[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18116-18126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7658]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Grants for Small Grassroots Organizations

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA)/ Center for Faith-
Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI), Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and solicitation for grant 
applications (SGA). This notice contains all of the necessary 
information and forms needed to apply for grant funding (SGA/DFA 04-
104).

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    Catalog of Federal Assistance No.: 17.257.

SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of $1,000,000 to 
award grants to eligible ``grass-roots' organizations with the ability 
to connect to the local One-Stop delivery system. The term grassroots' 
is defined under the Eligibility Criteria.

DATES: Applications will be accepted commencing on April 6, 2004. The 
closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is May 
7, 2004. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. (e.s.t.) 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 not be 
honored. Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be honored.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Part I. Authorities

    These grants are made under the following authorities:
     The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA or the 
Act) (Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.)
     The WIA Final Rule, 20 CFR parts 652, 660-671 
(65 FR 49294 (August 11, 2000);
     Executive Order 13198; ``Rallying the Armies of 
Compassion''
     Training and Employment Guidance Letter 17-01 
(``Incorporating and Utilizing''
     Grassroots, Community-Based Organizations 
Including Faith-Based Organizations in Workforce Investment Activities 
and Programs'')
     Executive Order 13279; ``Equal Protection of the 
Laws for Faith-Based and Community Organizations''

II. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Overview of the Workforce Investment Act

    The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) established a 
comprehensive reform of existing Federal job training programs with 
amendments impacting service delivery under the Wagner-Peyser Act, 
Adult Education and Literacy Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. A number 
of other Federal programs are also identified as required partners in 
the One-Stop delivery system to provide comprehensive services for all 
Americans to access the information and resources available that can 
help in the achievement of their career goals. The intention of the 
One-Stop system is to establish a network of programs and providers in 
co-located and integrated settings that are accessible for individuals 
and businesses alike in approximately 600 workforce investment areas 
established throughout the nation. There are currently over 1,900 
comprehensive Centers and over 1,600 affiliated Centers across the 
United States. WIA established State and Local Workforce Investment 
Boards focused on strategic planning, policy development, and oversight 
of the workforce investment system, and accorded significant authority 
to the nation's Governors and local chief elected officials to further 
implement innovative and comprehensive delivery systems. The vision, 
goals and objectives for workforce development under the WIA 
decentralized system are fully described in the State strategic plan 
required under Section 112 of the legislation. This State strategic 
workforce investment plan--and the operational experience gained by all 
the partners to date in implementing the WIA-instituted reforms--help 
identify the important ``unmet needs'' and latent opportunities to 
expand access to One-Stop by all the population segments within the 
local labor market.

B. Administration Strategy

Engagement of Faith-Based and Community Organizations Under the 
Workforce Investment Act
    On January 29, 2001, President George W. Bush issued Executive 
Order 13198, creating the Office for Faith-Based and Community 
Initiatives in the White House and centers in the departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 
Education (ED), Justice (DOJ). President Bush charged the Cabinet 
centers with identifying statutory, regulatory, and bureaucratic 
barriers that stand in the way of effective faith-based and community 
initiatives, and to ensure, consistent with the law, that these 
organizations have equal opportunity to compete for federal funding and 
other support.
    In early 2002, the Department's Center for Faith-Based and 
Community Initiatives (CFBCI) and ETA developed and issued 
Solicitations for Grant Applications (SGAs) to engage intermediary and 
grass-roots organizations in our workforce system-building. These SGAs 
were designed to involve the faith-based and community-based 
organizations in service delivery, strengthen their existing 
partnership with the local One-Stop delivery system, while providing 
additional points of entry for customers into that system.
    These 2002 grants embodied the Department's principal strategy for 
implementing the Executive Order by creating new avenues through which 
qualified organizations can more fully participate under the Workforce 
Investment Act while applying their particular strengths and assets in 
service provision to our customers. These solicitations also proceeded 
from an ETA-CFBCI mutual premise: that the involvement of community-
based organizations and faith-based organizations can both complement 
and supplement the efforts of local workforce investment systems in 
providing universal access and serving

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the training, job and career-support needs of many of our citizens.
    Both ETA and CFBCI are committed to bringing new Intermediary and 
grass-roots organizations to workforce system-building through the 
issuance of a new solicitation in 2004. This new solicitation draws on 
``lessons learned'' in 2002 and 2003 while introducing several 
``promising practices'' introduced by other ETA grantees. The new 
solicitation also places significant emphasis on performance outcomes--
documenting and quantifying the additional value the Intermediary and 
its sub-grantees bring to the One-Stop delivery system in the 
community.
    Through this competition, ETA seeks to ensure that an important 
Workforce Investment Act tenet--universal access to the programs and 
services offered under WIA--is further rooted in the customer-
responsive delivery systems already established by the Governors, local 
elected officials and local Workforce Investment Boards. ETA also 
reaffirms its continuing commitment to those customer-focused reforms 
instituted by State and local governments which help Americans access 
the tools they need to manage their careers through information and 
high quality services, and to help U.S. companies find skilled workers.
    Faith-based and community-based organizations present strong 
credentials for full partnership in our mutual system-building 
endeavors. Faith-based and community-based organizations are trusted 
institutions within our poorest neighborhoods. Faith-based and 
community-based organizations are home to a large number of volunteers 
who bring not only the transformational power of personal relationships 
to the provision of social service but also a sustained allegiance to 
the well-being and self-sufficiency of the participants they serve. 
Through their daily work and specific programs, these organizations 
strive to achieve some common purposes shared with government--
reduction of welfare dependency, attainment of occupational skills, 
entry and retention of all our citizens in good-paying jobs. Through 
this solicitation, ETA and CFBCI strive to leverage these programs, 
resources and committed staff into the workforce investment strategies 
already embodied in State and local strategic plans.

C. Project Objectives

    The selected grantees will be expected to achieve the following 
objectives:
     Help individuals enter employment with career 
opportunities or increase skills and education, both through providing 
services such as education, pre and post job placement, mentoring, life 
skills training, employability skills training, job coaching, and 
through utilizing the services of the One-Stop Career Center.
     Expand the access of faith-based and community-
based organizations' clients and customers to the training, job and 
career services offered by the local One-Stops;
     Effectively maximize the dollars invested by 
leveraging volunteer and in-kind donations;
     Thoroughly document the impact and outcomes of 
these grant investments through quarterly and annual reporting; and
     Establish methods and mechanisms to ensure 
sustainability of these partnerships and participation levels beyond 
the life of the grant.

III. Award Information

    ETA has identified $1,000,000 from the FY 2004 appropriation for 
One-Stop/America's Labor Market Information System. The agency expects 
to award approximately 40-50 grants. The grant amount for each grass-
roots organization is expected to range between $20,000 and $25,000. 
The period of performance will be approximately 18 months from the date 
of execution by the Department. The grant funds will be available for 
expenditure until June 30, 2006.

Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Announcement of this award is expected to occur by June 30, 2004.

IV. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    For purposes of this announcement, eligible grassroots 
organizations must be non-profits which:
    (1) Have social services as a major part of their mission;
    (2) Are headquartered in the local community to which they provide 
these services;
    (3) (a) Have an annual social services budget of $350,000 or less, 
or (b) Have 6 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
    Neutral, non-religious criteria that neither favor nor disfavor 
religion will be employed in the selection of grant recipients and must 
be employed by grantees or in the selection of sub-recipients.
    The government is prohibited from providing direct financial 
assistance for inherently religious activity.* Therefore, as a general 
rule, subawards may not be used for religious instruction, worship, 
prayer, proselytizing or other inherently religious activities and 
participation in such activities must be voluntary. (If, however, an 
organization receives financial assistance as a result of the choice of 
a beneficiary, such as through a voucher, the organization may 
integrate religion throughout its program).
    \*\ In this context, the term financial assistance that is provided 
directly by a government entity or an intermediate organization, as 
opposed to financial assistance that an organization contexts, the term 
`direct' financial assistance may be used to refer to financial 
assistance that an organization receives directly from the Federal 
government (also known as ``discretionary'' assistance), as opposed to 
assistance that it receives from a State or Local government (also 
known as ``indirect'' or ``block'' grant assistance). The term 
``direct'' has the former meaning throughout this SGA.
    Veterans Priority: In addition, this program is subject to the 
provisions of the ``Jobs for Veterans Act'', Pub. L. 107-288, which 
provides priority of services 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 or spouse must meet the 
program's eligibility requirements. Comprehensive policy guidance is 
being developed and will be issued in the near future.

V. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Forms

    Application forms will not be mailed. They are published as part of 
this Federal Register notice, which may be obtained from your nearest 
public library or online at http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/index.html.

2. Submission Date and Times

    Applications will be accepted commencing on April 6, 2004. The 
closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is May 
7, 2004. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. (e.s.t.) 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 not be 
honored. Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be honored.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed to the U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal Assistance, 
Attention: James Stockton, SGA/DFA 04-104, 200 Constitution

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Avenue, NW., Room S-4220, 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: James Stockton, Grants Officer, 
Division of Federal Assistance, Telephone (202) 693-3301 (this is not a 
toll free-number). You must specifically ask for James Stockton. 
Questions can also be faxed to James Stockton, Fax, (202) 693-2879, 
please include the SGA/DFA 04-104, a contact name, fax and phone 
numbers. This announcement will be also published on the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) Web page at http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce. This Web page will also provide responses to questions 
that are raised by applicants during the period of grant application 
preparation. Award notifications will also be announced on this Web 
page.

Mailing and Hand Delivery Conditions

    1. Late Applications. Any application received after the exact date 
and time specified for receipt at the office designated in this notice 
will not be considered, unless it is received before awards are made 
and it:
     Was sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or 
certified mail not later than May 6, 2004; or
     Was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail 
Next Day Service, Post Office to addressee, not later than 4 p.m. at 
the place of mailing two working days before May 6, 2004. The term 
``working days'' excludes weekends and U.S. 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 mailgram) 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 identify is made known and the representative signs a 
receipt for the proposal.
    3. Hand Delivered Proposals. It is preferred that applications be 
mailed at least five days before the closing date. To be considered for 
funding, hand-delivered applications must be received at the designated 
address by 4 p.m., (e.t.), May 7, 2004. All overnight mail will be 
considered to be hand delivered and must be received at the designated 
place by the specified closing date and time. Telegraphed, e-mailed 
and/or faxed proposals will not be honored. Failure to adhere to the 
above instructions will be a basis for determination of non-responsive.
    4. Submission of Applications. Applicants must submit one copy with 
an original signature and two additional copies of their proposal. The 
Statement of Work must be limited to 5 pages. The only attachments 
permitted will be agreements with or letters of support from local 
Workforce Investment Boards and/or local One-Stop operators. The 
application must be double-spaced, and on single-sided, numbered pages. 
A font size of at least twelve (12) pitch is required with one-inch 
margins (top, bottom and sides.)

A. Required Contents

    There are three required sections:
 Section I--Application for Federal Assistance (SF 
424A)
 Section II--Budget Information (SF 424B)
 Section III--Technical Proposal--Statement of Work
Section I--Application for Federal Assistance
    The SF-424A is included in the announcement as Attachment A. It 
must be signed by a representative authorized by the governing body of 
the applicant to enter into grant agreement.
Section II--Budget Information
    The SF-424B is included in the announcement as Attachment B.

    Note: Except as specifically provided, DOL/ETA acceptance of a 
proposal and an award of federal funds to sponsor any program(s) 
does not provide a waiver of any grant requirement and/or 
procedures. For example, the OMB circulars require that an entity's 
procurement procedures must require that all procurement 
transactions must be conducted, as practical, to provide open and 
free competition. If a proposal identifies a specific entity to 
provide the services, the DOL/ETA's award does not provide the 
justification or basis to sole-source the procurement, i.e., avoid 
competition.

Section III--Technical Proposal (Statement-of-Work) (Not To Exceed 5 
Typed, Double Space Pages)
    The Statement of Work sets forth a strategic plan for the use of 
awarded funds and establishes measurable goals for increasing 
organizational participation in the One-Stop service delivery system to 
more fully serve the clientele and members of community-based and 
faith-based organizations. Below are the required elements of the 
Statement of Work and the rating criteria that reviewers will use to 
evaluate the proposal.
1. Organizational History and Description of Community Need (15 Points)
     Describe the structure of the applicant's 
organization. Describe the history of the organization in meeting 
community needs including a brief listing of services provided.
     Describe the overall community need. What 
services will your organization provide to address a need that the One-
Stop Career Center is not fully addressing? (This description should 
include coverage of population(s) to be served and the services to be 
provided. Populations could include such groups as: ex-offenders, 
immigrants, limited English-speaking, homeless and individuals with 
disabilities. Services can include, but are not limited to, such 
activities as: education, pre and post job placement mentoring, life 
skills training, employability skills training, and job coaching. Other 
populations and services can be identified.)
Rating Criteria
    1. Does the description reflect a clear understanding of a 
community need?
2. Description of Partnerships and Linkages (20 Points)
     Please describe your plans to work as partners 
with the One-Stop Delivery system to help the target population enter 
and succeed in the workforce. If you have not previously worked with 
the One-Stop Career Center, please describe actions you have taken to 
develop the relationships as you developed this grant. If you have 
worked with the One-Stop Career Center, please describe what actions 
you have taken to further develop your relationship.
     Please describe the relationships you have with 
other non-profit organizations who provide similar or complementary 
services and how you will leverage pre-existing relationships and 
partnerships to help achieve your goals for the populations you will 
service and how you will avoid duplication.
Rating Criteria
    1. Does the narrative describe an approach and process by which the 
organization will successfully partner with the One-Stop delivery 
system to address the unmet need?
    2. Does the applicant present evidence of discussions with the One-
Stop delivery system (e.g., a signed

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letter from the Local Board or other One-Stop delivery system 
principals)?
    3. Does the organization's history of collaboration with other non-
profits in the community support the conclusion that these grant 
activities will be successful?
3. Presentation of Strategic Plan, Goals, and Timeline (50 Points)
     The applicant should describe the methodology 
for providing services, including any educational or training 
curriculum or other tools to be used. Describe the staff/volunteer 
positions that will be providing services under this grant.
     The applicant must present a timeline of major, 
measurable tasks and activities to be undertaken. The timeline should 
include how many people will receive services and/or participate and 
complete classes detailed in the training curriculum.
     The applicant should also describe the 
measurable outcomes that the program participants will achieve over the 
life of this grant. Measurable outcomes must include how many 
participants will enter employment over the grant period and how many 
of those individuals will stay employed through the end of the grant 
period (retention) . Outcomes might also include such measures as how 
many participants will increase numeracy or literacy or enter an 
educational or training program or the average increase of wages for 
program participants. The Department understands that these outcomes 
will be achieved by bringing together the resources of the workforce 
system as well as the grantee.
Rating Criteria
    1. Do the activities and tasks presented on the timeline appear to 
be achievable with the likelihood of project success given available 
resources?
    2. Does the applicant provide tangible outcome measures and goals 
for success for both the organization and Department to gauge the 
impact of the activities on meeting the community need? Do these goals 
include tracking employment outcomes and retention outcomes for those 
served?
4. Description of Measurements of Success (15 Points)
     Describe what mechanisms you will develop, in 
partnership with the One-Stop delivery system, to track your success in 
achieving promised goals and outcomes.
     Describe any other methods you will use for 
evaluating your project's success.
Rating Criteria
    1. Does the applicant reflect an understanding of what it would 
need to do in order to track progress and success?

Application Review Information

VII. Criteria, Review and Selection Process

    A technical review panel will make careful evaluation of 
applications against the rating criteria. The review panel 
recommendations are advisory. The ETA grant officer will fully consider 
the panel recommendations and take into account geographic balance to 
ensure the most advantageous award of these funds to accomplish the 
system-building purposes outlined in the Summary and Statement of Work. 
The grant officer may consider any information that comes to his or her 
attention. The grant officer reserves the right to award without 
negotiation. The criteria above will serve as the basis upon which 
submitted applications will be evaluated.

Section IV. Reporting Requirements

    The grantee is required to provide the reports and documents listed 
below:
    Quarterly Financial Reports. A Quarterly Financial Status Report 
(SF-269) is required until such time as all funds have been expended or 
the period of availability has expired. Quarterly reports are due 30 
days after the end of each calendar year quarter. Grantee must use 
ETA's On-line Electronic Reporting System.
    Progress Reports. The grantee must submit a quarterly financial and 
narrative performance progress report to the Federal Project Officer 
within 30 days following each quarter. Two copies are to be submitted 
providing a detailed account of activities undertaken during that 
quarter.

Part VIII. Resources for the Applicant

    The Department of Labor maintains a number of Web-based resources 
that may be of assistance to applicants. The Web page for the 
Department's Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (http://www.dol.gov/cfbci) is a valuable source of background on this 
initiative. America's Service Locator (http://www.servicelocator.org) 
provides a directory of our nation's One-Stop Career Centers. The 
National Association of Workforce Boards maintains a Web page (http://www.nawb.org/asp/wibdir.asp) which contains contact information for the 
State and local Workforce Investment boards. Applicants are encouraged 
to review ``Understanding the Department of Labor Solicitation for 
Grant Applications and How to Write an Effective Proposal'' (http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/sgabrochure.htm). ``Questions and Answers'' regarding 
this solicitation will be posted and updated on the Web (http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce). For a basic understanding of the grants 
process and basic responsibilities of receiving Federal grant support, 
please see ``Guidance for Faith-Based and Community Organizations on 
Partnering with the Federal Government (http://www.fbci.gov).

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 31st day of March, 2004.
James W. Stockton,
Grant Officer.
Attachments:
Appendix A--SF-424
Appendix B--Budget Form
Appendix C--Survey of Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants

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[FR Doc. 04-7658 Filed 4-5-04; 8:45 am]
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