Current through September 21, 2024
(a) Applicant Eligibility
(i) The following entities are eligible to
apply for grants under this section:
(A)
Wyoming-based sponsor(s) with US DOL, Office of Apprenticeship registered
apprenticeship programs; and/or
(B)
RTI provider associated with a Wyoming-based sponsor.
(b) Applicant Compliance
Requirements. The applicant shall be:
(i)
Registered and in good standing with the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance
program, if required;
(ii)
Registered and in good standing with the Wyoming Workers' Compensation program,
if required;
(iii) Registered and
in good standing with the Wyoming Secretary of State's office, if required;
and
(iv) In good standing with the
Workforce Development Training Fund (WDTF).
(c) RTI Eligibility. In order for the related
technical instruction to be approved under this section, the applicant shall
demonstrate, to the satisfaction of DWS, that the related technical instruction
shall:
(i) Provide trained workers for a
business, businesses or industry in Wyoming; and
(ii) Meet the eligibility requirements of the
US DOL, Office of Apprenticeship Standards of Apprenticeship.
(A) Incorporation by Reference
(I) DWS has determined that incorporation of
the full text in these rules would be cumbersome or inefficient given the
length or nature of the rules;
(II)
Any code, standard, rule or regulation incorporated by reference does not
include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated matter beyond the
applicable date identified in subsection IV if this section;
(III) The incorporated code, standard, rule
or regulation is maintained at the Department of Workforce Services office
(5221 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82002) and is available for public
inspection and copying at cost at the same location;
(IV) Each rule incorporated by reference is
further identified as follows:
1. 29 CFR
§ Part 29 (10/29/08) as it was in effect on March 1, 2022, and adopted by
the Department of Workforce Services, available at:
https://www.doleta.gov/OA/regulations.cfm
2. 29 CFR § Part 30 (12/19/16) as it was
in effect on March 1, 2022, and adopted by the Department of Workforce
Services, available at:
https://www.doleta.gov/OA/regulations.cfm
(d) Allowable RTI Expenses. The following
related technical instruction expenses may be allowed, if supported by the
application:
(i) Direct costs include, but are
not limited to, tuition, registration, class fees and materials;
(ii) Travel expenses to include
transportation, lodging and meals directly related to the RTI;
(iii) Instructor wages and fringe benefits
directly related to the RTI;
(iv)
Fees for licenses and certifications that may be obtained as part of the
RTI;
(v) Administration not to
exceed five percent (5%) of the total costs; and/or
(vi) Where additional monetary contributions
are received, the grant would cover the remaining balance not to exceed the
actual expenditures.
(e)
Non-allowable RTI Expenses. The following expenses are not allowed:
(i) Purchased, rented or leased equipment
including computer hardware and/or software; and
(f) Grant Application Process
(i) Applicants shall complete the
Apprenticeship Grant application provided by DWS, to include detailed
information about the following:
(A) Provide
Davis-Bacon Certificate;
(B) How
the related technical instruction meets the eligibility requirements of Section
4 (a) through (e) above;
(C)
Confirmation from the sponsor that the related technical instruction plan will
meet the specific need;
(D) Any
partnerships that support the project or other resource enhancements or
contributions to the project;
(E)
The number of apprentices to participate in the grant and the wage progression
upon completion of the apprenticeship; and
(F) A cost proposal and budget
sheet.
(ii) Applicants
shall prepare the application jointly with:
(A) The related technical instruction
provider when they are a separate entity, such as a community college,
and
(B) The US DOL Office of
Apprenticeship.
(iii)
The completed Apprenticeship Grant application shall be submitted to
DWS.
(iv) Past performance, whether
positive or negative, will be considered regarding future grant awards, and
negative performance as determined by DWS may result in disapproval of the
grant application until such time as the past negative performance can be
explained and addressed for any pending application.
(g) Grant Approval Process
(i) DWS will screen Apprenticeship Grant
applications for compliance with the requirements of Sections 4 (a) through (f)
above.
(A) Applications that do not meet the
requirements will be rejected.
(B)
Applications that meet the requirements will be submitted to a subcommittee of
the Wyoming Workforce Development Council (WWDC) for consideration.
(ii) The WWDC subcommittee may
require the related technical instruction provider and/or the sponsor to make a
presentation supporting their application.
(iii) The WWDC subcommittee shall consider
the application and make a recommendation to the Director of DWS regarding
whether or not to award the grant.
(iv) After the WWDC subcommittee
recommendation, the DWS Director shall make the final
decision.
(h) Contract
and Payment
(i) If the grant is approved and
funds are available, DWS shall enter into a contract with the
applicant.
(ii) Grant funds shall
be paid directly to the applicant.
(iii) Grant programs must be operated on a
cost reimbursement basis with the applicant submitting invoices in sufficient
detail to ensure payments may be made in conformance with their contract and
per W.S. § 16-6-602.
(i) Reporting Requirements
(i) The applicant in collaboration with the
related technical instruction provider and/or sponsor, in cases where the RTI
is provided through a separate entity, shall submit a final report to DWS
outlining the results of the RTI:
(A) Number
of apprentices completed;
(B) Date
services began and ended for each apprentice;
(C) Post-RTI employment information;
and
(D) Demonstrate and document
how the related technical instruction increased the skill level of the
apprentices and improved the efficiency, profitability, or compliance of the
sponsor or business, businesses or industry.
(j) Performance Standards. DWS will evaluate
each applicant's performance under the following criteria before reimbursement
takes place:
(i) Satisfactory progress of
related technical instruction is provided when invoices are submitted with
supporting documentation; and,
(ii)
DWS will evaluate performance based on the applicant's related technical
instruction plan, as approved by the Office of Apprenticeship, and the
apprentices' completion rate of the RTI.