[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21580-21593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8366]



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Part V





Department of Labor





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Employment and Training Administration



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Workforce Investment Act--Migrants and Seasonal Farmworker Programs 
Solicitation for Grant Applications--National Farmworker Jobs Program; 
Housing Assistance for Program Year 2005; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 26, 2005 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Investment Act--Migrants and Seasonal Farmworker 
Programs Solicitation for Grant Applications--National Farmworker Jobs 
Program for Program Year 2005

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration.

ACTION: New. Initial announcement of a Program Year (PY) 2005 grant 
competition for operating the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) 
under section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), 29 
U.S.C. 9201.

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Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 04-06.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.264.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (the Department or DOL), 
Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Office of National 
Programs (ONP), Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs (DSFP), 
announces a grant competition for operating the National Farmworker 
Jobs Program (NFJP), under section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act 
of 1998 (WIA), 29 U.S.C. 9201. All applicants for grant funds should 
read this notice in its entirety.
    Section 167, paragraph (a) of WIA requires that the Secretary award 
grants or contracts on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the 
purposes of carrying out the activities authorized under section 167. 
Under this solicitation, DSFP anticipates that approximately 
$71,690,318, allotted among State service areas, will be available for 
grant awards for the NFJP.
    Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is May 27, 2005. Applications must be received at the 
address below no later than 5 p.m., eastern standard time.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be directed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Room N-4438, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training 
Administration, Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs (DSFP) is 
requesting grant applications for operating the National Farmworker 
Jobs Program (NFJP) in accordance with section 167 of the Workforce 
Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), 29 U.S.C. 9201. The NFJP is designed to 
serve economically disadvantaged persons who primarily depend on 
employment in agricultural labor performed within the United States, 
including Puerto Rico, who experience chronic unemployment or 
underemployment. Qualifying participants are typically those persons 
employed on a seasonal or part-time basis in the unskilled and semi-
skilled manual labor occupations in crop and animal production. Through 
training and other workforce development services, the program is 
intended to assist eligible migrants and seasonal farmworkers and their 
families to prepare for jobs likely to provide stable, year-round 
employment both within and outside agriculture.
    In response to growing global competition, the U.S. economy is 
engaged in a structural change that causes skill requirements to 
constantly shift and calls on businesses to be agile in adapting to 
change. Changing skill requirements and the demand for an enhanced 
level of business flexibility calls for a competitive workforce, one 
that can quickly acquire skills in demand. Creating a competitive 
workforce also means taking full advantage of diversity in the 
workforce so that no worker willing to acquire needed skills is left 
behind. For agricultural employers and farmworkers, the transformation 
of the U.S. economy will require that these customers have access to 
the full spectrum of services available from local One-Stop Career 
Centers, not just services funded through the WIA Section 167 program 
(NFJP).
    For the past three Fiscal/Program Years (FY/PY 2003, 2004, and FY 
2005), ETA has pursued a strategy intended to increase farmworkers' 
access to workforce investment services by supporting the One-Stop 
Career Center system's continued movement towards universality and 
integrated service delivery.
    As part of ETA's continued commitment to this integration strategy, 
in PY 2005 the agency will continue the emphasis begun in the PY 2003 
grants competition for the NFJP that requires applicants responding to 
this SGA to design their programs around priorities intended to support 
the system's forward movement towards full integration of services, as 
follows:
    Expanding the Network of Employers Using the System of Integrated 
Services--The number of employers that turn to the public workforce 
investment system at any given time to meet their skill needs is an 
important element in a strategy designed to increase the employment and 
training opportunities available to farmworkers. Therefore, this 
solicitation requires applicants to establish a goal to increase, per 
year, the number of employers with whom they do business, and to 
explain the strategy that will be implemented to meet the increase from 
the baseline established.
    Targeting Occupations in High Growth Industries--This solicitation 
requires applicants to provide an analysis of the industries in the 
State, particularly high growth industries; the occupations in those 
industries for which farmworkers could be trained; the opportunities 
that exist for farmworkers to gain access to those occupations in the 
areas where they live and work; as well as develop a plan for outreach 
to those employers to ensure access for farmworkers to employment 
opportunities. A description of the economic conditions in the State, 
and how these conditions influence the availability of jobs in high 
growth industries, should be included.
    A Balanced Program of Activities--Among the list of activities that 
can be provided through the WIA Section 167 (NFJP) program are services 
often referred to as related assistance. These services are primarily 
supportive services intended to assist farmworkers to enter training or 
retain their employment. While related assistance services are an 
important component in the menu of services provided to farmworkers, 
the central focus of the NFJP remains those employment and training 
services that lead to higher skilled and higher paid employment for 
farmworkers, either inside or outside agriculture. Applicants will be 
expected to describe how their intended mix of program services 
reflects the central importance of employment and training services 
that leverage economic outcomes for farmworkers.
    Making Operational an Integration of Services for Farmworkers in 
the One-Stop Career Center System--Achieving better integration of 
employment and training services funded under the NFJP with the WIA 
adult and dislocated worker formula-funded job training and related 
services is a major ETA policy goal for the workforce investment 
system. This policy goal was established in PY 2003 and reflected in 
that year's SGA competition. It has continued to be pursued through a 
variety of strategies. Better integration of services within the One-
Stop system can significantly increase the number of farmworkers who 
receive high quality workforce investment services that lead to 
improved employment and earnings. Applicants will be expected to 
describe

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the strategic planning and operational steps they will undertake to 
have a significant impact on services integration.
    The NFJP is subject to the requirements found at WIA Section 167 
and the Department's regulations at 20 CFR part 669. This program is 
also subject to the requirements of 29 CFR parts 93 (New Restrictions 
on Lobbying), 96 (Audit Requirements), and 98 (Debarment, Suspension, 
and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements), as well as the non-
discrimination regulations implementing WIA Section 188 at 29 CFR part 
37. Applicants should be familiar with these requirements and consult 
the WIA regulations at 20 CFR parts 660 through 671 in developing their 
grant proposals. Should the regulations at part 669 of WIA conflict 
with regulations elsewhere in 20 CFR, the regulations at part 669 will 
control.
    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 first meet the NFJP's eligibility 
requirements.
    The NFJP is subject to the common performance measures for job 
training and employment programs established by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). Guidance on the common performance 
measures can be found in ETA's Training and Employment Notice (TEN) No. 
8-02 (March 27, 2003), available at http://ows.doeta.gov/dmstree/ten/ten2k2/ten_08-02.htm.
    Applications submitted in response to this SGA are required to 
include estimates of expected performance against these common 
performance measures. The common performance measures are: Entered 
Employment, Employment Retention, and Earnings Increase. Applicants 
will be required to describe the reporting system they will establish 
to allow for data collection sufficient to report results against the 
common measures. The NFJP will begin data collection for these common 
measures in PY 2005 (July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006).

II. Award Information

    The type of assistance instrument to be used for the NFJP is the 
grant. Grants awarded through this solicitation will be for a two-year 
period, as prescribed in WIA Section 167. Please be advised that the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447) provided 
funding for the NFJP for PY 2005 only (July 1, 2005 through June 30, 
2006). Therefore, second year funding will be dependent on the 
availability of funding through the FY 2006 appropriations process.
    The amount available nationally for the NFJP State service area 
allotments is $71,690,318. State allotments are established through a 
formula process, and are published in a separate Federal Register 
notice. Please refer to our Web site (http://www.doleta.gov/MSFW/pdf/allocationtable.pdf) for a list of individual State allocations. The 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 House and Senate Reports provide 
that no State area shall receive less than 85 percent of its 1998 
funding level; however, it also contained a mandatory rescission of 
.080 percent that applied to all programs. The total of $71,690,318 
available for allocation for formula grants is a result of applying 
this rescission.
    For purposes of this grant application, applications are solicited 
for a single NFJP operation per State, to serve the migrant and 
seasonal farmworkers of each State and Puerto Rico, with the following 
exceptions:
     Connecticut and Rhode Island are a combined State service 
area;
     Delaware and Maryland are a combined State service area;
     Applications for the combined State service areas 
mentioned above must address the two States as a single geographic 
area, but the proposed service delivery plan for the combined State 
area must show that consideration has been given to the entire 
population of migrant and seasonal farmworkers working or residing 
within the combined geographic area;
     Between 4 and 6 applications will be selected to operate 
the NFJP program in the agricultural counties in California; and
     No application will be accepted to provide services in 
Alaska due to the State's small relative share of seasonal agricultural 
employment.
    Please be advised that in the event that no grant application is 
received for a State, or all applications received are considered not 
fundable by the Grant Officer after the panel review and scoring 
process, or a grant agreement is not successfully negotiated with a 
selected applicant, the Department will offer the Governor of that 
State a ``right of first refusal'' to submit an acceptable application, 
if that State has not applied (i.e., if no State agency in that State 
applied for a grant in this competition). If the Governor does not 
accept this offer within 15 days after being notified, the Department 
will designate another organization to operate the NFJP in that State. 
In cases where the State agency was an applicant, and all applications 
are found not fundable or are not successfully negotiated, the 
Department will designate another organization to operate the NFJP in 
that State.

    Note: Selection of an organization as a grantee does not 
constitute approval of the grant application as submitted. Before 
the actual grant is awarded, the Department may enter into 
negotiations about such items as program components, staffing and 
funding levels, and administrative systems in place to support grant 
implementation. If the negotiations do not result in a mutually 
acceptable submission, the Grant Officer reserves the right to 
terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the application.

III. Eligibility Information

    Eligible Applicants--Applicants need not be a current or prior WIA 
Section 167 grantee to establish eligibility to be awarded a grant 
under this solicitation. States, Local Workforce Investment Boards 
(LWIBs), faith-based and community organizations, institutions of 
higher learning, and other entities capable of delivering services on a 
statewide basis are all examples of organizations eligible to apply for 
WIA Section 167 grants.
    WIA Section 167(b) describes entities eligible to receive a grant 
as those that have:

--An understanding of the problems of eligible migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers, including their dependents;
--A familiarity with the geographical area to be served; and
--A demonstrated capacity to effectively administer a diversified 
program of workforce investment activities for eligible migrant and 
seasonal farmworkers.

    Additionally, to be responsive to the requirements of this 
solicitation, applicants must demonstrate how the strategies contained 
in their applications will support the priorities described in Section 
I of this solicitation, i.e., expanding the network of employers using 
the system of integrated services; targeting occupations in high growth 
industries; implementing a program of services that balances training 
and employment services with other program interventions; and making 
operational better integration of services for farmworkers.
    Applicants must demonstrate how they will work with the State 
Workforce Investment Board (State Board) or Local Workforce Investment 
Boards (LWIB), or One-Stop operators in the service area(s) to assure 
an integrated service delivery approach to farmworkers through the

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local One-Stop system. This may include strategic planning and 
operational steps taken by the applicant and the State Board or LWIBs 
likely to have a significant impact on services integration.
    If the applicant is a State, an LWIB or a One-Stop Career Center 
operator applying on behalf of the LWIB, the application must instead 
demonstrate how efforts have been/will be undertaken to integrate 
services provided by all One-Stop partners to enhance the workforce 
services provided to farmworkers, the expected outcomes, and the ``next 
steps'' to be undertaken to continue to improve on any past integration 
efforts.
    Cost Sharing or Matching--The WIA section 167 program does not 
require grantees to share costs or provide matching funds.
    Other Eligibility Criteria--In accordance with 29 CFR part 98, 
entities that are debarred or suspended shall be excluded from Federal 
financial assistance and are ineligible to receive a WIA Section 167 
grant.
    Prior to awarding a grant, the Department will conduct a 
responsibility review of each potential grantee through available 
records. The responsibility review relies on examining available 
records to determine if an applicant has a satisfactory history of 
accounting for Federal funds and property. The responsibility review is 
independent of the competitive process. Applicants failing to meet the 
standards of the responsibility review may be disqualified for 
selection as grantees, irrespective of their standing in the 
competition. Any applicant that is not selected as a result of the 
responsibility review will be advised of their appeal rights. The 
responsibility tests that will be applied are those present in the WIA 
regulations (20 CFR 667.170).
    Legal rules pertaining to inherently religious activities by 
organizations that receive Federal financial assistance--The government 
is generally prohibited from providing direct financial assistance for 
inherently religious activities. Please note that, in this context, the 
term direct financial assistance means financial assistance that is 
provided directly by a government entity or an intermediate 
organization, as opposed to financial assistance that an organization 
receives as the result of the genuine and independent private choice of 
a beneficiary. These grants may not be used for religious instruction, 
worship, prayer, proselytizing, or other inherently religious 
activities. Neutral, non-religious criteria that neither favor nor 
disfavor religion must be employed in the selection of grant recipients 
and sub-recipients.

IV. Application and Submission Information

Address To Request Application Package

    This Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) includes all 
information and forms needed to apply for this funding opportunity. If 
additional copies of forms are needed, they can be found at http://www.doleta.gov/msfw, or at the Federal Register Web site, http://www.gpoaccess.gov.

Content and Form of Application Submission

    An application must include two (2) separate and distinct parts: 
Part I--a cost proposal and Part II--a technical proposal. Applications 
that fail to adhere to the instructions in this section will be 
considered non-responsive and will not be considered. Part I of the 
proposal is the Cost Proposal and must include the following items:
     A cover letter, an original plus two (2) copies of the 
proposal, and an ink-signed original SF-424, ``Application for Federal 
Assistance'' (Appendix A) must be submitted. Beginning October 12, 
2003, all applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities are 
required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number (see OMB Notice of 
Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402; June 27, 2003). Applicants must 
supply their DUNS number in item 5 of the new SF-424 issued by 
OMB (Rev. 9-2003). The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification 
number that uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS 
number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access 
this Web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com. You can also call 1-
866-705-5711.
     The Standard Form (SF) 424-A (Appendix B). In preparing 
the budget form, the applicant must provide a concise narrative 
explanation to support the request. The budget narrative should break 
down the budget and should discuss precisely how administrative costs 
support the project goals.
     Part II of the application is the Technical Proposal, 
which demonstrates the applicant's capabilities to plan and implement 
the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this 
solicitation. The Technical Proposal should be limited to 40 numbered 
pages, double-spaced, single-sided, in 12-point text font and one-inch 
margins. Letters of support and any required attachments will not be 
subject to the page limitations; letters of support will not be 
included in the materials provided to the panel for review of the 
proposal. If any attachments are included, please label accordingly and 
specify the content of the attachment.
     No cost data or reference to prices should be included in 
the Technical Proposal. Instead, applicants should provide a two-page 
abstract summarizing the proposed project and applicant profile 
information, including the applicant's name, the project title, and the 
funding level requested. The two-page abstract is not included in the 
40 page limit.
    Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be 
considered.

Submission Dates and Times

    The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is May 27, 2005. Applications must be received at the 
address below no later than 5 p.m. Eastern time. Applications sent by 
e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (fax) will not be accepted. Applications 
that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will not be 
honored. No exceptions to the mailing and delivery requirements set 
forth in this notice will be granted.
    Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Reference SGA/DFA PY 04-06, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4430, Washington, DC 20210. Applicants 
are advised that mail delivery in the Washington, DC area may be 
delayed due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand-delivered 
proposals will be received at the above address.
    Applicants may apply online at http://www.grants.gov. For 
applicants submitting electronic applications via Grants.gov, it is 
strongly recommended that you immediately initiate and complete the 
``Get Started'' steps to register with Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. Registration will probably take multiple 
days to complete which should be factored into plans for electronic 
application submission in order to avoid facing unexpected delays that 
could result in the rejection of your application. It is recommended 
that applicants experiencing problems with electronic submission submit 
their application by overnight mail until the electronic issues are 
resolved.

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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 (a) was 
sent by the 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 required to be received by the 20th 
of the month must be postmarked by the 15th of that month); or (b) was 
sent by the U.S. Postal service Express Mail or Online to addressee not 
later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing or electronic submission one 
(1) day prior to the date specified for receipt of applications. It is 
highly recommended that online submissions be completed one working day 
prior to the date specified for receipt of applications to ensure that 
the applicant still has the option to submit by U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail in the event of any electronic submission problems. ``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. Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk to place 
a legible hand cancellation ``bull's eye'' postmark on both the receipt 
and the package. Failure to adhere to the above instructions will be 
basis for a determination of nonresponsiveness.

Intergovernmental Review

    Executive Order No. 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' and the implementing regulations at 29 CFR part 17 are 
applicable to this program. Under these requirements, an applicant must 
provide a copy of the funding proposal for comment to the States that 
have established a consultation process under the Executive Order. 
Applications must be submitted to the State's Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC), no later than the deadline for submission of the application to 
the Department. For States that have not established a consultative 
process under E.O. 12372, but have a State Workforce Investment Board 
(State Board), the State Board will be the SPOC. For WIA implementation 
purposes, this consultative process fulfills the requirement of WIA 
Section 167(e) concerning consultation with Governors and Local 
Workforce Investment Boards (LWIB). To strengthen the implementation of 
E.O. 12372, the Department establishes the following timeframe for the 
treatment of comments from the State's SPOC on WIA Section 167 
applications: (1) The SPOC must submit comments, if any, to the 
Department and to the applicant, no later than 30 days after the 
deadline date for the submission of applications; (2) the applicant's 
response to the SPOC comments, if any, must be submitted to the 
Department no later than 15 days after the postmarked date of the 
comments from the SPOC; (3) the Department will notify the SPOC (with 
copy to the applicant) of its decision regarding the SPOC comments and 
applicant response; and (4) the Department will implement that decision 
within 10 days after it has notified the SPOC.
    The names and addresses of the SPOCs are listed in the Office of 
Management and Budget's (OMB) home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

Funding and Other Restrictions

    Grantees are limited to applying no more than 15 percent of the 
grant for administrative costs (see definition of administrative costs 
at 20 CFR part 667.220). Administrative costs higher than 15 percent of 
the grant will not be approved.

Other Submission Requirements

    All other material required to be submitted is identified in the 
various sections of this solicitation.

V. Application Review Information Criteria

    The following review criteria, totaling a maximum of 100 points, 
apply to all applications:

Understanding the Problems of the Eligible Migrants and Seasonal 
Farmworkers in the State Service Area--20 Points

    Applicants must describe the economy (agricultural and non-
agricultural) in the geographic area they propose to serve, the 
employment outlook for the area, including the number of employers with 
whom they currently work, new employers with whom they expect to work 
and the strategies to be used to attract new employers, a plan for the 
continued expansion of the employer network expected to be the major 
source of job opportunities for migrants and seasonal farmworkers to 
enter into employment, and how economic conditions and employer hiring 
needs affect the employment prospects of eligible migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers.
    This section must also include a detailed description of the labor 
market, both agricultural and non-agricultural, the economic conditions 
expected during the course of the program year, and the hiring 
implications those economic conditions pose for the employers in the 
area. In addition, this section must include a discussion of projected 
high growth occupations in the service area that hold the potential for 
improved employment and earnings for farmworkers, and the strategies to 
be used in securing those opportunities for farmworkers.
    Applicants must also describe the socio-economic characteristics 
and problems of eligible farmworkers, and their dependents, in the 
proposed service area, and describe what implications economic 
conditions, the labor market outlook, and the analysis of potential 
high growth occupations hold for the workforce strategies proposed 
through this solicitation, given the socio-economic characteristics of 
the eligible population to be served.
    Scoring on this factor will be based on how well the applicant 
demonstrates its understanding of the local economy and how local 
economic conditions help to define the challenges to be met, and the 
problems to overcome, in improving farmworkers' employment and 
earnings. Scoring will also be based on how well the proposal 
demonstrates the nexus between economic conditions, the characteristics 
of the eligible farmworkers, and the workforce investment strategies 
proposed.
    The review and evaluation of this factor will look closely for 
evidence of an effective network of employers that provide improved job 
placement opportunities, both within and outside agriculture, and the 
strategies to be used to continue to expand this employer network in 
the service area. The proposal should clearly describe the goal 
established to increase the number of employers with whom they do 
business, the baseline number to be used in measuring the increase, and 
how this expanded employer network will result in improved employment 
opportunities for farmworkers in higher-skilled, higher-paid 
occupations.

Familiarity With the Proposed Service Area--20 Points

    To achieve the goal of integrating services for farmworkers through 
the One-Stop system, the applicant must have a clear understanding of 
the One-Stop system in the area and the network of social, educational, 
and health services available to help meet the diverse needs of the 
eligible farmworkers in the service area.

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    This section must include a description of the faith-based and 
community organizations in the service area and the applicant's 
experience in engaging these organizations in its service delivery 
strategy for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. It should also include a 
description of the services available through local service 
organizations, including faith-based and community organizations, and 
the applicant's strategy to mobilize those service organizations to 
provide comprehensive services to farmworkers while optimizing the use 
of limited NFJP resources, particularly supportive or related 
assistance services.
    The applicant must describe its prior experience, if any, and 
demonstrated effectiveness in working with the One-Stop system to 
provide services to farmworkers. Include a description of the efforts 
to date to integrate services to farmworkers across all partners in the 
One-Stop system, and the steps to be taken to further make operational 
the integration of services.
    These steps may include:
     Participation in local/State activities to develop the WIA 
formula funded five-year plan;
     Participation in activities that connect workforce 
investment and education with economic development planning;
     Participation in activities that help the State Board or 
LWIB to get more agricultural employers involved in the workforce 
investment system;
     Setting co-enrollment targets (between the NFJP and the 
WIA formula funded programs) that represent a substantial increase in 
services to farmworkers;
     Creating better pathways to both basic and post-secondary 
education, specifically with community colleges;
     Entering into and implementing agreements with the State 
Board or the LWIBs and One-Stop operators to significantly increase 
outreach to farmworkers, and to significantly increase the number of 
One-Stop staff who are cross-trained in NFJP/adult and dislocated 
workers services and requirements.
    Applicants must describe their experience with developing or 
improving existing working relationships between partners in the One-
Stop system, and how that experience will be translated into improved 
services integration for eligible farmworkers.
    If the applicant is a State, an LWIB, or a One-Stop operator, this 
section should instead include a detailed description of the efforts to 
date to integrate services for farmworkers through the One-Stop system, 
the success of those efforts, and the operational steps to be 
undertaken to continue down the path of integration.
    Scoring on this factor will be based on evidence presented of the 
applicant's knowledge of and working relationship with the network of 
workforce investment and related services in the service area, 
including the One-Stop system, and the services offered by social, 
educational, faith-based, community, and health organizations that are 
available to assist farmworkers.
    Scoring will also be based on the applicant's effectiveness and 
success with causing these organizations to direct their resources to 
address the needs of farmworkers in a way that leads to maximizing the 
availability of limited NFJP resources while increasing the services 
provided to farmworkers through the One-Stop and/or through these 
service agencies.
    If the applicant is a State, an LWIB or a One-Stop operator, 
scoring will be based instead on the success of efforts to integrate 
services to farmworkers through the One-Stop system and its partners, 
or the demonstrated potential for increased services to farmworkers. 
Any success to date in enrolling and serving farmworkers in WIA 
formula-funded programs should be outlined.

Administrative Capacity--20 Points

    Applicants must demonstrate that they have adequate management 
information, performance management, case management, accounting, and 
program and fiscal reporting systems in place to ensure program and 
fiscal integrity. Because the NFJP has eligibility requirements for 
participation in the program, the applicant must also describe the 
eligibility determination and verification system in place that will 
allow for correct eligibility determinations and minimize enrollment of 
ineligible participants. Additionally, all ETA-funded job training 
programs, including the NFJP, will have to implement a data validation 
initiative intended to ensure that the data collected and reported to 
ETA is accurate. An applicant's participant and reporting system must 
be able to implement data validation procedures, as described in TEGL 
3-03, 3-03 change 1, and 3-03 change 2 (OMB clearance issued August 31, 
2004).
    Applicants must describe their systems in support of program 
integrity, such as management information, performance management, and 
program participation (including individual participant records), 
needed for reporting and performance accountability and management, and 
to establish and maintain a client-centered case management system. 
Applicants are reminded that the NFJP is subject to the common measures 
for job training and employment (Entered Employment, Employment 
Retention, and Earnings Gain Increase, described earlier in this 
solicitation), and will have to implement the data collection and 
reporting requirements for these measures during PY 2005. Therefore, 
the data collection and reporting system, and its link to performance 
management and accountability, must be described in detail.
    Fiscal integrity is a critical component of operating any 
federally-funded program. The applicant must describe a system that is 
sufficient to prepare financial reports and to trace funds to adequate 
levels of expenditures to ensure lawful spending. The system must have 
the capacity to track spending by program, to ensure that, for those 
organizations with funding from more than one Federal program, 
expenditures are posted against the appropriate program. Applicants 
must also describe their capacity to manage the supportive services, 
also described as related assistance services, and to account for 
expenditures related to these services.
    The NFJP is required to use electronic reporting via the Internet. 
Applicants must describe their capacity to provide the equipment, 
access, and staff qualified to perform on-line reporting. The applicant 
must also demonstrate its capacity to provide case management as well 
as the electronic tools to be utilized (PC, software, Internet access, 
and e-mail accounts) to implement a client-centered, case management 
system.
    Scoring on this factor will be based on evidence of effective 
systems for performance accountability and management, program and 
fiscal reporting, case management, eligibility determination and 
verification, as well as the ability to report electronically through 
the Internet.

Proposed Plan of Services--40 Points

    The proposed service plan should describe in detail the major 
program activities proposed for the State service area in PY 2005. The 
proposal should include a description of how these program activities 
will support the priorities identified in section I of this 
solicitation: expanding the network of employers; targeting high growth 
occupations; a balanced program of activities; and taking the steps to 
make operational the integration of services to farmworkers through the 
One-Stop system.

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    The proposal should describe the vision, strategy, goals and 
objectives that guide the proposed plan of service and the results 
expected from implementing the proposed plan. It should include a 
description of how this service plan will strengthen migrant and 
seasonal farmworkers' ability to obtain or retain employment, to access 
employment opportunities in high growth occupations, and/or to upgrade 
their employment opportunities within agriculture, if they so choose. 
The plan should provide clear evidence that the service plan expands 
the workforce and related services available to farmworkers due to a 
closer integration between the NFJP service strategy and the local 
workforce investment service plan, and new or stronger partnerships 
with faith-based and community organizations.
    Applicants should describe their strategy for providing related 
assistance services to farmworkers (see definition at 20 CFR 669.110). 
The numbers of participants receiving related assistance services 
should be limited to 40 percent or less of the total number of 
participants. If an organization expects that the number of 
participants they will serve through related assistance services will 
exceed 40 percent, the proposal should include a strong rationale 
explaining why that level of participation in related assistance is an 
essential element of the service strategy. It should be noted that the 
NFJP is primarily a job training program whose purpose is to assist 
eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families prepare 
for jobs that provide stable, year-round employment, both within and 
outside agriculture. Related assistance services are supportive 
services intended to assist eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers 
to retain employment or enter into or remain in training.
    If the applicant is a State, an LWIB or a One-Stop operator, the 
application must demonstrate how the service strategy achieves 
integration of services by all partners in the One-Stop system, and how 
this integration results in enhanced and improved workforce investment 
services to farmworkers.
    The program plan of service section must include descriptions of:

--The State service area covered by the plan. If the proposal is for 
less than the entire agricultural area of the State (as could be the 
case in California, for example) the plan must identify the geographic 
area where services will be provided and an explanation supporting the 
geographic area selected.
--An estimate of the number of migrant and seasonal farmworker, broken 
out by category, to be provided training services. An estimate should 
also be included of the number of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, 
broken out by category, who will be provided related assistance 
services only.
--The strategies for conducting participant outreach and recruitment, 
including the involvement, if appropriate, of faith-based and community 
organizations in those strategies, as well as other One-Stop partner 
programs.
--The proposed client-centered case management system, including the 
staff's responsibilities for managing the system, the staff development 
opportunities available to enhance staff's skills in case management, 
and the capacity to enhance community resources available for case 
management through joint alliances and/or endeavors, such as through 
the One-Stop system.
--The core services to be delivered, and how those services will be 
delivered in collaboration with the One-Stop system. Include a 
description of the eligibility determination system and how the 
applicant determines service priorities.
--The intensive services proposed, the strategy for providing them, and 
the One-Stop system's involvement in the provision of these services 
(see definition of intensive services at WIA Section 134(d)(3) and 20 
CFR 669.370). Please note that the NFJP regulations at 20 CFR 669.380 
provide that the delivery of intensive and training services should 
flow from an objective assessment process that includes an Individual 
Employment Plan. The proposal must describe the strategy for doing 
this, as well as the organization's capacity to appropriately address 
an individual's needs as identified through the objective assessment. 
Intensive services are described in WIA 134(d)(3)(C) and 20 CFR 
669.370.
--If work experience is to be offered as an activity, the process by 
which the determination to use it is based, and the strategy for 
measuring its success as a program activity. (See 20 CFR 669.370(b)(i) 
and (b)(ii)(B) for additional information on work experience 
activities.)
--The training services to be provided to eligible farmworkers, 
including the process used to determine a participant's enrollment in 
training services, and the process used when the determination is made 
not to place a participant in training. (See 20 CFR 669.410 for a 
description of training services.) In addition, the proposal should 
describe the strategy to be used to promote co-enrollment of 
participants in the WIA formula funded programs.
--The related assistance services, including supportive services, 
needed by migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents, and 
the strategy for providing those services. The proposal should provide 
separate descriptions for those farmworkers receiving supportive 
services and also intensive and/or training services, and those 
farmworkers for whom related assistance services will be the only 
services provided. It should also include a description of the process 
used to determine the need for related assistance services, the 
differences in the determination process, if any, among migrant and 
seasonal farmworker groups, and the rationale for the differences.
--The proposal should describe the applicant's strategy for balancing 
related assistance services with the need to increase employment and 
training services.
--A description of the strategies to be used to achieve performance 
results with respect to job placement, employment retention, and 
earnings gains i.e., the common measures to be implemented in PY 2005).
--The proposal should address how job placement opportunities will be 
pursued among the employers in the service area, including the 
strategies to secure job placement opportunities from new employers 
added to the network, as well as opportunities in high growth 
industries/occupations.
--The process by which the applicant will conduct follow-up services 
for those who are placed in jobs or engaged in entrepreneurial 
activities.

    Scoring on this factor will be based on evidence that the applicant 
has used the information provided in the first three rating criteria, 
described above, to develop a service strategy and a plan of service 
that leads to measurable impact on improving the employment and 
earnings of farmworkers. It will also be based on evidence that the 
plan of service contains a balanced program of activities, and a 
rationale for the proposed services, as well as evidence that the 
service plan encompasses resources and program activities available 
from other One-Stop partners and/or the local services agencies, 
including faith-based and community organizations.
    The evaluation of this factor will also assess whether the service 
strategy and service plan presented by the applicant

[[Page 21586]]

reflect a knowledge of the local workforce investment plan and propose 
services that complement that plan in a way that increases employment 
opportunities for farmworkers.
    If the applicant is a State, an LWIB or a One-Stop operator, the 
evaluation of this factor will assess opportunities for integrating 
services through the One-Stop system and its partner programs to 
improve the workforce and related services received by farmworkers. 
Special emphasis will be placed on the success achieved in enrolling 
and serving farmworkers through WIA formula-funded programs.

Review and Selection Process

    A review panel will rate each proposal according to the criteria 
scoring factors specified in this solicitation. Panel reviews are 
critical to the selection of grantees but are advisory in nature, and 
their recommendations are not binding on the Grant Officer. The Grant 
Officer, in selecting potential grantees, may consider any information 
that comes to his or her attention, including past performance of a 
previous grant and information from the program office, and will make 
the final selection determination based on what is most advantageous to 
the government. The Grant Officer may consider factors such as panel 
findings, geographic presence of the applicants, proposed areas to be 
served, and the best value to the government, cost, and other factors. 
The Grant Officer's determination for award under this SGA is final.
    The Grant Officer may elect to make awards either with or without 
discussions and negotiations with the applicant. In situations without 
discussions, an award will be based on the applicant's signature on the 
SF-424, which constitutes a binding offer.
    Applications rated by the panel with a score of less than 80 points 
will not be selected for award. In areas where there are no 
applications with a score of 80 or above, the process for selecting 
another potential grantee, described in section II, will be 
implemented.

IV. Award Administration Information

Award Notices

    The Grant Officer will notify applicants, in writing, if they are 
selected as potential grantees. The notification will invite each 
potential grantee to negotiate the final terms and conditions of the 
grant as applicable, will establish a reasonable time and place for the 
negotiations, and will indicate the specific service delivery area and 
amount of funds to be allocated under the grant. FY 2005 funds will be 
awarded for the period July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2005. Funds awarded 
under WIA Section 167 are available for expenditure for two years.
    An applicant that is not selected as a potential grantee or whose 
application has been denied in part or in whole by the Department will 
be notified in writing by the Grant Officer and advised of all appeal 
rights. The notification will outline the deficiencies as noted by the 
review panel and offer an opportunity for a debriefing. The written 
notification by the Grant Officer constitutes a final decision.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    There are no additional administrative or national policy 
requirements.

Reporting

    An applicant's proposal becomes the annual grant plan after a grant 
award is made, with additional information as appropriate and requested 
by the funding agency. WIA Section 167 grantees will be required to 
submit reports on financial expenditures, program participation, and 
participant outcomes on a quarterly basis. Grantees will also have to 
submit planned financial expenditures and planned program participation 
forms at the beginning of the program year. Grantees must report 
electronically, but may be asked to submit reports in paper form on 
occasion. As reflected earlier in this solicitation, this program is 
subject to the Common Measures for job training and employment 
programs, to be implemented beginning July 1, 2005. Grantees will be 
required to provide the data necessary to collect information for 
reporting performance results against the Common Measures. Information 
will be available in the future at http://www.doleta.gov/performance.

V. Agency Contacts

    Questions related to this solicitation may be directed to Ms. Mamie 
Williams, Grants Management Specialist, phone (202) 693-3341; fax: 
(202) 693-2879 (this is not a toll free number). Please include a 
contact name, fax and telephone number.
    This announcement is also being made available on the ETA Web site 
at http://doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm and http://www.grants.gov.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 21st day of April, 2005.
James W. Stockton,
Grant Officer.

Attachments:

Appendix A: SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance.
Appendix B: SF-424 (A)--Budget Information Form.
Appendix C: OMB Survey N. 1890-0014: Survey on Ensuring Opportunity for 
Applications.
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