Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/07/30/2013-18209/brookwood-sago-mine-safety-grants
Timestamp: 2018-04-20 11:11:18
Document Index: 153369732

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 220', 'art 230', 'art 2', 'art 33', 'art 94', 'art 96', 'art 98', 'art 99', 'art 31', 'art 31']

A Notice by the Mine Safety and Health Administration on 07/30/2013
The closing date for applications will be August 31, 2013, (no later than 11:59 p.m. EDST). MSHA will award grants on or before September 30, 2013.
45973-45981 (9 pages)
MSHA-2013-0029
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-18209 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-18209
The U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is making $550,000 available in grant funds for educational and training programs to help identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. The focus of these grants for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 will be on training and training materials for mine emergency preparedness and mine emergency prevention for all underground mines. Applicants for the grants may be States and nonprofit (private or public) entities.
The number of grants awarded will be determined by MSHA's evaluation of grant applications. The amount of each individual grant will be at least $50,000.00. The maximum amount for a 12-month period of performance is $150,000. MSHA will not be awarding renewal (two-year) grants in FY 2013 under this solicitation for grant applications (SGA). This notice contains all of the information needed to apply for grant funding, including for those eligible grantees which were awarded a 2012 renewal grant.
Any questions regarding this solicitation for grant applications (SGA 13-3BS) should be directed to Robert Glatter at glatter.robert@dol.gov or at 202-693-9570 (this is not a toll-free number) or the Grant Officer, Nancy Sloanhoffer, at sloanhoffer.nancy@dol.gov or at 202-693-9839 (this is not a toll-free number).
MSHA has funded the Brookwood-Sago grants annually for 12 months of performance through two types of grants. For the first type, “annual grants,” MSHA requires an applicant to compete each year for the available funds. For the second type, “renewal Start Printed Page 45974grants,” MSHA awards a grant eligible for two separate years of funding with two separate 12-month performance periods. Under this SGA, MSHA will only fund the second-year of eligible FY 2012 renewal grantees and will not accept applications for new renewal grants for FY 2013.
MSHA priorities for the FY 2013 funding of the annual Brookwood-Sago grants will focus on training or training materials for mine emergency preparedness and mine emergency prevention for all underground mines. MSHA expects Brookwood-Sago annual grantees to develop training materials or to develop and provide mine safety training or educational programs, recruit mine operators and miners for the training, and conduct and evaluate the training.
For annual awards, MSHA may approve a request for a one time no-cost extension to grantees for an additional period of up to 12 months from the expiration date of the annual award based on the success of the project and other relevant factors. See 29 CFR 95.25(e)(2). At the end of the second year of funding for a FY 2012 renewal grant, MSHA may approve a request for a no-cost extension for an additional period of performance of up to 12 months based on the success of the project and other relevant factors.
Under 2 CFR 25.200(b)(3), every applicant for a Federal grant funding opportunity is required to include a DUNS with its application. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. An applicant's DUNS number is to be entered into Block 8 of Standard Form (SF) 424. There is no charge for obtaining a DUNS number. To obtain a DUNS number, call 1-866-705-5711 or access the following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/​webform/​displayHomePage.do.
After receiving a DUNS number, all grant applicants must also register as a vendor with the System for Award Management (SAM) through the Web site at https://www.sam.gov/​. Grant applicants must create a user account and then complete and submit the online registration. Once you have completed the registration, it will take 48 to 72 hours to process. The applicant will receive an email notice that the registration is active. If you had an active record in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), you have an active record in SAM. You do not need to do anything in SAM at this time, unless a change in your business circumstances requires a change in SAM in order for you to be paid or to receive an award. SAM will send notifications to the registered user via email 60, 30, and 15 days prior to expiration of the record. In addition, under 2 CFR 25.200(b)(2), each grant applicant must maintain “an active registration with current information at all times.” The Grants.gov Web site, through which applicants must apply for MSHA grants, advises that it will reject all applications that have an expired SAM registration.
This announcement includes all information and links needed to apply for this funding opportunity. (The information regarding the second-year funding of the FY 2012 renewal grants is located in Part VI.) The full application is available through the Grants.gov Web site http://www.grants.gov/​ under “Apply for Grants”. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number needed to locate the appropriate application for this opportunity is 17.603. If an applicant has problems downloading the application package from Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email at support@grants.gov.
The full application package is also available on-line at www.msha.gov: Select “Education & Training Resources,” click on “Courses,” select “Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants,” Start Printed Page 45975then select “SGA 13-3BS.” This Web site also includes all forms and all regulations that are referenced in this SGA. Applicants, however, must apply for this funding opportunity through the Grants.gov Web site.
(b) Completed SF-424A, “Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs.” The project budget should demonstrate clearly that the total amount and distribution of funds is sufficient to cover the cost of all major project activities identified by the applicant in its proposal, and must comply with the Federal cost principles and the administrative requirements set forth in this SGA. (Copies of all regulations that are referenced in this SGA are available on-line at http://www.msha.gov. Select “Education & Training Resources,” click on “Courses,” then select “Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants.”)
(e) Supplemental Certification Regarding Lobbying Activities Form. If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with the making of a grant or cooperative agreement, the applicant shall complete and submit SF-LLL, “Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,” in accordance with its instructions. This form is part of the application package on http://www.grants.gov and is also available at http://www.msha.gov. Select “Education & Training Resources,” click on “Courses,” then select “Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants.”
The technical proposal must demonstrate the applicant's capabilities to plan and implement a project or create educational materials or equipment to meet the objectives of this solicitation. MSHA's focus for these grants is on training mine operators and miners and developing training materials for mine emergency preparedness or mine emergency prevention for underground mines. An Agency strategic goal is to ensure workplaces are safe and healthy for workers through strengthening and modernizing training and education and improving mine emergency response preparedness through training. MSHA has two program outcome goals, described below, that will be considered indicators of the success of the program as a whole. The following table explains Start Printed Page 45976the types of data grantees must provide and their relationship with the Agency's program goals and performance measures for the Brookwood-Sago grants.
2. Agency creates training materials to provide more effective training to ensure workplaces are safe Increase the number of quality educational materials developed Provide quality training materials with clearly stated goals and objectives for improving safety Develop training materials that are reproducible or adaptable Pre- and post-assessment results of the training materials. Evaluation of training materials to include the target audience, statement of goals and objectives, learning level, instructions for using additional materials, secondary purposes, adult learning principles, and usability in the mine training environment. A description of the extent to which others will replicate (i.e., adopt or adapt) the funded training materials.
The technical proposal narrative is not to exceed 12 single-sided, double-spaced pages, using 12-point font, and must contain the following sections: Program Design, Overall Qualifications of the Applicant, and Output and Evaluation. Any pages over the 12-page limit will not be reviewed. Attachments to the technical proposal are not counted toward the 12-page limit. Major sections and sub-sections of the proposal should be divided and clearly identified. And as required in Section VII subpart I “Transparency,” a grantee's final technical proposal will be posted as is on MSHA's Web site unless MSHA receives a version redacting any proprietary, confidential business, or personally identifiable information by October 21, 2013.
(i) Project Director. The Project Director is the person who will be responsible for the day-to-day operation and administration of the program. Provide the name, title, street address and mailing address (if it is different from the organization's street address), Start Printed Page 45977telephone and fax numbers, and email address of the Project Director.
(c) Outputs and Evaluations. There are two types of evaluations that must be conducted. First, describe the methods, approaches, or plans to evaluate the training sessions or training materials to meet the data requirements listed in the table above. Second, describe plans to assess the long-term effectiveness of the training materials or training conducted. The type of training given will determine whether the evaluation should include a process-related outcome or a result-related outcome or both. This will involve following up with an evaluation, or on-site review, if feasible, of miners trained. The evaluation should focus on what changes the trained miners made to abate hazards and improve workplace conditions, or to incorporate the training in the workplace, or both.
The Brookwood-Sago grants are not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” MSHA, however, reminds applicants that if they are not operating MSHA-approved State training grants, they should contact the State grantees and coordinate any training or educational program. Information about each state grant and the entity operating the state grant is provided online at: http://www.msha.gov/​TRAINING/​STATES/​STATES.asp.
The proposed training and education program or training materials must address either mine emergency Start Printed Page 45978preparedness or mine emergency prevention.
3. Overall Qualifications of the Applicant—25 Points Total.
4. Outputs and Evaluations—15 Points Total.
The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement Start Printed Page 45979is August 31, 2013 (no later than 11:59 p.m. EDST). The renewal grantee must submit its application for FY 2013 funding electronically through the Grants.gov Web site.
2 CFR Part 220, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions. (OMB Circular A-21).
2 CFR Part 230, Cost Principles for Non-profit Organizations (OMB Circular A-122).
29 CFR Part 2, Subpart D, Equal Treatment in Department of Labor programs for Religious Organizations, Protection of Religious Liberty of Department of Labor Social Service Providers and Beneficiaries.
29 CFR Part 33, Enforcement of non-discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs or activities conducted by the Department of Labor.
29 CFR Part 94, Governmentwide requirements for drug-free workplace (financial assistance).
29 CFR Part 96, Audit requirements for grants, contracts, and other agreements.
29 CFR Part 98, Governmentwide debarment and suspension (nonprocurement).
29 CFR Part 99, Audits of states, local governments, and non-profit organizations.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 31.2, Contracts cost principles and procedures (Codified at 48 CFR Part 31.2).
All approved grant-funded materials developed by a grantee shall contain the following disclaimer: “This material was produced under grant number XXXXX from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or Start Printed Page 45980organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.”
Personally identifiable information is any information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, such as name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother`s maiden name, or biometric records; and any other information that is linked or linkable to an individual, such as medical, educational, financial, and employment information.[1]
Submission of a redacted version of the Technical Proposal will constitute permission by the applicant for DOL to make the redacted version publicly available. We will also assume that the applicant has obtained the agreement to the redacted version of the applicant's Start Printed Page 45981Technical Proposal. If an applicant fails to provide a redacted version of the Technical Proposal by October 21, 2013, DOL will publish the original Technical Proposal in full, after redacting only personally identifiable information. (Note that the original, unredacted version of the Technical Proposal will remain part of the complete application package, including an applicant's proprietary and confidential business information and any personally identifiable information.)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no person is required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for the grant application is estimated to average 20 hours per response, for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Each recipient who receives a grant award notice will be required to submit nine progress reports to MSHA. MSHA estimates that each report will take approximately two and one-half hours to prepare.
1. OMB Memorandum 07-16 and 06-19. GAO Report 08-536, Privacy: Alternatives Exist for Enhancing Protection of Personally Identifiable Information, May 2008, http://www.gao.gov/​assets/​280/​275558.pdf.