[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21594-21606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8367]



[[Page 21594]]

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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, Housing Assistance for Program Year 2005

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: New. Initial announcement of a grant competition for operating 
the Housing Assistance portion of the National Farmworkers 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 04-07.
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 housing assistance 
portion of 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 the Secretary to award 
grants or contracts on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the 
purposes of carrying out the activities authorized under Section 167. 
Although housing assistance is identified in WIA as one of the 
allowable activities under the NFJP, Congressional appropriations 
language directs the Department to make available a specific amount of 
the funds appropriated for the NFJP for migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers housing assistance grants, and that no less than 70 percent 
of the specified amount must be used for permanent housing activities. 
Therefore, under this solicitation, of the $4,544,682 appropriated for 
NFJP housing assistance, approximately $3,131,217 will be available for 
permanent housing assistance and approximately $1,413,465 for temporary 
and/or emergency housing assistance.
    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 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.

I. Supplementary Information

Funding Opportunity Description

    The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training 
Administration, Office of National Programs, Division of Seasonal 
Farmworker Programs is requesting applications for grants to operate 
the housing assistance portion of the National Farmworker Jobs Program 
(NFJP) in accordance with section 167 of WIA, 29 U.S.C. 9201. The NFJP 
serves economically disadvantaged persons who primarily depend on 
employment in agricultural labor performed within the United States, 
including Puerto Rico, and who experience chronic unemployment or 
underemployment. Housing assistance is a supportive service offered to 
assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers to retain employment or enter 
into or complete training. Funds for housing assistance activities are 
made available through the NFJP appropriation included in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447).
    Housing assistance under the NFJP became available three decades 
ago as a tool to improve economic outcomes for farmworkers and was 
included as one of a number of supportive services to assist 
farmworkers to retain employment or enter into and/or remain in 
training. The NFJP regulations consider housing assistance as one of a 
number of related assistance and/or supportive services available to 
eligible farmworkers through the NFJP (20 CFR 669.430). Over time, 
however, a strong link between the provision of housing assistance and 
achievement of employment, training, and earnings gains has eroded.
    To once again establish a strong link between housing assistance 
activities and improved economic outcomes for farmworkers, the 
Department engaged in a dialogue process with current and former 
housing assistance grantees to develop a set of principles and 
definitions of housing assistance that renewed the focus on employment 
and training objectives in future solicitations/competitions. The 
results of the dialogue are the Guiding Principles and Definitions that 
follow:
Guiding Principles
    Housing assistance should leverage improved economic outcomes for 
farmworkers--Housing assistance should enable migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers to retain employment, enter into, or complete job training 
activities, and improve their earnings. Housing is a service that 
supports the economic objectives of the NFJP.
    Housing assistance services, and the strategies used to deliver 
them, should meet the needs of all farmworkers--Farmworkers seeking to 
improve their economic future have diverse housing needs. Moreover, 
these needs are not static but change over time. Strategies used to 
meet these diverse and dynamic housing assistance needs must be 
flexible and based on a mix of permanent and temporary housing and 
emergency assistance solutions tailored to regional and local needs.
    Housing developed with WIA 167 (NFJP) funding should be actively 
marketed, and broadly accessible, to NFJP-eligible farmworkers--While 
occupancy of year-round and migrant rental units is not restricted to 
NFJP-eligible farmworkers, the strong link between housing assistance 
and the economic objectives of the NFJP should translate directly into 
broad access by NFJP farmworkers to housing assistance. Providing 
housing assistance to NFJP-eligible farmworkers should be a priority.
Definitions
    Permanent Housing (and its corresponding housing assistance 
services) is defined as housing intended to be owner-occupied, or 
occupied on a permanent, year-round basis (notwithstanding ownership) 
as the farmworker's primary residence to which he/she typically returns 
at the end of the work or training day, and assists the farmworker to 
stay employed or enter into or complete job training.
    Permanent housing (services) includes: rental units, single family, 
duplexes, and other multi-family structures, dormitory, group home and 
other housing types that provide short-term, seasonal, or year-round 
housing opportunities in permanent structures. Modular structures, 
manufactured housing or mobile units placed on permanent foundations 
and supplied with appropriate utilities and other infrastructure are 
also considered permanent housing.
    Managing permanent housing assistance activities may require 
investments in development services, project management, resource 
development to secure acquisition,

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construction/renovation and operating funds, property management 
services and program management. New construction, purchase of existing 
structures, and rehabilitation of existing structures, as well as the 
infrastructure, utilities and other improvements necessary to complete 
or maintain those structures may also be considered part of managing 
permanent housing.
    Temporary housing (and its corresponding housing services, 
including emergency housing assistance) is defined as housing intended 
to meet the farmworker's need to temporarily occupy a unit of housing 
for reasons related to seeking or retaining employment, or engaging in 
training. It is not owner-occupied housing, and those farmworkers most 
likely to utilize it are those engaged in migratory employment or 
seasonal workers whose employment requires occasional travel outside 
their normal commuting area.
    Temporary housing includes housing units intended for temporary 
occupancy located in permanent structures, such as rental units in an 
apartment complex. Yurts, mobile structures, and tents that provide 
short-term, seasonal housing opportunities are also included. They may 
be moved from site to site, dismantled and re-erected when needed for 
farmworker occupancy, closed during the off-season, or other similar 
arrangements.
    Temporary housing may also be off-farm housing operated independent 
of employer interest in or control of the housing, or on-farm housing 
operated by a non-profit but located on property owned by an 
agricultural employer.
    Managing temporary housing assistance may involve property 
management of temporary housing facilities, case management and 
referral services, and emergency housing payments, including vouchers 
and cash payments for rent/lease and utilities.
    Applicants must design their programs around the aforementioned 
Guiding Principles and Definitions. Separate applications (and separate 
budgets) will be required depending on the services proposed: permanent 
housing assistance only; temporary and/or emergency housing assistance; 
or a mix of both permanent and temporary services.
    Applicants may propose to provide permanent housing assistance 
services only or temporary/emergency housing assistance services only. 
The proposal must describe the proposed housing services to be provided 
and discuss the reasons why the proposed service mix is best suited to 
meet the employment and training and program performance objectives of 
the NFJP. Awards made in cases where housing assistance services are 
proposed in a single category only (permanent or temporary/emergency) 
will reflect ETA's compliance with the Congressional mandate that 
seventy (70) percent of housing assistance funds be used to provide 
permanent housing assistance services.
    Applicants proposing to offer a mix of housing assistance services 
must clearly describe the permanent and temporary/emergency housing 
assistance services proposed to be provided, and discuss the reasons 
why the proposed service mix is best suited to meet the employment and 
training and program performance objectives of the NFJP. Separate 
budgets must be submitted for permanent and temporary/emergency housing 
assistance, respectively. These separate budget requests must conform 
to the Congressional mandate that seventy (70) percent of housing 
assistance funds be used to provide permanent housing assistance 
services.
    Housing assistance under the NFJP is subject to the requirements of 
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 Department's non-discrimination regulations at 29 CFR part 34 
and the non-discrimination regulations implementing WIA Section 188 at 
29 CFR part 37. Applicants should be familiar with 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.
    During PY 2005, DSFP will work with grantees to develop a reporting 
and performance management and accountability system that allows for 
improved tracking of activities and performance results. Until such 
system is established, applicants awarded grants will be expected to 
report in narrative form on a quarterly basis. Instructions will be 
provided to organizations once grants are awarded.

II. Award Information

    The type of assistance instrument to be used for the NFJP Housing 
Assistance program is a 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 (P.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 Housing Assistance 
program is $4,544,682. The FY 2005 appropriation for this program 
provides that no less than 70 percent of this amount shall be used for 
permanent housing activities. Therefore, approximately $3,131,217 will 
be available for permanent housing activities, and $1,413,465 will be 
available for temporary and emergency housing activities. Applicants 
are reminded that separate budgets and descriptions of activities are 
required for permanent and temporary and/or emergency housing 
assistance, in cases where the applicant organization intends to 
provide both types of services.
    In the past, housing grantees have typically provided housing 
assistance services in more than one State or area of a State. 
Therefore, for applications covering more than one area, applicants 
will be required to submit detailed information about the services to 
be provided in each of the areas covered by the proposal, including 
information regarding sub-grantees, if any. The application will also 
have to provide a detailed budget for each of the sub-grantees and 
describe the housing assistance services to be conducted by each sub-
grantee. Applications that propose to use sub-grantees but contain one 
budget for the entire project, without the breakdown for the sub-
grantees, will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
    The number and funding amount of a grant will vary depending on the 
number of applications received and found to be fundable. In the past, 
awards have ranged from approximately $150,000 to approximately 
$1,000,000.

    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, the budget 
proposal, 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

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right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the 
application.

III. Eligibility Information

    Eligible Applicants: Applicants need not be a current or prior 
housing assistance grantee to establish eligibility to be awarded a 
grant under this solicitation. State agencies and State Boards, LWIBs, 
and faith-based and community organizations are examples of the 
entities eligible to apply for a grant award.
    To provide housing assistance services to eligible migrant and 
seasonal farmworkers under WIA Section 167, whether permanent, 
temporary/emergency, or a mix of both, the Department will select those 
proposals that are deemed most responsive to the requirements of this 
solicitation, as reviewed and scored during the review panel process. 
To that end, proposals must show that the applicant:

--Has an understanding of the housing market in the area(s) they 
propose to serve, as well as an understanding of the housing needs of 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers;
--Has a familiarity with the housing conditions in the proposed service 
area, the housing assistance available from other agencies in the 
service area, and the impact of both those elements on the housing 
needs of farmworkers; and
--Has the capacity to effectively administer a housing assistance 
program with the proper administrative and fiscal oversight and 
integrity.

    Additionally, to be responsive to the requirements of this 
solicitation, applicants must demonstrate how the proposed service plan 
will support the Guiding Principles described in Section I of this 
solicitation.
    Applicants must describe their collaboration and working 
relationships with other agencies in the proposed service area that may 
provide housing or employment assistance, such as the One-Stop system 
and the wider community of social service agencies, including faith-
based and community organizations. The proposal should describe the 
expected results of those relationships on the development of and 
enhanced housing assistance services for farmworkers under this grant, 
if an award is made.
    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 are excluded from Federal 
financial assistance and are ineligible to receive a WIA Section 167 
housing assistance 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 testing 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 
requirements of this section may be disqualified for selection as 
grantees, irrespective of their standing in the competition. Any 
applicant 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 utilized in the selection of grant recipients 
and sub-recipients.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Address To Request Application Package--This 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.
    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, dated 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 or 
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 discuss precisely how the 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 20 numbered 
pages, double-spaced and 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.
     No cost data or reference to prices should be included in 
the Technical Proposal. Instead, applicants should include 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 
20-page limitation.
    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

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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 04-07, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4438, 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 delay 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.

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 no 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 no 
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 place 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 (E.O.) 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 E.O. 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 the E.O., the Department establishes a 
timeframe for the treatment of comments from the State's SPOC on WIA 
Section 167 applications (including housing assistance). The SPOC must 
submit comments, if any, to the Department and the applicant no later 
than 30 days after the deadline for submission of the application. 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. The Department will notify the SPOC of its 
decision regarding the SPOC comments and the applicant's response, and 
implement that decision within 10 days after notification to 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 Restrictions--As mentioned earlier in this document, 
appropriations language requires that no less than 70 percent of the 
funds available through this solicitation must be spent on permanent 
housing activities. Given this requirement, applicants should clearly 
identify the types of housing assistance services that will be provided 
to farmworkers, particularly in cases where an applicant is proposing 
to provide both permanent and temporary housing assistance.
    Applicants are advised that the requirement to spend 70 percent of 
the funds available through this solicitation on permanent housing may 
affect the number of applications funded and/or the amount of funding 
per grant.
    Administrative costs are limited to fifteen (15) percent of the 
grant (see definition of administrative costs at 20 CFR part 667.220). 
Administrative costs higher than fifteen (15) percent will not be 
approved.
    Other Submission Requirements--All other submission materials are 
identified in the various sections of this solicitation.

V. Application Review Information

    Criteria--The following full review criteria, totaling a maximum of 
100 points, applies to all applications:
Understanding the Housing Assistance Needs of the Eligible Migrant and 
Seasonal Farmworkers in the Proposed Service Area(s)--20 Points
    Understanding the housing market in the proposed service area(s) 
and the problems faced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers in accessing 
that market is critical to the formulation of an effective housing 
assistance strategy. In addition, an effective strategy of outreach to 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers is essential to meeting their housing 
assistance needs.
    Applicants must describe the housing market in the proposed service 
area(s), including a description of employer-provided housing, if any; 
publicly-subsidized housing, if any; and the problems encountered by 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers in accessing affordable housing. 
Include a discussion of the problems faced by migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers in getting and keeping a job, or in participating in 
training activities that lead to improved economic outcomes, as a 
result of housing needs going unmet. Applicants must also describe 
their strategy for identifying and conducting outreach to eligible 
farmworkers with housing needs. In cases where a number of different 
organizations are jointly applying, this section must include the 
requested information for each of the areas covered by the potential 
sub-grantee organizations.
    Scoring on this factor will be based on the quality of the 
applicant's analysis of the housing market in the area(s) of proposed 
services, including any studies and analyses conducted to determine 
farmworker housing assistance needs. Scoring will also take into 
account the quality of the

[[Page 21598]]

applicant's analysis of housing assistance available through other 
housing assistance organizations, including faith-based and community 
organizations, and the applicants' plans to integrate their housing 
assistance services with those already present in the proposed area(s). 
The applicant's analysis must demonstrate a depth of knowledge about 
the housing market in the service area(s) and how housing availability 
impacts a farmworker's ability to obtain and retain employment, or 
participate in training or other activities that lead to improved 
economic outcomes.
Familiarity With the Proposed Service Area(s)--20 Points
    Familiarity with the housing conditions in the proposed service 
area(s) and the housing assistance available from other sources in that 
area(s) is essential to providing housing assistance services that are 
appropriate for the migrant and seasonal farmworkers in need of 
services and to assure non-duplicative use of WIA Section 167 housing 
assistance funds.
    Applicants must provide an analysis of the housing assistance 
resources available from all sources in the proposed service area(s), 
including employer-sponsored housing, State and local agencies, the 
One-Stop system, and housing assistance organizations, including faith-
based and community organizations. Applicants must describe their 
efforts to engage these resources on behalf of farmworkers, including 
any successful efforts in the past, and the results of those efforts. 
Applicants must also describe the strategies they propose for eligible 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers, emphasizing the different strategies 
for each farmworker population. In cases where a number of different 
organizations are jointly applying, this section must include the 
requested information for each of the areas covered by the potential 
sub-grantees.
    Scoring on this factor will be based on the comprehensiveness and 
quality of the mapping of housing assistance resources available from 
sources other than WIA Section 167 funds, and the effectiveness of the 
applicant's strategy for using other housing assistance funds to 
maximize the housing assistance services available to migrant and 
seasonal farmworkers.
Administrative Capacity--20 Points
    The capacity to effectively administer a housing assistance program 
is contingent on effective and efficient systems to assure program and 
fiscal oversight and integrity.
    Applicants must describe the management information and performance 
management systems to be used for reporting, and its performance 
accountability and management, fiscal management, and case management 
systems. The applicant must include a clear description of its 
experience with performance management systems and how the results 
achieved were applied to improved customer service. The discussion 
should include a description of how eligibility to receive housing 
assistance services will be determined, including how that ties to 
improved employment outcomes, as well a discussion of whether the 
criteria used to determine eligibility differs among migrant and 
seasonal farmworker groups, and, if so, what the differences are, and 
the rationale for them.
    Applicants must also describe their recordkeeping system in 
sufficient detail to demonstrate that it is sufficient to prepare 
financial reports and to trace funds to adequate levels of expenditures 
to ensure lawful spending.
    Please note that in cases where a number of different organizations 
are applying together, the lead agency will be expected to prepare a 
``roll-up'' or aggregated report that clearly identifies the 
expenditures of each sub-grantee individually, as well as the combined 
total.
    The WIA Section 167 housing assistance program is required to use 
electronic reporting via the Internet. The applicant must describe its 
capacity to provide the equipment (including PCs, software for word 
processing and spreadsheets, individual e-mail accounts), access 
(including Internet access), and staff qualified to perform on-line 
reporting.
    Scoring on this factor will be based on the quality and 
comprehensiveness of evidence presented to demonstrate that the 
applicant has effective management, program and fiscal accounting and 
reporting systems.
Proposed Activities and Services--40 Points
    The applicant's discussion of the proposed approach to providing 
specific housing assistance services (permanent, temporary/emergency, 
or both) is the most important single element of the application. With 
regard to the requirements below, this section should clearly indicate 
whether different housing services strategies will be employed to meet 
the housing and related employment and training needs of seasonal 
farmworkers versus migrant farmworkers.

Permanent Housing Assistance

    Applicants proposing to carry out permanent housing activities only 
must describe their system for identifying farmworkers in need of 
permanent housing assistance, including the process for eligibility 
determination and coordination with the NFJP grantee and the overall 
One-Stop system in the state to ensure that the housing assistance 
supports an employment outcome or training objective for farmworkers 
eligible for NFJP services.
    The plan must describe all the phases of the permanent housing 
project, including pre-development activities, housing development, 
construction, lease-up, and post-leasing activities (or the activities 
leading to successful rehabilitation of existing permanent housing), 
and include a timeline that estimates the length of time required for 
each project to be undertaken. It must include a description of the 
housing counseling activities to be provided to farmworkers (including 
information on first-time home ownership); technical assistance to 
other housing organizations, if appropriate; and a description of the 
system that will be used to capture the number of referrals made from 
the NFJP grantee or other One-Stop system partners to permanent housing 
facilities or units established through a permanent housing program. 
The plan should include an estimate of the number of farmworkers to be 
assisted through the permanent housing program, and an estimate of how 
many of those farmworkers are also NFJP-eligible farmworkers.

Temporary and/or Emergency Housing Assistance

    Applicants proposing to carry out temporary and/or emergency 
housing assistance only must describe their system for identifying 
farmworkers in need of temporary and/or emergency housing assistance, 
including the process for eligibility determination and coordination 
with the NFJP grantee in the State to ensure that the housing 
assistance supports an employment outcome or training objective for 
those farmworkers who are NFJP-eligible, as well as other One-Stop 
partner programs that might make referrals. The plan must include a 
description of the case management approach to be used and the way the 
organization proposes to manage the delivery of temporary and/or 
emergency housing assistance services. It must also describe the 
specific housing assistance services to be offered and the estimated 
number of migrant and seasonal farmworkers to be served through each 
proposed service

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(i.e., temporary and emergency housing, respectively). Separate 
information should be provided for temporary housing and for emergency 
housing. The plan must also describe how eligible farmworkers' housing 
assistance will be coordinated with training and related assistance 
services provided through the NFJP grantee if the applicant did not 
apply for or is not awarded an NFJP grant, as well as the Local 
Workforce Investment Board(s), which oversees strategic planning for 
all One-Stop partner programs.
    Permanent and Temporary/Emergency Housing Assistance--Applicants 
proposing to conduct a plan of service that encompasses both permanent 
and temporary and emergency housing activities must provide all of the 
information requested above.
    All applicants are responsible for clearly identifying the 
organization that will be responsible for delivering the services, 
whether permanent or temporary and/or emergency, in each proposed 
service area, i.e., the descriptions requested above must be included 
for each organization that will deliver housing services in cases where 
a number of different organizations are jointly applying.
    Scoring on this factor will be based on evidence that the applicant 
has effectively used its knowledge and experience as presented in the 
sections listed above, as applicable, to develop a housing assistance 
strategy and plan of service that successfully meets the objectives of 
the Guiding Principles described in Section I of this solicitation and 
is appropriately tailored to meet the needs of migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers in the service area(s).

Review and Selection Process

    The Grant Officer will select potential grantees utilizing all 
information available to him/her. A review panel will rate each 
proposal according to the criteria 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 may, at his/her discretion, request an 
applicant to submit additional or clarifying information if needed to 
make a selection. Please note that selections may be made without 
further contact with the applicants. In such situations, an award will 
be based on the SF 424, which constitutes a binding offer.

VI. 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 
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, through June 30, 2006, and will be 
available for expenditure for two years.
    An applicant that is not selected as a potential grantee or whose 
application has been denied in whole or in part by the Department will 
be notified in writing by the Grant Officer and advised of all appeal 
rights.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    There are no additional administrative or national policy 
requirements besides those discussed elsewhere in this solicitation.

Reporting

    Reporting for the WIA Section 167 housing assistance program is 
under development; applicants awarded grants will be apprised of the 
progress of the development and the implications for grantees. Grantees 
will be required to submit reports on financial expenditures on a 
quarterly basis. In addition, until the reporting system is 
operational, grantees will be required to submit narrative reports on 
program participation and participant outcomes.

VII. 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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[FR Doc. 05-8367 Filed 4-25-05; 8:45 am]
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