Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 16, 2024.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Applications sent by mail, hand delivery, email, telegram, or fax will not be accepted.

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• SF 424A
• Budget narrative
• Project narrative (25 pages max)
• Required attachments:
  • Abstract (3 pages max)
  • Work site form(s) (3 forms max)
• Requested attachments (optional, but recommended):
  • Past performance documentation
  • Letters of commitment or memoranda of understanding (MOUs)
  • Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
  • Financial system risk assessment information
  • Source documentation for service area data
  • Proof of 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit status (if applicable)
  • Construction Plus description (if applicable)
  • Zip code map
  • Proof of local presence for non-contiguous services areas (if applicable)

The project narrative must be formatted on standard-sized, single-sided, double-spaced, numbered pages with one-inch margins and must use a 12-point Times New Roman font. The components of the application must be saved as .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .rtf, or .pdf files.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

A pre-recorded webinar for this program will be available online at www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities by August 9, 2024.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Service area (12 points)
• Education (10 points)
• Construction and other occupational skills (8 points)
• Leadership development and community service (4 points)
• Program planning (8 points)
• Supportive services and post-program follow-up (8 points)
• Partners (12 points)
• Budget, budget narrative, and match narrative (4 points)
• Past performance (34 points)
• Priority consideration: Investing in America (2 points)

Refer to the NOFA file and Application folder for additional application information.

Match Notes:

In general, applicants must provide 25 percent of the total award amount via cash or in-kind contributions, and applicants are encouraged to leverage additional resources beyond the required match to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

Matching funds are not required for the governments of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; as well as for Native American tribes, Native American nonprofit organizations, and Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native organizations. However, these applicants are encouraged to leverage resources, including those from federal sources.

Matching contributions may not include:

• Portions of in-kind match that do not involve the direct training of participants
• The value of sweat equity of volunteers that is not integral and necessary for training participants
• Federal funds, unless expressly authorized by the federal agency
• Overvalued contributions that do not account for devaluation over time

Funding Notes:

Approximately $99 million is expected to be available to support approximately 75 awards ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million through this program.

Of the total funding available, at least 50 percent is expected to be awarded to eligible applicants previously funded through this program that have demonstrated success in this program, referred to as Category A. The remainder of funds will be awarded to other qualifying organizations, referred to as Category B.

The project period is 40 months, and is expected to begin on February 1, 2025. The project period includes all necessary implementation and startup activities, including:

• An optional planning period of up to four months to complete planning milestones
• Two years of active program services, when education, occupational skills training, and youth leadership development activities are conducted for one or more cohorts of participants
• An additional 12 months of follow-up support services and tracking of participant outcomes for each cohort of youth

At least 5 percent of the total award amount must be reserved for the 12-month follow-up period.

Applicants must include funds in their budget to cover travel to technical assistance training events sponsored by the funding agency. Applicants may budget for participation in other events not sponsored by the funding agency, such as those sponsored by YouthBuild USA or other governmental or non-governmental entities.

Applicants must also budget for different levels of staff to obtain any needed specialized training, such as that offered either at learning exchanges or in specific training programs.

The cost per participant may not exceed $23,000. The funding agency expects that award recipients will use funds efficiently and maintain fiscal oversight to ensure that funds serve a prescribed number of participants for a given amount of funds, as detailed on page 18 of the NOFA file.

Administrative costs are limited to 10 percent of the total award amount.

Funds may not be used for:

• Construction costs
• Pre-award costs
• Paying any royalty or license fee for use of a copyrighted work
• Costs of acquiring by purchase of a copyright of a work where the funding agency has a license or rights of free use in such a work
• Fundraising for, or lobbying of, federal, state, or local governments

In May 2024, a total of $98 million was distributed via 72 awards ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million through this program. For FY 2023, a total of $93,531,901 was distributed via 68 awards ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million. For FY 2022, a total of $90,363,320 was distributed via 68 awards ranging from $791,276 to $1.5 million. Refer to the Award file for details.