[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20484-20494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3627]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Veterans' Employment and Training Service

[SGA 06-03/PY 06]


Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA); Veterans' Workforce 
Investment Program (VWIP) Grants for Program Year (PY) 2006, July 1, 
2006 Through June 30, 2007

AGENCY: Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), Labor.

ACTION: Posting of SGA.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans' Employment and Training Service is posting 
availability of funds for the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cassandra Mitchell, Grants Management 
Specialist, Procurement Services Center, at (202) 693-4570.
    Date Extension: N/A.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of the application is May 22, 2006 
at 5 p.m. (eastern time) at the address listed: U.S. Department of 
Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attn: Cassandra Mitchell, Re: SGA 
06-03, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, Washington, 
DC 20210.

Executive Summary

    The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Veterans' Employment and 
Training Service (VETS), announces a grant competition under the 
Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) for Program Year (PY) 
2006, as authorized under Section 168 of the Workforce Investment Act 
(WIA) of 1998. This Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) notice 
contains all of the necessary information and forms needed to apply for 
grant funding. Selected programs will assist eligible veterans by 
providing employment, training, support services, credentialing, 
networking information, and/or other assistance.
    Under this Program Year (PY) 2006 SGA, VETS anticipates that up to 
$6,900,000 will be available for grant awards up to a maximum of 
$750,000 for each grant award. VETS expects to award approximately nine 
(9) grants. The period of performance for these PY 2006 grants will be 
July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. Two (2) optional years of 
additional funding may be available, depending upon Congressional 
appropriations, the agency's decision to exercise the optional year(s) 
of funding, and satisfactory grantee and sub-awardee(s) performance.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    WIA section 168 amended the training programs made available to 
veterans (see 29 U.S.C. 2913). WIA section 168 authorizes the 
Department of Labor to make grants to meet the needs for workforce 
investment activities of veterans with service-connected disabilities, 
veterans who have significant barriers to employment, veterans who 
served on active duty in the armed forces during a war or in a campaign 
or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and 
recently separated veterans within 48 months of discharge (under

[[Page 20485]]

conditions other than dishonorable). Veterans who received a 
``dishonorable'' discharge are ineligible for VWIP services. Priority 
of service for veterans in the Department of Labor training programs is 
established in 38 U.S.C. 4215.
    The Department of Labor is authorized to competitively award VWIP 
grants to public agencies and private non-profit organizations 
(including faith-based and community organizations) that the Secretary 
determines to have an understanding of the unemployment problems of 
veterans, familiarity with the area to be served, linkages with the 
One-Stop Career Centers, and the capability to administer a program of 
workforce investment activities for such veterans effectively.

1. Program Concept and Emphasis

    VWIP grants are intended to address two objectives: (a) To provide 
services to assist in reintegrating eligible veterans into meaningful 
employment within the labor force; and (b) to stimulate the development 
of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex 
employability problems facing eligible veterans.
    For this Program Year (PY) 2006 grant solicitation, VETS seeks 
applicants that will provide services through a case management 
approach that networks with Federal, State, and local resources for 
veteran support programs. Successful applicants will propose clear 
strategies and obtainable goals for employment and retention of 
employment for eligible veterans.
    Successful applicants will design programs that assist eligible 
veterans by providing outreach, intake, pre-enrollment assessment, job 
placement services, job training, counseling, mentoring, supportive 
services, and other assistance to expedite the reintegration of 
eligible veterans into the labor force. Grantees and sub-awardee(s) are 
to coordinate efforts on behalf of participants with local One-Stop 
Career Centers that provide employment and training services such as 
basic skills instruction, training necessary to fill gaps in academic 
or experiential requirements necessary for a license or professional 
certification, remedial education activities, job search activities 
including job search workshops, job counseling, job preparatory 
training including resume writing and interviewing skills, subsidized 
trial employment, on-the-job training, classroom training, and various 
other employment related services. Some examples of employment 
opportunities might include health care professions, information 
technology, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, financial services, 
or other occupations where a license or certification is either 
required or desirable. Successful applicants will also design programs 
that are flexible in addressing the universal as well as the local or 
regional problems that have had a negative impact on eligible veterans 
reentering the 21st century workforce.
    The VWIP in PY 2006 will seek to continue to strengthen development 
of effective service delivery systems, to provide comprehensive 
services through a case management approach that addresses complex 
problems facing eligible veterans trying to transition into gainful 
employment, and to improve strategies for employment and retention in 
employment.

2. Project Awareness Program Information and Orientation Activities

    In order to promote networking between the VWIP-funded program and 
local service providers (and thereby eliminate gaps or duplication in 
services and enhance the provision of assistance to participants), the 
grantee and sub-awardee(s) must provide project orientation workshops 
and program awareness activities that it determines are the most 
feasible for providing information about the VWIP program to other 
service providers. Grantees and sub-awardee(s) are encouraged to 
propose strategies for incorporating small faith-based and community 
organizations (defined as organizations with social services budgets of 
$500,000 or less and ten (10) or fewer full-time employees) into their 
outreach plans. Project orientation workshops conducted by grantees and 
sub-awardee(s) have been an effective means of sharing information and 
informing the community of the availability of other services; they are 
encouraged, but not mandatory. Rather, grantees and sub-awardee(s) will 
have the flexibility to attend service provider meetings, seminars, and 
conferences, to outstation staff, and to develop individual service 
contracts as well as to involve other agencies in program planning.

3. Coordination and Collaboration With the Disabled Veterans' Outreach 
Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) 
Staff at the One-Stop Career Center Office in Their Jurisdiction Is 
Required

    DVOP and LVER staff members are an integral part of the One-Stop 
Career Centers. Additionally, wherever possible, DVOP and LVER staff 
should be utilized for job development and placement activities for 
veterans who are ready to enter employment and/or who are in need of 
intensive case management services for employment purposes. Many of 
these DVOP and LVER staff members have received training in case 
management for employment purposes at the National Veterans Training 
Institute and have a priority focus on assisting those veterans most at 
a disadvantage in the labor market. VETS requires successful applicants 
to collaborate and coordinate with DVOP and LVER staff to avoid 
duplication of efforts and to achieve economies of resources.

4. Scope of Program Design

    In addition to the activities described above, the project design 
must include the following services:
    A. Outreach, intake, assessment, peer counseling and mentoring to 
the degree practical, employment services, and follow-up support 
services to enhance retention in employment. Program staff providing 
outreach services should have experience in dealing with, and an 
understanding of the needs of, veterans. Outreach activities must 
include and coordinate with the local Homeless Veterans' Reintegration 
Program (HVRP), if applicable, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    B. Provision of or referral to employment services such as: Job 
search workshops, job counseling, assessment of skills, resume writing 
techniques, interviewing skills, subsidized trial employment (work 
experience), job development services, job placement into unsubsidized 
employment, and job placement follow-up services to enhance retention 
in employment.
    C. Provision of or referral to training services such as: Basic 
skills instruction, remedial education activities, life skills and 
money management training, on-the-job training, classroom training, 
vocational training, specialized and/or licensing training programs, 
and other formal training programs as deemed appropriate to benefit the 
participant. At least 80% of the enrolled VWIP participants must 
participate in training activities.
    D. Grantees and sub-awardee(s) must perform a preliminary 
assessment of each participant's eligibility for Department of Veterans 
Affairs (DVA) service-connected disability, compensation, and/or 
pension benefits. As appropriate, grantees and sub-awardee(s) will work 
with the veterans' service organizations or refer the participants to 
DVA in order to file a claim for compensation or pension. Grantees and 
sub-awardee(s) will track the progress of claims and report outcomes in 
individual participant case management records.

[[Page 20486]]

    E. Networking, collaborating, and coordinating efforts with 
veterans' service organizations such as: The American Legion, Disabled 
American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of 
America, The American Veterans (AMVETS), or etc., to ensure 
participants apply for and/or receive other veterans' benefits that 
they may be eligible for.
    F. Referral as necessary to health care, counseling, and 
rehabilitative services including, but not limited to: Alcohol and drug 
rehabilitation, therapeutic services, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 
(PTSD) services, and mental health services.

5. Results-Oriented Model

    No specific model is mandatory, but successful applicants will 
design a program that is responsive to the needs of the local community 
and achieves the VWIP objectives. The VWIP objectives are to 
successfully reintegrate veterans into the workforce and to stimulate 
the development of effective service delivery systems that will address 
the complex problems facing veterans. Under the Government Performance 
and Results Act (GPRA), Congress and the public are looking for program 
results rather than program processes. Priority of service for veterans 
in the Department of Labor training programs is established in 38 
U.S.C. 4215.
    For purposes of assessing performance of grantees selected under 
this SGA, VETS will focus on two performance measures described below. 
However, grantees also will be required to report additional 
performance information, as required in DOL guidance on OMB Common 
Measures and as described below. All performance outcomes will be 
reported quarterly using an Internet-based reporting system for VWIP, 
with access provided to successful grantees after the award process has 
been completed.
    There are two (2) outcome measures with established performance 
targets for VWIP grants. The first outcome measure is the placement 
rate with a performance target for grantees and sub-awardee(s) to meet 
a minimum placement rate of 61.5%. This is determined by dividing the 
number of participants placed into employment by the total number of 
VWIP participants. While the percentage of VWIP participants placed 
into employment is an important outcome, it is also necessary to 
evaluate and measure the program's longer-term results, through the 90-
day and 180-day follow-up periods. The second outcome measure is 
retention following placement with a performance target for grantees 
and sub-awardee(s) to meet a minimum rate of retention of 58.5% at 180 
days following placement. This is determined by dividing the number of 
participants retained in employment at 180 days following placement 
divided by the total number of participants placed into employment. 
While there is no performance target established for retention at 90 
days following placement, grantees are required to collect and report 
the rate of retention in employment at that point.
    In applying the Common Measures, grantees will be required to 
collect additional information according to the Common Measures 
definitions but no performance targets for grantees will be established 
according to those definitions during this period of performance. That 
is because the baseline information required to establish performance 
targets does not yet exist. Upon award, grantees will be provided with 
detailed information regarding the specific information required to be 
collected and reported. At this point, it is sufficient for grantees to 
be aware of two requirements in addition to the requirements identified 
above. First, it will be necessary for grantees to collect and report 
on the rate of retention in employment at 270 days following placement 
into employment. Second, at the 180 day and 270 day points of retention 
in employment following placement, grantees will be required to collect 
and report the average weekly earnings of those retained in employment. 
This is calculated by multiplying each participant's hourly wage by the 
average number of hours per week that the participant was employed 
during the previous quarter.
    The applicant's program should be based on a results-oriented 
model. The first phase of activity should consist of the level of 
outreach necessary to introduce the program to eligible veterans. 
Outreach also includes establishing contact with other agencies that 
encounter eligible veterans. Once the eligible veterans have been 
identified, an assessment must be made of each individual's abilities, 
interests, needs, and barriers to employment.
    A determination should be made as to whether the VWIP enrolled 
participant would benefit from pre-employment preparation such as 
resume writing, job search workshops, related employment counseling, 
and case management, or possibly an initial entry into the job market 
through temporary jobs. Additionally, sheltered work environments such 
as the Department of Veterans' Affairs Compensated Work Therapy 
Program, classroom training, and/or on-the-job training must be 
evaluated. Such services should be noted in an Individual Employment 
Plan (IEP) to facilitate the staff's successful monitoring of the 
participant's progress. Entry into full-time employment or a specific 
job-training program should follow, in keeping with the overall 
objective of VWIP, to assist the eligible veteran in finding and 
obtaining meaningful employment. The grantee should provide or arrange 
for these supportive services that will enable the VWIP enrolled 
participant to successfully perform all the activities specified in the 
IEP.
    Job development, a crucial part of the employability process, 
usually occurs when there are no competitive job openings that the 
VWIP-enrolled participant is qualified to apply for; therefore, a job 
opportunity with an employer is created, developed, and customized 
specifically for that VWIP enrolled participant. VWIP-enrolled 
participants who are ready to enter employment and/or who are in need 
of intensive case management services or employment purposes are to be 
referred to the DVOP and LVER staff at a One-Stop Career Center. DVOP 
and LVER staff are able to provide VWIP participants the following 
services: job development, employment services, case management for 
employment purposes and career counseling. All DVOP and LVER staff 
provides employment-related services to veterans who are most at a 
disadvantage in the labor market. DVOP/LVER staff may also be able to 
provide valuable assistance to grantees and sub-awardees in tracking 
participants in their State wage record management information system 
for follow-up purposes at 90 and 180 days after a participant enters 
employment.
    The applicant's program must include tracking of program 
participants. Tracking should begin with the referral to supportive 
services and training, continue through placement into employment and 
through the 90-day and 180-day follow-up periods after entering 
employment. It is important that the grantee and sub-awardee(s) 
maintain contact with veterans after placement to ensure that 
employment-related problems are addressed. The 90-day and 180-day 
follow-ups are fundamental to assessing program results. Grantees and 
sub-awardee(s) need to budget for 90-day and 180-day follow-up activity 
so that it can be performed for those participants placed at or near 
the end of the grant performance period. All grantees and sub-
awardee(s), prior to the end of the

[[Page 20487]]

grant performance period, must obligate sufficient funds to ensure that 
follow-up activities are completed. Such results will be reported in 
the final technical performance report.

II. Award Information

1. Type of Funding Instrument

    One (1) year grant with optional funding for an additional two 
years.

    Note: Selection of an organization as a Grantee does not 
constitute final approval of the grant application as submitted. 
Before the actual grant is awarded, USDOL 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.

2. Funding Levels

    The total funding available for this VWIP solicitation is up to 
$6,900,000. It is anticipated that approximately nine (9) awards will 
be made under this solicitation. Awards are expected to range from a 
minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $750,000. Please be advised that 
requests exceeding $750,000 will be considered non-responsive and will 
not be evaluated. If there are any residual program funds the Grant 
Officer may select the application(s) to award a grant up to one (1) 
year after the initial performance period begins or June 30, 2007.

3. Period of Performance

    The period of performance will be for the twelve (12) month period 
of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, unless modified by the Grant Officer. 
It is expected that successful applicants will begin program operations 
under this solicitation on July 1, 2006. All program funds must be 
obligated by June 30, 2007; a limited amount of funds may be obligated 
and reserved for follow-up activities and closeout.

4. Optional Year Funding

    Should Congress appropriate additional funds for this purpose, VETS 
may consider up to two (2) additional years of optional funding. The 
Government does not, however, guarantee optional year funding for any 
grantee or sub-awardee(s). In deciding whether to exercise any optional 
year(s) of funding, VETS will consider grantee and sub-awardee(s) 
performance during the previous period of operations as follows:
    A. The grantee and sub-awardee(s) must meet, at minimum, 90% of 
planned cumulative goals for Federal expenditures, enrollments, 
placements into employment, and training by the end of the third 
quarter; and
    B. The grantee and sub-awardee(s) must have complied with all terms 
identified in the Solicitation for Grant Application (SGA), General and 
Special Grant Provisions, and grant award document; and
    C. All program and fiscal reports must have been submitted by the 
established due dates and must be verified for accuracy.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications for funds will be accepted from public agencies and 
non-profit organizations, including faith-based and community 
organizations, that are determined to have familiarity with the area 
and population to be served and can administer an effective program, 
under WIA section 168(a)(2).
    Eligible applicants generally fall into one of the following 
categories:
     State and local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), 
established under Sections 111 and 117 of the Workforce Investment Act.
     Public agencies, meaning any public agency of a State or 
of a general purpose political subdivision of a State that has the 
power to levy taxes and spend funds, as well as general corporate and 
police powers. (This typically refers to cities and counties.) A State 
agency may propose in its application to serve one or more of the 
jurisdictions located in its State. This does not preclude a city or 
county agency from submitting an application to serve its own 
jurisdiction.
     Non-profit organizations (including faith-based and 
community organizations). If claiming 501(c)(3) status, the Internal 
Revenue Service statement indicating 501(c)(3) status approval must be 
submitted.
     Applicants for VWIP must satisfy a ``responsibility 
review'' that demonstrates an ability to administer Federal funds. See 
20 CFR 667.170.
     Note that entities organized under Section 501(c)(4) of 
the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities are not 
eligible to receive funds under this announcement. Section 18 of the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-65, 109 Stat. 691 (2 
U.S.C. 1611) prohibits instituting an award, grant, or loan of Federal 
funds to 501(c) (4) entities that engage in lobbying.
     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 VWIP grant.

2. Cost Sharing

    Although VETS encourages applicants to use cost sharing and 
matching funds, Veterans Workforce Investment Grants do not require 
grantees or sub-awardee(s) to share costs or provide matching funds. 
However, we do encourage grantees and sub-awardee(s) to maximize the 
resources available to the VWIP program and its participants.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

    A. Programs must be ``employment-focused.'' An ``employment-
focused'' program is a program directed toward: (1) Increasing the 
employability of eligible veterans through training or arranging for 
the provision of services that will enable them reintegrate into the 
labor force and (2) matching eligible veterans with potential employers 
and/or entrepreneurial opportunities.
    B. Applicants are encouraged to utilize, through partnerships and/
or sub-award(s), experienced public agencies, private non-profit 
organizations, private businesses, faith-based and community 
organizations, and colleges and universities (especially those with 
traditionally high enrollments of minorities) that have an 
understanding of unemployment and the barriers to employment unique to 
eligible veterans, a familiarity with the area to be served, and the 
capability to effectively provide the necessary services.
    C. Legal rules pertaining to inherently religious activities by 
organization that receive Federal Financial Assistance. 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-awardees. The government is 
generally prohibited from providing direct financial assistance for 
inherently religious activities. These grants may not be used for 
religious instruction, worship, prayer, proselytizing or their 
inherently religious activities. 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. 
In other 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

[[Page 20488]]

``indirect'' or ``block'' grant assistance). The term ``direct'' has 
the former meaning in this paragraph.

4. Participant Eligibility Criteria

    To be eligible for participation in a training program administered 
under VWIP, an individual must be a veteran who falls within one of the 
following categories: ``* * * veterans with service-connected 
disabilities, veterans who have significant barriers to employment, 
veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a war or 
in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been 
authorized, and recently separated veterans [those within 48 months of 
discharge].'' See Section 168 (a)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1.Address To Request an Application and Amendments

    This SGA, together with its attachments, includes all the 
information needed to apply. Additional application packages and 
amendments to this SGA may be obtained from the VETS Web site address 
at http://www.dol.gov/vets, or Federal Grant Opportunities Web site 
address at http://www.grants.gov, and from the Federal Register Web 
site address at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. The Federal 
Register may also be obtained from your nearest government office or 
library. Additional copies of the standard forms can be downloaded 
from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html.
    All grant applications are to be mailed to: Department of Labor, 
Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Reference 
SGA 06-03, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5416, 
Washington, DC 20210, Phone Number: (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-
free number).
     Applicants may also apply online at http://www.grants.gov. 
Applicants submitting proposals online are requested to refrain from 
mailing an application as well. It is strongly recommended that 
applicants using http://www.grants.gov immediately initiate and 
complete the ``Get Started'' registration steps at http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. These steps may take multiple days to 
complete, and this time should be factored into plans for electronic 
submission in order to avoid facing unexpected delays that could result 
in the rejection of an application. If submitting electronically 
through http://www.grants.gov it would be appreciated if the 
application submitted is saved as .doc, .pdf, or .txt files.
     Except as provided in Section IV.3., any application 
received after the deadline will be considered as non-responsive and 
will not be evaluated.

2. Content and Form of Application

    The application must include the name, address, telephone number 
and fax numbers, and e-mail address (if applicable) of a key contact 
person at the applicant's organization in case questions should arise. 
To be considered responsive to this solicitation the application must 
consist of three (3) separate and distinct sections: The Executive 
Summary, the Technical Proposal, and the Cost Proposal. The information 
provided in these three (3) sections is essential to demonstrate an 
understanding of the programmatic and fiscal contents of the grant 
proposal.
    A complete grant application package must not exceed 75 single-
sided pages (8\1/2\'' x 11''), double-spaced, 12-point font, typed 
pages (all attachments are included in the 75 page maximum). 
Applications that contain more than 75 pages total will be considered 
non-responsive. Major sections and sub-sections of the application 
should be divided and clearly identified (e.g. with tab dividers), and 
all pages shall be numbered. To be considered responsive grant 
applications are to include:
     An original, blue ink-signed, and two (2) copies of the 
cover letter.
     An original and two (2) copies of the Executive Summary 
(see below).
     An original and two (2) copies of the Technical Proposal 
(see below) that includes a completed Technical Performance Goals Form 
(Appendix D). Also include all attachments with the technical proposal, 
such as the applicant's information showing outcomes of employment and 
training programs that it has had in the past three (3) years in terms 
of enrollments and participants who have entered into employment.
     An original and two (2) copies of the Cost Proposal (see 
below) that includes an original, blue ink-signed, Application for 
Federal Assistance, SF-424 (Appendix A), a Budget Narrative, Budget 
Information Sheet SF-424A (Appendix B), an original, blue ink-signed, 
Assurances and Certifications Signature Page (Appendix C), a Direct 
Cost Description for Applicants and Sub-applicants (Appendix E), a 
completed Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Appendix 
F), and the applicant's grant specific financial audit and/or audit 
statement dated within the last 18 months (does not count towards the 
75 page limitation).
    A. Section 1--Executive Summary: A one to two page ``Executive 
Summary'' reflecting the grantees' and sub-awardee(s) proposed overall 
strategy, timeline, and outcomes to be achieved in their grant proposal 
is required. The Executive Summary should include:
     The proposed area to be served through the activities of 
this grant.
     The grantee's experience in serving the residents in the 
proposed service area.
     The proposed projects and activities that will expedite 
the reintegration of eligible veterans into the workforce.
     A summary of anticipated outcomes, benefits, and value 
added by the project.
    B. Section 2--Technical Proposal consists of a narrative proposal 
that demonstrates the need for this particular grant program, the 
services and activities proposed to obtain successful outcomes for 
eligible veterans to be served; and the applicant's ability to 
accomplish the expected outcomes of the proposed project design.
    Required Content: There are program activities that all 
applications must contain to be found technically acceptable under this 
SGA. Programs must be ``employment-focused'' and must be responsive to 
the rating criteria in Section V(1). The required program activities 
are: Participant outreach and project awareness activities, pre-
enrollment assessments, individual employment plans for each enrolled 
participant, case management, job placement, job retention follow-up at 
90 and 180 days after individual enters employment, utilization and 
coordination of employment services through the One-Stop Career Center 
System, including the DVOP and LVER staff, and with community linkages 
with other programs that provide support to eligible veterans. These 
activities are described in section I. of this SGA.
    The following format for the technical proposal is recommended:
    Need for the program: The applicant must identify the geographical 
area to be served and provide an estimate of the number of eligible 
veterans in the designated geographical area. Include poverty and 
unemployment rates in the area and identify the disparities in the 
local community infrastructure that exacerbate the employment barriers 
faced by the targeted veterans, including regulations or other 
restrictions on the recognition of relevant military training by 
civilian licensing or certification authorities. Include labor market 
information on the outlook for job

[[Page 20489]]

opportunities in the employment fields and industries that are in 
demand in the geographical area to be served. Applicants are to clearly 
describe the proposed program awareness and participant outreach 
strategies.
    Approach or strategy to increase employment and job retention: 
Applicants must be responsive to the Rating Criteria contained in 
Section V(1) and address all of the rating factors as thoroughly as 
possible in the narrative. The applicant must:
     Describe the specific employment and training services to 
be provided under this grant and the sequence or flow of such services;
     Indicate the type(s) of training that will be provided 
under the grant and how it relates to the jobs that are in demand, 
length of training, training curriculum, and how the training will 
improve the eligible veterans' employment opportunities within that 
geographical area;
     Provide a follow-up plan that addresses retention after 90 
and 180 days with participants who have entered employment;
     Include the completed Planned Quarterly Technical 
Performance Goals (and planned expenditures) form listed in Appendix D. 
If the Planned Quarterly Technical Performance Goals form listed in 
Appendix D is not completed and submitted, the grant application 
package will be considered as non-responsive.
    Linkages with facilities that serve eligible veterans: Describe 
program and resource linkages with other facilities that will be 
involved in identifying potential clients for this program. Applicants 
are encouraged to submit a list of their local area network of service 
providers that offer and provide services to benefit VWIP participants. 
Describe any networks with other related resources and/or other 
programs that serve eligible veterans. Indicate how the program will be 
coordinated with any efforts that are conducted by public and private 
agencies in the community. If an MOU or other service agreement with 
service providers exists, copies should be provided.
    Linkages with other providers of employment and training services 
to eligible veterans: Describe the linkages, networks, and 
relationships the proposed program will have with other providers of 
services to eligible veterans; include a description of the 
relationship with other employment and training programs in the One-
Stop Career Centers such as Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP), 
the Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) program, and local 
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs (HVRP); list the type of 
services that will be provided by each. Note the type of agreement in 
place, if applicable. Linkages with the workforce investment system are 
required. Describe any networks with any other resources and/or other 
programs for eligible veterans. If an MOU or other service agreement 
with other service providers exists, copies should be provided.
    Linkages with other Federal agencies: Describe program and resource 
linkages with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of 
Veterans Affairs (DVA), to include the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) 
and Grant and Per Diem Programs. If an MOU or other service agreement 
with other service providers exists, copies should be provided.
    Proposed supportive service strategy for veterans: Describe how 
supportive service resources for veterans will be obtained and used. If 
resources are provided by other sources or linkages, such as Federal, 
State, local, or faith-based and community programs, the applicant must 
fully explain the use of these resources and how they will be applied. 
If an MOU or other service agreement with other service providers 
exist, copies should be provided.
    Organizational capability to provide required program activities: 
The applicant's relevant current and prior experience (within the last 
three year period) in operating employment and training programs is to 
be clearly described, if applicable. A summary narrative of program 
experience and employment and training performance outcomes is 
required. The applicant must provide information showing outcomes of 
employment and training programs that it has had in the past three (3) 
years in terms of enrollments and participants who have entered into 
employment. An applicant that has operated a VWIP or other employment 
and training program must also include the final or most recent 
technical performance report.
    Please note that the Department of Labor grant review panel 
members, who will be reviewing all grant applications submitted as a 
result of this SGA, do not have access to any reporting information 
systems during the review process, therefore, if final or most recent 
technical performance reports are not submitted, the grant application 
may be considered non-responsive.
    The applicant must also provide evidence of key staff capability to 
include resume, staff biographies, organizational charts, statements of 
work, and etc. It is preferred that the grantee and sub-awardee(s) be a 
well established service provider and not in the initial start-up phase 
or process.
    C. Section 3--The Cost Proposal must contain the following: 
Applicants can expect that the cost proposal will be reviewed for 
allocability, allowability, and reasonableness.
    (1) Standard Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance'' 
(with the original signed in blue-ink) (Appendix A) must be completed;
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program 
is 17.802 and it must be entered on the SF-424, in Block 11.
    The organizational unit section of Block 8 of the SF-424 must 
contain the Dun and Bradstreet Number (DUNS) of the applicant. 
Beginning October 1, 2003, all applicants for Federal grant funding 
opportunities are required to include a DUNS number with their 
application. See OMB Notice of Final Policy Issuance, 68 Federal 
Register 38402 (June 27, 2003). Applicants' DUNS number is to be 
entered into Block 8 of SF-424. The DUNS number is a nine-digit 
identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. There 
is no charge for obtaining a DUNS number. To obtain a DUNS number call 
1-866-705-5711 or access the following Web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com/. Requests for exemption from the DUNS number 
requirement must be made to the Office of Management and Budget.
    (2) Standard Form SF-424A ``Budget Information Sheet'' (Appendix B) 
must be included;
    (3) As an attachment to SF-424A, the applicant must provide a 
detailed cost breakout of each line item on the Budget Information 
Sheet. Please label this page or pages the ``Budget Narrative'' and 
ensure that costs reported on the SF-424A correspond accurately with 
the Budget Narrative;
    The Budget Narrative must include, at a minimum:
     Breakout of all personnel costs by position, title, annual 
salary rates, and percent of time of each position to be devoted to the 
proposed project (including sub-grantees) by completing the ``Direct 
Cost Descriptions for Applicants and Sub-Applicants'' form (Appendix 
E);
     Explanation and breakout of extraordinary fringe benefit 
rates and associated charges (i.e., rates exceeding 35% of salaries and 
wages);
     Explanation of the purpose and composition of, and 
methodology used to derive the costs of each of the following: Travel, 
equipment, supplies,

[[Page 20490]]

sub-awards/contracts, and any other costs. The applicant must include 
costs of any required travel described in this Solicitation. Planned 
travel expenditures may not exceed 5% of the total VWIP funds 
requested. Mileage charges may not exceed 44.5 cents per mile or the 
current Federal rate;
     All associated costs for obtaining and retaining 
participant information pertinent to the follow-up survey, at 90 and 
180 days after the program performance period ends;
     Description/specification of, and justification for, 
equipment purchases, if any. Tangible, non-expendable, personal 
property having a useful life of more than one year and a unit 
acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit must be specifically 
identified; and
     Matching funds, leveraged funds, and in-kind services are 
not required for VWIP grants. However, if matching funds, leverage 
funds, or in-kind services are to be used, an identification of all 
sources of leveraged or matching funds and an explanation of the 
derivation of the value of matching/in-kind services must be provided. 
When resources such as matching funds, leveraged funds, and/or the 
value of in-kind contributions are made available, please describe in 
Section B of the Budget Information Sheet.
    (4) A completed Assurance and Certification signature page 
(Appendix C) (signed in blue ink) must be submitted;
    (5) All applicants must submit evidence of satisfactory financial 
management capability, which must include recent (within the last 18 
months) grant specific financial and/or audit statements (does not 
count towards the 75 page limitation). All successful grantees and sub-
awardee(s) are required to utilize Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practices (GAAP), maintain a separate accounting for these grant funds, 
and have a checking account;
    (6) All applicants must include, as a separate appendix, a list of 
all employment and training government grants and contracts that they 
have had in the past three (3) years, including grant/contract officer 
contact information. VETS reserves the right to have a DOL 
representative review and verify this data;
    (7) A completed Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants 
(Appendix F) must be provided.

3. Submission Dates and Times (Acceptable Methods of Submission)

    The grant application package must be received at the designated 
place by the date and time specified or it will not be considered. Any 
application received at the Office of Procurement Services after 5 p.m. 
e.d.t. May 22, 2006, will not be considered unless it is received 
before the award is made and:
     It is determined by the Government that the late receipt 
was due solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the 
U.S. Department of Labor at the address indicated; or
     It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than 
the fifth calendar day before May 22, 2006; or
     It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the place of 
mailing two (2) working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, 
prior to May 22, 2006.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S. 
Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible, 
an application received after the above closing time and date shall be 
processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped or 
otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression) 
that is readily identifiable without further action as having been 
applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the 
date of mailing. Therefore applicants should request that the postal 
clerk place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's-eye'' postmark on both 
the receipt and the envelope or wrapper. Applications cannot be 
accepted by e-mail or facsimile machine.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee is the date entered by the Post Office 
clerk on the ``Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee'' 
label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the same meaning 
as defined above. Therefore, applicants should request that the postal 
clerk place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's-eye'' postmark on both 
the receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at 
the U.S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Procurement 
Services Center on the application wrapper or other documentary 
evidence or receipt maintained by that office. Applications sent by 
express delivery services, such as Federal Express, UPS, etc., will be 
accepted.
    All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the 
Washington, DC area has been erratic due to security concerns. All 
applicants must take this into consideration when preparing to meet the 
application deadline, as you assume the risk for ensuring a timely 
submission, that is, if, because of these mail problems, the Department 
does not receive an application or receives it too late to give proper 
consideration, even if it was timely mailed, the Department is not 
required to consider the application.

4. Intergovernmental Review

    This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs' [see SF 424, Block 
16].

5. Funding Restrictions

    A. Rules relating to allowable costs are addressed in 20 CFR 
667.200 through 667.220. Under 20 CFR 667.210(b), limits on 
administrative costs will be negotiated with the grantee and identified 
in the grant award documents. Construction costs (as opposed to 
maintenance and/or repair costs) are generally not allowed under WIA.
    B. There will not be reimbursement of pre-award costs unless 
specifically agreed upon in writing by the Grant Officer.
    C. Entities described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
Code that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive 
funds under this announcement because Section 18 of the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-65, 109 Stat. 691, prohibits 
the award of Federal funds to these entities.
    D. Limitations on Administrative and Indirect Costs;
     Administrative costs, which consist of all direct and 
indirect costs associated with the supervision and management of the 
program, are limited to and may not exceed 10% of the total grant 
award.
     Indirect costs claimed by the applicant must be based on a 
federally approved rate. A copy of the current negotiated approved and 
signed indirect cost negotiation agreement must be submitted with the 
application. Furthermore, indirect costs are considered a part of 
administrative costs for VWIP purposes and, therefore, may not exceed 
10% of the total grant award.
     If the applicant does not presently have an approved 
indirect cost rate, a proposed rate with justification may be 
submitted. Successful applicants will be required to negotiate an 
acceptable and allowable rate within 90 days of grant

[[Page 20491]]

award with the appropriate DOL Regional Office of Cost Determination or 
with the applicant's cognizant agency for indirect cost rates (See 
Office of Management and Budget Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/attach.html).
     Indirect cost rates traceable and trackable through the 
State Workforce Agency's Cost Accounting System represent an acceptable 
means of allocating costs to DOL and, therefore, can be approved for 
use in grants to State Workforce Agencies.

V. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will receive up to 110 total points based on the 
following criteria:
    A. Need for the project: 20 points.
    The applicant will document the need for this project, as 
demonstrated by: (i) The potential number or concentration of eligible 
veterans in the proposed project area relative to other similar areas; 
(ii) the rates of poverty and unemployment in the proposed project area 
as determined by the census or other surveys; and (iii) the extent of 
the gaps in the local infrastructure to effectively address the 
employment barriers that characterize the target veteran population.
    B. Overall strategy to develop and promote maximum employment and 
training opportunities and retention in employment of eligible 
veterans: 40 points [and up to 10 additional points (for a total of 50 
points) if overall strategy focuses on providing services to 
transitioning service members, especially those with a service 
connected disability].
    The application must include a description of the approach to 
providing comprehensive employment and training services, including 
outreach, pre-enrollment assessment, job training, job development, 
obtaining employer commitments to hire, placement, and post-placement 
follow-up services. Applicants must address how they will target 
occupations that are locally in demand with career growth potential and 
that will provide wages to ensure self-sufficiency for the participant. 
Supportive services provided as part of the strategy of promoting job 
readiness and job retention must be indicated. The applicant must 
identify the local services and sources of training to be used for 
participants. At least 80% of enrolled participants must participate in 
training activities. A description of the relationship with other 
employment and training programs delivered through the One-Stop Career 
Center System must be specified. Applicants must indicate how the 
activities will be tailored or responsive to the needs of eligible 
veterans. A participant flow chart may be used to show the sequence and 
mix of services.
    Additional Points: Up to an additional 10 points under this section 
will be added to the grant proposal total score that targets services 
to transitioning service members who are veterans that were recently 
separated (within 48 months of discharge from the military), especially 
those with a service connected disability.


    Note: The applicant must complete Appendix D, the Recommended 
Format for Planned Quarterly Technical Performance Goals, with 
proposed programmatic outcomes, including participants served, 
placement/entered employments and job retention.


    C. Quality and extent of linkages with other providers of services 
to eligible veterans: 20 points.
    The application must provide information on the quality and extent 
of the linkages this program will have with other providers of services 
to eligible veterans in the local community including faith-based and 
community organizations. For each service, the applicant must specify 
who the provider is, the source of funding (if known), and the type of 
linkages/referral system established or proposed. Describe how the 
proposed project links to the appropriate State Workforce Agency and 
One-Stop Career Center(s) including coordination and collaboration with 
DVOP/LVER and other One-Stop Career Center staff, DVA, and/or other 
local community-based programs and the services that will be provided 
as necessary on behalf of the eligible veteran participants to be 
served.

    D. Demonstrated capability in providing required program services, 
including programmatic reporting and participant tracking: 20 points.
    The applicant must describe its relevant prior experience in 
operating employment and training programs and providing services to 
participants similar to those that are proposed under this 
solicitation. Specific outcomes previously achieved by the applicant 
must be described, including percentage of enrolled participants placed 
into employment and cost per entered employment. The applicant must 
also address its capacity for timely startup of the program, 
programmatic reporting, and participant tracking. The applicant should 
describe its staff experience and ability to manage the administrative, 
programmatic, and financial aspects of a grant program. Include a 
recent (within the last 18 months) grant specific financial statement 
and/or audit (does not count towards the 75 page limitation). Final or 
most recent technical reports for other relevant programs must be 
submitted, if applicable. Because prior VWIP experience is not a 
requirement for this grant, some applicants may not have any VWIP 
technical performance reports to submit but may have other similar type 
programmatic performance reports to submit as evidence of experience in 
operating other employment and training type programs.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will initially be screened by the Grant Officer to 
ensure timeliness, completeness, and compliance with the SGA 
requirements. Applications that satisfy this initial screening will 
receive further review as explained below.
    Grant applications will be reviewed by a Department of Labor grant 
review panel using the point scoring system specified above in Section 
V(1). The grant review panel will assign a score after objectively and 
carefully evaluating each complete grant application and all complete 
grant applications will be ranked based on this score. The ranking will 
be the primary basis to identify applicants as potential grantees. The 
grant review panel will establish a competitive range, based upon the 
proposal evaluation, for the purpose of selecting qualified applicants. 
For this solicitation, the minimum acceptable score is 70.
    The grant review panel, the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' 
Employment and Training (ASVET), and Grant Officer may further evaluate 
grant applications deemed within the competitive range in order to 
compare goals of other grant applications deemed within the competitive 
range. The grant review team, the ASVET, and the Grant Officer may 
consider any information that comes to their attention, including past 
performance of a previous grant, and will make a final selection 
determination based on what is most advantageous to the Government, 
considering factors such as grant review panel findings, geographical 
presence of the applicants, existing grants, or the areas to be served 
and the best value to the government, cost, and other factors 
considered. The grant review panel's conclusions are advisory in nature 
and not binding on the Grant Officer. However, if no application 
receives at least that minimum score, the Grant Officer may either 
designate no grantee or may designate an entity based on demonstrated 
capability to provide the

[[Page 20492]]

best services to the client population. Further, the Grant Officer 
reserves the right to select applicants with scores lower than the 
minimum or lower than the competing applications, if such a selection 
would, in the Grant Officer's judgment, result in the most effective 
and appropriate combination of services to grant beneficiaries.
    The grant review panel will screen all applicant cost proposals to 
ensure expenses are allocable, allowable, and reasonable. 
Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with the 
applicable Federal cost principles, e.g. Non-Profit Organizations--OMB 
Circular A-122. Unallowable costs are those charges to a grant that a 
grantor agency or its representatives determines to not be allowed in 
accordance with the applicable Federal Cost Principles or other 
conditions contained in the grant. If the grant review panel, ASVET, 
and Grant Officer conclude that the cost proposal contains an 
expense(s) that is not allocable, allowable, and/or reasonable, the 
application may be considered ineligible for funding. Further, the 
grant review panel, ASVET, and the Grant Officer will consider 
applicant information concerning the proposed cost per placement, 
percentage of participants placed into unsubsidized employment, average 
wage at placement, and 90 and 180-day retention in employment 
percentages. The national average cost per placement for VWIP for last 
year was $2,200.
    The Government reserves the right to ask for clarification on any 
aspect of a grant application. The Government also reserves the right 
to discuss any potential grantee and sub-awardee(s) concerns amongst 
Department of Labor staff. The Grant Officer's determination for award 
under SGA06-03 is the final agency action. The submission of 
the same proposal from any prior year VWIP competition does not 
guarantee an award under this Solicitation.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Announcement of this award is expected to occur by June 20, 2006. 
The grant agreement will be awarded by no later than July 1, 2006.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    A. The Notice of Award signed by the Grant Officer is the 
authorizing document and will be provided through postal mail and/or by 
electronic means to the authorized representative listed on the SF-424 
Grant Application. Notice that an organization has been selected as a 
grant recipient does not constitute final approval of the grant 
application as submitted. Before the actual grant award, the Grant 
Officer and/or the Grant Officer Technical Representative may enter 
into negotiations concerning such items as program components, funding 
levels, and administrative systems. If the negotiations do not result 
in an acceptable submittal, the Grant Officer reserves the right to 
terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the proposal.
    B. A post-award conference will be held for all grantees awarded PY 
2006 VWIP funds through this competition. The post-award conference is 
expected to be held in early August 2006 and up to two (2) grant 
recipients' representatives must be present. The site of the post-award 
conference has not yet been determined, however, for planning and 
budgeting purposes, applicants should allot four (4) days and use 
Washington, DC as the conference site. The post-award conference will 
focus on providing information and assistance on reporting, record 
keeping, grant requirements, and also include networking opportunities 
to learn of best practices from more experienced and successful 
grantees and sub-awardee(s). Costs associated with attending this 
conference for up to two (2) grantee representatives will be allowed as 
long as they are incurred in accordance with Federal travel 
regulations. Such costs must be charged as travel expenditures and 
reflected in the proposed budget.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All grantees and sub-awardees must comply with the provisions of 
WIA and its regulations, as applicable.
A. Administrative Program Requirements
    All grantees and sub-awardees, including faith-based organizations, 
will be subject to applicable Federal laws (including provisions of 
appropriations law), regulations, and the applicable Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars. The grant(s) awarded under this 
SGA will be subject to the following administrative standards and 
provisions, if applicable:
     20 CFR part 667--Administrative provisions for programs, 
including VWIP, under Title I of WIA.
     29 CFR part 2--General Participation in Department of 
Labor Programs by Faith-Based and Community Organizations; Equal 
Treatment of All Department of Labor Program Participants and 
Beneficiaries.
     29 CFR part 30--Equal Employment Opportunity in 
Apprenticeship and Training.
     29 CFR part 31--Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted 
Programs of the Department of Labor--Effectuation of Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
     29 CFR part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap 
in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.
     29 CFR part 33--Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the 
Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department 
of Labor.
     29 CFR part 35--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in 
Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the 
Department of Labor.
     29 CFR part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in 
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance.
     29 CFR part 37--Implementation of the Nondiscrimination 
and Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998.
     29 CFR part 93--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
     29 CFR part 94--Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Financial Assistance).
     29 CFR part 95--Grants and Agreements with Institutions of 
Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-Profit Organizations, and 
with Commercial Organizations.
     29 CFR part 96--Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts 
and Other Agreements.
     29 CFR part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
     29 CFR part 98 --Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension 
(Non procurement).
     29 CFR part 99--Audit of States, Local Governments, and 
Non-Profit Organizations.
     Applicable cost principles and audit requirements under 
OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-122, A-110, A-133, and 48 CFR part 31.
     In accordance with WIA section 195(6), programs funded 
under this SGA may not involve political activities. Additionally, in 
accordance with Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-65 (2 U.S.C. 1611), non-profit entities incorporated 
under 501(c)(4) that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to 
received Federal funds and grants.
     Requirements for priority of service for veterans in 
Department of Labor training programs are identified in 38 U.S.C. 4215.

[[Page 20493]]

3. Electronic Reporting

    All VWIP grantees will data enter and electronically attach their 
quarterly technical performance and financial status reports, success 
stories, etc. into the USDOL, VETS Outcomes and Performance 
Accountability Reporting (VOPAR) System according to the reporting 
requirements and timetables described below.
A. Quarterly Financial Reports
    No later than 30 days after the end of each Federal fiscal quarter, 
the grantee must report outlays, program income, and other financial 
information on a Federal fiscal quarterly basis using SF-269, Financial 
Status Report, Long Form, and submit a copy of the HHS/PMS 272 draw 
down report. These reports must cite the assigned grant number.
B. Quarterly Program Reports
    No later than 30 days after the end of each Federal fiscal quarter, 
grantees must submit a Quarterly Technical Narrative Performance Report 
that contains the following:
    (1) A comparison of actual accomplishments to planned goals for the 
reporting period and any findings related to monitoring efforts;
    (2) An explanation for variances of plus or minus 15% of planned 
program and/or expenditure goals, to include: identification of 
corrective action that will be taken to meet the planned goals, if 
required; and a timetable for accomplishment of the corrective action.
C. 90-Day Final Performance Report
    No later than 120 days after the grant performance expiration date, 
the grantee must submit a final report showing results and performance 
as of the 90th day after the grant period, and containing the 
following:
    (1) Final Financial Status Report SF-269 Long Form (that zeros out 
all unliquidated obligations); and
    (2) Final Technical Performance Report comparing goals vs. actual 
performance levels.
D. 180-Day Follow-Up Report/Longitudinal Survey
    No later than 210 days after the grant performance expiration date, 
the grantee must submit a Follow-Up Report/Longitudinal Survey showing 
results and performance as of the 180th day after the grant expiration 
date, and containing the following:
    (1) Final Financial Status Report SF-269 Long Form (if not 
previously submitted); and
    (2) 180-Day Follow-Up Report/Longitudinal Survey identifying:
    (a) The total combined (directed/assisted) number of veterans 
placed into employment during the entire grant period;
    (b) The number of veterans still employed after the 90 and 180 day 
follow-up period;
    (c) If the veterans are still employed at the same or similar job, 
and if not, what are the reason(s);
    (d) Whether training received was applicable to jobs held;
    (e) Wages at placement and at the 90 and 180 day follow-up periods;
    (f) An explanation of why those veterans placed during the grant, 
but not employed at the end of the follow-up period, are not so 
employed; and
    (g) Any recommendations to improve the program.

VII. Agency Contact

    All questions regarding this SGA should be directed to Cassandra 
Mitchell, e-mail address: [email protected], at tel: (202) 
693-4570 (note this is not a toll-free number), or Eric Vogt, e-mail 
address [email protected], also at tel. (202) 693-4570. To obtain 
further information on the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program of 
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit the USDOL Web site of the Veterans' 
Employment and Training Service at http://www.dol.gov/vets.

VIII. Other Information

Acknowledgement of USDOL Funding

    Printed Materials: In all circumstances, the following shall be 
displayed on printed materials prepared by the grantee while in receipt 
of DOL grant funding: ``Preparation of this item was funded by the 
United States Department of Labor under Grant No. [insert the 
appropriate grant number].''
     All printed materials must also include the following 
notice: ``This document does not necessarily reflect the views or 
policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade 
names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the 
U.S. Government.''
    Public references to grant: When issuing statements, press 
releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, all Grantees receiving Federal funds must clearly 
state:
     The percentage of the total costs of the program or 
project, which will be financed with Federal money;
     The dollar amount of Federal financial assistance for the 
project or program; and
     The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the 
project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources.
    Use of USDOL Logo: In consultation with USDOL, VETS, the Grantee(s) 
must acknowledge USDOL's role as described below:
     The USDOL logo may be applied to USDOL-funded material 
prepared for world-wide distribution, including posters, videos, 
pamphlets, research documents, national survey results, impact 
evaluations, best practice reports, and other publications of global 
interest. The Grantee(s) must consult with USDOL on whether the logo 
may be used on any such items prior to final draft or final preparation 
for distribution. In no event shall the USDOL logo be placed on any 
item until USDOL has given the Grantee permission to use the logo on 
the item.
    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 USDOL VETS at http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/main.htm is a valuable source of information including the program 
highlights and brochures, glossary of terms, frequently used acronyms, 
general and special grant provisions, power point presentations on how 
to apply for HVRP funding, On-Site Monitoring Visits, etc. America's 
Service Locator at Web page http://www.servicelocator.org provides a 
directory of our nation's One-Stop Career Centers and http://www.workforce3one.org is another Department of Labor resource site. The 
National Association of Workforce Boards maintains a Web page at http://www.nawb.org/asp/wibdir.asp that contains contact information for the 
State and local Workforce Investment Boards. Applicants may also review 
``VETS'' Guide to Competitive and Discretionary Grants'' located at Web 
page http://www.dol.gov/vets/grants/Final_VETS_Guide-linked.pdf. 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'' at Web pages http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci and 
http://www.dol.gov/cfbci. Also see the National Coalition for Homeless 
Veterans Web page at http://www.nchv.org.


[[Page 20494]]


    Signed at Washington, DC, this 11th day of April, 2006.
Eric Vogt,
Grant Officer.

Appendices: (Located on U.S. Department pf Labor, Veterans' 
Employment and Training Service Web page http://www.dol.gov/vets, 
follow link for the applicable SGA listed under announcements.)
Appendix A: Application for Federal Assistance SF-424
Appendix B: Budget Information Sheet SF-424A
Appendix C: Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
Appendix D: Recommended Format for Planned Quarterly Technical 
Performance Goals
Appendix E: Direct Cost Descriptions for Applicants and Sub-
Applicants

Appendix F: Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants
[FR Doc. 06-3627 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-79-P