Farmworker Training Grant Program

 

To improve the supply of skilled agricultural workers and bring greater stability to the workforce in this sector through provision of services specifically designed to assist farmworkers in securing, retaining, upgrading or returning from an agricultural job. The intended outcomes are that, as a result of the services to be provided, growers will have access to a more skilled pool of workers and farmworkers will have enhanced employment opportunities, such as additional hours of work, better paying positions on the farm, and expanded promotional opportunities.

Deleted 03/03/2014 (Archived.) 10.465 Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Departmental Management Project Grants Not Applicable. Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Section 14204, Public Law 110-246, 7 U.S.C 2008q-1. Non-profit organizations or a consortium which includes a non-profit organization(s) and one or more of the following: agribusinesses, State and local governments, agricultural labor organizations, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and community-based organizations with the capacity to train farm workers. Additional information about eligible entities may be included in the RFP, including the criteria by which an entity's capacity to train farm workers will be evaluated, but at a minimum, the entity shall be required to demonstrate that it has: 1) an understanding of the issues facing hired farmworkers and conditions under which they work; 2) familiarity with the agricultural industry in the geographic area to be served, including agricultural labor needs and existing services for farmworkers; 3) the capacity to effectively administer a program of services and benefits authorized by the grants program; and 4) that it is responsible. Farmworkers who are citizens of the United States or are otherwise legally present in the United States and who meet the definition of "United States workers" established by the U.S. Department of Labor in its regulations at 20 CFR 655.4. Additional eligibility requirements may be included in the Request for Proposals (RFP). Grantees must have the financial, legal, administrative and operational capacity to carry out the objectives of the program. Non-profit organizations should provide a current certification of non-profit status in accordance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Grantees shall be responsible for verifying the employment of farmworkers who are actively employed and are seeking to participate in program services or benefits. Unemployed farmworkers seeking to participate shall be required to certify to grantees on a form to be provided by the Agency that they are eligible for program services and benefits. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Dates governing the acceptance, review, and selection of projects will be published in the Federal Register Notice or other applicable publication announcing the request for proposals. Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by OAO staff members with the assistance and advice of a review panel or peer reviewers. The criteria to be used in selecting reviewers will be identified in the RFP. Proposals will be ranked and recommended in order of merit and funded to the extent permitted by available funds, consistent with program goals and the selection criteria set forth in the RFP. Final approval for those proposals selected will be made by the Awarding Official. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. From 60 to 90 days. Notice of action taken on proposals will generally be within 90 days of final date of submission dateline. From 1 to 15 days. As stipulated in OMB Circular No. A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations. Grantees who have achieved the goals of a grant and are seeking an additional grant must reapply as provided in a subsequent NOFA or RFP. Prior to technical examination, a preliminary review of proposals for responsiveness to the solicitation. Proposals that do not fall within the solicitation guidelines will be eliminated from competition. All other proposals will be reviewed by a review panel or subject to peer review. The criteria to be used in evaluating proposals will be set out in the RFP, but among the factors to be considered will be the applicant’s 1) understanding of the issues facing hired farmworkers and conditions under which they work; 2) familiarity with the agricultural industry in the geographic area to be served, including agricultural labor needs and existing services for farmworkers; and 3) capacity to effectively administer a program of services and benefits as provided for by the program. To provide services specifically designed to assist farmworkers in securing, retaining, upgrading or returning from an agricultural job. Such services include the following: agricultural labor skills development; the provision of agricultural labor market information; transportation; short-term housing while in transit to an agricultural worksite; workplace literacy and assistance with English as a second language; health and safety instruction, including ways of safeguarding the food supply of the United States; and other such services the Secretary deems appropriate. Grant funds shall not be used to deliver or replace any services or benefits which an agricultural employer, association, contractor, or any other entity is legally obliged to provide. 100% of the allotted funding is discretionary to be awarded via open grant compeition. Quarterly financial and program performance/progress reports are due within 30 days after the reporting period. A final financial and program performance/progress report is required within 90 days of the expiration of each Grant Agreement, which shall include an evaluation of the activities under the Grant Agreement. Cash reports, if required by Grant Agreement and/or payment system terms and conditions, are to be completed using the SF-425 or SF-272. Quarterly financial and program performance/progress reports are due within 30 days after the reporting period. A final financial and program performance/progress report is required within 90 days of the expiration of each Grant Agreement, which shall include an evaluation of the activities under the Grant Agreement. Quarterly financial and program performance/progress reports are due within 30 days after the reporting period. A final financial and program performance/progress report is required within 90 days of the expiration of each Grant Agreement, which shall include an evaluation of the activities under the Grant Agreement. Performance monitoring is not applicable. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR Part 3052, “Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,” which implement OMB Circular No. a-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), “Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,” non-federal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 7 CFR 3052. Grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records must be retained at least three years; records must be retained beyond the three-year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. Proposed project periods will typically be for one to two years. Exact project period restrictions will be stipulated by the current request for proposals notification published in the Federal Register. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum. None. Carolyn Parker Whitten Building 520-A, Stop 9821
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-9821 Phone: 202-720-6350 http://www.outreach.usda.gov 12-9915-0-1-350. (Salaries) FY 11 $0; FY 12 est $4,000,000; and FY 13 Estimate Not Available - FY 2012 funds were rescinded. No Data Available. All Applicants and Awardees
- 7 U.S.C. 2279
-7 CFR 3015 Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations
-7 CFR 3018 New Restrictions on Lobbying
Higher Education Institutions
- 7 CFR 3019 Uniform Administrative Requirements
- 2 CFR PART 220 Federal Cost Principals
Non-Profit Organizations
- 7 CFR 3019 Uniform Administrative Requirements
- 2 CFR PART 230 Federal Cost Principals
State and Local Governments (Tribal)
-7 CFR 3016 Uniform Administrative Requirements
State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments
2 CFR PART 225 Federal Cost Principals

Not Applicable.