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[Federal Register: May 29, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 103)]
[Notices]
[Page 32106-32124]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29my03-152]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Disability Employment Policy
[SGA 03-07]
Working for Freedom, Opportunity and Real Choice Through Community
Employment (WorkFORCE) Action Grant Initiative
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 03-07)
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability
Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of $2.5 million to award up
to 6 competitive Working for Freedom, Opportunity and Real Choice through
Community Employment (WorkFORCE) Action Grant Initiative grants ranging from
approximately $400,000 to $625,000 to continue its support for increasing and
improving employment opportunities that allow individuals with disabilities to:
(1) Move from nursing homes or other institutions and residential facilities
into the community; (2) continue living in the community; (3) achieve economic
self- sufficiency; and (4) attain full access to, and participation in their
communities. These demonstration grants will begin or expand the delivery and
implementation of customized community employment opportunities for individuals
with disabilities so that they may live, work, and fully participate in their
communities.
The purpose of these grants, therefore, is to develop and document the
capability of individuals transitioning from segregated environments (such as
nursing homes, institutions, and segregated day environments) to: (1)
Successfully participate in community employment through utilization of
customized strategies; (2) increase their earnings and economic power through
participation in such employment; and (3) live, work and fully participate in
their communities. The WorkFORCE Action Grants will be funded for a one-year
period and may be renewed for a period of up to four additional years at
varying funding levels (see Section IV) depending upon the availability of
funds and the efficacy of the project activities.
The applicants scoring the highest when evaluated pursuant to the
criteria set forth in Part VII, in conjunction with considerations by the Grant
Officer delineated in Part IX of this Solicitation for Grant Application will
be awarded WorkFORCE Action Grants. Eligibility: Non-profit organizations,
including faith-based and community organizations, working in coordination with
the One-Stop delivery system, as provided under the Workforce Investment Act
(WIA) (Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), are eligible applicants for
WorkFORCE Action Grants.
DATES: Applications will be accepted on May 29, 2003. The closing date
for receipt of applications under this announcement is July 14, 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 03-07,
Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telefacsimile
(Fax) applications will not be accepted. Applicants are advised that mail 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 DOL via the Federal Relay Service, (800) 877-8339. This
announcement will also be published on the Internet on the ODEP's online Home
Page at: http://www.dol.gov/odep. Award notifications will also be published on
the ODEP homepage.
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 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, Public Law 108-7; Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106-554, 29 U.S.C. 557b.
Part III. Background
In Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581, 119 S.Ct. 2176 (1999) (the
``Olmstead decision''), the Supreme Court construed Title II of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) to require states to place qualified individuals
with mental disabilities in community settings, rather than in institutions,
whenever treatment professionals determine that such placement is appropriate,
the affected persons do not oppose such placement, and the state can reasonably
accommodate the placement, taking into account the resources available to the
state and the
[[Page 32107]]
needs of others with disabilities. The Department of Justice regulations
implementing Title II of the ADA require public entities to administer their
services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate
to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities. See 28 CFR
35.130(d).
In Olmstead, the Supreme Court stated that institutional placements of
people with disabilities who can live in, and benefit from, community settings
perpetuates the unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable
or unworthy of participating in community life. The Supreme Court stated that
``recognition that unjustified institutional isolation of persons with
disabilities is a form of discrimination reflect[ed] two evident judgements'':
(1) ``Institutional placements of people with disabilities who can live in, and
benefit from, community settings perpetuates the unwarranted assumptions that
persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community
life''; and (2) ``confinement in an institution severely diminishes everyday
life activities of individuals, including family relations, social contacts,
work options, economic independence, educational advancement, and cultural
enrichment.'' Olmstead, 119 S.Ct. 2176, 2179, 2187 [emphasis added]. This
decision affects not only all persons in institutions and segregated settings,
but also people with disabilities who are at risk of institutionalization,
including people with disabilities on waiting lists to receive community based
services and supports. The Court indicated that one way states can show they
are meeting their obligations under the ADA and the Olmstead decision is to
develop a ``comprehensive, effectively working plan for placing qualified
people with mental disabilities in less restrictive settings.'' Olmstead at
2179. Based on this, almost all states are in the process of developing, or
have already developed such plans.
In support of these state efforts, President George W. Bush issued
Executive Order 13217: Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with
Disabilities (the Olmstead Executive Order) on June 18, 2001, in which he
extended application of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision to all Americans
with disabilities, and called upon selected Federal agencies, including the
U.S. Department of Labor, to help support governors in their implementation of
the Olmstead decision. In support of these state efforts and in response to the
direction set forth in Executive Order 13217, the ODEP is issuing this SGA for
WorkFORCE Action Grants.
In March 2002, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy
G. Thompson, submitted a report to President Bush, titled Delivering on the
Promise, on behalf of the Departments of Labor (DOL), Justice (DOJ), Education
(ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
Transportation (DOT), Veterans Affairs (VA), the Social Security Administration
(SSA) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This report detailed
actions being planned by the aforementioned agencies to eliminate barriers and
promote community integration. See http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/final. In this
report, the DOL and other Federal agencies noted that successful Olmstead
planning and implementation efforts must include competitive employment and
employment-related supports. Delivering on the Promise identifies several key
concerns related to employment that must be addressed, including:
[sbull] Fragmentation of existing employment services;
[sbull]
Isolation and segregation of people with disabilities from ``mainstream'' or
generic employment programs and services;
[sbull] Lack of access to health
insurance;
[sbull] The complexity of existing work incentives that are
meant to encourage and/or support work efforts;
[sbull] Lack of control and
choice in selecting employment training and service providers;
[sbull]
Inadequate work opportunities resulting from attitudinal barriers based on
historical and erroneous stereotypes; and
[sbull] Lack of accurate data on
employment of people with disabilities needed to measure progress in
eliminating barriers to their employment.
Many strategies exist for creating and expanding competitive employment
opportunities in the community, including those for individuals who have been
segregated in institutions, nursing homes, sheltered workshops and day activity
programs. Many promising strategies have emerged through decades of research
and demonstration projects, and through other public and private activities
promoting increased choice and self-determination for people with disabilities.
These include multiple ``customized'' employment approaches such as supported
employment and supported entrepreneurship; individualized job development; job
carving and restructuring; use of personal agents (including individuals with
disabilities and family members); development of micro-boards,
micro-enterprises, cooperatives and small businesses; and the use of personal
budgets and other forms of individualized funding that provide choice and
control to the person and promote self-determination.
Accordingly, last year the ODEP awarded 12 WorkFORCE Coordinating
Grants, totaling $1,599,910 and three WorkFORCE Action Grants, totaling
$1,983,067. This initiative represented the ODEP's support for increasing and
improving employment opportunities for the population covered by the Olmstead
decision, and is demonstrating that such individuals can successfully achieve
employment and participate in community life.
The additional WorkFORCE Action Grants represented by this SGA are
meant to build on the ODEP's existing WorkFORCE Grant Initiative. Expanding the
number of projects funded under the WorkFORCE Grant Initiative will enhance the
development of information that can inform the policy development activities of
the ODEP, and provide an opportunity for implementation of projects designed
under the WorkFORCE Coordinating Grants awarded by the ODEP last year.
Additionally, these grants support the President's New Freedom Initiative. The
New Freedom Initiative is designed to increase the number of people with
disabilities who enter, re-enter, and remain in the workforce. By emphasizing
the need to increase the capacity of federally-supported employment and
training programs to serve people with significant disabilities, including
those covered by the Olmstead decision and Executive Order, the current SGA
will further the New Freedom Initiative's goals of increased integration of
Americans with disabilities into the workforce.
The grants awarded under this SGA will also complement other Federal
and state initiatives already underway to make working and living in the
community a reality for more people with disabilities, including the state
planning and implementation efforts under the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead
decision; the Olmstead Executive Order; the Department of Health and Human
Services Systems Change Grants; the ODEP Work Incentive, Customized Employment,
and Technical Assistance and Training to Providers initiatives; and other
related grant opportunities and efforts by the DOL, the HHS, and the SSA under
the Workforce Investment Act
[[Page 32108]]
(WIA) and the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act
(TWWIIA). The WorkFORCE grants will utilize the resources and incentives of
these and other initiatives to create competitive employment opportunities for
individuals eligible under the Olmstead decision and the Executive Order. The
resulting employment opportunities for people with disabilities eligible for
these programs are essential to accomplish the goal of full integration within
the community.
In addition, these grants will support implementation of coordinated
workforce development envisioned under the WIA. The WIA established
comprehensive reform of existing Federal job training programs, consolidating
multiple programs into a unified system and bringing multiple Federal programs
together as required partners in the One-Stop delivery system established under
the WIA. The One-Stop Centers, which comprise the heart of this system, are in
a position to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities by
helping to ensure that the workforce system is accessible both physically and
programmatically. To accomplish this, however, additional state and local
organizations must be involved, including community based providers of
customized employment services. Additional partners necessary to the success of
this endeavor for people with disabilities include, but are not limited to, the
following: State programs for individuals with cognitive and developmental
disabilities; Medicaid; mental health and substance abuse agencies and
organizations; transportation and assistive technology providers; Small
Business Development Centers; secondary education programs; community colleges;
University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; foundations;
and faith-based and community organizations. In particular, it is essential
that One-Stop Centers have available a variety of eligible training providers
in their respective communities to meet the needs of individuals seeking
employment. This includes faith-based and community organizations with
expertise in customized employment strategies for assisting people with
disabilities to achieve choice-based employment. Such innovative partnerships
with the One-Stop system hold the promise of dramatically increasing both
employment and wages for people with disabilities, in part by increasing their
choices for integrated, competitive employment, business ownership,
entrepreneurship, and other customized employment options.
In response to these considerations and in view of the potential
resources described above, the ODEP will continue its Working for Freedom,
Opportunity and Real Choice through Community Employment (WorkFORCE) Grant
Initiative by awarding WorkFORCE Action Grants that develop and/or expand the
capacity of communities to provide individually determined, customized
employment, in partnership with the workforce development system.
Part IV. Funding Availability and Period of Performance
The ODEP anticipates awarding up to 6 grants, ranging from
approximately $400,000 to $625,000 per year, totaling $2.5 million, to develop
demonstration programs to support the development and coordination of
customized community employment opportunities in non- stereotypical jobs for
people with disabilities who want to: (1) Move from nursing homes, residential
facilities, or other segregated environments into the community; (2) continue
living in the community; (3) achieve economic self-sufficiency; and (4) attain
full access to, and participation in, their communities. This grant initiative
is founded in the belief that to fully participate in community life, such
individuals must have the opportunity for employment. These demonstration
grants will be awarded for one year, with four additional option years
possible, depending upon the availability of funds and the efficacy of grant
activities, established by independent reviews conducted by the ODEP or its
designees. It is envisioned that if funding continues 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
during year five at 60 percent of the third year funds. Grantees are expected
to use this grant to leverage and develop other public and private resources to
ensure sustainability.
Part V. Eligible Applicants and Required Partnerships
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for these demonstration grants are non-profit
organizations including faith-based and community organizations (although not
501(c)(4) entities subject to the Lobbying Disclosure Act). To be determined
eligible, applicants must:
- Successful applicants must indicate their intent to register as
eligible training providers in their states and coordinate with their local
One-Stop Career Center(s);
- In addition, successful applicants will not utilize certificates
authorized under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act in their
implementation of project activities and will utilize only individually
determined customized employment strategies in securing employment for the
target population.
Required Partnerships
The purpose of the WorkFORCE Action Grants is to demonstrate the
employment potential of people with disabilities through techniques for
accomplishing community employment in non-stereotypical integrated settings,
utilizing customized employment strategies. These efforts must include the
involvement of many key partners, especially those with direct involvement in
their area's One-Stop Career Centers. The target populations to be served are
people with disabilities who are either unemployed or under-employed and who
are:
[sbull] In non-work (i.e., day activity, social clubs), segregated
work, or transitioning to work settings; or,
[sbull] Expected to be or are
determined to be covered under the Olmstead decision and Executive Order and
therefore part of the state overall Olmstead planning and implementation
process; or,
[sbull] Awaiting employment services and supports following a
move from a residential facility, or as part of a plan to move into a community
under the Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead and the Olmstead Executive
Order.
In addition, this program is subject to the provisions of the ``Jobs
for Veterans Act,'' Public Law 107-288, which provides priority of service to
veterans and certain of their spouses in all Department of Labor-funded job
training programs. Please note that, to obtain priority of service, a veteran
must meet that program's eligibility requirements. Comprehensive policy
guidance is being developed and will be issued in the near future.
The target groups to be served by these grants are intended to be those
persons with disabilities who are both defined above and who have been among
the hardest to serve due to low expectations for employment, lack of employment
skills, limited independent living experiences or other individualized needs
and supports.
Applicants must:
1. Submit a letter signed by their state's governor, or his or her
designee for overall Olmstead implementation, that the proposed grant
activities will be regarded as an official demonstration
[[Page 32109]]
program playing a vital role in the state's Olmstead employment
implementation effort(s). Moreover, this letter must describe how the lessons
learned under implementation of the WorkFORCE Action Grant will be utilized to
benefit other communities throughout the state, and thereby provide expanded
customized community employment options for people who are covered under the
Olmstead decision and Executive Order.
2. Grant applications must include
evidence of current collaboration and partnerships with a wide variety of state
agencies, entities and individuals. Some of the agencies and organizations that
should be considered for inclusion are:
[sbull] Employment and training agencies;
[sbull] State and local
Workforce Investment Boards and their One- Stop Career Centers;
[sbull]
State agencies for substance abuse, vocational rehabilitation, education,
Medicaid, mental retardation, mental health,
public health, and Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
[sbull] State Developmental
Disability Councils and University Centers for Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities;
[sbull] Small Business Development Centers,
[sbull]
Independent Living programs;
[sbull] Community colleges, benefits
counseling and assistance programs;
[sbull] Lending and financial
institutions, whose expertise, services, or funds could contribute to
employment services and supports needed to secure competitive, customized
community employment outcomes for the target group;
[sbull] Faith-based and
community organizations;
[sbull] Community rehabilitation providers;
[sbull] Family members, consumers, employers, and any other key agencies or
constituencies needed to offer a comprehensive service delivery model.
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 their signed proposal. To aid with the
review of applications, USDOL 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 one-inch margins
(top, bottom, and sides) 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 one-inch
margins (top, bottom, and sides) 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 seventy-five (75) 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 two 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).
Grantees may use funds in a flexible manner, as determined appropriate
by input from stakeholders and identified needs, so long as requirements for
outcome and evaluation data and other requirements of Federal statutes,
regulations, administrative requirements, and OMB circulars and the
requirements delineated in this SGA are met. 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 the 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 paper with standard margins throughout).
Each application shall include a project synopsis that identifies the
following:
[sbull] The applicant;
[sbull] The amount of funds requested;
[sbull] The planned period of performance;
[sbull] The list of partners, as
appropriate;
[sbull] An overview of how the applicant will identify the
population to be served (including the estimated number and types of
disability), the environments such individuals are currently experiencing (such
as institutions, nursing homes, segregated day programs, etc.), and methods
that will be used to promote community employment, including customized
[[Page 32110]]
employment strategies listed in this SGA; and [sbull] An overview of the
plan for sustainability once Federal funding ceases.
[sbull] Section III.
Project Narrative (The Project Narrative plus attachments are limited to no
more than seventy-five (75), 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: The Financial Plan, the Executive Summary, and the Appendices are
not included in the seventy-five (75)-page limit.) The 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 purpose of the WorkFORCE Action Grants is to demonstrate the
employment potential of people with disabilities through techniques for
accomplishing community employment in non-stereotypical integrated settings,
utilizing customized employment strategies. These efforts must include the
involvement of many key partners, especially those with direct involvement in
their area's One-Stop Career Centers, as described in Section V above.
For purposes of this solicitation, customized employment means
individualizing the employment relationship between employees and employers in
ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an individualized
determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of the person with a
disability, and is also designed to meet the specific needs of the employer. It
may include approaches such as supported employment; supported
entrepreneurship; individualized job development; job carving and
restructuring; use of personal agents (including individuals with disabilities
and family members); development of micro-boards, micro-enterprises,
cooperatives and small businesses; and use of personal budgets and other forms
of individualized funding that provide choice and control to the person and
promote self- determination. These and other job development or restructuring
strategies result in job responsibilities being customized and individually
negotiated to fit the needs of individuals with disabilities. Customized
employment assumes the provision of reasonable accommodations and supports
necessary for the individual to perform the functions of a job that is
individually negotiated and developed. Each applicant for these grants shall
describe its plan for expanding capacity for, and provision of, customized
employment opportunities to the target groups as defined in Part V above. The
Project Narrative, or Section III of the grant application, should provide
complete information on how the applicant will address the following DOL
priorities for fiscal year 2003:
(1) Increase the availability of skill training, employment
opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities; and
(2)
Develop comprehensive One-Stop Centers, which are welcoming and are valued
providers of choice by customers with disabilities seeking workforce assistance
by assuring the availability of staff trained on disability issues,
personalized employment counseling, knowledgeable support that addresses
employment barriers and work incentives, and the availability of accommodations
and technologies for diverse disabilities.
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 addresses the ODEP's priorities noted
above. The four criteria (Statement of Need/National Significance,
Comprehensive Service Strategy, Sustainability, and Management Plan and
Outcomes) MUST be addressed and the applicant's accomplishments or status with
regard to each item provided. The ODEP, however, does not expect the applicant
to fully incorporate every item listed as part of their strategy and proposal
design. The ODEP recognizes that the needs and requirements of each state and
community may be different, and therefore, some of the options identified may
be more relevant than others in a particular state.
1. Statement of Need/Significance of the Project (15 Points)
The purpose of the Statement of Need criteria is to establish the
overall status of disability issues relevant to the targeted population in the
applicant's state; to identify strengths and deficiencies to be addressed by
the applicant's proposal; to identify the overall scope of the proposal's
objectives and design; to present the applicant's need for the grant resources;
to demonstrate significance of the proposed project; and to demonstrate the
current and proposed partnerships and collaborative efforts to develop or
demonstrate promising new strategies, practices, and/or innovations. The
narrative in this section should include:
(1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase
knowledge or understanding of problems, issues, or effective strategies for
community-based organizations and other potential partners to use customized
employment strategies to increase employment, choice and wages, and influence
systems change for the Olmstead covered population.
(2) The extent to which
the applicant demonstrates an understanding of the issues the state and
proposed geographic area are currently facing in their overall Olmstead
implementation efforts;
(3) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates
a clear understanding of customizing employment and the range of strategies it
can incorporate;
(4) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to
yield findings that may be used by other appropriate agencies and
organizations;
(5) The extent to which the proposed project involves the
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build upon, or
are alternatives to, existing strategies;
(6) The extent to which the
promising practices of the proposed project will be disseminated in ways that
will enable others to use the information or strategies;
(7) The potential
replicability (national significance) of the proposed project or strategies,
including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation in a variety of
settings; and
(8) The importance or magnitude of the results, which are
likely to be attained by the proposed project.
In evaluating the quality of the proposal narrative, the ODEP will
consider the applicant's identified needs and proposed approaches to addressing
the needs in the context of the 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 WorkFORCE Action
Grant. In general, this requires extensive
[[Page 32111]]
linkages and on-site knowledge of applicable resources that address
multiple disability issues and barriers to community integration and employment
that are commonly experienced by the Olmstead covered population.
A. Staff Capacity--the applicant must:
(1) Describe the proposed
staffing of the project. Identify how it will ensure that trained staff with
adequate knowledge of diverse disabilities, knowledge of diverse customized
employment strategies, and employment-related experience for the target
population will be available to provide grant related services.
(2)
Summarize the qualifications, including relevant education, training and
experience of key project personnel, as well as project consultants or
subcontractors, including their qualifications, relevant training and
experience. Attach copies of resumes in the Appendices.
(3) Describe the
applicant's experience in serving people with disabilities and in providing
customized employment services.
(4) Describe the extent to which the time
commitments of the project director and principal investigator and other key
project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the
proposed project.
B. Proposed Project Design and its Evaluation--the
application must address the proposed design for the WorkFORCE Action Grant,
including its response to the requirements outlined in Part V (Eligible
Applicants and Required Partnerships) of this Solicitation.
The Project Design must:
(1) Address the movement of individuals from segregated settings to
customized employment opportunities in the community;
(2) Work in
coordination with their state's Olmstead lead agency on their state's overall
Olmstead plan, and describe how they will contribute to the development of
their state's plan and implementation strategy related to employment;
(3)
Integrate customized employment strategies with their state's employment
programs and services, including existing services available through the
One-Stop Centers, the state and local Workforce Investment Boards, and their
partners;
(4) Coordinate their efforts with existing Olmstead activities
and programs including grant activities and initiatives funded by the SSA, the
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services at HHS, and grant activities and
initiatives funded by the Center for Mental Health Services of HHS;
(5)
Develop customized employment opportunities in a variety of occupations and
industries based on the strengths, needs, and desires of the individual with a
disability, including self-employment and entrepreneurship where appropriate.
Services and supports must be organized in ways that provide informed choice
and promote self- determination;
(6) Establish employer involvement; track
and respond to customer service and satisfaction for both persons with
disabilities and employers; and provide services, including follow-up services,
to ensure job retention and career development;
(7) Collaborate with other
faith-based and community organizations in their state in order to expand
opportunities for customized employment for the target group. This includes
facilitating the availability and use of customized employment strategies by
such organizations, as well as facilitating such organizations registering as
eligible training providers with their local One-Stop Career Centers;
(8)
Educate relevant stakeholders and systems personnel about changes needed to
increase customized community employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities;
(9) Consider the usefulness of increasing the availability of
personal agents and job development personnel offering customized services
through customer-controlled approaches that result in customized employment.
One possible area of focus could include demonstrating the effectiveness of
paying family members or other individuals with disabilities to serve as
personal agents when selected by the individual with a disability to assist in
negotiating and implementing employment plans and services;
(10)
Incorporate use of funds leveraged across several systems available to people
with disabilities through personal budgets and other forms of self-directed
accounts.
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 design of the proposed project provides
clear understanding of and experience with utilization of customized employment
strategies for increasing employment, choice and earnings of individuals with
significant disabilities;
(e) The extent to which the proposed project will
be coordinated, including demonstrated support from the state governor or
designated Olmstead agency and commitment from key organizations, employers,
and agencies;
(f) 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;
(g) The extent to which
the design of the project will facilitate an increase in the number of
faith-based and community organizations that register as eligible training
providers or as providers of supplemental and supportive services with their
local One-Stop Center;
(h) The extent to which performance feedback and
continuous improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project;
(i) 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; and
(j) The extent to which the proposed project design
features innovative strategies to implement customized employment and
choice.
Letters of Commitment. Applicants can include letters of support if
they provide specific commitments. Such letters can increase an applicant's
score by showing that the commitments in the text of the proposal are serious.
Form letters will not be considered. See also Part V.
3. Sustainability (25 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. Sustainability objectives must be built into the project design
and ongoing project operation. Applicants must:
(1) Identify resources and partnerships that are an integral element of
the project. Projects funded under this SGA must leverage a combination of
Federal, state, and local public sector resources, as well as local non-profit
sector resources for purposes of sustainability. Accordingly, in this section
the applicant should enumerate
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these resources, describe any specific existing contractual commitments,
and provide concrete evidence of sustainability;
(2) Identify activities
and in-kind elements of sustained support. ODEP considers detailed commitments
for specific new activities as more important than promises of in-kind supports
in showing sustained support for the project. Grants recently received from
another agency can be discussed in the proposal, but the applicant should be
precise about which activities preceded this grant and which will occur because
of the grant;
(3) Detail how Federal, state, and local public sector
commitments contribute to the sustainability of this project following
completion of the grant. Examples of such commitments could include: commitment
from state vocational rehabilitation, one-stop center, state developmental
disability, state Medicaid, or state general revenue funding to support
expanded customized employment services for individuals securing employment
through the agency; status as Employment Network under the Ticket to Work and
Work Incentive Improvement Act providing customized employment services to
eligible ticket-holders; private sector funding through foundations, financial
or lending agencies, or other relevant collaborative arrangements for
continuing provision or expansion of customized employment services in the
community.
In evaluating the quality of the plan for sustainability, ODEP will
also consider 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 grant period, including
the quality of the applicant's plans for implementing the project's activities
in years four and five when Federal funding will be reduced.
(b) The
likelihood of the applicant successfully securing state ownership and
participation in these projects when the grant funds cease.
(c) The extent
to which partnerships with outside entities (including public and private
disability and faith-based and community organizations) and funding from
additional Federal, state, and local resources will be effectively leveraged
and utilized in continuing the WorkFORCE Action activities after the expiration
of this grant. See Part V.
4. Management and Outcomes (30 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 should provide a detailed
management plan, which identifies the critical activities, time frames, and
responsibilities for effectively implementing the project, including the
evaluation process for assuring successful implementation of grant objectives.
In addition, applicants should outline the strategy for documenting and
reporting the activities undertaken during the life of the grant for the ODEP's
future use in working with other grantees and constituencies.
In evaluating the management and outcomes criteria, the ODEP considers
the following factors to be of particular importance:
(a) The extent to which the proposed budget and narrative
justifications are adequate to support the proposed project;
(b) The extent
to which performance feedback and continuous improvement are integral to the
design of the proposed project;
(c) The extent to which the methods of
evaluation provide for examining the effectiveness of project implementation
strategies;
(d) The extent to which the evaluation will provide information
to other programs about effective strategies suitable for replication or
testing in other settings;
(e) The extent to which the methods of
evaluation include the objective use of performance measures that are clearly
related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative
and qualitative data;
(f) The extent to which the methods of evaluation
measure in both quantitative and qualitative terms, program results and
satisfaction of customers, both people with disabilities and employers;
(g)
The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services from
the proposed project;
(h) The extent to which the principal investigator
and other key personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of
the proposed projects;
(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to
support and sustain the proposed project activities over the projected
five-year period.
(j) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in
relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed
project.
Part VIII. Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring
The 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,
expenditures of grant funds on allowable activities, integration and
coordination with other resources and service providers in the local area,
project management and administration of project activities. WorkFORCE Action
Grants may be subject to other additional reviews at the discretion of the
ODEP.
Reporting
Grantees will be required to submit quarterly financial and narrative
progress reports. In addition, all grantees will be expected to provide
information on individuals with disabilities securing employment through use of
customized strategies (including information on types of jobs, wages, and
benefits secured by specific individuals with disabilities) and other areas
addressed through the linkages and networks facilitated by project
activities.
Grantees will be required to submit periodic financial and
participation reports. Specifically the following reports will be required:
A. Quarterly reports: The quarterly report is estimated to take ten
hours to complete. The form for the Quarterly Report will be provided by the
ODEP. The 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.
B. Standard
Form 269; Financial Status Report Form (FSR) will be completed on a quarterly
basis, using the on-line electronic reporting system.
C. Final Project
Report: The final report will include an assessment of project performance and
outcomes achieved. The final report is estimated to take 20 hours. This report
will be submitted in hard copy and on electronic disk using a format and
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following instructions, which will be provided by the DOL. A draft of
the final report is due to the ODEP 45 days before the termination of the
grant. The final report is due to the DOL 60 days following the termination of
the grant.
All grantees must agree to cooperate with an independent evaluation to
be conducted by the ODEP. The ODEP will arrange for and conduct this
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 employment and wage data, and to
provide access to personnel, as specified by the evaluator(s), under the
direction of the ODEP. This independent evaluation is separate from the ongoing
evaluation for continuous improvement required of the grantee for project
implementation. The ODEP's evaluation of the WorkFORCE Action Grants includes a
process evaluation that includes extensive information pertaining to
achievements under the grant, summary information, number of people with
disabilities receiving services, number of people employed through the One-Stop
system and other sources.
Grantees must also agree to work with the ODEP in its various technical
assistance efforts in order to freely share with others what is learned about
delivering customized employment services to the Olmstead population. Grantees
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, 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).
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 ODEP may elect to award grants with or
without discussion with the offeror. In situations without discussions, an
award will be based on the offeror'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 such factors as:
[sbull] Panel findings;
[sbull] Geographic distribution of the
competitive applications and based on location of the existing Olmstead
WorkFORCE Action Grants (Boston, MA; Peoria, IL; and, Decatur, GA) and;
[sbull] Assuring a variety of program designs; and
[sbull] 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.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 20th day of May, 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. 03-13400 Filed 5-28-03; 8:45 am]
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