Welfare-to-Work Census 2000 Employment Project

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Welfare-to-Work Census 2000 Employment Project

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), DOL.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; solicitation for grant

applications.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training

Administration (ETA) announces a special round of competition under the

Welfare-to-Work (WtW) grant program to facilitate the employment of WtW

program participants as Census 2000 enumerators in local areas across

the country. The Department of Labor, in partnership with the

Department of Commerce, seeks a single private organization with a

nationwide network of community-based local providers or affiliates to

serve as an intermediary between local Census Bureau offices across the

country and the WtW local level formula and competitive grantees. The

WtW program assists States and local communities to provide the

transitional employment assistance needed to move hard-to-employ

recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and

certain noncustodial parents, who have experienced or have

characteristics associated with long-term welfare dependence, into

lasting unsubsidized jobs. This announcement describes the special

conditions under which applications will be received for the WtW Census

2000 Employment Project and the criteria DOL/ETA will use to select

which application it will fund. This announcement includes all of the

information and forms needed to apply for this WtW grant opportunity.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this

announcement is Friday, July 16, 1999. For the funding cycle covered by

this announcement, complete applications must be received at the

address below no later than 2 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time). Except

as provided below, grant applications received after this date and time

will not be considered.

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ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training

Administration, Division of Federal Assistance, Attention: Mr. Willie

E. Harris, SGA/DFA 99-013, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S4203,

Washington, D.C. 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be faxed to Mr.

Willie E. Harris, Grant Management Specialist, Division of Federal

Assistance, Fax: (202) 219-8739. This is not a toll-free number.

Questions may also be sent via electronic mail to ``disgu-

[email protected].'' All inquiries sent via fax or e-mail should include

the SGA number (DFA 99-013) and a contact name and phone number. This

announcement is also being published on the Internet on the Employment

and Training Administration's Welfare-to-Work Home Page at http://

wtw.doleta.gov. Commonly asked questions and answers with regard to the

WtW competitive grants and the WtW program in general, and copies of

the Interim Final Rule governing the Welfare-to-Work program, including

activities conducted under the competitive grants, are also available

on the WtW Home Page. Award notification will be also published on the

WtW Home Page.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Authority

Section 403(a)(5)(B) of Title IV of the Social Security Act.

Regulations governing the WtW program are at 20 CFR Part 645, published

at 62 FR 61588 (November 18, 1997).

II. Submission of Applications

One original plus two copies of the application must be submitted.

Proposals must be submitted by the applicant only. All applications

must be single-spaced, and on single-sided, numbered pages. A font size

of at least 12 pitch is required.

Section I of the application must include the following required

elements: (A) Project Financial Plan, including the SF-424, and a line-

item budget with justification, (B) Executive Summary, and (C) Evidence

of State and local consultation. Section I will not count against the

application page limits. Failure to include all elements required in

this section will result in disqualification of the application.

Applications will not be reviewed if a list of all appropriate State

and PIC/political subdivision certifications received and held by the

applicant (or evidence of efforts to consult, as described in Section

IV below) is not included. No additional information or materials will

be accepted by the Department of Labor after the closing date, unless

such additional material is specifically requested by the Grant

Officer.

Section II of the application, the project narrative, shall not

exceed fifteen (15) pages for the Government Requirement/Statement of

Work section, as described below in the ``Required Content for the WtW

Census 2000 Employment Project,'' plus up to an additional ten (10)

pages for attachments, to include no information that is critical to

the review of the proposal. Letters of support for a proposal should

NOT be submitted and will count against the page limits.

Acceptable Methods of Submission

Applications may be hand-delivered or mailed. Hand-delivered

applications must be received at the address identified above by the

date and time specified. Overnight mail deliveries will be treated as

hand-deliveries. Mailed applications that arrive after the closing date

will be accepted if they are post-marked at least five (5) days prior

to the closing date. Applications submitted via overnight mail that

arrive after the closing date will be accepted if they are post-marked

at least two (2) days prior to the closing date. Otherwise, late

applications will not be accepted. Telegraphed and/or faxed

applications will not be accepted.

Applications may be withdrawn by written notice or telegram

(including mailgram), or in person if the representative's identity is

made known, and the representative signs a receipt for the application.

OMB Approval of Paperwork Burden

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are

required to respond to a collection of information unless such

collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control

number for this information collection is 1205-0402. The time required

to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20

hours for the preparation of the application proposal, including the

time to review the instructions, search existing data resources, gather

data needed, and complete and review the information, plus up to an

additional 80 hours to meet the consultation requirements. Comments

concerning this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection

of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Job Training Programs, Room N4459,

Washington, DC 20210 (Paperwork Reduction Project 1205-0402). Comments

may be reflected in the development of future solicitations.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

The Welfare-to-Work program is listed in the Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance at No. 17.253, ``Employment and Training

Assistance--Welfare-to-Work Grants to States & Local Entities for Hard-

to-Employ Welfare Recipient Programs.''

III. Program Scope and Funding

The WtW Census 2000 Employment Project will be expected to achieve

the purpose of all WtW grants:

To provide transitional assistance which moves welfare recipients

into unsubsidized employment providing good career potential for

achieving economic self-sufficiency.

This transitional assistance is to be provided through a ``work

first'' service strategy in which recipients are engaged in employment-

based activities. Grant funds may be used to provide needed basic and/

or vocational skills training as a post-employment service in

conjunction with either subsidized or unsubsidized employment. This

flexibility, established in the Regulations, reflects the basic ``work

first'' philosophy of the WtW legislation, and recognizes the critical

importance of continuous skills acquisition and lifelong learning to

achieving economic self-sufficiency.

The primary goals specific to the WtW Census 2000 Employment

Project are to ensure that (1) WtW participants, who are successfully

identified and recruited by the grantee, are part of a viable pool from

which Census recruiters can hire and train Census 2000 enumerators; and

(2) WtW Census hires receive the intensive community-based support they

need to remain in the workforce after their Census 2000 jobs end.

The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of the Census has as its

mission to provide an accurate national count for Census 2000. In

various pre-Census operations leading up to next year's Decennial

Census, the Bureau has recruited, trained and hired over 4,700 welfare

recipients. These workers were based in urban, suburban and rural areas

throughout the nation. They have shown themselves to be well-suited to

assist the Bureau's strategic and principal goal of providing an

accurate population count in every locale.

Census 2000 offers a unique opportunity for individuals who are

currently receiving welfare, as well as noncustodial parents of

children on welfare, to establish a work history with a credible

employer. Temporary jobs as

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Census enumerators have flexible hours, do not require that individuals

leave their own community, and offer low-skilled individuals wages of

$8.25 to $18.50 an hour, depending on the locality. The jobs are

expected to last approximately eight to twelve weeks.

In preparing for Census 2000, the Census Bureau is aware of the

obstacles to hiring the enormous number of enumerators necessary to get

an accurate count of the population, particularly in low-income and

high-crime neighborhoods. In the past, the Census Bureau has hired

residents of census tracts to assist in the enumeration of the

residents who live there.

DOC is currently operating pilot programs in Maryland and Virginia,

called the Chesapeake Initiative, which serve as test sites for

implementation of WtW Census 2000 Employment Project nationwide next

year. In this pilot project, a statewide non-profit organization in

each State is responsible for identifying and recruiting welfare

recipients, providing basic job readiness and supportive services

during Census employment, including child care, transportation, etc.,

and placing the individuals in permanent employment once Census

employment has ended.

For the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project, the Departments of

Labor and Commerce hope to expand on and profit from the knowledge

gained through the pilot project underway in Maryland and Virginia.

Through the competitive application process, DOL and DOC will select a

national organization that has an established delivery system of well-

networked local affiliates throughout all States. This organization

would be responsible for (1) identifying large numbers of eligible WtW

participants qualified for Census employment, through coordination with

WtW formula and competitive grants, and through networks of community-

based service providers developed by the applicant and local Census

offices; (2) provide a comprehensive array of supportive services to

participants before, during and after employment as Census enumerators,

building on or linking with existing resources wherever possible; (3)

place participants in permanent employment following their employment

with Census 2000, and (4) set up local arrangements so that ongoing job

retention and supportive services will be available to participants

either through the grant or through other local WtW programs.

Note: It is assumed that job retention and supportive services

provided through the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project grant will

be of relatively short duration after placement of a participant in

a post-Census job. Applicants are encouraged to describe in detail

what arrangements they have made with other WtW grantees at the

local level to provide longer-term supportive services and follow-up

for WtW Census Employment Project participants.

For the most part, the Census jobs targeted for WtW participants

will be temporary positions as Census enumerators. A Census enumerator

is responsible for locating households, listing addresses, as well as

conducting interviews with respondents. Enumerators usually work in

their own neighborhoods or communities. In order to find people at

home, enumerators need to be able to work evenings and weekends. Census

enumerators receive paid training on how to locate and list addresses,

explain the purpose of the Census to residents, ask questions as worded

on Census forms, and record data on Census forms. Potential enumerators

must take a written test to be considered for employment. The test

consists of 28 multiple choice questions designed to measure the skills

and abilities required to perform a variety of Census jobs, like

reading, math, following instructions, and map reading skills.

Applicants for Census jobs are given 30 minutes to complete the test.

Applicants who score high on the employment test stand a better chance

of being hired. Applicants may re-take the test if they like, though

the majority of applicants (4 of every 5) pass the test on their first

try.

All applications for the WtW Census 2000 Employemnt Project will be

reviewed under the criteria set forth in Part VII of this announcement.

Funding Availability

Up to $20 million will be available for a single grant to implement

the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project. This amount will come out of

the $240 million available for Round Three of the WtW Competitive

Grants (SGA number DFA 99-003, published in the Federal Register on

January 26, 1999). It is expected the project will serve approximately

7,500 to 10,000 participants nationwide.

Note: This does not constitute a new goal of welfare hires for

the Department of Commerce or the Census Bureau.

Award Period

The planned performance period for the WtW Census 2000 Employment

Project will be approximately 18 months. This time frame will allow

four months for planning, start-up and setting up relationships at the

local level; ten months of program operations; and four months of

close-out and follow-up activities. Note that for most Census

enumerators, employment will begin in mid-April 2000, and last

approximately eight to twelve weeks. No obligation or commitment of

funds will be allowed beyond the grant period of performance. Any

unspent grant funds must be returned to the Federal government.

IV. Eligible Grant Applicants

For the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project, eligible applicants are

private organizations that have an established nationwide delivery

system of community-based local affiliates throughout all States to

serve as an intermediary between local Census Bureau offices and the

WtW local level formula and competitive grantees. As established in the

WtW Regulations (20 CFR Part 645.500), private entities seeking WtW

competitive grant funding are required to apply in conjunction with the

PIC(s) or political subdivision(s) for the areas in which the project

is to operate. The term ``in conjunction with'' shall mean that the

application must include a signed certification by both the applicant

and either the appropriate PIC(s) or political subdivision(s)

indicating that:

1. The applicant has consulted with the appropriate PIC(s)/

political subdivision(s) during the development of the application; and

2. The activities proposed in the application are consistent with,

and will be coordinated with, the WtW efforts of the PIC(s)/political

subdivision(s).

If the applicant is unable to obtain the certification, it will be

required to include information describing the efforts which were

undertaken to consult with the PIC(s)/political subdivision(s) and

indicating that the PIC(s)/political subdivision(s) were provided a

sufficient opportunity to cooperate in the development of the project

plan and to review and comment on the application prior to its

submission to the Department of Labor. ``Sufficient opportunity for

PIC/political subdivision review and comment'' shall mean at least 30

calendar days.

The certification, or evidence of efforts to consult, must be with

either each PIC or each political subdivision in the service area in

which the proposed project is to operate. For the purposes of this

portion of the application, applicants must demonstrate, through

written documentation such as registered mail receipt, that project

proposals were shared with the PIC/political subdivision in a timely

manner.

Note: Electronic mail messages may be acceptable as evidence of

consultation. In

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addition, a sample format for State and local certifications can be

found in Appendix C that applicants may choose to use. All

certifications must be dated prior to July 16, 1999.

Applicants must submit a list of all local entities from whom they

have obtained certification of coordination. Applicants will maintain

copies of all certifications in their own files. Although an important

part of their application, certifications need not be submitted to DOL.

For those applicants that are deemed to be competitive, DOL will verify

that certifications are on file and that they are dated prior to the

closing date of the SGA.

The Department of Labor intends to facilitate the consultation

process for all potential applicants. DOL/ETA will release a Training

and Employment Information Notice informing the WtW employment and

training system about the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project and the

potential role of local Private Industry Council in the consultation

process. The names and addresses of State WtW Coordinators and all WtW

Competitive grantees can be found on the WtW website (http://

wtw.doleta.gov). In addition, a complete listing of WtW local service

delivery areas, as well as State Welfare contacts, can be found at

http://www.ttrc.doleta.gov/common/directories/.

Applicants should be aware that six States (Idaho, Mississippi,

Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming) do not have WtW State formula

programs. In these States, applicants are encouraged to consult with

WtW Competitive grants, State and local TANF agencies, State and local

Census agencies and/or appropriate tribal entities to promote

coordination of program activities in these areas. However, applicants

will not be disqualified if they have not applied in conjunction with

local areas within these six States.

State-Level Consultation

All applicants must submit their applications to the Governors of

all States in which the project will operate, or, at the discretion of

the Governor, to the designated State administrative entity for the WtW

program, for review and comment prior to submission of the application

to the Department of Labor.

When submitted to DOL, the application must include any comments

from the Governor or his/her designee or must include information

indicating that the Governor was provided a sufficient opportunity for

review and comment prior to submission to the Department. ``Sufficient

opportunity for State review and comment'' shall mean at least 15

calendar days. For the purposes of this portion of the application,

information indicating that the Governor was provided opportunity for

review must be demonstrated by written documentation, such as

registered mail receipt, that project applications were submitted to

the Governor or his/her designee in a timely manner. A sample format

for State and local certifications can be found in Appendix C that

applicants may choose to use. All certifications must be dated prior to

July 16, 1999.

Applicants must submit a list of all Governors from whom they have

obtained certification of consultation. Applicants will maintain copies

of all certifications in their own files. Although an important part of

their application, certifications need not be submitted to DOL. For

those applicants that are deemed to be competitive, DOL will verify

that certifications are on file and that they are dated prior to the

closing date of the SGA.

Coordination With Tribal Grantees

Although consultation with Indian and Native American (INA)

entities is not required for the WtW Census Employment Project,

applicants are encouraged to coordinate with tribal entities and

corresponding local Census Offices to achieve maximum geographic

saturation in this project.

Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with Indian and Native

American Welfare-to-Work grantees, grantees operating an Indian JTPA/

WIA program and other Indian and Native American tribes/organizations

that have experience in operating employment and training programs

within the Native American communities. A listing of the INA WtW

grantees can be found at http://www.wdsc.org/dinap/dinapw2w/index.html.

In addition, INA JTPA grantees listing can be found at http://

www.wdsc.org/dinap. Projects may coordinate either directly with

appropriate tribal entities or may choose to use competitive

subcontracts/grants with tribal or other entities that have experience

in planning and coordination activities in the Native American

communities.

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

Entities described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue

Code that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive

funds under this announcement. The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2

U.S.C. 1601 et seq., prohibits the award of Federal funds to these

entities if they engage in lobbying activities.

V. Program and Administrative Requirements

Participant Eligibility and Funding Expenditures

The WTW Census 2000 Employment Project will be required to meet the

targeting provisions described at 20 CFR Parts 645.211-645.213.

Note: The WtW Regulations are available at the WtW Internet web

site at http://wtw.doleta.gov.

These provisions dictate that a minimum of 70 percent of the funds

in each WtW competitive grant must be used to serve hard-to-employ

individuals as described in Sec. 645.212. Furthermore, no more than 30

percent of the funds in each grant may be used to serve individuals

with characteristics predictive of long-term welfare dependence, as

described in Sec. 645.213.

Allowable Uses of Funds

Competitive grant funds shall be spent only for those allowable

activities identified in the WtW Regulations, at 20 CFR Part 645.220

and set forth below; for appropriate administrative costs; and for

information technology costs in accordance with 20 CFR 645.235(c)(3).

WtW allowable activities are:

(a) Job readiness activities financed through job vouchers or

through contracts with public or private providers.

(b) Employment activities which consist of any of the following:

(1) Community service programs; (2) Work experience programs; (3) Job

creation through public or private sector employment wage subsidies;

and (4) On-the-job training.

(c) Job placement services financed through job vouchers or through

contracts with public or private providers subject to the payment

requirements at Sec. 645.230(a)(3).

(d) Post-employment services financed through job vouchers or

through contracts with public or private providers, which are provided

after an individual is placed in one of the employment activities

listed in paragraph (b) above, or in any other subsidized or

unsubsidized job. Post-employment services include, but are not limited

to, such services as: (1) Basic educational skills training; (2)

Occupational skills training; (3) English as a second language

training; and (4) Mentoring.

(e) Job retention services and support services which are provided

after an individual is placed in a job readiness activity, as specified

in paragraph (a) above, in one of the employment

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activities, as specified in paragraph (b) above, or in any other

subsidized or unsubsidized job. These services can be provided with WtW

funds only if they are not otherwise available to the participant. Job

retention and support services include, but are not limited to, such

services as: (1) Transportation assistance; (2) Substance abuse

treatment (except that WtW funds may not be used to provide medical

treatment); (3) Child care assistance; (4) Emergency or short-term

housing assistance; and (5) Other supportive services.

(f) Individual development accounts which are established in

accordance with section 404(h) of the Act.

(g) Intake, assessment, eligibility determination, development of

an individualized service strategy, and case management may be

incorporated in the design of any of the allowable activities listed in

paragraphs (a) through (f) above.

It is expected that in the WtW Census 2000 Employment Project, the

majority of services will fall under the job readiness, job placement,

post-employment services and job retention and supportive services

categories.

Administrative Costs

Requirements concerning allowable costs and the 15 percent

limitation on administrative costs for WtW competitive grants will

apply to the WTW Census 2000 Employment Project and are defined in the

WtW Regulations at 20 CFR Part 645.235. All proposed costs must be

reflected as either a direct charge to specific budget line items, or

as an indirect cost. Indirect costs and direct administrative costs are

allowable, but combined, these costs cannot exceed 15 percent of the

total grant. The administrative costs negotiated in the final grant

document may be below fifteen percent.

Only costs which result from applying a federally-approved indirect

cost rate may be entered on the ``indirect cost'' line item of the

budget. If an indirect cost rate is used, the applicant must include

documentation from the cognizant Federal agency which includes the

approved rate, the cost base against which it is applied, and the

approval date.

All applicants will be expected to justify proposed costs (see

Project Financial Plan, in the ``Required Content for the WtW Census

2000 Employment Project''). Profits are not an allowable use of grant

funds.

Use of Federal Funds

Federal funds cannot be used to support activities which would be

provided in the absence of those funds. Grant funds may cover only

those costs which are appropriate and reasonable. Federal grant funds

may only be used to acquire equipment which is necessary for the

operation of the grant. The grantee must receive prior approval from

the DOL/ETA Grant Officer for the purchase and/or lease of any property

and/or equipment with a per unit acquisition cost of $5,000 or more,

and a useful life of more than one year as defined in ``Grants and

Agreements with Institutes of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other

Non-Profit Organizations,'' codified at 29 CFR Part 95 (also known as

OMB Circular A-110). This restriction includes the purchase of

Automated Data Processing (ADP) equipment. A request for such prior

approval may be included in the grant application or submitted after

the grant award. Requests submitted after the grant award must be

directed through the Grant Officer Technical Representative (GOTR) and

must include a detailed description and cost of the items to be

acquired.

Grant funds also may not be used to cover any project-related costs

incurred prior to the effective date of the grant award. In making a

grant award, DOL/ETA has no obligation to provide any future additional

funding in connection with the grant award.

Pursuant to 20 CFR Part 645.235(c)(3), the costs of information

technology--computer hardware and software--needed for tracking or

monitoring under a WtW grant shall not be subject to the fifteen

percent limitation on administrative costs.

Year 2000 Compliance

Any information technology purchased in whole or in part with WtW

funds, which is used for a period of time that goes beyond December 31,

1999, must be ``year 2000 compliant.'' This means that such information

technology shall accurately process date/time data (including, but not

limited to, calculating, comparing and sequencing) from, into and

between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the years 1999 and

2000, and leap year calculations. Furthermore, ``year 2000 compliant''

information technology, when used in combination with other information

technology, shall accurately process date/time data if the other

information technology properly exchanges date/time with it.

Assurances and Certifications

The following assurances and certifications must be included as

part of each grant application: Debarment & Suspension Certification.

Other assurances and certifications will be required as part of

each executed grant agreement, but do not need to be submitted as part

of a WtW Competitive grant application: Assurances/Non-Construction

Programs; Certification Regarding Lobbying; Drug Free Workplace

Certification; Certification of Non-delinquency; and Non-discrimination

and Equal Opportunity Requirements.

Departmental Oversight

The Department reserves the right to conduct oversight and both

programmatic and financial monitoring activities for all competitive

grants awarded under the WtW grants program, including the WTW Census

2000 Employment Project.

VI. Monitoring and Reporting

Monitoring

The Department shall be responsible for ensuring effective

implementation of each competitive grant, including the WTW Census 2000

Employment Project, in accordance with the Act, the Regulations, the

provisions of this announcement and the negotiated grant agreement.

Applicants should assume that at least one on-site project review will

be conducted by Department staff, or their designees, at approximately

the midpoint of the project performance period. This review will focus

on the project's progress in meeting the grant's programmatic goals and

participant outcomes, complying with the targeting requirements

regarding recipients who are served, expenditure of grant funds on

allowable activities, integration with other resources and service

providers in the local area, and methods for assessment of the

responsiveness and effectiveness of the services being provided. The

grantee may be subject to other additional reviews at the discretion of

the Department.

Reporting

Applicants selected as grantees will be required to provide the

following reports:

1. Financial Reporting: The Department of Labor (DOL) issued

financial reporting instructions for competitive grantees on June 24,

1998. Financial reports will be submitted electronically directly to

DOL.

2. Participant Reporting: Participant reporting instructions will

be issued shortly covering the WtW competitive grant program.

Participant reports for each competitive grant will be submitted in

accordance with reporting instructions at a later date.

3. Other Reporting: The Department of Labor may negotiate

additional

[[Page 26445]]

reporting requirements with individual grantees, where necessary, for

grant management and/or knowledge development purposes, including

quarterly narrative reports.

In addition to required quarterly financial and participant

reporting, some grantees may be asked to provide information to the

appropriate ETA Grant Officer Technical Representative during the early

implementation phase of the project for the purpose of project

oversight. This information may include project enrollment levels,

participant characteristics, and emerging implementation issues.

VII. Review and Selection of Applications for Grant Award Review

Process

The Department will screen all applications to determine whether

all required elements are present and clearly identifiable. These

elements are described below in the ``Required Content for the WtW

Census 2000 Employment Project.'' Failure to include all required

elements in Section I of the grant application will result in rejection

of the application.

Each complete application will be objectively rated against the

criteria described in this announcement by a panel of Department of

Labor and Department of Commerce staff. Applicants are advised that the

panel recommendations to the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. The

Grant Officer may elect to award the grant either with or without

discussion with the applicant. In situations where no discussions

occur, an award will be based on the applicant's signature on the SF-

424 form (See Appendix B), which constitutes a binding offer.

The Grant Officer will make final award decisions based on what is

most advantageous to the Government, considering factors such as: Panel

findings; geographic saturation; and the availability of funds.

Criteria

The criteria, and the weights assigned to each, which will apply to

the review of applications submitted in response to this announcement

are:

1. ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' [25 points] which shall

consider the extent to which the applicant can demonstrate that its

local affiliates have strong relationships with WtW and TANF agencies,

including tribal entities and WtW Competitive grants, as well as local

Census Offices, in local areas across the country (up to 15 points);

and the extent and quality of local community partnerships that are

involved in the project (up to 10 points).

2. ``Demonstrated Capability'' [40 points] which shall consider the

extent to which the applicant and its affiliates demonstrate a history

of success in managing a project of the scope and complexity described

herein (up to 15 points); the extent to which the applicant and its

affiliates have experience in brokering services for a comparable

target group (up to 12 points); and the extent to which the applicant

demonstrates the ability to effectively execute grant management

responsibilities, including tracking of participants in the 70/30%

categories of eligibility (up to 13 points).

3. ``Outcomes'' [35 points] which shall consider the quality of the

proposed strategy for attaining employment and earnings outcomes (up to

10 points); the extent to which the proposed plan of services responds

to the barriers faced by proposed participants, and provides

flexibility to respond to local conditions (up to 7 points); the

reasonableness of the level of investment in relation to the proposed

outcomes (up to 8 points); and the extent to which the applicant has a

strategy for developing relationships with other Welfare-to-Work

programs and with private employers to ensure long-term placements of

participants (up 10 points).

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 11th day of May, 1999.

Janice E. Perry,

Chief, Division of Federal Assistance.

Required Content for WtW Census 2000 Employment Project

Each application must contain the information and follow the format

outlined in this Part. In preparing your project narrative, keep in

mind the selection criteria outlined above.

I. Project Summary

A. Project Financial Plan

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.

The financial plan shall describe all costs associated with

implementing the project that are to be covered with grant funds. All

costs should be necessary and reasonable according to the Federal

guidelines set forth in the ``Grants and Agreements with Institutes of

Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations'' (also

known as OMB Circular A-110), codified at 29 CFR Part 95.

The financial plan must contain the following parts:

* ``Application for Federal Assistance'' and ``Budget Information

Sheet'' by line item for all costs required to implement the project

design effectively. Submission of these two completed forms is

required. (See Appendix B for these required forms.)

Note: Although there is no matching requirement for this grant,

the Department strongly encourages the leveraging of financial and

other resources in the implementation of WtW competitive grant

projects. These resources will not, however, be recorded on the

Budget Information Sheet (Appendix B).

* Budget narrative/justification which provides sufficient

information to support the reasonableness of the costs included in the

budget in relation to the service strategy and planned outcomes.

B. Executive Summary

Each application must provide a two-page executive summary of the

grant proposal, describing the nature of the services typically

provided by applicant's local affiliates, the proposed service

strategy, the qualifications of the applicant to implement a nationwide

project, other significant service organizations involved in the

delivery of services, and the most innovative elements of the proposal.

This section must be no more than two single-spaced, single-sided

pages.

C. Evidence of Required Local and State Consultation

It is the expectation of the Department that, to the extent

possible, all applications will be developed in consultation with a

substantial majority of PICs/political subdivisions and Governors

across the country. The WtW Census 2000 Employment Project should

complement the WtW formula and competitive grant activity at a local

level, rather than exist independent of, or in conflict with, those

programs.

Each application must include the signed certification of the

required consultation with the Governor, or of evidence of efforts to

consult, as described in this announcement. Applications must also

include the signed certification from each PIC(s) or political

subdivision(s) or other evidence indicating the efforts undertaken to

obtain the required consultation as described in this announcement. In

areas where an entity other than the PIC has been designated by the

Governor and approved by the Secretary to administer the WtW formula

grant, the applicant should also include evidence of consultation and/

or support from that entity. All certifications or comments provided as

part of this requirement must be included in this section of the grant

application and will not be counted against the established page

limits. A

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sample format for State and local certifications can be found in

Appendix C that applicants may choose to use. All certifications must

be dated prior to July 16, 1999.

Applicants must submit a list of all State and local entities from

whom they have obtained certification of coordination. Applicants will

maintain copies of all certifications in their own files. Although an

important part of their application, certifications need not be

submitted to DOL. For those applicants that are deemed to be

competitive, DOL will verify that certifications are on file and that

they are dated prior to the closing date of the SGA.

II. Government Requirement/Statement of Work--Project Narrative

This section of the application should not exceed 15 single-spaced,

numbered pages. The application should include information of the type

described below, as appropriate.

Description of Applicant's Service Delivery System

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Demonstrated Capability'' criteria.

--Describe the nature of programs operated, services provided and

outcomes obtained by local affiliates nationwide. In addition, please

provide a map indicating which State and local areas are served by

local affiliates.

--Identify with what types of organizations local affiliates typically

coordinate activities and services.

--Describe organizational experience in serving welfare recipients,

including hard-to-employ recipients and noncustodial parents, and

implementing welfare reform programs. In addition, please describe any

specific Welfare-to-Work programs that your organization or local

affiliates are operating or where you are providing services through a

contract or subgrant.

--Describe your experience in working with Private Industry Councils or

providing employment and training programs. Explain any situations in

which your organization provided services for individuals who were

simultaneously enrolled in more than one Federal program (e.g. AFDC/

TANF and JTPA).

Recruitment and Intake of Target Group

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' and

``Outcomes'' criteria.

--Describe your organization's experience in assessing individual

barriers to employment, and the population typically served by your

organization and its affiliates, including the barriers that your

programs and services address.

--Describe how your organization normally recruits individuals to

participate in your program, including other specific organizations or

types of organizations and agencies (such as housing authorities,

welfare agencies, workforce development agencies, child support

enforcement agencies, etc.) that might assist you with referrals.

Employer Recruitment Strategies

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.

--Describe the types of relationships that your organization has

maintained with employers both at a national level and at a local level

(e.g. associations that you work with at the national level, as well as

types of organizations that local affiliates tend to work with

regularly).

--Identify the types of occupations in the local area which are likely

to be targeted as appropriate employment opportunities for the target

group of this project following their temporary employment with Census

2000. Include a brief justification for the selection of the

occupations in terms of their availability and demand and the adequacy

of expected placement wage and post-placement earnings potential to

achieve self-sufficiency.

--Describe the specific responsibilities and approaches for developing

relationships with and support of employers to generate a sufficient

number of unsubsidized employment opportunities for the target group.

Specifically describe how employers will be encouraged to customize

employment opportunities to meet work-related needs (e.g., child care,

flexible work schedules) of recipients.

Service Strategy

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' and

``Outcomes'' criteria.

--Identify the specific job readiness, placement (in both subsidized

and unsubsidized employment), post-employment, job retention and/or

support services to be provided with WtW Census 2000 Employment Project

grant funds as well as resources and services to be leveraged from

other sources.

--Describe the rationale for planned activities in terms of the timing

of Census 2000 employment, employment barriers faced by participants,

and likely occupations described above.

--Describe what individual support services, such as mentoring and case

management, will be used to maintain participants in the employment

once placed in their post-Census job.

--Describe what services will be provided or referrals made for

eligible WtW participants who are not hired by Census.

--Describe how longer-term supportive services and follow-up services

will be provided after the end of the grant.

Note: It is assumed that job retention and supportive services

provided through the WtW Census Employment Project grant will be of

relatively short duration. Applicants are encouraged to describe in

detail what arrangements they have made with other WtW grantees at

the local level to provide longer-term supportive services and

follow-up for WtW Census Employment Project participants.

Service Process

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Local Collaboration and Integration'' and

``Outcomes'' criteria.

--Describe the comprehensive service process that will be available to

participants, and identify the organizations which will be involved in

providing specific services/activities. [A process flowchart and/or

service matrix may be used to provide this description.] The

description should specify what elements of the service strategy are

already available in the community, as well as the elements or services

that will be funded through the WtW competitive grant award. At a

minimum, describe the coordination and contributions of WtW formula and

competitive grants (including tribal entities), JTPA service providers,

TANF providers, child support enforcement agencies and housing

authorities.

--Describe the specific methods which will be used by the grantee and

the local TANF agency to coordinate and work jointly in providing the

following services: Outreach, recruitment, and referral of appropriate

recipients for assistance through the project; assessment of skills and

identification of specific employment barriers; counseling and case

management; and support services.

--Describe what mechanism(s) the project will use to ensure that long

term job retention and supportive

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services are made available to participants after the end of the WtW

Census 2000 Employment Project grant.

Planned Outcomes

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.

--Identify and justify planned performance for the comprehensive

service strategy on the following measures: Number of participants to

be placed into unsubsidized employment; average earnings at placement

in post-Census unsubsidized employment; expected average earnings one

year after placement in unsubsidized employment; and cost per placement

in unsubsidized employment. In addition, describe specific process or

outcome objectives for those services.

The application may include other measures and planned performance

levels as deemed appropriate by the applicant, such as measures of the

quality of post-Census project job placements, including employee

benefits and advancement opportunities. If these are included, the

applicant should briefly describe their relevance to the project.

Implementation Plan

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Outcomes'' criteria.

--Identify the critical activities, time frames and responsibilities

for effectively implementing the project within the first 90 days after

the award of the grant. Note that project should plan to start on

October 1, 1999 and that Census employment should begin in mid-April,

2000.

--Include an implementation schedule showing the number of

participants, enrollments in Census jobs and other allowable

activities, placements in unsubsidized employment and terminations.

Project Management Plan

Information provided in this section will be evaluated

predominantly under the ``Demonstrated Capability'' criteria.

Applicants must be able to document that they have systems capable

of satisfying the administrative and grant management requirements for

WtW grants as defined in 20 CFR Part 645.

--Include a project organizational chart which identifies the staff

with key management responsibilities and the specific responsibilities

of each. Also describe the relationship between the national

organization and the local affiliates and mechanisms used for

communication and technical assistance.

--Describe the specific experience of the applicant in managing a

project of this geographical scope and limited time frame. The

information should include at a minimum specific projects or grants, a

comparison of the characteristics of individuals served to the target

group for this project, and the outcomes which were achieved. In

addition, applicants should provide the names and addresses of their

last three grantors, public and/or private, from which applicants

received funding. The Department of Labor reserves the right to contact

any or all of these funding organizations or to request additional

information from the applicant regarding past performance as part of a

responsibility review process, or if the Department is concerned about

the applicants' financial responsibility or capability to manage grant

funds.

--Describe how current or former welfare recipients will be used to in

the provision of services.

Appendix A: Definitions of Key Terms

Private Entity--Any organization, public or private, which is

neither a PIC nor a political subdivision of a State.

Private Industry Council (PIC)--from Sec. 645.120 of the WtW

Regulations--A Private Industry Council established under Section

102 of the Job Training Partnership Act, which performs the

functions authorized at Section 103 of the JTPA, including their

successor entities under the Workforce Investment Act.

Political Subdivision--A unit of general purpose local

government, as provided for in State laws and/or Constitution, which

has the power to levy taxes and spend funds and which also has

general corporate and police powers.

Appendix B: Required Forms

(1) Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424).

(2) Budget Information Sheet.

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[FR Doc. 99-12225 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]

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