[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23798-23802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11489]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Job Training Partnership Act; Project Title: External Systems 
Building

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 grant application by 
eligible applicants is contained in this announcement. The U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration 
(ETA), Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, announces the 
availability of funds for State Apprenticeship Agencies and/or 
organizations that represent them (i.e., stakeholders, partners) to 
participate in enhancing the National Apprenticeship System. The 
demonstration program will be funded by the Job Training Partnership 
Act, (JTPA), Titles III and IV.
    This notice provides information on the process that eligible 
entities must use to apply for demonstration funds, how grantees are to 
be selected, and the responsibilities of grantees.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of proposals is May 29, 1998, at 
2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Division of Acquisition and 
Assistance, Attention: Denise Roach, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 
S-4203, Washington, DC 20210, Reference: SGA/DAA 98-012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Roach, Division of Acquisition 
and Assistance. Telephone 202-219-7300, ext. 134 (this is not a toll-
free number). Questions of a technical nature must be FAXED to 202-219-
8739 to the attention of Ms. Roach.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, 
is soliciting proposals, on a competitive basis, to provide 
opportunities for apprenticeship stakeholders and partners to assist in 
enhancing the modern National Registered Apprenticeship System in order 
to improve its effectiveness in the 21st Century. Applicants selected 
for award will be those who best delineate their innovative approaches 
for enhancing the National Apprenticeship System. Proposals must 
demonstrate methods for modernizing apprenticeship systems to become 
aligned with the National Apprenticeship System's initiatives in 
expanding apprenticeship, developing competency systems, and developing 
new and innovative strategies for increasing the participation of women 
and minorities in our nation's apprenticeship programs.
    The announcement consist of four parts. Part I describes the 
application process for eligible applicants who wish to apply for grant 
funds. Part II provides the Government's Required Statement of Work. 
Part III describes the selection criteria for award. Part IV provides 
information regarding reporting requirements.

Part I. Application Process

A. Eligibility

    Eligible applicants are State Apprenticeship Agencies and/or 
organizations that represent them, i.e., stakeholders, partners, Human 
Resource Councils or State Workforce Development Councils.

B. Period of Performance

    The Period of Performance will be July 1, 1998 through June 30, 
1999.

C. Funding

    The Department anticipates awarding two (2) grants not to exceed 
$60,000 each for a total of $120,000. Applications that exceed $60,000 
will not be considered. Awards will be made on a competitive basis.

D. Page Limitation

    Applicant's technical proposal shall be limited to 20 double-
spaced, single-sided pages with 1-inch margins. Text type shall be at 
least 10 pitch or larger. Applications that do not meet these 
requirements will not be considered.

E. Submission of Proposal

    Four (4) copies of the proposal (an original and three copies) must 
be received. Your proposal must be organized in the following manner:
    Section I--Financial and Summary Information (this section does not 
count against your page limitation).
    (1) Standard Form (SF)-424; ``Application for Federal Assistance'' 
(Appendix A). The Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog number 17.246.
    (2) A one or two page summary of your proposed project which shall 
include information on the number of welfare recipients in the State 
and proposed target area.
    (3) ``Budget Information'', (Appendix B). Also include, on separate 
pages, a detailed breakout of each proposed budget line item.
    Section II--Technical Proposal (limited to 20 pages).
    Your technical proposal must demonstrate the grant applicant's 
capabilities in accordance with the Statement of Work in Part II of 
this solicitation. No cost data or reference to costs shall be included 
in the Technical Proposal. Applicants must also include resumes of 
proposed staff and an organizational chart.

F. Hand Delivered Proposals

    Proposals may be mailed or delivered by hand. A mailed proposal 
should be mailed no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the 
closing date for the receipt of applications. Hand-delivered grant 
applications must be received at the designated place by 2:00 p.m., 
(Eastern Time) on the closing date for receipt of applications. All 
overnight mail shall be considered to be hand-delivered and must be 
received at the designated place by the specified time on the closing 
date. Telegraphed, electronic mail, or faxed proposals will not be 
honored. Applications that fail to adhere to the above instructions 
will not be honored.

G. Late Proposals

    A 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 it--
    (1) Was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day service, 
Post Office to Addressee not later than 5:00 p.m. at the place of 
mailing two working days prior to the date specified for receipt of the 
proposals. The term ``working days'' excludes weekends and U.S. Federal 
holidays.
    (2) Was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the 
fifth calendar day before the date specified for receipt of 
applications (e.g., an offer submitted in response to a solicitation 
requiring receipt of applications by the 20th of the month must be 
mailed by the 15th); The term ``post-mark'' means a printed, stamped, 
or otherwise placed impression (exclusive of a postage meter machine 
impression) that is readily

[[Page 23799]]

identifiable without further action as having been supplied in the 
original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. Both postmarks must show 
a legible date, or the application shall be processed as though it had 
been mailed late. ``Post-mark'' 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 an employee 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.

H. Withdrawal of Proposals

    A grant application may be withdrawn by written notice or telegram 
(including mailgram) received at any time before the awarding of a 
grant. An application may be withdrawn in person by the grant 
applicant, or by an authorized representative of the grant applicant if 
the representative's identity is made known and the representative 
signs a receipt for the proposal.

Part II. Statement of Work

    Changes in our economy, technology, and our need to embrace 
diversity are the major driving forces behind new initiatives to expand 
apprenticeship, develop competency systems, and identify additional 
strategies for increasing the participation of women and minorities in 
our nation's apprenticeship programs.
    To that end, the major tasks of this procurement are, but not 
limited to the following:
     To propose suggestions, methods, practices, protocols, and 
or systems which delineate the modernization of registration processes 
and improvements and or updates in services to enhance the modern 
apprenticeship system (i.e., survey of registration agency ``Best 
Practices'' or ``Benchmarking'' of services which registration agencies 
provide to workforce development systems);
     To propose methods and approaches that would result in a 
better alignment between apprenticeship stakeholders (i.e., Human 
Resource Councils, State Workforce Development Councils, State 
Apprenticeship Agencies) and the National Apprenticeship System (i.e., 
activities, forums, suggestions, governance, collective or 
collaborative action on apprenticeship issues);
     To propose practices, procedures, methods for the 
expansion and information sharing of National Apprenticeship Systems;
     To discuss, propose, and recommend approaches for the 
development of Competency Based Systems (i.e., pilot activities for the 
application of ``skills standards'' to apprenticeship training);
     To develop and propose new and innovative strategies for 
increasing the participation of minorities and women in apprenticeship.
    Applicants must include a detailed workplan that delineates a 
schedule of proposed activities and milestones for implementing the 
tasks indicated above within the award period (July 1998--June 1999).

Part III. Selection/Evaluation Criteria

    Selection of grantees for awards will be made after careful 
evaluation of grant applications by a panel selected for that purpose 
by DOL. Panel results shall be advisory in nature and not binding on 
the Grant Officer. Panelists shall evaluate applications for 
acceptability based upon overall responsiveness to the Statement of 
Work, with emphasis on the factors enumerated below. Applicants are 
advised that awards may be made without further discussions.
    A. Modernization of registration process (20 points)--The extent to 
which the offeror has delineated reliable processes to identify 
efficient procedures of registration and service delivery.
    B. Alignment (20 points)--Delineation and prioritization of initial 
steps, activities, and areas that would provide a better alignment 
between Apprenticeship Agencies and stakeholders.
    C. Expansion (20 points)--Analyze and propose the most effective 
strategies for the expansion of registered apprenticeship.
    D. Competency Based Systems (20 points)--Assess and propose 
strategies for incorporating Competency Based Systems (i.e., skill 
standards) in registered apprenticeship training.
    E. Increase Minority & Female Participation (20 points)--Identify 
and delineate promising strategies (i.e., best practices) for 
increasing the number of minority and female apprentices.
    Applicants are advised that letters of support are not necessary.

Part IV--Reporting Requirements

    Applicants selected as grantees will be required to provide the 
following information in timely fashion:
    A. Monthly Financial Status Reports (i.e., Standard Form 269);
    B. Quarterly progress against the workplan (i.e., status) reports 
with narrative summaries;
    C. Draft Final Project Report on desired outcomes within 30 days 
prior to grant expiration date. Specific format to be determined.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 27th day of April 1998.
Janice E. Perry,
 Grant Officer.

Appendices

Appendix A--Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form (SF)-
424)
Appendix B--Budget Information

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[FR Doc. 98-11489 Filed 4-29-98; 8:45 am]
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