[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19273-19284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9517]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Education Innovations to Combat Child Labor

AGENCY: Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and solicitation for 
Cooperative Agreement Applications (SGA 02-01).

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    This notice contains all of the necessary information and forms 
needed to apply for cooperative agreement funding.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor 
Affairs, will award US $5 million to an organization to administer an 
education innovations program under the Child Labor Education 
Initiative of the International Child Labor Program. The program will 
promote, assess, and

[[Page 19274]]

document innovative approaches to providing basic education to child 
laborers and children at risk of working in countries or regions with 
high rates of child labor. One organization (or a partnership of two 
organizations) will be selected to implement this program. The program 
will enable the organization to identify and promote innovative locally 
developed and community-based pilot projects that correspond to the 
Child Labor Education Initiative's strategic objectives, and to 
document innovative models for potential replication and expansion. As 
part of this cooperative agreement, the organization may use up to US 
$750,000 to support its (their) own projects that address the 
educational needs of working children and those at risk of working.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications is June 7, 2002. 
Applications must be received by 4:45 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the 
address below. No exceptions to the mailing, delivery, and hand-
delivery conditions set forth in this notice will be granted. 
Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice 
will not be honored. Telegram, facsimile (FAX), and e-mail applications 
will not be honored.

ADDRESSES: Application forms will not be mailed. They are published in 
this Federal Register Notice, and in the Federal Register which may be 
obtained from your nearest U.S. Government office or public library or 
online at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg/nfpubs.html.
    Applications must be delivered to: U.S. Department of Labor, 
Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, 
Attention: Lisa Harvey, Reference: SGA 02-01, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Harvey. E-mail address: [email protected]. All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the 
Washington, DC area has been slow and erratic due to the recent 
concerns involving anthrax contamination. All applicants must take this 
into consideration when preparing to meet the application deadline. It 
is recommended that you confirm receipt of your application by 
contacting Lisa Harvey, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services 
Center, telephone (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free number), 
prior to the closing deadline. All inquiries should reference SGA 02-
01.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau 
of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), announces the availability of 
funds to be granted by cooperative agreement to one qualifying 
organization or to a partnership between two such organizations for the 
purpose of identifying innovative and locally-developed methods of 
preventing and combating child labor through basic education. The 
cooperative agreement will be managed by the International Child Labor 
Program (ICLP), ILAB, to assure achievement of the stated goals. 
Applicants are encouraged to be creative in proposing mechanisms for 
implementing the education innovations program, selecting projects, and 
establishing an effective monitoring and evaluation system to measure 
outcomes of the program and develop final documentation of potential 
models for replication or expansion.

I. Background and Program Scope

A. USDOL Support of the Global Elimination of Child Labor

    The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 250 
million working children between the ages of 5 and 14 in developing 
countries, about half of whom work full-time. Full-time child workers 
are generally unable to attend school, and from an early age part-time 
child laborers must balance economic survival with schooling, often to 
the detriment of their education.
    The existence of child labor has many implications for a country. 
Education is a key investment that has been linked to the acceleration 
of a nation's productivity and socioeconomic development. Poorly 
educated workers tend to earn less, live in poverty, and may need to 
send their own children to work at a young age. It is important to 
undertake education initiatives for child laborers and their at-risk 
siblings because their lack of schooling hinders the development of a 
modern workforce, overall labor market reform, poverty reduction and 
social progress.
    Since 1995, as mandated by the U.S. Congress, USDOL has supported a 
worldwide technical assistance program implemented by the International 
Labor Organization's International Program on the Elimination of Child 
Labor (ILO/IPEC). USDOL contributions to date to ILO/IPEC have amounted 
to some US $112 million, making the United States the program's largest 
donor and a leader in global efforts to combat child labor. In USDOL's 
FY 2001 and 2002 appropriations, in addition to US $90 million in funds 
earmarked for the ILO/IPEC, the Department received an additional US 
$74 million for a Child Labor Education Initiative that will fund 
programs that increase access to quality, basic education in areas with 
a high incidence of child labor. The cooperative agreement(s) awarded 
under this solicitation will be funded by this new initiative.
    USDOL's Child Labor Education Initiative nurtures the development, 
health, safety and enhanced future employability of children around the 
world by increasing access to basic education for children removed from 
child labor or at risk of entering it. Child labor elimination will 
depend in part on improving access to, quality of, and relevance of 
education. Without improving educational quality and relevance, 
children withdrawn from child labor may not have viable alternatives 
and could resort to other forms of hazardous work.
    The Child Labor Education Initiative has the following four goals:
    1. Raise awareness of the importance of education for all children 
and mobilize a wide array of actors to improve and expand education 
infrastructures;
    2. Strengthen formal and transitional education systems that 
encourage working children and those at risk of working to attend 
school;
    3. Strengthen national institutions and policies on education and 
child labor; and
    4. Ensure the long-term sustainability of these efforts.
    A more detailed discussion of these objectives is provided in 
Appendix C.

B. The Education Innovations Program of the Child Labor Education 
Initiative

    The education innovations program is intended to provide support to 
community-based organizations in countries or areas within countries 
with high rates of child labor. The program seeks to promote the 
capacity of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society 
organizations (CSOs), or other organizations already working on the 
issues of basic education and/or child labor to respond creatively and 
effectively to the complex challenge of educating children removed from 
child labor or at risk of entering it. The program will support 
innovative, locally developed pilot activities that support the Child 
Labor Education Initiative's four strategic objectives (see Section 
I.A).
    Projects that receive support under the education innovations 
program would work to identify and develop new initiatives; to extend 
successful existing activities; or to encourage knowledge sharing 
through the establishment of best practices. The program will promote 
innovation by ensuring careful monitoring and

[[Page 19275]]

documentation of activities from pilot projects with the potential for 
expansion and/or replication.
    The education innovations program will seek to provide funds to 
organizations with the ability to create demonstrable impact on access 
to quality basic education with the funds. The major portion of the 
funds (US $4.25 million) will be used to support innovative grassroots 
initiatives to improve access and quality of education for working 
children or children at risk of going to work and for the overall 
administration of the program. The remainder of the funding (US 
$750,000) will be available to the Cooperative Agreement Awardee 
(hereafter referred to as ``Grantee'') to support projects by its 
(their) own field offices for the education of child laborers or 
children at risk of working. All activities funded must correspond to 
the Child Labor Education Initiative's strategic objectives.

II. Authority

    ILAB is authorized to award and administer this program as set 
forth in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106-554, 
114 Stat. 2763A-10 (2000).

III. Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

    Any commercial, international, or non-profit organization with 
prior experience in increasing access to basic education (formal or 
non-formal) for disadvantaged groups, extensive international field 
presence, and a demonstrated capacity to develop, administer, monitor, 
and document the education innovations program is eligible for this 
cooperative agreement. A maximum of two organizations may submit one 
application under this solicitation to work in partnership in 
performing all the specific work requirements presented herein for the 
development and administration of the education innovations program. 
Prior experience in administering such programs is highly desirable.
    The capability of an applicant to perform necessary aspects of this 
solicitation will be determined under Section V.B--Rating Criteria and 
Selection.
    Please note that eligible cooperative agreement applicants must not 
be classified under the internal revenue code as a 501(c)(4) entity. 
See 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4). According to section 18 of the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization, as described in section 
501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that engages in 
lobbying activities will not be eligible for the receipt of federal 
funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.

B. Submission of Applications

    One (1) ink-signed original, complete application in English plus 
two (2) copies of the application, must be submitted to the U.S. 
Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, Washington, DC 20210, not later than 4:45 
p.m. ET, June 7, 2002. Accompanying documents must also be in English. 
To aid with review of applications, USDOL also encourages applicants to 
submit two additional paper copies of the application (five total). 
Applicants who do not provide additional copies will not be penalized.
    The application must consist of two (2) separate parts. Part I of 
the application must contain the Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application 
for Federal Assistance'' (Appendix A) (The entry on SF 424 for the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA) is 17.700) and 
sections A-F of the Budget Information Form SF 424A (Appendix B). Part 
II must contain a technical application that demonstrates the 
applicant's capabilities in accordance with the Statement of Work and 
the selection criteria.
    To be considered responsive to this solicitation, the application 
must consist of the above-mentioned separate sections not to exceed 30 
single-sided (8\1/2\  x  11 inches), double-spaced, 10 to 12 pitch 
typed pages. Any applications that do not conform to these standards 
will be deemed non-responsive to this solicitation and will not be 
evaluated. Standard forms and attachments are not included in the page 
limit. Each application must include a table of contents and an 
abstract summarizing the application in not more than two (2) pages. 
These pages are also not included in the page limits.
    Upon completion of negotiations, the individual signing the SF 424 
on behalf of the applicant must be authorized to bind the applicant.

C. Acceptable Methods of Submission

    Applications sent by e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (FAX) will not 
be accepted. Applications sent by other delivery services, such as 
Federal Express, UPS, etc., will be accepted; however, the applicant 
bears the responsibility for timely submission. Because of delays in 
the receipt of mail in the Washington, DC area, it is recommended that 
you confirm receipt of your application by contacting Lisa Harvey, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, telephone (202) 693-
4570 (this is not a toll-free number), prior to the closing deadline. 
All inquiries should reference SGA 02-01.

D. Funding Levels

    Up to US $5 million will be awarded under this cooperative 
agreement (hereafter also referred to as ``grant''). The Grantee will 
use at least US $4.25 million to fund activities (through the use of 
sub-contracts) worldwide in countries or regions with high child labor 
rates, and that support the strategic objectives of the Child Labor 
Education Initiative, and to administer the program. Funds of up to US 
$750,000 are also provided for promising and innovative activities by 
the Grantee's own field offices (either at the country or regional 
level), corresponding to the strategic objectives of the USDOL's Child 
Labor Education Initiative. All funds must be obligated by the Grantee 
by January 2005.

E. Project Duration

    The duration of the program funded by this SGA is four (4) years. 
The start date of program activities will be negotiated upon award of 
grant. All activities under the grant must be closed and all activities 
of the Grantee finalized by the end of September 2007.

IV. Project Requirements

A. Statement of Work

    1. Recognizing that child labor adversely impacts long-term poverty 
alleviation and future labor market development, the emphasis of the 
education innovations program must be on the following:
    a. Developing innovative strategies for involving government and 
other social partners in the development and implementation of projects 
to provide education to all children in areas of high prevalence of 
child labor, with priority given to the worst forms of child labor (as 
defined in ILO Convention No. 182).
    b. Developing relevant information, education, and communication 
materials aimed at increasing awareness at the local and national 
levels of the importance of including child laborers in Education for 
All initiatives.
    c. Promoting best practices and replicable programs that provide 
future strategies to improve educational access and quality for 
children removed from child labor or at risk of being drawn into work.
    d. Identifying policy, programs, and practical measures in target 
countries to strengthen the capacity of national and local institutions 
to support and sustain the removal of children from work, and their 
placement and successful

[[Page 19276]]

integration and achievement in education settings.
    e. Identifying approaches to increase local ownership and 
sustainability of the programs.
    2. All projects funded should support one or more of the four goals 
of USDOL's Child Labor Education Initiative listed in Section I.A.
    3. In response to this solicitation and in subsequent 
implementation, the Grantee shall:
    a. Design a US $5 million program to correspond to the strategic 
objectives of the Child Labor Education Initiative. The program will 
have two components: at least US $4.25 million to be applied towards 
funding grassroots education innovations and the administration of the 
entire program, and up to US $750,000 to fund the Grantee's own 
innovative activities that combat child labor through education. When 
designing the program, the Grantee should consider the following 
elements: composition of project selection committee(s); means of 
advertising fund availability (so as to reach as broad a population as 
possible); process to manage sub-contracts; method for disbursement of 
funds; and technical and financial reporting. Similar processes should 
be applied to funds for the Grantee's own programs as to sub-contracts.
    b. Develop a process and criteria for selection of organizations 
that will receive funds to undertake efforts to improve access to 
quality, relevant education for child laborers and for children at risk 
of working (see Section V.B.4 and V.B.5). Funds will be awarded through 
sub-contracts to foster innovation in education. Projects funded should 
vary in size: at least 15% of available funding should go to small sub-
contracts (under US $10,000); at least 45% of available funds should go 
to medium-size sub-contracts (US $10,000-$100,000); and no more than 
40% of available funding should go to larger sub-contracts (US 
$100,000-$250,000). Sub-contracts may not exceed US $250,000 and may be 
awarded in any country worldwide (even where the Grantee has no field 
presence). Distribution of grant money across regions should be 
proportionate to the need evident in those regions. The Grantee will 
advertise availability of funds as necessary and select projects, with 
USDOL review and approval of all requests for proposals. Funds from 
this portion of the grant may not be awarded to the Grantee's own 
offices. Final approval of projects selected for funding must be given 
by USDOL.
    c. Design an approach to monitor the implementation of all projects 
funded, evaluate education innovations program outcomes and document 
potentially replicable or expandable activities. Corresponding 
indicators of performance will be developed by the Grantee and approved 
by USDOL to ensure compliance with the strategic objectives of the 
Child Labor Education Initiative.
    d. The Grantee will be expected to monitor the implementation of 
the program, report to USDOL on a quarterly basis, evaluate program 
results, and deliver final documentation of best practices. The Grantee 
must develop annual work plans that will be approved by USDOL, one for 
the administration of the education innovations sub-contracts and 
another for funds provided to the Grantee's projects. Corresponding 
indicators of performance will also be developed by the Grantee and 
approved by USDOL.

B. Deliverables

    Unless otherwise indicated, the Grantee must submit copies of all 
required reports to ICLP/ILAB by the specified due dates. Other 
documents, such as project design documents, are to be submitted by 
mutually agreed upon deadlines. All project activities must be 
completed and closed out by the end of September 2007.
    1. Project Design. A project document in a format to be established 
by ILAB will be used, and will include a background/justification 
section, project strategy (objectives, outputs, activities, 
indicators), project implementation timetable, and project budget. The 
project design will be drawn from the application written in response 
to this solicitation. The document will also include sections that 
address coordination strategies, project management, and 
sustainability. The time for delivery of this document will be 
negotiated at the time of the award.
    2. Annual Work Plan. An annual work plan, in a mutually agreed-upon 
format and preferably with a visual such as a Gantt chart, will be 
developed within two months of project award and approved by ILAB. 
Subsequent annual work plans will be delivered no later than one year 
after the previous one.
    3. Monitoring and Evaluation Plans. By the end of the third month 
of the award, the Grantee must submit two monitoring and evaluation 
plans: one for sub-contracts and another for funds provided to its own 
offices. These plans will be developed in collaboration with ILAB, and 
will include site visits, reporting requirements, and planned and 
actual dates for the midterm review and final evaluation.
    4. Technical and Financial Progress Reports. The Grantee must 
furnish a typed technical report to ILAB on a quarterly basis by 31 
March, 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December. The Grantee must also 
furnish a separate financial report (SF-272) to ILAB on the quarterly 
basis mentioned above. The format for the technical progress report 
will be the format developed by ILAB and must contain the following 
information:
    a. For each project objective, an accurate account of activities 
carried out under that objective during the reporting period;
    b. An accounting of staff and any subcontractor hours expended;
    c. A description of current problems that may impede performance, 
and proposed corrective action;
    d. Future actions planned in support of each project objective;
    e. Aggregate amount of costs incurred during the reporting period; 
and
    f. Progress on indicators of performance (to be reported annually).
    5. Spotlight Stories. The Grantee will submit ``spotlight stories'' 
that highlight the activities and illuminate best practices being 
undertaken by sub-contractors to ILAB on an annual basis.
    6. Presentation of Models. At both the halfway point and at the 
conclusion of the program, the Grantee will present ILAB with 
innovative models funded by the education innovations program that 
address the four goals of USDOL's Child Labor Education Initiative.
    7. Evaluation Reports. The Grantee and the Grant Officer's 
Technical Representative (GOTR) will determine on a case-by-case basis 
whether an internal or external evaluation team will conduct the 
midterm evaluation of the education innovations program. The Grantee 
will respond to any comments and recommendations resulting from the 
review of the midterm report. The final evaluation will be external in 
nature. Terms of reference for the evaluations must be provided to 
USDOL for comments before evaluations are conducted.

C. Production of Deliverables

    1. Materials Prepared Under the Cooperative Agreement. The Grantee 
must submit to ILAB all media-related and educational materials 
developed by it or by its sub-contractors before they are reproduced, 
published, or used. ILAB considers that education materials include 
brochures, pamphlets, videotapes, slide-tape shows, curricula, and any 
other training materials used in the program. ILAB will review 
materials

[[Page 19277]]

for technical accuracy. The Grantee must obtain prior approval from the 
Grant Officer for all materials developed or purchased under this 
cooperative agreement. All materials produced by the Grantee must be 
provided to USDOL in a digital format for possible publication by 
USDOL.
    2. Acknowledgment of USDOL Funding. In all circumstances the 
following must be displayed on printed materials:

    Preparation of this item was funded by the United States 
Department of Labor under Cooperative Agreement No. E-9-X-X-XXXX.

    When issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, 
bid solicitations, and other documents describing projects or programs 
funded in whole or in part with Federal money, a Grantee receiving 
Federal funds must clearly state:
    a. The percentage of the total costs of the program or project that 
will be financed with Federal money;
    b. The dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or program; 
and
    c. The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the 
project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources.
    In consultation with ILAB, identification of USDOL's role will be 
determined to be one of the following:
    (1) The USDOL logo may be applied to USDOL-funded material prepared 
for world-wide distribution, including posters, videos, pamphlets, 
research documents, national survey results, impact evaluations, best 
practice reports, and other publications of global interest. The 
Grantee will consult with USDOL on whether the logo should be used on 
any such items prior to final draft or final preparation for 
distribution. In no event will the USDOL logo be placed on any item 
until USDOL has given the Grantee written permission to use the logo, 
after obtaining appropriate internal USDOL approval for use of the logo 
on the item.
    (2) If ILAB determines the logo is not appropriate and does not 
give written permission, the following notice must appear on the 
document:

    This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies 
of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, 
commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. 
Government.

D. Administrative Requirements

    1. General. Grantee organizations are subject to applicable Federal 
laws (including provisions of appropriations law) and the applicable 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars. Determinations of 
allowable costs will be made in accordance with the applicable Federal 
cost principles. The cooperative agreement(s) awarded under this SGA 
are subject to the following administrative standards and provisions, 
if applicable:
    29 CFR Part 36--Federal Standards for Nondiscrimination on the 
Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal 
Financial Assistance.
    29 CFR Part 93--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
    29 CFR Part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other 
Non-Profit Organizations, and with Commercial Organizations, Foreign 
Governments, Organizations Under the Jurisdiction of Foreign 
Governments and International Organizations.
    29 CFR Part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded 
Grants, Contracts and Agreements.
    29 CFR Part 98--Federal Standards for Governmentwide Debarment and 
Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-
Free Workplace (Grants).
    29 CFR Part 99--Federal Standards for Audits of States, Local 
Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.
    2. Sub-contracts. Sub-contracts must be awarded in accordance with 
29 CFR 95.40-48. In compliance with Executive Orders 12876 as amended, 
13230, 12928 and 13021 as amended, the Grantee is strongly encouraged 
to provide sub-contracting opportunities to Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and 
Universities. No sub-grants shall be awarded under this grant.
    3. Key Personnel. The applicant shall list individual(s) who has 
(have) been designated as having primary responsibility for the conduct 
and completion of all work in project(s) it proposes (see Section 
V.B.3). The applicant will submit written proof that key personnel will 
be available to begin work on the project no later than three weeks 
after award. The Grantee agrees to inform the GOTR whenever it appears 
impossible for these individual(s) to continue work on the project as 
planned. The Grantee may nominate substitute personnel for approval of 
the GOTR; however, the Grantee must obtain prior approval from the 
Grant Officer for all key personnel. If the Grant Officer is unable to 
approve the personnel change, he/she reserves the right to terminate 
the cooperative agreement.
    4. Encumbrance of Cooperative Agreement Funds. Cooperative 
agreement funds may not be encumbered/obligated by the Grantee before 
or after the cooperative agreement period of performance. Encumbrances/
obligations outstanding as of the end of the cooperative agreement 
period may be liquidated (paid out) after the end of the cooperative 
agreement period. Such encumbrances/obligations shall involve only 
specified commitments for which a need existed during the grant period 
and which are supported by approved contracts, purchase orders, 
requisitions, invoices, bills, or other evidence of liability 
consistent with the Grantee's purchasing procedures and incurred within 
the cooperative agreement period. All encumbrances/obligations incurred 
during the cooperative agreement period shall be liquidated within 90 
days after the end of the grant period, if practicable.
    5. Site Visits. USDOL, through its authorized representatives, has 
the right, at all reasonable times, to make site visits to review 
project accomplishments and management control systems and to provide 
such technical assistance as may be required. If USDOL makes any site 
visit on the premises of the Grantee or a sub-contractor under this 
grant, the Grantee shall provide and shall require its sub-contractors 
to provide all reasonable facilities and assistance for the safety and 
convenience of the Government representatives in the performance of 
their duties. All site visits and evaluations shall be performed in a 
manner that will not unduly delay the work.

V. Review and Selection of Applications for Award

A. The Review Process

    USDOL will screen all applications to determine whether all 
required elements are present and clearly identifiable. Each complete 
application will be objectively rated by a technical panel against the 
criteria described in this announcement. Applicants are advised that 
the panel recommendations to the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. 
The Grant Officer may elect to select a Grantee on the basis of the 
initial application submission; or, the Grant Officer may establish a 
competitive or technically acceptable range for the purpose of 
selecting qualified applicants. If deemed appropriate, following the 
Grant Officer's call for the preparation and receipt of final revisions 
of applications, the evaluation process described above will be 
repeated to consider such revisions. The Grant Officer will make final 
selection determination based on what is most advantageous to the

[[Page 19278]]

Government and overall best value to the Government, considering 
factors such as: Panel findings; demonstrated capacity of the applicant 
to effectively implement the proposed program; and the overall 
framework developed for the implementation of activities. The Grant 
Officer's determination for award under this SGA is final.

    Note: Selection of an organization(s) as a cooperative agreement 
recipient does not constitute approval of the cooperative agreement 
application as submitted. Before the actual cooperative agreement is 
awarded, USDOL will enter into negotiations concerning such items as 
program components, administrative systems, selection process for 
sub-contractors, and monitoring and evaluation systems. If the 
negotiations do not result in an acceptable submission, the Grant 
Officer reserves the right to terminate the negotiation and decline 
to fund the application.

B. Rating Criteria and Selection

    The technical panel will review applications against the various 
criteria on the basis of 100 points with an additional 5 points 
available for non-federal or leveraged resources.
    The factors are presented in the order of emphasis that they will 
receive.
    1. Approach, Understanding of the Issue, and Budget Plan (45 
points).
    This section of the application must demonstrate the applicant's 
thorough knowledge and understanding of the overall issues involved in 
providing and advocating for basic education to children removed from 
exploitative work or at risk of working; best-practice solutions to 
address their needs; and the implementing environment in the countries 
proposed for targeting under the application.
    a. Structure of the education innovations program. This section of 
the application must explain the applicant's proposed method for 
performing all the specific work requirements presented in this 
solicitation for the development and administration of the education 
innovations program as listed in Section IV.A. The applicant must 
explain the rationale for its approach. This section should include:
    (1) Number of countries targeted: Sub-contracts may be awarded in 
countries where the Grantee has no field office, but specific 
information must be provided on how the applicant intends to select and 
monitor all sub-contracted projects [see (4) and (7) below], including 
designating the office responsible for those sub-contracts. This 
section must also provide a plan to ensure regional and country 
diversity in the overall education innovations program.
    (2) Method of solicitation: Detailed information on how the 
applicant intends to provide information at the country level regarding 
the availability of funds for innovative education projects.
    (3) Duration of sub-contracts: USDOL stipulates that 15% of total 
funding should go to small projects, 45% to medium, and 40% to large, 
as defined in Section IV.A.3.b. The applicant should provide 
information on the duration of sub-contracts; all program (including 
sub-contract) activities must be completed and closed out by the end of 
September 2007).
    (4) Process of project selection: The process established to select 
projects to be funded through sub-contracts must be competitive. 
Deadlines for submission of applications must be fixed (no rolling 
deadlines), but there may be multiple competitive deadlines. All funds 
must be obligated by January 2005. The applicant should explain how 
sub-contractors will be selected, including means of selection; types 
of individuals and/or organizations likely to be involved in the 
selection process; and administrative level(s) at which selection takes 
place. USDOL retains approval power prior to the final selection of any 
project.
    (5) Criteria for project selection: The Grantee will review and 
accept proposals for innovative grassroots education projects from 
organizations around the world. Successful proposals will support the 
four strategic objectives of the Child Labor Education Initiative and 
will be funded through sub-contracts. The Grantee will develop criteria 
for the selection of projects. In this section, the applicant should 
provide preliminary criteria with accompanying rationale to explain the 
criteria selected. The criteria should include the following required 
elements:
    (a) Demonstrated financial viability;
    (b) Local registration in the host country;
    (c) Bank account in the organization's name; and
    (d) Potential for sustainability through local contributions of 
monetary or non-monetary resources.
    (6) Funds disbursement: The applicant should provide information on 
how funds will be provided to sub-contractors and what types of 
financial controls will be instituted to ensure proper use of funds by 
sub-contractors and the overall programmatic message. Funds must be 
disbursed in accordance with 29 CFR 95.22.
    (7) Monitoring and Evaluation: The applicant should describe the 
process for systematically reporting on project performance to measure 
the achievement of the program objectives and documenting best 
practices. An analysis of management challenges that may arise and how 
those will be handled should also be included in this section, as well 
as where the responsibility for monitoring would lie within the program 
structure.
    b. Overview of funding option for the Grantee's field offices 
(country level or regional). Since the Grantee's field offices are 
precluded from competing for sub-contracts under the grassroots 
component of the education innovations program, the Grantee will be 
provided with up to US $750,000 for the promotion of its own innovative 
and promising activities, centering on the theme of education for 
children at work or at risk of work. All activities supported by these 
funds must correspond to the Child Labor Education Initiative strategic 
objectives; examples of activities that might be funded are located in 
Appendix C. The activities planned are subject to USDOL final approval. 
This section of the application should explain:
    (1) Selection and administration: The applicant's proposed method 
for administering the US $750,000 component of this award to be 
disbursed to its field offices;
    (2) Technical Sample of a proposed project. The applicant must 
create one (1) model work plan of a proposed project. For this 
competition, the work plan is merely an example of a project which 
might be funded with the US $750,000 provided to the Grantee for 
activities by its own organization that correspond to the strategic 
objectives of the Child Labor Education Initiative. It will not 
necessarily be funded under the grant, although the successful 
applicant will not be precluded from considering this work plan for 
funding under the terms of the agreement. This work plan must be one 
that could realistically be put into practice by the field office named 
and must include actual data, beneficiaries and staffing, and realistic 
assessments of what could be accomplished with the amount of funds 
provided by the project. USDOL will consider the design of the 
proposal, the creativity of the various activities proposed, and the 
types of resources to be utilized under the proposal. (Please note that 
the project presented in the technical sample need not utilize the 
entire US $750,000.) The applicant should address the following points:
    (a) Describe the use of existing or potential infrastructure of the 
field office and the use of existing qualified personnel, including 
qualified nationals, to implement the project. The

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applicant should include a project organizational chart demonstrating 
management structure, personnel, and indicating proposed links with 
Government, business leaders, trade unions, and relevant local 
organizations (e.g., community-based or faith-based groups) in the 
country in which proposed activities would take place. However, the 
development of such links is not necessary and applicants will not 
receive any extra points for actual communications with those 
organizations, or for the creation of an infrastructure in that country 
for this competitive grant process.
    (b) Develop a list of activities and explain how each relates to 
the overall objective of providing basic education to child laborers or 
to children at risk of work.
    (c) Show how the project's objectives relate to the applicant's 
existing activities and objectives on education.
    c. Implementation Plan. The applicant must submit an implementation 
plan, preferably with a visual such as a Gantt chart. The 
implementation plan must list the outcomes, objectives, outputs and 
activities during the life of the program, and scheduling of staff 
time, starting with the execution of the cooperative agreement and 
ending with the final report and documentation of innovative models. 
Applicants should provide information on the approach for producing all 
required deliverables and any additional outputs/deliverables it 
proposes to accomplish under the overall program.
    d. Budget Plan. This section of the application must contain the 
applicant's budget plan for developing and administering both portions 
of the education innovations program, providing data on the costs for 
performing all of the requirements presented in this solicitation and 
for producing all required reports and other deliverables listed. Costs 
must include labor, equipment, travel, and other related costs. 
Preference may be given to applicants with lower administrative costs.
    e. Management and Staff Loading Plan. This section must include a 
management and staff loading plan. The management plan should include 
the following:
    (1) Location of the office that will coordinate the administration 
of the education innovations program;
    (2) A project organization chart and accompanying narrative which 
differentiates between elements of the applicant's staff and sub-
contractors or consultants who will be retained;
    (3) The identity of the individual(s) responsible for the 
development and management of the program and the lines of authority 
between the individuals; and
    (4) A detailed explanation of the monitoring and supervision system 
that the applicant will implement in order to ensure appropriate 
management of the education innovations program at both the Grantee and 
the sub-contractor level.
    The staff loading plan should identify all key tasks and the 
person-days required to complete each task. Labor estimates for each 
task should be broken down by individuals assigned to the task at the 
Grantee level, including sub-contractors and consultants. All key tasks 
should be charted by months or weeks to show time required to perform 
them.
    This section will be evaluated in accordance with applicable 
Federal laws and regulations. The budget must comply with Federal cost 
principles (which can be found in the applicable OMB Circulars) and 
with ILAB budget requirements contained in the application instructions 
in Section IV.D of this solicitation.
    2. Experience and Qualifications of the Organization (30 points).
    The evaluation criteria in this category are as follows:
    a. Field Presence. The applicant must have international field 
presence. The applicant should provide USDOL with a listing of all its 
offices in both regions as well as countries or how the applicant plans 
to establish the necessary field presence for the projects. Preference 
may be given to applicants with more extensive field presence. The 
applicant should also show ability to support field offices through 
infrastructure, communication systems, technical assistance, and other 
systems that enhance capacity to perform in difficult field 
environments.
    b. Education Experience. The applicant must demonstrate that it has 
experience in basic education (formal or non-formal), preferably 
working with disadvantaged populations such as working children and 
children removed from child labor. The applicant's capability may be 
demonstrated by submitting evidence in an annex on the number of 
contracts or grants with other organizations and the length of time of 
those contracts or grants. The annex should include the following 
information on the applicant's education projects:
    (1) The organization for/with which the work was done, as relevant;
    (2) A contact person in that organization with his/her current 
phone number;
    (3) The dollar value of the grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement for the project;
    (4) The time frame and professional effort involved in the project;
    (5) A brief summary of the work performed; and
    (6) A brief summary of accomplishments.
    (7) Additional capability may be demonstrated if one or more of the 
staff members to be assigned to oversee the education innovations 
program has experience in the following areas:
    (a) Basic education (including student assessment, teacher 
training, educational materials, educational management, educational 
monitoring and information systems); and
    (b) Education policy as it affects any disadvantaged population.
    c. Program Management Experience. Prior experience at the 
organizational level managing numerous projects involving awarding 
funds to outside organizations (e.g., small projects programs) is 
preferred. The applicant must provide evidence of such experience, 
including:
    (1) Total budget of the program;
    (2) Administrative costs as percentage of total budget;
    (3) Source of funds (e.g., donor);
    (4) Size, number, and duration of grants/contracts awarded;
    (5) Number of countries in which money was awarded; and
    (6) Types of organizations to whom funds were awarded.
    e. Sound Financial System. The results of an independent financial 
audit must accompany the application.
    f. Monitoring System. The applicant must present evidence of a 
system of monitoring programs and documenting results that is already 
in place.
    g. Partnership. If two organizations are applying for the award in 
the form of a partnership, they must demonstrate an approach to ensure 
successful collaboration including clear delineation of respective 
roles and responsibilities. The applicants must also identify the lead 
organization and submit the partnership agreement. (Please note that 
points will be neither awarded nor deducted for partnership formation 
as long as a collaborative capability can be shown.)
3. Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel (25 points).
    This section of the application must include sufficient information 
to judge the quality and competence of staff proposed to be assigned to 
the education innovations program to assure that staff meet the 
required qualifications. Successful performance

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of the proposed work depends heavily on the qualifications of the 
individuals committed to the program. Accordingly, in evaluating the 
application considerable emphasis will be placed on the applicant's 
commitment of personnel who are qualified to accomplish the assigned 
tasks. Individuals designated as key personnel must sign letters of 
agreement to serve and indicate availability to commence work within 
three weeks of grant award.
    The applicant should include a resume for each professional to be 
assigned to the program in an annex. At a minimum, each resume should 
include: the individual's educational background, current employment 
status and previous work experience, including position title, duties 
performed, dates in position, and employing organizations. The resume 
should highlight the special capabilities of the individual that 
demonstrate prior experience in organizing, managing and performing 
similar efforts.
    a. Program Director (Key Personnel). The Program Director will 
provide leadership, vision and technical expertise to be applied to the 
development of the education innovations program including thematic 
content, award criteria, approaches to encourage innovation, and 
development of a communications strategy to ensure widespread global 
dissemination of the objectives and requirements of the education 
innovations program, and later of its results. The Director must have a 
minimum of three years of leadership experience in the fields of 
international development, international education, communications, or 
implementation of programs and projects in developing and emerging 
countries. Experience in strategic planning, strategic communications, 
and monitoring and evaluation is preferred. Points will be given for 
candidates with additional years of experience.
    b. Program Manager (Key Personnel). The Program Manager will take 
care of the day-to day operations of the education innovations program. 
He/She must have a minimum of three years of professional experience 
with the management of similar programs. Preferred candidates will also 
have knowledge of child labor issues and experience in the development 
and management of basic education programs in developing countries in 
areas such as education policy, improving educational quality and 
access, and monitoring and evaluation of basic education projects.
    c. Other staff. The applicant must identify other (not key 
personnel) staff positions required to implement this grant, and must 
propose candidates for the position. The duties of the personnel should 
be clearly defined in terms of role performed, e.g., manager, team 
leader, consultant, etc. Resumes should be included in the annex.
    4. Leverage of Funding (5 points).
    The Department will give up to five (5) additional rating points to 
applications that include non-Federal resources that significantly 
expand the dollar amount, size and scope of the application. The 
applicant may include any leveraging or co-funding anticipated. To be 
eligible for the additional points in the criterion, the applicant must 
list the source(s) of funds, the nature, and possible activities 
anticipated with these funds under this cooperative agreement and any 
partnerships, linkages or coordination of activities, cooperative 
funding, etc.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 12th day of April, 2002.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
Appendix A: SF 424--Application Form.
Appendix B: SF 424A--Budget Information Form.
Appendix C: Guidelines for Project Selection.

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    Note: Use Column A to record funds requested for the initial 
period of performance (i.e. 12 months, 18 months, etc.); Column B to 
record changes to Column A (i.e. requests for additional funds or 
line item changes; and Column C to record the totals (A plus B).

Instructions for Part II--Budget Information

Section A--Budget Summary by Categories
    1. Personnel: Show salaries to be paid for project personnel which 
you are required to provide with W2 forms.
    2. Fringe Benefits: Indicate the rate and amount of fringe 
benefits.
    3. Travel: Indicate the amount requested for staff travel. Include 
funds to cover at least one trip to Washington, DC for project director 
or designee.
    4. Equipment: Indicate the cost of non-expendable personal property 
that has a useful life of more than one year with a per unit cost of 
$5,000 or more. Also include a detailed description of equipment to be 
purchased including price information.
    5. Supplies: Include the cost of consumable supplies and materials 
to be used during the project period.
    6. Contractual: Show the amount to be used for (1) procurement 
contracts (except those which belong on other lines such as supplies 
and equipment); and (2) sub-contracts/grants.
    7. Other: Indicate all direct costs not clearly covered by lines 1 
through 6 above, including consultants.
    8. Total, Direct Costs: Add lines 1 through 7.
    9. Indirect Costs: Indicate the rate and amount of indirect costs. 
Please include a copy of your negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement.
    10. Training /Stipend Cost: (If allowable).
    11. Total Federal funds Requested: Show total of lines 8 through 
10.

Section B--Cost Sharing/Matching Summary

    Indicate the actual rate and amount of cost sharing/matching when 
there is a cost sharing/matching requirement. Also include percentage 
of total project cost and indicate source of cost sharing/matching 
funds, i.e. other Federal source or other Non-Federal source.

    Note: Please include a Detailed cost analysis of each line item.

Appendix C: Guidelines for Project Selection.

    In developing their proposals, potential sub-contractors should 
propose an approach that will support the goals of USDOL's Child 
Labor Education Initiative. The Grantee will review and accept 
proposals for funding from organizations on objectives that buttress 
USDOL's Child Labor Education Initiative's four broad objectives:
    1. Raise awareness of the importance of education for all 
children and mobilize a wide array of actors to improve and expand 
education infrastructures.
    Actions under this objective will include awareness raising, 
development of multi-sectoral partnerships and networks in support 
of the education of child workers in target countries/worldwide, and 
making child workers a key target group in ``Education for All'' and 
basic education initiatives in target countries. Relevant Education 
for All and Dakar Framework for Action targets include: (1) early 
childhood education and care; (2) primary education; (3) learning 
achievement and outcomes; (4) training in essential skills; and (5) 
education for better living. Partnerships and networks can include 
organizations of parents, teachers, the private sector, NGOs, the 
media, and faith-based organizations interested in promoting the 
welfare and education of children and the reduction and eventual 
elimination of child labor.
    2. Strengthen formal and transitional education systems that 
encourage working children and those at risk of working to attend 
school.
    All actions under this objective will correspond to the needs of 
children removed from work and children at risk of working and could 
include pilot direct action programs to test approaches to the 
retention and academic success of these special target groups. 
Projects to be funded under the education innovations program could 
include targeted teacher training to improve classroom methods and 
strengthen the capacity of educators to nurture the academic success 
of children removed from child labor; development and field testing 
of learning materials that improve educational quality and are 
relevant to communities where working children live; development or 
improvement of pre-vocational and vocational programs; innovative 
partnerships with the private sector and other organizations to 
enhance the relevance of schooling for children and to provide 
marketable skills for children reaching employable age; development 
and pilot testing of pre-school and extracurricular/enrichment 
activities for children removed from work or at risk of entering the 
workforce.
    3. Strengthen national institutions and policies on education 
and child labor.
    Projects to be funded under the education innovations program to 
correspond with this objective could include country assessments 
with recommendations on how to effectively incorporate child 
laborers as a target group in Education for All and other national 
basic education policies; activities such as conferences and 
workshops that encourage consultation and joint policy and program 
planning among national institutions working in education and child 
labor policy; provision of training and technical assistance to 
staff of key organizations (e.g., education system and school 
administrators, teachers' unions, policy units in Ministries of 
target countries, etc.) to increase their capacity in areas such as 
leadership, management, strategic planning, educational finance, 
implementation of policy change, and outreach to constituencies in 
order to effectively implement education programs that benefit child 
laborers; the development and/or strengthening of monitoring and 
evaluation of the educational status and performance of children 
removed from work or at risk of entering the workforce.
    4. Ensure the long-term sustainability of these efforts.
    Projects to be funded under the education innovations program to 
correspond to this objective could include the development of 
strategies for increasing resources for the education of children 
removed from child labor; strengthening the capacity of 
organizations in the target countries to mobilize resources and 
develop volunteer and other programs that benefit children removed 
from work or at risk of entering the workforce; the development of 
corporate citizen and philanthropic education initiatives that 
benefit children removed from work or at risk of entering the 
workforce.

[FR Doc. 02-9517 Filed 4-17-02; 8:45 am]
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