National Technical Assistance Center on Transition and Employment
for Youth With Disabilities; Solicitation for Cooperative Agreement
[05/11/2007]
Volume 72, Number 91, Page 26836-26846
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Disability Employment Policy
[SGA 07-09]
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition and Employment
for Youth With Disabilities; Solicitation for Cooperative Agreement
Announcement Type: New notice of Availability of Funds and
Solicitation for Grant Application (SGA) for cooperative agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: SGA 07-09.
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.720.
DATES: Key Date: Applications must be received by June 25, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (``DOL'' or ``Department''),
Office of Disability Employment Policy (``ODEP'''), announces the
availability of up to $1.7 million to fund a cooperative agreement to
establish the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition and
Employment for Youth with Disabilities with a 24-month period of
performance. In addition, this initiative may be funded for up to three
(3) additional option years at approximately $1,000,000 per year,
depending on performance, identified need and the availability of
future funding.
Over the last 10 years, a number of federal and state efforts to
improve access to transition planning and services to improve
education, employment, and community living outcomes for youth with
disabilities have emerged. As a result, there has been some improvement
in indicators relevant to the successful transition of youth with
disabilities, including increases in graduation rates, increases in
enrollment in postsecondary education, and increases in the number of
youth entering the workforce. While this progress is encouraging,
education and employment outcomes for youth with disabilities continue
to lag substantially behind that of their peers without disabilities.
To address this situation, ODEP is funding a national technical
assistance center to build capacity within and across both generic and
disability-specific youth service delivery systems to help youth with
disabilities successfully transition from high school to post-secondary
education and/or employment in high-demand career areas. Effectively
addressing the complex and significant barriers to employment faced by
youth with disabilities transitioning into the adult world requires the
use of multiple strategies and the active involvement of many
stakeholders, including Federal, State and local governments, non-
governmental organizations, and employers.
This Center will conduct research, disseminate information, and
provide technical assistance to a wide range of stakeholders on topics
relevant to improving post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities
including, but not limited to:
Effective practices, such as the emerging use of
individual learning or graduation plans, for aligning and improving the
education and workforce development systems to better meet employer
demand;
Innovative service strategies which workforce development,
and secondary and postsecondary programs and systems can utilize to
better meet the needs of transitioning youth;
Professional development strategies for practitioners who
work with youth; and
Effective models of multi-disciplinary interagency
collaboration and systems coordination needed to support youth in
achieving positive post-school outcomes through comprehensive service
delivery consistent with the Guideposts for Success, see http://www.dol.gov/odep/categories/youth/.
The Guideposts for Success serves
as a conceptual framework on improving transition outcomes for youth
with disabilities.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Description and Purpose
ODEP will award one cooperative agreement to establish a national
technical assistance and research center. The center will: (1) Conduct
research to identify, validate and document effective practices and
policies; (2) disseminate information; (3) provide technical
assistance; (4) encourage collaboration; and (5) work with states and
localities on multiple strategies for improving the post-school
outcomes or youth with disabilities. The overall purpose of this effort
is to build the capacity of workforce development, economic
development, and educational service delivery systems and their
partners to work together strategically to ensure that youth with
disabilities graduate from high school and enter employment and/or
further post-secondary education and training with the skills needed to
meet employer demand in the 21st century workplace, and to maximize
their ability to be self-sufficient and to live independently.
The Center's research related activities will improve systems
capacity to provide comprehensive transition services utilizing
research-based strategies consistent with the Guideposts for Success.
It must include, but is not limited to, the following activities:
(a) Conducting an analysis of all states currently implementing
individual learning/graduation planning strategies for all youth to
identify practices and strategies that support positive outcomes or
create barriers for youth with disabilities.
(b) Identifying effective practices for coordinating education,
career preparation, youth development and leadership, health, and other
employment-related support services that improve transition outcomes
for youth with disabilities. The Center must consult with other
appropriate technical assistance providers within the Departments of
Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, and other Federal agencies
in this effort.
(c) Assessing the impact of implementing a comprehensive
professional development strategy on both the job retention of youth
service practitioners and youth service outcomes.
(d) The identification of curricula, instructional approaches,
programs, and policies that are potentially effective for improving
both the academic and functional workplace skills of adolescents and
young adults with disabilities.
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The Center's technical assistance and dissemination activities must
include, but are not limited to, the following:
Assisting interested national, state and local entities in
the creation of a professional development system for youth service
practitioners;
Promoting youth-centered planning and youth development
and leadership opportunities;
Producing reports and documents on trends, patterns, and
legislation relating to secondary and post-secondary transition
interventions, strategies, and supports and other pertinent topics as
requested by ODEP;
Preparing and disseminating reports and documents in
publications including peer-reviewed journals;
Providing information to educate relevant stakeholders,
including state and local policymakers, educators, systems personnel,
as well as youth and families, about changes in policy and practice
needed in order to increase employment opportunities and wages for
young people with disabilities;
Providing information to educate employers and the general
public about the abilities of youth with disabilities to work in a wide
variety of occupations and about the use of accommodations;
Providing technical assistance, training, and information
that integrates evidence-based effective practices for improving
transition results for young people with disabilities enrolled in
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-funded youth programs;
Providing technical assistance, training, and information
to increase understanding by youth service providers about disability
related employment issues such as health care, transportation, work
incentive provisions, benefits planning, housing, etc.;
Providing technical assistance, training, and information
to ODEP's current and future grantees. This includes serving as a
repository and dissemination center for the materials and effective
practices developed by ODEP grantees; and
Creating and maintaining a user-friendly Web site with
relevant information and documents in a form that meets a government or
industry-recognized standard for accessibility.
The Center's collaboration activities must include, but are not
limited to:
Promoting high quality interagency collaboration and
service coordination between and among Federal, State, and local
agencies with a focus on identifying, developing, and implementing
interagency service strategies that effectively maximize available
resources; and
Developing and maintaining relationships that encourage
collaboration to foster integrated approaches to transition planning
and services. Partners are not limited to, but may include the
following entities:
(1) State departments of Labor, Health, Education, Vocational
Rehabilitation and Economic Development, Governors' Committees on
Employment of People with Disabilities, State Councils for Independent
Living, Mental Health Agencies, Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disability Councils, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Agencies;
(2) Local WIA youth services providers, Job Corps representatives,
foster care and juvenile justice agencies, public housing, health and
transportation authorities, local One-Stop centers, community and
faith-based organizations, and disability organizations, such as
Centers for Independent Living;
(3) Employers and their professional networks such as Business
Leadership Networks (BLNs), Chambers of Commerce, and other employer
trade association;
(4) National education and youth development and leadership
organizations;
(5) Federal agencies including the Departments of Education,
Transportation and Health and Human Services, The Social Security
Administration, The Corporation for National and Community Service and
other agencies that work to improve access to public accommodations,
commercial facilities, information technology, telecommunications
services, and housing; and
(6) Other Federal technical assistance projects that provide
information about transition, postsecondary education, employment, and
independent living issues for young people with disabilities.
Additionally the Center will work to ensure that youth with
disabilities are thoughtfully included in the emerging practice of
individual learning/graduation plans (ILPs) for all youth currently
being implemented in at least 20 states by:
(1) Conducting research during its first 6 months to analyze
existing policies and practices and the impact they have on youth with
disabilities;
(2) Providing targeted technical assistance including professional
development support and training to a minimum of three (3)
competitively selected states currently implementing individual
learning/graduation planning strategies to ensure that the policies
being developed and the practices being implemented are responsive to
and inclusive of the needs of youth with disabilities; and
(3) Spending at least 6 months conducting a follow up evaluation of
the impact of the targeted technical assistance described above. A goal
of the effort will be to document emerging effective practices and
increase the capacity of other localities implementing ILPs.
A minimum of $600,000 is to be spent on the above three components
of the work plan relating to individual learning/graduation plans.
Staff time and project resources dedicated to provide technical
assistance to ODEP-specified states will be negotiated with ODEP as
part of the cooperative agreement within thirty (30) days of the date
of the award.
The remainder of the funding that is provided is to be spent on
carrying out the general technical assistance functions described
previously.
2. Background
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) provides national
leadership by developing and influencing disability-related employment
policies and practices. A five-year strategic plan guides ODEP in
achieving its mission by identifying long-term strategic and outcome
goals as well as shorter-term intermediate and performance goals. In
addition to measuring agency performance, as required by the Government
Performance and Results Act (GPRA), the strategic plan sets forth a
road map for prioritizing the formulation and dissemination of
innovative employment policies and practices to service delivery
systems and employers.
ODEP's annual goal is to build knowledge and advance disability
employment policy that affects and promotes systems change. The
agency's long- and short-term goals focus efforts on initiatives that
bring about this level of change. In short, ODEP develops policies and
strategies that will:
Enhance the capacity of service delivery systems to
provide appropriate and effective services and supports to youth and
adults with disabilities;
Increase planning and coordination within service delivery
systems to develop and improve systems, processes, and services;
Improve individualization of services to better assist
youth and adults with disabilities in seeking, obtaining, and retaining
employment or self-employment;
[[Page 26838]]
Increase employer access to supports and services to meet
their employment needs;
Increase the quality of competency-based training for
service delivery systems;
Increase the adoption of universal strategies for service
provision; and
Develop partnerships with and among critical stakeholders
to effectively leverage available resources and facilitate
implementation of practices and policies that increase employment and
self-employment opportunities and the recruitment, retention, and
promotion of youth and adults with disabilities.
Three measures inform ODEP of its annual progress in meeting its
three goals under the Government Performance and Results Act: (1) The
number of policy-related documents; (2) the number of formal
agreements; and (3) the number of effective practices. These
performance results support achievement of the following intermediate
outcome goals: Accessible employment resources; coordinated programs,
processes, and services; and adoption of effective practices.
Achievement of these intermediate outcome goals, in turn, supports
achievement of the long-term service delivery systems outcome goals,
which are marked by increases in these areas: Capacity of service
delivery systems; planning and coordination within service delivery
systems; and employer access to supports and services for recruitment,
retention, and promotion.
On February 1, 2001, in announcing the New Freedom Initiative
(NFI), President George W. Bush explicitly recognized that in today's
global economy America must be able to draw on the talents and
creativity of all its citizens and that people with disabilities
represent valuable largely untapped human capital. The NFI represents
an important step towards ensuring that all Americans have the
opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, and
choose where to live and participate in community life.
Developing the talents, skills and capabilities of the workforce
has always played an important part in our nation's economic strength.
This is even more critical today because America is transitioning to a
knowledge-based economy that places a premium on higher skills and
education. Millions of new jobs have been created in industries that
did not even exist a generation ago. In addition, two-thirds of the
estimated 18 million new jobs that will be created over the next 10
years will be in occupations that require some kind of post-secondary
education. Therefore, it is more imperative now than at any time ever
before that young Americans, including those with disabilities, stay in
school, get a high school diploma or GED, and have some kind of
education and job training beyond high school.
The nature of what employers demand in the workplace of the 21st
century is also changing. High school and college graduates must not
only master basic academic skills, but in addition must master more
advanced ``applied skills'' such as teamwork, critical thinking, and
communication. According, however, to a recent survey of 461 employers
conducted by the Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working
Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for
Human Resources many new entrants to the workforce lack these important
skills. These business leaders reported that while the three ``R's''
are still fundamental to every employee's ability to do the job,
knowledge of applied skills is even more important. (Are They Really
Ready to Work? Employers' Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge and
Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21st Century U.S. Workforce
(2006)).
The need to improve education and employment outcomes of youth with
disabilities has been recognized as a national priority over the past
several years. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which was signed
into law by President Bush in 2002, ushered in sweeping changes in the
American educational system as it relates to students with disabilities
because it requires that schools be held accountable for their
educational progress to the same extent they are held accountable for
the educational results of students without disabilities. Further, when
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was reauthorized in
2004, it recognized the increasingly important relationship between
education and employment. Thus, the transition planning requirements
were expanded to include measurable postsecondary goals related to
training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent
living skills.
In addition, The White House Task Force Report on Disadvantaged
Youth (December 2003), recommended that an interagency group be created
to help facilitate interagency collaboration at the state and local
levels for federally funded youth programs to develop innovative
approaches, enhance the quality of services delivered, improve cost-
effectiveness, and improve outcomes for the neediest youth. Over the
past several years, in response to the Task Force Report, the
Department of Labor has been collaborating with multiple Federal
agencies to implement a coordinated shared Federal Youth Vision to more
effectively and efficiently serve out-of-school and at-risk youth. The
Shared Youth Vision Federal Partnership explicitly recognizes that
youth with disabilities, along with high school drop-outs and those at
risk of dropping out, court-involved youth or those at risk of
involvement, youth in or aging out of foster care, children of
incarcerated parents, and migrant, American Indian and Alaska Native
youth, are included among our nation's neediest youth. In addition, the
Vision partnership recognizes that these youth are an important part of
the ``supply pipeline'' needed to fill job vacancies in the knowledge-
based economy.
ODEP has also funded several systems change efforts which have
focused on improving transition outcomes for youth with disabilities
using the Guideposts for Success as a conceptual framework. The
Guideposts, which include school-based preparatory experiences, career
preparation and work-based learning experiences, youth development and
leadership, connecting activities, and family involvement and supports,
reflect key educational and career development interventions that
research has indicated can make a positive difference in the lives of
all youth, including youth with disabilities.
Federal and state efforts to improve transition policies and
practices for youth with disabilities over the past decade have
resulted in some positive gains including increases in graduation
rates, enrollment in postsecondary education, and in the number of
youth entering the workforce (Office of Special Education Programs,
Data Analysis System (DANS); Newman, 2005; Cameto and Levine, 2005).
For example, national data indicate that there has been some
improvement in the overall graduation rate of students with
disabilities in the United States. Between the 1995-1996 and 1999-2000
school years, the percentage of youth with disabilities graduating with
regular diplomas, as reported by states, grew from 52.6% to 56.2%.
During the same period, the percentage of students with disabilities
reported as having dropped out of school declined from 34.1% to 29.4%
(U.S. Department of Education, 2002).
Nonetheless, significant challenges remain. National studies and
reports have shown that, compared to their non-disabled peers, students
with disabilities are less likely to receive a regular high school
diploma; drop out
[[Page 26839]]
twice as often; and enroll in and complete postsecondary education
programs at half the rate.
According to recent reports from the National Longitudinal
Transition Study-2 (NLTS-2) (2005) (see http://www.nlts2.org/) (Wagner,
Marder, et al., 2003; Wagner, Newman, et al., 2005), a study of a
nationally representative sample of adolescents with disabilities,
students' grade-level equivalent performance on standardized
achievement tests was on average 3.6 years behind grade level in
reading and mathematics. Among those individuals who were no longer in
school, about 28 percent had dropped out prior to receiving a diploma,
a rate nearly twice that of their peers without disabilities. In the
first years after high school, individuals with disabilities were much
less likely to attend postsecondary education than were individuals
without disabilities. In addition, about 21 percent of youth with
disabilities were not engaged in their community either through
postsecondary education, job training, or work in the first years after
high school.
In addition, up to two years after leaving high school, about 4 in
10 youth with disabilities are employed as compared to 6 in 10 same-
age, out-of-school youth in the general population. (National Center
for Education Statistics, 2000; NLTS-2) In addition, youth with
disabilities are four times more likely to become involved in the
juvenile justice system. (National Collaborative on Workforce and
Disability for Youth, 2005)
According to the NLTS-2, employment rates vary considerably across
disability categories for students with disabilities who were enrolled
in special education. Youth with learning disabilities, emotional
disturbances, other health impairments, or speech impairments are the
most likely to be employed in a 1-year period (50% to 60%). In
contrast, 15% of youth with autism, approximately one-fourth of youth
with multiple disabilities, deaf-blindness, or orthopedic impairments,
and about one-third of youth with mental retardation or visual
impairments are employed in a 1-year period. Moreover, the 2000 Census
revealed that the overall employment rate of Americans with
disabilities of working age in 2000 was only around 56 percent, a
number which is far below the national average.
The impending changes in our economy in conjunction with the
aforementioned data on high school and college graduation rates
underscore the need for our nation to continue to direct resources to
address the complex and significant barriers to employment many youth
with disabilities face in transitioning into the adult world. The
research and technical assistance effort proposed herein will support
this effort by increasing the capacity of multiple youth service
delivery systems by expanding the knowledge base of existing effective
practices for improving transition outcomes; identifying, investigating
and validating models that promote systems change; and providing
proactive support, training, and dissemination of other relevant useful
information.
The technical assistance to be provided will build upon ODEP's
prior research and technical assistance efforts which focused on
promoting increased understanding that:
Addressing the transition needs of youth with disabilities
requires meaningful collaboration and coordination;
Providing effective services to youth with disabilities in
the context of general youth service delivery is not difficult because,
as articulated in the Guideposts for Success, the vast majority of what
they need, are the same things all youth need; and
Providing effective transition services for all youth,
which support positive youth development, requires viewing what youth
need holistically.
The research and technical assistance also found that:
Generic service providers may unknowingly already be
serving significant numbers of youth with disabilities as they are
overrepresented in all at-risk groups; and
Generic youth serving delivery systems, such as programs
supported by the WIA, bear a part of the responsibility of serving
transitioning youth with disabilities.
3. Definitions
Definitions for purposes of this solicitation include:
Youth with disabilities: Refers to individuals with
disabilities who are ages 14 to 24.
Individual Graduation/Learning Plan: Refers to a plan that
emphasizes academic and career development for all students as early as
middle school and continues throughout high school. The plans,
currently being implemented by many states, assist students in setting
post-secondary education and employment goals based on their academic,
career, and personal interests, as well as their strengths and
weaknesses.
II. Award Information
Estimated Available Funds: The full $1,700,000 for the initial 24
month period of performance will be awarded in 2007.
Period of Performance: 24 months from date of award with up to
three (3) additional option years at approximately $1,000,000 per year,
depending on performance, identified need, and the availability of
future funding.
The U.S. Department of Labor (``DOL'' or ``Department''), Office of
Disability Employment Policy (``ODEP''), announces the availability of
up to $1,700,000 to fund a national technical assistance and research
cooperative agreement.
Note: Selection of an organization as a Grantee does not
constitute approval of the grant application as submitted. Before
the actual grant is awarded, DOL may enter into negotiations about
such items as program components, staffing and funding levels, and
administrative systems in place to support grant implementation. If
the negotiations do not result in a mutually acceptable submission,
the Grant Officer reserves the right to terminate the negotiation
and decline to fund the application.
Because ODEP plans to make this award in the form of a cooperative
agreement, DOL will have substantial involvement in the administration
of the agreement. Such DOL involvement will consist of:
(1) Approval of any sub-contract awarded by the grantee after the
grant award;
(2) Participation in site visits to project areas;
(3) Providing advice and consultation to the Grantee on specific
program criteria;
(4) Providing the Grantee(s) with technical and programmatic
support, including training in DOL monitoring and evaluation systems,
and standard procedures regarding DOL management of cooperative
agreements;
(5) Reviewing, at reasonable times, all documents pertaining to the
project, including status and technical progress reports, and financial
reports. ODEP will provide the format for the reports;
(6) Discussing administrative and technical issues pertaining to
the project;
(7) Approving all key personnel decisions, and sub-contractors or
sub-awardees;
(8) Approving all fact sheets, training materials, press releases
and publicity-related materials regarding the project;
(9) Approving all content for online resources developed through
project activities, including clearing concepts
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for material production and final document production; and
(10) Drafting terms of reference for, and participating in project
evaluations.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are consortia made up of a minimum of three (3)
entities which may include a combination of any of the following:
Public/private non-profits or for-profit organizations including faith-
based organizations, and universities and colleges, with demonstrated
appropriate experience and expertise in conducting research and
providing technical assistance about issues important to increasing
employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The expertise
required should include, but not be limited to: Education and career
planning for transitioning youth, including those with mental health
needs; comprehensive transition services delivery; strategies for
meeting employer demand and for systems change, professional
development strategies for youth service providers; and personal
assistance, transportation, health and other related employment support
services. There must be a prime or lead member of the consortium who is
responsible for overall grant management and serves as the fiscal
agent. All applications must clearly identify the lead grant recipient
and fiscal agent, as well as all other members of the consortium
applying for the grant. In addition, the application must identify the
relationship between all of the members of the consortium.
According to section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an
organization, as 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). Funding restrictions apply. See
Section IV(5).
2. Cost Sharing
Cost sharing, matching funds, and cost participation are not
required under this SGA. However, leveraging of public and private
resources to foster inclusive service delivery and achieve project
sustainability is highly encouraged and included under evaluation
criteria. See V(1)(b)(9).
3. Other Eligibility Requirements
Legal rules pertaining to inherently religious activities by
organizations that receive Federal Financial Assistance:
Neutral, non-religious criteria that neither favor nor
disfavor religion will be employed in the selection of grant recipients
and must be employed by grantees or in the selection of sub-awardees.
The government is generally prohibited from providing
direct financial assistance for inherently religious activities.\1\
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\1\ In this context, the term direct financial assistance means
financial assistance that is provided directly by a government
entity or an intermediate organization, as opposed to financial
assistance that an organization receives as the result of the
genuine and independent private choice of a beneficiary. In other
contexts, the term ``direct'' financial assistance may be used to
refer to financial assistance that an organization receives directly
from the Federal government (also known as ``discretionary''
assistance), as opposed to assistance that it receives from a State
or local government (also known as ``indirect'' or ``block'' grant
assistance). The term ``direct''' has the former meaning throughout
this SGA.
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In addition, no organization or individual investigator/program
director may submit more than two separate applications.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Addresses To Request Application Package
This SGA contains all the information and forms needed to apply for
this grant funding. Application announcements or forms will not be
mailed. The Federal Register may be obtained from your nearest
government office or library. In addition, a copy of this notice and
the application requirements may be downloaded from ODEP's Web site at
http://www.dol.gov/odep and at http://www.grants.gov. If additional
copies of the standard forms are needed, they can also be downloaded
from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html. All
mailed applications must be addressed to: Department of Labor,
Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Reference
SGA 07-09, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4307, Washington, DC
20210, Phone Number: (202) 693-4570 (this is not a toll-free number).
Applicants are encouraged to apply online at http://www.grants.gov.
Applicants submitting proposals online are requested to refrain from
mailing a hard copy application as well. It is strongly recommended
that applicants using http://www.grants.gov immediately initiate and complete the ``Get Started'' registration steps at http://
http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. These steps may take multiple days to
complete, and this time should be factored into plans for electronic
submission in order to avoid facing unexpected delays that could result
in the rejection of an application. If submitting electronically
through http://www.grants.gov it would be appreciated if the
application submitted is saved as .doc, .pdf, or .txt files. Except as
provided in Section IV.3., any application received after the deadline
(hard copy or electronic) will be considered as non-responsive and will
not be evaluated.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
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
requires applicants to submit an electronic copy of their proposal's
Sections II (Executive Summary) and III (Project Narrative) on disc or
compact disc (CD) using Microsoft Word. The application (not to exceed
25 pages for Section III), must be double-spaced with standard one-inch
margins (top, bottom, and sides) on 8\1/2\ x 11-inch paper, and must be
presented on single-sided and numbered pages. A font size of at least
twelve (12) pitch is required throughout. All text in the application
narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, and
captions must be double-spaced (no more than three lines per vertical
inch); and, if using a proportional computer font, must be in at least
a 12-point font, and must have an average character density no greater
than 18 characters per inch (if using a non-proportional font or a
typewriter, must not be more than 12 characters per inch). Applications
that fail to meet these requirements will be considered non-responsive.
Cooperative Agreement Mandatory Application Requirements
The three required sections of the application are titled below and
described thereafter:
Section I--Project Financial Plan (No page limit).
Section II--Executive Summary--Project Synopsis (Not to exceed
two (2) pages).
Section III--Project Narrative (Not to exceed 25 pages).
The mandatory requirements for each section are set forth below.
Applications that fail to meet the stated mandatory requirements for
each section will be considered non-responsive.
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:
(1) Completed ``SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance.''
Please note that, beginning October 1, 2003, all applicants for
Federal grant
[[Page 26841]]
and funding opportunities are required to include a Dun and Bradstreet
(DUNS) number with their application. See OMB Notice of Final Policy
Issuance, 68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003). The DUNS number is a nine-digit
identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. There
is no charge for obtaining a DUNS number (although it may take 14-30
days). To obtain a DUNS number, access the following Web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com
or call 1-866-705-5711. Requests for exemption
from the DUNS number requirement must be made to OMB. The Dun and
Bradstreet Number of the applicant should be entered in the
``Organizational Unit'' section of block 5 of the SF-424. (See Appendix
A of this SGA for required form.)
(2) The SF-424 must contain the original signatures of the legal
entity applying for cooperative agreement funding and two additional
copies of the signed SF-424. 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 cooperative
agreement should that application result in an award. Applicants shall
indicate on the SF-424 the organization's Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) status (e.g. 501(c)(3) organization), if applicable.
(3) Completed SF-424 A--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.)
(4) DOL 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,
including continuous improvement activities.
The DOL Budget Narrative and Justification must describe all costs
associated with implementing the project that are to be covered with
cooperative agreement funds. The budget must support the travel and
associated costs of sending representatives to both a post-award
conference and periodic meetings with ODEP staff in Washington, DC (at
least once per quarter), at a time and place to be determined. In
addition to other administrative requirements identified in section
VI(2) of this SGA, the applicant must comply with the ``Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to
State and Local Governments'' (also known as OMB Circular A-102),
codified at 29 CFR part 97, or ``Grants and Agreements with
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit
Organizations'' (also known as the ``Common Rule''' or OMB Circular A-
110), codified at 2 CFR part 215 and 29 CFR part 95.
In addition, the budget submitted for review by DOL must include,
on a separate page, a detailed cost analysis of each line item. The
costs listed in the detailed cost analysis must comply with the
applicable OMB cost principles circulars, as identified in 29 CFR 95.27
and 29 CFR 97.22(b). Justification for administrative costs must be
provided. Approval of a budget by DOL is not the same as the approval
of actual costs. The applicant must also include the Assurances and
Certifications Signature Page (Appendix C) and the Survey on Ensuring
Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Appendix D).
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-inch paper with standard margins throughout. The
project synopsis must identify the following:
(1) The lead entity;
(2) The list of consortium members, as appropriate; and
(3) An overview of how the applicant will carry out the technical
assistance and research activities described in Section 1 of this
solicitation.
Section III. Project Narrative: The DOL Cooperative Agreement
Project Narrative is limited to no more than twenty-five (25), 8\1/2\
'' x '' 11 pages, double-spaced with standard one-inch margins (top,
bottom, and sides), and must be presented on single-sided, numbered
pages.
Note: Any Appendices, including letters of cooperation and
resumes are not included in this twenty-five-page limit.
Applications must include a Project Narrative that addresses the
work proposed to be accomplished under the cooperative agreement, and
the evaluation/selection criteria in Part V(1) that will be used by
reviewers in evaluating the application.
Applicants must limit Section III to the equivalent of not more
than 25 pages using the following standard. This page limit does not
apply to Section I, the Project Financial Plan (Budget), Section II,
the Executive Summary and the Appendices (the assurances and
certifications, resumes, a bibliography or references, and the
documentation of commitment/formal agreement/letters of support and
other materials relevant to the application). A page is 8\1/2\ '' x
11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).
All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, and captions 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).
The successful applicant will be a Technical Assistance and
Research Consortium and will describe in their Project Narrative their
innovative and comprehensive plan for accomplishing the technical
assistance and research activities described in Part I(1), Description
and Purpose, and Part I(2) Background.
The Project Narrative must:
(1) Identify members of the consortium (including the lead entity,
a minimum of 3 consortium members is required) and provide
documentation (such as letters of intent and memorandum of agreement
which will be included in an Appendix) of a formal agreement of
participation;
(2) Demonstrate each of the consortium members' relevant experience
and expertise; and
(3) Identify how the applicant proposes to disseminate research
findings and technical assistance products.
Each Project Narrative must include:
(1) A detailed 24 month management plan for project goals,
objectives, and activities;
(2) A detailed 24 month timeline for project activities, including
producing and submitting a final report;
(3) A detailed outline for an evaluation of the project (see
Section V(1)(F) for more information);
(4) A description of procedures and approaches that will be used to
provide ongoing communication, collaboration with, and input from
ODEP's Project Officer on all grant-related activities.
(5) A detailed description of how the consortia will work with
multiple Federal, State and local public and private entities to
implement policy recommendations and strategies identified in carrying
out project activities; and
(6) A detailed description of measures that will be taken to ensure
that elements of the project's technical assistance model will be
sustained following the completion of project activities.
The Project Narrative must describe the proposed staffing for the
project and must identify and summarize the qualifications of the
personnel who will
[[Page 26842]]
carry it out. In addition, the evaluation criteria listed in Section
V(1)(c) include consideration of the qualifications, including relevant
education, training and experience of key project personnel, as well as
the qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of
project consultants or subcontractors. Resumes must be included in the
appendices. Key personnel include: Principle Investigator, Project
Director, Project Coordinator, Project Manager, Research Analyst, and
any other individual playing a substantial role in the project. Minimum
qualifications should be commensurate with the role identified in the
application. In addition, the applicant must specify in the
application, the percentages of time to be dedicated by each key person
on the project.
For each staff person named in the application, please provide
documentation of all internal and external time commitments. In
instances where a staff person is committed on a federally supported
project, please provide the project name, Federal office, program
title, the project Federal award number, and the amount of committed
time by each project year. This information (e.g., Staff: Jane Doe;
Project Name: Succeeding in the General Curriculum; Federal office:
Office of Special Education Programs; Program title: Field Initiated
Research; Award number: H324C980624; Time commitments: Year 1-30%; Year
2-25% and Year 3-40%) can be provided as an appendix to the
application.
In general, ODEP will not reduce time commitments on currently
funded grants from the time proposed in the original application.
Therefore, we will not consider for funding any application where key
staff are bid above a time commitment level that staff have available
to bid. Further, the time commitments stated in newly submitted
applications will not be negotiated down to permit the applicant to
receive a new grant award.
The Project Narrative should also describe how the applicant plans
to comply with the employment discrimination and equal employment
opportunity requirements of the various laws listed in the assurances
section.
3. Submission Dates, Times and Addresses
Applications will be accepted commencing May 11, 2007. The closing
date for receipt of applications by DOL under this announcement is June
25, 2007.
Applications, including those hand-delivered, must be received by
4:45 p.m. (EST) on the closing date at the address specified 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.
Applications must be mailed or hand-delivered to: U.S. Department
of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell,
Reference SGA 07-09, Room S-4307, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210. Applications sent by e-mail or telefascimile
(FAX) will not be accepted.
Hand-Delivered Proposals: It is preferred that applications be
mailed at least five (5) days prior to the closing date to ensure
timely receipt. Hand-delivered applications will be considered for
funding, but must be received by the above specified date and time.
Overnight or express delivery from carriers other than the U.S. Postal
Service will be considered hand-delivered applications. Failure to
adhere to the above instructions will serve as a basis for a
determination of non-responsiveness.
Applicants are advised that mail in the Washington DC. area may be
delayed due to mail decontamination procedures and may wish to take
this information into consideration when preparing to meet the
application deadline.
Late Applications: Any application received by the designated
office after the exact date and time specified 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 after timely
delivery to the Department of Labor; (b) was sent by 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 postmarked 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 (2) working days prior to the date specified for
receipt of applications. The term ``working days'' excludes weekends
and Federal holidays. ``Postmarked'' 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.
Withdrawal of Applications: An application that is timely submitted
may be withdrawn by written notice or telegram (including mailgram) 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 for the proposal.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
5. Funding Restrictions
(a) Funding Levels: The total funding available for this
solicitation is $1,700,000. The Department of Labor reserves the right
to negotiate the amounts to be awarded under this competition. Please
be advised that requests exceeding the maximum stated amount will be
considered non-responsive. Additionally, there will be no reimbursement
of pre-award costs.
(b) Period of Performance: The period of performance will be for 24
months from the date of the award unless modified. It is expected that
the successful applicant will begin program operations under this
solicitation immediately upon receiving the ``Notice of Award.''
(c) Option Year Funding: Up to three (3) additional option years
may be available at approximately $1,000,000 per year, depending on
performance, identified need and the availability of future funding.
(d) Indirect Charges: If indirect charges are claimed in the
proposed budget, the recipient must provide on a separate sheet, the
following information:
(1) Name and address of cognizant Federal audit agency;
(2) Name, address and phone number (including area code) of the
Government auditor;
(3) Documentation from the cognizant agency indicating:
(a) Current indirect cost rate and the base against which the rate
should be applied;
(b) Effective period (dates) for the rate; and
(c) Date last rate was computed and negotiated.
(4) If no government audit agency computed and authorized the rate
claimed, a proposed rate with justification may be submitted providing
a brief explanation of computation, who computed the rate and the date
of the computation.
[[Page 26843]]
Successful applicants will be required to negotiate an acceptable and
allowable rate within 90 days of grant award with the appropriate DOL
Regional Office of Cost Determination or with the applicant's cognizant
agency for indirect cost rates (See Office of Management and Budget Web
site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/attach.html). The
recipient shall call the Office of Cost Determination at 202-693-4100
for the initial contact.
However, applications claiming an indirect cost rate greater than
15% will not be considered.
V. Application Review Information
1. Evaluation Criteria
A technical panel will review grant applications against the
criteria listed below, on the basis of the maximum points indicated.
(a) Significance of the Proposed Project (10 points)
In determining the significance of the proposed research, the
Department will consider the following factors:
1. The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase
knowledge or understanding of problems, issues, or effective strategies
for providing comprehensive transition services and supports to youth
with disabilities;
2. The likelihood that the proposed project will result in systems
change or improvement;
3. The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build
capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the needs
of the target population as they relate to employment;
4. The likely utility of the products (such as information,
materials, processes, or techniques) that will result from the proposed
project, including the potential for their being used effectively in a
variety of other settings;
5. The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to
be attained by the proposed project; and
6. The extent to which the proposed project builds upon prior work
done by ODEP and its partners around youth in transition, including the
Guideposts for Success and related policies and practices.
(b) Project Design (25 points)
In evaluating the quality of the proposed project design, the
Department will consider the following factors:
1. The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable;
2. The extent to which the design of the proposed project includes
a high-quality review of the relevant literature, a high-quality plan
for project implementation, and the use of appropriate methodological
tools to ensure successful achievement of project objectives;
3. The extent to which the proposed project will effectively
contribute to increased knowledge and understanding by building upon
current theory, research, and effective practices;
4. The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated
with similar or related Federal technical assistance, research,
training, and information efforts;
5. The extent to which the proposed project encourages involvement
of youth with disabilities and their families, relevant experts, and
organizations;
6. The extent to which performance feedback and continuous
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project;
7. The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or
beneficiaries of those services;
8. The adequacy of the documentation submitted in support of the
proposed project to demonstrate the commitment of each entity or
individual included in project implementation;
9. The extent to which the proposed project leverages other public
and private resources to foster inclusive service delivery and
sustainability and provides other concrete evidence of sustainability,
including appropriate letters of support included in the appendices;
and
10. The extent to which the design of the proposed project includes
a comprehensive strategy for providing technical assistance and
conducting research to identify and evaluate systems models that
effectively integrate services for students with disabilities into
individual learning/graduation plans and ensure that they benefit from
these plans to the same extent as their peers without disabilities.
(c) Organizational Capacity and Quality of Key Personnel (25
points)
Applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which the
applicant demonstrates organizational capacity and quality of key
personnel to implement the proposed project, including:
1. Demonstrated experience with similar projects providing
technical assistance and conducting research relating to youth in
transition;
2. Qualifications and experience of the applicant's key personnel
and consultants;
3. Commitment to developing and sustaining work across key
stakeholders;
4. Experience and commitment of any proposed consultants or
subcontractors; and
5. Appropriateness of the organization's structure to carry out the
project.
(d) Budget and Resource Capacity (10 points)
In evaluating the capacity of the applicant to carry out the
proposed project, ODEP will consider the following factors:
1. The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the
proposed project; and
2. The extent to which the anticipated costs are reasonable in
relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the
proposed project.
(e) Quality of the Management Plan (15 points)
In evaluating the quality of the management plan for the proposed
project, ODEP will consider the following factors:
1. The extent to which the management plan for project
implementation appears likely to achieve the objectives of the proposed
project on time and within budget, and includes clearly defined staff
responsibilities, time allocation to project activities, time lines,
milestones for accomplishing project tasks, project deliverables and
information on adequacy of other resources necessary for project
implementation;
2. The extent to which the management plan appears likely to result
in sustainable activities beyond the period of direct Federal
investment;
3. The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products
and services relating to the scope of work for the proposed project;
and
4. The extent to which the time commitments of the project director
and/or principal investigator and other key project personnel are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project.
(f). Quality of the Project Evaluation (15 points)
In evaluating the quality of the project's evaluation design, ODEP
will consider the following factors:
1. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, context, and
outcomes of the proposed project;
2. The extent to which the design of the evaluation includes the
use of objective performance measures and methods that will clearly
document the project's intended outputs and outcomes and will produce
measurable quantitative and qualitative data;
[[Page 26844]]
3. The extent to which the evaluation will provide Federal, State
and local government entities with useful information about transition
and systems change models suitable for replication or testing in other
settings; and
4. The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide measures
that will inform ODEP's annual performance goals and measures and
ODEP's long-term strategic goals.
2. Review and Selection Process
A technical review panel will objectively rate each complete
application against the criteria described in this SGA. The panel
recommendations to the Grant Officer, including any point scores, are
advisory in nature. The Grant Officer may elect to award grants either
with or without discussion with the applicant. In situations where no
discussion occurs, an award will be based on the signed SF-424 form
(see Appendix A), which constitutes a binding offer.
The Grant Officer may consider the availability of funds and any
information that is available and will make final award decisions based
on what is most advantageous to the government, considering factors
such as the advisory recommendations from the grant technical
evaluation panel and the geographic distribution of Federally funded
grants.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Announcement of this award is expected to occur within 30 days of
award. The cooperative agreement will be awarded by no later than
September 28, 2007.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
The Notice of Award signed by the Grant Officer is the authorizing
document and will be provided through postal mail and/or by electronic
means to the authorized representative listed on the SF-424 Grant
Application. Notice that an organization has been selected as a grant
recipient does not constitute final approval of the grant application
as submitted. Before the actual grant award, the Grant Officer and/or
the Grant Officer's Technical Representative may enter into
negotiations concerning such items as program components, funding
levels, and administrative systems. If the negotiations do not result
in an acceptable submittal, the Grant Officer reserves the right to
terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the proposal.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All grantees, including faith-based organizations, will be subject
to applicable Federal laws (including provisions of appropriations
law), regulations, and the applicable Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Circulars. The grant awarded under this SGA will be subject to
the following administrative standards and provisions, and requirements
applicable to particular entities. 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.
a. Regulations
29 CFR parts 31 and 32--Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted
Programs of the Department of Labor (respectively, effectuation of
Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964, and on the Basis of Handicap in
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial
Assistance).
29 CFR part 35--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in Programs
or Activities receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the
Department of Labor.
29 CFR part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.
29 CFR part 93--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
29 CFR part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements for 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.
29 CFR part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded
Grants, Contracts and Agreements.
29 CFR part 97--Uniform Administrative Regulations for Grants to
States, Local Governments or Tribes.
29 CFR part 98--Federal Standards for Government wide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government wide Requirements for Drug-
Free Workplace (Grants).
29 CFR part 99--Federal Standards for Audits of States, Local
Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.
29 CFR part 2--General Participation in Department of Labor
Programs by Faith-Based and Community Organizations; Equal Treatment of
All Department of Labor Program Participants and Beneficiaries.
Applicable cost principles under OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-122,
or 48 CFR part 31.
b. Travel
Any travel undertaken in performance of this cooperative agreement
shall be subject to and in strict accordance with Federal travel
regulations.
c. Acknowledgement of DOL Funding
Printed Materials: In all circumstances, the following shall be
displayed on printed materials prepared by the grantee while in receipt
of DOL grant funding: ``Preparation of this item was funded by the
United States Department of Labor under Grant No. [insert the
appropriate Grant number].''
All printed materials must also include the following notice:
``This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of
the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names,
commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S.
Government.''
Public reference to grant: When issuing statements, press releases,
requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents
describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal
money, all grantees receiving Federal funds must clearly state:
The percentage of the total costs of the program or
project, which will be financed with Federal money;
The dollar amount of Federal financial assistance for the
project or program; and
The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the
project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources.
Use of DOL and ODEP Logo: In consultation with DOL/ODEP, the
Grantee must acknowledge DOL's role as described. The DOL and/or ODEP
logo may be applied to DOL-funded material prepared for world-wide
distribution, including posters, videos, pamphlets, research documents,
national survey results, impact evaluations, best practice reports, and
other publications of global interest. The Grantee must consult with
DOL on whether the logo may be used on any such items prior to final
draft or final preparation for distribution. In no event shall the DOL
and/or ODEP logo be placed on any item until DOL has given the grantee
written permission to use the logo on the item.
All documents must include the following notice: ``This document
does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S.
Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names,
[[Page 26845]]
commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S.
Government.''
d. Intellectual Property
Please be advised that DOL will reserve a royalty-free,
nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish,
distribute, publicly display and perform, and create derivative works
from, and to authorize others to use, for Federal Government purposes:
(a) Any work developed under a grant, subgrant, or contract under a
grant or subgrant; and
(b) Any rights to which a grantee, subgrantee or a contractor
purchases ownership with grant support.
In addition, the grantee will agree to notify DOL of any pre-
existing copyrighted materials it intends to incorporate into materials
developed under the grant, and, prior to such incorporation, the
grantee will agree that it will acquire, on behalf of DOL, any
necessary licenses to allow DOL to exercise the rights described in the
paragraph above.
e. Approval of Key Personnel and Subcontractors
The recipient shall notify the Grant Officer at least 14 calendar
days in advance if any key personnel are to be removed or diverted from
the cooperative agreement, shall supply written justification as part
of this notice as to why these persons are to be removed or diverted,
shall provide the names(s) of the proposed substitute or replacement,
and shall include information on each new individual's qualifications
such as education and work experience.
VII. Reporting and Monitoring
ODEP is responsible for ensuring effective implementation of this
cooperative agreement, in accordance with the provisions of this
announcement and the terms of the cooperative agreement award document.
Applicants should assume that ODEP staff will conduct on-site project
reviews periodically. Reviews will focus on timely project
implementation, performance in meeting the cooperative agreement's
objectives, tasks and responsibilities, expenditures of cooperative
agreement funds on allowable activities, and administration of project
activities. Projects may be subject to other additional reviews, at the
discretion of the ODEP.
The selected applicant must submit on a quarterly basis, beginning
ninety (90) days from the award of the grant, financial and activity
reports under this program as prescribed by OMB Circular A-110,
codified at 2 CFR part 215 and 29 CFR part 95. Specifically the
following reports will be required:
1. Quarterly report: The quarterly report is estimated to take five
(5) hours to complete. The form for the quarterly report will be
provided by ODEP. The Department will work with the grantee to help
refine the requirements of the report, which, among other things, will
include measures of ongoing analysis for continuous improvement. This
report will be filed using an on-line reporting system. The form will
be submitted within thirty (30) days of the close of the quarter.
2. Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report Form: This form is to
be completed and submitted on a quarterly basis using the on-line
electronic reporting system unless ODEP provides different
instructions.
3. Final Project Report: The Final Project Report is to include an
assessment of project performance and outcomes achieved. It is
estimated that this report will take twenty (20) hours to complete.
This report will be submitted in hard copy and on electronic disk using
a format and following instructions, to be provided by ODEP. A draft of
the final report is due to ODEP sixty (60) days before the end of the
period of performance of the cooperative agreement. The final report is
due to ODEP and the DOL Grants Office ten (10) days before the end of
the period of performance of the cooperative agreement.
The Department will arrange for an evaluation of the outcomes,
impacts, accomplishments, and benefits of each funded project. The
grantee must agree to cooperate with this evaluation and must make
available records on all parts of project activity, including available
data on service delivery models being studied, and provide access to
personnel, as specified by the evaluator(s), under the direction of
ODEP. This evaluation is separate from the ongoing evaluation for
continuous improvement required of the grantee for project
implementation.
Technical assistance efforts will be coordinated with ODEP's other
technical assistance efforts, including, if applicable, ODEP's National
Center on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Y). The Grantee must
also agree to work with ODEP in its various technical assistance
efforts in order to freely share with others what is learned about
transitioning youth with disabilities. The grantee must agree to
collaborate with other research institutes, centers, studies, and
evaluations that are supported by the DOL and other relevant Federal
agencies, as appropriate. Finally, the 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 and Recruiting Network (http://www.earnworks.com).
The successful applicant will be required to prepare a strategic
plan for achieving the goals of the cooperative agreement for the
initial 24 month period of performance and submit it to ODEP within 45
days of award for approval.
VIII. Agency Contacts
Any questions regarding this SGA should be directed to Cassandra
Mitchell, e-mail address: mitchell.cassandra@dol.gov, tel: 202-693-4570
(note that this is not a toll-free number). To obtain further
information about the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the
U.S. Department of Labor, visit the DOL Web site of the Office of
Disability Employment Policy at http://www.dol.gov/odep.
IX. Appendices
The appendices are as follows:
Appendix A. Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF-424.
Appendix B. Budget Information Sheet, Form SF-424A.
Appendix C. Assurances and Certifications Signature Page.
(Appendices D and E are not applicable).
Appendix F. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants.
Detailed information and document locations:
Appendix A. Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF-
424 (OMB No. 4040-0004).
Appendix B. Budget Information Sheet, Form SF-424A (OMB
No. 0348-0044). Both forms SF-424 and 424A can be obtained at the
following Web address: http://apply.grants.gov/agency/FormLinks?family=7
.
Appendix F. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for
Applicants (OMB No. 1890-0014).
The Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants
form can be obtained at the following Web address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/surveyeo.pdf
.
(If you are viewing this in an electronic format and are receiving
``page not found'', please cut and paste the URL into your browser
window)
Appendix C. Assurances and Certifications Signature Page.
Certifications and Assurances
Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
[[Page 26846]]
The Department of Labor will not award a grant or agreement where
the grantee/recipient has failed to accept the assurances and
certifications contained in this section. By signing and returning this
signature page, the grantee/recipient is providing the certifications
set forth below:
A. Certification Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, Other
Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions and Certifications
Regarding Drug-Free/Tobacco-Free Workplace.
B. Certification of Release of Information,
C. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs,
D. Applicant is not a 501(c)(4) organization.
Applicant Name and Legal Address:
If there is any reason why one of the assurances or certifications
listed cannot be signed, please explain. Applicant need only submit and
return this signature page with the grant application. All other
instruction shall be kept on file by the applicant.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature of Authorized Certifying Official
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Title
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant Organization
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Submitted
Please Note: This signature page and any pertinent attachments
which may be required by these assurances and certifications shall
be attached to the applicant's cost proposal.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 7th day of May 2007.
Lisa Harvey,
Grant Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-9117 Filed 5-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FK-P
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