[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 241 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64873-64884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30923]



[[Page 64873]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[SGA No. DFA 02-101]


Work Incentive Grants

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), DOL.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; Solicitation for Grant 
Applications (SGA).

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    This Notice Contains All of the Necessary Information and Forms 
Needed to Apply for Grant Funding.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA), announces the availability of approximately $20 
million to award competitive grants designed to enhance the 
employability, employment and career advancement of people with 
disabilities through enhanced service delivery in the new One-Stop 
delivery system established under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
(WIA). The Work Incentive Grant program will provide grant funds to 
consortia and/or partnerships of public and private non-profit entities 
working in coordination with the One-Stop delivery system to augment 
the existing programs and services and ensure programmatic access and 
streamlined, seamless service delivery for people with disabilities.

DATES: Applications will be accepted commencing on the date of 
publication of this solicitation. The closing date for receipt of 
applications under this announcement is January 28, 2002. Applications 
must be received by 4 p.m. (EST) at the address below. No exceptions to 
the mailing and hand-delivery conditions set forth in this notice will 
be granted. Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in 
this notice will not be honored.

ADDRESSES: Applications shall be mailed to: U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal Assistance, 
Attention: Ms. Yvonne Harrell, SGA/DFA 02-101, 200 Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Questions should be faxed to Ms. 
Yvonne Harrell, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal 
Assistance, Fax (202) 693-2879 (this is not a toll-free number). All 
inquiries should include the SGA number (DFA 02-101) and a contact 
name, fax and phone numbers. This announcement will also be published 
on the Internet on the ETA's disAbility online Home Page at: http://wdsc.doleta.gov/disability/, and the ETA homepage at http://doleta.gov. 
Award notifications will also be published on the ETA homepage.

Delivery of Applications

    1. Late Applications. Any application received after the exact date 
and time specified for receipt at the office designated in this notice 
will not be considered, unless it is received before awards are made 
and it (a) was sent by U.S. Postal Service registered or certified mail 
not later than the fifth calendar day before the date specified for 
receipt of applications (e.g., an application submitted in response to 
a solicitation requiring receipt of applications by the 20th of the 
month must have been post marked by the 15th of that month); or (b) was 
sent by the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service to 
addressee not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing two working 
days prior to the date specified for receipt of applications. The term 
``working days'' excludes weekends and Federal holidays. ``Post 
marked'' means a printed, stamped or otherwise placed impression 
(exclusive of a postage meter machine impression) that is readily 
identifiable, without further action, as having been supplied or 
affixed on the date of mailing by an employee of the U.S. Postal 
Service.
    2. Withdrawal of Applications. Applications may be withdrawn by 
written notice or telegram (including mail gram) received at any time 
before an award is made. Applications may be withdrawn in person by the 
applicant or by an authorized representative thereof, if the 
representative's identity is made known and the representative signs a 
receipt of the proposal.
    3. Hand-Delivered Proposals. It is preferred that applications be 
mailed at least five days prior to the closing date. To be considered 
for funding, hand-delivered applications must be received by 4 p.m., 
EST, at the specified address. Failure to adhere to the above 
instructions will be basis for a determination of non-responsiveness. 
Overnight express mail from carriers other than the U.S. Postal Service 
will be considered hand-delivered applications and MUST BE RECEIVED by 
the above specified date and time.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Part I. Authority

    Provisions relating to the One-Stop delivery system are at sections 
#121, 134(c), 189(c) of the Workforce Investment Act (29 U.S.C. 2841, 
2864(c), 2939(c); Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49f(e)) and Department 
of Labor Appropriations Act for 2001 (Pub. L.106-554). Regulations 
governing the Workforce Investment Act are at 20 CFR parts 652, 660 `` 
671, #(65 FR 49294 (August 11, 2000)).

Part II. Background

    The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) establishes 
comprehensive reform of existing Federal job training programs with 
amendments impacting service delivery under the Wagner-Peyser Act, 
Adult Education and Literacy Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. WIA also 
repeals and supersedes the Job Training Partnership Act. A number of 
other Federal programs are also identified as required partners in the 
One-Stop delivery system in order to provide comprehensive services for 
all Americans to access the information and resources available to 
assist them in the development and implementation of their career 
goals. The intention of the One-Stop system is to establish programs 
and providers in co-located and integrated settings that are accessible 
for individuals and businesses alike in approximately 600 workforce 
investment areas established throughout the nation.
    WIA establishes State and Local Workforce Investment Boards focused 
on strategic planning, policy development, and oversight of the 
workforce system with significant authority for the Governor and chief 
elected officials in local areas to build on existing reforms in order 
to implement innovative and comprehensive workforce investment systems. 
Recognizing that many One-Stop delivery systems may not currently have 
the capacity to provide comprehensive services to people with 
disabilities, the Work Incentive Grant is designed to provide seed 
monies to support the development of the One-Stop infrastructure with 
an objective of achieving model, seamless and comprehensive services 
for people with disabilities.
    Many people with disabilities are looking to the new workforce 
investment system to address their employment and training needs in a 
progressive, enlightened environment with cutting-edge technologies. 
They also expect the One-Stop delivery system to provide comprehensive 
services to meet multiple barriers, which frequently limit their access 
to a productive, economically rewarding work life. These services may 
include, but are not limited to, the availability of basic skill 
development; vocational skill training or advanced educational 
opportunities; apprenticeship and entrepreneurial training; 
transportation

[[Page 64874]]

assistance to reach training or employment sites; housing assistance or 
advice on retaining existing housing upon employment; and access to 
medical health coverage upon employment. Twenty-three Work Incentive 
Grants were awarded at the end of Fiscal Year 2000 as the first round 
of this grant program. If you would like more information on last 
year's Work Incentive Grant awards, please go to http://wdsc.doleta.gov/disability/.
    This Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) is for grant awards 
under the Work Incentive Grant program with funds made available July 
1, 2001, under the Fiscal Year 2001 appropriation. The Work Incentive 
Grant program is consistent with the objectives of the President's New 
Freedom Initiative. This year's Work Incentive Grant announcement 
places a greater emphasis on addressing infrastructure inadequacies and 
programmatic access of the One-Stop system for people with disabilities 
and includes making a larger proportion of grant funds available for 
procuring assistive technology and establishing adequate employment 
counseling capacity than did previous work incentive grants.
    The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy 
(ODEP) also has several grant initiatives underway. These include a 
Customized Employment Grant, Innovative Demonstration Programs for WIA-
assisted Youth, High-School/High Tech Start-up and Realignment Grants, 
and WIA Disability Technical Assistance Consortia. The Customized 
Employment Grants are distinct from ETA's Work Incentive Grants in that 
the ODEP grants will be awarded to Local Workforce Investment Boards to 
develop comprehensive, strategic and cutting-edge models of service 
delivery for individuals with disabilities who have never been 
employed, whose experience is limited to subsidized employment, 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 the active involvement of programs of both 
required and non-required partners of the workforce system. If you 
would like more information on the ODEP grants and other programs 
administered by ODEP, please go to: http://www.dol.gov/dol/odep/.

Part III. Funding Availability and Period of Performance

    The Department of Labor anticipates awarding approximately 20-40 
grants ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. The period of performance 
will be approximately 30 months from the date of execution by the 
Department. The grant funds would be available for expenditure until 
June 30, 2004, when the authority for these funds will expire. The 
Department may elect to extend these grants based on the availability 
of funds and satisfactory performance.

Part IV. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are State or Local Workforce Investment Boards 
(``State Boards'' or ``Local Boards''), established under the Workforce 
Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) working in partnership with other state 
and/or local, public and/or private non-profit, disability-related 
organizations. We encourage State or Local Board to be the lead 
applicant. However, if the State or Local Board is not the lead it must 
be a partner in the consortium. Eligible applicants partnered with 
State or Local Broads may be:
    <bullet> State/local public agencies such as Vocational 
Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Mental Retardation/Developmental 
Disability, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); and/or
    <bullet> Private non-profit organizations such as Centers for 
Independent Living (CIL's), disability advocacy, provider 
organizations, federally-funded disability grant entities, and other 
non-profit organizations, including faith-based entities, which provide 
services and/or advocacy for people with disabilities.
    The lead administrative and fiscal agent applying for the grant 
must be identified in the application.
    Applications can be statewide in scope. Statewide applications must 
propose strategies for enhancing and improving services to people with 
disabilities involving all local workforce investment areas in the 
State. State-wide grant projects should obtain and provide letters of 
commitment from Local Boards to the extent possible. However, a 
statewide project must include the State Board as a consortium partner, 
with applicable letters of commitment provided in the application.
    Applications that are not state-wide projects but which involve one 
or more local workforce investment areas should also include letters of 
commitment from each Local Board covered under the grant, or one letter 
of commitment signed by all Local Boards in the local area (if all 
commitments cannot be obtained, explanation must be provided). Current 
Work Incentive grantees may apply under this solicitation, but must 
cover an increased number of workforce investment areas; identify 
significant need; address outstanding deficiencies or a significant 
improvement to the local workforce investment system.
    Indian and Native American Tribal entities, or consortia of Tribes, 
may apply for Work Incentive Grants. These grants would involve 
coordination of services and enhancements to an One-Stop system 
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. In such cases, letters of commitment 
from Local Boards may not be applicable. 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.

    Note: Except as specifically provided, DOL/ETA 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. For example, the OMB circulars require that 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/ETA's award does not provide the 
justification or basis to sole-source the procurement, i.e., avoid 
competition.

Part V. Format Requirements for Grant Application

    General Requirements--Applicants must submit one (1) copy with an 
original signature and 2 additional copies of their proposal. The 
Application Narrative must be double-spaced, and on single-sided, 
numbered pages with the exception of format requirements for the 
Executive Summary. The Executive Summary must be limited to no more 
than two single-spaced, single-sided pages. A font size of at least 
twelve (12) pitch is required throughout.
    There are three required sections of the application. Requirements 
for each section are provided in this application package. Applications 
that fail to meet the requirements will not be considered.

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Section I--Project Financial Plan

Section II--Executive Summary--Project Synopsis

Section III--Project Narrative (Including Appendices, Not To Exceed 
40 Pages)

    Section I. Project Financial Plan--Section I of the application 
must include the following two required elements: (1) Standard Form 
(SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance, and (2) Budget 
Information Form and budget narrative. The application must include one 
SF 424 with the original signatures of the legal entity applying for 
grant funding and 2 additional copies. Applicants shall indicate on the 
SF 424 the organization's IRS Status, if applicable. Under the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995, section 18 (29 U.S.C. 1611), an organization 
described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
which engages in lobbying activities shall not be eligible for the 
receipt of federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number is 17.207.
    The Project Financial Plan will not count against the application 
page limits. The financial plan must describe all costs associated with 
implementing the project that are to be covered with grant funds. All 
costs should be necessary and reasonable according to the Federal 
guidelines set forth in the ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,'' 
(also known as the ``Common Rule'') codified at 29 CFR part 97, and 
``Grants and Agreements with Institutes of Higher Education, Hospitals, 
and Other Non-Profit Organizations (also known as OMB Circular A-110), 
codified at 29 CFR part 95, and must comply with the applicable OMB 
cost principles circulars, as identified in 29 CFR 95.27 and 29 CFR 
97.22(b).
    The financial plan must contain the following parts:
    <bullet> Completed ``SF 424--Application for Federal Assistance'' 
(See Appendix A of this SGA for required form).
    <bullet> Completed ``Budget Information Form'' by line item for all 
costs required to implement the project design effectively. (See 
Appendix B of this SGA for required forms.)
    <bullet> Budget narrative/justification, which provides sufficient 
information to support the reasonableness of the costs, included in the 
budget in relation to the service strategy and planned outcomes.

    Please Note:
    Work Incentive Grant project designs may incorporate procurement 
or implementation of software or hardware to assure assistive and 
accessible technologies in the One-Stop setting, which may equal up 
to 40% of the grant award.

    Section II. Executive Summary--Project Synopsis [Format 
requirements for the Executive Summary are limited to no more than two 
single-spaced, single-sided pages]
    Each application shall include a project synopsis, which identifies 
the following:
    <bullet> The applicant;
    <bullet> The type of organization the applicant represents;
    <bullet> Identification of consortium partners and the type of 
organizations they represent;
    <bullet> The project service area;
    <bullet> Whether the service area is an entire local workforce 
investment area, more than one local area, or all local areas in a 
State;
    <bullet> The specific areas of focus in the announcement which are 
addressed by the project;
    <bullet> The amount of funds requested;
    <bullet> The planned period of performance;
    <bullet> The comprehensive strategy proposed for providing seamless 
service delivery, for addressing the multi-faceted barriers to training 
and employment which affect people with disabilities, and for improving 
access for people with disabilities in the generic workforce system;
    <bullet> The ways in which the proposal is coordinated with other 
disability related grant initiatives from DOL, Department of Education 
(ED), Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Social Security 
Administration (SSA), Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) 
or other Federal partners
    <bullet> How counseling and other support needs will be addressed 
in the One-Stop Center system;
    <bullet> The actions already taken by the State or Local Workforce 
Investment Board to address the needs of people with disabilities in 
the One-Stop delivery system;
    <bullet> The extent to which the One-Stop facilities and satellite 
site(s) incorporate physical access for people with disabilities;
    <bullet> The extent to which Vocational Rehabilitation is 
integrated or coordinated with the One-Stop delivery system;
    <bullet> Data on the extent to which people with disabilities have 
been served under the Wagner-Peyser Act and previously, under the Job 
Training Partnership Act, and WIA;
    <bullet> The level of commitment the applicant and consortium 
members have to serving people with disabilities; and
    <bullet> The extent and manner in which the needs of individuals 
with disabilities from diverse cultural and/or ethnic groups will be 
addressed.
    Section III. Project Narrative [Format requirements limited to no 
more than forty (40) double-spaced, single-sided, numbered pages. Note: 
The Executive Summary is not included in this forty (40)-page limit].
    Section III of the application, the project narrative, the 
Government Requirements/Statement of Work section, as described below 
in the ``Required Content for Work Incentive Grant Applications--
Program Year 2001.'' The forty (40)-pages limit includes any 
Attachments, which are provided by the applicant. Letters of general 
support or recommendation for a proposal should NOT be submitted and 
will count against the page limits. However, letters of commitment or a 
commitment signatory page are required from partner/consortia 
organizations, including State and/or Local Workforce Investment 
Board(s) clearly stating their intent to provide services and resources 
to the grant. As noted in Part IV of this solicitation, (Eligible 
Applicants), should also include letters of commitment from each Local 
Board covered under the grant, or one letter of commitment signed by 
all Local Boards in the local area (if all commitments cannot be 
obtained, explanation must be provided).

Part VI. Monitoring and Reporting

Monitoring

    The Department shall be responsible for ensuring the effective 
implementation of each competitive grant project in accordance with the 
provisions of this announcement and the negotiated grant agreement. 
Applicants should assume that Department staff, or their designees 
would conduct on-site project reviews, periodically. Reviews will focus 
on timely project implementation, performance in meeting the grant's 
programmatic goals and objectives, expenditure of grant funds on 
allowable activities, integration and coordination with other resources 
and service providers in the local area, and project management and 
administration in achieving project objectives. Work Incentive Grants 
may be subject to other additional reviews at the discretion of the 
Department.

Reporting

    Grantees will be required to submit quarterly financial and 
narrative progress reports under the Work Incentive Grant program 
covering the workforce area(s) included in the grant project design. 
DOL will analyze data of workforce investment area(s) reports submitted 
annually under the

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Workforce Investment Standardized Record Data (WIASARD) for workforce 
areas covered under the grant. [Note: Information on the WIASRD can be 
found under performance accountability at http://workforce.org].
    <bullet> Financial reporting will be required quarterly using the 
Standard Form 269--Financial Status Report (FSR).
    <bullet> A narrative progress report will be required quarterly.
    <bullet> The Department of Labor plans to establish a process 
report on a semi-annual basis which includes summary information 
pertaining to WIA implementation and the numbers of people with 
disabilities registered, receiving training services, and employed 
through the One-Stop system. [Note: DOL will seek OMB review for the 
collection of this data].
    The Department will establish performance goals with successful 
applicants that are consistent with the Department's Government 
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals.

Part VII. Rating Criteria

    The Project Narrative, or Section III, of the grant application 
should provide complete information on how the applicant will address 
the Department of Labor's priorities for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 Work 
Incentive Grant program to achieve enhancements to the basic 
infrastructure and service delivery of the One-Stop system, in 
particular Wagner-Peyser and WIA-funded programs. These are:
    <bullet> Developing comprehensive One-Stop Centers which are 
welcoming and are valued providers of choice by customers with 
disabilities seeking workforce assistance by assuring the availability 
of staff trained on disability issues, personalized employment 
counseling, coordinated planning support related to employment barriers 
and incentives, and availability of accommodations and assistive 
technologies for diverse disability needs.
    <bullet> Implement strategies, which significantly increase 
opportunities for skill training, employment and workforce inclusion of 
people with disabilities resulting in self-sustaining employment and 
career advancement through participation in the One-Stop system.

The applicant should address government requirements and statement of 
work provisions outlined here as these address the applicant's needs 
and project design to achieve the Department's priorities. Therefore, 
all four criteria must be addressed but each item under the criteria 
does not necessarily have to be incorporated in the applicant's 
proposal design. At the same time, it is important to provide full 
information on the status of the workforce environment as it impacts 
people with disabilities.

1. Statement of Need [25 points]

    <bullet> Identify the number of workforce areas in the State and 
the geographic jurisdiction of each local workforce investment area(s) 
in the State.
    <bullet> Identify which local areas(s) in the State will be covered 
by the project and whether the project is Statewide, involves multiple 
local areas or is for a single local area.
    <bullet> Identify whether a Work Incentive Grant award was received 
in the FY 2000 competition covering the identified workforce investment 
areas in this application and the reasons for application under this 
Solicitation for Grant Application.
    <bullet> Identify consortium members if any, their primary mission 
irrespective of participation in the grant proposal, and what political 
and geographic jurisdictions (e.g., cities, counties, subsections of 
cities/counties) they cover.
    <bullet> Describe how the project will address a primary objective 
of the Work Incentive Grant program to assure the integration of people 
with disabilities into the workforce investment system, including the 
availability of Wagner-Peyser and WIA Title I programs and services.
    <bullet> Identify the percentage of people with disabilities in the 
State and/or local area, including the percentage of people who are 
beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or 
Social Security Income Program (SSI).
    <bullet> Identify the most recent unemployment rate(s) in the 
workforce investment area(s) covering the project.
    <bullet> Describe any significant deficiencies in the State or 
local workforce investment system that represent barriers to employment 
for people with disabilities and what will be accomplished under this 
grant to address them.
    <bullet> Identify additional State and/or local funds and resources 
that will be used to support the overall objectives of the grant and 
which will assist in addressing the identified issues the grant project 
is addressing.
    <bullet> For proposals targeted to a specific Indian community or 
covering multiple Tribal entities which may cut across multiple States 
and/or local areas, describe the overall approach of the project, and 
identify the inadequacies and deficiencies of the service delivery to 
the applicable community, and how the project expects to address these.
    <bullet> Recognizing that the One-Stop delivery system may not have 
extensive knowledge or skills in working with people with disabilities, 
describe the level of expertise of the One-Stop system in the local 
area(s) addressed in the grant and the projects plans for addressing 
inadequacies.
    <bullet> Describe the overall status and actions taken to-date by 
the One-Stop delivery system to address services to people with 
disabilities. This should include actions to ensure that, State and/or 
local facilities are physically and programmatically accessible; 
training is provided to staff; that the number and percent of people 
with disabilities receiving services under Job Training Partnership Act 
(JTPA), WIA and Employment Service programs during the previous three 
years compared with that of people without disabilities; plans to 
increase services to people with disabilities, if applicable.
    <bullet> Describe coordination and linkage with regional Disability 
Business and Technical Assistance Centers (DBTAC's) and State Governors 
Committees on Employment of People with Disabilities. For example, Have 
DBTAC's provided training to the One-Stop delivery system on the 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act, or other disability-related training? If not, are 
plans to do so incorporated into the applicant project?
    <bullet> Identify public and private non-profit provider entities 
participating under Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), WIA and 
Employment Service grant program, and which barriers to employment 
their programs and services that are contributing to the overall 
applicant proposal may address. Specifically, describe State or local 
area provisions regarding Medicaid and/or Medicare coverage; current 
transportation infrastructure; how individuals with all types of 
disabilities will access training, employment, housing, food stamps and 
other supportive services.

2. Comprehensive Service Strategy [25 points]

    <bullet> Identify how you will ensure that trained staff are 
available to provide counseling or employment planning support who have 
adequate knowledge of diverse disabilities and information on the 
following:
    <bullet> Education and training program options and opportunities 
available under a broad array of programs such as Adult Education, 
Individuals with Disability Education Act for those under 22 without a 
high school degree,

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Vocational Education, Vocational Rehabilitation and School-to-Work 
programs for adults and youth with disabilities;
    <bullet> Services and resources for a wide range of disabilities, 
which may include both documented and undocumented physical, sensory, 
developmental/cognitive (e.g., mental retardation and learning 
disabilities, among others), mental and other health related functional 
disabilities;
    <bullet> Tax benefits and incentives to employers of people with 
disabilities that provide financial support for workplace modifications 
and accommodations;
    <bullet> Entrepreneurial, job carving and other employment options 
for people with disabilities;
    <bullet> Impact of employment on individual benefits such as SSDI, 
SSI, TANF, Medicaid, Medicare, subsidized housing, and food stamps;
    <bullet> Availability of Social Security work incentive programs 
and Ticket to Work options available to SSDI and SSI recipients; and
    <bullet> Other resources available to assure successful employment 
and job retention such as transportation and housing options.
    <bullet> Describe changes to be achieved under the grant to create 
seamless service delivery for One-Stop customers with disabilities.
    <bullet> Describe the process that will be used to maintain and 
expand the service structure for individuals with disabilities 
accessing the workforce investment system.
    <bullet> Describe how people with disabilities who are not eligible 
for Vocational Rehabilitation services or do not fall under the State's 
Order of Selection will be served through Wagner-Peyser services or WIA 
services through the Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth or National 
Programs, including programs and services under the Older Americans 
Act.
    <bullet> Identify the provisions of Memoranda of Understanding or 
other agreements between the partners, State Vocational Rehabilitation 
(VR) Agency, the State Rehabilitation Council, and the State or Local 
Boards in terms of the provision of services to people with 
disabilities; the plans for cost sharing; the arrangements for referral 
of people with disabilities between WIA Title I programs and VR as 
appropriate; the extent of integration and co-location of VR in One-
Stop Centers, including sharing of Management Information Systems (MIS) 
or participation in case management data base technologies; the extent 
to which there is joint funding of participant services or leveraging 
of funds to expand access to services; and use of Individual Training 
Accounts (ITA's) for people with disabilities.
    <bullet> Describe linkages with the State and local Independent 
Living Center (CIL) systems; Mental Health Departments, Mental 
Retardation/Developmental Disability Agencies, State Councils on 
Developmental Disabilities, State Vocational Rehabilitation, and 
Councils on Employment and other local provider or advocate 
organizations serving individuals with developmental and/or psychiatric 
disabilities, including how these agencies fit in a comprehensive 
service delivery strategy.
    <bullet> Describe coordination and linkages with Learning 
Disabilities and Training Dissemination hub centers established under 
grants from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and 
Adult Education and how these may be used to provide services to people 
with learning and other disabilities.
    <bullet> Identify how State TANF programs and Welfare to Work (WtW) 
competitive grant projects will be linked or leveraged with objectives 
of the applicant's project.
    <bullet> Identify plans and strategies to develop the capacity of 
the comprehensive One-Stop Center to function as an Employment Network 
under the Ticket to Work & Work Incentive Improvement Act (TWWIIA). 
Project plans in this regard should involve building the capacity of 
the WIA Title I programs and One-Stop system so that more in-depth 
services and information will be readily available to individuals with 
disabilities at the comprehensive One-Stop Center. The description of 
increased capacity must be an adjunct to the State Vocational 
Rehabilitation Agency, which is an automatic Employment Network 
provider under the TWWIIA.
    <bullet> Describe how the project will be coordinated with grant 
programs, which are funded under the SSA Benefits Planning, Assistance 
and Outreach Cooperative Agreement and HHS Medicaid Infrastructure 
Grant programs, if applicable.

3. Innovation and Model Services [25 points]

    <bullet> Describe your strategy for substantially increasing the 
number and percent of people with disabilities served, trained and 
entered into unsubsidized employment through the One-Stop Center 
system, particularly in WIA Title I programs. This should be related 
to, or refer back to, service delivery history under JTPA and the first 
year of WIA identified under the Statement of Need.
    <bullet> Describe the status of accessible technologies within the 
Comprehensive One-Stop and plans to procure and implement accessible 
technologies, including video interpreting services for clients who are 
deaf or electronic door openers for wheelchair users, and how they 
address current system deficiencies.
    <bullet> Identify the scope of technology implementations, if 
applicable, and the extent to which implementation is comprehensive and 
across the workforce area(s) and/or statewide.
    <bullet> Identify whether assessment tools are used to identify 
individuals with learning disabilities in the One-Stop delivery system, 
including plans and processes to identify applicable assessment tools, 
train staff and incorporate such assessments as part of the service 
delivery structure.
    <bullet> Describe how public supports needed by people with 
disabilities may be affected by their employment or training and State 
or local conditions, and actions to sustain benefits and services 
following successful job placement. For example, does the State or 
local area have provisions to continue supported or Section 8A housing 
(The Housing Act of 1992, Title IV), where applicable, for individuals 
who enter unsubsidized employment?
    <bullet> Has the State adopted Medicaid ``buy-in'' options, or are 
there Medicaid waivers that extend health care coverage for individuals 
who enter employment?
    <bullet> Describe plans for outreach and marketing to the 
disability community and organizations which represent or work with 
people with disabilities; and plans for training disability-related 
organizations on the resources and programs available to them in the 
One-Stop system.
    <bullet> Identify individualized strategies that establish client 
control of training funds, VR funds, ITA's, or other funding sources to 
which these individuals may have access, and co-mingle funds in a 
seamless, customer friendly manner, including plans for obtaining 
waivers to the extent program requirements necessitate this.
    <bullet> Identify plans or strategies to deploy Ticket to Work 
voucher provisions for beneficiaries of SSDI and recipients of SSI.
    <bullet> Describe strategies to foster entrepreneurial and self-
employment options using ITA's, Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) 
and other SSA work incentives, and Medicaid coverage for individuals 
with disabilities who start or return to work.
    <bullet> Describe specific approaches for developing relationships 
with and support of area employers that establish

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employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities accessing 
the One-Stop delivery system, including any commitments by employers to 
hire these individuals.
    <bullet> Describe how opportunities for competitive employment for 
individuals with disabilities will be provided or developed within the 
local workforce investment area and how this is unique or different 
than what is normally performed by the applicant(s).
    <bullet> Identify available Federal and State tax incentives 
available to employers when hiring an individual with a disability; how 
this information will be marketed and disseminated to employers, the 
individual and workforce staff; and how employers may use such tax 
credits to address structural and technological accommodation needs.
    <bullet> Describe opportunities for increasing integrated, 
competitive employment through use of strategies such as individualized 
job development for individuals with the most significant disabilities 
currently working in segregated facilities or waiting for employment 
services.

4. Demonstrated Capability [25 points]

    <bullet> Identify whether the State or Local Boards will be the 
lead for the grant project and how they will include the disability 
community in plans.
    <bullet> Identify the critical activities, time frames and 
responsibilities for effectively implementing the project, including 
the management and evaluation process for assuring successful 
implementation of grant objectives.
    <bullet> Include a project organizational chart, which identifies 
the staff with key management responsibilities, including a matrix of 
organizational responsibilities of key entities and participating 
consortium organizations, where applicable.
    <bullet> Describe the specific experience of the applicant(s) in 
serving people with disabilities, in providing workforce services, in 
addressing specific barriers to employment, in achieving expected 
outcomes in the delivery of such services/programs, and in implementing 
and administering specific project plans of the grant project. For 
example, such information might include the local Department of 
Transportation as a key partner agency addressing transportation 
barriers and how this entity has participated in similar efforts in the 
past and the success of these past efforts, and potential success of 
coordination on the applicant(s) grant project.

Part VIII. Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

    A careful evaluation of applications will be made by a technical 
review panel, which will evaluate the applications against the criteria 
listed in this SGA. The panel results are advisory in nature and not 
binding on the Grant Officer. The Department may elect to award grants 
either with or without discussion with the offeror. In situations 
without discussions, an award will be based on the offeror's signature 
on the SF 424, which constitutes a binding offer. The Grant Officer may 
consider any information that is available and will make final award 
decisions based on what is most advantageous to the Government, 
considering factors such as:
    <bullet> Panel findings;
    <bullet> Geographic distribution of the competitive applications;
    <bullet> The availability of funds.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 11th day of December, 2001.
James W. Stockton,
Grant Officer.

Appendix ``A''--Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (with 
instructions)

Appendix ``B''--Budget Information Form (with budget narrative 
instructions)

Appendix ``C''--Application Cover Sheet

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[FR Doc. 01-30923 Filed 12-13-01; 8:45 am]
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