[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26440-26451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12225]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Welfare-to-Work Census 2000 Employment Project
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), DOL.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; solicitation for grant
applications.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training
Administration (ETA) announces a special round of competition under the
Welfare-to-Work (WtW) grant program to facilitate the employment of WtW
program participants as Census 2000 enumerators in local areas across
the country. The Department of Labor, in partnership with the
Department of Commerce, seeks a single private organization with a
nationwide network of community-based local providers or affiliates to
serve as an intermediary between local Census Bureau offices across the
country and the WtW local level formula and competitive grantees. The
WtW program assists States and local communities to provide the
transitional employment assistance needed to move hard-to-employ
recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and
certain noncustodial parents, who have experienced or have
characteristics associated with long-term welfare dependence, into
lasting unsubsidized jobs. This announcement describes the special
conditions under which applications will be received for the WtW Census
2000 Employment Project and the criteria DOL/ETA will use to select
which application it will fund. This announcement includes all of the
information and forms needed to apply for this WtW grant opportunity.
DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this
announcement is Friday, July 16, 1999. For the funding cycle covered by
this announcement, complete applications must be received at the
address below no later than 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time). Except
as provided below, grant applications received after this date and time
will not be considered.
[[Page 26441]]
ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training
Administration, Division of Federal Assistance, Attention: Mr. Willie
E. Harris, SGA/DFA 99-013, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S4203,
Washington, D.C. 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be faxed to Mr.
Willie E. Harris, Grant Management Specialist, Division of Federal
Assistance, Fax: (202) 219-8739. This is not a toll-free number.
Questions may also be sent via electronic mail to ``disgu-
[email protected].'' All inquiries sent via fax or e-mail should include
the SGA number (DFA 99-013) and a contact name and phone number. This
announcement is also being published on the Internet on the Employment
and Training Administration's Welfare-to-Work Home Page at http://
wtw.doleta.gov. Commonly asked questions and answers with regard to the
WtW competitive grants and the WtW program in general, and copies of
the Interim Final Rule governing the Welfare-to-Work program, including
activities conducted under the competitive grants, are also available
on the WtW Home Page. Award notification will be also published on the
WtW Home Page.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Authority
Section 403(a)(5)(B) of Title IV of the Social Security Act.
Regulations governing the WtW program are at 20 CFR Part 645, published
at 62 FR 61588 (November 18, 1997).
II. Submission of Applications
One original plus two copies of the application must be submitted.
Proposals must be submitted by the applicant only. All applications
must be single-spaced, and on single-sided, numbered pages. A font size
of at least 12 pitch is required.
Section I of the application must include the following required
elements: (A) Project Financial Plan, including the SF-424, and a line-
item budget with justification, (B) Executive Summary, and (C) Evidence
of State and local consultation. Section I will not count against the
application page limits. Failure to include all elements required in
this section will result in disqualification of the application.
Applications will not be reviewed if a list of all appropriate State
and PIC/political subdivision certifications received and held by the
applicant (or evidence of efforts to consult, as described in Section
IV below) is not included. No additional information or materials will
be accepted by the Department of Labor after the closing date, unless
such additional material is specifically requested by the Grant
Officer.
Section II of the application, the project narrative, shall not
exceed fifteen (15) pages for the Government Requirement/Statement of
Work section, as described below in the ``Required Content for the WtW
Census 2000 Employment Project,'' plus up to an additional ten (10)
pages for attachments, to include no information that is critical to
the review of the proposal. Letters of support for a proposal should
NOT be submitted and will count against the page limits.
Acceptable Methods of Submission
Applications may be hand-delivered or mailed. Hand-delivered
applications must be received at the address identified above by the
date and time specified. Overnight mail deliveries will be treated as
hand-deliveries. Mailed applications that arrive after the closing date
will be accepted if they are post-marked at least five (5) days prior
to the closing date. Applications submitted via overnight mail that
arrive after the closing date will be accepted if they are post-marked
at least two (2) days prior to the closing date. Otherwise, late
applications will not be accepted. Telegraphed and/or faxed
applications will not be accepted.
Applications may be withdrawn by written notice or telegram
(including mailgram), or in person if the representative's identity is
made known, and the representative signs a receipt for the application.
OMB Approval of Paperwork Burden
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless such
collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control
number for this information collection is 1205-0402. The time required
to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20
hours for the preparation of the application proposal, including the
time to review the instructions, search existing data resources, gather
data needed, and complete and review the information, plus up to an
additional 80 hours to meet the consultation requirements. Comments
concerning this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection
of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Job Training Programs, Room N4459,
Washington, DC 20210 (Paperwork Reduction Project 1205-0402). Comments
may be reflected in the development of future solicitations.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
The Welfare-to-Work program is listed in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance at No. 17.253, ``Employment and Training
Assistance--Welfare-to-Work Grants to States & Local Entities for Hard-
to-Employ Welfare Recipient Programs.''
III. Program Scope and Funding
The WtW Census 2000 Employment Project will be expected to achieve
the purpose of all WtW grants:
To provide transitional assistance which moves welfare recipients
into unsubsidized employment providing good career potential for
achieving economic self-sufficiency.
This transitional assistance is to be provided through a ``work
first'' service strategy in which recipients are engaged in employment-
based activities. Grant funds may be used to provide needed basic and/
or vocational skills training as a post-employment service in
conjunction with either subsidized or unsubsidized employment. This
flexibility, established in the Regulations, reflects the basic ``work
first'' philosophy of the WtW legislation, and recognizes the critical
importance of continuous skills acquisition and lifelong learning to
achieving economic self-sufficiency.
The primary goals specific to the WtW Census 2000 Employment
Project are to ensure that (1) WtW participants, who are successfully
identified and recruited by the grantee, are part of a viable pool from
which Census recruiters can hire and train Census 2000 enumerators; and
(2) WtW Census hires receive the intensive community-based support they
need to remain in the workforce after their Census 2000 jobs end.
The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of the Census has as its
mission to provide an accurate national count for Census 2000. In
various pre-Census operations leading up to next year's Decennial
Census, the Bureau has recruited, trained and hired over 4,700 welfare
recipients. These workers were based in urban, suburban and rural areas
throughout the nation. They have shown themselves to be well-suited to
assist the Bureau's strategic and principal goal of providing an
accurate population count in every locale.
Census 2000 offers a unique opportunity for individuals who are
currently receiving welfare, as well as noncustodial parents of
children on welfare, to establish a work history with a credible
employer. Temporary jobs as
[[Page 26442]]
Census enumerators have flexible hours, do not require that individuals
leave their own community, and offer low-skilled individuals wages of
$8.25 to $18.50 an hour, depending on the locality. The jobs are
expected to last approximately eight to twelve weeks.
In preparing for Census 2000, the Census Bureau is aware of the
obstacles to hiring the enormous number of enumerators necessary to get
an accurate count of the population, particularly in low-income and
high-crime neighborhoods. In the past, the Census Bureau has hired
residents of census tracts to assist in the enumeration of the
residents who live there.
DOC is currently operating pilot programs in Maryland and Virginia,
called the Chesapeake Initiative, which serve as test sites for
implementation of WtW Census 2000 Employment Project nationwide next
year. In this pilot project, a statewide non-profit organization in
each State is responsible for identifying and recruiting welfare
recipients, providing basic job readiness and supportive services
during Census employment, including child care, transportation, etc.,
and placing the individuals in permanent employment once Census
employment has ended.
For the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project, the Departments of
Labor and Commerce hope to expand on and profit from the knowledge
gained through the pilot project underway in Maryland and Virginia.
Through the competitive application process, DOL and DOC will select a
national organization that has an established delivery system of well-
networked local affiliates throughout all States. This organization
would be responsible for (1) identifying large numbers of eligible WtW
participants qualified for Census employment, through coordination with
WtW formula and competitive grants, and through networks of community-
based service providers developed by the applicant and local Census
offices; (2) provide a comprehensive array of supportive services to
participants before, during and after employment as Census enumerators,
building on or linking with existing resources wherever possible; (3)
place participants in permanent employment following their employment
with Census 2000, and (4) set up local arrangements so that ongoing job
retention and supportive services will be available to participants
either through the grant or through other local WtW programs.
Note: It is assumed that job retention and supportive services
provided through the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project grant will
be of relatively short duration after placement of a participant in
a post-Census job. Applicants are encouraged to describe in detail
what arrangements they have made with other WtW grantees at the
local level to provide longer-term supportive services and follow-up
for WtW Census Employment Project participants.
For the most part, the Census jobs targeted for WtW participants
will be temporary positions as Census enumerators. A Census enumerator
is responsible for locating households, listing addresses, as well as
conducting interviews with respondents. Enumerators usually work in
their own neighborhoods or communities. In order to find people at
home, enumerators need to be able to work evenings and weekends. Census
enumerators receive paid training on how to locate and list addresses,
explain the purpose of the Census to residents, ask questions as worded
on Census forms, and record data on Census forms. Potential enumerators
must take a written test to be considered for employment. The test
consists of 28 multiple choice questions designed to measure the skills
and abilities required to perform a variety of Census jobs, like
reading, math, following instructions, and map reading skills.
Applicants for Census jobs are given 30 minutes to complete the test.
Applicants who score high on the employment test stand a better chance
of being hired. Applicants may re-take the test if they like, though
the majority of applicants (4 of every 5) pass the test on their first
try.
All applications for the WtW Census 2000 Employemnt Project will be
reviewed under the criteria set forth in Part VII of this announcement.
Funding Availability
Up to $20 million will be available for a single grant to implement
the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project. This amount will come out of
the $240 million available for Round Three of the WtW Competitive
Grants (SGA number DFA 99-003, published in the Federal Register on
January 26, 1999). It is expected the project will serve approximately
7,500 to 10,000 participants nationwide.
Note: This does not constitute a new goal of welfare hires for
the Department of Commerce or the Census Bureau.
Award Period
The planned performance period for the WtW Census 2000 Employment
Project will be approximately 18 months. This time frame will allow
four months for planning, start-up and setting up relationships at the
local level; ten months of program operations; and four months of
close-out and follow-up activities. Note that for most Census
enumerators, employment will begin in mid-April 2000, and last
approximately eight to twelve weeks. No obligation or commitment of
funds will be allowed beyond the grant period of performance. Any
unspent grant funds must be returned to the Federal government.
IV. Eligible Grant Applicants
For the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project, eligible applicants are
private organizations that have an established nationwide delivery
system of community-based local affiliates throughout all States to
serve as an intermediary between local Census Bureau offices and the
WtW local level formula and competitive grantees. As established in the
WtW Regulations (20 CFR Part 645.500), private entities seeking WtW
competitive grant funding are required to apply in conjunction with the
PIC(s) or political subdivision(s) for the areas in which the project
is to operate. The term ``in conjunction with'' shall mean that the
application must include a signed certification by both the applicant
and either the appropriate PIC(s) or political subdivision(s)
indicating that:
1. The applicant has consulted with the appropriate PIC(s)/
political subdivision(s) during the development of the application; and
2. The activities proposed in the application are consistent with,
and will be coordinated with, the WtW efforts of the PIC(s)/political
subdivision(s).
If the applicant is unable to obtain the certification, it will be
required to include information describing the efforts which were
undertaken to consult with the PIC(s)/political subdivision(s) and
indicating that the PIC(s)/political subdivision(s) were provided a
sufficient opportunity to cooperate in the development of the project
plan and to review and comment on the application prior to its
submission to the Department of Labor. ``Sufficient opportunity for
PIC/political subdivision review and comment'' shall mean at least 30
calendar days.
The certification, or evidence of efforts to consult, must be with
either each PIC or each political subdivision in the service area in
which the proposed project is to operate. For the purposes of this
portion of the application, applicants must demonstrate, through
written documentation such as registered mail receipt, that project
proposals were shared with the PIC/political subdivision in a timely
manner.
Note: Electronic mail messages may be acceptable as evidence of
consultation. In
[[Page 26443]]
addition, a sample format for State and local certifications can be
found in Appendix C that applicants may choose to use. All
certifications must be dated prior to July 16, 1999.
Applicants must submit a list of all local entities from whom they
have obtained certification of coordination. Applicants will maintain
copies of all certifications in their own files. Although an important
part of their application, certifications need not be submitted to DOL.
For those applicants that are deemed to be competitive, DOL will verify
that certifications are on file and that they are dated prior to the
closing date of the SGA.
The Department of Labor intends to facilitate the consultation
process for all potential applicants. DOL/ETA will release a Training
and Employment Information Notice informing the WtW employment and
training system about the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project and the
potential role of local Private Industry Council in the consultation
process. The names and addresses of State WtW Coordinators and all WtW
Competitive grantees can be found on the WtW website (http://
wtw.doleta.gov). In addition, a complete listing of WtW local service
delivery areas, as well as State Welfare contacts, can be found at
http://www.ttrc.doleta.gov/common/directories/.
Applicants should be aware that six States (Idaho, Mississippi,
Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming) do not have WtW State formula
programs. In these States, applicants are encouraged to consult with
WtW Competitive grants, State and local TANF agencies, State and local
Census agencies and/or appropriate tribal entities to promote
coordination of program activities in these areas. However, applicants
will not be disqualified if they have not applied in conjunction with
local areas within these six States.
State-Level Consultation
All applicants must submit their applications to the Governors of
all States in which the project will operate, or, at the discretion of
the Governor, to the designated State administrative entity for the WtW
program, for review and comment prior to submission of the application
to the Department of Labor.
When submitted to DOL, the application must include any comments
from the Governor or his/her designee or must include information
indicating that the Governor was provided a sufficient opportunity for
review and comment prior to submission to the Department. ``Sufficient
opportunity for State review and comment'' shall mean at least 15
calendar days. For the purposes of this portion of the application,
information indicating that the Governor was provided opportunity for
review must be demonstrated by written documentation, such as
registered mail receipt, that project applications were submitted to
the Governor or his/her designee in a timely manner. A sample format
for State and local certifications can be found in Appendix C that
applicants may choose to use. All certifications must be dated prior to
July 16, 1999.
Applicants must submit a list of all Governors from whom they have
obtained certification of consultation. Applicants will maintain copies
of all certifications in their own files. Although an important part of
their application, certifications need not be submitted to DOL. For
those applicants that are deemed to be competitive, DOL will verify
that certifications are on file and that they are dated prior to the
closing date of the SGA.
Coordination With Tribal Grantees
Although consultation with Indian and Native American (INA)
entities is not required for the WtW Census Employment Project,
applicants are encouraged to coordinate with tribal entities and
corresponding local Census Offices to achieve maximum geographic
saturation in this project.
Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with Indian and Native
American Welfare-to-Work grantees, grantees operating an Indian JTPA/
WIA program and other Indian and Native American tribes/organizations
that have experience in operating employment and training programs
within the Native American communities. A listing of the INA WtW
grantees can be found at http://www.wdsc.org/dinap/dinapw2w/index.html.
In addition, INA JTPA grantees listing can be found at http://
www.wdsc.org/dinap. Projects may coordinate either directly with
appropriate tribal entities or may choose to use competitive
subcontracts/grants with tribal or other entities that have experience
in planning and coordination activities in the Native American
communities.
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Entities described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive
funds under this announcement. The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2
U.S.C. 1601 et seq., prohibits the award of Federal funds to these
entities if they engage in lobbying activities.
V. Program and Administrative Requirements
Participant Eligibility and Funding Expenditures
The WTW Census 2000 Employment Project will be required to meet the
targeting provisions described at 20 CFR Parts 645.211-645.213.
Note: The WtW Regulations are available at the WtW Internet web
site at http://wtw.doleta.gov.
These provisions dictate that a minimum of 70 percent of the funds
in each WtW competitive grant must be used to serve hard-to-employ
individuals as described in Sec. 645.212. Furthermore, no more than 30
percent of the funds in each grant may be used to serve individuals
with characteristics predictive of long-term welfare dependence, as
described in Sec. 645.213.
Allowable Uses of Funds
Competitive grant funds shall be spent only for those allowable
activities identified in the WtW Regulations, at 20 CFR Part 645.220
and set forth below; for appropriate administrative costs; and for
information technology costs in accordance with 20 CFR 645.235(c)(3).
WtW allowable activities are:
(a) Job readiness activities financed through job vouchers or
through contracts with public or private providers.
(b) Employment activities which consist of any of the following:
(1) Community service programs; (2) Work experience programs; (3) Job
creation through public or private sector employment wage subsidies;
and (4) On-the-job training.
(c) Job placement services financed through job vouchers or through
contracts with public or private providers subject to the payment
requirements at Sec. 645.230(a)(3).
(d) Post-employment services financed through job vouchers or
through contracts with public or private providers, which are provided
after an individual is placed in one of the employment activities
listed in paragraph (b) above, or in any other subsidized or
unsubsidized job. Post-employment services include, but are not limited
to, such services as: (1) Basic educational skills training; (2)
Occupational skills training; (3) English as a second language
training; and (4) Mentoring.
(e) Job retention services and support services which are provided
after an individual is placed in a job readiness activity, as specified
in paragraph (a) above, in one of the employment
[[Page 26444]]
activities, as specified in paragraph (b) above, or in any other
subsidized or unsubsidized job. These services can be provided with WtW
funds only if they are not otherwise available to the participant. Job
retention and support services include, but are not limited to, such
services as: (1) Transportation assistance; (2) Substance abuse
treatment (except that WtW funds may not be used to provide medical
treatment); (3) Child care assistance; (4) Emergency or short-term
housing assistance; and (5) Other supportive services.
(f) Individual development accounts which are established in
accordance with section 404(h) of the Act.
(g) Intake, assessment, eligibility determination, development of
an individualized service strategy, and case management may be
incorporated in the design of any of the allowable activities listed in
paragraphs (a) through (f) above.
It is expected that in the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project, the
majority of services will fall under the job readiness, job placement,
post-employment services and job retention and supportive services
categories.
Administrative Costs
Requirements concerning allowable costs and the 15 percent
limitation on administrative costs for WtW competitive grants will
apply to the WTW Census 2000 Employment Project and are defined in the
WtW Regulations at 20 CFR Part 645.235. All proposed costs must be
reflected as either a direct charge to specific budget line items, or
as an indirect cost. Indirect costs and direct administrative costs are
allowable, but combined, these costs cannot exceed 15 percent of the
total grant. The administrative costs negotiated in the final grant
document may be below fifteen percent.
Only costs which result from applying a federally-approved indirect
cost rate may be entered on the ``indirect cost'' line item of the
budget. If an indirect cost rate is used, the applicant must include
documentation from the cognizant Federal agency which includes the
approved rate, the cost base against which it is applied, and the
approval date.
All applicants will be expected to justify proposed costs (see
Project Financial Plan, in the ``Required Content for the WtW Census
2000 Employment Project''). Profits are not an allowable use of grant
funds.
Use of Federal Funds
Federal funds cannot be used to support activities which would be
provided in the absence of those funds. Grant funds may cover only
those costs which are appropriate and reasonable. Federal grant funds
may only be used to acquire equipment which is necessary for the
operation of the grant. The grantee must receive prior approval from
the DOL/ETA Grant Officer for the purchase and/or lease of any property
and/or equipment with a per unit acquisition cost of $5,000 or more,
and a useful life of more than one year as defined in ``Grants and
Agreements with Institutes of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other
Non-Profit Organizations,'' codified at 29 CFR Part 95 (also known as
OMB Circular A-110). This restriction includes the purchase of
Automated Data Processing (ADP) equipment. A request for such prior
approval may be included in the grant application or submitted after
the grant award. Requests submitted after the grant award must be
directed through the Grant Officer Technical Representative (GOTR) and
must include a detailed description and cost of the items to be
acquired.
Grant funds also may not be used to cover any project-related costs
incurred prior to the effective date of the grant award. In making a
grant award, DOL/ETA has no obligation to provide any future additional
funding in connection with the grant award.
Pursuant to 20 CFR Part 645.235(c)(3), the costs of information
technology--computer hardware and software--needed for tracking or
monitoring under a WtW grant shall not be subject to the fifteen
percent limitation on administrative costs.
Year 2000 Compliance
Any information technology purchased in whole or in part with WtW
funds, which is used for a period of time that goes beyond December 31,
1999, must be ``year 2000 compliant.'' This means that such information
technology shall accurately process date/time data (including, but not
limited to, calculating, comparing and sequencing) from, into and
between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the years 1999 and
2000, and leap year calculations. Furthermore, ``year 2000 compliant''
information technology, when used in combination with other information
technology, shall accurately process date/time data if the other
information technology properly exchanges date/time with it.
Assurances and Certifications
The following assurances and certifications must be included as
part of each grant application: Debarment & Suspension Certification.
Other assurances and certifications will be required as part of
each executed grant agreement, but do not need to be submitted as part
of a WtW Competitive grant application: Assurances/Non-Construction
Programs; Certification Regarding Lobbying; Drug Free Workplace
Certification; Certification of Non-delinquency; and Non-discrimination
and Equal Opportunity Requirements.
Departmental Oversight
The Department reserves the right to conduct oversight and both
programmatic and financial monitoring activities for all competitive
grants awarded under the WtW grants program, including the WTW Census
2000 Employment Project.
VI. Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring
The Department shall be responsible for ensuring effective
implementation of each competitive grant, including the WTW Census 2000
Employment Project, in accordance with the Act, the Regulations, the
provisions of this announcement and the negotiated grant agreement.
Applicants should assume that at least one on-site project review will
be conducted by Department staff, or their designees, at approximately
the midpoint of the project performance period. This review will focus
on the project's progress in meeting the grant's programmatic goals and
participant outcomes, complying with the targeting requirements
regarding recipients who are served, expenditure of grant funds on
allowable activities, integration with other resources and service
providers in the local area, and methods for assessment of the
responsiveness and effectiveness of the services being provided. The
grantee may be subject to other additional reviews at the discretion of
the Department.
Reporting
Applicants selected as grantees will be required to provide the
following reports:
1. Financial Reporting: The Department of Labor (DOL) issued
financial reporting instructions for competitive grantees on June 24,
1998. Financial reports will be submitted electronically directly to
DOL.
2. Participant Reporting: Participant reporting instructions will
be issued shortly covering the WtW competitive grant program.
Participant reports for each competitive grant will be submitted in
accordance with reporting instructions at a later date.
3. Other Reporting: The Department of Labor may negotiate
additional
[[Page 26445]]
reporting requirements with individual grantees, where necessary, for
grant management and/or knowledge development purposes, including
quarterly narrative reports.
In addition to required quarterly financial and participant
reporting, some grantees may be asked to provide information to the
appropriate ETA Grant Officer Technical Representative during the early
implementation phase of the project for the purpose of project
oversight. This information may include project enrollment levels,
participant characteristics, and emerging implementation issues.
VII. Review and Selection of Applications for Grant Award Review
Process
The Department will screen all applications to determine whether
all required elements are present and clearly identifiable. These
elements are described below in the ``Required Content for the WtW
Census 2000 Employment Project.'' Failure to include all required
elements in Section I of the grant application will result in rejection
of the application.
Each complete application will be objectively rated against the
criteria described in this announcement by a panel of Department of
Labor and Department of Commerce staff. Applicants are advised that the
panel recommendations to the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. The
Grant Officer may elect to award the grant either with or without
discussion with the applicant. In situations where no discussions
occur, an award will be based on the applicant's signature on the SF-
424 form (See Appendix B), which constitutes a binding offer.
The Grant Officer will make final award decisions based on what is
most advantageous to the Government, considering factors such as: Panel
findings; geographic saturation; and the availability of funds.
Criteria
The criteria, and the weights assigned to each, which will apply to
the review of applications submitted in response to this announcement
are:
1. ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' [25 points] which shall
consider the extent to which the applicant can demonstrate that its
local affiliates have strong relationships with WtW and TANF agencies,
including tribal entities and WtW Competitive grants, as well as local
Census Offices, in local areas across the country (up to 15 points);
and the extent and quality of local community partnerships that are
involved in the project (up to 10 points).
2. ``Demonstrated Capability'' [40 points] which shall consider the
extent to which the applicant and its affiliates demonstrate a history
of success in managing a project of the scope and complexity described
herein (up to 15 points); the extent to which the applicant and its
affiliates have experience in brokering services for a comparable
target group (up to 12 points); and the extent to which the applicant
demonstrates the ability to effectively execute grant management
responsibilities, including tracking of participants in the 70/30%
categories of eligibility (up to 13 points).
3. ``Outcomes'' [35 points] which shall consider the quality of the
proposed strategy for attaining employment and earnings outcomes (up to
10 points); the extent to which the proposed plan of services responds
to the barriers faced by proposed participants, and provides
flexibility to respond to local conditions (up to 7 points); the
reasonableness of the level of investment in relation to the proposed
outcomes (up to 8 points); and the extent to which the applicant has a
strategy for developing relationships with other Welfare-to-Work
programs and with private employers to ensure long-term placements of
participants (up 10 points).
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 11th day of May, 1999.
Janice E. Perry,
Chief, Division of Federal Assistance.
Required Content for WtW Census 2000 Employment Project
Each application must contain the information and follow the format
outlined in this Part. In preparing your project narrative, keep in
mind the selection criteria outlined above.
I. Project Summary
A. Project Financial Plan
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.
The financial plan shall describe all costs associated with
implementing the project that are to be covered with grant funds. All
costs should be necessary and reasonable according to the Federal
guidelines set forth in the ``Grants and Agreements with Institutes of
Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations'' (also
known as OMB Circular A-110), codified at 29 CFR Part 95.
The financial plan must contain the following parts:
* ``Application for Federal Assistance'' and ``Budget Information
Sheet'' by line item for all costs required to implement the project
design effectively. Submission of these two completed forms is
required. (See Appendix B for these required forms.)
Note: Although there is no matching requirement for this grant,
the Department strongly encourages the leveraging of financial and
other resources in the implementation of WtW competitive grant
projects. These resources will not, however, be recorded on the
Budget Information Sheet (Appendix B).
* Budget narrative/justification which provides sufficient
information to support the reasonableness of the costs included in the
budget in relation to the service strategy and planned outcomes.
B. Executive Summary
Each application must provide a two-page executive summary of the
grant proposal, describing the nature of the services typically
provided by applicant's local affiliates, the proposed service
strategy, the qualifications of the applicant to implement a nationwide
project, other significant service organizations involved in the
delivery of services, and the most innovative elements of the proposal.
This section must be no more than two single-spaced, single-sided
pages.
C. Evidence of Required Local and State Consultation
It is the expectation of the Department that, to the extent
possible, all applications will be developed in consultation with a
substantial majority of PICs/political subdivisions and Governors
across the country. The WtW Census 2000 Employment Project should
complement the WtW formula and competitive grant activity at a local
level, rather than exist independent of, or in conflict with, those
programs.
Each application must include the signed certification of the
required consultation with the Governor, or of evidence of efforts to
consult, as described in this announcement. Applications must also
include the signed certification from each PIC(s) or political
subdivision(s) or other evidence indicating the efforts undertaken to
obtain the required consultation as described in this announcement. In
areas where an entity other than the PIC has been designated by the
Governor and approved by the Secretary to administer the WtW formula
grant, the applicant should also include evidence of consultation and/
or support from that entity. All certifications or comments provided as
part of this requirement must be included in this section of the grant
application and will not be counted against the established page
limits. A
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sample format for State and local certifications can be found in
Appendix C that applicants may choose to use. All certifications must
be dated prior to July 16, 1999.
Applicants must submit a list of all State and local entities from
whom they have obtained certification of coordination. Applicants will
maintain copies of all certifications in their own files. Although an
important part of their application, certifications need not be
submitted to DOL. For those applicants that are deemed to be
competitive, DOL will verify that certifications are on file and that
they are dated prior to the closing date of the SGA.
II. Government Requirement/Statement of Work--Project Narrative
This section of the application should not exceed 15 single-spaced,
numbered pages. The application should include information of the type
described below, as appropriate.
Description of Applicant's Service Delivery System
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Demonstrated Capability'' criteria.
--Describe the nature of programs operated, services provided and
outcomes obtained by local affiliates nationwide. In addition, please
provide a map indicating which State and local areas are served by
local affiliates.
--Identify with what types of organizations local affiliates typically
coordinate activities and services.
--Describe organizational experience in serving welfare recipients,
including hard-to-employ recipients and noncustodial parents, and
implementing welfare reform programs. In addition, please describe any
specific Welfare-to-Work programs that your organization or local
affiliates are operating or where you are providing services through a
contract or subgrant.
--Describe your experience in working with Private Industry Councils or
providing employment and training programs. Explain any situations in
which your organization provided services for individuals who were
simultaneously enrolled in more than one Federal program (e.g. AFDC/
TANF and JTPA).
Recruitment and Intake of Target Group
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' and
``Outcomes'' criteria.
--Describe your organization's experience in assessing individual
barriers to employment, and the population typically served by your
organization and its affiliates, including the barriers that your
programs and services address.
--Describe how your organization normally recruits individuals to
participate in your program, including other specific organizations or
types of organizations and agencies (such as housing authorities,
welfare agencies, workforce development agencies, child support
enforcement agencies, etc.) that might assist you with referrals.
Employer Recruitment Strategies
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.
--Describe the types of relationships that your organization has
maintained with employers both at a national level and at a local level
(e.g. associations that you work with at the national level, as well as
types of organizations that local affiliates tend to work with
regularly).
--Identify the types of occupations in the local area which are likely
to be targeted as appropriate employment opportunities for the target
group of this project following their temporary employment with Census
2000. Include a brief justification for the selection of the
occupations in terms of their availability and demand and the adequacy
of expected placement wage and post-placement earnings potential to
achieve self-sufficiency.
--Describe the specific responsibilities and approaches for developing
relationships with and support of employers to generate a sufficient
number of unsubsidized employment opportunities for the target group.
Specifically describe how employers will be encouraged to customize
employment opportunities to meet work-related needs (e.g., child care,
flexible work schedules) of recipients.
Service Strategy
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' and
``Outcomes'' criteria.
--Identify the specific job readiness, placement (in both subsidized
and unsubsidized employment), post-employment, job retention and/or
support services to be provided with WtW Census 2000 Employment Project
grant funds as well as resources and services to be leveraged from
other sources.
--Describe the rationale for planned activities in terms of the timing
of Census 2000 employment, employment barriers faced by participants,
and likely occupations described above.
--Describe what individual support services, such as mentoring and case
management, will be used to maintain participants in the employment
once placed in their post-Census job.
--Describe what services will be provided or referrals made for
eligible WtW participants who are not hired by Census.
--Describe how longer-term supportive services and follow-up services
will be provided after the end of the grant.
Note: It is assumed that job retention and supportive services
provided through the WtW Census Employment Project grant will be of
relatively short duration. Applicants are encouraged to describe in
detail what arrangements they have made with other WtW grantees at
the local level to provide longer-term supportive services and
follow-up for WtW Census Employment Project participants.
Service Process
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' and
``Outcomes'' criteria.
--Describe the comprehensive service process that will be available to
participants, and identify the organizations which will be involved in
providing specific services/activities. [A process flowchart and/or
service matrix may be used to provide this description.] The
description should specify what elements of the service strategy are
already available in the community, as well as the elements or services
that will be funded through the WtW competitive grant award. At a
minimum, describe the coordination and contributions of WtW formula and
competitive grants (including tribal entities), JTPA service providers,
TANF providers, child support enforcement agencies and housing
authorities.
--Describe the specific methods which will be used by the grantee and
the local TANF agency to coordinate and work jointly in providing the
following services: Outreach, recruitment, and referral of appropriate
recipients for assistance through the project; assessment of skills and
identification of specific employment barriers; counseling and case
management; and support services.
--Describe what mechanism(s) the project will use to ensure that long
term job retention and supportive
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services are made available to participants after the end of the WtW
Census 2000 Employment Project grant.
Planned Outcomes
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.
--Identify and justify planned performance for the comprehensive
service strategy on the following measures: Number of participants to
be placed into unsubsidized employment; average earnings at placement
in post-Census unsubsidized employment; expected average earnings one
year after placement in unsubsidized employment; and cost per placement
in unsubsidized employment. In addition, describe specific process or
outcome objectives for those services.
The application may include other measures and planned performance
levels as deemed appropriate by the applicant, such as measures of the
quality of post-Census project job placements, including employee
benefits and advancement opportunities. If these are included, the
applicant should briefly describe their relevance to the project.
Implementation Plan
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.
--Identify the critical activities, time frames and responsibilities
for effectively implementing the project within the first 90 days after
the award of the grant. Note that project should plan to start on
October 1, 1999 and that Census employment should begin in mid-April,
2000.
--Include an implementation schedule showing the number of
participants, enrollments in Census jobs and other allowable
activities, placements in unsubsidized employment and terminations.
Project Management Plan
Information provided in this section will be evaluated
predominantly under the ``Demonstrated Capability'' criteria.
Applicants must be able to document that they have systems capable
of satisfying the administrative and grant management requirements for
WtW grants as defined in 20 CFR Part 645.
--Include a project organizational chart which identifies the staff
with key management responsibilities and the specific responsibilities
of each. Also describe the relationship between the national
organization and the local affiliates and mechanisms used for
communication and technical assistance.
--Describe the specific experience of the applicant in managing a
project of this geographical scope and limited time frame. The
information should include at a minimum specific projects or grants, a
comparison of the characteristics of individuals served to the target
group for this project, and the outcomes which were achieved. In
addition, applicants should provide the names and addresses of their
last three grantors, public and/or private, from which applicants
received funding. The Department of Labor reserves the right to contact
any or all of these funding organizations or to request additional
information from the applicant regarding past performance as part of a
responsibility review process, or if the Department is concerned about
the applicants' financial responsibility or capability to manage grant
funds.
--Describe how current or former welfare recipients will be used to in
the provision of services.
Appendix A: Definitions of Key Terms
Private Entity--Any organization, public or private, which is
neither a PIC nor a political subdivision of a State.
Private Industry Council (PIC)--from Sec. 645.120 of the WtW
Regulations--A Private Industry Council established under Section
102 of the Job Training Partnership Act, which performs the
functions authorized at Section 103 of the JTPA, including their
successor entities under the Workforce Investment Act.
Political Subdivision--A unit of general purpose local
government, as provided for in State laws and/or Constitution, which
has the power to levy taxes and spend funds and which also has
general corporate and police powers.
Appendix B: Required Forms
(1) Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424).
(2) Budget Information Sheet.
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[FR Doc. 99-12225 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
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