[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53009-53021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20584]



[[Page 53009]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


A Bangladesh Network of Women Workers' Education Centers

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for 
Cooperative Agreement Applications (SGA 02-23).

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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 (USDOL), Bureau of International 
Labor Affairs (ILAB), will award up to US $700,000 through one or more 
cooperative agreements to an organization or organizations (``the 
applicant'') to implement a program in the Bangladeshi garment industry 
to increase adherence to internationally-recognized worker rights; 
improve workplace safety and health; and to provide garment workers 
with access to basic health care and legal counseling. USDOL is seeking 
applications from qualified applicants for the expansion of a pilot 
project initiated in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2000 to design and establish 
a Working Women's Education Center (WWEC) for the delivery of 
information and services to women working in the garment industry--the 
country's largest export industry. The pilot project, funded by USAID 
and implemented by the American Center for International Labor 
Solidarity (ACILS), involved a partnership with a number of local non-
governmental organizations (such as Ain o Shalish Kendra, the 
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, the Bangladesh National 
Women's Lawyers Association, and the Welfare Association of Repatriated 
Bangaldeshi Employees) and the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers 
Union Federation.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications is September 11th, 
2002. As described in Section III.B. and C., applications must be 
received by 4:45 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Savings 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.

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, public library or 
on-line at http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/index. 
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 02-23, Washington, DC 20210. 
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. Submission requirements are 
described in Section III.C. of this notice.

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 
enhanced security measures. 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 it not a toll-free number), prior to the 
closing deadline. All inquiries should reference SGA 02-23. See Section 
III.B. for further information regarding submission of applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ILAB announces the availability of funds to 
be granted by cooperative agreement to a qualifying organization to 
achieve the following program objectives in the Bangladesh garment 
export industry: (1) Increase adherence to internationally-recognized 
worker rights as described in the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental 
Principles and Rights at Work; (2) promote greater awareness of 
national and international labor law among workers; (3) provide workers 
with access to basic health care and legal counseling; and (4) improve 
the occupational safety and health of workers, particularly with regard 
to fire prevention and safety. The cooperative agreement will be 
carried out in collaboration with local NGOs and workers' 
representatives, and with the participation of employers and employer 
organizations. Proposals must include ways to support the existing WWEC 
in Dhaka, and must include recommendations for the location of 
additional centers. Of the additional centers, one must be located in 
Dhaka. In each location, the pilot project should address the above-
mentioned objectives. In addition, the project should take into 
consideration the availability of local collaborating organizations, 
the specific needs of workers in that location, and the prospects for 
sustained improvements.
    The cooperative agreement is to be actively managed by ILAB to 
assure the achievement of the stated objectives. Applicants are 
encouraged to be creative in proposing an innovative and cost-effective 
program that will have a demonstrable impact on achieving the overall 
objectives.

I. Background and Program Scope

A. Background: Bangladesh Garment Export Industry

    The driving force of the Bangladeshi economy is the sustained 
growth of its garment industry, which now accounts for 75% of the 
country's export revenues and employs 1.5 million workers. The country 
is in the very early stages of implementing laws and regulations to 
protect workers. The workers in the garment industry are mostly young 
women who lack access to education regarding their rights in the 
workplace and have difficulty exercising these rights. Consequently, 
abusive labor practices, including the harassment of women workers, are 
alleged to occur frequently.
    The Working Women's Education Center (WWEC) pilot project was 
established in 2000 to address these challenges. The WWEC sponsors 
education programs on labor issues, and it offers participants, mainly 
young women working in garment factories, basic medical care, and legal 
counseling. Issues covered at the center include workers' rights and 
responsibilities, factory laws, family laws, gender issues, trafficking 
in persons, and dispute resolution. In the first year of the pilot 
project, the center sponsored 200 activities benefiting approximately 
2,500 female workers. The program has demonstrated strengths in several 
ways. First, program activities directly and effectively address the 
day-to-day concerns of the workers; timely assistance is provided to 
resolve issues that often directly affect the lives of workers and 
their families (such as gender-based discrimination in the workplace, 
dangerous, and even life-threatening, working conditions, and the 
payment of legal wages). Second, workshops and legal counseling 
sessions are conducted primarily by leading Bangladeshi legal and labor 
experts.
    Support for this program has helped forge stronger links between 
key actors in the emerging civil society and garment workers and it 
operates with the endorsement of the Government of Bangladesh. 
``Promoting democracy'' is

[[Page 53010]]

a key U.S. objective in Bangladesh, where the U.S. mission is currently 
focusing on efforts that ensure seamless introduction of effective and 
responsible modern industrial relations practices in the Export 
Processing Zones.

B. Program Scope

    For any proposal to be considered responsive to this solicitation, 
it must contain proposed projects that cover all of the following four 
aspects: (i) Strengthening the rule of labor law; (ii) the development 
of one or more WWECs; (iii) the provision of workers' education and 
services; and (iv) the preparation, publication, translation, and 
distribution of research and educational materials for workers. 
Applicants are encouraged to develop innovative forms of cooperative 
relationships with employers, employers' and workers' representatives, 
the Government of Bangladesh, and national organizations, including 
non-governmental organizations in performing activities proposed.
(i) Strengthening the Rule of Law
    Applicants should propose specifically how they will provide legal 
aid to garment workers. Applicants may consider offering counseling at 
the WWECs, providing services directly or through referrals to other 
local, national, or international organizations.
(ii) Development of WWEC(s)
    Applicants should: (a) Define the number and location of WWECs; (b) 
offer a rationale for said number and location; (c) describe the way in 
which workers will be made aware of the WWECs and the services they 
offer; (d) specify the total number of workers to be served over the 
duration of the project and their characteristics; (e) detail the 
staffing and administration of the centers; (f) explain how workers 
will actually receive services; and (g) describe how the centers will 
be sustained after the grant period.
(iii) Provision of Workers' Education Programs and Services
    Applicants should provide a description of the variety of education 
programs that will provide workers with important information on a 
broad range of subjects such as: sexual harassment and other gender-
related issues; family law; labor law, grievance handling and court 
procedures; occupational safety and health, particularly fire safety; 
collective bargaining; leadership skills; and health and hygiene, 
including the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
(iv) Research, Publication, Translation, and Distribution of Research 
and Education Materials for Workers
    Applicants should describe the education materials and pedagogical 
approach that will be used at the Centers and indicate if materials 
already exist or will be developed after the initiation of the project. 
Applicants should propose a program of formal and informal research as 
needed to build broad-based support for the issues to be addressed by 
the WWECs' education programs and they should include a component on 
publication, translation, and distribution to ensure the use and 
effectiveness of the research findings.

II. Authority

    ILAB is authorized to award and administer this program by the 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002, Public Law 107-116, 115 
Stat. 2177 (2002).

III. Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

    Any commercial, international, or non-profit organization, 
including faith-based organizations, capable of successfully 
implementing the scope of work and meeting the following requirements 
is eligible to submit an application. Joint applications, consisting of 
more than one organization, are also eligible and are encouraged. In 
such a case, a lead organization must be identified. The capability of 
an applicant and collaborating organizations 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 Section 501(c)(4) 
Entity. See 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4). According to the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995, as amended, 2 U.S.C. 1611, 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 plus two (2) 
copies 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. EDST, September 11th, 2002.
    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 proposal that demonstrates capabilities in 
accordance with the Program Scope (Section I.B.), the Statement of Work 
(Section IV.A.) and the selection criteria (Section V.B.).
    To be considered responsive to this solicitation, the application 
must consist of the above-mentioned separate sections not to exceed 40 
single-sided (8\1/2\'' x 11''), double-spaced, 10 to 12 pitch typed 
pages. Any applications that do not conform to these standards may be 
deemed non-responsive to this solicitation and may not be evaluated. 
Standard forms and attachments are not included in the page limit. The 
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

    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 Procurement Services Center after 4:45 p.m. 
EDST, September 11th, 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 11th, 2002;
    2. 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; or
    3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 pm at the place of 
mailing two (2) working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, 
prior to September 11th, 2002.
    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''

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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 that 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 date of mailing of a 
late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee is the date entered by the Post Office 
receiving clerk on the ``Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to 
Addressee'' label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on 
the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the 
same meaning as defined above. Therefore, applicants should request 
that 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 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 delay 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, prior to the closing deadline. All inquires should reference SGA 
02-23.

D. Funding Levels

    Approximately US $700,000 is budgeted to fund this program. 
Although USDOL reserves the right to award more than one cooperative 
agreement, several collaborating organizations may apply jointly to 
implement the program. Joint applicants will submit one application for 
the implementation of all projects (including pilot projects in 
localities) and are encouraged to utilize local organizations to 
implement portions of the program in order to institutionalize and 
sustain project improvements and reduce costs. The award of any 
contract or sub-contract to a local organization will be subject to 
USDOL approval. See Section IV.D. Administrative Requirements.

E. Program Duration

    The duration of the program is two (2) years. The start date of 
project activities will be negotiated upon the award of the cooperative 
agreements.

IV. Requirements

A. Statement of Work

    In developing their proposals, applicants should develop a strategy 
for implementation of the project objectives as stated in the section 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The strategy should take into account the 
implementing environment in Bangladesh as well as that of the specific 
locations of the centers. The strategy should also demonstrate how the 
applicant proposes to build upon the success of existing or past 
projects supported by other international donors, and coordinate 
activities among them at the local and national level. Further, the 
applicant should draft a strategy demonstrating how it will meet the 
project objectives by the end of the grant period, and how 
sustainability will be an integral element of the overall program. The 
strategy should also demonstrate how it will include nongovernmental 
organizations, as appropriate, in the development and implementation of 
the project.
    The applicants must present a strategy that demonstrates that at 
least
     15,000 to 20,000 working women will receive services 
sponsored by the WWECs; and
     800 to 1,600 events (for the purpose of this notice, 
events are classes, training activities, or consultation activities, 
etc.) will be held under the auspices of the WWECs.
    These figures are supported by the results of the pilot project 
initiated in 2000. The strategy must also include the collection of 
baseline data from WWEC participants so that indicators of performance 
may be established as part of the project design document discussed 
below.

B. Deliverables

    Following the award of the cooperative agreement(s), unless 
otherwise indicated, the grantee must submit copies of all required 
reports to USDOL by the specified due dates. Other documents, such as 
project designs, are to be submitted by mutually agreed-upon deadlines.
1. Project Designs
    The grantee(s) will draft the design and submit a project document, 
in consultation with ILAB officials and in the format established by 
ILAB, to include a background/justification section, project strategy 
(objectives, outputs, activities, indicators), project implementation 
timetable, project management organizational chart, project budget, 
logical framework and performance monitoring plan to systematically 
monitor project results. The document shall also include sections, 
which cover coordination strategies, project management, and 
sustainability of project improvements involving government, employers' 
and workers' organizations as well as other nongovernmental 
organizations as appropriate. The project design will be drawn, in 
part, from the proposal written in response to this solicitation. USDOL 
may determine that it is necessary for the organization(s) awarded the 
cooperative agreement (grantee) to travel to Bangladesh with USDOL 
officials on a project design mission trip in order to prepare this 
document.
2. Technical Progress Reports
    The grantee(s) must furnish a typed technical report to USDOL on a 
quarterly basis, no later than 15 days from the last date of each 
quarter, i.e., 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December of each 
year. The 30 June (2nd quarter) and 31 December (4th quarter) reports 
are abbreviated and need only indicate whether the work plan was fully 
implemented and if not, explain why not and attach the amended work 
plan. The grantee(s) must also furnish a separate financial report (SF 
272) to USDOL on the same quarterly basis. The format for the technical 
progress report will be the standard format developed by USDOL 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 as it 
relates to the work plan;
    b. Major trends in the project that note particular success with a 
particular activity or trends that indicate a need to readjust or 
expand the work plan;
    c. An account of problems, proposed solutions, actions taken or 
required regarding implementation of the project;
    d. New proposals for activities, staffing, funding, etc.;
    e. Lessons learned in project implementation;
    f. Future actions planned in support of each project objective;
    g. An accounting of staff and any sub-contractor hours expended; 
and
    h. Aggregate amount of costs incurred during the reporting period, 
including

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estimated budget expenditures vs. actual expenditures.
3. Annual Work Plan
    An annual work plan for the project will be submitted within 45 
days after the approval of the project design by USDOL. The second 
annual work plan, when revised, will be delivered to reflect 
modifications in implementation, no later than one year following 
submission of the previous work plan, or when based on recommendations 
made during mid-term evaluations, no later than 30 days following the 
mid-term evaluation.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation
    A performance monitoring plan will be developed in collaboration 
with USDOL, including beginning and ending dates for projects and dates 
for mid-term and final project evaluations, and will be included as 
part of the submission of the project document for USDOL approval. The 
plan will include performance indicators and instruments to collect and 
report on performance data on a semi-annual basis.
5. Evaluation Reports
    The Grant Officer's Technical Representative (GOTR) will determine 
whether a mid-term evaluation will be conducted by an internal or 
external evaluation team. The final evaluation will be external in 
nature. In all cases, evaluations will be objective and carried out by 
independent evaluators. The grantee(s) must respond to any comments and 
recommendations resulting from the review of the mid-term report and 
will submit a work plan for implementing the recommendations of the 
mid-term report within 15 days following formal submission of the 
report to the grantee(s) by USDOL. Applicants need to allocate funds 
for these activities in the proposed budget.

C. Production of Deliverables

1. Materials Prepared and Purchased Under the Cooperative Agreement
    The grantee(s) must obtain prior approval from the Grant Officer 
for all materials developed or purchased under this cooperative 
agreement. The grantee(s) must submit to USDOL all media-related and 
educational materials developed by it or its sub-contractor under this 
cooperative agreement(s), including relevant press releases, for use in 
this project(s) before they are reproduced, published, or used. The 
grantee(s) must consult with USDOL to ensure that such materials are 
compatible with USDOL materials relating to the program, i.e., public 
relations material such as video and web site. USDOL considers 
brochures, pamphlets, videotapes, slide-tape shows, curricula, and any 
other training materials used in the program as media-related and 
educational materials. USDOL will review materials for technical 
accuracy. USDOL will also review training curricula and purchased 
training materials for accuracy before they are used. All materials 
produced by grantee(s) must be provided to USDOL in a digital format 
for possible publication on the Internet 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. [insert the appropriate 
cooperative agreement number].
    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, all grantees receiving 
Federal funds, including State and local governments and recipients of 
research grants, 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 USDOL, USDOL's role will be acknowledged in 
one of the following ways:
    a. 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(s) 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 shall 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.
    b. If the USDOL 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 will be 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, e.g., Non-Profit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122. The 
cooperative agreement(s) awarded under this SGA will be 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 Government-wide Debarment and 
Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-
Free Workplace (Grants).
    29 CRF 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(s) is strongly encouraged to provide 
subcontracting opportunities to Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and 
Universities.
3. Key Personnel
    The applicant must list the individual(s) who has been designated 
as having primary responsibility for the conduct and completion of all 
work in the project(s) it proposes. The grantee(s) agrees to inform the 
GOTR whenever it appears impossible for one or more of these 
individual(s) to continue work on

[[Page 53013]]

the project as planned. The grantee(s) may nominate substitute 
personnel for approval of the GOTR; however, the grantee(s) must obtain 
prior approval from the Grant Officer for all key personnel. If the 
Grant Officer determines not 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(s) 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 may 
involve only commitments for which a need existed during the 
cooperative agreement period and which are supported by approved 
contracts, purchase orders, requisitions, invoices, bills, or other 
evidence of liability consistent with the grantee(s)'s purchasing 
procedures and incurred within the cooperative agreement period. All 
encumbrances/obligations incurred during the cooperative agreement 
period must be liquidated within 90 days after the end of the 
cooperative agreement 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(s) or a sub-contractor(s) under this 
cooperative agreement(s), the grantee(s) must provide and must 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 must be 
performed in such a manner as will not unduly delay the work.

V. Review and Selection of Applications for Cooperative Agreement Award

A. The Review Process

    USDOL will screen all applications to determine whether all 
required elements are present and clearly identifiable. A technical 
panel will objectively rate each complete application against the 
criteria described in this announcement. The panel recommendations to 
the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. The Grant Officer may choose 
to select one or more grantees on the basis of the initial proposal 
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 proposals, the 
evaluation process described above will be repeated to consider such 
revisions. The Grant Officer will make a final selection determination 
based on what is most advantageous to the Government, considering 
factors such as panel findings, geographic presence of the applicants, 
the best value to the Government, cost, and other factors. The Grant 
Officer's determination for award under this SGA 02-20 is final.

    Notice: Selection of an organization as a cooperative agreement 
recipient does not constitute approval of the cooperative agreement 
application as submitted. Before the actual cooperative agreement is 
awarded, the Grant Officer may enter into negotiations concerning 
such items as program components, funding levels, and administrative 
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 grant applicants against the 
criteria listed below on the basis of 100 points with up to five 
additional points available for applications identifying non-federal or 
leveraged resources.
    The criteria are presented in the order of emphasis that they will 
receive.
1. Approach, Understanding of the Issue, and Program Plans (40 points)
    a. Overview. This section of the proposal must explain the strategy 
employed by the applicant to achieve the objectives of the project 
within the specified timeframe. The applicant must describe in detail 
the proposed approach to comply with each requirement in Section IV.A. 
of this solicitation, including all tasks and methods to be utilized to 
implement the project. Also, the applicant must demonstrate how the 
proposed activities would address issues discussed in Sections I.A. and 
B.
    b. Logical Framework. The strategy should include an outline of the 
objectives, activities, and indicators envisioned for implementation of 
the program.
    c. Implementation Plan. The applicant must submit an implementation 
plan for the entire program, preferably with a visual aid such as a 
Gantt chart. The implementation plan should outline the approach that 
will be used to implement the program. The plan should list the 
activities envisioned for the duration of the program and should lay 
out an activity schedule by objective, starting with the execution of 
the cooperative agreement and ending with the final report. In 
describing the implementation plan, the applicant must address the 
following points:
    (1) Describe the use of existing or potential infrastructure and 
use of qualified personnel, including qualified nationals, to implement 
the project in Dhaka as well as in other selected project sites. The 
applicant also must include a project organizational chart, 
demonstrating the management structure, key personnel positions, and 
indicating proposed links with the relevant government ministries, 
local government agencies/bureaus, NGOs, universities, and other 
significant local actors.
    (2) Develop a list of activities and explain how each relates to 
the overall development objectives as stated in Section I.
    (3) Explain how appropriate information and education materials and 
training curriculum will be developed.
    (4) Explain the strategy for coordinating activities conducted at 
each center with lessons learned.
    (5) Demonstrate how the program will strengthen the ability of 
working women to protect their rights as prescribed by national law.
    (6) Demonstrate how the grantee will collect baseline data and 
systematically monitor and report on project performance to measure the 
achievement of the project objective(s).
    (7) Demonstrate how the grantee will build national and local 
capacity to ensure that project efforts to enhance the implementation 
and enforcement of national labor laws would be sustained after 
completion of the project.
    d. Management and Staff Loading Plan. The application must also 
include a management and staff loading plan. The management plan should 
include the following:
    (1) If two organizations are applying for the award in 
collaboration, 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 collaboration agreement.

[[Page 53014]]

    (2) A project organization chart and accompanying narrative which 
differentiates between elements of the applicant's staff and 
subcontractors or consultants who will be retained;
    (3) A description of the functional relationship between elements 
of the project's organization; and
    (4) The identity of the individual(s) responsible for project 
management and the lines of authority between this/these individual(s) 
and other elements of the project.
    The staff loading plan must identify all key tasks and the person-
days required to complete each task. Labor estimates for each task must 
be broken down by individuals assigned to the task, including sub-
contractors and consultants. All key tasks must be charted to show time 
required to perform them by months or weeks.
2. Experience and Qualifications of the Applicant (25 points)
    The evaluation criteria in this category are as follows:
    a. The applicant organization and collaborating organizations must 
demonstrate experience of working on developmental projects in 
Bangladesh.
    b. The applicant must demonstrate prior experience of working 
directly with government ministries, local government organizations, 
employers, workers, NGOs, and academic institutions, as well as with 
U.S. Missions, in the area of legal aid and worker education generally 
and more specifically in applying that experience to the following 
issues: sexual harassment and other gender-related issues; family law; 
labor law, grievance handling and court procedures; occupational safety 
and health, particularly fire safety; collective bargaining; leadership 
skills; and health and hygiene, including the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
    c. The applicant must also demonstrate that it can negotiate and 
implement developmental projects in Bangladesh and that it has the 
appropriate international experience and expertise to carry out program 
responsibilities in Bangladesh.
    d. The applicant must demonstrate that it has staff or is able to 
recruit staff that can communicate effectively with Bangladeshi 
employers, workers, migrant workers, and officials. Preference will be 
given to applicant organizations with staff that have local language 
skills.
    e. The proposal must include information regarding previous grants, 
contracts, or cooperative agreements relevant to this solicitation. 
This information must include:
    (1) The organization for whom the work was done;
    (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(s);
    (4) The time frame and administrative and programmatic effort 
involved in the project(s);
    (5) A brief summary of the work performed; and
    (6) A brief summary of accomplishments.
    This information on previous grants and contracts shall be provided 
in appendices and will not count toward the 40-page maximum page 
requirement.
3. Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel (25 points)
    This section of the application must include sufficient information 
for judging the quality and the competence of key staff proposed to be 
assigned to the project(s) proposed to assure that they meet the 
required qualifications. Successful performance of the proposed work 
depends heavily on the qualifications of the individuals committed to 
the project. Accordingly, in its evaluation of each application, USDOL 
will place emphasis on the applicant's commitment of key personnel 
qualified for the work involved in accomplishing the assigned tasks. 
Information provided on the experience and educational background of 
personnel must indicate the following:
    (a) The identity of key personnel assigned to the project. ``Key 
personnel'' are staff who are essential to the successful operation of 
the project and completion of the proposed work and, therefore, may not 
be replaced or have his or her hours reduced without the approval of 
the Grant Officer.
    (b) The educational background, relevant language skills, and 
experience of proposed staff.
    (c) The special capabilities of key personnel that demonstrate 
prior experience in organizing, managing and performing similar 
efforts.
    (d) The current employment status of key personnel and availability 
for this project. The applicant must also indicate whether the proposed 
work will be performed by persons currently employed or is dependent 
upon planned recruitment or sub-contracting.
    Note that management and professional technical staff members 
comprising the applicant's proposed team should be individuals who have 
prior experience with organizations working in similar efforts, and are 
fully qualified to perform work specified in the Statement of Work. 
Where sub-contractors or outside assistance is proposed, organizational 
control should be clearly delineated to ensure responsiveness to the 
needs of USDOL. Key personnel must sign letters of agreement to serve 
on the project, and indicate availability to commence work within three 
weeks of grant award.
    The following information must be furnished:
    (a) The applicant must designate a Program Director and other key 
personnel to oversee the program. The Program Director must have a 
minimum of three years of professional experience in a leadership role 
in implementation of complex labor programs in developing countries. He 
or she must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of and understanding of 
Bangladesh's political and economic development, its government, and 
the complexity of employer and worker relations.
    (b) The applicant should specify other key personnel proposed to 
carry out the requirements of this solicitation.
    (c) An organization chart showing the applicant's proposed 
organizational structure for performing task requirements for the 
project(s) proposed, along with a description of the roles and 
responsibilities of all key personnel proposed for this project(s). The 
chart should also differentiate between elements of the applicant's 
staff and sub-contractors or consultants who will be retained. (Also 
see requirement under Section V.B.I.c.(1). Applicants may submit only 
one organization chart.)
    (d) Identify all key tasks and the person-days required to complete 
each task. Labor estimates for each task must be broken down by 
individuals assigned to the task, including sub-contractors and 
consultants. All key tasks must be charted to show time required to 
perform them by months or weeks.
    (e) A resume for each of the key personnel to be assigned to the 
program. At a minimum, each resume must include: the individual's 
current employment status and previous work experience, including 
position title, duties performed, dates in position, employing 
organizations and educational background, including local language 
skills (if any). Duties must be clearly defined in terms of role 
performed, i.e., manager, team leader, consultant, etc. (Resumes must 
be included as attachments, which do not count toward the page 
limitation.)
    (f) The special capabilities of staff that demonstrate prior 
experience in

[[Page 53015]]

organization, managing and performing similar efforts.
4. Budget Plan (10 points)
    The applicant must develop one proposed budget for the 
implementation of the entire program, including pilot projects in 
localities. This section of the application must explain the costs for 
performing all of the requirements presented in this solicitation and 
for producing all required reports and other deliverables presented in 
this solicitation; costs must include labor, training, material 
production and dissemination, equipment, travel and other related 
costs. The budget plan will be evaluated to determine the efficient and 
effective allocation of funding for proposed program implementation. 
Preference may be given to applicants with low administrative costs. 
Administrative costs shall be reflected separately on the budget plan 
from programmatic costs. The budget must comply with Federal cost 
principles (which can be found in the applicable OMB Circulars).
5. Leveraging of Funding (extra 5 points)
    USDOL will give up to five (5) additional rating points to 
applications that include non-Federal resources that significantly 
expand the dollar amount, non-monetary resources, size and scope of the 
proposal, or capitalize upon previous U. S. government or private 
investments. The applicant may include any leveraging or co-funding 
anticipated. To be eligible for additional points under this criterion, 
the applicant must list the source(s) of funds, the nature, and 
activities anticipated with these funds under this cooperative 
agreement, and any partnerships, linkages or coordination of 
activities, and/or cooperative funding.
    The earlier paragraphs will be incorporated into the text of the 
cooperative agreement with the selected applicant(s).

    Signed in Washington, DC, on this 9th day of August, 2002.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.

Appendix A: Application for Federal Assistance (SF424)

Appendix B: Budget Information (SF424A)

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[FR Doc. 02-20584 Filed 8-13-02; 8:45 am]
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