[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33969-33989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14350]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Disability Employment Policy

[SGA 03-13]


Customized Employment Grants Initiative

AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; solicitation for grant 
applications (SGA 03-13).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice contains all of the necessary information and forms 
needed to apply for grant funding. (SGA 03-13)

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or the Department), Office 
of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of 
$2.5 million to award up to five competitive grants ranging from 
approximately $500,000 to $750,000 for strategic planning and 
implementation activities designed to improve the employment and career 
advancement of people with disabilities through enhanced availability 
and provision of customized employment services through the One-Stop 
delivery system established under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
(WIA) (Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).
    The purpose of this Customized Employment Grant Initiative, begun 
by ODEP in FY'01 and continued in FY'02, is to provide funds to 
selected Local Workforce Investment Boards (Local Boards), or, if 
appropriate, the WIA grant recipient or fiscal agent for the local area 
on behalf of the Local Board. The Local Board will be the lead entity 
in a consortium/partnership of public and private entities, to build 
the capacity in local One-Stop Centers to provide customized employment 
services to those persons with disabilities who may not now be 
regularly targeted for services by the One-Stop Center system. Grants 
funded under this program will also provide a vehicle for Local Boards 
to systemically review their policies and practices in terms of service 
to persons with disabilities, and to incorporate new and innovative 
practices, as appropriate.
    Grants are for a one-year period and may be renewed for a period of 
up to four additional years at varying funding levels depending upon 
the availability of funds and the efficacy of the project activities. 
See also Parts IV, IX.
    The applicants scoring the highest when evaluated pursuant to the 
criteria set forth in Part VII, in conjunction with considerations by 
the Grant Officer delineated in Part IX of this Solicitation for Grant 
Application will be awarded Customized Employment Grants.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants for these grants are Local 
Workforce Investment Boards (Local Boards) or if appropriate, the 
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) (Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et 
seq.) grant recipient or fiscal agent for the local area on behalf of 
the local board under the Workforce Investment Act. The Local Board may 
enter into numerous partnerships with other public and private 
entities, consistent with the proposed activities of the grant.

DATES: Applications will be accepted commencing on June 6, 2003. The 
closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 
July 21, 2003. Applications must be received by 4:45 p.m. (ET) at the 
address below. No exceptions to the mailing 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 be considered 
non-responsive.

ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor, 
Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Willis, Reference SGA 
03-13, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. 
Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be accepted. Applicants are 
advised that mail in the Washington area may be delayed due to mail 
decontamination procedures.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 ODEP via the Federal Relay Service, 
(800) 877-8339. This announcement will also be published on the 
Internet on ODEP's online Home Page at: http://www2.dol.gov/odep. Award 
notifications will also be published on the ODEP homepage.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Part I. Delivery of Applications

    1. Late Applications. Any application received after the exact date 
and time specified for receipt at the office designated in this notice 
will be considered non-responsive, unless it is received before awards 
are made and it (a) is determined that its late receipt was caused by 
DOL error; (b) was sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified 
mail not later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified 
for receipt of applications (e.g., an application submitted in response 
to a solicitation requiring receipt of applications by the 20th of the 
month must have been post marked by the 15th of that month); or (c) was 
sent by the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service to 
addressee not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing two working 
days prior to the date specified for receipt of applications. The term 
``working days'' excludes weekends and Federal holidays. ``Post 
marked'' means a printed, stamped or otherwise placed impression 
(exclusive of a postage meter machine impression) that is readily 
identifiable, without further action, as having been supplied or 
affixed on the date of mailing by an employee of the U.S. Postal 
Service.
    2. Withdrawal of Applications. Applications may be withdrawn by 
written notice or telegram (including mail gram) received at any time 
before an award is made. Applications may be withdrawn in person by the 
applicant or by an authorized representative thereof, if the 
representative's identity is made known and the representative signs a 
receipt of the proposal.
    3. Hand-delivered proposals. It is preferred that applications be 
mailed at least five days prior to the closing date. To be considered 
for funding, hand-delivered applications must be received by 4:45 p.m., 
ET, at the specified address. Failure to adhere to the above 
instructions will be basis for a determination of non-responsiveness. 
Overnight express mail from carriers other than the U.S. Postal Service 
will be considered hand-delivered applications and must be received by 
the above specified date and time.

Part II. Authority

    Omnibus Appropriations Resolution, 2003, Public Law 1087; 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106-554, 29 U.S.C. 
557b.

Part III. Background

    The President's New Freedom Initiative is designed to increase the 
number of people with disabilities who enter, reenter, and remain in 
the workforce. It is dedicated to increasing investment in and access 
to assistive technologies, a quality education, and increasing the 
integration of Americans with disabilities into the workforce and 
community life. The WIA provides the infrastructure for streamlining 
services

[[Page 33970]]

and securing employment through the One-Stop delivery system.
    WIA provides a system in which multiple programs and agencies 
(including state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies) to: (a) Form 
partnerships in this effort; (b) share expertise and coordinate 
resources; and (c) provide services to assist people in gaining and 
retaining employment. The One-Stop Career Centers that comprise this 
system are in a position to expand employment opportunities for people 
with disabilities, thus ensuring that the intent of the New Freedom 
Initiative is accomplished.
    Under WIA, collaboration with multiple required partners \1\ is 
intended to create a coordinated and streamlined system for the 
customer seeking employment. It is essential to involve additional 
state or local programs as partners with the One-Stop Center to enable 
people with disabilities to have increased employment opportunities and 
choice in employment. These additional programs include, but are not 
limited to, state programs for Mental Retardation and Developmental 
Disabilities, Medicaid, Mental Health and Transportation; State 
Councils for Developmental Disabilities; state assistive technology 
programs, Small Business Development Centers and secondary education 
programs. While not required partners under WIA, these programs have 
expertise and/or resources that can contribute to expanding employment 
and business opportunities for people with disabilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Some of the required partners are adult education and 
literacy activities under Title II of WIA; post-secondary vocational 
education activities under the Carl Perkins Act (20 U.S.C. 2301 et 
seq.); vocational rehabilitation programs authorized under Title V 
of the Workforce Investment Act; welfare-to-work programs; veterans 
employment and training activities, community services block grant 
employment and training activities; U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development employment and training activities; and activities 
authorized under Title V of the Older Americans Act (WIA sec. 
121(b), 29 U.S.C.A. 2841(b), 20 CFR 662.200).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, community colleges, University Centers for Excellence 
in Developmental Disabilities, business incubators, lending 
institutions, foundations, faith-based and community organizations, and 
other state or local programs may also be critical partners. These 
agencies and programs may not be informed about the potential for 
coordinating resources and expertise with Local Workforce Investment 
Boards and One-Stop Centers to increase employment, choice and wages 
for people with disabilities.
    In addition, One-Stop Centers may elect to become employment 
networks under the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Ticket-to-
Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (42 U.S.C. 1320b-19 et 
seq.) (TTW), thus making it more likely that they will require 
expertise in customized employment strategies to successfully 
facilitate employment for people with disabilities who are recipients 
of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability 
Insurance (SSDI). The TTW is providing increased employment 
opportunities for people with disabilities who receive SSI and/or SSDI 
benefits by addressing some of the major barriers encountered by these 
individuals as they attempt to gain or regain employment. Approximately 
eight million people with disabilities receive SSI and/or SSDI 
benefits. According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, less than 
one percent of these individuals leave the rolls each year as a result 
of paid employment. About one-third of those who do leave the SSI and/
or SSDI roles typically return within three years.
    The TTW program provides a variety of work incentives, including 
greater choices of needed employment services, the continuation of 
Medicare eligibility for SSDI recipients and, at the state's option, 
health coverage under the Medicaid program to certain workers with 
disabilities, either by permitting them to purchase Medicaid coverage 
or by extending Medicaid eligibility to them without charge. As a 
result, there is unprecedented opportunity for these individuals to 
enter, or return to the workforce.
    Therefore, increasing numbers of individuals with disabilities will 
be approaching their local One-Stop Centers for assistance.
    Many strategies exist for securing integrated, competitive 
employment for people with disabilities, including people who 
previously might have been considered ``nonfeasible'' for employment, 
and people who have been segregated in institutions, nursing homes, and 
day activity programs.
    Many exemplary practices and promising strategies have emerged 
through decades of research and demonstration projects, and through 
other public and private activities promoting increased choice and 
self-determination for people with disabilities. These include a 
variety of approaches such as:
    [sbull] Supported employment;
    [sbull] Supported entrepreneurship;
    [sbull] Individualized job development;
    [sbull] Job carving and restructuring;
    [sbull] Use of personal agents (including individuals with 
disabilities and family members);
    [sbull] Development of micro-boards, micro-enterprises, 
cooperatives and small businesses; and
    [sbull] Use of personal budgets and other forms of individualized 
funding that provide choice and control to the person and promote self-
determination.
    These and other innovations hold the promise of dramatically 
increasing both employment and wages for people with disabilities, in 
part by increasing their choices for integrated, competitive 
employment, business ownership, micro-enterprise development, 
entrepreneurship, and other employment options that were previously 
seldom available.
    An important focus of these innovations has been on providing non-
stereotypical jobs that provide increased earnings, benefits, and 
career advancement potential for people with significant disabilities. 
There is a substantial need for a sustained and coordinated initiative 
to build professional competency within One-Stop Centers and their 
partners, including service providers and employers, about the use of 
such customized employment strategies.
    Additionally there is a need to:
    (1) Effectively expand the availability of personal agents, job 
development expertise, and other strategies for achieving customized 
employment for people with disabilities;
    (2) Increase the number of eligible training providers who register 
with the local One-Stop Career Center with expertise in providing 
customized employment assistance, including faith-based and community 
organizations that have expertise in supporting families and 
individuals;
    (3) Provide information, technical assistance, training and 
strategic planning that focuses on integrating customized employment 
strategies into the workforce investment system;
    (4) Develop ongoing linkages with employers, professional and 
business service organizations and trade associations and market to 
employers the abilities of people with disabilities to work in a 
variety of jobs;
    (5) Coordinate all necessary employment and related supports from 
WIA partners and other essential programs that are not required 
partners under WIA; and,
    (6) Research and demonstrate alternative methods of determining 
effective performance by the workforce investment system in terms of 
service to people with disabilities.

[[Page 33971]]

    This SGA is designed to award strategic planning and implementation 
grants for customized employment to develop and/or expand the capacity 
of local workforce systems to provide meaningful and effective 
opportunity through One-Stops for all persons with disabilities. This 
SGA will lead to the development of comprehensive models of direct 
service delivery in the context of a One-Stop setting for individuals 
with disabilities with the greatest barriers to employment, many of 
whom have never been employed, have been limited to subsidized 
employment, are underemployed, or may be considered by some as unable 
to be employed. The Customized Employment grants will involve cutting 
edge approaches such as use of customized employment strategies and 
active involvement of essential programs of both mandated and non-
mandated partners of the workforce system.
    The result of these efforts will be an increase in employment, 
choice, and wages for people with disabilities through the use of 
customized employment, and the systemic evaluation and modification, as 
appropriate, of policies and practices to ensure that customized 
employment strategies for people with disabilities are systemically 
included in the services available through the One-Stop Centers.
    The U.S. Department of Labor also offers Work Incentive Grants 
through its Employment and Training Administration. The Work Incentive 
Grants are designed to enhance service delivery throughout the National 
One-Stop delivery system for people with disabilities. The Work 
Incentive Grants are complementary yet distinct from the Customized 
Employment demonstration grants offered in this SGA. The Work Incentive 
Grants support systemic change through capacity building of the One-
Stop infrastructure, whereas these Customized Employment Grants will 
serve as models of comprehensive service delivery that extend beyond 
WIA programs and provide services for individuals with disabilities who 
are the most disenfranchised under current service delivery systems.

Part IV. Funding Availability and Period of Performance

    ODEP anticipates awarding approximately up to five competitive 
grants ranging from $500,000 to $750,000, to develop demonstration 
programs to support the development and coordination of customized 
community employment opportunities in non-stereotypical jobs for people 
with disabilities. This grant initiative is founded in the belief that 
in order to fully participate in community life, individuals with 
disabilities must have the opportunity for employment.
    These demonstration grants will be awarded for one year, with four 
additional option years possible, depending upon the availability of 
funds and the efficacy of grant activities, established by independent 
reviews conducted by ODEP or its designees. It is envisioned that if 
funding continues for the full five years, the funding for years four 
and five will be at successively lower rates with funding during year 
four at 80 percent of the third year funds, and funding during year 
five at 60 percent of the third year funds. Grantees are expected to 
use this grant to leverage and develop other public and private 
resources to ensure sustainability, and the extent to which the 
application demonstrates such sustainability is an important rating 
criterion for this competition.
    Funds shall not be used for modifying buildings or equipment for 
physical accessibility, although the strategic planning should address 
how resources will be leveraged for such purposes from other sources, 
as appropriate.

Part V. Eligible Applicants and Required Partnerships

    Eligible applicants: Eligible applicants for these grants are 
restricted to Local Workforce Investment Boards (Local Boards) or, if 
appropriate, the WIA grant recipient or fiscal agent for the local area 
on behalf of the Local Board as established under WIA. The Local Board 
may coordinate numerous partnerships with other public and private 
entities, consistent with proposed activities of the grant and 
applicable administrative requirements. Local Boards are encouraged to 
form partnerships with other state and local entities and public and 
private non-profit organizations, including faith-based and community 
organizations.
    Indian and Native American Tribal entities, or consortia of Tribes, 
with the written approval of their tribal council, are also eligible to 
receive these grants. Grants to Indian and Native American tribal 
grantees must recognize principles of sovereignty and self-governance 
established under the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act, allowing for the government-to-government relationship 
between the Federal and Tribal Governments. Such an application could 
involve coordination of services and enhancement to a One-Stop system 
approach for people with disabilities in a specific Indian community or 
covering multiple Tribal entities that may cut across multiple States 
and/or workforce investment areas.
    Required partnerships: The purpose of this initiative is to 
maximize the capacity of, and outcomes from, One-Stop Centers and their 
partners to effectively serve people with disabilities through 
customized employment strategies, and to integrate those strategies 
into the policy and practice of the One-Stop and its partners in order 
to increase employment, choice and wages for people with disabilities. 
These efforts must include the involvement of many key partners, 
especially those with direct involvement in their area's One-Stop 
Career Centers.
    For purposes of this solicitation, the target groups are people 
with disabilities who are either unemployed or under-employed and are:
    (1) Receiving Supplementary Security Income (SSI) and/or Social 
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); or
    (2) Participating in day programs (such as day habilitation, day 
activity or day health programs) or participating in facility-based or 
community employment and earning less than minimum wage; or
    (3) Participating in segregated employment and choosing to move to 
integrated, competitive employment; or
    (4) Awaiting employment services and supports following a move from 
a residential facility, or as part of a plan to move into a community 
under the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. by Zimring, 527 
U.S. 581(1999); or
    (5) Transitioning from, or preparing to transition from, secondary 
school under a transition plan under part B of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), and 
who, without access to customized employment strategies, would likely 
be referred to one of the environments identified in (2), (3) or (4) 
above, but who prefer integrated, competitive employment or self-
employment.
    In addition, this program is subject to the provisions of the 
``Jobs for Veterans Act,'' Public Law 107-288, which provides priority 
of service to veterans and certain of their spouses in all Department 
of Labor-funded job training programs. Please note that, to obtain 
priority of service, a veteran must meet that program's eligibility 
requirements. Comprehensive policy guidance is being developed and will 
be issued in the near future.
    As Local Boards, through their local One-Stop Center are required 
to coordinate and to form partnerships with other state and local 
entities and public and private non-profit

[[Page 33972]]

organizations, grant applications must include proposed methods for 
coordinating efforts with a wide variety of state agencies or entities.
    Some of the agencies and organizations that should be considered 
for inclusion are:
    [sbull] State programs for Vocational Rehabilitation;
    [sbull] Mental Health, Medicaid, Mental Retardation/Developmental 
Disabilities,
    [sbull] Housing and/or Transportation;
    [sbull] State Councils on Developmental Disabilities;
    [sbull] Protection and Advocacy Programs;
    [sbull] University Centers for Excellence in Developmental 
Disabilities;
    [sbull] Institutions of higher education;
    [sbull] Centers for Independent Living (CIL);
    [sbull] Disability advocacy and provider organizations;
    [sbull] Organizations of parents;
    [sbull] Federally-funded disability grant entities;
    [sbull] Small Business Development Centers;
    [sbull] Cooperatives and micro-enterprises;
    [sbull] Lending and financial institutions;
    [sbull] Training programs;
    [sbull] Media and marketing agencies;
    [sbull] Employers;
    [sbull] Foundations;
    [sbull] Grass roots, industry, and faith-based and community 
organizations;
    [sbull] As well as other organizations or programs that provide or 
support services and/or advocacy for people with disabilities.
    Letters of support and commitment from these programs may be 
included in the Appendix of the proposal.

Part VI. Format Requirements for Grant Application

    General requirements: Applicants must submit one (1) paper copy 
with an original signature and two (2) additional paper copies of their 
signed proposal. To aid with the review of applications, DOL also 
encourages Applicants to submit an electronic copy of their proposal on 
a disc or CD using Microsoft Word. Applicants who do not provide an 
electronic copy will not be penalized. The Application Narrative must 
be double-spaced with standard one-inch margins (top, bottom, and 
sides) on 8\1/2\ x 11 papers, and be presented on single-sided, 
numbered pages with the exception of format requirements for the 
Executive Summary. The Executive Summary must be limited to no more 
than two single-spaced, single-sided pages on 8\1/2\ x 11 papers with 
standard one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides) throughout. A font 
size of at least twelve (12) pitch is required throughout. Applications 
that fail to meet these requirements will be considered non-responsive.
    The three required sections of the application are:

Section I--Project Financial Plan
Section II--Executive Summary--Project Synopsis
Section III--Project Narrative (including Attachments, not to exceed 
seventy-five (75) pages)

    Mandatory requirements for each section are provided as follows in 
this application package. Applications that fail to meet the stated 
mandatory requirements of each section will be considered non-
responsive.
    Mandatory application requirements: Section I. Project Financial 
Plan (Budget) [The Project Financial Plan will not count against the 
application page limits.] Section I of the application must include the 
following three required parts:

    (1) Completed ``SF 424--Application for Federal Assistance'' (See 
Appendix A of this SGA for required form)
    (2) Completed ``SF-424A--Budget Information Form'' by line item for 
all costs required to implement the project design effectively. (See 
Appendix B of this SGA for required forms.)
    (3) Budget Narrative and Justification that provides sufficient 
information to support the reasonableness of the costs included in the 
budget in relation to the service strategy and planned outcomes.

    The application must include one SF-424 with the original 
signatures of the legal entity applying for grant funding and 2 
additional copies. Applicants shall indicate on the SF-424 the 
organization's IRS Status, if applicable. Under the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995, section 18 (29 U.S.C. 1611), an organization 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. 1611; 26 
U.S.C. 501(c)(4).] For item 10 of the SF-424, the Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for the program is 17.720.
    The Budget Narrative and Justification must describe all costs 
associated with implementing the project that are to be covered with 
grant funds. Grantees must support the travel and associated costs with 
sending at least one representative to the annual ODEP Policy 
Conference for Grantees, to be held in Washington, DC at a time and 
place to be determined. Grantees must comply with the ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State and Local Governments,'' (also known as the ``Common Rule'') 
codified at 29 CFR part 97, and ``Grants and Agreements with Institutes 
of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations'' 
(also known as OMB Circular A-110), codified at 29 CFR part 95 and must 
comply with the applicable OMB cost principles circulars, as identified 
in 29 CFR 95.27 and 29 CFR 97.22(b).
    Grantees may use funds in a flexible manner, as determined 
appropriate by input from stakeholders and identified needs, so long as 
requirements for outcome and evaluation data and other requirements of 
Federal statutes, regulations, administrative requirements, and OMB 
circulars and the requirements delineated in this SGA are met.
    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 grant should that 
application result in an award. The applicant must also include the 
Assurances and Certifications Signature Page (Appendix C).
    [sbull] Section II. Executive Summary--Project Synopsis [The 
Executive Summary is limited to no more than two single-spaced, single-
sided pages on 8\1/2\ x 11 papers with standard margins throughout]. 
Each application shall include a project synopsis that identifies the 
following:

    [sbull] The applicant;
    [sbull] The amount of funds requested;
    [sbull] The planned period of performance;
    [sbull] The list of partners, as appropriate;
    [sbull] An overview of how the applicant will identify the 
population to be served (including the estimated number and types of 
disability), the environments such individuals are currently 
experiencing (such as institutions, nursing homes, segregated day 
programs, etc.), and methods that will be used to promote community 
employment, including customized employment strategies listed in this 
SGA; and
    [sbull] An overview of the plan for sustainability once Federal 
funding ceases.

    [sbull] Section III. Project Narrative [The Project Narrative plus 
attachments are limited to no more than seventy-five (75), 8\1/2\ x 11 
pages, double-spaced with standard one-inch margins (top, bottom, and 
sides), and must be presented on

[[Page 33973]]

single-sided, numbered pages]. (Note: The Financial Plan, the Executive 
Summary, and the Appendices are not included in the seventy-five (75) 
page limit). The requirements for the project narrative are described 
below under Part VII--Statement of Work.
    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). 
Applications that fail to meet these requirements will be considered 
non-responsive.

Part VII. Government Requirements/Statement of Work (Project Narrative)

    The purpose of this initiative is to maximize the capacity of, and 
outcomes from, One-Stop Centers and their partners to effectively serve 
people with disabilities through customized employment strategies, and 
to integrate those strategies into the policy and practice of the One-
Stop and its partners in order to increase employment, choice and wages 
for people with disabilities. These efforts must include the 
involvement of many key partners, including those with direct 
involvement in their area's One-Stop Career Centers, as described in 
Section V above.
    For purposes of this solicitation, ODEP has specifically targeted 
the development and provision of customized employment to those people 
with disabilities identified in Part V.
    ODEP expects that once capacity for using customized employment 
strategies is developed or enhanced, the One-Stop Centers and their 
partners will expand use of these strategies to other groups of people 
with (and without) 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 approaches such as supported 
employment; supported entrepreneurship; individualized job development; 
job carving and restructuring; use of personal agents (including 
individuals with disabilities and family members); development of 
micro-boards, micro-enterprises, cooperatives and small businesses; and 
use of personal budgets and other forms of individualized funding that 
provide choice and control to the person and promote self-
determination. These and other job development or restructuring 
strategies 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.
    Each applicant for these grants shall describe its plan for 
expanding capacity for, and provision of, customized employment 
opportunities to the target groups as defined in Part V above. Upon the 
commencement of a grant, grantees must begin a strategic planning and 
implementation process that will address multiple components of needed 
change. Planning, implementation and ongoing evaluation for continuous 
improvements are expected to be implemented from year one in 
recognition that dynamic planning will occur and evolve over time. By 
the end of year five, it is expected that a more long-term strategic 
plan will be in place for expanding the availability of customized 
employment, and for systemically revising policies and practices 
consistent with this goal.
    The Project Narrative, or Section III of the grant application, 
should provide complete information on how the applicant will address 
the following DOL priorities for fiscal year 2003:
    (1) Increase the availability of skill training, employment 
opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities; and
    (2) Develop comprehensive One-Stop Centers, which are welcoming and 
are valued providers of choice by customers with disabilities seeking 
workforce assistance by assuring the availability of staff trained on 
disability issues, personalized employment counseling, knowledgeable 
support that addresses employment barriers and work incentives and the 
availability of accommodations and technologies for diverse disability 
needs.
    Proposals will be rated based upon the quality of the applicant's 
response in addressing the four criteria described below in terms of a 
comprehensive strategic approach that addresses ODEP's priorities noted 
above. The four criteria (Statement of Need/National Significance, 
Comprehensive Service Strategy, Sustainability, and Management Plan and 
Outcomes) MUST be addressed and the applicant's goals, accomplishments 
or status with regard to each item provided.
    ODEP, however, does not expect the applicant to fully incorporate 
every item listed as part of their strategy and proposal design. ODEP 
recognizes that the needs and requirements of each state and community 
may be different, and therefore, some of the options identified may be 
more relevant than others in a particular state or community.

2. Statement of Need /Significance of the Project (15 points)

    The purpose of the Statement of Need is to establish the overall 
status of disability issues relevant to the targeted population in the 
applicant's state; to identify strengths and deficiencies to be 
addressed by the applicant's proposal; to identify the overall scope of 
the proposal's objectives and design; to present the applicant's need 
for the grant resources; to demonstrate significance of the proposed 
project; and to demonstrate the development or demonstration of 
promising new strategies, practices, or innovations. This criteria will 
be rated upon the applicant's needs identified and proposed approaches 
to addressing the needs in the context of the Department's priorities.
    The narrative in this section should include information that 
demonstrates:
    (1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase 
knowledge or understanding of problems, issues, or effective strategies 
for local workforce boards and other required and potential partners to 
use customized employment strategies to increase employment, choice and 
wages, and influence systems change in the local workforce system.
    (2) The extent to which the applicant has an understanding of the 
issues the state and proposed geographic area are currently facing in 
their overall Customized Employment implementation efforts;
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to yield 
findings that may be used by other appropriate agencies and 
organizations;
    (4) The extent to which the proposed project involves the 
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, 
or are alternatives to, existing strategies;
    (5) The extent to which the promising practices of the proposed 
project are to be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use 
the information or strategies;
    (6) The potential replicability (national significance) of the 
proposed project or strategies, including, as appropriate, the 
potential for

[[Page 33974]]

implementation in a variety of settings; and
    (7) The importance or magnitude of the outcomes, which are likely 
to be attained by the proposed project.
    In evaluating the quality of the proposal narrative, ODEP will 
consider needs identified and the applicant's proposed approaches to 
addressing the needs in the context of ODEP's priorities.

2. Comprehensive Service Strategy (30 points)

    The purpose of the Comprehensive Service Strategy criteria is to 
identify the approach proposed by the applicant to implement the 
Customized Employment grant. The strategy should implement the purpose 
and objectives of this SGA to enhance the capacity of the workforce 
investment system to increase employment, choice and wages for persons 
with disabilities through the use of customized employment strategies 
and to ensure that such strategies are systemically included in the 
policy and practice of the One-Stop Center(s).
    Proposed Project Design and Its Evaluation--the application must 
address the proposed design for the Customized Employment grant 
including its response to the requirements outlined in Part V (Eligible 
Applicants and Required Partnerships) of this Solicitation.
    The Project Design must:
    (1) Develop strategic planning and implementation activities across 
the One-Stop required partner programs as identified in the WIA (such 
as Vocational Rehabilitation and others as appropriate) as well as 
other essential programs (such as Medicaid, Medicare, Mental Health, 
Transportation, Small Business Development Centers, State Councils on 
Developmental Disabilities, community colleges, benefits counseling and 
assistance programs, lending and financial institutions), whose 
expertise, services, and funds could contribute to employment services 
and supports needed by people with disabilities in order to secure 
customized employment. Planning activities must include a review of 
policy and practice as it relates to people with disabilities to 
provide customized employment for persons with disabilities. Such 
capacity includes enhancing collaboration between required WIA partners 
and building new collaborative initiatives with other essential 
programs;
    (2) Develop local and statewide policy initiatives to ensure that 
customized employment and multiple innovative strategies and promising 
practices become part of the menu of services available to people with 
disabilities, including investigating alternative methods for 
performance accountability that consider the characteristics of the 
population;
    (3) Develop employment opportunities in a variety of jobs, 
industries and at a variety of levels, including self-employment and 
entrepreneurship, based on the strengths, needs and desires of the 
individual with a disability as well as creating and cultivating demand 
for these opportunities by forging and developing relationships with 
employers. The design must organize services and supports in ways that 
provide informed choice and promote self-determination and provide 
services, including follow-up services to ensure job retention and 
career development;
    (4) Develop and document the capacity of the One-Stop system to 
increase the wages of people with disabilities who are currently 
working at less than minimum wage through the use of customized 
employment strategies;
    (5) Develop an increased understanding by One-Stop Centers' staff 
about health care, work incentives, benefits planning, ``tickets'' and 
other provisions under TTW; and document increased use of these 
programs by the One-Stop Center and its partner programs to secure 
customized employment for recipients of SSI and SSDI who are entering 
the workforce or returning to work. This may include registering as an 
Employment Network under TTW;
    (6) Document the increasing use of resources from a number of 
system partners and other essential programs, including providing 
individual budgets and other forms of self-directed accounts (e.g., 
individual training accounts or contractual services; tickets; 
vouchers; and other sources of individualized funding or personal 
funding accounts) for persons with disabilities to obtain customized 
employment;
    (7) Develop, leverage and document linkages with other state and 
local initiatives that provide services and supports for people with 
disabilities (including, but not limited to, state systems change 
efforts which promote systems improvement and comprehensive 
coordination; initiatives involving health care; benefits planning and 
assistance; housing; transportation; education; supported employment; 
small business development; technology-related assistance; initiatives 
of private foundations; and faith-based and community organization 
programs and others, as appropriate);
    (8) Establish connections to and collaborate with other entities, 
including employers, persons with disabilities, their parents and other 
family members, community rehabilitation agencies, lending and 
financial institutions, foundations, faith-based and community 
organizations, institutions of higher education, small business 
development centers and others, as appropriate, to further customized 
employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in local 
communities. These partners may become a subgroup or an advisory group 
of the Local Board. They may be specifically charged with coordinating 
funding, resources and expertise to increase customized employment for 
people with disabilities in the community and may involve grant design 
and implementation;
    (9) Educate relevant stakeholders, including state and local 
policymakers and systems personnel, about needed changes in policy and 
practice in order to increase customized employment and wages for 
people with disabilities;
    (10) Include education activities to enable customized employment 
and personalized supports to become available and used in local 
communities, including (as appropriate) activities necessary to secure 
adoption of the Medicaid buy-in by the state;
    (11) Market and develop ongoing linkages with employers, and their 
professional, business and service organizations and trade 
associations, as appropriate;
    (12) Expand the use of customized employment strategies over time 
to:
    a. All groups of persons with disabilities targeted under this 
solicitation; and
    b. Other groups of individuals with disabilities (such as 
individuals who are receiving TANF benefits) following completion of 
the grant;
    (13) Track and respond to customer service and satisfaction for 
both persons with disabilities and employers; and
    (14) Identify and purse other activities appropriate to achieving 
the goals of these grants.
    Activities may include the following:
    Necessary staffing across agencies to implement grantee activities 
and otherwise demonstrate effective partnerships and interactions 
necessary to effectively leverage resources and expertise from 
partnering systems and programs;
    (1) Outreach to relevant stakeholders;
    (2) Demonstration activities which provide methods to increase the 
employment, choice, and wages of people with disabilities that are 
designed for systemic inclusion

[[Page 33975]]

(including but not limited to demonstrating the use of individual 
training accounts or contractual services, tickets, and self-directed 
individual budgeting initiatives; economic stimulus activities 
including low-interest loans for person-centered micro-boards focused 
on increasing economic prosperity for specific individuals with 
disabilities; entrepreneurial employment initiatives that are consumer-
owned or operated; demonstrations of innovation and cutting-edge 
strategies providing personal control, choice and customized assistance 
resulting in employment, including business ownership, micro-enterprise 
development or development of cooperatives for persons with 
disabilities; accessing Individual Development Accounts and financial 
literacy training; and other supports needed by specific individuals 
with disabilities to increase choice and wages in employment);
    (3) Collaboration with the education system, parents, families and 
faith-based and community organizations to ensure transition of young 
people with disabilities from school to customized employment or 
training, and documentation of the outcomes of such efforts;
    (4) Training and education activities (including training regarding 
Medicaid buy-in provisions and other policies with implications for 
increasing employment through state activities) designed to further the 
goal of increasing customized employment for persons with disabilities. 
These training activities include the education of One-Stop and partner 
personnel; educating state systems personnel and policymakers; 
developing and disseminating educational information and materials; and 
otherwise promoting policy and practice to increase the wide spread 
community-based use of customized employment strategies and 
personalized supports;
    (5) Researching and demonstrating alternative methods of measuring 
WIA performance outcomes that consider the various characteristics of 
people with disabilities and developing demonstrations of performance 
measures that document new methods for measuring program effectiveness; 
and coordinating the availability of and access to assistive 
technology;
    (6) Educating the media and the general public about successful 
strategies for and the benefits of securing employment for people with 
disabilities. This will assist in obtaining long-term support for 
continuation of grantee activities following completion of funding;
    (7) Increasing the availability of personal agents and job 
development personnel offering customized services through customer-
controlled approaches that result in customized employment (including 
demonstrating effectiveness of paying family members or other 
individuals with disabilities to serve as personal agents when selected 
by the individual with a disability to assist in negotiating and 
implementing employment plans and services);
    (8) Assisting community providers of segregated employment services 
to develop integrated, competitive options for individuals with 
disabilities, including implementation of conversion and other 
organizational change initiatives conducted with segregated provider 
programs that wish to change their services to integrated employment; 
and
    (9) Other activities necessary to address needs and achieve goals 
identified through strategic planning and implementation, including 
collection of necessary data and evaluation.
    In evaluating the quality of the proposed project design, ODEP's 
consideration will be guided by 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 and the quality of the 
applicant's plans for recruiting and retaining the target population;
    (c) The extent to which the design of the proposed project provides 
procedures and approaches for collaboration and coordination with key 
agencies and organizations and identification of critical roles;
    (d) The extent to which the design of the proposed project provides 
clear understanding of and experience with utilization of customized 
employment strategies for increasing employment, choice and earnings of 
individuals with significant disabilities;
    (e) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated, 
including demonstrated support and commitment from key organizations, 
employers, and agencies, including faith-based and community 
organizations;
    (f) The extent to which the applicant encourages involvement of 
people with disabilities and their families, experts and organizations, 
and other relevant stakeholders in project activities;
    (g) The extent to which the design of the project will facilitate 
an increase in the number of faith-based and community organizations 
that register as eligible training providers with their local One-Stop 
Center.
    (h) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous 
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.
    (i) The extent to which the management plans for project 
implementation is likely to achieve the objectives of the proposed 
project on time and within budget; and
    (j) The extent to which the proposed project design features 
innovative strategies to implement customized employment and choice.

3. Sustainability (25 points)

    The purpose of the sustainability criteria is to identify 
strategies for ensuring that activities funded under the grant will 
continue once Federal funding ceases. Resources and partnerships are an 
integral element of the project. Sustainability objectives must be 
built into the project design and ongoing project operation.
    In addition, the applicant should detail how federal, state, and 
local public sector commitments contribute to the sustainability of 
this project following completion of the grant. Examples of such 
commitments could include: Commitment from state vocational 
rehabilitation, one-stop center, state developmental disability, state 
Medicaid, or state general revenue funding to support expanded 
customized employment services for individuals securing employment 
through the agency; status as Employment Network under TTW providing 
customized employment services to eligible ticket-holders; private 
sector funding through foundations, financial or lending agencies, or 
other relevant collaborative arrangements for continuing provision and/
or expansion of customized employment services in the community.
    To illustrate sustainability planning, the applicant must:
    (1) Identify resources and partnerships that are an integral 
element of the project. Projects funded under this SGA will be judged 
on their ability to leverage a combination of federal, state, and local 
public sector resources, as well as local non-profit sector resources 
for purposes of sustainability. Accordingly, in this section the 
applicant should enumerate these resources, describe any specific 
existing contractual commitments, and provide concrete evidence of 
sustainability;
    (2) Identify activities and in-kind elements of sustained support. 
ODEP considers detailed commitments for

[[Page 33976]]

specific new activities as more important than promises of in-kind 
supports in showing sustained support for the project. Grants recently 
received from another agency can be discussed in the proposal, but the 
applicant should be precise about which activities preceded this grant 
and which will occur because of the grant; and
    (3) Detail how federal, state, and local public sector commitments 
contribute to the sustainability of this project following completion 
of the grant. Examples of such commitments could include: Commitment 
from state vocational rehabilitation, one-stop center, state 
developmental disability, state Medicaid, or state general revenue 
funding to support expanded customized employment services for 
individuals securing employment through the agency; status as 
Employment Network under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive 
Improvement Act providing customized employment services to eligible 
ticket-holders; private sector funding through foundations, financial 
or lending agencies, or other relevant collaborative arrangements for 
continuing provision or expansion of customized employment services in 
the community.
    In evaluating the quality of the plan for sustainability, ODEP 
considers the following factors to be of particular importance:
    (a) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the grant period, 
and the quality of the applicant's plans for implementing the project's 
activities in years four and five when Federal funding will be reduced.
    (b) The likelihood of the applicant successfully securing state 
ownership and participation in these projects when the grant funds 
cease.
    (c) The extent to which partnerships with outside entities 
(including public and private disability and faith-based and community 
organizations) and funding from additional federal, state, and local 
resources will be effectively leveraged and utilized in continuing the 
Customized Employment activities after the expiration of this grant.
    Letters of Commitment: Applicants can include letters of support if 
they provide specific commitments. Such letters can increase an 
applicant's score by showing that the commitments in the text of the 
proposal are serious. Form letters will not be considered. See also 
Part V.

4. Management and Outcomes (30 points)

    The purpose of the Management and Outcomes criteria is to determine 
whether the applicant has developed an adequate management plan to 
effectively carry out the objectives and scope of the proposed project 
on time and within budget, to describe the predicted outcomes resulting 
from activities funded under this SGA, and to identify the ``methods of 
evaluation'' that will be used by the grantee to determine success.
    Applicants should provide a detailed management plan, which 
identifies the critical activities, time frames, milestones for 
accomplishing grant activities and responsibilities for effectively 
implementing the project, including the evaluation process for assuring 
successful implementation of grant objectives. Funds must be used in a 
flexible manner, as determined appropriate by input from stakeholders 
and identified needs.
    In addition, applicants should outline the strategy for documenting 
and reporting the activities undertaken during the life of the grant 
for ODEP's future use in working with other grantees and 
constituencies.
    Staff Capacity--The applicant must identify how it will ensure that 
trained staff are available to provide grant related services who have 
adequate knowledge of diverse disabilities, knowledge of diverse 
customized employment strategies, and employment-related experience for 
the target population. Resumes must be included in the Appendices.
    The application must:
    (1) Describe the proposed staffing of the project. Identify how it 
will ensure that trained staff with adequate knowledge of diverse 
disabilities, knowledge of diverse customized employment strategies, 
and employment-related experience for the target population will be 
available to provide grant-related services.
    (2) Summarize 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. Attach copies of resumes in the 
Appendices.
    (3) Describe the applicant's experience in serving people with 
disabilities and providing customized employment services.
    (4) Describe the extent to which the time commitments of the 
project director and other key project personnel are appropriate and 
adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project.

    In evaluating the management and outcomes criteria, the ODEP 
considers the following factors to be of particular importance:
    (a) The extent to which the proposed budget and narrative 
justifications are adequate to support the proposed project;
    (b) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous 
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project;
    (c) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies;
    (d) The extent to which the evaluation will provide information to 
other programs about effective strategies suitable for replication or 
testing in other settings;
    (e) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the 
objective use of performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data;
    (f) The extent to which the methods of evaluation measure in both 
quantitative and qualitative terms, program results and satisfaction of 
customers, both people with disabilities and employers;
    (g) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project;
    (h) The extent to which the key personnel are appropriate and 
adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed projects;
    (i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support and 
sustain the proposed project activities over the projected five-year 
period.
    (j) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

Part VIII. Monitoring and Reporting

    Monitoring: ODEP is responsible for ensuring the effective 
implementation of each competitive grant project in accordance with the 
provisions of this announcement and the terms of the grant award 
document. Applicants should assume that ODEP staff, or their designees, 
will conduct on-site project reviews periodically. Reviews will focus 
on timely project implementation, performance in meeting the grant's 
programmatic goals and objectives, expenditures of grant funds on 
allowable activities, integration and coordination with other resources 
and service providers in the local area, project management and 
administration of project activities. Customized Employment Grants may 
be subject to other additional reviews at the discretion of the ODEP.
    Reporting: Grantees will be required to submit quarterly financial 
and

[[Page 33977]]

narrative progress reports. In addition, all grantees will be expected 
to provide information on individuals with disabilities securing 
employment through use of customized strategies (including information 
on types of jobs, wages, and benefits secured by specific individuals 
with disabilities) and other areas addressed through the linkages and 
networks facilitated by project activities.
    Grantees will be required to submit periodic financial and 
participation reports. Specifically the following reports will be 
required:
    A. Quarterly reports: The quarterly report is estimated to take ten 
hours to complete. The form for the Quarterly Report will be provided 
by ODEP. ODEP will work with the grantee to help refine the 
requirements of the report, which will, among other things, include 
measures of ongoing analysis for continuous improvement and customer 
satisfaction.
    B. Standard Form 269; Financial Status Report Form (FSR) will be 
completed on a quarterly basis, using the on-line electronic reporting 
system.
    C. Final Project Report: including an assessment of project 
performance and outcomes achieved. The final report is estimated to 
take 20 hours. This report will be submitted in hard copy and on 
electronic disk using a format and following instructions, which will 
be provided by the DOL. A draft of the final report is due to ODEP 45 
days before the termination of the grant. The final report is due to 
the DOL 60 days following the termination of the grant.
    All grantees must agree to cooperate with an independent evaluation 
to be conducted by ODEP. ODEP will arrange for and conduct this 
independent evaluation of the outcomes, impacts, and accomplishments of 
each funded project. Grantees must agree to make available records on 
all parts of project activity, including participant employment and 
wage data, and to provide access to personnel, as specified by the 
evaluator(s), under the direction of ODEP. This independent evaluation 
is separate from the ongoing evaluation for continuous improvement 
required of the grantee for project implementation. The ODEP's 
evaluation of the Customized Employment Grants includes a process 
evaluation that includes extensive information pertaining to 
achievements under the grant, summary information, number of people 
with disabilities receiving services, number of people employed through 
then One-Stop system and other sources.
    Grantees must also agree to work with ODEP in its various national 
technical assistance collaboratives efforts in order to freely share 
with others what is learned about delivering customized employment 
services to the target population. Grantees must agree to collaborate 
with other research institutes, centers, studies, and evaluations that 
are supported by DOL and other relevant Federal agencies, as 
appropriate. In addition, ODEP has established performance goals that 
are consistent with the Department (GPRA) goals as noted in the 
introduction of Part VII--Government Requirements/Statement of Work. 
Customized Employment grantees will be expected to achieve these 
performance goals. Finally, Grantees must agree to actively utilize the 
programs sponsored by the ODEP, including the Job Accommodation 
Network, (http://:www.jan.wvu.edu), and the Employer Assistance 
Referral Network (http://www.earnworks.com).

Part IX. Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

    All applications will be reviewed for compliance with the 
requirements of this notice. A careful evaluation of applications will 
be made by a technical review panel, which will evaluate the 
applications against the rating criteria listed in this SGA. The panel 
results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer. 
ODEP may elect to award grants with or without discussion with the 
offeror. In situations without discussions, an award will be based on 
the offeror's signature on the SF 424, which constitutes a binding 
offer. The Grant Officer may consider any information that is available 
and will make final award decisions based on what is most advantageous 
to the Government, considering such factors as:

    [sbull] Panel findings;
    [sbull] Geographic distribution of the competitive applications and 
based on location of the existing Customized Employment Grants 
(Anchorage, AK; Montgomery, AL; NAPA and San Diego, CA; Marietta, GA; 
Indianapolis, IN; Malden, MA; Bucksport, ME; Detroit, MI; Blaine, MN; 
Hempstead, NY; Knoxville, TN; El Paso, TX; Fairfax, VA; and Kennewick, 
WA;);
    [sbull] Assuring a variety of program designs; and
    [sbull] Availability of funds

Part X. Administration Provisions

A. Administrative Standards and Provisions

    Grantees are strongly encouraged to read these regulations before 
submitting a proposal. The grants awarded under this SGA shall be 
subject to the following as applicable:
    [sbull] 29 CFR part 95--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;
    [sbull] 29 CFR part 96--Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts, 
and Other Agreements.
    [sbull] 29 CFR part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirement for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments

B. Allowable Costs

    Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with 
the following applicable Federal cost principles:
    [sbull] State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87
    [sbull] Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122
    [sbull] Profit-Making Commercial Firms--48 CFR part 31
    Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.

C. Grant 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:
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] 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)
    [sbull] 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.)
    [sbull] 29 CFR part 37--Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity 
Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), (Implementing 
Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act, 29 U.S.C. 2938)
    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.


[[Page 33978]]


    Signed at Washington, DC this 3rd day of June, 2003
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

Appendix D. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity

BILLING CODE 4510-CX-P

[[Page 33979]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.036


[[Page 33980]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.037


[[Page 33981]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.038


[[Page 33982]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.039


[[Page 33983]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.040


[[Page 33984]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.041


[[Page 33985]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.042


[[Page 33986]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.043


[[Page 33987]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.044


[[Page 33988]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06JN03.045


[[Page 33989]]


[FR Doc. 03-14350 Filed 6-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CX-C