[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14454-14466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6660]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D, Demonstration 
Program: Diversity in Apprenticeship

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, DOL.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and Solicitation for Grant 
Application (SGA).

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SUMMARY: All information required to submit a proposal is contained in 
this announcement. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA), announces a grant competition for a 
demonstration program using Title IV-D funds of the Job Training 
Partnership Act. ETA expects to award between three (3) and five (5) 
grants to Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to provide technical 
assistance to employers, labor unions, and/or labor organizations which 
will encourage the voluntary promotion, recruitment, selection, 
training, and retention of minorities, in apprenticeable occupations 
with low minority ratios.
    This notice describes the background, the application process, 
Statement of Work, evaluation criteria and reporting requirements. ETA 
anticipates that up to $750,000 will be available for the demonstration 
funding. The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), will provide 
the policy leadership in this project. BAT assists industry and 
business by developing and improving apprenticeship and training 
programs to provide skilled American workers in a globally competitive 
market.

DATES: Applications for grant awards will be accepted commencing May 1, 
1995 at 2:00 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: Charlotte Adams, Reference: SGA/DAA 95-004, Room 
S4203, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of five parts: 
Part I describes the background and purpose of the demonstration 
program and identifies demonstration policy and topics. Part II 
describes the application process and provides detailed guidelines for 
use in applying for demonstration grants. Part III includes the 
Statement of Work for the demonstration projects. Part IV identifies 
and defines the evaluation criteria to be used in reviewing and 
evaluating applications. Part V describes the reporting requirements.

Part I. Background

    BAT carries out the objectives of the National Apprenticeship Act 
of 1937, by assisting industry and business develop and improve 
apprenticeship and training programs to provide skilled workers. BAT 
registers apprentices and apprenticeship programs in 23 States, Guam, 
and other Pacific Islands; it also provides technical assistance to 
State Apprenticeship Councils (SACs) in the remaining 27 States, 
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
    Since 1964, the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training has promoted 
equal opportunity in apprenticeship for minorities. As of 1972, 
apprenticeship program sponsors have been required to take affirmative 
action in the recruitment and selection of apprentices to achieve the 
same representation in apprenticeship as in local labor market areas. 
Program sponsors (employers, or employers with unions) are not required 
to attain specific goals and timetables, but they are expected to make 
good faith efforts toward the attainment of their goals and timetables. 
Despite the substantial increase in the percentage of minorities in 
apprenticeship over the past 20 years, the degree of occupational 
integration can be improved according to the General Accounting Office 
study (GAO/HRD 92-45). For some sponsors, successful recruitment, 
training, and retention of minorities may require technical assistance 
from CBOs that have experience preparing minorities for apprenticeship. 
The purpose of this project is to design and provide that technical 
assistance to program sponsors such as employers/labor unions and 
groups to improve the opportunities for minorities to enter 
apprenticeship in high wage occupations that have a significantly lower 
percentage of minority participation. Examples of such occupations 
includes tool and die maker, machinist, line repairer, and machine 
repairer. The project further aims to be a researched based, voluntary, 
partnership approach to examining and resolving the issues.

A. Authorities

    Part IV-D of the Job Training Partnership Act authorizes the use of 
funds for pilot and demonstration projects. The Department relies on 
applicants for grants to comply with all Federal and State laws in 
setting up their programs.

B. Purpose of the Demonstration

    This demonstration program intends that CBOs develop systematic 
approaches for providing technical assistance to employers, labor 
unions, and labor organizations to enhance minority representation in 
occupations with low minority representation, 20% or less. Minorities 
constitute about 20 percent of the civilian labor force. (See appendix 
A. for a listing of major occupations and minority participation.)
    Further, CBOs designing this project will strive to integrate 
information, resources, and results with grantees of the ``Women in 
Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations'' (WA- 
[[Page 14455]] NTO) Act; the purpose of WA-NTO is to provide technical 
assistance to employers and labor unions to encourage the employment of 
women in apprenticeable occupations and other nontraditional 
occupations. (See appendix B for WA-NTO grantees and locations.)

Part II. Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

    Community Based organizations (CBOs) are eligible applicants to 
receive technical assistance grants.
    Definitions: The term ``community based organization'' as defined 
in section 4(5) of the Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 
1501(5)), means private nonprofit organizations which are 
representative of communities or significant segments of communities 
and which provide job training services. For this solicitation, the 
significant segment of communities are the private nonprofit 
organizations which are representative of organizations that have 
demonstrated experience administering programs that are capable of 
providing technical assistance (TA) for minorities for apprenticeship 
and nontraditional occupations.
    Employers, and/or Labor Unions (E/LUs) employee organizations are 
eligible to be selected to receive TA provided by CBOs. If they wish to 
receive technical assistance, employers and labor unions must submit a 
technical assistance request sheet to the cognizant CBO. (see appendix 
C.) CBOs are requested to solicit TA requests from appropriate 
employers, labor unions/organizations.
    Registered apprenticeship agency means the Bureau of Apprenticeship 
and Training in the United States Department of Labor or a State 
Apprenticeship Council recognized and approved by the Bureau of 
Apprenticeship and Training as the appropriate body for State 
registration or approval of local apprenticeship programs and 
agreements for Federal purposes.
    Apprenticeship includes a formal paid training-work agreement where 
labor and management work together to promote learning on the job; to 
support the hands on learning there must be related theoretical 
instruction (often classroom). After completing the program standards 
successfully--usually three to five years--the apprentice is awarded a 
certificate of completion by either the BAT or SAC agency.

B. Contents

    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, the financial Proposal, and Part II, the Technical 
Proposal.
    1. Financial Proposal--The Financial Proposal, Part I, shall 
contain the SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance'' (Appendix 
No. D), and SF 424-A, ``Budget'' (Appendix No. E). The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 17.201. The budget shall include 
on separate pages: a cost analysis of the budget, identifying in detail 
the amount of each budget line item attributable to each of the major 
cost categories for funds requested through this grant; and 
identification of the amount of each budget line item which will be 
covered by other funds, and the sources of those funds (including 
employer funds, in-kind resources, secured and unsecured loans, grants, 
and other forms of assistance, public and private); and a justification 
for the average cost of technical service per person.
    Federal funds may not be used for acquisition of production 
equipment. The only type of equipment that may be acquired with Federal 
funds is equipment necessary for the operation of the grant. In the 
instance of a purchase, the cost of the equipment is to be prorated 
over the projected life of the equipment to determine the cost to the 
grant.
    Applicants may budget limited amounts of grant funds to work with 
technical expert(s) to provide advice and develop more complete project 
plans.
    2. Technical Proposal--The technical proposal shall demonstrate the 
offeror's capabilities in accordance with the Statement of Work in Part 
III of this solicitation. No cost data or reference to price shall be 
included in the technical proposal.

C. Submission

    A DOL/ETA panel will evaluate grant applications after the closing 
date of this solicitation. Incomplete or non-responsive proposals may 
be returned without evaluation. An application will be reviewed based 
upon the overall responsiveness of the application's content to the 
submission requirements and to the selection criteria found in Part IV, 
talking into consideration the extent to which funds are available.

D. Hand-Delivered Proposals

    Proposals should be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the 
closing date for the receipt of applications. However, if proposals are 
hand-delivered, they shall be received at the designated place by 2 
p.m., Eastern Time on the closing date for receipt of applications. All 
overnight mail will be considered to be hand-delivered and must be 
received at the designated place by the specified time and 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 non-responsiveness.

E. 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:
    (1) Was sent by the U.S. Postal Service registered or certified 
mail not later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified 
for receipt of the application (e.g., an offer submitted in response to 
a solicitation requiring receipt of applications by the 5th of May must 
have been mailed by the 1st of May); or
    (2) Was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service--
Post Office to Addresses, 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 the U.S. Postal Service registered or 
certified mail is the U.S. postmark both on the envelope or wrapper and 
on the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. Both postmarks 
must show a legible date or the proposal shall be processed as if 
mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped, or otherwise placed 
impression (exclusive of a postage meter machine impression) that is 
readily identifiable without further action as having been supplied and 
affixed by employees of the U.S. Postal Service on the date of mailing. 
Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk to place a 
legible hand cancellation ``bull's eye'' postmark on both the receipt 
and the envelope or wrapper.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late proposal sent by ``Express Mail Next Day Service--Post Office to 
Addresses'' 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 and 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 
[[Page 14456]] both the receipt and the envelope or wrapper.

F. 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 or 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 a grant award is executed.

G. Period of Performance

    The period of performance will be 18 months, from the date of 
notice of grant approval.

H. Funding

    DOL has set aside up to $750,000 to be disbursed, contingent upon 
resources being available for this purpose. ETA expects that grant 
awards will range from $150,000 to $250,000, with no award in excess of 
$250,000 each.

I. Grant Period and Option to Extend

    Projects are to include 18 months of performance, with the option 
to extend for up to three months as a no cost extension to complete 
final reports. Applications must clearly describe project activities to 
be undertaken and goals to be achieved during the grant period.

J. Page Count Limit

    Technical proposals are to be limited to approximately 15 single-
side pages, single-spaced, size 10 font. (not including attachments).

Part III. State of Work

    Each application must include in the appropriate section (s): (1) 
Information that responds to the requirements in this part; and (2) 
other information the offeror believes will address the selection 
criteria identified in Part IV. Each application should follow the 
format outlined here:

A. Target Group

    The CBOs primary target groups are the employers, labor unions, and 
labor organizations, who would sponsor minorities in apprenticeship 
opportunities. Related to the primary group are those groups which may 
affect the recruitment, selection, training, and completion of 
apprenticeships. The secondary target includes minorities and/or 
minority organization who have an interest in a high skilled high wage 
apprenticeship opportunity. The potential opportunities may be defined 
by (a) employment growth as noted in appendix table F1. Employment, 
Projected Change in Employment 1992-2005, and Median Weekly Earnings 
for Occupations With at Least 250 Registered Apprentices on September 
30, 1994. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics; (b) distribution of 
registered apprentices by occupations, sex, race/ethnicity, appendix A; 
and (c) Distribution of 1994 Cohort Apprentices by State, Sex, Race/
Ethnicity, appendix F2. To enhance the geographical distribution and 
impact, the project encourages integrating with locations where the WA-
NTO grantees are operating; it further encourages working relationships 
with relevant Administration initiatives such as ``One Stop Career 
Center Pilots'' operating in nine States, Job Corp, Job Service, School 
to Work, and Vocational Education projects.

B. Components of the Program

    The design and components of the demonstration project must support 
the project purpose; CBOs would be expected to function as a 
professional consultant, working with employers to jointly assess the 
sponsor's recruitment, selection, and retention approaches and results 
to determine issues and problems. These joint assessments and findings 
will spotlight what areas involving pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, 
and post-apprenticeship that need addressing. CBOs should identify and 
provide a general description of: (1) Design, (b) processes, and (c) 
components of technical assistance, which may include as appropriate, 
but not limited to:
    (1) Assessments instruments, measures, and approaches suitable for 
determining base line measures and user needs;
    (2) Outreach and orientation strategies and services to recruit 
minorities into the employers' apprenticeable occupations;
    (3) Outreach and recruitment strategies to ensure the participation 
of employers and/or labor unions labor organizations for apprenticeship 
and nontraditional occupations opportunities for minorities;
    (4) Support groups to facilitate developing new networks for 
employers and labor unions/organization for minorities interested high 
skilled apprenticeable occupations;
    (5) Local computerized data base referral system for employer/labor 
unions information; this can include current lists of minority 
tradepersons who are available mentoring young minorities, companies 
with high skilled occupations, and linkups with schools/groups 
preparing students for high tech high skilled occupations.
    (6) Models and systems for programs which have been successful 
providing apprenticeship training and technical assistance for 
minorities in high skilled occupations; and
    (7) Innovative technical assistance i.e., information brokering 
such as linkages to supporting projects i.e., Job Corp, WA-NTO, School 
to Work, One Stop Career Centers, which the CBOs deem necessary and 
helpful to meet the project's purpose.
    (8) A modest evaluation, based on objectives and measures, after 
completion.
    In addition, CBOs should identify relevant research or experience 
that supports effectiveness of their design and components.

C. Administration Management and Continuity

    Identify the management structure, and demonstrate the means to 
ensure accountability for performance. Provide a description of the 
process and procedures to be used to obtain feedback from participants 
and other appropriate parties on the responsiveness and effectiveness 
of the services provided. The description should include an 
identification of the types of information to be obtained, the 
method(s) and frequency of data collection, and how the information 
will be used in implementing and managing the project. The grantees may 
employ focus groups and surveys, in addition to other methods, to 
collect information necessary to design the appropriate technical 
assistance.

D. Use of Existing Services and Resources

    To leverage related resources, identify specific sources and 
amounts of other funds which will be used, in addition to funds 
provided through this grant.

E. Coordination and Linkages

    A description of the consultation with relevant partners in 
developing project design and implementation. Working relationships 
with grantees from the WA-NTO project, One Stop Career Center, School 
to Work, and related complementary projects and pilots would strengthen 
the proposal.

F. Participant Services

    A description of the services to be available and/or provided to 
workers who are project participants. From the joint assessment, a 
program design flow chart would be helpful to determine what kinds of 
TA/or related services would be provided to the employers, 
[[Page 14457]] labor union/organization, which affects minorities entry 
into high skilled occupation.

G. Outcomes

    Provide a description of the project outcomes, measures of 
outcomes, and planned achievement levels, that will be used to 
determine the success of the project. These outcomes and measures 
should include, but are not limited to:
    (1) A system or model that identifies employers, labor unions/
organizations, minorities, and relevant partners (schools, 
organizations, etc.) working successfully with minorities/groups to 
recruit, select, train, and complete in skilled high paying 
apprenticeship opportunities;
    (2) A model which describes what kinds of technical assistance are 
best related to successful recruitment, selection, and completion of 
minorities in high paying apprenticeship opportunities within a labor 
market area;
    (3) Findings and/or evidence that employers, labor unions, labor 
organizations found the CBO provided technical assistance helpful and 
to an extent may be incorporated into the respective sponsors' 
policies, procedures, and information network.
    (4) Other measurable performance based outcomes relevant to the 
purpose of the project, and agreed to by the project director and 
grantee.

H. Replicability

    Include a description of how the demonstration project could be 
replicated in other geographic regions.

I. Definitions

    Unless otherwise indicated in this announcement, definitions of 
terms used herein shall be those definitions found in the Job Training 
Partnership Act, as amended.

J. Allowable Activities

    Grant funds awarded under this demonstration may be used to fund 
staff salaries, benefits, and non-personal services normally identified 
with consulting services such as travel, communication, facilities 
costs, printing, etc., as defined on the budget submission.

Part IV. Evaluation Criteria

    Prospective offerors are advised that the selection of grantee(s) 
for award is to be made after careful evaluation of proposals by a 
panel selected by DOL. Panelists will evaluate the proposals based on 
the various factors enumerated below.
    Evaluations will be made on the basis of what the proposed offeror 
intends to do during the grant period, and on the usefulness of the 
demonstration after the end of the grant period. Special consideration 
will be given to applicants who demonstrate coordination efforts 
between employer(s) and workers to oversee the implementation.
    The Department relies on CBO grant applicants to comply with all 
Federal and State laws in setting up their programs. No grant funds 
will be awarded for CBO capacity building that is not directly related 
to the delivery of services to complete a technical assistance request.

A. Technical Evaluation (80%)

    CBOs should address the following requirements:
    1. Describe your organization's staff experience, services provided 
(type and for whom), and funding for those services; (15%)
    2. Describe your organization's experience in assessing minority 
employment and training issues with employers, labor unions/
organizations: include assessment instruments, measures, and general 
approaches; (15%)
    3. Describe your organization's experience in building upon 
research and previous experiences to determine feasible creative 
options in using technical assistance to address sensitive employment 
and training issues; (15%)
    4. Describe your experiences in working with federal/state and 
public sector employment and training initiatives and programs in 
general and specifically with minorities; include leveraging related 
project resources. (15%).
    5. Describe your management structure and accountability systems/
processes to assure the project is well planned, executive, and 
reviewed/evaluated. (10%)
    6. Describe briefly, if selected, describe how the funds would be 
allocated in designing the project and components. (10%).

B. Cost Evaluation (20%)

    CBOs must include a discussion of the cost of the projects versus 
the expected benefits and outcomes of the project. Major benefits would 
include employers, labor unions/organizations reviewing present 
procedures and willing to developing new approaches based upon the 
experience of this TA demonstration project. Also include brief 
justification of the budget. Discussions may be necessary with the 
applicants to clarify any inconsistencies in their applications.

C. Selection

    ETA will consider geographic diversity and occupational impact in 
making grant awards to CBO's. ETA will make only one grant per CBO with 
or without multiple service providers or sub-contractors. The final 
decision on the award will be based on what is most advantageous to the 
Federal Government as determined by the ETA Grant Officer.

Part V. Reporting Requirements

    A. Short descriptive quarterly report, due 30 days following the 
reporting quarter; format will be agreed to by grantees/grant officer.
    B. Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report Form;
    C. Final Project Report, including project assessment, 
approximately 5 pages, within 45 days of project completion.

    Signed at Washington, DC, the 13th day of March 1995.
Janice E. Perry,
Grant Officer, Division of Acquisition and Assistance.

Appendices

A. Distribution of Registered Apprentices by Occupation, Sex and 
Race/Ethnicity as of September 30, 1994
B. Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations (WA-NTO) 
Grantees
C. Technical Assistance Request Form
D. Application for Federal Assistance (S.F. 424)
E. Budget Form (Standard Form 424-A)
F1. Total Apprentices, 1992 Employment, Protected Change in 
Employment 1992-2005, and Median Weekly Earnings for Occupations 
with at Least 250 Registered Apprentices on September 30, 1994
F2. Distribution of 1994 Cohort Sex and Race/Ethnicity Apprentice 
Groups Across States

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[FR Doc. 95-6660 Filed 3-16-95; 8:45 am]
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