[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11812-11815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6117]



[[Page 11811]]

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Part VI





Department of Labor





_______________________________________________________________________



Employment and Training Administration



_______________________________________________________________________



Job Training Partnership Act: Job Corps Program, Selection of Sites for 
Centers; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11812]]



DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Job Training Partnership Act: Job Corps Program; Selection of 
Sites for Centers

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice; Selection of Center Sites.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor requests assistance in identifying 
sites and facilities for locating five new Job Corps Centers. This 
notice specifies the requirements and criteria for selection.

DATES: Proposals are requested by June 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be addressed to the Assistant Secretary for 
Employment and Training, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., room N4508, Washington, DC 20210. Attention: Mary H. 
Silva, National Director, Job Corps.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary H. Silva, National Director, Job 
Corps. Telephone: (202) 219-8550 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Labor (Department) is 
soliciting proposals for sites to establish five new Job Corps centers. 
Proposers may submit separate applications to establish a residential 
center, a satellite non-residential center, or both. The Job Corps 
program is designed to serve disadvantaged young women and men, 16 
through 24, who are in need of additional educational, vocational and 
social skills training, and other support services in order to gain 
meaningful employment, return to school or enter the Armed Forces. The 
program is primarily a residential program operating 24 hours per day, 
7 days per week, with non-resident enrollees limited by legislation to 
20 percent of national enrollment. However, while the 20 percent level 
should be used as a guideline, the percentage of non-residents can vary 
from center to center, depending upon local needs.
    From this solicitation, the Department intends to select five 
localities for locating new centers. Three of the five centers will be 
stand-alone facilities of sufficient size to serve about 300 students 
each, and encompass both residential and non-residential components. 
The remaining two facilities will be satellite centers limited to 
approximately 150 non-residential students each.
    This solicitation is for site selection only and not for the 
operation of these Job Corps centers. A competitive contract 
procurement for selection of a center operator at each site will be 
initiated and completed well after the site selection process has been 
completed.
    Congress has authorized this expansion effort by appropriating $4 
million in the Fiscal Year 1998 budget for Job Corps to initiate five 
new Job Corps centers. Additional funds in the amount of $33 million 
are being requested for appropriation in Fiscal Year 1999 to complete 
the necessary design and construction work to establish centers on the 
sites eventually selected. The Department of Labor is initiating a 
competitive process for selecting these sites. Official Congressional 
guidance that came with the 1998 appropriation said that the Department 
should give priority to:
     States without a Job Corps campus, and
     Suitable facilities that can be provided to Job Corps at 
little or no cost, including facilities that can be made available 
through military base closings.
    The Department also requires that a military base contained in any 
site proposal be available for Job Corps use on a timely basis.
    The Congress further directed the Department to give consideration 
to the establishment of new Job Corps centers, and the construction of 
satellite centers in proximity to existing high-performing centers.
    The Department has also decided to limit site selection to no more 
than one site in any state.
    The determination of a locality's need for a Job Corps center will 
be made by analyzing State-level poverty rates for youth and youth 
unemployment using standardized uniform data available through federal 
agencies, such as 1990 census data, Bureau of Labor Statistics 
publications, and information on existing Job Corps centers, slots and 
locations.
    In addition to the requirements in the appropriations language, the 
Department will also assess the facilities at proposed sites. The 
assessment will be in terms of property acquisition costs, the cost and 
suitability of existing structures and the need for, and cost of, new 
construction and renovation. As indicated previously, priority will be 
given to proposed sites that offer no-cost or low-cost turnkey 
facilities (those in move-in condition requiring little or no 
construction rehabilitation work) which can quickly be made ready for 
use by Job Corps.
    Further, the Department will assess each jurisdiction's plan to use 
State and local resources, both public and private, through 
contributions/linkages that will reduce the Federal cost of operating a 
Job Corps center. Such contributions/linkages may include, but are not 
limited to the following: the provision of work-based learning sites 
and donations of training equipment by the local employer community; 
provision of child care services by local jurisdictions; provision of 
health services; alcohol and drug counseling; referral of eligible 
youth to Job Corps; and job placement assistance after students leave 
Job Corps. Other linkages may include arrangements with public school 
systems, community college networks, social service agencies, business 
and industry, and other training programs to provide services such as 
classroom training, curriculum advice, vocational training, advanced 
learning opportunities, and co-enrollment arrangements with appropriate 
JTPA programs. Contributions of this nature will make maximum use of 
available statewide and community resources in meeting the needs of Job 
Corps-eligible youth.
    Eligible applicants for proposing sites are units of State and/or 
local governments. A Federal agency also may propose sites to the 
extent that such sites are located on public land which is under the 
jurisdiction of the agency. In addition, proposals submitted by Federal 
agencies must have the support of appropriate State and local 
governments.
    Since Job Corps is primarily a residential program that provides 
academic education, vocational training, and extensive support 
services, space and facilities suitable for the following types of 
utilization are required for a Job Corps center.
     Residential--Adequate dormitory living space, including 
bath and lounge facilities, as well as appropriate administrative 
space.
     Academic Education--Space for classrooms, computer labs, 
libraries and other learning resource areas.
     Vocational Training--Classroom and shop space to satisfy 
the needs of specific vocational training areas (e.g., carpentry, 
clerical, painting, culinary arts, health education). The configuration 
of the vocational area, with regard to classroom and shop areas, is 
determined by the ultimate vocational mix offered at the center. In 
this regard, heavy trades, such as construction and automotive, require 
shop areas, while lighter trades, such as clerical and retail sales, 
require only classroom space.
     Food Services--Cafeteria, including food preparation and 
food storage areas.

[[Page 11813]]

     Medical/Dental--Medical examining rooms, nurses' station, 
infirmary space for male and female students, and dental facilities.
     Recreation--Gymnasium/multi-purpose recreational facility 
and large, level outdoor recreational area suitable for softball, 
soccer, etc.
     Administration--General office and conference space.
     Storage/Support--Warehousing and related storage including 
operations and maintenance support.
     Parking--Sufficient for a minimum of 100 vehicles.
    For the two satellite centers, in addition to being located in 
close proximity to an existing high-performing center, space and 
facilities are the same as for residential centers, except for the 
following:
     Residential--Not required.
     Food Service--Requires a reduced food service area.
     Recreation--Requires a student lounge/recreational 
space for students to gather before the training day begins, between 
classes, and at the end of the day. No outdoor area is required, since 
students return to their residences at the completion of each training 
day.
    Other factors that influence the suitability and cost of facilities 
necessary to operate a Job Corps center include the following:

Configuration of Facility

    The preferred configuration of a facility is a campus-type 
environment permitting a self-contained center with all space 
requirements located on-site. Low-rise buildings such as those commonly 
found in public school and college settings are preferred.
    The Office of Job Corps has developed prototype designs for 
selected facilities where new construction is necessary. Parties 
interested in obtaining copies of these designs may do so by contacting 
the Office of Job Corps at the address shown above.

Location of Facilities

    Facilities should be located in areas where neighbors are 
supportive and no major pervasive community opposition exists. Past 
experience indicates that commercial and light industrial locations are 
most desirable for locating either a residential or satellite center, 
while high-value residential areas are the least conducive to community 
acceptance. Further, rural locations are not appropriate for the 
establishment of satellite centers because, due to the absence of 
reliable public transportation, there are not sufficient numbers of the 
target population to keep such centers full on a continual basis.
    In addition, access to emergency medical services and fire and law 
enforcement assistance should be within reasonable distances. If non-
residential enrollment is planned, direct and easy access to the center 
by public transportation is an important consideration and is essential 
for the operation of a satellite center. Proposed sites should also be 
within reasonable commuting distance of planned linkages with other 
programs and services and transportation to these linkages should be 
easily available.
    Locations with major environmental issues, zoning restrictions, 
flood plain and storm drainage requirements, or uncertainty regarding 
utility connections that cannot be resolved efficiently and in a timely 
manner are less than desirable. Likewise, a facility with buildings 
eligible for protection under the National Historical Preservation Act 
may receive less than favorable consideration, due to restrictions on, 
and costs for, renovation. Proposed facilities should also be in full 
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines of 1990 
(28 CFR part 36, revised July 1, 1994), or require minimal renovation 
to ensure full access by persons with disabilities.
    In addition, for satellite centers, such proposed sites should be 
located in an area with a relatively high population density and within 
a 50-mile radius of an existing high-performing Job Corps center.
    Communities are encouraged to hold public hearings in close 
proximity to the facilities being proposed to ascertain the level of 
community support for a Job Corps center. The Office of Job Corps has 
developed a 12-minute video (available in English and Spanish) which 
provides an overview of the Job Corps program and which can be useful 
in informing the local community about Job Corps. Any proposer 
interested in obtaining a copy of either version of this video may 
contact the Office of Job Corps at the address shown above.

Own/Lease

    Ownership is preferred over leased facilities, particularly if a 
substantial investment of construction funds is needed to make the site 
suitable for Job Corps utilization. Exceptions are long-term leases 
(e.g., 25 years or longer) at a nominal cost (e.g., $1/year).

Size

    The following table shows the approximate gross square feet (GSF) 
required for the various types of buildings needed to operate a Job 
Corps residential center with 300 students, and a satellite center with 
150 students. The examples shown are for centers with 100-percent 
residential capacity of 300 and non-residential capacity of 150, 
respectively. The substitution of non-resident for resident students 
will decrease the dormitory space requirements for a residential center 
but will not affect other buildings.

    Gross Square Feet (GSF) Requirements By Type Of Building For Residential and Satellite Job Corps Centers    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Residential center         Satellite center    
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
                        Building type                           GSF per    GSF per 300    GSF per    GSF per 150
                                                                student      students     student      students 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Housing.....................................................          175       52,500  ...........  ...........
Education/Vocation..........................................           85       25,500           85       12,750
Food Services...............................................           44       13,200           40        6,000
Recreation..................................................           82       24,600           60        9,000
Medical/Dental..............................................           12        3,600           12        1,800
Administration..............................................           26        7,800           26        3,900
Storage/Support.............................................           57       17,100           50        7,500
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Sub-Total...............................................  ...........      144,300  ...........       40,950
                                                             ===================================================
Child Care Center (40 children).............................  ...........        5,760  ...........        5,760
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------

[[Page 11814]]

                                                                                                                
        Total...............................................  ...........      150,060  ...........       46,710
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note: Space requirements for child care programs are included in 
the event these activities are proposed.

Land Requirements

    Between 15 and 19 acres of land are needed for a residential center 
of 300 students. There are no acreage requirements for a satellite 
center.

Availability of Utilities

    It is critical that all basic utilities (i.e., sewer, water, 
electric and gas) are available and in proximity to the site and in 
accordance with EPA standards.

Safety, Health and Accessibility

    Job Corps is required to comply with the requirements of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Environmental Protection 
Act (EPA), the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), and the 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The cost involved in 
complying with these requirements is an important factor in determining 
the economic feasibility of utilizing a site. For example, a site which 
contains an excessive amount of asbestos probably would not be cost-
effective due to associated removal costs. Further, sites with any 
environmental hazards that cannot be corrected economically will be at 
a disadvantage, as will sites requiring substantial rehabilitation to 
comply with accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities.

Cost

    The availability of low-cost facilities is a major consideration in 
light of resource limitations. In evaluating facility costs, the major 
items that must be considered are:
     Site acquisition or lease costs,
     Site/utility work,
     Architectural and engineering services,
     Rehabilitation and modifications of existing buildings,
     New construction requirements, if any, and
     Equipment requirements.
    An assessment of these initial capital costs as well as 
consideration of future repair, maintenance and replacement costs will 
be used in evaluating the economic feasibility of a particular 
facility. Preference will be given to existing turnkey facilities that 
meet Job Corps' standards for a training facility. While not 
preferable, limited consideration will be given to the use of raw land 
which is suitable for a Job Corps residential center on which 
facilities can be constructed economically.

Proposal Submission

    In preparing proposals, eligible applicants should identify sites 
which meet the evaluation criteria and guidelines specified above. 
Proposals should address each area with as much detail as practicable 
to enable the Department to determine the suitability of locating a Job 
Corps center at the proposed site. In this regard, proposals must 
contain, at a minimum, the specific information and supporting 
documentation as described below.

Facilities

    Submissions must provide a full description of existing buildings, 
including a building site layout, square footage, age, and general 
condition of each structure. Included in the description must be a 
discussion of its current or previous use; the number of years 
unoccupied, if appropriate; and the condition of sub-systems such as 
heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, plumbing, and 
electrical. Any building documents, such as blueprints, should be 
available for review when a site inspection is conducted by the 
Department. Documentation in the nature of photographs of the property 
and/or facilities must be submitted as well. In addition, a videotaped 
presentation of the site may be provided. The proposal must identify 
the extent to which hazardous materials such as asbestos, PCB, and 
underground storage tanks are present at the site or, if appropriate, 
confirm that contaminants do not exist. The results of any 
environmental assessment for the proposed site, if one has been done, 
must be provided. The proposal must address the availability and 
proximity of utilities to the proposed site, including electrical, 
water, gas, and sanitary sewer and runoff connections. It must also 
describe whether the water and sewer utilities for existing buildings 
are connected to the municipal system or operated separately. A 
statement on current zoning classification and any zoning restrictions 
for the proposed site must also be included. Use of the site as a Job 
Corps center should be compatible with surrounding local land use and 
also with local zoning ordinances. Confirmation must be provided as to 
whether or not any buildings at the site are on a Federal Register. The 
proposal must also describe the available acreage at the site, and the 
nature of the surrounding environment including whether it is 
commercial, industrial, light industrial, rural, or residential. In 
some instances, proposed sites may be part of a substantially larger 
acreage which has or contemplates having other uses. This type of 
joint-use situation may or may not be compatible with providing a 
quality training environment for young women and men. Finally, the 
proposal must address the cost of acquiring the site, which may involve 
transferring the site to the government at no cost, entering into a 
low-cost long-term lease agreement or arranging for a negotiated 
purchase price based on a fair market appraisal. Estimated acquisition 
costs along with the basis for the estimate must be included in the 
proposal.

Contributions/Linkages

    An important aspect of any proposal will be its description of how 
State and local resources will be used to reduce Federal operating 
costs or otherwise benefit the program. It is, therefore, essential 
that precise and comprehensive information about the linkages be 
provided to ensure that the proposed site receives every opportunity 
for a thorough and equitable evaluation. The proposal should contain 
for each linkage the following information:
     A comprehensive description of the service to be provided, 
including projected listing of resources that will be involved such as 
number of instructors/staff, types of equipment and materials.

[[Page 11815]]

     Whether it will be provided at no cost to Job Corps or 
will be available on a contractual (paid) basis to Job Corps.
     Whether the linkage will be provided on-site or off-site.
     The number of students to be served and over what period 
of time, as well as the specific benefits to Job Corps students while 
in Job Corps and/or after leaving the program.
     Distance to linkage, if off-site, and any arrangements for 
transportation to off-site services, including any cost to Job Corps.
     The estimated annual value of the contribution and the 
basis on which the estimate was determined (e.g., two full-time staff 
devoted to Job Corps at an annual salary of $30,000 each for a total 
annual value of $60,000, or one hour of a professional staff-person's 
time per week for 52 weeks at an hourly rate of $15.00 for an annual 
value of $780.00, or 15 computers at a cost of $1,800 each for an 
annual value of $27,000).
     Any limitations associated with the linkage, such as 
eligibility restrictions (e.g., in-state versus out-of-state 
residents), limited hours of service, and availability over time (e.g., 
all-year versus selected months).
     Long-term prospects for continuation of the commitment 
(e.g., one time only, 1 year, on-going, dependent on outside funding 
sources). If dependent on outside funding levels, which may vary 
significantly, what is the likelihood that the linkage will not be 
funded?
     Documentation that addresses timeframes and steps involved 
in firming up the linkage, if appropriate, including obtaining State or 
local legislation, fitting into other planning cycles, or securing 
other agreements or arrangements which may be necessary to assure 
provision of the service.
     A letter of commitment confirming each aspect of the 
linkage, including the level of resources and annual value of these 
resources, from the head of the agency responsible for delivering the 
contribution.
     Name of the agency/organization(s), address, telephone 
number and contact person.
    In providing information on linkages, proposers should keep in mind 
that Job Corps is an open-entry, open-exit, individualized, self-paced 
instructional program that operates on a year-round basis. This type of 
learning environment may have implications for the types of linkages 
being offered.
    In preparing the linkage/contribution part of their proposals, 
eligible applicants should provide full information on each proposed 
linkage/contribution. All items listed above should be addressed for 
each linkage/contribution, providing as much information as is needed 
to ensure that each proposed linkage receives a fair assessment.

Community Support

    This information should include: letters of community support from 
elected officials, government agencies, community and business leaders 
and neighborhood associations; access to cultural/ recreation 
activities in the community; and unique features in the surrounding 
area which would enhance the location of a Job Corps center at that 
site.
    The Job Corps legislation provides the Governor with the 
opportunity to veto the establishment of a center within a State. It is 
important that, before proposing the use of any particular location, 
appropriate clearances are obtained from local and State political 
leadership and, where possible, a letter from the Governor supporting 
the proposed site be contained in the application. Proposals should 
also include any other information the applicant believes pertinent to 
the proposed site for consideration by the Department.
    With regard to timeframes for choosing sites for the establishment 
of Job Corps centers, the site selection process normally takes 9 
months to complete. This allows sufficient time for eligible applicants 
to prepare and submit proposals and for the Department to conduct a 
preliminary site assessment of all proposed facilities, as well as a 
comprehensive site utilization study for those sites determined to have 
high potential for the establishment of a Job Corps center, based on 
the preliminary assessment results. Governors of States in which high-
potential sites are identified will be notified in writing by the 
Department, in accordance with section 435(c) of the Job Training 
Partnership Act, that these sites are in a final phase of 
consideration. Each Governor will be provided a 30-day time period to 
approve or reject further consideration of establishment of a Job Corps 
center at the identified site(s).
    The Department hereby requests eligible proposers to submit an 
original and three copies of their proposal to be received no later 
than June 8, 1998 using the guidance provided above.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 25th day of February, 1998.
Raymond J. Uhalde,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-6117 Filed 3-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P