American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for the Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries, 36255-36269 [E9-17416]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36255-36269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17416]


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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 the 
Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries

    Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation for Grant Applications.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 09-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.275.
    Key Dates:
    The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is October 5, 2009. Applications must be received no later 
than 4 p.m. Eastern Time. A pre-recorded Webinar will be on-line 
(https://www.workforce3one.org) and accessible for viewing on August 12, 
2009 by 3 p.m. Eastern Time, and will be available for viewing anytime 
after that date. While a review of this webinar is encouraged it is not 
mandatory that you view this recording.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department 
of Labor, Employment & Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: Donna Kelly, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/DFA PY 
09-01, 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 $220 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 help 
workers pursue careers within the industries described in the 
Background section, Part B of this SGA. The purpose of the high growth 
and emerging industries grants funded through this SGA is to teach 
workers the necessary skills for, and help them pursue careers in, 
health care and other high growth and emerging industry sectors. 
Eligible applicants include public entities and private nonprofit 
organizations. Additional specific eligibility guidance is included in 
Section III.A, ``Eligible Applicants and Required Partnerships.'' ETA 
intends to fund 45-65 grants ranging from approximately $2 to $5 
million.
    Approximately $25 million of the total funds available through this 
Solicitation will be reserved for projects serving communities impacted 
by automotive-related restructuring, though the Department reserves the 
right to change this amount depending on the quantity and quality of 
applications submitted under this SGA. See Attachment I for a list of 
communities impacted by automotive-related restructuring.

Background

A. Recovery Act: Competitive Grants for Worker Training and Placement 
in High Growth and Emerging Industry Sectors

    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). The Recovery Act further provided that in 
awarding grants for the remaining $250 million, projects that prepare 
workers for careers in the health care sector would receive priority. 
DOL intends to use a portion of the $250 million for providing 
technical assistance for this program of grants. DOL also intends to 
use a portion of these resources to promote the creation of a virtual 
tool that helps workers learn about and prepare for careers in health 
care. These efforts will help participants find and retain employment, 
while leveraging other Recovery Act investments intended to create jobs 
and promote economic growth.
    The following sub-sections provide background information on the 
health care sector, as well as on the other sectors on which applicants 
could focus.

[[Page 36256]]

B. Health Care and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries

1. Health Care Sector
    As many industries experience lay-offs and job losses, the health 
care industry remains a critical driver in regional economies across 
the nation. In March 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 
reported that the health care sector continued to grow, despite steep 
job losses in nearly all major industries. Hospitals, long-term care 
facilities, and other ambulatory care settings added 27,000 new jobs in 
February 2009, the same month when 681,000 jobs were eliminated 
nationwide.
    Health care providers are large employers that contribute 
significantly to the strength of regional economies. The BLS projects 
that health care employers will generate 3 million new wage and salary 
jobs between 2006 and 2016, with the education and health services 
sector projected to grow by 18.8 percent, adding more jobs (nearly 5.5 
million) than any other industry sector.
    Employment growth in the health care sector will be driven by 
significant increases in demand for health care and assistance because 
of an aging population and longer life expectancies. In addition, 
projected retirements for current health care workers will necessitate 
a pipeline of skilled individuals ready to enter health care 
occupations.
    The absence of qualified workers in this diverse sector threatens 
the quality and availability of medical care, and the economic 
stability and growth potential of local communities in rural, urban, 
and suburban areas. Moreover, the growing complexity of health care 
delivery, including changing technologies and introduction of advanced 
medical devices, will require both incumbent workers and new entrants 
to continuously upgrade their skills. Although job opportunities exist 
for workers without extensive specialized training, most health care 
occupations require training leading to a vocational license, 
certificate, or degree.
    ETA will accept proposals targeting any of the industry's sub-
sectors, and is particularly interested in receiving applications that 
focus on one or more of the following health care sub-sectors and 
occupational categories:
i. Nursing
    Recent trends in the delivery of health care services increasingly 
rely on highly skilled nurses working with allied health professionals 
in supporting clinical roles. Nursing roles range from primary patient 
care to case management and directing complex health care systems.
    Shortages of Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses 
(LPNs), Vocational Nurses, and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) 
threaten the provision of quality care. The BLS projects that 
employment for RNs will grow faster than any other occupation through 
2012. In response to the general increase in demand for health care 
services, employment of LPNs is expected to grow 14 percent, faster 
than the average for all occupations.
    ETA is interested in projects that provide training and support 
career progression along the nursing career pathway, as well as short-
term skills certification or credentialing that enables incumbent 
workers to advance along a career ladder/lattice in health care. These 
include licenses, certificates, and degrees from accredited nursing 
programs that lead to the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) or 
vocational licensure for LPNs, and positions as CNAs. ETA is also 
interested in academic strategies that help incumbent workers advance 
from an ADN to the bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) since many RNs 
with an ADN find it beneficial to enter bachelor's programs to prepare 
for a broader scope of nursing practice.
    Applicants that focus on nursing could foster transitions along 
articulated career pathways for graduates of education and training 
programs at a community college, vocational training program, or a 
Registered Apprenticeship program that help them qualify for entry-
level and mid-level nursing positions such as a CNA, LPN, or RN.
ii. Allied Health
    According to the Association of Schools of Allied Health 
Professions (ASAHP), the term allied health is used to identify a 
cluster of health professions that covers as many as 100 occupational 
titles, exclusive of physicians, nurses, and a handful of others. Acute 
workforce shortages and projected growth exist for allied health 
occupations, such as medical assistants, respiratory therapists, 
pharmacy technicians, diagnostic medical sonographers, paramedics, and 
radiological and other technicians. The BLS projects that by 2016, 
medical assistant occupations are expected to grow 35 percent, 
paramedic occupations are expected to grow by 19 percent, and 
radiological technicians by 15 percent. According to the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resource and Services 
Administration, occupational growth for community health workers is 
also projected as communities seek to build effective linkages with the 
health care system to provide health education and information, 
advocate for underserved individuals to receive appropriate services, 
and build the capacity of the community in addressing health issues.
    Particularly in hospitals and in medical laboratories away from 
patient care settings, ETA is interested in investments that provide 
talent development strategies that support recruitment, retention, and 
career pathways in related allied health occupations.
iii. Long-Term Care
    Workers in Long-Term Care settings assist older individuals and 
others with disabilities and chronic diseases through employment as 
CNAs, home health specialists, and other direct care occupations. The 
demand for long-term health care services has begun to increase 
dramatically as regions across the country have started to experience 
significant demographic shifts. Currently, the American Health Care 
Association estimates that long-term care occupations represent 4.5 
million workers. By 2010, BLS projects that this workforce will expand 
by 800,000 jobs for direct care workers alone in long-term care 
settings. In 2008, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies 
(IOM) determined that between 2005 and 2030, the number of adults aged 
65 and older is estimated to rise from 37,000,000 to over 70,000,000, 
almost doubling the overall size of the population of older adults in 
the United States. The IOM concluded that the health care workforce 
lacked the capacity, in both size and ability, to meet the mounting 
needs of the elderly.
    ETA is interested in projects that provide training for and support 
educational paths to careers in long-term care occupations, which 
include CNAs, home health aides, home and personal care workers, direct 
support professionals and RNs working in long-term care settings.
iv. Health Information Technology
    Health Information Technology (HIT) refers to the juncture of 
information management, medical practice, and the complex business of 
health care delivery. HIT leverages information management training and 
resources to improve quality and efficiency standards in the health 
care industry. According to HHS, Office of the National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology (ONC), ensuring the secure use of 
personal health information will improve the

[[Page 36257]]

coordination of care, as well as prevent medical errors through data 
sharing.
    The transition from traditional, paper-based medical files to 
electronic health records (EHR) technologies will provide expanded 
career pathways in health information management and technology. HIT 
jobs will be created in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare 
and outpatient clinics, and residential care facilities. Further, 
comprehensive reforms in health law and policy will require new and 
updated skill sets for a range of clinical occupations (including 
nursing and allied health professionals), medical record technicians, 
coders, health information technicians, and other health information 
technology professionals including but not limited to clinical 
informaticists. The Health Care Information and Management Systems 
Society estimates there are approximately 108,400 HIT jobs in hospital 
settings currently and expects workforce needs to require an additional 
40,800 HIT occupations by 2012.
    ETA is interested in projects that design state-of-the-art training 
and support progression in career pathways for the health information 
workforce using a variety of learning strategies for individuals who 
want to specialize in the management of health information, as well as 
workers who must use HIT to perform the duties of their jobs.
2. Other High Growth and Emerging Industries
    ETA also seeks to promote broad-based economic recovery by 
supporting the workforce and training needs of workers and employers in 
other high growth and emerging industries. ETA recognizes that in some 
specific regions industries continue to grow, while in other regions 
industries have been negatively impacted by the economic downturn but 
are expected to experience job growth as the economy begins to recover. 
Further, some industries are being transformed by technology and 
innovation, requiring new skill sets for workers. Fields like 
information technology, advanced manufacturing, wireless and broadband 
deployment, transportation and warehousing, and biotechnology may be 
high growth and emerging industries in specific regional economies, 
offering jobs and solid career paths left vacant due to a lack of 
qualified workers. For example, in advanced manufacturing sectors, 
transformations in business processes and technologies are driving the 
need for workers to have increasingly complex skills and competencies 
provided through the use of effective training approaches, such as 
mobile skills training.
    ETA is soliciting grant applications that address current and 
forecasted workforce shortages, and provide workers with paths to 
career enhancing opportunities in high growth, high demand, and 
economically vital sectors of the American economy. ETA will target 
education and skills development resources toward helping workers gain 
skills needed to build successful careers in these and other growing 
industries.
    ETA encourages applicants to define local high growth or emerging 
industries in the context of their state or regional economy by showing 
how the industry aligns with and fits into their state or regional 
strategy. An industry targeted by applicants must meet the following 
criteria to be considered a high growth or emerging industry in a local 
area for the purposes of this SGA: (1) It is projected to add 
substantial numbers of new jobs to the economy; (2) it is being 
transformed by technology and innovation requiring new skill sets for 
workers; or (3) it is a new and emerging industry projected to grow. 
Applicants may draw from a variety of resources for supporting data 
that demonstrates that an industry is high growth or emerging, 
including: Traditional labor market information, such as projections; 
industry data from trade or industry associations, labor organizations, 
or direct information from the local employers or industry; information 
on the local and regional economy from economic development agencies; 
and other transactional data, such as job vacancies. Applications must 
include strong supporting evidence and data that are current, relevant, 
and specific to the local areas or communities where grant-funded 
training and placement activities will be conducted.

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 health care 
occupations and other high growth and emerging industries. DOL is 
partnering with other Federal agencies to support the creation of jobs 
by developing a pipeline of skilled workers in the health care industry 
and other high growth and emerging 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. For example, there are specific 
Recovery Act activities related to health care through the Department 
of Education and HHS, Health Resource and Services Administration. For 
other high growth and emerging industries, it may be appropriate to 
review other Recovery Act programs from the Department of Energy, 
Department of Transportation, etc. For links to federal agency Recovery 
Act Web sites, please visit https://recovery.gov/?q=content/agencies.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Grants under this SGA will fund projects that provide workers with 
training that will prepare them to enter and advance in the health care 
sector, as well as other high growth and emerging industries, as 
described in part B of the Background section of this SGA. Individuals 
eligible to receive training include unemployed workers, dislocated 
workers, and incumbent workers including low-wage workers. Within these 
categories, grantees may serve a wide range of individuals, such as 
individuals on public assistance, high school dropouts, individuals 
with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with Limited English 
Proficiency. A portion of the funds under this SGA will be reserved (as 
described in Section II, Award Information) for projects serving 
communities impacted by automotive-related restructuring.
    Successful training programs funded through this SGA will prepare 
participants for employment within the health care sector or other high 
growth and emerging industries, and will: (1) Target skills and 
competencies demanded by the industries described in part B of the 
Background section of this SGA; (2) support career pathways, such as an 
articulated career ladder or lattice; (3) result in an employer- or 
industry-recognized certificate or degree (which can include a license, 
as well as a Registered Apprenticeship certificate or degree); (4) 
combine supportive services with training services to help participants 
overcome barriers to employment, as necessary; and (5) provide training 
services at times and locations that are easily accessible to targeted 
populations.
    To ensure quality training within a limited timeframe, applicants 
are strongly encouraged to use existing curricula and strategies to 
deliver training. Where appropriate, applicants may modify existing 
curricula. Recognizing the long-term needs of workers, it is strongly 
recommended that training lead to portable industry-recognized 
certificates or degrees.

[[Page 36258]]

II. Award Information

A. Award Amount

    Under this SGA, ETA intends to award approximately $220 million in 
grant funds. To prioritize health care projects, ETA expects to allot 
approximately $125 million of the designated funds for projects in the 
health care sector. However, the Department reserves the right to 
change this amount depending on the quantity and quality of 
applications submitted under this SGA. The remaining balance of funds 
will be allotted for projects in other high growth and emerging 
industries. ETA intends to fund 45-65 grants ranging from approximately 
$2 to $5 million. ETA does not expect to fund projects 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 $5 million, and applications 
requesting more than $5 million will be considered non-responsive. 
Within the funding ranges specified above, applicants are encouraged to 
submit proposals for quality projects at whatever funding level is 
appropriate to the project.
    Approximately $25 million of the total funds available through this 
Solicitation will be reserved for projects serving communities impacted 
by automotive-related restructuring, though the Department reserves the 
right to change this amount depending on the quantity and quality of 
applications submitted under this SGA. See Attachment I for a list of 
counties impacted by automotive-related restructuring. The Center for 
Automotive Research identified the attached list of 312 U.S. counties 
that either have an automotive assembly plant or parts manufacturer 
employing regional residents. Only communities that are included on The 
Center for Automotive Research list will qualify for this status.

B. Period of Performance

    The period of grant performance will be up to 36 months from the 
date of execution of the grant documents. This performance period 
includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities; the 
completion of training activities and the award of employer- or 
industry-recognized certificates or degrees; and 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

    Eligible applicants are public entities or private nonprofit 
entities. Applicants must be legal entities and may include local 
Workforce Investment Boards and their One Stop Systems, Tribal 
organizations, education and training providers, labor organizations, 
health care providers, and faith-based and community organizations. The 
applicant must be the fiscal agent for the grant. An organization may 
not submit multiple applications in response to this SGA. However, an 
organization that submits an application for this SGA is not precluded 
from participating as a partner in applications submitted by other 
applicants in response to this SGA.

B. Strategic Partnerships

    To be eligible for funding under this SGA, applicants must 
demonstrate that the proposed project will be implemented by a robust 
strategic partnership.
i. Required Partners
    The strategic partnership must include at least one entity from 
each of the following three categories:
     The public workforce investment system, such as local 
Workforce Investment Boards and their One Stop systems;
     Public and private employers, such as health care 
providers when appropriate, and industry-related organizations; and
     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.
    By including all of these types of organizations in a comprehensive 
partnership, applicants can ensure they are maximizing available 
resources and organizational expertise for each project, and that 
individual participants within the project have all of the support 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 must work together to ensure that they leverage each 
other's expertise and resources. The role of the workforce investment 
system must include identifying and referring candidates for training, 
and may include assessing potential participants, connecting and 
placing participants with employers that have existing job openings, 
and providing supportive services to help participants overcome 
barriers to training or employment. Employers and industry-related 
organizations, such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and other 
health care employers, should be actively engaged in the project and 
may contribute to many aspects of grant activities, such as defining 
the program strategy and goals, identifying necessary skills and 
competencies, providing resources to support training (equipment, 
instructors, funding, internships, or other work-based learning 
activities or situations, etc.), and, where appropriate, hiring 
qualified program participants. Education and training providers must 
partner with employer and/or industry-related organizations to ensure 
that education and training programs address the skills required for 
the targeted industries, lead to employer- or industry-recognized 
certificates or degrees, and ensure that the training strategies 
reflect the needs of both workers and employers.
ii. Other Partners
    In addition to the required partners listed in Section III.B.i, 
applicants are strongly encouraged to include other partners that can 
provide resources or expertise to the project. These organizations 
could include, but are not limited to:
     Nonprofit organizations, such as community or faith-based 
organizations, that have direct access to the target populations;
     Labor organizations, including but not limited to labor 
unions and labor-management organizations that represent workers in the 
health care sector or other high growth and emerging industries;
     Organizations implementing projects funded by the Recovery 
Act that will create or support jobs in the health care sector or other 
high growth and emerging 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.

C. Cost Sharing

    Cost sharing or matching funds are not required as a condition for 
application, but leveraged resources are

[[Page 36259]]

strongly encouraged and may affect the applicant's score in section 
V.A.3 of the evaluation criteria.

D. Other Eligibility Requirements

1. Proposed Activities
    The purpose of this SGA is to fund projects providing training, 
education, and job placement assistance to prepare workers to enter the 
health care sector and other high growth and emerging industries 
described in part B of the Background section 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 
targeted through this SGA and described in part B of the Background 
section;
     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 employer- or industry-recognized certificate 
or degree during the period of performance. Certificates or degrees can 
include a license as well as a Registered Apprenticeship certificate or 
degree (see definition in Section VI.B.2.ii) that indicates a level of 
mastery and competence in a given field or function. The certificate or 
degree awarded to participants 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, as appropriate;
     Take place at times and locations that are convenient and 
easily accessible for the targeted populations;
     Integrate occupational training with basic skills training 
to ensure that participants have the foundational skills necessary to 
attain and retain employment; and
     Integrate training activities with supportive services to 
ensure that participants have the necessary support to overcome 
barriers to participate in training and employment.
    Applicants may propose a wide range of activities in implementing 
projects that meet the requirements outlined above. When designing the 
proposed activities, DOL encourages applicants to use program models 
with previous success in serving the target populations, 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.
     Providing on-the-job training with a specific employer who 
agrees to hire individuals upon successful completion of the training 
has been an effective way for some programs to place disadvantaged 
individuals into employment.
     Registered Apprenticeship, with the combination of on-the-
job training, related technical instruction, a mentoring component and 
incremental wage increases, has been highly successful in training a 
range of participants including at-risk youth, veterans, older workers, 
and the unemployed.
ii. Allowable Activities
    Proposed projects must provide direct training and/or education, 
placement, and related activities that prepare individuals for 
employment in health care and other industries. Direct training and/or 
education costs include, but are not limited to, the following types of 
costs: faculty/instructors, including salaries and fringe benefits; in-
house training staff; support staff such as lab or teaching assistants; 
classroom space; and books, materials, and supplies used in the 
training course, including specialized equipment. As with all costs 
charged to the grant, the costs of equipment must meet the standards in 
the applicable Federal cost principles, including that the costs are 
reasonable and necessary to achieve grant outcomes. While grant funds 
may be used to purchase equipment that are used for training and 
education activities provided through the proposed project, grantees 
are encouraged to utilize leveraged resources to support these costs to 
maximize the use of their grant funds.
    Allowable activities under this SGA include:
     Classroom occupational training;
     On-the-job training activities that lead to permanent 
employment;
     Development and implementation of Registered 
Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs;
     Contextualized learning;
     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, 
competencies, and supportive service needs;
     Job search and placement assistance, and, where 
appropriate, career counseling;
     Case management services;
     Comprehensive retention strategies;
     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.)

E. Other Grant Specifications

1. Participants Eligible To Receive Training
    This SGA addresses the priorities of the Recovery Act by funding 
projects that provide education and training, job placement, and 
supportive services to unemployed workers, dislocated workers, and 
incumbent workers which include:
    i. Unemployed workers (For the purposes of this SGA, ETA defines 
``unemployed individual'' as an individual who is without a job and who 
wants and is available to work);
    ii. Dislocated workers (For the purposes of this SGA, this term 
refers to individuals who were terminated or laid-off or have received 
a notice of termination or lay-off from employment; or were self-
employed but are now unemployed);
    iii. Incumbent workers who need training to secure full-time 
employment, advance in their careers, or retain their current 
occupations. This includes low-wage workers, workers who need to 
upgrade their skills to retain employment, and workers who are 
currently working part-time.
    Within these categories, grantees may serve a wide range of 
individuals, such as individuals on public assistance, high school 
dropouts, individuals with disabilities, veterans, Indians and Native 
Americans, and individuals with Limited English Proficiency.

[[Page 36260]]

2. Veterans Priority
    The Jobs for Veterans Act (Pub. L. 107-288) requires 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. The regulations 
implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in 
Department of Labor job training programs under the Jobs for Veterans 
Act are found at 20 CFR part 1010. In circumstances where a grant 
recipient must choose between two equally qualified candidates for 
training, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the Jobs for 
Veterans Act requires that the grant recipient 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 Jobs 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 members 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 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 must 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 budget 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 a description of 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 applications that fail to provide an SF 424, SF 
424A, a D-U-N-S[supreg] Number, and a budget narrative will be non-
responsive.
     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 20 double-spaced single-
sided pages with 12 point text font and 1 inch margins. Any materials 
beyond the 20-page limit will not be read. Applicants should number the 
Technical Proposal beginning with page number 1. Applications that do 
not include Part II, the Technical Proposal, will be non-responsive.
    Part III. Attachments to the Technical Proposal. In addition to the 
20-page Technical Proposal, the applicant must submit a letter or 
letters of commitment signed by all required partners (preferably one 
letter co-signed by all required partners) that describes the roles and 
responsibilities of each required partner. 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 does not encourage 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 also must 
provide an Abstract, not to exceed one page, summarizing the proposed 
project, including applicant name; targeted industry; 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. The abstract must also indicate 
whether one or more of the counties served by the proposed project 
appear on the attached list of counties impacted by automotive-related 
restructuring, which is included

[[Page 36261]]

as Attachment I of this SGA. The applicant must indicate the total 
amount of grant funds that will be used for activities in those 
impacted counties.
    These additional materials (commitment letters and one-page 
abstract) do not count against the 20-page limit for the Technical 
Proposal, but may not exceed 13 pages. Any additional materials beyond 
the 13-page limit will not be read.
    Applications may be submitted electronically on Grants.gov or in 
hard copy 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 October 5, 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 09-01, 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 October 5, 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 email messages to provide the status of 
application progress through the system. The first email, almost 
immediate, will confirm receipt of the application by Grants.gov. The 
second email 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/email_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 4:00 
p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date and then successfully validated 
will be considered. Applicants take a significant risk by waiting to 
the last day to submit via 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.

[[Page 36262]]

D. Intergovernmental Review

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

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. However, they must 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, and housing that 
are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities 
funded through this grant. Further, supportive services can include 
needs-related payments (NRPs) that are necessary to enable individuals 
to participate in training activities funded through this grant. 
Accordingly, grantees may only use grant funds to provide supportive 
services to individuals who are participating in activities provided 
through the grant (or in the case of NRPs, participating in training), 
who are unable to obtain such services through other programs, and when 
such services are necessary to enable individuals to participate in 
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 10% 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. Further, ETA encourages grantees to leverage earnings 
from part-time and full-time employment and unemployment compensation 
that will enable individuals to participate in training, in addition to 
utilizing grant funds for needs-related payments.

G. Other Submission Requirements

    Withdrawal of Applications: Applications may be withdrawn by 
written notice to the Grant Officer 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.........................................         15
2. Project Management and Organizational Capacity............         15
3. Strategy and Project Work Plan............................         50
4. Outcomes and Deliverables.................................         15
5. Suitability for Evaluation................................          5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Statement of Need (15 points)
    An applicant must fully demonstrate a clear and specific need for 
the Federal investment in the proposed activities. An applicant must 
submit data and provide evidence for proposed projects in the local 
areas or communities where participants will be trained and

[[Page 36263]]

employed. Points for this section will be awarded based on a 
comprehensive demonstration of each of the following factors:
i. Overview of Current Economy and Workforce (15 points)
    The applicant clearly and fully demonstrates the need for training 
and employment in the local area by describing the overall economy and 
workforce needs. Given the rapidly changing economic conditions that 
many States and regions are currently facing, applicants should use 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 demonstrates the workforce needs in 
the community, including the unemployment rate(s), poverty rate(s), the 
needs of diverse populations within the community, a discussion of any 
significant layoffs or industry restructuring in specific industries, 
as well as estimates of the number of individuals in the community who 
are: (a) unemployed workers; (b) dislocated workers; and (c) incumbent 
workers including low-wage workers.
     The applicant provides strong evidence of job seeker need 
for training by identifying one or more of the populations listed above 
(unemployed workers; dislocated workers; and/or incumbent workers) 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 or 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)
    An applicant must fully describe the capacity of the applicant and 
its required 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 
and its required 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)
    An applicant must provide strong evidence that the applicant and 
its required partners have the staff capacity to implement the proposed 
initiative. Discussion should include:
     The proposed staffing pattern for the project, including 
program management and administrative staff and program staff, 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 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)
    The application must provide strong evidence that the applicant and 
its required 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 must 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. Applicant's Experience (5 points)
    The applicant must demonstrate its experience leading or 
participating significantly in a comprehensive partnership, and the 
demonstrated experience of the applicant and its partners in 
implementing and operating training, education, and job placement 
initiatives of similar focus, size and scope. The discussion must 
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 other grants, including the 
programmatic goals and results from these projects; and
     A description of the experience of the applicant and its 
required partners in Federal, State, and/or other projects providing 
education, training, and placement services to the specific populations 
noted in Section III.D. (unemployed workers; dislocated workers; 
incumbent workers including low-wage workers), including the 
programmatic goals and results of the projects.
3. Strategy and Project Work Plan (50 points)
    The applicant must provide a complete, very clear explanation of 
its proposed strategy and its implementation plans. 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 (10 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

[[Page 36264]]

and occupations within those industries that the proposed project will 
focus on, including: the specific industry(ies) targeted by the 
project, and an explanation of h