ILAB FY 2011 Solicitation for Grant Applications Chat - Static Version
Wednesday, August 10, 10-11 a.m. EDT
How to Participate
- E-mail your question to webmaster@dol.gov
- You can also use the interactive page to enter your questions.
9:52 DOL Moderator: Welcome! Our chat will begin at 10 a.m. EDT, but you can submit your questions at any time. This is a text only chat. There will be no audio or video.
10:04 ILAB: Welcome to the ILAB SGA web chat! Thank you for taking the time to participate in today's discussion regarding our fiscal year 2011 Solicitations for Grant Applications. As you know, ILAB issued three SGAs on July 14, SGA 11-02: Global Action Program on Child Labor Issues, SGA 11-03: Global Evaluation and Monitoring Project, and SGA 11-04: Project to Combat Exploitative Child Labor in Sugarcane Growing Areas of the Philippines. We look forward to answering your questions on any of the three solicitations. We have a great team of staff from ILAB, Procurement, the Division of Cost Determination, and our Solicitor's Office in the room today, and we will try to get to as many of your questions as possible. We will only be able to respond to questions in English.
Also remember that you can find additional information about our FY 2011 SGAs, on the ILAB website at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/ .
The transcript of this web chat will be available on the ILAB website after our session ends.
10:05 Comment From Catherine: For SGA 11-02 (Global Action Program on Child Labor Issues), can DOL confirm that applicants are required to address all activities and all countries in the entire scope of work? Or, can applicants choose to focus on all three main components, but selecting specific activities and countries in which to implement them.
10:05 ILAB: Hi Catherine, thank you for your question. Applicants are required to address all activities in all countries in the scope of work.
10:08 Comment From Patrick Heidkamp: Dear moderator, I have a question regarding eligibility: I am wondering if it is possible to apply for SGA 11-02 jointly between a University with me as a co-investigator and a non profit institution.
10:08 ILAB: Hi Patrick, thank you for your question. Yes, we encourage partnership among applicants. Please note that applicants shall have a Dun & Bradstreet number and follow all key personnel requirements.
10:09 Comment From Jason: Do we need to resubmit the questions we submited on July 28th? Please ignore this question if it is the first one you answer. Thanks.
10:09 ILAB: Jason, thanks for your question. No, you do not need to resubmit the July 28 questions. We will be posting the responses on our website soon: http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/
10:11 Comment From Samantha: Hello, thank you for hosting this call. I'm wondering if the organization submitting the grant application must be registered with USAID in some capacity or if any organization can apply? Thank you.
10:11 ILAB: Thank you for your question Samantha. You do not need to be registered with USAID. However, you will need to obtain a DUNS number from the Office of Management and Budget. For information on how to obtain a DUNS number please see the SGA section on "Other Eligibility Criteria."
10:13 Comment From Patrick: What is the duration of the grant.
10:13 ILAB: Hi Patrick, thank you for your question. For SGA 11-04, 11-03 and 11-02 the duration for projects funded is four years.
10:15 Comment From Guest: For SGA 11-03 has the South American Country been determined?
10:15 ILAB: Thank you for your question. The U. S. Department of Labor willl inform the winning applicant of the South American country after the grant has been awarded.
10:15 Comment From Samantha: For the sugarcane growing in Philippines, can you give an example of other applications that have been accepted in the past or is this a new opportunity? Thank you.
10:15 ILAB: Samantha, thanks for your question. The Philippines SGA 11-04 is a new opportunity open to all qualified applicants. Information on previously funded DOL projects to combat exploitative child labor can be found at the following DOL website: http://www.dol.gov/ilab/map/countries/map-cont.htm
10:16 Comment From Guest: Regarding one of the Research components: "Child Labor Modules to Existing Impact Evaluations", Can DOL provide in advance a list of these planned Evaluations from your data base or experience?
10:16 ILAB: Hi, thank you for your question. The applicant is required to propose existing impact evaluations from other institutions with whom they intend to partner.
10:18 Comment From Samantha: Can you please define a Dun & Bradstreet number for those of us who do not know what that is? Thanks.
10:19 ILAB: Thanks Samantha, DUNS is an acronym that stands for “Data Universal Numbering System,” and DUNS numbers are unique nine-digit numbers used to identify businesses. Applicants must include their unexpired Dun and Bradstreet/DUNS number in the organizational unit section of Block 8 of the Standard Form (SF)-424. To obtain a DUNS number free of charge, call 1-866-705-5711 or access the following Web site: http://www.dnb.com/us/.
10:24 Comment From Patrick: For SGA 11-02, it states in the section to identify gaps in the legal and policy framework: "This initiative will be implemented in at least 10 countries, including Southern Sudan, Cameroon, Liberia, and Timor Leste." Does that mean the mentioned countries all have to be included and the rest is a free choice by the grant applicant?
10:24 ILAB: Thank you, Patrick. All of the listed countries must be included in the proposal. The balance of countries shall be proposed by the applicant with a full justification for each choice. The final list of countries will be determined post-award through a continued discussion between USDOL and the grantee.
10:28 Comment From Samantha: When will you be alerting applicants as to their application status? Thank you.
10:28 ILAB: All awards will be made by September 30, 2011. Notification letters for all applicants, whether selected or not, will be mailed shortly after that date.
10:28 Comment From Guest: Hello, Eritrea is listed in the research component for conducting a National Child Labor Survey. At the Eritrean government’s request, the US does not provide assistance to Eritrea with the request of the Eritrean government (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2854.htm#relations). Would this information make Eritrea still in the list of DOL-proposed countries? What is your view in the likelihood of obtaining research permits and obtaining the data from Eritrea with funding coming from DOL?
10:28 ILAB: Thank you for your question. For Eritrea and any other country, as stated in Section III.A. of the SGAs,“if the Applicant believes it is not possible to carry out this work in any of the named countries, a detailed rationale should be provided. In the case where USDOL has not specified countries, Applicants must provide justification for their country selections.”
10:28 Comment From Guest: one of the countries mentioned is Eritrea...but isn't there a ban on US government assistance to that country?
10:28 ILAB: Thank you for your question. For Eritrea and any other country, as stated in Section III.A. of the SGAs,“if the Applicant believes it is not possible to carry out this work in any of the named countries, a detailed rationale should be provided. In the case where USDOL has not specified countries, Applicants must provide justification for their country selections.”
10:31 Comment From Sue: "SGA 11-03 (GEM Project) focuses on impact evaluation of selected interventions in two FY 2011 projects, comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plans (CMEPs) for four FY 2011 projects, and tracer studies. (SGA 11-03, page 7) But SGA 11-04 (Phillippines) talks about the two first type of services being delivered by "USDOL External Evaluators" (SGA 11-04, page 21, chapter 6, capitals as in the SGA) clearly indicating by this the grantee for SGA 11-03. Is it correct to say that this formulation should be understood to mean "USDOL external advisers on evaluation and monitoring?" responsible for the development of CMEP and implementation of impact evaluation for selected interventions in the four projects but not responsibility for external project evaluations of these projects.
10:31 ILAB: Thanks Sue, the monitoring and evaluation activities described in SGA 11-03 will be carried out for the Philippines project described in SGA 11-04 and the additional countries referenced in SGA 11-03. SGA 11-03 does not require the selected organization to carry out any additional external implementation evaluations.
10:39 Comment From Patrick: Can funding be used to buy out time (e.g. teaching time) for key personel at a collaborating institution?
10:39 ILAB: Thank you Patrick for your question. Funding cannot be used to buy out time for key personnel. As stated in the SGA, all key personnel must allocate 100 percent of their time to the project. Key personnel positions must not be
combined. Applicants are required to ensure that all proposed key personnel will be available to staff the project should the Applicant be selected for award. Proposed key personnel candidates must sign letters indicating their commitment to serve on the project and their availability to commence work within 45 days of cooperative agreement award.
10:39 Comment From Guest: Hello, If one of our partners is from outside of USA, does this partner need a DUNS number as well? Or is it sufficient for the US-based leading organization to have the DUNS number?
10:40 ILAB: Hi and thanks for your question. All applicants require a DUNS number, including co-applicants. For the purposes of this application, subcontractors and subgrantees need not have a DUNS number. Applicants must include their unexpired DUNS number in the organizational unit section of Block 8 of the Standard Form (SF)-424. DUNS number can be obtained free of charge by calling 1-866-705-5711 or access the following website: http://www.dnb.com/us/.
10:44 Comment From Guest: Good Morning, In SGA-11-03. What specific types of monitoring are you refering to.
10:44 ILAB: Thanks Guest, In SGA 11-03 please see sections IIIa2 and IIIb on pages six through eight, for a description of the monitoring requirements for the Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Plans.
10:47 Comment From Guest: Hello, On SGA-11-02 and under the Research component, how many thematic reports are expected? Four as listed in a)-d)? Are all of these be based on 5 multi-country studies?
10:47 ILAB: There are at least five thematic country reports that must be produced and published. Four thematic reports are specified in the SGA and the remaining one is to be proposed by the Applicant. The subject of the study will be finalized with USDOL after award of the grant. As stated in the SGA "At least five multi-countrystudies must be conducted and published. If the Applicant believes it is not possible to carry out the multi-country studies mentioned above, a detailed rationale should be provided. The final list of countries for these studies will be determined with USDOL post award."
10:51 Comment From John: You ask for 100% of time from key staff. The solicitation indicates that this is 100% for the periods when their aspect of the proejct is active. Given that there is 4 year period of performance and some elements, like the impact evaluations will be dormant for some periods, you do not mean 100% for 4 years -- correct?
10:51 ILAB: As stated in SGA 11-02, 11-04, all key personnel must allocate 100 percent of their time to the project throughout the duration of the project. Key personnel positions must not be combined. Applicants are required to ensure that all proposed key personnel will be available to staff the project should the Applicant be selected for award. Proposed key personnel candidates must sign letters indicating their commitment to serve on the project and their availability to commence work within 45 days of cooperative agreement award.
For SGA 11-03, applicants may propose a time allocation for the research specialist of not less than 80 percent for periods other than design, implementation, data analysis and report drafting periods for each of the impact evaluation and tracer activities.
The monitoring and evaluation specialist must devote 100 percent for the first year of implementation and should be available for technical assistance as needed after that time.
10:54 Comment From Jacob: We heard that DOL has a total of $60m available for programming this year. Has DOL determined how the remaining funds will be programmed, if at all? If so, can DOL give any indication of the direction or anticipated regions that may receive funding? Thanks.
10:54 ILAB: Thanks Jacob, yes DOL has a total of $60 million available for child labor programming by December 31, 2011. We are currently finalizing our plans for the remaining funds and will soon make that information available.
10:57 Comment From Maria: In Appendix B SGA 11-02, required standart form SF424 Application for Federal Assistance, including applicable DUNS numbers in Block 8 as an attachment for each subgrantee or subcontractor, as applicable. Do we have to submit SF 424 for each subcontractor or would we submit one SF 424 for the main grantee applicant and attach the list of DUNS numbers of each subcontractor and subgrantee ?
10:57 ILAB: Maria, an SF-424 must be submitted for the primary grant applicant and any co-applicants. However, sub-grantees and sub-contractors do not need to submit an SF-424 as part of the grant application. If applicable, DUNS numbers for each sub-grantee or sub-contractor should be attached to their SF-424. Please see Section III.F.I for DUNS requirements.
11:00 Comment From Jason: For SGA 04, it is mentioned that the award will be made by Sept 30, 2011 but a program start date can be negotiated upon award, but no later than December 31, 2011. Are key personnel expected to start within 45 days of award (Sept 30) or within 45 days of the agreed up program start date? Thanks.
11:00 ILAB: Thanks Jason, proposed key personnel candidates must commence work within 45 days of cooperative agreement award.
11:04 Comment From Peter: SGA-04 has generated considerable buzz in the sugar industry in the Philippines with every institution/foundation/association hoping for a part of the grant. After award, if there is a competitive process for smaller institutions/orgs to implement parts of the grant (small subgrant/contract award process), what are the financial and contractual requirements of those small institutions who may only work in one baranguay? Especially those who have never had an audit.
11:05 ILAB: Peter, thanks for your question. As mentioned in Section III.I.5, “subgrants and subcontracts awarded after the cooperative agreement is signed, and not proposed in the application, must be awarded through a formal competitive bidding process in accordance with 29 CFR 95.40-48. Subgrants and subcontracts are subject to audit, in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 95.26(d)”.
As stated in the SGA, Applicants must be in compliance with all audit requirements, including those established in OMB Circular A-133. Applications from U.S.-based non-profit organizations that are subject to the Single Audit Act, that fail to include their most recent single audit or fail to demonstrate that they have complied with single audit submission timeframes established in OMB Circular A-133 will be considered non-responsive and will be rejected. For Applicants that are foreign-based or for-profit organizations, failure to submit the most current independent financial audit will result in an application being considered non-responsive and rejected. In addition, the submission of any audit report that reflects adverse opinions will result in the application being considered non-responsive and rejected.
U.S.-based non-profit Grantees whose total annual expenditure of Federal awards is more than $500,000 must have an organization-wide audit conducted 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 each single audit conducted within the timeframe of the USDOL-funded project to their assigned USDOL Grant Officer’s Technical Representative (GOTR) at the time it is submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.
All Grantees, including foreign-based and private for-profit Grantees, are subject to attestation engagements during the life of the cooperative agreement. Such an attestation engagement will be conducted in accordance with U.S. Government Auditing Standards, which includes auditors’ opinions on (1) compliance with USDOL regulations and the provisions of the cooperative agreement and (2) the accuracy and reliability of the Grantee’s financial and performance reports.
11:07 ILAB: Thank your for your participation in today’s webchat. We appreciate your interest in applying for DOL funding to combat exploitative child labor. For those procurement related questions that were received during the webchat that could not be responded to during the session, answers to these questions will be posted at http://dol.gov/ilab/grants/bkgrd.htm by Friday, August 12, 2011.
For further details on how to apply and copies of the SGAs, please visit http://www.grants.gov and the ILAB website http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/ . The deadline for submission of applications is August 31, 2011. Any questions about these solicitations should be submitted to Brenda White and James Kinslow in USDOL's Office of Procurement Services at white.brenda.j@dol.gov and kinslow.james@dol.gov .
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