Opportunity Information: Apply for SGA 11 05
Apply for SGA 11 05
- The OASAM in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Add Us In" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.720 Disability Employment Policy Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 3, 2011 and posted on Aug 4, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 2, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,650,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $550,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- 1. Eligible Applicants Under this announcement only consortia may apply for and receive a cooperative agreement. Each consortium must, at a minimum, have representation from each of the following four organization types (1) A an association of targeted businesses, association of targeted business owners or other similar entity that represents businesses in underrepresented and historically excluded communities (2) A disability serving organization (3) A Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) or other organization with demonstrated experience in providing employment and training services and employment related support services (e.g., One Stop center but not limited to) and (4) a youth serving organization. We encourage the participation of diverse consortia members including, but not limited to national disability organizations, LGBT organizations, women owned businesses, small business development centers, minority business development centers, veterans, community based organizations, colleges and universities (including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)), Federally recognized or state recognized American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments or American Indian/Alaska Native tribally designated organizations. Consortia must be legal entities, or partnerships or joint ventures of legal entities. If a partnership or joint venture, then each partner will be individually responsible for the performance of the cooperative agreement, and for the funds awarded there under. All applications must clearly identify the lead cooperative agreement recipient and fiscal agent, as well as all other members of the consortium applying for the cooperative agreement. The fiscal agent must have proof of successful operation of Federal or other grants of this size and scope. In addition, the application must identify the relationship between all of the members of the consortium, and their respective roles in carrying out the project. According to section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization, as described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that engages in lobbying activities will not be eligible for the receipt of Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan. See 2 U.S.C. 1611 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4). Funding restrictions apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Add Us In grant opportunity is a U.S. Department of Labor initiative run through the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) that funds collaborative projects designed to expand competitive employment opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities, with a deliberate emphasis on underrepresented and historically excluded communities. The Department set aside about $1.65 million total to support three cooperative agreements, each expected to fall between $500,000 and $550,000. Because these are cooperative agreements, awardees should expect an active partnership with the federal agency during implementation, not just a standard pass-through grant relationship.
At the center of Add Us In is the idea that small businesses rooted in communities that have faced long-term economic and social exclusion can be powerful engines for disability employment when they have the right supports, partnerships, and proven approaches. The program aims to (1) develop and evaluate models, strategies, and policies that can be replicated elsewhere to broaden access to jobs and mentoring for people with disabilities, including those from underrepresented and historically excluded communities; (2) create active, durable partnerships connecting targeted businesses with diversity-serving organizations, disability-serving organizations, and youth-serving organizations; and (3) build both local and national networks of experts who understand, at the same time, the employment needs of people with disabilities and the practical hiring needs of small business owners. In practice, ODEP is looking for consortia to design, implement, and evaluate innovative systems-level models that make it easier for targeted small businesses to hire, retain, and advance workers with disabilities.
The solicitation defines key terms carefully. Underrepresented and historically excluded communities may look different by region, but the announcement specifically calls out groups such as African American, Asian American (including West Asian and East Asian descent), Latino or Hispanic communities, federally recognized Tribes and Native American communities (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders), LGBT individuals, women, veterans, and similar groups. It also describes "historically excluded communities" in economic terms, including areas affected by blight, chronic underinvestment, low income, high poverty, high unemployment, discrimination in housing/credit/labor markets, environmental or natural resource degradation, and mass layoffs. Disability is defined using the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAA).
A major focus is the concept of a "targeted business." For this competition, that means a small, for-profit enterprise located in the United States or U.S. trust territories that is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled day-to-day by U.S. citizens who are members of underrepresented and historically excluded communities. The intention is to strengthen disability-inclusive hiring specifically within these businesses and the local ecosystems around them, rather than treating disability employment as separate from community economic development.
Eligibility is restricted to consortia, not single organizations, and each consortium must include at least four required types of partners: (1) an association of targeted businesses or targeted business owners (or a similar entity representing businesses in underrepresented and historically excluded communities), (2) a disability-serving organization, (3) a Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) or another organization with demonstrated experience delivering employment and training services and employment-related supports (such as a One-Stop center), and (4) a youth-serving organization. ODEP also strongly encourages broader participation, for example national disability organizations, LGBT organizations, women-owned business groups, small business development centers, minority business development centers, veterans organizations, community-based organizations, and higher education institutions including HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs, as well as Tribal governments or tribally designated organizations. The application must clearly name the lead applicant and fiscal agent, identify all consortium members, explain how the partners relate to each other, and specify each member's responsibilities. The fiscal agent must be able to show successful management of federal or comparable grants at a similar size and scope. The announcement also notes a statutory restriction: certain 501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive these federal funds.
ODEP frames this opportunity with labor market and demographic context to justify the need for targeted, scalable solutions. The solicitation points to the growth and economic significance of minority-owned firms (millions of businesses and hundreds of billions in annual receipts) and highlights that many millions of Americans from racial and ethnic minority groups live with long-lasting disabling conditions. It also underscores persistent gaps in labor force participation and employment rates between people with and without disabilities, along with associated income disparities, and notes that racial and ethnic minorities with disabilities can face even higher risks of unemployment, especially among those with severe disabilities. In other words, Add Us In is positioned as a way to blend disability employment policy with small business growth in communities where both economic barriers and employment inequities are often most concentrated.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under CFDA 17.720 (Disability Employment Policy Development), with no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was originally posted in early August 2011, with an application deadline of September 2, 2011, and it later moved to archive status. ODEP also planned a prospective applicant conference call, with details to be posted on the ODEP website. A point of contact for access issues and grants management questions was listed as Cassandra Mitchell, Grants Management Specialist (202-693-4570; mitchell.cassandra@dol.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Add Us In (U.S. Department of Labor, ODEP)
What is the Add Us In grant opportunity?
Add Us In is a U.S. Department of Labor initiative administered by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). It funds collaborative projects designed to expand competitive employment opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities, with a deliberate emphasis on underrepresented and historically excluded communities.
What type of funding is being offered?
The Department of Labor set aside approximately $1.65 million total to support three cooperative agreements.
How much funding is expected per award?
Each cooperative agreement award is expected to fall between $500,000 and $550,000.
Is there a matching or cost-sharing requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement is different from a typical pass-through grant. Under this opportunity, awardees should expect an active partnership with the federal agency during implementation, meaning ODEP will be involved during the project period rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.
What is the overall goal of Add Us In?
The program aims to expand competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities by supporting systems-level models that make it easier for targeted small businesses to hire, retain, and advance workers with disabilities, including individuals from underrepresented and historically excluded communities.
What are the main program objectives?
According to the solicitation, Add Us In focuses on three major objectives: (1) develop and evaluate replicable models, strategies, and policies to broaden access to jobs and mentoring for people with disabilities, including those from underrepresented and historically excluded communities; (2) create active, durable partnerships connecting targeted businesses with diversity-serving organizations, disability-serving organizations, and youth-serving organizations; and (3) build local and national networks of experts who understand both disability employment needs and small business hiring needs.
What kinds of projects is ODEP looking to fund?
ODEP is looking for consortia to design, implement, and evaluate innovative systems-level models. These models should help targeted small businesses hire, retain, and advance workers with disabilities, and should be designed with replication in mind.
What is a "targeted business" under this competition?
For Add Us In, a targeted business is defined as a small, for-profit enterprise located in the United States or U.S. trust territories that is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled on a day-to-day basis by U.S. citizens who are members of underrepresented and historically excluded communities.
Are only small, for-profit businesses considered targeted businesses?
Yes. The solicitation defines a targeted business specifically as a small, for-profit enterprise (not a nonprofit or large business) meeting the location and ownership/control requirements.
Where must targeted businesses be located?
Targeted businesses must be located in the United States or U.S. trust territories.
What does "51 percent owned, operated, and controlled day-to-day" mean in this context?
The announcement requires that U.S. citizens from underrepresented and historically excluded communities hold at least 51 percent ownership and also operate and control the business on a day-to-day basis. The purpose is to focus on businesses rooted in communities that have experienced long-term economic and social exclusion.
How does the solicitation define "underrepresented and historically excluded communities"?
The solicitation notes that these communities may vary by region, but it specifically calls out groups such as African American, Asian American (including West Asian and East Asian descent), Latino or Hispanic communities, federally recognized Tribes and Native American communities (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders), LGBT individuals, women, veterans, and similar groups.
How does the solicitation describe "historically excluded communities" in economic terms?
The announcement also describes historically excluded communities as areas affected by conditions such as blight, chronic underinvestment, low income, high poverty, high unemployment, discrimination in housing/credit/labor markets, environmental or natural resource degradation, and mass layoffs.
How is "disability" defined for this opportunity?
Disability is defined using the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAA).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to consortia, not single organizations. Applications must be submitted by a consortium that includes specific required partner types.
Can a single organization apply on its own?
No. The solicitation states eligibility is restricted to consortia, not single organizations.
What partners are required in an eligible consortium?
Each consortium must include at least four required types of partners: (1) an association of targeted businesses or targeted business owners (or a similar entity representing businesses in underrepresented and historically excluded communities); (2) a disability-serving organization; (3) a Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) or another organization with demonstrated experience delivering employment and training services and employment-related supports (such as a One-Stop center); and (4) a youth-serving organization.
Can an organization other than a Local Workforce Investment Board fulfill the workforce partner role?
Yes. The solicitation allows either an LWIB or another organization with demonstrated experience delivering employment and training services and employment-related supports, including examples such as a One-Stop center.
Are additional partners encouraged beyond the four required partner types?
Yes. ODEP strongly encourages broader participation, including organizations such as national disability organizations, LGBT organizations, women-owned business groups, small business development centers, minority business development centers, veterans organizations, community-based organizations, higher education institutions (including HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs), and Tribal governments or tribally designated organizations.
What does the application need to say about consortium structure and roles?
The application must clearly name the lead applicant and fiscal agent, identify all consortium members, explain how the partners relate to each other, and specify each member's responsibilities.
What is the role of the lead applicant and fiscal agent?
The solicitation requires the application to name a lead applicant and a fiscal agent. The fiscal agent is expected to manage the federal funds and must be able to demonstrate successful management of federal or comparable grants at a similar size and scope.
What financial management experience is expected of the fiscal agent?
The announcement states the fiscal agent must be able to show successful management of federal or comparable grants at a similar size and scope as the cooperative agreement funding level.
Are any organizations specifically ineligible?
Yes. The solicitation notes a statutory restriction that certain 501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive these federal funds.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity under CFDA 17.720 (Disability Employment Policy Development).
Why does ODEP emphasize targeted small businesses in this program?
The solicitation frames targeted small businesses rooted in communities that have faced long-term economic and social exclusion as potential engines for disability employment when they have appropriate supports, partnerships, and proven approaches. The intent is to strengthen disability-inclusive hiring within these businesses and the local ecosystems around them.
How does the opportunity connect disability employment and economic development?
Add Us In is positioned as a way to blend disability employment policy with small business growth in communities where economic barriers and employment inequities are often concentrated, rather than treating disability employment as separate from community economic development.
What context does the solicitation provide to justify the need for this program?
ODEP cites labor market and demographic context, including the growth and economic significance of minority-owned firms and the prevalence of long-lasting disabling conditions among many Americans from racial and ethnic minority groups. It also highlights persistent gaps in labor force participation and employment rates between people with and without disabilities, associated income disparities, and heightened unemployment risks for racial and ethnic minorities with disabilities, especially those with severe disabilities.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was originally posted in early August 2011, with an application deadline of September 2, 2011.
What does it mean that the opportunity moved to "archive status"?
Based on the provided information, the announcement later moved to archive status, indicating it is no longer an active current solicitation.
Was there any planned support for prospective applicants?
Yes. ODEP planned a prospective applicant conference call, with details to be posted on the ODEP website.
Who was listed as the point of contact for access issues and grants management questions?
The point of contact listed was Cassandra Mitchell, Grants Management Specialist, at 202-693-4570 and mitchell.cassandra@dol.gov.
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