American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for Category 1-Healthcare Virtual Career Platform (HVCP) and Category 2-Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based Organizations To Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including Healthcare Careers, 17771-17786 [2010-7869]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17771-17786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7869]


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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 
Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career Platform (HVCP) and Category 2--
Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based Organizations To 
Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including Healthcare 
Careers

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor.

[[Page 17772]]

    Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation for Grant Applications.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 09-09

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.275.

SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department), announces the 
availability of approximately $13.2 million in grant funds authorized 
by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery 
Act) for projects that use virtual service-delivery models to promote 
career opportunities in the healthcare sector.
    This Solicitation provides applicants with the option to choose 
from two categories to submit a single grant application. These 
categories are:
    Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career Platform (HVCP) and
    Category 2--Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based 
Organizations to Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including 
Healthcare Careers
    Grants to support the above mentioned categories will be awarded 
through a competitive process.
    Applicants must indicate in the abstract of their proposal the 
category under which they are applying. Applicants are encouraged to 
read the entire SGA since applicants under both Categories 1 and 2 are 
required to work collaboratively on some part of the project. The 
Category 1 grant recipient is required to create an HVCP and give 
Category 2 grant recipients training on how to use the service, and 
Category 2 grant recipients are required to train their staff, as well 
as staff from local One-Stop Career Centers, on the HVCP as part of 
year 2 grant activities.
    Under Category 1, ETA intends to award one grant for up to $6.6 
million to develop and operate an HVCP. Under Category 2, ETA intends 
to award two to four grants totaling approximately $6.6 million to 
national community- and faith-based organizations and non-profit One-
Stop Career Center operators. The Category 2 grantees will increase 
access to virtual career exploration services by (a) building their 
capacity to deliver these services to their customers in local 
communities and (b) increasing the ability of their customers to make 
use of and benefit from online resources.
    Eligible applicants for Category 1 include private nonprofit 
organizations with a nationally-focused mission. Eligible applicants 
under Category 2 of this grant Solicitation include private national 
nonprofit organizations that deliver services through networks of local 
affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners, including 
non-profit operators of One-Stop Career Centers. See section III.A for 
additional information related to eligible applicants.
    This Solicitation provides background information and describes the 
application submission requirements, outlines the process that eligible 
entities must use to apply for funds covered by this Solicitation, and 
details how grantees will be selected. Applicants should read the 
entire SGA and note the specific sections that contain required 
information, such as in section II.A, section III.A, and section IV.B, 
where failure to comply will be considered non-responsive and those 
applicants will not be considered for funding.
    The Department of Labor is committed to providing the public with 
an open and transparent grant selection process and providing useful 
information to assist prospective applicants with developing quality 
proposals. One way to achieve these goals is through public access to 
selected and non-selected grant applications. Applicants are advised 
that the information they submit in response to this Solicitation may 
be posted on a publicly accessible Web site or may otherwise be made 
available to the public.

DATES: Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under 
this announcement is May 7, 2010. Applications must be received no 
later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time. A pre-recorded Webinar will be online 
(https://www.workforce3one.org) and accessible for viewing on April 14, 
2010, and will be available for viewing anytime after that date. While 
a review of this Webinar is encouraged it is not mandatory that 
applicants view this recording.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department 
of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/DFA 
PY 09-09, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, Washington, DC 
20210. For complete ``Application and Submission Information,'' please 
refer to section IV.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (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 healthcare sector would receive priority. To 
date, ETA has awarded $720 million in competitive grants to 244 
grantees and will use a portion of the funds to provide technical 
assistance to Recovery Act grantees.
    With this SGA, DOL is devoting $13.2 million to prepare workers for 
careers in the healthcare sector by promoting the creation of an online 
platform that will use standardized data, application programming 
interfaces (APIs), and hosting infrastructure to support new 
applications, which will help individuals learn about and prepare for 
careers in the healthcare industry. The SGA will also build the 
capacity of community- and faith-based organizations to provide diverse 
customers with access to virtual resources and to assist their 
customers in using virtual and other resources to pursue career 
pathways, including those in the healthcare sector. These efforts will 
help participants prepare for and find employment, while leveraging 
other Recovery Act investments intended to create jobs and promote 
economic growth.

B. The Need for Virtual Career Services in the Healthcare Industry

    In December 2009, ETA held a series of conference calls and a web-
based meeting with healthcare subject matter experts from federal, 
state and local government, education institutions, and other public 
and private organizations to explore the need for virtual

[[Page 17773]]

healthcare career resources. Among the stakeholders, there was general 
consensus that there are gaps in the information that individuals have 
about healthcare career opportunities and occupations; some of these 
gaps could be filled via virtual services. In addition, there are many 
healthcare career resources online that may not be having maximum 
impact because they are difficult to find, especially for underserved 
populations, and they are not interconnected. There is a need to better 
connect and inform the public or ``publicize'' the information, 
practices and resources that are currently available and being used, as 
well as a need to build certain additional components that are not 
presently available. Resources identified from these consultations, 
from the Jobs for America's Job Seekers Challenge, and selected Federal 
resources have been compiled and can be accessed on the Workforce3One 
site at: https://www.workforce3one.org/view/2001008333909172195/info. 
The objectives for the HVCP were developed based on the input received 
as a result of these conference calls.

C. Healthcare Sector and Occupations

    As many industries experience lay-offs and job losses, the 
healthcare industry remains a critical driver in regional economies 
across the nation. In December 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) reported that the healthcare sector continued to grow. 
Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other ambulatory care 
settings added 21,500 new jobs in December 2009.
    Healthcare providers employ large numbers of workers and contribute 
significantly to the strength of regional economies. BLS projects that 
healthcare employers will generate about 4 million new wage and salary 
jobs between 2008 and 2018, with the health services and social 
assistance sector projected to grow by 25.3 percent, adding more jobs 
(nearly 4.0 million) than any other industry sector. Employment growth 
in the healthcare sector will be driven by significant increases in 
demand for healthcare and assistance because of an aging population and 
longer life expectancies. In addition, projected retirements for 
current healthcare workers will necessitate a pipeline of skilled 
individuals ready to enter healthcare occupations. The growing 
diversity of our nation's population will also require additional 
skills and competencies, such as linguistic and cultural competencies, 
that impact the quality of care.
    The need for qualified workers in this diverse sector impacts 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 healthcare 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 healthcare 
occupations require training leading to a vocational license, 
certificate, or degree.
    ETA is particularly interested in supporting the development of a 
platform that will emphasize opportunities within health technology and 
healthcare support occupations such as: medical and clinical laboratory 
technologists, medical and clinical laboratory technicians, dental 
hygienists, cardiovascular technologists and technicians, diagnostic 
medical sonographers, nuclear medicine technologists, radiologic 
technologists and technicians, emergency medical technicians and 
paramedics, dietetic technicians, pharmacy technicians, psychiatric 
technicians, respiratory therapy technicians, surgical technologists, 
licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, community health 
workers and patient navigators, medical records and health information 
technicians, dispensing opticians, orthotists and prosthetists, 
occupational health and safety specialists, occupational health and 
safety technicians, home health aides, nursing aides/orderlies/
attendants, psychiatric aides, occupational therapist assistants and 
aides, physical therapist assistants and aides, dental assistants, 
medical assistants, medical equipment preparers, medical 
transcriptionists, and pharmacy aides.

D. Grant Objectives

    ETA is interested in projects that expand access to healthcare 
career information, especially to diverse populations, and reduce 
barriers to accessing those resources. The development of the HVCP by 
the grantee funded under Category 1 of this SGA will be complemented by 
activities of grantees funded under Category 2. Category 2 grantees 
will provide technical assistance to help connect their customers to 
virtual workforce development services. By expanding access to online 
career services, including healthcare careers, ETA seeks to achieve the 
following objectives:
     Assist current and future workers to consider healthcare 
career options by providing information on the required education and 
preparation, the nature of the day-to-day work, the work environment, 
experience, tasks performed on the job, and expectations for the 
continuing education required to advance along a career pathway or 
ladder;
     Assist individuals, through appropriate assessment, who 
have an interest in and aptitude for healthcare careers, with career 
decision-making, in order to help them select among the range of 
healthcare career options;
     Assist individuals in developing a plan of action to 
achieve their healthcare career goals through information on education 
and training requirements, licensing requirements, available training 
options, and links to local One-Stop Career Centers, community 
colleges, and other appropriate organizations;
     Provide selected online training to assist individuals in 
obtaining pre-healthcare competencies so that they will be ready to 
enroll in training toward their career goal--this could include courses 
to increase literacy and mathematics proficiency as well as 
prerequisite courses in science fundamentals;
     Support individuals in achieving their career goals 
through media and social networking, such as virtual tutoring, virtual 
mentoring, virtual study groups or forums, virtual job clubs, and 
similar virtual services;
     Enable third-party software developers to build, ``beta''-
test, and launch applications that utilize standardized information 
resources and associated APIs;
     Provide hosting infrastructure for healthcare career 
information, training resources, and other data, along with 
standardized APIs, to support both in-house and third-party 
applications;
     Develop, launch, iterate, and provide in-house 
applications that provide the information and services outlined above;
     Enable a new marketplace of applications that can use the 
HVCP to support existing and new business models around healthcare 
career information;
     Promote the HVCP services, and help disadvantaged 
populations use virtual services by providing train-the-trainer 
training and support to (1) Community-and Faith-Based Organizations and 
One-Stop Career Center Staff, and (2) Community- and Faith-Based 
Organizations and One-Stop Career Center customers to help them make 
use of the services and information in the HVCP, through a variety of 
means such as tutorials,

[[Page 17774]]

training, and videos. As appropriate, this training may be made 
available to other partners such as libraries. This outreach and 
technical assistance can include both virtual and in-person training; 
and
     Provide linkages to national, state, regional, and local 
healthcare career resources, services, and applications.
     Provide linkages to training and employment including 
Registered Apprenticeship and joint labor-management programs.

E. Key Project Elements for Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career 
Platform (HVCP)

    The following are key activities and deliverables required for the 
HVCP grant Solicitation:
    i. Develop Asset Map. Identify what virtual tools and services are 
available for persons interested in a healthcare career and which ones 
would be valuable to include in on the HVCP;
    ii. Develop a Gap Analysis. Analyze the resources identified in the 
asset map and identify gaps in information and tools that need to be 
developed as in-house applications running on the HVCP to adequately 
promote healthcare career exploration and career planning;
    iii. Build and Operate Platform. Design, build, and operate an open 
platform for healthcare career information resources and services, 
together with APIs and hosting infrastructure for healthcare career 
information and in-house and third-party applications;
    iv. Develop an HVCP as an open source platform. Both the system and 
the uncompiled source code should be open source or located in the 
public domain. The structure of the site should look beyond the current 
operating environment and integrate the long-term Open Government 
objectives of universal access and cross-platform integration. See the 
Open Government Directive issued by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) in Memorandum M-10-06 dated December 8, 2009 located at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/open/documents/open-government-directive.
    Please note that all tools and components developed for the HVCP 
must be discrete and separate, capable of being decoupled from the 
platform and added to other systems.
    v. Develop Assessment Tool. The HVCP must include an assessment 
tool as one of the applications developed for the platform. Through its 
review, ETA found generic assessments for occupation sectors but was 
unable to identify assessments that match users to specific healthcare 
occupations. Therefore, we are specifying that one of the tasks will be 
to provide a healthcare occupation-specific assessment. To address this 
need, applicants in Category 1 will provide an interest, aptitude, and 
readiness assessment tool for specific healthcare careers. Furthermore, 
the assessment and results should be detailed enough to be able to 
direct an individual to specific occupations within the overall 
healthcare career field at the level of detail as described within the 
Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network (O*NET) system 
or additional detail provided by the Health Resources and Services 
Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services, 
rather than just providing a general vocational interest indicating 
that the healthcare industry as a whole is a possible career option. 
The assessment tool should also assess current educational and work 
readiness and potential transferable skills so as to help diverse 
individuals develop a career pathway plan that includes needed 
education as well as jobs or occupations along a career ladder to 
higher, family-supporting wages.
    vi. Incorporate Online Training Component. The HVCP must include an 
online training application that would consist of noncredit 
prerequisite courses for entry-level healthcare careers. Many training 
courses already exist; these as well as any gaps should be identified 
in the asset-mapping portion of the project. The training would assist 
individuals in preparing for postsecondary level education and training 
and in obtaining pre-healthcare career competencies so that they will 
be ready to enroll in training for their career goal. Examples of the 
training courses to be offered could include courses to increase 
literacy, mathematics and science fundamental prerequisites, such as 
introductions to basic biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
    vii. Develop and deliver outreach materials and staff training. 
Outreach materials must be developed describing the HVCP and its 
components. Staff training on the use of the HCVP and the resources 
available on the platform must be developed to be delivered to One-Stop 
Career Centers and Community- and Faith-Based Organizations (including 
Category 2 grantees) regarding the use of the HVCP and the resources 
available on the site.
    viii. The HVCP will be developed during year 1 and will be 
maintained and updated throughout year 2.

F. Key Project Elements for Category 2--Enhancing the Ability of 
Community- and Faith-Based Organizations To Deliver Virtual Career 
Exploration Services, Including Healthcare Careers

    Grantees will use funds to build their capacity to both offer 
virtual services to diverse clients and customers, and to assist their 
customers in making good use of such resources, through any of the 
following:
    i. Capacity-Building Activities (not to exceed 30 percent of 
proposed project budget). Grantees can augment their information 
technology capacity through any of the following:
     Providing additional computer workstations for customers 
in Year 1;
     Increasing broadband capacity or Internet access (e.g., 
more lines, faster connections) in Year 1;
     Obtaining software, including computer literacy 
assessments and training modules to help customers learn about and 
become comfortable using online services in Year 1; and
    ii. Customer Service Activities
     Providing training for their own staff and customers, and 
staff from local One-Stop Career Centers, on effective use of online 
career and workforce development services to help jobseekers prepare 
for and find employment, in Year 1 and Year 2;
     Providing computer literacy and career development 
training for their customers; specifically assisting customers to use 
virtual resources and Internet based sites for planning career 
pathways, including identifying career goals, planning required 
education and training, and applying for jobs in their chosen career 
field, in Year 1 and Year 2; and
     Implementing training for staff and customers using the 
HVCP and its materials (developed by the Category 1 grantee), in Year 2

II. Award Information

A. Award Amount

    Under this SGA, ETA intends to award approximately $13.2 million in 
grant funds authorized by the Recovery Act for two categories of 
projects that use virtual service-delivery models to promote career 
opportunities, including those in the healthcare sector. The eligible 
applicant criteria for each category of projects are defined in section 
III.A. Within the funding ranges specified below, applicants are 
encouraged to submit proposals for quality projects at a funding level 
that is appropriate to the project.

[[Page 17775]]

1. Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career Platform (HVCP)
    ETA anticipates that it will award one grant for up to $6.6 million 
to develop and operate an HVCP. ETA reserves the right to change this 
amount depending on the quantity and quality of applications submitted 
under this SGA. However, ETA will consider requests for greater than 
$6.6 million to be nonresponsive, and such applicants will not be 
considered for funding.
2. Category 2--Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based 
Organizations to Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including 
Healthcare Careers
    ETA intends to award two to four grants in amounts ranging from $1 
to $3 million, for a total of up to $6.6 million to build the capacity 
of national community- and faith-based organizations to provide virtual 
services to their clients and customers in support of career 
exploration, including healthcare careers. ETA reserves the right to 
change this amount depending on the quantity and quality of 
applications submitted under this SGA. ETA does not expect to fund any 
project for less than $1 million, but this does not preclude funding 
grants at a lower amount based on the type and number of quality 
submissions. However, ETA will consider requests for greater than $3 
million nonresponsive, and such applicants will not be considered for 
funding.

B. Period of Performance

    The period of grant performance for all awards will be up to 24 
months from the date of execution of the grant documents. This 
performance period includes all necessary grant activities, including 
implementation and start-up activities. Applicants must submit a 
timeline of activities planned for the entire 24-month period.
    ETA expects to make grant awards under this SGA by June 30, 2010, 
and also expects that the grant start date will be July 1, 2010. 
Applicants should plan for start-up activities under the grant to begin 
immediately after award, and we strongly encourage grantees to develop 
their project work plans and timelines accordingly. In addition, the 
Department intends for the HVCP (Category 1) grantee to complete 
development of an initial operating version of the HVCP within the 
first year of the grant.
    While grant awards will be funded for a period of performance of 
two years, ETA may make available up to three additional years of 
funding, depending upon the availability of funds and the demonstrated 
performance of grant activities. However, applications must include a 
timeline of activities that reflects full expenditure of grant funds 
and completion of grant activities during the 24-month period of 
performance, while ensuring full transparency and accountability for 
all expenditures.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants and Strategic Partnerships

    Under this Solicitation, applicants may apply under one of two 
categories:
    Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career Platform (HVCP); or
    Category 2--Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based 
Organizations to Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including 
Healthcare Careers.
    Applicants may only submit a grant application under one category 
and only one application per applicant will be accepted. Applicants 
must indicate in the abstract of their proposal the category under 
which they are applying. Applications that do not adhere to the above 
instructions will be considered to be nonresponsive and not reviewed or 
funded. In particular, if an applicant submits more than one 
application, none of the applications will be considered. (Please see 
section IV.F for instructions for withdrawing an application before 
submitting a new application.) These two applicant categories will 
compete separately for funding under this SGA, and each Category will 
be paneled and reviewed separately.
    This section provides separate eligibility and partnership 
information for each of the two categories.
1. Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career Platform
i. Eligible applicants for Category 1
    Eligible applicants for Category 1 grants are private nonprofit 
organizations with a nationally-focused mission to promote education, 
workforce development, career pathways, employment, or retention (such 
as national healthcare occupational associations, national health 
associations with experience in working with diverse populations, 
national educational associations with experience in healthcare 
workforce development, national workforce development associations, or 
nationwide healthcare systems that focus on both healthcare service 
delivery and education). An organization with a mission that focuses on 
a specific State, region, or local area (such as a State Workforce 
Agency, local workforce investment board, or community college) is not 
eligible to apply as the lead applicant, but may be included as part of 
the strategic partnership described in section III.A.ii.
ii. Strategic Partnerships for Category 1
    To be eligible to apply for funding under Category 1, applicants 
must demonstrate that the proposed project will be implemented by a 
robust strategic partnership that maximizes available resources, either 
virtual resources or additional financial resources, to support the 
project and represents the level of combined organizational expertise, 
in the following areas, which is necessary to effectively execute the 
project:
     Workforce Development and Training. The applicant and/or 
its strategic partners must have significant knowledge and experience 
in designing and delivering career exploration services and training, 
particularly in online and virtual environments. To ensure that this 
knowledge and experience is represented in the project, the applicant 
may partner with educational institutions (such as community or 
technical college systems) and the public workforce investment system 
(such as State Workforce Agencies or local workforce investment boards 
and their One-Stop systems).
     Healthcare Occupations. The applicant and/or its strategic 
partners must have significant knowledge of the healthcare occupations 
described in section I.C of this SGA, including an understanding of the 
knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for these occupations, as well 
as associated training, education, and licensure or certification 
programs. To ensure that this knowledge is represented in the project, 
the applicant may partner with healthcare occupational associations, 
healthcare employers and industry-related organizations, and/or 
educational institutions with healthcare programs successful in placing 
individuals in employment in the industry.
     Development and Deployment of Virtual Service Delivery 
Platforms. The applicant and/or its strategic partners must have 
expertise and experience in programming open-source platforms, and 
developing and implementing online virtual service-delivery models, 
particularly online virtual training and education services. To ensure 
that the project partnership is well-equipped to design a site to serve 
the public, the applicant may partner with (or procure

[[Page 17776]]

the services of) information technology providers or other 
organizations, including for-profit organizations, with significant 
relevant expertise and experience.
     Public Outreach Expertise. The applicant and/or its 
strategic partners must have significant knowledge and experience in 
conducting public outreach and awareness campaigns that could be 
employed in promoting a new site to its intended users and have 
experience in working with diverse populations. These outreach 
capabilities could include use of traditional media avenues, such as 
press releases or interviews; public service announcements; networking; 
use of social media; as well as search engine optimization strategies 
to direct traffic to the site.
2. Category 2--Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based 
Organizations To Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including 
Healthcare Careers
i. Eligible Applicants for Category 2
    Eligible applicants for Category 2 grants are private national or 
multi-state nonprofit community- or faith-based organizations that 
deliver services through networks of local affiliates, coalition 
members, or other established partners, including labor management 
organizations and non-profit organizations that operate One-Stop Career 
Centers in more than one state. It is ETA's intent that investments in 
Category 2 achieve geographic balance across the country and increase 
capacity in both rural and urban settings in at least six different 
sites. Therefore, applicants under Category 2 must demonstrate that 
they have the capacity to work in a variety of communities in more than 
one state.
ii. Strategic Partnerships for Category 2
    To be eligible for funding under Category 2 of this SGA, applicants 
must demonstrate that the proposed project, in each community served, 
will be implemented by a robust strategic partnership that maximizes 
available resources to support the project, provides access to diverse 
job seekers, and provides access to employment opportunities within the 
healthcare sector. At a minimum, this strategic partnership must 
include at least one representative, for each community served through 
the project, from each of the following categories:
     The public workforce investment system, such as State or 
local Workforce Investment Boards and their One-Stop systems, to 
further strengthen the existing collaboration betweens One-Stops and 
community- and faith-based organizations to provide career services to 
individuals whose role may include, but is not limited to, identifying, 
assessing, and referring candidates for training, and connecting and 
placing participants with employers that have existing job openings; 
and
     Public and private employers or industry-related 
organizations who employ or represent the healthcare occupations 
described in section I. C of this SGA.

B. Cost Sharing

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

C. Other Grant Specifications

1. Required Collaboration Between Category 1 and Category 2 Grantees
    Following the selection of grant recipients under this 
Announcement, the grantee under Category 1 must enter into a separate 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each grant awarded under 
Category 2. The MOUs will detail the HVCP services and training that 
the Category 1 grantee will provide to Category 2 grantees, and will 
describe how Category 2 grantees will utilize the HVCP platform and 
associated tools developed by the Category 1 grantee.
2. Other Grant Specifications for Category 1
    i. Sustainability: The grantee is required to explore options for 
sustaining the HVCP in the event that additional Federal funds are not 
available at the close of the grant period. Such options could include 
potential sponsors, foundations, or associations or organizations that 
would be interested in maintaining the benefits obtained through the 
HVCP in building the healthcare workforce pipeline. The applicant must 
provide a plan to develop a sustainability options paper as part of the 
grant deliverables.
3. Other Grant Specifications for Category 2
i. Allowable Activities for Category 2
     The purchase of automated data processing (ADP) equipment, 
considered essential for the implementation of the project, will be 
allowed with the prior approval of the Agency. However, no more than 30 
percent of the grant funds can be used for such purchases. Also, in 
accordance with 29CFR 95.34, equipment may be retained for use in the 
grant project for which it was acquired, as long as needed after grant 
termination, unless directed otherwise by the agency.
     Staff training, including training programs and/or 
personnel assessments or tests leading to a credential attesting to 
competency in providing career development services to individual 
customers.

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 for Category 1--
Healthcare Virtual Career Platform and Category 2--Enhancing the 
Ability of Community- and Faith-Based Organizations To Deliver Virtual 
Career Exploration Services, Including Healthcare Careers

    Proposals submitted in response this SGA will consist of three 
separate and distinct parts: (I) A cost proposal; (II) a technical 
proposal; and (III) attachments to the technical proposal. Applications 
must include the following or will be considered non-responsive and 
will not be considered: (1) The Standard Form (SF)-424, ``Application 
for Federal Assistance;'' (2) the SF-424A Budget Information Form; (3) 
Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S[supreg]) Number; (4) Budget 
Narrative; (5) A request grant funds within the appropriate funding 
range noted in section II.A; and (6) Abstract. Applications that fail 
to adhere to the instructions in this section will be considered non-
responsive and will not be considered. The amount listed in Part I: 
Cost Proposal and the amount listed on the SF-424 ``Application for 
Federal Assistance should be the same. Please note, the funding amount 
included on the SF-424 will be considered the official funding amount 
requested.
    Part I. The Cost Proposal. The Cost Proposal must include the 
following items:
     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

[[Page 17777]]

applicant. Applicants must supply their D-U-N-S[supreg] Number on the 
SF-424. If submitting a hard copy application, the SF-424 must be 
signed by the authorized representative. All applicants for Federal 
grant and funding opportunities are required to have a D-U-N-S[supreg] 
Number. See Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Notice of Final 
Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402, June 27, 2003. The D-U-N-S[supreg] Number 
is a non-indicative, nine-digit number assigned to each business 
location in the Dun & Bradstreet (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 D&B Web 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 (not just one year) should be 
included on both the SF-424 and SF-424A. No leveraged resources should 
be shown on the SF-424 and SF-424A.
    Applications that fail to provide an SF-424, SF-424A, a D-U-N-
S[reg] Number, and a budget narrative will be considered non-responsive 
and not reviewed.
     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 must 
demonstrate 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 section V of 
this SGA. The Technical Proposal for Category 1: Healthcare Virtual 
Career Platform is limited to 25 double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 
inch pages with 12-point text font and 1-inch margins. The Technical 
Proposal for Category 2: Category 2--Enhancing the Ability of 
Community- and Faith-Based Organizations to Deliver Virtual Career 
Exploration Services, Including Healthcare Careers is limited to 20 
double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch pages with 12-point text font 
and 1-inch margins. Any materials beyond the specified 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 considered non-responsive.
    Part III. Attachments to the Technical Proposal. In addition to the 
Technical Proposal, applicants must submit letters of commitment from 
all required partners or one letter of commitment that is co-signed by 
all partners that describes the roles and responsibilities of each 
partner. Electronic signatures are permissible in the letter(s) of 
commitment.
    Applicants should not send letters of commitment separately to ETA, 
because letters received separately will be tracked through a different 
system and will not be attached to the application for review. ETA does 
not permit 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. Support letters of this nature will not be included in the 
evaluation review process.
    The applicant also must provide an Abstract, not to exceed two 
double-spaced single-sided pages and must include the following 
sections: (1) Summary of the proposed project, including applicant 
name; (2) applicant category as referenced in section III.A; (3) 
project title; (4) key partners; (5) projected outcomes; and (6) 
funding level requested.
    Attachments to the technical proposal do not count against the page 
limit for the Technical Proposal, but may not exceed 10 pages for 
Category 1 and Category 2 applicants. Any additional materials beyond 
the 10-page limit for attachments will not be read. Applications that 
do not include the abstract will be considered non-responsive and will 
not be considered.

C. Submission Process, Date, Times, and Addresses

    Applications may be submitted electronically on Grants.gov or in 
hard copy by mail or hand delivery. Applicants submitting proposals in 
hard copy must submit an original signed application (including the SF-
424) and one (1) ``copy-ready'' version free of bindings, staples or 
protruding tabs to ease in the reproduction of the proposal by DOL. 
Applicants submitting proposals in hard copy are also required to 
provide an identical electronic copy of the proposal on compact disc 
(CD). If discrepancies between the hard copy submission and CD copy are 
identified, the application on the CD will be considered the official 
applicant submission for evaluation purposes. Failure to provide 
identical applications in hardcopy and CD format may have an impact on 
the overall evaluation.
    The closing date for receipt of applications under both Category 1 
and Category 2 of this announcement is May 7, 2010. 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. If an application is submitted by both hard-copy and through 
https://www.grants.gov a letter must accompany the hard-copy application 
stating why two applications were submitted and the differences between 
the two submissions. If no letter accompanies the hard-copy, we will 
review the copy submitted through https://www.grants.gov. Applications 
that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will be 
considered non-responsive. No exceptions to the mailing and delivery 
requirements set forth in this notice will be granted. Further, 
documents submitted separately from the application, before or after 
the deadline, will not be accepted as part of the application.
    Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: James Stockton, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/
DFA, PY 09-09, 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.

[[Page 17778]]

    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 May 7, 2010, 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. Applicants should read 
through the registration process carefully before registering. These 
steps may take as much as four 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 site also contains registration checklists to help you walk through 
the process. The Department strongly recommends that applicants 
download the ``Organization Registration Checklist'' at https://www.grants.gov/assets/Organization_Steps_Complete_Registration.pdf 
and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration 
process. Reviewing and assembling required information before beginning 
the registration process will alleviate last minute searches for 
required information and save time.
    To register with Grants.gov, applicants applying electronically 
must have a D-U-N-S[reg] Number and must register with the Federal 
Central Contractor Registry (CCR). Step-by-step instructions for 
registering with CCR can be found at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step2.jsp. All applicants must register with CCR in order to apply 
online. Failure to register with the CCR will result in your 
application being rejected by Grants.gov during the submission process.
    The next step in the registration process is creating a username 
and password with Grants.gov to become an Authorized Organizational 
Representative (AOR). AORs will need to know the D-U-N-S[reg] Number of 
the organization for which they will be submitting applications to 
complete this process. To read more detailed instructions for creating 
a profile on Grants.gov visit: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step3.jsp.
    After creating a profile on Grants.gov, the E-Biz point of Contact 
(E-Biz POC)--a representative from your organization who is the contact 
listed for CCR--will receive an e-mail to grant the AOR permission to 
submit applications on behalf of their organization. The E-Biz POC will 
then log in to Grants.gov and approve an applicant as the AOR, thereby 
giving him or her permission to submit applications. To learn more 
about AOR Authorization visit: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step5.jsp, or to track AOR status visit: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step6.jsp.
    An application submitted through Grants.gov constitutes a 
submission as an electronically signed application. The registration 
and account creation with Grants.gov, with E-Biz POC approval, 
establishes an AOR. When you submit the application through Grants.gov, 
the name of your AOR on file will be inserted into the signature line 
of the application. Applicants must register the individual who is able 
to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as 
the AOR; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid 
submissions.
    When a registered applicant submits an application with Grants.gov, 
an electronic time stamp is generated within the system when the 
application is successfully received by Grants.gov. 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 contain a tracking 
number and 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 by the deadline and 
subsequently successfully validated will be considered. It is the sole 
responsibility of the applicant to ensure a timely submission. While it 
is not required that an application be successfully validated before 
the deadline for submission, it is prudent to reserve time before the 
deadline in case it is necessary to resubmit an application that has 
not been successfully validated. 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 .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 problems with opening. In such cases, the non-conforming 
application will not be considered for funding.
    We strongly advise applicants to use the plethora of tools and 
documents, including FAQs, which are available on the ``Applicant 
Resources'' page at  https://www.grants.gov/applicants/resources.jsp.
    ETA encourages new prospective applicants to view the online 
tutorial, ``Grant Applications 101: A Plain English Guide to ETA 
Competitive Grants,'' available through Workforce3One at: https://www.workforce3one.org/page/grants_toolkit.
    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''. 
The Contact Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is 
closed on federal holidays.
    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 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

[[Page 17779]]

working day before 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 these instructions will be a 
basis for a determination that the application was not filed timely and 
will not be considered. 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.''

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 cognizant Federal 
agency either before or shortly after grant award.
    An indirect cost rate (ICR) is required when an organization 
operates under more than one grant or other activity whether Federally-
assisted or not. Organizations must use the ICR supplied by the 
cognizant agency. If an organization requires a new ICR or has a 
pending ICR, the Grant Officer will award a temporary billing rate for 
90 days until a provisional rate can be issued. This rate is based on 
the fact that an organization has not established an ICR agreement. 
Within this 90 day period, the organization must submit an acceptable 
indirect cost proposal to their cognizant Federal agency to obtain a 
provisional ICR.
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 cognizant Federal 
agency.
3. Salary and Bonus Limitations
    Under Public Law 109-234, none of the funds appropriated in Public 
Law 109-149 or prior Acts under the heading ``Employment and Training 
Administration'' that are available for expenditure on or after June 
15, 2006, may 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. Public Laws 
111-8 and 111-117 contain the same limitations with respect to funds 
appropriated under each of these Laws. 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 (codified with 29 CFR Parts 96 and 99). See Training and 
Employment Guidance Letter number 5-06 for further clarification: 
https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2262.
4. Use of Grant Funds for Participant Wages
    Organizations that receive grants through this SGA may not use 
grant funds to pay for the wages of participants. Further, the 
provision of stipends to training enrollees for the purposes of wage 
replacement is not an allowable cost under this SGA.
5. 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: (1) The copyright in all 
products developed under the grant, including a subgrant or contract 
under the grant or subgrant; and (2) 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.
    The source code, including all code incorporated to create the 
components and system that will comprise the HVCP developed under this 
grant will be considered open-source, subject to copyright by the 
grantee under the express provisions of an open-source software 
license. To this end, in lieu of the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) 
standard reservation of a license in copyrighted works developed under 
a grant per 29 CFR 95.36, the intellectual property rights of DOL, its 
grantees and subgrantees (including contractors of the grantee/
subgrantee) in the HVCP will be governed by an open-source software 
license, namely, the GPLv3 license (attached, Appendix A), unless 
otherwise agreed upon in writing by authorized representatives of both 
DOL and the grantee.
    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.'' For assessments and tools 
developed by the grantee, the following must be added to the disclaimer 
statement: ``This solution is copyrighted by the

[[Page 17780]]

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.'' For the HVCP platform and other open-source 
products, the following must be added to the disclaimer statement 
``This solution is distributed as open-source software under a GPLv3 
license, which is included on the start-up screen of the software or 
written in the code.''

F. 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

Evaluation Criteria

    This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be 
used for each category to evaluate grant proposals. The evaluation 
criteria are described below in two categories:
    Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career Platform; or
    Category 2--Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based 
Organizations to Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including 
Healthcare Careers.

A. Evaluation Criteria: Category 1--Healthcare Virtual Career Platform 
(HVCP)

    These criteria and point values are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Criterion                              Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Strategy and Project Work Plan............................         40
2. Platform Design and Technical Specifications..............         15
3. Organizational Capacity and Technical Expertise...........         25
4. Deliverables and Outcomes.................................         20
                                                              ----------
    Total....................................................        100
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. Strategy and Project Work Plan (40 points)
    The HVCP is intended to be a Web-based clearinghouse specifically 
designed to improve access to information and resources available for 
individuals, including individuals from underserved communities, 
interested in pursuing healthcare careers. This online tool will 
integrate both existing resources via links or Web services, along with 
certain newly developed components or tools, in a single, accessible 
user-friendly platform that presents users with a logical way to think 
about healthcare career exploration and decision-making, as well as 
planning their next steps in terms of education and other preparation, 
including planning their own career pathway and career ladder. The 
applicant must provide a complete and very clear explanation of its 
proposed strategy and its implementation plans to meet these 
objectives.
    The applicant must describe the proposed web-based career 
exploration strategy in full; explain how the proposed components 
address healthcare workforce needs; and, demonstrate how the proposed 
project will effectively provide online content and services (1) to 
encourage diverse individuals to pursue healthcare careers and (2) to 
develop their career and education and training plans. In support of 
the proposal, applicants should describe 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 in this section. Points for this section will be based on the 
relevance, completeness, and quality of data and analysis which 
underlie the Strategy and Project Work Plan as follows:
    i. Strategies for Developing HVCP (20 points)
    Scoring under this section will be based on the extent to which the 
applicant fully and clearly describes its proposed strategies for 
performing the following tasks under the grant and indicates how they 
will be carried out through the activities in the work plan:
     Develop Asset Map. Identify what virtual tools and 
services are available for persons interested in a healthcare career 
and which ones would be valuable to include as part of the HVCP (year 
1).
     Develop a Gap Analysis. Analyze the resources identified 
in the asse