[Federal Register: June 6, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 109)]
[Notices]
[Page 33989-34007]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jn03-102]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Disability Employment Policy
[SGA 03-09]
High School/High Tech State Development and Implementation Grants
AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; solicitation for grant
applications (SGA).
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This notice contains all of the necessary information and forms
needed to apply for grant funding. (SGA 03-09).
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability
Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of $1.8 million to
award up to eight competitive grants in the amount of approximately
$225,000 to assist states in implementing the High School/High Tech
(HS/HT) program on a statewide basis.
This grant initiative involves one competitive Solicitation for
Grant Application (SGA) that will be used to award both HS/HT
Implementation Grants and HS/HT Development Grants:
(1) HS/HT State Implementation Grants: Successful state applicants
will demonstrate that all partners relevant to successful
implementation of the HS/HT program in the state are in place (e.g.,
education, Workforce Investment Act, Development Disability Councils,
etc.); and that the state has the capacity to implement the HS/HT
design features discussed below throughout the state. In addition,
successful applicants will be able to demonstrate a strong plan for
sustainability of the HS/HT program when federal funding ceases. The
Implementation Grants will be awarded for a one-year period of
performance and funded at a level of $225,000. These grants may be
renewed up to four times for an additional year of funding with the
fourth and fifth years at reduced funding levels of 80% and 60% of
third year funding levels, respectively, depending upon project
performance and funding availability. See also Parts IV, IX.
(2) HS/HT State Development Grants: These grants will be targeted
to state applicants able to demonstrate their capacity to implement and
sustain the HS/HT program as described above in relation to the
Implementation Grants within a short time period if provided with
appropriate technical assistance. The Development Grants will be
awarded for a one-year period of performance and funded at $225,000,
after which time grantees will be eligible to apply for Implementation
Grant funding. Development Grants will not be renewable.
The purpose of these grants is to assist states, working in
partnership with the State Workforce Investment Board, in implementing
a statewide HS/HT program, in integrating the HS/HT program into youth
services funded under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) (Pub. L. 105-
220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), and in ensuring sustainability of the HS/
HT program through state-level management and coordination. HS/HT is a
career development program designed to provide high school aged youth
with disabilities with an opportunity to explore careers or gain
further education that may lead to technology-related careers. These
programs, which have generally been locally directed and supported,
serve both in-school and out-of-school youth with disabilities in a
year round program of corporate site visits, mentoring, job shadowing,
guest speakers, after school activities and summer internships.
The application and evaluation/selection criteria for both types of
grants are the same. The first applicants selected when evaluated
pursuant to the criteria set forth in Parts VII and IX of this SGA will
be awarded High School/ High Tech Implementation Grants. The next three
applicants selected will receive HS/HT Development Grants. Revised
scope of work and budget documents will be required from all
Development Grantees within forty-five (45) days of the award to
reflect the one-year period of performance.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants for these grants include State
Workforce Investment Boards; State Departments of Education; State
Departments of Labor; State Developmental Disability Councils; State
Departments of Vocational Rehabilitation; or State Committees
affiliated with the National Governors' Committees for People with
Disabilities, and other similar state agencies. ``State'' in this
context includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. Consortia of state
agencies and not-for-profit organizations (including community and
faith-based organizations, independent living centers, etc.) and local
HS/HT sites are also eligible applicants. Prior recipients of state-
level HS/HT grant funding are ineligible to receive additional funding
under this solicitation.
DATES: Applications will be accepted commencing on June 6, 2003. The
closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is
July 21, 2003. Applications must be received by 4:45 p.m. (ET) at the
address below. No exceptions to the mailing and hand-delivery
conditions set forth in this notice will be granted. Applications that
do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will be considered
non-responsive.
ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor,
Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Willis, Reference SGA
03-09, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be accepted. Applicants are
advised that mail delivery in the Washington area may be delayed due to
mail decontamination procedures.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cassandra Willis, U.S. Department of
Labor, Procurement Services Center, telephone (202) 693-4570 (this is
not a toll-free number), prior to the closing deadline. Persons who are
deaf or hard of hearing may contact the DOL via the Federal Relay
Service, (800) 877-8339. This announcement will also be published on
the Internet on ODEP's online Home Page at: http://www2.dol.gov/odep.
Award notifications will also be published on the ODEP Homepage.
Solicitation Information Conference Call: A Solicitation
Information Conference Call will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 19,
2003. The purpose of this conference call is to provide interested
parties an overview of this grant program and an opportunity to ask
questions concerning this solicitation. Transcripts of the conference
will be made available on request in accessible formats. Individuals
who wish to participate in this conference call must register by
contacting ODEP at (202) 693-7880, no later than 4:45 p.m. ET on
Tuesday, June 16, 2003. Please ask to register for the HS/HT SGA
Conference Call. Registrations should be made as soon as possible. At
the time of registration, call-in information will be provided.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Part I. Delivery of Applications
1. Late Applications. Any application received after the exact date
and time specified for receipt at the office designated in this notice
will be considered non-responsive, unless it is received before awards
are made and it (a) is determined that its late receipt was caused by
DOL error; (b) was sent by
[[Page 33990]]
U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail not later than the
fifth calendar day before the date specified for receipt of
applications (e.g., an application submitted in response to a
solicitation requiring receipt of applications by the 20th of the month
must have been post marked by the 15th of that month); or (c) was sent
by the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service to addressee
not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing two working days prior to
the date specified for receipt of applications. The term ``working
days'' excludes weekends and Federal holidays. ``Post marked'' means a
printed, stamped or otherwise placed impression (exclusive of a postage
meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable, without further
action, as having been supplied or affixed on the date of mailing by an
employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
2. Withdrawal of Applications. Applications may be withdrawn by
written notice or telegram (including mail gram) received at any time
before an award is made. Applications may be withdrawn in person by the
applicant or by an authorized representative thereof, if the
representative's identity is made known and the representative signs a
receipt of the proposal.
3. Hand-Delivered Proposals. It is preferred that applications be
mailed at least five days prior to the closing date. To be considered
for funding, hand-delivered applications must be received by 4:45 p.m.,
ET, at the specified address. Failure to adhere to the above
instructions will be basis for a determination of non-responsiveness.
Overnight express mail from carriers other than the U.S. Postal Service
will be considered hand-delivered applications and must be received by
the above specified date and time.
Part II. Authority
Omnibus Appropriations Resolution, 2003, Pub. L. 108-7;
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Pub. L. 106-554, 29 U.S.C. 557b.
Part III. Background
HS/HT is a career development program for high school aged youth
that started almost two decades ago in Los Angeles, California, to
address concerns that not enough students, especially those with
disabilities, were being prepared for careers in technology-focused
industries. The Atlantic Richfield Company, with support from the Los
Angeles Unified School District, designed America's first technology-
focused transition program for young people with disabilities.
Shortly thereafter, in 1986, the President's Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities (PCEPD), whose mission was to
facilitate the communication, coordination, and promotion of public and
private efforts that enhance the employment of people with
disabilities, adopted the program. Building upon the strength of the
public/private partnership that began in Los Angeles, program leaders
developed relationships with large and small businesses, education and
non-profit organizations, and government agencies. These relationships
helped HS/HT grow and expand across the country.
The newly created Office of Disability Employment Policy at the
United States Department of Labor assumed the role as the Federal
agency responsible for continuing this program. In 2001, ODEP entered
into a cooperative agreement with the National Collaborative on
Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) to provide technical
assistance and support to HS/HT sites nationwide. During 2002, ODEP and
NCWD/Youth undertook a substantial refinement of the HS/HT program
standards to promote the expansion of this career development program.
HS/HT is a network of state and locally operated programs designed
to provide young people with all types of disabilities the opportunity
to explore jobs or gain further education leading to technology-related
careers. HS/HT is a community-based partnership with 70-plus programs
currently operating across the country. The programs operate year-round
in a variety of settings--schools, community organizations, businesses,
and other locations. Current HS/HT operators include non-profits
(Goodwill, Centers for Independent Living, United Cerebral Palsy
Affiliates, etc.), community colleges, universities and school
districts. Its stakeholders include employers, educators, consumers,
family members, workforce system agencies, and rehabilitation
professionals.
The HS/HT program offers proven techniques for developing improved
employment outcomes for young people with disabilities. The HS/HT
program is premised on four design features, supported by experience
and research, as to what youth with disabilities need to succeed in
adulthood. These four design areas include preparatory experiences,
connecting activities, work-based experiences, and leadership
development. See the HS/HT Program Manual at http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources&Publications/hshtmanual.html
for further
information. Graduates of HS/HT programs that employ these design
features have demonstrated at least double the post-secondary
educational achievements of similarly situated students with
disabilities who do not have this opportunity. At some HS/HT sites, as
many as 70 percent of HS/HT graduates move on to post-secondary
education. HS/HT clearly enhances expectations, educational
achievements, and eventual employment outcomes for a population who,
without this intervention, may be far more likely to move onto the
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) rolls than to find competitive employment in
technology related occupations.
Funding for HS/HT sites has traditionally been managed locally. In
the past several years, however, ODEP has sought to move the leadership
and funding towards a state-level model through its grant activities.
In 2001, ODEP funded start-up HS/HT sites that began connecting HS/HT
and WIA-assisted youth programs at the community level. In 2002, ODEP
expanded upon that effort by funding grants to assist states in
developing statewide HS/HT infrastructure and operations and further
integrating HS/HT programs into the youth services provided under the
One-Stop System.
The 2003 HS/HT grants are the next step in this process and focus
on both state-level implementation and long-term sustainability. HS/HT
sites have traditionally worked with community systems to coordinate
the delivery of educational and transitional services to youth with
disabilities. The HS/HT Implementation and Development Grants to be
awarded as a result of the current SGA are intended to:
(1) Assist states in implementing a statewide HS/HT network working
in partnership with the State Workforce Investment Board;
(2) Integrate the HS/HT program into WIA-assisted youth services;
and
(3) Ensure sustainability of the HS/HT program through state-level
management and coordination.
(4) Bringing HS/HT to the state-level will to help ensure that
resources within a state are maximized and coordinated for the benefit
of all HS/HT sites in that state. HS/HT state directors will work with
key stakeholders (workforce investment systems, colleges, developmental
disability councils, governors' committees on the employment of people
with disabilities, employers, educators, rehabilitation professionals,
consumers, and parents) to institutionalize the program within the
state. By linking HS/HT, WIA and additional resources at the state-
level, students with disabilities will have an
[[Page 33991]]
increased opportunity to participate in meaningful school-to-career
initiatives.
Part IV. Funding Availability and Period of Performance
ODEP anticipates awarding approximately eight grants under this
solicitation to be funded at a level of approximately $225,000. The HS/
HT Implementation awards will be for a one-year period of performance
and may be renewed annually up to four additional years for a total of
five years, depending upon the availability of funds and the efficacy
of the grant activities as established by independent reviews conducted
by the DOL or its designee. Proposals must include budgetary
information for a five-year period. It is envisioned that if funding is
continued for the full five years, the funding for years four and five
will be at successively lower rates, with funding during year four at
80 percent of the third year funds, and funding for year five at 60
percent of the third year funds. The HS/HT Development Grants will be
for a one-year period of performance and will not be renewed.
Up to five Implementation Grants and up to three Development Grants
will be awarded. It is expected that the funds used for this grant
program will support the costs associated with the development,
implementation, and evaluation of state-level HS/HT programs. The funds
may be used to conduct a variety of activities to support and sustain
state-level HS/HT operations such as staff training, strategic
planning, partnership building, assessment, curriculum/materials
development, career development, student-focused planning, program
alignment, etc. Grant funds may be used to fund the creation of new HS/
HT sites as well as to support existing sites as part of the
implementation of an overall statewide HS/HT system.
Part V. Eligible Applicants and Required Partnerships
Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include State Workforce
Investment Boards; State Departments of Education; State Departments of
Labor; State Developmental Disability Councils; State Departments of
Vocational Rehabilitation; or State Committees affiliated with the
National Governors' Committees for People with Disabilities, and other
similar state agencies. ``State'' in this context includes the 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Guam, and American Samoa. Consortia of state agencies and not-for-
profit organizations (including community and faith-based
organizations, independent living centers, etc.) and local HS/HT sites
are also eligible applicants. Prior recipients of state-level HS/HT
grant funding are ineligible to receive additional funding under this
solicitation.
Indian and Native American Tribal entities, or consortia of Tribes,
with the written approval of their tribal council, are also eligible to
receive these grants. Grants to Indian and Native American tribal
grantees must recognize principles of sovereignty and self-governance
established under the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act, allowing for the government-to-government relationship
between the Federal and Tribal Governments.
Required Partnerships: In addition to the State Workforce
Investment Board, which is a mandatory partner in these grant
activities, each grantee must, at a minimum, demonstrate the
involvement of members of three of the other above-mentioned state-
level groups in strategic planning and implementation activities.
Tribal entities also must involve, at a minimum, members of three of
the other groups mentioned above in strategic planning and
implementation activities with the State Workforce Investment Board
constituting a mandatory partner.
Part VI. Format Requirements for Grant Application
General Requirements: Applicants must submit one (1) paper copy
with an original signature and two (2) additional paper copies of the
signed proposal. To aid with the review of applications, DOL also
encourages Applicants to submit an electronic copy of their proposal on
a disc or CD using Microsoft Word. Applicants who do not provide an
electronic copy will not be penalized. The Application Narrative must
be double-spaced with standard margins on 8\1/2\ x 11 papers, and be
presented on single-sided, numbered pages with the exception of format
requirements for the Executive Summary. The Executive Summary must be
limited to no more than two single-spaced, single-sided pages on 8\1/2\
x 11 papers with standard margins throughout. A font size of at least
twelve (12) pitch is required throughout. Applications that fail to
meet these requirements will be considered non-responsive.
The three required sections of the application are:
Section I--Project Financial Plan
Section II--Executive Summary--Project Synopsis
Section III--Project Narrative (including Attachments, not to exceed 40
pages)
Mandatory requirements for each section are provided as follows in
this application package. Applications that fail to meet the stated
mandatory requirements of each section will be considered non-
responsive.
Mandatory Application Requirements
[sbull] Section I. Project Financial Plan (Budget) (The Project
Financial Plan will not count against the application page limits.)
Section I of the application must include the following three required
parts:
(1) Completed ``SF 424--Application for Federal Assistance'' (See
Appendix A of this SGA for required form.)
(2) Completed ``SF 424A--Budget Information Form'' by line item for
all costs required to implement the project design effectively. (See
Appendix B of this SGA for required forms.)
(3) Budget Narrative and Justification that provides sufficient
information to support the reasonableness of the costs included in the
budget in relation to the service strategy and planned outcomes.
The application must include one SF-424 with the original
signatures of the legal entity applying for grant funding and 2
additional copies. Applicants shall indicate on the SF-424 the
organization's IRS Status, if applicable. Under the Lobbying Disclosure
Act of 1995, section 18 (29 U.S.C. 1611), an organization described in
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages in
lobbying activities will not be eligible for the receipt of Federal
funds constituting an award, grant, or loan. (See 2 U.S.C. 1611; 26
U.S.C. 501(c)(4).) For item 10 of the SF-424, the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for the program is 17.720.
The Budget Narrative and Justification must describe all costs
associated with implementing the project that are to be covered with
grant funds. Grantees must support the travel and associated costs with
sending at least one representative to the annual ODEP Policy
Conference for Grantees, to be held in Washington, DC at a time and
place to be determined. Grantees must comply with the ``Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to
State and Local Governments,'' (also known as the ``Common Rule'')
codified at 29 CFR part 97, and ``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 and must
comply with the applicable OMB cost principles circulars, as identified
in 29 CFR 95.27 and 29 CFR 97.22(b).
[[Page 33992]]
In addition, the budget must include on a separate page a detailed
cost analysis of each line item. Justification for administrative costs
must be provided. Approval of a budget by DOL is not the same as the
approval of actual costs. The individual signing the SF 424 on behalf
of the applicant must represent and be able to legally bind the
responsible financial and administrative entity for a grant should that
application result in an award. The applicant must also include the
Assurances and Certifications Signature Page (Appendix C).
[sbull] Section II. Executive Summary--Project Synopsis (The
Executive Summary is limited to no more than two single-spaced, single-
sided pages on 8\1/2\ x 11 papers with standard margins throughout).
Each application shall include a project synopsis that identifies the
following:
(1) The name of the applicant;
(2) The type of organization the applicant represents, the
additional consortium partners and the type of organization they
represent;
(3) The amount of funds requested;
(4) The planned period of performance;
(5) The extent to which Vocational Rehabilitation and the WIA-
assisted Youth Service System will be integrated or coordinated with
the HS/HT system;
(6) An overview of how the applicant will capitalize on and
coordinate with existing HS/HT sites, if applicable;
(7) An overview of the applicant's plan for expanding HS/HT
statewide; and
(8) An overview of the applicant's plan for sustaining the HS/HT
program once Federal funding ceases.
[sbull] Section III. Project Narrative (The Project Narrative plus
attachments are limited to no more than forty (40) 8\1/2\ x 11 pages,
double-spaced with standard one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides),
and be presented on single-sided, numbered pages). Note: The Financial
Plan, the Executive Summary, and the Appendices are not included in the
forty (40)--page limit]. The substantive requirements for the project
narrative are described below under Part VII--Statement of Work.
All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, and captions, as well as all text in charts,
tables, figures, and graphs must be double-spaced (no more than three
lines per vertical inch); and, if using a proportional computer font,
use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density
no greater than 18 characters per inch (if using a non-proportional
font or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters per inch).
Applications that fail to meet these requirements will be considered
non-responsive.
Part VII. Government Requirements/Statement of Work (Project Narrative)
The Project Narrative, or Section III of the grant application,
should provide complete information on how the applicant will address
the following DOL strategic goal priorities to ensure a Prepared
Workforce:
(1) Increasing the availability of skills training, employment
opportunities, and career advancement for persons with disabilities.
(2) Increasing the number of youth making a successful transition
to work or who enter further training or educational programs.
Proposals will be rated based upon the quality of the applicant's
response in addressing the four criteria described below in terms of a
comprehensive strategic approach that incorporates the Department's
priorities noted above. The four criteria (Statement of Need,
Comprehensive Service Strategy, Sustainability, and Monitoring and
Reporting) must be addressed and the applicant's accomplishments or
status with regard to each item provided.
The DOL, however, does not expect the applicant to incorporate
every item listed as part of their strategy and proposal design. The
DOL recognizes that the needs and requirements of each state may be
different, and therefore, some of the options identified may be more
relevant than others in a particular state.
1. Statement of Need (15 points)
The purpose of the Statement of Need criteria is to: Establish the
overall status of disability issues relating to youth in the
applicant's state; to identify strengths and deficiencies to be
addressed by the applicant's proposal; to identify the overall scope of
proposal objectives and design; and, to present the applicant's need
for HS/HT grant resources. This criterion will be rated based upon the
applicant's identified needs and proposed approach to addressing these
needs in the context of the DOL's priorities.
For proposals targeted to a specific Indian community or covering
multiple Tribal entities that may cut across multiple States and/or
local areas, describe the overall approach of the project, and identify
the inadequacies and deficiencies of the service delivery to the
applicable community, and how the project expects to address these.
The narrative in this section should:
(1) Describe the potential contribution of the proposed project to
increasing the quality of transition services available in the state;
(2) Describe the overall status and actions taken to-date within
the State relating to implementation of the HS/HT program and the level
of commitment of any existing HS/HT program to working with the
applicant;
(3) Describe the extent to which the proposed project involves the
development or demonstration of promising new strategies;
(4) Describe the number of young people with disabilities expected
to be served in the proposed HS/HT program within the State and the
importance or magnitude of the results that are likely to be attained
by the proposed project;
(5) Identify the percentage of young people with disabilities in
the State including the percentage of people who are beneficiaries of
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Social Security
Income Program (SSI);
(6) Identify the most recent state graduation rates for young
people with disabilities in the State, as well as the overall
graduation rate;
(7) Describe any significant deficiencies in the State or local
workforce investment system that present barriers to employment for
young people with disabilities and explain what will be accomplished
under this grant to address them;
(8) Describe how the applicant will increase services, skill
training, employment outcomes, educational and job retention, and
career advancement for young people with disabilities and how the ODEP
priorities identified above will be achieved; and
(9) Identify additional State and/or local funds and resources that
will be leveraged to support the overall objectives of the grant.
In evaluating the quality of the proposal narrative, ODEP will
consider the applicant's needs identified and proposed approaches to
addressing the needs in the context of ODEP's priorities.
2. Comprehensive Service Strategy (30 points)
The purpose of the Comprehensive Service Strategy criteria is to
identify the approach proposed by the grantee to implement the HS/HT
program on a statewide basis. In general, this requires extensive
linkages and on-site knowledge of applicable resources that address
multiple disability issues and barriers to education and employment
that are commonly experienced by young persons with disabilities.
Specifically, applicants must address staff capacity as well as their
proposed design elements.
[[Page 33993]]
A. Staff Capacity--The applicant must identify how it will ensure
that trained staff with comprehensive knowledge of diverse disabilities
will be available to provide grant related services. Accordingly, the
application should:
(1) Describe the specific experience of the applicant(s) in serving
young people with disabilities, in providing technology-related
training, in addressing specific barriers to employment, in achieving
expected outcomes in the delivery of such services/programs, and in
implementing and administering project plans similar to that in the
proposed grant project;
(2) Document that the State Director has the comprehensive
knowledge and experience to expand HS/HT at a state-level. A resume or
position description of the state director must be included in the
Appendices to the application;
(3) List and describe key positions required to carry out the
project as proposed, the key personnel proposed to fill the positions,
and a detailed description of the kind of work these individuals will
perform within the project; and
(4) Provide evidence of the staff's skill, knowledge and experience
in carrying out these types of activities, and describe their relevant
training. Resumes must be included in the Appendices to the
application.
B. Proposed Design--The application must address the proposed
design for a state-based HS/HT infrastructure. The application must
also identify the plan for developing and locating HS/HT program sites
and the basis for that distribution plan [i.e. as linked with Local
Workforce Investment Boards, etc.]. Finally, the application must
address incorporation of the HS/HT Manual and its four design features,
and should:
(1) Describe the roles of the partners set forth in the
Sustainability Section of Part VII within the state's HS/HT operations.
Explain how the partners will integrate and leverage resources to
advance the HS/HT model;
(2) Identify the locations of HS/HT program sites based on the
number and distribution of students with disabilities in the state;
(3) Describe the strategy that will be used to integrate and
maintain existing HS/HT sites in the state, and to develop and increase
the number of HS/HT sites in the state;
(4) Explain how technology will be used in carrying out grant
activities;
(5) Identify and explain the benefits or results expected from the
grant activities proposed;
(6) Discuss how the applicant will establish leadership from, or a
working relationship with, a State Workforce Investment Board, the
State Department of Labor, State Department of Education, State
Vocational Rehabilitation, a WIA youth-related entity, and other
community partners (e.g., area disability organizations, state
committees on employment of people with disabilities, faith-based and
community organizations, Centers for Independent Living, interested
employers) in the establishment and operation of a state-level HS/HT
program. The State Workforce Investment Board is a mandatory partner
for this grant. At least three categories of the above listed
organizations must also be represented in and be a part of the state-
level leadership team;
(7) Describe the strategy for gaining the support of people with
disabilities and their families;
(8) Describe the outreach and marketing strategy to the disability
community and organizations that represent or work with people with
disabilities;
(9) Describe specific approaches for developing relationships with
disability organizations representing youth with disabilities such as
Centers for Independent Living, the state's Youth Leadership Forum, and
state members of the National Youth Leadership Network;
(10) Describe specific approaches for developing relationships with
and the support of area employers that establish employment
opportunities for individuals with disabilities, including any
commitments by employers to hire these individuals;
(11) Describe linkages with Business Leadership Networks (BLNs)
(that have been established in approximately 30 states) if applicable;
and
(12) Describe linkages with state/local public agencies such as
Special Education; Vocational Rehabilitation; State Councils for
Independent Living; local Centers for Independent Living (CILs); state
mental health agencies, state mental retardation and Developmental
Disability Councils; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
agencies; and private, non-profit organizations such as disability
advocacy and provider organizations, as well as federally-funded
disability grant recipients, including community and faith-based
organizations.
In evaluating the quality of the proposed project design, ODEP will
also consider the following factors:
(a) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable;
(b) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population and other identified needs and the quality of the
applicant's plans for recruiting and retaining the target population;
(c) The extent to which the design of the proposed project provides
procedures and approaches for collaboration and coordination with key
agencies and organizations and identification of critical roles;
(d) The extent to which the applicant encourages involvement of
people with disabilities and their families, experts and organizations,
and other relevant stakeholders in project activities;
(e) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project; and
(f) The extent to which the management plan for project
implementation is likely to achieve the objectives of the proposed
project on time and within budget.
3. Sustainability (30 points)
The purpose of the sustainability criteria is to identify
strategies for ensuring that activities funded under the grant will
continue once Federal funding ceases. Resources and partnerships are an
integral element of the project, as they support and strengthen the
quality of the technical skills training provided and contribute
materially toward sustainability. Sustainability must be an objective
built into the project design, the strategic planning and ongoing
operation of the project. Projects funded under this SGA must leverage
a combination of federal, state, and local public sector resources, as
well as private and local non-profit sector resources for purposes of
sustainability.
In evaluating the quality of the plan for sustainability, ODEP
considers the following factors to be of particular importance:
(a) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of this
grant;
(b) The likelihood of the applicant successfully securing state
ownership and participation in these projects when these grant funds
cease (a letter from the Governor must be included or, if this is not
feasible, a letter from the head of an appropriate state agency may be
substituted); and
(c) The extent to which partnerships with outside entities
(including public and private disability and community
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and faith-based organizations) and funding from additional Federal,
State, and/or local resources will be effectively leveraged and
utilized in continuing HS/HT activities after the expiration of the
grant.
Accordingly, in the Sustainability section, the applicant should
enumerate resources, describe any specific existing contractual
commitments, and provide concrete evidence of sustainability beyond the
duration of this grant.
Grantees are expected to use this grant as seed money to develop
other public and private resources to ensure sustainability of grant
activities following completion of the funding period. Grant monies may
be used to fund the creation of new HS/HT sites as well as to support
existing sites as part of the development of an overall statewide HS/HT
system.
ODEP considers detailed commitments for specific new activities to
be more important than promises of in-kind supports in demonstrating
sustained support for the project. Grants recently received from
another agency can be discussed in the proposal, but the applicant
should be precise in delineating which activities precede this grant
and which will occur because of this grant. In addition, the applicant
should detail how public sector commitments can contribute to the
sustainability of this project following completion of the grant.
Examples of the types of public and private sector commitments
envisioned include the following:
[sbull] The school system commits to offering credit for HS/HT
training activities;
[sbull] The school system commits to incorporating HS/HT into their
Individual Education Plans;
[sbull] The vocational rehabilitation office commits to funding
assistive technology and transportation services for students enrolled
in the program;
[sbull] A community college commits to providing technology
training for HS/HT students;
[sbull] State-level elected officials commit to work towards state
codification of HS/HT;
[sbull] An employer commits to providing technology-based summer
internships;
[sbull] State and Local Workforce Investment Boards commit to
paying internship costs;
[sbull] A university commits to providing scholarships for HS/HT
students.
[sbull] A Developmental Disability Council commits to funding a new
HS/HT site; and
[sbull] An independent living center commits a staff person to work
full time on HS/HT.
Letters of Commitment. Applicants may include letters of support if
they provide specific commitments regarding the application to this
solicitation. Such letters can increase an applicant's score by showing
that the commitments in the text of the proposal are grounded with
actual commitments. Form letters will be considered non-responsive.
Applicants are encouraged to have letters of support from all existing
HS/HT programs in their states.
Letter from the Governor. A letter from the Governor or
functionally equivalent entity reflecting support of state-level
implementation of the HS/HT program will be viewed favorably. If a
letter from the Governor is not feasible, the application must include
a letter from the head of an appropriate state agency.
4. Management and Outcomes (25 points)
The purpose of the Management and Outcomes criteria is to determine
whether the applicant has developed an adequate management plan to
effectively carry out the objectives and scope of the proposed project
on time and within budget, to describe the predicted outcomes resulting
from activities funded under this SGA, and to identify the methods of
evaluation that will be used by the grantee to determine success.
Applicants must provide a detailed management plan that identifies
the critical activities; time frames and responsibilities for
effectively implementing the project, including the evaluation process,
for assuring successful implementation of grant objectives. A
description of the plan to report the demographic characteristics of
students, types of programming activities and program outcomes (post-
secondary education and employment) of youth with disabilities served
through the HS/HT program in the applicant's state; and to compare
their performances with students with and without disabilities not
enrolled in the program should also be provided.
In addition, applicants should outline the strategy for documenting
and reporting the activities undertaken during the life of the grant
for ODEP's future use in working with other grantees and
constituencies.
In evaluating the management and outcomes criteria, ODEP also
considers the following factors to be of particular importance:
(a) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved are clearly specified and measurable;
(b) The extent to which the design of the proposed project features
innovative methods for developing new sites and/or strengthening
existing sites;
(c) The extent to which the proposal incorporates the strategic
plan in Part VII, Statement of Work;
(d) The extent to which the proposed budget and narrative
justification are adequate to support the proposed project;
(e) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project;
(f) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, context, and
outcomes of the proposed project;
(g) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies;
(h) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data;
(i) The extent to which the evaluation will provide information to
other programs about effective strategies suitable for replication or
testing in other settings;
(j) The extent to which the methods of evaluation measure in both
quantitative and qualitative terms, program results and satisfaction of
people with disabilities;
(k) The extent to which the management plan for project
implementation is likely to achieve the objectives of the proposed
project on time and within budget;
(l) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products
and services from the proposed project; and
(m) The extent to which the time commitments of the state director
and/or principal investigator and other key project personnel are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project.
Part VIII. Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring: ODEP is responsible for ensuring the effective
implementation of each competitive grant project in accordance with the
provisions of this announcement and the terms of the grant award
document. Applicants should assume that ODEP staff, or their designees
will conduct on-site project reviews periodically. Reviews will focus
on timely project implementation, performance in meeting the grant's
programmatic goals and objectives, expenditure of grant funds on
allowable activities, integration and coordination with other resources
and service
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providers in the local area, and project management and administration
in achieving project objectives. HS/HT Implementation and Development
Grants may be subject to other additional reviews at the discretion of
ODEP.
Reporting: Grantees will be required to submit quarterly financial
and narrative progress reports under the HS/HT Grant program as
prescribed by OMB Circular A-102 and A-110, as codified by 29 CFR parts
97 and 95 respectively.
(1) A Quarterly Report will be required within thirty (30) days of
the end of each quarter beginning ninety days from the award of the
grant and is estimated to take five hours to prepare on average. The
form for the Quarterly Report will be provided by ODEP. ODEP will work
with the grantee to help refine the requirements of the report, which
will, among other things, include measures of ongoing analysis for
continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
(2) Financial reporting will be required quarterly using the on-
line electronic reporting system for the Standard Form 269--Financial
Status Report (FSR).
(3) A Final Project Report, including an assessment of project
performance and outcomes achieved will be required and is estimated to
take twenty hours to complete. This report will be submitted in hard
copy and on electronic disk using a format and following instructions
that will be provided by ODEP. A draft of the final report is due to
the ODEP thirty (30) days before the termination of the grant. The
final report is due to ODEP sixty (60) days following the termination
of the grant.
ODEP's evaluation of the HS/HT program encompasses a process
evaluation that includes extensive information pertaining to
achievements under the grant (e.g., training provided to staff,
coordination with disability entities, etc.), as well as summary
information pertaining to HS/HT implementation and the numbers of
people with disabilities registered, receiving services, and employed
through the One-Stop system, among other areas.
ODEP may arrange for and conduct an independent evaluation of the
outcomes, impacts, and accomplishments of each funded project. Grantees
must agree to make available records on all parts of project activity,
including participant post secondary and employment data, and to
provide access to personnel, as specified by the evaluator(s), under
the direction of ODEP. This independent evaluation is separate from the
ongoing evaluation for continuous improvement required of the grantee
for project implementation.
Grantees must also agree to work with ODEP in its various technical
assistance efforts in order to freely share with others what is
learned. Grantees must agree to collaborate with other research
institutes, centers, studies, and evaluations that are supported by DOL
and other relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate. Finally, Grantees
must agree to actively utilize the programs sponsored by the ODEP,
including the Job Accommodation Network, (http://www.jan.wvu.edu), and
the Employer Assistance Referral Network (http://www.earnworks.com).
The DOL has established priorities for FY 2003 as noted in the
introduction of Part VII--Government Requirements/Statement of Work.
HS/HT Grantees will be expected to support these priorities.
Part IX. Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
All applications will be reviewed for compliance with the
requirements of this notice. A careful evaluation of applications will
be made by a technical review panel, which will evaluate the
applications against the rating criteria listed in this SGA. The panel
results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer.
The DOL may elect to award grants either with or without discussion
with the applicant. In situations without discussions, an award will be
based on the applicant's signature on the SF 424, which constitutes a
binding offer. The Grant Officer may consider any information that is
available and will make final award decisions based on what is most
advantageous to the Government, considering factors such as:
Panel findings; Geographic distribution of the competitive
applications and the currently existing state grants (Connecticut,
Georgia); and Availability of funds.
X. Administration Provisions
A. Administrative Standards and Provisions
Grantees are strongly encouraged to read these regulations before
submitting a proposal. The grant awarded under this SGA shall be
subject to the following as applicable:
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 95--Grants and Agreements With Institutions of
Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations, and
With Commercial Organizations, Foreign Governments, Organizations Under
the Jurisdiction of Foreign Governments, and International
Organizations;
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 96-- Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts,
and Other Agreements.
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirement for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
B. Allowable Cost
Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with
the following applicable Federal cost principles:
[sbull] State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87.
[sbull] Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122.
[sbull] Profit-Making Commercial Firms--48 CFR part 31.
Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.
C. Grant Assurances
As a condition of the award, the applicant must certify that it
will comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity
provisions of the following laws:
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 31--Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted
programs of the Department of Labor, effectuation of Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of
Disability in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from
Federal Assistance. (Implementing section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act, 29 U.S.C. 794).
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in
Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial
Assistance. (Implementing title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).
[sbull] 29 CFR Part 37--Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity
Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), (Implementing
Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act, 29 U.S.C. 2938).
The applicant must include assurances and certifications that it
will comply with these laws in its grant application. The assurances
and certifications are attached as Appendix C.
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Signed at Washington, DC, this 3rd day of June, 2003.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
Appendix A. Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF 424
Appendix B. Budget Information Sheet, Form SF 424A
Appendix C. Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
Appendix D. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity
BILLING CODE 4510-CX-P
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[FR Doc. 03-14351 Filed 6-5-03; 8:45 am]