Department of Labor
Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Application for Urban and Non-Urban Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) Grants for Program Year (PY) 2012, July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.
Announcement Type: Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA)
Funding Opportunity Number: SGA #01-12 / PY 2012
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.805
Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of the application is 30 days from the date of publication in Grants.gov. Application must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Addresses: Applicants may apply electronically at www.grants.gov. Instructions for electronic applications are in section IV. C. of this Notice. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, professional overnight delivery service or hand-delivery must be addressed to:
U.S. Department of Labor
Procurement Services Center
Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Reference SGA #01-12
200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S-4307
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 (Department of Labor or USDOL), Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) announces a grant competition under 38 U.S.C. Section 2021, which provides that “the Secretary of Labor [the Secretary] shall conduct, directly or through grant or contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to provide job training, counseling, and placement services (including job readiness, literacy, and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. Applications proposing to serve homeless veterans under this HVRP solicitation will fall into one of two categories: Urban or Non-Urban geographical areas. HVRP grants are intended to address two objectives: to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force, and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
Successful applicants will propose programs that expedite the reintegration of eligible homeless veterans into the labor force by providing job placement services, job training, counseling, supportive services, and other assistance. There is no prescribed or mandatory model for applicants to specifically adhere to; however, applicants must address all of the operational, administrative, and financial requirements described within this solicitation. Successful applicants will have demonstrated the ability to address the universal challenges as well as the local or regional problems that have contributed to veteran homelessness and have prevented these veterans from stabilizing their lives and reentering the workforce.
Under this solicitation, VETS anticipates that up to $15 million will be available for Urban and Non-Urban grants with awards ranging from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum award of $300,000 for Urban grants and a minimum award of $100,000 to maximum award of $200,000 for Non-Urban grants. Applications submitted outside of these ranges will be considered non-responsive and not be reviewed. VETS expects to award grants in both the Urban and Non-Urban categories, however, the actual number of grants to be awarded in each category will be announced after selections are made as the grants are awarded based on the merit of the applications and the financial amounts proposed by the pool of successful applicants. Applicants must clearly identify the funding category for which they are applying. The Grant Officer reserves the right to negotiate proposed funding amounts and geographic service delivery areas under each of the designated funding categories.
This notice contains all the necessary information and forms to apply for grant funding under the HVRP. There may be future addenda to this solicitation published on www.grants.gov and on the VETS website. All applicants are responsible for checking www.grants.gov and the VETS website regularly to ensure that they have all of the latest information regarding any updates to this solicitation.
Funding Opportunity Description
Section 2021 of Title 38 of the United States Code (U.S.C.) requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct, directly or through grant or contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to provide job training, counseling, and placement services (including job readiness, literacy training, and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. On October 5th, 2011, President Barack Obama signed the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011, into law (Public Law No: 112-37). Section 201 reauthorizes the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program through fiscal year 2012.
A. Program Concept and Emphasis
No specific service model is mandatory, but successful applicants will design a program that addresses the multitude of challenges associated with homeless veterans and is responsive to their employment and supportive service needs within the local community. HVRP grants are intended to address two universal objectives: 1) to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force; and 2) to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
For this PY 2012 grant solicitation, VETS seeks applicants that can demonstrate their ability to provide services through a client-centered case management approach and who can effectively collaborate and network with Federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to effectively target resources toward assisting homeless veterans, including the more complex demands of serving chronically homeless veterans. More specifically, successful applicants will demonstrate the following:
Ability to develop, define, and execute clear strategies and obtainable goals for training, employment and retention of employment for homeless veterans;
Ability to design, develop, and execute programs that assist eligible veterans by providing or collaborating with other entities to provide the following: job placement and retention services; job training; counseling; mentoring; supportive services; housing; and other forms of assistance to facilitate the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.
Applicants are encouraged to utilize, through partnerships or sub-awards, experienced public agencies, private non-profit organizations, private businesses, community-based organizations, and colleges and universities that have an understanding of the barriers to employment unique to homeless veterans, a familiarity with the geographic area to be served, linkages with federal agencies including the One-Stop Career Center(s), and the capability to effectively address the requirements stated within this solicitation.
B. Scope of Program Design
The project design must include, either directly through the proposed applicant or through demonstrated collaborative agreements, the following dimensions: outreach; assessment and intake; employment and training services and follow up services to enhance placement and retention in employment. Applicants also must fully demonstrate their organizational capability and staff experience and the quality of their linkages with supportive service providers on Federal, state, and local levels to serve homeless veteran participants including those who are chronically homeless. In addition, applicants must demonstrate that their program is able to offer, either through referrals or through direct interventions, enough housing capability to adequately care for the number of proposed participants in their program. In addition, while a separate grant solicitation titled the Homeless Female Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Families Program has been specifically designed to address the particular and special needs of female homeless veterans, applicants should explain how the needs of female veterans will be addressed within their HVRP grant application whenever appropriate. Most importantly, applicants must demonstrate how their project design effectively addresses the six evaluation categories and criteria specified in section V.
Award Information
One (1) year grants with the potential for funding for up to an additional three (3) years (as described in section C. below) and each year with associated three-quarter or nine-month follow-up periods (as described in section B. below) will be awarded. It should be noted that the selection process involves an initial acceptance of an organization’s grant application, but does not constitute final approval. Before or shortly after the actual grant is awarded, USDOL may enter into negotiations about such items as program components, staffing, funding levels, and administrative systems in place to support grant implementation. If the negotiations do not result in a mutually acceptable submission and agreement, the Grant Officer reserves the right to either terminate the negotiation, decline to fund the application, and/or terminate the award.
A. Award Amount
Under this grant solicitation, VETS anticipates that up to $15 million will be available for Urban and Non-Urban grants with awards ranging from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum award of $300,000 for Urban grants and a minimum award of $100,000 to maximum award of $200,000 for Non-Urban grants. Applicants may propose an amount that is less than the minimum, but not more than the maximum award amount suggested. All available funds will be awarded and the number of grants to be awarded in each category will be announced after selections are made as the grants are awarded based on merit of the applications and the financial amounts proposed by the pool of successful applicants. Applicants must indicate in writing whether they are applying for an Urban or Non-Urban grant award. Urban areas are defined as those areas located within the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) of the 75 largest U.S. cities in population including the MSA of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 75 largest cities are listed in Appendix G. All Urban HVRP grant applicants must provide written documentation and maps, if available, which demonstrate that the proposed area to be served has a population equal to or more than 247,597 (the smallest population on the list identified in Appendix G). Non-Urban areas are those areas that serve homeless veterans that are not listed in Appendix G. All Non-Urban HVRP grant applicants must provide written documentation and maps, if available, which demonstrate that the proposed area to be served has a population less than 247,597 (the smallest population on the list in Appendix G). The written documentation and maps used to demonstrate the area to be served should be a part of the Technical Proposal but they do NOT count toward either the 15-page Technical Proposal limit or the 50-page total page limitation.
The Department reserves the right to negotiate the amounts to be awarded under this competition. Please be advised that requests exceeding the maximum award amounts within each award category for which the application has been submitted will be considered non-responsive and will not be evaluated. If there are any additional program funds, the Department reserves the right to select for funding the next highest scoring eligible applicant(s) on the competitive list developed for this SGA, as late as July 2012.
B. Period of Performance
The anticipated active period of performance will be for the twelve (12) month period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, unless modified by the Grant Officer. The follow-up period of performance will be for three (3) additional quarters or nine (9) months after the end of the active period of performance or for the period from July 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014. It is anticipated that grantees will begin program operations under this solicitation on July 1, 2012.
All program funds, including all funds reserved to be used for the nine months of follow-up activities, must be obligated by the grantee by June 30, 2013. Follow-up services must be performed and reported by the grantee for each eligible HVRP participant who enters employment during the active performance period.
C. Additional Year Funding
Should Congress appropriate additional funds for this purpose, VETS may consider up to three (3) additional years of additional funding under the proposed grants. The Government does not, however, guarantee option year funding for any grantee. See VETS Program Letter #02-12 (Appendix K) for information regarding option year funding.
Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Applications for grant funds will be accepted from State and local Workforce Investment Boards (SWIBs/LWIBs), local public agencies, for-profit/commercial entities, and non-profit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations. Applicants must have a familiarity with the area and population to be served and the ability to administer an effective program that is ready to start immediately upon the first day of the grant award period of performance.
Please note, 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 A-122).
Eligible applicants will fall into one of the following categories:
State and local WIBs, established under Sections 111 and 117 of the Workforce Investment Act.
Public agencies, meaning any public agency of a state or of a general purpose political subdivision of a state that has the power to levy taxes and spend funds, as well as general corporate and police powers (this typically refers to cities and counties). A state agency may propose in its application to serve one or more of the jurisdictions located in its state. This does not preclude a city or county agency from submitting an application to serve its own jurisdiction.
For-profit/commercial entities.
Non-profit organizations (faith-based and community-based organizations). If claiming 501(c) (3) status, a current and valid Internal Revenue Service (IRS) statement indicating 501(c) (3) status approval must be submitted with the application or the application will be deemed non-responsive and it will not be evaluated. The IRS Statement should be an attachment to the Technical Proposal and it will not be counted toward the 50 page limit.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost sharing and matching funds are not required as a condition for application. VETS encourages grantees to leverage additional resources available to the HVRP program and its participants through cost sharing and matching agreements with other funding agents, however, these additional resources are not required and will not impact an applicant’s score.
C. Other Eligibility Criteria
1. 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 assistance under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act and maintain that hiring practice. If you are awarded a grant, you will be provided with information on how to request an exemption related to this practice.
D. Participant Eligibility Criteria
To help meet the Interagency Council on Homelessness and the VA’s goals to end homelessness, the following eligibility criteria is presented for purposes of this SGA. To be eligible for enrollment as a participant under this HVRP grant an individual must be homeless and a veteran defined as follows:
The term “homeless” or “homeless individual” found at 42 U.S.C. 11301(a), and amended by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-22) includes:
1) Persons who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;
2) Persons living in supervised public or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living arrangements;
An individual who resided in a shelter or place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where he or she temporarily resided; and
Persons with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Inadequate nighttime residence examples include, but are not limited to, sleeping in the streets, in the woods, in public parks, in cars, on outside benches, under bridges, in tents, in caves, under a lean-to, etc.
Additionally, under the HEARTH Act, the term also includes an individual or family who will imminently lose their housing, can identify no subsequent residence, and which lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing. Evidence that an individual or family will imminently lose their housing includes: a court order resulting from an eviction action that notifies the individual or family that they must leave within 14 days; having current primary nighttime residence that is a room in a hotel or motel, but lacking the resources necessary to reside there for more than 14 days; or credible evidence, including a credible oral statement from the individual or family, indicating that the owner or renter of the housing will not allow the individual or family to stay for more than 14 days.
Finally, under the HEARTH Act, the term also includes unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes who have experienced a long term period without living independently in permanent housing; have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves over such period; and can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time because of chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, the presence of a child or youth with a disability, or multiple barriers to employment.
The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable [38 U.S.C. 101(2)]. Veterans who received a “dishonorable” discharge are ineligible for HVRP services.
The term “chronically homeless'' is defined as an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or who has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years. A disabling condition is defined as a diagnosable substance abuse disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, or chronic physical illness or disability including the co-occurrence of two or more of these conditions. A disabling condition limits an individual's ability to work or perform one or more activities of daily living.
E. Other Grant Specifications
Transparency
DOL is committed to conducting a transparent grant award process and publicizing information about program outcomes. Posting grant applications on public websites is a means of promoting and sharing innovative ideas. For this grant competition, we will publish the Abstracts required by [section IV.] and selected information from the SF-424 for all applications on the Department’s public website or similar publicly accessible location. Additionally, we will publish a version of the Technical Proposal required by [section IV.], for all those applications that are awarded grants, on the Department’s website or a similar location. Except for the Abstract, none of the Attachments to the Technical Proposal described in [section IV.] will be published. The Technical Proposals and Abstracts will not be published until after the grants are awarded. In addition, information about grant progress and results may also be made publicly available.
DOL recognizes that grant applications sometimes contain information that an applicant may consider proprietary or business confidential information, or may contain personally identifiable information. Proprietary or business confidential information is information that is not usually disclosed outside your organization and disclosing this information is likely to cause you substantial competitive harm.
Personally identifiable information is any information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual‘s identity, such as name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother‘s maiden name, or biometric records; and any other information that is linked or linkable to an individual, such as medical, educational, financial, and employment information.1
Abstracts will be published in the form originally submitted, without any redactions. Applicants should not include any proprietary or confidential business information or personally identifiable information in this summary. In the event that an applicant submits proprietary or confidential business information or personally identifiable information, DOL is not liable for the posting of this information contained in the Abstract. The submission of the grant application constitutes a waiver of the applicant’s objection to the posting of any proprietary or confidential business information contained in the Abstract. Additionally, the applicant is responsible for obtaining all authorizations from relevant parties for publishing all personally identifiable information contained within the Abstract. In the event the Abstract contains proprietary or confidential business or personally identifiable information, the applicant is presumed to have obtained all necessary authorizations to provide this information and may be liable for any improper release of this information.
By submission of this grant application, the applicant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States, the U.S. Department of Labor, its officers, employees, and agents against any liability or for any loss or damages arising from this application. By such submission of this grant application, the applicant further acknowledges having the authority to execute this release of liability.
In order to ensure that proprietary or confidential business information or personally identifiable information is properly protected from disclosure when DOL posts the winning Technical Proposals, applicants whose Technical Proposals will be posted will be asked to submit a second redacted version of their Technical Proposal, with any proprietary or confidential business information and personally identifiable information redacted. All non-public information about the applicant’s and consortium members’ staff (if applicable) should be removed as well.
The Department will contact the applicants whose Technical Proposals will be published by letter or email, and provide further directions about how and when to submit the redacted version of the Technical Proposal.
Submission of a redacted version of the Technical Proposal will constitute permission by the applicant for DOL to make the redacted version publicly available. We will also assume that by submitting the redacted version of the Technical Proposal, the applicant has obtained the agreement to the applicant’s decision about what material to redact of all persons and entities whose proprietary, confidential business information, or personally identifiable information is contained in the Technical Proposal. If an applicant fails to provide a redacted version of the Technical Proposal within two weeks from the date funded grantees receive notice on how to submit a redacted version of the Technical proposal, DOL will publish the original Technical Proposal in full, after redacting only personally identifiable information. (Note that the original, unredacted version of the Technical Proposal will remain part of the complete application package, including an applicant’s proprietary and confidential business information and any personally identifiable information).
Applicants are encouraged to maximize the grant application information that will be publicly disclosed, and to exercise restraint and redact only information that clearly is proprietary, confidential commercial/business information, or capable of identifying a person. The redaction of entire pages or sections of the Technical Proposal is not appropriate, and will not be allowed, unless the entire portion merits such protection. Should a dispute arise about whether redactions are appropriate, DOL will follow the procedures outlined in the Department’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations (29 CFR Part 70).
Redacted information in grant applications will be protected by DOL from public disclosure in accordance with federal law, including the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1905), FOIA, and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a). If DOL receives a FOIA request for your application, the procedures in DOL’s FOIA regulations for responding to requests for commercial/business information submitted to the government will be followed, as well as all FOIA exemptions and procedures. 29 CFR § 70.26. Consequently, it is possible that application of FOIA rules may result in release of information in response to a FOIA request that an applicant redacted in its “redacted copy.”
How to Obtain an Application Package
This SGA, together with its attachments, includes all the information and links needed to apply for grant funding. Additional application packages and amendments to this SGA may be obtained from the VETS website at www.dol.gov/vets, or the Federal Grant Opportunities website at www.grants.gov. Additional copies of the standard forms can be downloaded from either of these websites. To be considered for funding under this SGA, applicants must submit applications by mail, overnight or hand-delivery, or electronically at www.grants.gov.
To ensure consideration, the components of the application must be saved as .doc, .rtf or .pdf files. If submitted in any other format the applicant bears the risk that compatibility or other issues will prevent the VETS evaluation team from considering the application. VETS will attempt to open the document but will not take any additional measures in the event that there are problems with opening the document. In such cases, the non-conforming application will not be considered for funding.
Part I. The Cost Proposal
Applicants can expect that the cost proposal will be reviewed for financial appropriateness and reasonableness. No direct evaluation points will be awarded based upon the information contained within the Cost Proposal; however, applicants must provide the specific information required or risk their response to this solicitation deemed as non-responsive and thus not evaluated.
The Cost Proposal must include the following items:
A fully completed Standard Form SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (Appendix A or available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15) with the original signed in blue ink if submitting in hard copy. .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. The signature of the authorized representative on the SF-424 certifies that the organization is in compliance with the Assurances and Certifications form SF-424B (Appendix C or available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family+15). The SF-424B signature page is required to be submitted with the application.
Further, the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 17.805 and it must be entered on the SF-424 in Block 11. All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, and must supply their DUNS number on the SF-424. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. If you do not have a DUNS number, you can get one free by calling Dun & Bradstreet website at 866-705-5711 or by accessing their website at www.dunandbradstreet.com/. Requests for exemption from the DUNS number requirement must be made to the Office of Management and Budget.
A fully completed Standard Form SF-424A, “Budget Information Form” (Appendix B or available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15). As an attachment to SF-424A, the applicant must provide a detailed budget narrative that includes a cost breakout of each line item on the Budget Information Sheet. Applicants should label this page or pages as “Budget Narrative” and ensure that costs reported on the SF- 424A correspond accurately with the Budget Narrative. The Budget Narrative must include, at a minimum:
Personnel Costs. Applicants must provide a breakout of all personnel costs by position, title, annual salary rates, and percent of time of each position to be devoted to the proposed project (including sub-grantees) by completing the “Direct Cost Descriptions for Applicants and Sub-Applicants” form (Appendix E).
Fringe Benefits. Applicants must provide an explanation and breakout of extraordinary fringe benefit rates and associated charges (i.e., rates exceeding 35% of salaries and wages).
Explanation of Costs and Methodologies. Applicants must provide an explanation of the purpose, composition, and methodology used to derive all costs which must include: personnel, fringe, travel, equipment, supplies, sub-awards/contracts, and any other costs associated with executing the grant. The applicant must include costs of any required travel described in this Solicitation. Planned travel expenditures may not exceed 5% of the total HVRP funds requested. Mileage charges may not exceed the current Federal rate. Updated federal mileage rates may be secured through the GSA’s website at www.gsa.gov.
Follow-Up Services. Applicants must describe all associated costs for obtaining and retaining participant information pertinent to the follow-up services required for the three quarters after the active program year performance period ends, including any costs of using State Unemployment Insurance data to substantiate an applicant’s follow-up results, if applicable. Procedures for safeguarding all follow-up information will be provided after the award of the grant is determined.
Equipment Purchases. Applicants must provide a description/specification of, and justification for, all equipment purchases, if any, that are tangible, non-expendable, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and a unit acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. Applicants must specifically identify any and all equipment that meets the conditions described and secure the GOTR approval before purchase.
A fully completed Indirect Charges or Certificate of Direct Costs Form (Appendix I).
Note that the entire Federal grant amount requested must be included on the SF-424, SF-424A and the Budget Narrative. No leveraged resources should be shown on the SF-424 and the SF-424A. The amounts listed on the SF-424, SF-424A and the Budget Narrative must be the same. The funding amount included on the SF-424 will be considered the official funding amount requested if any inconsistencies are found. In addition, applications that do not provide an SF-424, an SF-424A or a properly noted DUNS number (or an official exemption), the grant application will be considered non-responsive and it will not be evaluated.
All applicants must register with the Federal Central Contractor Registry (CCR) before submitting an application. The CCR is the official, on-line registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition and award missions. No payment is required to register in the CCR. Step-by-step instructions for registering with CCR can be found at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step2.jsp. A grantee must maintain an active CCR registration with current information at all 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 an 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 the application submission will result in an application being found non-responsive and it will not be reviewed.
Part II. The Technical Proposal
The Technical Proposal must demonstrate the applicant’s capability to implement the grant in accordance with the provisions of this SGA. The specific guidelines for the content of the Technical Proposal are provided in section V. The Technical Proposal is not to exceed 15 single-sided pages of double-spaced 12-point font with one inch margins. Any materials beyond the specified page limit will not be read. The pages used to present the Technical Proposal count toward the 50-page total page maximum limitation. Applicants should number the Technical Proposal beginning with page number 1. The Technical Proposal should consist of a narrative that fully illustrates the following elements: 1) Need for the Project; 2) Overall Approach or Strategy; 3) Quality of Linkages; 4) Organizational and Staff Capability; and 5) Housing Strategy. The associated rating criteria and evaluation points related to each of the program elements contained within the Technical Proposal is provided in section V. Applications that do not contain a Technical Proposal will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
Part III. Attachments to the Technical Proposal
Applications that fail to contain the required attachments as identified in the SGA will either be determined as non-responsive and not be evaluated or have a significant number of points deducted during the evaluation process. The required attachments must be affixed as separate, clearly identified sections or appendices to the application. Additional materials such as general letters of support will have no impact upon the evaluation. Applicants should not send these attached documents or any other documents separately to the Department of Labor, because documents received separately will not be attached to the application for review.
In addition to the appendices specified through the SGA, the applicant must submit the following as Attachments to the Technical Proposal:
An up to two-page abstract or executive summary reflecting the applicant’s proposed overall strategy, timeline, and outcomes to be achieved within their proposed activities is required and does count toward the 50-page limit. The geographic area to be served to include the congressional district and the type of grant (Urban or Non-Urban) should be clearly identified. No direct evaluation points will be assessed based upon the information contained within the Executive Summary. This abstract does not count toward the 15-page Technical Proposal limit, but it does count toward the overall 50-page limitation.
Applicants must complete the PY 2012 Competitive Grants Planned Goals Chart (Appendix D) with proposed programmatic outcomes, including but not limited to, participants served, placements, and jobs retained. If the applicant fails to provide the specific and required information contained with PY 2012 Competitive Grants Planned Goals Chart, the grant application will be considered non-responsive and it will not be evaluated. This chart does not count toward either the 15-Page Technical Proposal limit, but it does count toward the overall 50-page limitation.
All applicants must submit evidence of satisfactory financial management capability, which must include a recent financial audit statement for the organization applying for the grant. The audit must have occurred within the last 18 months. This audit does not count toward either the 15-page Technical Proposal limit or the 50-page total page limitation. All successful grantees are required to utilize Generally Accepted Accounting Practices, maintain a separate accounting for these grant funds, and have a checking account. If an audit is not included, the application will receive zero (0) points in the appropriate section of the evaluation.
All applicants must include, if available, a list of all employment and training government grants and contracts that they have had in the past three (3) years, including grant/contract officer contact information. The Department reserves the right to have an agency representative review and verify this data. This list does not count toward the 15-page Technical Proposal limit, but it does count toward the overall 50-page page limitation.
A completed Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Appendix F) must be provided. This list does not count toward the 15-page Technical Proposal limit, but it does count toward the 50-page total page limitation.
A completed Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form OMB Number 4040-0010 (Appendix L or also available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15), must be provided. If using grants.gov for submission, this form must be attached under the required forms section. Please note that this is a standard form used for many programs and has a check box for applying as an individual. Disregard this box on the form as individuals are not eligible to apply for this solicitation. This form does not count toward the 15-page Technical Proposal limit, but it does count toward the 50-page total page limitation.
All individual service contracts, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), or other formal agreements which involve service providers not specifically proposed as a part of the applicant’s team, but who provide services within the proposed geographic service delivery area mentioned within an applicant’s proposal. While these formal agreements should be noted and identified in the appropriate place within the applicant’s proposal, copies of these formal agreements are not counted toward either the 15-page Technical Proposal limit or the overall 50-page limitation.
An organizational chart, staff resumes and/or detailed staff capability statements are strongly recommended and they do not count toward either the 15-page Technical Proposal limit or the overall 50-page limitation.
C. Submission Dates and Times (Acceptable Methods of Submission)
The closing date for receipt of applications under this SGA is 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. Applications may be submitted by mail, overnight or hand-delivery, or electronically at www.grants.gov. Hard copy applications must addressed to the Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Grant Officer, Reference SGA #01-12, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4307, Washington, DC 20210 and be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the closing date. Applications submitted through Grants.gov must also be successfully submitted (as described below) no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the closing date. 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 two (2) “copy-ready” versions free of bindings, staples or protruding tabs to ease in the reproduction of the proposal by USDOL. 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 hardcopy and CD format may have an impact on the overall evaluation.
If an application is submitted by both hard copy and through Grants.gov, a letter must accompany the hard copy application stating which application to review. If no letter accompanies the hard copy or if VETS receives multiple copies through Grants.gov, the latest qualifying submission through Grants.gov will be considered the final version.
Applicants are advised that mail delivery in the Washington DC area may be delayed due to decontamination procedures. Hand-delivered proposals will be received at the address specified above. All overnight mail will be considered hand-delivered and must be received at the designated place by the specified closing date and time.
To be considered responsive, grant applications not submitted through Grants.gov (if an electronic submission is made through Grants.gov, copies are not required) must include:
An original, blue ink-signed, and two (2) copies of the cover letter.
An original and two (2) copies of the Cost Proposal that includes an original, blue ink-signed, Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424 (Appendix A), a Budget Narrative, Budget Information Sheet SF 424A (Appendix B), and original, blue ink-signed, Assurances and Certifications Signature Page (Appendix C), a Direct Cost Description for Applicants and Sub-applicants (Appendix E), a completed Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Appendix F), and the applicant’s financial audit or audit statement dated within the last 18 months. The Cost Proposal does count toward the 50-page total page limitation. Financial audit and / or audit statements do not count toward the 50-page total page limitation.
An original and two (2) copies of the Technical Proposal (see below) that includes a completed Competitive Grants Planned Goals Chart (Appendix D).
An original and two (2) copies of all required Attachments to the Technical Proposal.
Except as specified above, if any documents listed above are missing, the application will be considered non-responsive and it will not be evaluated. No exceptions to the mailing and delivery requirements set forth in this notice will be granted. Further documents submitted separately from the application, before or after the deadline, will not be accepted as part of the application.
Applications that are submitted through Grants.gov must be successfully submitted through Grants.gov no later than 4:00 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 any technical problems that may arise, if necessary.
It is strongly recommended that before the applicant begins to write the proposal, applicants should immediately initiate and complete the “Get Registered” registration steps at www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. Applicants should read 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 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 save time and alleviate last minute searches for required information. As described above, applicants must have a DUNS Number and must register with the CCR.
The next step in the registration process is creating a username and password with Grants.gov to become an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). To read more detailed instructions for creating a profile on Grants.gov visit: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step3.jsp. After creating a profile of Grants.gov, the E-Biz point of contact (E-Biz POC) – a representative from your organization who is the contact listed for the 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 into Grants.gov and approve the applicant as the AOR, thereby giving him or her permission to submit applications. To learn more about AOR Authorization visit: http://www.grants.gov/applications/org_step5.jsp. To track AOR status visit: http://wwigrants.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 the applicant submits their application through Grants.gov, the name of the 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 to complete a valid submission.
When a registered applicant submits an application with Grants.gov, an electronic time stamp is generated 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 application progress through the system. The first email, 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 and 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 before the deadline in case it is necessary to resubmit an application that has not bee successfully validated. Therefore, sufficient time should be allotted for submission (two business days), and if applicable, subsequent 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.
VETS strongly advise applicants to use the various tools and document, including FAQs, which are available on the “Applicant Resources” page at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/resources.jsp. 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.
The Grants.gov helpdesk is available 24 hours per day 7 days per week, but closed on federal holidays. If applicants encounter a problem with Grants.gov or do not find an answer in any of the other resources, call 800-518-4726 to speak to a Customer Support Representative or email your concern to [email protected].
Late Applications
For applications submitted on Grants.gov, only applications that have been successfully submitted no later 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the closing date contained within this SGA and then successfully validated will be considered. Applicants take a significant risk by waiting to the last day to submit through Grants.gov.
Any hard copy application received after the exact date and time specified for 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 no later than one working day prior to 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. 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. 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.
D. Intergovernmental Review
This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”
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.
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 sub-grant or contract under the grant or sub-grant; and ii) any rights of copyright to which the grantee, sub-grantee 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 Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. 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 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 are permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.”
Withdrawal of Applications: Applications may be withdrawn by written notice to the Grant Officer at any time before an award is made. In addition, applicants must adhere to the following submission requirements:
There is a limit of one (1) application per submitting organization and physical location serving the same HVRP participant population and in the same geographic service area. If two (2) applications from the same organization for the same physical location serving the same HVRP participant population are submitted, the application with the later date will be considered. Please do not submit duplicate grant applications as only one (1) grant application will be considered for funding purposes.
Due to the limited availability of funding, if an organization was awarded Fiscal Year 2010 or Fiscal Year 2011 HVRP funds for a specific physical location serving the same HVRP participant population and will be awarded second and possible third year funding in PY 2012, then that organization may not submit an application to serve the specific physical location serving the same HVRP participant population under this SGA.
Grantees that receive HVRP funds and also receive Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) funds are not authorized to co-enroll participants in both the HVRP and VWIP programs. A grantee may provide employment and training services to eligible participants through either HVRP or VWIP, but not both. If the same grantee provides services under both HVRP and VWIP, it may be considered an audit exception. However, an HVRP grantee and a separate non-affiliated VWIP grantee may coordinate efforts on behalf of eligible veterans.
A. Evaluation Criteria
This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be used under each category to evaluate grant proposals. Please note that the VETS grant review panel members who will be reviewing all grant applications submitted as a result of this SGA, do not have access to any reporting information systems during the review process, therefore, if an organization presents past experience administering and managing grants and their final or most recent technical performance reports are not submitted, as specified within this SGA, the grant application will be considered non-responsive. Further, all MOUs or other formal agreements related to any part of the Technical Proposal should be submitted as Attachments to the Technical Proposal. These MOUs or other formal agreement will not count toward either the 15-page Technical proposal limit or the overall 50-page limitation, unless otherwise noted.
In addition to addressing the evaluation criteria presented in the section, applicants will be expected to fully illustrate the measures of success related to their proposed plan. This plan should include a proposed system to monitor the implementation of program activities and achievements of program outcomes. Applicants must indicate their planned level of performance utilizing the reporting methodology as described in the Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) for Competitive Grantees (Appendix H). The TAG includes specific directions related to the proper completion and submittal of the Competitive Grants Planned Goals Chart which must be included as an Attached to the Technical Proposal.
Applications will receive up to 100 total points based on the following criteria: The evaluation categories and criteria and their associated points are listed and described below:
Categories / Criteria Points
1. Need for the Project 10
2. Overall Approach and Strategy 45
3. Quality of Linkages 15
4. Organizational Capability and Experience 20
5. Housing Strategy 10
TOTAL 100
The applicant must identify the category type (Urban or Non-Urban) and the specific geographical area to be served to include the congressional district or districts contained within the proposed geographic service area. The applicant also must document the need for the proposed project by discussing the following: 1) the potential number or concentration of homeless individuals and homeless veterans in the proposed project service area. These local estimates of homeless individual and homeless veterans should be compared to state and National data; 2) the rates of poverty and unemployment in the proposed project area as determined by the census or other surveys which should include state and National level comparisons; 3) the extent of the “gaps” in or lack of local supportive services which adversely affect the providing of services to homeless veterans; and 4) the specific and unique employment barriers that local potential HVRP participants must overcome within the local service area. Applicants also should provide detailed local labor market information and current trends within the proposed geographic service area. Appropriate sources should be cited whenever possible to substantiate the applicant’s claims.
2. Overall Approach and Strategy: 45 Points
Applicants must describe their overall approach and strategy to providing comprehensive employment and training services as well as related supportive services, with an emphasis on meeting the complex demands of serving chronically homeless veterans. The strategy must include, either directly through the proposed applicant or through demonstrated collaborative agreements, the following dimensions: outreach; assessment and intake; employment and training services and follow up services to enhance placement and retention in employment. Applicants also must identify and fully describe the supportive services that will be provided to homeless veteran participants as part of the applicant’s strategy to promote, prepare, and improve the participant’s state of “job readiness.” A participant flow chart should be provided to show the sequence and mix of services. This chart will not be included in the 15-page limit associated with the Technical Proposal; however, it will be counted toward the overall 50-page limit.
Outreach
Applicants are to clearly describe their proposed program awareness and participant outreach strategies. Applicants should design, develop, and execute project orientation workshops and program promotion and awareness activities as a part of their proposed outreach. Applicants should be able to explain how their program will reach out to and collaborate with other local entities within their proposed geographic service delivery area that encounter and assist homeless veterans to introduce the HVRP program to potentially eligible homeless veterans.
In order to promote outreach between the HVRP and the array of local service providers (and thereby eliminate or reduce the duplication in services and enhance the level and amount of assistance to participants), the applicant must demonstrate how they will provide project orientation workshops and program awareness activities to the various types of service providers and organizations operating within their geographic service delivery area. Applicants have some flexibility concerning how they propose to meet this requirement; however, such activities must include at a minimum, attending service provider meetings, seminars, and conferences. Applicants should develop individual service contracts, MOUs, or other formal agreements which involve other supportive service providers in the proposed service delivery area to demonstrate their ability to perform these required activities. More specifically, grantees will be responsible for providing project orientation workshops and program promotion and awareness activities to the following:
Direct providers of services to homeless veterans, including shelter and soup kitchen operators;
Federal, state, and local agencies such as the local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care Committees and their associated agencies and organizations; the Social Security Administration (SSA); the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), who provide mental and physical healthcare services; State Workforce Agencies (SWA) and local One-Stop Career Centers, who provide employment and training services to include Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist and Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) services and who integrate Workforce Investment Act (WIA) related services when available in their local area; and other entities who provide healthcare, substance abuse and detoxification services; and
Civic and private sector groups, support groups and faith-based and community-based organizations to include Veterans’ Service Organizations (VSO) such as the American Legion; Disabled American Veterans; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Applicants are also encouraged to describe how they plan to participate in Stand Down activities. While no HVRP funding may be budgeted within this solicitation for these activities, applicants should describe how such activities will be integrated into their proposed outreach. In a change from previous HVRP solicitations, Stand Down activities will only be funded through a separate USDOL / VETS Stand Down Solicitation. VETS’ encourages potential HVRP grantees to apply for this separate funding.
Assessment and Intake
Applicants must fully explain how they will design and implement their proposed assessment and intake process. The assessment and intake process should be designed to maximize the long-term success of participants who are enrolled into the HVRP program and must include a focus of identifying and addressing the barriers to employment faced by chronically homeless veterans. Once potentially eligible homeless veterans have been identified, an assessment must be made of each individual’s abilities, interests, needs, and barriers to employment, such an assessment is critical to the potential success of a veteran enrolled in the program. In addition, applicants should demonstrate how they will determine a potential program participant’s willingness to enter employment following the receipt of services. Applicants should illustrate how potential participants will be referred to appropriate supportive services such as, but not limited to, physical rehabilitation, drug or alcohol treatment, mental health services, and/or the assignment of a temporary or transitional shelter notwithstanding the potential participant’s status as a participant. During the intake process or the process that may involve the actual enrollment into the program, applicants should demonstrate how they will determine the skills and/or services needed by the individual to become employable and/or maintain employment, e.g. through vocational, skills, or interest-based testing, and the appropriate timing related to when the individual will be formally enrolled into the HVRP program.
Applicants are also expected to demonstrate how they will collaborate and coordinate their efforts with the VA and other locally-based VSOs to ensure participants apply for and/or receive the multitude of veterans’ benefits for which they may be eligible. As appropriate, applicants must demonstrate how they will refer participants to the VA to file a claim for compensation or pension benefits. As a part of the referral process, applicants should present how they will track and assist with the progress of a participant’s claim(s) and be able to report the ultimate outcomes related to these efforts within a participant’s case management file record.
Employment and Training Services
Applicants must demonstrate how they will develop formal employment and training service plans for their participants and how they will manage and note the progress made by their participants within a formal case management process. The complete array of specific services proposed for each participant to maintain and improve their state of job readiness and employability must be noted within an Individual Employment Plan (IEP). The development of the initial IEP and the expected process that grantees must implement to periodically update it, are intended to help facilitate and monitor the participant’s progress toward a successful long-term employment outcome.
To complement the employment and training related services outlined within each participant’s IEP, applicants must also demonstrate how they will provide for the delivery and maintenance of appropriate supportive services that will enable their participants to successfully perform all the activities specified within their IEP. Additionally, programs such as the VA’s Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Program and/or preparatory classroom training, should be written into an IEP and integrated into the mix of services assigned to program participants, if a grantee case manager determines that such intervention would improve the eventual likelihood of long-term employment.
Applicants must demonstrate how they will directly provide or refer participants to the following employment services: job search workshops; job counseling; resume writing techniques; interviewing skills; on-the-job training (OJT) and other training placements; job development services; and unsubsidized employment placement. In addition, applicants should demonstrate how their participants, who are assessed as “ready to enter employment,” will be referred to One-Stop Career Centers, as appropriate. A listing of local One-Stop Career Centers can be found at www.servicelocator.org.
Applicants should demonstrate how they plan to establish a collaborative relationship with staff at the One-Stop Career Centers or with local DVOPs and LVERs who are available to provide program participants with a full array of job development and job search assistance, employment and training services, employment-based case management services, career/employment counseling, and follow-up services usually at no additional cost to the program. VETS requires that all successful grantees collaborate closely with DVOP and LVER staff and other One-Stop Career Center personnel to maximize the funding allocated through the HVRP, reduce duplication of services, and to more effectively serve veteran participants, whenever possible.
Applicants must clearly identify specific job or training opportunities within occupations and industries that are in demand within the geographical area to be served. Applicants must address how they will successfully target occupations that are locally in demand. Applicants also must demonstrate how program participants will be placed in jobs or in training with career growth potential and with sufficiently high wages to ensure long-term self-sufficiency.
Applicants also should describe the applicant’s local employer and training network, to include a list of training entities and employers who have pledged to hire and train participants, as well as the various and potential types of jobs proposed to be filled by participants. This list will not be included in the 15-page limit associated with the Technical Proposal; however, it will be counted toward the overall 50-page limit.
Applicants must also demonstrate how they will provide or coordinate meaningful job skills training to interested and capable program participants. All proposed training programs should be completed within a program year timeframe. At least 80% of the enrolled participants must participate in job skills training activities. Examples of training services that contribute to the 80% training threshold are: classroom training, remedial education activities, on-the-job training, occupational skills training, apprenticeship, retraining and skill specific vocational training; specialized and/or licensed training programs, and other formal training programs. Providing basic skills instruction and life skills and money management training should still be provided to participants, but this type of training is not considered as training activities which contribute to the 80% training threshold requirement.
Applicants must identify the local services and sources of training to be used to expand the vocational skills of program participants. Applicants should indicate the type(s) of training that will be provided and how such proposed training relates to the jobs that are in demand within the proposed geographic area to be served. Applicants should also indicate the length of training, the training curriculum, and how the training will improve the eligible veterans’ employment opportunities.
Follow-up Services
Applicants must also demonstrate how they will conduct follow-up and retention services to track a participant’s continued progress for as long as three quarters after a participant is placed into employment. Applicants are encourages to present creative approaches and incentives to successfully address and sustain high levels of employment retention. Examples of such approaches are: peer-to-peer coaching, mentoring, alumni programs, transportation and clothing vouchers, and other follow up and retention-oriented services. If State Unemployment Insurance (UI) data will be used to substantiate the applicant’s follow-up results, it is suggested that the applicant include any MOU or other formal agreement that enables the applicant to obtain such information.
3. Quality of Linkages: 15 points
In addition to the linkages mentioned above under the Overall Approach and Strategy, applicants must demonstrate how they plan to coordinate their proposed activities with a wide array of Federal, state, and local supportive service programs and their associated agencies and/organizations. Examples of additional supportive service programs include, but are not limited to the following: the VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinators and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) programs; the USDOL Office of Disability and Employment Policy (ODEP), including its Disability Navigator Program; HUD, including its local CoC Committees and any of the associated agencies and organizations; and the Social Security Administration and its Ticket to Work Program. As a part of the Ticket to Work Program, grantees will be expected to register as an Employment Network (EN).
Applicants must demonstrate how they will refer and coordinate program participants to agencies and organizations which provide appropriate and necessary supportive services such health care, counseling, and rehabilitative services, as needed by their participants. As mentioned previously, these services may include, but are not limited to: alcohol and drug rehabilitation, therapeutic services, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) assessments and treatment, domestic abuse and sexual trauma counseling and care, vision and dental services, and physical and mental health services.
Applicants are encouraged to submit a list of their local area network of service providers that offer and provide services to benefit program participants. For each linkage, the applicant should identify who the provider is, the source of complementary funding related to the specific services provided by the organization, and the type of linkages/referral system established or proposed. This list will not be included in the 15-page limit associated with the Technical Proposal; however, it will be counted toward the overall 50-page limit.
Applicants should describe, to the extent possible, how their proposed project will be incorporated into the VA’s five (5) year plan to end veteran homelessness and the local community’s ten (10) year plan to end homelessness, if applicable. See Interagency Council on Homelessness website address at www.ich.gov for additional information. MOUs and all other formal agreements with providers of services that are specifically targeted to assisting homeless veterans and to solidifying the linkages between complementary organizations should be established and presented as an Attachment to the Technical Proposal.
4. Organizational Capability and Experience: 20 points
All applicants must fully describe their organizational and staff experience and ability to manage the operational, administrative, programmatic, and financial reporting requirements specified within this SGA. Applicants must present and describe the skills, experience, work history, knowledge, qualifications, and educational credentials / certified capabilities of their key operational and management staff and directly associate this information to the activities proposed within their response.
Applications should include a current organizational chart which identifies all relevant divisions and office locations that will be involved in addressing the requirements presented within the SGA. Organizational charts also should illustrate how the applicant’s divisions and/or partnership organizations are interrelated. If applicable, applicants should identify the number of staff who have direct experience with serving homeless individuals and/or veterans. Applicants also should identify any staff members who are veterans and/or who have previously been homeless. Submission of an organizational chart, staff resumes and/or detailed staff capability statements are strongly recommended and they do not count toward either the 15-page Technical Proposal limit or the overall 50-page limitation.
Applicants must describe their relevant prior experience in operating employment and training programs and in providing or coordinating supportive services to veteran participants similar to those that are proposed under this solicitation. For applicant’s who had a previous HVRP grant, specific outcomes previously achieved under their past grant must be fully described and presented. To facilitate review of past HVRP performance, applicants must provide a copy of the most recently completed 4th quarter performance report. At a minimum, the applicant must provide a copy of the most recently completed 4th quarter Technical Performance Report (TPR) and a copy of the most recently completed 4th quarter Technical Performance Narrative (TPN). Previous grantees must also include a copy of their planned goals spreadsheet providing the planned goals for the year the of the most recently completed 4th quarter performance report. Previous HVRP grantees that do not provide a copy of the of the most recently completed 4th quarter performance report (TPR and TPN) along with the planned goals spreadsheet for the most recently completed 4th quarter will be considered non-responsive to this solicitation. Submission of the planned goals spreadsheet, and the most recent 4th quarter TPN and TPR are required but do not count toward either the 15-page Technical Proposal limit or the overall 50-page limitation.
Applicants who have not previously been HVRP grantees are not required to submit previous years of HVRP program outcomes, but they are required to provide related program outcomes from other similar grant programs they have managed. Applicants with no previous HVRP experience, but who can demonstrate previous experience with similar programs, should submit their most recent three (3) year period of financial and programmatic cumulative final year end performance reports related to those programs as evidence of their ability to operate and manage employment and training type service programs, if available. A summary narrative of program experience and a descriptive illustration of the programs employment and training performance outcomes also are required.
Applicants must address their capacity to identify any foreseen challenges related to timely startup of the program, as well as their ability to comply with the stated programmatic reporting and follow up requirements. VETS prefers that grantees be well-established service providers and not in the initial start-up phase or process; however, new applicants offering innovative and cost effective methods related to successfully serving the employment needs associated with homeless veteran participants are encouraged to apply.
Applicants are also required to fully describe how their proposed program can or will outlast the federal funding being provided under this grant after either the first year of funding or, if awarded, after the possible option year or years of funding. To illustrate the long-term sustainability of the program and the services proposed, applicants should be able to present a diverse funding base or illustrate an organizational strategic plan that illustrates the attainment of financial resources beyond those secured through the HVRP grant. Other evidence such as long-term leases and a strong history of community involvement by the organizations key staff may also be used to present how the program will outlast the proposed HVRP grant funding.
Applicants must demonstrate how they will develop and implement a comprehensive program to obtain or access either emergency, temporary, transitional, or permanent housing for program participants. Applicants should also illustrate how affordable and/or supportive housing resources will be accessed by program participants, if available. Applicants should fully illustrate the provisions that will be made for program participants to access emergency, temporary, transitional, and/or permanent housing through various community resources including, but not limited to: the VA’s Grant and Per Diem Program, which funds emergency and transitional housing programs; the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) food and shelter programs; and HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program and the Section 8 single room occupancy housing programs, as well as any other supportive, affordable and permanent housing programs for disabled homeless persons.
Applicants must demonstrate how they will, either directly or through established relationships with organizations that provide housing and housing related services, provide an adequate number of housing interventions or referrals to serve the proposed level of participants enrolled into the program. Applicants also should describe how their program delivers a rapid response strategy for addressing the emergency and temporary housing needs of homeless veterans early in the service delivery process to help stabilize potential program participants. Applicants should also demonstrate how they will make appropriate housing referrals based upon the specific needs of their enrolled program participants.
Applicants are expected to be able to demonstrate how to they will incorporate both affordable housing alternatives and permanent supportive housing options into their service mix. Applicants must demonstrate their understanding of the HUD VASH program and explain how they will incorporate the allocation of housing vouchers into their program. Applicants are cautioned not to suggest housing strategies that “execute” secured HUD VASH vouchers prior to an HVRP program participant’s enrollment since such timing may jeopardize a potential veteran’s “homeless” eligibility requirement for HVRP participation. It is also recommended that applicants present how they will refer veterans to the Veterans Health Administration to determine what appropriate housing options a participant may be eligible to receive, which may include HUD VASH vouchers.
Applicants also must not propose that HVRP funds be used for the purpose of emergency, transitional, or permanent housing, rent and/or deposit payments for an apartment/house or the purchasing or leasing of vehicles.
B. Review and Selection Process
Applications for grants under this SGA will be accepted after the publication date of this announcement and until the closing date and time. A technical review panel will carefully evaluate applications against the selection criteria. These criteria are based on the policy goals, priorities and emphasis set forth in this SGA. Up to 100 points will be awarded to an application, depending on the quality of the responses to the required information described in section V. A. Urban and Non-Urban applications will be evaluated against the same criteria. All responsive applications will be reviewed within their separate and designated category.
The grant review panel will assign a score after objectively and carefully evaluating each responsive grant application and all responsive grant applications will be ranked based on this score. The ranking will be the primary basis to identify applicants as potential grantees. The panel results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer. The Grant Officer may consider any information that comes to his/her attention. The government may elect to award the grant(s) with or without discussions with the applicant. Should a grant be awarded without discussions, the award will be based on the applicant’s signature on the SF-424, including electronic signature via E-Authentication on Grants.gov, which constitutes a binding offer by the applicant.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
All award notifications will be posted on the VETS Homepage at www.dol.gov/vets. Applicants selected for award will be contacted directly before the grant’s execution. Non-selected applicants will be notified by mail or e-mail 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, the Grant Officer and/or the Grant Officer’s Technical Representative may enter into negotiations about such items as program components, 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 decline to fund the application. VETS and the Grant Officer reserves the right not to fund any application related to this SGA.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All grantees must comply with the provisions of Title 38 U.S.C. and its regulations, as applicable. All grantees, including faith-based and community-based organizations, will be subject to applicable Federal laws (including provisions of appropriations law), regulations, and the applicable Office of Management and Budget Circulars.
1. Administrative Program Requirements:
The grants awarded under this SGA will be subject to the following administrative standards and provisions, if applicable:
29 CFR part 2 - General Participation in Department of Labor Programs by Faith-Based and Community Organizations; Equal Treatment of All Department of Labor Program Participants and Beneficiaries.
29 CFR part 30 - Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training.
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.
29 CFR part 32 - Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.
29 CFR part 33 - Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of Labor.
29 CFR part 35 - Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the Department of Labor.
29 CFR part 36 - Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance.
29 CFR part 37 - Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
29 CFR part 93 - New Restrictions on Lobbying.
29 CFR part 94 - Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace.
29 CFR part 95 - Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-Profit Organizations, and with Commercial Organizations.
29 CFR part 96 - Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts and Other Agreements.
29 CFR part 97 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
29 CFR part 98 - Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non procurement).
29 CFR part 99 - Audit of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.
Applicable cost principles and audit requirements under OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, A-122, A-133, and 48 CFR part 31.
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 501(c) (4) that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to received Federal funds and grants.
38 U.S.C. Section 4215 - Requirements for priority of service for veterans in all Department of Labor training programs.
2. Other Legal Requirements:
Specific information related to Religious Activities, Lobbying or Fundraising the U.S. Government with Federal Funds and Transparency Act Requirements are contained in section III – Eligibility Information. Please refer to this section for specific guidance related to these legal requirements.
3. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions:
Except as specifically provided in this SGA, USDOL / VETS’ 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 grant 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.
4. Special Program Requirements – Evaluation and Requests for Grant Information:
VETS may require that the program or project participate in a formal evaluation of overall grant performance. To measure the impact of the grant program, VETS may conduct an independent evaluation of the outcomes and benefits of the projects. By accepting the grant funds, the programs or projects agree to make individual records on participants and funding available to the evaluator(s) under the direction of VETS, as well as to provide access to program operating personnel and participants, as specified by the evaluator(s) under the direction of VETS, including after the expiration date of the grant. Please note that, this evaluation may make use of program MIS data, local administrative data, and program progress reports. It is critical that the grantee keep this information up to date and accurate for both performance measurement and evaluation purposes.
Upon request, successful grantees will cooperate with the Interagency Council on Homelessness, the VA, and the HVRP National Technical Assistance Center concerning requests for grantee information on performance activities, monitoring activities, and requests for specific data as approved by the USDOL / VETS.
C. Reporting
1. Quarterly Reporting:
Title 38, Section 2021 provides that, “The Secretary of Labor shall collect such information as that Secretary considers appropriate to monitor and evaluate the distribution and expenditure of funds appropriated to carry out this section. The information shall include data with respect to the results or outcomes of the services provided to each homeless veteran under this section.” All HVRP grantees will enter data electronically and attach their Quarterly Technical Performance Report, success stories, and other job related information into the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, VETS Operations and Program Activity Report (VOPAR) system. Since the Federal Financial Report (FFR) SF-425 has replaced the SF-269 and the SF-272, all grantees are also required to use and submit the FFR in the Grant Reporting System (GRS). See the HVRP Special Provisions and the Veterans Program Letter (VPL) #02-12 (Appendix K) for detailed requirements regarding quarterly reporting.
2. Performance Measures:
For purposes of assessing performance of grantees selected under this SGA, VETS will focus on the following four performance measures: enrollments, placements, placement rate, and cost per placement. However, the grantee will be required to be fully compliant with all planned performance goals by meeting, at minimum, 85% of their planned cumulative quarterly goals. If a grantee does not meet the minimum rate of performance then a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) may be required to be submitted. Details related to requirements under a CAP will be provided to all grantees after award.
Grantees also will be required to report additional performance information, as explained in the Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) for Competitive Grantees (Appendix H). There are three (3) outcome measures with established historic and strategic targets for HVRP grants. Applicants should consider these historic and strategic targets when proposing the goals submitted within their application.
The first outcome target is the placement rate with a performance target for grantees to meet a minimum placement rate of 65%. This is determined by dividing the number of participants who were placed into employment by the number of participants who have enrolled in the program. Grantees also will be expected to meet a rate of 65% for entered employment. The entered employment rate is a Common Measure based term which is determined by dividing the number of participants who obtained and retained employment one quarter after their initial placement or when they “exited” the program by the total number of participants who have exited the program. In order to determine the entered employment rate, the program must track the employment status of their enrollees after they leave the program by re-contacting them in some way.
The second outcome target is the retention rate at three (3) quarters following placement with a performance target for grantees to meet a minimum rate of retention of 65%. This is determined by dividing the number of participants who entered employment (or those exiters who earned wages in the quarter after their placement) by those exiters who also earned wages in all three quarters after their placement. Grantees will not have a reported retention rate in the first, second, or third quarters because it requires three quarters after placement to determine employment retention.
The third outcome target is the cost per placement with a performance target for grantees to meet of $2,800. This is determined by dividing the total annual costs by the number of placements. Please note that the national average cost per placement for HVRP in PY 2010 was approximately $2,800. VETS’ expects that applicants will propose a planned cost per placement that is consistent with the previous year national average. A higher cost per placement may be considered if the applicant can justify that the higher cost per placement leads to significantly higher average wages and/or higher placement and retention rates.
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 the final grant close-out.
VII. Agency Contacts
All questions regarding this SGA should be directed to Cassandra Mitchell, Grant Officer, at 202-693-4570 (this is not a toll-free number). Applicants should e-mail all technical questions to [email protected] and reference SGA #01-12, and along with question(s), include a contact name, fax and phone number. For additional information on the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program, please visit the VETS website at www.dol.gov/vets. Individuals with hearing impairments should call 800 670-7008 (TTY/TDD).
VIII. Additional Resources of Interest to Applicants
The Department of Labor maintains a number of web-based resources that may be of assistance to applicants. The website for the USDOL VETS, www.dol.gov/vets/programs/main.htm, is a valuable source of information including program highlights and brochures, glossary of terms, frequently used acronyms, general and special grant provisions, and Power-Point presentations on how to apply for HVRP funding. The HVRP National Technical Assistance center at website www.dol.gov/vets/grants/hvrpnat.htm is also a valuable source of information for grant applicants. The Interagency Council on Homeless, www.ich.gov has information from various Agencies that assist homeless persons including updated information on local community ten (10) year plans to end homelessness and Continuums of Care plans. America’s Service Locator website, www.servicelocator.org, provides a directory of the nation’s One-Stop Career Centers Applicants may also review “VETS’ Guide to Competitive and Discretionary Grants” located at www.dol.gov/vets/grants/Final_VETS_Guide-linked.pdf. For a basic understanding of the grants process and basic responsibilities of receiving Federal grant support, please see “Guidance for Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government” at, www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci and www.dol.gov/cfbci, as well as the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans at www.nchv.org.
IX. Other Information
A. Public Acknowledgement of USDOL Funding
1. Printed Materials:
In all circumstances, the following must be displayed on printed materials prepared by the grantee while in receipt of USDOL grant funding: “Preparation of this item was funded by the United States Department of Labor under Grant No. [Insert the appropriate grant number].” All printed materials must also include the following notice: “This workforce solution and its associated documents were funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. The solution and its associated documents were created by the grantee. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor and/or the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. The U.S. Department of Labor and/or the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service makes 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. “
2. Public References to the Grant:
When issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money, all grantees receiving Federal funds must clearly state the percentage of the total costs of the program or project financed with Federal money; the total dollar amount of Federal financial assistance for the project or program; and the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources.
3. Use of USDOL Logo:
Prior to the use of the USDOL logo, the Grant Officer must approve all such use. The USDOL logo may be applied to USDOL-funded material prepared for distribution, including posters, videos, pamphlets, research documents, national survey results, impact evaluations, best practice reports, and other publications of global interest. The grantee(s) must consult with USDOL on whether the logo may be used on any such items prior to final draft or final preparation for distribution. In no event will the USDOL logo be placed on any item until USDOL has given the grantee permission to use the logo on the item.
B. Information Collection
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 maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding 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 Michel Smyth, 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. Unless otherwise specifically noted in this announcement, information submitted in the respondent’s application is not considered to be confidential.
C. Announcement and Award Dates
Announcement of these grant awards is anticipated to occur in June, 2012. Grant agreements are expected to be awarded on or before July 1, 2012.
D. Post Award Conference
A post-award conference will be held for those grantees awarded PY 2012 HVRP funds through this competition. The post-award conference is expected to be held in July or August 2012 and up to two (2) grant recipient representatives must be present. The site of the post-award conference has not yet been determined; however, for planning and budgeting purposes, applicants should allot four (4) days and use Washington, DC as the conference site. The post-award conference will focus on providing information and assistance on reporting, record keeping, grant requirements, and also include networking opportunities to learn of best practices from more experienced and successful grantees. Costs associated with attending this conference for up to two (2) grantee representatives and will be allowed as long as they are incurred in accordance with Federal travel regulations. These travel costs must be reflected in the proposed budget.
E. Appendices
Appendices are located at U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service website address www.dol.gov/vets. Follow the link for the applicable SGA listed under announcements.
Appendix A: Application for Federal Assistance SF-424
Appendix B: Budget Information Sheet SF-424A
Appendix C: Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
Appendix D: Competitive Grants Planned Goals Chart
Appendix E: Direct Cost Descriptions for Applicants and Sub-Applicants
Appendix F: Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants
Appendix G: List of 75 Largest in Population MSAs / Cities Nationwide
Appendix H: Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) for Competitive Grantees
Appendix I: Indirect Charges or Certificate of Direct Costs
Appendix J: Definitions and Terms
Appendix K: Veterans Program Letter 02-12
Appendix L: Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form
Signed in Washington, D.C. this ______ day of __________, 2012.
Cassandra Mitchell, Grant Officer
BILLING CODE: 4510-79P
1 OMB Memorandum 07-16 and 06-19. GAO Report 08-536, Privacy: Alternatives Exist for Enhancing Protection of Personally Identifiable Information, May 2008, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08536.pdf.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Draft 2010 SGA |
| Subject | Homeless Veterans |
| Author | Palumbo |
| Last Modified By | Fenner-Kenneth |
| File Modified | 2012-03-13 |
| File Created | 2012-03-13 |