VIII. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Applications

The SGA indicates that applicants need a DUNS number. Must strategic partners also have a DUNs number?

No. Only the applicant needs a DUNS number. To obtain a DUNS number, access this Web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.

Are there assigned program officers who will be available to answer questions throughout the application process?

All questions during the application process should be directed to: Kevin Brumback, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance, FAX number (202) 693-2705. (This is not a toll-free number). You must specifically address your FAX to the attention of Kevin Brumback, which should reference SGA/DFA-PY-05-11 and include a contact name, fax and phone number.

Must proposals submitted on-line through Grants.gov be sent from the eligible applicant?

Yes.

Should I model the format of my technical proposal after the five criteria against which the proposal will be scored?

Although we do not have a formal format or layout for technical proposals, applicants should be aware that their applications will be evaluated on the basis of the evaluation criteria found in Parts V(A) of the SGA found at 71 Fed. Reg. 37948 (July 3, 2006): (A) statement of need; (B) linkages to key partners; (C) training and capacity building plan; (D) outcomes, benefits, and impact; and (E) program management and organization capacity. In addition, applicants may address the areas in the two bonus point sections: Connections to Regional Economic Strategies and Integration of Workforce Investment Act training funds. While proposals are scored against the evaluation criteria, these criteria are closely linked to the critical elements found in Section I(C) of the Solicitation and ETA encourages applicants to closely review the critical elements of the Solicitation and incorporate information about how their proposals responds to these elements into their applications.

Applicants may reference leveraged resources in the budget narrative or in the technical proposal to the extent to address any rating criteria as appropriate. Please do not reference any leveraged resources on SF 424 or SF 424a.

Regarding SF 424A, are we required to fill out item numbers 1-4 with different functions/activities?

On Line 1 of SF 424A, Column (a), applicants should enter: “Community Based Job Training Grants” Column (b) asks for the CFDA number for this SGA; applicants should enter the number 17.269 for this SGA. Applicants may leave blank lines 2 through 4 of SF 424A.

Content and Form of Application Submission

Is there any page limit to the grant application?

Yes. The Technical Proposal is limited to twenty (20) double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 inch x 11 inch pages with 12 point text font and one-inch margins. Any pages over the 20 page limit will not be reviewed. In addition, in attachments which may not exceed ten (10) pages, the applicant may provide resumes, a list of staff positions to be funded by the grant, statistical information, general letters of support, and other related material. The required letters of commitment from partners must be submitted as additional attachments and will not count against the allowable 10-page limit on attachments. Please note that applicants should not send letters of commitment or support separately to ETA because letters are tracked through a different system and will not be attached to the application for review. Additionally, the applicant must reference grant partners by organizational name in the text of the Technical Proposal. Except for the discussion of any leveraged resource to address the evaluation criteria, no cost data or reference to prices should be included in the Technical Proposal. In addition, the following information is required:

• A two-page abstract summarizing the proposed project and applicant profile information including: applicant name, project title, industry focus, partnership members, proposed training and capacity building activities, funding level requested, the amount of leveraged resources, and a project description as described in the evaluation criteria section at Section V(A) of this solicitation. The abstract should also clearly note whether the application is being submitted under the exception detailed in Section III(C)(5) of the SGA.
• A table of contents listing the application sections; and
• A time line outlining project activities and an anticipated schedule for deliverables.

Please note that the abstract, table of contents, and time line are not included in the page limitations above. Applications that do not provide Part II of the application may be removed from consideration prior to the technical review process.

How should I craft my timeline? For example, should I estimate that projects will start in January 2007 assuming that award notifications will be provided in the Fall 2006?

Because we do not know the exact date these grants will be awarded and executed, applicants are not expected to use specific calendar/date references (i.e., January, March 13, April 2007, etc.) in the timeline of grant activities. Instead, applicants are advised to refer to general time periods (i.e., first 3 months, x number of weeks, first year, second year, etc.).

Paneling and Review

How will technical review panels be selected?

Panelists are chosen by the Grant Officer and are a combination of federal, non-federal, and peer reviewers.

Will ETA review proposal drafts before the deadline?

No.

Will applications be reviewed upon receipt?

No. Technical review panels will convene after the closing date of the SGA.

If we submit two proposals, will they be evaluated independently of each other?

Yes. Each proposal will be rated based on the following evaluation criteria: (A) statement of need; (B) linkages to key partners; (C) training and capacity building plan; (D) outcomes, benefits, and impact; and (E) program management and organization capacity plus the two bonus point sections.

Are bonus points being awarded under this Solicitation?

Yes. There are two opportunities for bonus points identified in the SGA at 71 Fed. Reg. 37948 (July 3, 2006): 1) Integrating the Project into Regional Economic Development Strategies; and 2) Integration of Workforce Investment Act funds into grant activities.

Five bonus points may be awarded for Integrating the Project into Regional Economic Development Strategies. Applicants that fully demonstrate their proposed grant activities will be integrated and aligned with their region’s economic development strategies will receive five (5) bonus points. Full demonstration of this integration can be achieved by summarizing the region’s strategic vision and workforce education strategies in support of economic growth and describing how the proposed education and training activities in the grant proposal will integrate, build upon, and align with those strategies. Applicants will receive either five bonus points or zero points.

Additionally, 5 bonus points are available for applicants that demonstrate the use of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) training funds into grant activities. Examples of WIA training funds include Individual Training Accounts, customized training, and Career Advancement Accounts. Applications that demonstrate integration of WIA training funds, whether through Individual Training Accounts (ITA), customized training, or piloting Career Advancement Accounts (CAA), to cover the tuition costs for the CBJTG training program for eligible new or incumbent workers will receive five (5) bonus points. To receive bonus points, applicants will have to demonstrate that WIA training funds are a component of their proposed training program. Applicants will receive either five bonus points or zero points.