[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50711-50722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19639]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Disability Employment Policy
Office of the 21st Century Workforce; and Center for Faith-Based
Community Initiatives; Employment Training and Services Grants for
Community and Faith-Based Organizations Serving People With Significant
Disabilities (SGA 02-22)
AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant
Applications for Employment Training and Services Grants for Community
and Faith-Based Organizations Serving People with Significant
Disabilities.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in
collaboration with the Office of the 21st Century Workforce (Office of
21CW), and the Center for Faith-Based Community Initiatives (CFBCI or
Center), announce the availability of up to $300,000 to award
approximately three to five grants, ranging in amounts between $60,000
to $100,000 each, to community and faith-based organizations to
implement model employment programs for people with significant
disabilities \1\ for the purposes of developing new or enhancing
existing employment training and/or services. Grant activities may
include the purchase and utilization of, and training in, the use of
electronic and information technology (e.g., computers, computer
software, fax machines, copiers, Internet, distance learning
equipment). The intent of these grants is to provide community and
faith-based organizations that wish to do so with the technical ability
to offer employment training and related services to people with
significant disabilities as service providers participating as partners
within their local One-Stop Career Center. These grants will be limited
to public or private non-profit community and faith-based organizations
with a demonstrated record of service to their local communities. All
forms necessary to prepare an application are included in this
Solicitation for Grant Application (SGA).
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\1\ For the purposes of this SGA, a person with a ``significant
disability'' is defined as adult who has a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one or more major life
activities and has a record of such impairment.
DUE DATE: One ink-signed original, complete grant application plus two
copies of the Technical Proposal and two copies of the Cost Proposal
shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement
Services Center, Attention Grant Officer, Reference SGA 02-22, Room N-
5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, not later
than 4:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDST), September 4, 2002.
Hand-delivered applications must be received by the Procurement
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Services Center by that time.
ADDRESS: Applications must be hand delivered or mailed to the U.S.
Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra
Willis, Reference SGA 02-22, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Application announcements or forms
will not be mailed. The Federal Register may be obtained from your
nearest government office or library. In addition, a copy of this
notice and the application requirements may be downloaded from the
Office of Disability Employment Policy's website at http://www2.dol.gov/odep. All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery
in the Washington, DC area has been erratic due to concerns involving
anthrax contamination. All applicants must take this into consideration
when preparing to meet the application deadline. It is recommended that
you confirm receipt of your application by contacting Cassandra Willis,
U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, telephone (202)
693-4570 (this is not a toll-free number), prior to the closing
deadline. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the
Department via the Federal Relay Service, (800) 877-8339.
Acceptable Methods of Submission
The grant application package must be received at the designated
place by the date and time specified or it will not be considered. Any
application received at the Office of Procurement Services Center after
4:45 p.m., EDST, September 4, 2002, will not be considered unless it is
received before the award is made and:
1. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the
fifth calendar day before September 4, 2002; or
2. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day
Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5:00 p.m. at the place
of mailing two working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays,
prior to September 4, 2002; and/or
3. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due
solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the U.S.
Department of Labor at the address indicated.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a
late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S.
Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible,
an application received after the above closing time and date shall be
processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped or
otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression)
that is readily identifiable without further action as having been
applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the
date of mailing. Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk
place a legible hand cancellation ``bull's-eye'' postmark on both the
receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at
the U. S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Procurement
Services Center on the application wrapper or other documentary
evidence or receipt maintained by that office.
Applications sent by other delivery services, such as Federal
Express, UPS, etc., will also be accepted; however the Department does
not accept dates or date stamps on such packages as evidence of timely
mailing. Thus, the applicant bears the responsibility of timely
submission.
All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the
Washington, DC area has been erratic due to concerns involving anthrax
contamination. All applicants must take this into consideration when
preparing to meet the application deadline. Therefore, it is
recommended that you confirm receipt of your application by contacting
Cassandra Willis, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services
Center, telephone (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free number),
prior to the closing deadline. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
may contact the Department via the Federal Relay Service, (800) 877-
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Authority
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Pub. L. 106-554, 114 Stat.
2763; 29 U.S.C. 557b; DOL, HHS, Education and Related Appropriations
Act, 2002, Pub. L. 107-116, 115 Stat. 2177; 21st Century Workforce
Initiative, Exec. Order No. 13218, 66 Fed. Reg. 33627 (June 20, 2001);
Agency Responsibilities with Respect to Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives, Exec. Order No. 13198, 66 FR 8497 (January 29, 2001).
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II. Background
ODEP's mission is to provide leadership to increase employment
opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities through expanded
access to training, education, employment supports, assistive
technology, integrated employment, entrepreneurial development and
small business opportunities. ODEP also fosters the creation of
employment opportunities by building partnerships with both public and
private sector employers and with regional and local agencies to
increase their awareness of the benefits of employing people with
significant disabilities and to facilitate the use of the effective
strategies to accomplish this goal.
The mission of the Office of the 21st CW is to ensure that all
American workers have as fulfilling and financially rewarding a career
as they aspire to have. Integral to this mission is making sure that no
worker gets left behind in the limitless potential of the dynamic,
global economy of this new millennium.
The Department of Labor's CFBCI seeks to create effective
partnerships between faith-based and community-based organizations and
the Department at the federal, state, and local levels. The purpose of
these partnerships is to bring the faith-based and community-based
organizations that are often in closest touch with the people and
problems that are the focus of federal social policy efforts into the
Department's employment and training programs.
The CFBCI coordinates a comprehensive departmental effort to
incorporate faith-based and other community-based organizations into
DOL programs and initiatives. CFBCI supports the creation of
initiatives and programs within the Department that utilize the
strengths of faith-based and community-based organizations to better
address the needs of underprivileged populations. The Center directs
national outreach efforts to educate faith-based and other community
organizations about the opportunities for partnership with local One-
Stop Career Centers, State and Local Workforce Investment Boards, State
Workforce Agencies, and the U.S. Department of Labor. CFBCI also works
in conjunction with DOL agencies to remove barriers to the
participation of community and faith-based organizations in federal
programs, including, but not limited to, the reform of regulations,
procurement and other internal policies and practices, and outreach
activities.
American workers with significant disabilities represent a
potentially abundant labor resource for employers, but encounter a
multitude of barriers, due, in part, to a lack of employment training
opportunities, employment-related services and access to technology.
Consequently, many people with significant disabilities have incomes at
or below the poverty rate and are economically disadvantaged.
This SGA reflects collaboration between ODEP, Office of 21CW, and
CFBCI born out of a commitment by each of these offices to ensure that
people with significant disabilities acquire the skills and services
they need to become employed through the One-Stop System in a variety
of jobs, industries, and levels, based on consumer choice. A key
component to employment success in the 21st century work place is
access to primary resources, such as electronic and information
technology (e.g., computers, computer software, fax machines, copiers,
Internet, distance learning equipment). This SGA addresses the lack of
these key resources by providing community and faith-based
organizations with appropriate technological and other resources needed
to allow them to effectively provide employment services to people with
disabilities.
Throughout the nation, local community organizations, many of which
are faith-based, make significant efforts to provide support and social
services to people with significant disabilities. These efforts
include, but are not limited to, food, shelter, counseling, and
financial support. Increasingly, these efforts include employment
training and placement assistance.
The effectiveness of employment training and services provided by
community and faith-based organizations, however, is often thwarted by
a lack of technological and other resources necessary to
comprehensively address the employment needs of the individuals with
significant disabilities. Incorporating community and faith-based
organizations as employment service providers in the One-Stop Center
System under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) (Public Law
105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) will help to address this need. Access
to electronic and information technology has the potential to increase
the ability of these types of organizations to administer other social
service programs such as those aimed at homelessness and reduced
dependency on federally funded social programs.
Technology creates gateways to jobs and training for people with
significant disabilities. Specialized devices, known as assistive
technology, in conjunction with generic technology products and
services designed for the broadest number of users (``universal
design'') enable a person with a disability to earn a living and
participate in the community. However, the resources for local
community and faith-based organizations are limited. Many of these
organizations are only able to operate through the support of community
churches, synagogues, and other community-based and faith-based
organizations. Their strength is frequently found in the humanity of
their efforts and the support of their volunteers who contribute time
and money. Additionally, these same organizations are often not
equipped to apply for federal grants because of the complexity of the
grant process.
As a result, community and faith-based organizations often lack the
capacity and resources to provide employment or placement assistance
services in the most effective or innovative manner. With access to
appropriate technological and other resources, however, many local
community and faith-based organizations may be in an excellent position
to assist in increasing employment opportunities for the population
with disabilities that they serve.
III. Purpose
The purpose of this grant program is to enable community and faith-
based organizations, to institute and/or expand upon the level of
employment-related services they provide to people with significant
disabilities in their training and services programs, working in direct
connection with the One-Stop Center system. Specifically, these
organizations will have the opportunity to become active in or expand
upon their current activities supporting the employment needs of people
with significant disabilities. Where needed to further employment
training and services to people with significant disabilities, this
grant may be used to acquire distance learning capabilities and access
electronic and information technology (e.g., computers, computer
software, fax machines, copiers, Internet, distance learning
equipment).
In responding to this SGA, the applicants must take into account
the following parameters of the project:
This SGA supports three to five grant demonstrations, not
to exceed the amount of $100,000 each, for community and faith-based
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organizations that institute or expand their services to include an
employment services program.
The demonstration must support employment opportunities
for people with significant disabilities in the applicant's local
community.
The SGA does not require applicants to pursue access or
acquisition to technology or technological training, but applicants are
encouraged to consider conducting such activities where a need has been
identified.
Where necessary, accessible electronic, assistive, and
information technology (e.g., computers, computer software, fax
machines, copiers, Internet, distance learning equipment) may be
purchased using grant funds to use in training customers with
disabilities for gainful employment and to allow them to better access
employment-related training and other services. This equipment will
become the property of the grantee at the end of the grant period.
An applicant can consider a range of model demonstration
activities using technology, including the use of loaned accessible
equipment for the home to enable the person to become trained and/or
employed (e.g., laptop, adapted computer keyboards, large button
keypads, software, TTY) or the use of technology where the organization
is located to enable people with significant disabilities to search for
jobs (e.g., Internet access and training on how to write and format a
scannable resume, job search using the Internet).
The applicant must explain how it will keep track of
electronic and information technology equipment that is purchased with
grant funds for use in an individual's home.
IV. Statement of Work
A successful applicant must initiate and/or expand its current
support and social services programs to include employment training and
services for people with significant disabilities and forge a link with
the local One-Stop Center. In developing these strategies, the
applicant must specifically outline its plan for: (1) Staffing and
support of the proposed project; (2) recruitment of people with
significant disabilities in the community who may benefit from
employment training and services; and (3) the acquisition,
installation, and maintenance of electronic and information technology
(e.g., computers, computer software, fax machines, copiers, Internet,
distance learning equipment) either at the organization's location or
in the person with disabilities' home if necessary to implement the
proposed project. The applicant organizations must be prepared to
implement their proposed employment training and services programs in
accordance with the descriptions presented in their grant proposal.
In addition the applicant must:
Provide a detailed plan for project goals, objectives, and
activities;
Produce procedures and materials that would enable other
local community and faith-based organizations to adopt the best
practices derived from this project;
Explain how it will integrate employment training and
employment services for people with significant disabilities into the
existing infrastructure of the services and support it provides; and,
Explain how it will work within the local One-Stop
Center(s) to address barriers to employment for people with significant
disabilities including those relating to access to technology. Also,
the grantees must be prepared to submit a report of progress, six
months after the award begins; and, a final report describing the
grant's achievements, upon the conclusion of the award. These reports
will be from three to six pages in length, with no more than two pages
exclusively devoted to a progress narrative.
V. Funding Availability
The total amount of the funds to be awarded is $300,000, with
individual awards of between $60,000 and $100,000. Accordingly,
approximately three to five grants will be awarded. It is expected that
the funds used for this SGA will support the costs associated with the
development and implementation of an employment services training
program in a community and faith-based organization, that, where
feasible, employs the use of information technology (e.g., computers,
computer software, fax machines, copiers, Internet, distance learning
equipment).
VI. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants must be community and faith-based organizations
operating at the local level. They must be public or private non-profit
organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations,
with a demonstrated record of service to the community. States and
other governmental entities are not eligible. Under Section 18 of the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization, as described in
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that engages in
lobbying activities is not eligible for the receipt of federal funds
constituting an award, grant, or loan. See 2 U.S.C. Sec. 1611; 26
U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(4).
VII. Application Contents
There are three required Parts and an Appendix of the application.
Requirements for each Part are provided in this application package, as
are all required forms.
Part I--Project Financial Plan (Budget).
Part II--Executive Summary.
Part III--Project Narrative.
Appendices--Letters of Commitment/Support, Resumes, etc.
General Requirements
Two copies and an original of the proposal must be submitted, one
of which must contain an original signature. Proposals must be
submitted by the applicant only. Page limits do not apply to the
Project Financial Plan, the Executive Summary, or the Appendices
(assurances, resumes, bibliography or references as appropriate, and
letters of support.) A font size of at least twelve point is required
throughout.
Part I--Project Financial Plan (Budget)
To be considered, applications must include a detailed financial
plan that identifies by line item the budget plan designed to achieve
the goals of this grant. The Project Financial Plan must contain the
SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, (Appendix A) and an SF-424A
Budget Information Sheet (Appendix B). The Project Financial Plan
(Budget) must include on a separate page a detailed cost analysis of
each line item. Justification for administrative costs must be
provided. Approval of a budget by DOL is not the same as the approval
of actual costs. The individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the
applicant must represent and be able to bind the responsible financial
and administrative entity for a grant should that application result in
an award.
Part II--Executive Summary
The application must contain an Executive Summary limited to no
more than two single-spaced, single-sided pages that are not included
in the overall page limit. Each application must provide a grant
synopsis that identifies the following:
The Applicant's capacity to administer this project
including its demonstrated record of service to the community;
The geographic area to be served through this grant; and
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The amount of funding requested and planned period of
performance up to a year.
Part III--Project Narrative
The project narrative must describe how the applicant, as an
employment service provider in the local One-Stop system, will provide
employment services for people with significant disabilities.
Specifically, the project narrative should set forth the strategic plan
to implement the Statement of Work set forth earlier in this document.
In developing the project narrative, the following should be
incorporated:
A description of the population to be served;
A description of the employment training and/or services
to be provided;
A description of the current, if any, and/or proposed
involvement with the local One-Stop Center;
A description of the applicant's experience, if any, in
managing resources through grant awards, from Federal, State or units
of local governments, and/or from private organizations; and
A description of the applicant's objectives, how the
project results will be measured, and who will be responsible for
providing DOL with financial and other information.
This project narrative may not exceed 15 pages. The narrative will
be evaluated in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria/Selection
section of this document. A Technical Evaluation Panel will assign
scores that are based on how well the project narrative meets the
evaluation criteria described in Section VIII of this solicitation. The
panel will make recommendations to the Grant officer who will make the
final determination based on all available information.
VIII. Evaluation Criteria/Selection
A. Evaluation Criteria
In evaluating the significance of the proposed project, the
Department will consider the following factors:
(1). The potential of the proposed project to impact the employment
opportunities of people with significant disabilities, including
persons whose disabilities arise from chronic illnesses; and, its plans
to work with the local One-Stop Center. (See Statement of Work section
on preceding pages of this document for further guidance on what will
be evaluated in this section of your proposal)--50 points
(2). The current employment needs of people with significant
disabilities that this proposed project will attempt to meet (offer any
statistics, case studies or other information which outline the reasons
why the proposed grant program is needed in the community)--20 points
(3). The qualifications of available staff, including volunteer
staff (identify who will direct and/or operate your proposed program
and include in your proposal either resumes or brief summary statements
indicative of their capabilities to deliver the proposed employment
support services that you wish to fund under this grant program)--10
points
(4). Evidence of past community service by the organization (either
describe or include in the Appendices any relevant articles, reports,
statements, etc. which attest to the organization's record of serving
your community with any kind of social services or support)--15 points
(5). The methodology for measuring success of this project. The
objectives must be clearly defined and the applicant must describe how
it will report: (a) The number of participants served; (b) the number
of participants who received employment; (c) the types of training and/
or services provided; and (d) the number of applicants that were
referred for more advanced job training in the local One-Stop Center--5
points
B. Selection Criteria
Acceptance of a proposal and an award of federal funds to sponsor
any program(s) is not a waiver of any grant requirement and/or
procedures. Awardees must comply with all applicable Federal statutes,
regulations, administrative requirements and OMB Circulars. For
example, the OMB circulars require, and an entity's procurement
procedures must require, that all procurement transactions shall be
conducted, as practical, to provide open and free competition. If a
proposal identifies a specific entity to provide the services, the
award does not provide the justification or basis to sole-source the
procurement, i.e., to avoid competition.
A panel will objectively rate each complete application against the
criteria described in this solicitation. The panel recommendations to
the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. The Grant Officer may elect
to award a cooperative agreement either with or without discussion with
the applicant. In situations where no discussion occurs, an award will
be based on the signed SF-424 form (see Appendix A), which constitutes
a binding offer. The Grant Officer may consider the availability of
funds and any information that is available and will make final award
decisions based on what is most advantageous to the government,
considering factors such as:
1. Findings of the technical evaluation panel;
2. Geographic distribution of the competitive applications;
3. Assuring a variety of program designs; and,
4. The availability of funds.
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United
States Constitution prohibits the government from directly funding
religious activity. These grants may not be used for instruction in
religion or sacred literature, worship, prayer, proselytizing or other
inherently religious practices. The services provided under these
grants must be secular and non-ideological. Grant or sub-grant
recipients, therefore, may not and will not be defined by reference to
religion. Neutral, secular criteria that neither favor nor disfavor
religion must be employed in their selection. In addition, under the
WIA and DOL regulations implementing the Workforce Investment Act, a
recipient may not employ or train a participant in sectarian
activities, or permit participants to construct, operate, or maintain
any part of a facility that is primarily used or devoted to sectarian
instruction or worship. Under WIA, no individual shall be excluded from
participation in, denied the benefits of, subjected to discrimination
under, or denied employment in the administration of or in connection
with, any such program or activity because of race, color, religion,
sex (except as otherwise permitted under title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972), national origin, age, disability, or political
affiliation or belief.
IX. Reporting
The grantee must furnish a progress report at the 6-month
anniversary of the award; and a final report due approximately 45 days
from the day of completion of the grant (approximately 12 months from
the execution of the grant award). These reports should be no more than
two pages of narrative, discussing the organization's efforts and
progress in meeting the objectives of its proposal. Additionally, these
reports should identify specific accounts of success in achieving
employment outcomes and other accomplishments of the grant. In
addition, a brief standard financial report will be required with each
report.
[[Page 50715]]
X. Administration Provisions
A. Administrative Standards and Provisions
Grants awarded under this SGA are subject to the following:
29 CFR Part 95-- Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations, and With
Commercial Organizations, Foreign Governments, Organizations Under the
Jurisdiction of Foreign Governments, and International Organizations
29 CFR Part 96--Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts and Other
Agreements
B. Allowable Cost
Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with
the following applicable Federal cost principles:
Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122
Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.
C. Grant Non-Discrimination Assurances
As a condition of the award the applicant must certify that it will
comply with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of
the following laws:
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 Disability in
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal
Assistance. (Implementing section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29
U.S.C. 794)
29 CFR Part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
(Implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C.
1681 et seq.)
29 CFR Part 37--Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions of
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) (Implementing Section 188 of
the Workforce Investment Act, 29 U.S.C. 2938)
The applicant must include assurances and certifications that it
will comply with these laws in its grant application. The assurances
and certifications are attached as Appendix C.
Signed at Washington, DC this 30th day of, July 2002.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
Appendix A. Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF 424
Appendix B. Budget Information Sheet, Form SF 424A
Appendix C. Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
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[FR Doc. 02-19639 Filed 8-2-02; 8:45 am]
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