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AB 1111 – Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative RFA

DATE: August 16, 2019

QUICK INDEX

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS/PARTNERSHIPS ..................................................................................................................... 1

FUNDING/LEVERAGE ............................................................................................................................................... 10

PARTICIPANTS/WHO CAN BE SERVED .................................................................................................................... 16

SERVICES PROVIDED ............................................................................................................................................... 21

RFA FORMS .............................................................................................................................................................. 25

GENERAL APPLICATION ........................................................................................................................................... 38

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS/PARTNERSHIPS

Q: 1) Where can we find the application for the AB 1111 grant?

A: The AB 1111 grant application can be found on the AB 1111 website under the “Breaking Barriers to Employment Grant Program” dropdown box. Q: 2) Is the Request for Applications (RFA) open to all organizations?

A: Joint lead applicants must be a collaborative partnership between a community-based organization (CBO) and a local workforce development board (local board). One of the two agencies will be the applicant and act as the fiscal agent. Organizations and institutions that are not classified as either a non-profit (501(c)(3)) CBO or local board must partner with CBO and local board to apply. For Technical Assistance and Evaluation, eligible applicants include local boards, labor organizations, K-12 education entities, community colleges, adult schools, county social service agencies, CBOs. Business-related non-profit organizations, and workforce intermediaries. See Section II – Eligibility and Reporting Requirements on pages 7 and 8.

Q: 3) The RFA, page 7, states that there must be “one lead CBO”. If we plan to engage two

or more CBOs equally on this project, must we choose one to be the lead CBO or is it permissible to state that both are equal “lead CBOs”?

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A: The application must identify one lead local board and one lead CBO for application purposes. The title is not intended to shift the dynamic of the partnerships. Keep in mind the lead applicant, which is either the lead CBO or lead local board, will act as the fiscal agent. So, if the lead CBO is chosen as the lead applicant then that entity should have the capability and resources to fulfill the duties as the fiscal agent. Q: 4) My organization submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI) to CWDB for AB 1111, should we

also complete an application?

A: Yes, you will still need to complete an application even if you submitted a LOI. Q: 5) Does the LOI that many organizations submitted previously have any weight on the

application process?

A: No, the purpose of the LOI was to scan interest in the field, including populations to be served and funding request amounts. Q: 6) Can the proposal identify multiple service areas that are not contiguous (i.e. multiple

areas in California that are not connected by land or do not share a regional planning unit), but focus on the same priority population. For example, can a Northern California local workforce development board and a Southern California local workforce development board partner with a CBO on the same application?

A: Yes, as long as the application identifies only one as the lead local workforce development board. However, if the project is targeting a populations outside of the partnering local workforce development boards’ jurisdiction then you must notify those other local workforce development boards of your proposed project to ensure services are not being duplicated. Q: 7) Is an organization required to submit one joint application or can they be included in

multiple applications and go with the partnership that is awarded?

A: Yes, an organization many be included in multiple applications. However, the organization should ensure that they are not duplicating the same work in each application. Whether that be different services, different target populations, etc. Example: One local board may be named as the lead local board partner on multiple CBO lead applications. Conversely, one lead local board may either submit one application with multiple CBOs or multiple applications with different lead CBOs. How applications are structured is to be determined by the applicants and partnerships.

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Q: 8) Can you define "existing projects"?

A: This funding cannot be used to create a new programs or a new delivery of services. This funding is to supplement and increase the ability to provide services that are already being offered and to build on existing services that are already being provided. The partnerships can be new.

Q: 9) What organizations qualify as a CBO?

A: You need to be classified as a 501(c)(3) organization. If you are not a 501(c)(3) organization then you may be a partner to the project but not the applicant.

Q: 10) Can we have several MOUs per application, or do all partners need to be wrapped up

into one single MOU? Due to the limited time to submit the application, it would be easier to have several MOUs instead of one master MOU.

A: You may submit multiple MOUs. Q: 11) How does CWDB envision the ideal role of the WDBs within the applications?

A: That depends on the partnership and the role and responsibilities outlined between the entities applying. We view the local boards as a doorway in to the greater workforce system. They should be the link to help connect CBOs and the people they serve, to the greater workforce system. Q: 12) Do contractors need to be procured?

A: That is a local decision. We have provided guidance on procurement for local boards so you may use any of those methods in place of a full procurement - https://www.edd.ca.gov/Jobs_and_Training/pubs/wsd18-16.pdf

Q: 13) Can the CBO contract with a career center (who uses CalJOBS) to do the data entry?

A: Yes. Be mindful that CalJOBS has business rules for the timing of data entry. Q: 14) Can community-based organizations be the fiscal agent of the grant?

A: Yes, make sure the organization who wants to be the fiscal agent is the lead applicant.

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Q: 15) Aside from the required partnerships between the local workforce development board (local board) and the CBO, can we include other partners such as adult schools or community colleges?

A: Yes, any organizations outside of the lead CBO and lead local board are considered partners, including other CBOs and other local boards. Q: 16) Can it be a match/partnership letter instead of an MOU and can it just contain the

signature of the contractor? A: For the purpose of this RFA, CWDB will accept a Partnership Agreement Letter (PA) or MOU. If you are submitting a PA, the PA needs to include the necessary information that is outlined in Appendix B on page 34 of the RFA.

Q: 17) If a youth 18-24 is currently "at-risk' but technically classified as "In-school youth"

attending a non-WIOA funded YouthBuild program, would they be eligible for the AB 1111 Program?

A: Youth eligible under the AB 1111 project is classified as Disconnect Youth. A Disconnect Youth is an individual between the ages of 18 to 24 who is neither working or in school. Q: 18) Can an emerging partner (awaiting 501(c)(3) status from the IRS) be included? A: Yes.

Q: 19) In terms of the requirement to notify local workforce development boards (local

boards) within the proposed geographic area: Our program is in one geographic area, but some participants come from areas of other local boards. Do we need to notify those local boards in the areas in which the participants live?

A: Yes. Q: 20) Page 19 of RFA, "include documentation that demonstrates that the lead local

workforce development board and the lead CBO have agreed to the joint application" What if a local board only wants to be a partner, among many partners within a CBO's application. Is this allowed?

A: To submit an application, it is required that a lead CBO and a lead local board jointly apply.

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Q: 21) Would you describe an acceptable model of partnership between a lead CBO and the local workforce development board (local board)?

A: The model depends on the partnership between the lead CBO and local workforce development board. Q: 22) Can you define "notify" as it relates to notifying local boards in the service area. Is

this written communication? Phone call? A: It can be either a written communication or a phone call.

Q: 23) Upon award, which partner will sign contract with the state, the CBO(s) or the local

board? A: The Lead Applicant who is also the fiscal agent will sign the contract with CWDB. The Lead Applicant may be a CBO or local board. Q: 24) What is a local workforce development board?

A: The statewide workforce development system is comprised of 49 Local Workforce Development Areas, each with its own business-led local workforce development board (local board). These local boards work in concert with their local Chief Elected Official oversee the delivery of workforce services relevant to their local residents and businesses. To learn more about local workforce development boards: https://cwdb.ca.gov/local_boards/.

Q: 25) I understand there needs to be a collaboration between a CBO and local workforce

development board. Can a CBO apply individually with an MOU from the local board, or do the CBO and local board need to jointly apply?

A: The CBO and local board must jointly apply and submit either a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Partnership Agreement Letter (PA). Both the MOU and PA need to include the necessary information outlined in Appendix B on page 34 of the RFA. One of those two entities will be identified as the lead applicant and fiscal agent.

Q: 26) Are 4 year universities eligible applicants?

A: Yes, if they are qualify as a 501(c)(3) organization. If they do not qualify, then they can still apply for Technical Assistance and Evaluation as the main applicant or the university may partner with a CBO and local workforce development board to apply as a project.

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Q: 27) Regarding procurement, if a local entity's procurement process allows for sole source

contracts with partners and if they were written into the grant proposal, can we sole source? Is that authorized by this funding stream?

A: See response under #12.

Q: 28) Can a letter of partnership/MOU/letter of intent to contract be supplied as many local areas cannot procure a contract without a grant award?

A: See response under #16.

Q: 29) How will local workforce development board choose their CBO to apply for state funding, or is an existing partnership required prior to application for this grant?

A: An existing partnership is not required. See response under #12 for more information on procurement.

Q: 30) What if we have an existing program but the fund is ending due to contract, can we

apply to supplement that program?

A: Yes.

Q: 31) Can funding be used to launch a new program pilot?

A: No.

Q: 32) Can a community-based organization without a 501(c)(3) work through a fiscal sponsor with tax exempt status?

A: To be an eligible applicant, your organization needs to be classified as a 501(c)(3). If your “fiscal sponsor” is a classified 501(c)(3) CBO, they may apply as one of the eligible applicants in the required partnership and any other CBO, with or without 501(c)(3) status may partner in the project.

Q: 33) How can a CBO which uses a fiscal sponsor participate? Can an organization that is fiscally sponsored by an organization with 501(c)(3) status be eligible to serve as the primary contractor or subcontractor?

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A: You may partner with a CBO classified with a 501(c)(3) status and a local workforce development board to submit an application. To be an eligible applicant, your organization needs to be classified as a 501(c)(3). Q: 34) What would a partnership between local board and CBO need to include to show a

strong application? A: The required Partnership Agreement letter/MOU that outlines what the partnership will look like. The roles, responsibilities, and allocation of those duties is for the partnership to decide. Q: 35) Can an existing community college program apply for Technical Assistance and /or

Evaluation without a local board or CBO?

A: Yes.

Q: 36) If we have a partnership between CBOs that all provide services, and we'd like to combine those services to people who face barriers to employment, can this collaborative effort be considered an existing program?

A: Yes. Q: 37) Can a for-profit evaluation firm apply for the evaluation component if they partner

with an eligible organization listed on page 8? A: Technical Assistance and Evaluation applicants are not required to partner with a CBO and/or local workforce development board to be eligible to apply. A for-profit agency is independently eligible to apply.

Q: 38) If the existing program is with a partner currently providing services, and the CBO

wants to enhance that program with employment services, can the partner program qualify as an existing program? The CBO would still be the primary applicant.

A: As long as the CBO has experience providing services to the selected target population(s) and the partner’s program currently exists then yes, that qualifies.

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Q: 39) May a single partnership (i.e., one CBO and one local workforce development board)

submit multiple applications to address multiple communities? Or is the partnership expected to include all communities in a single application?

A: You can submit multiple applications; however, the organizations should ensure that each proposal is separate and is not duplicating the same work. Whether that be different services, different target populations, etc. Keep in mind that this is a competitive process and the partnership should determine whether or not to submit multiple applications targeting different populations, or one application targeting all that it is intending to serve.

Q: 40) We are planning to submit multiple applications with different local workforce

development boards, targeting the same populations and using the same model and services. What is different will be the geographic focus. Is this allowable? If not, if we are able to co-locate with another partner agency without using funds from this grant, is this allowable?

A: You may submit multiple applications; however, it is up to the partnership to determine on the number of applications to submit. See answer to Q 39. Q: 41) If the local workforce development board does not serve as the fiscal agent for the

grant, how will CBO’s serving as fiscal agents submit fiscal reports in CalJOBS? A: Grantees will not submit fiscal reports in CalJOBS. CalJOBS will be used to capture participant data such as target population, services provided, case management, etc. The Service Cash Invoice needs to be submitted to CWDB on a monthly basis. The CBO as the fiscal agents will need to be able to enter participant data into CalJOBS. Extensive training will be provided. Q: 42) Our proposal will focus on bringing two additional new partners to our already

existing project, a 501(c)(3) and a local county agency. Do we need to list existing partners, even if they will not receive funding from nor contribute matching funds to this project? Or is the project about the two new partners and how they enhance the existing program? For this project, the new additional 501(c)(3) will be the lead 501(c)(3) along with us, the local workforce development board.

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A: Yes, list all partnering organizations who will have a role in the proposed project, even if they will not be contributing monetarily or receiving funds. On Form 12- Roles and Responsibilities, you will show this by putting a zero amount in the columns for Funding Allocation, In-Kind Match, and Cash Match Amount.

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FUNDING/LEVERAGE

Q: 43) Can federal WIOA funds be used to meet the match requirement?

A: There are no restrictions on our end for using federal funds as match as long as it is not prohibited by the leveraged funding stream. Be sure to check the allowable uses and restrictions on any state or federal funds you plan to use as leverage. Q: 44) Can you provide an example of an acceptable justification that the CWDB would

consider for a grant award outside of the range listed in the RFA. Would a justification based on serving an extremely high number of customer under the grant be an acceptable justification?

A: Requests outside of the grant award range will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must provide a justification which CWDB will take into consideration along with the application as a whole. A possible reason a project may request for more funds may be the project is regionally coordinated to serve a high number of individuals in the targeted population(s) with multiples local boards, multiple CBOs, and multiple partners, etc. Q: 45) Is there any documentation needed for matching funds or is just noting the leveraged

source in the budget enough?

A: Yes, you need to note it in your budget form. We do not require documentation but definitely keep documentation on file in your office for auditing purposes. Match funds will be tracked throughout the grant period along with the awarded grant funds.

Q: 46) Can matching funds be personnel funded from other sources but dedicated to the

work in this project?

A: Yes, this is an example of an in-kind match.

Q: 47) Did you just say in-house is not the same as in-kind? A: Yes. In-kind is leveraged funds. In-house are actual dollars used by the lead applicant agency and should be identified in the budget under this column.

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Q: 48) Can strong workforce funds be used as match? A: There are no restrictions on our end for using federal funds as match as long as it is not prohibited by the leveraged funding stream. Be sure to check the allowable uses and restrictions on any state or federal funds you plan to use as leverage.

Q: 49) Can these funds be used to support cannabis-related workforce initiatives? A: In the sense that you would be delivering existing services to individuals with AB 1111 dollars and those people are also being served under the cannabis initiative, yes. If serving individuals in a career path into a cannabis industry – the narrative would need to demonstrate the industry needs and the types of services being provided. Q: 50) Can the lead and a contractor each request 10 percent admin in their respective

budget portion? A: The Admin Cost is capped at 10 percent of the requested grant amount. Admin Cost may not exceed 10 percent total. Q: 51) Can HEAP (Homeless Emergency Aid Program), also state funds, be used as leveraged

fund? A: Yes, as long as there is no restrictions from the funding stream.

Q: 52) Is there a target maximum cost per participant? A: No. Q: 53) If the match funds serve the target populations, but not with the purposes of

workforce development, is that acceptable for the purpose of the match? Or must the match be specific for the project work itself?

A: Cash or in-kind match is for the whole project. It is up to applicants to determine how their leveraged funds be divided on the budget form. All in-kind match needs to benefit the proposed project.

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Q: 54) You said we could contract with someone for data requirements, but also stated it would be part of admin costs if we do it ourselves. If the data tracking/reporting is part of the requirements of the RFA wouldn't it be fundable outside of admin costs?

A: This is a program function so can be billed outside of Admin Costs. Q: 55) Can budget exceed $500k by the amount of in kind?

A: 1:1 Cash/in-kind match is required. If you are requesting $500,000 for your project, then your match amount is $500,000, giving you a total budget of $1,000,000. Q: 56) Are "administrative costs" of 10 percent in addition to allowable 10 percent indirect

costs, for a total of 20 percent of the budget?

A: No, the total administrative costs of 10 percent includes indirect cost. Q: 57) I wanted to clarify that this funding opportunity is only funding existing programs,

and that CBOs proposing new projects/programs are not eligible?

A: Yes, only existing programs.

Q: 58) We definitely will have matching funds for the program work and we also have general operations funding that we could use as part of the matching funds but the RFA says that matching funds must be used specifically for project activities. Any formal partnership with a workforce development board related to this project will be a new endeavor so we won’t necessarily have earmarked matching funds for that partnership (versus the program work itself). Can you clarify if matching funds need to be earmarked for the partnership?

A: It is up to the partnership (CBO and local workforce development board) to determine the type of match (cash or in-kind), who is contributing what, how much to contribute to the project and the activities that will support the program. Match funds must be dedicated to the project and will be tracked along with awarded funds throughout the grant period.

Q: 59) When you say funding is for an existing program, must the existing program have

formal funding? Or can we apply even if our services are not yet funded formally?

A: If the program currently exists then yes you may apply. However, if you are forming a brand new program then no.

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Q: 60) Can the match be a combination of in-kind and cash?

A: Yes.

Q: 61) Can state and federal funds be used as a match? How about WIOA funds and P2E funds?

A: See response under #43. Q: 62) Did you say that you can use your approved indirect rate authorized by cognizant

agency even if it is higher than 10 percent if you include documentation?

A: Yes, but you can only use up to 10 percent of that approved rate. The indirect costs have to fall within the allowed 10 percent admin column.

Q: 63) Is there a minimum percentage of the total grant that must be allocated to the local

board? Is there a recommended division of the grant

A: That is for the partnership to decide.

Q: 64) There are caps to the federal funds, would this be considered a restriction?

A: See response under #43. You will have to make that determination with your federal funds. Q: 65) The funding source for this initiative is state general funds. What definition are you

using for administrative activities? A: Salaries for staff serving multiple program objectives. General administration and general expenses such as the Director’s Office, accounting, and personnel. Q: 66) Can a CBO as lead agency, use current Regional Center funds for the cash match

requirement? A: See response under #43.

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Q: 67) As the lead fiscal agent, what are the restrictions/parameters around disbursing funds to partners for expenditures? Can you provide us more detail about what the exact mechanism for claiming expenditures and making disbursements to partners must look like? Our current understanding is subgranting is not allowed, is that correct? If so, does that mean all disbursements to partners must be made via reimbursements for expenditures (as reported via receipts)?

A: Yes, we reimburse monthly for the expenditures you report. Partners should be treated like subcontractors. The fiscal agent will report their expenditures on a monthly basis using the Service Cash Invoice modeled under Exhibit A on page 45 in the RFA. They will receive a check in the mail and can disburse the funds accordingly among their partners. Q: 68) As a not-for-profit public agency, are we still required to meet the 1:1 match

requirement? We would really like to be a part of this Breaking Barriers to Employment grant, but the match requirement may make it a non-starter.

A: Yes, applications are required to demonstrate a dollar-for-dollar cash match or an in-kind match. If you are submitting an application for Technical Assistance or Evaluation, 1:1 match is not required. Additionally, match can be made by partners – it doesn’t have to come from the applicant themselves. Q: 69) For auditing purposes, describe some examples of documentation we should have for

the match funds.

A: For all agencies that commit to match funds - a typical way is for those agencies to track those funds against services delivered and submit quarterly expense reports showing what is be counted towards the match. This should be tracked by the lead agency until the amount is met. Q: 70) If our contractor takes indirect cost, can we also apply 10 percent, or is the limit 10

percent total?

A: Admin Cost includes Indirect Cost and may not exceed 10 percent of the total requested amount.

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Q: 71) If we are submitting multiple applications, can we use the match for each one or

would it be preferred that we use a different match?

A: That is to be decided by the applicant. If you are submitting multiple applications with the same leverage source, then that source should have enough funds to sustain multiple projects in case more than one project is awarded.

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PARTICIPANTS/WHO CAN BE SERVED

Q: 72) Is the term “Displaced Worker” the equivalent of “Dislocated Worker”? If different, how is it defined?

A: It is the same. The definition can be found in Appendix F- Glossary on page 46 of the RFA.

Q: 73) What is the definition of “Economically disadvantaged persons”? A: The definition can be found in Appendix F- Glossary on page 46 of the RFA.

Q: 74) Are there any other groups that the Governor has determined to have barriers to

employment? A: Other populations with barriers to employment are listed under Target Populations section on pages 9 of the RFA.

Q: 75) We understand that administrative costs are capped at 10 percent; however, we understand that the 10 percent administrative cap is typically only for WIOA funded projects and does not need to apply to projects funded through state general funds. Will CWDB or EDD consider waiving the 10 percent requirement?

A: The Administrative Cost is capped at 10 percent for AB 1111.

Q: 76) Do participants need to be WIOA eligible?

A: No, they are not required to be WIOA eligible; however, all case management and data entry will occur in CalJOBS so there are going to be similar enrollment requirements. CWDB will be providing a CalJOBS guide for AB 1111 by the time awards are made. One of the goals is enter participants into the broader workforce system so enrolling into WIOA is a goal but not required.

Q: 77) Are Re-Entry populations eligible under both AB 1111 and the Prison-to-Employment

(P2E) grant programs?

A: Yes.

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Q: 78) Will we be able to serve any disconnected youth ages 16-18?

A: No, the age range is 18 to 24. The definition for Disconnected Youth can be found in Appendix F- Glossary on page 46 of the RFA.

Q: 79) When we're selecting our target population, if we serve one of those populations exclusively but there is overlap with other target populations, should we select both?

A: Yes.

Q: 80) Is there an expectation or goal for participants to be placed within the constraints of the 'career ladder' of our WDB?

A: This question was received during the webinar– please clarify and resubmit.

Q: 81) If we selected multiple target populations, and we know participants will overlap, how do you want us to account for how many individuals from each proposed target population will be served? Do you want unique individuals or overlapping numbers?

A: You can break down the number of target populations in the Project Matrix. In the matrix, under Service Delivery goals, # of individuals to be served for each proposed target population can be written in two ways. For example, if you serve 70 disconnected youth and 30 qualify as ELL, 20 qualify as immigrant and 20 qualify as Transgender, then the first way you can write it is Disconnected youth = 70. The other way you can write is ELL = 30, Immigrant = 20 and Transgender = 20. In the narrative you should explain how the target populations you plan to serve may overlap but do not double count here.

Total # of individuals directly served with grant funds is a 1:1 count of participants being served. No double counting here.

Q: 82) Can the clients we work with be in high school or do they need to be 18 years old?

A: Eligible youth under AB 1111 is classified as disconnected youth. A disconnect youth is an individual between ages 18-24 who is neither in school or employed.

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Q: 83) When you say you want unique individuals for target populations, does this mean that each participant should be identified as a member of only one target population?

A: See response under #81.

Q: 84) Are you saying that applicants should select only 1 target population?

A: No, applicants should select all the target populations that they are serving.

Q: 85) We want to provide services to enable clients to become eligible for WIOA services, can you list them again please?

A: For the list of eligible activities/services, see Eligible Activities section on pages 9 and 10 of the RFA.

Q: 86) Page 12 of the RFA states once a participant is eligible and enrolled in WIOA, WIOA performance applies? Participants entered into CalJOBS (AB 1111) would not necessarily be WIOA enrolled, correct?

A: Yes, that is correct.

Q: 87) If an existing program serves youth 16-18, would adding participants 18-24 meet the requirement for this to be an expansion of existing services?

A: Yes, if the services are the same and already being delivered to the youth 16-18, these funds can be used to provide those services to 18-24 year olds.

Q: 88) Is the goal to focus in on serving one target population or multiple target groups? Is

there a minimum or maximum? A: That is to be determined by the partnership. CWDB does not have a minimum or maximum requirement. However, we do require the community-based organization(s) to have experience working with the target populations they specify. Q: 89) Can WIOA participants also be enrolled in this grant?

A: Yes.

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Q: 90) Can funds can be used to provide services to undocumented individuals?

A: Yes. However, one outcome to be measured is the ability to transition participants into the federal workforce system, which requires right-to-work documents.

Q: 91) For the youth population, is data regarding the youth clients’ eligibility for school

lunches sufficient evidence that they are “economically disadvantaged”?

A: Yes.

Q: 92) Will CalJOBS be set up to only require AB 1111 eligibility questions? That is to say, will WIOA requirements be required to be collected in order to be enrolled into CalJOBS?

A: No. Since we are using CalJOBS which follows WIOA eligibility, CWDB will be providing a CalJOBS guide for AB 1111 grantees to assist with work-around options and navigation. You will still be expected to have some documentation on file though.

Q: 93) Is it considered too broad or diluted if we plan to serve multiple listed target

populations? A: No. Q: 94) Is there an age requirement for the target populations other than “Disconnected

Youth”?

A: Yes, 18 is the minimum age requirement.

Q: 95) When registering someone in CalJOBS, I believe you need a SSN. If we want to provide services to an undocumented individual, how will this work?

A: CWDB has posted an Information Notice on pseudo Social Security Numbers under the Q&A section of the AB 1111 website. Q: 96) Currently, incarcerated individuals do not have access to their right-to-work

documents. Would this be a problem since CalJOBS is required?

A: No. Currently, in WIOA, at the time of enrollment, an individual does not need right-to-work documentation and AB 1111 does not require that they need to have documentation in order to receive services. However, ideally, you would want to use the grant funds to help

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support individuals in getting that documentation so they are in a place to become employable. Q: 97) To clarify, youth under the age of 18 who are in high school are not an eligible target

population for AB1111, correct? A: The minimum age requirement is 18. So, youth under the age of 18 cannot be served under this grant. Individuals who are in high school are not eligible as disconnected youth; however, they may be eligible if they fall into another target population. For example, if the individual is 18 year old, in school, and English is not his/her primary language then he/she is eligible and will be classified as English Language Learner and not a disconnected youth. Q: 98) It is unclear when the participant would need to be enrolled in WIOA. Can you serve

participants with these funds without enrollment in WIOA? When you do enroll in WIOA can the WIOA funds be used as a cash match?

A: See response under question #43 and #76. Q: 99) Do participants have to live in the city the workforce board is part of?

A: No. But if you believe you may be serving participants outside of the jurisdiction of your partnering local workforce development board then you must notify the local boards in the areas in which the participants live.

Q: 100) Is a program that serves youth, who are under 18, in school, immigrants,

economically disadvantaged, and English is not their primary language not eligible to apply?

A: See response under question #97.

Q: 101) Does a disconnected youth have to remain "disconnected" throughout the entire duration of AB 1111 services in order to continue receiving AB 1111 services/support, or do they only have to be "disconnected" at the time of AB 1111 enrollment?

A: They need to be eligible at the time of enrollment.

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SERVICES PROVIDED

Q: 103) What is the definition of “Stipends for trainees”? A: A stipend is an allowable payment for participation in activities such as work experience or classroom activities, including work readiness or employability skills training.

Q: 104) Are stipends for trainees considered reportable income? Require W2?

A: Check with the agency who would be distributing stipends. We believe after a threshold of how much an individual has received during the year is met, reporting the amount as income is necessary.

Q: 105) Are there any limitations on stipends that are issued out: for example, incentives

that are tied in with performance?

A: It will depend on how you form your narrative and what you want to do within your project. CWDB provides more flexibility with stipends in comparison to WIOA and we have not determined that you cannot tie them to performance. Performance goals are created by the applicant.

Q: 106) Can individuals be enrolled and served under this grant that are not WIOA eligible?

A: Yes. The end goal is to get them to be WIOA eligible and able to transfer into the greater workforce system. Since we are using CalJOBS, we will be publishing a guidance on activity codes and work arounds since grantees are not tied to the same WIOA eligibility requirements.

Q: 107) How many representatives from each project are required to attend the Community of Practice meetings?

A: We would like a good mix of team members to attend; however, we require at least two to three representatives. For example, if a collaboration of 7 organizations is awarded, then two to three people must attend and they will represent the entire collaborative.

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Q: 108) Two in-person Community of Practice meetings are scheduled. Will grantees be expected to attend both or just the closest?

A: Grantees will need to attend both of the Community of Practice meetings. Take this into account when calculating your travel expenses.

Q: 109) How many days are community of practice meetings?

A: They are one-day events. Q: 110) Must a CBO project perform services at the AJCC locations or at other locations near

the local workforce development board?

A: No, it is not required.

Q: 111) If a CBO provides services in one county and is looking to expand those services to our county, is that allowable?

A: If the CBO is going to serve participants in additional counties within the consortium of a local board or regional planning unit, which would be allowed. This grant should not be used to establish (replicate) new or additional physical locations. Q: 112) Do support services like career coaching, resume development, interview

preparation, securing clothing for workplace, transportation vouchers, job search/application submission, and general financial wellness fit with the grant expectations? Would these activities likely be funded?

A: Yes. For the list of eligible activities, see Eligible Activities section on pages 9-10 of the RFA.

Q: 113) Can funding be used for housing? A: Yes, but housing assistance must comply with the requirements of SB 1380 (Chapter 847, Statues of 2016). Housing is one of the most expensive services you can provide, so make sure you are taking that into consideration when you are planning on how you will be using this grant funds. Q: 114) Can funding be used to incorporate mobile shower and laundry services?

A: Yes.

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Q: 115) Can you clarify if supportive services can only be provided through WIOA? A: No, AB 1111 can also provide supportive services Q: 116) When partnering with a nonprofit, is it expected that the nonprofit will be the

provider of all proposed services or can they provide some of the services and the local board provides other services?

A: That is for the partnership to decide.

Q: 117) Is entrepreneurship guidance an acceptable service for a local board to offer under this grant?

A: Yes. Q: 118) If we are allowed to serve undocumented individuals, will we still be held to job

placement rates for those individuals? Is documentation still required to provide job placement assistance in AB 1111 like all other grants?

A: AB 1111 funds are state funds so we do not follow the federal guidelines. For job placement assistance, since it is a support service, we do not require documentation. But, when you begin to work with an employer to place an individual into a job, then they will need to have right-to-work documents. Your responsibility when it comes to job placement rates depends on the outcomes that you have identified in your application. This should be decided within the partnership. Q: 119) We receive Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds for our youth supportive

housing program, is HUD funding considered a relevant match? A: Yes, but do make sure there are no restrictions attached to that funding source. Q: 120) The grant period is 18 months (January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021), does all

programing/services and expenditures need to occur within that 18 month period?

A: Yes, program enrollment and services need to incur within the grant period in order to be reimbursed using grant funds. The CWDB reserves the right to permit time-only extensions to projects on an as-needed basis up to the last quarter of incumbrance for the AB 1111 funds.

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Q: 121) How long will the evaluation process extend past the end of the grant period (from

an outcome measurement perspective)?

A: The answer to this question will be posted by COB 8/19.

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RFA FORMS

Q: 122) Are there page or word limits for the narrative portions of the forms?

A: No, we do not have a word or page limit. The narrative portions are formatted to help applicants focus on the necessary information being asked. We recommend applicants try to be concise while still answering the questions fully. Q: 123) Of the required forms, the list skips from Form 10 to Form 12. Is there a Form 11 or

was there a typo?

A: CWDB did not include Form 11 because it is not required for this AB 1111 grant program. It is not a typo.

Q: 124) Can the Service Delivery Flow Chart be submitted in PDF format?

A: Yes Q: 125) For Form 2- Budget Summary, in the case that the CBO is the lead applicant and

fiscal agent, would the local board be considered a contractor?

A: Yes, if funds are going to be passed to the local board then they would be a contractor.

Q: 126) On Form 2- Budget Summary, does "absorbed by the grantee" mean in-kind costs that we are not allocating to the grant for program operations?

A: In-House costs “absorbed by the grantee” are costs that are being expended by the agency who is the lead applicant. All partnering organizations’ costs should be accounted for in the Contracted column. Both cash and in-kind costs should be written in a monetary amount in the Leveraged Amount column. Identify if it is cash or in-kind in the Type of Leveraged Fund column. Q: 127) What formats are expected?

A: The only forms that should be in PDF format are forms that require a wet signature such as the Cover Page and the flow chart. Other “wet signature” documents include Workers Compensation, Contractor Certification Clauses, Darfur Contracting Act Certification, and Bidder Declaration. All other forms should be submitted in their original formats.

Q: 128) What subject line for the proposal submission?

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A: Use “Breaking Barriers Application”

Q: 129) For Form 2- Budget Summary, what is the maximum indirect cost and if there is a set

number for indirect cost?

A: Indirect costs fall under Admin cost and Admin cost may not exceed 10 percent of the total requested amount. If indirect costs are included within the 10 percent Admin cost, include the approved rate and cognizant agency. Q: 130) Can all partners/contractors request 10 percent indirect?

A: If you have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate you can use this and if you are a non-profit that has never been given a federally negotiated rate you can use 10 percent - keep in mind that the indirect costs must fall within the allowed 10 percent in the Admin column, so if your negotiated rate is higher, you cannot use the full amount. Here is more information on indirect costs: https://www.edd.ca.gov/Jobs_and_Training/pubs/wsd18-15.pdf Q: 131) Can you give us any examples of a Participant Service Delivery Flow Chart?

A: Yes, we have examples posted on the AB 1111 website under the Breaking Barriers to Employment Grant Program box.

Q: 132) For Form 3- Budget Narrative, do we outline all costs on one page for all

contractors?

A: In the Budget Narrative, you can state who the contractors are and the total amount but Form 5- Contracts is where you will fill out the individual contract details.

Q: 133) Can staff time spent on required evaluation and reporting activities be included in

the budget?

A: Yes, it can be included in the Staff Salaries and Fringe Benefits section under the Admin column of Form 2- Budget Summary.

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Q: 134) Can a Letter of Partnership be submitted in lieu of an MOU due to the time

constraints that local governments and partners may have in obtaining approval. A: Yes, you may submit either a Partnership Agreement Letter or a MOU. If you are submitting a Partnership Agreement (PA) Letter, PA letter needs to include necessary information that is outlined in Appendix B on page 34 of the RFA.

Q: 135) Are potential applicants required to submit both the Breaking Barriers and Technical Assistance applications?

A: No, potential applicants do not have to submit applications for both Breaking Barriers project and Technical Assistance project; unless the applicant is proposing both a project AND are applying to provide technical assistance. Q: 136) On Form 4, when you type a number into the "Number to Serve" Column it auto

turns it into a percentage and doesn’t seem to be able to turn off. Can this be fixed? A: You can change the format of the text on the top of the worksheet in the “Number” section. Click on the drop-down box (current setting is percentage) and select ‘number.’ Q: 137) Do MOUs need to be executed this month or during this year or before? A: MOUs should specifically address the partnership(s) and role and responsibilities as they apply to AB 1111 and must be submitted with the application. Q: 138) Does a local board need to complete Form 9 Darfur Contracting Act Certification? A: Yes, complete Form 9 if it is applicable to your agency. Q: 139) In the Bidder Declaration Form, does the local board (applying) be the prime bidder

and the other partners and CBOs be subcontractors? A: Yes.

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Q: 140) The RFA says “No PDFs except for cover page with original signatures (page 15)”. I want to confirm that MOUs can be sent as PDF format? Are there any other signatures that must be wet signatures?

A: Yes, MOUs can be submitted in PDF format as well as any other forms requiring wet signatures. Q: 141) Can the flowchart can be submitted as a PDF even though it does not require a

signature?

A: Yes. Q: 142) If we already have an MOU between local board and CBO, would you require

another one specific to AB 1111 grant?

A: Yes. Q: 143) Form 5-Project Matrix: Target population box is a check box only- no option to type

in a number. Where can we provide the numbers for Target Population?

A: In the matrix under Service Delivery goals, # of individuals to be served for each proposed target population can be written in two ways. For example, if you serve 70 disconnected youth and 30 qualify as ELL, 20 qualify as immigrant and 20 qualify as Transgender, then the first way you can write it is Disconnected youth = 70. The other way you can write is ELL = 30, Immigrant = 20 and Transgender = 20. In the narrative you should explain how the target populations you plan to serve may overlap but do not double count here. Total # of individuals directly served with grant funds is a 1:1 count of participants being served. No double counting here. Include individual numbers.

CWDB will provide more details to grantees on how to capture participant data with CalJOBS, quarterly narrative reports, and tracking template. Q: 144) The instructions ask us to attach a Participant Service Delivery Flow Chart. Could you

provide greater detail regarding what this flow chart depicts and what information must be included in the flow chart?

A: Samples of Participant Service Delivery Flow Chart are posted on the AB 1111 website under the Breaking Barriers to Employment Grant Program box.

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Q: 145) For the Budget Narrative Form, is the cumulative information for all staff working on

the project? Or, do you need to complete a separate budget narrative for workforce board staff and contracted CBO staff?

A: Complete one Form 2- Budget Summary and one Form 3- Budget Narrative. The information provided should account for all staff working on the project.

Q: 146) Is there a restriction on how much of the funding can be used for salaries for support

professionals?

A: Depends on the staff member’s role. If they are directly working with participants or providing services, then more funds may need to be allocated staff salaries. But, if the staff has more of an administrative role and is not directly working with participants, then less fund may be allocated. Staff spending time on administrative activities would need to fall within the Admin column and not to exceed the allowed 10 percent. Staff who have a program role, whether or not they work directly with participants, should be accounted for under the program.

Q: 147) The MOU and Partnership Agreement considered the same? If we follow the

template, filling in as noted, will that be sufficient? A: Yes, they are the same. If you follow the template we provided in Appendix B on page 34 of the RFA, then it will be sufficient. Q: 148) With no limits on narrative, how are you going to effectively evaluate proposals?

A: We will evaluate according to how well the prompt questions are answered. The narrative portions are formatted to help applicants focus on the necessary information being asked. We recommend applicants try to be concise and clear while still answering the questions fully. Q: 149) If you propose to serve multiple target groups, how much detail is required in the

narrative responses for each population being proposed? A: On Form 1 – Project Narrative and Project Team Description, there are prompt questions regarding target population. You will need to address those questions for each of your target population. This information is also outlined in Table 1 of the Application Evaluation Rubric on pages 17-18 of the RFA.

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Q: 150) CWDB stated a Partnership Agreement (PA) may be submitted in lieu of an MOU and

that it must include necessary information outlined in Appendix B (page 16 of Q&A). Appendix B, requires the signature of the official authorized to sign on behalf of the agency. I thought the intent of using the PA was due to the time constraints in obtaining the authorized signature (CEO). Does the PA require a signature? If yes, who other than the CEO is authorized to sign on behalf of the local board?

A: Yes. It is a Partnership Agreement Letter and it would need a signature from the CBO and the local board agreeing to what is stated in the letter. Contact the local board to find out who can sign on their behalf. Q: 151) The attachment Form 10 has a broken link that should direct to the Bidder

Declaration form. Can you please provide the correct link to that form? A: Thank you for notifying us. We have updated Form-10 Bidder Declaration which can be found on the AB 1111 website.

Q: 152) Do Technical Assistance and Evaluation applicants need to submit a roles and

responsibilities form? The checklist states no but the narrative mentions to include it. A: It is not required for Technical Assistance and Evaluation applicants to submit the Roles and Responsibilities form however it can be submitted without negative consequences to illustrate roles of individuals. Q: 153) On Form 2 - Budget Summary, its states that the In-House costs will be absorbed by

the grantee. Can this also be used as cash match? Need a more in-depth explanation of what this is.

A: In-house and match are not interchangeable terms. The In-house column is where the lead applicant will list their budget for the project and allocate grant funds to specific line items to implement their project. The match requirement is a dollar-for-dollar cash match or an in-kind match. You may include a cash match to help fund the line item with an in-house amount or other line item without an in-house amount. The leveraged fund column is where you would account for your cash match and/or in-kind match.

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Q: 154) Is the term “leveraged” the same as match?

A: Yes.

Q: 155) In the Project Narrative/Partnership/Project Team, it states to include a dollar-for dollar cash match or in-kind match from each organization. Is it required that each organization match their individual request for funds or can all of the match come from only one organization? For example, CBO requests $100,000 and LWDB requests $300,000, so they each would need to match their individual requests? Or could the LWDB contribute the total match?

A: Who contributes to the cash or in-kind match is decided by the partnership. We do not have a requirement limiting the number of organizations who can contribute or the amount an organization can provide. All budget forms should be all-inclusive of the project and not separated by partners.

Q: 156) In the Project Narrative/Data Collection and Evaluation Section, the RFA asks to describe the proposed data collection methods and reporting procedures. The RFA states that CalJOBS will be the primary reporting tool. Will grantees be able to track all reporting requirements in CalJOBS or are there program elements that will need to be tracked via another data system?

A: Yes, CalJOBS will the primary reporting tool; however, the tracking system is unable to capture everything. CWDB will be providing a supplemental data tracking template.

Q: 157) Does the 10 percent admin cap apply to the lead agency and contractors as a whole? A: See response under question #50.

Q: 158) In the RFA, page 9 and 10 list the eligible activities, which are all direct services to the AB 1111 participant. On page 40 of the RFA, personnel is listed as an allowable cost. Do personnel services include activities such as outreach, intake/eligibility, case management, and other programmatic activities? Or does the CWDB expect these costs covered by the applicant’s match/in-kind funds? Or both?

A: Staff who have a program role, whether or not they work directly with participants, should be accounted for under the program and can be covered by grant funds. Staff spending time on administrative activities would need to fall within the Admin column and not to exceed the allowed 10 percent.

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Q: 159) If the partners (local workforce development board and CBO) are unable to obtain

an approved MOU prior to application, will a Letter of Intent to create and MOU subject to award based upon the grant requirements provided suffice?

A: No; however, you may submit a Partnership Agreement Letter (PA) or MOU. The PA needs to include the necessary information that is outlined in Appendix B on page 34 of the RFA

Q: 160) On Form 12, can you define what you mean by sustainability partner?

A: A sustainability partner is a partner who will help sustain the project beyond the grant term and explain how the partner help to sustain the project in the narrative under the Sustainability section.

Q: 161) Do the subcontractors need to complete the Contractor Certification Clause or can it

be completed by the prime contractor only?

A: Only the applicant agency needs to complete this form. Q: 162) Can company paid liability insurance and medical insurance be included in "fringe"

calculations (along with FICA and UI)?

A: Yes, liability insurance and medical insurance may be include in the fringe calculations. Q: 163) What type of evaluation activities will be expected of the lead grantee/fiscal agent

of the regular grant? Is the main responsibility data entry into CalJOBS? Is there a third-party evaluator (that is being acquired via the evaluation partner part of the RFA) that will be determining additional evaluation responsibilities for the grantees?

A: Evaluation activities for project may include data entry into CalJOBS, completing and submitting quarterly narrative report and/or providing any other additional data requested by CWDB. Yes, applicants may apply for evaluation (third party evaluator) under this RFA. For more information about evaluation, see Table 2-Technical Assistance and Evaluation Rubric on pages 20-22 of the RFA.

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Q: 164) Does the Technical Assistance and Evaluation portion of the RFA require partnering with an additional nonprofit or entity? Or, can the TA&E be done by an employee of the grantee?

A: For this RFA, there are three types of applications: projects (to directly serve participants), technical assistance, and evaluation. Depending on the type of applications you are submitting, the evaluation and scoring varies so refer to the Application Evaluation and Scoring section on pages 17 to 22. If you are submitting an application for project to directly serve participants, you may designate a staff on your team to work with the Technical Assistance and Evaluation organizations.

Q: 165) Under Eligible Applicants on page 8 for Technical Assistance and Evaluation listed community colleges, but not California State Universities. Does this mean we can’t use our California State University partner for evaluations?

A: Yes, you may use your California State University partner for evaluation; thus, they will be your partner when submitting an application for Technical Assistance or Evaluation.

Q: 166) In the Program Requirements section under the Technical Assistance and Evaluation subtitle, is the third party evaluator (page 11) a CWDB program manager?

A: No, the third party evaluator is the organization that CWDB will fund through this grant to conduct an evaluation of the Breaking Barriers to Employment program and the awarded projects.

Q: 167) Will there be a charge for using the CalJOBS database and supplemental database mentioned in an earlier Q &A response? If so, is it is chargeable to the grant and what would be the cost for 18 months?

A: No, grantees will not be charged to use CalJOBS and supplemental data tracking. Grantees will be provided access to CalJOBS. Q: 168) Could Form-2 Budget Summary, have over 100 percent in in-kind match of the grant

total budget? For example, if an agency applies for $200,000, could the in-kind match be $300,000?

A: Yes.

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Q: 169) On Form-2 Budget-Summary, where do you budget for “stipends”, is it line item 9- “Supportive Services” or 11- “Other Program Services”?

A: You may put stipends under 11-Other Program Service on Form 2-Budget Summary then complete Form 3-Budget Narrative and provide details of stipends on 11-Other Program Service. Q: 170) On Form-2 Budget Summary, what is the difference between “Tuition

Payments/Vouchers” and “Training Costs”? A: Tuition payment/vouchers may be expenditure for the community college system, California State University system, or California University system; whereas, training costs may be expenditure for vocational institutions. Q: 171) We are entering into a collaborative with two different workforce development

boards. Does the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have to be word for word the same in both MOUs? For example, when we describe the roles of each agency and the history of working together, can there be separate MOU's with the same activities, or can there only be separate signatures but the exact same word for word MOU?

A: You may submit one or multiple MOUs for all the partnerships. The MOU needs to include the necessary information that is outlined in Appendix B on page 34 of the RFA. Q: 172) Can we include a Staff Accountant in program costs rather than admin? His function

is to support reporting. A: See response under question #54. Q: 173) Do we apply WIOA indirect cost rates when working with subgrantees? Do we only

apply indirect on Modified Total Direct Cost?

A: See response under question #62.

Q: 174) Is there an updated version of Form 2- Budget Narrative that allows for more than about a five or six word description? Do you want that information somewhere else?

A: We do not have a word limit on the form; however, due to the size of the box, you are only able to see the first line of words you type. Once we unprotect the document, we will be able

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to expand the box to see your response as whole. We suggest clicking on the field you want to complete then type your response in the text box at the top of the page. Q: 175) At the bottom of Form 10- Bidder Declaration form, it states “CERTIFICATION: By

signing the bid response, I certify…”, but there is no space to sign. Is this referring to the signature on the cover page or is a signature required on the Bidder Declaration form as well?

A: A signature is required on the Bidder Declaration form. Sign in the empty space below the Certification clause. Q: 176) On Form 5-Project Matrix, are you looking for a narrative description or simply a list

of the targeted sectors in the following question: "Project aligned with pathways to the following target industries identified in the local or regional plan"?

A: Narrative description. Q: 177) If an agency subcontracts outreach and case management services for the AB 1111

project, and the services will be charged to the AB1111 project, does the salary and fringe benefits for the contractor need to be listed on Form-3 Budget Narrative?

A: Yes, include the total amount for salary and fringe benefits on budget line item 1-Staff Salaries and Fringes Benefits under Contracted column of Form 2-Budget Summary. On Form 3-Budget Narrative, provide the job title, salary and fringe benefits for the staff. On Form 4-Contracts, provide organization name of the staff, type of services to provide, number of participant to serve, and funds allocated. Q: 178) Is the question asking to describe the "innovative approaches" we will use to draw

funds from "existing realignment" or it is asking about how we intend to match funds?

A: The question is asking what innovation approaches will be used to draw funds from existing realignments or other sources to sustain the project beyond the grant period.

Q: 179) When completing Form 2 - Budget Summary, for each In-House budget entry, do you

need to provide a matching total under the Leveraged Funds category? A: No, but your overall leveraged funds should be 1:1 match of the total requested amount.

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Q: 180) Page 16 of the RFA states that Form 6: Project Matrix is not required for TAE. On page 20 & 21, in the Technical Assistance and Evaluation Rubric table, it states that Form 6: Project Matrix is required. It doesn’t seem like the Form 6: Project Matrix is needed for evaluation applicants. Can you confirm that evaluation applicants do not need to fill out Form 6: Project Matrix, please?

A: No, it is not required for Technical Assistance and Evaluation applicants but would be helpful to include. Q: 181) Also, on the website, Form 5 is the Project Matrix but in the RFA, Form 6 is the

Project Matrix and just want to be clear that, as evaluation applicants, we do not need to fill out the Project Matrix form.

A: Technical Assistance and Evaluation applicants are not required to complete and submit Form 5: Project Matrix. The naming convention and associated number for each form listed on AB 1111 website are correct. The name of the form for Form 5 and Form 6 were switched on the RFA. Q: 182) Page 16 of the RFA states that Form 12: Roles and Responsibilities is not required for

TAE. However, on page 21, in the Technical Assistance and Evaluation Rubric table, it states that Form 12: Roles and Responsibilities is required. Can you confirm that evaluation applicants do not need to fill out Form 12: Roles and Responsibilities, please?

A: It is not required for TA and Evaluation applicants to submit the Roles and Responsibilities form. There are no negative consequences if you decide not to submit the form but it would be helpful to include. Q: 183) On Form 3: Budget Narrative, we aren’t able to increase the row height so all the

narrative fits in. Is there a way to unlock it to increase the rows or does it not matter? A: Since it is protected, you can’t adjust the row heights. However, once we unprotect the document, we will be able to expand the box to see your response as whole. Q: 184) On Form 4: Contracts, it asks for Number to Serve. For evaluation applicants, does

that column/cell need to be filled out? A: No.

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Q: 185) Do we need to create an MOU for the lead applicant and a contractor if we are an evaluation applicant?

A: No.

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GENERAL APPLICATION

Q: 186) Should the deadline of 3:00 PM PST, which is how it is currently written in the RFA,

be reflected as 3:00 PM PDT? A: The deadline is August 26, 2019, 3:00 PM Pacific Time.

Q: 187) What is the grant term?

A: 18 months. The tentative grant period is January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. As a reminder, no activity and no charges can be incurred prior to a fully executed contract with the state.

Q: 188) Can applications be submitted for both the general AB 1111 and for evaluation or

TA?

A: Yes Q: 189) Will the PowerPoint presentation be sent out after the meeting to participants?

A: The PowerPoint presentation is available on our AB 1111 website along with our answers to the questions asked during the website. Responses to the questions are included in the weekly Q&A posting.

Q: 190) Can we change the focus of our project from the LOI? A: Yes.

Q: 191) Will you accept Letters of Support that we would attach to the grant at the end and

put into the Zip file?

A: Letters of Support are not required and will not be accepted. Q: 192) Can some of our original documents be sent in PDF format in the Zip file? Examples

are articles of incorporation, resumes, letters of support, etc. A: Only submit the required forms and applicable attachments. For information on required forms, see Application Requirements section on pages 16 and 17 of the RFA. Any forms requiring wet signatures may be submitted in PDF format. Resumes or published works

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related to team members proposed for either technical assistance or evaluation can be hyperlinked in the application. Q: 193) Is a Letter of Intent required to submit an application? A: No.

Q: 194) You state the Q&As will be up by the end of the week, I am currently on the CWBD

website but cannot locate where the Q&As are listed. Can you direct me on where to find it?

A: Visit AB 1111 web site, expand the Breaking Barriers to Employment Grant Program box, and scroll down to Q&A. Q: 195) The audio for this Q & A will be available afterwards where?

A: No, audio recording is not available to the public. All Q&A is captured and posted to the website. Q: 196) Can "Proof of Registration with the California Secretary of State’s Office” be a

screen-shot from the Secretary of State website? Can it be submitted in a PDF?

A: You will need to print the registration and submit in a PDF format with your application.

Q: 197) Is an invitation required to submit a proposal?

A: No, an invitation is not required. This grant is open to the public. Q: 198) With so much interest in the funds, will there be another round of funding?

A: We hope so.

Q: 199) Can you explain the process the CWDB will take to ensure equity in awards, for

example, geographically, as well as populations served?

A: Every application will be reviewed by a panel of scorers. The award process will take into consideration the service area(s), target population(s), geographic distribution, and demographic needs.

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Q: 200) If we submitted an LOI, can we change the amount of funding we requested?

A: Yes.

Q: 201) Is there an approximate number of grants you anticipate awarding? In total? Geographic areas?

A: We can’t definitively say how many projects will be awarded because it depends on what projects are submitted and the dollar amounts being requested. However, geographically, we intend to distribute funds across the state. Q: 202) One of the goals of the CWDB is innovation. What are the guidelines for innovations

that can be funded under this grant? A: The outline of this grant is in legislation. Even though CWDB does look for innovation, it won’t necessarily be in how a project is providing services. Innovation under this grant may be seen in how a community-based organization partners with a local board. Q: 203) If we are intending on submitting multiple applications with different WDBs, for the

naming convention Barriers_ApplicantsOrganizationName, do you still want us to list just the lead applicant or both the lead CBO & WDB?

A: You may include both organization names in acronym. If the naming convention is too long, CWDB may not be able to open the Zip file. Q: 204) If we have multiple agencies working in a collaborative partnership, would we be

able to have each agency enter their respective program data into CalJOBS (while also having one person responsible for ensuring data is complete and accurate and all reports are submitted)? Would we need to include funds budget for all partners having access to CalJOBS to enter their program data?

A: Yes, each agency will have access to CalJOBS and each agency can enter their respective program data. It is up to the applicant to determine how funds are distributed.

Q: 205) If we are working in a collaborative of service providers to serve the same individuals, and each service provider agency has access to CalJOBS to enter program data, would we be able to share data on individuals enrolled in our program through CalJOBS? Like sharing case notes, tracking referrals, etc.?

A: Yes.