Notices. 30-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Application for Permit to Import Controlled Substances for Domestic and/or Scientific Purposes pursuant to 21 U
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BILLING CODE 4410-15-M DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Drug Enforcement Administration [OMB Number 1117-0013] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested ACTION: 30-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Application for Permit to Import Controlled Substances for Domestic and/or Scientific Purposes pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 952—DEA Form 357. The Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA)will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the **Federal Register** Volume 72, Number 71, page 18668 on April 13, 2007, allowing for a 60 day comment period. The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days for public comment until July 23, 2007. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10. Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice, especially the estimated public burden and associated response time, should be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503. Additionally, comments may be submitted to OMB via facsimile to
(202)395-5806. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points: —Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; —Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; —Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and —Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, *e.g.* , permitting electronic submission of responses. *Overview of this Information Collection:*
(1)*Type of Information Collection:* Renewal of an existing collection.
(2)*Title of the Form/Collection:* Application for Permit to Import Controlled Substances for Domestic and/or Scientific Purposes pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 952 (DEA Form 357).
(3)*Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection:* *Form number:* DEA Form 357. *Component:* Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
(4)*Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract:* *Primary:* Business or other for-profit. *Other:* None. *Abstract:* Title 21, CFR, Section 1312.11 requires any registrant who desires to import certain controlled substances into the United States to have an import permit. In order to obtain the permit, an application must be made to the Drug Enforcement Administration on DEA Form 357.
(5)*An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond:* 47 respondents, 406 responses, .25 hour per response. A respondent may submit multiple responses. A respondent will take an estimate of 15 minutes to complete each form.
(6)*An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection:* 101.5 annual burden hours. If additional information is required contact: Lynn Bryant, Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Patrick Henry Building, Suite 1600, 601 D Street, NW., Washington, DC 20530. Dated: June 15, 2007. Lynn Bryant, Department Clearance Officer, PRA Department of Justice. [FR Doc. E7-12035 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-09-P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of the Secretary Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request June 18, 2007. The Department of Labor
(DOL)has submitted the following public information collection request
(ICR)to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained at *http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain,* or contact Ira Mills on 202-693-4122 (this is not a toll-free number) or e-mail: *Mills.Ira@dol.gov.* Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a toll free number), within 30 days from the date of this publication in the **Federal Register** . The OMB is particularly interested in comments which: • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. *Agency:* Employment and Training Administration. *Type of Review:* Extension without change of a currently approved collection. *Title:* Job Corps Enrollee Allotment Determination. *OMB Number:* 1205-0030. *Frequency:* On Occasion. *Affected Public:* Individuals or Households, and Federal Government. *Type of Response:* Reporting. *Number of Respondents:* 1,100. *Annual Responses:* 1,100. *Average Response Time:* 3 minutes. *Total Annual Burden Hours:* 55 hours. *Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs:* 0. *Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services):* $283.25. *Description:* The purpose of this collection is to provide a vehicle to make allotments available to students who both desire an allotment and have a qualifying dependent. The form is completed by the Job Corps admissions counselors or center staff and signed by the student during a personal interview. Ira L. Mills, Departmental Clearance Officer/ Team Leader. [FR Doc. E7-12020 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-30-P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of the Secretary Research on Children Working in the Carpet Industry of India, Nepal and Pakistan AGENCY: Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Department of Labor. *Announcement Type:* New. Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Cooperative Agreement Applications. *Funding Opportunity Number:* SGA 07-11. *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA)Number:* Not applicable. *Key Dates:* Deadline for Submission of Application is August 3, 2007. *Executive Summary:* The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, will award up to *USD 3.5 million* through a *Cooperative Agreement* to a qualifying organization or *Association* to carry out research on *children working* in the carpet industry in *India, Nepal,* and *Pakistan.* Research funded under this *Cooperative Agreement* will involve gathering and analyzing data in order to answer the research questions outlined in this solicitation. Applicants must respond to the entire Scope of Work for this award. I. Funding Opportunity Description The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), announces the availability of funds to be awarded by a *Cooperative Agreement* to a qualifying organization or *Association* (hereinafter referred to as “Applicant”) to carry out research on *children working* in the carpet industry in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Research funded under this *Cooperative Agreement* will involve gathering and analyzing data in order to answer the research questions outlined in this solicitation. Research funded as a result of this solicitation will build and expand upon existing research on child labor in the carpet industry in the three countries. ILAB is authorized to award and administer a *Cooperative Agreement* for this purpose by Section 20607 of the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution 2007, Pub L. 110-05, 121 Stat 8 (2007). The *Cooperative Agreement* awarded under this solicitation will be managed by ILAB's Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT). The duration of the research project funded by this solicitation will be up to three years. The start date of project activities will be negotiated upon award of the *Cooperative Agreement,* but will be no later than September 30, 2007. Please note that Appendix A provides USDOL's definitions for all key terms denoted in *italics* throughout the text of this solicitation. (For ease of reference, the term “child(ren)” has not been denoted in *italics,* though its definition is included in Appendix A. Child(ren) are defined by USDOL as individuals under the age of 18 years.) 1. Background A. USDOL Support for the Global Elimination of Exploitive Child Labor ILAB conducts research and commissions studies to inform and formulate international economic, trade, immigration and labor policies in collaboration with other U.S. Government agencies and provides technical assistance to countries abroad in support of U.S. foreign labor policy objectives. OCFT, formerly the International Child Labor Program (ICLP), was created at the request of Congress in 1993 to specifically research and report on *child labor* around the world. More recently Congress, through the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, directed ILAB to include, among its responsibilities, monitoring and combating forced labor and human trafficking. Today, OCFT develops policy, conducts research, and implements technical cooperation projects to eradicate *exploitive child labor, trafficking in persons,* and forced labor worldwide. Since 1994, ILAB has published over 20 congressionally-mandated reports and has funded various research initiatives on international *child labor,* which have been widely distributed in the United States and abroad. The congressionally-mandated reports appear in ILAB's *By the Sweat and Toil of Children* and *Advancing the Campaign Against Child Labor* report series. Beginning in 2001, the USDOL's *Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor* annual report has focused on *child labor* in trade beneficiary countries and countries with which the United States has negotiated free trade agreements. In 2006, ILAB hosted a research symposium, *Linking Theory and Practice to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor,* to further advance the knowledge base on *child labor,* and provide a forum to promote dialogue between researchers and practitioners on the barriers to education for *working children.* All of these research products can be found at the USDOL Web site, *http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/programs/iclp/.* In addition to ILAB's research activities, USDOL funds technical cooperation projects that include direct action to prevent and withdraw children from *exploitive child labor,* particularly the *worst forms of child labor,* and carry out various research activities to inform policy and program design. Since 1995, the U.S. Congress has appropriated $595 million to USDOL for efforts to combat *exploitive child labor* internationally. This funding has been used to support technical cooperation projects to combat *exploitive child labor* in more than 75 countries around the world. Technical cooperation projects funded by USDOL range from targeted action programs in specific sectors of work to more comprehensive programs that support national efforts to eliminate the *worst forms of child labor,* as defined by International Labor Organization
(ILO)Convention 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, 1999). USDOL places a high level of emphasis on the use of accurate and reliable data and information for the purposes of program planning, policy design and impact measurement. Accordingly, technical cooperation projects have included funding of national *child labor* surveys and the development of creative and innovative methodologies to collect data on *working children.* Survey instruments and research methodologies continue to be refined in order to gather data on children in the *worst forms of child labor* who would otherwise be excluded from traditional survey instruments. B. Factors Contributing to Exploitive Child Labor and Barriers to Education The ILO estimated that 218 million children ages 5 to 17 were engaged in *child labor* around the world in 2004. Children engaged in *exploitive child labor* on a full-time basis are generally unable to attend school, and children engaged in *exploitive child labor* on a part-time basis balance economic survival with schooling from an early age, often to the detriment of their education. Complex factors contribute to children's involvement in *exploitive labor,* including *hazardous work,* as well as barriers to education for children who are engaged in or *at-risk* of entering *exploitive child labor.* These include poverty; education system barriers; infrastructure barriers; legal and policy barriers; resource gaps; institutional barriers; informational gaps; demographic characteristics of children and/or families; cultural and traditional practices; tenuous labor markets; and weak *child labor* law enforcement. While these factors and barriers tend to exist throughout the world in areas with a high incidence of *exploitive child labor,* they manifest themselves in specific ways in the countries of interest in this solicitation. Some factors unrelated to education that contribute to children entering *exploitive labor* include their families' need for extra income, children's need to provide a livelihood for themselves and/or their siblings, lack of parent(s) or caregiver(s), cultural practices, and lack of awareness of the hazards associated with *exploitive child labor,* including the *worst forms of child labor.* In addition, children have a variety of educational needs and encounter different barriers depending on their work status (e.g., children withdrawn from *exploitive labor,* underage children at risk of dropping out of school and joining the labor force, children engaged in *exploitive labor* in a particular sector). C. Children Working in the South Asia Carpet Industry The carpet manufacturing industry in South Asia—particularly concentrated in India, Nepal, and Pakistan—has been under international scrutiny for many years for its use of *child labor.* Carpets and rugs are important export products from these countries, sold primarily within the European and U.S. markets. Manufacturing of carpets provides jobs and livelihoods to many families in the region, but also poses health and safety risks to adults and children, and impedes children's education. However, reliable estimates on the magnitude of children currently work in the carpet industry in these three countries is unknown. Various types of carpets are manufactured in the region, and as consumer tastes change, suppliers and manufacturers adjust to meet that demand. In the past few years, the industry has trended away from the most labor-intensive, hand-knotted carpets, in favor of hand-hooked or hand-tufted varieties that are quicker to produce, less durable and less expensive for the consumer. However, the impact of these shifts on the use of *child labor* in the industry is unclear. The use of *child labor* has been documented both in the production of the complex, hand-knotted varieties, as well as in the production of the less expensive, more modern types of carpets. In Pakistan and India, carpet exporters typically engage contractors or middlemen, who place orders with weavers working in small weaving centers or in private homes. This arrangement is often referred to as the “cottage” industry. The hidden nature of the “cottage” industry in Pakistan and India can lead to greater involvement of children, with children working either directly with their families or as hired labor. In Nepal, carpets are typically produced in factories and the use of *child labor* within these factories has been documented. Throughout the South Asia region, children migrate along known patterns, unaccompanied or with their families, from poorer and more rural regions to villages or cities to work in the carpet industry. Some migrate across national borders. Children enter into the industry in a variety of ways, including working alongside family members in family workshops or in situations of parental debt bondage; being sent by their families to other areas to work in the carpet industry; being recruited by brokers or trafficked into the industry; or working as apprentices to master weavers. Many children begin work in the carpet industry at an early age, some as early as 6 or 7 years of age. They work long hours, for little pay, and are vulnerable to a variety of workplace hazards such as injuries from sharp tools, eye disease and strain due to insufficient light, respiratory disease due to inhaling wool fibers, gastrointestinal and skin problems, and skeletal deformation and pain due to cramped working conditions. Indeed, Pakistan's Child Labor Survey
(1996)found that of all industries in which children were working in Pakistan, the carpet industry had the highest rate of illness and injuries. Some children work in the industry under conditions of bondage, working to pay back debts owed by themselves or their families to an employer. In some cases, children accrue debts to their employers for their initial transportation to a work site and for food and lodging at the work site, which their wages are not adequate to cover. Many suffer physical and psychological abuse, including being beaten and denied food. Many also lack access to education or medical care. All three countries have laws in place prohibiting forced labor and *child labor,* but the problems persist. In response to growing concern over the use of *child labor,* various governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as industry groups, have implemented initiatives to combat *child labor* in the carpet industry. These have focused on improved law enforcement; provision of educational opportunities for former child carpet-weavers; and labeling initiatives that provide guarantees to consumers that carpets were produced without *child labor.* These efforts have clearly led to a reduction in *child labor* in the industry, but the overall magnitude of their impact is unclear. i. *India.* In 2000, approximately 4.1 percent of children ages 5-14 were counted as working in India. However, accurate estimates of the number of *children working* in carpet-weaving are unavailable. Bonded child labor is known to occur in the carpet industry in India. Some children are trafficked into these situations of bondage; both Indian children trafficked from other parts of the country and Nepali children trafficked across the border. Over the past decade, the industry has increasingly shifted toward home-based production, making enforcement and monitoring still more difficult. In addition, the concentration of the industry in the “carpet belt” in the eastern part of the State of Uttar Pradesh has given way to more spread-out production, with pockets in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Jaipur, and others. There are indications that some of the newer carpet-producing zones are areas from which children formerly migrated to work in the “carpet belt.” ii. *Nepal.* In 1999, approximately 39.6 percent of children ages 5-14 were counted as working in Nepal. However, accurate estimates of the number of *children working* in carpet-weaving are unavailable. Children work in both carpet factories and in informal, “cottage,” carpet production in Nepal. The proportion of children working in factory settings compared with cottage settings is reportedly much higher in Nepal than in India or Pakistan. Some children work in the industry under conditions of bondage, but the incidence of child bonded labor in carpet-weaving is reportedly less in Nepal than in the other two countries. A large percentage of children working in carpet factories are members of ethnic minority groups, and many have sisters, brothers, or close relatives already working in carpet-weaving. Some are reportedly trafficked to work in the industry, or brought to employers by employment “brokers.” Reports suggest that recent political unrest and armed conflict in Nepal have led to greater migration of children, often unaccompanied, from conflict-affected districts to cities to find work. The majority of carpet factories in Nepal are concentrated in the Kathmandu valley, an attractive location for child migrants. However, the entire industry has experienced a decline in production since its high point in the early 1990s. The impact of the industry decline on the use of *child labor* in the industry is not clear. iii. *Pakistan.* In 1999-2000, approximately 16.4 percent of children ages 10-14 were counted as working in Pakistan. The number working in the carpet industry is unknown, although a Rapid Assessment carried out by the ILO in 2004 found that children under 15 made up about 40 percent of the sample carpet-weaving population covered by the study. The sample included both adults and children. Carpet-weaving is an important export industry for Pakistan, providing employment for many families; however, the nature of the industry also is likely to increase the risk of *exploitive child labor.* Children are paid very low wages and are sometimes physically or verbally abused at the work site. Many work under conditions of debt bondage, and are confined to the employer's premises until their debts are fully paid. Parents sometimes take advance payments from employers in exchange for their children's labor. Children work in carpet-weaving throughout Pakistan, and many belong to ethnic minority groups. For instance, in the North-West Frontier Province, carpet-weaving is concentrated among Afghan refugees; in parts of Sindh Province, Bihari and Burmese communities are primarily involved in carpet-weaving; and in Balochistan, Hazara tribes are primarily involved in the industry. 2. Scope of Work A. General Research Requirements i. *Research Objective.* USDOL seeks a qualified organization and/or *Association* to carry out research and data collection on *children working* in the carpet industry in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Given the public attention paid to *child labor* in the carpet industry, the study should be designed to provide the U.S. Government with reliable and accurate data and information on the incidence and nature of *children working* in the carpet industry. Research should include all aspects of the supply chain leading up to the production of carpets (i.e., yarn manufacturing and yarn-dyeing), as well as the weaving itself. To the extent that families play a role in determining the work situation of children (i.e., children under parental debt bondage), research should also be conducted on the impact of family characteristics and the role of parents in children's work status. The results of this study will be used to increase the knowledge base on *child labor* and inform policy and project considerations. ii. *Research Concepts and Definitions.* Applicants must be familiar with how international standards on and definitions of *child labor* translate into statistical terms. Data analysis on *working children* should be disaggregated to the extent possible between *children working* in *acceptable work* and *exploitive child labor.* iii. *Research Questions.* Applicants must seek to answer the following primary and secondary questions. • How prevalent is the use of children in the carpet industry in India, Nepal, and Pakistan? • What is the incidence of *working children* in the carpet industry in India, Nepal, and Pakistan? • What are the demographic characteristics of children and families working in the carpet industry? a. What are the individual characteristics of *children working* in the carpet industry (i.e., age, sex)? b. What is the educational status of *children working* in the carpet industry, and what is the educational status of their families? c. What are the household demographics, working status, and socioeconomic status of *working children's* families? • What is the relationship between a child's working status and educational opportunities? a. Are there particular educational barriers that make children more vulnerable to working the carpet industry? • To what extent do children and families migrate to work in the carpet industry? a. What role does the family play in children's migration? • To what extent are children working in the carpet industry working under forced and/or bonded labor conditions? a. To what extent are children trafficked into these situations? • What particular aspects of the carpet industry encourage or discourage the use of children? Are there aspects of the carpet industry that lead to greater exploitation of children? a. How do children enter into the carpet industry? b. What percentage of children work for their families vs. work as hired labor? c. Are there wage/payment systems that lead to exploitation of child workers? d. Is more or less *child labor* anticipated in the carpet industry in each country in the future? • What are children's working conditions in the carpet industry? a. In what specific activities are children engaged? b. What are the occupational safety and health hazards to which children are exposed? c. What are the typical hours of work? d. How are children paid (piece rate, by time period, etc.), and how does this relate to their overall conditions of work? e. How does children's work affect their participation in education? f. To what extent are children abused in the workplace, and by whom? And what is the nature of that abuse? • In what regions of each country is the carpet industry concentrated, and are there concentrated areas where children are most likely to be working? • How are market demands and consequent shifts in the carpet industry affecting the use of *child labor?* a. What changes are occurring in supply and demand in the carpet industry in the South Asian region? b. To what extent are children working in the carpet sector involved in producing carpets for export? c. Is the use of *child labor* increasing or decreasing in certain areas due to changes in the industry? • What have been the best practices to eliminate *child labor* in the carpet industry (e.g., government, industry, employer, and other nongovernmental efforts)? iv. *Research Knowledge-Base.* Applicants should demonstrate a thorough knowledge of previous research on *child labor* in the carpet industry for each target country and seek to build upon past research efforts. Currently-available research includes, but is not limited to: • Global Research and Consultancy Services (2006). *Child Labour in Carpet Industry in India: Recent Developments.* International Labor Rights Fund; • Srivastava, Ravi K. (2005). *Bonded labour in India: its incidence and pattern.* ILO/Special Action Programme on Forced Labour; • Mueen Nasir, Zafar (2004). *A rapid assessment of bonded labour in the carpet industry of Pakistan.* ILO/Special Action Programme on Forced Labour; • ILO/IPEC (2002). *A rapid assessment of child labour in the Nepalese carpet sector;* and • ILO/Special Action Programme on Forced Labour (2002). *Annotated bibliography on forced/bonded labour in India.* Applicants must make every effort not to duplicate existing research or survey methodologies on *child labor.* Instead, applicants must use, improve, and/or refine existing methodologies, or propose new methodologies for collecting data on *child labor* in the carpet industry. Applicants should be familiar with ILO-IPEC statistical tools developed by the Statistical Information and Monitoring Program on Child Labor (SIMPOC) for collecting information on *exploitive child labor,* *http://www.ilo.org.* These tools include survey methodologies and data collection instruments. B. Research Methodology Requirements Applicants must develop creative and innovative research methodologies to gather information in order to answer the research questions outlined in this solicitation. Applicants are expected to consider the social, economic, and cultural contexts of the target countries when formulating research methodologies. However, methodologies should be designed to allow for the aggregation of data among the three countries and relevant cross-country comparisons. Applicants must take into account country-specific issues that could affect project results, and meaningfully incorporate those into the proposed methodology to reduce threats to successful research implementation. While Applicants may rely on secondary resources, the main purpose of this study is to conduct primary data collection. The research methodology should include definitions of key concepts and variables; explain the proposed sampling designs; describe the survey instrument(s) that will be used to carry out the data collection activities; develop a data processing plan; and provide a plan for pilot-testing the methodology in the field. In developing the research methodology, Applicants must include the elements listed below. i. *Research Questions.* Applicants must answer the research questions outlined in Section I. 2.A.iii. of this solicitation. Applicants may propose to USDOL additional research questions that lay out clear, concise hypotheses. ii. *Research Design.* The research design must be suitable for responding to the research questions, and must involve quantitative research. As appropriate, Applicants should propose to use a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative research should be carried out through a cross-sectional survey research design. To the extent possible, applicants should propose a research design that results in statistically-valid information at the national, regional, and/or local level on the prevalence and incidence of *child labor* in the carpet industry of each country. iii. *Survey Design.* Applicants should propose a detailed survey design plan that will guide primary data collection. Applicants should use existing data where applicable, and research and survey questionnaires to help inform primary data collection. Applicants should provide a detailed description of the data collection process including the timing of the data collection taking into account relevant school calendars; development of the survey questionnaires; and pilot-testing the data collection instrument(s) to refine the research methodology. Applicants must develop survey instrument(s) that will most appropriately and accurately capture the information needed to answer the research questions listed above. The survey design may include a variety of data collection methods as appropriate, including household surveys, establishment surveys, key informant interviews, school surveys, capture-recapture methods, and others to most accurately measure *child labor* in the carpet industry. Applicants must explain why the proposed data collection instrument is the most appropriate method to answer the research questions and carry out primary data collection. Applicants must also describe the subjects from whom data will be collected (e.g., children, parents, employers). iv. *Population and Sample.* Applicants must provide a detailed sampling plan. The sampling plan should describe how the sample will be selected, how many subjects will be surveyed and to what extent the sample will be representative of the number of children working in the carpet industry in each of the countries. Applicants should also include a map showing the regions in the three countries where the carpet industry is concentrated, and those that will be targeted for research. v. *Data Coding and Management.* Applicants must describe how the data will be inputted, coded and managed, and how a data dictionary and codebook will be developed to identify the variables included in the data set. Applicants must also include in the proposal an explanation of how data quality will be assured, including a discussion of how missing data will be handled. vi. *Data Analysis.* Applicants must include a detailed data analysis plan. Data analysis on *working children* should be disaggregated to the extent possible between children working in *acceptable work* and *exploitive child labor* . The data analysis plan should propose ways in which the data collected will be analyzed in order to appropriately address all of the research questions listed in Section I.2.A.iii, and differentiate among the categories of *working children.* The data analysis plan must carry out descriptive analysis of the data collected. In instances where Applicants propose to carry out multivariate analyses, the rationale must include a justification, and explanatory and outcome variables of interest must be clearly specified. For descriptive or multivariate analysis of the data, Applicants should describe the computer programs and must specify the statistical procedures for analyzing the data. In addition, Applicants must propose an outline for the final report in which the final results will be presented. The outline must demonstrate how this format will answer the research questions based on the different categories of *working children.* The analysis should include a comparison of the study findings with those of other studies or anecdotal evidence. vii. *Dissemination.* Applicants should propose ways in which research findings will be disseminated to stakeholders in the target countries. As part of data collection, Applicants should organize and execute consultative meetings with key stakeholders in each of the three countries, as well as an additional consultative meeting near the end of the research in Washington, DC, with USDOL and other U.S. Government officials, to discuss the findings of all research conducted under this *Cooperative Agreement.* The number of key stakeholders for each country should not exceed 30 participants, and should be determined, after award, in consultation with USDOL. viii. *Limitations to Study.* Applicants should describe the factors that are anticipated to be limitations to the study. ix. *Human Subjects and Confidentiality Considerations.* Applicants must describe a plan for ensuring the protection of human subjects and the confidentiality of the respondents. II. Award Information Type of assistance instrument for projects to be awarded under this solicitation: *Cooperative Agreement.* USDOL's involvement in project implementation and oversight is outlined in Section VI.2. The duration of the project funded by this solicitation is up to three years. The start date of project activities will be negotiated upon awarding of the *Cooperative Agreement* but will be no later than September 30, 2007. Up to USD 3.5 million will be awarded under this solicitation for the *child labor* research in the carpet sectors in *India, Nepal* and *Pakistan.* USDOL will award a *Cooperative Agreement* to an individual, organization, or *Association.* The Grantee may not subgrant any of the funds obligated under this *Cooperative Agreement,* but may use subcontracts, See Section IV.5.B for further information on subcontracts and Appendix B for additional clarification on the differences between subgrants and subcontracts. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants Any commercial, educational, or non-profit organization(s), including any faith-based, community-based, or public domestic, foreign or international organization(s) capable of successfully conducting scientifically-valid research is eligible to apply. However, the Grantee (or Lead Grantee, in the case of an *Association* ) is not allowed to charge a fee (profit). Neutral, non-religious criteria that neither favor nor disfavor religion will be employed in the selection of the *Cooperative Agreement* recipient. Applications from foreign governments and entities that are agencies of, or operated by or for, a foreign state or government will not be considered. If any entity identified in the application as an Associate does not sign the *Cooperative Agreement,* the Lead Grantee must provide, within 60 days of award, either a written subcontract agreement with such entity, acceptable to USDOL, or an explanation as to why that entity will not be participating in the *Cooperative Agreement.* USDOL reserves the right to re-evaluate the award of the *Cooperative Agreement* in light of any such change in an entity's status and may terminate the award if USDOL deems it appropriate. For the purposes of this proposal and the *Cooperative Agreement* award, the Lead Grantee will be:
(1)The primary point of contact with USDOL to receive and respond to all inquiries, communications and orders under the project;
(2)the only entity with authority to withdraw or draw down funds through the Department of Health and Human Services-Payment Management System (HHS-PMS);
(3)responsible for submitting to USDOL all deliverables, including all technical and financial reports related to the project, regardless of which Associate performed the work;
(4)the sole entity to request or agree to a revision or amendment of the award or the *Project Document;* and
(5)responsible for working with USDOL to close out the project. Note, however, that each Associate is ultimately responsible for overall project performance, regardless of any assignment of specific tasks, but Associates may agree, among themselves only, to apportion the liability for such performance. Each Associate must comply with all applicable federal regulations and is individually subject to audit. In accordance with 29 CFR part 98, entities that are debarred or suspended from receiving federal contracts or grants shall be excluded from Federal financial assistance and are ineligible to receive funding under this solicitation. 2. Other Eligibility Requirements Applicants must include their Dun and Bradstreet Number
(DUNS)in the organizational unit section of Block 8 of the SF 424. For *Associations,* Block 8 of the SF 424 should contain the DUNS number of the proposed Lead Grantee, and a list of the DUNS number(s) of all proposed members of the *Association* should be included as an attachment to the SF 424. DUNS is an acronym which stands for “Data Universal Numbering System,” and a DUNS number is a unique nine-digit number used to identify a business. Beginning October 1, 2003, all Applicants for Federal grant funding opportunities are required to include a DUNS number with their application *per* the Office of Management and Budget Notice of Final Policy Issuance, 68 **Federal Register** 38402 (June 27, 2003). The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. There is no charge for obtaining a DUNS number. To obtain a DUNS number call 1-866-705-5711 or access the following Web site: *http://www.dnb.com/us/.* Requests for exemption from the DUNS number requirement must be made to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Federal Financial Management at 202-395-3993. If no DUNS number is provided in the application, and an Applicant does not provide evidence of an OMB exemption from the DUNS number requirement, then the application will be considered non-responsive. After receiving a DUNS number, Applicants must also register as a vendor with the Central Contractor Registration through the following Web site: *http://www.ccr.gov* or by phone at 1-888-227-2423. Central Contractor Registration
(CCR)should become active within 24 hours of completion. For any questions regarding registration, please contact the CCR Assistance Center at 1-888-227-2423. After registration, Applicants will receive a confirmation number. The Point of Contact listed by the organization will receive a Trader Partnership Identification Number
(TPIN)via mail. The TPIN is, and should remain, a confidential password. 3. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds This solicitation does not require Applicants to share costs or provide matching funds, however, Applicants are encouraged to do so, and this is a rating criteria worth up to five
(5)additional points [see Section V.1.F]. Applicants who propose matching funds, in-kind contributions, and other forms of cost sharing must indicate their estimated dollar value in the Standard Form
(SF)424 and SF 424A submitted as part of the application. Grantees should note that they will be responsible for reporting on these funds quarterly in financial reports (SF 269s) and are liable for meeting the full amount of these costs during the life of the *Cooperative Agreement.* IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Application Package This solicitation contains all of the necessary information, including information on required forms, needed to apply for *Cooperative Agreement* funding. This solicitation is published as part of this **Federal Register** notice. Additional copies of the **Federal Register** may be obtained from your nearest U.S. Government office or public library or online at: *http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/index.html.* 2. Content and Form of Application Submission Applications may be submitted to USDOL in hard copy or electronically at *http://www.grants.gov.* Applicants electing to submit hard copies must submit one
(1)blue ink-signed original, complete application, *plus* three
(3)copies of the application. The application must consist of two
(2)separate parts,
(1)a Cost Proposal and
(2)a Technical Proposal, as described below. Applicants should number all pages of the application. All parts of the application must be written in English, in 10-12 pitch font size. Part I of the application, the Cost Proposal, must contain the Standard Form
(SF)424 Research and Related Form, Application for Federal Assistance, and Sections A-K of the Budget Information Form SF 424 (R&R). Applicants are also required to submit a detailed outputs-based budget that links costs to project activities and an accompanying budget narrative. A sample outputs-based budget are available from ILAB's Web site at *http://www.dol.gov/ilab/grants/bkgrd.htm.* Copies of the SF 424 (R&R) and SF 424 (R&R) Budget are available online at *http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp.* The individual signing the SF 424 on behalf of the Applicant must be authorized to bind the Applicant. The Cost Proposal must contain information on the Applicant's indirect costs, using the form provided on ILAB's Web site at *http://www.dol.gov/ilab/grants/bkgrd.htm.* Applicants should note all instructions outlined on this form and include one of the following supporting documents, as applicable, in their application:
(1)A current, approved Cost Allocation Plan (CAP);
(2)a current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA); or
(3)a Certificate of Direct Costs. In the case of *Associations,* each member of the *Association* must submit a copy of the aforementioned documents. All Applicants are requested to complete the Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (OMB No. 1890-0014), which has been provided in Appendix D. Part II, the Technical Proposal, demonstrates the Applicant's capabilities to plan and implement the proposed research project in accordance with the provisions of this solicitation. The Technical Proposal must not exceed 45 single-sided (8-1/2″ x 11″), double-spaced pages with 1-inch margins. The Technical Proposal must identify how Applicants will carry out the Scope of Work in Section I.2. of this solicitation. The following information is required: • A two-page abstract summarizing the proposed project and Applicant profile information including: Applicant name, contact information of the key contact person at the Applicant's organization in case questions should arise (including name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address, if applicable), project title, Association members and/or subcontractors (if applicable), proposed research activities, funding level requested and the amount of leveraged resources, if applicable; • A table of contents listing the application sections; • A research project description as specified in the Application Evaluation Criteria found in Section V.1. of this solicitation (maximum 45 pages); • A bibliography that includes completes citations of research referenced in the proposal; • A *Work Plan* identifying major project activities, deadlines for completing the activities and person(s) or institution(s) responsible for completing these activities. Please note that the abstract, table of contents, bibliography, and *Work Plan* are *not* included in the 45-page limit for the research project description. Any applications that do not consist of the above-mentioned parts and conform to these standards will be deemed unresponsive to this solicitation and may be rejected. Any additional information not required under this solicitation will not be considered. 3. Submission Dates, Times, and Address Applications must be delivered (by hand, mail, or electronically through *http://www.grants.gov* ) by 4:45 p.m., Eastern Time, August 3, 2007, to: U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4307, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Ms. Lisa Harvey, Reference: Solicitation 07-11. Applications sent by e-mail, telegram, or facsimile
(FAX)will not be accepted. Applications sent by non-Postal Service delivery services, such as Federal Express or UPS, will be accepted; however, Applicants bear the responsibility for timely submission. The application package must be received at the designated place by the date and time specified or it will be considered unresponsive and will be rejected. Any application received at the Procurement Services Center after the deadline will not be considered unless it is received before the award is made and: A. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at USDOL at the address indicated; and/or B. It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the fifth calendar day before the deadline; or C. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing two
(2)working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, prior to the deadline. 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. The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a late application sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee is the date entered by the Post Office clerk on the “Express Mail Next Day Service-Post Office to Addressee” label and the postmark on the envelope or wrapper 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 shall 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's-eye” postmark on both the receipt and the envelope or wrapper. The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at USDOL is the date/time stamp of the Procurement Service Center on the application wrapper or other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by that office. Confirmation of receipt can be obtained from Ms. Lisa Harvey (see Section VII. for contact information). *All Applicants are advised that U.S. mail delivery in the Washington DC area can be slow and erratic due to concerns involving contamination. All Applicants must take this into consideration when preparing to meet the application deadline.* Applicants may also apply online at *http://www.grants.gov.* Applicants submitting proposals online are requested to refrain from mailing a hard copy application as well. It is strongly recommended that Applicants using *http://www.grants.gov* immediately initiate and complete the “Get Registered” registration steps at *http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp* . These steps may take multiple days to complete, and this time should be factored into plans for electronic submission in order to avoid facing unexpected delays that could result in the rejection of an application. It is also recommended that Applicants using *http://www.grants.gov* consult the Grants.gov Web site's Frequently Asked Questions and Applicant User Guide, which are available at *http://www.grants.gov/help/faq.jsp,* and *http://www.grants.gov/assets/UserGuide_Applicant.pdf* , respectively. If submitting electronically through *http://www.grants.gov,* Applicants must save the application document as a .doc, .pdf, .txt or .xls file. Any application received on *http://www.grants.gov* after the deadline will be considered as non-responsive and will not be evaluated. 4. Intergovernmental Review This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” 5. Restrictions, Unallowable Activities, and Specific Prohibitions USDOL/ILAB would like to highlight the following restrictions, unallowable activities, and specific prohibitions, as identified in OMB Circular A-122, 29 CFR part 95, 29 CFR part 98, and other USDOL policy, for all USDOL-funded *child labor* technical cooperation projects. If any Grantee has questions regarding these or other restrictions, consultation with USDOL/ILAB is recommended. A. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs, including costs associated with the preparation of an application submitted in response to this solicitation, are not reimbursable under the *Cooperative Agreement* (see also Section VI.3.E. B. Subgrants The funding for this program does not include authority for subgrants. Therefore, the Grantee may not subgrant any of the funds obligated under the *Cooperative Agreement.* Subgranting may not be included in the budget as a line item or in the text of the application. However, subcontracting may be included as a budget line item. Subcontracts must be awarded in accordance with 29 CFR 95.40-48 and are subject to audit, in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 95.26(d). Subcontracts awarded after the *Cooperative Agreement* is signed, and not proposed in the application, must be awarded through a formal competitive bidding process, unless prior written approval is obtained from USDOL. The determination of whether a Grantee's relationship with a subrecipient would constitute a subgrant or subcontract is determined primarily with reference to an agreement's general purpose, programmatic functions, and responsibilities given to the subrecipient. These three elements should be closely examined, together with the usual characteristics (terms and performance standards, scope of work, etc.). In case of doubt, consultations are expected to be held between USDOL and the Grantee with a view to ensuring proper determination of the particular agreement. As a reference tool in determining whether an agreement is a subgrant or a subcontract, see Appendix B. The table in Appendix B is for reference only and does not create any legally binding obligation. See also Section IV.5.F.-H. for related references on Grantee and subcontractor prohibitions related to Prostitution, Inherently Religious Activities, and Terrorism. In addition, the debarment and suspension rule, as outlined in 29 CFR 95.13 and 29 CFR part 98, applies to all subcontracts issued under the *Cooperative Agreement.* Grantees are responsible for ensuring that all subcontractors meet this requirement. Detailed information on subcontracts may be requested by USDOL during the Best and Final Offer
(BAFO)process. In compliance with Executive Orders 12876, as amended, 13230, 12928 and 13021, as amended, Grantees are strongly encouraged to provide subcontracting opportunities to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities. C. Lobbying and Intent To Influence Funds provided by USDOL for project expenditures under this *Cooperative Agreement* may not be used with the intent to influence a member of the U.S. Congress, a member of any U.S. Congressional staff, or any official of any federal, state, or local government in the United States (hereinafter “government official(s)”), to favor, adopt, or oppose, by vote or otherwise, any U.S. legislation, law, ratification, policy, or appropriation, or to influence in any way the outcome of a political election in the United States, or to contribute to any political party or campaign in the United States, or for activities carried on for the purpose of supporting or knowingly preparing for such efforts. This includes awareness raising and advocacy activities that include fund-raising or lobbying of U.S. federal, state, or local governments. (See OMB Circular A-122). This does not include communications for the purpose of providing information about the Grantees and their programs or activities, in response to a request by any government official, or for consideration or action on the merits of a federally-sponsored agreement or relevant regulatory matter by a government official. Under the *Cooperative Agreement,* no activity, including awareness raising and advocacy activities, may include fund-raising, or lobbying of U.S. Federal, State or Local Governments (see OMB Circular A-122). COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT APPLICANTS CLASSIFIED UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AS A 501(c)(4) ENTITY ( *see* 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4)), MAY NOT ENGAGE ANY IN LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. According to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, as codified at 2 U.S.C. 1611, an organization, as described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that engages in lobbying activities directed toward the U.S. Government will not be eligible for the receipt of Federal funds constituting an award, grant, Cooperative Agreement, or loan. D. Funds to Host Country Governments USDOL funds awarded under *Cooperative Agreements* are not intended to duplicate existing foreign government efforts or substitute for activities that are the responsibility of such governments. Therefore, in general, Grantees may not provide any of the funds obligated under a *Cooperative Agreement* to a foreign government or entities that are agencies of, or operated by or for, a foreign state or government, ministries, officials, or political parties. However, subcontracts with foreign government agencies or entities that are agencies of, or operated by or for, a foreign state or government may be awarded to undertake relevant research activities subject to applicable laws only after the Grantee has determined that no other entity in the country is able to provide these services. In such cases, Grantees must receive *prior* USDOL approval before awarding the subcontract. E. Miscellaneous Prohibitions In addition, USDOL funds may not be used to provide for: • The purchase of land; • The procurement of goods or services used for private purposes by the Grantee's employees; • Entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any costs directly associated with entertainment (such as tickets, meals, lodging, rentals, transportation, and gratuities). Costs of training or meetings and conferences, when the primary purpose is the dissemination of technical information, are allowable. This includes reasonable costs of meals and refreshments, transportation, rental of facilities and other items incidental to such meetings and conferences. Costs related to *child labor* educational activities, such as street plays and theater, are allowable; and • Alcoholic beverages. F. Prostitution The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related activities which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing and contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons. U.S. Grantees, and their subcontractors, cannot use funds provided by USDOL to lobby for, promote or advocate the legalization or regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of work. Foreign-based NGOs, and their subcontractors, that receive funds provided by USDOL for projects to fight trafficking in persons cannot lobby for, promote or advocate the legalization or regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of work while acting as a subcontractor on a USDOL-funded project. It is the responsibility of the Grantee to ensure its subcontractors meet these criteria, and this provision must be included in any applicable subcontract that the Grantee awards using USDOL funds and the Grantee will obtain a written declaration to such an effect from the subcontractor concerned. G. Inherently Religious Activities The U.S. Government is generally prohibited from providing direct financial assistance for inherently religious activities. The Grantee and/or its Associates may work with and subcontract with religious institutions; however, Federal funding provided under a USDOL-awarded *Cooperative Agreement* may not be used for religious instruction, worship, prayer, proselytizing, other inherently religious activities, or the purchase of religious materials. Neutral, non-religious criteria that neither favor nor disfavor religion were employed in the selection of *Cooperative Agreement* awardees and must be employed by the Grantee in the selection of subcontractors. This provision must be included in all subcontracts issued under the *Cooperative Agreement.* In addition, Grantees must take steps to ensure that inherently religious activities are clearly separated in time or physical space from those funded by USDOL under the *Cooperative Agreement.* For additional guidance, please consult the White House Web site for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at *http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/guidance/partnering.html.* In addition, for any matters of uncertainty, USDOL should always be consulted for prior approval. H. Terrorism Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibit transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the policy of USDOL to seek to ensure that none of its funds are used, directly or indirectly, to provide support to individuals or entities associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the Grantee to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. Applicants to this solicitation and Grantees subsequently awarded funding by USDOL under this solicitation must check the following Web sites to assess available information on parties that are excluded from receiving Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits, pursuant to the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6101, note, E.O. 12549, E.O. 12689, 48 CFR 9.404: *http://www.epls.gov/* and *http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/t11sdn.pdf?* This provision must be included in all applicable subcontracts issued under the *Cooperative Agreement* . 6. Review and Selection Process The Office of Procurement Services at USDOL will screen all applications to determine whether all required elements, as identified in Section IV.2.above, are present and clearly identifiable. If an application does not include all of the required elements, including required attachments, it will be considered unresponsive and will be rejected. Once an application is deemed unresponsive, the Office of Procurement Services will send a letter to the Applicant, which will state that the application was incomplete, indicate which document was missing from the application, and explain that the technical review panel will be unable to rate the application. The following documents must be included in the application package in order for the application to be deemed complete and responsive:
(1)A Cost Proposal;
(2)A Technical Proposal, including all the attachments listed in section IV.2.;
(3)The Applicant's most recent audit report, and those of any proposed Associates or sub-contractors (as applicable);
(4)Résumés of all key personnel candidates and all other professional personnel;
(5)Signed letters of agreement to serve on the project from all key personnel candidates;
(6)Information on the Applicant's previous and current grants, *Cooperative Agreements* , or contracts with USDOL and other Federal agencies that are relevant to this solicitation; and
(7)Signed partnership agreement(s), if applicable. Each *complete* application will be objectively rated by a technical review panel against the criteria described in this solicitation. Applicants are advised that panel recommendations to the Grant Officer are advisory in nature. The Grant Officer may elect to select a Grantee on the basis of the initial application submission or the Grant Officer may establish a competitive or technically acceptable range from which qualified Applicants will be selected. If deemed appropriate, the Grant Officer may call for the preparation and receipt of final revisions of applications, following which the evaluation process described above, may be repeated, in whole or in part, to consider such revisions. The Grant Officer will make final selection determinations based on panel findings and consideration of factors that represent the greatest advantage to the government, such as cost, the availability of funds, and other factors. If USDOL does not receive technically acceptable applications in response to this solicitation, USDOL reserves the right to terminate the competition and not make any award. The Grant Officer's determinations for awards under this solicitation are final. Note to All Applicants: Selection of an organization as a potential *Cooperative Agreement* recipient does not constitute approval of the *Cooperative Agreement* application as submitted. Before the actual *Cooperative Agreement* is awarded, USDOL may enter into negotiations about such items as program components, funding levels, and administrative systems in place to support *Cooperative Agreement* implementation. If the negotiations do not result in an acceptable submission, the Grant Officer reserves the right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the application. In addition, the Grant Officer reserves the right to negotiate program components further after award, during the *project design consolidation phase* and *Project Document* submission and review process. See Section VI.2. 7. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates Designation decisions will be made, where possible, within 45 days after the deadline for submission of proposals. USDOL is not obligated to make any awards as result of this solicitation, and only the Grant Officer can bind USDOL to the provision of funds under this solicitation. Unless specifically provided in the *Cooperative Agreement* , acceptance of a proposal and/or award of Federal funds does not waive any *Cooperative Agreement* requirements and/or procedures. V. Application Review Information 1. Application Evaluation Criteria This section identifies and describes the criteria that will be used to evaluate applications submitted in response to USDOL's Solicitation for *Cooperative Agreement* Applications on the basis of 100 points. Applicants are required to address all of the following rating factors in their Technical Proposal: Research Background and Significance (20 points), Research Design (40 points), Key Personnel/Management Plan/Staffing (20 points), Organizational Capacity (15 points), and Budget Cost-Effectiveness (5 points). Applicants should note that additional points may be given to applications realistically proposing to include committed non-Federal leveraged resources as described below in section V(1)(F) (Cost-Sharing 5 points). Please note that all information and requirements presented in Section I.2. Scope of Work and Appendix A: USDOL's Definitions of Key Terms will be taken into consideration when evaluating applications on the basis of the technical rating criteria outlined in this section. Applicants' Cost Proposals will be considered when evaluating the rating criteria Research/Budget Cost-Effectiveness. When preparing the Technical Proposal, Applicants must follow the outline provided in Appendix C and ensure that the Technical Proposal does not exceed the maximum length of 45 pages. A. Research Background and Significance: 20 points. B. Research Methodology: 40 points. C. Key Personnel/Management Plan/Staffing: 20 points. D. Organizational Capacity: 20 points. E. Budget Cost-Effectiveness: 5 points. F. Cost-Sharing: 5 extra points. Part A and B of the Technical Proposal constitute the “preliminary project design document” and serves as the basis of the final *Project Document* to be submitted and approved by USDOL after *Cooperative Agreement* award. Applicants' Technical Proposals must describe in detail the proposed research methodology to carry out the objective of this solicitation. A. Research Background and Significance (20 Points) Applicants must discuss their understanding of *child labor* in the carpet industry, research gaps on the topic, and the link to eliminating *exploitive child labor* . Applicants will be rated based on their:
(a)knowledge of *children working* in the carpet industry and the specific country contexts that drives the supply and demand for children's work in the carpet industry in India, Nepal, and Pakistan;
(b)familiarity with previously conducted research on *child labor* in their carpet industry and their strengths and limitations;
(c)awareness of existing interventions to prevent *child labor* in the carpet industry's supply chain, particularly for the export sector; and
(d)awareness of the policy and implementing environment in the research countries. B. Research Methodology (40 Points) Applicants must discuss their proposed research methodology to address the research objective, research questions, and methodological requirements detailed in Section I.2. Applicants will be rated on the strength of their proposed research methodology, and the feasibility of carrying out all stated research activities within the timeframe of this *Cooperative Agreement.* Applicants must include the sections outlined for the research methodology in Appendix C. All sections of the research methodology listed in Appendix C will be evaluated for the Technical Proposal. C. Key Personnel/Management Plan/Staffing (20 Points) Successful performance of the proposed work depends heavily on the management skills and qualifications of the Principal Investigator/Project Director (PI/PD), as well as the project research team. Accordingly, in its evaluation of each application, USDOL will consider the following: • Whether the PI/PD is appropriately trained and well-suited to carry out the scope of work; • The appropriateness of the scope of work to the experience level of the PI/PD and other researchers; • The complementary and integrated expertise of the proposed research team to successfully carry out the scope of work; and • The potential of the PI/PD and other proposed researchers to translate their previous knowledge, skills and research experience to the areas of study under the current solicitation, and their potential to make significant contributions to the field of *child labor* research and data collection. In order to promote and increase national and local capacity, USDOL encourages the hiring of qualified national experts and data collection organizations. USDOL also encourages Applicants to consider strategies that aim to develop the capacity of private sector national or local organizations to carry out research and data collection activities on *child labor.* (See section IV.5.D.) Applicants that propose feasible strategies to develop local or national capacity will, all other things being equal, be rated higher on this factor. i. Key Personnel. Applicants must identify all key personnel/candidates proposed to carry out the requirements of this solicitation. “Key personnel” are staff ( *PI/PD* and *Child Labor Research Specialist* ) that are essential to the successful operation of the project and completion of the proposed work.
(1)The *PI/PD* will be responsible for overall project management, supervision, administration, and implementation of the requirements of the *Cooperative Agreement* . The PI/PD will establish and maintain systems for research operations, including methodological development; ensure that all *Cooperative Agreement* deadlines are met and outputs submitted; maintain working relationships with project stakeholders and partners; and oversee the preparation and submission of progress and financial reports. The *PI/PD* must have a Ph.D. and a minimum of five years of professional experience in a leadership role in implementation of large-scale research studies in the social sciences. Candidates with additional years of experience including experience working with officials of national statistical offices will be rated more highly. Preferred candidates must also have knowledge of *exploitive child labor* issues, and experience in the development of research methodologies to investigate the *worst forms of child labor.* Fluency in English is required.
(2)The *Child Labor Research Specialist* will provide leadership in developing the technical aspects of this project in collaboration with the PI/PD. This person must have at least three years experience in working successfully with research teams, and assisting with the development and implementation of research projects on *child labor* in developing countries. This person must also have demonstrated experience in survey and research design and data analysis. Fluency in English is required.
(3)In addition to key personnel, a technical specialist in sampling design should be included in the project team, but does not have to be dedicated to the project 100 percent of the time. Applicants must include a re sume , as well as a description of the roles and responsibilities of all key and other professional personnel (as described below) proposed. Re sume s must be submitted as an attachment to the application and will not count toward the page limit. At a minimum, each re sume must include the following: • The educational background and previous work experience for each key and other professional personnel to be assigned to the project, including position title, duties, dates, employing organizations, and clearly defined duties; • The special capabilities of key personnel that demonstrate prior experience in organizing, managing and performing similar efforts; and • The current employment status of key personnel and availability for this project. Applicants must also indicate whether the proposed work will be performed by persons currently employed by the applying organization(s), and if so, for how long, or is dependent upon planned recruitment or subcontracting. Applicants must also include a completed salary history form SF 1420 for each key personnel candidate in their application. This form is available from the U.S. Agency for International Development's Web site at: *http://www.usaid.gov/forms/AID1420-17.doc.* A link to this form is also available on USDOL's Web site: *http://www.dol.gov/ilab/grants/bkgrd.htm.* All key personnel must allocate *100 percent* of their time to the project. The PI/PD and Child Labor Research Specialist positions must not be combined. Proposed key personnel candidates must sign letters of agreement to serve on the project and indicate their availability to commence work within 30 calendar days of the *Cooperative Agreement* award. * Please note: If key personnel candidates are not designated, or if letters of agreement to serve on the project or re sume s are not submitted as part of the application for each key personnel candidate, the application will be considered unresponsive and will be rejected. * The letters of agreement, re sume s, and salary history forms (SF 1420) must be submitted as attachments to the application and will not count toward the page limit. Key personnel must be employed by the Grantee, not a subcontractor. In the case of an *Association,* the PI/PD must be employed by the Lead Grantee. In cases of *Associations* where Applicants propose that other key personnel would not all be employed by the Lead Grantee, a clear indication of the following must be provided in the application: the rationale for dividing key personnel among the members; the lines of authority among key personnel and other staff; the process of supervision and evaluation of personnel who are not members of the same organization; the process by which all parties would come to agreement on key implementation issues; and mechanisms of conflict resolution should the need arise. i. Other Professional Personnel. Applicants must identify other program personnel deemed necessary for carrying out the requirements of this solicitation, including data analysts, research assistants, programmers, editors, etc. Applicants must also indicate whether the proposed work by other professional personnel who are employed or have been identified will be performed by persons currently employed by the organization(s). ii. Management Plan. Applicants will be rated based on the clarity and quality of the information provided in the management plan. The plan must include
(a)a description of the functional relationship between elements of the project's management structure; and
(b)the responsibilities of project staff and management and the lines of authority between project staff and other elements of the project. iii. Staff Loading Plan. The staff loading plan must identify all key tasks and the person-days required to complete each task. Labor estimated for each task must be broken down by individuals assigned to the task, including PI/PD, Child Labor Research Specialist, data analysts, research assistants, programmers, editors, consultants, and subcontractors. All key tasks should be charted to show the time required to perform them by months or weeks. Applicants will be rated based on the clarity and quality of the information provided in the staff loading plan. D. Organizational Capacity (15 Points) Under this criterion, Applicants must present the qualifications of the organization(s) implementing the project. The evaluation criteria in this category are as follows: i. International and U.S. Government Grant Experience. Applicants must have international experience conducting scientifically valid research in the social sciences, preferably on *child labor* and in the countries of interest. The application must include information on previous and current grants, *Cooperative Agreements,* or contracts of the Applicant with USDOL and other Federal agencies that are relevant to this solicitation, including:
(1)The organizations for which the work was done;
(2)A contact person in that organization with his/her current phone number;
(3)The dollar value of the grant, contract, or *Cooperative Agreement* for the project;
(4)The time frame and professional effort involved in the project;
(5)A brief summary of the work performed; and
(6)A brief summary of accomplishments. This information on previous grants, *Cooperative Agreements,* and contracts held by the Applicant must be provided in appendices and will not count against the maximum page requirement. USDOL reserves the right to contact the organizations listed and use the information provided in evaluating applications. Note to All Applicants: In judging organizational capacity, USDOL will take into account not only information provided by an Applicant, but also information from USDOL and others regarding past performance of organizations implementing USDOL-funded *child labor* projects, or activities for USDOL and others. Past performance will be rated by such factors as the timeliness of deliverables and the responsiveness of the organization and its staff to USDOL or grantor communications regarding deliverables and *Cooperative Agreement* or contractual requirements. In addition, the performance of the organization's key personnel on existing projects with USDOL or other entities, whether the organization has a history of replacing key personnel with similarly qualified staff, and the timeliness of replacing key personnel, will also be taken into consideration when rating past performance. Lack of past experience with USDOL projects, *Cooperative Agreements* , grants, or contracts is not a bar to eligibility or selection under this solicitation. ii. Country Presence and Collaborations. Given the need to conduct in-country research, Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to start up research activities soon after signing a *Cooperative Agreement.* Having country presence, or partnering with in-country organizations, represents the best chance of expediting the implementation of research activities. In their application, Applicants must address their organization's country presence; collaborative arrangements including those with host country governments, NGOs, and national research organizations, as applicable; and ability to start up project activities in a timely fashion. iii. Fiscal Oversight. Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to demonstrate evidence that the organization has a sound financial system in place. If an Applicant is a U.S.-based, non-profit organization already subject to the single audit requirements, the Applicant's most recent single audit, as submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, must accompany the application as an attachment. In addition, applications must show that they have complied with report submission timeframes established in OMB Circular A-133. If an Applicant is not in compliance with the requirements for completing their single audit, the application will be considered unresponsive and will be rejected. If an Applicant is a for-profit or foreign-based organization, a copy of its most current independent financial audit must accompany the application as an attachment. Applicants should also submit a copy of the most recent single audit report for all proposed U.S.-based, non-profit partners, *Association* members and subcontractors that are subject to the Single Audit Act. If the proposed *Association* member(s) or partner(s) is a for-profit or foreign-based organization, a copy of its most current independent financial audit should accompany the application as an attachment. If the audit submitted by the Applicant reflects any adverse opinions, the application will not be further considered by the technical review panel and will be rejected. USDOL reserves the right to ask further questions on any audit report submitted as part of an application. USDOL also reserves the right to place special conditions on Grantees if concerns are raised in their audit reports. In order to expedite the screening of applications and to ensure that the appropriate audits are attached to the proposals, Applicants must provide a cover sheet to the audit attachments listing all proposed *Association* members and subcontractors. These attachments will not count toward the application page limit. E. Budget Cost-Effectiveness (5 Points) This section will be evaluated on the basis of information contained in Applicants' Cost Proposals in accordance with applicable Federal laws and regulations. The budget must comply with Federal cost principles (which can be found in the applicable OMB Circulars). The requirements for Cost Proposals, including an Outputs-Based Budget, are listed in Section IV.2. A budget summary must be included in the application and should include the cost breakdown. The evaluation of this section will focus on the extent to which the budget reflects research goals and methodological design consistent with the *Work Plan* in a cost-effective way to reflect budget/performance integration. All projected costs should be reported, as they will become part of the *Cooperative Agreement* upon award. In their Cost Proposal (Part I of the application), Applicants must reflect a breakdown of the total administrative costs into direct administrative costs and indirect administrative costs. The Grant Officer reserves the right to negotiate administrative cost levels prior to award. This section of the application must explain the costs for performing all of the requirements presented in this solicitation and for producing all required reports and other deliverables (see Section VI.4.). The project budget must therefore include funds to plan, implement, and report on all research activities and other deliverables (including annual single audits or attestation engagements, as applicable) and finance at lease four trips to be taken by the PI/PD to meet with USDOL officials in Washington, DC. In addition, the budget should include a contingency provision, calculated at five percent of the project's total direct costs. USDOL has determined that the use of contingency provision funds for USDOL-funded projects is essential to address circumstances affecting specific budget lines that relate to one or more of the following:
(1)Inflation affecting specific project costs;
(2)UN System or foreign government-mandated salary scale or benefits revisions; and
(3)exchange rate fluctuations. USDOL also recognizes that certain extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances may arise that will lead to a need for exceptions to the aforementioned uses of contingency provision funds, related to the need for modifications to budgets or time extensions. These include but are not limited to the following:
(1)Changes in a country's security environment;
(2)natural disasters;
(3)civil or political unrest/upheavals or government transitions; or
(4)delays related to loss of or damage to project property. USDOL will not provide additional funding to cover unanticipated costs. Applicants are also instructed that the project budget submitted with the application must include all necessary and sufficient funds, without reliance on other contracts, grants, or awards, to implement's proposed project activities and to achieve proposed research goals under this solicitation. If anticipated funding from another contract, grant, or award fails to materialize, USDOL will not provide additional funding to cover these costs. Where applicable, applicants are encouraged to discuss the possibility of exemption from customs and Value Added Tax
(VAT)with host government officials during the preparation of an application for this *Cooperative Agreement.* While USDOL encourages host governments to not apply customs or VAT taxes to USDOL-funded programs, some host governments may nevertheless choose to assess such taxes. USDOL may not be able to provide assistance in this regard. Applicants should take into account such costs in budget preparation. If major costs are omitted, a Grantee may not be allowed to include them later. Note to Applicants: After award, grantees must obtain *prior* approval from USDOL before using unobligated contingency funds. Twelve months before the project ends, after calculating the amounts needed for cost increases in the remaining life of the project, forecasted remaining funds in the contingency provision funds may be used to conduct additional data analysis, report writing, and augment data dissemination plans to increase the availability of the study findings. F. Cost Sharing (5 extra Points) USDOL will give up to five
(5)additional rating points to applications that include committed non-U.S. federal government resources that significantly expand the dollar amount, size and scope of the project. These programs or activities must complement and enhance project objectives. To be eligible for the additional points, Applicants must list the source(s) of funds, the nature, and possible activities anticipated with these resources under this *Cooperative Agreement* . VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices The Grant Officer will notify Applicants of designation results as follows: Designation Letter: The designation letter signed by the Grant Officer will serve as official notice of an organization's designation. The designation letter will be accompanied by a *Cooperative Agreement* and USDOL-OCFT's 2007 Management Procedures and Guidelines (MPG). Non-Designation Letter: Any organization not designated will be notified formally of the non-designation. However, organizations not designated must formally request a debriefing in order to be provided with the basic reasons for the determination. *Notification of designation by a person or entity other than the Grant Officer is not valid.* 2. Roles and Responsibilities of USDOL and Grantees The principal purpose of the USDOL-Grantee relationship is the transfer of money, property, services, or anything of value to the recipient in order to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal statute. The Grantee is not allowed to charge a fee (profit). In general, USDOL's Bureau of International Labor Affairs/Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (ILAB/OCFT) uses a *Cooperative Agreement* modality with its Grantees. USDOL's involvement focuses on working with the Grantee in order to refine the Project Design/ *Project Document* and its corresponding budget; and monitor implementation through progress reports. USDOL involvement is generally characterized by written comments and oral feedback tied to the approval of deliverables outlined in the *Cooperative Agreement.* USDOL staff may also conduct field visits to the project. Applicable provisions of law and regulation, including those provided for in the USDOL *Cooperative Agreement* with the Grantee, apply to subcontracts entered into under USDOL-funded projects. 3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements A. General Grantees are subject to applicable U.S. Federal laws (including provisions of appropriations laws) and regulations, Executive Orders, applicable OMB Circulars, and USDOL policies. If during project implementation a Grantee is found in violation of U.S. government laws and regulations, the terms of the *Cooperative Agreement* awarded under this solicitation may be modified by USDOL; costs may be disallowed and recovered; the *Cooperative Agreement* may be terminated; and USDOL may take other action permitted by law. Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with the applicable U.S. Federal cost principles. B. Project Audits and External Auditing Arrangements Applicants are reminded to budget for compliance with the annual single audits or attestation engagements as applicable (see below). Costs for these audits or attestation engagements must be included in direct or indirect costs, whichever is appropriate, in accordance with the cost allocation procedures approved by the U.S. Federal cognizant agency. USDOL has also contracted with an independent external auditor to conduct project-specific attestation engagements at USDOL's expense to supplement the coverage provided by the audits/engagements that Grantees must arrange. Grantees scheduled for examination by USDOL's contractor will be notified approximately two to four weeks prior to the start of the engagement. Please note the following requirements: i. U.S.-based non-profit Grantees must conduct audits in accordance with 29 CFR parts 96 and 99, which codify the requirements of the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular A-133, and must comply with the timeframes established in those regulations for the submission of their audits to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Grantees must send a copy of their single audit to their assigned USDOL Grant Officer Technical Representative
(GOTR)at the time it is submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. ii. Foreign-based Grantees and private for-profit Grantees that are awarded a *Cooperative Agreement* under this solicitation must arrange for the annual performance of an attestation engagement, conducted in accordance with U.S. Government Auditing Standards, which includes auditor's opinions on
(1)compliance with USDOL regulations and the provisions of the *Cooperative Agreement* , and
(2)the reliability of the Grantee's financial and performance reports. USDOL will provide an examination guide to be used by the auditor selected by the Grantee to perform the attestation engagement and will provide assistance in the event a Grantee is unable to identify an audit firm qualified to perform an attestation engagement in accordance with U.S. Government Auditing Standards. The Grantee's contract with the auditor to conduct the attestation engagement must include provisions granting access to the auditor's documentation (work papers) to representatives of USDOL, including the Grant Officer, the GOTR, and the USDOL's Office of the Inspector General. The reports for these engagements are to be submitted to the Grant Officer with a copy to the GOTR
(1)30 days after receipt of the auditor's report, or
(2)nine months after the end of the Grantee's fiscal year, whichever occurs sooner. Please Note: USDOL generally allows the costs to be allocated based on the following (applicable to U.S.-based agencies only):
(1)A-133 “single audit” costs as part of the indirect cost rate/pool for organizations with *more than* one Federal source of funding. Organizations with only one Federal source could charge the A-133 single audit cost as direct costs;
(2)A-133 “ *compliance supplement* ” costs—as direct costs for Federal sources only through a cost allocation methodology approved by the Federal cognizant agency; or
(3)A-133 *program specific* audits as direct costs. Any deviations from the above must be explained and justified in the application. C. Administrative Standards and Provisions *Cooperative Agreements* awarded under this solicitation are subject to the following administrative standards and provisions outlined in the CFR that pertain to USDOL, and any other applicable standards that come into effect during the term of the * Cooperative Agreement * , if applicable to a particular Grantee: ii. 29 CFR Part 2 Subpart D—Equal Treatment in Department of Labor Programs for Religious Organizations; Protection of Religious Liberty of Department of Labor Social Service Providers and Beneficiaries. iii. 29 CFR Part 31—Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Labor—Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. iv. 29 CFR Part 32—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial Assistance. v. 29 CFR Part 33—Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of Labor. vi. 29 CFR Part 35—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the Department of Labor. vii. 29 CFR Part 36—Federal Standards for Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. viii. 29 CFR Part 93—New Restrictions on Lobbying. ix. 29 CFR Part 95—Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and other Non-Profit Organizations, and with Commercial Organizations, Foreign Governments, Organizations Under the Jurisdiction of Foreign Governments and International Organizations. x. 29 CFR Part 96—Federal Standards for Audit of Federally Funded Grants, Contracts and Agreements. xi. 29 CFR Part 98—Federal Standards for Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants). xii. 29 CFR Part 99—Federal Standards for Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Copies of all regulations referenced in this solicitation are available at no cost, online, at *http://www.dol.gov.* A copy of Title 29 of the CFR referenced in this solicitation is available at no cost, online, at *http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/Title_29/toc.htm.* Grantees should be aware that terms outlined in this solicitation, the *Cooperative Agreement,* and the MPGs are all applicable to the implementation of projects awarded under this solicitation. D. Key Personnel As noted in Section V.1.C., Applicants must list all Key Personnel candidates. The Grantee must inform the GOTR in the event that key personnel cannot continue to work on the project as planned. The Grantee is expected to nominate, through the submission of a formal project revision, new personnel. (Further information on project revisions will be provided to Grantees after award). However, the Grantee must obtain approval from the Grant Officer before any change to key personnel is formalized. If the Grant Officer is unable to approve the personnel change, s/he reserves the right to terminate the *Cooperative Agreement* or disallow costs. E. Encumbrance of Cooperative Agreement Funds *Cooperative Agreement* funds may not be encumbered/obligated by a Grantee before or after the period of performance. Encumbrances/obligations outstanding as of the end of the *Cooperative Agreement* period may be liquidated (paid out) after the end of the *Cooperative Agreement* period. Such encumbrances/obligations may involve only specified commitments for which a need existed during the *Cooperative Agreement* period and that are supported by approved contracts, purchase orders, requisitions, invoices, bills, or other evidence of liability consistent with a Grantee's purchasing procedures and incurred within the *Cooperative Agreement* period. All encumbrances/obligations incurred during the *Cooperative Agreement* period must be liquidated within 90 calendar days after the end of the *Cooperative Agreement* period, unless a longer period of time is granted by USDOL. Federal Regulations require Grantees to submit annually an inventory listing of federally-owned property in their custody to USDOL. See 29 CFR 95.33(a). Such property must be inventoried and secured throughout the life of the project. At the end of the project, USDOL and the Grantee are expected to determine how to best allocate such property. F. Site Visits USDOL, through its authorized representatives, has the right, at all reasonable times, to make site visits to review project accomplishments and management control systems and to provide such technical assistance as may be required. USDOL intends to make every effort to notify the Grantee at least two weeks in advance of any trip to the USDOL-funded project site. If USDOL makes any site visit on the premises of a Grantee or a subcontractor(s) under the *Cooperative Agreement,* the Grantee must provide, and must require its subcontractors to provide, all reasonable facilities and assistance for the safety and convenience of government representatives in the performance of their duties. All site visits and evaluations are expected to be performed in a manner designed to not unduly delay the implementation of the project. 4. Reporting and Deliverables A Grantee must report to USDOL on a semi-annual basis, or more frequently if deemed necessary by USDOL, on the implementation of the program. Guidance on USDOL procedures and management requirements will be provided to Grantees in the MPGs that are provided with the *Cooperative Agreement.* Unless otherwise indicated, a Grantee must submit copies of all required reports to USDOL by the specified due dates. *Exact timeframes for completion of deliverables will be addressed in the Cooperative Agreement and the MPGs.* After award of the *Cooperative Agreement* the following specific deliverables will be required. A. Project Document Within 60 calendar days of project award, the Grantee must deliver a final draft, for approval by USDOL, of the *Project Document,* based on the application submitted in response to this solicitation and including the results of additional consultations with project stakeholders, government officials in the target countries, local partners, and USDOL. The *Project Document* must include a detailed activities-based *Work Plan,* including plans to carry out a mapping of the carpet industry and pilot test survey instruments in the three countries. An annual *Work Plan* that updates the initial *Work Plan* must be submitted to USDOL annually with the September technical progress report. B. Terms of Reference Within 90 calendar days of award, Grantees must develop a draft general Terms of Reference (TOR), for approval by USDOL, to guide the in-country research conducted by the Grantee's subcontractors. The TOR must outline the objective, scope, and deliverables for the subcontractors that includes the timeframe and associated costs for proposed tasks. Within 120 calendar days of award, the Grantee must submit draft country-specific TORs and submit potential candidates/subcontractors for data collection. C. Report Outline Within 90 calendar days of award, Grantees must submit for USDOL approval a general draft report outline that adequately addresses all of the research questions, and at a minimum describes the data collection methodologies used, pilot test findings, information on the country context including cultural, demographic, educational, socio-economic, and legal and institutional frameworks, conclusions and recommendations. Grantees may submit suggestions for report formats as well as relevant dissemination plans. D. Methodological Plans and Survey Instruments Within 210 calendar days of award, the Grantee must draft detailed methodological plans and survey instruments to USDOL. Draft methodological plans and survey instruments should include input from data collection subcontractors and other technical advisors and key experts knowledgeable on issues related to *child labor* in South Asia, particularly the carpet industry, and on *child labor* data collection. E. Technical Progress and Financial Reports The format for the technical progress reports will be provided in the MPG distributed to Grantees after the award. Grantees must submit a typed technical progress report to USDOL on a semi-annual basis by 31 March and 30 September of each year during the *Cooperative Agreement* period. However, USDOL reserves the right to require up to four technical progress reports a year, as necessary. Grantees must also submit a quarterly financial report (SF 269) electronically to USDOL through the E-Grants system, and a copy of the Federal Cash Transactions Report (PSC 272) to USDOL upon its submission to the HHS-PMS. F. Final Report At least 90 days prior to the completion of the project, the Grantee must submit a draft report to USDOL. The final report is subject to USDOL approval based on the report outline specified above. VII. Agency Contacts All inquiries regarding this solicitation should be directed to: Ms. Lisa Harvey, U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4307, Washington, DC 20210; telephone
(202)693-4570 (please note that this is not a toll-free-number) or e-mail: *harvey.lisa@dol.gov.* For a list of frequently asked questions on USDOL's Solicitation for *Cooperative Agreements* , please visit *http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/faq/faq36.htm* . VIII. Other Information 1. Coordination With ILO/IPEC, other USDOL Grantees, and Other U.S. Government-Funded Projects Recognizing the important work and vast experience of ILO/IPEC in reducing *exploitive child labor* and developing research methodologies to measure *child labor* world wide, and USDOL's substantial funding and support for this organization, Grantees are encouraged to establish good relationships with ILO and IPEC-specific field offices, IPEC/SIMPOC researchers and statisticians in Geneva, and other U.S. Government-funded research projects such as those supported by the U.S. Department of State's Global Trafficking in Persons
(GTIP)Office, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in the countries where they work. Similarly, USDOL intends to inform Grantees of other organizations that are working on related issues in countries with USDOL-funded projects. Establishing this type of relationship is especially important to avoid duplication of efforts and to build synergies between organizations working in the same issue area. Grantees must also become familiar with methodological developments, standard concepts, and definitions regarding *child labor* that are currently used by the ILO, including Convention 138 (Minimum Age Convention, 1973) and Convention 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, 1999) and their accompanying recommendations. 2. Privacy and Freedom of Information Act Any information submitted in response to this solicitation is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act, as appropriate. Lisa Harvey, Grant Officer. Appendix A: USDOL'S Definitions of Key Terms *Acceptable Work* is work that is performed by children of legal working age, in accordance with national legislation and international standards, namely the International Labor Organization's Conventions 138 and 182; work that is non-exploitive and non-hazardous and does not prevent a child from receiving the full benefit of an education. *Acceptable work* would generally include, for example, light work that is compatible with national minimum age legislation and education laws. *Association(s)* are considered Grantees by USDOL. *Associations* are two or more organizations (that do not constitute a single legal entity) who join in applying for an award. Each member of the *Association* must be individually eligible for award and must sign, and agree to be bound jointly and severally by the *Cooperative Agreement* . The *Association* must designate one Associate as the Lead Grantee. Specific obligations of the Lead Grantee are included in the *Cooperative Agreement* . All references to “Applicant(s)” and “Grantee(s)” refer to *Associations* as well as individual Applicants. *At-risk* An “at-risk” situation refers to a set of conditions or circumstances (e.g., family environment or situation, proximity to economic activities prone to employ children) under which a child lives or to which it is exposed that make it more likely that the child will be employed in *exploitive child labor* . A project-specific definition of “at-risk,” clearly articulating the defining characteristics of the target group, must be provided with the application, though this definition may be refined after award in the *Project Document* as a result of baseline data collection. For example, siblings of children formerly engaged in *exploitive labor* could be considered at-risk. *Basic education* comprises both formal schooling (primary and sometimes lower secondary) as well as a wide array of non-formal and informal public and private educational activities offered to meet the defined basic learning needs of groups of people of all ages. (Source: UNESCO, Education for All: Year 2000 Assessment: Glossary [CD-ROM], Paris, 2001. A *Child* is, for the purposes of this solicitation considered to be an individual under the age of 18 years. *Child Labor* (see definition of *Exploitive Child Labor* ). *Children Working* (see definition of *Working Children* ). *Cooperative Agreement* is a form of a grant where substantial involvement is anticipated between the donor (USDOL) and the Grantee during the performance of the proposed activities. The level of monitoring and accountability required by USDOL under a *Cooperative Agreement* is less than what is required in a contract, but more than in a regular grant. *Exploitive Child Labor* refers to the *worst forms of child labor* outlined in ILO Convention 182, and all types of work that prevent a child from obtaining an education or impede a child's ability to learn as outlined in ILO Convention 138. ILO Convention 182, Article 3, defines the *worst forms of child labor* as comprised of:
(a)All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labor, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict;
(b)The use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, the production of pornography or for pornographic performances;
(c)The use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties;
(d)Work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. ILO Convention 138, Minimum Age Convention, Article 7.1(b) is also used to identify *exploitive child labor* . Article 7.1(b) states that children within a particular age range shall not participate in work that will “prejudice their attendance at school, their participation in vocational orientation or training programmes approved by the competent authority or their capacity to benefit from the instruction received.” *Hazardous work* refers to work that falls under Article 3(d) of ILO Convention 182. ILO Recommendation 190, which accompanies ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, gives additional guidance on identifying *hazardous work* . ILO Recommendation 190 states in Section II. Hazardous work, paragraph 3, “In determining the types of work referred to under Article 3(d) of the Convention [ILO Convention 182], and in identifying where they exist, consideration should be given” to:
(a)Work which exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse;
(b)Work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces;
(c)Work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads;
(d)Work in an unhealthy environment which may, for example, expose children to hazardous substances, agents or processes, or to temperatures, noise levels, or vibrations damaging to their health;
(e)Work under particularly difficult conditions such as work for long hours or during the night or work where the child is unreasonably confined to the premises of the employer In some cases, the work conditions of children involved in *hazardous work* may be improved so as to make the work conditions acceptable for children. This may include, for example, reducing hours of work or changing the type of work children perform (i.e., disallowing children in agriculture from working with heavy machinery or pesticide applications). However, conditions can only be improved for children who are legal to work according to the specific laws of the target countries. If, for example, a child is 9 years old and working in hazardous child labor in a country whose minimum age is 15 years, this child should be completely withdrawn from child labor, since conditions cannot be improved to make it legally acceptable for the child to work. *Project Design Consolidation Phase* lasts no longer than one year after award. During this phase, the Grantee outlines the goals and objectives of the project; identifies activities of the project that support the stated goals and objectives; establishes specific deadlines and responsibilities for carrying out the activities of the project; and determines a timeframe for measuring the progress and achievements of the project. The *Project Design Consolidation Phase,* therefore, includes the development of a *Project Document* and *Work Plan.* Grantees must also address minimum requirements identified in the *Cooperative Agreement,* which includes but is not limited to defining and describing the research methodology; detailed description of activities; and budget and cost effectiveness. USDOL may provide technical assistance to Grantees to refine the *Project Document* and *Work Plan,* which, as deliverables, are subject to approval by USDOL. The *Project Document* serves a number of functions. It describes the situation that gave rise to a particular project, explains “why” a project was started, establishes the plan for what must be done, outlines what must be produced, by when, and by whom, and what is expected to happen after the project ends. It can serve as a reference point for all of the implementing partners involved in a project. The *Project Document* also provides the basis for assessing the success of a project. (The format for the *Project Document* will be provided to Grantees after award). For the most part, Grantees are expected to have already presented an essentially complete Project Design strategy as part of their application submitted in response to this solicitation. The *Project Document* (including a project budget) is a more refined and revised version of the application and sets the technical parameters and reference points for the project according to the standardized format outlined by USDOL. The original proposal is expected to serve as the basis for the Grantee's *Project Document* . *Trafficking* refers to the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of exploitation. *Unconditional Worst Forms of Child Labor* refers to the *worst forms of child labor* that fall under ILO Convention 182 Article 3 parts (a)-(c). Children involved in the *unconditional worst forms of child labor* , as defined in ILO Convention 182 Article 3 parts (a)-(c) above (see definition of *exploitive child labor* ), must no longer be working to be considered as withdrawn from *exploitive labor* . That is, no improvements in the working conditions of children involved in slavery or slavery-like practices, prostitution or pornography, or illicit activities will create an acceptable environment for children to work, even for one hour. *Work Plan* must identify major project activities, deadlines for completing those activities, and person(s) or institution(s) responsible for completing these activities. The *Work Plan* must correspond to activities identified in the rest of the application. The *Work Plan* may vary depending on what is the most logical form. It may, for example, be divided by project component, country, or region. *Working Children* includes both children working in *acceptable work* and *exploitive child labor* . *Worst Forms of Child Labor* refers to the forms of child labor that falls under ILO Convention 182 Article 3 parts (a)-(d), comprised of the forms of work referred to as “ *unconditional worst forms of child labor* ” [parts (a)-(c)] and “ *hazardous work* ” [part (d)]. *Youth are individuals aged 17 and under.* Appendix B: Definitions and Usual Characteristics of Subgrants vs. Subcontracts [U.S. Department of Labor Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking] Subgrants Subcontracts Definitions: *General Purpose Subject to an agreement that provides for the transfer of money or property to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation as authorized under Federal statute Subject to an agreement in which the purpose is primarily to acquire goods and services. *Focus Carries out one or more major programmatic functions Provides goods and services that are ancillary or supportive to the operation of the Federal program. *Recipient Responsibility Has responsibility for programmatic decision making, adherence to applicable Federal program compliance requirements, and is able to determine which participants are eligible to receive Federal financial assistance Responsibility for programmatic decision making rests primarily with the party providing payment and inspecting deliverables. Is subject to procurement regulations, but not programmatic compliance requirements. Usual Characteristics: Recipients Awarded largely to non-profits, institutions of higher education, and state and local governments. Fewer commercial enterprises are recipients Awarded largely to commercial enterprises, although non-profits and state or local governments may respond to a bid or negotiated solicitation. Terms & Performance Standards Less rigorous according to their terms and conditions than contracts. Performance is measured against whether the objectives of the Federal program are met (for example, to eliminate exploitive child labor) More rigorous according to their terms and conditions. Performance is measured against the delivery of goods and services. Operational Environment Less likely to operate in a competitive environment and usually provides services for a public purpose Operates in a competitive environment and provides goods and services to many different purchasers Monitoring Less regulated. If the task is not accomplished, there may be fewer legal and financial ramifications More heavily regulated and more likely to carry substantial legal or financial risk. Scope of Work Scope of work, deliverables and delivery schedule are more flexible and easier to amend when changes are necessary Scope of work may be less flexible and more difficult to amend. Firm delivery schedule with deliverables subject to rigorous inspection. Payment Schedule Funds usually drawn down by recipient or paid in a lump sum. Payments are based on budgeted amounts rather than the unit cost of services Payment is usually made by invoice only after goods are delivered or services rendered. Advances are made under specific, limited circumstances. Payments are related to goods delivered or services rendered. * The distinction between subgrants vs. subcontracts should be made primarily based on these three definitions. Even if an agreement has some or many of the “usual characteristics” of a subgrant, project managers and auditors should closely examine its purpose, focus, and recipient responsibilities (using the definitions provided above) before determining whether it meets the definition of a subgrant or subcontract. Appendix C: Technical Proposal Format A. Research Background and Significance. B. Research Methodology/Budget-Cost Effectiveness. i. Research Design. ii. Population and Sample. iii. Data Sources and Collection. iv. Data Coding and Management. v. Data Analysis. vi. Dissemination. vii. Limitations to Study. viii. Human Subjections Considerations. ix. Budget-Cost Effectiveness (with cost of activities linked to Outputs-Based Budget). C. Organizational Capacity. i. International and U.S. Government Grant Experience. ii. Country Presence. iii. Fiscal Oversight. D. Key Personnel/Management Plan/Staffing. i. Key Personnel. ii. Other Professional Personnel. iii. Management Plan. iv. Staff Loading Plan. BILLING CODE 4510-28-P EN21JN07.002 EN21JN07.003 EN21JN07.004 EN21JN07.005 EN21JN07.006 [FR Doc. E7-12011 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-28-C DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration [Docket No. OSHA-2007-0056] Training Grant Application; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor. ACTION: Request for public comment. SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in its Training Grant Application authorized by Section 21 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the “OSH Act”) (29 U.S.C. 670). DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by August 20, 2007. ADDRESSES: *Electronically* : You may submit comments and attachments electronically at *http://www.regulations.gov* , which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments. *Facsimile:* If your comments, including attachments, are not longer than 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at
(202)693-1648. *Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger, or courier service:* When using this method, you must submit three copies of your comments and attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2007-0056, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger, and courier service) are accepted during the Department of Labor's and Docket Office's normal business hours, 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., e.t. *Instructions:* All submissions must include the Agency name and OSHA docket number for the ICR (OSHA-2007-0056). All comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in the public docket without change, and may be made available online at *http://www.regulations.gov.* For further information on submitting comments see the “Public Participation” heading in the section of this notice titled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION . *Docket:* To read or download comments or other material in the docket, go to *http://www.regulations.gov* or the OSHA Docket Office at the address above. All documents in the docket (including this **Federal Register** notice) are listed in the *www.regulations.gov* index; however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download through the Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Cynthia Bencheck at the address below to obtain a copy of the ICR. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Bencheck, Office of Training and Educational Programs, OSHA Directorate of Training and Education, 2020 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005; telephone:
(847)297-4810; e-mail: *bencheck.cindy@dol.gov* ; or facsimile:
(847)297-4874. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent (i.e., employer) burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing information collection requirements in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program ensures that information is in the desired format, reporting burden (time and costs) is minimal, collection instruments are clearly understood, and OSHA's estimate of the information collection burden is accurate. Section 21 of the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 670) authorizes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)to conduct education and training courses directly, or through grants and contracts. These courses must ensure an adequate number of qualified personnel to fulfill the purposes of the Act, provide them with short-term training, inform them of the importance and proper use of safety and health equipment, and train employers and employees to recognize, avoid, and prevent unsafe and unhealthful working conditions. Under section 21, the Agency awards grants to non-profit organizations to provide part of the required training. To obtain such a grant, an organization must complete the training grant application. OSHA uses the information in this application to evaluate: The organization's competence to provide the proposed training (including the qualifications of the personnel who manage and implement the training); the goals and objectives of the proposed training program; the work plan that describes in detail the tasks that the organization will implement to meet these goals and objectives; the appropriateness of the proposed costs; and compliance with Federal regulations governing nonprocurement debarment and suspension, maintaining a drug-free workplace and lobbying activities. Also required is a program summary that Agency officials use to review and evaluate the highlights of the overall proposal. After awarding a training grant, OSHA uses the work plan and budget information provided in the application to monitor the organization's progress in meeting training goals and objectives. An organization must submit a separate application for the initial award. II. Special Issues for Comment OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues: • Whether the proposed information collection requirements are necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions, including whether the information is useful; • The accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden (time and costs) of the information collection requirements, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • The quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and • Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply; for example, by using automated or other technological information collection and transmission techniques. III. Proposed Actions OSHA is requesting that OMB extend its approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Training Grant Application. The Agency will summarize the comments submitted in response to this notice and will include this summary in the request to OMB. *Type of Review:* Extension of currently approved information collection requirements. *Title:* Training Grant Application (Susan Harwood Training Grant Program). *OMB Number:* 1218-0020. *Affected Public:* Not-for-profit institutions. *Number of Respondents:* 184. *Frequency:* Annually. *Total Responses:* 184. *Average Time Per Response:* 55.25 hours. *Estimated Total Burden Hours:* 10,166. *Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance):* $0. IV. Public Participation—Submission of Comments on this Notice and Internet Access to Comments and Submissions You may submit comments in response to this document as follows:
(1)Electronically at *http://www.regulations.gov* , which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal;
(2)by facsimile; or
(3)by hard copy. All comments, attachments, and other material must identify the Agency name and the OSHA docket number for this ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0056). You may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document files electronically. If you wish to mail additional materials in reference to an electronic or a facsimile submission, you must submit them to the OSHA Docket Office (see the section of this notice titled ADDRESSES ). The additional materials must clearly identify your electronic comments by your name, date, and docket number so the Agency can attach them to your comments. Because of security procedures, the use of regular mail may cause a significant delay in the receipt of comments. For information about security procedures concerning the delivery of materials by hand, express delivery, messenger or courier service, please contact the OSHA Docket Office at
(202)693-2350 (TTY
(877)889-5627). Comments and submissions are posted without change at *http://www.regulations.gov.* Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about submitting personal information such as social security numbers and date of birth. Although all submissions are listed in the *http://www.regulations.gov* index, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download through this Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on using the *http://www.regulations.gov* Web site to submit comments and access the docket is available at the Web site's “User Tips” link. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not available through the Web site, and for assistance in using the Internet to locate docket submissions. V. Authority and Signature Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this notice. The authority for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506 *et seq.* ) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 5-2002 (67 FR 65008). Signed at Washington, DC on June 14, 2007. Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. [FR Doc. E7-12021 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-26-P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, FY 2007 AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor. ACTION: Initial announcement of availability of funds and solicitation for grant applications. *Funding Opportunity No.:* SHTG-FY-07-01. *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.:* 17.502. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)awards funds to nonprofit organizations to provide training and education programs for employers and employees about safety and health topics selected by OSHA. Nonprofit organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations, that are not an agency of a State or local government are eligible to apply. Additionally, State or local government-supported institutions of higher education are eligible to apply in accordance with 29 CFR part 95. This notice announces grant availability for Susan Harwood Training Program grants. This notice contains all of the necessary information and forms needed to apply for grant funding. DATES: Grant applications must be received electronically by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., E.T., on Friday, July 20, 2007, the application deadline date. ADDRESSES: Applications for grants submitted under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Government-wide Grants.gov Apply site at *http://www.grants.gov.* If applying online poses a hardship to any applicant, the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Applicants must contact the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education office listed on the announcement at least one week prior to the application deadline date, (or no later than 4:30 p.m., E.T., on Friday, July 13, 2007) to speak to a representative who can provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Requests for extensions to this deadline will not be granted. Further information regarding submitting your grant application electronically is listed in Section IV, Item 3, Submission Date, Times, and Addresses. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any questions regarding this SGA should be directed to Cynthia Bencheck, Program Analyst, e-mail address: *bencheck.cindy@dol.gov* , tel: 847-297-4810 (note that this is not a toll-free number), or Jim Barnes, Director, Office of Training and Educational Programs, e-mail address *barnes.jim@dol.gov* , tel: 847-297-4810. To obtain further information on the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Labor, visit the OSHA Web site of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at *http://www.osha.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Funding Opportunity Description Overview of the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program provides funds for programs to train employees and employers to recognize, avoid, and prevent safety and health hazards in their workplaces. The program emphasizes four areas: • Educating employees and employers in small businesses. For purposes of this grant program, a small business is one with 250 or fewer employees. • Training employees and employers about new OSHA standards. • Training at-risk employer and employee populations. • Training employees and employers about high risk activities or hazards identified by OSHA through the Department of Labor's Strategic Plan, or as part of an OSHA special emphasis program. Grant Category Being Announced Under this solicitation for grant applications, OSHA will accept applications for the Targeted Topic training grant category. Topics for the Targeted Topic Training Category Organizations funded for Targeted Topic training category grants are expected to develop and provide occupational safety and health training and/or educational programs addressing one of the topics selected by OSHA, recruit employees and employers for the training, and conduct and evaluate the training. Grantees are also expected to conduct follow-up evaluations with individuals trained by their program to determine what, if any, changes were made to reduce hazards in their workplaces as a result of the training. If your organization plans to train employees or employers in any of the 26 states operating OSHA-approved State Plans, State OSHA requirements for that state must be included in the training. Fourteen different training topics were selected for this grant announcement. OSHA may award grants for some or all of the listed Targeted Topic training topics. Applicants wishing to address more than one of the announced grant topics must submit a separate grant application for each topic. Each application must propose a plan for developing and conducting training programs addressing the recognition and prevention of safety and health hazards for one of the topics listed below. Construction Industry Hazards Programs that train employees and employers in the recognition and prevention of safety and health hazards on one of the following topics. • Focus Four construction hazards (falls, electrocution, caught-in and struck-by). • Residential Construction general safety and health hazards, including falls. • Excavation and Trenching hazards. • Residential and Commercial Roofing hazards, including falls. General Industry Hazards Programs that train employees and employers in the recognition and prevention of safety and health hazards on one of the following topics. • Electrical Hazards, including Arc Flash (based on 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S, revised 02/14/07). • Combustible Dust. • Powered Industrial Vehicles. • Process Safety Management in Refineries. • Process Safety Management for Anhydrous Ammonia. • Night Time Sanitation and Maintenance, Third Shift Maintenance and Cleanup, including Lockout/Tagout and Confined Space Hazards. • Health Hazards in Food Processing. • Preparing Small Business Workplaces for Influenza Pandemic. Training should incorporate information from OSHA publication OSHA 3327-02N 2007: “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic” which is available on-line at *http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3327pandemic.pdf* ; and/or from OSHA publication OSHA 3328-05 2007: “Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers) which is available on-line at *http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA_pandemic_health.pdf.* Other Safety and Health Topic Areas Programs that train employees and employers in the recognition and prevention of safety and health hazards on one of the following topics. • Driver Safety, prevention of work-related motor vehicle accidents and fatalities. • Native American Tribal Safety and Health Issues. II. Award Information Targeted Topic training grants will be awarded for a 12-month period. The project period for these grants begins September 30, 2007, and ends September 30, 2008. There is approximately $10.1 million available for this grant category. The average federal award will be $175,000. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants Nonprofit organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations, that are not an agency of a State or local government are eligible to apply. Additionally, State or local government supported institutions of higher education are eligible to apply in accordance with 29 CFR part 95. Eligible organizations can apply independently for funding or in partnership with other eligible organizations, but in such a case, a lead organization must be identified. Sub-contracts must be awarded in accordance with 29 CFR 95.40-48, including OMB circulars requiring free and open competition for procurement transactions. A 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, as described in 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4), that engages in lobbying activities will not be eligible for the receipt of federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan. See 1 U.S.C. 1611. Applicants other than State or local government supported institutions of higher education will be required to submit evidence of nonprofit status, preferably from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Applicants are not required to contribute non-federal resources. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements A. Legal Rules Pertaining to Inherently Religious Activities by Organizations That Receive Federal Financial Assistance The U. S. Government is generally prohibited from providing “direct” financial assistance for inherently religious activities. 1 1 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 and independent private choice of a beneficiary. In other contexts, the term “direct” financial assistance may be used to refer to financial assistance that an organization receives directly from the Federal government (also know as “discretionary” assistance), as opposed to assistance that it receives from a State or Local government (also know as “indirect” or “block” grant assistance). The term “direct” has the former meaning throughout this solicitation for grant applications (SGA). The Grantee may be a faith-based organization or work with and partner with religious institutions; however, “direct” federal assistance provided under grants with the U. S. Department of Labor may not be used for religious instruction, worship, prayer, proselytizing or other inherently religious practices. 29 CFR Part 2, Subpart D governs the treatment in Department of Labor government programs of religious organizations and religious activities; the Grantee and sub-contractors are expected to be aware of and observe the regulations in this subpart. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Application Package All information and forms needed to apply for this funding opportunity are published as part of this **Federal Register** notice, and in the **Federal Register** , which may be obtained from your nearest federal depository library or online at *http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/index.html.* For informational purposes, the complete **Federal Register** notice and application forms are also posted on the OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant Program Web site at *http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/sharwood.html.* 2. Content and Form of Application Submission Each grant application must address only one of the announced topics. Organizations interested in applying for grants for more than one of the announced grant topics must submit a separate application for each grant topic. A. Required Contents A complete application will contain the following forms and narrative sections.
(1)Application for Federal Assistance form (SF 424). The individual signing the SF 424 form on behalf of the applicant must be authorized to bind the applicant. Your organization is required to have a Data Universal Number System
(DUNS)number from Dun and Bradstreet to complete this form. Information about “Obtaining a DUNS Number—A Guide for Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Applicants” is available at *http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/duns_num_guide. pdf.*
(2)Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Faith-Based EEO Survey) form OMB No. 1890-0014.
(3)Program Summary (described further in subsection B below). The program summary is a short one-to-two page single-sided abstract that succinctly summarizes the proposed project and provides information about the applicant organization.
(4)Budget Information form (SF 424A).
(5)Detailed Project Budget Backup. The detailed budget backup will provide a detailed break out of the costs that are listed in Section B of the SF 424A Budget Information form. If applicable: Provide a copy of approved indirect cost rate agreement and statement of program income.
(6)A description of any voluntary non-federal resource contribution to be provided by the applicant, including source of funds and estimated amount.
(7)Technical Proposal program narrative (described further in subsection B below), not to exceed 30 single-sided pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, containing: Problem Statement/Need for Funds; Administrative and Program Capability; and Work Plan.
(8)Assurances form (SF 424B).
(9)Combined Assurances, ED 80-0013.
(10)Organizational Chart.
(11)Evidence of Non-Profit status, preferably from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), if applicable. (Does not apply to State and local government-supported institutions of higher education.)
(12)Accounting System Certification, if applicable. Organizations that receive less than $1 million annually in federal grants must attach a certification signed by your certifying official stating that your organization has a functioning accounting system that meets the criteria below. Your organization may also designate a qualified entity (include the name and address in the documentation) to maintain a functioning accounting system that meets the criteria below. The certification should attest that your organization's accounting system provides for the following:
(a)Accurate, current and complete disclosure of the financial results of each federally sponsored project.
(b)Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally sponsored activities.
(c)Effective control over and accountability for all funds, property and other assets.
(d)Comparison of outlays with budget amounts.
(e)Written procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds.
(f)Written procedures for determining the reasonableness, allocability and allowability of costs.
(g)Accounting records, including cost accounting records that are supported by source documentation.
(13)Any attachments such as resumes of key personnel or position descriptions, exhibits, information on prior government grants, and signed letters of commitment to the project. To be considered responsive to this solicitation, the application must consist of the above mentioned separate parts. Major sections and sub-sections of the application should be divided and clearly identified, and all pages shall be numbered. Standard forms, attachments, exhibits and the Program Summary abstract are not counted toward the page limit. The forms listed above are included as a part of this **Federal Register** notice. The forms are also available on the OSHA grant Web site *http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/sharwood.html.* B. Budget Information Applicants must include the following grant project budget information.
(1)Budget Information form (SF 424A).
(2)A Detailed Project Budget that clearly details the costs of performing all of the requirements presented in this solicitation. The detailed budget will break out the costs that are listed in Section B of the SF 424A Budget Information form. Applicants are reminded to budget for compliance with the administrative requirements set forth. (Copies of all regulations that are referenced in this solicitation for grant applications
(SGA)are available on-line at no cost at *http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/sharwood.html.* ) This includes the costs of performing activities such as travel for two staff members, one program and one financial, to the Chicago area to attend a new grantee orientation meeting; financial audit, if required; project closeout; document preparation (e.g., quarterly progress reports, project document); and ensuring compliance with procurement and property standards. The Detailed Project Budget should break out administrative costs separately from programmatic costs for both federal and non-federal funds. Administrative costs include indirect costs from the costs pool and the cost of activities, materials, meeting close-out requirements as described in Section VI, and personnel (e.g., administrative assistants) who support the management and administration of the project but do not provide direct services to project beneficiaries. Indirect cost charges, which are considered administrative costs, must be supported with a copy of an approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement form. Administrative costs cannot exceed 25% of the total grant budget. The project budget should clearly demonstrate that the total amount and distribution of funds is sufficient to cover the cost of all major project activities identified by the applicant in its proposal, and must comply with federal cost principles (which can be found in the applicable OMB Circulars).
(3)A description of any voluntary non-federal resource contribution to be provided by the applicant, including source of funds and estimated amount. C. Program Summary and Technical Proposal The Program Summary and the Technical Proposal will contain the narrative segments of the application. The Program Summary abstract is not to exceed two single-sided pages. The Technical Proposal program narrative section is not to exceed 30 single-sided (8 1/2 ″ × 11″ or A4), double-spaced, 12-point font, typed pages, consisting of the Problem Statement/Need for Funds, Administrative and Program Capability, and Work Plan. Reviewers will only consider Technical Proposal information up to the 30-page limit. The Technical Proposal must demonstrate the capability to successfully administer the grant and to meet the objectives of this solicitation. The Technical Proposal will be rated in accordance with the selection criteria specified in Section V. The Program Summary and Technical Proposal must include the following sections.
(1)Program Summary. An abstract of the application, not to exceed two single-sided pages, that must include the following information. • Applicant organization's full legal name. • Project director's name, title, street address, and mailing address if it is different from the street address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address. The Project Director is the person who will be responsible for the day-to-day operation and administration of the program. • Certifying Representative's name, title, street address, and mailing address if it is different from the street address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address. The Certifying Representative is the official in your organization who is authorized to enter into grant agreements. • Funding requested. List how much federal funding you are requesting. If your organization is contributing non-federal resources, also list the amount of non-federal resources and the source of those funds. • Grant Topic. List the grant topic and industry or subject area your organization has selected to target in its application. • Summary of the Proposed Project. Write a brief program summary of your proposed grant project. • Applicant Background. Describe your applicant organization, including its mission, identify the type of non-profit organization it is, and provide a description of your membership, if any.
(2)The Technical Proposal program narrative segment, which is not to exceed 30 single-sided, double-spaced, 12-point font pages in length, must address each section listed below. • Problem Statement/Need for Funds. Describe the hazards that will be addressed in your program, the target population(s) that will benefit from your training and education program, and the barriers that have prevented this population from receiving adequate training. When you discuss target populations, include geographic location(s), and the number of employees and employers. • Administrative and Program Capability. Briefly describe your organization's functions and activities. Relate this description of functions to your organizational chart that you will include in the application. If your organization is conducting, or has conducted within the last five years, any other government (federal, State, or local) grant programs, the application must include an attachment (which will not count towards the page limit) providing information regarding previous grants including
(a)the organization for which the work was done, and
(b)the dollar value of the grant. If your organization has not had previous grant experience, you may partner with an organization that has grant experience to manage the grant. If you use this approach, the management organization must be identified and its grant program experience discussed. Program Experience. Describe your organization's experience conducting the type of program that you are proposing. Include program specifics such as program titles, numbers trained and duration of training. Experience includes safety and health experience, training experience with adults, and programs operated specifically for the selected target population(s). Nonprofit organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations, that do not have prior experience in safety and health may partner with an established safety and health organization to acquire safety and health expertise. Staff Experience. Describe the qualifications of the professional staff you will assign to the program. Include resumes of staff already on board. If some positions are vacant, include position descriptions/minimum hiring qualifications instead of resumes. Qualified staff are those with safety and health experience, training experience, or experience working with the target population. • Work Plan. The 12-month work plan should correlate with the grant project period that will begin September 30, 2007, and end September 30, 2008. An outline of specific items required in your work plan follows: Plan Overview. Describe your plan for grant activities and the anticipated outcomes. The overall plan will describe such things as the development of training materials, the training content, recruiting of trainees, where or how training will take place, and the anticipated benefits to employees and employers receiving the training. Activities. Break your overall plan down into activities or tasks. For each activity, explain what will be done, who will do it, when it will be done, and the results of the activity. When you discuss training, include the subjects to be taught, the length of the training sessions, and training location (classroom, worksites). Describe how you will recruit trainees for the training. Quarterly Projections. For training and other quantifiable activities, estimate how many (e.g., number of advisory committee meetings, classes to be conducted, employees and employers to be trained, etc.,) you will accomplish each quarter of the grant (grant quarters match calendar quarters, i.e., January to March, April to June) and provide the training number totals for the grant. Quarterly projections are used to measure your actual performance against your plans. If you plan to conduct a train-the-trainer program, estimate the number of individuals you expect to be trained during the grant period by those who received the train-the-trainer training. These second tier training numbers should only be included if your organization is planning to follow up with the trainers to obtain this data during the grant period. Materials. Describe each educational material you will produce under the grant, if not treated as a separate activity under Activities above. Provide a timetable for developing and producing the material. OSHA must review and approve training materials for technical accuracy and suitability of content before the materials may be used in your grant program. Therefore, your timetable must include provisions for an OSHA review of draft and camera-ready products. Acceptable formats for training materials include Microsoft Office 2003 and Adobe Reader 7. For Targeted Topic training grants, any previously developed training materials you are proposing to utilize in your grant training must also go through an OSHA review before being used. Evaluations. There are three types of evaluations that should be conducted. First, describe plans to evaluate the training sessions. Second, describe your plans to evaluate your progress in accomplishing the grant work activities listed in your application. This includes comparing planned vs. actual accomplishments. Discuss who is responsible for taking corrective action if plans are not being met. Third, describe your plans to assess the effectiveness of the training your organization is conducting. This will involve following-up, by survey or on-site review, if feasible, with individuals who attended the training to find out what changes were made to abate hazards in their workplaces. Include timetables for follow-up and for submitting a summary of the assessment results to OSHA.
(3)An organizational chart of the staff that will be working on this grant and their location within the applicant organization. Attachments: Summaries of other relevant organizational experiences; information on prior government grants; resumes of key personnel and/or position descriptions; and signed letters of commitment to the project. 3. Submission Date, Times, and Addresses Date: The deadline date for receipt of applications is Friday, July 20, 2007. Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m., E.T., on the closing date at *http://www.grants.gov.* Any application received after the deadline will not be accepted. Electronic Submission of Applications: Applications for Susan Harwood grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site at *http://www.grants.gov.* Through this site you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your full application. Applications sent by mail or other delivery services, e-mail, telegram, or facsimile
(FAX)will not be accepted. Applications that do not meet the conditions set forth in this notice will not be honored. For applicants using Grants.gov for the first time, it is strongly recommended that they immediately initiate and complete the “Get Started” steps to register with Grants.gov, at *http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted.* These steps will probably take multiple days to complete, which should be factored into an applicant's plans for electronic application submission in order to avoid unexpected delays that could result in the rejection of the application. Acceptable formats for document attachments submitted as a part of a Grants.gov grant application include Microsoft Office 2003 and Adobe Reader 7. If you have questions regarding the process for submitting your application through Grants.gov, or are experiencing problems with electronic submissions, you may contact the Grants Program Management Office via one of the methods below: • E-mail at *support@grants.gov;* • Telephone the Grants.gov Contact Center Phone: 1-800-518-4726. The Contact Center hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Eastern Time; closed on federal holidays. • When contacting the Grants Program Management Office, the following information will help expedite your inquiry: ○ Funding Opportunity Number (FON). ○ Name of Agency You Are Applying To. ○ Specific Area of Concern. If applying online poses a hardship to any applicant, the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Applicants must contact the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education office listed on the announcement at least one week prior to the application deadline date (or no later than 4:30 p.m., E.T., on Friday, July 13, 2007) to speak to a representative who can provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Requests for extensions to this deadline will not be granted. 4. Intergovernmental Review The Harwood Training Grant Program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. 5. Funding Restrictions Grant funds may be spent on the following.
(a)Conducting training.
(b)Conducting other activities that reach and inform employees and employers about workplace occupational safety and health hazards and hazard abatement.
(c)Conducting outreach and recruiting activities to increase the number of employees and employers participating in the program.
(d)Developing educational materials for use in training. Grant funds may not be used for the following activities under the terms of the grant program.
(a)Any activity that is inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
(b)Training individuals not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
(c)Training employees or employers from workplaces not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Examples include: State and local government employees in non-State Plan States, and employees referenced in section 4 (b)(1) of the Act.
(d)Training on topics that do not cover the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. Examples of unallowable topics include: Workers’ compensation, first aid, and publication of materials prejudicial to labor or management.
(e)Assisting employees in arbitration cases or other actions against employers, or assisting employers and employees in the prosecution of claims against federal, State or local governments.
(f)Duplicating services offered by OSHA, a State under an OSHA-approved State Plan, or consultation programs provided by State designated agencies under section 21(d) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
(g)Generating membership in the grantee's organization. This includes activities to acquaint nonmembers with the benefits of membership, inclusion of membership appeals in materials produced with grant funds, and membership drives.
(h)The cost of lost-time wages paid by you or other organizations to students while attending grant-funded training.
(i)Administrative costs cannot exceed 25% of the total grant budget. While the activities described above may be part of an organization's regular programs, the costs of these activities cannot be paid for by grant funds, whether the funds are from non-federal matching resources or from the federally funded portion of the grant. Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles, e.g., Nonprofit Organizations—2 CFR part 230, formerly OMB Circular A-122; Educational Institutions—2 CFR part 220, formerly OMB Circular A-21. Disallowed costs are those charges to a grant that the grantor agency or its representative determines to not be allowed in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles or other conditions contained in the grant. No applicant at any time will be entitled to reimbursement of preaward costs. V. Application Review Information Grant applications will be reviewed by technical panels comprised of OSHA staff. The results of the grant reviews will be presented to the Assistant Secretary of OSHA, who will make the selection of organizations to be awarded grants. OSHA may award grants for some or all of the listed topic areas. It is anticipated that the grant awards will be announced in September 2007. 1. Evaluation Criteria The technical panels will review grant applications against the criteria listed below on the basis of 100 maximum points. Targeted Topic training grant category applications will be reviewed and rated as follows. A. Technical Approach, Program Design—50 Points Total Program Design
(1)The proposed training and education program must address the recognition and prevention of safety and health hazards for one of the Targeted Topic subject areas identified in Section I of this SGA. (1 point)
(2)The proposal plans to train employees and/or employers, clearly estimates the numbers to be trained, and clearly identifies the types of employees and employers to be trained. The training will reach employees and employers from multiple employers. (4 points)
(3)If the proposal contains a train-the-trainer program, the following information must be provided: (4 points) • What ongoing support the grantee will provide to new trainers; • The number of individuals to be trained as trainers; • The estimated number of courses to be conducted by the new trainers; • The estimated number of students to be trained by these new trainers; and • A description of how the grantee will obtain data from the new trainers documenting their classes and student numbers.
(4)There is a well-developed work plan, and activities and training are adequately described. The planned activities and training are appropriately tailored to the needs and levels of the employees and employers to be trained. The target audience to be served through the grant program is described. (20 points)
(5)The training materials and training programs are tailored to the training needs of one or more of the following target audiences; and the need for training is established: small businesses; new businesses; limited English proficiency, non-literate and low literacy workers; youth; immigrant and minority workers, and other hard-to-reach workers; and employees in high-hazard industries and industries with high fatality rates. Organizations proposing to develop Spanish-language training materials should utilize the OSHA Dictionaries (English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English) for terminology. The dictionaries are available on the OSHA Web site at: *http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/spanish_dictionaries.html* . Organizations proposing to develop materials in languages other than English will also be required to provide an English version of the materials. (10 points)
(6)There is a sound plan to recruit trainees for the program. (4 points)
(7)If the proposal includes developing educational materials for use in the training program, there is a plan for OSHA to review the educational materials for technical accuracy and suitability of content during development. If previously-developed training products will be used for the Targeted Topic training program, applicants have a plan for OSHA to review the materials before using the products in their grant program. (1 point)
(8)There are plans for three different types of evaluation. The plans include evaluating your organization's progress in accomplishing the grant work activities and accomplishments, evaluating your training sessions, and evaluating the program's effectiveness and impact to determine if the safety and health training and services provided resulted in workplace change. This includes a description of the evaluation plan to follow up with trainees to determine the impact the program has had in abating hazards and reducing worker injuries. (5 points)
(9)The application is complete, including forms, budget detail, narrative and work plan, and required attachments. (1 points) B. Budget—20 Points Total
(1)The budgeted costs are reasonable. No more than 25% of the total budget is for administration. (12 points)
(2)The budget complies with federal cost principles (which can be found in the applicable OMB Circulars) and with OSHA budget requirements contained in the grant application instructions. (3 points)
(3)The cost per trainee is less than $500 and the cost per training hour is reasonable. (5 points) C. Past Performance—15 Points Total
(1)The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience with occupational safety and health. Applicants that do not have prior experience in providing safety and health training to employees or employers may partner with an established safety and health organization to acquire safety and health expertise. (4 points)
(2)The organization applying for the grant demonstrates experience training adults in work-related subjects or in recruiting, training and working with the target audience for this grant. (4 points)
(3)The application organization demonstrates that the applicant has strong financial management and internal control systems. (4 points)
(4)The applicant organization has administered, or will work with an organization that has administered, a number of different federal and/or State grants over the past five years. (3 points) D. Experience and Qualification of Personnel—15 Points Total
(1)The staff to be assigned to the project has experience in occupational safety and health, the specific topic chosen, and in training adults. (10 points)
(2)Project staff has experience in recruiting, training, and working with the population your organization proposes to serve under the grant. (5 points) 2. Review and Selection Process OSHA will screen all applications to determine whether all required proposal elements are present and clearly identifiable. Applications that do not may be deemed non-responsive and may not be evaluated. A technical panel will objectively rate each complete application against the criteria described in this announcement. The panel recommendations to the Assistant Secretary are advisory in nature. The Assistant Secretary may establish a minimally acceptable rating range for the purpose of selecting qualified applicants. The Assistant Secretary will make a final selection determination based on what is most advantageous to the government, considering factors such as panel findings, geographic presence of the applicants, Agency priorities, the best value to the government, cost, and other factors. The Assistant Secretary's determination for award under this solicitation for grant applications
(SGA)is final. 3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates Announcement of these awards is expected to occur by September 30, 2007. The grant agreement will be awarded by no later than September 2007. VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Process Organizations selected as grant recipients will be notified by a representative of the Assistant Secretary, usually from an OSHA Regional Office. An applicant whose proposal is not selected will be notified in writing. Notice that an organization has been selected as a grant recipient does not constitute approval of the grant application as submitted. Before the actual grant award, OSHA will enter into negotiations concerning such items as program components, staffing and funding levels, and administrative systems. If the negotiations do not result in an acceptable submittal, the Assistant Secretary reserves the right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the proposal. Note: Except as specifically provided, OSHA's acceptance of a proposal and an award of Federal funds to sponsor any program(s) does not provide a waiver of any grant requirement or procedures. For example, if an application identifies a specific sub-contractor to provide the services, the USDOL OSHA award does not provide the justification or basis to sole-source the procurement, i.e., to avoid competition. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements All grantees, including faith-based organizations, will be subject to applicable federal laws and regulations (including provisions of appropriations law) and the applicable Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)Circulars. The grant award(s) awarded under this SGA will be subject to the following administrative standards and provisions, as applicable to the particular grantee: 29 CFR Part 2, Subpart D, new equal treatment regulations. 29 CFR Parts 31, 32, 35 and 36 as applicable. 29 CFR Part 93, new restrictions on lobbying. 29 CFR Part 95, which covers grant requirements for nonprofit organizations, including universities and hospitals. These are the Department of Labor regulations implementing 2 CFR Part 215, formerly OMB Circular A-110. 29 CFR Part 98, government-wide debarment and suspension (nonprocurement) and government-wide requirements for drug-free workplace (grants). 2 CFR Part 220, formerly OMB Circular A-21, which describes allowable and unallowable costs for educational institutions. 2 CFR Part 230, formerly OMB circular A-122, which describes allowable and unallowable costs for other nonprofit organizations. OMB Circular A-133, 29 CFR parts 96 and 99, which provide information about audit requirements. Certifications. All applicants are required to certify to a drug-free workplace in accordance with 29 CFR part 98, to comply with the New Restrictions on Lobbying published at 29 CFR part 93, to make a certification regarding the debarment rules at 29 CFR part 98, and to complete a special lobbying certification. Training Audience. Grant-funded training programs must serve multiple employers and their employees. Grant-funded training programs must serve individuals covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. As a part of the grant close-out process, grantees must self-certify that their grant-funded programs and materials were not provided to ineligible audiences. Other. In keeping with the policies outlined in Executive Orders 13256, 12928, 13230, and 13021 as amended, the grantee is strongly encouraged to provide subgranting opportunities to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 3. Special Program Requirements *OSHA review of educational materials* . OSHA will review all educational materials produced by the grantee for technical accuracy and suitability of content during development and before final publication. OSHA will also review previously-developed training curricula and purchased training materials for technical accuracy and suitability of content before the materials are used. Grantees developing training materials must follow all copyright laws and provide written certification that their materials are free from copyright infringements. When grant recipients produce training materials, they must provide copies of completed materials to OSHA before the end of the grant period. OSHA has a lending program that circulates grant-produced audiovisual materials. Audiovisual materials produced by the grantee as a part of its grant program may be included in this lending program. In addition, all materials produced by grantees must be provided to OSHA in hard copy as well as in a digital format (CD Rom/DVD) for possible publication on the Internet by OSHA. Two copies of the materials must be provided to OSHA. Acceptable formats for training materials include Microsoft Office 2003 and Adobe Reader 7. As stated in 29 CFR 95.36, the Department of Labor reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use for federal purposes any work produced under a grant, and to authorize others to do so. Applicants should note that grantees must agree to provide the Department of Labor a paid-up, nonexclusive and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use for federal purposes all products developed, or for which ownership was purchased, under an award including, but not limited to, curricula, training models, technical assistance products, and any related materials, and to authorize the Department of Labor to do so. Such uses include, but are not limited to, the right to modify and distribute such products worldwide by any means, electronic or otherwise. *Acknowledgment of USDOL Funding.* In all circumstances, all approved grant-funded materials developed by a grantee shall contain the following disclaimer: This material was produced under grant number ________ from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. *Public reference to grant:* When issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with federal money, all grantees receiving federal funds must clearly state: • The percentage of the total costs of the program or project that will be financed with federal money; • The dollar amount of federal financial assistance for the project or program; and • The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources. *Use of U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) OSHA Logo:* The USDOL-OSHA logo may not be applied to any grant products developed with grant funds without advance written authority from OSHA. 4. Reporting Grantees are required by Departmental regulations to submit program and financial reports each calendar quarter. All reports are due no later than 30 days after the end of the fiscal quarter and shall be submitted to the appropriate OSHA Regional Office. The Grantee(s) shall submit financial reports on a quarterly basis. The first reporting period shall end on the last day of the fiscal quarter (December 31, March 31, June 30, or September 30) during which the grant was signed. Financial reports are due within 30 days of the end of the reporting period (i.e., by January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30). The Grantee(s) shall use Standard Form
(SF)269, Financial Status Report, to report the status of funds, at the project level, during the grant period. A final SF269 shall be submitted no later than 90 days following completion of the grant period. Grantees will use the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (HHS PMS) to receive federal funds and to report federal expenditures, and must also send USDOL copies of the PSC 272 that it submits to HHS, on the same schedule. Technical Progress Reports: After signing the agreement, the Grantee(s) shall submit technical progress reports to USDOL/OSHA Regional Offices at the end of each fiscal quarter. Technical progress reports provide both quantitative and qualitative information and a narrative assessment of performance for the preceding three-month period. OSHA Form 171 shall be used for reporting training numbers and a narrative report shall be provided that details grant activities conducted during the quarter, information on how the project is progressing in achieving its stated objectives, and notes any problems or delays along with corrective actions proposed. The first reporting period shall end on the last day of the fiscal quarter (December 31, March 31, June 30, or September 30) during which the grant was signed. Quarterly progress reports are due within 30 days of the end of the report period (i.e., by January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30.) Between reporting dates, the Grantees(s) shall also immediately inform USDOL/OSHA of significant developments and/or problems affecting the organization's ability to accomplish work. (Authority: The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, (29 U.S.C. 670), and the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution for Fiscal Year 2007, Pub. L. 110-5.) Signed at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2007. Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Project Document Format SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance form Your organization is required to have a Data Universal Number System
(DUNS)number (received from Dun and Bradstreet) to complete this form. Information about “Obtaining a DUNS Number—A Guide for Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Applicants” is available at *http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/duns_num_guide.pdf.* Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Faith-Based EEO Survey) form, (OMB No. 1890-0014) Program Summary (not to exceed two single-sided pages) Budget Information, SF 424A form Detailed Project Budget Backup If applicable: provide a copy of approved indirect cost rate agreement, and statement of program income. Technical Proposal, program narrative, not to exceed 30 single-sided pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, containing: Problem Statement/Need for Funds Administrative and Program Capability Work plan Assurances (SF 424B) Combined Assurances, ED 80-0013 Organizational Chart Evidence of Nonprofit status, (letter from the IRS) if applicable Accounting System Certification, if applicable Organizations that receive less than $1 million annually in federal grants must attach a certification signed by your certifying official stating that your organization has a functioning accounting system that meets the criteria below. Your organization may also designate a qualified entity (include the name and address in the documentation) to maintain a functioning accounting system that meets the criteria below. The certification should attest that your organization's accounting system provides for the following: 1. Accurate, current and complete disclosure of the financial results of each federally sponsored project. 2. Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally sponsored activities. 3. Effective control over and accountability for all funds, property and other assets. 4. Comparison of outlays with budget amounts. 5. Written procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds. 6. Written procedures for determining the reasonableness, allocability and allowability of costs. 7. Accounting records, including cost accounting records, that are supported by source documentation. Attachments such as: Summaries of other relevant organizational experience; information on prior government grants; resumes of key personnel or position descriptions; signed letters of commitment to the project. Attachments (forms) SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Faith-Based EEO Survey) form, (OMB No. 1890-0014) SF-424A, Budget Information form SF 424B, Assurances Combined Assurances, ED 80-0013 The forms are also available at: *http://www.grants.gov* *http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/sharwood.html—(information purposes only).* BILLING CODE 4510-26-P EN21JN07.007 EN21JN07.008 EN21JN07.009 EN21JN07.010 EN21JN07.011 EN21JN07.012 EN21JN07.013 EN21JN07.014 EN21JN07.015 EN21JN07.016 EN21JN07.017 EN21JN07.018 [FR Doc. 07-3001 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am]
Connectionstraces to 7
27 references not yet in our index
- 5 CFR 1320.10
- Pub. L. 104-13
- Pub. L. 110-05
- 121 Stat. 8
- 29 CFR 98
- 29 CFR 95
- 29 CFR 95.40-48
- 29 CFR 95.26(d)
- 29 CFR 95.13
- 48 CFR 9.404
- 29 CFR 2
- 29 CFR 31
- 29 CFR 32
- 29 CFR 33
- 29 CFR 35
- 29 CFR 36
- 29 CFR 93
- 29 CFR 96
- 29 CFR 99
- 29 CFR 95.33(a)
- 29 CFR 1910
- 1 USC 1611
- 2 CFR 230
- 2 CFR 220
- 2 CFR 215
- 29 CFR 95.36
- Pub. L. 110-5
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Cite5 CFR 1320.10
Pub. L.Pub. L. 104-13
Pub. L.Pub. L. 110-05
Stat.121 Stat. 8
Cite29 CFR 98
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