor, education, State and local government and community 
organizations to participate in the design, development and 
administration of the One-Stop Career Center system;
     Building consensus among local stakeholders and supporting 
local One-Stop Career Center planning and development activities to 
provide guidance in the development of a One-Stop system;
     Initiating local site pilot programs for testing key 
components of program design, such as designing and testing common 
intake systems (including forms and records) for participating programs 
and determining methods to integrate program data bases;
     Analyzing current statutory, regulatory and administrative 
impediments to the establishment of a One-Stop system;
     Conducting an assessment of staff training and development 
needs at the State and local levels;
     Preparing the plan required for submission of a proposal 
for an implementation grant.
     Outcome of Process. The proposal should describe the 
progress expected to be achieved in the planning and development 
process at the end of the 12-month grant period. It should include 
expected ``next steps.'' Local participation in the design and 
operation of One-Stop is critical, therefore some description of how 
this will be advanced by the planning/development phase should also be 
provided.
     Resources. The amount and source of any additional 
resources that will be devoted to this planning and development process 
should also be included in the proposal.
3. Implementation Grants
    States, in conjunction with local communities, seeking 
implementation grants must provide the following additional 
information.
     Design of One-Stop Career Center System. The proposal must 
specifically address how its design of a One-Stop Career Center system 
will achieve the following four broad outcome objectives. Since this 
system is delivered at the local level, the State plan must describe 
the role of local officials in designing the system. Letters of support 
from local officials and copies of any negotiated agreements or other 
pertinent materials must be included.
     Universal. All population groups must have access to a 
broad array of services from a comprehensive assortment of employment 
and training programs. Basic services that one-stop centers would be 
expected to provide to all customers include, as a minimum: Customer-
oriented information on careers, labor markets, jobs and the 
availability and quality of education and training programs; testing 
and assessment; job openings; hiring requirements and referrals; 
assistance with job search skills; and, initial eligibility information 
on programs available within the community. Proposals must describe:
     The specific, basic services which will be widely 
available through the one-stop centers;
     The approach to insuring that these services are available 
to all individuals;
     Any other customized services available through the one-
stop career center system.
     Customer Choice. Customers, both individuals and 
employers, should have a choice in how to get information, basic 
services, and education/training. The Department recognizes that there 
are two aspects to customer choice which should be considered in 
designing a one-stop system. The first aspect is whether customers have 
more than one choice as to how they get basic information and services 
in the community. The second aspect is whether the customer receives 
enough quality information on education and training options s/he may 
pursue to make an informed choice. Proposals must describe how customer 
choice will be afforded within the one-stop system, and must describe:
     The geographic area within which choice will be provided;
     Any areas of the State in which choice in location of one-
stop services is not available or practical and whether other 
alternatives, such as kiosks and toll-free lines, will be used to 
provide some degree of customer choice for these areas;
     How the State and its local communities will provide 
information on the quality of education and training services, 
particularly in consideration of the current paucity of qualitative 
data and how it will expand and evaluate the extent of the data.
     Any proposed financial/budgetary system to reward the 
operator(s) or vendor(s) that provide the services that are more 
attractive to customers.
     Integrated. The underlying notion of ``one-stop'' is that 
there is an integration of programs, services, and governance 
structures. At a minimum, the following DOL-funded programs must be 
included in the one-stop system: dislocated worker programs, Employment 
Service programs, Veterans Employment Service programs, Title II of 
JTPA, Senior Community Service Employment Program under title V of the 
Older Worker Act, and Unemployment Insurance programs. Proposals must 
describe how these programs will be available through the One-Stop 
system. Additional DOL-funded programs are also encouraged to be 
included, e.g., Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers, Homeless Training, 
Native American programs, School-to-Work Opportunity programs, Job 
Corps and Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training programs. For both DOL 
and non-DOL funded programs, extra points will be awarded to those 
applications that include the most education, employment and training 
programs, such as Food Stamp Employment and Training, JOBS, Adult 
Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Carl Perkins Act post-secondary 
programs, student financial assistance programs under Title IV of the 
Higher Education Act and State and local non-Federal programs. It is 
also expected that services will be integrated for the programs 
selected and will be available at all One-Stops. Finally, there should 
be some integration of governance to ensure coordination cooperation 
and high-quality planning and oversight. Proposal must describe:
     The programs which will be integrated through the One-Stop 
system;
     How these programs will be integrated e.g., exclusively 
delivered through One-Stop; delivered through One-Stop and also 
elsewhere; not delivered through One-Stop but accessible; information 
provided only--including a description of these services;
     How flexibility will be afforded in designing and 
determining integration of programs and services under such programs on 
a local area basis;
     State and local bodies that will coordinate these programs 
and services, including the membership of these bodies, their functions 
and responsibilities for the One-Stop system and any other functions 
and the extent to which existing entities will accommodate this 
purpose;
     How this approach specifically represents an enhancement 
to the existing structure for delivery of employment and training 
services.
     Performance-Driven Outcome-Based Measures. Proposal must 
describe:
     The specific outcomes for customers to be achieved by the 
One-Stop system;
     The proposed measures to assess the performance of the 
One-Stop career Centers and to determine whether the outcomes were 
achieved and the consequences for failing to meet them;
     Other measures to ensure accountability, integrity, and 
high-performance--e.g., financial accountability and program 
performance.

    Note: These performance measures do not replace those currently 
in effect for the Department's grant-in-aid programs. These measures 
are specifically intended for the One-Stop Career Center system.

     Implementation Plan. The proposal must contain a detailed 
plan for statewide implementation over the three-year period, including 
a time line of major activities and anticipated milestones. The 
statewide plan may consist of the strategy for building a statewide 
system under joint State-local agreement together with a description of 
specific communities which are prepared to implement immediately. This 
plan must address:
     Local Implementation. The proposal must contain the 
approach for phasing in local implementation and must address the 
following questions and subjects:
     What are the geographic areas that will be designed as 
One-Stop system service areas?
     What is the projected timetable for implementation, by 
geographic area?
     What process will be used to determine One-Stop operators?
     How much flexibility will service areas have in developing 
One-Stop systems and in determining appropriate governance structures?
     How will State-local operating agreements be developed?
     Local Agreement. Written agreements between the State and 
the local area must be executed prior to implementation of the One-Stop 
Career Center system in a local area. Local elected officials and the 
chief executive of the local Private Industry Council or Councils, 
where applicable, must be among the signatories to the agreement. A 
State plan must include copies of such agreements for any local areas 
the State proposes to begin implementation in the first year of the 
three-year implementation period.
     Capacity Building. What are the specific staff development 
and training needs at the State and local levels and how will these 
needs be met? Will any technical assistance be needed from ETA? If so, 
please describe.
     Obstacles/Barriers. What are the obstacles to successful 
implementation of a statewide One-Stop career system? How does the 
State propose to address these obstacles? What, if any, administrative 
actions will be sought from ETA? In what areas would waivers of Federal 
law or regulations be helpful?
     Costs/Resources. The proposal must provide a complete 
budget for implementation of the One-Stop system, including both 
Federal and non-Federal sources. The sources of funds should be clearly 
identified. Proposal must specifically identify the resources requested 
under this grant and the activities these resources will fund. Costs 
should be identified on an annual basis and broken down into broad cost 
categories. The cost plan must also address:
     The amount of resources the State and local communities 
have already committed to building the One-Stop system.
     The percentage or amount of funds that will be reserved 
for expenditure at the State level.
     The method of allocating funds to the local level and for 
insuring accountability for fund management at the local level.
     The method by which shared or joint costs will be 
allocated back to the contributing sources.
4. Labor Market Information Funds
    Additional funds are available to support upgrading the State's 
labor market information system in those States which receive 
implementation grants. Those States which are applying for 
implementation grants and are seeking additional resources to meet 
their LMI needs must supply the following information.
     Provide an organizational chart depicting the major lines 
of LMI authority, responsibility and production-analysis-dissemination 
relationships within the State. The accompanying narrative should also 
describe the working relationship between the State agency and the 
State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (SOICC).
     Provide approximate State agency staffing levels for:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Approximate   
                                                        staffing levels 
                       Activity                          (in full time  
                                                          equivalents)  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LMI services to customers............................  .................
Labor market analysis and publications...............  .................
Production of administrative reports.................  .................
Production of Labor statistics reports (CES, LAUS, ES                   
 202, etc.)..........................................  .................
Reports validation...................................  .................
Special LMI projects.................................  .................
ADP Support..........................................  .................
Other LMI-related activities.........................  .................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Discuss the principal Federal, State, local and private 
funding sources for the LMI program.
     Summarize the major LMI databases and their beneficiaries 
in the State.
     The description of products and services should reference 
substate or local coverage, and indicate whether or not these products 
and services are provided on a cost-reimbursable basis to generate 
revenue for program costs.
     ``Major Customers'' can include references to individuals, 
employers, counselors, planners, local governments, Employment Service 
(including Alien Certification and Test Development customers), JTPA 
grantees, education institutions, State legislature, economic 
development agency, other State agencies, etc.).
     ``Method of Conveyance and Access'' should include 
references to mainframe, minicomputer and local area network terminal 
access; CD-ROM, kiosks and other emerging technology, etc.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Method of 
    Title and description of LMI databases,        Major      conveyance
             products and services               customers    and access
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Describe the strengths of your LMI program in relation to 
the five major categories (customer products and services, data sets, 
delivery systems, LMI organizational structure, and common language and 
technical standards) noting both Federal/State programs, special 
projects funded by the Federal Government or State legislatures, and 
any local innovative projects.
     Identify which programs could be replicated or adapted in 
other States. Has the State participated with other States in 
cooperative LMI programs in the past?
     Describe the current problem areas and current funding 
issues which affect your LMI program. What are the State's major 
priorities in addressing these identified problems?
     From various source documents (e.g., existing State 
strategic plans for information technology, State Agency Labor Market 
Information unit operational plans), briefly describe the current and 
contemplated role of automation and technology in providing labor 
market information and services to the citizens of the State.
     Provide a complete budget of proposed investments to the 
LMI system, broken down by major cost categories, and identify the 
proposed resources by fund source, including the specific funds being 
requested in this proposal.

Part III--Evaluation Criteria For Award

    Offerors are advised that there will be a two-stage review process 
used to evaluate proposals. Prior to the formal review, proposals will 
be reviewed to insure that all the information requested in this 
proposal is provided and complete. For offerors seeking planning and 
development grants only, the proposal must include completed part II, 
G, Sections 1 and 2 above. For offerors seeking an implementation grant 
only, the proposal must include completed Part II, G, Sections, 1, 3, 
and 4 above. Offerors requesting consideration for both type grants 
must fully complete Part II. Offerors should insure that implementation 
proposals are detailed and specific in addressing how the design for 
the One-Stop system will achieve the four outcomes identified in 
Section C. Completed proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts. 
Each panelist will review the proposals according to the rating 
criteria listed below. The panels' recommendations are advisory in 
nature to help establish the competitive range. The Grant Officer will 
make final awards based on overall quality, geographic location and 
what is in the best interests of the government.

A. Criteria For Planning and Development Grants

    1. The status of current efforts to improve the State/Local 
employment and training system, including the vision for the One-Stop 
system. Points 20
    In applying this criterion, consideration will be given to such 
factors as:
     The status of State and local efforts to assess how well 
current workforce development programs (both employment and training) 
are meeting the needs for developing a skilled workforce;
     Whether the State has adopted a strategic plan for 
investing in workforce development that was jointly developed with 
local communities and other interested parties, and, if so, the steps 
which have been taken to implement the plan;
     How well the version of an integrated delivery system for 
delivery of education, employment, unemployment and job training 
services incorporates the four broad outcomes identified in Part I.
    2. The State's approach to planning and development. Point 30
    In applying this criterion, consideration will be given to such 
factors as:
     Whether the planned activities will likely prepare the 
State and local communities to implement a One-Stop system;
     Whether the State's plan is likely to lead to a broad 
consensus across local areas as to the design and implementation of a 
One-Stop system;
     Whether the planned activities will fully utilize and 
expand the existing LMI system to support the One-Stop system;
     Whether the planning process is likely to lead to the 
identification of barriers to implementation and recommended actions to 
overcome these barriers;
     Whether the timetable of activities is realistic to the 
tasks.
    3. The State's ability to integrate diverse programs, agencies, 
organizations and individuals at the State and local levels. Points 30
    In applying this criterion, consideration will be given to such 
factors as:
     The extent to which a broad array of State and local 
agencies participated in the development of this application;
     Other related actions by State and local education and 
employment and training agencies to coordinate and integrate program 
activities in order to reduce duplication of effort and to provide 
better service to the customer;
     The numbers and purposes of local agreements that already 
exist among education, employment and training providers.
    4. The commitment to the planning and development effort. Points 20
    In applying this criterion, consideration will be given to:
     The level of resources the State and local communities 
have already committed to improving the delivery of program service 
through the One-Stop concept;
     The level and source of resources they intend to commit to 
the planning and development process, and whether the level of 
resources is adequate to support the activities proposed.

B. Criteria for Implementation Grants

    1. The quality of the design of the One-Stop system. Points 30
    In applying this criterion, consideration will be given to the 
following factors that relate to the four broad outcomes to be 
achieved:
     Whether the proposal clearly identifies the One-Stop 
system's customers and ensures services available to customers are 
comprehensive and accessible;
     The basis for designation of service delivery areas and 
how the service area relates to the local labor market;
     The extent to which customers will have choice in the 
location and method of access of information;
     Whether the State has a labor market information system 
which will provide the quality and accessibility of information needed 
to support the One-Stop system; and,
     What planned improvements will be made to the labor market 
information system to further support the One-Stop system being 
proposed;
     Whether the State governing body includes agencies that 
represent a comprehensive array of State and Federal education, 
employment, unemployment and job training programs and this entity's 
role in strategic planning and oversight of programs and the One-Stop 
system;
     The extent to which local officials participated in the 
design of the One-Stop system;
     Whether the local governing body represents the community, 
includes appropriate business representatives and represents a broad 
array of education, employment and training programs;
     Whether the members of the local boards are among the 
community leaders;
     Whether the plan proposes clear outcome measures;
     Whether the system proposed to measure performance is 
customer-focused and insures accountability for program performance;
     Whether the system design will likely result in the 
provision of quality services to all customers--i.e., individuals and 
employers.
    2. The size and number of programs included, the level and type of 
services provided, and how the services are delivered. Points 30
    In evaluating this criterion, factors under consideration include:
     The number of Federal, State and local education, 
unemployment, employment, training and other programs included in the 
One-Stop system;
     The specific services provided by all One-Stops;
     The extent to which services are delivered directly to 
customers; and,
     The extent to which these services will enable customers 
to make an informed choice about employment and job training 
opportunities.
    3. The feasibility and soundness of the implementation plan. Points 
30
    In evaluating this criterion, factors under consideration include:
     Whether the time line is appropriate to the tasks to the 
undertaken;
     The progress the State and locals have already made in 
implementation;
     Whether staff development and training needs are fully 
considered;
     The extent to which the proposal takes advantage of 
technology;
     The number of sites (and representative population) which 
are ready to implement in the first year;
     The degree of participation in the development and 
implementation of the system by local officials;
     Whether the agreement between the State and the local 
areas supports successful implementation and operation of the system;
     The approach to identifying and overcoming barriers to 
implementation.
    4. The value added to the Federal resource investment. Points 10
    In evaluating this criterion, factors under consideration include:
     The amount and sources of resources the State/Locals have 
already invested in a One-Stop system;
     The amount and sources of resources the State and/or 
Locals propose to invest over the three-year implementation period;
     The specific uses of the Federal funds and how these funds 
enables the State to expand or enhance its current efforts or to test 
new approaches;
     Estimates regarding cost savings from administrative 
savings and other efficiencies together with the estimate of increases 
in quantity/quality of direct services to customers projected by the 
savings realized;
     Plans on how this investment will leverage other resources 
to build a system which will accommodate future program integration.

Part IV--Meetings

    ETA plans to hold one meeting with the States which receive 
planning and development grants during the 12-month grant period. For 
implementation States, ETA plans to hold meetings approximately every 
six months throughout the duration of the implementation period. These 
meetings will be used to assess progress, identify issues, share 
information among States and provide technical assistance to the State 
and its local entities.

Part V--Reporting Requirements

     Quarterly financial reports as required by the grant award 
documents.
     Quarterly narrative progress reports;
     A narrative progress report at the conclusion of the grant 
period for both implementation and development grants; and for 
developmental grants, a plan for the comprehensive statewide One-Stop 
Career Center system at the end of the development period.
     Implementation States will be expected to provide such 
additional information as is needed so that these States an local 
communities' efforts, successes and problems will help inform 
implementation efforts in other States. In this connection, ETA expects 
to conduct an independent evaluation of all One-Stop implementation 
States and States will be expected to cooperate fully with the 
evaluator. ETA also expects to provide technical assistance to assist 
States with their implementation efforts.

    Dated: July 11, 1994.
Janice E. Perry,
Grant Officer, Division of Acquisition and Assistance.

Appendices

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

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M

TN15JY94.009


TN15JY94.010


BILLING CODE 4510-30-C

Instructions for Budget Information

Section A--Budget Summary by Categories

    1. Personnel: Show salaries to be paid for project personnel.
    2. Fringe Benefits: Indicate the rate and amount of fringe 
benefits.
    3. Travel: Indicate the amount requested for staff travel. Include 
funds to cover at least one trip to Washington, DC for project director 
or designee.
    4. Equipment: Indicate the cost of non-expendable personal property 
that has a useful life of more than one year with a per unit cost of 
$5,000 or more.
    5. Supplies: Include the cost of consumable supplies and materials 
to be used during the project period.
    6. Contractual: Show the amount to be used for (1) procurement 
contracts (except those which belong on other lines such as supplies 
and equipment); and (2) sub-contracts/grants.
    7. Other: Indicate all direct costs not clearly covered bylines 1 
through 6 above, including consultants.
    8. Total, Direct Costs: Add lines 1 through 7.
    9. Indirect Costs: Indicate the rate and amount of indirect costs. 
Please include a copy of your negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement.
    10. Training/Stipend Cost: (If allowable)
    11. Total Federal funds Requested: Show total of lines 8 through 
10.

Section B--Cost Sharing/Matching Summary

    Indicate the actual rate and amount of cost sharing/matching when 
there is a cost sharing/matching requirement. Also include percentage 
of total project cost and indicate source of cost sharing/matching 
funds, i.e. other Federal source or other Non-Federal source.

    Note: Please include a detailed cost analysis of each line item.

[FR Doc. 94-17272 Filed 7-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M