Notice of Funding Availability for the Ladders of Opportunity Initiative: Pilot On-the-Job-Training Supportive Services Program, 57651-57656 [2015-24245]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Notices
Submit comments directly to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) up to October 26, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the
Department of State Desk Officer in the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs at the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). You may submit
comments by the following methods:
• Email: oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov. You must include the DS
form number, information collection
title, and the OMB control number in
the subject line of your message.
• Fax: 202–395–5806. Attention: Desk
Officer for Department of State.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct requests for additional
information regarding the collection
listed in this notice, including requests
for copies of the proposed collection
instrument and supporting documents,
to Megan Huber, Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs; U.S. Department of
State; SA–5, 2200 C Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20522, who may be
reached on 202–632–9487 or at alumni@
state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
• Title of Information Collection:
Exchange Alumni Virtual Program.
• OMB Control Number: None.
• Type of Request: New Collection.
• Originating Office: Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Alumni Affairs Division, ECA/P/A.
• Form Number: DS–7010.
• Respondents: Exchange program
alumni of U.S. government-sponsored
exchange programs.
• Estimated Number of Respondents:
100.
• Estimated Number of Responses:
100.
• Average Time per Response:
Approximately 30 minutes per
response.
• Total Estimated Burden Time: 50
hours.
• Frequency: On Occasion.
• Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department to:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper functions of the Department.
• Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the time and cost burden for
this proposed collection, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected.
• Minimize the reporting burden on
those who are to respond, including the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
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DATES:
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Please note that comments submitted
in response to this Notice are public
record. Before including any detailed
personal information, you should be
aware that your comments as submitted,
including your personal information,
will be available for public review.
Abstract of Proposed Collection
The Exchange Alumni Virtual
Program provides a platform for former
participants of U.S. governmentsponsored exchange programs to extend
and multiply the impacts of their
exchanges by virtually engaging with
foreign alumni and students. The
program supports critical foreign policy
goals, such as enhancing English
learning and the promotion of American
culture and values abroad, particularly
in countries where views of American
culture may not always be positive. The
program also provides American alumni
with an opportunity to develop their
foreign language skills in critical
languages or other competencies gained
on their exchange programs, while
continuing to deepen their own cultural
awareness and global skills.
The information is sought pursuant to
the Mutual Educational and Cultural
Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (also
known as the Fulbright-Hays Act) (22
U.S.C. 2451 et seq.)
Respondents to this form are U.S.
government-sponsored exchange
program alumni. Alumni Affairs collects
data from program applicants in order to
determine eligibility and to choose the
best candidates for the program.
Methodology
Information will be collected
electronically, via the International
Exchange Alumni Web site,
alumni.state.gov.
Dated: September 16, 2015.
Mark Taplin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department
of State.
[FR Doc. 2015–24272 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Funding Availability for the
Ladders of Opportunity Initiative: Pilot
On-the-Job-Training Supportive
Services Program
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
AGENCY:
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57651
The FHWA announces a
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
for a Pilot On-the-Job-Training
Supportive Services (OJT/SS) Program
through the Ladders of Opportunity
Initiative in the amount of $3 million.
The FHWA seeks to award discretionary
grants to State Departments of
Transportation (State DOTs), or to other
State agencies or local governments
applying through their State DOTs as
subrecipients, in award amounts of up
to $500,000 each. The FHWA may
choose to fund the program for more or
less than the announced amount,
including applying any future
appropriated funds toward the projects
proposed in response to this NOFA.
This NOFA solicits proposals that
promote innovative, nationally and
regionally significant, highway
construction workforce development
programs that invest in America’s
economic growth and build ladders of
opportunity into the middle class for
American workers. The term ‘‘highway
construction workforce’’ should be read
broadly to encompass the workforce
necessary to carry out activities eligible
for funding under FHWA’s Surface
Transportation Program (STP) at section
133(b) of title 23, United States Code
(U.S.C.). Applications should outline
areas of upcoming demand in the State’s
highway construction workforce and
ensure that proposed programs would
train workers in skills to fill specific
workforce shortages.
DATES: Complete proposals are due by
11:59 p.m., e.t. on December 23, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit all
proposals electronically through https://
www.grants.gov/. All entities intending
to apply should initiate the process of
registering on the grants.gov Web site
immediately to ensure registration
before the submission deadline.
Instructions for applying can be found
in the ‘‘FIND’’ module of grants.gov.
Mail and fax submissions will not be
accepted.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE
CONTACT: For further information
concerning this notice please contact
Martha Kenley, FHWA’s Office of Civil
Rights, by email at martha.kenley@
dot.gov; by telephone at 202–366–8110;
or by mail at Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. For
legal questions, please contact Jim
Esselman, FHWA Office of Chief
Counsel, by email at james.esselman@
dot.gov; by phone at 202–366–6181; or
by mail at Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Notices
p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
FHWA On-the-Job Training (OJT)
Program, described at section 230.111 of
title 23, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), requires State DOTs to make full
use of apprenticeship and training
programs targeted to developing the
skills of women, minorities, and
disadvantaged individuals and moving
them into journey-level positions to
ensure that a competent workforce is
available to meet highway construction
hiring needs. The OJT Program
addresses the historical underrepresentation of these groups in
highway construction skilled crafts. The
FHWA established the OJT/SS Program
to: (a) Increase the overall effectiveness
of State DOTs’ on-the-job-training
requirements in connection with
Federal-aid highway construction
projects; and (b) to seek other ways to
increase the training opportunities for
women, minorities, and disadvantaged
individuals who have been historically
underrepresented in the industry.
Funding for OJT/SS derives from
section 140(b) of title 23, U.S.C., which
authorizes DOT to direct not more than
$10,000,000 per year toward surface
transportation and technology training.
In recent years, FHWA has allocated
OJT/SS funds annually to State DOTs
through a formula process. That process
will continue.
Through this notice, FHWA
announces an opportunity for State
DOTs, or for other State agencies or
local governments applying through
their State DOTs as subrecipients, to
compete for supplementary OJT/SS
funds to foster increased focus on
workforce development under DOT’s
Ladders of Opportunity Initiative.
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Table of Contents
A. Program Description
1. Authority
2. Policy Priorities
B. Federal Award Information
1. Available Funding and Expected Awards
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Strategic Partnerships
4. Other Eligibility Requirements
D. Application and Submission Information
1. AddressTo Request Application Package
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission
3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) and System
for Award Management (SAM)
4. Submission Dates and Times
5. Funding Restrictions
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
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3. Anticipated Announcement and Award
Dates
F. Federal Award Administration
1. Federal Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
3. Reporting
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information
1. Protection of Confidential Business
Information
A. Program Description
1. Authority
Section 140(b) of title 23, U.S.C.,
authorizes FHWA’s OJT/SS Program,
under which FHWA funds State DOTs
to undertake surface transportation and
technology training, including skill
improvement programs for workforce
development. The FHWA’s regulation at
23 CFR 230.113 sets forth requirements
State DOTs must follow in
implementing on-the-job training
supporting services authorized under 23
U.S.C. 140(b). Under these authorities,
FHWA is issuing this NOFA for the
Ladders of Opportunity Initiative Pilot
OJT/SS Program. The OJT programs
eligible for supportive services under 23
CFR 230.113 include training and
apprenticeship programs approved by a
State’s FHWA Division Office,
registered apprenticeship programs
approved by the U.S. Department of
Labor (USDOL) or a State
Apprenticeship Agency (SAA)
recognized by the USDOL, or other
training programs approved by the
USDOL. Approved projects will help to
bring American workers into the middle
class and build critical skills to meet
immediate and expected workforce
demand in the highway construction
industry.
2. Policy Priorities
The Ladders of Opportunity Initiative
Pilot OJT/SS Program seeks to provide
skills training for transportation workers
that will lead to journey-level careers
and/or the development of stackable
credentials for workers in the highway
construction industry. The FHWA is
seeking projects that create new
nationally or regionally significant
workforce development programs or
that augment or replicate successful
existing programs that will benefit
highway construction firms or the
highway construction industry. While
either type of effort will be considered,
FHWA will likely give greater
consideration to programs or
approaches with an existing track record
of success.
In evaluating proposed projects,
FHWA will give priority to projects that
focus on one or more of the following
activities:
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• Targeting areas with high rates of
unemployment;
• encouraging increased participation
of minority groups, disadvantaged
individuals, and women;
• providing career pathways that
support the movement of targeted
populations from initial or short-term
employment opportunities to
sustainable careers;
• leveraging the use of other
resources to support the proposed
project;
• addressing gaps in areas with
current or projected workforce shortages
in fields related to highway
construction;
• pre-employment training/
preparation/tracking; and
• recruitment and hiring.
B. Federal Award Information
1. Available Funding and Expected
Awards
Through the Ladders of Opportunity
Initiative Pilot OJT/SS Program, FHWA
seeks to award a total of $3 million
through discretionary grants to State
DOTs, or to other State agencies or local
governments applying through their
State DOTs as subrecipients, in award
amounts of up to $500,000. The FHWA
may choose to fund the program for
more or less than the announced
amount, including applying any future
appropriated funds toward the projects
proposed in response to this NOFA.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are State DOTs.
Other State agencies or local
governments may apply through their
State DOTs as subrecipients.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The funding announced by this NOFA
was authorized by both SAFETEA–LU
and MAP–21. While there are no
minimum cost-share requirements,
FHWA will give greater weight to
applications with higher non-Federal
cost share, or that designate the use of
Federal-aid highway funds under 23
U.S.C. 504(e) toward proposed projects.
3. Strategic Partnerships
To be eligible for funding under this
NOFA, applicants must commit to
working in partnership with one or
more external strategic partner(s) with a
substantial interest and involvement in
the project. An external partner must be
an entity that has no direct relationship
to the primary applicant. For example,
the external partner may not be a
department within the applicant’s
organization. An external partner entity
could include, but is not limited to:
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a. Educational institutions, which
include entities providing professional
accreditation, degree, and/or
certification programs, such as
universities, community colleges, or
trade schools;
b. public workforce investment
systems, such as local workforce
investment boards and their one-stop
systems;
c. labor organizations, such as labor
unions and labor management
organizations;
d. contractor associations; and/or
e. non-profit organizations that
support the mission of highway
construction and transportation
workforce development.
The applicant need not necessarily
identify a particular strategic partner in
its application, but if it does not, it must
commit to soliciting proposals from
potential partners to ensure the
competitive nature of the program.
4. Other Eligibility Requirements
a. Allowable Activities
Projects must provide direct support
to highway construction workforce
development programs that are qualified
under 23 CFR 230.111 (i.e., training or
apprenticeship programs approved by
the FHWA, registered apprenticeship
programs approved by the USDOL or an
SAA, or other training programs
approved by the USDOL). The term
‘‘highway construction workforce’’
should be read broadly to encompass
the workforce necessary to carry out
activities eligible for funding under
FHWA’s STP at 23 U.S.C. 133(b).
Capital expenses, such as equipment
purchases, are not considered to be
eligible costs unless they directly relate
to the FHWA-funded workforce
development program. Acceptable costs
can include, but are not limited to:
Faculty/instructors, including salaries
and fringe benefits; support staff;
classroom space; books, materials, and
supplies; and transportation stipends for
participants.
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b. Unallowable Costs
The FHWA funds under this program
are not intended as an offset to regular
State DOT or other applicant employee
salaries and may not be used to cover
the regular or overtime salaries of
applicant employees. Funds made
available under this program shall not
be used to finance the training of
applicant agency employees or to
provide services in support of such
training. Funds may be used to cover
the costs of staff directly engaged in a
program management or training role at
an agency.
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c. Application Limitations
Applicants, whether a State DOT or a
subrecipient applying through the State
DOT, may submit more than one
proposal. An applicant will not receive
greater consideration as a result of
submitting multiple proposals.
D. Application And Submission
Information
1. Address To Request Application
Package
This NOFA contains all information
needed to apply for the grant.
Applicants must submit proposals
electronically through https://
www.grants.gov. All entities intending
to apply should initiate the process of
registering on the grants.gov Web site
immediately to ensure registration
before the submission deadline.
Instructions for applying can be found
in the ‘‘FIND’’ module of grants.gov.
Mail and fax submissions will not be
accepted.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission
The applicant should submit a project
narrative statement describing the
project objectives, proposed work tasks,
outputs, and benefits of the proposed
project for which Federal assistance is
being requested. If the project is a
proposal seeking support for an existing
program, it should describe the
proposed project within the context of
the larger effort.
The narrative also should indicate
whether the applicant will provide
matching funds, the expected duration
of the project, and other information
that would assist FHWA in
understanding and evaluating the
project. Each submission for a project
narrative statement should not exceed
10 pages (single-spaced, single-sided, 12
point font on 8.5 x 11 inch paper) and
must include the information listed
below:
a. Project Title, Objective(s), and
Contact Person
At the top of the document, state the
title of the project and provide 2–3
sentences describing the intended
project goals and outcomes. List the
contact person for the application along
with his or her address, title, phone
number, fax number, and email address.
b. Statement of the Problem(s)
Characterize the workforce issue or
problem present in the highway
construction industry that the project
directly addresses, and describe how the
applicant identified the issue (i.e.,
whether the applicant surveyed
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57653
workforce investment boards, labor
organizations, contractors, educational
institutions, or other interested
stakeholders). Describe how the project
will specifically address the issue for
the applying organization. Provide a
description of the new or existing
program to be supported by the
proposed project. Describe how the
project meets the policy priorities
identified in Section A.2. of this NOFA.
Explain why the specified approach is
being taken as opposed to others and
how its innovative aspects have
potential for nationwide or regional
application. In addition to innovative
workforce practices, cite the unique
features of the project, such as
technological innovations, reductions in
cost or time, or social and community
involvement.
Finally, identify uncertainties and
external factors that could affect the
schedule, cost, or success of the
program. The applicant may provide
supporting documentation as an
attachment that will not count toward
the total page limit. The FHWA will
consider such information
supplementary but will not necessarily
consider it in the project selection
process.
c. Geographic Location, Target Groups,
and Emphasis Areas
Give a precise location or locations of
the project and identify the area(s) and
target group(s) to be directly served by
the proposed effort. The applicant may
attach maps or other graphic aids as
needed.
d. Strategic Partners
Applicants must commit to working
in partnership with one or more
external strategic partner(s) with a
substantial interest and involvement in
the project. An external partner must be
an entity that has no direct relationship
to the primary applicant. For example,
the external partner may not be a
department within the applicant’s
organization. An external partner entity
could include, but is not limited to:
(1) Educational institutions, which
include entities providing professional
accreditation, degree, and/or
certification programs, such as
universities, community colleges, or
trade schools;
(2) public workforce investment
systems, such as local workforce
investment boards and their one-stop
systems;
(3) labor organizations, such as labor
unions and labor management
organizations; and/or
(4) non-profit organizations that
support the mission of highway
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construction and transportation
workforce development.
The applicant need not necessarily
identify a particular strategic partner in
its application, but if it does not, it must
commit to soliciting proposals from
potential partners to ensure the
competitive nature of the program.
e. Scope of Work
Outline a plan of action, organized by
work task, pertaining to the scope and
detail of how the applicant will
accomplish the proposed work. List
estimated milestone dates for all major
activities. The applicant should clearly
demonstrate the connection between
each activity and the overall project
objectives. The Scope of Work also
should address supporting activities,
such as marketing plans for recruiting
participants and/or dissemination
strategies for sharing the results, if such
are critical to the success of the
program.
f. Final Deliverable
Proposals must describe at least one
final project deliverable and how it will
improve the state of the practice. Final
products and project deliverables must
be made available at no cost to FHWA
and other agencies at the project’s close
for dissemination throughout the
industry. Acceptable final products and
deliverables include but are not limited
to class materials, Web sites or software,
recruitment materials, flyers, brochures
and reports. Additionally, written
quarterly progress reports and a final
report are required.
g. Period of Performance
Provide a schedule for completion of
tasks assuming a total period of
performance of up to 36 months. If the
applicant is proposing a phased plan,
describe the schedule for additional
phases on a separate page or separate
pages which will not be counted toward
the page maximum.
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h. Budget Proposal
Provide a cost proposal indicating
staffing levels, hours, and direct costs
for the total project and the amount of
funding requested from FHWA. The
proposal must describe the source and
the amount of matching funds, if any.
The cost proposal also must set forth the
nature and value of in-kind resources
that team members will contribute, if
any. Provide a line-item budget for the
total project, with enough detail to
indicate the various key components of
the project. The proposal must apply
cost principles found in 2 CFR part 200,
subpart E.
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i. Performance Measurement
Provide an approach for
demonstrating the local, national or
regional impact of the project on the
highway construction industry and
broader employment opportunities,
including the number of jobs directly
supported or created by the program.
The proposal should include a
description of the applicant’s plan for
recording the outcomes and reporting in
a Final Report at the end of the project.
The Final Report should contain, at
minimum:
(1) Number of Individuals Affected
Applicants should define ‘‘affected
individuals’’ in terms that make sense
for the proposed project. For example,
other reported outcomes could include:
• Number of target individuals
(women, minorities, and disadvantaged
individuals) entered into the program;
• number of individuals who
successfully complete the program,
achieve an applicable credential, etc.;
• number of placed new workers and/
or advanced incumbent workers;
• number of retained workers after 90
days or some other relevant period.
(2) Performance Metrics
The FHWA prefers quantitative
metrics but will consider qualitative
metrics if they are based on the
experiences of those affected by the
program (as opposed to the selfassessment of the applicant or partner
agencies). Metrics could include, but are
not limited to, survey results, exit
interviews, and longitudinal tracking of
staff (during the period of performance
only). At least one performance metric
is required. As part of the proposal,
provide projections (for quantitative
measures) or short hypotheses (for
qualitative measures) of what type of
impact/performance FHWA could
expect from the project.
responsibilities among potential partner
entities and an organizational chart, if
applicable. Include responsibilities,
such as regular reporting, performance
measurement, and technical/
management interactions with FHWA.
k. Project Staff
List all known key individuals who
will work on the project, along with
short descriptions of their appropriate
technical expertise and experience.
Attach resumes or curriculum vitae if
available. Project staff resumes or
curriculum vitae will not count towards
the total page count for proposal
submissions. Describe how the
applicant will engage in a competitive
process to solicit organizational partners
and/or consultants.
3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) and System
for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to (i) be
registered in SAM before submitting its
application; (ii) provide a valid DUNS
number in its application; (iii) continue
to maintain an active SAM registration
with current information at all times
during which it has an active Federal
award or an application or plan under
consideration by a Federal awarding
agency. The FHWA may not make a
Federal award to an applicant until the
applicant has complied with all
applicable DUNS and SAM
requirements. If an applicant has not
fully complied with the requirements by
the time FHWA is ready to make a
Federal award, FHWA may determine
that the applicant is not qualified to
receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a
Federal award to another applicant.
(4) A 1–2 Page Statement of
Applicability to Other Entities
The applicant must describe how the
project could be scaled and/or altered
for application elsewhere once the
project is complete, and what benefits
could be realized by doing so.
4. Submission Dates and Times
Complete proposals for the Ladders of
Opportunity Initiative Pilot OJT/SS
Program must be submitted
electronically through the grants.gov
Web site by 11:59 p.m., e.t. on December
23, 2015. Late applications will not be
accepted. Applicants are encouraged to
begin the process of registration on the
grants.gov Web site well in advance of
the submission deadline. Registration is
a multi-step process, which may take
several weeks to complete before
submission of an application.
Applicants who are already registered
on grants.gov may need to take steps to
keep their registration up to date before
they submit a proposal.
j. Project Management
Describe the applicant’s proposed
approach for managing and staffing the
project, including the distribution of
5. Funding Restrictions
Costs incurred before the FHWA
award are not eligible as project
expenses, and FHWA cannot
(3) A 1–2 Page Project Description
The project description should state
the project’s initial goals and measure
achievements against those goals. This
statement can also include ‘‘lessons
learned.’’
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retroactively approve a project. The
recipient or subrecipient may begin to
incur project costs on the date that the
grant agreement is executed. The FHWA
expects grantees to implement the
projects awarded as soon as possible
and to fully expend grant funds during
the period of performance, recognizing
that full transparency and
accountability are required for all
expenditures.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
The FHWA will evaluate the
applications submitted according to the
criteria set forth below:
a. Statement of Need
The FHWA will evaluate the extent to
which the project identifies a clear and
specific industry need for the Federal
investment in the proposed highway
construction workforce development
activities and how well the proposed
project addresses the policy priorities in
Section A.2. of this NOFA. An applicant
must submit data and provide evidence
of the industry need and value for the
proposed program.
b. Innovation
The FHWA will evaluate the extent to
which a project identifies a unique,
significant, or innovative approach to
address workforce development issues
in the highway construction industry.
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c. Furthering Ladders of Opportunity
The FHWA will use the following
activity areas to evaluate the extent to
which an applicant demonstrates how
this program or project can assist in
building ladders of opportunity to the
middle class by building pathways to
job opportunities in the highway
construction field:
(1) Targeting areas with high rates of
unemployment;
(2) providing career pathways that
support the movement of the targeted
population from initial or short-term
employment opportunities to
sustainable careers;
(3) encouraging increased
participation of minority groups,
disadvantaged persons, and women;
(4) leveraging the use of other
resources to support workforce
development;
(5) addressing gaps in areas with
current or projected workforce shortages
in fields related to highway
construction;
(6) pre-employment training/
preparation/tracking; and
(7) recruitment and hiring.
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d. Outcomes and Deliverables
h. Strategy and Project Work Plan
The FHWA will evaluate the extent to
which the applicant demonstrates a
results-oriented approach to managing
and operating the project. In particular,
FHWA will evaluate the extent to which
the applicant identifies an approach for
demonstrating the local, national, or
regional impact of the project on the
surface transportation industry and
broader employment opportunities,
including the number of jobs directly
supported or created by the program.
The FHWA prefers quantitative
metrics but will consider qualitative
metrics if they are based on the
experiences of those affected by the
program (as opposed to the selfassessment of the applicant or partner
agencies). Metrics could include, but are
not limited to, survey results, exit
interviews, and longitudinal tracking of
staff (during the period of performance
only). At least one performance metric
is required. As part of the proposal,
provide projections (for quantitative
measures) or short hypotheses (for
qualitative measures) of what type of
impact/performance FHWA could
expect from the project.
The FHWA will also evaluate the
extent to which the applicant describes
the products and deliverables that will
be produced as a result of the project
activities.
The period of performance will be up
to 36 months from the date of execution
of the grant documents. This
performance period includes all
necessary implementation and start-up
activities, execution of the program, and
completion of final deliverables as
specified in the applicant’s Scope of
Work. The FHWA will evaluate the
project work plan pursuant to the
following factors:
(1) The presentation of a coherent
plan that demonstrates the applicant’s
complete understanding of all the
activities, responsibilities, and costs
required to implement each phase of the
project and achieve projected outcomes;
(2) the demonstrated feasibility and
reasonableness of the timeline for
accomplishing all necessary
implementation activities, including the
ability to expeditiously begin training;
and
(3) the extent to which the budget
aligns with the proposed work plan and
is justified with respect to the adequacy
and reasonableness of resources
requested.
e. Strategic Partnerships
Applicants must commit to working
in partnership with one or more
external strategic partner(s) with a
substantial interest and involvement in
the project. Applicants need not
necessarily identify a particular strategic
partner in their applications, but if they
do not, they must identify the
competitive process they intend to
follow for soliciting proposals from
appropriate agencies, organizational
partners and/or consultants in support
of the proposed project.
f. National Replicability
The FHWA will evaluate whether the
project has national or regional
applicability and whether it will
provide a replicable model of workforce
development practices.
g. Cost Sharing
Both SAFETEA–LU and MAP–21
authorized the funding announced by
this NOFA. While there are no
minimum cost-share requirements,
FHWA will give greater weight to
applications with higher non-Federal
cost share, or that designate the use of
Federal-aid highway funds under 23
U.S.C. 504(e) toward proposed projects.
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i. Project Management and
Organizational Capacity
The FHWA will evaluate the capacity
of the applicant to effectively staff and/
or oversee the proposed initiative and
deliver the proposed outcomes, as well
as the fiscal, administrative, and
performance management capacity to
implement the key components of this
project. The FHWA also will evaluate
the track record of the applicant to
implement projects of similar focus,
size, and scope.
2. Review and Selection Process
A technical evaluation committee will
review proposals using the project
selection criteria. Members of the
technical evaluation committee reserve
the right to screen and rate the
applications FHWA receives and to seek
clarification from any applicant about
any statement in its application that
FHWA finds ambiguous and/or to
request additional documentation to be
considered during the evaluation
process to clarify information contained
within the proposal. After considering
the findings of the technical evaluation
committee, the FHWA Administrator
will determine the final selection and
amount of funding for each project. The
FHWA may consider geographic
diversity and the applicant’s receipt of
other discretionary awards in its award
decisions.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Notices
F. Federal Award Administration
Information
1. Federal Award Notices
After FHWA has selected the
proposals to be funded, it will notify
successful applicants by email or
telephone of their status. In addition,
FHWA will publish a notice in the
Federal Register announcing successful
applicants. Upon notification of intent
to award funds, FHWA may withdraw
its offer to provide Federal assistance if
the recipient or subrecipient does not
commence its competitive process to
solicit partners and/or consultants
consistent with its proposal submission
within 90 days following the date of the
offer.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
All awards will be administered
pursuant to the Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and
Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
found in 2 CFR part 200. Applicable
Federal laws, rules, and regulations set
forth in title 23, U.S.C., and title 23 of
the CFR, apply.
The successful applicant shall grant
FHWA, upon request, the right of access
to all records and the right to audit all
aspects of the project.
The successful applicant, and all
partners and consultants shall be
required to submit non-collusion
certifications.
3. Reporting
The FHWA requires the successful
applicant to submit quarterly written
reports to FHWA, containing statistical
data and narrative sufficient to evaluate
the progress of the project and to
identify any problems. The FHWA also
requires the successful applicant to
submit a detailed final report at the
project end, containing statistical data
and narrative sufficient to evaluate
whether the project met its projected
outcomes.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For general program information,
please use the contact information in
the front of this notice. Please contact
the grants.gov helpdesk for assistance
with electronic applications via email at
support@grants.gov or call toll-free at
(800) 518–4726.
H. Other Information
1. Protection of Confidential Business
Information
All information submitted as part of
or in support of any application shall
use publicly available data or data that
can be made public and methodologies
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:45 Sep 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
that are accepted by industry practice
and standards, to the extent possible. If
the application includes information
you consider to be a trade secret or
confidential commercial or financial
information, the applicant should do the
following: (1) Note on the front cover
that the submission ‘‘Contains
Confidential Business Information
(CBI)’’; (2) mark each affected page
‘‘CBI’’; and (3) highlight or otherwise
denote the CBI portions.
The FHWA protects such information
from disclosure to the extent allowed
under applicable law. In the event
FHWA receives a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request for the
information, FHWA will follow the
procedures described in its FOIA
regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only
information that is ultimately
determined to be confidential under that
procedure will be exempt from
disclosure under FOIA.
the application process before the
submission deadline. Instructions for
applying can be found on FTA’s Web
site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/
13077.html and in the ‘‘find’’ module of
grants.gov. Mail and fax submissions
will not be accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sean Ricketson, FTA Office of Research
Demonstration and Innovation, 202–
366–6678 or sean.ricketson@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review
F. Federal Award Administration
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
SUMMARY:
A. Program Description
The Low and No Emission Vehicle
Deployment (LoNo) Program provides
funding for transit agencies for capital
acquisitions and leases of zero-emission
and low-emission transit buses,
including acquisition, construction, and
leasing of required supporting facilities
such as recharging, refueling, and
maintenance facilities.
The main purpose of the LoNo
Program is to deploy the cleanest and
most energy efficient U.S.-made transit
buses that have been largely proven in
testing and demonstrations but are not
yet widely deployed in transit fleets.
The LoNo Program is a capital program
focused on deploying new production
vehicles that are market-ready or near
market-ready. It is not a program for
designing and developing prototypes.
The program gives priority
consideration to the deployment of
buses with the lowest energy
consumption and least harmful
emissions, including direct carbon
emissions.
Complete proposals must be
submitted electronically through the
grants.gov ‘‘Apply’’ function by
November 23, 2015. Prospective
applicants should initiate the process by
registering on the GRANTS.GOV Web
site promptly to ensure completion of
B. Federal Award Information
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the
21st Century Act (MAP–21), Public Law
112–141, July 6, 2012, amended 49
U.S.C. 5312 to add a new paragraph
(d)(5) authorizing FTA to make grants to
finance eligible projects under the ‘‘Low
or No Emission Vehicle Deployment
Program’’ (LoNo Program).
The Consolidated and Further
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015
(FY 2015 Appropriations) Public Law
113–235, December 16, 2014, has made
available $22.5 million in FY 2015 to
carry out the LoNo Program. Of that
amount, a minimum of $3.0 million is
available for supporting facilities and
related equipment. Given that projects
must be competitively selected pursuant
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 140(b).
Issued: September 18, 2015.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015–24245 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
FY15 Discretionary Funding
Opportunity: Low or No Emission
Vehicle Deployment Program (LoNo)
Program
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability
(NOFA) and for Request for Proposals
(RFP).
AGENCY:
The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) announces the
availability of $22.5 million of Fiscal
Year (FY) 2015 funds for the
deployment of low or no emission
transit buses. Of that amount, a
minimum of $3.0 million is available for
supporting facilities and related
equipment. If additional funding is
appropriated for this program in FY
2016, FTA may, at its discretion, also
make those funds available under this
announcement.
DATES:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57651-57656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24245]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Funding Availability for the Ladders of Opportunity
Initiative: Pilot On-the-Job-Training Supportive Services Program
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA announces a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for
a Pilot On-the-Job-Training Supportive Services (OJT/SS) Program
through the Ladders of Opportunity Initiative in the amount of $3
million. The FHWA seeks to award discretionary grants to State
Departments of Transportation (State DOTs), or to other State agencies
or local governments applying through their State DOTs as
subrecipients, in award amounts of up to $500,000 each. The FHWA may
choose to fund the program for more or less than the announced amount,
including applying any future appropriated funds toward the projects
proposed in response to this NOFA. This NOFA solicits proposals that
promote innovative, nationally and regionally significant, highway
construction workforce development programs that invest in America's
economic growth and build ladders of opportunity into the middle class
for American workers. The term ``highway construction workforce''
should be read broadly to encompass the workforce necessary to carry
out activities eligible for funding under FHWA's Surface Transportation
Program (STP) at section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code
(U.S.C.). Applications should outline areas of upcoming demand in the
State's highway construction workforce and ensure that proposed
programs would train workers in skills to fill specific workforce
shortages.
DATES: Complete proposals are due by 11:59 p.m., e.t. on December 23,
2015.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit all proposals electronically through
https://www.grants.gov/. All entities intending to apply should initiate
the process of registering on the grants.gov Web site immediately to
ensure registration before the submission deadline. Instructions for
applying can be found in the ``FIND'' module of grants.gov. Mail and
fax submissions will not be accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: For further information
concerning this notice please contact Martha Kenley, FHWA's Office of
Civil Rights, by email at martha.kenley@dot.gov; by telephone at 202-
366-8110; or by mail at Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. For legal questions, please contact
Jim Esselman, FHWA Office of Chief Counsel, by email at
james.esselman@dot.gov; by phone at 202-366-6181; or by mail at Federal
Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC
20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
[[Page 57652]]
p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program,
described at section 230.111 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), requires State DOTs to make full use of apprenticeship and
training programs targeted to developing the skills of women,
minorities, and disadvantaged individuals and moving them into journey-
level positions to ensure that a competent workforce is available to
meet highway construction hiring needs. The OJT Program addresses the
historical under-representation of these groups in highway construction
skilled crafts. The FHWA established the OJT/SS Program to: (a)
Increase the overall effectiveness of State DOTs' on-the-job-training
requirements in connection with Federal-aid highway construction
projects; and (b) to seek other ways to increase the training
opportunities for women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals who
have been historically underrepresented in the industry.
Funding for OJT/SS derives from section 140(b) of title 23, U.S.C.,
which authorizes DOT to direct not more than $10,000,000 per year
toward surface transportation and technology training. In recent years,
FHWA has allocated OJT/SS funds annually to State DOTs through a
formula process. That process will continue.
Through this notice, FHWA announces an opportunity for State DOTs,
or for other State agencies or local governments applying through their
State DOTs as subrecipients, to compete for supplementary OJT/SS funds
to foster increased focus on workforce development under DOT's Ladders
of Opportunity Initiative.
Table of Contents
A. Program Description
1. Authority
2. Policy Priorities
B. Federal Award Information
1. Available Funding and Expected Awards
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Strategic Partnerships
4. Other Eligibility Requirements
D. Application and Submission Information
1. AddressTo Request Application Package
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and
System for Award Management (SAM)
4. Submission Dates and Times
5. Funding Restrictions
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
F. Federal Award Administration
1. Federal Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information
1. Protection of Confidential Business Information
A. Program Description
1. Authority
Section 140(b) of title 23, U.S.C., authorizes FHWA's OJT/SS
Program, under which FHWA funds State DOTs to undertake surface
transportation and technology training, including skill improvement
programs for workforce development. The FHWA's regulation at 23 CFR
230.113 sets forth requirements State DOTs must follow in implementing
on-the-job training supporting services authorized under 23 U.S.C.
140(b). Under these authorities, FHWA is issuing this NOFA for the
Ladders of Opportunity Initiative Pilot OJT/SS Program. The OJT
programs eligible for supportive services under 23 CFR 230.113 include
training and apprenticeship programs approved by a State's FHWA
Division Office, registered apprenticeship programs approved by the
U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) or a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA)
recognized by the USDOL, or other training programs approved by the
USDOL. Approved projects will help to bring American workers into the
middle class and build critical skills to meet immediate and expected
workforce demand in the highway construction industry.
2. Policy Priorities
The Ladders of Opportunity Initiative Pilot OJT/SS Program seeks to
provide skills training for transportation workers that will lead to
journey-level careers and/or the development of stackable credentials
for workers in the highway construction industry. The FHWA is seeking
projects that create new nationally or regionally significant workforce
development programs or that augment or replicate successful existing
programs that will benefit highway construction firms or the highway
construction industry. While either type of effort will be considered,
FHWA will likely give greater consideration to programs or approaches
with an existing track record of success.
In evaluating proposed projects, FHWA will give priority to
projects that focus on one or more of the following activities:
Targeting areas with high rates of unemployment;
encouraging increased participation of minority groups,
disadvantaged individuals, and women;
providing career pathways that support the movement of
targeted populations from initial or short-term employment
opportunities to sustainable careers;
leveraging the use of other resources to support the
proposed project;
addressing gaps in areas with current or projected
workforce shortages in fields related to highway construction;
pre-employment training/preparation/tracking; and
recruitment and hiring.
B. Federal Award Information
1. Available Funding and Expected Awards
Through the Ladders of Opportunity Initiative Pilot OJT/SS Program,
FHWA seeks to award a total of $3 million through discretionary grants
to State DOTs, or to other State agencies or local governments applying
through their State DOTs as subrecipients, in award amounts of up to
$500,000. The FHWA may choose to fund the program for more or less than
the announced amount, including applying any future appropriated funds
toward the projects proposed in response to this NOFA.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are State DOTs. Other State agencies or local
governments may apply through their State DOTs as subrecipients.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The funding announced by this NOFA was authorized by both SAFETEA-
LU and MAP-21. While there are no minimum cost-share requirements, FHWA
will give greater weight to applications with higher non-Federal cost
share, or that designate the use of Federal-aid highway funds under 23
U.S.C. 504(e) toward proposed projects.
3. Strategic Partnerships
To be eligible for funding under this NOFA, applicants must commit
to working in partnership with one or more external strategic
partner(s) with a substantial interest and involvement in the project.
An external partner must be an entity that has no direct relationship
to the primary applicant. For example, the external partner may not be
a department within the applicant's organization. An external partner
entity could include, but is not limited to:
[[Page 57653]]
a. Educational institutions, which include entities providing
professional accreditation, degree, and/or certification programs, such
as universities, community colleges, or trade schools;
b. public workforce investment systems, such as local workforce
investment boards and their one-stop systems;
c. labor organizations, such as labor unions and labor management
organizations;
d. contractor associations; and/or
e. non-profit organizations that support the mission of highway
construction and transportation workforce development.
The applicant need not necessarily identify a particular strategic
partner in its application, but if it does not, it must commit to
soliciting proposals from potential partners to ensure the competitive
nature of the program.
4. Other Eligibility Requirements
a. Allowable Activities
Projects must provide direct support to highway construction
workforce development programs that are qualified under 23 CFR 230.111
(i.e., training or apprenticeship programs approved by the FHWA,
registered apprenticeship programs approved by the USDOL or an SAA, or
other training programs approved by the USDOL). The term ``highway
construction workforce'' should be read broadly to encompass the
workforce necessary to carry out activities eligible for funding under
FHWA's STP at 23 U.S.C. 133(b). Capital expenses, such as equipment
purchases, are not considered to be eligible costs unless they directly
relate to the FHWA-funded workforce development program. Acceptable
costs can include, but are not limited to: Faculty/instructors,
including salaries and fringe benefits; support staff; classroom space;
books, materials, and supplies; and transportation stipends for
participants.
b. Unallowable Costs
The FHWA funds under this program are not intended as an offset to
regular State DOT or other applicant employee salaries and may not be
used to cover the regular or overtime salaries of applicant employees.
Funds made available under this program shall not be used to finance
the training of applicant agency employees or to provide services in
support of such training. Funds may be used to cover the costs of staff
directly engaged in a program management or training role at an agency.
c. Application Limitations
Applicants, whether a State DOT or a subrecipient applying through
the State DOT, may submit more than one proposal. An applicant will not
receive greater consideration as a result of submitting multiple
proposals.
D. Application And Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
This NOFA contains all information needed to apply for the grant.
Applicants must submit proposals electronically through https://www.grants.gov. All entities intending to apply should initiate the
process of registering on the grants.gov Web site immediately to ensure
registration before the submission deadline. Instructions for applying
can be found in the ``FIND'' module of grants.gov. Mail and fax
submissions will not be accepted.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
The applicant should submit a project narrative statement
describing the project objectives, proposed work tasks, outputs, and
benefits of the proposed project for which Federal assistance is being
requested. If the project is a proposal seeking support for an existing
program, it should describe the proposed project within the context of
the larger effort.
The narrative also should indicate whether the applicant will
provide matching funds, the expected duration of the project, and other
information that would assist FHWA in understanding and evaluating the
project. Each submission for a project narrative statement should not
exceed 10 pages (single-spaced, single-sided, 12 point font on 8.5 x 11
inch paper) and must include the information listed below:
a. Project Title, Objective(s), and Contact Person
At the top of the document, state the title of the project and
provide 2-3 sentences describing the intended project goals and
outcomes. List the contact person for the application along with his or
her address, title, phone number, fax number, and email address.
b. Statement of the Problem(s)
Characterize the workforce issue or problem present in the highway
construction industry that the project directly addresses, and describe
how the applicant identified the issue (i.e., whether the applicant
surveyed workforce investment boards, labor organizations, contractors,
educational institutions, or other interested stakeholders). Describe
how the project will specifically address the issue for the applying
organization. Provide a description of the new or existing program to
be supported by the proposed project. Describe how the project meets
the policy priorities identified in Section A.2. of this NOFA.
Explain why the specified approach is being taken as opposed to
others and how its innovative aspects have potential for nationwide or
regional application. In addition to innovative workforce practices,
cite the unique features of the project, such as technological
innovations, reductions in cost or time, or social and community
involvement.
Finally, identify uncertainties and external factors that could
affect the schedule, cost, or success of the program. The applicant may
provide supporting documentation as an attachment that will not count
toward the total page limit. The FHWA will consider such information
supplementary but will not necessarily consider it in the project
selection process.
c. Geographic Location, Target Groups, and Emphasis Areas
Give a precise location or locations of the project and identify
the area(s) and target group(s) to be directly served by the proposed
effort. The applicant may attach maps or other graphic aids as needed.
d. Strategic Partners
Applicants must commit to working in partnership with one or more
external strategic partner(s) with a substantial interest and
involvement in the project. An external partner must be an entity that
has no direct relationship to the primary applicant. For example, the
external partner may not be a department within the applicant's
organization. An external partner entity could include, but is not
limited to:
(1) Educational institutions, which include entities providing
professional accreditation, degree, and/or certification programs, such
as universities, community colleges, or trade schools;
(2) public workforce investment systems, such as local workforce
investment boards and their one-stop systems;
(3) labor organizations, such as labor unions and labor management
organizations; and/or
(4) non-profit organizations that support the mission of highway
[[Page 57654]]
construction and transportation workforce development.
The applicant need not necessarily identify a particular strategic
partner in its application, but if it does not, it must commit to
soliciting proposals from potential partners to ensure the competitive
nature of the program.
e. Scope of Work
Outline a plan of action, organized by work task, pertaining to the
scope and detail of how the applicant will accomplish the proposed
work. List estimated milestone dates for all major activities. The
applicant should clearly demonstrate the connection between each
activity and the overall project objectives. The Scope of Work also
should address supporting activities, such as marketing plans for
recruiting participants and/or dissemination strategies for sharing the
results, if such are critical to the success of the program.
f. Final Deliverable
Proposals must describe at least one final project deliverable and
how it will improve the state of the practice. Final products and
project deliverables must be made available at no cost to FHWA and
other agencies at the project's close for dissemination throughout the
industry. Acceptable final products and deliverables include but are
not limited to class materials, Web sites or software, recruitment
materials, flyers, brochures and reports. Additionally, written
quarterly progress reports and a final report are required.
g. Period of Performance
Provide a schedule for completion of tasks assuming a total period
of performance of up to 36 months. If the applicant is proposing a
phased plan, describe the schedule for additional phases on a separate
page or separate pages which will not be counted toward the page
maximum.
h. Budget Proposal
Provide a cost proposal indicating staffing levels, hours, and
direct costs for the total project and the amount of funding requested
from FHWA. The proposal must describe the source and the amount of
matching funds, if any. The cost proposal also must set forth the
nature and value of in-kind resources that team members will
contribute, if any. Provide a line-item budget for the total project,
with enough detail to indicate the various key components of the
project. The proposal must apply cost principles found in 2 CFR part
200, subpart E.
i. Performance Measurement
Provide an approach for demonstrating the local, national or
regional impact of the project on the highway construction industry and
broader employment opportunities, including the number of jobs directly
supported or created by the program. The proposal should include a
description of the applicant's plan for recording the outcomes and
reporting in a Final Report at the end of the project. The Final Report
should contain, at minimum:
(1) Number of Individuals Affected
Applicants should define ``affected individuals'' in terms that
make sense for the proposed project. For example, other reported
outcomes could include:
Number of target individuals (women, minorities, and
disadvantaged individuals) entered into the program;
number of individuals who successfully complete the
program, achieve an applicable credential, etc.;
number of placed new workers and/or advanced incumbent
workers;
number of retained workers after 90 days or some other
relevant period.
(2) Performance Metrics
The FHWA prefers quantitative metrics but will consider qualitative
metrics if they are based on the experiences of those affected by the
program (as opposed to the self-assessment of the applicant or partner
agencies). Metrics could include, but are not limited to, survey
results, exit interviews, and longitudinal tracking of staff (during
the period of performance only). At least one performance metric is
required. As part of the proposal, provide projections (for
quantitative measures) or short hypotheses (for qualitative measures)
of what type of impact/performance FHWA could expect from the project.
(3) A 1-2 Page Project Description
The project description should state the project's initial goals
and measure achievements against those goals. This statement can also
include ``lessons learned.''
(4) A 1-2 Page Statement of Applicability to Other Entities
The applicant must describe how the project could be scaled and/or
altered for application elsewhere once the project is complete, and
what benefits could be realized by doing so.
j. Project Management
Describe the applicant's proposed approach for managing and
staffing the project, including the distribution of responsibilities
among potential partner entities and an organizational chart, if
applicable. Include responsibilities, such as regular reporting,
performance measurement, and technical/management interactions with
FHWA.
k. Project Staff
List all known key individuals who will work on the project, along
with short descriptions of their appropriate technical expertise and
experience. Attach resumes or curriculum vitae if available. Project
staff resumes or curriculum vitae will not count towards the total page
count for proposal submissions. Describe how the applicant will engage
in a competitive process to solicit organizational partners and/or
consultants.
3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for
Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to (i) be registered in SAM before
submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid DUNS number in its
application; (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with
current information at all times during which it has an active Federal
award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal
awarding agency. The FHWA may not make a Federal award to an applicant
until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM
requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time FHWA is ready to make a Federal award, FHWA
may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal
award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award
to another applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times
Complete proposals for the Ladders of Opportunity Initiative Pilot
OJT/SS Program must be submitted electronically through the grants.gov
Web site by 11:59 p.m., e.t. on December 23, 2015. Late applications
will not be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to begin the process of
registration on the grants.gov Web site well in advance of the
submission deadline. Registration is a multi-step process, which may
take several weeks to complete before submission of an application.
Applicants who are already registered on grants.gov may need to take
steps to keep their registration up to date before they submit a
proposal.
5. Funding Restrictions
Costs incurred before the FHWA award are not eligible as project
expenses, and FHWA cannot
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retroactively approve a project. The recipient or subrecipient may
begin to incur project costs on the date that the grant agreement is
executed. The FHWA expects grantees to implement the projects awarded
as soon as possible and to fully expend grant funds during the period
of performance, recognizing that full transparency and accountability
are required for all expenditures.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
The FHWA will evaluate the applications submitted according to the
criteria set forth below:
a. Statement of Need
The FHWA will evaluate the extent to which the project identifies a
clear and specific industry need for the Federal investment in the
proposed highway construction workforce development activities and how
well the proposed project addresses the policy priorities in Section
A.2. of this NOFA. An applicant must submit data and provide evidence
of the industry need and value for the proposed program.
b. Innovation
The FHWA will evaluate the extent to which a project identifies a
unique, significant, or innovative approach to address workforce
development issues in the highway construction industry.
c. Furthering Ladders of Opportunity
The FHWA will use the following activity areas to evaluate the
extent to which an applicant demonstrates how this program or project
can assist in building ladders of opportunity to the middle class by
building pathways to job opportunities in the highway construction
field:
(1) Targeting areas with high rates of unemployment;
(2) providing career pathways that support the movement of the
targeted population from initial or short-term employment opportunities
to sustainable careers;
(3) encouraging increased participation of minority groups,
disadvantaged persons, and women;
(4) leveraging the use of other resources to support workforce
development;
(5) addressing gaps in areas with current or projected workforce
shortages in fields related to highway construction;
(6) pre-employment training/preparation/tracking; and
(7) recruitment and hiring.
d. Outcomes and Deliverables
The FHWA will evaluate the extent to which the applicant
demonstrates a results-oriented approach to managing and operating the
project. In particular, FHWA will evaluate the extent to which the
applicant identifies an approach for demonstrating the local, national,
or regional impact of the project on the surface transportation
industry and broader employment opportunities, including the number of
jobs directly supported or created by the program.
The FHWA prefers quantitative metrics but will consider qualitative
metrics if they are based on the experiences of those affected by the
program (as opposed to the self-assessment of the applicant or partner
agencies). Metrics could include, but are not limited to, survey
results, exit interviews, and longitudinal tracking of staff (during
the period of performance only). At least one performance metric is
required. As part of the proposal, provide projections (for
quantitative measures) or short hypotheses (for qualitative measures)
of what type of impact/performance FHWA could expect from the project.
The FHWA will also evaluate the extent to which the applicant
describes the products and deliverables that will be produced as a
result of the project activities.
e. Strategic Partnerships
Applicants must commit to working in partnership with one or more
external strategic partner(s) with a substantial interest and
involvement in the project. Applicants need not necessarily identify a
particular strategic partner in their applications, but if they do not,
they must identify the competitive process they intend to follow for
soliciting proposals from appropriate agencies, organizational partners
and/or consultants in support of the proposed project.
f. National Replicability
The FHWA will evaluate whether the project has national or regional
applicability and whether it will provide a replicable model of
workforce development practices.
g. Cost Sharing
Both SAFETEA-LU and MAP-21 authorized the funding announced by this
NOFA. While there are no minimum cost-share requirements, FHWA will
give greater weight to applications with higher non-Federal cost share,
or that designate the use of Federal-aid highway funds under 23 U.S.C.
504(e) toward proposed projects.
h. Strategy and Project Work Plan
The period of performance will be up to 36 months from the date of
execution of the grant documents. This performance period includes all
necessary implementation and start-up activities, execution of the
program, and completion of final deliverables as specified in the
applicant's Scope of Work. The FHWA will evaluate the project work plan
pursuant to the following factors:
(1) The presentation of a coherent plan that demonstrates the
applicant's complete understanding of all the activities,
responsibilities, and costs required to implement each phase of the
project and achieve projected outcomes;
(2) the demonstrated feasibility and reasonableness of the timeline
for accomplishing all necessary implementation activities, including
the ability to expeditiously begin training; and
(3) the extent to which the budget aligns with the proposed work
plan and is justified with respect to the adequacy and reasonableness
of resources requested.
i. Project Management and Organizational Capacity
The FHWA will evaluate the capacity of the applicant to effectively
staff and/or oversee the proposed initiative and deliver the proposed
outcomes, as well as the fiscal, administrative, and performance
management capacity to implement the key components of this project.
The FHWA also will evaluate the track record of the applicant to
implement projects of similar focus, size, and scope.
2. Review and Selection Process
A technical evaluation committee will review proposals using the
project selection criteria. Members of the technical evaluation
committee reserve the right to screen and rate the applications FHWA
receives and to seek clarification from any applicant about any
statement in its application that FHWA finds ambiguous and/or to
request additional documentation to be considered during the evaluation
process to clarify information contained within the proposal. After
considering the findings of the technical evaluation committee, the
FHWA Administrator will determine the final selection and amount of
funding for each project. The FHWA may consider geographic diversity
and the applicant's receipt of other discretionary awards in its award
decisions.
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F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
After FHWA has selected the proposals to be funded, it will notify
successful applicants by email or telephone of their status. In
addition, FHWA will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing
successful applicants. Upon notification of intent to award funds, FHWA
may withdraw its offer to provide Federal assistance if the recipient
or subrecipient does not commence its competitive process to solicit
partners and/or consultants consistent with its proposal submission
within 90 days following the date of the offer.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards found in 2 CFR part 200. Applicable Federal laws,
rules, and regulations set forth in title 23, U.S.C., and title 23 of
the CFR, apply.
The successful applicant shall grant FHWA, upon request, the right
of access to all records and the right to audit all aspects of the
project.
The successful applicant, and all partners and consultants shall be
required to submit non-collusion certifications.
3. Reporting
The FHWA requires the successful applicant to submit quarterly
written reports to FHWA, containing statistical data and narrative
sufficient to evaluate the progress of the project and to identify any
problems. The FHWA also requires the successful applicant to submit a
detailed final report at the project end, containing statistical data
and narrative sufficient to evaluate whether the project met its
projected outcomes.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For general program information, please use the contact information
in the front of this notice. Please contact the grants.gov helpdesk for
assistance with electronic applications via email at grants.gov">support@grants.gov
or call toll-free at (800) 518-4726.
H. Other Information
1. Protection of Confidential Business Information
All information submitted as part of or in support of any
application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made
public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and
standards, to the extent possible. If the application includes
information you consider to be a trade secret or confidential
commercial or financial information, the applicant should do the
following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission ``Contains
Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each affected page
``CBI''; and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions.
The FHWA protects such information from disclosure to the extent
allowed under applicable law. In the event FHWA receives a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request for the information, FHWA will follow
the procedures described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only
information that is ultimately determined to be confidential under that
procedure will be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 140(b).
Issued: September 18, 2015.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-24245 Filed 9-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
