[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 71 (Thursday, April 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16115-16121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9066]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Job Training Partnership Act, One-Stop Workforce Development 
System-Building Demonstration Grants

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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), announces the availability of $1.9 
million to award competitive grants for workforce development system-
building demonstration projects. These grants are intended to test new 
and complementary approaches to the delivery of services in a One-Stop 
setting.

DATES: Application for grant awards will be accepted commencing April 
11, 1996. The closing date for receipt of proposals at the Department 
of Labor shall be May 10, 1996, at 2:00 P.M., Eastern time. Any 
proposal not received at the designated place, date and time of 
delivery specified will not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be mailed to: Division of Acquisition and 
Assistance, Attention: Ms. Reda Harrison, Reference: SGA/DAA 96-005, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Reda Harrison, Division of Acquisition and Assistance. Telephone (202) 
219-7300 (This is not a toll-free telephone number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of three parts: 
Part I Background/Description, Part II Application Process, and Part 
III Evaluation Criteria for Award.

Part I--Background

    A common frustration among job-seekers and employers today is the 
difficulty of finding quality information on available employment and 
training programs, and having to go from one place to another to 
actually receive information and services. The One-Stop Career Center 
System is the organizing vehicle for transforming this fragmented array 
of employment and training programs into an integrated service delivery 
system for job-seekers and employers. The U.S. Department of Labor, in 
partnership with the states and local jurisdictions, is working to 
transfer this vision of an integrated, high-quality delivery system 
into reality.
    The Department began in late 1994 with the award of One-Stop Career 
Center grants to 25 states. Six states--Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin--received the first year grant of a 
three-year, multi-million dollar award to fully implement One-Stop 
systems, while nineteen others received one-year awards to support the 
planning and development of such systems.
    In 1995, the Department added an additional 10 implementation 
states (Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, 
Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Ohio) bringing the total to 
16. In January 1996, the Department awarded an additional 23 planning 
grants to states and local jurisdictions. A total of 38 states are now 
receiving these planning resources. All States have now received either 
planning or implementation funding.
    While the Department is supporting statewide system-building, it 
also recognizes that many local communities have made significant 
progress in consolidating service delivery in a One-Stop environment. 
In June 1995, The Department awarded grants to local entities to serve 
as ``learning laboratories'' for other jurisdictions across the 
country. While each state's One-Stop system will be designed in 
conjunction with local communities to best meet their particular needs, 
four principles are key to all One-Stop Career Center Systems--
universality, customer choice, program and governance integration, and 
accountability for performance and outcomes.
    This solicitation is intended to supplement the work underway 
through the One-Stop grants by filling in the gaps in a number of areas 
not yet addressed. The work accomplished under these grants should be 
transportable and replicable in any One-Stop or block-grant 
consolidated workforce delivery system. To achieve these objectives, 
the Department expects that all grantees under this solicitation would 
participate in system-building meetings, forums, and technical 
assistance exchanges with other departmental grantees involved in 
service delivery and continuous improvement.

Part II--Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

    This competition is open to all government entities, including our 
current One-Stop Grantees and local jurisdictions. It is also open to 
system-building partnerships and coalitions formed with governmental 
units and any of the following: unions, community-based organizations 
and/or private sector non-profit and for-profit entities. For the 
purposes of this solicitation, a ``system-building entity'' is any 
public agency or consortium of agencies (governmental, union, 
community-based organization, other private sector non-profit or for-
profit entity).
    For example, an application might describe a combined governmental-
commercial effort to introduce emerging technological products and 
processes into the One-Stop service delivery setting. The resources 
under this solicitation are not intended to replace resources or 
support activities currently funded under existing One-Stop system-
building grants. The application should contain letters of support and 
endorsement which reflect concurrence from other governmental partners, 
if applicable.
    Entities described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
Code who engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive 
funds under this SGA. The new Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Public 
Law No. 104-65, 109 Stat. 691, which became effective January 1, 1996, 
prohibits the award of federal funds to these entities if they engage 
in lobbying activities.

B. Grant Awards

    The Department has allocated approximately $1.9 million for grants 
awarded under this SGA and expects to award approximately 8 to 13 
grants in a range of $100,000 to $250,000. This period of performance 
is 15 months from the date of award. The Department may elect to offer 
up to two ``option years'' if warranted and pending availability of 
funds.

C. Limitation on Use of Funds

    These funds are not intended to replace resources or support 
activities currently funded under existing One-Stop system-building 
grants. Nor may these funds be used for new construction.

[[Page 16116]]


D. Closing Date

    The closing date for receipt of proposals at the Department of 
Labor will be 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, May 10, 1996. Any proposal not 
received at the designated place, date, and time of delivery specified 
herein will not be considered.

E. Application Procedures

1. Submission of Proposal
    An original and three (3) copies of the application shall be 
submitted. The application shall consist of two (2) separate parts:
    Part I shall contain the Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for 
Federal Assistance,'' and ``Budget Information Sheet.'' All copies of 
the SF 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 Budget Information Sheet Standard Assurances and 
Certifications for Non-Construction will become a part of the award 
document. Finally, this section should include any private sector 
letters of support.
    Part II shall contain technical data that demonstrates the local 
applicant's plan and capabilities in accordance with the contents of 
the application detailed below. (Part II, Section F, Statement of 
Work.)
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 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time by May 10, 
1996. All overnight mail will be considered to be hand-delivered and 
must be received at the designated place by the specified closing date 
and time. Telegraphed and/or faxed proposals will not be honored.

    Note: 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 (5th) calendar day before the date specified for 
receipt of application (e.g., an offer submitted in response to a 
solicitation requiring receipt of applications by the 20th of the month 
must have been mailed by the 15th).
    (2) Or 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 by either 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.
4. Period of Performance
    The period of performance is 15 months from the date the grant is 
executed. Awards are expected to be made in June 1996. The Department 
may elect to offer up to two ``option years'' if warranted and pending 
availability of funds.

F. Statement of Work/Grant Application

    The applicant should describe proposed activities that will be 
conducted under this grant award, and the process by which success of 
the demonstration will be evaluated. The Department may also commission 
an independent evaluation of the demonstration under a separate 
solicitation.
    While the Department will consider applications which contain 
activities originally included (but not subsequently funded) in a 
State's One-Stop grant, priority will be given to applications which 
emphasize innovations and approaches not yet thoroughly tested in a 
One-Stop setting. These demonstrations should have value to system-
building activities, under current statutory authority, as well as 
under new workforce development legislation now being considered by the 
Congress.
    Any demonstration topic which enhances the One-Stop system building 
effort will be considered. Potential ways for structuring the 
demonstration include but are not limited to:
     Internet or technology-based delivery of One-Stop 
unassisted services;
     Service delivery in rural areas;
     Universal Services to specific customer segments (e.g., 
out-of-school youth, disadvantaged) and/or specific industries;
     Fee-for-service (for services beyond the ``core'' 
services) for employers or job seekers in any of the following 
settings: public sector; for-profit; non-profit; consortium 
arrangement; for outreach and service provision to incumbent workers 
where the employer is confronted with emerging or changing skill needs; 
for specialized services for employers (e.g., task analysis of emerging 
jobs and the preparation and training requirements for current and 
future employees, or other services to industries facing global 
competition);
     Accelerated introduction of America's Labor Market 
Information System products and services;
     One-Stop connectivity to School-to-Work and/or Skill 
Standards pilot projects funded by the U.S. Departments of Labor and 
Education;
     Application of quality methodologies (e.g., continuous 
improvement, customer satisfaction) to facilitate integration of 
services, report cards or vendor services;
     Documentation of results from initial One-Stop efforts--
e.g., common intake, self-service resource centers--what measurable 
outcomes have these efforts produced?
     Application and documentation of model designs for 
implementation of workforce development boards.
    Areas of demonstration that advance learning of One-Stop features 
or hold promise of facilitating a smooth transition process to a new 
workforce development system, will also be given high priority. Where 
appropriate, public sector-private sector and/or union collaboration 
and leveraging of other than public resources is strongly encouraged.
    In these 8 to 13 grants, the Department is seeking applicants who 
will support the broadest possible undertaking of system-building 
demonstrations, but application quality will be a principal determinant 
of award number and level of support. Evidence of matching support from 
State or local appropriations or private sources is another important 
criterion. (The complete evaluation criteria for award is found in Part 
III.) The proposal must identify the designated Program Entity and/or 
Fiscal Entity responsible for this grant.

[[Page 16117]]


Part III--Evaluation Criteria for Award

    Prior to the formal review, applications will be screened to insure 
that all the information requested in this grant application is 
provided and complete. Note. Applications are not to exceed 10 pages in 
length (excluding attachments), and should be typed with a font size no 
smaller than 10cpi or 12pt print size, with 1 inch default margins 
(i.e., for top, bottom, left, and right margins).
    Completed applications will be reviewed by a rating panel against 
the criteria listed below. The panels' recommendations are advisory in 
nature to the Grant Officer. Final selection will be based on overall 
proposal quality, significance of the topic to the Department, 
portability/replicability of results to other One-Stop or consolidation 
workforce development systems, and the best interests of the 
government.

A. Criteria for Evaluating Grant Applications

    1. The technical merit, feasibility and soundness of the 
applicant's plan for carrying out the demonstration. (30 Points)
    In evaluating this criterion, factors under consideration include:
     The quality of the demonstration design.
     The soundness of the plan for evaluating the 
demonstration.
     Professional qualifications of the staff.
    2. The extent to which the demonstration would add value to the 
development of the national One-Stop Career Center system or 
consolidation workforce development system. (40 Points)
    In evaluating this criterion, factors under consideration include:
     The degree of innovation--the demonstration topic fills a 
gap in current One-Stop/workforce development system knowledge base.
     Potential value for replication of specific topic/
approach proposed for testing.
     The importance of the topic as an element of the One-
Stop/workforce development system.
    3. Involvement of union, community-based organizations and/or other 
private sector non-profit and for-profit entities as partners in 
developing One-Stop workforce development system design and operations. 
(30 Points)
    In evaluating this criterion, consideration will be given to such 
factors as:
     Collaboration by identified partners in design and 
operation of the demonstration.
     Leveraging of State or local appropriated, union, or 
private resources in support of the demonstration.
     Matching resources.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 3rd day of April, 1996.
Janice E. Perry,
ETA Grant Officer.

Appendices

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

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M

[[Page 16118]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11AP96.016



[[Page 16119]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11AP96.017



[[Page 16120]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11AP96.018



[[Page 16121]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11AP96.019



[FR Doc. 96-9066 Filed 4-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-C