Workforce Investment Act-Demonstration Grants; Solicitation for Grant Applications-Preparing Youth Offenders To Enter High Growth and High Demand Industries, 21112-21124 [05-8184]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 77 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21112-21124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8184]



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Part V





Department of Labor





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Employment and Training Administration



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Workforce Investment Act--Demonstration Grants; Solicitation for Grant 
Applications--Preparing Youth Offenders To Enter High Growth and High 
Demand Industries; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 77 / Friday, April 22, 2005 / 
Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Investment Act--Demonstration Grants; Solicitation for 
Grant Applications--Preparing Youth Offenders To Enter High Growth and 
High Demand Industries

    Announcement Type: New. Solicitation for Grant Applications.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY-04-09.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.261.
    Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is May 23, 2005. Applications must be received not later 
than 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Application and submission 
information is explained in detail in Section IV of this SGA.
    Summary: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL), announces the availability of approximately 
$15 million in Responsible Reintegration of Youthful Offender grant 
funds to address the specific workforce challenges of youth offenders 
and to utilize strategies that prepare them for new and increasing job 
opportunities in high-growth/high-demand and economically vital 
industries and sectors of the American economy. Projects funded under 
this competition will be consistent with both the President's High 
Growth Job Training Initiative and DOL's Youth Vision.
    Grant funds awarded under this competition can be used to implement 
a variety of approaches to helping youth offenders enter high-growth/
high-demand industries, including occupational training provided by 
organizations that grant industry-recognized credentials; on-the-job 
training, apprenticeships, internships, and other work-based learning 
opportunities; job placement efforts; reading and math remediation to 
assist youth offenders succeed in education and training programs; 
efforts to help youth offenders already employed upgrade to skilled 
positions; and efforts to help youth offenders enter community colleges 
and four-year colleges.
    Each application must reflect a strategic partnership between the 
public workforce system, business representatives from high-growth/
high-demand industries, the education and training community, and the 
juvenile justice system. Partnerships with the child welfare agency and 
with faith-based and community organizations are also encouraged. It is 
anticipated that individual awards will average $1 million for the 
first year of operation to serve 200 youth per site.

Supplementary Information:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Background and Purpose

    The White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth identifies young 
people in the juvenile justice system as one of the neediest youth 
populations in the country. The Task Force notes that illiteracy and 
school failure are serious and widespread among youth in detention, 
correctional, or shelter facilities, with such youth typically scoring 
between grades 5 and 7 in reading and between grades 5 and 9 in math. 
An American Bar Association Report notes that an estimated 36 percent 
of juvenile offenders have learning disabilities and that an additional 
13 percent have mental retardation. The report notes that the 
percentage of youth in juvenile correctional facilities who were 
previously identified and served in special education programs prior to 
their incarceration is at least three to five times the percentage of 
the public school population identified as disabled.
    Court-involved youth are predominantly male and disproportionately 
minority youth. In 2000, minority youth made up about 32 percent of the 
U.S. population, but 58 percent of youth in juvenile facilities. 
African American youth under age 18 make up 15 percent of the youth 
population, but 26 percent of all juvenile arrests and 44 percent of 
the detained population.
    Multiple risk factors and events converge in the lives of young 
people that put them at high-risk for coming into contact with the 
justice system. The Department of Justice (DOJ) collects data on youth 
offenders and adjudicated youth both through research studies and 
reports from the State corrections departments. One study by DOJ's 
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) that 
surveyed administrators at public and private detention centers and 
training schools found that 75 percent of the offenders come from 
families affected by problems such as divorce and separation, 52 
percent showed signs of depression, and 51 percent appeared to have 
been abused by a parent or adult. Mental illness is also especially 
high among youth offenders. Studies estimate that 80 percent of youth 
in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health 
disorder and many also suffer from co-occurring substance abuse 
disorders.
    These combined risk factors make it very difficult for youth 
offenders to compete in the labor market, especially for jobs that can 
lead to a career. This grant announcement combines two DOL priorities--
the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative and the Youth 
Vision--in order to assist youth offenders to move into jobs and 
careers in high-growth/high-demand industries. We hope through this SGA 
to develop demonstration sites across the country showing that 
strategic partnerships can be formed between business, community 
colleges, the workforce investment system, and the juvenile justice 
system to help youth offenders enter such careers.

2. DOL's Youth Vision

    The White House Taskforce on Disadvantaged Youth notes that despite 
the billions of Federal, State, local, and private dollars spent on 
needy youth and their families, many out-of-school, at-risk youth are 
currently being left behind in our economy because of a lack of program 
focus and emphasis on outcomes. Well-designed and coordinated programs 
offer youth who have become disconnected from mainstream institutions 
and systems additional opportunities to successfully transition to 
adult roles and responsibilities.
    DOL's Youth Vision has been developed in response to the White 
House Task Force Report on Disadvantaged Youth. Developed in 
collaboration with our partners at the Departments of Education, Health 
and Human Services, and Justice, this new strategic vision aims to more 
effectively and efficiently serve out-of-school and at-risk youth 
through the workforce investment system by focusing on four major 
areas:
     Improving alternative education services to youth;
     Meeting the demands of business, especially in high-growth 
industries and occupations;
     Serving the neediest youth; and
     Improving program performance.
    In order to accomplish these goals, collaboration across youth-
serving agencies at the state and local levels is expected.

3. The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative

    The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic 
effort to prepare workers for new and increasing job opportunities in 
high-growth/high-demand and economically vital

[[Page 21113]]

industries and sectors of the American economy. The initiative is 
designed to provide national leadership for a demand-driven workforce 
system by identifying high-growth/high-demand industries, evaluating 
their skills needs, and funding demonstration projects that provide 
workforce solutions to ensure individuals can gain the skills needed to 
get good jobs in these rapidly expanding or transforming industries.
    The foundation of this initiative is partnerships between the 
publicly-funded workforce investment system, business and industry 
representatives, and education and training providers, such as 
community colleges. The purpose of these partnerships is to develop 
innovative solutions or replicate models that address a particular 
industry's workforce issues. These solutions demonstrate how a demand-
driven workforce system can more efficiently serve the workforce needs 
of business, while effectively helping workers find good jobs with good 
wages and promising career paths.
    The High Growth Job Training Initiative engages each partner in its 
area of strength. Industry representatives and employers define 
workforce challenges facing the industry and identify the competencies 
and skills required for the industry's workforce. Community colleges 
and other education and training providers assist in developing 
competency models and training curricula and train new and incumbent 
workers. The publicly-funded workforce investment system accesses human 
capital (youth, unemployed, underemployed, and dislocated workers), 
assists with training programs, and places trained workers in jobs.

4. Areas of ETA Emphasis for This SGA

    ETA has developed five areas of emphasis for youth offender 
projects funded through this SGA: (1) Helping youth offenders enter 
high growth/high demand industries; (2) helping youth offenders improve 
reading and math skills to attain their high school diploma or GED and 
to enter post-secondary education and training; (3) building strategic 
partnerships; (4) leveraging resources; and (5) achieving high-
performance outcomes.
     Helping Youth Offenders Enter Into High Growth/High Demand 
Industries. This SGA places great emphasis on ensuring that high 
growth/high demand industries, as illustrated by the President's High 
Growth Job Training Initiative, are targeted to allow youth offenders 
access to new, emerging, and better job opportunities, with promising 
career ladders. Guiding youth offenders into high-growth industries 
requires that applicants and their partners work to identify the 
workforce needs in high-growth/high-demand and economically critical 
industries based on their State and local economies and to fully 
understand the workforce challenges facing these industries and the 
necessary preparation required to succeed in those occupations. This 
information may be obtained through a variety of sources including 
current State and local labor market information as well as formal 
communication with business and industry representatives in order to 
obtain up-to-date, primary source information on issues that pertain to 
workforce development.
     Helping Youth Offenders Improve Reading and Math Skills To 
Attain Their High School Diploma or GED and To Enter Post-Secondary 
Education and Training. This SGA also places great emphasis on 
improving the basic education skills of youth offenders; helping them 
receive high school diplomas or GEDs; and assisting them to enter post-
secondary education and training. We are particularly interested in 
youth receiving high school diplomas. We encourage grantees to boost 
the reading and math skills of youth and to help youth make up lost 
high school credits. We also encourage grantees to coordinate with 
local public schools to help youth offenders return to regular high 
schools if appropriate or to be referred to quality alternative schools 
that provide high school diplomas, certifiable credentials, and 
opportunities for post-secondary educational placement. We encourage 
coordination with local community colleges and four-year colleges to 
assist youth with the transition to post-secondary education. We 
encourage grantees to develop mentoring for youth and to use work-based 
learning opportunities. In all cases, this emphasis on reading and math 
remediation should lead to post-secondary education and training.
     Building Strategic Partnerships. ETA believes that 
strategic partnerships between the public workforce system, business 
and industry representatives, the juvenile justice system, and 
education and training providers such as community colleges, need to be 
in place in order to ensure that youth offenders gain the necessary 
skills and competencies for jobs and career pathways in high-growth/
high-demand industries. We also believe that additional partnerships 
with the child welfare agency and faith-based and community 
organizations also could enhance this effort.
    In order to maximize success, each partner needs to be engaged in 
its area of strength and have a clearly defined role in the 
partnership. For example, industry representatives define workforce 
challenges facing the industry, identify competencies and skills 
required, and may provide work-based opportunities for participants. 
Community colleges and other education and training providers assist in 
developing competency models and curricula for training new and 
incumbent workers. The juvenile justice system makes referrals to the 
program, while faith and community-based organizations provide 
mentoring and case management to provide encouragement, tutoring, and 
assistance to help participants achieve their goals. The workforce 
investment system may assist with the assessments of youth, develop 
individual service strategies and training programs, and place trained 
youth into jobs. This example does not preclude other partner roles and 
responsibilities in the design and implementation of a youth offender 
project.
     Leveraging Resources. Youth offender investments should 
leverage funds and resources from key entities in the strategic 
partnership. Leveraging resources in the context of strategic 
partnerships accomplishes three goals: (1) Allowing for the pursuit of 
resources driven by strategy; (2) increasing stakeholder investment in 
the project at all levels, including design and implementation phases; 
and (3) broadening the impact of the project itself.
    Consistent with the new youth vision, this SGA provides the 
opportunity for strong collaboration between State and local youth-
serving agencies. Businesses, faith-based and community organizations, 
and foundations often invest resources to support workforce 
development. In addition, other government programs may provide 
resources, including WIA funds reserved for Statewide activities, local 
WIA formula youth funds, State juvenile justice funds, Federal No Child 
Left Behind education funds, Chaffee, Runaway and Homeless funds and 
State education funds. ETA encourages applicants and their partners to 
be entrepreneurial as they seek out, utilize, and sustain these 
resources, whether in-kind or cash contributions, when creating 
effective, innovative projects for youth offenders.
    Applicants will be rated in part on their ability to demonstrate 
commitments of leveraged non-Federal resources. These leveraged non-
Federal resources can be either cash or in-kind.

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In addition, 5 bonus points will be provided for applicants that 
leverage 20 percent in cash of the total amount requested for the grant 
from State or Federal resources. Applicants must describe in detail how 
such leveraged funds will be used and demonstrate how these funds will 
contribute to the goals of the project.
     High Performance Outcomes. DOL expects that 200 youth 
offenders will be served during the first year of operation at each 
site awarded a grant under this SGA. The outcomes for this initiative 
will include placement in employment, post-secondary education, and 
advanced training, attainment of a degree or certificate (both of which 
are part of the new common measures for youth employment and training 
programs), and reduced recidivism.

5. Examples of Projects That Could Be Funded Under This Solicitation

    Types of projects that could be funded under this SGA include, but 
are not limited to, the following examples. Please note that these are 
only examples, and we welcome applicants to propose alternative 
approaches. All proposals will be judged on their own merits.
    Example 1: The local Workforce Investment Board, the education 
and training community, juvenile court, and representatives of local 
high-growth industries set up a comprehensive system for assisting 
all youth returning home from correctional facilities to enter 
careers in high-growth industries. The local high-growth employers 
identify the skills and competency needs of their high-growth 
industries as the focus of the effort. The juvenile court agrees to 
refer all youth returning to the local area from correctional 
facilities, as well as youth who have previously been released from 
correctional facilities or who have been sentenced to probation 
rather than confinement. The child welfare agency refers foster 
youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. The 
community college and industry representatives design and implement 
a set of apprenticeship, on-the-job training, and internship 
opportunities for youth offenders in the high-growth industries 
identified, as well as implement an educational component to improve 
the math and reading skills of youth offenders and to assist them in 
working towards acquiring an associate's and/or bachelor's degree 
from a community college or four-year college. The workforce 
investment system implements the assessments for the participants, 
provides the supportive services, and after training, is involved in 
job placements in those identified high-growth industries. Faith-
based and community organizations agree to provide mentors, case 
management, and other support services to youth offenders. Any of 
the above agencies or organizations could be the lead agency for the 
project.
    Example 2: The State agencies that oversee workforce 
development, community colleges, and juvenile justice coordinate 
with industry representatives to identify occupations in high-growth 
industries that could be taught at State juvenile correctional 
facilities and to implement instructional courses in these 
occupations in one or more juvenile correctional facilities in the 
State. The new instructional courses emphasize project-based 
learning. The State Workforce Agency then coordinates with local 
Workforce Investment Boards and local employers to develop 
apprenticeships, on-the-job training, internships, and job 
placements for youth offenders from these correctional facilities 
when they are released. Faith-based and community organizations 
agree to provide mentors and case management for the youth.
    Example 3: A consortium of Workforce Investment Boards serving a 
common labor market coordinate with the community colleges that 
serve the broader area, the juvenile courts that serve the area, and 
industry representatives to set up a regional approach to assisting 
youth returning from correctional facilities to enter high-growth/
high-demand industries. The consortium identifies two or three high-
growth industries to be the focus of the effort. The juvenile courts 
agree to refer to this new effort all youth returning to the local 
area from correctional facilities. The child welfare agencies refer 
foster youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. 
The Workforce Investment Boards and the industry representatives 
design a set of apprenticeship, on-the-job training, and internship 
opportunities, and conduct job placement for youth offenders in the 
identified high-growth industries. The community colleges implement 
an educational component to improve the math and reading skills of 
youth offenders and to assist youth offenders to enter a community 
college or four-year college. The Workforce Investment Boards, 
industry representatives, and local community colleges also develop 
a training program to help employed youth offenders upgrade their 
skills and move to skilled positions in high-growth industries. 
Faith-based and community organizations agree to provide mentors and 
case management for youth offenders. Any of the above agencies or 
organizations could be the lead agency for the project.

II. Award Information

1. Award Amount

    ETA expects to award grants for 15 projects at an average grant 
amount of $1 million. Applicants may submit proposals within the range 
of $800,000 to $1.2 million.

2. Period of Performance

    The initial period of grant performance will be for one year of 
operation. Depending on the availability of funds and satisfactory 
progress, additional years of funding may be available for these 
grants. In addition, ETA may elect to exercise its option to award no-
cost extensions to these grants for an additional period based on the 
satisfactory progress of the program in placing participants in jobs, 
education, and training, and reducing the recidivism of participants.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Applicants may be public, private for-profit, and private non-
profit organizations, including faith-based and community 
organizations. The applicant will be the lead agency representing a 
partnership of the public workforce system, business and industry 
representatives from high-growth/high-demand industries, the education 
and training community, and the juvenile justice system.
    Applicants must demonstrate the existence of a partnership that 
includes at least one entity from each of four categories: (1) The 
publicly-funded workforce investment system, which may include the 
State Workforce Board, State Workforce Agency, local Workforce 
Investment Board, or a consortium of neighboring local Workforce 
Investment Boards; (2) the education and training community, which may 
include the State agencies overseeing secondary and post-secondary 
schools, local school districts, local community and technical 
colleges, four year colleges and universities, or other training 
entities; (3) employers and industry representatives in high-growth/
high-demand industries; and (4) the juvenile justice system, which may 
include the State juvenile justice agency or the local family or 
juvenile court system. Collaborations also are encouraged with other 
entities, including child welfare and foster care agencies, faith-based 
and community organizations, substance abuse treatment providers, and 
social service agencies.

2. Grantee Resources

    There are no matching requirements for these grants. Applicants 
will be rated in part on their ability to demonstrate commitments of 
leveraged non-Federal resources.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    Beneficiary Eligibility. Individuals aged 16 to 21 who have been 
involved in the juvenile justice system may be served by these grants. 
This includes youth currently being held in correctional facilities or 
detention centers, youth who have been released from correctional 
facilities or detention centers, and youth who have been sentenced in 
juvenile court to probation or alternative sentences.

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    Veterans Priority. This program is subject to the provisions of the 
``Jobs for Veterans Act,'' Pub. L. 107-288, 38 U.S.C. 4215), which 
provides priority of service to veterans and spouses of certain 
veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement 
services in any job training program directly funded, in whole or in 
part, by DOL. To obtain priority of service, a veteran must meet the 
program's eligibility requirements. ETA Training and Employment 
Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 5-03 (Sept. 16, 2003) at https://
www.doleta.gov/Seniors/other_docs/TEN5_03_VETS.pdf provides general 
guidance on the scope of the veterans priority statute and its effect 
on current employment and training programs.

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 to DOL. The proposal must consist of two separate and 
distinct parts. Applications that fail to adhere to the instructions in 
this section will be considered non-responsive and will not be 
considered.
    Part 1 of the proposal is the Cost Proposal and must include the 
following two items:
     The Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal 
Assistance'' (Appendix A) (also available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/
omb/grants/sf424.pdf). The SF 424 must clearly identify the applicant 
and be signed by an individual with authority to enter into a grant 
agreement. Applicants are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) 
number which is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely 
identifies business entities. To obtain a DUNS number, access the Web 
site at https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. 
Applicants must supply their DUNS number in item 5 of the new 
SF 424 issued by OMB (rev. 9-2003).
     The Budget Information Form SF 424A (Appendix B) (also 
available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/sf424a.pdf). In 
preparing the SF 424A, the applicant must provide a concise narrative 
explanation for each line item to support the request and should 
discuss precisely how the administrative costs support the project 
goals. The applicant must also provide a detailed back-up budget that 
includes the number of staff to be hired by job title.
    Part 2 of the application is the Technical Proposal, which 
demonstrates the applicant's capabilities to plan and implement the 
grant project in accordance with the provisions of this SGA. The 
guidelines for the content of the Technical Proposal are provided in 
Section V(1)(A-D) of this SGA; emphasis should be placed on the areas 
listed in Section I(4) of this SGA. The Technical Proposal is limited 
to fifteen double-spaced, single-sided pages with twelve point text 
font and one-inch margins. In addition, the applicant must provide 
letters of support from the partnering agencies, a list of proposed 
staff positions to be funded by the grant, a time line outlining 
project activities, and a two-page Executive Summary. These additional 
materials do not count against the fifteen page limit for the Technical 
Proposal. The additional materials may not exceed fifteen pages in 
addition to the Technical Proposal.

3. Submissions Dates, Times, and Address

    The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is May 23, 2005. Applications must be received at the 
address below not later than 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight 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 considered. No exceptions to the mailing and 
delivery requirements set forth in this notice will be granted.
    Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Reference SGA/DFA-PY 04-09, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4220, Washington, DC 20210. Applicants 
are advised that mail delivery in the Washington area may be delayed 
due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand delivered applications 
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. 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. Registration will probably take multiple 
days to complete which should be factored into plans for electronic 
application submission in order to avoid facing unexpected delays that 
could result in the rejection of your application. It is recommended 
that applicants experiencing problems with electronic transmission 
submit their application by overnight mail until the electronic issues 
are resolved.
    Late Applications: Any application received after the exact date 
and time specified for receipt at the office designated in this notice 
will not be considered, unless it is received before awards are made 
and it (a) was sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail 
not later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified for 
receipt of applications (e.g., an application required to be received 
by the 20th of the month must be postmarked by the 15th of that month) 
or (b) was sent by 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. Intergovernmental Review

    This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (EO) 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

5. Funding Restrictions

    All proposal costs must be necessary and reasonable in accordance 
with Federal guidelines. Determinations of allowable costs will be made 
in accordance with the applicable Federal cost principles, as 
identified in OMB Circulars A-122, A-87, A-21 or at 48 CFR part 31 (See 
29 CFR 95.27, 97.22). Disallowed costs are those charges to a grant 
that the grantor agency or its

[[Page 21116]]

representative determines not to be allowed in accordance with the 
applicable Federal Cost Principles or other conditions contained in the 
grant. Applicants will not be entitled to reimbursement of pre-award 
costs.
    The government is prohibited from providing direct support to 
religious activity.\1\ See 29 CFR part 2, subpart D. Provisions 
relating to the use of indirect support, such as through vouchers, are 
found at 29 CFR 2.33(c) and 20 CFR 667.266. These grants may not be 
used to directly support religious instruction, worship, prayer, 
proselytizing, or other inherently religious practices. Neutral, 
secular criteria that neither favor nor disfavor religion must be 
employed in the selection of grant and sub-grant recipients. In 
addition, under DOL regulations implementing the nondiscrimination 
provisions of WIA, a recipient may not use direct Federal assistance to 
train a participant in religious activities, and a recipient may not 
employ participants to construct, operate, or maintain any part of any 
facility that is used or to be used for religious instruction or as a 
place for religious worship, except as provided in 29 CFR 37.6(f). 
Under WIA, ``no individual shall be excluded from participation in, 
denied the benefits of, subjected to discrimination under, or denied 
employment in the administration of or in connection with, any such 
program or activity because of race, color, religion, sex (except as 
otherwise permitted under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972), national origin, age, disability, or political affiliation or 
belief.''
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    \1\ The term ``direct'' support is used to describe funds or 
other support that are provided ``directly'' by a governmental 
entity or an intermediate organization with the same duties as a 
governmental entity, as opposed to funds that an organization 
receives ``indirectly'' as the result of the genuine and independent 
private choice of a beneficiary within the meaning of the 
Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
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6. Other Submission Requirements

    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 identity is 
made known and the representative signs a receipt for the application.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria for Review

    This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be 
used to evaluate the proposals submitted in response to this 
solicitation. These criteria and point values are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Criterion                              Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Need for the Project......................................         15
B. Project Design and Service Strategy.......................         40
C. Linkages to Key Partners and Leveraged Resources..........         30
D. Program Management and Organization Capacity..............         15
** Bonus: Leveraged State or Federal Cash Resources..........          5
                                                              ----------
  Total Possible Points......................................        105
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A. Need for the Project (15 Points)
    The points for need will be assigned based on a combination of the 
number of youth involved in delinquency cases in the area to be served 
by your proposed project and the justification that you make in your 
application for the need for the project. Ten points under this 
criterion will be assigned by the number of youth in delinquency cases 
based on a scale that uses data provided voluntarily by juvenile courts 
across the country to the National Juvenile Court Data Archive (NJCDA), 
a project maintained by the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) 
with funds provided by OJJDP. These Juvenile Court Statistics include 
State and county-level caseload statistics describing the annual 
delinquency, status offense, and dependency cases handled by juvenile 
courts. These county-level statistics are available on the OJJDP Web 
site under Easy Access to State and County Juvenile Court Case Counts 
at https://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/ezaco/asp/overview.asp. We will be 
using the data on petitioned delinquency cases.
    If you are from Louisiana, Oregon, or Wisconsin, please provide the 
number of petitioned delinquency cases in the county or counties that 
will be serving for the latest year available as the national base does 
not include these statistics for these three States. If you are 
applying from any other State, you do not need to provide in your 
application the statistics for the area that you will be serving as we 
can access that information from the national data base as long as you 
indicate in the Needs Section of your application the county or 
counties that you will be serving or whether you will be serving a 
state-wide area. If you are from Connecticut, indicate the venue 
district that you will be serving.
    The remaining five points under this criterion will be based on the 
justification that you provide in your application for the need for 
this project in the area that you will be serving. Discuss the extent 
of juvenile delinquency in the area that you will be serving, the 
extent of youth gang problems, and other information relevant to 
establishing the need for your project.
B. Project Design and Service Strategy (40 Points)
    Applicants are requested to describe how they plan to effectively 
prepare and place youth offenders in high-growth/high-demand 
industries. Describe how credible labor market information was used to 
focus on selected industries. Show evidence that the industry(s) 
selected is high-growth or in demand in the area to be served by the 
grant. Describe how the training curricula and competency models 
proposed will upgrade the basic and occupational skills of 
participants.
    Describe how the juvenile justice system will refer youth to the 
program. Discuss the role of youth correctional facilities in referring 
youth to the program. Describe how coordination will be maintained 
between juvenile probation officers and the education and employment 
components of the program. If some youth are assigned to this project 
as part of an alternative sentence, describe how coordination will be 
maintained between the juvenile court and the education and employment 
components of the program.
    Identify what assessment tools and/or methods will be used to 
determine the skills and aptitudes of participants. Describe the 
specific strategies and methods that will be used for measuring skills 
acquisition during the training process. Describe the service process 
that will be used in the project including the sequence of services 
(i.e., assessments, training, etc.) in the overall process, how the 
specific services for participants are determined, and which partner 
will provide the services. In addition, identify the supportive 
services, if applicable, that will be provided to participants and 
describe how such services will facilitate participation. Identify what 
supportive services will be provided pre- and post-employment/
placement, as well as during and post-training. Describe the rationale 
for the services that are necessary for participants to attain, retain 
or advance in the job. Indicate what services will be provided by 
project partners or other sources other than the grant.
    DOL expects that each project site will serve 200 youth offenders 
each year and that outcomes will include placement in employment, post-
secondary education, and advanced

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training, attainment of a degree or certificate (both of which are part 
of the new common measures for youth employment and training programs), 
and reduced recidivism. Discuss how your project will be able to attain 
these outcomes, taking into consideration that youth entering this 
program may have low basic skills levels and may require extensive 
remediation and skills training. Also provide numerical goals for each 
of these outcome measures. Please be realistic in setting these 
numerical goals. Your discussion of outcome goals should include the 
methods proposed to collect and validate outcome data in a timely and 
accurate manner.
    Describe the job placement strategies that you will use in your 
program. Discuss the extent to which the high-growth/high-demand 
industry representatives will assist in the job placement. Discuss the 
role of the local workforce investment system and One-Stop Centers in 
your job placement efforts.
    Scoring on this criterion will be based on how well the service 
plan/project design provides solutions to the workforce challenges of 
the youth offender population to be served while addressing the needs 
of high-growth/high-demand employers for a skilled workforce.
    Important factors include:
     The existence of a work plan that is responsive to the 
applicant's statement of need and target population, and that includes 
specific goals, objectives, activities, implementation strategies, and 
a timeline;
     Local labor market information and other evidence that 
support the credibility of the high-growth/high-demand industry(s) 
identified;
     The demonstrated link between the proposed project and the 
workforce challenges identified for youth offender workers and 
employers;
     The existence of a sound strategy for coordinating with 
the local juvenile justice system and youth correctional facilities for 
referring youth into the program;
     A sound strategy for coordinating with juvenile probation 
officers in this project;
     Links with the child welfare agency, faith-based and 
community organizations, and other social service agencies;
     Participant characteristics including their literacy and 
basic and occupational skill needs;
     An effective set of job placement strategies;
     The industry and occupation, in which participants are to 
be placed, retained, or advanced relative to target skills and wage 
goals;
     Documented skill shortages for industry or occupations 
targeted;
     Evidence that the training curricula is developed, if 
applicable, to meet identified skills and competencies required by 
high-growth employers;
     The length of the project for participants;
     The ability of the applicant to achieve the stated 
outcomes within the time frame of the grant;
     The appropriateness of the outcomes with respect to the 
requested level of funding; and
     The extent to which the project will be of significant and 
practical use to the public workforce investment system.
C. Linkages to Key Partners and Leveraged Resources (30 Points)
    Applicants must demonstrate the existence of a partnership that 
includes at least one entity from each of four categories: (1) The 
publicly-funded Workforce Investment System, which may include the 
State Workforce Board, State Workforce Agency, local Workforce 
Investment Board, or a consortium of neighboring local Workforce 
Investment Boards; (2) the education and training community, which may 
include the State agencies overseeing secondary and post-secondary 
schools, local school districts, local community and technical 
colleges, four year colleges and universities, or other training 
entities; (3) employers and industry representatives in high-growth/
high-demand industries; and (4) the juvenile justice system, which may 
include the State juvenile justice agency or the local family or 
juvenile court system. Collaborations also are encouraged with other 
entities, including child welfare and foster care agencies, faith-based 
and community organizations, substance abuse treatment providers, and 
social service agencies. DOL encourages, and will be looking for, 
applications that go beyond the minimum level of partnerships and 
demonstrate broader, substantive, and sustainable partnerships. The 
applicant must identify the partners and explain the meaningful role 
each partner plays in the project as well as how resources will be 
leveraged among the partners.
    Scoring on this criterion will be based on the comprehensiveness of 
the partnership, the degree to which each partner plays a committed 
role, and the amount and quality of non-Federal leveraged resources.
    Important factors include:
     The number of partners involved, the nature of their in-
kind or monetary contribution, their knowledge and experience 
concerning the proposed grant activities, and their ability to impact 
the success of the project;
     The overall completeness of the partnership, including its 
ability to manage all aspects and stages of the project and to 
coordinate individual activities with the partnership as a whole;
     Evidence that key partners have expressed a clear 
commitment to the project and understand their areas of responsibility. 
Examples include a letter of commitment or an MOU;
     Evidence of a plan for interaction between partners at 
each stage of the project, from planning to execution;
     Evidence that the partnership has the capacity to achieve 
the outcomes of the proposed project; and
     The amount and quality of the non-Federal leveraged 
resources, including an itemized description of each cash or in-kind 
contribution and a description of how each contribution will be used to 
further the goals of the project. By quality of the non-Federal 
leveraged resources, we mean whether the proposed leveraging represents 
a dedication of resources to this specific project as opposed to simply 
representing a use of resources that would have occurred even in the 
absence of this project.
    Bonus: Leveraging of State and Federal Cash Resources. Applicants 
who plan to leverage 20 percent of the requested grant amount in State 
or Federal Cash Resources for the proposed project will receive 5 bonus 
points. By cash resources, we mean State or Federal resources that are 
dedicated specifically to this project, and that in effect increase the 
budgeted amount available for your project to spend. Applicants must 
describe in detail how such funds will be used, the source of funds, 
and how these funds will contribute to the goals of the project.
D. Program Management and Organization Capacity (15 Points)
    Applicants must demonstrate that they have the capability of 
providing the services proposed. The applicant must also include a 
description of organizational capacity and the organization's track 
record in projects similar to that described in the application and/or 
related activities of the primary actors in the partnership. Applicants 
must identify a project manager, discuss the proposed staffing pattern 
and the qualifications and experience of key staff members, provide 
detailed descriptions of the roles of the participating partners, and 
give evidence of the utilization of data

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systems to track outcomes. Scoring on this factor will be based on 
evidence of the following:
     The time commitment of the proposed staff is sufficient to 
assure proper direction, management, and timely completion of the 
project;
     The roles and contribution of staff, consultants, and 
collaborative organizations are clearly defined and linked to specific 
objects and tasks;
     The background, experience, and other qualifications of 
the staff are sufficient to carry out their designated roles; and
     The applicant organization has significant capacity to 
accomplish the goals and outcomes of the project, including appropriate 
systems to track outcome data.

2. Review and Selection Process

    A technical review panel will make careful evaluation of 
applications against the criteria set forth in V.1. These criteria are 
based on the policy goals, priorities, and emphases set forth in this 
SGA. The ranked scores will serve as a primary basis for selection of 
applications for funding, in conjunction with other factors such as 
urban, rural, and geographic balance, the availability of funds, and 
which applications are most advantageous to DOL. The panel results are 
advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer. The Grant 
Officer may consider any information that comes to his attention. DOL 
may elect to award the grant(s) with or without discussions with the 
applicants. Should a grant be awarded without discussions, the award 
will be based on the applicant's signature on the SF 424, which 
constitutes a binding offer.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    DOL will notify selected and non-selected applicants by mail. All 
award notifications will be posted on the 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 of appropriation 
laws, regulations, and the applicable OMB Circulars. The grant(s) 
awarded under this SGA must comply with all provisions of this SGA and 
will be subject to the following administrative standards and 
provisions, as applicable to the particular grantee:
    a. 20 CFR part 667.220 Administrative Costs.
    b. OMB Circulars, A-122 Cost Principles, A-21 Cost Principles, A-87 
Cost Principles, 48 CFR part 31 Cost Principles.
    c. 29 CFR part 2, subpart D--Equal Treatment in Department of Labor 
Programs for Religious Organizations, Protection of Religious Liberty 
of Department of Labor Social Service Providers and Beneficiaries;
    d. 29 CFR part 30--Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship 
and Training;
    e. 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;
    f. 29 CFR part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in 
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial 
Assistance;
    g. 29 CFR part 33--Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of 
Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of 
Labor;
    h. 29 CFR part 35--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in 
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the 
Department of Labor;
    i. 29 CFR part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in 
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial 
Assistance;
    j. 29 CFR part 37--Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and 
Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
(WIA).
    k. 29 CFR part 93--Lobbying;
    l. 29 CFR part 95--Grants and Agreements with Non-Profit 
Organizations, Commercial Organizations, International Organizations, 
Foreign Governments, and Others;
    m. 29 CFR part 96--Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts and 
Other Agreements;
    n. 29 CFR part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments;
    o. 29 CFR part 98--Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
Procurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace; 
and
    p. 29 CFR part 99--Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-
Profit Organizations.

    Note: Except as specifically provided in this SGA, DOL/ETA's 
acceptance of a proposal and an award of Federal funds to sponsor 
any programs(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 require that all procurement 
transactions must be conducted, as practical, to provide open and 
free competition. If a proposal identifies a specific entity to 
provide the services, the DOL/ETA's award does not provide the 
justification or basis to sole-source the procurement, i.e., avoid 
competition.

3. Reporting

    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 grant period has expired. Quarterly reports are due thirty days 
after the end of each calendar year quarter. Grantees must use ETA's 
On-Line Electronic Reporting System.
    Quarterly Progress Reports. The grantee must submit a quarterly 
progress report to the designated Federal Project Officer within thirty 
days after the end of each quarter. Two copies are to be submitted 
providing a detailed account of activities undertaken during that 
quarter. DOL may require additional data elements to be collected and 
reported on either a regular basis or special request basis. Grantees 
must agree to meet DOL reporting requirements. The quarterly progress 
report should be in narrative form and should include:
    1. In-depth information on accomplishments, including project 
success stories, upcoming grant activities, promising approaches and 
processes, and progress in achieving performance outcomes;
    2. Challenges, barriers, or concerns regarding project progress;
    3. Lessons learned in the areas of project administration and 
management, project implementation, partnership relationships and other 
related areas.
    MIS Data. Grantees will be required to submit updated MIS data on 
enrollment, services provided, placements, outcomes, and follow-up 
status. DOL will coordinate with sites after grant award to implement 
an MIS system for this project.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Any questions regarding this SGA should be directed to B. Jai 
Johnson, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, 
at (202)-693-3296; fax: (202) 693-2879. This is not a toll-free number. 
You must specifically address your fax to the attention of B. Jai 
Johnson and should include SGA/DFA PY 04-09, a contact name, fax and 
phone number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact James Stockton, Grants 
Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, on (202) 693-
3335. This is not a toll-free number. This

[[Page 21119]]

announcement is also being made available on the ETA Web site at http:/
/www.doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm and https://www.grants.gov.

VIII. Other Information

Resources for the Applicant

    DOL maintains a number of web-based resources that may be of 
assistance to applicants. The webpage for the ETA's Business Relations 
Group (https://www.doleta.gov/BRG) is a valuable source of background on 
the President's High-Growth Job Training Initiative. America's Service 
Locator (https://www.servicelocator.org) provides a directory of our 
nation's One-Stop Career Centers. Applicants are encouraged to review 
``Understanding the Department of Labor Solicitation for Grant 
Applications and How to Write an Effective Proposal'' (https://www/
dol.gov/cfbci/sgabrochure.htlm). ``Questions and Answers'' regarding 
this SGA will be posted and updated on the Web (www.doleta.gov/
usworkforce).

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 20th day of April, 2005.
James W. Stockton,
Grants Officer.

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