[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50697-50710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19637]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Office of Disability Employment Policy; Disability Technical 
Assistance for Providers (TAP) Cooperative Agreement

AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy, Labor

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for 
Cooperative Agreement Applications (SGA 02-15).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or the Department), Office 
of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of 
$600,000 to award one cooperative agreement. This cooperative agreement 
will provide funds for the implementation of a national technical 
assistance and training effort designed to increase the capacity of 
Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) and other community-based 
service providers that currently operate programs that result in 
segregated work outcomes and non-work options for people with 
disabilities in the ``Special Minimum Wage'' program established under 
section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. 214(c). 
The desired outcome of this proposed technical assistance and training 
effort is to work with providers using section 14(c) certificates to: 
(1) evolve their programs to provide integrated employment outcomes 
(i.e., non section 14(c) employment) in non-stereotypical jobs based on 
customized employment strategies and individual choice; and (2) to 
increase wages of people with disabilities who are currently working at 
less than minimum wage through the use of customized employment 
strategies and individual choice.
    This cooperative agreement is for a one-year period and may be 
renewed for up to four additional years depending upon project 
performance and funding availability. All forms necessary to prepare an 
application are included in this solicitation package.
    This cooperative agreement anticipates substantial involvement 
between ODEP and the awardee during the performance of the project. 
Involvement will include collaboration or participation by ODEP in the 
management of the project throughout the period of the award. For 
example, ODEP will be involved in decisions involving strategy, hiring 
of personnel, deployment of resources, release of public information 
materials, quality assurance, coordination of activities with other 
offices, and conducting research.

DATES: One ink-signed original, complete application plus two (2) 
copies of the Technical Proposal and two copies of the Cost Proposal 
shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement 
Services Center, Grant Officer, Reference SGA 02-15, Room N-5416, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, not later than 4:45 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDST), September 4, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be directed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention: Grant Officer, Reference 
Cooperative Agreement 02-15, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Application announcements or forms 
will not be mailed. The Federal Register may be obtained from your 
nearest government office or library. In addition, a copy of this 
notice and the application requirements may be downloaded from the 
Office of Disability Employment Policy's Web site at http://www2.dol.gov./odep. Questions concerning this solicitation may be sent 
to Cassandra Willis, at (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free 
number). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the 
Department via the Federal Relay Service, (800) 877-8339.
    Late Proposals: All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery 
in the Washington, DC area has been erratic due to 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 Cassandra Willis, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, by telephone 
(202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free number), prior to the closing 
deadline. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the 
Department via the Federal Relay Service, (800) 877-8339.
    Acceptable Methods of Submission The grant application package must 
be received at the designated place by the date and time specified or 
it will not be considered. Any application received at the Office of 
Procurement Services Center after 4:45 p.m., EDST, September 4, 2002, 
will not be considered unless it is received before the award is made 
and:
    1. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the 
fifth calendar day before September 4, 2002; or
    2. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post

[[Page 50698]]

Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing two 
working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, prior to 
September 4, 2002; and/or
    3. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due 
solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the U.S. 
Department of Labor at the address indicated.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S. 
Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible, 
an application received after the above closing time and date shall be 
processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped or 
otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression) 
that is readily identifiable without further action as having been 
applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the 
date of mailing. Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk 
place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's-eye'' postmark on both the 
receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at 
the U. S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Procurement 
Services Center on the application wrapper or other documentary 
evidence or receipt maintained by that office.
    Applications sent by other delivery services, such as Federal 
Express, UPS, etc., will also be accepted; however the Department does 
not accept dates or date stamps on such packages as evidence of timely 
mailing. Thus, the applicant bears the responsibility of timely 
submission.
    All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the 
Washington, DC area has been erratic due to concerns involving anthrax 
contamination. All applicants must take this into consideration when 
preparing to meet the application deadline. Therefore, it is 
recommended that you confirm receipt of your application by contacting 
Cassandra Willis, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services 
Center, telephone (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free number), 
prior to the closing deadline. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing 
may contact the Department via the Federal Relay Service, (800) 877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Authority

    Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Pub. L. 106-554, 114 Stat. 
2763; 29 U.S.C. 557b; DOL, HHS, Education and Related Appropriations 
Act, 2002, Pub. L. 107-116, 115 Stat. 2177.

II. Background

    Too often, many people with disabilities, including those in 
sheltered workshops, day activity center programs, many young people 
transitioning from school, and people covered by the U.S. Supreme 
Court's Olmstead v. L.C decision, 527 U.S. 581 (1999), are tracked into 
jobs that are customary and stereotypical. These employment options 
usually pay low wages, offer no benefits, and do not provide any 
opportunity for advancement. Fortunately programs and providers of 
employment services have challenged these conventional employment 
practices as too limiting for persons with disabilities, and have 
instead successfully facilitated employment in a variety of new and 
expanded jobs. These opportunities include employment in industries 
which offer increased earnings, benefits, and career advancement 
possibilities, such as jobs in technology-related industries, and 
professional, administrative, and office support. Such employment also 
includes self-employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, as well as 
a host of other individually designed, customized employment options.
    People with disabilities and high support needs have traditionally 
been relegated to placements characterized by non-work activities, 
segregated environments, and/or part-time jobs where they earn less 
than minimum wage. A large percent of this population receives no 
employment services; are in institutional settings; or, are on waiting 
lists for available community programs. A recent GAO Report, Special 
Minimum Wage Program (September 2001) documents that there are about 
424,000 employees with disabilities who earn less than minimum wage 
under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In 
addition, over half earn less than $2.50 per hour, and have been in the 
same segregated facility for over five years, and some for over 20 
years. For every one person with a disability working in integrated 
settings through supportive employment, 4.5 people remain in segregated 
settings.
    These circumstances continue to exist despite research and 
demonstration programs documenting that many members of this population 
can achieve customized, individually-determined, integrated, 
competitive jobs; can increase their earnings and develop assets; and, 
as a result, can more fully participate in community life. Increasing 
numbers of individuals once thought to be ``nonfeasible'' for 
employment are demonstrating their competence and capacity in non-
stereotypical jobs that pay minimum wage or more, include benefits, and 
provide for career growth.
    Negative stereotyping, unemployment, underemployment, and placement 
in segregated work and non-work settings are likely to continue for 
people with disabilities until there are systemic changes undertaken. 
One such change is increasing provider capacity to provide individually 
determined, customized employment in non-stereotypic jobs for persons 
with disabilities.
    For purposes of this solicitation, customized employment means 
individualizing the employment relationship between employees and 
employers in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an 
individualized determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of 
the person with a disability, and is also designed to meet the specific 
needs of the employer. It may include employment developed through job 
carving, self-employment or entrepreneurial initiatives, or other job 
development or restructuring strategies that result in job 
responsibilities being customized and individually negotiated to fit 
the needs of individuals with a disability. Customized employment 
assumes the provision of reasonable accommodations and supports 
necessary for the individual to perform the functions of a job that is 
individually negotiated and developed.
    Fortunately, customized employment strategies (such as supported 
employment, supported entrepreneurship, job carving and restructuring, 
development of micro-boards and microenterprises, use of personal 
agents, and use of individual vouchers, training accounts, and personal 
budgets) are increasingly leading to integrated community life and jobs 
for people with high support needs. However, there exists a critical 
lack of professional development efforts designed to increase service 
providers' expertise in utilizing such strategies to support people 
with disabilities who are seeking integrated, customized employment. 
Challenges exist related to: (1) Identifying strengths and needs of the 
individuals with disabilities; (2) providing individual negotiation 
with employers and job development personnel for identifying and 
securing desired employment; (3) understanding the range of customized 
employment strategies that may be utilized in securing the individual 
employment outcome; and (4) implementing organizational change 
strategies

[[Page 50699]]

necessary to incorporate such customized employment techniques into the 
provider services. Additional challenges relate to the need for 
Community Rehabilitation Programs and other community-based providers 
that currently operate programs under section 14(c) to be better 
equipped to effectively engage the employer/business community. In 
addition, the high staff turnover in direct service positions, which is 
typical in many community programs, further exacerbates the problem of 
inadequate staff capacity to effectively support people with 
disabilities into integrated customized employment. Finally, there is a 
critical need for providers participating in programs under section 
14(c) to identify ways to more broadly and creatively use existing 
service and funding systems. The current initiative is designed to 
begin to address these needs through a program of technical assistance 
and training aimed at promoting organizational change.
    Various community-based providers (e.g., Community Rehabilitation 
Providers, school systems, public vocational rehabilitation agencies, 
substance abuse treatment providers, etc.), who are utilizing FLSA 
14(c) Special Minimum Wage certificates can benefit from the technical 
assistance and training efforts to be provided by this cooperative 
agreement and can develop the necessary capacity to enable them to 
further refine their program so that customized employment outcomes 
will become their hallmark.
    It is critical that community providers utilizing 14(c) 
certificates are supported and encouraged to further utilize customized 
employment strategies. Critical to this is the understanding that 
customized employment begins with identifying the strengths, interests 
and desires of the individual with a disability.
    Providers utilizing section 14(c) certificates must also be able to 
better understand and respond to the needs of local employers; create 
ongoing partnerships with the business community; and function more as 
businesses. Other currently operating ODEP/DOL grant efforts (e.g., 
Customized Employment Grants and The Technical Assistance Consortia for 
Adults and Youth with Disabilities) focus on building capacity of One-
Stop Career Centers and other workforce development system partners. 
Still other federal, state, and local funding efforts focus on training 
exemplary providers to expand their services in other localities. This 
Technical Assistance for Providers (TAP) Cooperative Agreement seeks to 
integrate the aforementioned grant initiatives in its technical 
assistance and training efforts.
    Currently, little attention is being given at the federal level to 
initiatives that focus on providing training and technical assistance 
to providers of segregated services (e.g., sheltered workshops and day 
activity programs), and others participating in Special Minimum Wage 
programs under section 14(c) of the FLSA. If people with disabilities 
are to become employed in quality jobs, these providers must be the 
beneficiaries of targeted technical assistance and training efforts 
such as those proposed in this solicitation.
    This cooperative agreement would also be consistent with the U.S. 
Department of Labor's commitment under Executive Order 13217, 
``Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities,'' as 
stated in the November 8, 2001 Report to the Secretary of the United 
States Department of Health and Human Services. In this Report, ODEP 
indicated that it would collaborate with the Employment Standards 
Administration's Wage and Hour Division to develop training and 
technical assistance on increasing earnings and customized employment 
for individuals with disabilities earning commensurate wages under 
section 14(c) of the FLSA, and disseminate this assistance to their 
stakeholder networks.

III. Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to help Community 
Rehabilitation Service Providers (CRSPs) and other disability community 
service providers operating section 14(c) programs to take a leadership 
role in changing their program outcomes from segregated and non-
employment services to program outcomes that lead to customized, 
competitive employment in non-stereotypical jobs for people with 
disabilities. This cooperative agreement is for the purpose of 
developing and providing training and technical assistance designed to 
enable community-based providers that are currently participating in 
section 14(c) of the FLSA (Special Minimum Wage certificates) programs 
to develop and/or increase their program's provision of customized 
integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Funds will 
be used to develop the capacity of community providers utilizing 14(c) 
certificates to effectively support the movement of people with 
disabilities into integrated jobs based upon customized employment 
strategies. Particular emphasis is to be placed on employment that pays 
above minimum wage and provides opportunities for career growth. It is 
expected that the awardee will take steps to establish a core of 
trained and committed community providers participating in section 
14(c) programs who can then work with other providers participating in 
the section 14(c) program to replicate and expand upon these concepts. 
Further, the direct contact with community providers will offer the 
awardee insight and information on related policy concerns that shall 
be shared with ODEP/DOL on an ongoing basis.
    This cooperative agreement is intended to: (1) Develop capacity for 
provision of customized employment strategies among providers who 
utilize the FLSA 14(c) program; (2) build effective relationships 
between employers and these employment service providers that result in 
the development of non-stereotypical employment opportunities, 
providing increased earnings, benefits, and career advancement 
potential for people with disabilities; (3) address the production, 
operations, and technical assistance needs of businesses to promote 
their hiring of people with disabilities in non-stereotypical jobs; (4) 
promote positive organizational change, as described in the 
``Background'' section through professional and organizational 
development and other means of on-site assistance to individual 
providers; and (5) increase the number of section 14(c) providers that 
have the capacity to provide customized employment as eligible training 
providers with One-Stop Career Centers and other workforce development 
system partners. Efforts should be undertaken to ensure that community 
rehabilitation providers operating section 14(c) programs consider the 
possibilities of developing jobs for their customers in non-
stereotypical occupations which lead to increased earnings, benefits, 
and career advancement possibilities. To accomplish these objectives, a 
comprehensive and integrated array of training and technical assistance 
initiatives will be undertaken, including utilization of experienced 
trainers using demonstrated effective training techniques and options, 
access to individual coaching, and other technical assistance for 
providers operating 14(c) programs seeking to undertake organizational 
change, and development and dissemination of information relevant to 
these goals.

IV. Statement of Work

    The applicant must provide the following services and materials:
    1. Develop and implement training at the programmatic and systemic 
levels

[[Page 50700]]

that promotes change from segregated work and non-work options for 
people with disabilities to integrated customized employment based on 
individual choice. The goal is to increase integrated, non-
stereotypical employment, earnings, and opportunities for career 
advancement potential (as appropriate), based on the individual 
strengths and desires of the individual, as well as increased community 
participation through employment for people with disabilities. This 
requirement includes:
    a. Documenting existing individual programmatic and systemic 
barriers to community-based employment for people with disabilities in 
the state;
    b. Conducting needs assessment of community rehabilitation 
providers utilizing 14(c) certificates to assist in determining the 
array, type, and intensity of technical assistance, training and 
information to be provided;
    c. Developing training and technical assistance materials and 
curriculum for providers utilizing 14(c) certificates to facilitate 
their understanding and adoption of person-driven, customized 
employment strategies resulting in community-based, integrated 
employment;
    d. Utilizing the curriculum and materials developed to provide 
training for community rehabilitation providers that utilize 14(c) 
certificates to assist them in incorporating customized employment 
strategies and integrated employment outcomes into their programs;
    e. Making all training/materials/curriculum available through 
distance learning options such as interactive websites and video 
conferencing;
    f. Documenting the use of customized employment strategies by 
participating providers following any training, and how the use of such 
strategies impacts on successful employment outcomes; and
    g. Documenting the increased participation of providers utilizing 
customized employment strategies as eligible training providers under 
the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) (Public Law No. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 
2801 et seq.).
    2. Provide ongoing coaching and technical assistance to providers 
utilizing 14(c) certificates and WIA partners through phone and in-
person assistance, as well as through on-line resources such as list-
servs or e-mail responses to inquiries, including:
    a. Providing personal technical assistance, training, and 
information for particular providers utilizing section 14(c) 
certificates to assist them in their organizational change to 
integrated, customized employment. Such technical assistance, training 
and information shall focus on integrating customized employment 
practices into the providers' services and result in increased choice, 
self-determination, and increased earnings for individuals with 
disabilities (including benefits and career advancement opportunities 
as appropriate). Such strategies shall also result in increased 
community participation for the people with disabilities involved;
    b. Developing linkages and collaborating with other national 
federal initiatives providing services and supports for people with 
disabilities (including but not limited to systems change efforts 
promoting permanent systems improvement and comprehensive coordination; 
health care; housing; transportation; education; supported employment; 
benefits planning and assistance; small business development; and 
technology related assistance) and other national initiatives, as 
appropriate. Coordinating with DOL's other related initiatives (e.g., 
ETA's Work Incentive Grants) and ODEP's other initiatives (e.g., 
WorkFORCE Coordinating and Action Grants, Customized Employment 
Grants.);
    c. Developing and communicating regularly with: (1) A network of 
local providers which can be utilized as a leadership network or 
constituency support group for this technical assistance and training 
effort; and (2) national experts in the area of customized employment 
strategies;
    d. Developing ongoing communication and linkages with employers, 
trade associations, and professional and business service 
organizations; and
    e. Assisting CRPs that provide customized employment services in 
becoming eligible training providers with One-Stop Career Centers and 
other workforce development system partners.
    3. Acting as a central locus of information and expertise on 
customized, community-based employment for people with disabilities by:
    a. Providing national linkages to information, experts and 
activities including exemplary and promising practices on how to 
promote organizational change (at the provider and system levels) that 
increases community-based, customized employment in non-stereotypical 
jobs for people with disabilities;
    b. Providing information and conducting initiatives to educate 
employers and the general public about the abilities of people with 
disabilities to work in a wide variety of occupations and contribute to 
the workforce;
    c. Providing information to people with disabilities and their 
families, and others, as appropriate, about promising practices that 
facilitate increased employment and earnings for people with 
disabilities;
    d. Developing and disseminating materials to supplement existing 
technical assistance and training materials. All materials must be made 
available through an accessible Internet Web site;
    e. Serving as a repository and dissemination center for information 
and materials developed by ODEP grantees, including promising 
practices; and
    f. Providing coordination and information sharing among multiple 
DOL grantees and initiatives of other agencies related to people with 
disabilities (such as projects of the Rehabilitation Services 
Administration (RSA), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse 
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Social Security Administration 
(SSA), Small Business Administration (SBA), National Institute on 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), including coordinating 
with other national initiatives).
    4. Conducting policy studies, conduct evaluation of project 
activities, and otherwise collect and analyze employment policy-related 
information, as directed by the Office of Disability Employment Policy 
(ODEP), and otherwise support ODEP, as requested, in its efforts to 
increase integrated, customized employment, choice and wages for 
persons with disabilities, including the following:
    a. Researching, collecting and disseminating information from 
states about effective policies and practices that support community-
based employment over segregated services;
    b. Collaborating with other federal technical assistance projects 
that provide information and/or technical assistance about increasing 
employment and needed supports for people with disabilities in 
conducting policy studies, as appropriate;
    c. Collaborating with other research institutes, centers, and 
studies and evaluations that are supported by DOL and other relevant 
Federal agencies;
    d. Conducting periodic studies and analysis about employment 
characteristics and conditions of people with disabilities currently in 
segregated

[[Page 50701]]

work and non-work settings such as day activity centers, job club 
programs, institutions, nursing homes and other facility-based 
settings, and collaborating with ODEP in developing a range of 
strategies to respond to identified needs;
    e. Conducting periodic studies and analysis of federal and state 
policies which impede community-based employment for people and 
evaluate the effectiveness of new policy initiatives, such as the 
Ticket-to-Work, and Olmstead and Customized Employment Grants which are 
intended to address these barriers;
    f. Conducting ongoing evaluation of the project using thorough and 
appropriate measures to determine the performance of the project to 
obtain its goals, objectives, and deliverable; and
    g. Responding to requests for information, analysis and other 
assistance from ODEP on national employment policy as it impacts people 
with disabilities and the workforce investment system.

V. Funding Availability

    The initial period of performance will be 12 months from the date 
of execution by the Government. Based on availability of funds and 
project performance, the Department may elect to exercise the option to 
extend this cooperative agreement for up to four additional option 
years for a total not to exceed 60 months. With the agreement of the 
awardee, the Department also may elect to change, modify and/or 
supplement this cooperative agreement during this period based on the 
Department's needs.

VI. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants may include a public, private non-profit, or 
for-profit organization or consortium, including community and faith-
based organizations with demonstrated appropriate experience and 
expertise. If the proposal includes multiple consortia members, there 
must be a prime or lead member who is the responsible fiscal agent.
    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. 
See 2 U.S.C. Sec. 1611; 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(4).

VII. Applications Contents

    General Requirements--Two copies and an original of the proposal 
must be submitted, one of which must contain an original signature. 
Proposals must be submitted by the applicant only. There are three 
required sections of the application. Requirements for each section are 
provided in this application package.

Part I--Executive Summary

    The Executive Summary must be no more than two single-spaced pages 
in length giving a clear summary of the project narrative.

Part II--Project Narrative--(Appendices: Letters of Commitment and 
Support, Resumes, etc.)

    Applicants must include a project narrative that addresses the 
Statement of Work in Part IV of this notice and the selection criteria 
that are used by reviewers in evaluating the application in Part IX.
    You must limit the project narrative to the equivalent of no more 
than 70 pages using the following standards. This page limit does not 
apply to Part I, the Executive Summary; Part III, the Project Financial 
Plan (Budget); and, the Appendices (the assurances and certifications, 
resumes, a bibliography or references, and the letters of support). A 
page is 8.5'' x 11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, 
bottom, and sides). All text in the application narrative, including 
titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, and captions, as well as all 
text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs must be double-spaced (no 
more than three lines per vertical inch); and, if using a proportional 
computer font, use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average 
character density no greater than 18 characters per inch (if using a 
non-proportional font or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 
characters per inch.)

Part III--Project Financial Plan (Budget)

    Applications must include a detailed financial plan that identifies 
by line item the budget plan designed to achieve the goals of this 
cooperative agreement. The Financial Plan must contain the SF-424, 
Application for Federal Assistance, (Appendix A) and a Budget 
Information Sheet SF-424A (Appendix B).
    In addition, the budget must include on a separate page a detailed 
cost analysis of each line item. Justification for administrative costs 
must be provided. Approval of a budget by DOL is not the same as the 
approval of actual costs. The individual signing the SF-424 on behalf 
of the applicant must represent and be able to legally bind the 
responsible financial and administrative entity for a cooperative 
agreement should that application result in an award. The applicant 
must also include the Assurances and Certifications Signature Page 
(Appendix C).

IX. Evaluation Criteria/Selection

A. Evaluation Criteria

    The application must include information of the type described 
below.
1. Significance of the Proposed Project (20 points)
    In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Department considers the following factors:
    a. The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase 
knowledge or understanding of problems, issues, or effective strategies 
for providing integrated employment outcomes in non-stereotypical jobs, 
based on customized employment strategies and individual choice for 
people with disabilities;
    b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates an understanding 
of the issues facing community providers as outlined in this SGA, 
especially those utilizing section 14(c) Special Minimum Wage 
certificates;
    c. The extent to which the proposed project is likely to yield 
findings that may be used by other appropriate agencies and 
organizations;
    d. The likely utility of the products (such as information, 
materials, processes, or techniques) that will result from the proposed 
project, including the potential for the products being used 
effectively in a variety of other settings;
    e. The extent to which the proposed project disseminates promising 
practices in ways that will enable others to use the information or 
strategies; and
    f. The importance or magnitude of the results that are likely to be 
attained by the proposed project.
2. Quality of the Project Design (20 points)
    In evaluating the quality of the proposed project design, the 
Department considers the following factors:
    a. The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable;
    b. The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population and other identified needs;
    c. The extent to which the design of the proposed project provides 
an outline of training topics and content to be delivered or utilized; 
strategies for providing ongoing coaching and technical assistance to 
community providers; and other strategies to achieve the goals of this 
solicitation;

[[Page 50702]]

    d. The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of this 
cooperative agreement;
    e. The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated 
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, 
state, and Federal resources;
    f. The extent to which the applicant encourages involvement of 
people with disabilities, relevant experts, and organizations in 
project activities; and
    g. The extent to which performance feedback and continuous 
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.
3. Quality of Project Personnel (15 points)
    The Project Narrative must describe the proposed staffing of the 
project and must identify and summarize the qualifications of the 
personnel who will carry it out. In addition, the Department considers 
the qualifications, including relevant education, training, and 
experience of key project personnel as well as the qualifications, 
including relevant training and experience of project consultants or 
subcontractors. Resumes must be included in the Appendices.
4. Adequacy of the Budget (10 points)
    In evaluating the adequacy of the budget for the proposed project, 
the Department considers the following factors:
    a. The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project and
    b. The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
    The applicant may include letters of commitment from proposed 
partners in the Appendix.
5. Quality of the Management Plan (20 points)
    In evaluating the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Department considers the following factors:
    a. The extent to which the management plan for project 
implementation achieves the objectives of the proposed project on time 
and within budget, including clearly defined staff responsibilities, 
and time allocated to project activities, time lines, milestones for 
accomplishing project tasks and project deliverables;
    b. The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project; and
    c. The extent to which the time commitments of the project director 
and/or principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.
6. Quality of the Project Evaluation (15 points)
    In evaluating the quality of the project's evaluation design, the 
Department considers the following factors:
    a. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, context, and 
outcomes of the proposed project;
    b. The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies;
    c. The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of 
objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended 
outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative 
data;
    d. The extent to which the evaluation will provide information to 
other programs about effective strategies suitable for replication or 
testing in other settings; and
    e. The extent to which the methods of evaluation measure in both 
quantitative and qualitative terms, program results and satisfaction of 
people with disabilities.

B. Selection Criteria

    Acceptance of a proposal and an award of federal funds to sponsor 
any program(s) is not a waiver of any cooperative agreement requirement 
and/or procedures. Awardees must comply with all applicable Federal 
statutes, regulations, administrative requirements and OMB Circulars. 
For example, the OMB circulars require, and an entity's procurement 
procedures must require, that all procurement transactions shall be 
conducted, as practical, to provide open and free competition. If a 
proposal identifies a specific entity to provide the services, the 
award does not provide the justification or basis to sole-source the 
procurement, i.e., to avoid competition.
    A panel will objectively rate each complete application against the 
criteria described in this solicitation. The panel recommendations to 
the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. The Grant Officer may elect 
to award a cooperative agreement either with or without discussion with 
the applicant. In situations where no discussion occurs, an award will 
be based on the signed SF-424 form (see Appendix A), which constitutes 
a binding offer. The Grant Officer may consider the panel's findings 
and any information that is available and will make final award 
decisions based on what is most advantageous to the government, 
considering factors such as:
    1. Findings of the technical evaluation panel; and
    2. The availability of funds.

X. Reporting

    Awardees will be required to submit periodic financial and 
participation reports under this program. Specifically the following 
reports will be required:
    1. Quarterly progress reports, and upon completion of the 
cooperative agreement period a final report. The quarterly report is 
estimated to take ten hours, and the final report is estimated to take 
20 hours. The Department will work with the awardee to identify the 
requirements of the various reports, which will, among other things, 
include measures of ongoing analysis for continuous improvement and 
customer satisfaction.
    2. Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report Form, on a quarterly 
basis;
    3. Final Project Report, including an assessment of project 
performance and outcomes achieved. This report will be submitted in 
hard copy and on electronic disk using a format and instructions which 
will be provided by the Department. A draft of the final report is due 
to the Department 30 days before the termination of the cooperative 
agreement, and the final report is due 60 days after the termination of 
the cooperative agreement.

XI. Administration Provisions

A. Administrative Standards and Provisions

    The monies awarded under this cooperative agreement shall be 
subject to the following:
    29 CFR part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, etc.
    29 CFR part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded 
Grants, Contracts, and Agreements.
    29 CFR part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirement for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.

B. Allowable Cost

    Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with 
the following applicable Federal cost principles:

State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87
Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122

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Profit-making Commercial Firms--48 CFR part 31

    Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.

C. Non-Discrimination Assurances

    As a condition of the award, the applicant must certify that it 
will comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity 
provisions of the following laws:
    29 CFR part 31--Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of 
the Department of Labor, effectuation of title VI of the Civil Rights 
Act of 1964.
    29 CFR part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in 
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal 
Assistance. (Implementing section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 
U.S.C. 794)
    29 CFR part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education 
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance 
(Implementing title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. 
1681 et. seq.)
    The applicant must include assurances and certifications that it 
will comply with these laws in its grant application. The assurances 
and certifications are attached as Appendix C.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 30th day of July, 2002.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
Appendix A. Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF 424
Appendix B. Budget Information Sheet, Form SF 424A
Appendix C. Assurances and Certifications Signature Page 1

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[FR Doc. 02-19637 Filed 8-2-02; 8:45 am]
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