Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 5, 2000 / Notices 41493

74101, Covers all or part of the following

States: AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX

Southeastern Power Administration,

Headquarters, 2 South Public Square,

Elberton, GA 30635, Covers all or part of

the following States: AL, FL, GA, IL, KY,

MS, NC, SC, VA, WV

Bonneville Power Administration, 905 NE

11th Ave., P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR

97208–3621, Covers all or part of the

following States: CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT,

WA, WY

National Energy Technology Laboratory

(NETL), 3610 Collins Ferry Road, P.O. Box

880, Morgantown, WV 26507–0880

National Energy Technology Laboratory

(NETL), 626 Cochrans Mill Road,

Pittsburgh, PA 15236–0940

Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR), Project

Office, 900 Commerce Road East, New

Orleans, LA 70123

National Petroleum Technology Office,

Williams Center Tower 1, 1 West Third St.,

Suite 1400, Tulsa, OK 74103

Albany Research Center, 1450 Queen Ave.,

SW, Albany, OR 97321–2198

Naval Petroleum & Oil Shale Reserves in CO,

UT, & WY., 907 N. Poplar St., Suite 150,

Casper, WY 82601

Naval Petroleum Reserves in California,

28590 Highway 119, P.O. Box 11, Tupman,

CA 93276

[FR Doc. 00–16865 Filed 7–3–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–26–P

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Assistant Secretary for

Veterans’ Employment and Training

Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration

Project Competitive Grants for Rural

Areas

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and

Training.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds

and solicitation for grant applications

for Rural Homeless Veterans

Reintegration Projects (SGA 00–02).

SUMMARY: This notice contains all of the

necessary information and forms needed

to apply for grant funding. All

applicants for grant funds should read

this notice in its entirety. The U.S.

Department of Labor, Veterans’

Employment and Training Service

(VETS) announces a grant competition

for Rural Homeless Veterans

Reintegration Projects (HVRP)

authorized under the Stewart B.

McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.

Such projects will assist eligible

veterans who are homeless by providing

employment, training, supportive and

transitional housing assistance where

possible. Under this solicitation, VETS

expects to award up to eight grants in

FY 2000.

This notice describes the background,

the application process, description of

program activities, evaluation criteria,

and reporting requirements for

Solicitation of Grant Applications (SGA)

00–02. VETS anticipates that up to

$1,000,000 will be available for grant

awards under this SGA.

The information and forms contained

in the Supplementary Information

Section of this announcement constitute

the official application package for this

Solicitation. In order to receive any

amendments to this Solicitation which

may be subsequently issued, all

applicants must register their name and

address with the Procurement Services

Center. Please send this information as

soon as possible, Attention: Grant

Officer, to the following address: U. S.

Department of Labor, Procurement

Services Center, Room N–5416, 200

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington,

DC 20210. Please reference SGA 00–02.

DATES: One (1) ink-signed original,

complete grant application (plus three

(3) copies of the Technical Proposal and

three (3) copies of the Cost Proposal

shall be submitted to the U.S.

Department of Labor, Procurement

Services Center, Room N–5416, 200

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington,

DC 20210, not later than 4:45 p.m.,

Eastern Standard Time, August 4, 2000.

Hand delivered applications must be

received by the Procurement Services

Center by that time.

ADDRESSES: Applications shall be

mailed to the U.S. Department of Labor,

Procurement Services Center, Attention:

Jeanette Villa, Reference SGA 00–02,

Room N–5416, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeanette Villa, U.S. Department of Labor,

Procurement Services Center, telephone

(202) 219–9355 [not a toll free number].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Rural Homeless Veterans Reintegration

Project Solicitation

I. Purpose

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL),

Veterans’ Employment and Training

Service (VETS) is requesting grant

applications for the provision of

employment and training services in

accordance with the Stewart B.

McKinney Homeless Assistance Act

(MHAA), as reauthorized and codified

at Title 38, Chapter 41, Section 4111

(formerly 42 U.S.C 11448). These

instructions contain general program

information, requirements and forms for

application for funds to operate a Rural

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project

(HVRP).

II. Background

The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless

Assistance Act of 1987, enacted on July

22, 1987, under Title VII, Subtitle C,

Section 738 provides that ‘‘The

Secretary shall conduct, directly or

through grant or contract, such

programs as the Secretary determines

appropriate to expedite the reintegration

of homeless veterans into the labor

force.’’ This program was reauthorized

under Section 621 of the McKinney

Homeless Assistance Amendments Act

of 1990 (Public Law 101–645) for an

additional three years, i.e., through FY

1993. Under the Homeless Veterans

Comprehensive Service Programs Act of

1992 (Public Law 102–590—enacted on

November 10, 1992) the Homeless

Veterans Reintegration Project was

reauthorized through Fiscal Year 1995.

However, the program was rescinded in

FY 1995. Public Law 104–275, dated

October 9, 1996, was amended to

reauthorize the program through FY

1998. Public Laws 105–41 and 105–114,

enacted in 1997, extend the program

through FY 1999. Public Law 106–73

dated October 19, 1999, reauthorized

and codified at Title 38, Chapter 41,

Section 4111 extends the program

through FY 2003.

The Homeless Veterans Reintegration

Project was the first nationwide Federal

program that focused on placing

homeless veterans into jobs. In

accordance with the MHAA, the

Assistant Secretary for Veterans’

Employment and Training (ASVET) is

making approximately $1,000,000 of the

funds available to award grants for

HVRPs in rural areas and all interested

homeless service providers who were

ineligible to apply for funding under the

HVRP Solicitation for Grant

Applications (SGA 00–01) that was

limited to the largest 75 metropolitan

areas in FY 2000.

Bonus points of 15 points will be

applied to those proposals for

applicants who meet the definition of a

rural applicant as specified below in

section III., Application Process. The

bonus points are to encourage rural

eligibles to apply, as homeless resources

are extremely limited in these areas.

Rural projects are expected to provide

valuable information on approaches that

work in a rural environment.

III. Application Process

A. Rural Areas

Under this announcement,

applications will be accepted from

eligible applicants, (as defined in

Section B. Of this part), to serve

homeless veterans.

41494 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 5, 2000 / Notices

The Census Bureau has defined

‘‘urban’’ for the 1990 census as provided

below, and territory, population, and

housing units not classified as urban

constitute ‘‘rural.’’ Most specifically,

‘‘urban’’ consists of territory, persons,

and housing units in:

1. Places of 2,500 or more persons

incorporated as cities, villages, boroughs

(except in Alaska and New York), and

towns, (except in the six New England

States, New York, and Wisconsin), but

excluding the rural portions of

‘‘extended cities.’’

2. Census designated places of 2,500

or more persons.

3. Other territory, incorporated or

unincorporated, included in urbanized

areas.

Those not defined as ‘‘urban’’ likely

fall into the rural category. Potential

applicants are referred to the Geography

Division, U.S. Bureau of the Census,

Washington, DC 20233, for any

questions or clarification on the Census

Bureau’s definition. It is expected that

an applicant’s submission under this

solicitation will clearly demonstrate the

nature of the area to be served.

B. Eligible Applicants

Applications for funds will be

accepted from State and local public

agencies, Private Industry Councils, and

nonprofit organizations as follows:

1. Private Industry Councils (PICS)

and/or Workforce Investment Boards

(WIBS), Public Law 97–300, are eligible

applicants, as well as State and local

public agencies. ‘‘Local public agency’’

refers to any public agency of a general

purpose political subdivision of a State

which has the power to levy taxes and

spend funds, as well as general

corporate and police powers. (This

typically refers to cities and counties). A

State agency may propose in its

application to serve one or more of the

potential jurisdictions located in its

State. This does not preclude a city or

county agency from submitting an

application to serve its own jurisdiction.

(Although cities are mentioned in the

above explanation, this solicitation is

targeting cities within a rural

jurisdiction.)

Applicants are encouraged to utilize,

through subgrants, experienced public

agencies, private nonprofit

organizations, and private businesses

which have an understanding of the

unemployment and homeless problems

of veterans, a familiarity with the area

to be served, and the capability to

effectively provide the necessary

services.

2. Also eligible to apply are nonprofit

organizations who have operated an

HVRP or similar employment and

training program for the homeless or

veterans; or have proven capacity to

manage Federal grants; and have or will

provide the necessary linkages with

other service providers. Nonprofit

organizations will be required to submit

with their application recent (within

one year) financial audit statements that

attest to the financial responsibility of

the organization.

Entities described in Section 501(c)4

of the Internal Revenue Code that

engage in lobbying activities are not

eligible to receive funds under this

announcement. The Lobbying

Disclosure Act of 1995, Public Law No.

104–65, 109 Stat. 691, prohibits the

award of Federal funds to these entities

if they engage in lobbying activities.

C. Funding Levels

The total amount of funds available

for this solicitation is $1,000,000. It is

anticipated that up to 8 awards will be

made under this solicitation. Awards

are expected to range from $75,000 to

$125,000. The Federal government

reserves the right to negotiate the

amounts to be awarded under this

competition. Please be advised that

requests exceeding the maximum award

amount of $125,000 by 15% or more

will be considered non-responsive.

D. Period of Performance

The period of performance will be for

one year from date of award. It is

expected that successful applicants will

commence program operations under

this solicitation on or before September

1, 2000.

E. Late Proposals

The grant 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 Procurement Services Center after

4:45 p.m. EST, August 4, 2000, 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 4, 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 address indicated; or

3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service

Express Mail Next Day Service-Post

Office to Addressee, not later than 5:00

pm at the place of mailing two (2)

working days, excluding weekends and

Federal holidays, prior to August 4,

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

should 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 date of mailing of a late

application sent by U.S. Postal Service

Express 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 should 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 Procurement Services

Center on the application wrapper or

other documentary evidence or receipt

maintained by that office. Applications

sent by telegram or facsimile (FAX) will

not be accepted.

F. Submission of Proposal

A cover letter, an original and three

(3) copies of the proposal shall be

submitted. The proposal shall consist of

two (2) separate and distinct parts:

Part I—Technical Proposal shall

consist of a narrative proposal that

demonstrates the applicant’s knowledge

of the need for this particular grant

program, its understanding of the

services and activities proposed to

alleviate the need and its capabilities to

accomplish the expected outcomes of

the proposed project design. The

technical proposal shall consist of a

narrative not to exceed fifteen (15) pages

double-spaced, typewritten on one side

of the paper only. Charts and exhibits

are not counted against the page limit.

Applicants should be responsive to the

Rating Criteria contained in Section VI

and address all of the rating factors

noted as thoroughly as possible in the

narrative. The following format is

strongly recommended:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 5, 2000 / Notices 41495

1. Need for the project: the applicant

should identify the geographical area to

be served and the characteristics of the

area; provide an estimate of the number

of homeless veterans and their needs,

poverty and unemployment rates in the

area, and gaps in the local community

infrastructure the project would fulfill

in addressing the employment and other

barriers of the targeted veterans. Include

the outlook for job opportunities in the

service area.

2. Approach or strategy to increase

employment and job retention: The

applicant should describe the specific

supportive services and employment

and training services to be provided

under this grant and the sequence or

flow of such services. Participant flow

charts may be provided. Include a

description of the relationship with

other employment and training

programs such as Disabled Veterans’

Outreach Program (DVOP) and the Local

Veterans’ Employment Representative

(LVER) program, and programs under

the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

Please include a plan for follow up of

participants who entered employment at

30 and 90 days and also a plan for

follow up six months after the end of

the ninety day period (See discussion

on results in Section V.D.) Please

include the chart of proposed

performance goals and planned

expenditures listed in Appendix D.

Although the form itself is not

mandatory, the information called for in

Appendix D must be provided by the

applicant.

3. Linkages with other providers of

employment and training services to the

homeless and to veterans: Describe what

linkages these programs will have with

other providers of services to veterans

and to the homeless in the community

outside of the HVRP grant. List the types

of services provided by each. Note the

type of agreement in place if applicable.

Linkages with the workforce

development system [inclusive of WIA

and State Employment Security

Agencies (SESAs)], non-profit

organizations and public agencies (i.e.,

the Department of Housing and Urban

Development and with the Department

of Veterans Affairs) resources should be

delineated.

4. Organizational capability in

providing required program activities:

The applicant’s relevant current or prior

experience in operating employment

and training or related programs serving

the homeless or veterans should be

delineated. (For consideration by panel

members, the Government reserves the

right to have a representative of the

Veterans’ Employment and Training

Service within your state provide

programmatic and fiscal information

about applicants and forward those

findings to the National Office during

the review of applications). Provide

information denoting outcomes of past

programs in terms of enrollments and

placements or other measures of

success. Applicants who have operated

an HVRP program, or more recent

Homeless Veterans Employment and

Training (HVET) program should

include final or most recent technical

performance reports. (This information

is subject to verification by the Veterans’

Employment and Training Service.)

Provide evidence of key staff capability.

Non-profit organizations should submit

evidence of satisfactory financial

management capability including recent

financial and/or audit statements.

5. Proposed housing strategy for

homeless veterans: Describe how

housing resources for homeless veterans

in the area may be obtained or accessed.

These resources may be from linkages or

sources other than the HVRP grant such

as HUD, community housing resources,

DVA leasing or other programs. The

applicant should explain whether HVRP

resources will be used and why this is

necessary.

Part II—Cost Proposal shall contain

the Standard Form (SF) 424,

‘‘Application for Federal Assistance,’’

and the Budget Information Sheet in

Appendix B. In addition the budget

shall include—on a separate page(s)—a

detailed cost break-out of each line item

on the Budget Information Sheet. Please

label this page or pages the ‘‘Budget

Narrative.’’ Also to be included in this

Part is the Assurance and Certification

Page, Appendix C. Copies of all required

forms with instructions for completion

are provided as appendices to this

solicitation. The Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance number for this

program is 17.805, which should be

entered on the SF 424, Block 10. In

Block 11, please enter the following:

Homeless Veterans Reintegration

Project. Please show leveraged

resources/outside funds and/or the

value of in-kind contributions in

Section B of the Budget Information

Sheet.

Budget Narrative Information: As an

attachment to the Budget Information

Sheet, the applicant must provide at a

minimum, and on separate sheet(s), the

following information:

(a) A breakout of all personnel costs

by position, title, salary rates and

percent of time of each position to be

devoted to the proposed project

(including subgrantees);

(b) An explanation and breakout of

fringe benefit rates and associated

charges. Rates exceeding 35% of salaries

and wages require justification;

(c) An explanation of the purpose and

composition of, and method used to

derive the costs of each of the following:

travel, equipment, supplies, subgrants/

contracts and any other costs. The

applicant should include costs of any

required travel described in this

Solicitation. Mileage charges shall not

exceed 32.5 cents per mile;

(d) Description/specification of and

justification for equipment purchases, if

any. Tangible, non-expendable, personal

property having a useful life of more

than one year and a unit acquisition cost

of $5,000 or more per unit must be

specifically identified. Applicants are

reminded that equipment purchased is

to be used for HVRP purposes only.

(HVRP grant funds may not be used for

the purchase of motor vehicles); and

(e) Identification of all sources of

leveraged or matching funds and an

explanation of the derivation of the

value of outside/in-kind Services.

(f) In order that the Department of

Labor meet legislative requirements,

submit a plan along with all costs

associated with retaining participant

information pertinent to a longitudinal

follow up survey for at least six months

after the ninety day closeout period.

IV. Participant Eligibility

To be eligible for participation under

HVRP, an individual must be homeless

and a veteran defined as follows:

A. The term ‘‘homeless or homeless

individual’’ includes persons who lack

a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime

residence. It also includes persons

whose primary nighttime residence is

either a supervised public or private

shelter designed to provide temporary

living accommodations; an institution

that provides a temporary residence for

individuals intended to be

institutionalized; or a private place not

designed for, or ordinarily used as, a

regular sleeping accommodation for

human beings. (Reference 42 USC

11302).

B. The term ‘‘veteran’’ means a person

who served in the active military, naval,

or air service, and who was discharged

or released therefrom under conditions

other than dishonorable. [Reference 38

USC 101(2)]

V. Project Summary

A. Program Concept and Emphasis

The HVRP grants under Section 738

of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless

Assistance Act are intended to address

dual objectives:

Provide services to assist in

reintegrating homeless veterans into the

41496 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 5, 2000 / Notices

labor force; and stimulate the

development of effective service

delivery systems that will seek to

address the complex problems facing

homeless veterans. These programs are

designed to be flexible in addressing the

universal as well as local or regional

problems barring homeless veterans

from the workforce. The program in FY

2000 will continue to strengthen the

provision of comprehensive services

through a case management approach,

the attainment of housing resources for

veterans entering the labor force, and

strategies for employment and retention.

B. Required Features

1. The HVRP has since its inception

featured an outreach component

consisting of veterans who have

experienced homelessness. In recent

years this requirement was modified to

allow the projects to utilize formerly

homeless veterans in other positions

where there is direct client contact if

outreach was not needed extensively,

such as counseling, peer coaching,

intake and follow up. This requirement

applies to projects funded under this

solicitation.

2. Projects will be required to show

linkages with other programs and

services which provide support to

homeless veterans. Coordination with

the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach

Program (DVOP) Specialists in the

jurisdiction is required.

3. Projects will be ‘‘employment

focused.’’ That is, they will be directed

towards (a) increasing the employability

of homeless veterans through providing

for or arranging for the provision of

services which will enable them to

work; and (b) matching homeless

veterans with potential employers.

C. Scope of Program Design

The HVRP project design should

provide or arrange for the following

services:

—Outreach, intake, assessment,

counseling and employment

services. Outreach should, to the

degree practical, be provided at

shelters, day centers, soup kitchens,

and/or other locations particular to

the rural environment, and other

programs for the homeless. Program

staff providing outreach services are

to be veterans who have

experienced homelessness.

Coordination with veterans’ services

programs and organizations such as:

—Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program

(DVOP) Specialists and Local

Veterans’ Employment

Representatives (LVERs) in the

State Employment Security/Job

Service Agencies (SESAs) or in the

newly instituted workforce

development system’s One-Stop

Centers, Veterans Workforce

Investment Program (VWIP)

—Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

services, including its Health Care

for Homeless Veterans, Domiciliary

and other programs, including those

offering transitional housing

—Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) services,

including its Per Diem Grants

program.

—Veteran service organizations such as

The American Legion, Disabled

American Veterans, and the

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam

Veterans of America, and the

American Veterans (AMVETS)

Referral to necessary treatment

services, rehabilitative services, and

counseling including, but not limited to:

—Alcohol and drug

—Medical

—Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

—Mental Health

—Coordinating with MHAA Title VI

programs for health care for the

homeless

Referral to housing assistance

provided by:

—Local shelters

—Federal Emergency Management

Administration (FEMA) food and

shelter programs

—Transitional housing programs and

single room occupancy housing

programs funded under MHAA

Title IV

—Permanent housing programs for the

handicapped homeless funded

under MHAA Title IV

—Department of Veterans’ Affairs

programs that provide for leasing or

sale of acquired homes to homeless

providers

—Transitional housing leased by HVRP

funds (HVRP funds cannot be used

to purchase housing)

Employment and training services

such as:

—Basic skills instruction

—Basic literacy instruction

—Remedial education activities

—Job search activities

—Job counseling

—Job preparatory training, including

resume writing and interviewing

skills

—Subsidized trial employment (Work

Experience)

—On-the-Job Training

—Classroom Training

—Job placement in unsubsidized

employment

—Placement follow up services

—Services provided under JTPA

Program Titles

D. Results-Oriented Model

Based on past experience of grantees

working with this target group, a

workable program model evolved which

is presented for consideration by

prospective applicants. No model is

mandatory, and the applicant should

design a program that is responsive to

local needs, but will carry out the

objectives of the HVRP to successfully

reintegrate homeless veterans into the

workforce.

With the advent of implementing the

Government Performance and Results

Act (GPRA), Congress and the public are

looking for results rather than process.

While entering employment is a viable

outcome, it will be necessary to measure

results over a longer term to determine

the success of programs. The following

program discussion emphasizes that

followup is an integral program

component.

The first phase of activity consists of

the level of outreach that is necessary in

the community to reach veterans who

are homeless. This may also include

establishing contact with other agencies

that encounter homeless veterans such

as shelters, soup kitchens and other

facilities in the rural area. An

assessment should be made of the

supportive and social rehabilitation

needs of the client and referral may take

place to services such as drug or alcohol

treatment or temporary shelter. When

the individual is stabilized, the

assessment should focus on the

employability of the individual and they

are enrolled into the program if they

would benefit from pre-employment

preparation such as resume writing, job

search workshops, related counseling

and case management, and initial entry

into the job market through temporary

jobs, sheltered work environments, or

entry into classroom or on-the-job

training. Such services should also be

noted in an Employability Development

Plan so that successful completion of

the plan may be monitored by the staff.

Entry into full-time employment or a

specific job training program should

follow in keeping with the objective of

HVRP to bring the participant closer to

self-sufficiency. Transitional housing

may assist the participant at this stage

or even earlier. Job development is a

crucial part of the employability

process. Wherever possible, DVOP and

LVER staff should be utilized for job

development and placement activities

for veterans who are ready to enter

employment or who are in need of

intensive case management services.

Many of these staff have received

training in case management at the

National Veterans’ Training Institution

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 5, 2000 / Notices 41497

and have as a priority of focus, assisting

those most at a disadvantage in the labor

market. VETS urges working hand-inhand with DVOP/LVER staff to achieve

economies of resources.

Follow up to determine if the veteran

is in the same or similar job at the 30

day period after entering employment is

required and important in keeping

contact with the veterans and so that

assistance in keeping the job may be

provided. The 90 day followup is

fundamental to assessing the results of

the program interventions. Grantees

must reflect the planned expenditure for

this activity in the cost proposal so that

followup can and will occur for those

placed at or near the end of the grant

period. Such results will be reported in

the final technical performance report. If

DVOPs/LVERs are responsible for

followup, applicant must explicity state

this in their proposal.

VETS emphasizes in its Strategic Plan

to implement GPRA that suitable

outcomes involve careers, not just jobs.

Successful results are achieved when

the veteran is in the same or similar job

after one or more years. Towards that

end, VETS solicits the cooperation of

successful applicants to budget for the

activity of retaining participant

information pertinent to a longitudinal

follow up survey, i.e., at least for six

months after the ninety day closeout

period. Retention of records will be

reflected in the Special Provisions at

time of award.

E. Related HVRP Program Development

Activities

1. Community Awareness Activities.

In order to promote linkages between

the HVRP program and local service

providers (and thereby eliminate gaps or

duplication in services and enhance

provision of assistance to participants),

the grantee must provide project

orientation and/or service awareness

activities that it determines are the most

feasible to local providers of hands-on

services to homeless, Federal, State and

local entitlement services (such as the

Social Security Administration, DVA,

HUD, and the local Job Service office(s),

and civic and private sector groups to

enlist their support for the program.

VI. Rating Criteria for Award

Applications will be reviewed by a

DOL panel using the point scoring

system specified below in Panel Review

Criteria. 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 approximately

8 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 of funding,

demonstration models, and geographical

service areas. While points will not be

assessed for cost issues, cost per

placement will be given serious

consideration in the final determination

in the selecting of awardees. The Grant

Officer’s determination for award under

SGA 00–02 is the final agency action.

The submission of the same proposal

from any prior year HVRP or HVET

competition does not guarantee an

award under this Solicitation.

Panel Review Criteria

1. Need for the Project: 15 points. The

applicant shall document the extent of

need for this project, as demonstrated

by: (1) The potential number or

concentration of homeless individuals

and homeless veterans in the proposed

project area relative to other similar

areas of jurisdiction; (2) the high rates

of poverty and/or unemployment in the

proposed project area as determined by

the census or other surveys; and (3) the

extent of gaps in the local infrastructure

the program would fill to effectively

address the employment barriers which

characterize the target population in the

area.

2. Overall Strategy to Increase

Employment and Retention: 30 points.

The application must include a

description of the proposed approach to

providing comprehensive employment

and training services, including job

training, job development, placement

and post placement follow up services.

The supportive services to be provided

as part of the strategy of promoting job

readiness and job retention should be

indicated. The applicant should identify

the local human resources and sources

of training to be used for participants. A

description of the relationship, if any,

with other employment and training

program such as SESAs (DVOP and

LVER Programs), Veterans Workforce

Investment Programs (VWIP), and

Workforce Development Boards or

entities where in place, should be

presented. It should be indicated how

the activities will be tailored or

responsive to the needs of homeless

veterans in the area. A participant flow

chart may be used to show the sequence

and mix of services.

Note: The applicant MUST complete the

chart of proposed program outcomes to

include participants served, and job

retention. (See Appendix D)

3. Quality and Extent of Linkages with

Other Providers of Services to the

Homeless and to Veterans: 20 points.

The application should provide

information on the quality and extent of

the linkages this program will have with

other providers of services to benefit the

homeless or veterans in the local

community outside of the HVRP grant.

For each service, it should be specified

who the provider is, the source of

funding (if known), and the type of

linkages/referral system established or

proposed. Describe to the extent

possible, how the project would fit into

the community’s approach to respond to

homelessness and any linkages to HUD

and VA programs or resources to benefit

the proposed program.

4. Demonstrated Capability in

Providing Required Program Services:

20 points. The applicant should

describe its relevant prior experience in

operating employment and training

programs and providing services to

participants similar to that which is

proposed under this solicitation.

Specific outcomes achieved by the

applicant should be described in terms

of clients placed in jobs, or other

outcome measures of success. The

applicant must also delineate its staff

capability and ability to manage the

financial aspects of Federal grant

programs. Relevant documentation such

as financial and/or audit statements

should be submitted (required for

applicants who are non-profit agencies).

Final or most recent technical reports

for HVRP, HVET or other relevant

programs should be submitted as

applicable. The applicant should also

address its capacity for timely startup of

the program.

5. Quality of Overall Housing

Strategy: 15 points. The application

should demonstrate how the applicant

proposes to obtain or access housing

resources for veterans in the program

and entering the labor force. This

discussion should specify the

provisions made to access temporary,

transitional, and permanent housing for

participants through community

resources, HUD, lease, HVRP or other

means unique to the locale. HVRP funds

may not be used to purchase housing.

6. Cost Proposal: Applicants can

expect that the cost proposal will be

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reviewed for allowability, allocability,

and reasonableness of costs. While

points will not be assessed for cost

issues, cost per placement will be given

serious consideration in the final

determination in the selecting of

awardees.

Note: Bonus points of 15 points will be

applied to those proposals for applicants who

meet the definition of a rural applicant as

specified in section III., Application Process.

The bonus points are to encourage rural

eligibles to apply, as homeless resources are

extremely limited in rural areas.

VII. Post Award Conference

A post-award conference for those

awarded FY 2000 HVRP funds will be

held by the designated Grant Officer

Technical Representative (GOTR)

within each state. The conference will

focus on providing information and

assistance on reporting, record keeping,

and grant requirements.

VIII. Reporting Requirements

The grantee shall submit the reports

and documents listed below:

A. Financial Reports

The grantee shall report outlays,

program income, and other financial

information on a quarterly basis using

SF 269A, Financial Status Report, Short

Form. These forms shall cite the

assigned grant number and be submitted

to the appropriate State Director for

Veterans’ Employment and Training

(DVET) no later than 30 days after the

ending date of each Federal fiscal

quarter during the grant period. In

addition, a final SF 269 shall be

submitted no later than 90 days after the

end of the grant period.

B. Program Reports

Grantees shall submit a Quarterly

Technical Performance Report 30 days

after the end of each Federal fiscal

quarter to the DVET which contains the

following:

1. A comparison of actual

accomplishments to established goals

for the reporting period and any

findings related to monitoring efforts;

2. Reason for slippage if established

goals are not met and identification of

the corrective action which will be

taken to meet the goals, and the

timetable for accomplishment of the

corrective action.

A final Technical Performance Report

will also be required as part of the final

report package due 90 days after the

closeout period.

In addition, the grantees will also be

required to submit a closeout Technical

Performance Report pertinent to the

longitudinal follow up efforts due 6

months after the 90 day closeout period.

C. Summary of Final Report Package

The grantee shall submit 90 days after

the grant closeout period the following

final report package:

1. Final Financial Status Report (SF

269A).

2. Final Technical Performance

Report (Program goals).

3. Final Narrative Report—Grantees

will be required to submit a final

narrative report identifying (a) major

successes of the program (b) obstacles

encountered and actions taken (if any)

to overcome such obstacles; (c) the total

combined (directed/assisted) number of

veterans placed during the entire grant

period; (d) the number of veterans still

employed at the end of the grant period;

(e) an explanation regarding why those

veterans placed during the grant period,

but not employed at the end of the grant

period, are not so employed; and (f) any

recommendations to improve the

program.

No later than 6 months after the 90

day closeout period, the grantee will

submit a follow up report containing the

following:

1. Closeout Financial Status Report

(SF 269A).

2. Closeout Narrative Report

Identifying—(a) the total combined

(directed/assisted) number of veterans

placed during the entire grant period;

(b) the number of veterans still

employed during follow up; (c) are the

veterans still employed at the same or

similar job, if not what are the reasons;

(d) was the training received applicable

to jobs held; (e) wages at placement and

during follow up period; (f) an

explanation regarding why those

veterans placed during the grant, but not

employed at the end of the follow up

period, are not so employed; and (g) any

recommendation to improve the

program.

IX. Administrative Provisions

A. Limitation on Administrative and

Indirect Costs

1. Direct Costs for administration,

plus any indirect charges claimed, may

not exceed 20 percent of the total

amount of the grant.

2. Indirect costs claimed by the

applicant shall 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. (Do not

submit the State cost allocation plan.)

3. Rates traceable and trackable

through the SESA Cost Accounting

System represent an acceptable means

of allocating costs to DOL and,

therefore, can be approved for use in

MHAA grants to SESAS.

4. 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.

B. Allowable Costs

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

C. Administrative Standards and

Provisions

All grants 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 95—Grants and

Agreements with Institutes of Higher

Education, Hospitals, and Other NonProfit Organizations.

29 CFR Part 96—Federal Standards

for Audit of Federally Funded Grants,

Contracts and Agreements.

29 CFR Part 30—Equal Employment

Opportunity in Apprenticeship and

Training.

29 CFR Part 31—Nondiscrimination

in Federally Assisted Programs of the

Department of Labor—Effectuation of

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Signed at Washington, DC this 27th day of

June, 2000.

Lawrence J. Kuss,

Grant Officer.

Appendices

Appendix A: Application for Federal

Assistance SF Form 424

Appendix B: Budget Information Sheet

Appendix C: Assurances and Certifications

Signature Page

Appendix D. Technical Performance Goals

Form

Appendix E. Direct Cost Descriptions for

Applicant and Sub-Applicants

HVRP Performance Goals Definitions

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[FR Doc. 00–16861 Filed 7–3–00; 8:45 am]

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