[Federal Register: June 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 123)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43154-43169]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26jn02-103]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

 
Office of Disability Employment Policy; Customized Employment 
Grants

AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and Solicitation for Grant 
Applications (SGA 02-13) for Customized Employment Grants.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or the Department), Office 
of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of 
$3.5 million to award up to seven competitive grants for strategic 
planning and implementation activities designed to improve the 
employment and career advancement of people with disabilities through 
enhanced availability and provision of customized employment services 
through the new One-Stop delivery system established under the 
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) (Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 
et seq.).
    This Customized Employment Grant program will provide funds to 
selected Local Workforce Investment Boards (Local Boards), or, if 
appropriate, the WIA grant recipient or fiscal agent for the local area 
on behalf of the Local Board. The Local Board will be the lead entity 
in a consortium/partnership of public and private entities, to build 
the capacity in local One-Stop Centers to provide customized employment 
services to those persons with disabilities who may not now be 
regularly targeted for services by the One-Stop Center system. Grants 
funded under this program will also provide a vehicle for Local Boards 
to systemically review their policy and practices in terms of service 
to persons with disabilities, and to incorporate new and innovative 
practices, as appropriate.
    Grants are for a one-year period and may be renewed for a period of 
up to four additional years at varying funding levels (see Section V) 
depending upon the availability of funds and the efficacy of the 
project activities. All forms necessary to prepare an application are 
included in this SGA. If another copy of a Standard Form is needed, go 
online to http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/forms.html.

DATES: One (1) blue ink-signed original, complete grant application 
plus two (2) copies of the Technical Proposal and two (2) copies of the 
Cost Proposal must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, 
Procurement Services Center, Attention Grant Officer, Reference SGA 02-
13, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, 
not later than 4:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDST) August 
12, 2002. Hand-delivered applications must be received by the 
Procurement Services Center by that time.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be directed to the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention: Grant Officer, Reference 
SGA 02-13, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applications will not be mailed. The 
Federal Register may be obtained from your nearest government office or 
library. All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the 
Washington, DC area has been erratic due to the recent concerns 
involving anthrax contamination. All applicants must take this into 
consideration when preparing to meet the application deadline. It is 
recommended that you confirm receipt of your application by contacting 
Cassandra Willis, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services 
Center, telephone (202) 693-4570, prior to the closing deadline. [This 
is not a toll-free number].

Acceptable Methods of Submission

    The application package must be received at the designated place by 
the date and time specified or it will not be considered. Any 
application received at the Office of Procurement Services Center after 
4:45 p.m., EDST, August 12, 2002, will not be considered unless it is 
received before the award is made and:
    1. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the 
fifth calendar day before August 12, 2002; or
    2. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the place of 
mailing two (2) working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, 
prior to August 12, 2002; or
    3. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due 
solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the U.S. 
Department of Labor at the address indicated.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S. 
Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible, 
an application received after the above closing time and date shall be 
processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped or 
otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression) 
that is readily identifiable without further action as having been 
applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the 
date of mailing. Therefore, applicants should request the postal clerk 
place a legible hand cancellation ``bulls-eye'' postmark on both the 
receipt and the envelope or wrapper.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at 
the U. S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Procurement 
Services Center on the application wrapper or other documentary 
evidence or receipt maintained by that office.
    Applications sent by other delivery services, such as Federal 
Express, UPS, etc., will also be accepted; however, the applicant bears 
the responsibility of timely submission.
    All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the 
Washington, DC area has been erratic due to concerns involving anthrax 
contamination. All applicants must take this into consideration when 
preparing to meet the application deadline. Therefore, it is 
recommended that you confirm receipt of your application by contacting 
Cassandra Willis, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services 
Center, telephone (202) 693-4570, (this is not a toll-free number), 
prior to the closing deadline. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing 
may contact the Department via the Federal Relay Service, (800) 877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Authority

    Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Pub. L. 106-554, 114 Stat. 
2763, A-10, 29 U.S.C. 557(b); DOL, HHS, Education & Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2002, Pub. L. 107-116, 115 Stat. 2177.

II. Background

    The President's New Freedom Initiative is designed to increase the 
number of people with disabilities who enter, reenter, and remain in 
the workforce. It is dedicated to increasing investment in and access 
to assistive technologies, a quality education, and increasing the 
integration of Americans with disabilities into the workforce and 
community life. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) provides the 
infrastructure for streamlining services and securing employment 
through the One-Stop delivery system. WIA requires multiple programs 
and agencies (including state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies) to: 
(a) Form

[[Page 43155]]

partnerships in this effort; (b) share expertise and coordinate 
resources; and (c) provide services to assist people in gaining and 
retaining employment. The One-Stop Career Centers which comprise this 
system are in a position to expand employment opportunities for people 
with disabilities, thus ensuring that the intent of the New Freedom 
Initiative is accomplished. Under WIA, collaboration with multiple 
required partners\1\ is intended to create a coordinated and 
streamlined system for the customer seeking employment. It is essential 
to involve additional states or local programs as partners with the 
One-Stop Center to enable many people with disabilities to have an 
increased opportunity for and choice in employment. These additional 
programs include, but are not limited to, state programs for Mental 
Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid, Mental Health and 
Transportation; State Councils for Developmental Disabilities; state 
assistive technology programs, Small Business Development Centers and 
secondary education programs. While not required partners under WIA, 
these programs have expertise and/or resources that can contribute to 
expanding the employment and business opportunities for people with 
disabilities. In addition, community colleges, University Centers for 
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, business incubators, lending 
institutions, foundations, faith-based organizations, and other state 
or local programs may also be critical partners. These agencies and 
programs may not be informed about the potential for coordinating 
resources and expertise with Local Boards and One-Stop Centers in order 
to increase employment, choice and wages for people with disabilities.
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    \1\ Some of the required partners are adult education and 
literacy activities under Title II of WIA; post-secondary vocational 
education activities under the Carl Perkins Act (20 U.S.C. 2301 et 
seq.); vocational rehabilitation programs authorized under title V 
of the Workforce Investment Act; welfare-to-work programs; veterans 
employment and training activities, community services block grant 
employment and training activities; U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development employment and training activities; and activities 
authorized under Title V of the Older Americans Act (WIA sec. 
121(b), 29 U.S.C.A. 2841(b), 20 CFR 662.200).
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    In addition, One-Stop Centers may elect to become employment 
networks under the Ticket-to-Work Program (42 U.S.C. 1320b-19), thus 
making it more likely that they will require expertise in customized 
employment strategies in order to successfully facilitate employment 
for people with disabilities who are recipients of Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). 
The Ticket-to-Work is providing increased employment opportunities for 
people with disabilities who receive SSI and/or SSDI benefits by 
addressing some of the major barriers encountered by these individuals 
as they attempt to gain or regain employment. Approximately eight 
million people with disabilities receive SSI and/or SSDI benefits. 
According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, less than one percent 
of these individuals leave the rolls each year as a result of paid 
employment. Of those who do leave, about one-third return within three 
years. The Ticket-to-Work program provides a variety of work 
incentives, including greater choices of needed employment services, 
the continuation of Medicare eligibility for SSDI recipients and, at 
state option, health coverage under the Medicaid program to certain 
workers with disabilities, either by permitting them to purchase 
Medicaid coverage or by extending Medicaid eligibility to them without 
charge. As a result, there is unprecedented opportunity for these 
individuals to enter, or return to the workforce. Increasing numbers of 
individuals with disabilities will be approaching their local One-Stop 
Centers for assistance.
    Many strategies exist for securing integrated, competitive 
employment for people with disabilities, including people who 
previously might have been considered ``nonfeasible'' for employment, 
and people who have been segregated in institutions, nursing homes, and 
day activity programs. Attitudes are changing about the abilities of 
people with significant disabilities to work in a variety of jobs, 
industries, and levels. Many exemplary practices and promising 
strategies have emerged through decades of research and demonstration 
projects, and through other public and private activities promoting 
increased choice and self-determination for people with disabilities. 
These include a variety of approaches such as supported employment; 
supported entrepreneurship; individualized job development; job carving 
and restructuring; use of personal agents (including individuals with 
disabilities and family members); development of micro-boards, micro-
enterprises, cooperatives and small businesses; and use of personal 
budgets and other forms of individualized funding that provide choice 
and control to the person and promote self-determination. These and 
other innovations hold the promise of dramatically increasing both 
employment and wages for people with disabilities, in part by 
increasing their choices for integrated, competitive employment, 
business ownership, micro-enterprise development, entrepreneurship, and 
other employment options that were previously seldom available. An 
important focus of these innovations has been on providing non-
stereotypical jobs that provide increased earnings, benefits, and 
career advancement potential for people, with significant disabilities. 
There is a substantial need for a sustained and coordinated initiative 
to build professional competency within One-Stop Centers and their 
partners, including service providers and employers, about the use of 
customized employment strategies.
    Additionally there is a need to: (1) Effectively expand the 
availability of personal agents, job development expertise, and other 
strategies for achieving customized employment for people with 
disabilities; (2) increase the number of eligible training providers 
who can provide customized employment assistance; (3) provide 
information, technical assistance, training and strategic planning that 
focuses on integrating customized employment strategies into the 
workforce investment system; (4) develop ongoing linkages with 
employers and professional and business service organizations and trade 
associations and market to employers the abilities of people with 
disabilities to work in a variety of jobs; (5) coordinate all necessary 
employment and related supports from WIA partners and other essential 
programs that are not required partners under WIA; and, (6) research 
and demonstrate alternative methods of determining effective 
performance by the workforce investment system in terms of service to 
people with disabilities.
    This SGA is designed to award strategic planning and implementation 
grants for customized employment to develop and/or expand the capacity 
of local workforce systems to provide meaningful and effective 
opportunity through One-Stops for all persons with disabilities 
addresses the first of these activities.
    The U.S. Department of Labor also offers Work Incentive Grants 
designed to enhance service delivery throughout the National One-Stop 
delivery system for people with disabilities. Recognizing that the One-
Stop system generally has limited capacity to serve people with 
disabilities in the comprehensive nature envisioned under the WIA, the 
Work Incentive Grant program has multiple goals which include but are 
not limited to: (1) Establishing the capacity for

[[Page 43156]]

coordinated, seamless service delivery to this client group for the 
many programs and services which typically impact their entry or 
retention in the workforce; (2) Increasing the availability of 
assistive technology in One-Stop Centers; (3) Ensuring the availability 
of trained One-Stop staff to serve people with disabilities; (4) 
Assuring outreach and marketing of One-Stop services to the disability 
community; and (5) Establishing or expanding linkages with public and 
private providers of this client Work Incentive Grants were awarded in 
the last two fiscal years, as a continuing and on-going process of 
building the One-Stop infrastructure to most effectively meet the needs 
of customers with disabilities. The Work Incentive Grants are 
complementary yet distinct from the Customized Employment demonstration 
grants offered in this SGA. The Work Incentive Grants support systemic 
change through capacity building of the One-Stop infrastructure, 
whereas these Customized Employment Grants will serve as models of 
comprehensive service delivery which extends beyond WIA programs and 
services for individuals with disabilities who are the most 
disenfranchised under current service delivery systems.
    This SGA is designed to develop comprehensive models of direct 
service delivery in the context of a One-Stop setting for individuals 
with disabilities with the greatest barriers to employment, many of 
whom have never been employed, are limited to subsidized employment, 
underemployed, or may be considered unable to be employed. The 
Customized Employment grants will involve cutting edge approaches such 
as use of customized employment strategies and active involvement of 
essential programs of both mandated and non-mandated partners of the 
workforce system.

III. Purpose

    The purpose of this initiative is to maximize the capacity of, and 
outcomes from, One-Stop Centers and their partners to effectively serve 
people with disabilities through customized employment strategies, and 
to integrate those strategies into the policy and practice of the One-
Stop and its partners in order to increase employment, choice and wages 
for people with disabilities.
    For purposes of this solicitation the Department has chosen to 
specifically target the development and provision of customized 
employment to those people with disabilities identified in this 
section. However, the Department expects that once capacity for using 
customized employment strategies is developed or enhanced, the One-Stop 
Centers and their partners can expand use of these strategies to other 
groups of people with (and without) disabilities.
    For purposes of this solicitation, the target groups are people 
with disabilities who are either unemployed or under-employed and are: 
(1) Receiving Supplementary Security Income (SSI) and/or Social 
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); or (2) Participating in day 
programs (such as day habilitation, day activity or day health 
programs) or participating in facility-based or community employment 
and earning less than minimum wage; or (3) Participating in segregated 
employment and choosing to move to integrated, competitive employment; 
or (4) Awaiting employment services and supports following a move from 
a residential facility, or as part of a plan to move into a community 
under the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. by Zimring, 527 
U.S. 581(1999); or (5) Transitioning from, or preparing to transition 
from, secondary school under a transition plan under part B of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1400 
et seq.), and who, without access to customized employment strategies, 
would likely be referred to one of the environments identified in (2), 
(3) or (4) above, but who prefers integrated, competitive employment or 
self-employment.
    For purposes of this solicitation, customized employment means 
individualizing the employment relationship between employees and 
employers in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an 
individualized determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of 
the person with a disability, and is also designed to meet the specific 
needs of the employer. It may include employment developed through job 
carving, self-employment or entrepreneurial initiatives, or other job 
development or restructuring strategies that result in job 
responsibilities being customized and individually negotiated to fit 
the needs of individuals with a disability. Customized employment 
assumes the provision of reasonable accommodations and supports 
necessary for the individual to perform the functions of a job that is 
individually negotiated and developed

IV. Statement of Work

    Eligible applicants for these grants are Local Workforce Investment 
Boards (Local Boards) or, if appropriate, the WIA grant recipient or 
fiscal agent for the local area on behalf of the Local Board under the 
Workforce Investment Act. The Local Board may enter into numerous 
partnerships with other public and private entities, consistent with 
the proposed activities of the grant.
    Grantees must implement training and staff development activities 
and demonstration projects designed to develop organizational capacity 
to serve people with disabilities in One-Stop Centers. These projects 
must develop professional competency in customized employment 
strategies and serve targeted people with disabilities. Workforce 
investment system partners and other non-required but essential 
programs must be included in this effort. Grantees must integrate 
customized employment strategies with the existing services available 
through the One-Stop Center and its partners, including through 
demonstrating alternative methods of measuring performance within the 
Once-Stop environment. The result of these efforts will be an increase 
in employment, choice, and wages for people with disabilities through 
the use of customized employment, and the systemic evaluation and 
modification, as appropriate, of policies and practices to ensure that 
customized employment strategies for people with disabilities are 
systemically included in the services available through the One-Stop 
Center.
    Grantees must demonstrate collaborative activities across relevant 
stakeholder groups, including both required and non-required One-Stop 
partners, persons with disabilities, their parents and other family 
members, advocates, employers, community rehabilitation agencies, and 
others as appropriate\2\.
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    \2\ These partners may become a subgroup or an advisory group of 
the Local Board. They may be specifically charged with coordinating 
funding, resources and expertise in order to increase customized 
employment for people with disabilities in the community.
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    Grantees must:
    1. Develop professional competency and capacity for implementing a 
variety of innovative and promising practices through customized 
employment;
    2. Mobilize needed services and supports;
    3. Implement systems change demonstrations; and,
    4. Implement other initiatives to ensure that these innovations and 
promising practices become part of the menu of services available 
through the workforce investment system.
    Grantees must develop employment opportunities in a variety of 
jobs, industries and at a variety of levels, including self-employment 
and entrepreneurship, based on the strengths, needs and desires of the

[[Page 43157]]

individual with a disability. They must organize services and supports 
in ways that provide informed choice and promote self-determination. In 
addition, grantees must establish employer involvement; track and 
respond to customer service and satisfaction for both persons with 
disabilities and employers; and provide services, including follow-up 
services to ensure job retention and career development.
    It is expected that each grantee will become a ``model'' for both 
the state and the Nation in terms of demonstrating effective linkages 
and strategies through the One-Stop Center system. These models will 
demonstrate successful strategies for customized employment for people 
with disabilities which result in increased employment and wages. Each 
grantee must also review policy and practice as it relates to people 
with disabilities, including researching alternative methods for 
performance accountability that are relevant to the characteristics of 
this population.
    Grantees must pursue the following objectives:
    1. Develop and implement strategic planning and implementation 
activities across the One-Stop required partner programs as identified 
in the Workforce Investment Act, (WIA sec. 121(b), 29 USCA, 2841(b) 
(such as Vocational Rehabilitation and others as appropriate) as well 
as other essential programs (such as Medicaid, Medicare, Mental Health, 
Transportation, Small Business Development Centers, State Councils on 
Developmental Disabilities, community colleges, benefits counseling and 
assistance programs, lending and financial institutions), whose 
expertise, services, and/or funds could contribute to employment 
services and supports needed by people with disabilities in order to 
secure customized employment.
    2. Develop local and statewide policy initiatives to ensure that 
customized employment and multiple innovative strategies and promising 
practices become part of the menu of services available to people with 
disabilities including investigating alternative methods for 
performance accountability that consider the characteristics of the 
population.
    3. Develop and document the increased capacity of the One-Stop 
system, including WIA required partners, community providers of 
employment services, and other essential programs, to provide 
customized employment for persons with disabilities. Such capacity 
includes enhancing collaboration between required WIA partners and 
building new collaborative initiatives with other essential programs.
    4. Develop and document the capacity of the One-Stop system to 
increase the wages of people with disabilities who are currently 
working at less than minimum wage through the use of customized 
employment strategies.
    5. Develop an increased understanding by One-Stop Centers' staff 
about health care, work incentives, benefits planning, ``tickets'' and 
other provisions under the Ticket-to-Work and Work Incentives 
Improvement Act of 1999 (42 USC 1320b-19 et seq.); and document 
increased use of these programs by the One-Stop Center and its partner 
programs to secure customized employment for recipients of SSI and/or 
SSDI who are entering the workforce or returning to work.
    6. Document the increasing use of resources from a number of system 
partners and other essential programs, including providing individual 
budgets (e.g., individual training accounts/contractual services; 
tickets; vouchers; and other sources of individualized funding or 
personal funding accounts) for persons with disabilities to obtain 
customized employment.
    7. Develop and leverage linkages with other state and local 
initiatives that provide services and supports for people with 
disabilities (including, but not limited to, state systems change 
efforts which promote systems improvement and comprehensive 
coordination; initiatives involving health care; benefits planning and 
assistance; housing; transportation; education; supported employment; 
small business development; technology-related assistance; initiatives 
of private foundations; and faith-based programs and others as 
appropriate).
    8. Educate relevant stakeholders, including state and local 
policymakers and systems personnel, about needed changes in policy and 
practice in order to increase customized employment and wages for 
people with disabilities.
    9. Organize education activities to enable customized employment 
and personalized supports to become available and used in local 
communities, including (as appropriate) activities necessary to secure 
adoption of the Medicaid buy-in in the state.
    10. Develop ongoing linkages with employers, and their professional 
business and service organizations and trade associations as 
appropriate;
    11. Collaborate with the national technical assistance cooperative 
agreement funded by the ODEP to provide assistance and training on 
increasing employment for adults with disabilities.
    12. Identify and pursue other activities, as appropriate, to 
achieving the goals of these grants.
    13. Provide ongoing evaluation of project activities.
    Funds must be used in a flexible manner, as determined appropriate 
by input from stakeholders and identified needs. However, grantees must 
spend grant funds on activities that meet the requirements delineated 
in this SGA, including the requirements for outcome and evaluation 
data. Moreover, the grantee must adhere to the allowable cost and 
administrative requirements of Federal statutes, regulations, 
administrative requirements, and OMB Circulars. Activities may include 
the following:
    1. Necessary staffing across agencies to implement grantee 
activities and otherwise demonstrate effective partnerships and 
interactions necessary to effectively leverage resources and expertise 
from partnering systems and programs.
    2. Outreach to relevant stakeholders.
    3. Strategic planning.
    4. Demonstration activities which provide methods to increase the 
employment, choice, and earning potential of people with disabilities 
that are designed for systemic inclusion (including but not limited to 
demonstrating the use of individual training accounts or contractual 
services, tickets, and individual budgeting initiatives; economic 
stimulus activities including low-interest loans for person-centered 
micro-boards focused on increasing economic prosperity for specific 
individuals with disabilities; entrepreneurial employment initiatives 
that are consumer-owned or operated; demonstrations of innovation and 
cutting-edge strategies providing personal control, choice and 
customized assistance resulting in employment, including business 
ownership, micro-enterprise development or development of cooperatives 
for persons with disabilities; and other supports needed by specific 
individuals with disabilities to increase choice and wages in 
employment).
    5. Other activities necessary to address needs and achieve goals 
identified through strategic planning and implementation, including 
collection of necessary data and evaluation.
    6. Collaboration with the education system, parents and families to 
ensure transition of young people with disabilities from school to 
customized employment or training, and documentation of the outcomes of 
such efforts.

[[Page 43158]]

    7. Training and education activities (including training regarding 
Medicaid buy-in provisions and other policy implications for increasing 
employment through state activities) designed to further the goal of 
increasing customized employment for persons with disabilities. These 
training activities include the education of One-Stop and partner 
personnel; state systems personnel and policymakers; developing and 
disseminating educational information and materials; and otherwise 
promoting policy and practice to increase the wide spread community-
based use of customized employment strategies and personalized 
supports.
    8. Researching and demonstrating alternative methods of measuring 
WIA performance outcomes that consider the various characteristics of 
people with disabilities and developing demonstrations of performance 
measures that document new methods for measuring program effectiveness; 
and coordinating the availability of and access to assistive 
technology.
    9. Establishing connections to and collaborating with other 
entities, including employers, lending and financial institutions, 
foundations, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher 
education, consumer and family organizations, small business 
development centers and others, as appropriate, to further customized 
employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in local 
communities.
    10. Educating the media and the general public about successful 
strategies for and the benefits of securing employment for people with 
disabilities. This will assist in obtaining long-term support for 
continuation of grantee activities following completion of funding.
    11. Increasing the availability of personal agents and job 
development personnel offering customized services through customer-
controlled approaches that result in customized employment (including 
demonstrating effectiveness of paying family members and/or other 
individuals with disabilities to serve as personal agents when selected 
by the individual with a disability to assist in negotiating and 
implementing employment plans and services).
    12. Assisting community providers of segregated employment services 
to develop integrated, competitive options for individuals with 
disabilities, including implementation of conversion and other 
organizational change initiatives conducted with segregated provider 
programs that wish to change their services to integrated employment.
    Upon the award of a grant, grantees must begin a strategic planning 
and implementation process that will address multiple components of 
needed change. Planning, implementation and ongoing evaluation for 
continuous improvement are expected to be implemented from year one in 
recognition that dynamic planning will occur and evolve over time. By 
the end of year five, it is expected that a more long-term strategic 
plan will be in place for expanding the availability and provision of 
customized employment, and for systemically revising policies and 
practices consistent with this goal. All grantees must provide a 
detailed management plan for project goals, objectives and activities.
    All grantees must collect and provide to the DOL information on the 
individuals with disabilities served under this grant who secure 
employment through use of customized strategies (including information 
on types of jobs, wages and benefits secured by specific individuals 
with disabilities, and other areas addressed through the linkages and 
networks facilitated by grant activities.) Grantees must support the 
travel cost associated with sending at least one representative to the 
annual ODEP Grantees' training conference, to be held in Washington, 
DC.
    All grantees must agree to cooperate with an evaluation to be 
conducted by the Department of Labor. DOL will arrange for and conduct 
this evaluation of the outcomes, impacts, and accomplishments of each 
funded grant as a way to measure the overall effectiveness of ODEP's 
grant program. Grantees must agree to make available records on all 
parts of grant activity, including participant employment and wage 
data, and to provide access to personnel, as specified by the 
evaluator(s), under the direction of the Department. This independent 
evaluation is separate from the ongoing evaluation for continuous 
improvement required of the grantee for grant implementation.

V. Funding Availability

    The Department of Labor anticipates awarding up to seven grants 
with a range of between $400,000 and $750,000 each. These awards will 
be for a one-year period and may be renewed annually for up to four 
additional years for a total of five years depending upon the 
availability of funds and the efficacy of the grant activities, 
established through reviews conducted by the Department of Labor or its 
designee. Proposals must include budgetary information for a five-year 
period. The funding for Years Four and Five will be at successively 
lower levels, with funding during Year Four could be at up to 80 
percent of third-year funds and during Year Five at 60 percent of the 
third years funds. Grantees are expected to use this grant as seed 
money to develop other public and private resources in order to ensure 
sustainability of grant activities following completion of the funding 
period.
    Funds must not be used for modifying buildings or equipment for 
physical accessibility, although the strategic planning should address 
how resources will be leveraged for such purposes from other sources, 
as appropriate.

VI. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants for these grants are restricted to Local 
Workforce Investment Boards (Local Boards) or, if appropriate, the WIA 
grant recipient or fiscal agent for the local area on behalf of the 
Local Board as established under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA 
sec.117, U.S.C.A. 2832). The Local Board may coordinate numerous 
partnerships with other public and private entities, consistent with 
proposed activities of the grant and applicable administrative 
requirements.
    The U.S. Department of Labor encourages Local Boards to join with 
other State/local entities and public/private non-profit organizations. 
Such entities and organizations could include state programs for 
Vocational Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Medicaid, Mental Retardation/
Developmental Disabilities, Housing and/or Transportation; State 
Councils on Developmental Disabilities; Protection and Advocacy 
Programs; University Centers for Excellence in Developmental 
Disabilities; institutions of higher education; Centers for Independent 
Living (CIL's); disability advocacy and provider organizations; 
organizations of parents; federally-funded disability grant entities; 
Small Business Development Centers; cooperatives and micro-enterprises; 
lending and financial institutions; training programs; media and 
marketing agencies; employers; foundations; grass roots community, 
industry, and faith-based programs; and other organizations or programs 
which provide or support services and/or advocacy for people with 
disabilities. Letters of support and commitment from these programs 
must be included in the Appendix of the proposal. Indian and Native 
American Tribal entities, or consortia of Tribes, may apply for these 
grants. These grants could involve coordination of services and 
enhancement to a One-Stop system

[[Page 43159]]

approach for people with disabilities in a specific Indian community or 
covering multiple Tribal entities which may cut across multiple States 
and/or workforce investment areas. Grants to Indian and Native American 
tribal grantees are treated differently because of sovereignty and 
self-governance established under the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act allowing for the government to government 
relationship between the Federal and Tribal Governments.
    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. 506(c)(4).

VII. Application Contents

    There are three required Parts and an Appendix of the application. 
Requirements for each Part are provided in this application package, as 
are all required forms.

Part I--Project Financial Plan (Budget)
Part II--Executive Summary
Part III--Project Narrative
Appendices--Letters of Commitment/Support, Resumes, etc.

General Requirements

    A cover letter, one completed blue ink signed original SF 424 grant 
application with two (2) copies. Proposals must be submitted by the 
applicant only. Page limits do not apply to the Project Financial Plan, 
the Executive Summary, or the Appendices (assurances, resumes, 
bibliography or references as appropriate, and letters of support.) A 
font size of at least twelve (12) point is required throughout.

Part I--Project Financial Plan (Budget)

    To be considered, applications must include a detailed financial 
plan which identifies by line item the budget plan designed to achieve 
the goals of this grant. The Project Financial Plan must contain the 
SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, (Appendix A) and an SF-424A 
Budget Information Sheet (Appendix B). The Project Financial Plan 
(Budget) must include on a separate page a detailed cost analysis of 
each line item. Justification for administrative costs must be 
provided. Approval of a budget by DOL is not the same as the approval 
of actual costs. The individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the 
applicant must represent and be able to bind the responsible financial 
and administrative entity for a grant should that application result in 
an award.

Part II--Executive Summary

    The application must contain an Executive Summary limited to no 
more than two (2) single-spaced, single-sided pages which are not 
included in the overall page limit. Each application must provide a 
grant synopsis which identifies the following:
    1. The applicant;
    2. The consortium partners; the organizations or systems they 
represent; and their role in grant implementation;
    3. Data on people with disabilities in the area, including, to the 
extent it is available, information about the target group for this 
solicitation and other data relevant to the proposed grant;
    4. The geographic service area of the Local Board;
    5. The planned period of performance (projected annually through a 
five year cycle, assuming grant renewals awards);
    6. The actions already taken by the One-Stop system in the local 
area to address the needs of people with disabilities, including 
activities related to increasing availability of customized employment 
and leveraging resources and expertise across non-required partners of 
the One-Stop Centers;
    7. A brief statement of the goals of the proposal and how they will 
be achieved; and,
    8. Assurances of commitment in support of this proposal from the 
fiscal agent and all partner agencies.

Part III--Project Narrative

    The Grant Narrative should provide complete information on how the 
applicant will address the requirements of this SGA and is limited to 
no more than 75 double-spaced, single-sided, numbered pages (not 
including Appendices). Each application must provide, in response to 
the objectives of this SGA, a comprehensive strategy and implementation 
plan for developing capacity and providing customized employment 
through the One Stop system.

Appendix--Letters of Support and/or Commitment, Resumes

VIII. Evaluation Criteria/Selection

    A. Evaluation Criteria: The Project Narrative should address the 
following evaluation elements:
1. Statement of Need (10 Points)
    Applicants must include in their proposed plan the following items.
    a. The current employment circumstances facing people with 
disabilities in the area to be served, including barriers, programs and 
resources, systems and activities that could be leveraged to address 
needed changes.
    b. The number of persons with disabilities in the area who fit the 
other requirements of the defined target group of persons with 
disabilities who may be served under this grant.
    c. Related issues that need to be addressed in order to develop 
and/or enhance capacity of the One-Stop system to use customized 
employment strategies to increase employment, choice and wages for 
persons with disabilities, including the contribution the proposed 
grant will make to influence systemic changes in the local workforce 
system.
2. Comprehensive Strategy for Strategic Planning and Implementation To 
Build Capacity for Customized Employment (25 points)
    Applicants must include in their proposed plan the following items.
    a. The technical plan to implement the purpose and objectives of 
this SGA to enhance the capacity of the workforce investment system to 
increase employment, choice and wages for persons with disabilities 
through the use of customized employment strategies and to ensure that 
such strategies are systemically included in the policy and practice of 
the One-Stop Center(s).
    b. The plan for developing, implementing and expanding the 
availability and use of customized employment strategies throughout the 
WIA system of required partners and non-required programs.
    c. The plan for how the expertise of the State Vocational 
Rehabilitation program will be used.
    d. The plan to involve appropriate private entities, including but 
not limited to community-based organizations and faith-based 
organizations, as appropriate.
    e. The plan for reaching people with disabilities and their 
families, including their involvement in grant design and 
implementation.
    f. The plan for gaining support and assistance of area employers.
    g. The plan for meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities 
from diverse cultures and/or ethnic groups.
    h. The plan for expanding the use of customized employment 
strategies over time to:
    1. All groups of persons with disabilities targeted under this 
solicitation; and
    2. Other groups of individuals with disabilities (such as 
individuals who are receiving TANF benefits) following completion of 
the grant;

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    i. The plan for leveraging resources over time in order to ensure 
grant sustainability upon completion of funding, including the plan for 
implementing grant activities during years four and five at 80% and 60% 
funding, respectively.
    j. The plan for responding to the measures by which program success 
will be evaluated.
    k. The plan for marketing to and involving employers, and 
professional and business service organizations, and trade associations 
as appropriate.
3. Collaboration and Coordination (15 Points)
    Applicants must include in their proposed plan the following items.
    a. Demonstrations of support and commitment from key organizations 
and individuals who advocate through or on behalf of persons with 
disabilities to participate in this effort.
    b. Demonstrations of support and commitment from One-Stop partners 
and non-required but essential programs.
    c. Demonstrations of support from area employers and employer 
organizations and evidence of their interest in participating in this 
effort.
    d. Demonstrations of support from persons with disabilities and 
their families for implementation of the proposed activities.
    e. Commitment to cooperate with ODEP's planned technical assistance 
initiative in a joint effort to develop capacity and disseminate 
promising practices so that the national workforce system can profit 
from this experience.
4. Quality of Grant Personnel (15 Points)
    Applicants must include in their proposed plan the following items.
    a. The names and qualifications of staff and related technical 
experts and consultants to support the objectives of this project for 
grantee and key sub-contractors and consultants.
    b. A resume of key staff and consultants must be included in the 
Appendix and must clearly indicate qualifications of each individual 
for designated role in project implementation.
5. Management Plan (10 Points)
    Applicants must include in their proposed plan the following items.
    a. A management plan adequate to achieve the objectives of the 
proposed grant on time and within budget, including clearly defined 
responsibilities, time lines, and milestones for accomplishing grant 
activities;
    b. A plan demonstrating adequate procedures for ensuring feedback 
and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed grant.
    c. A plan demonstrating the time commitments of key grant personnel 
are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
grant.
    d. How the applicant will insure that customized employment 
strategies become a part of the menu of services available in the local 
community.
6. Evaluation and Continuous Improvement (15 Points)
    Applicants must include in their proposed plan the following items:
    a. All grantees must agree to participate in the DOL evaluation 
outlined in Section IV of this SGA.
    b. In addition, all grantees must implement ongoing evaluation of 
grant activities in order to determine the effectiveness of grant 
implementation efforts for continuous improvement of the grant. In 
determining the quality of the evaluation for continuous improvement, 
the Department considers the following.
    1. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives and outcomes of the 
proposed grant.
    2. The extent to which the methods of evaluation and continuous 
improvement are appropriate to the context within which the grant 
operates.
    3. The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of 
objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended 
outcomes of the grant and will produce quantitative and qualitative 
data to the extent possible (including data on wages, wage changes, 
benefits, types of jobs, customer satisfaction, resources leveraged 
from partner programs, systemic changes implemented to sustain grant 
over time.)
    4. And, the extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance 
about effective strategies suitable for replication in other settings.
7. Adequacy of Resources and Budget (10 Points)
    Applicants must include in their proposed plan the following items.
    a. The adequacy of support for grant implementation, including 
facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources.
    b. The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed grant.
    B. Selection Criteria: Acceptance of a proposal and an award of 
federal funds to sponsor any program(s) does not provide a waiver of 
any grant requirement and/or procedures. Grantees must comply with all 
applicable Federal statutes, regulations, administrative requirements 
and OMB Circulars. For example, the OMB circulars require, and an 
entity's procurement procedures must require that all procurement 
transactions must be conducted, as practical, to provide open and free 
competition. If a proposal identifies a specific entity to provide the 
services, the DOL/ODEP's award does not provide the justification or 
basis to sole-source the procurement, i.e., avoid competition.
    Applications will be reviewed by a panel using the criteria 
described in this SGA. Applications will be ranked based on the score 
assigned by the panel after careful evaluation by each panel member. 
The ranking will be the primary basis to identify applicants as 
potential grantees. Although the Government reserves the right to award 
on the basis of the initial proposal submissions, the Government may 
establish a competitive range, based upon the proposal evaluation, for 
the purpose of selecting qualified applicants. The panel's conclusions 
are advisory in nature and not binding on the Grant Officer. The 
Government reserves the right to ask for clarification or hold 
discussions, but is not obligated to do so. The Government further 
reserves the right to select applicants out of rank order if such a 
selection would, in its opinion, result in the most effective and 
appropriate combination considering factors such as:
    1. Findings of the grant technical evaluation panel;
    2. Geographic distribution of the competitive applications; and,
    3. The Project's Financial Plan.
    The submission of the same proposal from any prior year competition 
does not guarantee an award under this solicitation.

IX. Reporting

    The Department of Labor is responsible for ensuring the effective 
implementation of each competitive grant project in accordance with the 
provisions of this announcement, the grant agreement and other 
applicable administrative requirements. Applicants should assume that 
Department staff or their designees will conduct at least one on-site 
project review. In addition, all grantees will be expected to provide 
information on individuals with disabilities securing employment 
through use of customized strategies (including information on types of 
jobs, wages and benefits secured by specific individuals with 
disabilities, and other areas addressed through the linkages and 
networks facilitated by project activities). Grantees will be required 
to submit periodic financial and participation reports under the

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Customized Employment grant program. Specifically, the following 
reports will be required:
    1. Quarterly progress reports, and upon completion of the grant 
period a final report. The quarterly report is estimated to take ten 
hours during the remainder of the grant. The final report is estimated 
to take 20 hours. The Department will work with the grantee to identify 
the requirements of the various reports, which will, among other 
things, include measures of ongoing analysis for continuous improvement 
and customer satisfaction;
    2. Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report Form, on a quarterly 
basis;
    3. Final Project Report, including an assessment of project 
performance and outcomes achieved. This report will be submitted in 
hard copy and on electronic disk using a format and instructions which 
will be provided by the Department. A draft of the final report is due 
to the Department 45 days before the termination of the grant.
    DOL will arrange for and conduct an independent evaluation of the 
outcomes, impacts, and accomplishments of each funded project. Grantees 
must agree to make available records on all parts of project activity, 
including participant employment and wage data, and to provide access 
to personnel, as specified by the evaluator(s), under the direction of 
the Department. This independent evaluation is separate from the 
ongoing evaluation for continuous improvement required of the grantee 
for project implementation.

X. Administration Provisions

A. Administrative Standards and Provisions

    Applicants are strongly encouraged to read these regulations before 
submitting a proposal. Grants awarded under this SGA shall be subject 
to the following as applicable:

29 CFR Part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, etc.
29 CFR Part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded Grants, 
Contracts, and Agreements
29 CFR Part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirement for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments

B. Allowable Cost

    Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with 
the following applicable Federal cost principles:

State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87
Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122
Profit-making Commercial Firms--48 CFR Part 31.
    Profit will not be considered an allowable cost in any case.

C. Grant Non-Discrimination Assurances

    As a condition of the award, the applicant will comply fully with 
the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following 
laws:

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. (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)
29 CFR Part 32--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in 
Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Assistance 
(Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act)
29 CFR Part 36--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education 
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. (Title 
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)
29 CFR Part 37--Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal 
Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA)

    The applicant must attach the aforementioned assurances and 
certifications.

D. Limitation on Administrative and Indirect Costs

    1. Direct Costs for administration, plus any indirect charges 
claimed.
    2. Indirect costs claimed by the applicant must be based on a 
federally approved rate. A copy of the negotiated, approved, and signed 
indirect cost negotiation agreement must be submitted with the 
application.
    3. If the applicant does not presently have an approved indirect 
cost rate, a proposed rate with justification may be submitted. 
Successful applicants will be required to negotiate an acceptable and 
allowable rate with the appropriate DOL Regional Office of Cost 
Determination within 90 days of grant award.
    4. Rates traceable and trackable through the State Workforce 
Agency's Cost Accounting System represent an acceptable means of 
allocating costs to DOL and, therefore, can be approved for use in 
grants to State Workforce Agencies.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 18th day of June, 2002
Lawrence J. Kuss
Grant Officer,

APPENDIX A.  Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF 424
APPENDIX B.  Budget Information Sheet, Form SF 424A
APPENDIX C.  Assurances and Certifications Signature Page
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[FR Doc. 02-16098 Filed 6-25-02; 8:45 am]
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