CAREER dislocated worker grant funding announcement

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION               DWG
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                          CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                      OWI-DASG
             Washington, D.C. 20210                     DATE
                                                        June 28, 2021

ADVISORY:       TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE LETTER NO. 25-20

TO:             STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
                STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS
                STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS
                STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARDS AND CHAIRS
                STATE LABOR COMMISSIONERS
                INDIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM GRANTEES

FROM:           SUZAN G. LEVINE
                Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:        CAREER (Comprehensive and Accessible Reemployment through Equitable
                Employment Recovery) National Dislocated Worker Grants

1. Purpose. To announce the availability of up to $43 million for the CAREER
   (Comprehensive and Accessible Reemployment through Equitable Employment Recovery)
   National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs), with award amounts of up to $3 million. These
   funds will support the public workforce system in connecting job seekers to employment as
   the economy recovers from the impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
   pandemic.

2. Action Requested. Any eligible applicants should submit applications before August 31 and
   according to the instructions below. Please share with all staff who administer DWGs,
   Unemployment Insurance, and Employment Services in order to plan quality applications.
   Please disseminate this guidance to all interested entities and potential partners.

3. Summary and Background.
   a. Summary – The CAREER DWG initiative will enable successful applicants to address
      and recover from the unprecedented unemployment and economic impacts of the
      COVID-19 pandemic. Funds for these DWGs will support and enhance comprehensive
      employment services, and for supporting digitalization of services to unemployed
      jobseekers as well as the data systems necessary to connect the unemployed to
      reemployment.

       Available funds for this grant may be depleted by other, unforeseen DWG funding needs,
       such as natural disasters and national emergencies.

  RESCISSIONS                                            EXPIRATION DATE
  None                                                   Continuing

      b. Background – On March 11, 2021 the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act of
         2021 (ARPA) into law. Among other priorities, the ARPA provides emergency funding
         intended to help stabilize the economy and increase hiring, which will increase demands
         on the public workforce system to support reemployment efforts.

           The COVID-19 pandemic required stay-at-home orders, limited travel and business
           operations, and other restrictions to ensure public health and safety. While such actions
           were critical in saving lives and navigating the country through the pandemic, significant
           economic impacts resulted, including a national unemployment rate that peaked at 14.8
           percent, the highest rate observed since data collection began in 1948.1 Currently, there
           are more than 15 million unemployment insurance (UI) claimants in the US, and despite
           increasing labor force participation, the unemployment rate remains above pre-pandemic
           levels and millions of Americans are in need of new, safe employment opportunities
           offering family-sustaining wages.

           However, while the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt, America’s
           economic recovery has already begun. Businesses are ready to hire and workers are
           actively searching for work, bolstered by the success of nationwide vaccination efforts
           and lowered infection and hospitalization rates. During the pandemic, states waived or
           modified work search requirements for individuals receiving unemployment benefits.
           With the reinstatement of work-search requirements, combined with a recovering
           economy, the public workforce system plays a critical role in ensuring an equitable
           recovery by helping an increasing number of workers transition to suitable, safe, good-
           paying work, and helping revitalized businesses find workers. Many state and local
           workforce development boards have increased their capacity to deliver robust career
           services through a virtual medium, which can allow workforce services to reach a wider
           range of jobseekers. Online career services have included virtual meetings to deliver
           staff-assisted career services, virtual job search assistance modules, and delivery of
           tailored job postings to jobseekers via email, text, or web portal.

           Just as the UI program provided a critical safety net during the COVID-19 pandemic, it
           also supports reemployment. For instance, Short-Term Compensation, also known as
           work sharing or shared work, Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments,
           Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services that identifies UI claimants most likely to
           exhaust their benefits in order to provide reemployment assistance, and Self-Employment
           Assistance all support reemployment.

           The Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is now
           furthering these reemployment efforts with up to $43 million in CAREER DWGs. The
           CAREER DWGs are offered under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
           (WIOA) National Dislocated Worker Grant program. The funding is authorized under
           section 170 of WIOA and administered according to 20 CFR part 687.

           Employment Recovery DWGs such as the CAREER DWG provide employment and
           training resources to states and other eligible applicants to respond to major economic
1
    https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46554/10

      dislocations, such as plant closures and mass layoffs, as well as other dislocations that
      have significantly increased the number of unemployed individuals in a state, regional or
      local workforce area.

      In awarding CAREER DWGs, ETA will use its discretion under WIOA to recognize that
      a qualifying event has occurred in all states and territories.

4. CAREER DWG Funding Opportunity.
   a. Goal of the CAREER DWG. The goal of the CAREER DWG is to help reemploy
      dislocated workers most affected by the economic and employment fallout from the
      COVID-19 pandemic, in particular those from historically-marginalized communities or
      groups, and those who have been unemployed for an extended period of time or who
      have exhausted UI or other Pandemic Unemployment Insurance programs. Grantees will
      achieve this goal through:

               i. Staff-assisted career services to comprehensively support reemployment, and
                  appropriate supportive services. The grant can support participant training, as
                  needed, to move into a higher paying career path, and other allowable
                  supportive services necessary to complete training such as child care or
                  transportation;
              ii. Developing or upgrading accessible online systems, platforms, and data
                  structures for access to services, job search, and career guidance; or
             iii. Both of the above.

      In carrying out the required activities, grantees will design and implement a strategy in
      line with this guidance and Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 12-19,
      National Dislocated Worker Grant Program Guidance, including carrying out extensive
      outreach to ensure that eligible participants are aware of the employment and training
      opportunities provided by the grant.

   b. Eligibility.
              i. Qualifying Event. ETA issues this guidance under 20 C.F.R. 687.110(a)(5),
                   which authorizes the Secretary of Labor to determine events that qualify for
                   Employment Recovery DWG funds. Unlike typical Employment Recovery
                   DWG applications, CAREER DWG applicants do not need to document a
                   qualifying event in their application, as the qualifying event for the CAREER
                   DWG is the deep and sustained unemployment resulting from the COVID-19
                   pandemic and its impact on access to training/employment services for
                   historically marginalized communities. These employment challenges cover
                   the entire United States, including all Outlying Areas. Applicants, however,
                   must identify the population they intend to serve to receive CAREER DWG
                   funds; see section 4.d. below for information on required application
                   elements.

              ii. Applicant Eligibility. Under 20 C.F.R. 687.120(a), the following entities are
                  eligible for CAREER DWGs:

A. States or outlying areas, or a consortium of States or outlying areas;
B. Local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs), or a consortium of
   WDBs;
C. An entity eligible for funding through the Indian and Native American
   program in WIOA Section 166(c);
D. Other entities determined to be appropriate by the Governor of the
   State or outlying area involved.

   To demonstrate that a Governor has determined the entity appropriate
   to be a grantee under this TEGL, such an applicant must attach a
   signed letter from the Governor, on official letterhead, identifying the
   organization and indicating why the Governor has determined it
   appropriate to carry out a CAREER DWG. The entity must consent in
   its completed Project Synopsis (Attachment A) that it will arrange a
   method for reporting performance data prior to the receipt of any grant
   funds.

E. Other entities, such as nonprofit organizations or unions, that
   demonstrate to the Secretary the capability to respond effectively to
   circumstances relating to particular dislocations.

   To demonstrate its capability to the Secretary, such an applicant must
   submit documentation that the applicant has:
    expertise with addressing persistent unemployment, issues of
      equity, and understanding the challenges facing marginalized
      communities and individuals;
    expertise with workforce development or training;
    the geographic or administrative reach to handle large-scale
      workforce issues like unemployment resulting from the COVID-19
      pandemic;
    the financial and administrative capability to administer a federal
      grant;
    included a letter of support for its CAREER DWG application
      from each State workforce agency and all WDBs for the
      geographic area(s) which the proposed grant will serve; and
    consented in its completed Project Synopsis (Attachment A) that,
      prior to receiving any grant funds, it will arrange a method for
      reporting performance data.

   Multiple entities from within the same state are eligible to submit
   applications for CAREER DWGs. The Department strongly
   encourages coordination among states, local workforce development
   boards, and other entities that may seek or obtain eligibility for DWG
   funds under 20 CFR 687.120(a), in order to avoid duplication. To
   maximize the use of these grant funds, ETA will not fund multiple
   applications from different applicants within the state if those

                     applications are duplicative. Where there are duplicative applications,
                     ETA will only fund the first application it receives that meets all the
                     requirements of a fundable application set out in this TEGL. For the
                     purposes of this TEGL, applications are “duplicative” if they (i) cover
                     the same geographic territory and (ii) propose to serve the same
                     populations.

         iii. Participant Eligibility. Eligible participants are dislocated workers as defined
              in WIOA sec. 3(15).

             The CAREER DWGs aim to serve in particular those from historically-
             marginalized communities or groups, and those who have been unemployed
             for an extended period of time or who have exhausted UI or other Pandemic
             Unemployment Insurance programs. Grantees are encouraged to review their
             policies and procedures for determining whether such individuals meet
             eligibility requirements to ensure maximum flexibility and to enable the
             widest participation in grant-funded services.

             Note: direct services such as career, training, and supportive services must be
             limited to the eligible participants above. However, some activities of these
             grants may also provide benefits to other populations. For example, the
             implementation of online or virtual job search, career guidance, and training
             platforms may also benefit other populations, so long as the primary purpose
             of the expenditure is to ensure that DWG-eligible participants are able to
             receive the planned services.

c. Grant Activities. In order to meet the goal of the CAREER DWG program (see Section
   4.a above), responsive applications must address the ongoing employment challenges
   resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. All activities must be permissible under 20
   CFR 687.180(a).

          i. Required Grant Activities. Applicants for CAREER DWG funds must
             commit to providing at least one of the following types of activities:

                 A. Career and Training Services – Applicants may propose to provide
                    staff-assisted career services for participants, particularly focused on
                    reemployment. Where training or work-based learning is needed in
                    order to become reemployed in a higher wage job than before the
                    pandemic, and where appropriate based on assessments and individual
                    needs, ETA encourages supportive services to allow participants to
                    enter and complete their training programs and become reemployed in
                    family-sustaining employment. Those supportive services can include
                    child care or elder care, transportation, needs-related payments, and
                    other critical services.

           Under the CAREER DWG, grantees will not be held to average
           participant costs limits when they can demonstrate that providing
           increased services are more likely to achieve positive outcomes. See
           TEGL No. 19-16 for definitions of allowable career, training, and
           supportive services that may be provided to participants under DWGs.

       B. Expanding Accessibility and Capacity through Virtual Platforms and
          Other Technology – Applicants may propose to utilize grant funds to
          research, purchase, build, or expand virtual technology applications or
          platforms for job search, career guidance, training, or other activities
          to expand the capacity of the workforce system to serve larger
          numbers of dislocated workers and job seekers, to ensure accessibility
          to services beyond the physical American Job Centers, and to ensure
          that service delivery will not be interrupted due to emergencies such as
          the COVID-19 pandemic. This can include data structures,
          applications, and analysis to better connect unemployment and
          reemployment systems.

           Please note: grantees must receive prior approval from the Grant
           Officer to purchase any equipment such as information technology
           systems and software as defined at 2 CFR 200.1. Applicants should
           provide estimated costs for planned expenditures in the budget
           documents submitted with a CAREER DWG application, but will be
           expected to provide more specific details on costs and implementation
           schedules prior to expending grant funds on the purchase. However,
           grant funds may be expended to research various systems or strategies,
           to identify appropriate vendors, and to ensure any systems will meet
           state or local requirements.

ii. Allowable Grant Activities. Applicants may carry out other activities to
    support the chosen required activity(ies) in order to achieve the goal of the
    CAREER DWG program, including:

       A. Outreach to Priority Populations – Grant funds may be used to create
          and execute focused outreach campaigns designed to reach historically
          marginalized communities and those who have been unemployed for
          an extended period of time or who have exhausted UI or other
          Pandemic Unemployment Insurance program, so potentially-eligible
          participants are able to enroll in grant-funded activities.

       B. Organizing and Maintaining Strategic Partnerships – Grantees may
          organize and maintain strategic partnerships, as well as contractual
          arrangements where appropriate, with community organizations or
          other entities to develop targeted efforts aimed at identifying and
          enrolling eligible participants from priority communities. Such
          partnerships may be supported with grant funding to coordinate

                      activities, for meetings, and for other events to ensure the success of
                      the planned activities of the grant.

                      Applicants may propose additional activities that align with activities
                      allowable per TEGL 12-19 as appropriate. The Department may place
                      condition of award on a grant to address allowable or potentially
                      proposed unallowable activities with applicants; approval of a grant
                      award does not automatically mean all proposed activities in the
                      application are allowed.

d. Required Application Components. As with other DWGs, DOL will only fund
   applications that are responsive to the requirements of WIOA and this TEGL. The
   applicant must submit a completed Project Synopsis (see Attachment A) in order for an
   application to be considered responsive. The Project Synopsis is designed to collect the
   information required to describe how the implementation of proposed grant activities will
   accomplish the goals of the project. The informational requirements of the Project
   Synopsis include the following:

           i. Project Summary. As described in Section 4a above, the goal of the CAREER
              DWG is to serve dislocated workers most affected by the economic and
              employment fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular those from
              historically-marginalized communities and those who have been unemployed
              for an extended period of time or who have exhausted UI or other Pandemic
              Unemployment Insurance programs. The CAREER DWG enhances the
              ability of the public workforce system to provide effective, accessible, and
              equitable solutions focused on providing high-quality employment
              opportunities for unemployed Americans.

              Applicants must briefly describe their vision for how their proposed project
              will achieve the goal of the CAREER DWG, including which of the required
              and allowable activities they intend to carry out.

          ii. Priority Participant Population(s). Applicants must describe how they plan
              to reach the priority populations: members of historically-marginalized
              communities, and individuals who have been unemployed for extended
              periods or who have exhausted unemployment benefits). For career and
              training services activities, this must include outreach to priority populations.
              For activities related to expanding accessibility and capacity through virtual
              platforms and other technology, this can include plans for how technology
              changes better serve priority populations.

          iii. Service Area(s). As described above, applicants for the CAREER DWG are
               not required to demonstrate the existence of a qualifying event. However, a
               responsive application requires a description of the proposed service area,
               including why particular areas were chosen, if some or all of the elements of
               the project are not proposed to be carried out statewide. Examples of why

                       areas may be chosen could include, but are not limited to, the applicant’s
                       interest in providing additional resources to historically marginalized
                       communities or populations, or areas particularly hard hit by the COVID-19
                       pandemic or other economic transitions.

                       Some or all of the activities of the CAREER grants may be carried out
                       statewide; but for any that are targeting particular areas or particular
                       populations, the applicant must include information as to why those areas or
                       populations are to be prioritized under the grant.

                       Applicants may propose some activities to be carried out statewide, and others
                       may be targeted to particular areas as appropriate. Such information must be
                       provided as part of the application.

                  iv. Partnership with Public Workforce System Entities. To ensure proper
                      participant eligibility determinations as well as delivery of appropriate career,
                      training, and supportive services, at least one local WDB or American Job
                      Center (AJC), located in the area(s) proposed to be covered by the grant, must
                      be a partner in the grant, if they are not the applicant. Applications that do not
                      demonstrate commitment from at least one WDB or AJC will not be awarded
                      grant funds. Applicants may demonstrate such commitment by including at
                      least one letter of support with their application2; see the table in section 4.g
                      below for more information.

                   v. Grant Activities. The applicant must demonstrate that its project will help
                      move its workforce toward high-quality family sustaining-wage employment
                      opportunities and address the economic and workforce challenges caused or
                      exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these challenges,
                      applicants must identify and describe the strategies or approaches they intend
                      to carry out to, and how these activities will help to achieve the goal of the
                      CAREER DWG as described in section 4.a above.

                       Applicants must identify and describe which of the required activities
                       described in section 4.c.i that they intend to provide under the grant to achieve
                       the goal of the program; an application must propose to provide at least one of
                       these elements to be considered responsive.

                       Applicants will also be expected to identify and describe the allowable
                       activities they plan to carry out to support the success of the required option(s)
                       chosen, as described in section 4.c.ii above.

                       Applicants must briefly (in approximately 250 words or fewer for each
                       activity) describe how they will use these activities to achieve the goals of the
                       project.

2
  Note that entities applying under the criteria described in section 4.b.ii.E are required to include letters of support
from all states and local workforce areas where the project will be carried out.

e. Availability of Funds and Application Review and Award. The Department is making
   up to $43 million available under this TEGL. Applicants may apply for grants of up to
   $3 million each. To receive funding for a CAREER DWG, applicants must meet all
   eligibility requirements described in this TEGL, as well as submit a responsive
   application that addresses the mandatory programmatic components outlined in this
   document.

   ETA will award funds to responsive, high quality applications on a first come, first
   served basis while funding remains available. If there are more responsive applications
   than available funds, ETA will fund applications based on quality of applications and
   relative need of applicant until available funds are depleted. Available funds for this
   grant could be depleted by other, unforeseen DWG funding needs, such as natural
   disasters and national emergencies. ETA encourages applicants to submit quality final
   applications before the deadline. Applicants may submit subsequent versions of their
   application if they realize they need to revise it. However, doing so may cause an
   application to not be funded, as revisions impact ETA’s ability to timely consider the
   application. ETA will consider the latest submitted application to be the official
   submission. The deadline for all application packages is August 31, 2021 at 4:00 EDT.
   ETA may stop accepting applications earlier than this date if available funds are depleted
   prior to the official closing date.

   Final award amounts will be determined subject to the availability of funds. If the total
   requests are less than the available funding, or if additional funds become available, grant
   awards may be increased proportionately. The Department will negotiate the final
   funding amount. ETA may require grant recipients to revise budget documents prior to
   award execution to account for discrepancies between funding requests and actual award
   amounts.

   The period of performance for CAREER DWGs is two years, and grant funds will be
   available for expenditure through September 30, 2023. However, the Department
   reserves the right to provide period of performance extensions beyond this date, as it
   deems appropriate and necessary, to achieve the purposes of these awards.

f. Use of Funds.
     i.   Administrative costs under this award follow the definition in the Workforce
          Innovation and Opportunity Act at 20 CFR 683.215.
     ii.   DWGs are subject to the Uniform Guidance: Uniform Administrative
           Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2
           CFR Part 200 and OMB’s approved exceptions for the Department at 2 CFR Part
           2900.

g. Application Requirements. In an effort to achieve greater efficiency and as part of
   ETA’s ongoing effort to streamline the grant award process, grantees must submit the
   following items through Grants.gov at www.grants.gov:

     An electronically signed copy of a SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance
      (OMB Control No. 4040-0004);
     An SF-424A - Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (OMB Control
      No. 4040-0006);
     A Budget Narrative to explain the projected costs reflected in each line item of the
      SF-424A, demonstrating how grant funds will be used. See Attachment B for
      instructions on completing the budget narrative;
     A completed Project Synopsis (Attachment A);
     Letter(s) demonstrating required partnerships or eligibility, per the table below:

                              Required Letters           Required Letters
                              Confirming                 Regarding
       Applicant Type
                              Partnerships in the        Eligibility for the
                              CAREER DWG                 CAREER DWG
                                 Local Workforce
    State or Outlying          Development Board or
    Area Workforce             American Job Center               n/a
    Agency
                                    (at least one)

    Local Workforce
                                         n/a                     n/a
    Development Board
                                 Local Workforce
    Section 166 Entity         Development Board or
    (Native American           American Job Center               n/a
    Tribe)
                                    (at least one)
                                                           Letter from the
                                                            Governor in
    Entity determined            Local Workforce              support of
    eligible by the            Development Board or          eligibility;
    Governor of the state      American Job Center            additional
    involved                        (at least one)          requirements
                                                           included below
                                                               this table

    Other entities
    demonstrating to the         Local Workforce
    Secretary the              Development Board or
                               American Job Center            See below
    capability to
    effectively implement           (at least one)
    this grant

                 Applicants applying under the category of an entity determined eligible by the
                  Governor must additionally include all documentation as required in section
                  4.b.ii.D of this TEGL.
                 Applicants applying under the category of “other entities demonstrating to the
                  Secretary the capability to effectively implement this grant” must additionally
                  include all documentation as required in section 4.b.ii.E of this TEGL.

         If an applicant fails to provide any of the documents described above their application
         will be deemed non-responsive and not funded.

         All applicants must commit to submitting performance data through the Workforce
         Integrated Performance System (WIPS) as a condition of award, and must affirm this in
         the submission of the Project Synopsis form.3

         An electronically submitted SF-424 through Grants.gov constitutes the official signed
         document and must reflect the total amount requested in item #18, Estimated Funding.
         Item #11 must include the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number, 17.277.
         ETA encourages application submission as soon as possible; however, applications must
         be received by 4:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. ETA plans to award all
         CAREER DWGs by September 30, 2021.

    h. Grants.gov Submission Process. Applicants must submit the application package
       through Grants.gov. Applicants needing to register with Grants.gov may do so here:
       https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/grantors/grantor-registration.html. Registration is a
       one-time process, and applicants that already have a Grants.gov account do not need to
       register again.

         To submit the required application package, applicants must:
            i. Select the SEARCH GRANTS tab on the Grants.gov homepage.
           ii. Under the section, BASIC SEARCH CRITERIA, enter the Funding Opportunity
               Number: ETA-TEGL-25-20-DWG.
          iii. Select the link to the applicable Opportunity Number provided in the search
               results.
          iv.  Select the PACKAGE tab.
           v.  Under the ACTIONS column, select APPLY.

         Submitting the SF-424 through www.grants.gov constitutes an electronically signed SF-
         424, Application for Federal Assistance. This submission process may at times be
         complicated and time-consuming. As such, the Department strongly encourages
         applicants to initiate the process as soon as possible, in order to allow time to resolve
         unanticipated technical problems.

3
 For WIOA Section 166-eligible applicants and any other applicants who do not have the capability to submit
performance data through WIPS, ETA will negotiate alternative methods of reporting program performance data
after grant award. For these entities, an inability to submit performance data will not be disqualifying for this grant.

   Submission requirements stipulate that all applicants for Federal grant and funding
   opportunities must have a Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S®) number, and
   must supply their D-U-N-S® number on the SF-424.

   Before submitting, applicants must also ensure its registration with the System for Award
   Management (SAM) is current. Applicants may find instructions for registering with
   SAM at https://www.sam.gov. An awardee must maintain an active SAM registration
   with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an
   application under consideration. To remain registered in the SAM database after the
   initial registration, entities must review and update the registration at least every 12
   months from the date of initial registration. Failure to register with SAM and maintain an
   active account will result in Grants.gov rejecting the application submission.

   For technical issues encountered during application submission, applicants may call 800-
   518-4726 or 606-545-5035 to speak to a Customer Support Representative, or email
   [email protected]. The Contact Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but
   closes on federal holidays.

i. Other Award Considerations. At its discretion, ETA intends to fund applicants who
   adequately demonstrate eligibility according to the application requirements set out in
   Section 4g above. ETA may elect to award a grant with or without discussions with the
   applicant. Should a grant be awarded without discussions, the award will be based on the
   applicant’s signature on the SF-424, including electronic signature, which constitutes a
   binding offer by the applicant.

   NOTE: The Department will determine if the applicant had any restriction on spending
   for any ETA grant due to adverse monitoring findings within the past three years.
   Depending on the severity of the findings, the Grant Officer may elect to not provide the
   applicant a grant award or to impose conditions on the award.

   All applications deemed to be complete and responsive by the Grant Officer will go
   through a risk review process. Before making an award, ETA will review information
   available through any OMB-designated repository of government-wide eligibility
   qualification or federal integrity information, such as the Federal Awardee Performance
   and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), Dun and Bradstreet, and “Do Not Pay.”
   Additionally, ETA will comply with the requirements of 2 CFR Part 180 (Government-
   wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-Procurement)). This risk evaluation may
   incorporate results of the evaluation of the applicant’s eligibility (application screening),
   or the quality of its application (technical review). If ETA determines that an entity is
   responsible and an award will be made, special conditions that correspond to the degree
   of risk assessed may be applied to the award. Risk-related criteria evaluated include:

          Financial stability;
          Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards
           prescribed in the Uniform Grant Guidance;
          History of performance. The Applicant’s record in managing awards, cooperative

          agreements, or procurement awards, if it is a prior recipient of such Federal
          awards, including timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting
          requirements, and if available, the extent to which any previously awarded
          amounts will be expended prior to future awards;
         Reports and findings from audits performed under Sub-part F – Audit
          Requirements of the Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR sections 200.500 –
          200.520) or the reports and findings of any other available audits and monitoring
          reports containing finds, issues of non-compliance, or questioned costs; and
         The applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other
          requirements imposed on recipients.

   Selection of an organization as a recipient does not constitute approval of the grant
   application as submitted. Before the actual grant is awarded, the Department may enter
   into negotiations about such items as program components, staffing and funding levels,
   and administrative systems in place to support grant implementation. If the negotiations
   do not result in a mutually acceptable submission, the Grant Officer reserves the right to
   terminate the negotiations and decline to fund the application. The Department reserves
   the right to not fund any application related to this TEGL.

j. Grantee Performance Reporting Requirements. Performance accountability
   requirements for all DWGs, including CAREER DWGs, is in TEGL14-18, “Performance
   Accountability Guidance Relating to Reporting Performance and Aligning Performance
   Definitions and Policies Across Workforce Employment and Training Programs
   Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.” Information on DWG performance is
   available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/dislocated-workers/performance.

   The DWG program applies performance measures as described in WIOA Section 116.
   These include the following:
       Planned Employment Rate (2nd Quarter after Exit) (e.g. 75%)
       Planned Employment Rate (4th Quarter after Exit) (e.g. 75%)
       Planned Median Earnings (per quarter earnings rate, after 2nd quarter after
          employment)
       Planned Credential Rate
       Planned Measurable Skill Gains Rate

   For grantees that are states or outlying areas, state performance goals for the WIOA title I
   Dislocated Worker Program serve as a basis for each DWG. Grantees that are a local WDB
   use goals that the local WDB negotiated with the state for the title I Dislocated Worker
   program as a basis for each DWG. Entities in the WIOA section 166(c) Native American
   Program use goals established for that program as a basis for DWG performance targets.
   For these and other eligible entities, goals approved in the DWG application serve as final
   performance targets. Applicants who do not intend to use the state or local negotiated goals
   for the above measures must explain what goals they will use and why those goals will be
   used in lieu of the negotiated goals.

   Unless otherwise specified in footnote 3 above, DWG grantees must submit performance

       data using the WIPS. Information on this system is available on the WIPS Resource
       Page: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/performance/wips/.

       DWG grantees must submit financial reports using the ETA-9130 (G) Financial
       Report. Guidance and instructions are available at the following link:
       https://www.doleta.gov/grants/financial_reporting.cfm. ETA expects an applicant to
       have the appropriate systems or partnerships in place to submit required performance data
       as described in this section. An applicant must commit to submitting the required
       performance data to receive a grant award under this funding announcement.

   k. Evaluation. As a condition of grant award, grantees are required to participate in an
      evaluation, if undertaken by DOL. The evaluation may include an implementation
      assessment across grantees, an impact and/or outcomes analysis of all or selected sites
      within or across grantees, and a benefit/cost analysis or assessment of return on
      investment. Conducting an impact analysis could involve random assignment (which
      involves random assignment of eligible participants into a treatment group that would
      receive program services or enhanced program services, or into control group(s) that
      would receive no program services or program services that are not enhanced). We may
      require applicants to collect data elements to aid the evaluation. As a part of the
      evaluation, as a condition of award, grantees must agree to: (1) make records available to
      the evaluation contractor on participants, employers, and funding; (2) provide access to
      program operating personnel, participants, and operational and financial records, and any
      other relevant documents to calculate program costs and benefits; and (3) in the case of
      an impact analysis, facilitate the assignment by lottery of participants to program
      services, including the possible increased recruitment of potential participants; and (4)
      follow evaluation procedures as specified by the evaluation contractor under the direction
      of DOL.

   l. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Statement. The OMB Information Collection No
      1225-0086, Expires July 31, 2022.

       According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond
       to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control
       number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to
       average 20 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching
       existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and
       reviewing the collection of information.

       This information is being collected for the purpose of awarding a grant. DOL will use
       the information collected through this solicitation to ensure that grants are awarded to the
       applicants best suited to perform the functions of the grant. This information is required
       to be considered for this grant.

5. Inquiries. Questions regarding this guidance should be directed to Grant Specialist Mary
   Walek at [email protected] with CAREER DWG in the subject line.

6. References.
       Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), sec. 170, Pub. L. No. 113-128,
         128 STAT. 1425, 1573-1576 (July 22, 2014);
       20 CFR pt. 687;
       Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 12-19, National Dislocated
         Worker Grant Program Guidance (March 18, 2020);
       TEGL No. 14-18 – Aligning Performance Accountability Reporting, Definitions, and
         Policies Across Workforce Employment and Training Programs Administered by the
         U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) (March 25, 2019); and
       TEGL No. 19-16 – Guidance on Services Provided through the Adult and Dislocated
         Worker Programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and
         the Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service (ES), as amended by title III of WIOA,
         and for the implementation of the WIOA Final Rules (March 1, 2017).

7. Attachment(s).
      A. Project Synopsis
      B. Instruction Sheet for Budget Narrative

                                                                                        ATTACHMENT A
               Comprehensive and Accessible Reemployment through Equitable Recovery
                           (CAREER) National Dislocated Worker Grant
                                         Project Synopsis

This synopsis must be completed and submitted along with other required application materials as
described in Section 4.g of the CAREER DWG TEGL. If more space is required than the synopsis provides,
please attach additional pages with that information clearly identified. ETA will not review any information
in excess of five additional pages.

Applications that do not include all the required information in this synopsis will be considered non-
responsive and will not be reviewed.

                                   APPLICATION INFORMATION
 Instructions: Please complete all of the following elements in this table.
 Applicant Organization
 Name
 Applicant Organization Type ☐ State or Outlying Area Workforce Agency (or consortium of states or
 Select the appropriate type of  outlying areas)
 eligible applicant.             ☐ Local Workforce Development Board (WDB) or consortium of WDBs
                                 ☐ An entity eligible for funding through the Indian and Native American
                                 program in WIOA Section 166(c)
                                 ☐ Entities determined eligible by the Governor of the state involved
                                 (These entities must provide a letter from the Governor with application
                                 submission, as well as a letter from at least one WDB, as required in
                                 section 4.b.iii of the TEGL)

                                   ☐ Entities demonstrating to the Secretary the capability to implement this
                                   grant (These entities must submit additional documentation supporting
                                   their eligibility, as well as additional letters of support/partnership, as
                                   required in section 4.b.ii of the TEGL.)
 Number of Participants
 Projected to be Served
 Participant Eligibility           ☐ Yes
 Applicant acknowledges that
 the only eligible participants    ☐ No
 are dislocated workers as
 described in Section 4.b.iii
 of the TEGL.
 Priority Participant
 Population(s)                     ☐ Individuals from historically-marginalized communities or groups
 Describe those populations        Why chosen:
                                                      A-1

of eligible dislocated
workers you intend to serve,
and why such groups were
chosen.                            ☐ Individuals have been unemployed for an extended period of time or
                                   who have exhausted UI or other Pandemic Unemployment Insurance
                                   programs

                                   Why chosen:

                                   ☐ Other eligible dislocated workers
                                   Why chosen:

Project Service Area
Describe the geographic areas      ☐ Statewide
to be served by the proposed       ☐ Counties/Communities (list):
grant. If all activities will be
carried out statewide, indicate
here. If some activities will be
statewide and others in
geographic regions, please
include both options and list
communities included.
Rationale for Project
Service Area
Provide a brief (approximately
250 words) description of why
the service area(s) for this
proposed project were chosen,
including how providing
services in these areas will
help address the goal of the
CAREER DWG.
Consent to Submitting
PerformanceData                    ☐ Yes
Commitment to ensuring             ☐ No
ability to submit performance
data through WIPS as
required in Section 4.g of the
TEGL.

                                                     A-2

Performance Reporting              Planned Employment Rate (2nd Quarter after Exit) (e.g. 75%):
As described in section 4.j. of
the TEGL, applicants must          Planned Employment Rate (4th Quarter after Exit) (e.g. 75%):
indicate the performance
                                   Planned Median Earnings (per quarter earnings rate, after 2nd quarter after
outcomes they intend to
                                   employment):
achieve in their proposed
project.                           Planned Credential Rate:

                                   Planned Measurable Skill Gains Rate:

Performance Outcomes
Are the planned performance        ☐ Yes
outcomes for the activities in     ☐ No, please explain why
this project the same as the
applicable negotiated goals
established for state or local
formula Dislocated Worker
Programs?

Applicants who do not intend
to use the state or local
negotiated goals for the above
measures must explain what
goals they will use and why
those goals will be used in lieu
of the negotiated goals.

Partnership with Public Workforce System Entities
Instructions: To ensure proper participant eligibility determinations as well as delivery of appropriate career,
training, and supportive services, at least one local Workforce Development Board (WDB) or American Job
Center (AJC), located in the area(s) proposed to be covered by the grant, must be a partner in the grant.
Applicants must complete the table below and include at least one required partner, as described in Section
4.d.iv of the TEGL.
Required Partner           Entity Type (Local             Geographic Area             Partnership Letter
Name                       Workforce Development Covered by Partner                   Included? (Y/N)
                           Board; AJC)
Ex. Coastal Workforce Local Board                         6-county area including     Y
Board                                                     A, B, C, D, E and F
                                                          counties

                                                      A-3

Strategic Partners (Optional)
Instructions: Per section 4.c.ii.B of the TEGL, applicants may propose to organize and maintain strategic
partnerships, as well as contractual arrangements where appropriate, with community organizations or other
entities to develop targeted efforts aimed at identifying and enrolling eligible participants from priority
communities. These partnerships may help ensure grant success but are not required to be included in the
application.
Partner Name                 Partner Type                 Partner Role(s) In           Geographic Area
                             (Employer/industry,          Proposed Project             Covered by Partner
                             education, economic
                             development,
                             community
                             organization, etc)
Ex. Community Health         Community organization Outreach to potential              City of Alexandria;
Association                                               participants                 Fairfax County

Project Summary
Instructions: Per section 4.d.i, applicants must briefly describe their vision for how their proposed project
will achieve the goal of the CAREER DWG, including which of the required and allowable activities they
intend to carry out.

Grant Activities
Instructions: Applicants must        Brief Description of Activities (Approximately 250 words or fewer for

                                                      A-4

identify which of the required                               each element)
and allowable activities they
intend to employ under the
grant to achieve the goal of the
program.

 The goal of the CAREER DWG is to help reemploy dislocated workers most affected by the economic and
   employment fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular those from historically-marginalized
 communities or groups, and those who have been unemployed for an extended period of time or who have
                  exhausted UI or other Pandemic Unemployment Insurance programs.

    A. Required Grant Activities
Applicants for CAREER DWG funds must commit to providing at least one of the following activities.
☐ Provide career and
training activities for
participants, including staff-
assisted career services and
appropriate supportive
services, focused on
reemployment. See section
4.c.i.A for more information.
☐ Research, purchase, build,
or expand virtual technology
applications or platforms for
job search, career guidance,
training, or other activities to
expand the capacity of the
workforce system to serve
larger numbers of dislocated
workers and job seekers, to
ensure accessibility to services
beyond the physical American
Job Centers, and to ensure that
service delivery will not be
interrupted due to emergencies
such as the COVID-19
pandemic. See section 4.c.i.B
for examples and additional
information.

                                                 A-5

   B. Allowable Grant Activities
Applicants may carry out other activities to support the project design and in order to achieve the goal of the
CAREER DWG program. Please select any of the options below that will be included in the proposed
project, and provide a brief description of how these activities enable the success of the project. For
additional information on these allowable activities see section 4.c.ii of the TEGL.

☐ Creating and executing
focused outreach campaigns
designed to reach priority
populations and other
potentially-eligible participants
to ensure they are able to
enroll in grant-funded
activities.

☐ Organizing and maintaining
strategic partnerships,
including contractual
arrangements, with community
organizations or other entities
to identify and enroll eligible
participants from target
communities

☐ Carrying out other
allowable activities that are
intended to achieve the goal of
the CAREER DWG

    C. Achieving the CAREER DWG Goal
The applicant must demonstrate that its project will help move its workforce toward high-quality family
sustaining-wage employment opportunities and address the economic and workforce challenges caused or
exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these challenges, applicants must briefly (in
approximately 250 words or less) identify and describe how the strategies or approaches described above
will help to achieve the goal of the CAREER DWG as described in section 4.a of the TEGL.

                                                      A-6

A-7

                                                                                 ATTACHMENT B
Budget Form and Narrative Instructions

Budget Information Form
You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). In preparing the Budget
Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget
request, explained in detail below.

Budget Narrative
The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the
SF-424A. It must separate the primary cost components of each line item, which when added
together provide the line item total. It must also provide the basis for the costs, and the function
or use of particular items. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any
leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities. Leveraged resources are
all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of this award. Valuation of leveraged resources
follows the same requirements as match. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to
increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

Each category should include the total cost for the period of performance. Use the following
guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

Personnel: List all staff positions by title (both current and proposed) including the roles and
responsibilities. For each position give the annual salary, the percentage of time devoted to the
project, and the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant.

Fringe Benefits: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe
benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

Travel: For grantee staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, mileage, per diem,
estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other costs for each type of travel.
Applicants who would like to attend any post-award technical assistance events will need to
request funding for travel costs under the Travel line item; ARC and DRA may host no more
than three, two-day technical assistance events through the life of these grants. Applicants are
encouraged to follow federal per diem rates when calculating costs for travel (e.g. meals,
lodging, transportation, mileage). More information on federal per diem rates can be found at
https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase that has an estimated
acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000, use
your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.1 for the
definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item.

Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are supplies, not “equipment.” In general, we do not
permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant. Supplies: Identify
categories of supplies (e.g., office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the item, quantity, and

                                                 B-1

the unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment”
(see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Supplies).

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately.
Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.1 as a legal instrument by which a non-federal
entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a federal
award. A subaward, defined by 2 CFR 200.1, means an award provided by a pass-through entity
to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a federal award received by the pass-
through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a
beneficiary of a federal program. For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose
and activities to be provided, and the estimated cost.

Construction: Construction costs are not allowed and this line must be left as zero. Minor
alterations to adjust an existing space for grant activities (such as a classroom alteration) may be
allowable. We do not consider this as construction and you must show the costs on other
appropriate lines such as Contractual.

Other: Provide clear and specific detail, including costs, for each item so that we are able to
determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable. List items, such as stipends
or incentives, not covered elsewhere.

Indirect Costs: If you include an amount for indirect costs (through a Negotiated Indirect Cost
Rate Agreement or De Minimis) on the SF-424A budget form, then include one of the following:

1) If you have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), provide an explanation of
how the indirect costs are calculated. This explanation should include which portion of each line
item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Also, provide a
current version of the NICRA.

or

2) If you intend to claim indirect costs using the 10 percent de minimis rate, please confirm that
your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 CFR 200.414(f). Clearly state that
your organization does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, and is not one
described in 2 CFR 200, Appendix VII (D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total
Direct Costs (see 2 CFR 200.1 below for definition) as their cost allocation base. Provide an
explanation of which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in
your cost allocation base. Note that there are various items not included in the calculation of
Modified Total Direct Costs. See the definitions below to assist you in your calculation.

    2 CFR 200.1 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages,
     applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000
     of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the
     award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental

                                                  B-2

    costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the
    portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when
    necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the
    approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

    The definition of MTDC in 2 CFR 200.1 no longer allows for any sub-contracts to be
    included in the calculation. You will also note that participant support costs are not included
    in modified total direct cost. Participant support costs are defined below.

   2 CFR 200.1 Participant Support Cost means direct costs for items such as stipends or
    subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of
    participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences, or training
    projects.

See Section IV.B.4. and Section IV.E.1 for more information. Additionally, the following link
contains information regarding the negotiation of Indirect Cost Rates at DOL:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/office-of-the-senior-procurement-executive/cost-price-determination-division.

Note that the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative must include the entire federal grant
amount requested (not just one year). Do not show leveraged resources on the SF-424 and SF-
424A. You should describe leveraged resources in the Budget Narrative.

Applicants should list the same requested federal grant amount on the SF-424, SF-424A, and
Budget Narrative. If minor inconsistencies are found between the budget amounts specified on
the SF-424, SF-424A, and the Budget Narrative, ETA will consider the SF-424 the official
funding amount requested. However, if the amount specified on the SF-424 would render the
application nonresponsive, the Grant Officer will use his or her discretion to determine whether
the intended funding request (and match if applicable) is within the responsive range.

                                                B-3