Employment and Training Administration Pilots, Demonstrations, and Research Projects (17.261)
Program
17.261 Employment and Training Administration Pilots, Demonstrations, and Research Projects
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Labor
Office: Employment Training Administration
Authorization
Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Title I, Part D, Section 171, Public Law 105-220.
Program Number
17.261
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
Through demonstration, pilot projects, and applied research, to address national employment and training problems that have interstate validity and will aid policymakers and stakeholders in addressing these problems.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants
Uses and Use Restrictions
Through demonstration, pilot projects, and applied research, resources address national employment and training problems that have interstate validity and aid policymakers and stakeholders in addressing these problems. Such projects shall include; the provision of direct services to individuals to enhance employment opportunities and an evaluation component and may include: (1) The establishment of advanced manufacturing technology skill centers developed through local partnerships; (2) projects that provide training to upgrade the skills of employed workers who reside and are employed in enterprise communities or empowerment zones; (3) programs conducted jointly with the Department of Defense to develop training programs using innovative learning technologies; (4) projects that promote the use of distance learning; (5) projects that assist in providing comprehensive services to increase the employment rates of out-of-school youth residing in high poverty areas within empowerment zones and enterprise communities; (6) the establishment of partnerships with national organizations expert in developing, organizing, and administering employment and training projects; (7) projects to assist public housing authorities that provide job training programs to residents; and (8) projects that assist local areas to evaluate the degree to which participants in programs under this title achieve self-sufficiency. Grants and contracts awarded for carrying out demonstration and pilot projects under this subsection are intended to be awarded only on a competitive basis, except that a noncompetitive award may be made in the case of a project that is funded jointly with other public or private sector entities that provide a portion of the funding for the project.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State and local governments, Federal agencies, private non-profit and for-profit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations, and educational institutions. Note: Applicant eligibility may be restricted to one or more applicant classes under the particular announcement or solicitation.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Generally limited to the economically disadvantaged and those who are underemployed, unemployed, need to upgrade their skills in order to retain jobs, at-risk youth, and/or to those who evidence barriers to employability.
Credentials/Documentation
Non-governmental entities ordinarily must furnish documentary evidence of adequate financial controls. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Grants for projects are awarded on a competitive basis, announced in Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGAs) in the Federal Register and also on ETA's Internet website at http://www.doleta.gov. To compete for a grant, organizations develop a proposal and budget that demonstrate how the organization will provide services to a targeted population. The SGA provides all of the necessary information for applying for federal assistance.
Award Procedure
Procedures for each project are specified in the applicable SGA. Generally, the procedure is as follows: A technical review panel composed of staff from ETA program offices as well as peer reviewers evaluates eligible submitted applications. The panel prepares a report for the ETA Grant Officer identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the application and the cumulative rating. Once selections are made by the Grant Officer, an Award Notification is sent through the appropriate congressional channels for notification. After awardees are notified, the list of awardees is posted on the ETA Web site at www.doleta.gov. If an application is rejected, a letter is sent to the applicant.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 45 to 90 days.
Appeals
Procedures for each project are specified in the applicable SGA.
Renewals
Project extensions available upon approval by the Grant Officer (renewals are not automatic). Requests for extensions or renewals must be submitted in writing.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Most projects last one to two years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Most grants and contracts are awarded on a cost-reimbursement basis.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Program reports are required for accountability purposes. Cash reports are required for accounting purposes. Quarterly progress reports on all grants awarded are a mandatory requirement of all solicitations. Monthly progress reports are required for contracts/task orders. Quarterly expenditure reports on all grants awarded are a mandatory requirement of all solicitations. Monthly expenditure reports are required for contracts/task orders. Performance monitoring is done by the Contracting Officer's or Grant Officer's Technical Representative in accordance with Federal Acquisition or Department of Labor Management Series Guidelines.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Recipients are required to maintain books, records, documents and other evidence of accounting procedures and practices sufficient to reflect properly all direct and indirect costs of whatever nature claimed to have been incurred for the performance of the grant. Records are to be retained for three years from the date of final payment unless the grant officer authorizes earlier disposal.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2008, approximately 7 new pilot or demonstration projects or major modifications of exisiting project were initiated. Fiscal Year 2009: In fiscal year 2009, approximately 5 new pilot or demonstration projects or major modifications of exisiting project will be initiated. Fiscal Year 2010: No projections at this time.
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-0174-0-1-504.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $14,000,000; FY 09 est $44,000,000; FY 10 est $26,000,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No Data Available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Notices of SGAs are published periodically in the Federal Register on the ETA Web site at www.doleta.gov.
Related Programs
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the nearest Employment and Training Administration Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Jonathan Simonetta 200 Constitution Avenue NW
Room N-5641
, Washington, District of Columbia 20210 Email: simonetta.jonathan@dol.gov Phone: 202-693-3911
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: One example of a funded projects is the Young Parent's Demonstration (YPD) grants. The YPD grants are demonstration grants that target the employment and training needs of young parents. The YPD grants provide educational and occupational skills training leading to family economic self-sufficiency to both mothers and fathers, and expectant mothers ages 16 to 24. Projects funded are encouraged to serve young parents in high-risk categories, including those who are court-involved, in the child welfare or foster care system, homeless, or victims of child abuse. Fiscal Year 2009: One example of a funded projects is the Young Parent's Demonstration (YPD) grants. The YPD grants are demonstration grants that target the employment and training needs of young parents. The YPD grants provide educational and occupational skills training leading to family economic self-sufficiency to both mothers and fathers, and expectant mothers ages 16 to 24. Projects funded are encouraged to serve young parents in high-risk categories, including those who are court-involved, in the child welfare or foster care system, homeless, or victims of child abuse. Fiscal Year 2010: No projections at this time.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria for each proposal are specified in the applicable SGA.
