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Are applicants allowed to adjust to budget forms?
Applicants
are allowed to add rows and expand the text boxes in Section C - BUDGET
WORKSHEET & NARRATIVE. The other
Sections of the the Uniform Budget Template do not allow editing.
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Are pre-award costs included in the full award disbursement, if contract is awarded?
Pre-award
costs for services in anticipation of an award are allowable, where
necessary, for the efficient and timely performance of the program, and are
subject to 2 CFR 200.458. To be
accepted, proof of services must meet the guidelines and requirements
outlined within this NOFO. Only
applicants who receive an award as a result of the NOFO and merit-based
review process will be eligible for pre-award costs.
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How do we present the sliding scale match in the Uniform Grant Budget Template? Do we just use an average for a number?
According
to the NOFO, there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. There is
an employer match requirement for incumbent worker training that should be
detialed in the SECTION C of the budget template
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If our organization has a Federally negotiated indirect cost rate, are we permitted to use that indirect cost rate as we craft our budget?
Yes.
For more information on the Indirect cost rate options please see page 14 of
the NOFO.
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In preparing the budget, the template Non-State fields are locked and we cannot put in any matching/cost sharing into Section B,or related pages. Is there a way to get a form that allows for the matching activity?Thank you,
Audience: Youth
This technical issues
has been resolved please download and use the updated budget template.
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Is there a list of allowable costs specific to this grant?
According
to the NOFO, allowable costs must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable
based on the activity or activities contained in the scope of work.
Costs must be in accordance with the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200 and the
DOL Exceptions to the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 2900. See the Uniform
Budget Template INSTRUCTIONS Tab for a complete list of budget line items.
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We are to use the standard budget proposal as stated on page 18 NOFO - where can this be found?
The
Uniform Budget Template is posted on the NOFO webpage under the NOFO
Materials
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Appendix C: How does WIOA define deficiency in basic literacy skills (for out-of-school youth)? Is operating at a 10 grade level for a HS graduate/equivalent considered to be deficient in basic literacy skills?
No, WIOA defines the term ‘‘basic skills deficient’’ as, with respect to an individual— (A) who is a youth, that the individual has English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below the 8th grade level on a generally accepted standardized test; or (B) who is a youth or adult, that the individual is unable to compute or solve problems, or read, write, or speak English, at a level necessary to function on the job, in the individual’s family, or in society.
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Are we to use the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity's Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance?
Yes, The Uniform
Application must be completed as a cover for each proposal. All applications must include the following
mandatory forms/attachments in the order identified below. Please compile these attachments into one
electronic file for items 1-7 and one electronic file for the budget
proposal.
1. Signed Application
2. Executive Summary
3. Technical Proposal
4. Implementation Plan
5. Other Required Attachments (see Section D of the NOFO)
6. Resumes of Program Staff
7. Partnership Agreements and/or Memorandums of Understanding
8. Budget Proposal
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Do program participants need to be "current" opportunity youth, meaning that they cannot currently be in school or working in order to qualify for this NOFO?
Audience: Youth
While the 2018 Youth Career Pathways NFO priority is for “Opportunity Youth”, which are those individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor working, applications for in-school youth will also be considered.
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How do I register in the SAMS System (System for Award Management)?
Organizations
should follow the step-by-step instruction on this
website to
complete the SAMS registration.
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How long does it take to complete the pre-award registration process?
Organizations
should go
here to start the automated
registration process.
This process
takes several steps and should be completed with the assistance with the
organization's fiscal officer to insure that the automated e-mails are routed
to the appropriate staff.
New
organizations are generally advised to allow for at least a week to complete
the State of Illinois registration process.
Please note that this timeline assumes that the organization also has
a valid DUNS number and is registered in the federal System for Award
Managment System(SAMS) .
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If this grant program was offered last year as well, is there a list of the previous grantees available?
DCEO does not share prior lists of applicants or grantees. However, the DCEO grant tracker site can be used to view a list of all DCEO grants.
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In the application format section, it states that the proposal narrative is a maximum of 12 pages. Does that refer to the Technical Proposal portion only? (excluding executive summary, application and other attachments)
Yes,
the Technical Proposal is the 12 page maximum.
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Page 16 directs applicants to submit a one-page Executive Summary & a Technical Proposal of no more than 12 pages. Is there a form to use? Are these to be an attachment to the application? Is there a specific font & size of print? Single spaced or double?
There
is no standard form for the executive summary and technical proposal. Applications must be formatted to an 8 1/2
x 11-inch page size, using 11-point type and at 100% magnification. Tables
may be used to present information with a 10-point type. The program narrative must be typed
single-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides. The proposal narrative is a
maximum of 12 pages. The entire
application, including appendices, must be sequentially page numbered (hand
written page numbers are acceptable). Items included in the attachments are
NOT included in the page limitations.
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We are considering applying to the Talent Pipeline, Workforce Innovation, and Youth Career Pathways RFPs that were released. We have programs & participants that fit well within each scope. Should we select one to focus in on, or apply to all three?
It is your choice if you want to apply to one or more of the NOFO opportunities. The project must meet the criteria established in the NOFO.
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What is the start date of the grant cycle for the Youth Initiative program?
Audience: Youth
The anticipated start date will be either June 1, 2018 or July 1, 2018.
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When should an organization update the Internal Control Questionnaire on the www.grants.illinois.gov portal?
Grantees
are required to update the Internal Control Questionnaire at least every
fiscal year. The ICQ responses should
be updated and resubmitted if there are significant changes that would impact
an organization's capacity to administer a grant.
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Where can I find the Youth Career Pathways Program 2018 NOFO?
You can find the Youth Career Pathways Program 2018 NOFO here.
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Is a complete Memorandum of Understanding with a Local Workforce Area or LWIA contractor required to be submitted with the application or can the MOU be “developed” after the application is submitted?
A complete Memorandum of Understanding that details the roles and responsibilities related to recruitment, eligibility determination, enrollment, performance requirements, and strategies for this project is required when you submit your application
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Is a Memorandum of Understanding required if my organization is a WIOA contractor of LWIA 7 (Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership)?
Applicants / grantees must work with their designated LWIA(s) to create a viable approach for complying with WIOA client eligibility (Appendix C), reporting, and performance requirements. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) developed and signed by the applicant and an LWIA that details the roles and responsibilities related to recruitment, eligibility determination, enrollment, performance requirements, and strategies for this project may be required. If a contractor meets these requirements then a MOU with the CCWP is not required.
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What is the role and responsibility the LWIA will have regarding recruitment, eligibility determination, enrollment, performance requirements and strategies?
Applicants
other than Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIAs) and their active WIOA
operators and providers must work with their designated LWIA(s) to create a
viable approach for complying with WIOA client eligibility, reporting, and
performance requirements. Applicants
must identify staff that is qualified to certify and document eligibility in
the Illinois Workforce Development System for WIOA customers and Illinois
Workforce Training System for incumbent worker trainees. Applicants are advised to work wtih with
project partners to clearly identify the roles and responsiblity regarding
the recruitment, eligibility determination, enrollment, on-going case
managment performance and any other applicable project managment
considerations.
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Where can I go to find out more information regarding my local workforce areas.
A
listing of the local workforce areas is posted
on-line.
Also contact the NOFO staff contact for
additional assistance and referrals based on your local area.
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Will the payments for participants training between agencies and schools be in the form of an ITA payment or will a regular form of payment for participants training be accepted?
I sent this question to Chuck, but in reviewing the ITA policy it appears to relate to WIOA Title I adults and dislocated workers (not youth).
