Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (17.264)

Program

17.264 Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Labor
Office: Employment Training Administration

Authorization

Workforce Investment Act of 1998; Title I, Subtitle D, Section 167; Public Law 105-220.

Program Number

17.264

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide job training and other employability development services and related assistance for those individuals, including their dependents, who are primarily employed in agricultural labor that is characterized by chronic unemployment and underemployment.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

In the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), eligible seasonal farmworkers and their dependents may be offered core services (including initial assessment, One Stop Center services, job placement, and eligibility determination) intensive services developed under a case management system (such as objective assessment, individual employment planning, basic education, allowance payments, dropout assistance, and work experience) training services (such as classroom training that is occupationally specific and on the job training), and related assistance (such as emergency assistance and other supportive services that allow a farmworker to stay employed or continue his or her participation in program activities). Funds must be used in accordance with Federal Regulations.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Public agencies and units of government (State and local); and private non-profit institutions/organizations authorized by their charters or articles of incorporation to operate employment and training programs.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The ultimate beneficiaries are low income individuals and their dependents who have, during any consecutive 12-month period in the 24 months preceding their application for enrollment, been primarily employed in agricultural labor that is characterized by chronic unemployment or under employment due to the seasonal or migratory nature of the work. Individuals must also be legally available for work and males must not have violated the Selective Service Act registration requirement.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the problems of seasonal farmworkers and the capacity to respond to their needs, a familiarity with the local agricultural industry, and the administrative capacity to administer workforce investment programs, including their capacity to be an effective One Stop system partner. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The standard preapplication forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. 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. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Grants for operating NFJP programs are awarded under a biennial competitive process. Applications are solicited, normally for each state's service area, through a Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) announcement published in the Federal Register and on ETA's Web site, www.doleta.gov. Applicants may be required under the solicitation to provide their proposed plan to operate NFJP services in the areas where they propose to operate. A separate program is funded to serve the geographic area of each State, except as follows: more than one applicant may be selected to serve areas within California and some service areas comprise the geography of two adjoining states. (A provision for waiver of competition for a maximum four-year period may be exercised by the Department).

Award Procedure

Competing applications will be rated according to criteria included in the Solicitation for Grant Application. Awards are made directly to eligible applicants by the Employment and Training Administration.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. Sixty to ninety days.

Appeals

Petition for reconsideration of non-selection as a potential grantee may be made to an Administrative Law Judge within 21 days of notification of the Department's decision.

Renewals

Grants may be renewed without further competition for a third and fourth year provided performance for the first two years has been satisfactory.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 20 CFR , Chapter 669.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards initially apply for one or two years, with the option of a subsequent two-year renewal if performance is satisfactory and a national competition is not held. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual reports are required. No cash reports are required. Quarterly Performance Reports are required. Financial reports are required quarterly. Regional Federal Project Officers conduct monitoring - desk audits, risk assessments and filed audits are utilized.

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. Subject to audits by the U.S. Department of Labor or other authorized Government agencies.

Records

Grantees are required to maintain complete accounting, personnel, and individual participant records in accordance with OMB Circulars A-102 and A-110. Participant records must support eligibility and the need for services provided.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Results are published annually and available through the DOL Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/MSFW/html/PerfData.cfm. Fiscal Year 2009: Not yet available. Fiscal Year 2010: The budget is published annually and available on the DOL Web site at www.dol.gov/dol/aboutdol/main.htm#budget.

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-0174-0-1-504.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $80,000,000; FY 09 est $83,000,000; FY 10 est $83,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The range and average varies by year. Amounts are published annually in the Federal Register.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

20 CFR 669.

Related Programs

17.258 WIA Adult Program

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Regional contact information is available on the Website at www.doleta.gov/MSFW.

Headquarters Office

Juan Regalado 200 Constitution Ave, NW
Room S-4209, Washington, District of Columbia 20210 Email: regalado.juan@dol.gov Phone: 202-693-2661 Fax: 202-693-3587

Web Site Address

http://www.doleta.gov/msfw/

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Selection criteria are described in the Solicitation for Grant Application published in the Federal Register whenever there is a competition for grant awards. (Also, see paragraph 92, above.).