FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Section 168 Veterans' Workforce Investment Programs; Public Law 105-220; 29 USC 2913.

To develop programs to meet the employment and training needs of service-connected disabled veterans, veterans who have significant barriers to employment, veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and veterans who were recently separated from military service.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Programs supported with these funds shall include: 1) Activities to enhance services provided to eligible veterans by other providers of employment and training services funded by Federal, State, local or tribal governments; 2) activities to provide innovative employment and training services and projects to eligible veterans not currently provided by other public employment and training service providers; and 3) outreach and public information activities to develop and promote maximum job and training or retraining opportunities for eligible veterans.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   State governors are eligible to compete for the majority of the grant funds. Discretionary funds are open to all applicants, as determined by the ASVET.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Service-connected disabled veterans, veterans who have significant barriers to employment, veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and veterans who are recently separated from military service.

Credentials/Documentation:   According to the program's specified Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA)/Request for Proposal (RFP) or for discretionary funding: 1) Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance; 2) completed needs assessment of the State or Service Delivery Area to be served; and 3) a description of proposed program(s), goals and emphasis, funding plans, and timeliness for completion.

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 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. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 (29 CFR, Part 97) must be used for this program.

Application Procedure:   This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, in conjunction with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, is responsible for all funding decisions regarding this competitive grant program.

Deadlines:   The specific deadlines for submission of applications for this program are published in the Solicitation for Grant Application Document and the Federal Register. SGAs may be issued periodically for a specific portion of the funds for special emphasis grants.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   About 120 days.

Appeals:   Within 21 days of the determination denying financial assistance the applicant may request a hearing through the Chief Administrative Law Judge, Department of Labor.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Recommended, not required.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Funding is normally available during a 12-month period (program year). The methods of payment will be with an automatic payment management system.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report, will be used to report outlays, program income, and other financial information on a quarterly basis. Narrative technical performance reports are used to report actual services delivered.

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 expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will 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." For nongovernmental grant recipients, audits shall be performed in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   16-0174-0-1-504.

Obligations:   (Grants and Contracts) Program operates on a program year (PY) beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30. FY 01 $7,300,000; FY 02 est $7,800,000; and FY 03 est $7,300,000. (Note: The majority of available funds are currently awarded via a competitive process to States with a lesser amount set aside for discretionary projects. In PY 2000, $6.2 million was made available to successful grantees selected through National competition. Another $1.3 million was reserved for discretionary use.)

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   State grants currently range from $200,400 to $850,000. Average: $486,737. In program year 2002 another competitive process will be conducted.

In program year 2001, 9 of 10 competitive programs were awarded second year funding. Program accomplishments cannot be aggregated into the national total due to a multiplicity of projects with each having a variety of results.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Not applicable.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   For information regarding program funding and eligibility, contact any Regional Administrator or Director for Veterans' Employment and Training in each State as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S- 1316, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-4719. Contact: Robert M. Wilson.

Web Site Address:   http://www.dol.gov/dol/vets

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

1) Applicant must not have failed to satisfy major conditions in current or previous grants with the Department of Labor; 2) applicant must not have failed to satisfy Department of Labor conditions in the resolution of a final finding and determination, including repayment of funds; 3) Applications must meet the objectives and the uses and use restrictions of the program; and as determined by the ASVET in the SGA. Discretionary awards may be made in response to unsolicited proposals and/or a specific Request for Proposals. Criteria to be determined by the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training in accordance with the research and demonstration nature of this program.