[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46409-46418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22034]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Testing Innovative Methods of Providing Reemployment Assistance 
and Training to Eligible Workers

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA), announces a demonstration program to test 
innovative methods of providing reemployment assistance and training to 
eligible workers. Through this notice, DOL seeks to identify a national 
group of vanguard sites committed to implementing Individual Training 
Accounts (ITAs as described in the WIA) and to the establishment of an 
Eligible Provider List process that is consistent with the WIA 
framework and informed by best practice and insight from the field. 
Awardees under this program will serve as innovative national 
laboratories for ITA implementation. Awardees will receive intensive 
technical assistance, test new approaches and practices and participate 
in a rigorous evaluation. In addition, they will participate in and 
help structure national DOL activities meant to identify and 
disseminate lessons learned. The demonstration project will inform ITA 
development as part of state and workforce system-building more 
generally.
    The program will be funded with the Secretary's National Reserve 
funds

[[Page 46410]]

appropriated for Title III of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) 
and administered in accordance with 29 CFR Parts 95 and 97 as 
applicable.
    This notice describes the application submission requirements, the 
process that eligible entities must use to apply for funds covered by 
this solicitation, how awardees are to be selected and the technical 
assistance that will be provided prior to and following selection of 
awardees. It is anticipated that $6 million will be available for 
funding projects covered by this solicitation, that 10-12 projects will 
be selected for funding, and that the maximum grant award will not 
exceed $500,000 for a period of 18 months from the date of execution.
    This notice contains all of the necessary information and forms 
needed to apply for grant funding. In addition, applicants interested 
in becoming a demonstration site are encouraged to attend a Bidders' 
Conference. Information about these conferences will be posted on the 
Internet (http://www.usworkforce.org) as soon as it is available.

DATES: Applications for grant awards will be accepted commencing August 
25, 1999. The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday, 
November 8, 1999, at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the address below. 
Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be honored.

ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor; 
Employment and Training Administration; Division of Federal Assistance; 
Attention: Marian Floyd, Reference: SGA/DFA 99-017; 200 Constitution 
Avenue, N.W., Room S-4203; Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fax questions to Marian Floyd, 
Division of Federal Assistance at (202) 219-8739. This is not a toll-
free number. All inquiries sent via fax should include the SGA number 
(DFA 99-017) and a contact name and phone number. This announcement is 
also being published on the Internet on the Employment and Training 
Administration's Home Page at http://doleta.gov. Award notifications 
will also be published on the Home Page.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of 5 parts. Part 
I describes the authority, purpose and goals of the demonstration 
program and identifies demonstration policy. Part II includes the 
statement of work for the demonstration projects. Part III describes 
the application process and provides guidelines for use in applying for 
demonstration grants. There is no separate application package. Part IV 
describes the selection process including the criteria used to select 
grantees and the process of application and award. Part V describes the 
Assurances required of grantees. Part VI describes the monitoring, 
reporting and evaluation activities that will be required of grantees. 
The Appendix includes application forms.

Part I. Authority

A. Background

    Sections 322 through 324 of the JTPA authorizes the use for 
demonstration programs of funds reserved under Section 302 of JTPA (29 
U.S.C. 1652) and provided by the Secretary for that purpose under 
Section 322 of JTPA (29 U.S.C. 1662a). Demonstration program awardees 
shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations 
in setting up and carrying out their programs.

B. Purpose

    On August 7, 1998, President Clinton signed the Workforce 
Investment Act (WIA), which is comprehensive reform legislation that 
supersedes the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). The WIA reforms the 
Federal job training system programs and creates a new, comprehensive 
workforce investment system. The reformed system will be customer-
focused, to help Americans access any tools they need to manage their 
own careers through timely and accurate labor market information and 
high quality services, and to assist U.S. companies in securing 
adequate numbers of skilled workers. This new law embodies several key 
principles, including:
    Streamlining services through better integration at the street 
level through the One-Stop delivery system. Programs and providers will 
co-locate, coordinate and integrate activities and information, so that 
the system as a whole is coherent and accessible for individuals and 
businesses alike.
    Empowering individuals in several ways. First, adults eligible for 
training are given their own financial power to use Individual Training 
Accounts (ITA's) at qualifying institutions. Institutions wishing to 
qualify for acceptance of the ITA's will go through a new process to be 
placed on an Eligible Provider list, and must be required to 
continually meet standards of performance to remain on the list. 
Secondly, individuals are further empowered, through this process, with 
greater levels of key information on the performance outcomes of all 
training and educations providers in the ITA system. This will come to 
be known as Consumer Reporting. Third, individuals are empowered 
through the advice, guidance, and support available through the One-
Stop system, and its partners.
    Universal access. Any individual will have access to the One-Stop 
system and to core employment-related services. Information about job 
vacancies, career options, student financial aid, relevant employment 
trends, and instruction on how to conduct a job search, write a resume, 
or interview with an employer is available to any job seeker in the 
U.S., or anyone who wants to advance his or her career. While training 
and the use of ITA's are not universal services, all customers will 
have access to the Consumer Report information gathered on training 
institutions in the area through the Eligible Provider process.
    Increased accountability. The goal of the Act is to increase 
employment, retention, and earnings of participants, and in doing so, 
improve the quality of the workforce to sustain economic growth, 
enhance productivity and competitiveness in the American labor force, 
and reduce welfare dependency. Consistent with this goal, the Act 
identifies core indicators of performance that State and local entities 
managing the workforce development system will have to meet--or face 
economic sanctions. However, state and local entities exceeding the 
levels can receive incentive funds. Training providers and their 
programs will also have to demonstrate successful performance to remain 
eligible to receive funds under the Act. Participants, with their 
ITA's, have the opportunity to make training choices based on program 
outcomes. To survive in the market, training providers must make 
accountability for performance and customer satisfaction a top 
priority.
    Strong role for local workforce investment boards and the private 
sector, with local, business-led boards acting as ``boards of 
directors'' focusing on long range strategic planning, policy 
development and oversight of the local workforce investment system. The 
active involvement of business and labor is critical to understanding 
what skills are in demand, what jobs are available, what career fields 
are expanding, and what types of training programs will best meet local 
employer needs.
    Individual Training Accounts, as described in the Workforce 
Investment Act (WIA), embody several elements believed central to 
improving the effectiveness and efficiency of publicly-funded 
reemployment services as well as improving participant satisfaction. 
Through this notice, DOL seeks to identify a national group of vanguard

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sites committed to implementing Individual Training Accounts (ITAs as 
described in the WIA) and to the establishment of an Eligible Provider 
List process that is consistent with the WIA framework and informed by 
best practice and insight from the field. Grantees under this program 
will serve as innovative national laboratories for ITA implementation. 
Partners will test new approaches and practices and participate in a 
rigorous evaluation. In addition, they will participate in and help 
structure national DOL activities meant to identify and disseminate 
lessons learned. The demonstration project will inform ITA development 
as part of state and workforce system-building more generally.
    The establishment of the Eligible Provider List, and the use of 
ITA's to pay training costs has the potential to impact the quality of 
the workforce and the economic competitiveness of a state. The WIA 
includes these service elements in an effort to create a more market-
oriented workforce development system. The foundation of this system is 
the Eligible Provider List and the Consumer Reports information which 
help the participant make an informed choice, based on his or her 
training needs, occupational interests, and vendor performance.
    In such a system, it is hypothesized that training vendors can 
become more sharply focused on meeting the needs of individual 
customers. By taking into account the specials needs of various target 
groups that experience barriers to employment, including displaced 
homemakers, workers with limited English, individuals with 
disabilities, and those with basic skills deficits, the training 
vendors can structure their offerings to ensure that their enrollees 
are more likely to be successfully placed. Also, by being more 
responsive to the workforce development needs of employers, the vendors 
can structure their training so that employers get workers with skills 
that match their needs. Finally, it is also held that a market-driven 
ITA/Eligible Provider system can ultimately provide better consumer 
information, services and training opportunities to customers--and, in 
doing so, assist them in making successful employment transitions 
throughout their careers.
    The potential for ITAs to support these goals and objectives is 
supported from demonstration data in the field. Through this 
demonstration, we seek to build on the lessons learned in previous 
training voucher demonstrations and the current knowledge base. One 
recent DOL-funded initiative, the Career Management Account (CMA) 
Demonstration, provides instructive lessons on the practices and 
processes of implementing an ITA-type approach for participants in 
Title III programs. Other demonstrations give lessons on how to 
structure a customer choice system for adult training. This knowledge 
base will be used to inform the programs developed by the sites 
selected to participate in this demonstration program.
    The ITA Demonstration seeks to support the design and 
implementation of the Workforce Investment Act by testing approaches 
that best fuel the creation of a more market-like environment for adult 
worker re-training. In addition to this demonstration, the Department 
of Labor is undertaking a range of related activities including an 
Evaluation, the Exchange of Technical Assistance and Information, ITA 
Software Development, and the Expansion of ITA's in Labor-Management 
Training Partnerships. Information on these activities wil be posted on 
ETA's website as it becomes available.

C. Demonstration Project Goals

    The chief goals of the demonstration include:
     Support of system-building at the state and local levels;
     Rigorous testing of several key models or approaches to 
the establishment of an Eligible Provider process and the ITA payment 
system;
     Identification of key components of effective ITA 
implementation;
     Support for demonstration ``learning laboratory'' sites in 
designing and implementing innovative ITA/Eligible Provider processes 
and systems;
     Development of a learning network and strategy for 
information sharing, as well as the provision of technical assistance 
between demonstration ``learning laboratory'' sites and other WIA 
implementation sites as the system moves toward full implementation by 
July 1, 2000.

D. Demonstration Policy

1. Grant Awards
    DOL anticipates awarding ten to twelve grants. Successful 
applicants will receive grants of up to $500,000.
2. Eligible Applicants
    Entities eligible to apply to participate in the ITA Demonstration 
Program include States, PICs/Workforce Investment Boards, and 
consortiums of PICs or Workforce Investment Boards.
3. Eligible Participants
    The demonstration should include and service all persons eligible 
for WIA training. This demonstration is not for direct client services, 
however the products will benefit adult and dislocated worker training 
enrollment.
4. Allowable Activities
    In general, grant funds may be used to support the research and 
development, planning and capacity-building activities involved in 
implementing the ITA/Eligible Provider system. Following are some 
examples of how these funds might be used to support implementation:
     development and delivery of inservice training courses 
that help case managers understand their new role in supporting 
individual customer decision making and choice;
     development and delivery of orientation sessions to help 
ensure that customers understand their responsibilities and 
opportunities within an ITA system;
     development and delivery of orientation sessions on ITAs 
and the Eligible Provider process for current and potential training 
providers;
     development of a system to track training provider 
performance;
     development of an ITA expenditure reporting system to 
provide individuals with information on the status of their account 
balances;
     other related costs associated with implementation of ITAs 
and Eligible Provider systems; and
     travel and other expenses related to participation in 
networking and dissemination activities offered in conjunction with the 
Demonstration grant program.
    Demonstration funds are not intended to support direct training 
expenditures, as the demonstration is for building the ITA/Eligible 
Provider system itself. However, to supplement other funds available 
for this purpose, an applicant may budget no more than 20% of the total 
grant costs for training.
5. Coordination
    Applicants will be expected to link demonstration project 
activities with other state and local WIA implementation activities. 
Evidence of collaboration should be included in the grant application.
6. Period of Performance
    The period of performance shall be 18 months from the date of 
execution by the Government. Delivery of services to participants shall 
commence within 90 days of execution of a grant.
7. Option to Extend
    Depending upon the availability of funds and awardee's performance, 
there

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may be an option for extension of the grant award not to exceed a two 
program year period.

Part II. Statement of Work

    DOL seeks innovative practitioners to collaborate with others in 
the development and refinement of various models of ITA application and 
in the establishment and use of a list of eligible training providers 
as envisioned in the WIA. Applicants should have a strong vision and 
passion for moving beyond current practices with and conceptions of 
these activities.
    In order for applicants to successfully compete for and participate 
in the ITA Demonstration Program they must demonstrate their 
understanding of and commitment to a rigorous implementation of the 
ITA/Eligible Provider List system envisioned by the WIA.
    At a minimum, successful applicants must demonstrate commitment to 
the implementation of an ITA/Eligible Provider system that:
     Clearly identifies and communicates the ITA/Eligible 
Provider process and goals to all eligible customers;
     Provides mechanisms for participant control over the use 
of the ITA account, and control over decision-making relative to 
individual training choices with the use of the Eligible Provider 
Listing;
     Provides a process for determining how a customer's 
training decision is approved;
     Provides an environment of information-sharing and related 
services to facilitate a market-based approach to training;
     Describes the eventual establishment of a ``Consumer 
Report'' on the performance of training providers on the Eligible 
Training Provider list.
    The US DOL anticipates that the demonstration may test more than 
one design approach to ITA implementation. An overview of the key 
design elements of the demonstration is provided below. Applicant 
experience, ideas and proposals can be incorporated into the 
demonstration design.

A. Common Elements of the Demonstration

    The ITA Demonstration Projects will include several common 
elements. In addition the demonstration will test several variations on 
how individual training accounts may be implemented across the country. 
While some of the design elements will constrain the design of the 
demonstrations to some degree, there are many other elements that are 
not specified here.
    These include, for example, the provider eligibility criteria, 
payment mechanism, participant enrollment and assessment processes, and 
role of community-based organizations as service providers. The 
approach to such issues is left to the discretion of the applicants.

         Common Elements of ITA/Eligible Provider Demonstrations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Element                              Approach
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What particpants are included?.........  All Adult Training ITA
                                          particpants are included.
Do participants know the amount of the   Participants are informed of
 ITA?.                                    the dollar amount available in
                                          their ITA.
What provider information must be        Provider performance data,
 collected?.                              consistent with WIA
                                          requirements, must be
                                          collected and disseminated to
                                          participants.
How are new providers brought in?......  Inclusion of new providers must
                                          be allowed easily and quickly;
                                          participants allowed to
                                          ``nominate'' new providers.
How are providers paid?................  Providers are paid for vouchers
                                          on a timely basis, that is,
                                          within 30 days.
How do staff learn about ITAs?.........  Staff receive orientation and
                                          training regarding the ITA
                                          process and the role they will
                                          play in implementation.
How will customer satisfaction be        Sites must agree to administer
 determined?.                             a common customers
                                          satisfaction survey to all
                                          participants.
How will staff satisfaction be           Sites must agree to administer
 determined?.                             a common customers
                                          satisfaction survey to all
                                          staff.
What triggers the ITA?.................  Development of an Individual
                                          Employment Plan including an
                                          assessment process.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Variable Elements of the Demonstration

    In addition to the Common Elements described above, there are 
several other elements of the ITA/Eligible Provider design that are at 
the discretion of the applicant. The US DOL is looking for applicants 
who are interested in aggressive and creative approaches that fall 
within the parameters of WIA. Some examples of these considerations are 
presented below:

        Variable Elements of ITA/Eligible Provider Demonstrations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Element                           Possibilities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
How is the dollar amount of ITA          Is the dollar amount of ITA
 determined?.                             fixed for all participants?
                                          Does it vary among individuals
                                          based on assessment?
Who approves the ITA?..................  Is it the counselor, a person
                                          other than the counselor, or a
                                          committee that must approve
                                          the ITA?
What career direction is allowed?......  Does the customer have the
                                          final authority to choose a
                                          career direction so long as
                                          credible job opportunities
                                          exist? Is career direction
                                          limited to demand occupations
                                          as defined by WIB?
How is informed customer choice          What is the role of the case
 provided?.                               manager?
Who has final authority on selection of  Within the boundaries of the
 the training provider?                   training plan, does the
                                          participant have final
                                          authority to select a training
                                          provider? Can the counselor
                                          reject a customer's selection
                                          of a training provider?
What can the ITA pay for?..............  How may ITA funds be used?
------------------------------------------------------------------------


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C. Bidders' Conferences

    Applicants interested in becoming a demonstration site are strongly 
encouraged to attend one of two full-day Bidders' Conferences. The 
purpose of these sessions is to summarize the current knowledge base 
about ITAs/Eligible Provider system goals, frameworks and 
implementation processes and to review the goals and objectives of the 
Demonstration Project. Attendees will learn about the technical 
assistance services that will be provided to awardees and the 
expectations for awardee involvement in designing, testing, and 
evaluating alternative approaches to ITA/Eligible Provider 
implementation. This session will be offered free of charge to 
prospective applicants on a space-available basis. Attendees will, 
however, have to pay for their own travel and lodging. Attendance at 
this session is strongly encouraged but voluntary. No written summary 
of the meeting will be distributed and applicants not in attendance 
will not lose rating points on their proposal.

Part III. Application Process and Guidelines

A. Contents

    Applicants must submit four (4) copies of their proposal, with 
original signatures. The application shall consist of a Technical 
Proposal that includes both the statement of work and cost data as it 
relates to the demonstration project plan. The Technical Proposal shall 
also contain the (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance 
(Appendix A) and the ``Budget Information Form'' (Appendix B). All 
copies of the (SF) 424 MUST have original signatures of the legal 
entity applying for grant funding. Applicants shall indicate on the 
(SF) 424 the organization's IRS status, if applicable. According to the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Section 18, an organization described 
in Section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which engages 
in lobbying activities shall not be eligible for the receipt of federal 
funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.
    The Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog number is 17.246. 
Applicants should follow the instructions included with the 
attachments.

Technical Proposal

    The technical proposal shall demonstrate the offeror's capabilities 
in accordance with the Statement of Work in Part II of this 
solicitation. It is advised that the technical proposal be formated 
according to the evalution criteria (Part IV). Each application shall 
also include a Time line outlining project activities, and an Executive 
Summary not to exceed two pages. A grant application shall be limited 
to 15 double-spaced, single-side, 8.5-inch x 11-inch pages with 1-inch 
margins. Attachments shall not exceed 5 pages. Text type shall be 11 
point or larger. Applications that do not meet these requirements will 
not be considered. SINCE COST EFFECTIVENESS IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE 
SELECTION CRITERIA, COST DATA SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THE TECHNICAL 
PROPOSAL. Budget categories are administration and program activities, 
and should be planned in accordance with recent changes in the 
Department of Labor financial reporting requirements.

B. Hand-Delivered Applications

    Applications should be mailed no later than five (5) days prior to 
the closing date for the receipt of applications. However if 
applications are hand-delivered, they must be received at the 
designated place by 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time on the closing date for 
receipt of applications. All overnight mail will be considered to be 
hand-delivered and must be received at the designated place by the 
specified time and closing date. Telegraphed and/or faxed proposals 
will not be honored. Applications that fail to adhere to the above 
instructions will not be honored.

C. Late Applications

    Any application received at the office designated in the 
solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt will not be 
considered unless it:
    (1) Was sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail 
not later than the fifth calender day before the closing date specified 
for receipt of applications (e.g., an offer submitted in response to a 
solicitation requiring receipt of application by the 10th of August 
must have been mailed by the 5th); or
    (2) 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 
application. The term ``working days'' excludes weekends and U.S. 
Federal holidays.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified 
mail is the U.S. postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the 
original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by ``Express Mail Next-Day Service--Post Office 
to Addressee'' is the date entered by the post office receiving clerk 
on the ``Express Mail Next Day Service--Post Office to Addressee'' and 
the postmarks on both the envelope and wrapper and the original receipt 
from the U.S. Postal Service.

D. Withdrawal of Applications

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

Part IV. Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

    A careful evaluation of applications will be made by a technical 
review panel who will evaluate the applications against the criteria 
below. The panel results are advisory in nature and not binding on the 
Grant Officer. The Government may elect to award the grant with or 
without discussions with the offeror. In situations without 
discussions, an award will be based on the offeror's signature on the 
(SF) 424, which constitutes a binding offer. Awards will be those in 
the best interest of the Government, but also considering factors such 
as urban/rural characteristics of the sites and that several variations 
of the design are thoroughly tested. It is important that applicants 
demonstrate that they are positioned to experiment with new designs and 
share learning that can contribute to the development of successful 
systems elsewhere. Applicants should demonstrate their interest in and 
capacity for helping to define the key components of an effective ITA/
Eligible Provider List System.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Applicant Qualifications (10 points)

    a. Indicate whether the applicant is a workforce investment board 
(or private industry council), a consortium of multiple boards, or a 
state.
    i. If applicant is a local organization, describe involvement with 
other locals and the state in development of the proposal.
    ii. If applicant is a consortium, indicate which will be the lead 
organization, and describe any projects previously undertaken together. 
Also discuss how the consortium will be coordinated and managed.
    iii. If applicant is a state, describe involvement of local areas 
in

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development of the proposal and operation of the demonstration.
    b. Describe applicant's organization(s), including a brief history, 
number of staff, size and demographic nature of workforce development 
area served.

2. Interest and Commitment (20 points)

    a. Describe applicant's interest in contributing to the development 
of innovative approaches to ITA implementation.
    b. Explain applicant's interest in treating the development of an 
ITA/Eligible Provider system as a priority over other workforce 
development system innovations.
    c. Describe applicant's commitment to achieving project objectives 
in a manner that also supports national objectives.
    d. Discuss applicant's commitment to assist the US DOL in building 
staff capacity throughout the WIA system in these areas.

3. Previous Experience (10 points)

    a. Describe applicant's previous experience, if any, with designing 
and/or implementing ITAs, or any other voucher-type programs, or any 
type of Consumer Reporting.
    b. Discuss applicant's history of peer assistance with learning 
from program innovations, especially on a regional or national basis.
    c. Provide an example of a creative approach the applicant 
organization(s) has designed to improve the area's workforce 
development system.

4. Approach (40 points)

    a. Describe the objectives of this activity
    b. Describe the approach to the demonstration in terms of design 
and implementation.
    c. Describe how the common elements of the demonstration, as 
outlined in Section II.1 are included in the approach.
    d. Describe the applicant's intended approach to the variable 
elements of the demonstration, as outlined in Section II.2.
    e. Describe key considerations in designing an effective ITA/
Eligible Provider system and the applicant's approach to dealing with 
them.
    f. Discuss potential roadblocks the applicant may encounter in 
implementing a newly designed ITA/Eligible Provider system.
    g. Present a time line for implementation.
    h. Describe how applicant would utilize demonstration funds, if 
awarded, for system-planning and development activities.
    i. Provide evidence of support from state and local partners as 
appropriate.

5. Cost Effectiveness (20 points)

    a. Proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the overall 
objectives of the project, the activities planned, the time frame of 
the project, the organizational scope (including the number of 
individuals and the number of organizations involved), coordination/
collaboration with other entities, and in relation to other projects of 
similar size and scope.

V. Assurances

    Successful applicants must give several assurances, including that 
they will fully participate in a post-award grantee design workshop, 
agree to participate in the peer learning process, serve as a learning 
site for future implementors of ITAs and Eligible Provider Lists, and 
participate in USDOL evaluations as necessary. All applicants must 
provide the full list of assurances as follows.
     Work in close collaboration with state and local partners 
in the design development of the ITA/Eligible Provider system
     Participate fully in the program design process
     Provide capacity-building activities for all levels of 
staff, reaching all partner organizations including contract training 
providers, such as community based organizations
     Cooperate with US DOL technical assistance providers, 
including on-site visitations
     Participate in the peer learning process, including 
serving as a learning site for future implementors of ITAs
     Participate in US DOL evaluations
     Assist the US DOL in building staff capacity throughout 
the WIA System in these areas.
     Participate in staff training activities planned by DOL-
ETA
    In addition, the budget shall provide sufficient funds for a total 
of four persons trips for travel to meetings in Washington, DC and 
other locations.

Part VI. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation

A. Monitoring

    The Department shall be responsible for ensuring effective 
implementation of each competitive grant 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. This review will focus on the project's performance in 
meeting the grant's programmatic goals and participant outcomes, 
complying with the requirements for participants who are served, 
expenditure of grant funds on allowable activities, collaboration with 
other organizations as required, and methods for assessment of the 
responsiveness and effectiveness of the services being provided. Grants 
may be subject to additional reviews at the discretion of the 
Department.

B. Reporting

    US DOL will arrange for or provide technical assistance to awardees 
in establishing appropriate reporting and data collection methods and 
processes. An effort will be made to accommodate and provide assistance 
to awardees to be able to complete all reporting electronically.
    Applicants selected as grantees will be required to provide the 
following reports:
    1. Monthly and Quarterly progress reports.
    2. Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report Form, on a quarterly 
basis.
    3. Final Project Report including an assessment of project 
performance. This report will be submitted in hard copy and on 
electronic disk utilizing a format and instructions to be provided by 
the Department.

C. Evaluation

    DOL will arrange for or an independent evaluation of the outcomes, 
impacts, and benefits of the demonstration projects. The RFP # DCS-99-
28 describes the Evaluation criteria and is available for review at 
http://www.wdsc.org/sga/rfp/rfp99-28.htm. Grantees must agree to make 
records available to evaluation personnel, as specified by the 
evaluator(s) under the direction of the Department.
    Signed at Washington DC, this 18th day of August, 1999.
Laura A. Cesario,
Grant Officer, Division of Federal Assistance.

Appendices

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

BILLING CODE 4510-30-P

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[FR Doc. 99-22034 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-C