References: (a) JTPA, as amended (Public Law 97-3000); and (b) JTPA Interim Final Regulations, 20 CFR Part 627.420, as published in the Federal Register on December 29, 1992. Background: Approximately two years ago, ETA provided general procurement training to the JTPA system. Since the delivery of the training, the JTPA amendments were passed, and JTPA interim final regulations published. Section 165 of the amended Act required the Secretary to establish minimum procurement requirements in regulations, to be followed by Governors in prescribing and implementing procurement standards. The Secretary's procurement requirements were included in the interim final regulations. One of the standards imposed by the amendments requires procurements to include an appropriate analysis of the reasonableness of costs and prices. This standard was iterated in the regulations, with an explanation of when it was appropriate to undertake only a price analysis, as compared to a cost/price analysis. This section of the procurement regulations generated many comments. It was clear from a review of the comments that the JTPA system would benefit from a training session on cost/price analysis. As a result of the amendments and the interim final regulations, JTPA entities may no longer award to subrecipients fixed unit price performance based contracts whose costs are allocable only to training. Some of the commentors to the regulations thought that this meant that fixed unit price contracts were no longer allowable. Some of the goals of the amendments include a greater focus on fiscal accountability and the prevention of fraud and abuse in JTPA programs. Proper contract administration is integral in meeting the amendment goals. Training: Procurement training will be provided to the JTPA system which focuses on the three areas discussed in the Background section of this TEIN. The three modules of the training are: -- Cost/price analysis; -- Overview of contract types; and -- Contract administration and contractor performance. The training schedule and number of slots available for each Region follows (Note: slot distribution was based on the number of SDAs in each Region): State Region SDA Slots Training Location Dates I 24 Washington, DC area Oct 19 - Oct 22 II 43 Washington, DC area Oct 19 - Oct 22 III 45 Washington, DC area Oct 19 - Oct 22 IV 86 Atlanta, GA Dec 7 - Dec 10 V 101 Chicago, IL Nov 2 - Nov 5 VI 59 Houston, TX Nov 16 - Nov 19 VII 30 Houston, TX Nov 16 - Nov 19 VIII 18 Atlanta, GA Dec 7 - Dec 10 IX 62 San Diego, CA Nov 30 - Dec 3 X 17 San Diego, CA Nov 30 - Dec 3 Each of the five three-and-a-half day training courses is scheduled to start on Tuesday morning and end Friday at noon. Regional Administrators will be contacting the States to inform them of this training. They will ask each State to solicit the State JTPA agency and the SDAs for nominees. Due to the limited number of slots we ask that State level administrative entity staff be limited to no more than two per State, in order to allow for a larger SDA participation. Since there are fewer slots available than there are SDAs, we ask that representatives from "priority need" SDAs be selected for this training. SDA nominees are to be submitted via the State JTPA agency to the Region. Each State is to submit its nominees to the appropriate Regional Administrator. Since the deadline for submission by the Region is October 6, 1993, the States will have to submit their nominees by October 5. Action: JTPA Liaisons are asked to work with the Regional Office and their States to identify nominees for this training. Attached is the nomination information form that was forwarded to the Regions. Prior to using this form, please check with the appropriate Regional Office to determine whether they have made changes to the form.

Background: The Employment and Training Administration has been very actively involved in improving customer service and satisfaction, in response to Departmental and ETA executive leadership as well as the President's Executive Order No. 12862. During the past year, ETA established customer service goals relating both to services for program customers and for delivery system partners. In addition, a number of other actions were undertaken to obtain feedback regarding customer service and program needs, including hosting dialogue sessions, running focus group discussions, conducting base-line customer satisfaction surveys, and evaluating internal operations to assess the levels of satisfaction that delivery system partners and customers hold for the Employment Service, Unemployment Insurance Service, Job Training Partnership Act Title II, III and IV programs and national and regional administration of these programs. The numerous ETA activities undertaken to improve customer service and program performance are discussed in the attached report, "The Employment and Training Customer Satisfaction Report." This report also discusses achievements compared against commitments made in the September 1994 customer service plan, "Partnering for Customer Service." This report is not all-inclusive of the customer service and continuous improvement activities taking place throughout the training and employment community. A number of Regional and local customer satisfaction initiatives are either in planning stages or are currently underway and will be included in subsequent reports. In other cases, the efforts are significantly broader than the customer satisfaction report requirements of the NPR. In some instances, such as the Simply Better initiative, newsletters and customer feedback quotations were submitted to the NPR in July. ETA applauds these activities and encourages the continuation of these important efforts in local, State and Regional areas. Next Steps for Continuous Improvement: Customer service including customer satisfaction continues to be an important goal for the Employment and Training Administration and its delivery system partners. In keeping with this, ETA's performance goals for FY1996/PY1995 include program performance and system building goals related to ETA's mission as well as customer service goals geared to encouraging service delivery partners and ETA staff to institutionalize and continuously improve customer service in all programs and delivery systems. ETA is currently in the process of discussing these FY1996/PY1995 goals with our State and national program delivery system partners and stakeholders. If these ambitious goals are to be met, employment and training partners and stakeholders at all levels must commit to their successful achievement. ETA will continue to improve customer service to its partners, particularly those areas that were rated less than "very valuable" on responses to the program-specific customer satisfaction surveys conducted by the Regional Offices. The FY1996/PY1995 goals specifically include improving both the satisfaction of its delivery system partners with ETA, and improving the satisfaction of customers with the delivery system partners. Action Required: Please distribute the attached report to appropriate officials, SDAs and SSAs in your State. In addition, please continue to take every opportunity to work closely with your Regional Administrator to jointly improve the services to and satisfaction of our customers.

References: None. Background: As a result of a conference call involving the States in Region III, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania Partners (the Pennsylvania Service Delivery Area (SDA) Association), it was agreed that a Regional conference on Work-Learning Integration Programs for Youth would be held in the Reading, Pennsylvania area. Pennsylvania Partners coordinated the event as a continuing activity under a Technical Assistance project funded by the Regional Office. Contents of the Videotape: The outline of the conference, with a brief description of each segment/model program and the identity of the presenters is as follows: -- Opening Plenary Session - begins with an introduction by Virginia Williams Joyce, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Partners, followed by reports from groups of participants on their expectations for the conference. This is followed by an introduction of the presenters with thoughts relative to the group expectations. -- Vermont Conservation Corps "WRD" Curriculum - presented by John Zaber. The "WRD" Curriculum is an experiential program that uses actual work experiences of Corps members to reinforce language and expressive skills through written and oral reports. (13 minutes) -- "Opportunity Skyway" - presented by Joseph Puhalla, Executive Director of the Prince George's County Private Industry Council in Landover, Maryland which developed and operates the program. This program works to keep students in school, interested in learning, and focused on careers of choice by relating school curriculum to a broad range of careers in aviation. (13 minutes) -- "Youth At Its Best" - presented by Terry Willis of Man-Tra- Con, a program operator based in Springfield, Illinois, which markets packaged programs which can be operated by an SDA or a sub-contractor. The program has options for computer or electronics training, integrated with entrepreneurial skills and basic education. (11 minutes) -- "Futures" - presented by Jim Wilmer, Northern High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Futures is a comprehensive four year program for at-risk high school youth in Baltimore's "Tomorrow" program. The primary goals are: to increase the skill competency of youth; to increase the number of youth graduating from high school; and to increase the success of students upon graduation. (13 minutes) -- PPV/PA Corps/STEP - presented by Jim Klasen and Mel Campos of Public Private Ventures and Daryl Kern of STEP, Inc. This presentation highlights the various corps and wilderness challenge programs operated and/or assisted by Public Private Ventures and STEP, focusing on the integration of basic skills training into corps work and wilderness activities. (11 minutes) -- Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) - presented by Phyllis Snyder, CAEL Philadelphia Regional Office. This presentation describes how the collaboration between the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center and CAEL is allowing work with small to medium size manufacturing firms to begin building systems that promote ongoing learning for youth and adults. (13 minutes) -- "PILOT" Program Overview - presented by Ed McCann of the Berks County, Pennsylvania Employment and Training Office and Dana Dehoff, PILOT Program Director. PILOT is a Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program, developed specifically to serve students who would not otherwise qualify for traditional training programs and who might typically be assigned by case managers to Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language or GED programs. Key features are a team approach to teaching; integration of competencies - academic/literacy and vocational (e.g., competencies learned "in context" to a job specific skill); meaningful work experience prior to completion of the program; and an on-site GED program. The three vocational tracks included in the program are building maintenance/carpentry skills; clerical and computer skills; and health care occupations. (29 minutes) Distribution: One (1) copy of the videotape in VHS format will be provided under separate cover to all JTPA State Liaisons and Department of Labor/ETA Regional Offices. Recipients are requested to inform Service Delivery Area Directors of the video; make arrangements for duplication and distribution as needed; and circulate it through the State as deemed appropriate.

References: JTPA Amendments of 1992, P.L. 102-367; JTPA Interim Final Regulations published on December 29, 1992; Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 6-89: TEGL No. 7-92; and The Family Support Act of 1988, P.L. 100-485 and 45 CFR Parts 250, 251 and 255. Background: The Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services continue to work closely together to enhance coordination between JTPA and JOBS. In April 1990, the Department of Labor issued TEGL No. 6-89, which provided a description of the major provisions in the JOBS regulations which impacted upon the JTPA program. With the passage of the JTPA Amendments and the publication of the JTPA Interim Final Regulations, DHHS, with concurrence from the Department, has issued the attached JOBS Program Information Memorandum (JOBS-ACF-IM-93-11), dated June 22, 1993. This information memo provides guidance to the JOBS system regarding the impact of the Amendments on administering various JOBS provisions in areas such as coordination, client flow, program activities, youth programs, and maintenance of effort. Action: JTPA Liaisons should transmit this information to all service delivery areas and other interested parties.

Reference: TEIN 7-88. Information: The attached checklists are issued to notify the JTPA and ES systems of those TEINs and TEGLs that have been rescinded or canceled during the last program year. There are also checklists of all TEINS and TEGLS remaining active.

Background: Sections (4)(37) and 203(b) of the amended JTPA, and Item 11 of the Standardized Program Information Reporting System (SPIR), have defined Title II program participation as beginning with objective assessment. At the same time, with program targeting beginning in PY 1993, larger numbers of hard-to-serve individuals are expected to be served by the program. Such individuals may begin the assessment process, but never receive training or other services. Training and Employment Information Notice 37-92, dated June 28, 1993, provided clarification regarding the way in which performance against required standards is to be measured as provided for in Section 628.530 of the JTPA regulations published December 29, 1992. Specifically, Title II-A adult and adult welfare terminees, and Title II-C youth terminees, who received only objective assessment (no training or job search assistance) would be excluded from performance calculations. All Title III (EDWAA) terminees who received retraining or basic readjustment services would be included in performance calculations. Since procedures for performance standards adjustments in light of these exclusions were not specifically enumerated in the aforementioned Information Notice, the Department is transmitting additional clarification in this area. Exclusions from Performance Standards Adjustments: States commonly arrive at adjusted performance levels using USDOL "Worksheets." To complete the worksheet, SDA/SSG "factor values" or percentages are entered. These factor values are based upon numbers of terminees. (States which do not use the Department's optional adjustment methodology would still be faced with using percentages of terminee characteristics.) Since "terminees" include former participants who received only objective assessment, the question arises as to whether or not States should consider these particular terminees when arriving at the appropriate percentages for the applicable local factors. However, since terminees who received only objective assessment or supportive services are not to be considered in performance calculations, these terminees are also not to be considered with respect to local factor values. Without this proviso, performance standards would be lowered for areas providing objective assessment to hard-to-serve individuals who are subsequently referred to other services/programs because it had been determined that the services offered by JTPA would not be appropriate in light of the individuals' severe circumstances. This is clearly not the intention of the Department. Therefore, in identifying percentages of terminee characteristics to be used as "factor values" for performance standards adjustments, the universe should consist solely of the terminee group to be included in calculating actual performance (i.e., terminees who have received training, job search assistance, or basic readjustment services). State Action: States are to distribute this Information Notice to all relevant officials within the State responsible for implementing performance management policies and requirements for Program Year 1993.

Background: "Finding One's Way" addresses: (1) the essential elements of career guidance: (2) the potential benefits of such guidance, particularly for JTPA-eligible youth; (3) current career guidance services and how they reach JTPA youth; and (4) implications for future DOL initiatives in light of new JTPA legislation and regulations. It summarizes four exemplary youth programs and includes an extensive bibliography. The report is one of several products resulting from the ETA-funded Youth Research and Technical Assistance Program, the prime contractor for which is Brandeis University, of Waltham, MA. P/PV is the subcontractor. Action Required: Please distribute the reports to appropriate officials within the State.

References: TEINs 6-93, 12-93 and 14-93. Background: The JQSR, used for JTPA Title II-A/B/C, and the WFFR, for JTPA Title III-Formula, became effective July 1, 1993. The revised DWSPR is now used for Title III-Secretary's National Reserve funded projects, as well as for those funded under the Defense Programs and the Clean Air Act. The above referenced TEIN's provided report formats and instructions. The attached report edit checks used by ETA will assist recipients in reviewing these required reports prior to submittal of the reports to ETA and should reduce the number of errors. Action Required: State JTPA and Worker Adjustment Liaisons are requested to distribute the attached edit check listings to all officials within the State who need such information to assist them in the preparation of these required reports.

Background: "Labor Shortage Case Studies" assesses labor shortages in the U.S., based on case studies of four occupations that currently or previously experienced labor shortages: special education teachers, para-professional home care workers, electrical and electronic engineers, and tool and die makers. This evaluation report presents the findings of a study undertaken to enhance understanding of the factors that contribute to occupational-specific labor shortages. It also identifies steps that employers and government can take to reduce the probability of such shortages occurring, and if they do occur, to alleviate their effects. Action Required: Please distribute the reports to appropriate officials within the State.

References: Training and Employment Information Notice No. 20-92, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Amendments Implementation Training Strategy. Background: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has provided a series of technical assistance guides and related train-the-trainer sessions to equip State, Service Delivery Area (SDA) and Substate Area (SSA) staff in providing JTPA subject-specific training to other State, SDA and SSA staff. The JTPA Financial Management TAG is being developed to provide clarification and "best practices" associated with the financial and related administrative requirements of the JTPA amendments and the Interim Final Regulations dated December 29, 1992. It is anticipated that the Financial Management TAG will be available for distribution to the States and SDAs/SSAs no later than January 14, 1994. Train-the-Trainer Sessions: Four train-the-trainer sessions on the Financial Management TAG will be conducted nation-wide in January, February and March 1994. The sessions will provide tools for States to conduct financial management training and will also include ample time for: (1) discussion of problem areas, (2) application of the best practices found in the TAG, and (3) questions and answers. Logistical coordination for the sessions will be provided by the Vermont Department of Employment and Training (VDET). a. Schedule for Train-the-Trainer Sessions. Brochures announcing the dates and locations for the training are attached. Trainees may choose the most convenient location and time to attend the training; however, the most geographically logical location is encouraged. b. Participation Criteria. States with 10 or more SDAs/SSAs are invited to select a maximum of four (4) individuals to attend these sessions, at least two (2) of which are encouraged to be from SDAs/SSAs. States with less than 10 SDAs/SSAs are invited to select a maximum of three (3) individuals to attend these sessions, at least two (2) of which are encouraged to be from SDAs/SSAs. Requests for additional slots must be coordinated by the State through the Conference Coordinator, Sally Redpath (refer to attached brochures for address, telephone and fax numbers). Such requests should be submitted as soon as possible and will be accommodated to the extent that room is available. To derive maximum benefit from this training experience, States should select participants who are conversant with the technical issues represented by the subject and who are able and willing to serve in the capacity of trainer. Participants should be advised of their responsibility to provide turn- around training to other State and SDA/SSA staff. Each State is requested to identify three expectations they have for this training. Please list these expectations on the back of one of the registration forms being submitted to the Conference Coordinator. c. Registration Procedures. The attached brochures are to be distributed at your discretion to State and SDA/SSA staff associated with the development and implementation of JTPA within your State. Selection of participants and registration should be coordinated by your office. All completed registration forms for your State are to be submitted in one package directly by your office to the Conference Coordinator, no later than December 3, 1993. (Registration forms individually submitted to the Conference Coordinator will NOT be considered in the final allocation of participants for a given State.) Each registration form should indicate a second choice training location. The Conference Coordinator will contact individuals directly, no later than December 10, if alternative session arrangements need to be coordinated. (This could be necessitated by response for participation at any scheduled session exceeding the maximum number of slots available.) A confirmation packet will be mailed directly to each participant, confirming the train-the-trainer session and dates to be attended. The confirmation packet will contain all of the necessary logistical information. Hotel reservations should be made immediately after receipt of confirmation packet, but no later than December 22, 1993. (December 22 is the absolute cut-off date for the Chicago session, in order to receive the reduced rate. Thereafter, reservations will be accepted on a space and rate availability basis only.) The block of rooms for each session has been reserved under the name "JTPA Financial Management". When making room reservations, individuals should identify themselves as part of this group in order to receive the negotiated reduced rate. Action Required: States are requested to: a. Distribute the attached brochures as well as the additional information contained in this directive to appropriate State and SDA/SSA staff. b. Coordinate selection of participants from your State and SDA(s)/SSA(s), not to exceed the allotted number. c. Contact the Conference Coordinator if additional slots are requested. d. Submit registration forms for all of your State and SDA/SSA participants in one package to the Conference Coordinator, no later than December 3, 1993. (States requesting additional slots should submit registration forms for allotted number of participants by the deadline of December 3. Response to requests for additional slots will be made during the week of December 6, after all registration forms have been received. Upon notification of additional slot availability, corresponding registration forms will be accepted by the Conference Coordinator.) e. Identify three expectations your State has for this training on the back of one of the registration forms being submitted to the Conference Coordinator.