Job Training Partnership Act: Job Corps Program; Selection of Sites for Centers; Notice DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor requests assistance in identifying

sites for locating four new Job Corps centers. This notice specifies

the requirements and criteria for selection.

DATES: Proposals are requested by March 13, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be addressed to the Assistant Secretary for

Employment and Training, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution

Avenue NW., room N4508, Washington, DC 20210. Attention: Peter E. Rell,

Director, Office of Job Corps.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter E. Rell, Director, Office of Job Corps. Telephone: (202) 219-8550

(this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Labor (Department) is

soliciting proposals for sites to establish four new Job Corps centers.

The Job Corps program is designed to serve disadvantaged young women

and men, 16 through 24, who are in need of additional educational,

vocational and social skills training, and other support services in

order to gain meaningful employment, return to school or enter the

Armed Forces. The program is primarily a residential program operating

24 hours per day, 7 days per week with non-resident enrollees limited

by legislation to 20 percent of national enrollment. However, while the

20-percent level should be used as a guideline, the percentage of non-

residents can vary from center to center, depending upon local needs.

To assist potential applicants, the Department of Labor will

conduct an orientation session from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on December 14,

1994 in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Training Center, room G440,

Postal Square Building at 2nd and Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC

(photo I.D. required for entrance). The orientation will enable

prospective proposers to obtain clarification of the information

provided in this Notice. If you plan to attend, please notify Mr. Peter

E. Rell at the phone number listed above by December 9, 1994.

From this solicitation, the Department intends to select four

localities for locating new centers. One of the four localities is

intended to be a replacement site for the Chesapeake Job Corps Center,

which was located in Maryland and was closed in 1989 for reasons

unrelated to performance.

This solicitation is for site selection only and not for the

operation of these Job Corps centers. A competitive contract

procurement for selection of a center operator at each site will be

initiated and completed well after the site selection process has been

completed.

Congress continued the Job Corps expansion authorized in previous

years by appropriating $10 million in the Fiscal Year 1995 Department

of Labor Appropriations Act to initiate four additional new Job Corps

centers. The accompanying congressional report language described the

use of a competitive process in selecting these sites and said that the

Department should give priority to those localities having a high level

of organized community support for a center and which are:

In States with less than 2 percent of eligible youth

currently served by the Job Corps program;

In States which can demonstrate a high incidence of

minority or other youth unemployment;

In States that currently have two or fewer Job Corps

centers and have not recently been selected for a new center in the

Department's selection process; and

In States with high percentages of non-urban youth.

Also, the report language instructed the Department to give

consideration to proposed sites that will serve individuals with

limited English proficiency.

The determination of need will be made by analyzing State-level

rural poverty and overall poverty rates for youth, ages 16 through 24,

youth unemployment, and limited English proficiency levels, using

standardized uniform data available through federal agencies, such as

1990 census data, Bureau of Labor Statistics publications, and existing

Job Corps centers, slots and locations.

In addition to the requirements in the appropriations language, the

Department will assess the facilities at proposed sites. The assessment

will be in terms of property acquisition costs, the cost and

suitability of existing structures and the need for, and cost of, new

construction and renovation.

Further, the Department will assess each jurisdiction's plan to use

State and local resources, both public and private, through

contributions/linkages that will reduce the Federal cost of operating a

Job Corps center. Such contributions/linkages may include, but are not

limited to, the provision of child care services by local

jurisdictions, provision of health services, alcohol and drug

counseling, referral of eligible youth to Job Corps, and job placement

assistance after leaving Job Corps, as well as arrangements with public

school systems, community college networks, social service agencies,

business and industry, and other training programs to provide such

services as classroom training, vocational training, advanced learning

opportunities, and co-enrollment arrangements with appropriate JTPA

programs. Contributions of this nature will make maximum use of

available statewide and community resources in meeting the needs of

these youth.

Finally, additional points will be awarded for proposed sites

located in empowerment zones and enterprise communities in accordance

with guidelines in ``Building Communities: Together,'' published by the

U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture in

the spring of 1994. Under this program, the Federal Government will

designate up to 104 areas that meet certain poverty and distress

criteria and prepare creative strategic plans for revitalization. The

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will designate up to six

urban Empowerment Zones and 65 Enterprise Communities and the Secretary

of Agriculture will designate up to three rural Empowerment Zones and

30 Enterprise Communities. Announcement of these is expected to be made

in December 1994.

Eligible applicants for proposing sites are units of State and/or

local governments. A Federal agency also may propose sites to the

extent that such sites are located on public land which is under the

jurisdiction of the agency. In addition, proposals submitted by Federal

agencies must have the support of appropriate State and local

governments.

Since Job Corps is primarily a residential program and provides

academic education, vocational training, and extensive support

services, space and facilities suitable for the following types of

utilization are required for a Job Corps center.

Residential--Adequate housing, including bath and lounge

facilities, as well as appropriate administrative space.

Academic Education--Space for classrooms, computer labs,

and library resources.

Vocational Training--Classroom and shop space to satisfy

the needs of specific vocational training areas (e.g., carpentry,

clerical, painting, culinary arts, health education). The configuration

of the vocational area, with regard to classroom and shop areas, is

determined by the ultimate vocational mix offered at the center. In

this regard, heavy trades, such as construction and automotive, require

shop areas, while lighter trades, such as clerical and retail sales,

require only classroom space.

Food Services--Cafeteria, including food preparation and

food storage areas.

Medical/Dental--Medical examining rooms, nurses' station,

infirmary space for male and female students, and dental facilities.

Recreation--Gymnasium/multi-purpose recreational facility

and large, level outdoor area.

Administration--General office and conference space.

Storage/Support--Warehousing and related storage including

operations and maintenance support.

Parking--Sufficient for a minimum of 70 vehicles. Other

factors that influence the suitability and cost of facilities necessary

to operate a Job Corps center include the following:

Configuration of Facility

The preferred configuration of a facility is a campus-type

environment permitting a self-contained center with all space

requirements located on-site. Low-rise buildings such as those commonly

found in public school and college settings are preferred.

The Office of Job Corps has developed prototype designs for

selected facilities where new construction is necessary. Parties

interested in obtaining copies of these designs may do so by contacting

the Office of Job Corps at the address shown above.

Location of Facilities

Facilities should be located in areas where neighbors are

supportive and no major pervasive community opposition exists. Past

experience indicates that commercial, light industrial, and rural

locations are most desirable in this regard, while high-value

residential locations are the least conducive to community acceptance.

In addition, access to emergency medical services and fire and law

enforcement assistance should be within reasonable distances. If non-

residential enrollment is planned, direct and easy access to the center

by public transportation is an important consideration. Moreover,

proposed sites should be within reasonable commuting distance of

planned linkages with other programs and services and easy access to

transportation to these linkages should be available. Locations with

major environmental issues, zoning restrictions, flood plain and storm

drainage requirements, or uncertainty regarding utility connections

that cannot be resolved efficiently and in a timely manner are less

than desirable. Likewise, a facility with buildings which are eligible

under the National Historical Preservation Act may receive less than

favorable consideration, due to restrictions on and costs for

renovation. Communities are encouraged to hold public hearings in close

proximity to the facilities being proposed to ascertain the level of

community support for a Job Corps center. The Office of Job Corps has

developed a 12-minute video (available in English and Spanish) which

provides an overview of the Job Corps program and can be useful in

informing the local community about Job Corps. Any proposer interested

in obtaining a copy of either version of this video may contact the

Office of Job Corps at the address shown above.

Own/Lease

Ownership is preferred over leased facilities, since most

facilities will require a substantial investment of construction funds

to make the site suitable for Job Corps utilization. Exceptions are

long-term leases (e.g., 25 years or longer) at a nominal cost (e.g.,

$1/year).

Size

The size (capacity) of Job Corps centers can vary substantially.

However, centers with a capacity of less than approximately 275

students are relatively cost-inefficient in terms of operating cost.

Centers above approximately 500 students are less desirable from a

programmatic and management standpoint.

The following table shows the approximate gross square feet (GSF)

required for the various types of buildings. The examples shown are for

centers with 100-percent residential capacity of 275 and 500 students,

respectively. The substitution of non-resident for resident students

will decrease the dormitory space requirements, but will not affect

other buildings.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

GSF per GSF per

Building type GSF per 275 500

student students students

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Housing................................... 175 48,125 87,500

Education/Vocation........................ 85 23,375 42,500

Food Services............................. 44 12,100 22,000

Recreation................................ 82 22,550 41,000

Medical/Dental............................ 12 3,300 6,000

Administration............................ 26 7,150 13,000

Storage/Support........................... 57 15,675 28,500

-------------------

Subtotal.............................. ........ 132,275 240,500

===================

Child Care Center (40 children)........... ........ 5,760 5,760

-------------------

Subtotal.............................. ........ 138,035 246,260

===================

Single Parent Dorm (minimum 28)........... ........ 9,894 9,894

-------------------

Total................................. ........ 147,929 256,154

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Space requirements for child care and single parent

dormitories are included in the event these activities are proposed.

Land Requirements

Listed below is the acreage needed for centers with 275 and 500

students, respectively.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

GSF per 275 students GSF per 500 students

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acreage................ 15-19 acres............ 23-27 acres.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Availability of Utilities

Since the majority of students are residential, it is critical that

all basic utilities (i.e., sewer, water, electric and gas) are

available and in proximity to the site and in accordance with EPA

standards.

Safety, Health and Accessibility

Job Corps is required to comply with the requirements of the

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Environmental Protection

Act (EPA), and the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). The

cost involved in complying with these requirements is an important

factor in determining the economic feasibility of utilizing a site. For

example, a site which contains an excessive amount of asbestos probably

would not be cost-effective due to associated removal costs. Further,

sites with any environmental hazard that cannot be corrected

economically will be at a disadvantage.

Cost

The availability of low-cost facilities is a major consideration in

light of resource limitations. In evaluating facility costs, the major

items that must be considered are:

Site acquisition or lease costs,

Site/utility work,

Architectural and engineering services,

New construction requirements,

Rehabilitation and modifications of existing buildings,

and

Equipment requirements.

An assessment of these initial capital costs as well as

consideration of future repair, maintenance and replacement costs will

be used in evaluating the economic feasibility of a particular

facility. Consideration will be given to the use of raw land which is

suitable for a Job Corps center and on which facilities can be

constructed economically.

Proposal Submission

In preparing proposals, eligible applicants should identify sites

which meet the evaluation criteria and guidelines specified above.

Proposals should address each area with as much detail as practicable

to enable the Department to determine the suitability of locating a Job

Corps center at the proposed site. In this regard, proposals must

contain, at a minimum, the specific information and supporting

documentation as described below

Facilities

Submissions must provide a full description of existing buildings,

including a building site layout, square footage, age, and general

condition of each structure. Included in the description must be a

discussion of its current or previous use; the number of years

unoccupied, if appropriate; and the condition of sub-systems such as

heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, plumbing, and

electrical. Any building documents, such as blueprints, should be

available for review when a site inspection is conducted by the

Department. Documentation in the nature of photographs of the property

and/or facilities must be submitted as well. In addition, a videotaped

presentation of the site may be provided. The proposal must identify

the extent to which hazardous materials such as asbestos, PCB, and

underground storage tanks are present at the site or, if appropriate,

confirm that contaminants do not exist. The results of any

environmental assessment for the proposed site, if one has been done,

must be provided. The proposal must address the availability and

proximity of utilities to the proposed site, including electrical,

water, gas, and sanitary sewer and runoff connections. It must also

describe whether the water and sewer utilities for existing buildings

are connected to the municipal system or operated separately. A

statement on current zoning classification and any zoning restrictions

for the proposed site must also be included. Use of the site as a Job

Corps center should be compatible with surrounding local land use and

also with local zoning ordinances. Confirmation must be provided as to

whether or not any buildings at the site are on a Federal or State

Historical Preservation Register. The proposal must also describe the

available acreage at the site, and the nature of the surrounding

environment including whether it is commercial, industrial, light

industrial, rural, or residential. In some instances, proposed sites

may be part of a substantially larger acreage which has or contemplates

having other uses. This type of joint-use situation may or may not be

compatible with providing a quality training environment for young

women and men. Finally , the proposal must address the cost of

acquiring the site, which may involve transferring the site to the

government at no cost, entering into a low-cost long-term lease

agreement or arranging for a negotiated purchase price based on a fair

market appraisal. Estimated acquisition costs along with the basis for

the estimate must be included in the proposal.

Contributions/Linkages

An important aspect of any proposal will be its description of how

State and local resources will be used to reduce Federal operating

costs. It is, therefore, essential that precise and comprehensive

information about the linkages be available to ensure that the proposed

site receives every opportunity for an equitable evaluation. The

proposal should contain for each linkage the following information:

A comprehensive description of the service to be provided,

including projected listing of resources that will be involved such as

number of instructors/staff, types of equipment and materials.

Whether it will be provided at no cost to Job Corps or

will be available on a contractual (paid) basis to Job Corps.

Whether the linkage will be provided on-site or off-site.

The number of students to be served and over what period

of time, as well as the specific benefits to Job Corps students while

in Job Corps and/or after leaving the program.

Distance to linkage, if off-site, and any arrangements for

transportation to off-site services, including any cost to Job Corps.

The estimated annual value of the contribution and the

basis on which the estimate was determined (e.g., two full-time staff

devoted to Job Corps at an annual salary of $30,000 each for a total

annual value of $60,000, or one hour of a professional staff-person's

time per week for 52 weeks at an hourly rate of $15.00 for an annual

value of $780, or 15 computers at a cost of $1,800 each for an annual

value of $27,000).

Any limitations associated with the linkage, such as

eligibility restrictions (e.g., in-state versus out-of-state

residents), limited hours of service, and availability over time (e.g.,

all-year versus selected months).

Long-term prospects for continuation of the commitment

(e.g., one time only, 1 year, on-going, dependent on outside funding

sources). If dependent on outside funding levels, which may vary

significantly, what is the likelihood that the linkage will not be

funded?

Documentation that addresses timeframes and steps involved

in firming up the linkage, if appropriate, including obtaining State or

local legislation, fitting into other planning cycles, or securing

other agreements or arrangements which may be necessary to assure

provision of the service.

A letter of commitment confirming each aspect of the

linkage, including the level of resources and annual value of these

resources, from the head of the agency responsible for delivering the

contribution.

Name of the agency/organization(s), address, telephone

number and contact person.

In providing information on linkages, proposers should keep in mind

that Job Corps is an open-entry, open-exit, individualized, self-paced

instructional program that operates on a year-round basis. This type of

learning environment may have implications for the types of linkages

being offered.

In preparing the linkage/contribution part of their proposals,

eligible applicants should provide full information on each proposed

linkage/contribution. Each item listed above should be addressed for

each linkage/contribution, providing as much information as is needed

to ensure that each proposed linkage receives a fair assessment.

Other Information

Proposals should include any other information the applicant

believes pertinent to the proposed site for consideration by the

Department. This information may include: letters of community support

from elected officials, government agencies, community leaders and

neighborhood associations; access to cultural/recreation activities in

the community; and unique features in the surrounding area which would

enhance the location of a Job Corps center at that site.

Also, proposals should indicate whether or not the proposed site is

located in either a designated Empowerment Zone or Enterprise

Community. The Department will verify any designation referenced in the

proposal.

The Job Corps legislation provides the Governor with the

opportunity to veto the establishment of a center within a State. It is

important that, before proposing the use of any particular location,

appropriate clearances are obtained from local and State political

leadership.

With regard to timeframes for choosing sites for the establishment

of Job Corps centers, the site selection process normally take 8 months

to complete. This allows sufficient time for eligible applicants to

prepare and submit proposals and for the Department to conduct a

preliminary site assessment of all proposed facilities, as well as a

comprehensive site utilization study for those sites having high

potential for the establishment of a Job Corps center, based on the

preliminary assessment results. Governors of States in which high-

potential sites are identified will be provided written notification by

the Department, in accordance with section 435(c) of the Job Training

Partnership Act, that these sites are in a final phase of

consideration. Each Governor will be provided a 30-day time period to

approve or reject further consideration of establishment of a Job Corps

center at the identified site(s).

The Department hereby requests eligible proposers to submit

proposals to be received no later than March 13, 1995, using the

guidance provided above.

Signed in Washington, DC, this 9th day of November, 1994.

Doug Ross,

Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 94-28281 Filed 11-15-94; 8:45 am]

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