Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D, Demonstration Program: Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) for Fiscal Year 1995 (Now Being Completed in Fiscal Year 1996)

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D, Demonstration

Program: Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) for Fiscal Year 1995

(Now Being Completed in Fiscal Year 1996)

AGENCY: Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant

Applications (SGA 96-01).

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SUMMARY: All information required to submit a proposal is contained in

this announcement. All applicants for grant funds should read this

notice in its entirety. The Women's Bureau (Washington, D.C.), U.S.

Department of Labor (USDOL), announces a grant competition for

demonstration program authorized under the Nontraditional Employment

for Women (NEW) Act funded through Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA),

Title IV-D funds administered by the Employment and Training

Administration. The NEW Act amends the Job Training Partnership Act

(JTPA) and is incorporated into the subsequent Job Training Reform

Amendments of 1992. With the Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA)

96-01, the Women's Bureau expects to award grants to six States, the

maximum allowed by the NEW legislation.

This notice describes the background, the application process,

statement of work, evaluation criteria, and reporting requirements for

Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA 96-01). WB anticipates that up

to a total amount of $1.5 million will be available for the support of

all grants using demonstration funding.

DATES: One (1) ink-signed original, complete grant application (plus

five (5) copies of the Technical Proposal and three (3) copies of the

Cost Proposal shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor,

Office of Procurement Services, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue,

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, not later than 4:45 p.m., Eastern

Daylight Saving Time, April 26, 1996, or be postmarked by the U.S.

Postal Service on or before that date. Hand delivered applications must

be received by the Office of Procurement Services by that time.

ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to the U.S. Department of

Labor, Office of Procurement Services, Attention: Lisa Harvey,

Reference SGA 96-01, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Harvey, Office of Procurement

Services, Telephone (202) 219-6445 [not a toll-free number]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement consists of five parts:

Part I describes the background and purpose of the demonstration

program and identifies demonstration policy and topics. Part II

describes the application process and provides detailed guidelines for

use in applying for demonstration grants. Part III includes the

Statement of Work for the demonstration projects. Part IV identifies

and defines the evaluation criteria to be used in reviewing and

evaluating applications. Part V describes the deliverables and

reporting requirements.

[[Page 7807]]

Part I. Background

A. The Women's Bureau

The WB will provide the policy leadership in this project.

Improving women's employment opportunities and other employment related

equity and social issues has been the driving force of the Women's

Bureau since its inception in 1920. Within the Department of Labor, the

Director serves as the policy advisor on women's issues to the

Secretary and other DOL agencies charged with improving the economic

and worklife of American workers.

The Women's Bureau identifies nontraditional occupations as good

jobs, characterized by employment growth, employee benefits relative to

the local economic conditions. Such jobs include health and pension

benefits, above average earnings that can provide self-sufficiency for

women and their families. Statistically, nontraditional occupations

(NTOs) is one in which less than 25 percent of the persons employed in

an occupational group are women. Further, NTOs include a broad array of

skilled technical and computer-based occupations in manufacturing,

transportation, public utilities and communications industries, as well

as the apprenticeable skilled trades in the building and construction

industry.

B. NEW Policy

WB has a history of promoting the recruitment, retention and

promotion of women in nontraditional jobs. The Bureau encourages women

to CONSIDER the wide array of occupations nontraditional to women as a

way of becoming self-sufficient. These occupations include skilled,

blue-collar trades, technical jobs in the business service, health

care, telecommunications, and public utilities among other good jobs

where women are underrepresented. These are industries projected to

have above average growth into the 21st Century and to pay a living

wage with benefits.

The NEW Act exemplary demonstration program funding must develop

and/or supplement, not supplant funding already in place to train,

place, or support the movement of women in nontraditional employment.

Grant funds must not be used as ``replacement'' funds for activities

that are currently funded through other Federal programs, such as other

JTPA titles, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology

Education Act, etc. Therefore, NEW Act grant funds can be used in

addition to, but not instead of, other Federal funds to expand or

enhance programs.

The NEW Act provisions encourage efforts by the Federal, State, and

local levels of government aimed at providing a wider range of

opportunities for women under the JTPA; to provide incentives to

establish programs that will train, place, and retain women in

nontraditional fields; and to facilitate coordination between the JTPA

and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act

to maximize the effectiveness of resources available for training and

placing women in nontraditional employment.

The NEW Act demonstration program grant awards are funded under

JTPA Title IV-D. The funding is set at $1.5 million, annually, to make

up to six (6) awards for fiscal years 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 (with

the current Solicitation for Grant Applications).

C. NEW Authorities

The grants were first authorized under the Nontraditional

Employment for Women (NEW) Act, Public Law 102-235, signed December

1991, effective July 1992. The NEW Act amends the Job Training

Partnership Act (JTPA) and is incorporated into the subsequent Job

Training Reform Amendments of 1992. Further, under an intra-agency

agreement, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the

Women's Bureau (WB) jointly administer the NEW Act, with the Women's

Bureau having responsibility for the implementation of the

demonstration program grants to States' provisions.

D. Purpose of the NEW Demonstration Grants

In the fourth and final year of competitive NEW Act grants, the

Department expects States to use NEW Act funds to continue and expand

its activities to make JTPA more responsive to women in a broad array

of occupations nontraditional to women by focusing on the JTPA system

and its training and placement programs under Title II-A. Along with

seeking geographic and race-ethnic diversity in program participants

over the four years of the NEW demonstration program, the NEW

legislation requires that the USDOL also consider how programs reflect

in making the NEW demonstration proposed program grant awards:

(1) the level of coordination between the JTPA and other resources

available for training women in nontraditional employment, i.e., Carl

D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, Intermodal

Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), Department of Housing

and Urban Development, etc., and other Federal, State and local job

training resources;

(2) the extent of private sector involvement in the development and

implementation of training programs under the JTPA;

(3) the extent to which the initiatives proposed by a State

supplement or build upon existing efforts in a State to train and place

women in nontraditional employment;

(4) the extent to which a State is prepared to disseminate

information on its demonstration training programs, and

(5) the extent to which a State is prepared to produce materials

that allow for replication of such State's demonstration training

program.

Part II. Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

The State is the eligible applicant for a NEW demonstration grant

award. The Governor of each State, as is the case with JTPA Titles II

and III, is the recipient of awards under the NEW Act. Governors in

turn designate an agency at the State level to administer JTPA for the

State; that agency can apply for the NEW grants on behalf of the

Governor and the State. The criteria for what States can do with the

funds to implement the NEW demonstration grants, i.e., subgrants is as

prescribed in the NEW Act and follows.

States receiving grants under this demonstration program may use

such funds to:

award grants to service providers in the State to design

and implement programs that train and otherwise prepare women for

nontraditional employment. States choosing to award funds directly to

service providers may only award grants to community-based

organizations, educational institutions, or other service providers

that have demonstrated success in occupational skills training; and

award grants to (1) service delivery areas (SDAs) that

plan and demonstrate the ability to train, place and retain women in

nontraditional employment or to (2) service delivery areas on the basis

of exceptional past performance in training, placing and retaining

women in nontraditional employment. The State must also ensure, when

awarding grants to service delivery areas on the basis of prior

exceptional performance, that such prior success is not attributable or

related to the activities of a service provider receiving funds

directly from the State, as described in the previous paragraph. For

example, the State may not award funds to SDA 5 on the basis of its

program having an

[[Page 7808]]

85 percent placement rate if the program was actually conducted by a

community-based organization, and the placement rate is a result of

exceptional job development on the CBO's part, and the CBO has received

funds under this grant.

States and their subgrantees/subcontractors have the option of

retaining up to 10 percent of NEW grant funds to pay for administrative

costs associated with the demonstration (including travel), assist and/

or facilitate coordination to statewide approaches, or provide

technical assistance to service providers. The 10 percent limitation on

administrative costs is prescribed in the NEW Act itself and cannot be

changed by the Department. Administrative costs are defined in the

Final Rule for the JTPA, 20 CFR Part 626, et al., see 627.440(d)(5)

Administration. (As published in the Federal Register on Tuesday,

December 29, 1992, Vol. 57, No. 250, Page 62041). Note the provision in

Section K, below, which states if the total administrative costs exceed

10% of the grant proposal, the proposal will be considered non-

responsive.

B. Contents

To be considered responsive to the Solicitation for Grant

Applications (SGA), the application must consist of the following

separate sections. ANY PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THESE STANDARDS

MAY BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE TO THIS SGA AND WILL NOT BE EVALUATED.

To be considered responsive to the Solicitation for Grant

Applications (SGA), each application must consist of and follow the

order of the sections listed in Part III of this solicitation. The

applicant must also include information which the applicant believes

will address the selection criteria identified in Part IV. Technical

proposals shall not exceed 25 single sided, double spaced, 10 to 12

pitch typed pages (not including attachments). Any proposals that do

not conform to these standards shall be deemed nonresponsive to this

SGA and will not be evaluated.

To facilitate proposal evaluation, the applicant shall submit

separate sections entitled ``Technical Proposal'' and ``Business

Proposal'' (one original and five copies of the Technical Proposal and

one original and two copies of the Business Proposal). These sections

must be physically separate (i.e., the Business Proposal must start on

a new page).

1. Technical Proposal

Each proposal shall include (a) a two (2) page abstract which

summarizes the proposal and makes clear how the proposed project will

improve JTPA-sponsored programs to be more responsive to women in

nontraditional training and placement, including responses to items 1-5

under Part III, Section B; and (b) a full description of the State's

proposed project for an exemplary demonstration project to train and

place women in nontraditional occupations; how it fits with the State's

JTPA Title II-A training and placement; and how the project will

provide for capacity building to make the State's JTPA system more

responsive to women in nontraditional activities after the proposed NEW

Project funding is complete. No cost data or reference to price shall

be included in the technical proposal.

2. Cost Proposal

The cost (business) proposal must be separate from the technical

proposal. The transmittal letter, all letters of support, and public

policy certificates shall be attached to the business proposal, which

shall consist of the following:

a. Standard Form 424: Application for Federal Assistance, signed by

an official from the applicant organization who is authorized to enter

the organization into a grant agreement with the Department of Labor.

b. Budget Information: Budget Information must consist of the

following: ``Budget Information,'' Sections A-F of Standard Budget Form

424A. (Use the forms and instructions provided, with the following

qualifications)

(1) In Section A, Budget Summary, enter in column (e), the amount

of Federal funds applied for; enter in column (f) the total value of

any match/in-kind contributions. Provide totals in column (g) and row

5.

(2) In Section B, Budget Categories, enter detailed separate cost

breakdowns for both the amount of Federal funds requested in the grant

application (entered in column 1) and the total amount of in-kind

services and/or matching funds that shall be made available (column 2).

Column (3) line i, enter the grantee and subgrantee direct

administrative cost. Subgrantee/subcontractor and grantee indirect

administrative costs must be entered in Column (3) line j. Line (k),

Column 3 represents the total Federal dollars to support administrative

charges to the grant project. This total cannot exceed 10% of total

Federal dollars requested. Any grant proposal which exceeds the 10%

maximum (or which does not report administrative costs in Column 3)

will be considered non-responsive and will not be evaluated. Although

administrative costs charged to the Department are limited, there is no

limitation for administrative charges supported with matching funds.

Matching resources can be used to support the complete range of

activities allowed under this legislation. (See JTPA Final Rule, 20 CFR

Part 626 et al., at 627.440(d)(5) as referenced on Page 7 of Part I for

allowable administrative costs). The grantee must ensure that all

administrative costs, grantee and subgrantee, are clearly indicated on

the budget back-up (See paragraph C of this Section.)

The object class category entitled ``j. Indirect Charges'' shall

not be used when it is proper and appropriate to direct charge costs

relating to the program. The indirect charges object class category is

properly used to display costs based on (a) an approved, negotiated

indirect cost rate with either the Department of Labor (DOL) or another

cognizant Federal Government audit agency; or (b) a proposed rate based

on a cost allocation plan that might be used as a 90-day billing rate

for the grant award until the grantee can negotiate an acceptable and

allowable rate with the Office of Cost Determination of DOL.

It is not required that project functions or activities within the

proposed project be listed in separate columns of Section B, unless the

functions or activities are disparate.

Note that the total requested in Column 5 will always be the sum of

Columns 1 and 2 only, as Column 3 represents the administrative portion

of Column 1 funds.

(3) In Section C, Non-Federal Resources, enter the amounts of

proposed matching funds and/or in-kind contributions from each source,

Federal and non-Federal. Specify the sources. Provisions governing the

allowability and valuation of in-kind contributions are contained in 29

CFR Part 97 for State and local governments, all others see 29 CFR Part

95.

(4) In Section D, Forecasted Cash Needs, provide a non-cumulative

breakout of projected expenditures for each quarter for both the

Federal funds (line 13) and the Match/In Kind funds (line 14), along

with Totals (line 15).

c. Budget Back-up Information: As an attachment to the Standard

Budget Forms, the applicant must provide at a minimum, and on separate

sheet(s), program/administrative costs which include the following

information (applicants are encouraged to use the attached budget back-

up format that provides for display of all the required information):

[[Page 7809]]

(1) A breakout of all personnel costs by position title, salary

rates and percent of time of each position to be devoted to the

proposed project;

(2) An explanation and breakout of extraordinary fringe benefit

rates and associated charges (i.e., rates exceeding 35% of salaries and

wages);

(3) An explanation of the purpose and composition of, and method

used to derive the costs of each of the following: travel, equipment,

supplies, sub-agreements and any other costs. The applicant shall

include costs of any required travel described in the attached Special

Provisions. Mileage charges shall not exceed 30 cents per mile.

(4) Description/specification of and justification for equipment

purchases, if any. Any non-expendable personal property having a unit

acquisition cost of $500 or more, and a useful life of two or more

years must be specifically identified (State and local governments see

29 CFR Part 97, all others see 29 CFR Part 95).

(5) Identification of all sources of matching funds and explanation

of the derivation of the value of matching/in-kind services. For

instance, in-kind contributions may result from the required program

coordination with JTPA and other resources or, in the delivery of

services, where existing programs are being utilized to complement and

supplement the demonstration program.

Applicants are advised that information and dollar amounts provided

in the budget back-up must be consistent with and therefore, easily

cross-walked to Section B, Object Class Category, of the Standard

Budget Forms. They should also be consistent with the budget narrative

contained in the application.

d. Budget Narrative:

(1) A narrative explanation of the budget which describes all

proposed costs and indicates how they are related to the operation of

the project.

(2) This shall include, at a minimum, an identification of staff

associated with the program and a description of their duties relative

to the program. The description shall justify the percentages of staff

time being charged to the grant.

(3) Travel, equipment, supplies, contractual (including subgrants),

and other charges in the budget shall be explained and justified with

respect to the project approach.

(4) Provide this information separately for the amount of requested

Federal funding and the amount of proposed match/in-kind contribution.

e. Indirect Cost Information: If indirect charges are claimed in

the proposed budget, the applicant must provide on a separate sheet,

the following information:

(1) Name and address of cognizant Federal audit agency;

(2) Name, address and phone number (including area code) of the

Government auditor;

(3) Documentation from the cognizant agency indicating:

(a) Indirect cost rate and the base against which the rate should

be applied;

(b) Effective period (dates) for the rate;

(c) Date last rate was computed and negotiated;

(4) If no government audit agency computed and authorized the rate

claimed, provide brief explanation of computation, who computed and the

date; if the applicant is awarded a grant, the proposed indirect rate

must be submitted to a Federal audit agency within 90 days of award for

approval.

C. Funding Levels

The Department expects to make six awards to States, the maximum

allowed under the NEW Act. Proposal (i.e., grant application) funding

requests should average $250,000.

D. Length of Grant and Grant Awards

The initial performance period for the grants awarded under this

SGA shall be for eighteen (18) months of program performance, with the

option to extend for up to three months as a no cost extension to

complete final reports. Each applicant shall reflect in their

application the intention to begin operation no later than June 1996.

E. Submission

One (1) ink-signed original, complete grant application (plus five

(5) copies of the Technical Proposal and two (2) copies of the Business

Proposal) shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of

Procurement Services, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20210, not later than 4:45 pm EDT, April 26, 1996.

Hand delivered applications must be received by the Office of

Procurement Services by that time.

Any application received at the Office of Procurement Services

after 4:45 pm EDT will not be considered unless it is received before

award is made and:

1. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than April

21, 1996;

2. 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 above address; or

3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day

Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5:00 pm at the place

of mailing April 24, 1996.

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 shall request that the postal

clerk place a legible hand cancellation bull's-eye postmark on both the

receipt and the wrapper or envelope.

The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a

late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Mail Next Day Service-Post

Office to Addressee is the date entered by the post office receiving

clerk on the ``Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee''

label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original

receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the same meaning

as defined above. Therefore, applicants shall request that 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 Office of

Procurement Services on the application wrapper or other documentary

evidence of receipt maintained by that office.

Applications sent by telegram or facsimile (FAX) will not be

accepted.

Part III. Statement of Work--Key Features

A. Introduction--Program Focus

State applicants are encouraged to submit proposals to provide

technical assistance and program development to cause and sustain

systemic change in their JTPA system: (1) to build the capacity of JTPA

systems to promote and provide training and placement nontraditional

for women in JTPA and; (2) to develop new initiatives or supplement

existing exemplary training and placement programs that are responsive

to the needs of JTPA-eligible women in nontraditional occupations

(NTOs) training and placement. Special consideration will be given to

programs modeled on the contextual or integrated

[[Page 7810]]

learning concept incorporated in JTPA Title II-A training and

placement. Skill training activities should have the support of JTPA

Title II-A training funds in addition to NEW Act demonstration program

grant funding.

Moreover, the USDOL is seeking States with proposals that build on

and/or support demonstrated experience in the following areas:

--provide evidence of demonstrated experience and commitment to the

goals and objectives of the NEW Act since its implementation in 1992;

--provide evidence of the use of technical assistance to build the

capacity of their JTPA system to institutionalize exemplary

nontraditional training and placement to JTPA-eligible women in

whatever employment and training process emerges, i.e., One-Stop Career

Centers, Workforce Development Centers, etc.;

--provide evidence of implementing systemic change in JTPA service

delivery to increase the participation of women in nontraditional

occupations (NTOs) training and placement;

--provide evidence of cooperation and coordination of programs/services

to support JTPA-eligible women in nontraditional occupational training

and placement;

In addition, in awarding NEW grants, the Department of Labor will give

priority consideration to States with JTPA systems that have both (1)

established goals of 15 percent or more for training and placing women

in a broader range of JTPA training and placement of women in

nontraditional occupations (NTOs) and (2) where there is an increase of

JTPA-eligible women in NTOs since the implementation of NEW in July

1992 that has measured more than 25 percent over the July 1992-July

1995 (or most recent) period. The activities of JTPA systems that

reflect such leadership goals and results can provide guidance to the

JTPA system nationwide, as well as the employment and training

community, more generally.

In addition to the following specifications, please read Part I

Background, Section D ``Purpose of NEW Demonstration Grants'' for a

full consideration of the USDOL's program expectations for making NEW

grant awards.

B. Program Design--Key Features

To be fully responsive to this SGA, proposal submission should

address the following issues in the introduction and summary of the

proposal for this SGA:

1. A concise and direct statement, including statistical outcomes,

of the goals and objectives for the State's JTPA system and its

commitment to training and placing JTPA-eligible women in

nontraditional occupations (NTOs) from its Governor's Coordination and

Special Services Program (GCSSP). Priority consideration will be given

to State proposals with statewide statistical goals of 15 percent or

more and a 25 percent increase over the July 1992-1995.

2. A statistical table of women in JTPA nontraditional training

and placement, 1992-1993--numbers and as a percent of total training

and placement and as a percent of women's training and placement.

Priority consideration will be given to State proposals that also cross

tabulate the training and placement data by occupation, industry, and

wages data.

3. A concise and direct statement on how the proposed activities

will broaden the range of training and placement of women in the JTPA

system.

4. A concise and direct statement on how proposed activities will

empower the JTPA system to institutionalize strategies to support women

in nontraditional training and placement.

5. The State proposal's program design focuses on which of the

following:

* * * A new initiative building on other State NEW- specific

activities;

* * * An expansion or supplement to ongoing State NEW-specific

activities;

* * * Largely client focus on training and placement;

* * * Largely provides for JTPA capacity building;

Each of the design features below should be clearly identified by

using the feature identifier as a ``side head'' above the description

(i.e., see State Involvement., below) in its proposal submission for a

NEW Demonstration Program:

1. State's Involvement. The Bureau expects the State to be an

active participant in the development of the proposed program

activities and in the implementation of the demonstration program once

a grant has been awarded. Therefore, applicants should describe the

activities conducted by the State, whether through the State JTPA

liaison, the State JTPA agency, or both, for proposal development and

program implementation and how the proposal is expected to impact--not

only to enhance and/or expand its nontraditional training and

employment opportunities for JTPA-eligible women under an existing JTPA

program, but to provide technical assistance to provide capacity

building to cause systemic change in the State JTPA service delivery to

women in nontraditional training and placement.

2. Private Sector Involvement. The extent of private sector

involvement in the development and implementation of training programs

under the JTPA could include, but are not limited to, the following

activities: joint ventures in skill training and the development of

effective and efficient administrative and management skills; industry

instructors for classroom and/or integrated or contextual learning

programs to increase the training and placement of JTPA-eligible women

in nontraditional careers. Also see Linkages and Coordination

immediately below.

3. Linkages and Coordination. The NEW Act calls for coordination

between JTPA and other resources available (Federal and/or State) for

training women in nontraditional employment, both in the Governor's

Coordination and Special Services Plan (GCSSP) developed for Title II-A

and for the demonstration grants. Therefore, any linkages and

collaborative efforts that exist between JTPA and other programs, such

as registered apprenticeship programs or the Carl D. Perkins Vocational

and Applied Technology Education Act (Perkins), Intermodal Surface

Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), Department of Housing and Urban

Development, etc., and other Federal, State and local job training

resources: (a) between JTPA and other entities, such as Federal and/or

State contractors or State agencies responsible for work that is

nontraditional for women (such as highway construction), or (b) other

linkages established specifically for purposes of this demonstration

must be clearly identified and defined, including those articulated in

the GCSSP for Title II-A. In addition, the Department expects that the

private sector, in their roles as members of Private Industry Councils

(PICs), employers or members of Apprenticeship Committees will be

called upon to play a strategic role in the design and/or delivery of

training, certainly in the placement of JTPA-eligible women in

nontraditional occupations. JTPA entities should consider and describe

how they have or may work with the government mega-projects (large

project of two or more years, costing at least $2,000,000, directly

funded or assisted by government funds) in their area to develop jobs

for NEW trainees.

4. Existing Efforts and/or New Initiatives. The extent to which the

initiatives proposed by State proposals

[[Page 7811]]

supplement or build upon existing efforts in a State to train and place

women in nontraditional employment. Program activities funded under

this grant may consist of new initiatives or further development of

existing programs, or a combination. Proposals shall describe any new

initiatives to be implemented through this grant; the demonstrated

effectiveness and efficiency of existing programs in achieving the

goals of the NEW Act and the enhancements to be undertaken under this

grant; and, in cases where the programmatic approach calls for a

combination of new and existing programs, a description of how the new

activities and existing programs will complement each other and enhance

and promote an increase of women in nontraditional occupations in the

JTPA System.

5. Use of Funds. The Technical Proposal of CBO applicants shall

describe both known and anticipated expenditures that may arise in the

conduct of the proposed grant activities related to NEW--List

activities on which grant funds will be expended, not the specific

amount. The Department is also interested in hearing about any leverage

activities anticipated with NEW funds, particularly when developing NEW

linkages and coordination of services. More specifically, list any

leverage of funds activities taken or anticipated with this grant--any

partnerships, linkages or coordination of activities, combining of

streams of funding, etc. Finally, list activities on which grant funds

will be expended by subgrantees (if applicable).

6. Replication. The extent to which a State is prepared to produce

materials that allow for replication of its demonstration grant

program, including capacity building and training and placement

activities. As previously mentioned, it is the Department's intent that

activities funded under the NEW Act lead to systemic changes that

institutionalize nontraditional training within JTPA and a specified

geographic area. Proposals shall indicate the strategies to be used to

encourage and promote the continuation of activities once the NEW

demonstration grant support has ended.

7. Dissemination. The extent to which the State's proposal includes

activities to disseminate information on its demonstration training

programs. The Department believes that one way of encouraging and

promoting institutionalization of nontraditional training within a

grantee's area is to plan for replication of successful programs and to

disseminate information about both the demonstration and existing model

programs. For that reason, proposals shall include a discussion on the

extent to which the State is prepared to accomplish dissemination of

information and the extent to which they are prepared to produce

materials for replication of the demonstration training programs.

8. Evaluation Approach. The Final Report on the NEW Project shall

describe expected impacts on participants as a result of the training

programs. These impacts shall be measurable and attainable and may

include awareness/orientation sessions to increase women's knowledge of

opportunities in nontraditional occupations, attainment of training

competencies, placement in registered apprenticeship training,

completion of training, wage at placement, occupation at placement, and

retention in employment. The discussion shall also include information

on whether the proposed grant amount is sufficient to accomplish

measurable goals; if, in linking with other programs, additional

financial resources are expected, the proposal shall identify the

source(s) of funds and their intended use.

Part IV. Evaluation Criteria and Selection

Applicants are advised that selection for grant award is to be made

after careful evaluation of technical applications by a panel. Each

panelist will evaluate applications against the various criteria on the

basis of 100 points. The scores will then serve as the primary basis to

select applications for potential award. Clarification may be requested

of grant applicants if the situation so warrants.

1. Technical Criteria Points

Points

a. State Commitment and Involvement..................... 25

b. Quality of Overall Program; Use of Funds; Supplement

and/or Expand.......................................... 20

c. Private Sector Involvement with NEW; Linkages and

Coordination........................................... 20

d. Replication and Dissemination........................ 20

e. Evaluation Approach.................................. 15

2. Cost Criteria

Proposals will be scored, based on their costs in relation to other

proposals submitted in response to this SGA. Specifically, the lowest

priced proposal will receive 150 points, based on the following

formula:

(lowest priced proposal/proposal cost) x 150

All other proposals will receive points using the above formula.

For example, if the lowest priced proposal had a total Federal budget

of $5,000, it would receive a cost score of 150. If another proposal

had a total Federal budget of $10,000, it would receive a score of 75

(i.e., $5,000/$10,000) x 150).

3. Total Score

Technical quality of proposals will be weighted three (3) times the

estimated price in ranking proposals, for purposes of selections for

award.

To elaborate, using the above example, if the proposal requesting

$5,000 of Federal funding received a technical score of 87, the Total

Score would be 411 points (i.e., (87 x 3) + 150 = 411); if the

proposal requesting $10,000 of Federal funding received a technical

score of 120, the Total Score would be 435 (i.e., (120 x 3) + 75 =

435).

4. Criteria for Award

Proposals received will be evaluated by a review panel based on the

criteria immediately following. The panel's recommendations will be

advisory, and final awards will be made based on the best interests of

the Government, taking into account such factors as technical quality,

geographic balance, and other factors.

The Department wishes to make it clear that it is not simply the

best-written proposals that will be chosen, but rather those which

demonstrate the greatest State commitment to the goals of the NEW Act

and which best incorporate the principal features of this

demonstration.

5. Allowable Cost

Payment up to the amount specified in the grant shall be made only

for allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs actually incurred in

conducting the work under the grant. The determination of allowable

costs shall be made in accordance with the following applicable Federal

Cost principles:

State and Local Governments--OMB Circular A-87

Educational Institutions--OMB Circular A-21

Non-Profit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122

Profit Making Commercial Firms--FAR 48 CFR Part 31.

Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.

6. Administrative Provisions

The grant awarded under this SGA shall be subject to the following

administrative standards and provisions:

[[Page 7812]]

29 CFR Part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements Governing

Department of Labor Grants and Agreements (does not apply to grants

with State and local Governments and Indian Tribes);

Section 165 of the Job Training Partnership Act Reports, Recordkeeping

and Investigations (applicable to grants funded with JTPA funds);

29 CFR Part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and

Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments;

29 CFR Part 96--Audits of Federally Funded Grants, Contacts and

Agreements.

7. Grant Assurances and Certifications

The applicant must include the attached assurances and

certifications.

Part V. Deliverables

1. No later than four (4) weeks after award, the grantee shall meet

with the Women's Bureau to discuss program activities, timelines, and

evaluation design for comment and final approval. The Women's Bureau

will provide input orally and in writing, if necessary, within ten (10)

working days after the meeting.

2. No later than eight (8) weeks after award, the grantee shall

provide the Women's Bureau with a detailed Program Execution and

Implementation Plan, including any subgrantee arrangements, for comment

and final approval. The Women's Bureau shall provide written comments,

if necessary, within ten (10) working days.

3. No later than twelve (12) weeks after award, the grantee shall

begin the program of nontraditional training for women.

4. Quarter progress reports should include:

a. A description of overall progress on work performed during the

reporting period, including (1) number and profiles (including selected

photos) of participants in prevocational and skilled training or

placed, including JTPA Title II-A female participants; awareness

activities; JTPA staff capacity building activities; during the period;

(2) systemic workplace and policy changes--actual or in process; (3)

public presentations; (4) media articles or appearances; (5)

publications disseminated and (6) publications developed.

b. An indication of any current problems which may impede

performance and the proposed corrective action.

c. A discussion of work to be performed during the next reporting

period. Include any job development or technical assistance with mega-

projects and other employers to provide employment for women in

nontraditional occupations.

Between scheduled reporting dates the grantee shall also

immediately inform the Grant Officer's Technical Representative of

significant developments affecting the grantee's ability to accomplish

the work.

5. No later than forty-eight (48) weeks after award, the grantee

shall submit a Replication and Dissemination Plan that describes the

grantee's plans for disseminating information about the demonstration

program and for future replication of the demonstration in other

geographic areas. The Women's Bureau shall provide written comments, if

necessary, within twenty (20) working days. The Bureau's comments shall

be incorporated into the plan.

6. No later than fifty-two (52) weeks after award, the grantee

shall submit, in one (1) camera ready copy and one (1) diskette (IBM

compatible; WordPerfect 5.1), an integrated draft report of the process

and results of the training program completed during the year. The

report shall include, at a minimum, context, impact and the

relationship between this program and ongoing programs in the labor

market delivery area, preliminary data on planned versus actual

accomplishments, characteristics of participants, participant outcomes,

wage and occupation at placement, and the follow-up activities planned

for the program. The Women's Bureau will provide written comments on

the draft report within twenty (20) working days if substantive

problems are identified. The grantee's response to these comments shall

be incorporated into the final report.

7. No later than sixty-four (64) weeks after award, the grantee

shall submit one (1) camera ready copy and one (1) diskette (IBM

compatible, WordPerfect 5.1) of the final report. The report shall

cover findings, final performance data, evaluation results (where

applicable), and plans for follow-up of participants. The Final Report

should be designed, developed and written along professionally accepted

standards. Copies of training curricula shall be included, as well as

the final plan for replication and dissemination of information. An

Executive Summary of the findings and recommendations, if any, shall

either be included in the report or accompany the report.

Signed at Washington, D.C. on February 23, 1996.

Dated: February 23, 1996.

Lawrence J. Kuss,

Grant Officer.

Appendix A

Assurances and Certifications Signature Page

The Department of Labor will not award a grant or agreement where

the grantee/recipient has failed to accept the ASSURANCES AND

CERTIFICATIONS contained in this section. By signing and returning this

signature page, the grantee/recipient is providing the certifications

set for below:

A. Assurances--Non-Construction programs

B. Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower

Tier Transaction

C. Certifications Regarding Lobbying: Debarment, Suspension, Drug-Free

Workplace

D. Certification of Release of Information

E. Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Requirement of JTPA

Applicant Name:--------------------------------------------------------

Date:------------------------------------------------------------------

If there is any reason why one of the assurances or certifications

listed cannot be signed, please explain. Applicant need only submit and

return this signature page with the grant application. All other

instructions shall be kept on file by the applicant.

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

Signature of Authorized Certifying Official

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

Applicant Organization

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

Title

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

Date Submitted

Please Note: This signature page and any pertinent attachments which

may be required by these assurances and certifications shall be

attached to the applicant's Cost Proposal.

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