[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 118 (Thursday, June 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33444-33445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16117]


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NATIONAL SKILL STANDARDS BOARD

[SGA 97-04]


Voluntary Partnership Planning and Phase I Implementation Grants

AGENCY: National Skill Standards Board.

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

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SUMMARY: The National Skill Standards Board (NSSB), under the National 
Skill Standards Act of 1994 (the Act), announces the availability of 
funds for initiating Voluntary Partnership activity through combined 
Planning and Phase I Implementation grants. A grant will be made to the 
organization or coalition of organizations best positioned and capable 
of convening key stakeholder representatives from across a cluster as 
defined by the National Skill Standards Board. It is the Board's intent 
that one grant will be made in each of five clusters. It is anticipated 
that five awards will be made in the range of $80,000 to $160,000, 
depending on the statement of work proposed by the participant. The 
period of performance will vary, but will not exceed nine months. 
Awardees of this grant will be eligible to receive a non-competitive 
grant for long-term Voluntary Partnership activities.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications shall be August 20 
at 4:45 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the address below.

ADDRESSES: Applications shall be made to the Division of Contract 
Administration and Grant Management, Attention: Lisa Harvey, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Procurement Services Office, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a copy of the SGA or for questions/clarifications regarding 
information contained in this announcement, contact Lisa Harvey at 
(202) 219-9355. (This is not a toll free number). Telephonic or faxed 
requests for the SGA will not be honored. A copy of the SGA can also be 
obtained by downloading a copy from the National Skill Standards Board 
web page at www.nssb.org. Any clarifications and amendments to the SGA 
will be published in the Federal Register and posted on the NSSB web 
page. To have clarifications and amendments sent directly to your 
attention, please provide your name and address to Lisa Harvey at the 
address noted above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Skill Standards Board is 
soliciting proposals on a competitive basis for the conduct of 
activities to convene key stakeholder representatives of the clusters 
as defined by the National Skill Standards Board. The purpose of the 
grant is to initiate the implementation of the Voluntary Partnerships 
activities through the nine month Voluntary Partnership Planning and 
Phase I Implementation Grants. Applicants successfully completing the 
Planning and Phase I Implementation will be qualified to apply for NSSB 
recognition as a Voluntary Partnership. As such, they will be eligible 
to receive a non-competitive grant for long-term Voluntary Partnership 
activities. The NSSB is an independent agency for which the U.S. 
Department of Labor serves as fiscal agent. The Office of the Assistant 
Secretary of Administration (OASAM) within the U.S. Department of Labor 
will administer the grant process on behalf of the National Skill 
Standards Board. All inquiries related to

[[Page 33445]]

the grants should be directed to OASAM.

Eligible Applicants

    Awards under this Solicitation will be made to the organization or 
group of organizations best positioned and capable of convening key 
stakeholders representative of the five clusters enumerated below. It 
is the Board's intent that one grant will be made in each cluster.

Project Summary

    The National Skill Standards Board intends to make grants ranging 
from $80,000 to $160,000 to the organization or group of organizations 
best positioned and capable of convening key stakeholders in each of 
five clusters. This convening body will build coalitions to seek NSSB 
recognition as Voluntary Partnerships for the purpose of developing 
voluntary skill standards systems that can be endorsed by the National 
Skill Standards Board. One grant will be made in each of the following 
five clusters:
      Communications
      Construction Operations
      Education and Training Services
      Financial Services
      Hospitality and Tourism Services
    Further detail on the industries and occupations contained in these 
five clusters will be included in the SGA application packet. These 
very broad clusters of major industries and occupations are consonant 
with the dictates of the Act (Sec. 504 (a)) which denotes that such 
clusters of occupations shall involve ``one or more than one industry 
in the United States and that share characteristics that are 
appropriate for the development of common skill standards.''

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 10 day of June 1997.
Edythe West,
Executive Director, National Skill Standards Board.
[FR Doc. 97-16117 Filed 6-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-M