[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 83 (Friday, April 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24988-24994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10585]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations DOL FY 
2000 Budget, Training and Employment Services (TES) 1600174

AGENCY: Women's Bureau, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant 
Applications (SGA 00-03).

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SUMMARY: All information required to submit a proposal is contained in 
this announcement. Applicants for grant funds should read this notice 
in its entirety and respond as directed. Grant proposals that are not 
completed as directed will be judged nonresponsive and will not be 
evaluated.
    The Women's Bureau (WB), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announces 
the Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) authorized under the 
Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act of 
1992. The major provisions of the WANTO legislation are to ``assist 
business in providing women with opportunities in apprenticeship and 
nontraditional occupations.'' The WANTO grant program funds Community-
Based Organizations (CBOs) to provide technical assistance (TA) to 
employers and labor unions (E/LUs) that will ``enable business to meet 
the challenge of Workforce 2000.'' The challenge is greater than the 
shortage of skilled workers in construction trades, and it is 
especially acute in recruiting and retaining workers with technology 
skills in nonconstruction industries with increasing inputs of 
technological innovation that interfaces with computer-based 
information technology, e.g., telecommunications, utilities, 
manufacturing, transportation, and services.
    The Women's Bureau co-administers WANTO with the DOL's Bureau of 
Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), with the WB having responsibility 
for implementing the grant process. Congress first appropriated funds 
for WANTO in Fiscal Year (FY) 1994, under JTPA (Title IV-D). JTPA 
expires on June 30, 2000, and will be superseded by the Workforce 
Investment Act (WIA) on July 1, 2000. WANTO (FY) 2000 is funded by DOL 
(FY) 2000 Budget: Training and Employment Services (TES) 1600174.
    The Department of Labor will competitively award grants to CBOs who 
represent the best from the segment of CBOs actively involved in pre-
apprenticeship and skills training, advocacy, technical assistance to 
employers/labor unions, mentorship, and other support services to 
increase the participation of women in apprenticeship and skilled, 
high-pay nontraditional occupations (A/NTO). These CBOs must provide TA 
to E/LUs to prepare them to successfully recruit, train, and retain 
women in apprenticeable and other skilled high-pay nontraditional 
occupations. In addition, TA must include strategic planning with E/LUs 
for identifying sources of support services--child care, 
transportation, and necessary transitional costs--to ensure the 
successful transition of women to apprenticeship and other skilled 
high-pay workplaces. As a result, the Department expects employers and 
labor unions ``to expand the employment and self-sufficiency options of 
women.''
    Further, the Department will give priority consideration to 
proposals in the following order: (1) CBOs in the 32 States previously 
unserved by WANTO, (2) CBOs working to employ women

[[Page 24989]]

with physical and/or cognitive disabilities in skilled high-pay jobs, 
(3) CBOs with diverse race-ethnic backgrounds, and (4) CBOs with 
programs to provide TA to E/LUs that assist women to make the 
transition from welfare to pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and 
other entry-level skilled nontraditional employment.
    Applicant CBOs should document the extent of their:
    (1) Established and growing employer/labor union working 
relationships;
    (2) Proven service delivery to assist women to enter and remain in 
A/NTO as the major component of its employment and training activities, 
including outreach, orientation, mentoring, support groups, networks, 
workplace consultations (including troubleshooting and other work site 
resolution practices), employee and supervisory workshops, seminars and 
other workplace specific strategic planning to increase the 
participation of women in A/NTO; and
    (3) recognized leadership credentials in the A/NTO community that 
also promotes leadership in social and economic change for women and 
their families to economic self-sufficiency, as well as mentoring 
relationships with other CBOs working in A/NTO.
    The above discussion summarizes the general focus of SGA 00-03; 
however, applicants are again urged to read the SGA in its entirety to 
ensure that their submission is fully responsive to SGA 00-03. WANTO 
grant awards are competitive and based only on how responsive an 
applicant's proposal is to the SGA and its evaluation criteria.
    This notice describes the background, the application process, 
statement of work, evaluation criteria, and reporting requirements for 
this Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA 00-03). WB anticipates 
that a total amount of $927,000 will be available for the support of 
all Fiscal Year 2000. (See Part II. C. and Part III. A.2.f. for funding 
limitations per grant.)

DATES: One (1) ink-signed original, complete grant application plus 
five (5) copies of the Technical Proposal and two (2) copies of the 
Cost Proposal shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, 
Office of Procurement Services, Room N-5416, Reference SGA 00-03, 200 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, not later than 4:45 
p.m. EST, June 30, 2000. Hand-delivered applications must be received 
by the Office of Procurement Services by that time.

ADDRESSES: Applicants who intend to submit a proposal must register 
immediately with the Grant Officer in order to receive any amendment to 
this solicitation that is issued. Please send registration to U.S. 
Department of Labor, Office of Procurement Services, Attention: Grant 
Officer, Reference SGA 00-03, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20210. Grant applications must be mailed to U.S. 
Department of Labor, Office of Procurement Services, Attention: Grant 
Officer, Reference SGA 00-03, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Applicants are encouraged to verify 
delivery to this office directly through their delivery service and as 
soon as possible.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applications will not be mailed. The 
Federal Register may be obtained from your nearest government office or 
library. Questions concerning this solicitation may be sent to Lisa 
Harvey at the following Internet address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#503c38312226352910343f3c7e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0dcd8d1c2c6d5c9f0d4dfdc9ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>.

Part I. Background

    The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) 
Act--Public Law 102-530, signed October 27, 1992--The Act has three 
major activities that affect this SGA:
    1. Outreach to private-sector Employers and Labor Unions. DOL will 
promote the Act's program to employers and labor unions by informing 
them of the availability of technical assistance and keeping a database 
of employers and community-based organizations with active grants.
    2. Technical Assistance. DOL will provide grants to community-based 
organizations to deliver technical assistance to employers and labor 
unions to prepare them to recruit, train, and retain women in 
apprenticeship and other apprenticeable nontraditional occupations.
    3. Liaison Role of Department of Labor. DOL will serve as follows: 
(1) To act as a liaison between employers, labor unions, and the 
community-based organizations providing technical assistance; (2) 
coordinating, conducting regular assessment, and seeking input of 
employers and labor unions.
    The Women's Bureau has been the champion of the concerns of working 
women since its creation by Congress in 1920. For over 70 years, 
improving employment opportunities and related equity issues has been 
the driving force of the Bureau's policies and programs. From its 
national office and 10 regional offices, the Bureau conducts advocacy 
and outreach activities across the United States. The Bureau 
participates in meetings with international visitors and others who are 
concerned with the employment and related social issues of working 
women. Within the Department of Labor, the WB Director serves as the 
policy advisor to the Secretary, ensuring that women's voices are heard 
and that their priorities are represented in the public policy arena.
    The Bureau has a history of encouraging women to consider the wide 
array of apprenticeship and other nontraditional occupations (NTOs) as 
one way to obtain economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their 
families. NTOs are often thought of as the blue-collar skill 
occupations in highway and building trades. But NTOs can also be the 
lab coat and clean room occupations associated with computer-based 
technology innovation linked to information technology in 
manufacturing, utilities, telecommunications, and related business and 
professional services. One thing many of the skilled and high-pay jobs 
have in common is the lack of women employed in them.
    The lack of a critical mass of women in apprenticeship and other 
skilled and high-pay jobs has resulted in continued workplace 
occupational segregation that fuels pay inequities and other artificial 
employment barriers to women's success in the workplace, including 
apprenticeship and other nontraditional occupations. For example, 
studies point out that once hired, women in construction face problems 
(sexism, racism, homophobia, inadequate toilet facilities, health and 
safety, isolation from other women, etc.) that erode their retention in 
jobs. In other nonconstruction occupations, the lack of developmental 
work assignments and mentors results in women being confined by ``glass 
ceilings'' and ``sticky'' floors. These artificial barriers are beyond 
the usual problems faced by all women and some men--child care, sexual 
harassment, pay equity, balancing work and family responsibilities. The 
WANTO technical assistance grant program requires CBOs to work with E/
LUs to explore collaborative ways to provide increased employment 
opportunities for women in apprenticeship and other nontraditional 
occupations, in a ``women-friendly'' workplace environment.
    The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training co-administers WANTO with 
the Women's Bureau. BAT was established in 1937 as the national 
administrative agency in the Department of Labor to carry out the 
objectives of the National Apprenticeship Act (also known as the 
Fitzgerald Act), guided by the recommendations of the Federal

[[Page 24990]]

Committee on Apprenticeship, now named the Federal Committee on 
Registered Apprenticeship (FCRA). BAT has the objective to stimulate 
and assist industry in the development, expansion, and improvement of 
apprenticeship and training programs designed to provide the skilled 
workers required by the American economy. BAT is the Federal program 
office that administers the National Registered Apprenticeship System 
(NRAS). One component of the System is the Federal/State partnership.
    The BAT works very closely with State Apprenticeship Agencies/
Councils (SAC) and the educational system to deliver support services 
at the national, State, and local level. When apprentices finish their 
training, they receive certificates of completion of apprenticeship. 
These are issued by the State apprenticeship agencies, or in those 
States not having such an agency, by BAT, in accordance with its 
recommended standards. BAT is committed to improving the access of 
women to apprenticeship training to increase their employment in jobs 
that have historically put men on the career ladder to successful 
working careers.

Definitions

    Nontraditional Occupations (NTOs) are those where women account for 
less than 25 percent of all persons employed in a single occupational 
group.
    Pre-Apprenticeship Programs are for women (and others) to prepare 
them to keep pace with occupational skills training or entry-level 
employment in nontraditional occupations. The curriculum includes pre-
vocational instruction in identification and use of tools, blueprint 
reading, basic shop skills, and safety procedures, as well as math 
skills, and physical conditioning.
    Apprenticeship is a formal paid training-work agreement where labor 
and management work together to promote learning on the job. (Some BAT 
registered apprenticeship programs are operated by employers 
independent of labor unions.) To support the ``hands on'' learning, 
there must be related theoretical instruction (often in classroom). 
After successfully completing the BAT registered program standards--
usually three to five years--the apprentice is awarded a certificate of 
completion by either BAT or the State Apprenticeship Council (SAC).
    Employers or groups of employers and unions design, organize, 
manage, and finance apprenticeship programs under the standards 
developed and registered with BAT or BAT-recognized State 
apprenticeship agencies. They also select apprentices who are trained 
to meet certain predetermined occupational standards.
    Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are as defined in Section 4(5) 
of the Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1501(5)): private 
nonprofit organizations which are representative of communities or 
significant segments of communities and which provide job training 
services. For this solicitation, communities or significant segments of 
communities are the private nonprofit organizations that have 
demonstrated at least five years experience in (1) The operation and 
delivery of employment and training related services to promote women 
in apprenticeship and other nontraditional occupations, (2) community 
recognition of leadership in advocacy and service to promote economic 
equity, justice, and social change for women and their families, and 
(3) the development of policies, programs, and technical assistance for 
employers and labor unions for the recruitment, selection, training, 
placing, retaining, and otherwise preparation of Women to enter and 
remain in Apprenticeship and other Nontraditional Occupations.

Please Note That Eligible Applicants Must Not Be Classified Under 
the IRS Tax Code as a 501(c)(4) Entity

A. Authorities

    The technical assistance grants were first authorized under the 
Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act, 
Public Law 102-530, approved October 27, 1992.

B. Purpose of the Demonstration

    The purpose of the WANTO demonstration program is to assist 
business to increase apprenticeship and other nontraditional employment 
opportunities for women. The Department will make grants to community-
based organizations who will provide technical assistance to employers 
and labor unions to encourage and prepare them to increase the 
participation of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations 
in their workplaces. Such technical assistance should result in an 
increase of women employed in jobs that pay a self-sufficient wage for 
women and their families.

Part II. Application Process

A. Eligible Grant Applicants

    Please Note Well That Eligible Grant Applicants Must not Be 
Classified Under the IRS Tax Code as a 501(c)(4) Entity.
    1. Private, Nonprofit, Community-Based Organizations that provide 
service delivery to assist women to enter and remain in A/NTO as the 
major component of its employment and training activities are the only 
entities eligible for grant awards. Further, the Department will give 
priority consideration to proposals from:
    a. CBOs from one of the 32 States previously unserved by WANTO (see 
Appendix A);
    b. CBOs who provide services that assist women with physical and/or 
cognitive disabilities to enter and remain in skilled high-pay jobs 
commensurate with their potential;
    c. CBO founder/management reflects diverse race-ethnic backgrounds;
    d. CBOs with programs to provide TA to E/LUs that assist women to 
make the transition from welfare to pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, 
and other entry-level skilled nontraditional employment.
    e. CBOs with an existing FY ``98 WANTO grant can apply for an 
additional grant if the existing grant has been performed in an 
exemplary way--completed two-thirds of the planned goals, particularly 
those for serving employers, unions, and women, reflecting the fact 
that the grant is running ahead of schedule. The completion should be 
specifically documented (names and addresses) with the FY 2000 WANTO 
application.
    2. Applicant CBOs' proposals must document their experience and 
expertise in A/NTO services and TA delivery in the following areas:
    a. Document established and growing employer/labor union working 
relationships with A/NTO community sources for exploring new working 
relations;
    b. Document services to assist women to enter and remain in A/NTO 
as the major component of their employment and training activities, 
including outreach, orientation, mentoring, support groups, networks, 
workplace consultations (including troubleshooting and other work site 
problem resolutions and changes in employer and workplace practices), 
employee and supervisory workshops, seminars, and other workplace 
specific strategic planning to increase the participation of women in 
A/NTO; and
    c. Document leadership in the A/NTO community to promote leadership 
for economic equity, justice, and social change for women and their 
families that also support economic self-sufficiency.
    3. CBO's proposal must include a management and staff loading plan.
    a. The management plan should include the CBO's organizational 
chart and accompanying narrative that

[[Page 24991]]

differentiate between elements of the applicant's staff, 
subcontractors, or consultants, who will be retained, and full resumes 
of proposed grant staff.
    b. The staff loading plan must identify all key tasks and the hours 
required to complete each task. Labor estimates for each task must be 
broken down by individuals assigned to the task, with subcontractors 
and consultants. All key tasks must be charted month-to-month to show 
beginning and ending time line required to perform project tasks, 
hours, and the person responsible for implementing and completing the 
task.
    c. CBOs' proposals must list the name, trade, and organizational 
position of tradeswomen and other women in nontraditional occupations 
on staff or on their organization's Board of Directors. Include the 
dates when tradeswomen served in active paid or unpaid positions in 
your organization.
    d. CBOs' technical proposal submissions should include a listing of 
all items for which grant funds will be expended. (Do not include any 
cost information in the technical proposal, but expenditure items Must 
be listed.)
    e. CBOs' technical proposal submissions should include copies of 
the CBO's budget and major funding sources for the past three (3) 
years, including foundation and government grants and other types of 
funding.
    3. Public bodies such as JTPA administrative entities, public 
schools, colleges, and hospitals are not eligible for WANTO grants.

B. Employers and Labor Unions are Eligible to Receive TA from CBOs

    1. Private Sector Employers and Labor Unions are eligible to 
request and receive TA provided by CBOs with a WANTO grant. The goal of 
WANTO is to assist businesses to provide opportunities for women in A/
NTO in the private economy.
    a. Employers and Labor Unions may request that the Department of 
Labor match them with a CBO.
    b. TA Requests from Employers and Labor Unions may be delivered 
with a specific applicant CBO's proposal, or independent of a specific 
CBO.
    c. Regardless of the method, all employers and labor unions must 
provide the information described in Item 2. below, either to their 
chosen CBO or directly to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of 
Procurement Services, Room N-5416, Attention: Lisa Harvey, 200 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
    2. All Employers and Labor Unions requesting technical assistance 
must provide a written commitment for technical assistance by 
responding to the following: 
    a. A description of the need for assistance;
    b. A description of the types of apprenticeable occupations or 
nontraditional occupations in which the employer or labor union would 
like to train or employ women;
    c. Assurances that there are or will be suitable and appropriate 
employment available in the apprenticeable occupations or in the 
nontraditional occupations being targeted; and
    d. Commitments that all reasonable efforts should be made to place 
women in apprenticeable occupations or nontraditional occupations as 
they develop skills.

C. Contents

    To be considered responsive to this SGA, each application must 
consist of, and follow the order of, the sections listed in Part III of 
this solicitation. The application must also include information which 
the applicant believes will address the selection criteria identified 
in Part IV. Technical proposals shall not exceed twenty (20) single 
sided, double spaced, 10 to 12 pitch typed pages (not including 
attachments). ANY PROPOSAL THAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO THESE STANDARDS 
SHALL BE DEEMED NONRESPONSIVE TO THIS SGA AND WILL NOT BE EVALUATED. 
    1. Technical Proposal 
    Each proposal shall include: (1) a two-page abstract summarizing 
the proposal, and (2) a complete description of the CBO's program for 
technical assistance, including information required in Part III and 
IV. No cost data or reference to price shall be included in the 
technical proposal although the technical proposal must include the 
items--publications, seminars, E/LU consultations, troubleshooting, 
etc.--for which grant funds are to be spent.
    2. Cost Proposal 
    The cost proposal is a physically separate document and shall not 
be included in the twenty (20) page limit. The cost (business) proposal 
must be separate from the technical proposal. (If applicants do not 
have the current version of the standard grant forms listed below, they 
must download the forms from the following OMB website address: 
www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/index.html. The transmittal letter and 
the grant assurances and certification forms shall be attached to the 
business proposal, which shall consist of the following:
    a. Standard Form 424 ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' signed 
by an official from the applicant's organization who is authorized to 
enter the organization into a grant agreement with the Department of 
Labor. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA) is 
17.700; 
    b. Standard Budget Form 424A ``Budget Information Form,''; and
    c. Budget Narrative; provide a narrative explanation of the budget 
which describes all proposed costs and indicates how they are related 
to the operation of the project. Provide this information separately 
for the amount of requested Federal funding and the amount of proposed 
Non-Federal contribution. In an application which proposes to fund 
staff positions, the budget narrative must provide information which 
describes the number of proposed positions by title and by the amount 
of staff time and salary charged to Federal and Non-Federal funding 
resources. The Budget Narrative provides the detailed description of 
the costs reflected on the SF 424A.

D. Funding Levels

    The Department expects to have $927,000 to be disbursed through 
WANTO grants. The Department expects to make up to fifteen (15) awards 
to community-based organizations. The Women's Bureau expects awards to 
range from approximately $50,000 to $75,000 (see also Part III. 
A.2.f.), depending upon the scope of the technical assistance and the 
number of employer/labor union written commitments included with the 
proposal--between ten (10) and twenty (20)--and the design, size, and 
scope of the technical assistance proposed for this demonstration and 
reflected in the E/LU technical assistance requests. Written 
commitments for technical assistance may also include working with E/
LUs to move women employed in NTO related entry level employment to 
registered apprenticeship programs and higher level skilled NTO jobs. 
The proposal should include the names and employment of women in the 
entry level work and the proposed upgrade for her.

E. Length of Grant and Grant Awards

    The initial performance period for the grants awarded under this 
SGA shall be for twelve (12) months with one (1) option to extend for 
up to three months as a no-cost extension to complete final reports. 
Each applicant shall reflect in their application the intention to 
begin operation no later than September 2000.

F. Submission

    One (1) ink-signed original, complete grant application (plus five 
(5) copies of

[[Page 24992]]

the Technical Proposal and two (2) copies of the Cost Proposal must be 
submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Procurement 
Services, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20210, not later than 4:45 p.m. EST, June 30, 2000. Hand delivered 
applications must be received by the Office of Procurement Services by 
that time. Any application received at the Office of Procurement 
Services after 4:45 p.m. EST will not be considered unless it is 
received before an award is made and:
    1. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the 
fifth calendar day before June 30, 2000 (not later than June 25, 2000);
    2. 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 above address; or
    3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day 
Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5:00 p.m. EST at the 
place of mailing two working days, excluding weekends and Federal 
holidays, prior to June 30, 2000 (not later than 5:00 p.m. EST June 28, 
2000).
    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 shall request that the postal 
clerk place a legible hand cancellation bull's-eye postmark on both the 
receipt and the wrapper or envelope.
    The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a 
late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Mail Next Day Service-Post 
Office to Addressee is the date entered by the post office receiving 
clerk on the ``Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee'' 
label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original 
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the same meaning 
as defined above. Therefore, applicants shall request that the postal 
clerk place a legible hand cancellation bull's-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 Office of 
Procurement Services on the application wrapper or other documentary 
evidence of receipt maintained by that office. Applications sent by E-
mail, telegram, or facsimile (Fax) will not be accepted.

Part III. The Statement of Work--Key Features

A. Technical Assistance

    1. CBOs are to provide technical assistance (TA) that may include a 
broad range of activities to prepare employers and labor unions (E/LUs) 
to provide opportunities for women in apprenticeship and other 
nontraditional occupations (A/NTO). CBOs should encourage E/LUs to work 
with them to assess their workplaces and develop strategic plans for 
changes in the workplace and in work practices that support women. 
Requests may include linkages of pre-apprenticeship programs to a 
commitment for employment and/or sponsored apprenticeship training. 
Such TA should result in jobs that pay a living wage that will support 
women and their families. Support services are of major importance to 
sustaining women to enter and complete training and entry employment. 
Child care, transportation, and related transitional costs--union fees, 
tools, and uniforms--are the support services most often cited as 
necessary for women to enter employment and/or to complete training, 
including registered apprenticeship.
    2. Applicant CBOs should respond with:
    a. A program designed to build on established working relationships 
with employers and labor unions and to develop new working 
relationships to provide TA to ten (10) or more private sector E/LUs. 
Proposal should include targeted E/LUs, as well as E/LUs specifically 
requesting TA.
    b. A program designed to build on established working relationships 
with employers and labor unions to move working women from NTO related 
entry level employment into registered apprenticeship or other higher 
skilled NTO occupations, including those requiring technology skills. 
Proposals should include the names of the targeted firms, women, and 
employment upgrades.
    c. CBO proposal should include E/LUs selected from the following 
five (5) industry groups and registered apprenticeships--manufacturing, 
information technology, medical technology, utilities, 
telecommunications, and registered apprenticeship and on-the-job 
training programs in highway and the building trades construction 
industries.
    d. The Department would consider:
    (1) proposals from established CBOs that want to mentor less 
experienced CBOs in unserved States to build the organizational and 
technical assistance capacity of the less experienced CBOs.
    e. (2) Joint proposals of several CBOs who have bundled their 
strengthens together to form one grant application. The proposal will 
provide TA in unserved States that propose to build their regional 
capacity to provide TA to employers and labor unions to promote women 
in A/NTO.
    f. The final amount of each grant, $50,000 to $75,000, will depend 
upon the quality of the program--depth and scope of services, as well 
as the number of those served.

B. Support Services

    1. CBO proposal should include a plan for support services for 
women when the TA results in women moving into apprenticeship or other 
NTO employment and training.
    a. Support service plans should include cooperative E/LU programs 
along with services available from the workplace and/or employee's 
community.
    b. Support services strategic planning for support services should 
include, at least, child care, transportation, and transitional costs.

D. Leverage of WANTO Funding and Continuance

    1. The proposed project submissions should include any leverage or 
co-funding anticipated by this submission.
    2. The proposed project submission should include any activities to 
encourage and promote the continuation or expansion of grant activities 
beyond the grant's period of program performance.

Part IV. Evaluation Criteria and Selection

    Applicants are advised that selection for a grant award is to be 
made after careful evaluation of technical applications by a panel. 
Each panelist will evaluate applications against the various criteria 
on the basis of 100 points. The scores will then serve as the primary 
basis to select applications for a potential award. Clarification may 
be requested of grant applicants if the situation so warrants it. 
Please see Part III, Sections A and B, for additional information on 
the elements against which proposals will be reviewed.

[[Page 24993]]

1. Technical Evaluation Criteria

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                                                                  Points
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a. Capabilities and Qualifications of CBO and Staff (A/NTO            50
 experience, education, and leadership in the community to
 foster social and/or economic justice for equity for women and
 their families moving to self-sufficiency); programs for women
 with disabilities, diversity, inclusion of and management and
 staffing plans................................................
b. Established Program and E/LU Linkages; the commitment and/or       20
 potential for ten (10) or more new working relationships with
 E/LUs; working with employed women to move into registered
 apprenticeship or higher skilled NTO..........................
c. Quality and Scope of WANTO Project (as discussed/described         30
 throughout SGA 00-03, including workplace assessment and
 technical assistance strategies for E/LU changes in the
 workplace culture and work practices to promote the increase
 in women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations;
 upgrading working women NTOs, focus industries, mentor, or
 joint CBOs, proposed A/NTO outcomes, leverage and continuance
 TA)...........................................................
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2. Cost Criteria

    Proposals will be scored, based on their costs in relation to other 
proposals submitted in response to this SGA.

3. Total Score

    Technical quality of proposals will be weighted three (3) times the 
estimated price in ranking proposals, for purposes of selections for 
awards. Proposals received will be evaluated by a review panel based on 
the criteria immediately above, in Technical Evaluation Criteria 1 and 
2. The panel's recommendations will be advisory, and final awards will 
be made based on the best interests of the Government, including but 
not limited to such factors as technical quality, geographic balance, 
occupational/industrial impact, and diversity in service providers.
    The Department wishes to make it clear that it is not simply the 
best written proposals that will be chosen, but rather those which 
demonstrate the greatest experience and commitment to assisting 
employers and labor organizations to successfully develop successful 
strategies to increase the participation of women in higher-paying 
apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations and to expand the 
employment and self-sufficiency options of women returning to work 
after welfare and other work and family disruptions. In addition, the 
Department considers geographic and race-ethnic diversity in the array 
of award-winning proposals important considerations in making the final 
awards.
    The submission of the same proposal from any prior year WANTO 
competition does not guarantee an award under this solicitation. 
Although the Government reserves the right to award on the basis of the 
initial proposal submission, the Government may establish a competitive 
range or technically acceptable range based upon 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 Grant Officer's 
determination for award under SGA 00-03 is the final agency action.

Part V

A. Deliverables

    (This section is provided only so that grantees may more accurately 
estimate the staffing budgetary requirements when preparing their 
proposal. Applicants are to exclude from their cost proposal the cost 
of any requested travel to Washington, D.C.)
    1. No later than eight (8) weeks after an award, the grantees and 
partners shall meet with the Women's Bureau and the Bureau of 
Apprenticeship and Training at the Post-Award Conference to discuss the 
demonstration project and related components and technical assistance 
activities, time lines, technical assistance outcomes, assessment for 
comment, and final approval. The grantees and partners and the 
Department will discuss and make decisions on the following program 
activities:
    a. The proposed technical assistance commitments for employment, 
registered apprenticeship, and related skilled nontraditional 
occupation activities and responsibilities; the number of targeted 
partnerships with employers and labor unions and the resultant women to 
be served.
    b. The methodology the proposed partnership will use to support/
change management and employee attitudes to promote female workers in 
nontraditional occupations.
    c. The types of systemic change anticipated by technical assistance 
strategies anticipated to be incorporated into ongoing employer 
recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion of women in apprenticeship 
and apprenticeable nontraditional occupations.
    d. The occupational, industrial, and geographical impact 
anticipated.
    e. The supportive services to be provided to employers and women 
after successful placement into registered apprenticeship, or other 
skilled nontraditional occupations.
    f. The plan for the development and maintenance of a relationship 
with the State level of the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship and 
Training and the State Apprenticeship Council.
    The Women's Bureau and the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training 
will provide further input orally and in writing, if necessary, within 
ten (10) working days after the Post-Award Conference.
    1. No later than ten (10) weeks after an award, the grantees and 
the Women's Bureau will confirm the ``plan of action'' and detailed 
time line for program implementation.
    2. No later than twelve (12) weeks after an award, the grantee(s) 
shall have begun the provision of technical assistance to employers and 
labor unions to recruit, select, train, place, retain, and other areas 
of preparation to promote the increase of women in apprenticeable 
occupations and other nontraditional training for women, characterized 
by employment growth and above average earnings.
    3. No later than sixteen (16) weeks after an award, the first 
quarterly progress report of work done under this grant will be due. 
Thereafter, quarterly reports will be due twenty (20) working days 
after the end of each of the remaining quarters.
    Quarterly progress reports must include:
    a. A description of overall progress on work performed during the 
reporting period--(a) the number of employers and labor unions provided 
onsite, off-site (conferences, workshops, seminars, training, etc., (b) 
number of women trained (on and off the work site), placed in 
apprenticeship or other nontraditional employment. Describe: (1) Any 
linkages of pre-apprenticeship (on and off a work site) with sponsored 
apprenticeship: number of women affected or participating in programs; 
include name and address of workplace/company and person responsible 
for the operation, (2) number of employers and labor unions receiving 
technical assistance--name, address, size of the workplace, including 
proportion of women, include brief profiles of employers and labor 
organizations, (3) describe any systemic workplace and policy changes--
actual or in process, including the hiring and promotion of

[[Page 24994]]

women already in the workplace, career ladders, or other training 
activities, (4) public presentations, (5) media articles or 
appearances, (6) publications disseminated, and (7) publications 
developed.
    b. An indication of any current problems which may impede the 
performance of the grant and the proposed corrective action.
    c. A discussion of work to be performed during the next reporting 
period.
    Between scheduled reporting dates the grantee(s) also shall 
immediately inform the Grant Officer's Technical Representative (GOTR) 
of significant developments affecting their ability to accomplish the 
work.
    5. No later than sixty-four (64) weeks after an award, the 
grantee(s) shall submit three (3) copies of the draft Final Report, an 
integrated draft analysis of the process and results of the technical 
assistance activities during the year. The Women's Bureau and the 
Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training will provide written comments on 
the draft Report within twenty (20) working days if substantive 
problems are identified. The grantee's response to these comments shall 
be incorporated into the Final Report.
    6. The Final Report shall cover findings, final performance data, 
outcome results and assessment, and employer or labor organization 
plans for follow-up of participants. The Final Report shall provide all 
information to replicate the project including copies of curriculums, 
technical assistance materials developed for the project and technical 
assistance--videos, posters, notices, etc.--as well as any plans for 
replication and dissemination of information. An Executive Summary of 
the findings and recommendations shall be included in the Final Report, 
separately, or combined with the Final Report--at the opening. No later 
than sixty-four (64) weeks after an award, the grantee(s) shall (1) 
submit one (1) diskette (IBM compatible, WordPerfect 6.1), one (1) 
camera-ready copy of the Final Report, and five (5) copies of the 
camera-ready Final Report, bound in a professional manner, and not a 
collection of loose leaf sheets, and (2) computer-based, electronic 
files for each of the other products--e.g., manual(s), curriculums, 
``how-to-do-it'' handbooks, videos, etc.--paid for with grant funds, 
along with five (5) copies of the final camera-ready products.
    In addition to the grant's Final Report, proposed project 
submissions should include plans for a ``how-to-do-it'' project 
replication manual, including awareness/outreach material, technical 
assistance and curriculum manual(s) and all other materials developed 
as a result of the grant activities. All grant materials should be 
submitted with ``hard copy'' and electronic (computer-based) copy.

B. Administrative Provisions

    The grant awarded under this SGA shall be subject to the following 
administrative standards and provisions:
    29 CFR Part 97--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
    29 CFR Part 96--Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded 
Grants, Contracts and Agreements.
    29 CFR Part 95--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, etc.

C. Certifications and Assurances

    If the applicant is awarded a grant, they are required to operate 
the program in accordance with the following Certifications and 
Assurances. An original signed and dated signature page providing the 
following Certifications and Assurances must accompany the Cost 
Proposal.

Certifications and Assurances

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 contained in this section. By signing and returning this 
signature page, the grantee/recipient is providing the certifications 
set forth below:
    A. Certification Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, Other 
Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions and Certifications 
Regarding Drug-Free/Tobacco-Free Workplace,
    B. Certification of Release of Information
    C. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs
    D. Applicant is not a 501(c)(4) organization
    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. All other 
instruction 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 applicant's Cost Proposal.

D. Allowable Costs

    Determinations of allowable costs shall be made in accordance with 
the following applicable Federal cost principles:
    a. State and Local Government--OMB Circular A-87
    b. Educational Institutions--OMB Circular A-21
    c. Nonprofit Organizations--OMB Circular A-122
    d. Profit-making Commercial Firms--48 CFR Part 31

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on April 21, 2000.
Lawrence J. Kuss,
Grant Officer.
    Appendix A--States That Have No WANTO Grantees.

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, 
Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, 
Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New 
Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, 
South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, 
Wisconsin, Wyoming.

[FR Doc. 00-10585 Filed 4-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-P


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