American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for Pathways Out of Poverty, 30138-30152 [E9-14928]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30138-30152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14928]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; Notice of 
Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for 
Pathways Out of Poverty

    Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation for Grant Applications.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 08-19.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.275.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is September 29, 2009. Applications must be received no 
later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time. A Webinar for prospective applicants 
will be held for this grant competition on July 14, 2009 from 2-3:30 
p.m. Eastern Time. Access information for the Webinar will be posted on 
the ETA Web site at: https://www.workforce3one.org. The Webinar will be 
recorded and will be accessible for viewing by July 17, 2009 at 3 p.m. 
Eastern Time, at the Web site above. It is encouraged but not mandatory 
that applicants attend or view this recording.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department 
of Labor, Employment & Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: Melissa Abdullah, Grants Officer, Reference SGA/
DFA PY 08-19, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, Washington, DC 
20210. For complete ``Application and Submission Information,'' please 
refer to Section IV.
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department) announces the 
availability of approximately $150 million in grant funds authorized by 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act) 
for projects that provide training and placement services to provide 
pathways out of poverty and into employment within the industries 
described in the Supplementary Information, Part B of this SGA. 
Grantees selected from two separate types of applicants will be funded 
through this solicitation: (1) National nonprofit entities with 
networks of local affiliates, coalition members, or other established 
partners; and (2) local entities. Additional specific eligibility 
guidance is included in Section III.A, ``Eligible Applicants and 
Required Partnerships.'' ETA intends to fund grants ranging from 
approximately $3 to $8 million for national grantees, and grants 
ranging

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from approximately $2 to $4 million for local grantees.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Recovery Act: Competitive Grants for Green Job Training

    This section of the SGA provides general background on the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), the competitive 
grants funded through the Recovery Act to prepare workers for careers 
in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, and the 
occupations and industries on which these grants should focus. On 
February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Recovery 
Act, through which Congress intended to preserve and create jobs, 
promote the nation's economic recovery, and assist those most impacted 
by the recession. Among other funding directed toward the Department, 
the Recovery Act provides $750 million for a program of competitive 
grants for worker training and placement in high growth and emerging 
industries. Of the $750 million allotted for competitive grants, the 
Recovery Act designates $500 million for projects that prepare workers 
for careers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries 
described in Section 171(e)(1)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act 
(WIA). DOL intends to use a portion of the $500 million for providing 
technical assistance for this program of grants.
    The purpose of these green job training grants is to teach workers 
the skills required in emerging energy efficiency and renewable energy 
industries. These efforts will lead program participants to job 
placement while leveraging other Recovery Act investments intended to 
create jobs and promote economic growth. For additional information 
about the series of competitive grants for green job training, please 
refer to Training and Employment Notice (TEN) 44-08 available at https://www.doleta.gov/Recovery/legislation.cfm.

B. Green Industries and Occupations

    The Department will award grants to workforce development projects 
that focus on connecting target populations, including workers affected 
by significant automotive industry restructuring, to career pathways in 
green industries. Training programs will prepare individuals for 
careers in any of the seven energy efficiency and renewable energy 
industries defined in Section 171(e)(1)(B)(ii) of the WIA, which 
include:
     The energy-efficient building, construction, and retrofit 
industries;
     The renewable electric power industry;
     The energy efficient and advanced drive train vehicle 
industry;
     The biofuels industry;
     The deconstruction and materials use industries;
     The energy efficiency assessment industry serving 
residential, commercial, or industrial sectors; and
     Manufacturers that produce sustainable products using 
environmentally sustainable processes and materials.
    Additionally, the Department is interested in applicants 
contributing to our understanding of green industries and jobs that 
clean and enhance our environment. Initial research supported by the 
Department of Labor, described later in this SGA, shows that there are 
``growth, enhanced and emerging'' green occupations across a number of 
industries. Applicants may propose strategies that train for those 
occupations from among the following industries: Transportation; green 
construction; environmental protection; sustainable agriculture 
including healthy food production; forestry; and recycling and waste 
reduction (see the O*NET report at https://www.onetcenter.org/reports/Green.html). The Department will consider proposals that focus on these 
occupations within these industries if applicants can offer supporting 
data demonstrating these are emerging industries which are producing 
jobs in their communities.
    For the purpose of these SGAs, the Department defines energy 
efficiency and renewable energy as follows. Section 203(b)(2) of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, 119 Stat. 595, defines 
``renewable energy'' as ``electric energy generated from solar, wind, 
biomass, landfill gas, ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and 
thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric 
generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of 
new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project.'' ``Energy 
efficiency'' can be broadly defined as programs aimed at mitigating the 
use of energy, reducing harmful emissions, and decreasing overall 
energy consumption.
    The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is 
working to develop a definition for green sectors and jobs, which will 
be used to ensure that workforce development efforts identify and 
target these green jobs and their training needs. The Department has 
also supported occupational research that begins to define green jobs, 
review sectors impacted by green investments and understand how new 
green technology and materials will affect occupational requirements. 
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) project has drafted a 
research paper titled, Greening of the World of Work: Implications for 
O*NET-SOC and New and Emerging Occupations. This study reflects three 
general categories of occupations, based on different consequences of 
green economy activities and technologies: (1) Existing occupations 
expected to experience primarily an increase in employment demand; (2) 
existing occupations with significant change to the work and worker 
requirements; and (3) new and emerging green occupations. This research 
may be used as a starting point for identifying green industries and 
occupations and informing the development of training and job placement 
programs. For a copy of the O*NET report and a listing of the 
identified occupations go to https://www.onetcenter.org/reports/Green.html.

C. Working With Other Recovery Act Programs

    The Recovery Act made funds available to a number of other Federal 
programs that will impact the creation and expansion of green jobs. DOL 
is partnering with other Federal agencies to support the creation of 
jobs by developing a pipeline of skilled workers in the energy 
efficiency and renewable energy industries. Where possible, ETA 
encourages applicants to connect their workforce development strategies 
to other Recovery Act funded projects that create jobs or impact the 
skill requirements of existing jobs. ETA recommends that applicants 
review other parts of the Recovery Act, with a focus on the activities 
funded through the Department of Energy (Energy), the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the 
Department of Education (Education) and others. For additional 
resources and information about our Federal partners, please see 
Sections VIII.D and VIII.E.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Competitive grants under this SGA will fund projects that provide 
training and placement services to prepare individuals seeking pathways 
out of poverty for careers in the industries described in the 
Supplementary Information: Part B of this SGA. Grantees selected from 
two separate types of applicants will be funded through this 
solicitation: (1) National nonprofit entities with networks of local

[[Page 30140]]

affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners; and (2) 
local entities. Populations eligible to receive services through grants 
funded through this SGA include unemployed individuals, high school 
dropouts, individuals with a criminal record, and disadvantaged 
individuals living in areas of high poverty. As part of the technical 
review process, points will be awarded for applications that 
demonstrate that the proposed project serves areas of high poverty, as 
described in Section V.A.1.i, ``Statement of Need.''
    Successful training programs funded through this SGA will prepare 
participants for employment within the industries described in 
Supplementary Information: Part B of this SGA, and will: (1) Include 
sound recruitment and referral strategies for targeted populations; (2) 
integrate basic skills and work-readiness training with occupational 
skills training, as necessary; (3) combine supportive services with 
training services to help participants overcome barriers to employment, 
as necessary; and (4) provide training services at times and locations 
that are easily accessible to targeted populations.
    The current economic downturn has impacted individuals in 
communities across the United States, and has left many workers seeking 
to transition into new industries or new careers. For individuals who 
are living below or near the poverty level, the current economic 
downturn has created a unique set of challenges, and has heightened the 
need to find pathways out of poverty and into employment. These 
individuals may lack basic literacy and job readiness skills, and they 
may face other barriers to employment, such as the need for childcare 
or transportation.
    For individuals who face immense difficulties in meeting their 
basic needs, finding employment opportunities in today's labor market 
presents many obstacles. In order to succeed, these individuals need to 
not only acquire the basic skills that will provide the foundation for 
their employability, but they also need to learn entry-level technical 
skills and need access to support systems that allow them to meet the 
needs of their families while they concentrate on gaining new 
competencies.
    To assist individuals in meeting these challenges, projects funded 
through this SGA will integrate training and supportive services into 
cohesive programs that will help target populations find pathways out 
of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency, through employment in 
the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Despite the 
economic downturn, these ``green'' industries present many potential 
opportunities for individuals to learn new skills and competencies, 
gain employment, and advance along career pathways.
    National and local applicants are expected to implement project 
activities at the community level. Projects in each community served 
must be implemented by a strategic partnership that includes, at a 
minimum: nonprofit organizations, such as community and faith-based 
organizations; the public workforce investment system; the education 
and training community; labor organizations; and employers and 
industry-related organizations. By including all of these types of 
organizations in a comprehensive partnership, applicants can ensure 
that they are maximizing available resources for each project, and that 
individual participants within the project can access an array of 
training and supportive services that they need to successfully 
complete training, overcome barriers to employment, obtain jobs and 
advance along career pathways.

II. Award Information

A. Award Amount

    Under this SGA, ETA intends to award approximately $150 million in 
grant funds. ETA intends to fund grants ranging from approximately $3 
to $8 million for national grantees, and grants ranging from 
approximately $2 to $4 million for local grantees. ETA does not expect 
to fund any project for less than $2 million. However, this does not 
preclude funding grants at a lower amount based on the type and the 
number of quality submissions. ETA will not fund projects for more than 
$8 million, and applications requesting more than $8 million will be 
considered nonresponsive. Within the funding ranges specified above, 
applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for quality projects at 
whatever funding level is appropriate to the project.

B. Period of Performance

    The period of grant performance will be up to 24 months from the 
date of execution of the grant documents. This performance period 
includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities as well 
as participant follow-up. The Department intends that all grantees 
implement the training and placement programs funded under this SGA as 
soon as possible. Further, applicants should plan to fully expend grant 
funds during the period of performance, while ensuring full 
transparency and accountability for all expenditures.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants and Required Partnerships

    All applicants must have experience serving at least one of the 
following groups: unemployed individuals, high school dropouts, 
individuals with criminal records, and/or disadvantaged individuals 
within areas of high poverty. To be eligible to apply for these grants, 
applicants must fall into one of two categories: (1) National entities; 
or (2) local entities. These two applicant types will compete 
separately for funding under this SGA. ETA expects to publish two SGAs 
during the summer of 2009: Energy Training Partnerships SGA [SGA/DFA PY 
08-18] and the Pathways Out of Poverty SGA [SGA/DFA PY 08-19]. ETA will 
not fund any one organization as a grantee more than once through these 
two SGAs. An applicant may choose to submit an application for the 
Energy Training Partnerships SGA [SGA/DFA PY 08-18] and the Pathways 
Out of Poverty SGA [SGA/DFA PY 08-19]; however, DOL does not encourage 
applicants to submit applications to both competitions. An organization 
that submits an application for one SGA is not precluded from 
participating as a suggested or required partner in applications 
submitted in response to the other SGA. Finally, an organization may 
not submit multiple applications in response to any one SGA. The 
applicant categories for this SGA, along with the required partnerships 
for each, are defined below.

1. National Entities

    For the purposes of this SGA, applicants qualify as national 
entities if they are private nonprofit organizations that have the 
following characteristics: (a) They deliver services through networks 
of local affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners 
(such as a network of affiliated community or faith-based 
organizations); and (b) their local affiliates, coalition members, or 
other established partners have the ability to provide services in 4 or 
more States. These entities, along with their partners, are expected to 
implement projects in multiple communities across the country. In order 
to apply as a national entity, an applicant must propose a project that 
serves communities (see Section III.C.2 for the definition of 
community) located in at least 2 States,

[[Page 30141]]

with a minimum of 1 community located in each State, and a range of 3-7 
total communities served. (For the purposes of this SGA, the term 
``State'' means each of the 50 States of the United States, the 
District of Columbia, and U.S. territories as defined in Section 
VI.B.2.iv). By serving a range of 3-7 total communities, national 
applicants can ensure that each community has adequate funding to 
implement training and job placement programs. National entities will 
be required to fund sub-grants or sub-contracts in each designated 
community, through which the local affiliates, coalition members, or 
other established partners will implement each project in collaboration 
with the required partners detailed in Section III.A.3.i.

2. Local Entities

    For the purposes of this SGA, applicants qualify as local entities 
if they are public organizations (such as community colleges or 
workforce investment boards) or private nonprofit organizations (such 
as community or faith-based organizations) whose service area is 
limited to a single sub-State geographic area, such as a neighborhood, 
city, county, sub-State region, or interstate region comprised of 
multiple sub-State regions (such as Kansas City). In order to apply as 
a local entity, an applicant must propose a project that serves one 
single community (see Section III.C.2 for the definition of community). 
Local entities must implement the project in collaboration with the 
required partners detailed in Section III.A.3.i. A local entity that 
receives an award under this SGA may not receive sub-grant or sub-
contract funding through a grant awarded to a national entity under 
this SGA.

3. Strategic Partnerships

    To be eligible for funding under this SGA, national and local 
applicants must demonstrate that the proposed project will be 
implemented by a robust strategic partnership.
i. Required Partners
    In each community served, the strategic partnership must include at 
least one entity from each of the following five categories:
     Nonprofit organizations, such as community or faith-based 
organizations, which have direct access to the targeted populations;
     The public workforce investment system, such as local 
Workforce Investment Boards and their One Stop systems;
     The education and training community, which includes the 
continuum of education from secondary schools to community and 
technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities, apprenticeship 
programs, technical and vocational training institutions, and other 
education and training entities;
     Public and private employers and industry-related 
organizations, including those involved in the industries identified in 
the Supplementary Information: Part B of this SGA; and
     Labor organizations, including but not limited to labor 
unions and labor-management organizations that represent the interests 
of workers in energy efficiency or renewable energy industries.
    Applicants that include a labor-management organization as a 
partner will satisfy the requirement for both the labor organization 
and the employer/industry-related organization partners.
    By including all of these types of organizations in a comprehensive 
partnership, applicants can ensure that they are maximizing available 
resources and organizational expertise for each project, and that 
individual participants within the project have all of the support that 
they need to successfully complete training, overcome barriers to 
employment, and obtain jobs and advance along career ladders. These 
partners can contribute a wide array of knowledge and activities to 
each project, and should work together to ensure that they leverage 
each other's expertise and resources. Education and training providers 
should partner with labor organizations and industry-related 
organizations to ensure that education and training programs address 
the skills required for the targeted industries, lead to industry-
recognized certificates or credentials if appropriate, and ensure that 
the training strategies reflect the needs of both workers and 
employers. Nonprofit organizations can provide a range of services and 
activities to support local projects, such as delivering supportive 
services to participants and ensuring that these services are 
integrated with the education and training strategies. The role of the 
workforce investment system may include identifying, assessing, and 
referring candidates for training, connecting and placing participants 
with employers that have existing job openings, and providing 
supportive services to support the employment and training needs of 
participants.
ii. Other Partners
    In addition to the required partners listed in Section III.A.3.i, 
applicants are strongly encouraged to include other partners that can 
provide resources or expertise to the project. These organizations 
could include:
     Public Housing Agencies implementing programs through the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development;
     Community Action Agencies implementing the Department of 
Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program;
     Organizations implementing projects funded by the Recovery 
Act that will create or support jobs in the energy efficiency or 
renewable energy industries;
     National, State, and local foundations, which focus on 
assisting participants served through the project; and
     State and local social service agencies that provide 
supportive services to participants served through the project.

B. Cost Sharing

    Cost sharing or matching funds are not required as a condition for 
application, but leveraged resources are strongly encouraged and may 
affect the applicant's score in section V.A.2 of the evaluation 
criteria.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

1. Proposed Activities

    The purpose of this SGA is to fund projects providing training, 
education, and job placement assistance for individuals seeking 
pathways out of poverty and into employment opportunities in the 
industries described in the Supplementary Information: Part B of this 
SGA.
i. Characteristics of Training Activities
    All projects must lead to employment for program participants, and 
must incorporate training activities that:
     Address skills and competencies demanded by the industries 
described in the Supplementary Information: Part B of this SGA;
     Support participants' advancement along a defined career 
pathway, such as an articulated career ladder and/or career lattice, if 
such a pathway exists in the targeted industry or industries;
     Result in an industry-recognized degree or certificate 
(see definition in Section VI.B.2.iii) that indicates a level of 
mastery and competence in a given field or function, where such a 
degree or certificate exists. The degree or certificate awarded to 
participants

[[Page 30142]]

should be based on the type of training provided through the grant and 
the requirements of the targeted occupation, and should be selected 
based on consultations with employer and labor partners;
     Take place at times and locations that are convenient and 
easily accessible for the targeted populations;
     As appropriate, integrate occupational training with basic 
skills training to ensure that participants have the foundational 
skills necessary to attain and retain employment; and
     As appropriate, integrate training activities with 
supportive services to ensure that participants have the necessary 
support to overcome barriers to employment.
    In implementing projects that meet the requirements outlined above, 
applicants may propose a wide range of activities. When designing the 
proposed activities, DOL encourages applicants to look at program 
models with previous success in serving disadvantaged individuals, 
especially those with strong program evaluations showing positive 
impacts on participants. Promising models include the following:
     Strategies that integrate academic instruction with 
occupational skills training in a specific career field have shown 
promising employment and earnings outcomes for low-income young adults. 
Applicants who are proposing to serve low-income young adults and high 
school dropouts should consider program models that strongly link 
opportunities to improve basic literacy and mathematics skills and 
obtain a high school diploma or GED with work-based learning in the 
targeted industries.
     Programs for ex-offenders which provide integrated 
services both before and after release from prison or jail have had 
positive impacts on employment outcomes.
     Providing on-the-job training with a specific employer who 
agrees to hire individuals pending successful completion of the 
training has been an effective way for some programs to place 
disadvantaged individuals into employment.
ii. Allowable Activities
    Allowable activities under this SGA include:
     Classroom occupational training;
     On-the-job training activities, including activities 
related to transitional jobs programs, that lead to permanent 
employment;
     The development and implementation of registered 
apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs;
     Internship programs;
     Customized training;
     Basic skills training, such as adult basic education, 
English as a second language (ESL), and job readiness training;
     Initial assessment of skill levels, aptitudes, abilities, 
and supportive service needs;
     Job search and placement assistance, and where 
appropriate, career counseling;
     Case management services;
     Supportive services that will allow individuals to 
participate in the training provided through the grant; and
     Updating curriculum to support direct training provided 
through the grant. Some grants funded under this SGA may produce 
tangible products and deliverables, such as updates to existing 
curriculum and outreach materials. Curriculum development is only 
appropriate if this curriculum is used in direct training and/or 
education activities provided through this grant and is necessary to 
achieve the training and employment outcomes proposed for the grant. 
(See Section IV.E.4 for information regarding intellectual property 
rights.)

2. Communities To Be Served

    Applicants must identify the community or communities that will be 
served by the grant. National entities must identify targeted 
communities to be served by their local affiliates, coalition members, 
or other established partners in at least 2 States, with a minimum of 1 
community located in each State, and a range of 3-7 total communities 
served. Local entities must identify a single community.
    For the purposes of this SGA, a community is defined as a 
geographic area located within one or more contiguous Public Use 
Microdata Areas (PUMAs), which are geographic statistical areas 
designated by the U.S. Census Bureau (see Section VIII.A for detailed 
information and links to Census poverty data). The Department expects 
that applicants will focus their projects on a geographic portion of a 
PUMA in order to most effectively serve the specific populations 
targeted by the project. For urban applications, the Department expects 
that designated communities will be neighborhoods within cities rather 
than entire cities. For rural applications, the Department expects that 
designated communities will be 1-3 entire counties, or American Indian 
Areas, Alaska Native Areas, or Hawaiian Homelands. There is no 
requirement for the minimum or maximum size of populations in the 
designated communities, but the Department anticipates that the 
communities will have populations that range from 10,000 to 100,000 
people.
    In order to ensure that high poverty areas receive priority for 
grant awards, points will be awarded in the technical review process 
(see Section V.A.1.i for the relevant evaluation criterion) for 
applications that demonstrate that each Public Use Microdata Area (or 
other appropriate statistical area for American Indian Areas, Alaska 
Native Areas, or Hawaiian Homelands, or outlying areas) served by the 
project has a poverty rate of at least 15%, as demonstrated by data 
from the Poverty Data.xls spreadsheet available for download at https://www.workforce3one.org/view/2000916359251042484/info.

D. Other Grant Specifications

1. Participants Eligible to Receive Training

    This SGA addresses the priorities of both the Recovery Act and the 
Green Jobs Act by funding projects that provide education and training, 
job placement, and supportive services to individuals who are seeking 
pathways out of poverty and into employment in the industries described 
in the Supplementary Information: Part B of this SGA. Accordingly, 
projects funded through this solicitation must serve only individuals 
who are at least 18 years of age and fall into one or more of the 
following categories:
    i. Unemployed individuals;
    ii. High school dropouts;
    iii. Individuals with a criminal record; and
    iv. Disadvantaged individuals within areas of high poverty.
    For specific definitions for these target populations, applicants 
must refer to Section VI.B.
    Projects funded through this solicitation must serve individuals 
who live within the community(ies) to be served (see Section III.C.2 
for the definition of community), except that up to 10% of the 
individuals served may live outside of the community(ies) if the 
grantee determines that these individuals live in areas of high 
poverty, which is defined as a PUMA (or other appropriate statistical 
area) with a poverty rate of 15% or greater.

2. Veterans Priority

    The Jobs for Veterans Act (Pub. L. 107-288) 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. Grantees are 
required to provide priority of services

[[Page 30143]]

for veterans and eligible spouses pursuant to 20 CFR part 1010, the 
regulations implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible 
spouses in Department of Labor job training programs under the Jobs for 
Veterans Act published at 73 FR 78132 on December 19, 2008. 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 requires that grant recipients give the veteran 
priority of service by admitting him or her into the program. To obtain 
priority of service a veteran must meet the program's eligibility 
requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans' 
priority. Currently, 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.

3. Grantee Training

    Grantees are required to participate in all ETA training activities 
related to orientation, financial management and reporting, performance 
reporting, product dissemination, and other technical assistance 
training as appropriate during the life of the grant. These trainings 
may occur via conference call, webinar, and in-person meetings. 
Applicants should include costs for two staff to attend two trainings 
that are each two full days in Washington, DC during the grant's period 
of performance.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. How To Obtain an Application Package

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

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

    The proposal will consist of three separate and distinct parts: (I) 
A cost proposal; (II) a technical proposal; and (III) attachments to 
the technical proposal. Applications that fail to adhere to the 
instructions in this section will be considered non-responsive and will 
not be considered. Please note that it is the applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that the funding amount requested is 
consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.
    Part I. The Cost Proposal. The Cost Proposal must include the 
following four items:
     The Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal 
Assistance'' (available at https://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp and https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm). The SF 424 must clearly 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 authorized 
representative of the applicant.
     Applicants must supply their D-U-N-S[supreg] Number on the 
SF 424. All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities are 
required to have a D-U-N-S[supreg] (Data Universal Numbering System) 
Number. See Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Notice of Final 
Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402, Jun. 27, 2003. The D-U-N-S[supreg] Number 
is a non-indicative, nine-digit number assigned to each business 
location in the D&B database having a unique, separate, and distinct 
operation, and is maintained solely by D&B. The D&B D-U-N-S[supreg] 
Number is used by industries and organizations around the world as a 
global standard for business identification and tracking. If you do not 
have a D-U-N-S[supreg] Number, you can get one for free through the SBS 
site: https://smallbusiness.dnb.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Glossary?fLink=glossary&footerflag=y&storeId=10001&indicator=7.
     The SF 424A Budget Information Form (available at https://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp and  
https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm). In preparing the Budget 
Information Form, the applicant must provide a concise narrative 
explanation to support the request, explained in detail below.
     Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a 
description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. It 
should also include leveraged resources provided to support grant 
activities. In addition, the applicant should address precisely how the 
administrative costs support the project goals. The entire Federal 
grant amount requested should be included on both the SF 424 and SF 
424A (not just one year). No leveraged resources should be shown on the 
SF 424 and SF 424A.
    Please note that applicants that fail to provide a SF 424, SF 424A, 
a D-U-N-S[supreg] Number, and 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 under the Grants.gov, Tips and 
Resources From Grantors, Department of Labor section at https://www07.grants.gov/applicants/tips_resources_from_grantors.jsp#13 
(also referred to as Faith Based EEO Survey PDF Form).
    Part II. The Technical Proposal. The Technical Proposal 
demonstrates the applicant's capability to implement the grant project 
in accordance with the provisions of this solicitation. The guidelines 
for the content of the Technical Proposal are provided in Part V.A. of 
this SGA. The Technical Proposal is limited to 25 double-spaced single-
sided pages with 12 point text font and 1 inch margins. Any materials 
beyond the 25-page limit will not be read. Applicants should number the 
Technical Proposal beginning with page number 1. Applicants that do not 
provide Part II, the Technical Proposal of the application will be 
removed from consideration prior to the technical review process.
    Part III. Attachments to the Technical Proposal. In addition to the 
25-page Technical Proposal, the applicant must submit a letter or 
letters of commitment signed by all required partners for each 
community served (preferably one letter for each community, co-signed 
by all required partners for that community) that describes the roles 
and responsibilities of each required partner. Commitment letters must 
accompany the application. Applicants should not send letters of 
commitment separately to ETA because these letters will be tracked 
through a different system and will not be attached to the application 
for review. ETA will not accept or review general letters of support 
submitted by organizations or individuals that are not partners in the 
proposed project and that do not directly identify the specific 
commitment or roles of the project partners. The applicant must provide 
an Abstract, not to exceed one page, summarizing the proposed project 
including applicant name; applicant category (national entity or local 
entity); project title; identification of the community or communities 
to be served, including whether the community(ies) are located in 
urban, suburban, or rural areas; and the funding level requested. These 
additional materials (commitment

[[Page 30144]]

letters and one-page abstract) do not count against the 25-page limit 
for the Technical Proposal, but may not exceed 20 pages. Any additional 
materials beyond the 20-page limit will not be read.
    Applications may be submitted electronically on Grants.gov or in 
hardcopy by mail or hand delivery. These processes are described in 
further detail in Section IV.C. Applicants submitting proposals in 
hardcopy 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 hardcopy are also required to 
provide an identical electronic copy of the proposal on compact disc 
(CD).

C. Submission Process, Date, Times, and Addresses

    The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is September 29, 2009. Applications must be received at 
the address below no later than 4 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 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: Donna Kelly, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/DFA, 
PY 08-19, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, 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 and time.
    Applicants may apply online through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov), however, due to the expected increase in system 
activity resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
2009, applicants are encouraged to use an alternate method to submit 
grant applications during this heightened period of demand. While not 
mandatory, DOL encourages the submission of applications through 
professional overnight delivery service.
    Applications that are submitted through Grants.gov must be 
successfully submitted at https://www.grants.gov no later than 4 p.m. 
Eastern Time on September 29, 2009, and then subsequently validated by 
Grants.gov. The submission and validation process is described in more 
detail below. The process can be complicated and time-consuming. 
Applicants are strongly advised to initiate the process as soon as 
possible and to plan for time to resolve technical problems if 
necessary.
    The Department strongly recommends that before the applicant begins 
to write the proposal, applicants should immediately initiate and 
complete the ``Get Registered'' registration steps at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. These steps may take 
multiple days or weeks to complete, and this time should be factored 
into plans for electronic submission in order to avoid unexpected 
delays that could result in the rejection of an application. The 
Department strongly recommends that applicants use the ``Organization 
Registration Checklist'' at https://www.grants.gov/assets/Organization_Steps_Complete_Registration.pdf to ensure the registration process is 
complete.
    Within two business days of application submission, Grants.gov will 
send the applicant two e-mail messages to provide the status of 
application progress through the system. The first e-mail, almost 
immediate, will confirm receipt of the application by Grants.gov. The 
second e-mail will indicate the application has either been 
successfully validated or has been rejected due to errors. Only 
applications that have been successfully submitted and successfully 
validated will be considered. It is the sole responsibility of the 
applicant to ensure a timely submission; therefore, sufficient time 
should be allotted for submission (two business days), and if 
applicable, subsequent time to address errors and receive validation 
upon resubmission (an additional two business days for each ensuing 
submission). It is important to note that if sufficient time is not 
allotted and a rejection notice is received after the due date and 
time, the application will not be considered.
    To ensure consideration, the components of the application must be 
saved as either .doc, .xls or .pdf files. If submitted in any other 
format, the applicant bears the risk that compatibility or other issues 
will prevent our ability to consider the application. ETA will attempt 
to open the document but will not take any additional measures in the 
event of issues with opening. In such cases, the non-conforming 
application will not be considered for funding.
    Applicants are strongly advised to utilize the plethora of tools 
and documents, including FAQs, that are available on the ``Applicant 
Resources'' page at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp#faqs. To receive updated information about critical issues, 
new tips for users and other time sensitive updates as information is 
available, applicants may subscribe to ``Grants.gov Updates'' at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/e-mail_subscription_signup.jsp.
    If applicants encounter a problem with Grants.gov and do not find 
an answer in any of the other resources, call 1-800-518-4726 to speak 
to a Customer Support Representative or e-mail support@grants.gov.
    Late Applications: For applications submitted on Grants.gov, only 
applications that have been successfully submitted no later than 4 p.m. 
Eastern Time on the closing date and successfully validated will be 
considered. Applicants take a significant risk by waiting to the last 
day to submit by grants.gov.
    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, it was 
properly addressed, and it was: (a) Sent by U.S. Postal Service mail, 
postmarked 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) sent by professional overnight delivery service to 
the addressee not later than one working day prior to the date 
specified for receipt of applications. ``Postmarked'' 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 non-
responsiveness. Evidence of timely submission by a professional 
overnight delivery service must be demonstrated by equally reliable 
evidence created by the delivery service provider indicating the time 
and place of receipt.

D. Intergovernmental Review

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

[[Page 30145]]

E. Funding Restrictions

    Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with 
the applicable Federal cost principles. 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. Successful 
and unsuccessful applicants will not be entitled to reimbursement of 
pre-award costs.

1. Indirect Costs

    As specified in OMB Circular Cost Principles, indirect costs are 
those that have been incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot 
be readily identified with a particular final cost objective. In order 
to use grant funds for indirect costs incurred the applicant must 
obtain an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with its Federal cognizant 
agency either before or shortly after grant award.

2. Administrative Costs

    Under this SGA, an entity that receives a grant to carry out a 
project or program may not use more than 10 percent of the amount of 
the grant to pay administrative costs associated with the program or 
project. Administrative costs could be direct or indirect costs, and 
are defined at 20 CFR 667.220. Administrative costs do not need to be 
identified separately from program costs on the SF 424A Budget 
Information Form. They should be discussed in the budget narrative and 
tracked through the grantee's accounting system. To claim any 
administrative costs that are also indirect costs, the applicant must 
obtain an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement from its Federal cognizant 
agency.

3. Salary and Bonus Limitations

    Under Public Law 109-234 and Public Law 111-8, Section 111, none of 
the funds appropriated in Public Law 111-5 or prior Acts under the 
heading ``Employment and Training'' that are available for expenditure 
on or after June 15, 2006, shall be used by a recipient or sub-
recipient of such funds to pay the salary and bonuses of an individual, 
either as direct costs or indirect costs, at a rate in excess of 
Executive Level II. These limitations also apply to grants funded under 
this SGA. The salary and bonus limitation does not apply to vendors 
providing goods and services as defined in OMB Circular A-133. See 
Training and Employment Guidance Letter number 5-06 for further 
clarification: https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2262.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

    The Federal Government reserves a paid-up, nonexclusive and 
irrevocable license to reproduce, publish or otherwise use, and to 
authorize others to use for Federal purposes: (i) The copyright in all 
products developed under the grant, including a subgrant or contract 
under the grant or subgrant; and (ii) any rights of copyright to which 
the grantee, subgrantee or a contractor purchases ownership under an 
award (including but not limited to curricula, training models, 
technical assistance products, and any related materials). Such uses 
include, but are not limited to, the right to modify and distribute 
such products worldwide by any means, electronically or otherwise. 
Federal funds may not be used to pay any royalty or licensing fee 
associated with such copyrighted material, although they may be used to 
pay costs for obtaining a copy which are limited to the developer/
seller costs of copying and shipping. If revenues are generated through 
selling products developed with grant funds, including intellectual 
property, these revenues are program income. Program income is added to 
the grant and must be expended for allowable grant activities.
    If applicable, grantees must include the following language on all 
products developed in whole or in part with grant funds:
    ``This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. 
Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The 
solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect 
the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department 
of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, 
express or implied, with respect to such information, including any 
information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy 
of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, 
adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is 
copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an 
organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial 
purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization 
of the copyright owner.''

F. Use of Funds for Supportive Services

    Supportive services for adults and dislocated workers are defined 
at WIA sections 101(46) and 134(e)(2) and (3). They include services 
such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and needs-
related payments that are necessary to enable an individual to 
participate in training activities funded through this grant. Grantees 
may only use grant funds to provide these services to individuals who 
are participating in training services provided through the grant, who 
are unable to obtain services through other programs providing such 
services, and when such services are necessary to enable individuals to 
participate in these training activities. Grantees should ensure that 
their use of grant funds on supportive services is consistent with 
their established written policy regarding the provision of supportive 
services. Grantees may use no more than 5% of their grant funds on 
these services. However, to support the employment and training needs 
of the targeted populations, ETA encourages grantees to leverage other 
sources of funding for supportive services, including WIA Adult formula 
funds provided under the Recovery Act.

G. Other Submission Requirements

    Withdrawal of Applications: Applications may be withdrawn by 
written notice at any time before an award is made.

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

    This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be 
used to evaluate the grant proposals. These criteria and point values 
are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Criterion                              Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Statement of Need.......................................           20
2. Project Management and Organizational Capacity..........           15
3. Strategy and Project Work Plan..........................           45
4. Outcomes and Deliverables...............................           20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Statement of Need (20 Points)

    Applicants must fully demonstrate a clear and specific need for the 
Federal investment in the proposed activities. It is critical 
throughout this section that applicants are as explicit and specific as 
possible in citing sources of data and analysis. Points for this 
section will be awarded based on the following factors:
i. Demonstration of Poverty Rate for Each Community Served (0 or 10 
Points)
    The applicant identifies the Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA) where 
each community to be served is located, and provides, for each PUMA, 
the poverty rate that is listed in the Poverty Data spreadsheet 
available for download at https://www.workforce3one.org/view/2000916359251042484/info. Applicants will receive 10 points for this 
subsection if the Poverty Data spreadsheet lists a

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poverty rate of 15% or more for each PUMA to be served. Otherwise, 
applicants will receive 0 points for this subsection.
    For more information about how to determine the appropriate PUMA, 
please see the instructions in Section VIII.A. Note that applicants 
proposing to serve American Indian Areas, Alaska Native Areas, or 
Hawaiian Homelands may use data from the appropriate statistical areas 
listed on Tab 2 of the Poverty Data spreadsheet, instead of PUMA-based 
data listed on Tab 1. Applicants proposing to serve outlying areas 
should use the data listed on Tab 3 of the Poverty Data spreadsheet. 
Applicants proposing to serve PUMAs, American Indian Areas, Alaska 
Native Areas, Hawaiian Homelands, or outlying areas that are not listed 
in the Poverty Data spreadsheet should utilize, and cite, another 
appropriate data source for poverty rate information. If the data for 
the community to be served is on the spreadsheet, that data must be 
used.
ii. Overview of Current Economy and Workforce (10 Points)
    The applicant clearly and fully demonstrates the need for training 
in each designated community by describing the overall economy and 
workforce needs for each community. Given the rapidly changing economic 
conditions that many States and regions are currently facing, 
applicants should utilize the most current and relevant sources of 
labor market data available. Points for this subsection will be awarded 
based on the following factors:
     The applicant fully describes the specific community(ies) 
that the project will serve, and provides a comprehensive description 
of the workforce needs in each community, including the unemployment 
rate(s) and a discussion of any significant layoffs in specific 
industries, as well as estimates of the number of individuals in each 
community who are: (a) Unemployed individuals; (b) high school 
dropouts; (c) individuals with a criminal record; and (d) disadvantaged 
individuals within areas of high poverty. See Section VI.B.2.iv for 
definitions of these terms.
     The applicant should provide strong evidence of job seeker 
need for training by identifying one or more of the populations listed 
above that the project will target, providing a general description of 
the current level of skills and educational attainment of those 
populations, and identifying the specific training needs of those 
populations.
     The applicant fully identifies other barriers to 
employment faced by the targeted populations, such as lack of child 
care and access to transportation.
    Applicants may draw from a variety of resources for supporting 
data, which include but are not limited to: Traditional labor market 
information, such as projections; industry data; data from trade 
associations or direct information from the regional industry; and 
information on the regional economy and other transactional data, such 
as job vacancies, that are available.

2. Project Management and Organizational Capacity (15 Points)

    Applicants must fully describe the capacity of the applicant, its 
required partners and, if applicable, its local affiliates, coalition 
members, or other established partners, to effectively staff the 
proposed initiative. The application must also fully describe the 
applicant's fiscal, administrative, and performance management capacity 
to implement the key components of this project, and the track record 
of the applicant, its required partners, and, if applicable, its local 
affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners, in 
implementing projects of similar focus, size, and scope.
    Scoring under this criterion will be based on the extent to which 
applicants provide evidence of the following:
i. Staff Capacity (5 Points)
    Applicants should provide strong evidence that the applicant, its 
required partners, and, if applicable, its local affiliates, coalition 
members, or other established partners, will have the staff capacity to 
implement the proposed initiative, including the capacity in each 
designated community. Discussion should include:
     The proposed staffing pattern for the project, including 
program management and administrative staff, and program staff involved 
in each local project, which demonstrates that the role(s) and time 
commitment of the proposed staff are sufficient to ensure proper 
direction, management, implementation, and timely completion of each 
project.
     The applicant must demonstrate that the qualifications and 
level of experience of the proposed project manager in each community 
served are sufficient to ensure proper management of the project, where 
such a project manager has been identified. Where no project manager is 
identified, applicants should discuss the minimum qualifications and 
level of experience that will be required of the position.
ii. Fiscal, Administrative, and Performance Management Capacity (5 
Points)
    Strong evidence that the applicant, its required partners, and, if 
applicable, its local affiliates, coalition members, or other 
established partners, have the fiscal, administrative, and performance 
management capacity to effectively administer this grant. Discussion 
should include:
     A full description of the applicant's capacity, including 
its systems, processes, and administrative controls that will enable it 
to comply with Federal rules and regulations related to the grant's 
fiscal and administrative requirements.
     A full description of the applicant's capacity, including 
its systems and processes that will support the grant's performance 
management requirements through effective tracking of performance 
outcomes. Applicants should include an explanation of the applicant's 
processes to collect and manage data in a way that allows for accurate 
and timely reporting of performance outcomes. Applicants may cite 
relationships with the public workforce system, as appropriate, to 
assist with performance reporting, and should describe access to 
specific data management software and/or resources for performance 
reporting.
iii. Experience of Applicant (5 Points)
    The applicant's demonstrated experience leading or participating 
significantly in a comprehensive partnership, and the demonstrated 
experience of the applicant, its required partners, and, if applicable, 
its local affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners, 
in implementing and operating training, education, and job placement 
initiatives of similar focus, size and scope. Discussion should 
include:
     Specific examples of the applicant's experience in leading 
or participating significantly in a partnership that included a wide 
range of stakeholders, including a description of the programmatic 
goals of the project, and a demonstration of the results achieved by 
that project.
     Specific examples of the applicant's track record 
administering Federal, State, and/or local grants, including the 
programmatic goals and results from these projects; and
     A description of the experience of the applicant, its 
required partners, and, if applicable, its local affiliates, coalition 
members, or other established partners, in Federal, State, and/or local 
projects providing education, training,

[[Page 30147]]

and placement services to the specific populations noted in Section 
III.C.3 (unemployed individuals, high school dropouts, individuals with 
criminal records, and disadvantaged individuals within areas of high 
poverty), including the programmatic goals and results of the projects.

3. Strategy and Project Work Plan (45 Points)

    The applicant should provide a complete, very clear explanation of 
its proposed strategy and its plans to implement it. The applicant must 
describe the proposed workforce development strategy in full, explain 
how the proposed training addresses the applicant's statement of need, 
and demonstrate how the proposed project will expeditiously and 
effectively deliver training. ETA is interested in applicants 
describing any evidence-based research that they considered in 
designing the strategy. The applicant must present a comprehensive work 
plan for the project, following the format provided later in this 
section. Points for this criterion will be awarded for the following 
factors:
i. Addressing Conditions Described in the Statement of Need, and 
Targeted Industries and Occupations (5 Points)
     The applicant summarizes the proposed strategy.
     The applicant explains how the proposed project 
comprehensively addresses the needs and challenges of the targeted 
populations laid out in the Statement of Need.
     The applicant provides a complete description of the 
targeted industries and occupations within those industries that the 
proposed project will focus on, including:
     The specific energy industry(ies) targeted by the project, 
and an explanation of how the targeted industry(ies) meet the 
requirements identified in the Supplementary Information: Part B of 
this SGA;
     The specific occupation in the targeted industries for 
which participants will be trained, including the work performed by 
that occupation and its major tasks; and
     The specific knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required 
by the occupation.
     The applicant fully describes the employment needs of the 
targeted industries and occupations in the designated community(ies), 
including: total current and projected employment in the industry; 
total current and projected employment in the targeted occupations; and 
the current hiring needs of specific employers and how job seekers 
served through the project will be placed in those jobs.
ii. Roles and Level of Commitment of Project Partners (10 points)
    Scoring on this section will be