Job Accommodation Network

Billing Code: 4510-FT-P

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Disability Employment Policy

[SGA 03-12]

Notice of Availability of Funds & Solicitation for Grant Applications for Job Accommodation Network

Announcement Type: Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) for Cooperative Agreements

Funding Opportunity Number: SGA 03-12

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.720

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 30 days from date published on grants.gov. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Addresses: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Procurement Services, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Grant Officer, Reference SGA 03-12, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, RoomS-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 (DOL or Department), Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of approximately $2.5 million to fund a cooperative agreement to manage and operate its Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a national technical assistance center that facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities. Created in 1983, JAN is the most comprehensive job accommodation resource available. It is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential one-on-one guidance on workplace accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 (ADAA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. JAN provides technical assistance via phone, email and chat, and maintains a website containing online resources and publications. Technical assistance regarding individualized job accommodations and workplace strategies for job applicants and employees with disabilities is provided to private and federal sector employers, people with disabilities including disabled veterans, employment service providers, educational institutions and others. JAN develops and conducts trainings both in person and electronically (web-based and telephonic); works in collaboration with businesses, professional organizations, federal agencies and others on effective practices and other issues related to accommodations in the workplace; and engages in outreach to the public about its services. JAN conducts outreach and establishes and maintains effective working relationships and collaborations with outside entities with the goal of sharing knowledge and promoting the adoption and implementation of ODEP policies and effective practices. JAN also conducts research and collects and analyzes data related to the cost and effectiveness of workplace accommodations and provides data that contribute to ODEP’s annual performance measures and the development of its policies.

Funding of $2.5 million will be awarded through a competitive process for a 12-month period of performance, with the possibility of up to four option years of funding depending on the availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

This solicitation provides background information, describes the application submission requirements, outlines the process that eligible entities must use to apply for funds covered by this solicitation, and outlines the evaluation criteria used as a basis for selecting the grantee.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Background

1. ODEP Mission, Goals and Priorities

ODEP provides national leadership by developing and influencing disability-related employment policies and practices that can be used by employers, service delivery organizations, and people with disabilities to improve employment opportunities.

ODEP is guided by DOL’s FY 2011-2016 Strategic Plan and Annual Operating Plans which identified the Agency’s outcomes, outputs and key milestones. ODEP’s strategic plan requires it to promote the adoption and implementation of ODEP-identified disability employment-related policies and practices by the public workforce system, government agencies and employers. Moreover, ODEP established the following three priority areas to frame its efforts and reflect the Secretary’s vision of Good Jobs for Everyone:

• Priority Area I: Countering employers’ low expectations and negative perceptions of people with disabilities;

• Priority Area II: Increasing exposure to role models and access to training, employment and transition services particularly for youth and certain ethnic, cultural and socio-economically disadvantaged groups; and

• Priority Area III: Expanding access to employment supports and accommodations.

The Job Accommodation Network supports ODEP Priority III. To expand access to employment supports and accommodations, employers need to understand how to provide specific, individualized accommodations that facilitate the employment and retention of qualified individuals with disabilities. Job seekers and employees also need to understand what accommodations may be available to help them succeed in employment. To address these needs and in support of ODEP’s mission, JAN: provides technical assistance to individuals; delivers training and technical assistance to groups; conducts education and outreach utilizing social media and various collaborations; develops informational materials; maintains a website; conducts research; and collects and analyzes data related to the cost and effectiveness of workplace accommodations.

2. Description of Current Project

ODEP’s JAN is viewed as a leading resource and authority in the United States on accommodations, providing current and accurate information regarding job accommodation solutions that comply with federal and state employment laws and that enhance workplace health and productivity. JAN has been in existence since 1983, funded initially by ODEP’s predecessor organizations and by ODEP since its establishment in 2001. JAN was created because research shows that workplace accommodations play an important role in the productivity and workplace success of people with disabilities (Domzal, Houtenville, and Sharma, 2008). In addition, several federal laws, and the laws of many states, require that certain public and private sector employers provide accommodations in the workplace to qualified persons with disabilities. JAN helps employers meet the needs identified by research and required by law.

JAN receives daily telephone, electronic (e.g., email, chat, social media), fax and mail inquiries concerning accommodations, employment and self-employment of youth and adults with disabilities. It uses its staff expertise, resource information and databases to research and respond with individualized solutions to an average of about 2,000 telephone calls and 1,500 electronic contacts per month, including approximately 450 chats. The current provider responds to and closes approximately 38,000 cases (i.e., telephone, electronic, fax and mail contacts involving a specific accommodation question) per year. All technical assistance is provided confidentially and at no direct cost to the customer.

In addition, the JAN website (http://AskJAN.org), which provides job accommodation information and technical assistance, has historically received approximately 260,000 website page requests and 67,000 unique visitors per month. It includes: an extensive collection of publications and a comprehensive database with information on a broad range of disabilities and accommodation solutions and strategies; disability and employment-related laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act; and key referral sources, including relevant public and private agencies and organizations. The website features specific “portals” for: employers including those in the private sector as well as federal, state and local agencies; individuals with disabilities who are employed and self-employed; and other parties such as rehabilitation organizations. Additional online services include the Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR), and online training modules and webcasts.

To share knowledge and promote the adoption and implementation of ODEP policies and effective practices, JAN also engages in education and outreach regarding its services, through in person conference presentations, trainings, and workshops throughout the United States. JAN has also established and maintains effective working relationships and collaborations with: public and private sector employers; organizations and associations focused on employers, accommodations, assistive and/or accessible technology, rehabilitation, and other pertinent issues; the broader workforce development system; federal and state government agencies; small business development centers; research and training centers; service organizations and others. To stay current on the emerging technologies and available accommodations, JAN conducts research and to demonstrate the cost and effectiveness of workplace accommodations and the impact of its services, JAN collects and analyzes data.

B. Description and Purpose

1. Purpose of Solicitation for Grant Application

In the current solicitation, ODEP is seeking an entity to continue to provide the types and level of services that the Job Accommodation Network has provided previously. ODEP will award a cooperative agreement to manage and operate its Job Accommodation Network in order to maintain JAN’s status as the nation’s premier technical assistance and training resource on workplace accommodations related to the employment and retention of workers with disabilities.

2. Required Services

At a minimum, the management and operation of JAN will include the following:

1. Individualized technical assistance services. The grantee will provide confidential, cost-free, personalized responses to inquiries on a variety of issues including specific accommodation situations, relevant employment laws and regulations, attitudinal barriers in the work place, transportation, independent living, self-employment and entrepreneurship, return-to-work, the aging workforce, assistive and emerging technologies, telecommunications access, training resources, community-based employment programs, and other topics that support the job accommodation process and the employment of people with disabilities. The grantee will respond to such requests from private and federal sector employers, people with disabilities including disabled veterans, employment service providers, educational institutions and others.

In regard to providing the individualized technical assistance services the grantee must:

1. Migrate and operate the staffed, toll-free phone numbers 800-526-7234 (voice) and 877-781-9403 (TTY) within 30 days after the grant is awarded. These lines are to operate, at a minimum, Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays and closures. The lines are to be set up to allow the caller to easily reach a staff person during hours of operation. The lines will also be set up to accept messages during non-business hours. All messages will be returned within two business days; and

2. Respond to requests made via email, chat, social media, mail and fax within two business days of receipt.

2. Electronic information services. So that credible responses to all job accommodation inquiries can be provided quickly and efficiently, the grantee will maintain and continually improve and expand the existing website including its:

1. Database and online resources for staff on accommodation information;

2. Online library of publications and training materials; and

3. Searchable Online Accommodation Resource, an online searchable tool for accommodation strategies that allows employers, people with disabilities and others to cross-reference information on specific disabilities and associated specific functional limitations.

The grantee will also maintain and continually improve the following existing website capabilities:

4. “JAN on Demand,” a feature on the website through which people submit questions and receive answers via email, and

5. Live chat feature on the website.

In regard to the maintenance and management of the website and on-line resources, the grantee must:

6. Migrate the website http://AskJAN.org within 30 days of the award, and thereafter manage the maintenance and upgrading of the website, including implementing innovative state-of-the-art enhancements. At a minimum, the website will be user-friendly and will provide information, resources and links on workplace accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 (ADAA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. Link to resources on federal, state and local agencies and organizations that can assist employers and individuals with disabilities with employment and accommodation related topics will also be provided; and

7. Ensure that all information is organized for easy access by staff and easily searchable based on types of accommodations made, costs, cost-benefit data, specific functional limitations, types of disabilities, and other pertinent categories.

In order to disseminate information regarding JAN, ODEP and other relevant topics of interest and to provide technical assistance and training, the grantee will maintain, continually improve, expand and actively utilize:

1. JAN’s capability to produce accessible webcasts and podcasts; and

2. JAN’s presence on social media platforms

The grantee must also stay current with new forms of social media as they develop and review and recommend new and emerging technologies and electronic communication strategies that will make JAN’s electronic information services easier to maintain and update, more accurate, timelier, more accessible, more cost effective and/or easier for the public to use.

3. Development of technical assistance, training, education, and outreach documents and materials. The grantee will develop documents and materials that support technical assistance, training, education, and outreach related to new and developing issues in the fields of accommodations, assistive and emerging technologies, return-to-work, the aging workforce, laws and regulations, and other areas relevant to the employment of people with disabilities. In regard to the development of these materials the grantee must:

1. Ensure that information in these documents and materials is current, accurate, and written and presented in a user-friendly manner;

2. Develop specific documents and materials that respond to and support ODEP priorities and initiatives as they arise; and

3. Develop, maintain, review, improve, update and expand JAN’s existing online and hard copy library of accessible documents and materials that support technical assistance, training, education and outreach, including archived webcasts.

4. Training Services. The grantee will develop and provide expert-level training programs on a variety of issues related to reasonable workplace accommodations and respond to and support ODEP priorities and initiatives as they arise. They will develop and provide these training programs for a variety of venues and audiences, including but not limited to the following:

   1. Conferences, workshops, seminars, speaking engagements and web-based trainings; and

   2. Public and private sector employers, professional and non-profit organizations and associations, service providers and others.

In developing the training programs, the grantee must stay current with new and innovative training methods and utilize those that reflect adult training/learning principles and effective techniques.

5. Strategic outreach and communications. The grantee will utilize a variety of communication vehicles and tools to expand stakeholder awareness of JAN and develop a broader reach into industries, organizations and geographic areas that could benefit from use of JAN’s services. Specifically to support ODEP priorities and initiatives as they arise, the grantee will:

   1. Develop documents and materials that promote its job accommodation services and the mission and initiatives of ODEP;

   2. Utilize specific outreach and communications vehicles and tools, and

   3. Pursue specific events and target audiences.

6. Collaborative relationships. In order to promote the adoption and implementation of ODEP policies and effective practices and to encourage cross-referrals and coordination of services where appropriate, the grantee will develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborations with organizations that respond to and support ODEP priorities and initiatives, including, but not limited to:

1. Public and private sector employers;

2. Organizations and associations focused on employers, accommodation, assistive and/or accessible technology, rehabilitation, and other pertinent issues;

3. The broader workforce development system;

4. Federal and state government agencies;

5. Small business development centers;

6. Research and training centers; and

7. Service organizations.

7. Research and policy analysis. The grantee will:

   1. Conduct employer-focused research that quantifies and validates the cost-effectiveness of job accommodations for employees with disabilities, including the tracking and documenting of actual costs and employer benefits of job accommodations; and

   2. Develop examples of successful accommodations implemented by large, medium and small public and private sector employers for applicants and employees with disabilities, without disclosing the identities of individuals or employers.

8. Data collection and program evaluation. To assess its performance and evaluate the impact of its services, the grantee will collect the data needed to evaluate its service delivery. On a monthly basis it will collect, analyze and report data on the types, number, and percentages, where appropriate, of the following:

1. Contacts by type of communication received ( e.g., by telephone, electronic (i,e, email, chat, social media), fax and mail) and by type of entity making the contact (e.g., individual with a disability, employer, rehabilitation professional, self-employment or other);

2. Website activity (webpage requests and unique visitors);

3. Social media activity;

4. Publications and products created;

5. Publications and products distributed and to whom;

6. Outreach events and trainings provided by the JAN staff (for both the current month and projected for the next several months); and

7. Collaborative relationships established and/or maintained by JAN.

(To the extent possible, data should be provided as disaggregated records in an electronic format such as .xls, .xlsx, or .txt.)

In addition, information on results from any ongoing evaluation activities and/or customer satisfaction surveys conducted should also be reported and the grantee must cooperate with any independent evaluation that may be conducted by ODEP.

The grantee will also participate in data collection, analysis and reporting related to ODEP’s Operating Plan, Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) measurements, and other similar requirements and respond to specific data collection and analysis requests as they arise in order to support ODEP priorities and initiatives. Since ODEP assesses its performance by measuring the numbers of certain outputs shown to lead to its desired outcome goals of adoption and implementation of policies and practices, the grantee will, as requested, report on the numbers of the following:

• Policy Outputs;

• Effective Practices;

• Formal Agreements;

• Entities Receiving Technical Assistance;

• Technical Assistance Events;

• Outreach Events;

• Outreach Event Attendees;

• Outreach Hours; and

• Collaborative Relationships

3. Other Requirements

1. Accessible deliverables. All deliverables produced by the grantee must be accessible. (See definition of accessible in Section I.C of the SGA and the Submission Requirements in SGA Section IV.F.2. Universal Access and Design.)

2. Prior approval. Input and approval of ODEP will be obtained prior to:

1. Making changes to design and graphics of the website and published materials;

2. Publishing the content of materials, including on the website, in publications, in training materials including webcasts, and other media;

3. Creating and utilizing communications vehicles and tools for outreach;

4. Attending and participating in outreach and training or other presentation events; and

5. Participating in interviews and other media contacts.

3. Staffing. All proposed staff for the project (with the exception of support staff such as administrative assistants) must have professional experience and qualifications at a level that would enable them to fully participate in fulfilling the requirements of this SGA. . Each of the proposed staff must have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas and there must be at least one staff proposed with expertise in each area:

1. Providing technical assistance, advice and guidance on:

   • Accommodations for all varieties of disabilities, including, but not limited to, motor, sensory, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities;

   • How people with disabilities might pursue self-employment and entrepreneurial development; and

   • The Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 and related legislation;

2. Developing, maintaining and managing content for an accessible website;

3. Creating training and education and outreach materials

4. Providing in-person, telephonic and web-based training to a variety of audiences;

5. Conducting strategic outreach and communications including the use of social media for education and outreach;

6. Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships;

7. Collecting and analyzing data, and

8. Conducting program evaluations and assessments.

C. Definitions

The following definitions apply for purposes of this solicitation:

1. In relation to the ADAA and 29 CFR § 1630.2(o), reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential job functions.  Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to ensure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in employment equal to those of employees without disabilities.

2. Accessible deliverables means that all deliverables produced by the grantee including, but not limited to, training, training materials, presentations, documents, reports, websites, webcasts, podcasts, forms, PDFs, and all other materials must be accessible and meet the criteria outlined in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1998 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0).

3. Collaborative relationships are defined as documented partnerships that support the identification, dissemination, adoption and/or implementation of ODEP approved policy strategies and effective practices but are not formalized through an agreement signed by both parties such as a: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); approved inter/intra-agency agreement; public/private partnership agreement; alliance agreement, or contract to establish study/test sites.

4. JAN target audiences include, but are not limited to:

• Individuals such as job seekers, employees, and family members;

• Public and private sector employers;

• Organizations and associations focused on employers, accommodations, assistive and/or accessible technology, rehabilitation, and other pertinent issues;

• The broader workforce development system;

• Federal and state government agencies;

• Small business development centers;

• Research and training centers; and

• Service organizations.

5. Personally Identifiable Information (PII). As defined by OMB in Memorandum M-07-16 (May 22, 2007), PII is “information which can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as their name, social security number, biometric records, etc. alone, or when combined with other personal or identifying information which is linked or linkable to a specific individual, such as date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, etc.”.

II. Award Information

A. Award Amount

Funding is expected to be provided for one grant for approximately $2.5 million for FY 2012. Applicants are required to submit budgets within this financial range. The Department of Labor reserves the right to negotiate the amounts to be awarded under this competition. Any grant application with a proposed value greater than $2.5 million will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered. Additionally, there will be no reimbursement of pre-award costs.

B. Type of Grant

To achieve the goals of this effort, the Department intends to award a cooperative agreement to the successful applicant. Because of the federal requirements in a cooperative agreement, close cooperation and coordination between ODEP and the grantee is required. Monthly conference calls with ODEP will be a required component of the grant. DOL will have substantial involvement in the administration of the agreement. This DOL involvement will consist of:

1. Approval of any sub-contract related to the cooperative agreement awarded by the grantee after the cooperative agreement award;

2. Approval of any changes to key personnel;

3. Participation in site visits to project areas;

4. Providing advice and consultation to the grantee on specific project criteria;

5. Providing the grantee with technical and programmatic support, including training in DOL monitoring and evaluation systems, and standard procedures regarding DOL management of cooperative agreements;

6. Reviewing, at reasonable times, all documents related to the grant , including status and technical progress reports, and financial reports. ODEP will provide the format for the reports;

7. Oversight and approval of all materials, including but not limited to fact sheets, training materials, press releases and publicity-related materials regarding the project;

8. Oversight and approval of all content and graphics for online resources developed through project activities;

9. Oversight and approval of all requests for training sessions (including in-person, web-based and teleconference events) from outside sources, presentations and exhibits at conferences, and other similar events;

10. Oversight and approval of all requests from outside sources for interviews, written articles, and similar requests; and

11. Reviewing project evaluation design, and participating with ODEP’s independent evaluator.

C. Period of Performance

While this award will be funded for a period of performance of 12 months from the date of execution of award documents, ODEP in its discretion may make available up to four (4) additional years of funding, after giving consideration to such factors as: the availability of funding, the demonstrated satisfactory performance of grant activities and other relevant factors.

III. Eligibility Information and Other Cooperative Agreement Specifications

A. Eligible Applicants

Any public/private non-profit or for-profit organization, including faith-based or community organizations, universities, colleges or other similar organizations with the capacity and demonstrated ability to successfully operate federal or other grants of this size and scope are eligible to apply.

According to section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization, as described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that engages in lobbying activities will not be eligible for the receipt of federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan. See 2 U.S.C. 1611; 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4). Funding restrictions apply.

Selection of an organization as a grantee does not constitute approval of the cooperative agreement application as submitted. Before the actual cooperative agreement is awarded, DOL may enter into negotiations about such items as project components, staffing and funding levels and administrative systems in place to support cooperative agreement implementation. If the negotiations do not result in a mutually acceptable submission, the Grant Officer reserves the right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the application.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing, matching funds, and cost participation are not required under this SGA.

C. Other Eligibility Criteria

None.

D. Eligible Participants: Priority of Service for Veterans and Eligible Spouses

The Jobs for Veterans Act (Pub. L.107–288) requires priority of service for veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services in any job training program directly funded, in whole, or in part, by the Department of Labor. On December 19, 2008, the Department published a Final Rule (at 20 CFR Part 1010) implementing this statutory requirement to provide priority of service, effective January 19, 2009. A copy of these regulations can be accessed at: http://www.dol.gov/vets/E8-30166.pdf. Section 1010.220 of these regulations requires all recipients of Department job training funds to agree to implement priority of service as a condition for the receipt of funds and also requires all recipients of funds to ensure that priority of service is implemented by all of their sub-recipients. Employment and Training Administration Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 5–03 (September 16, 2003), which was issued prior to publication of the regulations, provides guidance on the scope of the Jobs for Veterans Act and its implications for employment and training programs. TEGL No. 5–03, along with additional guidance, is available at the ‘‘Jobs for Veterans Priority of Service’’ website (http://www.doleta.gov/programs/vets).

E. Other Grant Specifications: Transparency Requirement

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 on the Department’s public website, or similar publicly accessible location, the Abstracts required by Section IV.B.3 and SF-424 for all applications received. Additionally, we will publish a version of the Project Narrative required by Section IV.B. Part III, 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 Project Narrative described in Section IV.B. Part III will be published. The Project Narratives 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 Project Narratives, applicants whose Project Narratives will be posted will be asked to submit a second redacted version of their Project Narrative, 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 Project Narratives will be published by letter or email, and provide further directions about how and when to submit the redacted version of the Project Narrative.

Submission of a redacted version of the Project Narrative 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 Project Narrative, the applicant has obtained the agreement from project participants (i.e. sub-awardees, partners, etc.) about what material to redact of all persons and entities whose proprietary, confidential business information or personally identifiable information is contained in the Project Narrative. If an applicant fails to provide a redacted version of the Project Narrative within two weeks from the date of receipt of directions regarding submission of a redacted version of the Project Narrative, DOL will publish the original Project Narrative in full, after redacting only personally identifiable information. (Note that the original, unredacted version of the Project Narrative 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 Project Narrative 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.”

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. How to Apply

This announcement contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for this funding opportunity. Additional application packages and amendments to this SGA may be obtained from the ODEP website address at www.dol.gov/odep, and the federal grant opportunities website address at http://www.grants.gov.

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

nts/org_step2.jsp. An awardee 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 and update on an annual basis from the date of initial registration or subsequent updates its information in the CCR database to ensure it is current, accurate and complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply and to receive the award. Failure to register with the CCR before application submission will result in your application being found non-responsive and not being reviewed.

Applications may be submitted electronically on www.grants.gov or in hard-copy via U.S. mail, professional delivery service, or hand delivery. These processes are described in further detail in Section IV (3). Applicants submitting proposals in hardcopy 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 DOL. Applicants submitting proposals in hard-copy are also requested, though not required, to provide an electronic copy of the proposal on CD–ROM.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

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

• SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15). 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 (available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15). All applicants for federal grant and funding opportunities are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S®) number, and must supply their D-U-N-S® Number on the SF-424. The D-U-N-S® Number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. If you do not have a D-U-N-S® Number, you can get one for free through the D&B website: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.

• The SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15). In preparing the Budget Information Form, the applicant must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

• Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. It should also include a description of leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities.

• Note that the entire federal grant amount requested must be included on the SF-424 and SF-424A and budget narrative.  No leveraged resources should be shown on the SF-424 and SF-424A. The amount listed on the SF-424, SF-424A and budget narrative must be the same. Please note, the funding amount included on the SF-424 will be considered the official funding amount requested if any inconsistencies are found. Applications that fail to provide an SF-424 including D-U-N-S® Number, SF-424A, and a budget narrative will be considered non-responsive and not reviewed.

2. Part II: Project Narrative. The Project Narrative documents the applicant’s capability to successfully manage a project in accordance with the provisions of this solicitation. The successful applicant will describe their comprehensive plan for providing the services and accomplishing the goals discussed in sections I.A. (Background) and I.B. (Description and Purpose) of the SGA. The Project Narrative is limited to 25 double-spaced single-sided pages with a 12-point font and one-inch margins. Any pages submitted in excess of this 25 page limit will not be reviewed.² The Project Narrative must address: the required services and other requirements; project management and evaluation plans; and staffing as described below.

1. Required services. The applicant must describe in detail the following:

   1. Experience with providing individualized technical assistance regarding reasonable workplace accommodations via phone, email, chat, social media, mail and fax, including the volume of contacts to be handled on a monthly basis.

   2. Experience with and capacity to host and maintain a complex, robust and accessible website.

   3. Experience with creating expert-level technical assistance, training and outreach documents and materials regarding reasonable workplace accommodations, including in accessible formats. Samples of these materials should be included in the attachments.

   4. Experience with providing expert-level, accessible training sessions regarding reasonable workplace accommodations; trainings must have provided in various settings, including in person, telephonically and via the web.

   5. The communication and outreach plan for promoting JAN and its services.

   6. The strategies that would be used to establish, maintain and leverage: collaborative relationships with appropriate stakeholders such as public and private sector employers; organizations and associations focused on employers, accommodations, assistive and/or accessible technology, rehabilitation, and other pertinent issues; the broader workforce development system; federal and state government agencies; small business development centers; research and training centers; service organizations and others, with the goal of knowledge sharing and promoting the adoption and implementation of ODEP policies and effective practices.

   7. The procedures and approaches that will be used to document the costs and benefits of job accommodations.

   8. The procedures and approaches that will be used to evaluate the project and contribute to ODEP’s annual performance measures and the development of its policies.

2. Project management and evaluation plans. Each Project Narrative must include:

   1. A detailed 12 month management plan for project goals, objectives, activities and expected outcomes [A Logic Model (see SGA Attachment)] must be included to illustrate the connection between grant activities, outputs and outcomes.];

   2. A detailed 12 month timeline for project activities, including producing and submitting a final report;

   3. A detailed outline for an evaluation of the program that references the connection between grant activities and ODEP’s outputs and outcomes and the applicant’s commitment to working with ODEP on all evaluation activities; and

   4. A description of procedures and approaches that will be used to provide ongoing communication, collaboration with, and input from ODEP's Project Officer on all cooperative agreement-related activities.

3. Staffing. The Project Narrative must describe the proposed staffing for the project and must identify and summarize the qualifications of the personnel who will carry it out. In addition, the applicant must provide an organizational chart for staff that will operate the proposed project. In instances where the project is part of the work of a larger organization, please include a diagram that indicates where the proposed project will fit within the larger organization. (The organizational chart can be an attachment and does not count toward the 25 page limit for the Project Narrative.)

   1. In addition, the evaluation criteria listed in Section V includes consideration of the qualifications such as relevant education, training and experience of key project personnel and project consultants or subcontractors. Resumes of key personnel must be included in the attachments. Key personnel include all individuals playing a substantial role in the project. In addition, the applicant must specify in the application, the percentages of time to be dedicated by each key person on the project.

   2. For each staff person named in the application, please provide documentation of all internal and external time commitments. In instances where a staff person is committed on a federally supported project, please provide the project name, federal office, program title, the project Federal Award Number, and the amount of committed time for the project year. This information (e.g., Staff: Jane Doe; Project Name: Succeeding in the General Curriculum; Federal Office: Office of Special Education Programs; Program Title: Field Initiated Research; Award Number: H324C980624; Time Commitments: 30 percent) can be provided as an attachment to the application.

   3. In general, ODEP will not reduce time commitments on currently funded grants from the time proposed in the original application. Therefore, we will not consider for funding any application where key staff are bid above a time commitment level that staff have available to bid (i.e., 100 percent). Further, the time commitments stated in newly submitted applications will not be negotiated down to permit the applicant to receive a new grant award.

The Project Narrative should also describe how the applicant plans to comply with the employment discrimination and equal employment opportunity requirements of the various laws listed in the assurances section.

3. Part III: Attachments to the Project Narrative. In addition to the Project Narrative, the applicant must submit the following:

   1. An Abstract, of no more than three single-spaced, single-sided pages on 8 1/2” x 11” paper with standard margins throughout that identifies the following:

      1. The entity that is applying for the grant; and

      2. An overview of how the applicant will carry out tasks, strategies, and policies described in this solicitation.

   2. Samples of technical assistance and training materials in accessible formats [see IV.B.2.a.iii)]

   3. Logic model illustrating the connection between grant activities and outputs and outcomes [see IV.B.2.b.i)]

   4. Organizational chart for staff that will operate proposed project [see IV.B.2.c]

   5. Resumes of key personnel, including consultants and subcontractors, who will play a substantial role in the project [see IV.B.2.c.i)]

   6. Documentation of staff’s other commitments [see IV.B.2.c.ii)]

3. Submission Date, Times, and Addresses

The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is [insert date 30 days from date published on grants.gov]. Applications may be submitted electronically on http://www.grants.gov or in hard copy by mail or hand delivery (including overnight delivery). Hard copy applications must be received at the address below no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications submitted on grants.gov must also be successfully submitted (as described below) no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications sent by e-mail, telegram, or facsimile (fax) will not be accepted.

Applicants submitting proposals in hard copy must submit an original signed application (including the SF-424) and two (2) ‘‘copy-ready’’ version free of bindings, staples or protruding tabs to ease in the reproduction of the proposal by DOL. Applicants submitting proposals in hard copy are also required to provide an identical electronic copy of the proposal on compact disc (CD). If discrepancies between the hard copy submission and CD copy are identified, the application on the CD will be considered the official applicant submission for evaluation purposes. Failure to provide identical applications in hardcopy and CD format may have an impact on the overall evaluation.

If an application is physically submitted by both hard copy and through http://www.grants.gov, a letter must accompany the hard-copy application stating which application to review. If no letter accompanies the hard copy, we will review the copy submitted through http://www.grants.gov.

Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in this section will be considered non-responsive. 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.

Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Procurement Services, Attention: Cassandra Mitchell, Grant Officer, Reference SGA 03-12, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, RoomS-4307, Washington, DC 20210. Applicants are advised that mail delivery in the Washington DC area may be delayed due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand-delivered proposals will be received at the above address. All overnight mail will be considered to be hand-delivered and must be received at the designated place by the specified closing date and time.

Applications that are submitted through Grants.gov must be successfully submitted at http://www.grants.gov no later than 5:00 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 technical problems if necessary.

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

As described above, applicants must have a D–U–N–S® Number and must register with the Federal Central Contractor Registry (CCR).

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 Authorized Organizational (AOR). When you submit the application through Grants.gov, the name of your AOR on file will be inserted into the signature line of the application. Applicants must register the individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the AOR; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid submissions.

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

The components of the application must be saved in an accessible (508 compliant) format as either .doc, .xls or .pdf files. Documents received in a format other than .doc, .xls or .pdf will not be read. If an application is submitted in any other format or are inaccessible (not 508 compliant), applicants assume the risk that compatibility or other issues will prevent our ability to consider the application, ODEP will attempt to open the document but will not take any additional measures in the event of problems with opening.  In such cases, the non-conforming application will not be considered for funding.

We strongly advise applicants to use the various tools and documents, including FAQs, which are available on the “Applicant Resources” page at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/resources.jsp.

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

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

Late Applications: For applications submitted on Grants.gov, only applications that have been successfully submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date and then successfully validated will be considered. Applicants take a significant risk by waiting to the last day to submit by Grants.gov.

Any hard copy application received after the exact date and time specified for receipt at the office designated in this notice will not be considered, unless it is received before awards are made, it was properly addressed, and it was: (a) sent by U.S. Postal Service mail, postmarked not later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified for receipt of applications (e.g., an application required to be received by the 20th of the month must be postmarked by the 15th of that month); or (b) sent by professional overnight delivery service to the addressee not later than one working day before the date specified for receipt of applications. ‘‘Postmarked’’ means a printed, stamped or otherwise placed impression (exclusive of a postage meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable, without further action, as having been supplied or affixed on the date of mailing by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk to place a legible hand cancellation ‘‘bull’s eye’’ postmark on both the receipt and the package. Failure to adhere to these instructions will be a basis for a determination that the application was not filed timely and will not be considered. Evidence of timely submission by a professional overnight delivery service must be demonstrated by equally reliable evidence created by the delivery service provider indicating the time and place of receipt.

4. Intergovernmental Review

This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (EO) 12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.’’

5. Funding Restrictions

All proposed costs must be necessary and reasonable in accordance with federal guidelines. Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with the applicable Federal Cost Principles, e.g., Non-Profit Organizations—OMB Circular A–122. Disallowed costs are those charges to a cooperative agreement 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 cooperative agreement. Applicants will not be entitled to reimbursement of pre-award costs.

1. Indirect Costs

As specified in OMB Circulars on Cost Principles, indirect costs are those that have been incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot be readily identified with a particular cost objective. In order to utilize cooperative agreement funds for indirect costs incurred, the applicant must obtain an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with its Federal Cognizant Agency either before or shortly after the cooperative agreement award. The Federal Cognizant Agency is generally determined based on the preponderance of federal dollars received by the recipient.

2. Administrative Costs

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

3. Intellectual Property Rights

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

If applicable, the following needs to be on all products developed in whole or in part with grant funds:

“This product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. This product does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 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 is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.”

3. Travel

Any travel undertaken in performance of this cooperative agreement shall be subject to and in strict accordance with federal travel regulations.

3. Acknowledgement of DOL Funding

In all circumstances, the following shall be displayed on printed materials prepared by the grantee under the cooperative agreement: “Preparation of this item was funded by the United States Department of Labor under SGA No.03-12.”

All printed materials must also include the following notice: “This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.”

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:

1. The percentage of the total costs of the program or project, which will be financed with federal money.

2. The dollar amount of federal financial assistance for the project or program; and

3. 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 DOL and ODEP Logo

In consultation with DOL/ODEP, the grantee must acknowledge DOL's role as described. The DOL and/or ODEP logo may be applied to DOL-funded material prepared for world-wide distribution, including posters, videos, pamphlets, research documents, national survey results, impact evaluations, best practice reports, and other publications of global interest. The grantee must consult with DOL on whether the logo may be used on any such items prior to final draft or final preparation for distribution. In no event shall the DOL and/or ODEP logo be placed on any item until DOL has given the grantee written permission to use the logo on the item.

F. Other Submission Requirements

1. Withdrawal of Applications

Applications may be withdrawn by written notice to the Grant Officer at any time before an award is made.

2. Universal Access and Design

All information computer technology (ICT) deliverables produced by the grantee must be accessible and meet the criteria outlined in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Level AA. ICT deliverables include but are not limited to: collaborative workspaces and tools, documents and materials, PDFs, forms, online tools, websites and mobile applications, webcasts, webinars, multimedia, social media, any training and related training materials, presentations and presentation materials, electronic document formats, reports, etc. Print materials must be made available in an alternate accessible format when requested.

The grantee must demonstrate a solid knowledge of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Level AA. The grantee is responsible for ensuring that all ICT deliverables meet or exceed accessibility and universal design requirements under Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 Level AA. The grantee must have the ability and experience in determining 508 compliance of ICT including design specification, testing and verification, and remediation as required.

The Grantee will be responsible for acquiring the necessary tools to perform 508 and accessibility testing in multiple computing environments with a comprehensive selection of assistive technologies and must be able to present these findings to ODEP Federal Managers. The grantee shall be prepared to present a Government Product Availably Template (GPAT) for each ICT deliverable upon request to support the accessibility level of the various ICT deliverables. These findings must be presented in an accessible electronic format.

3. Security

The grantee shall implement the necessary security controls and configuration management for data collection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This support shall be in accordance with Department-wide guidelines, policies, procedures and templates that will be in compliance with National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) guidance and will satisfy the requirements of the E-Government Act of 2002 including Title III, Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), the Clinger-Cohen Act, Office of Management Budget (OMB) guidance, Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPD) 7, 8, and 12, and the DOL Cyber Security Program Plan (CSPP). The grantee will respond to security data calls requested by Office of Disability Employment

Policy’s Information Security Officer (ISO).

V. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

A technical panel will review cooperative agreement applications against the criteria listed below, on the basis of the maximum points indicated.

1. Significance of the Proposed Project (20 points)

In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Department will consider the following factors:

1. The extent to which the proposed project will maintain and increase the capacity of JAN to provide its services and products as described in this SGA, including: technical assistance; telephonic, website and social media presence; training; materials development, and outreach;

2. The extent to which the proposed project will maintain and increase the effectiveness of JAN’s collaborative relationships in increasing the adoption and implementation of ODEP’s policy strategies and effective practices. Collaborative relationships, with the goal of knowledge sharing and promoting the adoption and implementation of ODEP policies and effective practices, are formed with: stakeholders such as public and private sector employers; organizations and associations focused on employers, accommodation, assistive and/or accessible technology, rehabilitation, and other pertinent issues; the broader workforce development system; federal and state government agencies; small business development centers; research and training centers; service organizations and others; and

3. The extent to which the proposed project will continue to collect and analyze data to document the costs and benefits of job accommodations, as well as contributes to ODEP’s annual performance measures and the development of its policies.

2. Project Design (20 points)

In evaluating the quality of the proposed project design, the Department will consider the following factors:

1. The extent to which the project design demonstrates the ability to deliver the services described in section I. B. 2 & 3 (I. Funding Opportunity Description, B. Description & Purpose, 2. Required Services, 3. Other Requirements) and conforms to the requirements established therein.

2. The extent to which the design of the proposed project includes a high-quality plan for project implementation, and the use of appropriate methodological tools to ensure successful achievement and measurement of project objectives;

3. The extent to which the proposed project will effectively contribute to increased knowledge and understanding by building upon current theory, research, and effective practices; and

4. The extent to which performance feedback and continuous improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.

3. Organizational Capacity and Quality of Key Personnel (25 points)

Applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates organizational capacity and quality of key personnel to implement the proposed project, including:

1. Demonstrated ability to successfully operate federal or other grants of this size and scope;

2. Demonstrated organizational capacity to support a call center and accessible website at the volume of telephone, electronic (email, chat, social media), fax and mail contacts, and level of website activity described in the Background section of this SGA;

3. Qualifications and experience of the applicant's key personnel, including the requirement that all proposed staff for the project (with the exception of support staff such as administrative assistants) have professional experience and qualifications at a level that would enable them to fully participate in fulfilling the requirements of this SGA, and that each of the proposed staff must have demonstrated expertise in at least one of the service and content areas detailed in section I.B.3.c. of the SGA.

4. Experience and commitment of any proposed subcontractors; and

5. Appropriateness of the organization's structure to carry out the project (i.e., how the structure and staffing of the organization align with the project’s requirements, vision, and goals and are designed to assure responsible general management of the project).

4. Budget and Resource Capacity (10 points)

In evaluating the capacity of the applicant to carry out the proposed project, ODEP will consider the following factors:

1. The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project; and

2. The extent to which the anticipated costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

4. Quality of the Management Plan (15 points)

In evaluating the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, ODEP will consider the following factors:

1. The extent to which the management plan for project implementation appears likely to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, and includes clearly defined staff responsibilities, time allocation to project activities, time lines, project deliverables and information on adequacy of other resources necessary for project implementation;

2. The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services relating to the scope of work for the proposed project; and

3. The extent to which the time commitments of the Project Director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project.

4. Quality of the Project Evaluation (10 points)

In evaluating the quality of the project's evaluation design, the Department will consider the following factors:

1. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, context, and outcomes of the proposed project;

2. The extent to which the design of the evaluation includes the use of objective performance measures and methods that will clearly document the project's intended outputs and outcomes and will produce measurable quantitative and qualitative data;

3. The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide measures that will inform ODEP's annual performance goals and measures and the development of its policies; and

4. The extent to which the applicant ensures cooperation with ODEP’s independent evaluation.

2. Review and Selection Process

Proposals that are timely and responsive to the requirements of this SGA will be rated against the criteria listed above by a panel that could be comprised of representatives from DOL, other peers and members of the public. The ranked scores will serve as the primary basis for selection of applications for funding, in conjunction with other factors such as the availability of funds, and which proposals are most advantageous to the Government. The panel results are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer, and the Grant Officer may consider any information that comes to his/her attention. The Department may elect to award the grant(s) with or without discussions with the applicants.

Should a cooperative agreement be awarded without discussions, the award will be based on the applicant’s signature on the SF- 424, which constitutes a binding offer by the applicant (including electronic signature via E-Authentication on http://www.grants.gov).

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

The anticipated date of announcement and award is August 1, 2012.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

Award notification will be posted on the ODEP homepage at http://www.dol.gov/odep/. The applicant selected for award will be contacted directly before the cooperative agreement’s execution. The notice of award signed by the Grants Officer will serve as the authorizing document. Applicants not selected for award will be notified by mail.

Selection of an organization as a grantee does not constitute approval of the grant application as submitted. Before the actual grant is awarded, ODEP may enter into negotiations about such items as program components, staffing and funding levels, and administrative systems in place to support grant implementation. If the negotiations do not result in a mutually acceptable submission, the Grant Officer reserves the right to terminate the negotiations and decline to fund the application. DOL reserves the right to not fund any application related to this SGA.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements – Administrative Program

Requirements

1. Administrative Program Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. 29 CFR Part 2, subpart D—Equal Treatment in Department of Labor Programs for Religious Organizations, Protection of Religious Liberty of Department of Labor Social Service Providers and Beneficiaries.

7. 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.

8. 29 CFR Part 32—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.

9. 29 CFR part 33—Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of Labor.

10. 29 CFR Part 35— Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the Department of Labor.

11. 29 CFR Part 36—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.

12. 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30—Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs, and Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training, as applicable.

2. Other Legal Requirements:

13. 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 even though Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act contains a general ban on religious discrimination in employment. If you are awarded a grant, you will be provided with information on how to request such an exemption.

14. Lobbying or Fundraising the U.S. Government with Federal Funds

In accordance with Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-65) (2 U.S.C. 1611), non-profit entities incorporated under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c) (4) that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive federal funds and grants. No activity, including awareness-raising and advocacy activities, may include fundraising for, or lobbying of, U.S. Federal, State or Local Governments (see OMB Circular A-122).

15. Transparency Act Requirements

Applicants must ensure that it has the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. Law 109-282, as amended by section 6202 of Pub. Law 110-252) (Transparency Act), as follows:

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

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

The following types of awards are not subject to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act:

1. Federal awards to individuals who apply for or receive federal awards as natural persons (i.e., unrelated to any business or non-profit organization he or she may own or operate in his or her name);

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

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

2. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions

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

2. Special Program Requirements for Evaluation

DOL may require that the program or project participate in an evaluation of overall performance of ODEP grants and require the cooperation of the grantee as a condition of the award. All grantees must agree to cooperate with an independent evaluation to be conducted by ODEP. ODEP will arrange for and conduct this independent evaluation of the outcomes, impacts, and accomplishments of each funded project. Grantees must agree to make available records on all parts of project activity, including participant employment and wage data, available data on specific models being evaluated, and to provide access to personnel, as specified by the evaluator(s), under the direction of ODEP. This evaluation is separate from the process evaluation required of the grantee for project implementation.

2. Reporting

Grantees must agree to meet DOL reporting requirements. Quarterly financial reports and quarterly progress reports, in addition to a final project report must be submitted by the grantee electronically. The grantee is required to provide the reports and documents listed below:

1. Quarterly Financial Reports

A Standard Form 425; Federal Financial Form (FFR) is required until such time as all funds have been expended or the grant period has expired. Quarterly reports are due 30 days after the end of each calendar year quarter. Grantees must use DOL’s Online Electronic Reporting System, and information and instructions will be provided to grantees.

2. Quarterly Performance Reports

The grantee must submit a quarterly progress report within 30 days after the end of each calendar year quarter.  The report must include quarterly information regarding grant activities.

3. Final Project Report

The final report will include an assessment of project performance and outcomes achieved. This report will be submitted in hard copy and on electronically using a format and following instructions, which will be provided by ODEP. Grantees must agree to meet DOL reporting requirements.

4. Record Retention

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

VII. Agency Contacts

For further information about this SGA, please contact Cassandra Mitchell, Grants Officer, at (202) 693-4570. Applicants should e-mail all technical questions to [email protected] and must specifically reference SGA 03-12, and along with question(s), include a contact name, fax and phone number. This announcement is being made available on the ODEP website at http://www.dol.gov/odep and at http://www.grants.gov.

VIII. Other Information

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

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments about the burden estimated or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, to the attention of the Departmental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N1301, Washington, DC 20210. Comments may also be emailed to [email protected]. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE COMPLETED APPLICATION TO THIS ADDRESS.  SEND IT TO THE SPONSORING AGENCY AS SPECIFIED IN THIS SOLICITATION.

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

Signed in Washington, D.C., this XX day of June 2012.

Cassandra R. Mitchell, Grant Officer

Billing Code: 4510-FT-P

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.

2 Any Attachments (or Appendices), including letters of cooperation and resumes are not included in the 25 page limit. The timeline and organizational chart are also not included in this page limit. A page is 8 1/2'' x 11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, and captions must be double-spaced (no more than three lines per vertical inch); and, if using a proportional computer font, use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density no greater than 18 characters per inch (if using a non-proportional font or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters per inch).

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