H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants SGA

___________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications
for the National Farmworker Jobs Program
Announcement Type: Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA)
Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY-10-05
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.264
Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this
announcement is [insert date 45 days after date of publication in Federal
Register]. Applications must be received no later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Addresses: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal
Assistance, Attention: B Jai Johnson, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/DFA
PY 10-05, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N4716, Washington, DC
20210. For complete application and submission information, including
online application instructions, please refer to section IV.

Summary:
The U. S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training
Administration (ETA), Office of Workforce Investment, Division of Adult
Services, announces a grant competition for operating the National Farmworker

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Jobs Program (NFJP), under section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act
(WIA), 29 U.S.C. 2912. WIA generally requires DOL to conduct a general
grants competition every two years to select NFJP grantees.
Under section 167(a) of WIA, the Secretary must award grants on a
competitive basis to eligible entities for the purposes of carrying out the
activities authorized under section 167. Under this solicitation, ETA
anticipates a total authorization of $XX,XXX,XXX to be allocated among
state service delivery areas for operation of NFJP. All interested applicants
should read this notice in its entirety.

I. Funding Opportunity Description
The agricultural industry is characterized by a large workforce with numerous
job openings, chronic unemployment and underemployment due to the
cyclical nature of the work, and below average pay. Migrants and seasonal
farmworkers, whose livelihood is primarily derived from agricultural
employment, not only experience the chronic unemployment or
underemployment inherent in the industry, but also face additional, significant
barriers to employment. These include low levels of education, limited
English proficiency, inferior housing, and few assets to sustain them through a
period of retraining.

The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) is a nationally-directed,
locally-administered program of job training and employment assistance for

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migrants and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) and their dependents. Services
include classroom and on-the-job training, as well as some supportive services
such as nutrition, health care, child care, and temporary shelter. The services
available for assisting MSFWs include WIA-defined core, intensive, training,
and related assistance services. All of these services are critical to the MSFW
population.

ETA is requesting grant applications from eligible applicants to operate NFJP
in accordance with section 167 of WIA for the two-year grant cycle beginning
in Program Year (PY) 2011. NFJP is designed to serve economically
disadvantaged persons who primarily depend on employment in agricultural
labor performed within the United States, including Puerto Rico, and who
experience chronic unemployment or underemployment. Qualifying
participants are typically those persons employed on a seasonal or part-time
basis in the unskilled and semi-skilled manual labor occupations in crop and
animal production. Through training and other workforce development
services, the program is intended to assist eligible migrants and seasonal
farmworkers and their families to prepare for jobs likely to provide stable, yearround employment, both within and outside agriculture.

NFJP is subject to the requirements found at WIA section 167 and the
Department’s regulations at 20 CFR part 669. This program is also subject to
the requirements of 29 CFR parts 93 (New Restrictions on Lobbying), 96

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(Audit Requirements), and 98 (Debarment, Suspension, and Drug-Free
Workplace Requirements), the non-discrimination regulations implementing
WIA section 188 at 29 CFR part 37, as well as DOL’s Equal Treatment
regulations, found at 29 CFR part 2, subpart D. Applicants should be familiar
with these requirements and consult the WIA regulations at 20 CFR parts 660
through 671 in developing their grant proposals. Should the WIA regulations
at 20 CFR part 669 conflict with regulations elsewhere in 20 CFR, the
regulations at part 669 will control.

NFJP is subject to the common performance measures for job training and
employment programs established by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). Guidance on the common performance measures can be found in
ETA Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 17–05 (February
17, 2006), available at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/ corr_
doc.cfm?DOCN=2195.

Applications submitted in response to this solicitation are required to
include estimates of expected performance against these common
performance measures. The common performance measures are: Entered
Employment, Employment Retention, and Average Earnings. To assist
applicants in developing their performance estimates, the national goals for
PY 2011 for the three measures are: Entered Employment, 75%;
Employment Retention, 72%; and Average Earnings, $9,050. NFJP began

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data collection for the common measures on July 1, 2005.

II. Award Information
The type of assistance instrument to be used for NFJP is the grant. We are
conducting this competition before the passage of the Department of Labor’s
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 appropriation in anticipation of the appropriation of
funds for Program Year (PY) 2011 NFJP grants, but we will not obligate any
funds for PY 2011 grants unless and until they are appropriated. Therefore,
the selection of grantees and award of funds under this competition is
contingent upon the enactment of a PY 2011 appropriation for the NFJP
program. Grants awarded through this solicitation will be for a two-year
period, as prescribed in WIA section 167, but funded on an annual basis. Be
advised that the $XX,XXX,XXX funding level provides funding for all service
delivery areas for PY 2011 only (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012).
Thereafter, second year allocations will be dependent on the availability of
funding through the FY 2012 appropriations process and on the grantee’s
compliance with all current and future ETA guidance related to NFJP. State
allocations are established through a formula process, and are published in a
Federal Register Notice. For a listing of individual state allocations, refer to
the program Web site at:
http://www.doleta.gov/MSFW/html/docs/StateAllocations.cfm.

For the purposes of this solicitation, applications are hereby solicited for a
single NFJP operation per state, to serve the migrant and seasonal farmworker

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population thereof, including Puerto Rico, with the following exceptions:
•

No application will be accepted to operate NFJP in Alaska due to
the small relative share of eligible participants and seasonal
agricultural employment;

•

Between four and six entities will be selected to provide NFJP
services in California;

•

Connecticut and Rhode Island are a combined service delivery
area;

•

Delaware and Maryland are a combined service delivery area;

•

Applications for the combined state service delivery areas defined
above must address the two states as a single geographic area.

III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Applicants need not be a current or prior WIA section 167 grantee to establish
eligibility to be awarded a grant under this solicitation. State agencies, state
workforce investment boards (SWIBs), local government agencies, local
workforce investment boards (LWIBs), faith-based and community-based
organizations, institutions of higher learning, and other entities capable of
delivering services on a statewide basis are all examples of organizations
eligible to apply for WIA section 167 grants. The provisions of 20 CFR
669.200(a), which implement WIA section 167(b) describe entities eligible to
receive a grant as those that have:
•

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An understanding of the employment challenges and barriers to

employment facing eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers,
including their dependents;
•

A familiarity with the geographical area to be served;

•

A capacity to administer effectively a diversified program of workforce
investment activities for eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers; and

•

The capacity to work effectively as a One-Stop partner.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching
There is no cost sharing or matching requirement in this SGA.

C. Other Eligibility Criteria
Not applicable

D. Eligible Participants
WIA section 167(h) defines eligible migrants and seasonal farmworkers as
disadvantaged persons who, for 12 consecutive months out of the 24 months
before application for the program involved, have been primarily employed in
agricultural labor that is characterized by chronic unemployment or
underemployment; or a dependent of an eligible migrant or seasonal
farmworker. The term disadvantaged, used with respect to a farmworker,
means a farmworker whose income, for the 12 consecutive months out of the
24 months prior to application for the program, does not exceed the higher of
the poverty line for an equivalent period or 70 percent of the lower living
standard income level, for an equivalent period.

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Veterans Priority for Participants
The Jobs for Veterans Act (Public Law 107-288) requires grantees to provide
priority of service for veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt
of employment, training, and placement services in any job training program
directly funded, in whole or in part, by DOL. The regulations implementing
this priority of service can be found at 20 CFR part 1010. In circumstances
where a grant recipient must choose between two qualified candidates for a
service, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the veterans priority of
service provisions require that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible
spouse priority of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain
priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet the program’s eligibility
requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans’
priority. ETA Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-09
(issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on implementing priority of
service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified job training programs
funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 is available at
http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816.

IV. Application and Submission Information
A. How to Obtain an Application Package
This SGA contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply
for grant funding.

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B. Content and Form of Application Submission
Proposals submitted in response to this SGA must consist of three separate
and distinct parts: (I) a cost proposal; (II) a technical proposal; and (III)
attachments to the technical proposal. Applications that do not contain all of
the three parts or that fail to adhere to the instructions in this section will be
considered non-responsive and will not be considered. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across
all parts and sub-parts of the application.

Part I. The Cost Proposal. The Cost Proposal must include the following
items:
•

SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (available at
http://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp).
The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by
an individual with authority to enter into a grant agreement. Upon
confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf
of the applicant shall be considered the authorized representative of the
applicant. All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities
are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S®)
number, and must supply their D-U-N-S® Number on the SF-424.
The D-U-N-S® Number is a nine-digit identification number that
uniquely identifies business entities. If you do not have a D-U-N-S®

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Number, you can get one for free through the Dun & Bradstreet (D &
B) website: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.
•

The SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at
http://www07.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp).
In preparing the Budget Information Form, the applicant must provide
a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request,
explained in detail below.

•

Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a description of
costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A

•

Note that the entire Federal grant amount requested must be included
on the SF-424 and SF-424A and budget narrative.

The amount listed

on the SF-424, SF-424A and budget narrative must be the same.
Please note, the funding amount included on the SF-424 will be
considered the official funding amount requested if any inconsistencies
are found. Applications that fail to provide an SF-424 including D-UN-S® Number, SF-424A, and a budget narrative will be considered
non-responsive and not reviewed.
•

Regardless of the method of application submission, all applicants
must register with the Federal Central Contractor Registry (CCR)
before submitting an application. Step-by-step instructions for
registering with CCR can be found at
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step2.jsp. An awardee must
maintain an active CCR registration with current information at all

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times during which it has an active Federal award or an application
under consideration. To remain registered in the CCR database after
the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update
on an annual basis from the date of initial registration or subsequent
updates its information in the CCR database to ensure it is current,
accurate and complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is
the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority
to apply and to receive the award. Failure to register with the CCR
before application submission will result in your application being
found non-responsive and not being reviewed.

Part II. The Technical Proposal. The Technical Proposal must demonstrate
the applicant’s capability to implement the grant project in accordance with
the provisions of this Solicitation. The guidelines for the content of the
Technical Proposal are provided in section V of this SGA. The Technical
Proposal is limited to 35 double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch pages with
12 point text font and 1 inch margins. Any materials beyond the specified
page limit will not be read. Applicants should number the Technical Proposal
beginning with page number 1. Applications that do not include Part II, the
Technical Proposal, will be considered non-responsive and not reviewed.

Part III. Attachments to the Technical Proposal. In addition to the
Technical Proposal, the applicant must submit the following attachments:

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a) An up to two-page abstract summarizing the proposed project, including
but not limited to the scope of the project and the state service delivery
area and the numbers of participants to be served.
b) The resumes of key personnel for the applicant organization.

Applications that do not include the required attachments will be considered
non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

Only those attachments listed above as required attachments will be excluded
from the page limit. The required attachments must be affixed as separate,
clearly identified appendices to the application. Additional materials such as
resumes or general letters of support or commitment will not be considered.
Applicants should not send documents separately to ETA, because documents
received separately will be tracked through a different system and will not be
attached to the application for review. ETA will not accept general letters of
support submitted by organizations or individuals that are not partners in the
proposed project and that do not directly identify the specific commitment or
roles of the project partners. Support letters of this nature will not be
considered in the evaluation review process.

C. Submission Date, Times, Process and Addresses
The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is [insert
date 45 days after date of publication in Federal Register]. Applications
may be submitted electronically on http://www.grants.gov or in hard copy by
mail or hand delivery (including overnight delivery). Hard copy

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applications must be received at the address below no later than 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time. Applications submitted on grants.gov must also be successfully
submitted (as described below) no later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Applications sent by e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (FAX) will not be
accepted.

Applicants submitting proposals in hard copy must submit an original signed
application (including the SF-424) and one (1) ‘‘copy-ready’’ version free of
bindings, staples or protruding tabs to ease in the reproduction of the proposal
by DOL. Applicants submitting proposals in hard copy are also required to
provide an identical electronic copy of the proposal on compact disc (CD). If
discrepancies between the hard copy submission and CD copy are identified,
the application on the CD will be considered the official applicant submission
for evaluation purposes. Failure to provide identical applications in hard copy
and CD format may have an impact on the overall evaluation.

If an application is physically submitted by both hard copy and through
http://www.grants.gov, a letter must accompany the hard copy application
stating which application to review. If no letter accompanies the hard copy,
we will review the copy submitted through http://www.grants.gov.
Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will be
considered non-responsive. No exceptions to the mailing and delivery
requirements set forth in this notice will be granted. Further, documents

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submitted separately from the application, before or after the deadline, will
not be accepted as part of the application.

Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of Labor,
Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal Assistance,
Attention: B Jai Johnson, Grant Officer, Reference SGA/DFA PY 10-05,
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N4716, Washington, D.C. 20210.
Applicants are advised that mail delivery in the Washington, D.C. area may be
delayed due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand-delivered proposals
will be received at the above address. All overnight mail will be considered to
be hand-delivered and must be received at the designated place by the
specified closing date and time.

Applications that are submitted through Grants.gov must be successfully
submitted at http://www.grants.gov no later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the
closing date and then subsequently validated by Grants.gov. The submission
and validation process is described in more detail below. The process can be
complicated and time-consuming. Applicants are strongly advised to initiate
the process as soon as possible and to plan for time to resolve technical
problems if necessary. The Department strongly recommends that before the
applicant begins to write the proposal, applicants should immediately initiate
and complete the “Get Registered” registration steps at
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. Applicants should read

14

through the registration process carefully before registering. These steps may
take as much as four weeks to complete, and this time should be factored into
plans for electronic submission in order to avoid unexpected delays that could
result in the rejection of an application. The site also contains registration
checklists to help you walk through the process. The Department strongly
recommends that applicants download the “Organization Registration
Checklist” at
http://www.grants.gov/assets/Organization_Steps_Complete_Registration.pdf
and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration
process. Reviewing and assembling required information before beginning the
registration process will alleviate last minute searches for required
information and save time.

As described above, applicants must have a D–U–N–S® Number and must
register with the Federal Central Contractor Registry (CCR).
The next step in the registration process is creating a username and password
with Grants.gov to become an Authorized Organizational Representative
(AOR). AORs will need to know the D-U-N-S® Number of the organization
for which they will be submitting applications to complete this process. To
read more detailed instructions for creating a profile on Grants.gov visit:
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step3.jsp.

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After creating a profile on Grants.gov, the E-Biz point of Contact (E-Biz
POC) - a representative from your organization who is the contact listed for
CCR – will receive an email to grant the AOR permission to submit
applications on behalf of their organization. The E-Biz POC will then log in
to Grants.gov and approve an applicant as the AOR, thereby giving him or her
permission to submit applications. To learn more about AOR Authorization
visit: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step5.jsp, or to track AOR status
visit: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step6.jsp.

An application submitted through Grants.gov constitutes a submission as an
electronically signed application. The registration and account creation with
Grants.gov, with E-Biz POC approval, establishes an AOR. When you submit
the application through Grants.gov, the name of your AOR on file will be
inserted into the signature line of the application. Applicants must register the
individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the applicant
organization as the AOR; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid
submissions.

When a registered applicant submits an application with Grants.gov, an
electronic time stamp is generated within the system when the application is
successfully received by Grants.gov. Within two business days of application
submission, Grants.gov will send the applicant two email messages to provide
the status of the application’s progress through the system. The first email,

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sent almost immediately, will contain a tracking number and will confirm
receipt of the application by Grants.gov. The second email will indicate the
application has either been successfully validated or has been rejected due to
errors. Only applications that have been successfully submitted by the
deadline and subsequently successfully validated will be considered. It is the
sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure a timely submission. While it is
not required that an application be successfully validated before the deadline
for submission, it is prudent to reserve time before the deadline in case it is
necessary to resubmit an application that has not been successfully validated.
Therefore, sufficient time should be allotted for submission (two business
days) and, if applicable, additional time to address errors and receive
validation upon resubmission (an additional two business days for each
ensuing submission). It is important to note that if sufficient time is not
allotted and a rejection notice is received after the due date and time, the
application will not be considered.

To ensure consideration, you must provide any narrative sections of your
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable
Document) format. If you provide a file type other than the three file types
specified, we will not review this material.
We strongly advise applicants to use the various tools and documents,
including FAQs, which are available on the “Applicant Resources” page at
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/resources.jsp.

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ETA encourages new prospective applicants to view the online tutorial,
“Grant Applications 101: A Plain English Guide to ETA Competitive
Grants,” available through Workforce3One at:
http://www.workforce3one.org/page/grants_toolkit .

To receive updated information about critical issues, new tips for users and
other time sensitive updates as information is available, applicants may
subscribe to “Grants.gov Updates” at
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/email_subscription_signup.jsp.

If applicants encounter a problem with Grants.gov and do not find an answer
in any of the other resources, call 1-800-518-4726 to speak to a Customer
Support Representative or email “[email protected]”. The Contact Center
is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is closed on federal holidays.

Late Applications: For applications submitted on Grants.gov, only
applications that have been successfully submitted no later than 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on the closing date and then successfully validated will be
considered. Applicants take a significant risk by waiting to the last day to
submit by Grants.gov.

Any hard copy application received after the exact date and time specified for

18

receipt at the office designated in this notice will not be considered, unless it
is received before awards are made, it was properly addressed, and it was: (a)
sent by U.S. Postal Service mail, postmarked not later than the fifth calendar
day before the date specified for receipt of applications (e.g., an application
required to be received by the 20th of the month must be postmarked by the
15th of that month); or (b) sent by professional overnight delivery service to
the addressee not later than one working day before the date specified for
receipt of applications. ‘‘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. Therefore,
applicants should request the postal clerk to place a legible hand cancellation
‘‘bull’s eye’’ postmark on both the receipt and the package. Failure to adhere
to these instructions will be a basis for a determination that the application
was not filed timely and will not be considered. Evidence of timely
submission by a professional overnight delivery service must be demonstrated
by equally reliable evidence created by the delivery service provider
indicating the time and place of receipt.

D. Intergovernmental Review
This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
“Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

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E. Funding Restrictions
All proposal costs must be necessary and reasonable and in accordance with
Federal guidelines. Determinations of allowable costs will be made in
accordance with the applicable Federal cost principles. Disallowed costs are
those charges to a grant that the grantor agency or its representative
determines not to be allowed in accordance with the applicable Federal cost
principles or other conditions contained in the grant.
Applicants, whether successful or not, will not be entitled to reimbursement of
pre-award costs.

1. Indirect Costs
As specified in OMB Circular Cost Principles, indirect costs are those that
have been incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot be readily
identified with a particular final cost objective. An indirect cost rate (ICR) is
required when an organization operates under more than one grant or other
activity, whether Federally-assisted or not. Organizations must use the ICR
supplied by the Federal Cognizant Agency. If an organization requires a new
ICR or has a pending ICR, the Grant Officer will award a temporary billing
rate for 90 days until a provisional rate can be issued. This rate is based on
the fact that an organization has not established an ICR agreement. Within
this 90-day period, the organization must submit an acceptable indirect cost
proposal to their Federal Cognizant Agency to obtain a provisional ICR.

2. Administrative Costs

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Under this SGA, an entity that receives a grant to carry out a project or
program may not use more than 15 percent of the amount of the grant to pay
administrative costs associated with the program or project. Administrative
costs could be direct or indirect costs, and are defined at 20 CFR 667.220.
Administrative costs do not need to be identified separately from program
costs on the SF-424A Budget Information Form. However, they must be
tracked through the grantee’s accounting system. To claim any administrative
costs that are also indirect costs, the applicant must obtain an Indirect Cost
Rate Agreement from its Federal Cognizant agency, as specified above.

3. Salary and Bonus Limitations
Under Public Law 109-234, none of the funds appropriated in Public Law
109-149 or prior Acts under the heading “Employment and Training
Administration” that are available for expenditure on or after June 15, 2006,
may be used by a recipient or sub-recipient of such funds to pay the salary and
bonuses of an individual, either as direct costs or indirect costs, at a rate in
excess of Executive Level II, except as provided for in section 101 of Public
Law 109-149. Public Laws 111-8 and 111-117 contain the same limitation on
funds appropriated under each of these Laws. This limitation applies to
grants funded under this SGA. The salary and bonus limitation does not apply
to vendors providing goods and services as defined in OMB Circular A-133
(codified at 29 CFR Parts 96 and 99). See Training and Employment
Guidance Letter number 5-06 for further clarification:
http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2262.

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4. Intellectual Property Rights: The Federal Government reserves a paid-up,
nonexclusive and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use,
and to authorize others to use for Federal purposes: i) the copyright in all
products developed under the grant, including a subgrant or contract under the
grant or subgrant; and ii) any rights of copyright to which the grantee,
subgrantee or a contractor purchases ownership under an award (including but
not limited to curricula, training models, technical assistance products, and
any related materials). Such uses include, but are not limited to, the right to
modify and distribute such products worldwide by any means, electronically
or otherwise. . The grantee may not use Federal funds to pay any royalty or
license fee for use of a copyrighted work, or the cost of acquiring by purchase
a copyright in a work, where the Department has a license or rights of free use
in such work. If revenues are generated through selling products developed
with grant funds, including intellectual property, these revenues are program
income. Program income is added to the grant and must be expended for
allowable grant activities.

If applicable, the following needs to be on all products developed in whole or
in part with grant funds:
“This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S.
Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The
product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official
position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes

22

no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with
respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and
including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness,
timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This
product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an
organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial
purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the
copyright owner.”

F. Other Submission Requirements
Withdrawal of Applications: Applications may be withdrawn by written
notice to the Grant Officer at any time before an award is made.

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria
This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be used for each
category to evaluate grant proposals.
The following review criteria, totaling a maximum of 100 points, apply to all
applications:
Criterion
1. Economic Analysis of the Service Delivery Area
2. Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration
3. Administrative Capacity
A. Financial and Management Systems
B. Key Personnel

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Maximum Value
15
10
25
(15)
(10)

4. Service Delivery Strategy
50
A. Plan of Service
B. Outreach Activities
C. Opportunities for Farmworkers in Emerging Industries
Total
100

(20)
(15)
(15)

1. Economic Analysis of the Service Delivery Area— 15 Points. The
application must describe the socio-economic characteristics of the proposed
service area and problems faced by eligible farmworkers, and their dependents,
in that area. Applicants must explain how the economic conditions of the
proposed service area, the labor market outlook, the characteristics of the
eligible service population, the extent to which transportation is available, and
developments in both emerging and declining industries impact the employment
prospects of eligible farmworkers seeking entry-level employment. This
analysis must be supported through reference to Bureau of Labor Statistics or
service-area level data.

Scoring for this criterion will be based on the thoroughness of the description of
the socio-economic characteristics of the proposed service area and problems
faced by the eligible farmworkers in that area, including availability of
transportation; on the comprehensiveness of the description of economic
conditions of the proposed service area, including emerging and declining
industries; and the quality of the statistical data supporting the analysis.

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2. Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration— 10 Points. This section must
describe the key educational institutions, state and/or local government
agencies, and other key organizations that are available to serve the eligible
population of the requested service area, including faith-based and
community-based organizations and organizations serving people with
disabilities. The applicant must also describe the applicant’s experience, if
any, in collaborating with those key institutions, agencies and organizations
to serve the eligible population in the requested service area.

In particular, all applicants must describe their experience, if any, in working
with the One-Stop Career Center system in the requested service delivery area
to provide services to farmworkers. This discussion must identify and describe
the applicant’s experience, if any, with each One-Stop Career Center in the
service delivery area, including both successes and challenges in working
together. If the applicant has not worked with the One-Stop Career Center
system, the application must explain why.

Scoring on this criterion will be based on the completeness of the applicant’s
description of the key institutions and organizations in the service delivery area,
particularly the One-Stop Career Centers, and the extent of the applicant’s
experience, if any, in working with those institutions and organizations to serve
farmworkers in the requested service area.

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3. Administrative Capacity— 25 Points. This criterion is broken into two subcriterions with individual point values, which combine for a total (A + B below)
of 25 maximum points.

3.A.Financial and Management Systems – 15 points. Applicants must
comprehensively describe the management information (MIS), participant
tracking, performance accountability and management, case management,
accounting, and program and fiscal management reporting systems that would
be used to operate the NFJP program and ensure fiscal and reporting integrity
and generate reliable data. In describing these systems, the applicant must
define the staff’s responsibilities for managing them and the staff development
opportunities available to enhance skills in the operation of the systems
described.

The applicant must also describe the eligibility determination and verification
system that will provide for correct eligibility determinations and prevent
enrollment of ineligible participants. Applicants must provide a description of
their participant tracking and reporting systems to demonstrate their ability to
implement data validation procedures, as described in TEGL 3–03; change 1,
and change 2 (OMB clearance issued August 31, 2004).

Applicants must describe their systems to support program integrity, such as
management information (MIS), performance accountability and management,

26

and reporting and recordkeeping (including individual participant records)
needed for quarterly reporting and performance accountability and management.
The applicant also must describe how its data collection and reporting systems
will count participants for the purposes of common measures tracking.

The applicant must describe a fiscal management reporting system that is
sufficient to prepare financial reports and to trace funds to adequate levels of
expenditures to ensure lawful spending. The system must have the capacity to
track spending by program, to ensure that, for those organizations with funding
from more than one Federal program, expenditures are allocated to the
appropriate program. The system must also be able to track program income
generated through activities funded by NFJP grants, and show the link between
program income and those additional participants and/or services funded
through program income. Applicants must describe their capacity to manage
supportive services, also described as related assistance services, and to account
for expenditures related to these services.

Applicants must describe their capacity to provide the necessary equipment,
access, and staff qualified to perform Internet-based reporting. The applicant
must demonstrate its capacity to provide case management, as well as the
electronic tools to be utilized (personal computer, software, Internet access, and
e mail accounts) to implement a client-centered case management system.

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Scoring on this criterion will be based on the extent to which the applicant’s
description of the systems for performance accountability and management
(including reporting for the common measures), program and fiscal
management reporting (including tracking spending for this program and any
program income generated), case management (including a client-centered case
management system and internet reporting capability), eligibility determination
and verification, and tracking of related assistance services and expenses
demonstrates that its management systems can be expected to result in reliable
data and efficient and well-managed program administration.

3.B.Key Personnel – 10 points. The skills and abilities of an organization’s key
personnel are critical to the effective operation of NFJP. Applicants must
describe the qualifications of the organization’s key personnel, including, but
not limited to, the Executive Director, Financial Manager, Program Manager,
Management Information System (MIS) Manager, and case managers. The
description should include the skills and experience established in the position
description for that position, the experience and qualifications of existing
personnel against those described in the position description, and current
resumes for the personnel in the key positions identified. In cases where there is
a vacancy in a key position, the applicant must describe the process to be used
for filling the vacancy with an individual possessing the skills and experience
necessary for the job. Resumes of existing key personnel must be included as
part of the attachment to the Technical Proposal and do not count against the

28

established page limit.

Scoring on this criterion will be based on evidence of how well the
qualifications and experience of existing key personnel match the qualifications
necessary for the position. It will also be based on how well the position
description describes the skills and experience needed for the job.

4. Integrated Service Delivery Strategies— 50 Total Points. This criterion is
broken into three sub-criteria with individual point values, which combine for
a total of 50 maximum points.

4.A.Integrated Plan of Service—20 points. The proposal should describe the
applicant’s vision, strategy, goals, and objectives that guide the proposed plan
of service and the results expected from implementing the proposed plan,
considering the economic analysis, strategic partnerships, and administrative
capacity described above. The plan of service must describe:
•

The service delivery area to be covered by the plan, including the
number and location of eligible farmworkers and their dependents to be
served and a breakdown of estimated participants to be offered core,
intensive, training, related assistance, and supportive services.

•

The core, intensive, training, and related assistance services proposed to
be provided, the strategies for providing them, and how those services
will be delivered in collaboration with the One-Stop Career system. See

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WIA section 134 and 167(b) for definitions of these services.
•

The strategy to address an individual’s needs as identified through an
objective assessment and an Individual Employment Plan (IEP),
including the process for determining what intensive and training
services will be provided.

•

The related assistance services, including supportive services, needed by
migrants and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents, and the
strategy for providing those services, including the agencies or
organizations with which the applicant will collaborate and/or
coordinate these services.

•

The strategy for increasing the number of participants receiving
employment and training services throughout the grant period, including
an estimate of the total number and percent of all program participants
that will receive employment and training services.

•

The training services to be provided to eligible migrants and seasonal
farmworkers, including the process used to determine a participant’s
enrollment in training services, the criteria for determining when a
participant will be placed in training, and the method for delivering the
training.

•

How the applicant proposes to promote co-enrollment of participants in
WIA formula-funded programs, particularly in training services.

In describing the training services to be provided to eligible farmworkers,

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applicants must include a description of the educational approaches (such as
remediation, contextualized learning that combines basic skills with specific
occupational knowledge, post-secondary education, credential attainment,
entrepreneurial training) to be used to assist participants in obtaining the
occupational skills that lead to employment in emerging occupations, to
higher-paying, more stable employment within the agricultural industry, such
as cross-crop or cross industry training, or to self-employment.

Scoring of this factor will be based on the extent to which the applicant’s
description addresses the elements of this sub-criterion and supports a
comprehensive strategy to improve career opportunities for the population in the
service delivery area through employment in emerging occupations; higherpaying, more stable employment in agriculture; or self-employment.

4.B.Outreach Activities—15 Points. Outreach and recruitment of both
employers (for job development opportunities on behalf of farmworkers) and
farmworkers (to recruit eligible participants) are essential if the service delivery
plans proposed by the applicant are to work effectively. Therefore, to address
this sub-criterion, applicants must describe their strategies for outreach and
recruitment of employers and farmworkers.

For outreach to and recruitment of employers, applicants must include the
number of employers with whom the applicant currently works and describe how

31

those relationships lead or have led to good employment opportunities for
farmworkers. This discussion should include available employer-specific data
on job placements, retention, and earnings for program participants. Applicants
must also describe their plan for outreach and recruitment of new employers in
industries appropriate for NFJP participants, including emerging industries, and
the job development and placement strategies to be used, including how
placement opportunities from new employers will be secured.

For outreach and recruitment of eligible farmworkers, applicants must describe
the strategies to be employed to effectively find and recruit eligible participants,
including a description of the field office structure for the organization and how
it optimizes outreach and recruitment of new participants. The strategy should
also include involvement, where applicable, of faith-based and community-based
organizations and organizations serving people with disabilities, as well as other
One-Stop Career Center partner programs in the applicant’s outreach and
recruitment efforts.

Scoring of this factor will be based on how effectively the applicant describes
how relationships with employers lead or have led to good employment
opportunities for farmworkers. It will also be evaluated on how effectively the
applicant’s strategies for outreach to and recruitment of new employers
demonstrate that the applicant can provide improved job placement opportunities
for the farmworkers to be served. Scoring will also be based on how effectively

32

the applicant’s strategies for outreach to and recruitment of new participants
demonstrate they can effectively serve the target population in the service area.

4.C. Developing Opportunities for Farmworkers in Emerging Industries—15
points. Emerging industries offer increased employment opportunities for all
American workers, including farmworkers. DOL recognizes that different state
service delivery areas may have different emerging industry sectors, and that
applicants must tailor their strategies for developing employment opportunities
for farmworkers to the emerging industries in their service areas.

Applicants must describe their strategies for developing opportunities for
farmworkers in those emerging industries previously identified by the applicant
in criteria 1. Applicants must describe any efforts in the service area, through the
local workforce development system, community colleges, local businesses, or
other strategic partners that complement the applicant’s strategies in a way that
increases employment opportunities for farmworkers. The application must
describe the applicant’s capability to build partnerships with organizations that
further opportunities for eligible farmworkers to obtain employment in emerging
industries in the intended service area. Applicants should include strategies that
will provide farmworkers with opportunities for career pathways, remediation or
contextual learning programs leading to post-secondary education; to Registered
Apprenticeship programs; high school diplomas or GEDs; and/or industryaccepted credentials, including certifications and degrees as the means to access

33

employment opportunities in emerging industries.

Scoring on this factor will be based on the applicant’s choice of and description
of emerging industry sectors in the service area, the effectiveness of its strategies
to develop employment opportunities for farmworkers in emerging industries,
the educational approaches to be used to get farmworkers ready for these
opportunities, and the partnerships necessary to bring it to fruition.

C. Review and Selection Process
A review panel will carefully evaluate and score all responsive applications
against the criteria established in Section V of this SGA. While the ranked
scores constitute an important element in the grantee selection process, the
panel results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer. The
Grant Officer has the discretion to consider any information that comes to
her/his attention, including information regarding prior performance of
previous NFJP grantees and other applicants that is provided by the program
office and is made available to the Grant Officer. The Grant Officer will
make the final selection decision based on what applicant the Grant Officer
determines would best meet the needs of the eligible migrants and seasonal
farmworkers in the area to be served.

In accordance with 29 CFR part 98, entities that are debarred or suspended
shall be excluded from Federal financial assistance and are ineligible to

34

receive a WIA Section 167 grant. Before awarding a grant, the Department
will conduct a responsibility review of each potential grantee through
available records. The responsibility review relies on examining available
records to determine if an applicant has a satisfactory history of accounting for
Federal funds and property. The responsibility review is independent of the
competitive process; it is also independent of any information provided by the
program office to the Grant Officer as described in the preceding paragraph.
Applicants failing to meet the standards of the responsibility review may be
disqualified for selection as grantees, irrespective of their standing in the
competition. Any applicant that is not selected as a result of the responsibility
review will be advised of their appeal rights. The responsibility tests that will
be applied are those found in the WIA regulations at 20 CFR 667.170.

In the event that no grant application is received for a state service area, or all
applications received are considered not fundable after the panel review and
scoring process, or a grant agreement is not successfully negotiated with a
selected applicant, the Grant Officer reserves the right to designate an
organization to operate the NFJP in that service delivery area based on his/her
judgment on how best to serve the needs of the migrant and seasonal farmworker
population in the service delivery area. The Grant Officer retains full authority
in soliciting applications and making final determinations as to which entity(ies)
is best qualified to serve the migrant and seasonal farmworker population in each
service delivery area.

35

The Grant Officer may elect to award the grant(s) with or without discussions
with the applicant. In situations where a grant is awarded without discussions,
the award will be based on the applicant’s signature on the SF 424, including
electronic signature via E-Authentication on http://www.grants.gov, which
constitutes a binding offer by the applicant. However, in no case will we
award or otherwise obligate funds until a PY 2011 appropriation for the NFJP
is enacted.

VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
All award notifications will be posted on the ETA Homepage
(http://www.doleta.gov). Applicants selected for award will be contacted
directly before the grant’s execution. Non-selected applicants will be notified
by mail or email and may request a written debriefing on the significant
weaknesses of their proposal.

Selection of an organization as a grantee does not constitute approval of the
grant application as submitted. Before the actual grant is awarded, ETA 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 negotiations and

36

decline to fund the application. DOL reserves the right to not fund any
application related to this SGA.

B.  Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

1. Administrative Program Requirements
All grantees will be subject to all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and the
applicable OMB Circulars. The grant(s) awarded under this SGA will be subject
to the following administrative standards and provisions:

i. Non-Profit Organizations – OMB Circular A–122 (Cost Principles), relocated
to 2 CFR part 230, and 29 CFR part 95 (Administrative Requirements)

ii. Educational Institutions – OMB Circular A–21 (Cost Principles), relocated to
2 CFR part 220, and 29 CFR part 95 (Administrative Requirements).

iii. State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments – OMB Circular A–87 (Cost
Principles), relocated to 2 CFR part 225, and 29 CFR part 97 (Administrative
Requirements).

iv. Profit Making Commercial Firms – Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
– 48 CFR part 31 (Cost Principles), and 29 CFR part 95 (Administrative
Requirements).

37

v. All Grant Recipients must comply with the applicable provisions of The
Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law No. 105-220, 112 Stat. 936
(codified as amended at 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) and the applicable provisions
of the regulations at 20 CFR 660 et seq. Note that 20 CFR part 667 (General
Fiscal and Administrative Rules) includes unsuccessful applicant appeal
information.

vi. All entities must comply with 29 CFR part 93 (New Restrictions on
Lobbying), 29 CFR part 94 (Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace (Financial Assistance)), 29 CFR 95.13 and part 98
(Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension, and drug-free workplace
requirements), and, where applicable, 29 CFR part 96 (Audit Requirements
for Grants, Contracts, and Other Agreements) and 29 CFR part 99 (Audits of
States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations).

vii. 29 CFR part 2, subpart D—Equal Treatment in Department of Labor
Programs for Religious Organizations, Protection of Religious Liberty of
Department of Labor Social Service Providers and Beneficiaries.

viii. 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.

38

ix. 29 CFR part 32—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs
or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.

x. 29 CFR part 35— Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in Programs or
Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the Department of
Labor.

xi. 29 CFR part 36—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.

xii. 29 CFR part 37 – Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal
Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

xiii. 29 CFR parts 29 and 30—Labor Standards for the Registration of
Apprenticeship Programs, and Equal Employment Opportunity in
Apprenticeship and Training, as applicable.

2. Other Legal Requirements:
i. Religious Activities
The Department notes that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA),
42 U.S.C. Section 2000bb, applies to all Federal law and its implementation.
If your organization is a faith-based organization that makes hiring decisions
on the basis of religious belief, it may be entitled to receive Federal financial

39

assistance under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act and maintain that
hiring practice even though Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act
contains a general ban on religious discrimination in employment. If you are
awarded a grant, you will be provided with information on how to request
such an exemption.

ii. Lobbying or Fundraising the U.S. Government with Federal Funds
In accordance with Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Public
Law 104-65) (2 U.S.C. 1611), non-profit entities incorporated under Internal
Revenue Service Code Section 501(c) (4) that engage in lobbying activities
are not eligible to receive Federal funds and grants. No activity, including
awareness-raising and advocacy activities, may include fundraising for, or
lobbying of, U.S. Federal, State or Local Governments (see OMB Circular A122).
iii. Transparency
The Department is committed to conducting a transparent grant award process
and publicizing information about program outcomes. Applicants are advised
their application and information related to its review and evaluation (whether
or not the application was successful) may be made publicly available, either
fully or in part. In addition, information about grant progress and results may
also be made publicly available.
Other Transparency Act requirements are:

40

•

Applicants must ensure that it has the necessary processes and systems
in place to comply with the reporting requirements of the Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. Law 109282, as amended by section 6202 of Pub. Law 110-252) (Transparency
Act), as follows:

•

All applicants, except for those excepted from the Transparency Act
under sub-paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 below, must ensure that they have the
necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the subaward
and executive total compensation reporting requirements of the
Transparency Act, should they receive funding.

•

Upon award, applicants will receive detailed information on the
reporting requirements of the Transparency Act, as described in 2 CFR
part 170, Appendix A, which can be found at the following website:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-22705.pdf

Exceptions to Transparency Act requirements:
The following types of awards are not subject to FFATA:
(1) Federal awards to individuals who apply for or receive Federal awards as
natural persons (i.e., unrelated to any business or non-profit organization he or
she may own or operate in his or her name);

(2) Federal awards to entities that had a gross income, from all sources, of less
than $300,000 in the entities’ previous tax year; and

41

(3) Federal awards, if the required reporting would disclose classified
information.

3. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions
Except as specifically provided in this SGA, DOL/ETA’s acceptance of a
proposal and an award of Federal funds to sponsor any programs(s) does not
provide a waiver of any grant requirements and/or procedures. For example,
the OMB Circulars require that an entity’s procurement procedures must
ensure that all procurement transactions are conducted, as much as practical,
to provide open and free competition. If a proposal identifies a specific entity
to provide services, the DOL’s award does not provide the justification or
basis to sole source the procurement, i.e., avoid competition, unless the
activity is regarded as the primary work of an official partner to the
application.

C. Reporting
Grantees must agree to meet DOL reporting requirements. Quarterly financial
reports, quarterly progress reports, and MIS data must be submitted by the
grantee electronically. The grantee is required to provide the reports and
documents listed below:

1. Quarterly Financial Reports

42

A Quarterly Financial Status Report (ETA 9130) is required until such time as
all funds have been expended or the grant period has expired. Quarterly
reports are due 45 days after the end of each calendar year quarter. Grantees
must use DOL’s Online Electronic Reporting System and information and
instructions will be provided to grantees.

Quarterly Progress Reports (Program Status Summary). The grantee must
submit two copies of the quarterly progress report on participants, the
Program Status Summary (PSS), to the designated Federal Project Officer
within 45 days after the end of each calendar year quarter. A copy of this
form and its accompanying instructions can be found at
www.doleta.gov/MSFW/html/govtform.cfm. Applicants will be required to
submit updated MIS data within 45 after the end of each quarter based on the
PSS or a successor DOL template that reports on enrollment, services
provided, placements, outcomes, and follow-up status.

3. Record Retention
Applicants must be prepared to follow Federal guidelines on record retention,
which require grantees to maintain all records pertaining to grant activities
for a period of not less than three years from the time of final grant close-out.

43

VII. Agency Contacts
For further information about this SGA, please contact Jeanette Flowers,
Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, at (202) 6933322. Applicants should e-mail all technical questions to
[email protected] and must specifically reference SGA/DFA PY 1005, and along with question(s), include a contact name, fax and phone
number. This announcement is being made available on the ETA Web site at
http://www.doleta.gov/grants and at http://www.grants.gov.

VIII. Additional Resources of Interest to Applicants
ETA encourages applicants to view the online tutorial, “Grant Applications
101: A Plain English Guide to ETA Competitive Grants,” available through
Workforce3One at: http://www.workforce3one.org/page/grants_toolkit.

IX. Other Information

OMB Information Collection No 1225-0086, Expires November 30, 2012.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required
to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a
valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 20 hours per response, including time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and

44

maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments about the burden estimated or any other aspect
of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this
burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, to the attention of the Departmental
Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N1301, Washington,
DC 20210. Comments may also be emailed to [email protected].
PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE COMPLETED APPLICATION TO THIS
ADDRESS. SEND IT TO THE SPONSORING AGENCY AS SPECIFIED
IN THIS SOLICITATION.

This information is being collected for the purpose of awarding a grant. The
information collected through this “Solicitation for Grant Applications” will
be used by the Department of Labor to ensure that grants are awarded to the
applicant best suited to perform the functions of the grant. Submission of this
information is required in order for the applicant to be considered for award of
this grant.

Signed

, in Washington, D.C. by:

B Jai Johnson
Grant Officer, Employment and Training Administration

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