Workforce Investment Act-Grants for Workforce Investment Boards, 15653-15666 [05-6022]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 58 (Monday, March 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15653-15666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6022]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Investment Act--Grants for Workforce Investment Boards

    Announcement Type: New: Notice of solicitation for grant 
applications.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 04-04.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.257.
    Key Dates: Deadline for Application Receipt: May 4, 2005.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA), announces the availability up to $5 million for 
grants to eligible Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) that have 
demonstrated successfully the ability to form working partnerships with 
grassroots faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). Grassroots 
FBCOs may include faith-based and community organizations, minority-led 
or immigrant-led non-profit or community development organizations and/
or other small non-profit organizations.
    This grant will build upon successful ETA grants from program years 
(PY) 2001 to 2004 that focused on the use of intermediaries and WIBs to 
build partnerships between FBCOs and local One-Stop systems. The WIB 
will develop and implement an 18-month project to encourage the 
formation of long-term contractual and non-contractual partnerships 
with FBCOs that meet an unmet community need related to hard-to-serve 
populations (e.g., ex-offenders, limited-English, welfare-to work, 
etc.).
    This investment supports and complements the President's High-
Growth Job Training Initiative. The foundation of this initiative is 
the creation of partnerships to work collaboratively in the development 
of solutions to the human resource challenges facing our growth 
industries, while developing maximum access for American workers to 
gain the competencies they need to obtain good jobs. These partnerships 
include the public workforce system, business and industry, education 
and training providers and economic development principals. ETA is 
investing in demonstration projects in twelve high growth/high demand 
sectors that include advanced manufacturing, automotive services, 
biotechnology, construction, energy, financial services, geospatial 
technology, healthcare, hospitality, information technology (IT) & IT 
business-related services, retail, and transportation. This 
solicitation is designed to extend the partnership invitation to FBCOs 
through the direct involvement of our nation's Workforce Investment 
Boards.
    This grant also complements ETA's ongoing sectoral employment 
research and evaluations--i.e., identifying workforce needs and 
opportunities within a local or regional industry or cross-industry 
occupational group while retaining a focus on economic performance and 
competitiveness. FBCOs can discharge a significant community role in 
assisting Boards by bringing new entrants to the job market that can be 
trained and equipped to meet emerging and evolving industry needs. Each 
applicant Board will identify up to three businesses or industry 
sectors to collaborate with the Board and FBCOs within the local One-
Stop system to provide jobs for qualified employees from the identified 
geographic areas.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is May 4, 2005. Applications must be received at the 
address below no later than 5 p.m. (eastern time). Application and 
submission information is explained in detail in section IV of this 
SGA.
    Authorities: These grants are made under the following authorities:
     The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA or the Act) 
(Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.)

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     The WIA Final Rule, 20 CFR parts 652, 660-671 (65 FR 
49294) (August 11, 2000);
     Executive Order 13198; ``Rallying the Armies of 
Compassion''
     Training and Employment Guidance Letter 17-01 
(``Incorporating and Utilizing Grassroots, Community-Based 
Organizations Including Faith-Based Organizations in Workforce 
Investment Activities and Programs'')
     Executive Order 13279; ``Equal Protection of the Laws for 
Faith-Based and Community Organizations.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Overview of ETA and CFBCI Initiatives

    DOL CFBCI works to remove administrative and regulatory barriers 
that would prevent FBCOs from competing equally for federal dollars. In 
addition, CFBCI develops innovative programs to foster partnerships 
between DOL-funded programs and FBCOs. CFBCI educates organizations 
about local opportunities to collaborate with the workforce development 
system and about opportunities to participate in national grant 
programs. CFBCI also works with local government officials and 
administrators to integrate FBCOs into the strategic planning and 
service delivery processes of local Workforce Investment Boards.
    Since 2001, CFBCI has worked with ETA to provide $29.6 million in 
grants to assist states, intermediary organizations, workforce 
investment boards, and grassroots groups in creating partnerships 
between FBCOs and the One-Stop Career Center System. In addition to 
grants, CFBCI has undertaken technical assistance activities that are 
designed to help FBCOs access and partner with the $15 billion state 
and local workforce development system. Begun in Memphis, Tennessee, 
and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Touching Lives and Communities Pilot 
Program provided in-depth technical assistance to local alliances of 
FBCOs, elected officials and workforce development boards to remove 
barriers and foster partnerships at the local level. The report on this 
effort, Experiences from the Field: Fostering Workforce Development 
Partnerships with Faith-Based and Community Organizations, serves as 
the basis for a nation-wide effort to encourage partnerships between 
FBCOs and Workforce Investment Boards called the Touching Lives and 
Communities Technical Assistance Program (TLC-TAP). Additionally, CFBCI 
produced Bridging the Gap: Meeting the Challenges of Universal Access 
Through Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, which highlights 
strategies by 2002 state and intermediary grantees to help job seekers 
access services through grassroots FBCO's. CFBCI also has created 
Empowering New Partnerships: Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 
the Workforce System, which provides an overview of basic strategies 
for engaging grassroots organizations in the workforce system.
    Through TLC-TAP, CFBCI and ETA are creating a peer-to-peer learning 
network, publishing tool kits and other resource materials, and hosting 
national conference calls on topics related to the initiative. For more 
resources, please visit the CFBCI Web site, https://www.dol.gov/cfbci as 
well as the TLC-TAP Web site, https://www.dol-tlc.org.

2. Project Objectives

    The grantee(s) will implement, in partnership with USDOL, a project 
that will:
     Serve a targeted area(s)/census tract(s) that has a high 
poverty rate. The grantee may focus on a specific population within 
that area (e.g. ex-offenders, youth, people with disabilities, people 
who are victims of violent and domestic crime, people with limited 
English proficiency, homeless veterans, etc.);
     Serve targeted industries and employers by helping them 
find employees in the targeted area(s) or increase wages and job 
responsibilities for employees from the targeted area(s);
     Build relationships among the One-Stop Career Center 
staff, WIB, businesses, and grassroots FBCOs within the targeted area 
and community at large in order to increase referrals and the 
effectiveness of referrals among organizations;
     Help targeted individuals prepare for, sustain or advance 
in employment by funding grassroots FBCOs in the targeted area(s) and 
increasing their collaboration with the One-Stop Career Center system;
     Build the performance and administrative capabilities of 
FBCOs to deliver programs, administer funding, collect performance 
data, and identify potential One-Stop Career Center contracting 
opportunities; and
     Measurably increase the performance of One-Stop Career 
Centers with the targeted population through developing sustainable 
relationships with FBCOs.
    In order to accomplish this, WIBs must obtain commitments from up 
to three businesses/business associations, use statistical data to 
identify a specific area(s)/census tract(s) to serve, demonstrate that 
area's need, conduct outreach and create/maintain a resource directory 
of grassroots FBCOs in targeted area (this may involve increasing 
existing resource directory), and subaward 70 percent of the funding to 
grassroots, non-profit FBCOs.
    Through this grant investment of $5 million, the Department intends 
to help approximately 2,000 people obtain or advance in employment.

II. Award Information

1. Funding Availability and Period of Performance

    ETA has identified $5 million from the FY 2005 appropriation for 
One Stop/America's Labor Market Information System. ETA expects to 
award approximately 10 to 20 grants based on the rating of applications 
and other factors, which may include urban/rural and geographical 
balance. The grant amount for each WIB is expected to range between 
$300,000 and $500,000. The period of performance will be 18 months from 
the date of execution by the Department.

2. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Announcement of this award is expected to occur by July 1, 2005.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) from all geographic areas are 
eligible to apply for these funds including:
     The state Workforce Investment Board (in states that 
contain only one WIB);
     A local Workforce Investment Board; or
     Consortia of local (including rural) Workforce Investment 
Boards.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    This solicitation does not require grantees to share costs or 
provide matching funds.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    Veterans Priority: In addition, this program is subject to the 
provisions of the ``Jobs for Veterans Act'', Pub. L. 107-288, which 
provides priority of services to veterans and in some cases their 
spouses in all Department of Labor funded job training programs. Please 
note that, to obtain priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet 
the program's eligibility requirements. The directive providing policy 
guidance on veterans' priority is available at https://www.doleta.gov/
programs/VETs/.

[[Page 15655]]

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    This SGA contains all of the information and forms needed to apply 
for grant funding.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    Applicants must submit an original signed application and three 
hard copies. The proposal consists of two (2) separate and distinct 
parts, Part I and II. Both parts must be included in a complete 
application. 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 Financial Proposal and must include 
the following two items:
     The Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal 
Assistance'' (Appendix A) (available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
grants/sf424.pdf.) Upon confirmation of an award, the individual 
signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant shall represent the 
responsible entity. All applications for Federal grant and funding 
opportunities are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number. 
See OMB Notice of Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003). 
Applicants must supply their DUNS number in item 5 of the SF-
424 (Rev. 9-2003). The DUNS number is easy to obtain and there is no 
charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com 
or call 1-866-705-5711.
     The Budget Information Form SF 424A (Appendix B) 
(available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/sf424a.pdf.) In 
addition to preparing the Budget Information form, the applicant must 
provide a concise narrative explanation to support the request.
    Part II of the application is the Technical Proposal, which 
demonstrates the applicant's capabilities to plan and implement a 
demonstration project in accordance with the provisions of this 
solicitation. The Technical Proposal is limited to ten (10) double-
spaced single-sided, 8.5 inch x 11 inch pages with 12 point text font 
and one-inch margins.
    The only attachments permitted will be the following.
     Commitments from the identified businesses or business 
associations.
     A letter of endorsement from the state workforce agency 
and from an elected official who has appointment authority for the WIB.
     A timeline for the tasks and activities beginning July 1, 
2005.
    The attachments will not count against the allowable maximum page 
totals. No cost data or reference to prices should be included in the 
Technical Proposal.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is May 4, 2005. Applications must be received at the 
address below no later than 5 p.m. (eastern time). Applications sent by 
e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (fax) will not be accepted. Applications 
that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will not be 
honored. No exceptions to the mailing and delivery requirements set 
forth in this notice will be granted.
    Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: Eric Luetkenhaus, Reference SGA/DFA PY04-04, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4438, Washington, DC 20210. Applicants 
are advised that mail delivery in the Washington area may be delayed 
due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand delivered proposals will 
be received at the above address. All overnight mail will be considered 
to be hand-delivered and must be received at the designated place by 
the specified closing date.
    Applicants may apply online at https://www.grants.gov. Any 
application received after the deadline will not be accepted. 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 https://
www.grants.gov/GetStarted. These steps will probably take multiple days 
to complete which should be factored into your plans for electronic 
application submission in order to avoid facing unexpected delays that 
could result in the rejection of your application.
    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 U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail 
not later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified for 
receipt of applications (e.g., an application required to be received 
by the 20th of the month must be post marked by the 15th of that month) 
or (b) was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail or Online to 
addressee not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing or electronic 
submission one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of 
applications. It is highly recommended that online submissions be 
completed one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of 
applications to ensure that the applicant still has the option to 
submit by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail in the event of any 
electronic submission problems. ``Post marked'' means a printed, 
stamped or otherwise placed impression (exclusive of a postage meter 
machine impression) that is readily identifiable, without further 
action, as having been supplied or affixed on the date of mailing by an 
employee of the U.S. Postal Service. Therefore, applicants should 
request the postal clerk to place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's 
eye'' postmark on both the receipt and the package. Failure to adhere 
to the above instructions will be a basis for a determination of 
nonresponsiveness.

4. Funding Restrictions

    The WIB must award at least 70 percent of the funding through 
subawards to eligible grassroots FBCOs. For purposes of this 
announcement, eligible grassroots FBCOs must be non-profits, which:
     Have social services as a major part of their mission;
     Are headquartered in the local community to which they 
provide these services;
     (a) have a social services budget of $350,000 or less, or 
(b) have six or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
    With its remaining 30 percent of grant funds, the WIB may choose 
also to contract with a non-profit intermediary organization or hire 
staff members from the targeted community who will be able to help the 
WIB conduct outreach to grassroots organizations and provide technical 
assistance to the subawardees.
    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 in the selection of sub-recipients.
    Additionally, the government is prohibited from providing direct 
financial assistance for inherently religious activity*. Therefore, as 
a general rule, subawards may not be used for religious instruction, 
worship, prayer, proselytizing or other inherently religious activities 
and participation in such activities must be voluntary. (If, however, 
an organization receives financial assistance as a result of the choice 
of a beneficiary, such as through a voucher, the organization may

[[Page 15656]]

integrate religion throughout its program.)

    *In this context, the term financial assistance that is provided 
directly by a government entity or an intermediate organization, as 
opposed to financial assistance that an organization 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 
``indirect'' or ``block'' grant assistance). The term ``direct'' has 
the former meaning throughout this SGA.

    Administrative Costs. The primary use of the grant funds should be 
used to support the actual project. Therefore, applicants receiving 
grant funds under this solicitation may not use more than 10 percent of 
the amount of the grant for administrative costs associated with the 
project. Administrative costs are defined at 20 CFR 667.220.

5. Other Submission Requirements

    Withdrawal of Applications. Applications may be withdrawn by 
written notice or telegram (including mailgram) received at any time 
before an award is made. Applications may be withdrawn in person by the 
applicant or by an authorized representative thereof, if the 
representative's identify is made known and the representative signs a 
receipt for the proposal.

V. Application Review Information

1. Rating Criteria

    This section identifies what should be included in the technical 
proposal narrative and describes the criteria that will be used to 
evaluate the proposals.
A. Technical Approach (Description of the Proposed Plan and Activities 
of WIB and Its Subawardees)--50 Points
    This section of the narrative provides the applicant's strategy for 
creating new sustainable, financial and non-financial relationships 
with grassroots FBCOs and other partners that help individuals in 
targeted area(s) transition to industries/careers that are in demand 
locally and can offer strong career opportunities. This section of the 
narrative must describe the specific needs of the population in the 
targeted area(s) that the WIB and grassroots FBCO partnerships will 
address. This population may include: low-income working individuals, 
individuals transitioning from public assistance, individuals with 
disabilities, victims of crime, ex-offenders, individuals with Limited 
English Proficiency, homeless veterans and other hard-to-serve 
populations.
    The WIB must award at least 70 percent of total funds through 
subawards to grassroots FBCOs that can help the WIB meet the unmet 
community need. The WIB may work with non-profit intermediary 
organizations and/or hire staff that has strong relationships with 
grassroots FBCOs from the remaining 30 percent of its grant funds. The 
proposal's narrative must demonstrate the following.
     Define target area(s) (census tract(s)) and explain why 
this area needs the services provided through the grant.
     Describe strategy for conducting outreach to FBCOs and 
documenting existing FBCO programs, key organizations, and services in 
the identified area(s) that help hard-to-serve individuals prepare for 
and sustain employment. Include plans for creating a resource directory 
and/or maintaining non-financial partnerships non-subawardee FBCOs. If 
applicable, include how your WIB will work with intermediary 
organizations that have existing networks of grassroots FBCOs and/or 
how the WIB will hire staff familiar with that neighborhood.
     Identify up to three businesses or business sectors to 
collaborate with the WIB, One-Stop Career Center System, FBCOs, and 
other partners; provide jobs with long-term career opportunities; and 
hire qualified employees from the identified disadvantaged area(s). The 
proposal must include letters of commitment from those businesses as 
attachments. Businesses may include corporations or small-medium sized 
businesses, which are independently owned and operated and not dominant 
in their field of operation.
     Describe the methodology to be used for competitively 
selecting grassroots FBCO subawardees within the first two quarters of 
the grant period. Include plans for how the WIB will train those 
eligible organizations to apply for a subaward and ensure that those 
organizations understand the Establishment clause and other guidelines 
for using federal dollars and implementing programs.
     Describe the resources and services the WIB will solicit 
from the subawardees to help individuals prepare for, enter, and 
advance in employment. Resources and services can include satellite 
One-Stop locations in the FBCO facility, life skills, mentoring, adult 
literacy, employability skill training, on-the-job training, incumbent 
worker training, and customized training. Description may include if 
applicable how the FBCO will be used for training individuals for the 
specified businesses/occupations.
     Describe how responsibilities for grant program will be 
structured including responsibilities of WIB staff, One-Stop Career 
Center staff and new hires from the intermediary organization or 
representatives from the targeted community. Include a description of 
who will be responsible for providing technical assistance to the 
subawardees and who will be responsible for maintaining relationships 
with the subawardees.
     Submit a timeline for the tasks and activities beginning 
July 1, 2005.
    Scoring of this criterion will be based on the following.
     The applicant has clearly defined an area(s) and 
demonstrated the need of targeted populations/ in targeted area. (5 
Points)
     The businesses engaged through this grant will provide 
career ladders for individuals to be served and the letters of 
commitment are attached. (5 Points)
     The applicant has demonstrated that the WIB/One-Stop 
Career Center will create effective partnerships with FBCOs in targeted 
areas. The applicant has demonstrated that it will effectively conduct 
outreach, build relationships, collect performance data, and provide 
technical assistance to both funded and non-funded grassroots 
organizations, including faith-based organizations, congregations, 
minority or immigrant-led community development organizations, and 
other non-profits. To receive any of the points for this part of the 
criterion, an applicant must demonstrate that 70 percent of its grant 
award will be used for subawards to grassroots FBCOs. (25 Points)
     The methodology for subawards is achievable within the 
first two quarters of the grant. (5 Points)
     The timeline and narrative demonstrate that the service 
delivery strategy (services being subawarded) and relationships between 
the FBCOs and the Workforce system is an appropriate and achievable way 
to transition people from the targeted area(s) into employment. (10 
Points)
B. Past Performance--10 Points
    This section of the narrative must describe how the WIB has 
demonstrated successfully in the past and the ability to form working 
partnerships with FBCOs and other partners. The narrative must include 
the following.
     Describe any current relationships, formal (through MOUs) 
and informal, with FBCOs. Describe interactions with FBCOs both in 
terms of financial (training and placement) and non-financial (shared 
spaces and referrals).

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     Describe relevant history of the WIB in working with small 
organizations. Include past experience in developing technical 
assistance and developing other organizations' capabilities for social 
service delivery, competing for grants, managing grants, and conducting 
information campaigns.
     Identify any current barriers that exist that have 
prevented financial partnerships and non-financial partnership between 
grassroots FBCOs in targeted area and the One-Stop system or the 
Workforce Investment Board. Please describe what actions will be taken 
to address or remove those barriers in order to allow for sustainable 
partnerships. In the program plan, describe the strategy for including 
FBCOs in leadership and strategic planning roles in the WIB during and 
after the life of the grant.
     Describe the recent history of the WIB in working with 
specific businesses or business sectors to provide employment 
opportunities for qualified individuals.
    Scoring of this criterion will be based on the following.
     The Department will evaluate the narrative based upon the 
WIB's ability to identify and plan to address barriers to partnership 
as well as the record of achievement/commitment in bridging any gaps 
with non-traditional grassroots partners independent of grant money. 
(10 Points)
C. Sustainability--10 Points
    The narrative must describe how the WIB will address issues of 
sustainability past the life of the DOL grant.
     Describe how the project will be integrated with other WIB 
initiatives and how the WIB will demonstrate plans for sustainability 
after the DOL funding ends. Description can include commitments of 
other resources either within the WIB (e.g., through training dollars, 
WIB staff committed to the project, in-kind support, outreach plans, 
surplus computer hardware and software, etc.) or through an outside 
source (e.g., private partners, foundation, etc).
     Describe efforts, if any, to encourage the leveraging of 
state funds to support the project.
     Describe, if any, WIB plans to supplement this grant 
funding with funds from other grant allocations.
    Scoring of this criterion will be based on the following.
     Based on the level of current commitments to FBCOs or 
FBCO-related projects. (4 Points)
     The ability for the applicant to demonstrate that the 
project has the potential to have a long-term impact on the targeted 
community and seems to be grounded in a long-term commitment by the WIB 
to build relationships with FBCOs. (6 Points)
D. Evaluation and Technical Assistance--30 Points
    The narrative must define specifically how the WIB will determine 
the grant's success based on USDOL guidelines. The narrative must 
include how the WIB plans to contribute proportionately to the broad 
goals of the grant investment of helping 2,000 individuals obtain or 
advance employment (approximately 200 individuals per WIB). The 
narrative must include the following.
     Define the measurable outcomes and other goals for both 
the WIB and its subawardees in executing the proposed tasks and 
activities. In addition to any goals the WIB defines, the WIB must 
include goals for how many individuals will be served; how many will 
enter employment; be retained over a six month period; and have an 
increase in wages through this grant investment. WIB is free to develop 
additional goals as appropriate to the project.
     Describe the methodology for how the WIB will train the 
subawardees to track and report outputs, outcomes and demographics for 
those assisted under the subawards and what responsibilities for 
tracking will be shared by the One-Stop Career Centers.
     Define how the WIB will provide technical assistance and 
demonstrate how it will determine its overall success in improving the 
posture of the subawardees in increasing their performance and 
administrative capabilities to remain active in local workforce 
development and compete for future funding opportunities.
    Scoring of this criterion will be based on the following.
     The number of individuals the WIB plans to serve is 
appropriate and achievable within the grant period and represents an 
effective use of this financial investment. The narrative describes how 
the WIB's efforts will contribute to the overall goal of helping 2,000 
individuals obtain or advance in employment through this investment. 
The number the WIB is transitioning/helping advance into employment 
should be proportional to the amount of money requested. (10 Points)
     The WIB's ability to demonstrate that its technical 
assistance will ensure that the subawardees have an increased 
performance, administrative capacity and ability to compete for 
additional funding opportunities. (8 Points).
     The methodology for working with the subawardees to ensure 
program success, and effectively track and report outputs, outcomes and 
demographics is achievable and measurable. (12 Points)
2. Review and Selection Process
    A technical review panel will make a careful evaluation of 
applications against the rating criteria. The review panel 
recommendations are advisory. The ETA Grant Officer will fully consider 
the panel recommendations and take into account geographic balance to 
ensure the most advantageous award of these funds to accomplish the 
system-building purposes outlined in this SGA. The grant officer may 
consider any information that comes to his or her attention. The grant 
officer reserves the right to award without negotiations. Should a 
grant be awarded without negotiations, the award will be based on the 
applicant's signature which constitutes a binding offer.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    All award notifications will be posted on the USDOL-ETA homepage at 
https://www.doleta.gov

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All grantees, including faith-based organizations will be subject 
to all applicable Federal laws (including provisions in appropriations 
law), regulations, and the applicable Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Circulars. The applicants selected under the SGA will be subject 
to the following administrative standards and provisions, if 
applicable.
    a. Workforce Investment Boards--20 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Part 667.220 (Administrative Costs).
    b. Non-Profit Organizations--Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circulars A-122 (Cost Principles) and 29 CFR Part 95 (Administrative 
Requirements).
    c. Educational Institutions--OMB Circulars A-21 (Cost Principles) 
and 29 CFR Part 95 (Administrative Requirements).
    d. State and Local Governments--OMB Circulars A-87 (Cost 
Principles) and 29 CFR Part 97 (Administrative Requirements).
    e. Profit Making Commercial Firms--Federal Acquisition Regulation 
(FAR)--48 CFR Part 31 (Cost Principles), and 29 CFR Part 95 
(Administrative Requirements).
    f. All entities must comply with 29 CFR Parts 93 and 98, and, where 
applicable, 29 CFR Parts 96 and 99.
    g. In accordance with Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995,

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Pub. L. 104-65 (2 U.S.C. 1611) non-profit entities incorporated under 
Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(4) that engage in lobbying 
activities will not be eligible for the receipt of Federal funds and 
grants.

    Note: Except as specifically provided in this Notice, USDOL-
ETA's acceptance of a proposal and an award of Federal funds to 
sponsor any program(s) does not provide a waiver of any grant 
requirements and/or procedures. For example, the OMB Circulars 
require that an entity's procurement procedures must ensure that all 
procurement transactions are conducted, as much as practical, to 
provide open and free competition. If a proposal identifies a 
specific entity to provide services, the USDOL-ETA's award does not 
provide the justification or basis to sole-source the procurement, 
i.e., avoid competition, unless the activity is regarded as the 
primary work of an official partner to the application.

3. Reporting Requirements

    The grantee is required to provide the reports and documents listed 
below:
    Quarterly Financial Reports. A Quarterly Financial Status Report 
(SF-269) is required until such time as all funds have been expended or 
the period of availability has expired. Quarterly reports are due 30 
days after the end of each calendar year quarter. Grantee must use 
ETA's On-line Electronic Reporting System.
    Progress Reports. The grantee must submit a quarterly financial and 
narrative progress report to the Federal Project Officer within 30 days 
following each quarter. Copies are to be submitted electronically 
providing a detailed account of activities undertaken during that 
quarter. Reports must include the following information for the WIB and 
their subawardees.
     The number of participants served per quarter (new and 
active), noting the specific services the grantee is providing in this 
project.
     The number of One-Stop Career Center clients referred to 
the subawardee.
     Number of subawardee participants referred to the One-
Stop.
     The total number of volunteer hours committed to the grant 
program.
     Number of participants placed in post-secondary education 
or advanced training.
     Number of participants placed in a job.
     Average hourly wages at the time of job placement.
     Of the participants placed in a job since the beginning of 
the grant, how many were continuously employed for 6 months.
     Of the participants placed in a job since the beginning of 
the grant, how many were re-employed in the last 6 months.
     List other goals submitted with the grant application or 
additional goals developed for the program.
     List demographic Information.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Any questions regarding this SGA should be faxed to Eric 
Luetkenhaus, Grant Officer, Division of Federal Assistance, fax number 
(202) 693-2705. (This is not a toll-free number.) You must specifically 
address your fax to the attention of Eric Luetkenhaus and should 
include SGA/DFA PY-04-04, a contact name, fax and phone number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Luetkenhaus, Grant Officer, 
Division of Federal Assistance, on (202) 693-3109. (This is not a toll-
free number.) This announcement is also being made available on the 
USDOL-ETA Web site at https://www.doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm and https://
www.grants.gov.

VIII. Other Information

    The Department of Labor maintains a number of Web-based resources 
that may be of assistance to applicants. The Web page for the 
Department's Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (https://
www.dol.gov/cfbci) is a valuable source of background on this 
initiative. Training and Employment Notice (T.E.N.) 15-03 
(wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEN15-03.html) includes information 
about promising practices for engaging faith-based and community 
organizations in the workforce system based on successful grantees from 
PY 2002. America's Service Locator (https://www.servicelocator.org) 
provides a directory of our nation's One-Stop Career Centers. The DOL 
Employment and Training Administration has a Web page (https://
www.doleta.gov/regions), which contains contact information for the 
State and local Workforce Investment boards. Applicants are encouraged 
to review ``Understanding the Department of Labor Solicitation for 
Grant Applications and How to Write an Effective Proposal'' (www/
dol.gov/cfbci/sgabrochure.htm). 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'' (https://www.fbci.gov).

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 22nd day of March, 2005.
Eric D. Luetkenhaus,
Grant Officer, Employment and Training Administration.

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

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[FR Doc. 05-6022 Filed 3-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P