Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) for Community-Based Job Training Grants, 22905-22924 [05-8772]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22905-22924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8772]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant 
Applications (SGA) for Community-Based Job Training Grants

    Announcement type: New. Notice of Solicitation for Grant 
Applications.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA-PY-04-10.
    Catalog of Federal Assistance Number: 17.261.
    Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is July 6, 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. Virtual Prospective Applicant Conferences will be held for this 
grant competition. The dates and access information for these 
prospective applicant conferences will be posted on ETA's Web site at 
https://www.doleta.gov/business/Community-BasedJobTrainingGrants.cfm.
SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL), announces the availability of approximately 
$125 million in grant funds for Community-Based Job Training Grants.
    Community-Based Job Training Grants will be awarded through a 
competitive process to support workforce training for high-growth 
industries through the national system of community and technical 
colleges. The primary purpose of these grants is to build the capacity 
of community colleges to train workers to develop the skills required 
to succeed in (i) local industries and occupations that are expected to 
experience high growth and (ii) industries where demand for qualified 
workers is outstripping the supply. Funds will be awarded to community 
colleges to engage in a combination of capacity building and training 
activities targeted at high-growth or high-demand industries in the 
local economy.
    In awarding Community-Based Job Training Grants, every effort will 
be made to fairly distribute grants across rural and urban areas and 
across the

[[Page 22906]]

different geographic regions of the United States. It is anticipated 
that individual awards will range in amount from $500,000 to $2 
million. A second solicitation is anticipated for Fall/Winter 2005.
    This solicitation provides background information and describes the 
application submission requirements, outlines the process that eligible 
entities must use to apply for funds covered by this solicitation, and 
details how grantees will be selected.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department 
of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: Eric Luetkenhaus, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/
DFA-PY-04-10, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4438, Washington, DC 
20210. Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be accepted. 
Information about applying online can be found in Section IV (C) of 
this document. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    This solicitation consists of eight parts:
     Part I provides background information.
     Part II describes the size and nature of the anticipated 
awards.
     Part III describes eligible applicants and other grant 
specifications.
     Part IV provides information on the application and 
submission process.
     Part V describes the criteria against which applications 
will be reviewed and explains the proposal review process.
     Part VI provides award administration information.
     Part VII contains DOL agency contact information.
     Part VIII lists additional resources of interest to 
applicants.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The Community-Based Job Training Grants (CBJTGs) are designed to 
support workforce training for high-growth industries through the 
national system of community and technical colleges. The primary 
purpose of these grants is to build the capacity of community colleges 
to train workers to develop the skills required to succeed in (i) local 
industries and occupations that are expected to experience high growth 
and (ii) industries where demand for qualified workers is outstripping 
the supply. Part 1 of this section provides an overview of ETA's 
demand-driven workforce investment strategies. Part 2 provides 
background information on the principles underlying the CBJTGs. Part 3 
describes critical elements of the grants themselves.

1. The Employment and Training Administration's Demand-Driven Workforce 
Investment Strategies

    Each year, the federal government invests over $15 billion in a 
state and local network of resources, known as the workforce investment 
system, to assist businesses in recruiting, training, and retaining a 
skilled workforce. While these investments have in the past supported a 
set of standard menu-driven services for employers and workers, the 
realities of today's rapidly changing global economy make it imperative 
that the workforce investment system support customized activities that 
are driven by local employer demand. This demand-driven approach to 
workforce development is necessary to prepare workers to take advantage 
of new and increasing job opportunities in high-growth/high-demand and 
economically vital industries and sectors of the American economy.
    In a demand-driven workforce investment system, state and local 
Workforce Investment Boards invest strategically in workforce 
development activities that are relevant to the requirements of local 
industry and have a long-term impact on the ability of the community to 
meet local workforce demands. To do so, they bring to the table 
critical collaborative partners in the development of America's 
workforce: employers and education and training providers.
    Within the context of these strategic partnerships, communities use 
a solutions-based approach to workforce development planning, in which 
the partnering entities work through the cycle of: (1) Collecting and 
analyzing information about local workforce needs and critical capacity 
constraints; (2) incorporating a business or demand-driven perspective 
into issue identification and solutions development; (3) ensuring that 
the right strategic partners are at the table; (4) working 
collaboratively to explore, frame, and implement solutions; and (5) 
assessing how the products and outcomes of the project can be 
effectively deployed and replicated. The goal of this process is to 
ensure that the proposed project will ultimately succeed in resolving 
the industry-identified workforce challenge.
    The solutions-based approach engages each collaborative 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. The workforce 
investment system provides access to human capital (youth, unemployed, 
underemployed, incumbent workers, and dislocated workers), assists with 
training programs, and places trained workers in jobs. Community 
colleges and other training providers assist in developing competency 
models and training curricula and train new and incumbent workers. The 
K-12 public education system ensures that investments at the community 
college are part of a continuum of education and training leading to 
successful skill development.
    ETA first modeled the power of these strategic partnerships through 
the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative (High Growth 
Initiative). The High Growth Initiative is a strategic effort to 
prepare workers for new and increasing job opportunities in high-
growth/high-demand and economically vital industries and sectors of the 
American economy. Through the initiative, ETA identifies high-growth/
high-demand industries, evaluates their skills needs, and funds local 
and national partnership-based demonstration projects that provide 
workforce solutions to ensure that individuals can gain the skills to 
get good jobs in these rapidly expanding or transforming industries. 
The products, models and effective approaches that result from the High 
Growth Initiative will be broadly disseminated to employers, education 
and training providers, and the workforce investment system to build 
their capacity to respond to employer demands.

2. Background on the Community-Based Job Training Grants

    The Community-Based Job Training Grants (CBJTGs) continue the work 
of the High Growth Initiative by incorporating its focus on high-
growth, high-demand industries and its emphasis on the role of 
strategic partnerships in workforce development. The CBJTGs build on 
the work of the High Growth Initiative by highlighting the critical 
role community colleges play as partners in the demand-driven workforce 
investment system, and by supporting community efforts to link training 
initiatives to the skill demands of local employers. As a result, CBJTG 
activities will lead to an increased number of high-growth firms being 
supported by the local workforce and education systems, and more 
individuals being trained and employed in high-growth sectors.

[[Page 22907]]

    Community colleges represent a critical 21st century training 
resource for workers needing to attain, retool, refine, and broaden 
their skills to meet industry demand. According to the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, eighty percent of the fastest growing jobs in the United 
States require some level of post-secondary education. The 
accessibility and affordability of community college training, combined 
with the adaptability of community college curricula to changing skill 
needs, make community colleges a vital training resource for many U.S. 
workers. Furthermore, community colleges are closely connected to local 
labor markets, making them well-positioned to prepare workers for good 
jobs with good wages in the local economy.
    However, community college leaders and industry executives report 
that many community colleges are unable to meet local demand for 
training because of critical capacity constraints. These capacity 
constraints occur when community colleges lack sufficient resources to 
support training facilities and equipment, curriculum development, 
faculty appointments, clinical experiences, and/or other elements that 
are necessary to provide either the volume or quality of training that 
industry requires. Despite rising application rates, the reality of 
current state and local budgets often prevents colleges from funding 
the programs, faculty, and student services they need to be responsive 
to local workforce demands.
    The CBJTGs will address this critical capacity issue. Funds will be 
awarded to community colleges to engage in a combination of capacity 
building and training activities targeted at high-growth or high-demand 
industries in the local economy.

3. Critical Elements of Community-Based Job Training Grants

    It is ETA's expectation that CBJTGs will contain at least six 
critical elements. These elements consist of: (A) Focus on skill and 
competency needs of local high-growth/high-demand industries; (B) 
strategic partnerships; (C) industry-driven capacity building and 
training efforts; (D) leveraged resources; (E) replication; and (F) 
clear and specific outcomes. These characteristics are reflected in the 
evaluation criteria in Part V and are described in further detail 
below. For examples of projects that integrate these elements, please 
see Appendix A.
    A. Focus on skill and competency needs of local high-growth/high-
demand industries. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-
220) (WIA) emphasizes a workforce system driven by the needs of local 
employers. In order for America to remain competitive in the global 
economy, it is essential that ETA target its investments to support 
employers in high-growth/high-demand industries. Community colleges 
play a vital role in this effort by providing training to address the 
workforce needs of these industries. A high-growth/high-demand industry 
meets one or more of the following criteria: (1) Is projected to add 
substantial numbers of new jobs to the economy; (2) has a significant 
impact on the economy overall; (3) impacts the growth of other 
industries; (4) is being transformed by technology and innovation 
requiring new skill sets for workers; or (5) is a new and emerging 
business that is projected to grow.
    B. Strategic Partnerships. ETA believes that strategic partnerships 
between community colleges, the workforce investment system, business 
and industry, and the continuum of education, including the K-12 
system, need to be in place in order to implement effective demand-
driven training and capacity building strategies. These strategic 
partnerships may have a local, regional, or statewide focus, and may 
include a consortium of partners or cross-industry representatives. 
Specific requirements for strategic partnerships are outlined in 
Section III (3). These strategic partnerships should focus broadly on 
the workforce challenges of one or more high-growth, high-demand 
industries and work collaboratively to identify and implement solutions 
to those challenges. These solutions should include, among others, 
strategies to increase the capacity of local community colleges to 
educate and train more workers with industry-defined skills and 
competencies. Therefore, the investment in community college capacity 
building would be one of many strategies and solutions that evolve from 
the partnership. While ETA welcomes applications from newly formed 
strategic partnerships, applicants are advised that grant funds may not 
be used for partnership development.
    Within the context of the broader strategic partnership and as it 
relates to this grant, each collaborative partner should have clearly 
defined roles. Each partner should verify their role through a letter 
of commitment attached to the proposal. The exact nature of these roles 
may vary depending on the issue areas being addressed and the scope and 
nature of the activities undertaken. However, ETA expects that each 
collaborative partner will, at minimum, contribute in the following 
ways. Employers should be actively engaged and participate fully in 
every aspect of grant activities including: defining the program 
strategy and goals; identifying needed skills and competencies; 
designing training approaches and curricula; implementing the program; 
contributing financial support; and, where appropriate, hiring 
qualified training graduates. The K-12 education system is an important 
foundational partner to ensure the project's activities are tied to the 
broader continuum of education in the community. The workforce 
investment system, which may include state and local Workforce 
Investment Boards, State Workforce Agencies, and One-Stop Career 
Centers and their cooperating partners, as such terms are defined under 
WIA, may play a number of roles, including: identifying and assessing 
candidates for training; working collaboratively to leverage WIA 
investments; referring qualified candidates to the community college 
for enrollment; providing wrap-around support services, where 
appropriate; and referring qualified training graduates to employers 
with existing job openings.
    In order to maximize the success of the project and to keep pace 
with the rapid changes in the economy and the nature of the skills and 
competencies necessary for work in these industries, these strategic 
partnerships need to be substantial and sustained. ETA encourages 
partners to plan for sustainability of the partnership to enable 
ongoing assessment of industry workforce needs and collaborative 
development of solutions on an ongoing basis.
    C. Industry-driven capacity building and training efforts. All 
CBJTGs must develop and implement a combination of capacity building 
and training activities that target skills and competencies demanded by 
local high-growth/high-demand industries. Applicants are not limited in 
the strategies and approaches they may employ to implement their 
capacity building and training strategies, provided the activities meet 
the following requirements:
    (1) Training. Training activities must: (a) Occur within the 
context of a continuum of education and training that supports long-
term career growth, such as an articulated career ladder/lattice and 
(b) result in college credit or other credentials that are industry-
recognized and indicate a level of mastery and competence in a given 
field or function. The credential awarded to participants upon 
completion should be based on the type of training provided through the 
grant and the requirements

[[Page 22908]]

of the targeted occupation, and should be selected based on 
consultations with industry partners. For example:
    a. Customized and short-term training should result in a 
performance-based certification or certificate. This certification may 
be developed jointly by employers and the community college, based on 
defined knowledge and skill requirements for specific high-demand 
occupations/functions. Performance-based certifications may also be 
based on industry-recognized curriculum and standards.
    b. Training in information technology, allied health professions, 
and other fields with established professional standards and 
examinations should result in certification.
    c. In states where licensure is required for the specific 
occupation targeted by the training, the credentialing requirement 
should be set accordingly.
    d. In some instances, training provided under CBJTGs may lead to a 
degree. In these instances, the credential required will be credit for 
each course leading to an Associate's or Applied Associate's degree.
    (2) Capacity Building. Community colleges are encouraged to broadly 
assess their capacity to meet the training needs of the targeted high-
growth/high-demand industry or industries. Proposed capacity building 
strategies are expected to address significant barriers which impede 
the ability of the community college to meet local industry demand for 
workforce training. These strategies should not simply address isolated 
deficits, but rather provide a comprehensive solution to identified 
capacity challenges as they relate to the industry or industries of 
focus. Examples of capacity building activities include, but are not 
limited to:
    a. The development or adaptation of competency models and curricula 
to support training;
    b. The development of innovative curricula, teaching methods and 
instructional design to maximize the impact of the initiative in 
meeting the skills needs of employers;
    c. Innovative strategies to ensure availability of qualified and 
certified instructors;
    d. Procurement of equipment and simulation equipment necessary to 
train to industry-demanded skills; or
    e. Support for clinical experiences required for certification or 
licensure.
    Capacity building activities must meet two criteria: (1) The 
proposed capacity building efforts must be directly linked to the 
specific training supported under the grant; and (2) grantees must use 
their grant funds in a manner consistent with the regulations and 
policies governing use of funds under 171(d) of WIA, which broadly 
allows the funds to be utilized to test an array of approaches to the 
provision of training services and support the development and 
replication of effective training strategies.
    D. Leveraged Resources. Projects funded through CBJTGs should 
leverage resources from key entities in the strategic partnership. 
Leveraging resources in the context of strategic partnerships 
accomplishes three goals: (1) It allows for the strategic pursuit of 
resources; (2) it increases stakeholder investment in the project at 
all levels including design and implementation phases; and (3) it 
broadens the impact of the project itself. Applicants are encouraged to 
leverage significant resources from key partners and other 
organizations to maximize the impact of the project on the community.
    ETA strongly encourages CBJTG applicants and their strategic 
partners to be entrepreneurial as they seek out, utilize, and sustain 
these resources, whether they are in-kind or cash contributions, when 
creating capacity building and training strategies. Businesses, faith-
based and community organizations, and foundations often invest 
resources to support workforce development. Faith-based and community 
organizations may provide resources such as support services, 
mentoring, tutoring, and volunteers, all of which are important 
resources for grantees to leverage in assisting the populations 
targeted by these funds. In addition, other government programs, 
including the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, and 
other ETA programs, such as registered apprenticeship and Job Corps, 
may have resources available that can be integrated into the proposed 
project.
    ETA also encourages applicants to integrate WIA funding at the 
state and local level into their proposed project. Integrating WIA 
funds ensures that the full spectrum of assets available from the 
workforce system is leveraged to support the capacity building and 
training activities. The wide variety of WIA programs and activities 
provide both breadth and depth to the proposed solution offered to both 
business and individuals. The use of WIA funds also serves to embed the 
solutions-based approach into the local or regional workforce 
investment system, which strengthens the system's ability to become 
more demand-driven.
    E. Replication. CBJTGs are intended to drive the community college 
system and the workforce investment system to be more responsive to the 
workforce demands of industry by making the products, models, and 
effective approaches that result from CBJTG investments available to 
both systems. To that end, grantees will develop the foundations and 
outcomes of CBJTG projects, including the learning and achievement 
resulting from the projects, into solutions-based models that can be 
shared with, and implemented by, other community colleges, the 
workforce system, and industry leaders.
    F. Outcomes. The CBJTGs will be fundamentally results-oriented. 
Therefore, clear and specific outcomes that are appropriate to the 
nature of the proposed activities and the size of the project are vital 
components of CBJTG projects. Because CBJTGs invest in customized 
strategies to address local workforce and skills shortages, ETA 
recognizes that specific outcomes will vary from project to project 
based on the specific activities proposed. Training outcomes should 
include those tracked by the Common Measures, the OMB-approved uniform 
evaluation metrics for job training and employment programs. A detailed 
description of ETA's policy on the Common Measures can be found in the 
Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 28-04 (https://
wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL28-04.pdf). A basic list of Common 
Measures is provided as attachment B to the TEGL (https://
wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL28-04_AttachB.pdf). Capacity 
building outcomes should include products, models, and activities that 
increase the capacity of the community college to provide training as 
well as the impact each outcome has on the number of individuals the 
community college can train and/or the quality of that training. 
Outcomes and impacts of the proposed project should satisfactorily 
address the industry-identified workforce need and the community 
college capacity constraint identified by the partnership.

II. Award Information

1. Award Amount

    ETA intends to fund approximately seventy-five (75) projects 
through grants ranging from $500,000 to $2 million through this 
competition; however, this does not preclude ETA from funding grants at 
either a lower or higher amount, or funding a smaller or larger number 
of projects, based on the type and the number of quality submissions. 
Applicants are encouraged to submit budgets for quality projects at 
whatever funding level is appropriate to the project. Nevertheless, 
applicants should recognize that the funds available through this SGA 
are intended to

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complement additional leveraged resources rather than be the sole 
source of funds for the proposal. A second competition planned for 
Fall/Winter 2005 will request applications for the funding of 
additional projects.

2. Period of Performance

    ETA intends that the initial period of grant performance will fall 
within a range of 24 to 36 months from the date of execution of the 
grant documents. However, ETA will determine an appropriate period of 
performance on a per-award basis that will allow for the completion of 
capacity building and training efforts, and allow time for post-
training participant tracking in the workplace.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    In order to be eligible for consideration under this solicitation, 
the applicant must be a publicly funded institution of higher education 
that grants associate degrees. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate 
that they comply with the definition of a community college in 20 
U.S.C. 2371:

    The term ``community college''--(A) means an institution of 
higher education [as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001] that provides not 
less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit 
towards a bachelor's degree; and (B) includes tribally controlled 
colleges and universities.

    Applicants that fail to meet this eligibility requirement will be 
removed from consideration prior to the technical review process. 
Please note: (1) The applicant and fiscal agent for this grant 
initiative must be the same entity; and (2) in accordance with Section 
18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-65) (2 U.S.C. 
1611), non-profit entities incorporated under Internal Revenue Service 
Code section 501(c)(4) that engage in lobbying activities are not 
eligible to receive Federal funds and grants.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required for 
eligibility; however, applicants are encouraged to leverage the 
resources of the partnership whenever possible.

3. Other Grant Specifications

    (1) Demonstrated Partnerships. To be considered for funding under 
this SGA, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project will 
be implemented by a strategic partnership that includes at least one 
entity from each of the following categories: (1) The publicly-funded 
Workforce Investment System, which may include state and local 
Workforce Investment Boards, State Workforce Agencies, and One Stop 
Career Centers and their partners; (2) the community college system; 
(3) employers and industry-related organizations such as associations 
and unions; and (4) the continuum of education, including the K-12 
public education system. The strategic partnership may be a legally 
organized partnership or joint venture, or a more informal 
collaboration. As discussed above in Section III(1), the applicant 
itself, for the purpose of being bound in the grant application and any 
resulting award, must be a publicly funded community college.
    (2) Required Capacity Building and Training Activities. To be 
considered for funding under this SGA, proposed grant activities must 
include a combination of capacity building and training activities that 
target skills and competencies demanded by local high-growth/high-
demand industries. Training activities must result in college credit or 
other credentials that are industry-recognized and indicate a level of 
mastery and competence in a given field or function. Proposed capacity 
building activities must address barriers that impede the ability of 
the community college to meet local industry demand for workforce 
training and must be directly linked to the specific training supported 
under the grant. Applicants may propose a cross-cutting capacity 
building and training strategy that will support training in more than 
one high growth/high demand industry if the applicant can demonstrate 
that skill needs in the identified industries are shared.
    (3) Participants Eligible to Receive Training. Generally, the scope 
of potential trainees is very broad. WIA Sec. 171(d) authorizes 
demonstration programs to serve dislocated workers, incumbent workers, 
and new entrants to the workforce. This authorization supports a broad 
range of training for a variety of populations, including: Incumbent 
workers who need new skills for jobs in demand up the career ladder or 
because the skill needs for their current job have changed; untapped 
labor pools such as immigrant workers, individuals with disabilities, 
veterans, older workers, youth, etc; or entry level workers who need 
basic skills and/or specific occupational skill training. The 
identification of targeted and qualified trainees should be part of the 
larger project planning process undertaken by the required partnership 
and should relate to the workforce issue that is being addressed by the 
training.
    (4) Training Providers. The community college applicant must offer 
appropriate credentials for all proposed training. Generally, it is 
assumed that the applicant will also be the training provider. However, 
ETA encourages applicants to be creative in integrating partner 
resources into the training plan. For example: A business partner may 
provide a qualified instructor to the community college; the community 
college may provide on-site training for workers to take advantage of 
business-loaned equipment; the training may be provided jointly; or 
some of the training may utilize distance learning alternatives.
    (5) Veterans Priority. In circumstances where a grant recipient 
must choose between two equally qualified candidates for training, one 
of whom is a veteran, the Jobs for Veterans Act (Pub. L. 107-288) 
requires that grant recipients give the veteran priority of service by 
admitting him or her. The Jobs for Veterans Act 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 the Department of 
Labor. Please note that, to obtain priority of service, a veteran must 
meet the program's eligibility requirements. ETA Training and 
Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 5-03 (September 16, 2003) 
provides general guidance on the scope of the Job for Veterans Act and 
its effect on current employment and training programs. TEGL No. 5-03, 
along with additional guidance, is available at the ``Jobs for Veterans 
Priority of Service'' Web site (https://www.doleta.gov/programs/vets).

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

    The proposal must consist of two (2) separate and distinct parts, 
Parts I and II. Applications that fail to adhere to the instructions in 
this section will be considered non-responsive and may not be given 
further consideration.
    Part I of the proposal is the Cost Proposal and must include the 
following three items.
     The Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal 
Assistance'' (Appendix B) (available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
grants/sf424.pdf). The SF 424 must clearly

[[Page 22910]]

identify the applicant and be signed by an individual with authority to 
enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the 
individual signing the SF 424 on behalf of the applicant shall be 
considered the representative of the applicant.
     All applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities 
are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number. See Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Notice of Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 
38402 (June 27, 2003). Applicants must supply their DUNS number in item 
5 of the new SF 424 issued by OMB (Rev. 9-2003). The DUNS 
number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies 
business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no 
charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access this Web site: https://
www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.
     SF 424A, the Budget Information Form (Appendix C) 
(available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/sf424a.pdf). In 
preparing the Budget Information Form, the applicant must provide a 
concise narrative explanation to support the request. The budget 
narrative should break down the budget and leveraged resources by 
deliverable, should discuss cost per-participant, and should discuss 
precisely how the administrative costs support the project goals.
    Please note that applicants that fail to provide a SF 424, SF 424A 
and/or a budget narrative will be removed from consideration prior to 
the technical review process. Applicants are also encouraged, but not 
required, to submit OMB Survey N. 1890-0014: Survey on Ensuring Equal 
Opportunity for Applicants, which can be found in Attachment D.
    Part II of the application is the Technical Proposal, which 
demonstrates the applicant's capabilities to plan and implement the 
CBJTG in accordance with the provisions of this solicitation. The 
Technical Proposal is limited to twenty (20) double-spaced, single-
sided, 8.5 inch x 11 inch pages with 12 point text font and one-inch 
margins. In addition, in attachments which may not exceed ten (10) 
pages, the applicant may provide resumes, a list of staff positions to 
be funded by the grant, statistical information and other related 
material. The required letters of commitment from partners must be 
submitted as additional attachments, which will not count against the 
allowable 10-page limit on attachments. The applicant must reference 
any partners in the text of the Technical Proposal. No cost data or 
reference to prices should be included in the Technical Proposal. The 
following information is required:
     A two-page abstract summarizing the proposed project and 
applicant profile information including: Applicant name, project title, 
industry focus, partnership members, proposed training and capacity 
building activities, funding level requested, and the amount of 
leveraged resources;
     A table of contents listing the application sections;
     A time line outlining project activities and an 
anticipated schedule for deliverables; and
     A project description as described in the Evaluation 
Criteria section at Part V(1) of this solicitation.
    Please note that the abstract, table of contents, and time line are 
not included in the twenty page limit. Applications that do not provide 
Part II of the application will be removed from consideration prior to 
the technical review process.
    Applications may be submitted electronically on Grants.gov or in 
hard-copy via mail or hand delivery. These processes are described in 
further detail in section IV(3). Applicants submitting proposals in 
hard-copy must submit an original signed application (including the SF 
424) and one (1) ``copy-ready'' version free of bindings, staples or 
protruding tabs to ease in the reproduction of the proposal by DOL. 
Applicants submitting proposals in hard-copy are also requested, though 
not required, to provide an electronic copy of the proposal on CD-ROM.

3. Submission Date, Times, and Addresses

    The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is July 6, 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.
    ETA will host CHJTG Virtual Prospective Applicant Conferences for 
this grant competition. The dates and access information for these 
prospective applicant conferences will be posted on ETA's Web site at 
https://www.doleta.gov/business/Community-BasedJobTrainingGrants.cfm.
    Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: Eric Luetkenhaus, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/
DFA-PY-04-10, 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 through Grants.gov (https://
www.grants.gov). It is strongly recommended that applicants using 
Grants.gov immediately initiate and complete the ``Get Started'' 
registration steps at https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. These steps may 
take multiple days to complete, and this time should be factored into 
plans for electronic application submission in order to avoid facing 
unexpected delays that could result in the rejection of an application. 
If submitting electronically through grants.gov, it would be 
appreciated if the application submitted is saved as .doc, .pdf or .txt 
files
    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 Grants.gov to 
the 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.

[[Page 22911]]

4. Intergovernmental Review

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

5. Funding Restrictions

    Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with 
the applicable Federal cost principles, e.g., Educational Institution--
OMB Circular A-21. Disallowed costs are those charges to a grant that 
the grantor agency or its 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.
    Limitations on Cost Per-Participant. Because the costs of training 
may vary considerably depending on the skills and competencies required 
in different occupations in different industries, flexibility will be 
provided on cost per-participant. However, applications for funding 
will be reviewed to determine if the cost of the training is 
appropriate and will produce the outcomes identified. Applicants should 
demonstrate that the proposed cost per-participant is aligned with 
existing price structures for similar training in the local area, if 
available, or with the community college's existing price structures 
for the type of program offered.
    Administrative Costs. An entity that receives a CBJTG to carry out 
a project or program may not use more than 5 percent of the total 
amount of the grant to pay administrative costs associated with the 
program or project. The Grant Officer reserves the right to negotiate 
administrative cost levels prior to award. Administrative costs are 
defined at 20 CFR 667.220. Although there will be administrative costs 
associated with the management of the partnership as it relates to 
specific grant activity, the primary use of funding should be to 
support the capacity building and training activities.
    ETA Intellectual Property Rights. Applicants should note that 
grantees must agree to provide DOL/ETA a paid-up, nonexclusive and 
irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use for federal 
purposes all products developed, or for which ownership was purchased, 
under an award, including, but not limited to, curricula, training 
models, technical assistance products, and any related materials, and 
to authorize them to do so. Such uses include, but are not limited to, 
the right to modify and distribute such products worldwide by any 
means, electronically or otherwise.
    Legal Rules Pertaining to Inherently Religious Activities by 
Organizations that Receive Federal Financial Assistance. The government 
is prohibited from providing direct support to religious activity \1\. 
See 29 CFR part 2, subpart D. Funds from 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 the 
WIA and DOL regulations implementing the Workforce Investment Act, a 
recipient may not use direct Federal assistance to train a participant 
in religious activities or employ participants to construct, operate, 
or maintain any part of a facility that is used or to be used for 
religious instruction or worship. See 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''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

V. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

    This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be 
used to evaluate proposals for a Community-Based Job Training Grant. 
These criteria and point values are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Criterion                              Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Statement of Need...........................................       15
B. Linkages to Key Partners....................................       20
C. Training and Capacity Building Plan.........................       25
D. Outcomes, Benefits, and Impact..............................       30
E. Program Management and Organization Capacity................       10
                                                                --------
    Total Possible Points......................................      100
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Statement of Need (15 Points)
    Scoring on this criterion will be based on the extent to which the 
applicant demonstrates a clear and specific need for Federal investment 
in the proposed activities. Applicants must demonstrate this need by: 
(a) Identifying the industry or industries of focus; (b) establishing 
that the identified industry satisfies ETA's criteria for a high-
growth/high-demand industry in the local economy as described in Part 
I(1) of this solicitation; (c) providing evidence of industry demand 
for training in the local economy; and (d) describing in detail the 
capacity challenges the community college faces that limit its ability 
to provide sufficient quantity or quality of training to meet the 
identified industry's demand. In addition, applicants should provide 
evidence that the capacity challenge to be addressed by the grant was 
identified in the context of the strategic partnership. Applicants may 
draw from a variety of resources for supporting data, including: 
traditional labor market information, such as projections; industry 
data, such as from trade associations or direct information from the 
local industry; and information on the local economy and other 
transactional data, such as job vacancies, that are available locally.
    Additional important factors for evaluation include:
     The extent to which the targeted industry is high-growth 
or high-demand in the context of the local economy;
     Identification of local workforce or skills shortages 
within the targeted industry;
     Demonstrated existence of the identified capacity 
constraint at the community college at which the grant activity will 
take place;
     Identification of the sources of the data used in the 
analysis; and
     If appropriate, the nature of larger strategic economic 
development or workforce investment projects with which the proposed 
project is aligned.
B. Linkages to Key Partners (20 Points)
    The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project will be 
implemented by a strategic partnership that includes at least one 
entity from each of four categories: (1) The

[[Page 22912]]

workforce investment system, which may include state and local 
Workforce Investment Boards, State Workforce Agencies, and One Stop 
Career Centers and their partners, as such terms are defined under WIA; 
(2) community colleges; (3) employers and industry-related 
organizations such as associations and unions; and (4) the continuum of 
education, including the K-12 public education system. The applicant 
must identify the partners, explain the meaningful role each partner 
will play in the project, and document the resources leveraged from 
each partner. Collaborating partners must verify their role through a 
letter of commitment attached to the proposal. Applicants should also 
identify resources leveraged from other organizations, including other 
workforce investment system partners.
    ETA encourages, and will be looking for, applications that go 
beyond the minimum level of partnership and demonstrate broader, 
substantive and sustainable partnerships. If appropriate, applicants 
should also demonstrate the existence of a sustainability plan for the 
strategic partnership beyond the funding period.
    Scoring on this criterion will be based on: (1) Evidence that the 
partnership contains each of the required entities; (2) the degree to 
which each partner plays a committed role, either financial or non-
financial, in the proposed project; and (3) the robustness of the 
applicant's plan for sustaining the partnership beyond the funding 
period. Applications that do not have each of the four required 
entities represented in the partnership cannot receive full points in 
this section. The following elements will also be considered:
     The overall completeness of the strategic partnership, 
including its ability to manage all aspects and stages of the project 
and to coordinate individual activities with the partnership as a 
whole;
     The scope of each partner's contribution, their knowledge 
and experience concerning the proposed grant activities, and their 
ability to impact the success of the project;
     Evidence, including letters of support, that key partners 
have expressed a clear commitment to the project and understand their 
areas of responsibility;
     Evidence of a plan for interaction between partners at 
each stage of the project, from planning to execution; and
     Evidence that the partnership has the capacity to achieve 
the outcomes of the proposed project.
C. Training and Capacity Building Plan (25 Points)
    The applicant must describe its proposed capacity building and 
training strategies in full. The description should demonstrate: (1) 
That the proposed project will address identified industry workforce or 
skills shortages and identified capacity constraints at the community 
college level; (2) that the proposed project clearly integrates 
industry-driven capacity building and training activities; (3) that 
proposed capacity building solutions are broad based and include an 
appropriate range of activities; (4) that proposed training activities 
occur within the context of a continuum of education and training that 
supports long-term career growth, such as an articulated career ladder/
lattice; (5) that proposed training activities lead to appropriate 
credentialing; and (6) that the applicant has a clear understanding of 
the tasks required to successfully meet the objectives of the grant.
    Scoring on this criterion will be based on evidence that the 
applicant has developed effective, innovative training and capacity 
building strategies and a plan of implementation that will satisfy the 
six conditions described above. Additional factors that will be 
considered include:
     The existence of a work plan that is responsive to the 
applicant's statement of need and includes specific goals, objectives, 
activities, implementation strategies, and a timeline;
     The demonstrated link between the proposed project and the 
identified industry workforce or skills shortages and identified 
capacity constraints at the community college level.
     The extent to which the work plan provides an 
understanding of the entire project's intended implementation;
     The feasibility and sensibility of the timeframes for the 
accomplishment of tasks;
     The extent to which the budget is justified with respect 
to the adequacy and reasonableness of resources requested;
     The extent to which budget line items are consistent with 
and tied to the work plan objectives;
     Evidence that the proposed cost per-participant is aligned 
with existing price structures for similar training; and
     Evidence of a robust outreach strategy that includes the 
dissemination of information regarding the project to others who would 
benefit most, and if appropriate, recruitment of eligible participants.
D. Outcomes, Benefits, and Impact (30 Points)
    Applicants must describe fully the predicted outcomes and products 
resulting from the project. Applicants should particularly highlight 
the benefits and impact of the outcomes and products on the larger 
capacity constraint described in the statement of need. Scoring on this 
criterion will be based on two broad elements:
    1. The expected project outcomes are clearly identified, 
measurable, realistic, and consistent with the objectives of the 
project. Key elements for training and capacity building aspects of the 
proposal are below.
    a. Training: Applicants must track training outcome measures, 
including all appropriate adult or youth Common Measures, such as 
employment placement numbers and/or earnings gains and retention. Other 
outcome measures that should be tracked include the number of 
individuals awarded credentials or degrees, and outcome measures 
specific to the proposed training project. Applications must also 
identify the credential that participants will earn as a result of the 
proposed training, and the employer-, industry-, vendor-, or state-
defined standards associated with the credential. If the credential 
targeted by the training project is a certificate or performance-based 
certification, applicants should either (a) demonstrate employer 
engagement in the curriculum development process, or (b) indicate that 
the certification will translate into concrete job advancement 
opportunities with an employer.
    b. Capacity Building: Applicants must clearly describe all 
products, models, curricula, etc. that will be developed or acquired 
with federal funds through the grant and indicate the number of 
participants or entities who will benefit from the proposed activities. 
Applicants must describe the data measures that will be used to measure 
how the proposed capacity building activities impact the ability of the 
community college to train workers for skills in demand by the targeted 
industry. Applicants should indicate the long-term impact of the 
proposed project on the ability of the community college to meet local 
workforce demands.
    2. The proposed outcomes will translate into the successful 
alleviation of the community college's identified capacity challenges.
    Additional factors that will be considered in the scoring of this 
criterion include:

[[Page 22913]]

     The ability of the applicant to achieve the stated 
outcomes within the time frame of the grant; and
     The appropriateness of the outcomes with respect to the 
requested level of funding.
E. Program Management and Organization Capacity (10 Points)
    To satisfy this criterion, applicants must describe their proposed 
project management structure including, where appropriate, the 
identification of a proposed project manager, and discuss the proposed 
staffing pattern and the qualifications and experience of key staff 
members. Applicants should also give evidence of the use of data 
systems to track outcomes in a timely and accurate manner. The 
applicant should include a description of organizational capacity and 
the organization's track record in projects similar to that described 
in the proposal and/or related activities of the primary partners.
    Scoring under this criterion will be based on the extent to which 
applicants provide evidence of the following:
     The time commitment of the proposed staff is sufficient to 
ensure 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 
objectives 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 the ability 
to collect and manage data in a way that allows consistent, accurate, 
and expedient reporting.
2. Review and Selection Process
    Applications for the Community-Based Job Training Grants will be 
accepted after the publication of this announcement until the closing 
date. A technical review panel will make a careful evaluation of 
applications against the criteria set forth in Section V(A) of this 
document. These criteria are based on the policy goals, priorities, and 
emphases set forth in this SGA. Up to 100 points may be awarded to an 
application, based on the required information described in Section 
V(1). The ranked scores will serve as the 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 proposals are most advantageous to the Government. The panel 
results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer, 
who 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

    All award notifications will be posted on the ETA Homepage (https://
www.doleta.gov). Non-selected applicants will be notified by mail.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

A. Administrative Program Requirements
    All grantees will be subject to all applicable Federal laws, 
regulations, and the applicable OMB Circulars. The grant(s) awarded 
under this SGA will be subject to the following administrative 
standards and provisions, if applicable:
    1. Workforce Investment Boards--20 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Part 667.220. (Administrative Costs).
    2. Non-Profit Organizations--OMB Circulars A-122 (Cost Principles) 
and 29 CFR Part 95 (Administrative Requirements).
    3. Educational Institutions--OMB Circulars A-21 (Cost Principles) 
and 29 CFR Part 95 (Administrative Requirements).
    4. State and Local Governments--OMB Circulars A-87 (Cost 
Principles) and 29 CFR Part 97 (Administrative Requirements).
    5. Profit Making Commercial Firms--Federal Acquisition Regulation 
(FAR)--48 CFR Part 31 (Cost Principles), and 29 CFR Part 95 
(Administrative Requirements).
    6. All entities must comply with 29 CFR Parts 93 and 98, and, where 
applicable, 29 CFR Parts 96 and 99.
    7. The following administrative standards and provisions may also 
be applicable:
    a. 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;
    b. 29 CFR part 30--Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship 
and Training;
    c. 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;
    d. 29 CFR part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in 
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial 
Assistance;
    e. 29 CFR part 33--Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of 
Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of 
Labor;
    f. 29 CFR part 35--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in 
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the 
Department of Labor;
    g. 29 CFR part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in 
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial 
Assistance;
    h. 29 CFR part 37--Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and 
Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
(WIA).
    8. In accordance with Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-65) (2 U.S.C. 1611) non-profit entities incorporated 
under Internal Revenue Service Code section 501(c) (4) that engage in 
lobbying activities are not eligible to receive Federal funds and 
grants.

    Note: Except as specifically provided in this Notice, DOL/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, 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 DOL/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.

B. Special Program Requirements
    Evaluation. DOL may require that the program or project participate 
in an evaluation of overall performance of CBJTGs. To measure the 
impact of the CBJTGs, ETA may arrange for or conduct an independent 
evaluation of the outcomes and benefits of the projects. Grantees must 
agree to make records on participants, employers and funding available, 
and to provide access to program operating personnel and participants, 
as specified by the evaluator(s) under the direction of ETA, including 
after the expiration date of the grant.
C. 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

[[Page 22914]]

funds have been expended or the grant period has expired. Quarterly 
reports are due 30 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 30 
days after the end of each calendar year 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. General grant information, including: a general overview of 
project progress, new developments and resolution of previous issues 
and challenges; a discussion of planned grant activities and any other 
grant-related events; an explanation of any issues/challenges 
encountered and the proposed strategies to overcome them; a description 
of major accomplishments, innovations, or promising approaches and 
processes; product deliverables and outcomes resulting from the 
project; and a status update on leveraged resources;
    2. Information on all training, employer, and grant deliverable 
outcomes as well as the anticipated impact of these outcomes on the 
community college, industry partners, and the broader community;
    3. Summary of the status of grant deliverables and dissemination 
activities;
    4. Highlights of promising approaches and success stories; and
    5. Description of technical assistance needs.
    Final Report. A draft final report must be submitted no later than 
60 days prior to the expiration date of the grant. This report must 
summarize project activities, employment outcomes, and related results 
of the training project, and should thoroughly document capacity 
building and training approaches. After responding to DOL questions and 
comments on the draft report, three copies of the final report must be 
submitted no later than the grant expiration date. Grantees must agree 
to use a designated format specified by DOL for preparing the final 
report.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Any questions regarding this SGA should be faxed to Kevin Brumback, 
Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, FAX 
number (202) 693-2705. (This