Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Title IV-D, Demonstration Program: Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations

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

this announcement. Applicants for grant funds should read this notice

in its entirety and respond as directed. Grant proposals that are not

completed as directed will be judged nonresponsive and will not be

evaluated.

The Women's Bureau (WB), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announces

the sixth and final year of the Solicitation for Grant Applications

(SGA) first authorized under the Women in Apprenticeship and

Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act of 1991. The major provisions of

the WANTO legislation are to ``assist business in providing women with

opportunities in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.''

Moreover, the WANTO grant program funds Community-Based Organizations

(CBOs) to provide technical assistance (TA) to employers and labor

unions (E/LUs) that will ``enable business to meet the challenge of

Workforce 2000.''

The Women's Bureau has co-administered WANTO with the DOL's Bureau

of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), with the WB having responsibility

for implementing the grant process. Congress first appropriated funds

for WANTO in Fiscal Year (FY) 1994. Since then, WANTO has been funded

through JTPA (Title IV-D). FY 1999 will be the last WANTO solicitation,

as the grant program will expire with JTPA on July 1, 2000. JTPA will

be superseded by the Workforce Investment Act.

For the final WANTO solicitation, the Department will competitively

award grants to CBOs who best represent the best community-based

organizations from the segment of CBOs actively involved in advocacy,

technical assistance, and services to increase the participation of

women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations (A/NTO). These

CBOs must provide technical assistance (TA) to Employers and/or Labor

Unions (E/LUs) to prepare them to successfully recruit, train, and

retain women in apprenticeable and other nontraditional occupations. In

addition, TA must include strategic planning with E/LUs for identifying

sources of support services--child care, transportation, and necessary

transitional costs--to ensure the successful transition of women to the

workplace and/or the completion of training. With the combination of

technical TA for E/LUs and their commitment for support services for

women, the Department expects employers and labor unions ``to expand

the employment and self-sufficiency options of women.''

Further, the Department gives priority consideration to broadening

the geographic scope of WANTO, CBO diversity, (including those

concerned with the employment of women with physical and/or cognitive

disabilities), and developing a more concentrated industrial mix of E/

LUs in growing industries. CBOs and E/LUs must be committed to

increasing the participation of women in A/NTO in high wage jobs,

including low income women residing in rural and urban Empowerment

Zones (EZs) and Enterprise Communities (ECs) across the country. CBOs

proposals must include a plan to track, not only the specific TA

resources and tools used, but also the movement of women into (or out

of)

A/NTO among their grant related E/LUs. Such an interactive working

relationship should promote CBOs and E/LUs working together to change

workplace cultures and working practices to provide economic justice

and equity for women in the workplace.

Therefore, the DOL is seeking CBOs (including those concerned with

employment transition of women with physical and/or cognitive

disabilities) with the following experience:

(1) Established and growing employer/labor union working

relationships;

(2) Proven service delivery to assist women to enter and remain in

A/NTO as the major component of its employment and training activities,

including outreach, orientation, mentoring, support groups, networks,

workplace consultations (including troubleshooting and other worksite

resolution practices), employee and supervisory workshops, seminars and

other workplace specific strategic planning to increase the

participation of women in A/NTO; and

(3) Recognized leadership credentials in the A/NTO community that

also promotes leadership in social and economic change for women and

their families to economic self-sufficiency, as well as mentoring

relationships with other CBOs working in A/NTO.

As WANTO activities document the end of the millennium and, we

begin to chart the next steps to increase women in A/NTO into the 21st

Century, WANTO and related projects will provide a rich source of

policy and program recommendations.

With SGA 99-03, the Department will give priority consideration and

25 bonus points to CBOs who respond with proposals that both (1) expand

the geographic reach and influence of WANTO to areas previously not

served, or have less than two WANTO grants in a State, especially those

in underserved geographic areas of the Southeast, Southwest, Northwest,

and Rocky Mountains, and (2) concentrate TA programs for E/LUs in a

single industry or paid employment training group--especially one of

the following: Manufacturing, Information Technology, Medical

Technology, and registered apprenticeship and on-the-job trainees

programs in Highway Construction, and Building Trades Construction.

The above discussion summarizes the general focus of SGA 99-03;

however, applicants are again urged to read the SGA in its entirety to

ensure that their submission is fully responsive to SGA 99-03. WANTO

grant awards are competitive and based only on how responsive an

applicant's proposal is to the SGA and its evaluation criteria.

This notice describes the background, the application process,

statement of work, evaluation criteria, and reporting requirements for

this Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA 99-03). WB anticipates

that a total amount of $1,000,000 will be available for the support of

all Fiscal Year 1999. (See Part II.C. for funding limitations per

grant.)

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

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

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

Office of Procurement Services, Room N-5416, Reference SGA 99-03, 200

Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, not later than 4:45

p.m. EST, August 6, 1999. Hand-delivered applications must be received

by the Office of Procurement Services by that time.

ADDRESSES: Applicants who intend to submit a proposal must register

immediately with the Grant Officer in order to receive any amendment to

this solicitation that is issued. Please send registration to U.S.

Department of Labor, Office of Procurement Services, Attention: Grant

Officer, Reference SGA 99-03, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue,

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.

[[Page 26625]]

Grant applications must be mailed to U.S. Department of Labor, Office

of Procurement Services, Attention: Grant Officer, Reference SGA 99-03,

Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.

Applicants are encouraged to verify delivery to this office directly

through their delivery service and as soon as possible.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applications will not be mailed. The

Federal Register may be obtained from your nearest government office or

library. Questions concerning this solicitation may be sent to Lisa

Harvey at the following Internet address: [email protected].

Part I. Background

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO)

Act--Public Law 102-530, signed October 27, 1992--The Act has three

major activities that affect this SGA:

1. Outreach to Employers and Labor Unions. DOL will promote the

Act's program to employers and labor unions by informing them of the

availability of technical assistance and keeping a database of

employers and community-based organizations with active grants.

2. Technical Assistance. DOL will provide grants to community-based

organizations to deliver technical assistance to employers and labor

unions to prepare them to recruit, train, and employ women in

apprenticeable and nontraditional occupations.

3. Liaison Role of Department of Labor. DOL will serve as follows:

(1) to act as a liaison between employers, labor, and the community-

based organizations providing technical assistance; (2) coordinating,

conducting regular assessment, and seeking input of employers and labor

unions.

The Women's Bureau has been the champion of the concerns of working

women since its creation by Congress in 1920. For over 70 years,

improving employment opportunities and related equity issues has been

the driving force of the Bureau's policies and programs. From its

national office and 10 regional offices, the Bureau conducts advocacy

and outreach activities across the United States. The Bureau

participates in meetings with international visitors and others who are

concerned with the employment and related social issues of working

women. Within the Department of Labor, the WB Director serves as the

policy advisor to the Secretary, ensuring that women's voices are heard

and that their priorities are represented in the public policy arena.

The Bureau has a history of encouraging women to consider the wide

array of apprenticeable and other nontraditional occupations (NTOs) as

one way to obtain economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their

families. NTOs can be characterized as the often-cited skilled building

trades in construction, as well as the emerging ``good'' or high-pay

jobs in nonconstruction industries as the pervasiveness of

microelectronics fuels advances in high technology. One thing many of

the high-pay jobs have in common is the lack of women employed in them.

The lack of a critical mass of women in apprenticeship and other

good, high-pay jobs has resulted in continued workplace occupational

segregation that fuels pay inequities and other artificial employment

barriers to women's success in the workplace, including apprenticeship

and other nontraditional occupations. For example, studies point out

that once hired, women in construction face problems (sexism, racism,

homophobia, inadequate toilet facilities, health and safety, isolation

from other women, etc.) that erode their retention in jobs. In other

nonconstruction occupations, the lack of developmental work assignments

and mentors results in women being confined by ``glass ceilings'' and

``sticky'' floors. These artifical barriers are beyond the usual

problems faced by all women and some men--child care, sexual

harassment, pay equity, balancing work and family responsibilities. The

WANTO grant program explores collaborative ways for employers and labor

unions to provide opportunities for women in apprenticeship and other

nontraditional occupations by developing a ``women-friendly''

environment.

The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training co-administers WANTO with

the Women's Bureau. BAT was established in 1937 as the national

administrative agency in the Department of Labor to carry out the

objectives of the National Apprenticeship Act (also known as the

Fitzgerald Act), guided by the recommendations of the Federal Committee

on Apprenticeship. BAT has the objective to stimulate and assist

industry in the development, expansion, and improvement of

apprenticeship and training programs designed to provide the skilled

workers required by the American economy.

Under the National Apprenticeship Act, the Bureau is responsible

for providing services to existing apprenticeship programs and

technical assistance to organizations who would like to establish a BAT

registered apprenticeship program. BAT provides apprenticeship services

in all States, and registers programs and apprentices in 23 States

where there is no State Apprenticeship Agency or Council. In the 27

States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico,

programs are registered by State Apprenticeship Agencies or Councils

which are recognized by the Secretary of Labor. Most State agencies

receive policy guidance from apprenticeship councils composed of

employers, labor groups, and public representatives.

The BAT works very closely with State Apprenticeship Agencies/

Councils (SAC) and the educational system to deliver support services

at the national, State and local level. When apprentices finish their

training, they receive certificates of completion of apprenticeship.

These are issued by the State apprenticeship agencies, or in those

States not having such an agency, by BAT, in accordance with its

recommended standards. BAT is committed to improving the access of

women to apprenticeship training to increase their employment in jobs

that have historically put men on the career ladder to successful

working careers.

Definitions

Nontraditional Occupations (NTOs) are those where women account for

less than 25 percent of all persons employed in a single occupational

group.

Pre-Apprenticeship Programs are for women (and others) to prepare

them to keep pace with occupational skills training or entry-level

employment in nontraditional occupations. The curriculum includes pre-

vocational instruction in identification and use of tools, blueprint

reading, basic shop skills, and safety procedures, as well as math

skills, and physical conditioning.

Apprenticeship is a formal paid training-work agreement where labor

and management work together to promote learning on the job. (Some BAT

registered apprenticeship programs are operated by employers

independent of labor unions.) To support the ``hands on'' learning,

there must be related theoretical instruction (often classroom). After

successfully completing the BAT registered program standards--usually

three to five years--the apprentice is awarded a certificate of

completion by either BAT or the State Apprenticeship Council (SAC).

Employers or groups of employers and unions design, organize,

manage, and finance apprenticeship programs under the standards

developed and registered with BAT or BAT-recognized State

Apprenticeship Agencies. They also select apprentices who are trained

to meet certain predetermined occupational standards.

[[Page 26626]]

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are as defined in Section 4(5)

of the Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1501(5)): private

nonprofit organizations which are representative of communities or

significant segments of communities and which provide job training

services. For this solicitation, communities or significant segments of

communities are the private nonprofit organizations that have

demonstrated at least three years experience in (1) the operation and

delivery of employment and training related services to promote women

in apprenticeship and other nontraditional occupations, (2) community

recognition of leadership in advocacy and service to promote economic

equity, justice, and social change for women and their families, and

(3) the development of policies, programs, and technical assistance for

employers and labor unions for the recruitment, selection, training,

placing, retaining, and otherwise preparation of women to enter and

remain in apprenticeship and other nontraditional occupations.

Please note that eligible applicants must not be classified under

the IRS Tax Code as a 501(c)(4) entity.

A. Authorities

The technical assistance grants were first authorized under the

Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act,

Public Law 102-530, approved October 27, 1992.

B. Purpose of the Demonstration

The purpose of the WANTO demonstration program is to assist

business to provide apprenticeship and nontraditional opportunities for

women. The Department will make grants to community-based organizations

and provide technical assistance to employers and labor unions to

encourage and prepare them to increase the participation of women in

apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations in their workplaces. Such

technical assistance should result in an increase of women employed in

jobs that pay a wage to support them and their families.

Part II. Application Process

A. Eligible Grant Applicants

Please note well that eligible grant applicants must not be

classified under the IRS Tax Code as a 501(c)(4) entity.

1. Private, Nonprofit, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that

represent and provide advocacy, training, and placement of women in

apprenticeship and other nontraditional occupations (A/NTO) are the

only entities eligible for grant awards.

2. Applicant CBOs' proposals must document their experience and

expertise in A/NTO services and TA delivery in the following areas:

a. Established and growing employer/labor union working

relationships with A/NTO community sources for exploring new working

relations;

b. Provided services to assist women to enter and remain in A/NTO

as the major component of their employment and training activities,

including outreach, orientation, mentoring, support groups, networks,

workplace consultations (including troubleshooting and other worksite

problem resolutions and changes in employer and workplace practices),

employee and supervisory workshops, seminars and other workplace

specific strategic planning to increase the participation of women in

A/NTO; and

c. Documented leadership in the

A/NTO community to promote leadership for economic equity, justice, and

social change for women and their families that also support economic

self-sufficiency.

3. In addition, Grant Applicant CBOs' proposals must document their

presence and effectiveness in the broader community beyond A/NTO

services for a fee, to include advocacy for economic and social justice

that promotes equity for women and their families.

4. Grant Applicant CBOs' proposals must include a management and

staff loading plan.

a. The management plan should include the CBO's organizational

chart and accompanying narrative that differentiate between elements of

the Applicant's staff, subcontractors, or consultants, who will be

retained.

b. The staff loading plan must identify all key tasks and the hours

required to complete each task. Labor estimates for each task must be

broken down by individuals assigned to the task, with subcontractors

and consultants. All key tasks must be charted to show time required to

perform them by months or weeks.

c. CBOs' proposals must list the name, trade, and organizational

position of tradeswomen and other women in nontraditional occupations

on staff or on their organization's Board of Directors. Include the

dates when tradeswomen served in active paid or unpaid positions in

your organization.

d. CBOs' proposal submissions should include a listing of all items

for which grant funds will be expended. (Do not include any cost

information for this item in the technical proposal, but expenditure

items must be listed.)

e. CBOs' proposal submissions should include copies of the CBO's

budget and major funding sources for the past three (3) years,

including foundation and government grants and other types of funding.

5. Public bodies such as JTPA administrative entities, public

schools, colleges, and hospitals are not eligible for WANTO grants.

B. Employers and Labor Unions Are Eligible for TA

1. Private Sector Employers and Labor Unions are eligible to

request and receive TA provided by CBOs with a WANTO grant. The goal of

WANTO is to assist businesses to provide opportunities for women in A/

NTO in the private economy.

a. Employers and Labor Unions may request that the Department of

Labor match them with a CBO.

b. TA Requests from Employers and Labor Unions may be delivered

with a specific Applicant CBO's proposal, or independent of a specific

CBO.

c. Regardless of the method, all employers and labor unions must

provide the information described in item 2. below either to their

chosen CBO or directly to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of

Procurement Services, Room N-5416, Attention: Lisa Harvey, 200

Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.

2. All Employers and Labor Unions must provide a written commitment

for technical assistance by responding to the following:

a. A description of the need for assistance;

b. A description of the types of apprenticeable occupations or

nontraditional occupations in which the employer or labor union would

like to train or employ women;

c. Assurances that there are or will be suitable and appropriate

employment available in the apprenticeable occupations or in the

nontraditional occupations being targeted; and

d. Commitments that all reasonable efforts should be made to place

women in apprenticeable occupations or nontraditional occupations as

they develop skills.

C. Contents

To be considered responsive to this SGA, each application must

consist of, and follow the order of, the sections listed in Part III of

this solicitation. The application must also include information which

the applicant believes will address the selection criteria identified

in Part IV. Technical proposals shall not exceed 20 single sided,

double spaced, 10 to 12 pitch typed pages (not including attachments).

Any proposal that does

[[Page 26627]]

not conform to these standards shall be deemed nonresponsive to this

SGA and will not be evaluated.

1. Technical Proposal

Each proposal shall include: (1) a two-page abstract summarizing

the proposal, and (2) a complete description of the CBO's program for

technical assistance, including information required in Part III and

IV. No cost data or reference to price shall be included in the

technical proposal although the technical proposal must include the

items--publications, seminars, E/LU consultations, troubleshooting,

etc.--for which grant funds are to be spent.

2. Cost Proposal

The cost proposal is a physically separate document and shall not

be included in the twenty (20) page limit. The cost (business) proposal

must be separate from the technical proposal. (If applicants do not

have the current version of the standard grant forms listed below, they

must download the forms from the following OMB website address:

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/). The transmittal letter and the grant

assurances and certification forms 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's organization who is authorized to

enter the organization into a grant agreement with the Department of

Labor. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA) is

17.700;

b. Standard Budget Form 424A ``Budget Information Form,''; and

c. Budget Narrative; provide a narrative explanation of the budget

which describes all proposed costs and indicates how they are related

to the operation of the project. Provide this information separately

for the amount of requested Federal funding and the amount of proposed

Non-Federal contribution. In an application which proposes to fund

staff positions, the budget narrative must provide information which

describes the number of proposed positions by title and by the amount

of staff time and salary charged to Federal and Non-Federal funding

resources. The Budget Narrative provides the detailed description of

the costs reflected on the SF 424A.

D. Funding Levels

The Department expects to have $1,000,000 to be disbursed through

WANTO grants. The Department expects to make up to fifteen (15) awards

to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The Women's Bureau expects

awards to range from approximately $50,000 to $75,000, depending upon

the number of employer/labor union written commitments included with

the proposal--between five (5) and ten (10)--and the design, size, and

scope of the technical assistance proposed for this demonstration and

reflected in the E/LU technical assistance requests.

E. Length of Grant and Grant Awards

The initial performance period for the grants awarded under this

SGA shall be for twelve (12) months with one (1) 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 September 1999.

F. Submission

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

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

Proposal must 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. EST, August 6, 1999.

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 p.m. EST will not be

considered unless it is received before an award is made and:

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

fifth calendar day before August 6, 1999 (i.e., not later than August

1, 1999);

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 p.m. EST at the

place of mailing two working days, excluding weekends and Federal

holidays, prior to August 6, 1999 (i.e., not later than 5:00 p.m. EST

August 4, 1999).

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 E-

mail, telegram, or facsimile (Fax) will not be accepted.

Part III. The Statement of Work--Key Features

A. Technical Assistance

1. CBOs are to provide technical assistance (TA) that may include a

broad range of activities to prepare employers and labor unions (E/LUs)

to provide opportunities for women in apprenticeship and other

nontraditional occupations (A/NTO). CBOs should encourage E/LUs to work

with them to assess their workplaces and develop strategic plans for

changes in the workplace and in work practices that support women.

Requests may include linkages of pre-apprenticeship programs to a

commitment for employment and/or sponsored apprenticeship training.

Such TA should result in jobs that pay a living wage that will support

women and their families. Support services are of major importance to

sustaining women to enter and complete training and entry employment.

Child care, transportation, and related transitional costs--union fees,

tools, and uniforms--are the support services most often cited as

necessary for women.

a. Applicant CBOs should respond with a program designed to build

on established working relationships with employers and labor unions

and to develop new working relationships to

[[Page 26628]]

provide TA to, at least five (5), but no more than ten (10), private

sector E/LUs. The TA and working relationships should promote an

increase in the participation of women in apprenticeship and other A/

NTO in the recipient E/LU workplace.

b. CBO proposal should include

E/LUs selected from the following five (5) industry and paid employment

training groups--manufacturing, information technology, medical

technology, registered apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs

in highway and the building trades construction industries.

c. Similarly, the Department is also interested in leveraging WANTO

technical assistance to private sector employers and labor unions in

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC) to increase the

participation of EZ/EC women returning to work, after welfare or other

long-term work disruptions, in apprenticeship and nontraditional jobs/

career paths.

B. Support Services

1. CBO proposal should include a plan for support services for

women when the TA results in women moving into apprenticeship or other

paid training or other NTO employment or E/LU-supported job referral

commitments.

a. Support service plans should include cooperative E/LU programs

along with services available from the workplace and/or employee's

community.

b. Support services strategic planning for support services should

include, at least, child care, transportation, and women's transitional

costs.

C. Broaden Geographic Coverage

1. The Department is also seeking to broaden the geographic

coverage of WANTO CBOs to areas unserved by previous WANTO grants or in

States with less than two previous WANTO grantees, particularly in the

Southeast, Southwest, Northwest and Rocky Mountain areas.

a. Therefore, the Department will also consider (1) proposals from

established CBOs that also include less experienced CBOs in unserved

geographic areas to provide TA to build the organizational and TA

capacity of the less experienced CBOs to provide TA to increase women

in A/NTO and/or;

b. (2) Joint proposals of several CBOs who have bundled their

strengthens together to form one grant application. The proposal will

provide TA in unserved States that propose to build their regional

capacity to provide TA to employers and labor unions to promote women

in A/NTO.

D. Leverage of WANTO Funding and Continuance

1. The proposed project submissions should include any leverage or

co-funding anticipated by this submission, particularly leverage with

other specific EZ/EC programs (e.g., HUD or USDA) and interaction with

overall EZ/EC program contacts.

2. The proposed project submission should include any activities to

encourage and promote the continuation or expansion of grant activities

beyond the grant's period of program performance.

E. Bonus Points

1. Priority consideration and 25 bonus points will be added to the

numerical rating of proposals from CBOs that include TA both in (a)

geographic areas unserved by WANTO grants in States with less than two

WANTO grants from previous years and to provide TA for (b) E/LUs from a

single industry or paid employment training group.

a. The broadened geographic areas include, CBOs from areas unserved

by WANTO CBOs, especially the Southeast, Southwest, Northwest, and

Rocky Mountain States, will receive priority consideration.

b. The single industry and/or paid employment training program,

including apprenticeship, can be selected from the following:

manufacturing, information technology, medical technology, and

registered apprenticeship and paid employment training in highway and

the building trades construction industries.

c. CBOs concerned with the employment of women with physical and/or

cognitive disabilities that have programs to promote women in the

industries of concern to this SGA and mentioned above in b.

Part IV. Evaluation Criteria and Selection

Applicants are advised that selection for a 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 a potential award. Clarification may

be requested of grant applicants if the situation so warrants it.

Please see Part III, Sections A and B, for additional information on

the elements against which proposals will be reviewed.

After proposals are fully evaluated for responsiveness to Technical

Evaluation Criteria 1a.-1c., the distribution of bonus points will be

determined. Only those proposals whose technical score falls within the

technically acceptable range will be eligible to receive bonus points.

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

Points

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1. Technical Evaluation Criteria

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a. Capabilities and Qualifications of CBO and Staff (A/NTO 50

experience, education, and leadership in the community to

foster social and/or economic justice for equity for women

and their families moving to self-sufficiency)..............

b. Established program and E/LU Linkages; the written 25

commitment and/or potential for five (5) to ten (10) new

working relationships with E/LUs; and other EZ/EC

Communities and Welfare to Work Social Agencies.............

c. Quality and Scope of WANTO Project (as discussed/described 25

throughout the SGA 99-03 including workplace assessment and

technical assistance strategies for E/LU changes in the

workplace culture and work practices to promote the increase

in women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations;

proposed A/NTO outcomes, leverage and continuance TA).......

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

2. Bonus Points

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a. Priority Focus (See Part III, A. Statement of Work--Key 30

Features, E. Bonus Points)..................................

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3. Cost Criteria

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

proposals submitted in response to this SGA.

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4. Total Score

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Technical quality of proposals will be weighted three (3)

times the estimated price in ranking proposals, for purposes

of selections for awards. Proposals received will be

evaluated by a review panel based on the criteria immediately

above, in Technical Evaluation Criteria 1 and 2. The panel's

recommendations will be advisory, and final awards will be

made based on the best interests of the Government, including

but not limited to such factors as technical quality,

geographic balance, occupational/industrial impact, and

diversity in service providers.

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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 experience and commitment to assisting

employers and labor organizations to successfully develop successful

strategies to increase the participation of women in higher-paying

apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations and to expand the

employment and self-sufficiency options of women returning to work

after welfare and other work and family disruptions. In addition, the

Department considers geographic and race-ethnic diversity in the array

of award-winning proposals important considerations in making the final

awards.

The submission of the same proposal from any prior year WANTO

competition does not guarantee an award under this solicitation.

Although the Government reserves the right to award on the basis of the

initial proposal submission, the Government may establish a competitive

range or technically acceptable range based upon proposal evaluation,

for the purpose of selecting qualified applicants. The panel's

conclusions are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant

Officer. The Government reserves the right to ask for clarification or

hold discussions, but is not obligated to do so. The Grant Officer's

determination for award under this SGA 99-03 is the final agency

action.

Part V

A. Deliverables

(This section is provided only so that grantees may more accurately

estimate the staffing budgetary requirements when preparing their

proposal. Applicants are to exclude from their cost proposal the cost

of any requested travel to Washington, D.C.)

1. No later than four (4) weeks after an award, the grantees and

partners shall meet with the Women's Bureau and the Bureau of

Apprenticeship and Training at the Post-Award Conference to discuss the

demonstration project and related components and technical assistance

activities, time lines, technical assistance outcomes, assessment for

comment, and final approval. The grantees and partners and the

Department will discuss and make decisions on the following program

activities:

a. The proposed technical assistance commitments for employment,

apprenticeship and related nontraditional occupation activities and

responsibilities; the number of partnerships with EZ/EC communities and

employers and labor unions to be served.

b. The methodology the proposed partnership will use to support/

change management and employee attitudes to promote female workers in

nontraditional occupations.

c. The types of systemic change anticipated by technical assistance

strategies anticipated to be incorporated into ongoing employer

recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion of women in apprenticeship

and apprenticeable nontraditional occupations.

d. The occupational, industrial, and geographical impact

anticipated.

e. The supportive services to be provided to employers and women

after successful placement into employment, apprenticeship, or other

supporting nontraditional occupations.

f. The plan for the development and maintenance of a relationship

with the State level of the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship and

Training and the State Apprenticeship Council.

The Women's Bureau and the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training

will provide further input orally and in writing, if necessary, within

ten (10) working days after the Post-Award Conference.

1. No later than ten (10) weeks after an award, the grantees and

the Women's Bureau will confirm the ``plan of action'' and detailed

time line for program implementation.

2. No later than twelve (12) weeks after an award, the grantee(s)

shall have begun the provision of technical assistance to employers and

labor unions to recruit, select, train, place, retain, and other areas

of preparation to promote the increase of women in apprenticeable

occupations and other nontraditional training for women, characterized

by employment growth and above average earnings.

3. No later than sixteen (16) weeks after an award, the first

quarterly progress report of work done under this grant will be due.

Thereafter, quarterly reports will be due twenty (20) working days

after the end of each of the remaining quarters.

Quarterly progress reports must include:

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

reporting period--(a) the number of employers and labor unions provided

onsite, off-site (conferences, workshops, seminars, training, etc., (b)

number of women trained (on and off the workplace), placed in

apprenticeship or other nontraditional employment. Describe: (1) any

linkages of pre-apprenticeship (on and off a workplace) with sponsored

apprenticeship: number of women affected or participating in programs;

include name and address of workplace/company and person responsible

for the operation, (2) number of employers and labor unions receiving

technical assistance--name, address, size of the workplace, including

proportion of women, include brief profiles of employers and labor

organizations, (3) describe any systemic workplace and policy changes--

actual or in process, including the hiring and promotion of women

already in the workplace, career ladders or other training activities,

(4) public presentations, (5) media articles or appearances, (6)

publications disseminated, and (7) publications developed.

b. An indication of any current problems which may impede the

performance of the grant and the proposed corrective action.

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

period.

Between scheduled reporting dates the grantee(s) also shall

immediately inform the Grant Officer's Technical Representative (GOTR)

of significant developments affecting their ability to accomplish the

work.

5. No later than sixty-four (64) weeks after an award, the

grantee(s) shall submit three (3) copies of the draft Final Report, an

integrated draft analysis of

[[Page 26630]]

the process and results of the technical assistance activities during

the year. The Women's Bureau and the Bureau of Apprenticeship and

Training 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.

6. The Final Report shall cover findings, final performance data,

outcome results and assessment, and employer or labor organization

plans for follow-up of participants. The Final Report shall provide all

information to replicate the project including copies of curriculums,

technical assistance materials developed for the project and technical

assistance--videos, posters, notices, etc.--as well as any plans for

replication and dissemination of information. An Executive Summary of

the findings and recommendations shall be included in the Final Report,

separately or combined with the Final Report--at the opening. No later

than sixty-four (64) weeks after an award, the grantee(s) shall (1)

submit one (1) diskette (IBM compatible, WordPerfect 6.1), one (1)

camera-ready copy of the Final Report, and five (5) copies of the

camera-ready Final Report, bound in a professional manner, and not a

collection of loose leaf sheets, and (2) computer-based, electronic

files for each of the other products--e.g., manual(s), curriculums,

``how-to-do-it'' handbooks, videos, etc.--paid for with grant funds,

along with five (5) copies of the final camera-ready products.

In addition to the grant's Final Report, proposed project

submissions should include plans for a ``how-to-do-it'' project

replication manual, including awareness/outreach material, technical

assistance and curriculum manual(s) and all other materials developed

as a result of the grant activities. All grant materials should be

submitted with ``hard copy'' and electronic (computer-based) copy.

B. Administrative Provisions

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

administrative standards and provisions:

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

Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.

29 CFR Part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded

Grants, Contracts and Agreements.

29 CFR Part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and

Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, etc.

C. Certifications and Assurances

If the applicant is awarded a grant, they are required to operate

the program in accordance with the following Certifications and

Assurances. An original signed and dated signature page providing the

following Certifications and Assurances must accompany the Cost

Proposal. Each can be downloaded from the OMB website address

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/.

D. Allowable Costs

Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with

the following applicable Federal cost principles:

a. State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87

b. Educational Institutions--OMB Circular A-21

c. Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular S-122

d. Profit-making Commercial Firms--48 CFR Part 31

Signed at Washington, D.C. on May 6, 1999.

Lawrence J. Kuss,

Grant Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-12090 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-23-P