UIPL_22-21_Change_1.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY SYSTEM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Washington D.C. 20210 CLASSIFICATION Unemployment Insurance CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL OUI DPM DATE September 17 2021 RESCISSIONS None EXPIRATION DATE Continuing ADVISORY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 22-21 Change 1 TO FROM SUBJECT STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES LENITA JACOBS-SIMMONS Acting Assistant SecretaryExtension of Time to Submit Request for Funding under Grant Opportunity Announced in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter UIPL No. 22-21 1.Purpose. The purpose of this UIPL is to advise states that the deadline for submitting an SF- 424 for grants to assist states with fraud detection and prevention including identity verification and overpayment recovery activities in all unemployment compensation UC programs is extended to October 31 2021. 2.Action Requested. The U.S. Department of Labor s Department Employment and Training Administration ETA requests that State Workforce Agency Administrators provide information contained in this UIPL to appropriate staff. 3.Summary and Background. a.Summary On August 11 2021 the Department issued UIPL No. 22-21 advising states of the availability of funding for fraud detection and prevention including identity verification and overpayment recovery activities in all UC programs. In that UIPL states were advised that SF-424 requests for grants should be submitted no later than September 13 2021. The Department has determined that states may need additional time to submit SF-424s and is extending the deadline to October 31 2021. b.Background On March 11 2021 the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ARPA into law Public Law Pub. L. 117-2 . Section 9032 ARPA creates a new Section 2118 of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security CARES Act Pub. L. 116-136 and provides a 2 000 000 000 appropriation to the Secretary of Labor to detect and prevent fraud to promote equitable access and to ensure timely payment of benefits to eligible workers with respect to UC programs. See section 5.b. of UIPL No. 22-21 for appropriate uses for such funds. 4.Guidance. Section 5.d. of UIPL No. 22-21 provides instructions for applying for a grant under this offering. That section notes that the deadline for submission of applications is September 13 2021. One of the allowable uses for these funds is to procure implement and 2 pay reoccurring subscription costs and or ongoing maintenance costs of identity verification and fraud detection solutions including using funds to pay for services provided through an order issued for a state by the Department against one of the Department s identity proofing Blanket Purchase Agreements BPAs . Th e Department plans to issue instructions to states on the BPAs and the procedures for the Department to issue orders under those BPAs in accordance with federal procurement regulations. The Department has determined that states may need additional time to review UIPL No. 22 - 21 and to develop an SF -424 in response to the solicitation. Therefore the Department is extending the deadline for submissi on of the SF -424 to October 31 2021 . All other information in UIPL No. 22 -21 remains the same. 5. Inquiries . Please direct inquiries to COVID -19 dol.gov with a copy to the appropriate ETA Regional Office. 6. References . American Rescue Plan Act Pub L. 117 -2 enacted March 11 2021 CARES Act Pub. L. 116 -136 enacted March 23 2020 and UIPL No. 22 -21 Grant Opportunity to Support States with Fraud Detection and Prevention Including Identity Verification and Overpayment Recovery Activities in All Unemployment Compensation UC Programs issued August 11 2021 https wdr.doleta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 4240 . 7. Attachment s . None.