FY2020: Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education and Integrated Education and Training

Fund Codes: 671/661/359

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive grant is to fund Integrated Education and Training (IET) and/or Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) programs for adult learners in high wage/high demand career pathways. Grants must be developed consistent with Public Law 113-128, Sections 201 through 243.

IET provides adult basic education (ABE) concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities, and workforce training (occupational skills training) to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of a high school credential and one or more relevant industry-recognized credentials (IRCs). IELCE provides adult ESOL instruction concurrently and contextually with civics education in addition to workforce preparation activities and workforce training (occupational skills training) to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of one or more relevant IRCs occupations.

Priorities:

The following priorities have been established for IET and IELCE program proposals that are informed by evidence-based practice1¹ and support:

1. Career pathway development in occupations with 4 or 5 star demand rankings² as shown in the local plan. (Note: Bonus points will be awarded accordingly for proposals that address this priority, proposals with occupations that are not 4 or 5 star will not receive bonus points.)
2. Partnership with one or more local area employers in the occupation that includes but is not limited to assistance with job placement/employment. (Note: Employer support letters are required.)
3. Capabilities to support or refer individuals to state or federal resources such as SNAP+ or child care benefits programs.

Eligibility:

This grant opportunity is not limited to current or past ABE providers. Eligible applicants are: education and/or training providers with demonstrated effectiveness in either adult education and/or career and technical training, including:

1. a local educational agency;
2. public entities that are able to demonstrate effectiveness in operating adult education and/or career and training programs in correctional institutions³
3. a community-based organization or faith-based organization;
4. a volunteer literacy organization;
5. an institution of higher education;
6. a public or private nonprofit agency;
7. a library;
8. a public housing authority;
9. a nonprofit institution not described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (G) and has the ability to provide literacy activities to eligible providers;
10. a consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries or authorities described in (A) through (H);
11. a partnership between an employer and an entity described in any of (A) through (I);

Note: Eligible applicants from the Berkshire, Bristol, or Metro Southwest workforce development areas (where IET/IELCE programs do not currently exist) will compete separately (among themselves only). Applicants from the remaining 13 workforce development areas will compete separately.

Funding:

Programs may submit multiple proposals. For example, an applicant could submit a proposal for IELCE advanced manufacturing and another for IET welding.

Funding is subject to state and federal appropriation.

Subject to federal appropriation, awards will be based on the quality of the programs proposed. Approximately 1.5 million in funding is available for awards ranging from approximately $30,000 to $80,000.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change.

Funding Type:

Fund Code 671, 359: Federal CFDA 84.002

Fund Code 661: State

Fund Use:

Funds must be used in accordance with the FY20-22 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions to provide adult education to eligible students; eligible students are:

1. at least 16 years of age; and
2. not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law, and
3. do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not an equivalent level of education or are basic skills deficient or are English language learners.

Not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities; not more than 5 percent may be spent on administrative costs (related to planning, administration, (including carrying out performance accountability requirements), professional development, providing adult education and literacy services in alignment with local workforce plans, carrying out one-stop partner responsibilities, and state approved indirect costs charged to the grant.

Programs may negotiate a higher administrative cost percentage by submitting a written request and rationale with application. The state will not grant administrative cost requests that exceed 25% of grant funds (state requirement).

The Adult Education Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. Grantees are required to use a restricted indirect cost rate of 8%, unless your calculated indirect cost rate is less than 8%, than you must use the lower rate for your budget. If you have an approved negotiated federal indirect cost rate, it must be submitted to DESE. If you do not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, you must apply annually to DESE for an approved indirect cost rate. The indirect cost rate is calculated using costs specified in the grantee's indirect cost plan. Those specified costs may not be charged as direct costs to the grant or to any other grant under any circumstances.

Project Duration:

Fund Code 661 (State): Upon approval through June 30, 2020 (conditionally renewable for up to an additional two years (FY21-FY22)*

Fund Codes 671 (Federal): Upon approval through August 31, 2020 (conditionally renewable for up to an additional two years (FY21-FY22)*

*Renewals are subject to satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation. Total grant award duration will not exceed three years (initial year (FY20) plus renewals (FY21-FY22).

Letter of Intent:

Please email a letter of intent (for bidders' conference planning only) to kdecoster@doe.mass.edu by Friday, July 5, 2019.

Required Forms: (for each proposal)

Part I — General - Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

Part II — Class Plan and Budget Workbook — Updated 7/17/19

Schedule B — Cost Sharing or Matching Schedule

Part III A and/or Part III B — Required Program Information

FY20 Statement of Assurances

General Education Provisions Act Form (GEPA)

IET/IELCE Overview (Appendix A)

 

Employer Letter(s) of Support

 

Resume and/or Job Description IELCE or IET Coordinator

Administrative Cost — Negotiation Request Form (if needed)

ISA Budget / EdGrants Budget Crosswalk (only for entities who require ISAs)

Additional Information:

This information is intended for state entities who require ISAs as part of their grant award process. Not intended for Private or Community Based Organizations.

ISA process timeline

MA Expenditure Classification Handbook

MA Comptroller's Office Fringe Information

ISA and EdGrants Amendment Requirements

Resources and Information:

Workbook Instructions

Scoring rubric

Letter from AE State Director

Additional resources can be found on the ACLS Career Pathways webpage.

Bidder's conference:

A webinar bidder's conference will be held on July 12. Further information about the bidder's conference will be posted at ACLS Funding Opportunities webpage.

ESE Program Unit/Contact:

All inquiries must be submitted in writing to by to IET-IELCEQA@doe.mass.edu; all answers will be posted to the ACLS webpage. Questions can be submitted upon release through Friday, July 19, 2019.

Due Date:

Proposals are due on Friday, August 16, 2019 by 3:00 p.m.

Submission Instructions: (for each proposal)

Proposals must be submitted as an email to Barbara Pope.

The narrative response may not exceed twelve pages. Any response that exceeds twelve pages will not be reviewed and considered in scoring. (Note: Required forms and budget pages are not included in these page limits.)

Applicants are required to provide page numbers on every page of the narrative response. All narrative responses must be in a font no smaller than Arial 10 font, with 1" margins on all sides.

Notes: 1) Each proposal will be reviewed and scored separately, and each must include all required documents. 2) DESE reserves the right to conduct a site visit prior to award.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to return to this RFP and the Q&A page for updates and amendments. All updates and amendments supersede previous versions.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter a final approved budget in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on this process.

¹ (e.g., I-BEST)

² The ranking of highest-demand, highest-wage jobs in Massachusetts, based on short-term employment projections (2017), long-term employment projections (2024), current available openings from Help Wanted Online, and median regional wage.

² any prison, county house of correction, or similar institution designed for confinement or rehabilitation of criminal offenders.

Last Updated: June 12, 2019