Jobs for Veterans State Grants Application and Planning Instructions for Fiscal Years 2015-2019

JOBS FOR VETERANS STATE GRANT

ASSURANCES: NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant, I certify that the applicant:

1. Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance, and the institutional, managerial, and financial capability (including funds sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of project costs) to ensure proper planning, management and completion of the project described in this application.

2. Will give the awarding agency, the Comptroller General of the United States, and, if appropriate, the State, through any authorized representative, access to and the right to examine all records, books, papers, or documents related to the award; and will establish a proper accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or agency directives.

3. Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using their positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the appearance or personal or organizational conflict of interest, or personal gain.

4. Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable time frame after receipt of approval of the awarding agency.

5. Will comply with all applicable Federal statutes. These include but are not limited to: (a) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (P.L. 88-352), (42 U.S.C. 2000d-2000d-6), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin: (b) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681-1688), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and blindness; (c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability; (d) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 U.S.C. 6101-6107, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and (e) the requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) which may apply to the application.

6. Will comply, if applicable, with insurance purchase requirements of 42 U.S.C. 4012a that requires recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the program and to purchase flood insurance.

7. Will comply with environmental standards which may be prescribed pursuant to the following: (a) institution of environmental quality control measures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; (b) Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.); and (c) the Clear Air Act of 1955, (42 U.S.C. Chapter 85, 7401 et seq.).

8. Will assist the awarding agency in assuring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, (16 U.S.C. 470f), and the Service Award Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 469a-1).

9. Will cause to be performed the required financial and compliance audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act of 1984, (31 U.S.C. 7501-75).

CERTIFICATIONS: NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS

The certifications below are executed with the signing of the certification signature page and submission with the grant application or modification package.

CERTIFICATION REGARDING LOBBYING

The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:

1. No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement;

2. If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' in accordance with its instructions;

3. The undersigned shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for all sub-awards at all tiers (including subcontracts, sub-grants, and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all sub-recipients shall certify and disclose accordingly; and this certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31 U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

The undersigned states, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:

If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this commitment providing for the United States to insure or guarantee a loan, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL A Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying, in accordance with its instructions.

Submission of this statement is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, Title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required statement shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and no more than $100,000 for each such failure.

CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION,

AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CERTIFICATION--PRIMARY COVERED TRANSACTIONS

1. By signing and submitting the certification signature page, the prospective primary participant is providing the certification set out below.

2. The inability of a person to provide the certification required below will not necessarily result in denial of participation in this covered transaction. The prospective participant shall submit an explanation of why it cannot provide the certification set out below. The certification or explanation will be considered in connection with the department or agency's determination whether to enter into this transaction. However, failure of the prospective primary participant to furnish a certification or an explanation shall disqualify such person from participation in this transaction.

3. The certification in this clause is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when the department or agency determined to enter into this transaction. If it is later determined that the prospective primary participant knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition to other remedies available to the Federal Government, the department or agency may terminate this transaction for cause or default.

4. The prospective primary participant shall provide immediate written notice to the department or agency to which this proposal is submitted if at any time the prospective primary participant learns that its certification was erroneous when submitted or has become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances.

5. The terms covered transaction, debarred, suspended, ineligible, lower tier covered transaction, participants, person, primary covered transaction, principal, proposal, and voluntarily excluded, as used in this clause, have the meanings set out in the Definitions and Coverage sections of the rules implementing Executive Order 12549. You may contact the department or agency to which this proposal is being submitted for assistance in obtaining a copy of those regulations.

6. The prospective primary participant agrees by submitting this proposal that, should the proposed covered transaction be entered into, it shall not knowingly enter into any lower tier covered transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this covered transaction.

7. The prospective primary participant further agrees by submitting this proposal that it will include the clause titled A Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transaction,'' provided by the department or agency entering into this covered transaction, without modification, in all lower tier covered transactions and in all solicitations for lower tier covered transactions.

8. A participant in a covered transaction may rely upon a certification of a prospective participant in a lower tier covered transaction that is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from the covered transaction, unless it knows that the certification is erroneous. A participant may decide the method and frequently by which it determines the eligibility of its principals. Each participant may, but is not required to, check the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Non-Procurement programs.

9. Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to render in good faith the certification required by this clause. The knowledge and information of a participant is not required to exceed that which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of business dealings.

10. Except for transactions authorized under paragraph 6 of these instructions, if a participant in a covered transaction knowingly enters into a lower tier covered transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, suspended, debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction, in addition to other remedies available to the Federal Government, the department or agency may terminate this transaction for cause or default.

CERTIFICATION REGARDING

DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS

PRIMARY COVERED TRANSACTIONS

The prospective primary participant certifies to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it and its principals:

1. Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded by any Federal department or agency;

2. Have not within a three-year period preceding this proposal been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property;

3. Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (1)(b) of this certification; and

4. Have not within a three-year period preceding this application/proposal had one or more public transactions (Federal, State or local) terminated for cause or default.

Where the prospective primary participant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, such prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal.

CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING DRUG-FREE/TOBACCO-FREE

WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS

1. By signing and/or submitting the certification signature page, the grantee is providing the certification set out below.

2. The certification set out below is a material representation of fact upon which reliance is placed when the agency awards the grant. If it is later determined that the grantee knowingly rendered a false certification, or otherwise violates the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act, the agency, in addition to any other remedies available to the Federal Government, may take action authorized under the Drug-Free Workplace Act.

3. For grantees other than individuals, Alternate I applies.

4. For grantees that are individuals, Alternate II applies.

5. Workplaces, under grants, for grantees other individuals, need not be identified on the certification. If known, they may be identified in the grant application. If the grantee does not identify the workplaces at the time of application, upon award, the grantee must keep the identity of the workplace(s) on file in its office and make the information available for Federal inspection. Failure to identify all known workplaces constitutes a violation of the grantee's drug-free workplace requirements.

6. Workplace identifications must include the actual address of buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites where work under the grant takes place. Categorical descriptions may be used (e.g. all vehicle; of a mass transit authority or State highway department while in operation, State employees in each local unemployment office performers in concert halls or radio studios).

7. If the workplace identified to the agency changes during the performance of the grant, the grantee shall inform the agency of the change(s), if it previously identified the workplaces in question (see 5., above).

8. Definitions of terms in the Non-procurement Suspension and Debarment common rule and Drug Free Workplace common rule apply to this certification. Grantees' attention is called, in particular, to the following definitions from these rules:

(a) Controlled substance means a controlled substance in Schedules I through V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and as further defined by regulation (21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15).

(b) Conviction means a finding of guilt including a plea of Anolo contendere or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the Federal or State criminal drug statutes.

(c) Criminal drug statute means a Federal or non-Federal criminal statute involving the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, use or Possession of any controlled substance.

(d) Employee means the employee of a grantee directly engaged in the performance of work under a grant, including: (i) All direct charge employees; (ii) All indirect charge employees unless their impact or involvement is insignificant to the performance of the grant; and, (iii) Temporary personnel and consultants who are directly engaged in the performance of work under the grant and who are on the grantee's payroll. This definition does not include workers not on the payroll of the grantee (e.g., volunteers, even if used to meet matching requirement; consultants or independent contractors not on the grantee's payroll; or employees of sub-recipients or subcontractors in covered workplaces).

CERTIFICATION REGARDING DRUG- FREE

WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS

The grantee certifies that it will or will continue to provide a drug-free workplace by:

1. Publishing a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the grantee's workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violation of such prohibition.

2. Establishing an ongoing drug-free awareness program to inform employees about:

(1) The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace;

(2) The grantee's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace;

(3) Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs; and

(4) The penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations occurring in the workplace.

3. Making it a requirement that each employee to be engaged in the performance of the grant be given a copy of the statement required by paragraph (a).

4. Notifying the employee in the statement required by paragraph (a) that, as a condition of employment under the grant, the employee will:

(1) Abide by the terms of the statement; and

(2) Notify the employer in writing of his or her conviction for a violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace no later than five calendar days after such conviction.

5. Notifying the agency in writing, within ten calendar days after receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2) from an employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of such conviction. Employers of convicted employees must provide notice, including position title, to every grant officer or other designee on whose grant activity the convicted employee was working, unless the Federal agency has designated a central point for the receipt of such notices. Notice shall include the identification number(s) of each affected grant.

6. Taking one of the following actions within 30 calendar days of receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2) with respect to any employee who is so convicted:

(1) Taking appropriate personnel action against such an employee, up to and including termination consistent with the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; or

(2) Requiring such employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposes by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency.

7. Making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f).

CERTIFICATION REGARDING

ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE

Public Law 103-227, Part C--Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as the Pro-Children Act of 1994 (Act), requires that smoking not be permitted in any portion of any indoor routinely owned or leased or contracted for by an entity and used routinely or regularly for provision of health, day care, education, or library services to children under the age of 18, if the services are funded by Federal programs either directly or through State or local governments, by Federal grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee. The law does not apply to children's services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, and portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1000 per day and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity.

By signing and submitting the certification signature page (Enclosure VI. D.) with this application the applicant/ grantee certifies that it will comply with the requirements of the Act. The applicant/grantee further agrees that it will require the language of this certification be included in any sub-awards which contain provisions for the children's services and that all sub-grantees shall certify accordingly.

CERTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF INFORMATION

Each grantee must indicate the Federal Share of the grant and the percentage of the grant financed by the Federal share. In this regard, the Certificate for Release of Information is cited below for this purpose. The submission of a signed application containing a copy of this Certification for Release of Information shall constitute the necessary certification.

The grantee agrees that when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations or other documents describing the grant project or program, the grantee shall clearly state (1) the percentage of the total cost of the program or project which will be or is being financed with Federal money, and (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or program; except when, the project or program is competitive.

ASSURANCES AND CERTIFICATIONS - SIGNATURE PAGE

The Department of Labor will not award a grant or agreement where the grantee/recipient has failed to accept the ASSURANCES AND CERTIFICATIONS listed above. By signing and returning this signature page, the grantee/recipient is accepting the certifications set forth below:

1. Assurances - Non-Construction Programs

2. Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters

and Drug-Free/Tobacco-Free Workplace Requirements

3. Certification of Release of Information

APPLICANT NAME and LEGAL ADDRESS:

If there is any reason why one of the assurances or certifications listed cannot be signed, please explain. Applicant need only submit and return this signature page with the grant application or funding request. All other instructions shall be kept on file by the applicant.

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICIAL TITLE

APPLICANT ORGANIZATION DATE SUBMITTED

Please Note: This signature page and any pertinent attachments which may be required by these assurances and certifications shall be attached to the grant application.

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October 1, 2014 – September, 30 2019