Note that entities organized under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code are not eligible to receive funds under this announcement. Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Public Law 10465, 109 Stat. 691 (2 U.S.C. 1611) prohibits instituting an award, grant, or loan of federal funds to 501(c)(4) entities that engage in lobbying.

2. Cost Sharing

Cost sharing and matching funds are not required. However, we do encourage grantees and subawardee(s) to maximize the resources available to the HVRP program and its participants.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

A. Both Urban and NonUrban areas serving homeless veterans will be considered for funding under this HVRP solicitation. Urban areas are those that serve a high concentration of homeless veterans in the metropolitan areas of the 75 U.S. cities largest in population and the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and are listed in Appendix G. NonUrban areas are those areas that serve homeless veterans that are not listed on Appendix G.

B. The proposal must include a participant outreach component that uses DVOP/LVER staff and/or trained outreach staff. Programs must be ``employmentfocused.'' An ``employmentfocused'' program is a program directed toward: (1) Increasing the employability of homeless veterans through training or arranging for the provision of services that will enable them to reintegrate into the labor force and (2) matching homeless veterans with potential employers and/or entrepreneurial opportunities.

C. Applicants are encouraged to utilize, through partnerships or subawards, experienced public agencies, private nonprofit
organizations, private businesses, faithbased and community organizations, and colleges and universities (especially those with traditionally high enrollments of minorities) that have an understanding of unemployment and the barriers to employment unique to homeless veterans, a familiarity with the area to be served, linkages with the OneStop Career Center(s), and the capability to effectively provide the necessary services.

D. Legal Rules Pertaining to Inherently Religious Activities by Organizations that Receive Federal Financial Assistance: Neutral, non religious criteria that neither favor nor disfavor religion will be used in the selection of grant recipients and must be employed by Grantees or in the selection of subawardee(s). The U.S. Government is generally prohibited from providing ``direct'' financial assistance for inherently religious activities. The Grantee may be a faithbased organization or work with a partner with religious institutions; however, ``direct'' Federal financial assistance provided under this grant may not be used for religious instruction, worship, prayer, proselytizing or other inherently religious activities. In this context, the term ``direct financial assistance'' means financial assistance that is provided directly by a government entity or an intermediate organization, as opposed to financial assistance that an organization receives as the result of the genuine, independent, private choice of a beneficiary. 29 CFR part 2, Subpart D governs the treatment in government programs of religious organizations and religious activities. The Grantee and subawardee(s) are expected to be aware of and observe the regulations of this subpart.

E. To be eligible for enrollment as a participant under this HVRP grant an individual must be homeless and a veteran defined as follows:

1. Address To Request an Application and Amendments

This SGA, together with its attachments, includes all the information needed to apply. Additional application packages and amendments to this SGA may be obtained from the VETS Web site address at http://www.dol.gov/vets, the Federal Grant Opportunities Web site address at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. The Federal Register may also be obtained from your nearest government office or library. Additional copies of the standard forms can be downloaded from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html .

All mailed applications must be addressed to: Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Attention:
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Cassandra Mitchell, Reference SGA 0707, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S4307, Washington, DC 20210, Phone Number: (202) 6934570 (this is not a tollfree number).

2. Content and Form of Application

The application must include the name, address, telephone number, fax number, and email address (if applicable) of a key contact person (program and fiscal) at the applicant's organization in case questions should arise. To be considered responsive to this solicitation the application must consist of three (3) separate and distinct sections: The Executive Summary, the Technical Proposal, and the Cost Proposal. The information provided in these three (3) sections is essential to demonstrate an understanding of the programmatic and fiscal contents of the grant proposal.

A complete grant application package must not exceed 75 single sided pages (8\1/2\'' x 11''), doublespaced, 12point font, typed pages (all attachments are included in the 75 page maximum). Any pages over the 75page limit will not be reviewed. Major sections and sub sections of the application should be divided and clearly identified (e.g. with tab dividers), and all pages must be numbered. To be considered responsive grant applications are to include (electronic submissions thru http://www.grants.gov will not require copies):

A. Section 1Executive Summary: A one to two page ``Executive Summary'' reflecting the grantee's and subawardee(s) proposed overall strategy, timeline, and outcomes to be achieved in their grant proposal is required. The Executive Summary is to include:

B. Section 2Technical Proposal that is not to exceed 15 single sided pages of doublespaced 12pitch font and one inch left, right, top, and bottom margins and does count towards the 75 page maximum. The technical proposal consists of a narrative proposal that demonstrates the need for this particular grant program, the services and activities proposed to obtain successful outcomes for the homeless veterans to be served; and the applicant's ability to accomplish the expected outcomes of the proposed project design. All applications must respond to the requirements for the program concept, required activities, and results oriented model set forth in Section I of the SGA.

Required Content: There are program activities that all applications must contain to be found technically acceptable under this SGA. Programs must be ``employmentfocused'' and must be responsive to the rating criteria in Section V (1). The required program activities are: Participant outreach and project awareness activities, pre enrollment assessments, individual employment plans for each participant, case management, job placement, job retention followup (at 90, 180, and 270 days) after individual enters employment, utilization and coordination of employment services through the One Stop Career Center System, including the DVOP and LVER staff, and with community linkages with other programs that provide support to homeless veterans. All applicants must respond to the requirements for the program concept, required activities and resultsoriented model described in Section I. of the SGA.

The following format for the technical proposal is recommended:

Need for the program: The applicant must identify the geographical area to be served and provide an estimate of the number of homeless veterans in the designated geographical area. Include poverty and unemployment rates in the area and identify the disparities in the local community infrastructure that exacerbate the employment barriers faced by the targeted veterans. Include labor market information and job opportunities in the employment fields and industries that are in demand in the geographical area to be served. Applicants are to clearly describe the proposed program awareness and participant outreach strategies.

Approach or strategy to increase employment and job retention: Applicants must be responsive to the Rating Criteria contained in Section V (1) and address all of the rating factors as thoroughly as possible in the narrative. The applicant must:

Linkages with facilities that serve homeless veterans: Describe program and resource linkages with other facilities that will be involved in identifying potential clients for this program. Applicants are encouraged to submit a list of their local area network of service providers that offer and provide services to benefit HVRP participants. Describe any networks with other related resources and/or other programs that serve homeless veterans. Indicate how the program will be coordinated with any efforts that are conducted by public and private agencies in the community. Indicate how the applicant will coordinate with any local continuum of care efforts for the homeless among agencies in the community. If a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or other service agreement with service providers exists, copies should be provided.

Linkages with other providers of employment and training services to homeless veterans: Describe the linkages, networks, and relationships the proposed program will have with employers, educational providers, and other providers of services to homeless veterans; include a description of the relationship with other employment and training programs in the OneStop Career Centers such as Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP), the Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) program, and programs under the Workforce Investment Act such as the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP); list the type of services that will be provided by each. Note the type of agreement in place, if applicable. Linkages with the workforce investment system and educational providers are required. Describe any networks with any other resources and/or other programs for homeless veterans. If an MOU or other service agreement with other service providers exists, copies should be provided.

Linkages with other Federal agencies: Describe program and resource linkages with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), to include the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) and Grant and Per Diem programs. If an MOU or other service agreement with other service providers exists, copies should be provided.

Proposed supportive service strategy for veterans: Describe how supportive service resources for veterans will be obtained and used. If resources are provided by other sources or linkages, such as Federal, State, local, or faithbased and community programs, the applicant must fully explain the use of these resources and how they will be applied. If a MOU or other service agreement with other service providers exists, copies should be provided.

Organizational capability to provide required program activities: The applicant must describe key staff skills, experience, biographies, history, knowledge, qualifications, capabilities, office locations, and/or organizational chart. It is preferred that the grantee and sub awardee(s) be a well established service provider and not in the initial startup phase or process.

The applicant's relevant current and prior experience (within the last three year period) in operating employment and training programs is to be clearly described, if applicable. A summary narrative of program experience and employment and training performance outcomes is required. The applicant must provide information showing outcomes of employment and training programs that it has had in the past three (3) years in terms of enrollments and participants who have entered into employment. An applicant that has operated a HVRP, other homeless employment and training program, or Veterans' Workforce Investment Program must also include the final or most recent cumulative quarterly technical performance report.

Please note that the Department of Labor grant review panel members, who will be reviewing all grant applications submitted as a result of this SGA, do not have access to any reporting information systems during the review process, therefore, if final or most recent cumulative quarterly technical performance reports are not submitted, the grant application may be considered nonresponsive.

Measures of SuccessApplicants are to describe the measures of success for the proposed plan. Applicants are to describe the proposed outcomes, goals, number served, number hired, increased wages, educational degrees, cost effectiveness, resultoriented model, feedback mechanism, performance accountability, evaluation and improvement, and/or the proposed system to monitor the implementation of program activities and achievement of stated project objectives. Applicants must indicate their planned level of performance utilizing the Common Measures reporting methodology as described in Appendix H. If the Common Measures reporting methodology is not utilized by the applicant, the application will be considered nonresponsive and not evaluated.

SustainabilityApplicants are to describe how the proposed program can or will outlast the federal funding.

Proposed housing strategy for homeless veterans: Describe how local housing resources for eligible homeless veterans will be obtained or accessed. These resources must be from linkages or sources other than the HVRP grant such as HUD, HHS, community housing resources, DVA Grant and Per Diem Program, or other local housing programs.

C. Section 3The Cost Proposal must contain the following: Applicants can expect that the cost proposal will be reviewed for allocability, allowability, and reasonableness.
(1) Standard Form SF424, ``Application for Federal Assistance'' (with the original signed in blueink) (Appendix A) must be completed;

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 17.805 and it must be entered on the SF424, in Block 11.

The organizational unit section of Block 8 of the SF424 must contain the Dun and Bradstreet Number (DUNS) of the applicant. Beginning October 1, 2003, all applicants for Federal grant funding opportunities are required to include a DUNS number with their application. See OMB Notice of Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003). Applicants' DUNS number is to be entered into Block 8 of SF 424. The DUNS number is a ninedigit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. There is no charge for obtaining a DUNS number. To obtain a DUNS number call 18667055711 or access the following web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com/.

Requests for exemption from the DUNS number requirement must be made to the Office of Management and Budget. If no DUNS number is provided
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then the grant application will be considered nonresponsive. (2) Standard Form SF424A ``Budget Information Sheet'' (Appendix B) must be included;
(3) As an attachment to SF424A, the applicant must provide a detailed cost breakout of each line item on the Budget Information Sheet. Please label this page or pages the ``Budget Narrative'' and ensure that costs reported on the SF424A correspond accurately with the Budget Narrative;

The Budget Narrative must include, at a minimum:

The grant application package must be received at the designated place by the date and time specified or it will not be considered. Any application received at the Office of Procurement Services after 5 p.m. ET, May 14, 2007, will not be considered unless it is received before the award is made and:

The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S. Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible, an application received after the above closing time and date will be processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped or otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable without further action as having been applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the date of mailing. Therefore applicants should request that the postal clerk place a legible hand cancellation ``bull'seye'' postmark on both the receipt and the envelope or wrapper. Applications cannot be accepted by email or facsimile machine.

The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day ServicePost Office to Addressee is the date entered by the Post Office clerk on the ``Express Mail Next Day ServicePost Office to Addressee'' label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. ``Postmark'' has the same meaning as defined above. Therefore, applicants should request that the postal clerk place a legible hand cancellation ``bull'seye'' postmark on both the receipt and the envelope or wrapper.

The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the U.S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Procurement Services Center on the application wrapper or other documentary evidence or receipt maintained by that office. Applications sent by other delivery services, such as Federal Express, UPS, etc., will also be accepted.

All applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the Washington, DC area has been erratic due to security concerns. All applicants must take this into consideration when preparing to meet the application deadline, as you assume the risk for ensuring a timely submission, that is, if, because of these mail problems, the Department does not receive an application or receives it too late to give proper consideration, even if it was timely mailed, the Department is not required to consider the application.
4. Intergovernmental Review

Not Applicable.

5. Funding Restrictions

A. Proposals exceeding $200,000 that serve NonUrban areas and $300,000 that serve Urban areas will be considered nonresponsive and will not be evaluated.

B. There is a limit of one (1) application per submitting organization
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and physical location serving the same HVRP participant population. If two (2) original applications from the same organization for the same physical location serving the same HVRP participant population are submitted, the application with the later date will be considered as nonresponsive. Please do not submit duplicate original grant applications as only one (1) grant application will be considered for funding purposes.

C. Due to the limited availability of funding, if an organization was awarded Fiscal Year 2005 or Fiscal Year 2006 HVRP funds for a specific physical location serving the same HVRP participant population and will be applying for second and possible third year funding in PY 2007, then that organization at that specific physical location serving the same HVRP participant population will be considered ineligible to compete for a new grant using PY 2007 HVRP funds. Therefore, due to the limited funding availability, we are unable to award more than one (1) HVRP grant per organization at a specific physical location serving the same HVRP participant population. A separate Director's Memorandum will be issued for grantees that are eligible to apply for second and third optional year funding that includes detailed instructions on how to apply for these funds.

D. There will not be reimbursement of preaward costs unless specifically agreed upon in writing by the Department of Labor.

E. Entities described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive funds under this announcement because Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Public Law No. 10465, 109 Stat. 691, prohibits the award of Federal funds to these entities.

F. Limitations on Administrative and Indirect Costs.

Administrative costs, which consist of all direct and indirect costs associated with the supervision and management of the program, are limited to and may not exceed 20% of the total grant award.

Indirect costs claimed by the applicant must be based on a federally approved rate. A copy of the current negotiated approved and signed indirect cost negotiation agreement must be submitted with the application. Furthermore, indirect costs are considered a part of administrative costs for HVRP purposes and, therefore, may not exceed 20% of the total grant award.

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

Applications may receive up to 110 total points based on the following criteria:

A. Need for the Project: 10 Points

The applicant will document the need for this project, as demonstrated by:
(1) The potential number or concentration of homeless individuals and homeless veterans in the proposed project area relative to other similar areas; (2) the rates of poverty and unemployment in the proposed project area as determined by the census or other surveys; and (3) the extent of the gaps in the local infrastructure to effectively address the employment barriers that characterize the target population.
B. Overall Strategy To Increase Employment and Retention in Employment: 35 Points [and up to 10 additional points (for a total of 45 points) if overall strategy includes an approach for addressing barriers to employment faced by chronically homeless veterans as described below.]

The application must include a description of the approach to providing comprehensive employment and training services, including outreach, preenrollment assessment, job training, job development, obtaining employer commitments to hire, placement, and postplacement followup services. Applicants must address how they will target occupations that are locally in demand with career growth potential and that will provide wages to ensure selfsufficiency for the participant. Supportive services provided as part of the strategy of promoting job readiness and job retention must be indicated. The applicant must identify the local services and sources of training to be used for participants. At least 80% of participants must participate in training activities. A description of the relationship with other employment and training programs delivered through the OneStop Career Center System must be specified. Applicants must indicate how the activities will be tailored or responsive to the needs of homeless veterans. A participant flow chart may be used to show the sequence and mix of services (does not count towards the 75 page limitation). In addition, if State Unemployment Insurance data will be used to substantiate the applicant's followup results, it is suggested that the applicant include any official MOUs or other formalized agreement that enables the applicant to obtain such information (does not count towards the 75 page limitation).

Additional Points (referenced in the Heading to Section B): Up to an additional 10 points under this section will be awarded to grant proposals that focus some of their effort on addressing the barriers to employment faced by chronically homeless veterans. A veteran who is ``chronically homeless'' is an unaccompanied homeless individual with a ``disabling condition'' who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, OR who has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years. A disabling condition is defined as a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, or chronic physical illness or disability including the cooccurrence of two or more of these conditions. A ``disabling condition'' limits an individual's ability to work or perform one or more activities of daily living.

Note: The applicant must complete the Recommended Format for Common Measures Planned Quarterly Technical Performance Goals (Appendix D), with proposed programmatic outcomes, including participants served, placement/entered employments and job retention or a similar document containing the same information and if not, the grant application will be considered nonresponsive and will not be evaluated.
C. Quality and Extent of Linkages With Other Providers of Services to the Homeless and to Veterans: 20 Points

The application must provide information on the quality and extent of the linkages this program will have with employers, educational providers, and other providers of services to homeless veterans in the local community including faithbased and community organizations. For each service, the applicant must specify who the provider is, the source of funding (if known), and the type of linkages/referral system established or proposed. Describe, to the
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extent possible, how the project would be incorporated into the local community's continuum of care approach and the local community's ten (10) year plan to end homelessness, if applicable (see Interagency Council on Homelessness Web page at http://www.ich.gov for additional information). Describe how the proposed project links to the appropriate State Workforce Agency and OneStop Career Center(s) including coordination and collaboration with DVOP/LVER and other One Stop Career Center staff, HUD, HHS, DVA, educational institutions, and other local communitybased programs and the services that will be provided as necessary on behalf of the homeless veteran participants to be served.
D. Demonstrated Capability in Providing Required Program Services, Including Programmatic Reporting and Participant Tracking: 25 Points

The applicant must describe its relevant prior experience in operating employment and training programs and providing services to participants similar to those that are proposed under this solicitation. Specific outcomes previously achieved by the applicant must be described, such as number of enrollments, number of participants that entered employment, cost per placement into employment, benefits secured, network coalitions, etc. The applicant must also address its capacity for timely startup of the program, programmatic reporting, and participant tracking. The applicant should describe its staff experience and ability to manage the administrative, programmatic, and financial aspects of a grant program. Include a recent (within the last 18 months) grant specific financial statement and/or audit (does not count towards the 75 page limitation). Final or most recent financial and technical performance reports for other relevant programs must be submitted, if applicable. Because prior HVRP experience is not a requirement for this grant, applicants may have other similar type programmatic performance reports to submit as evidence of experience in operating other employment and training type programs.

E. Quality of Overall Housing Strategy: 10 Points

The application must demonstrate how the applicant proposes to obtain or access resources for participants in the program and participants entering into the labor force. This discussion should specify the provisions made to access temporary, transitional, and permanent housing for participants through various community resources such as HUD, DVA Grant and Per Diem Program, and other locally funded housing programs. HVRP funds may not be used for emergency, transitional, or permanent housing purposes or purchasing or leasing of vehicles.

2. Review and Selection Process

Grant applications will be reviewed by a Department of Labor grant review panel using the point scoring system specif

SUMMARY:

Urban and Non-Urban Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (2007 PY),