FEDERAL AGENCY:

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998; Title I, Sections 121, 134(c), 189(c); Pubulic Law 105-220; 29 U.S.C. 2841, 2864(c), 2939(c); Wagner-Peyser Act, 29 U.S.C. 49(f)(e); Department of Labor Appropriations Act for 2002; Public Law 107-116.

To support the development of the One-Stop system infrastructure with the objective of achieving model, seamless and comprehensive services for people with disabilities, thereby increasing their employment, retention, earning capacity and occupational skill attainment.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Eligible applicants are State or Local Workforce Investment Boards ("State Boards" or "Local Boards"), established under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, working in partnership with other State and/or local public and/or private nonprofit, disability-related organizations. We encourage State or Local Boards 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 State/local public agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Mental Retardation/Developmental Disability, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; and/or private nonprofit organizations such as Centers for Independent Living, disability advocacy, provider organizations, Federally funded disability grant entities, and other nonprofit organizations, including faith-based entities, which provide services and/or advocacy for people with disabilities. Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, or consortia of Tribes, may also apply for Work Incentive Grants. These would involve coordination of services and enhancements to a One-Stop system approach for people with disabilities in a specific Indian community or covering multiple Tribal entities that may cut across multiple States and/or Workforce Investment Areas.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Limited to individuals with disabilities eligible for employment and training services under WIA.

Credentials/Documentation:   The lead administrative and fiscal agent applying for the grant must be identified in the application. Statewide applications must propose strategies for enhancing and improving services to people with disabilities involving all local workforce investment areas in the State. Statewide 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 statewide 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. In those instances when the applicant is a Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government, or consortia of Tribes, letters of commitment from Local Boards may not be applicable. Other requirements may be contained in the published solicitation.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or the official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   Solicitations for Grant Applications (SGAs) are published in the Federal Register. Information concerning the proper application, format, content and applicable forms are contained in the published SGA.

Award Procedure:   Awards for this competitive grant program are made directly to successful applicants by the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Up to 120 days.

Appeals:   Contact the headquarters to obtain information on appeal procedures.

Renewals:   Extensions available upon request with approval of the Grant Officer.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   The period of performance will be approximately 30 months from the date of execution by the Department. The Department may extend these grants based on the availability of funds and satisfactory performance. Payment will be made through electronic funds transfer utilizing the computerized Payment Management System.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Grantees will be required to submit periodic financial and narrative progress reports. Data collection will incorporate some detailed information about the people with disabilities being served under the grant by the grant applicant and consortium partners (where applicable), and as these relate to the workforce areas covered under the grant. Reporting will be conducted electronically through web-based applications. Financial reporting will be required quarterly using the Standard Form 269- Financial Status Report. A narrative progress report will be required quarterly. 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.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Grant recipients are required to maintain records in accordance with 29 CFR 95 and 97. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records and all other pertinent records shall normally be retained for a period of 3 years after the grant is closed out. Participant records shall be retained for 5 years. Records must be retained longer in certain cases, such as when audit findings have not been resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   16-0179-0-1-504.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $20,000,000; FY 02 est $20,000,000; and FY 03 est $20,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Grants range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 with an average in the previous year of approximately $800,000 per grant.

Fiscal year 2001 grantees report significant enhancement in the ability of the participating One-Stops to serve individuals with disabilities. In fiscal year 2001, 23 grants were awarded out of approximately 125 applications received. It is anticipated that in fiscal year 2002, approximately 100 applications will be received and from 20 to 40 grants awarded.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Regulations governing the WIA are at 20 CFR parts 652, 660 through 671 (65 Federal Register 49294 (August 11, 2000)). The Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments (also known as the "Common Rule") are applicable. The "Common Rule is codified at 29 CFR Part 97 (97.22). In addition, OMB Circular No. A-110 ("Grants And Agreements with Institutes of Higher Education, Hospital, and Other Nonprofit Organizations", codified at 29 CFR Part 95 (95.27)) is applicable. Non-Governmental entities must have a current or pending negotiated indirect cost rate. The Department of Labor will negotiate performance goals with successful applicants that will be consistent with the Department's Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Contact the Grant Officer's Technical Representative for the Work Incentive Grants in the appropriate Regional Employment and Training Administration Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   Disability Employment Policy Unit, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-3844. Fax: 202-693-3818. TTY: 202-693-2871.

Web Site Address:   http://wdsc.doleta.gov/disability

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Projects 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 WIA. This program provides grant funds to consortia and/or partnerships of public and private nonprofit 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.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Selection criteria are described in the Solicitation for Grant Application published in the Federal Register.