Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) for Grants Serving Young Adult Offenders and High School Dropouts in High-Poverty, High-Crime Communities, 17957-17966 [2010-7912]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 67 (Thursday, April 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17957-17966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7912]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant 
Applications (SGA) for Grants Serving Young Adult Offenders and High 
School Dropouts in High-Poverty, High-Crime Communities

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

    Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation for Grant Applications 
(SGA).
    Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 09-05.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.261.

DATES: Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under 
this announcement is May 10, 2010. Applications must be received no 
later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department 
of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Attention: B. Jai Johnson, Grant Officer, Reference SGA-DFA 
PY 09-05, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4716, Washington, DC 
20210. For complete ``Application and Submission Information,'' please 
refer to Section IV.
SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration announces the 
availability of approximately $20 million for two grants to serve young 
adult (ages 18 to 24) offenders and high school dropouts in high-
poverty, high-crime communities. The purpose of these grants is to 
prepare these individuals for employment. These grants will be awarded 
through a competitive process open to national and regional 
intermediaries with experience conducting multi-site projects and 
experience serving young adult offenders. The Department expects to 
award two grants of $10 million each covering a six-month planning 
period and two full years of operation. Grantees will be required to 
competitively select local sub-grantees to operate the program in a 
minimum of five high-poverty, high-crime communities across at least 
two States.
    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 
outlines the evaluation criteria used as a basis for selecting the 
grantees.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This solicitation consists of eight parts:
    Part I provides a description of this funding opportunity.
    Part II describes the size and nature of the anticipated awards.
    Part III describes eligibility information.
    Part IV provides information on the application and submission 
process.
    Part V describes the criteria against which applications will be 
reviewed and explains the proposal review process.
    Part VI provides award administration information.
    Part VII contains DOL agency contact information.
    Part VIII other information.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Each year approximately 650,000 persons are released from State and 
Federal prisons. These prisoners do not return to communities evenly 
distributed across the United States, but rather return 
disproportionately to high-poverty communities characterized by high 
rates of joblessness, crime, and drug abuse. Released prisoners face 
high probabilities of returning to crime, with Department of Justice 
data showing that three out of five released prisoners are arrested for 
new crimes within three years, and two out of five return to prison 
within threes years. Returning offenders face a myriad of problems that 
contribute to their high rates of re-arrest and re-imprisonment, 
including joblessness, low educational levels, and drug addiction. The 
unemployment rate among ex-prisoners has been estimated between 25 and 
40 percent. An estimated 19 percent of adult State prisoners are 
completely illiterate and 40 percent are functionally illiterate; over 
half of State parole entrants are not high school graduates; and as 
many as eleven percent have only an eighth grade education or less.
    To help address these problems the DOL will award grants under this 
announcement to improve the employment prospects of young adult (ages 
18 to 24) released prisoners and high school dropouts living in high-
poverty, high-crime communities. The purpose of these grants is to 
prepare these individuals for employment, by increasing the employment 
rate of participants, decreasing the recidivism rate of young offenders 
served, increasing the rate at which participants receive high school 
diplomas and industry-recognized credentials, and increasing the rate 
at which participants enter post-secondary education and training. 
These grants will be awarded through a competitive process open to 
national and regional intermediaries with experience conducting multi-
site projects and experience serving young adult offenders. The DOL 
expects to award two grants of $10 million each covering a six-month 
planning period and two full years of operation. Program Requirements 
are as follows:

A. Selection of Sub-Grantees

    Grantees will be required to competitively select local sub-
grantees to operate the program in a minimum of five high-poverty, 
high-crime communities across at least two States. This competition 
should be held after grant award. The Department is not encouraging 
applicants to hold competitions or select local sub-grantees and sites 
prior to submitting their proposals and applicants will not receive any 
additional points for identifying local sub-grantees and sites in their 
proposals.
    Grantees must follow their own procurement requirements in 
conducting this competition, provided that they meet the federal 
standards at 29 CFR Parts 95 and 97. These federal standards require 
that procurement transactions be conducted in a manner providing to the 
maximum extent practical, open and free competition. The Department 
recognizes that national and regional intermediary organizations vary 
as to whether or not they have local offices, affiliates, or members. 
National and regional intermediaries without local offices, affiliates, 
or members must conduct an open and free competition to select sub-
grantees and sites. National and regional intermediaries with local 
offices, affiliates, or member organizations must also conduct an open 
and free competition to select sub-grantees and sites but may restrict 
the competition to its local offices, affiliates, or members to select 
sub-grantees and sites. If a proposal identifies a specific entry to 
provide services, the DOL/ETA's award does not provide the 
justification or basis to sole source the procurement, i.e., avoid 
competition, unless the activity is regarded as the primary work of an 
official partner to the application.

[[Page 17958]]

B. Communities To Be Served

    Grant funds must be used to serve young adult offenders and high 
school dropouts living in or planning to return to, upon release, high-
poverty, high-crime communities. In their solicitations to select sub-
grantees, grantees must require that applicants identify a community to 
be served that has a poverty rate of at least 30 percent. Beginning in 
2010, the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of 
Census, will have data available at the Census Tract level. If that 
data is available by the time grantees are holding their competitions 
to select sub-grantees, grantees must require applicants to use 
American Community Survey data to show the cumulative poverty rate of 
the various Census Tracts included in their proposed target community. 
If Census Tract data are not yet available in the American Community 
Survey at the time of the grantee solicitations for sub-grantees, 
grantees must require applicants to use data from the 2000 Census to 
show the cumulative poverty rate of the various Census Tracts in their 
proposed target community. Individual Census Tracts within the proposed 
target community may have poverty rates of less than 30 percent, but 
the cumulative poverty rate for the community to be served must be over 
30 percent. Census Tracts that make up the community to be served must 
be contiguous, and grantees must require in their solicitations that 
applicants provide an accurate map showing a contiguous target 
community. Additionally, as part of their solicitation, grantees must 
require applicants to demonstrate that the area to be served is a high-
crime area.
    For purposes of this SGA, a high-crime area may be demonstrated by 
providing data showing that the felony crime rate in the police 
precinct that most closely overlaps with the community to be served is 
higher than the overall city's felony crime rate. Additionally, as part 
of their solicitation and in order to demonstrate local need and 
determine if the target population is large enough to make such awards 
within the stated locality grantees must require applicants to provide 
data from the State correctional agency on the number of released 
prisoners returning to the community each year from State prisons, and 
data from the public school system on the dropout rate of public high 
schools serving the area. There are no requirements on the size of the 
population of the community to be served. At least 90 percent of the 
participants need to be residing in or planning to return to the target 
area, with the remaining participants residing in or planning to return 
to generally the same geographic area.

C. Required Project Components

    Each local project funded under these grants must include each of 
the components described below. In their solicitations to select sub-
grantees, grantees must require local projects to include each of these 
components. Each individual enrolled in these projects does not 
necessarily have to participate in each of these components.
1. Employment Strategies
    The employment strategies component can include strategies such as 
job placement, transitional jobs, on-the job training, subsidized jobs 
in both the public and private sectors, participation in conservation 
and service corps programs, and job readiness training. An emphasis 
should be on placing participants in high-demand occupations including 
green jobs. Designing this component will require sub-grantees to 
coordinate with the local workforce system to provide access both to 
employers and the service providers funded by the local workforce 
system.
2. Case Management
    This component will provide a team of full-time advocates to serve 
program participants. The Department anticipates these case managers or 
advocates will assist parole officers in serving returning young 
offenders and in linking these offenders to supportive services, 
housing, mental health services, and other social services including 
anger management. The Department expects that case management will 
start at some point prior to release to allow young offenders to become 
familiar with their case managers prior to release.
3. Training and Educational Strategies
    This component will provide opportunities for young adult offenders 
and high school dropouts to receive vocational training leading to 
industry-recognized credentials as well as remediation to improve their 
math, reading, writing and English language skills to prepare for 
General Educational Development (GED) tests. These services can either 
be provided directly with grant funds or through linkages with existing 
local adult education and community college programs. The Department 
encourages links to registered apprenticeship programs and to community 
college two-year degree programs.
4. Mentoring
    This component will be aimed at providing adult mentors for 
returning young offenders and high school dropouts. Mentoring can be 
provided through volunteers recruited in a variety of ways, including 
through faith and community-based organizations and corporations, and 
may include one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring, and service-based 
mentoring. The Department recognizes that it may not be possible to 
provide a mentor for every participant, but grantees should develop 
strategies to provide a high proportion of their participants with 
mentors.
5. Restorative Justice Projects
    This component will provide each sub-grantee with the opportunity 
to develop restorative justice projects that allow returning offenders 
to participate in community service projects to give something positive 
back to their neighborhood to make up for their criminal offenses. 
Examples of possible collaborating agencies for these civic justice 
projects include local conservation and service corps programs, 
volunteer organizations, and State and local parks. Note that funds 
from these grants cannot be used to pay for building materials.
6. Community-Wide Efforts to Reduce Crime and Violence
    This component will provide each sub-grantee with the opportunity 
to involve faith-based and community organizations, State and local 
government agencies, and social service organizations in the 
neighborhoods being served in a community-wide effort to prevent crime 
and violence as was done in Boston's 10 Point Coalition (https://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=212652).

D. Required Partnerships

    Each sub-grantee will be required to develop partnerships to assist 
in the following activities. In their solicitations to select sub-
grantees, grantees must require applicants to have commitments to 
assist in these activities in place from these organizations:
     The State correctional agency in order to receive 
referrals of prisoners about to be released who plan to return to the 
community being served;
     The local parole office in order to receive referrals of 
released prisoners and to collaborate in serving these individuals;
     Local drug and alcohol abuse treatment centers in order to 
provide assistance to program participants in need of such services; 
and

[[Page 17959]]

     The local Workforce Investment Board in order to provide 
access to employment services provided by One-Stop Career Centers.
    Grantees are also encouraged to partner with employers, registered 
apprenticeship, educational institutions, and [labor or labor-
management partnerships].

E. Allowable Uses of Grant Funds

    Allowable uses of grant funds for projects funded under these 
grants include but are not limited to the following activities:
    (1) Workforce and education activities, such as:
     Job placement services,
     Vocational skills training and on-the-job training,
     Paid and unpaid work experiences, including transitional 
jobs and community service activities,
     Payment of stipends which are generally provided to 
participants for participating in classes and training and wages for 
work performed,
     Basic skills instruction and remedial education,
     Language instruction educational programs for individuals 
with limited English proficiency,
     Tutoring, credit retrieval programs, dropout prevention 
activities, GED instruction, and career awareness classes,
     Counseling and assistance in obtaining postsecondary 
education and required financial aid; and
     Alternative secondary school services.
    (2) Case management services and related activities, such as 
comprehensive guidance and counseling on drug and alcohol abuse and 
referrals and anger management counseling;
    (3) Mentoring and related supportive services;
    (4) Participant personal development activities that seek to 
develop non-technical skills, abilities, and traits that participants 
need to function in a specific employment environment that supports one 
or more workplace competencies including problem-solving and other 
cognitive skills, oral communication skills, personal qualities, work 
ethic, and interpersonal and teamwork skills. Examples include 
leadership training, financial literacy training, and job readiness 
training;
    (5) Referrals to supportive housing, mental health and substance 
abuse services as may be available;
    (6) The provision of needs-related payments, which is limited 
financial assistance to participants who are determined under the 
grantee's policy to require support to participate in the program; and;
    (7) Follow-up services that focus efforts on job retention, wage 
gains and career progress through regular contact with participant 
employers, including assistance in addressing work-related problems 
that arise, assistance in securing better paying jobs, career 
development and further education, work in peer support groups, adult 
mentoring, and tracking of progress made by participants in employment 
after training.

II. Award Information

A. Award Amount

    The Department expects to award two grants of approximately $10 
million each.

B. Period of Performance

    Grants will be awarded for a 30-month period of performance that 
includes up to six months of planning and at least 24 full months of 
operation. In the Budget Narrative section, applicants must provide 
separate budgets for planning and operations. Regardless of the length 
of the planning period, applicants must budget for a full 24 months of 
operation. At the Department's discretion, no-cost extensions may be 
granted.

III. Eligibility Information and Other Grant Specifications

A. Eligible Applicants

    Applicants may be national and regional organizations with 
experience in conducting multi-site demonstrations and experience 
serving young adult ex-offenders. To be eligible for awards, applicants 
must show evidence that they have both (1) conducted at least one 
multi-site project operated concurrently in at least five local areas 
across more than one State, and (2) have experience serving young adult 
ex-offenders. The experience in conducting multi-site projects does not 
necessarily have to be in serving ex-offenders.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    There is no cost sharing or matching requirement in these grants, 
but the Department strongly encourages grantees to include the 
leveraging of resources as one of the evaluation factors that they use 
to select local sub-grantees. Leveraged resources can come from a 
variety of sources, including: public sector (e.g., Federal, State, or 
local governments); non-profit sector (e.g., community organizations, 
faith-based organizations, or education and training institutions); 
private sector (e.g., businesses or industry associations); investor 
community (e.g., angel networks); philanthropic community; and the 
economic development community.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Enrollees
    An individual may participate in a project funded under these 
grants if they are:
     At least age 18 and not above age 24 on the date of 
enrollment;
     Are currently incarcerated in the adult criminal justice 
or juvenile justice systems in a State or Federal prison or local jail 
or state or local juvenile correctional facility; are on probation or 
parole in the adult criminal justice system; have previously been 
incarcerated or on probation in the adult criminal justice system or 
the juvenile justice system, or are a high school dropout (an 
individual who is no longer attending any school and who has not 
received a secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent), and
     Reside in or plan to return to upon release the community 
to be served identified by the sub-grantee, except that up to 10 
percent of enrollees may reside in or plan to return to a geographic 
area outside of but close to the target community.
    A minimum of 60 percent of program participants must be currently 
or previously incarcerated, currently or previously on probation, or 
currently or previously on parole in the adult criminal justice system.

D. 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 this priority of service can be found at 20 CFR part 1010. 
In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two 
qualified candidates for training, one of whom is a veteran or eligible 
spouse, the Veterans Priority of Service provisions require that the 
grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority of service 
by admitting him or her into the training program. To obtain priority 
of service a veteran or spouse must meet the program's eligibility 
requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans' 
priority. Employment and Training Administration (``ETA'') Training and 
Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-09 (issued November 10, 2009) 
provides guidance on implementing

[[Page 17960]]

priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified 
job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 
is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816.

IV. Application and Submission Information

 A. How To Obtain an Application Package

    This SGA contains all the information and links to forms needed to 
apply for grant funding. Additionally, all application materials are 
available on the following Web sites: https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm and https://www.grants.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

    The application must consist of three separate and distinct parts: 
(I) the Cost Proposal, (II) the 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 reviewed nor considered for award. Please note that it 
is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the amount of funds 
requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the 
application.
    Part 1. The Cost Proposal. The Cost Proposal must include the 
following four items.
     Application for Federal Assistance SF-424: The Standard 
Form (SF)-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance'' is available at 
https://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp and 
https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm. The SF-424 must clearly 
identify the applicant and be signed by an individual with authority to 
enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the 
individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant shall be 
considered the authorized representative of the applicant.
     Data Universal Number System (D-U-N-S[supreg]) Number: 
Applicants must supply their D-U-N-S[supreg] on the SF-424. 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, Jun. 27, 2003. The 
lead applicant, the CBO, must supply their D-U-N-S[supreg] number on 
the SF-424. The D-U-N-S[supreg] Number is a non-indicative, nine-digit 
number assigned to each business location in the Dun and Bradstreet 
(D&B) database having a unique, separate, and distinct operation, and 
is maintained solely by D&B entities. The D-U-N-S[supreg] Number is 
used by industries and organizations around the world as a global 
standard for business identification and tracking. Obtaining a D-U-N-
S[supreg] Number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a D-U-N-
S[supreg] number, access this Web site: www.dunandbradstreet.com or 
call 1-866-705-5711.
     The SF-424A Budget Information Form: The SF-424A Budget 
Information Form is available at https://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp and https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm. In preparing the Budget Information Form, the 
applicant must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the 
request, explained in detail below.
     Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a 
description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. 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. Please 
note that applicants that fail to provide a SF-424, a SF-424A, a D-U-N-
S[supreg] Number, and a budget narrative will be removed from 
consideration before the technical review process.
    Applicants are also encouraged, but not required, to submit OMB 
Survey N. 1890-0014: Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for 
Applicants, which can be found at https://www.doleta.gov/sga/forms.cfm.
    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 section V.A 
of this SGA. The Technical Proposal is limited to 20 double-spaced 
single-sided 8.5x11 inch pages with 12 point text font and 1-inch 
margins. Any materials beyond the 20-page limit will not be read. 
Further, any tables or charts contained in the Technical Proposal are 
included in the 20-page limit and should be single-spaced single-sided 
8.5 x 11 inch pages with 12 point text font and 1 inch margins. 
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. The application should 
also include a 2-page Executive Summary, which does not count against 
the 20-page limit for the Technical Proposal.
    Part III. Attachments to the Technical Proposal. In addition to the 
20-page Technical Proposal, the applicant must submit the following 
``Required Attachments'': Only these attachments listed below as 
``Required Attachments'' will be excluded from the page limit. The 
``Required Attachments'' must be affixed as separate, clearly 
identified appendices to the application. Additional materials such as 
resumes or general letters of support or commitment will not be read. 
The ``Required Attachments'' are as follows:
(a) The Two-Page Executive Summary
    Applications may be submitted electronically on Grants.gov or in 
hardcopy by mail or hand delivery. These processes are described in 
further detail in Section IV.C. Applicants submitting proposals in 
hardcopy must submit an original signed application (including the SF-
424) and one (1) ``copy-ready'' version free of bindings, staples or 
protruding tabs to ease in the reproduction of the proposal by DOL. 
Applicants submitting proposals in hardcopy are also required to 
provide an identical electronic copy of the proposal on compact disc 
(CD).

C. Submission Process Date, Times, and Addresses

    The closing date for receipt of applications under this 
announcement is May 10, 2010. Applications must be received at the 
address below no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications sent 
by e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (FAX) will not be accepted. If an 
application is submitted by both hardcopy and through https://www.grants.gov a letter must accompany the hardcopy application stating 
why two applications were submitted and the differences between the two 
submissions. If no letter accompanies the hardcopy, we will review the 
copy submitted through https://www.grants.gov. For multiple applications 
submitted through https://www.grants.gov, we will review the latest 
submittal. Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in 
this notice will be considered nonresponsive. 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: B. Jai Johnson, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/DFA 
PY 09-05, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, Washington, DC 
20210. Applicants are advised that mail delivery in the Washington area 
may be

[[Page 17961]]

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 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 a 
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 the closing date, 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 create a profile as 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 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. We strongly advise 
applicants to use the plethora of tools and documents, including FAQs, 
that are available on the ``Applicant Resources'' page at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/resources.jsp. 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. They are 
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 subsequently 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

[[Page 17962]]

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 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. 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 (EO) 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

E. Other Submission Requirements

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

F. 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.
    DOL/ETA's acceptance of a proposal and award of Federal funds to 
sponsor any program does not provide a waiver of any grant requirements 
and/or procedures. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars 
A-122 and A-87 require that an entity's procurement procedures must 
ensure that all procurement transactions are conducted, as much as 
practical, to provide open and free competition.
1. Indirect Cost Rate
    As specified in OMB Circular Cost Principles (A-122 and A-87), 
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 ten 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 SF424A Budget 
Information Form. They should be discussed in the budget narrative and 
tracked through the grantee's accounting system. To claim any 
administrative costs that are also indirect costs, the applicant must 
obtain an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement from its Federal cognizant 
agency.
3. Allowable Costs
    The Department determines what constitutes allowable costs in 
accordance with the following Federal cost principles, as applicable: 
(1) State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87; (2) Educational 
Institutions--OMB Circular A-21; (3) Nonprofit Organizations--OMB 
Circular A-122; and (4) Profit-making Commercial Firms--48 CFR Part 31.
4. Legal Rules Pertaining to Inherently Religious Activities by 
Organizations That Receive Federal Financial Assistance
    The government is generally prohibited from providing direct 
Federal financial assistance for inherently religious activities. See 
29 CFR part 2, Subpart D. Grants under this solicitation may not be 
used for religious instruction, worship, prayer, proselytizing, or 
other inherently religious activities. Neutral, non-religious criteria 
that neither favor nor disfavor religion will be employed in the 
selection of grant recipients and must be employed by grantees in the 
selection of sub-recipients.
5. 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'' 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. Public Laws 
111-8 and 111-117 contain the same limitations with respect to funds 
appropriated under each of those 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 at 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?DCON=2262.
6. 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 sub-grant or contract 
under the grant or sub-grant; and (ii) any rights of copyright to which 
the grantee, sub-grantee 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 is 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, the following needs to be 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 are

[[Page 17963]]

permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the 
copyright owner.

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

    This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be 
used to evaluate proposals. Points will be awarded as follows:
     Project Design: 40 points.
     Plan for Conducting Competition and for Providing 
Oversight, Monitoring, and Technical Assistance to Sub-Grantees: 20 
points.
     Organizational Experience in Conducting Multi-Site 
Projects and Experience Serving Young Adult Ex-Offenders: 20 points.
     Organizational Fiscal Capacity: 20 points.
    The components listed above make up the Technical Proposal (along 
with the additional requirements listed in section IV. B).
1. Project Design
    Discuss how you will implement each of the required project 
components in Part I of the grant announcement:
     Employment Strategies: Discuss the strategies that you 
will use to place ex-offenders and high school dropouts in jobs, and 
the expected number of participants to be served through each of these 
employment strategies.
     Case Management: Discuss how you will carry out this 
component, including the number of case managers you expect sub-
grantees to hire, the anticipated number of participants each case 
manager will serve, and how sub-grantees will provide supportive 
services and links to housing, mental health services, and other social 
services.
     Training and Educational Strategies: Discuss the training 
and educational strategies that you will implement and the expected 
number of participants to be served through each of the training and 
educational strategies.
     Mentoring: Describe how the mentoring component will be 
carried out, including how mentors will be recruited, screened, and 
trained, the expected length of time participants will be mentored, and 
the anticipated number of participants who will receive mentors. Also, 
discuss the extent to which you will use one-on-one mentoring, group 
mentoring, service-centered mentoring, and work-based mentoring.
     Restorative Justice: Discuss how you will implement 
community service projects for participants, the anticipated number of 
projects, and the number of enrollees expected to be served in this 
component.
     Community-Wide Violence Reduction Efforts: Discuss plans 
for bringing together faith and community-based organizations, State 
and local government agencies, and social service organizations in 
neighborhoods served by the grant to prevent crime and violence.
    To be considered fully responsive the applicant must fully and 
clearly describe its plans and strategies for implementing the required 
project components in a manner that will demonstrate the organization's 
experience, capabilities, and qualifications for administering a grant 
project.
    Proposals will be evaluated under this criterion for each of the 
six required components as follows:
     Up to 10 points will be awarded for the employment 
strategies component and up to 6 points each will be awarded for the 
remaining five components. The points for each of the required 
components will be rated by the panel based on:
     The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that it has 
thought through how it will implement the component; and
     The potential for the component as designed by the 
applicant to have large impact on the young adult offender and high 
school dropout population in the communities to be served.
2. Plan for Conducting Competition and for Providing Oversight, 
Monitoring, and Technical Assistance to Sub-Grantees
    Discuss how you will conduct the competition to select sub-grantees 
for the project. Provide details about the scope and manner of 
selecting sub-grantees and describe the factors on which you expect to 
evaluate proposals from potential sub-grantees. Discuss how you will 
provide oversight, guidance, and coordination for the sub-grantees to 
ensure the successful implementation of the project across all sites. 
Discuss how you will monitor the progress of sub-grantees. Only discuss 
your monitoring of technical aspects of the project under this 
criterion; discuss fiscal monitoring under Criterion 4 Fiscal Capacity 
below. Discuss what technical assistance you will provide to sub-
grantees for implementing the required employment, case management, 
educational, mentoring, restorative justice, and community-wide 
components. Discuss what assistance that you will provide to sub-
grantees in developing partnerships with Federal and State prisons, 
local jails, parole officers, local drug and alcohol treatment 
services, local workforce investment boards, housing, mental health 
services, and other social services.
    To be considered fully responsive the applicant must fully and 
clearly describe its plans and strategies for implementing the required 
project components in a manner that will demonstrate the organization's 
experience, capabilities, and qualifications for administering a grant 
project.
    Proposals will be evaluated under this criterion as follows:
     Up to 20 points will be awarded by the panel based on:
     The extent to which your plan for conducting the 
competition is likely to result in quality sub-grantees operating the 
project in high-poverty, high-crime communities and the quality of the 
design of the competition;
     The extent to which your plan for providing oversight, 
guidance, monitoring, and coordination for sub-grantees is clear, 
practical, and likely to result in a successful project;
     The extent to which your plan for providing technical 
assistance to sub-grantees in the six required project components is 
clear, practical, and likely to result in a successful project;
     The extent to which your plan to assist sub-grantees in 
developing partnerships with Federal and State prisons, local jails, 
parole officers, workforce investment boards, and local drug and 
alcohol treatment providers is clear and likely to be effective in 
helping sub-grantees develop such partnerships.
3. Organizational Experience in Conducting Multi-Site Projects and 
Experience Serving Young Adult Ex-Offenders
    First, discuss your organization's experience conducting multi-site 
projects in at least five local areas across at least two States. 
Select one multi-site project that makes the strongest case for your 
ability to conduct such projects. Describe this project, the number of 
participants, the oversight and coordination you provided to grantees, 
the technical assistance that you provided sub-grantees, the extent of 
your success in implementing the project, the outcomes of participants 
in the project, and the partnerships developed in carrying out this 
project. Second, discuss your organization's experience in serving ex-
offenders. Select one project that makes the strongest case for your 
ability to serve ex-offenders. Describe this project, the number of 
participants, the extent of

[[Page 17964]]

your success in implementing the project, the outcomes of participants 
in the project, and the partnerships developed in carrying out this 
project. If the multi-site project you select is the same as the ex-
offender project you select, this project can serve as your answer to 
both parts of this rating criterion.
    To be considered fully responsive the applicant must fully and 
clearly describe its plans and strategies for implementing the required 
project components in a manner that will demonstrate the organization's 
experience, capabilities, and qualifications for administering a grant 
project.
    Proposals will be evaluated under this criterion as follows:
    Up to 10 points will be awarded for experience in conducting multi-
site projects and up to 10 points will be awarded for experience in 
serving ex-offenders. These points will be awarded by the panel based 
on:
     The organization's success in implementing the project 
described;
     The level of oversight, coordination, and technical 
assistance provided to sub-grantees;
     The employment, educational, and recidivism outcomes 
achieved by participants in the project; and
     The extent of partnerships developed in carrying out the 
project.
4. Organizational Fiscal Capacity
    Provide evidence of your organization's fiscal capacity to carry 
out this project in a manner that protects government funds.
     Describe the fiscal controls that you have in place to 
safeguard federal funds;
     Discuss the positive and negative findings from your three 
most recent audits, and your resolution of negative findings 
(Applicants agree to provide the Department with these audits if 
requested);
     Discuss the fiscal controls you had in place in overseeing 
sub-grantees in previous multi-site projects, and discuss whether there 
were any fiscal problems relating to sub-grantees in these previous 
projects;
     Describe the fiscal controls and monitoring you will have 
in place overseeing the sub-grantees in this project.
    To be considered fully responsive the applicant must fully and 
clearly describe its plans and strategies for implementing the required 
project components in a manner that will demonstrate the organization's 
experience, capabilities, and qualifications for administering a grant 
project.
    Proposals will be evaluated under this criterion as follows:
    Up to 20 points will be awarded based on:
     The fiscal controls you currently have in place.
     The findings from your three most recent audits and your 
resolution of negative findings (Taking into account the seriousness of 
negative findings, applicants with no negative findings will receive 
higher scores on this item than applicants who have effectively 
resolved negative findings, who in turn will receive higher scores on 
this item than applicants who have not as yet effectively resolved 
negative findings);
     The fiscal controls you had in place in previous multi-
site projects and any fiscal problems for sub-grantees; and
     The fiscal controls and monitoring you plan to have in 
place for sub-grantees for this project.

B. Review and Selection Process

    Applications for grants under this solicitation will be accepted 
after the publication of this announcement and until the closing date. 
A technical review panel will carefully evaluate applications against 
the selection criteria. These criteria are based on the policy goals, 
priorities, and emphases set forth in this SGA. Up to 100 points may be 
awarded to an application, depending on the quality of the responses to 
the required information described in section V.A. The ranked scores 
will serve as the primary basis for selection of applications for 
funding, in conjunction with other factors such as geographic balance, 
and which proposals are most advantageous to the government. The panel 
results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer. 
The Grant Officer may consider any information that comes to his/her 
attention. The government may elect to award the grant(s) with or 
without discussions with the applicant. Should a grant be awarded 
without discussions, the award will be based on the applicant's 
signature on the SF 424, including electronic signature via E-
Authentication on https://www.grants.gov, which constitutes a binding 
offer by the applicant.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    All award notifications will be posted on the ETA Homepage (https://www.doleta.gov). Applicants selected for award will be contacted 
directly before the grant's execution and non-selected applicants will 
be notified by mail. Selection of an organization as a grantee does not 
constitute approval of the grant application as submitted. Before the 
actual grant is awarded, ETA may enter into negotiations about such 
items as program components, staffing and funding levels, and 
administrative systems in place to support grant implementation. If the 
negotiations do not result in a mutually acceptable submission, the 
Grant Officer reserves the right to terminate the negotiation and 
decline to fund the application.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

1. Administrative Program Requirements
    All grantees, including FBOs, will be subject to all applicable 
Federal laws, regulations (available at https://gpoaccess.gov/cfr) and 
the applicable OMB Circulars (available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars). The grants awarded under this SGA are subject to the 
applicable administrative standards and provisions, including, but not 
limited to, the following:
     All Grant Recipients--20 CFR part 667.220 (Administrative 
Costs).
     Non-Profit Organizations--OMB Circulars A-122 (Cost 
Principles) and 29 CFR part 95 (Administrative Requirements).
     Educational Institutions--OMB Circulars A-21 (Cost 
Principles) and 29 CFR part 95 (Administrative Requirements).
     State and Local Governments--OMB Circulars A-87 (Cost 
Principles) and 29 CFR part 97 (Administrative Requirements).
     Profit Making Commercial Firms--Federal Acquisition 
Regulation (FAR)--48 CFR part 31 (Cost Principles), and 29 CFR part 95 
(Administrative Requirements).
     29 CFR part 2, subpart D--Equal Treatment in Department of 
Labor Programs for Religious Organizations, Protection of Religious 
Liberty of Department of Labor Social Service Providers and 
Beneficiaries.
     29 CFR parts 29 and 30--Labor Standards for Registration 
of Apprenticeship Programs, and Equal Employment Opportunity in 
Apprenticeship and Training.
     29 CFR part 31--Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted 
Programs of the Department of Labor--Effectuation of Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
     29 CFR part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap 
in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal 
Financial Assistance.
     29 CFR part 33--Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the 
Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department 
of Labor.

[[Page 17965]]

     29 CFR part 35--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in 
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the 
Department of Labor.
     29 CFR part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in 
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial 
Assistance.
     All entities must comply with 29 CFR parts 37, 93, and 98, 
and where applicable 29 CFR parts 96 and 99.
    The Department notes that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act 
(RFRA), 42 U.S.C. 2000bb, applies to all Federal law and its 
implementation. If your organization is a faith-based organization that 
makes hiring decisions on the basis of religious belief, it may be 
entitled to receive Federal financial assistance under Title I of the 
Workforce Investment Act and maintain that hiring practice even though 
Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act contains a general ban on 
religious discrimination in employment. If you are awarded a grant, you 
will be provided with information on how to request such an exemption.
    In accordance with section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-65) (2 U.S.C. 1611) and 29 CFR part 93, non-profit 
entities that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive 
Federal funds and grants.
2. Administrative Standards and Provisions
    Except as specifically provided, DOL ETA acceptance of a proposal 
and an award of Federal funds to sponsor any program(s) does not 
provide a waiver of any grant requirements and/or procedures. For 
example, the OMB circulars require, and an entity's procurement 
procedures must require, that all procurement transactions will be 
conducted, as practical, to provide full and open competition. If a 
proposal identifies a specific entity to provide the services, the DOL 
ETA award does not provide the justification or basis to sole-source 
the procurement, i.e., avoid competition, unless the activity is 
regarded as the primary work of an official partner to the application.
3. Special Program Requirements
    Evaluation. DOL may require that the Grantee cooperate in an 
independent evaluation of their project. This evaluation will make use 
of program MIS data, local administrative data on crime and recidivism, 
and program progress reports. DOL recognizes that there will be 
limitations on this cooperation due to State confidentiality 
requirements regarding data on individual offenders.

C. Reporting and Accountability

    These grants will be subject to performance goals measuring their 
progress in meeting the goals of the grants. National goals will be set 
after grant award in the following areas:
     Reducing the recidivism rate of young adult offenders 
served;
     Increasing the employment rate of participants;
     Increasing the rate at which participants receive high 
school diplomas, and industry-recognized credentials;
     Increasing the rate at which participants enter post-
secondary education and training.
    Quarterly financial reports, quarterly progress reports, and MIS 
data will be submitted by the grantee electronically. Grantees must 
agree to meet DOL reporting requirements. The grantee is required to 
provide the reports and documents listed below:
    The grantee is required to provide the reports and documentation 
listed below.
     Quarterly Financial Reports. A Quarterly Financial Status 
Report (ETA 9130) is required until such time as all funds have been 
expended or the grant period has expired. Quarterly reports are due 45 
days after the end of each calendar year quarter. Grantees must use DOL 
ETA's On-Line Electronic Reporting System. A Closeout Financial Status 
Report is due 90 days after the end of the grant period.
     Quarterly Progress Reports. The grantee must submit a 
quarterly progress report to the designated Federal Project Officer 
within 45 days after the end of each calendar year quarter. Two copies 
are to be submitted providing a detailed account of activities 
undertaken during that quarter. DOL ETA may require additional data 
elements to be collected and reported on either a regular basis or 
special request basis. Grantees must agree to meet DOL ETA reporting 
requirements. The quarterly progress report should be in narrative form 
and should include:
--In-depth information on accomplishments, including project success 
stories, upcoming grant activities, and promising approaches and 
processes.
--Progress toward meeting performance outcomes.
--Challenges being faced by the grantee in implementing the project.
MIS Reports
    Organizations will be required to submit updated MIS data within 45 
days after the end of each quarter based on a DOL template that reports 
on enrollment, services provided, placements, outcomes, and follow-up 
status.
    In addition, between scheduled reporting dates, the grantee(s) must 
immediately inform the designated Federal Project Officer of 
significant developments affecting the ability to accomplish the work.
     Final Performance Report. This report should provide both 
quarterly and cumulative information on the grant's activities. It must 
summarize project activities, employment outcomes and other 
deliverables, and related results of the project, and should thoroughly 
document t