Questions submitted by parties interested in the Wagner-Peyser Act – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services funds, and the answers to those questions, are listed below. Questions and answers are organized by general topic area and/or category. This Web page will be updated regularly as questions are submitted.

• Funding/Budget
• General
• Grantee Requirements
• Program Criteria
• Proposal Format

Funding/Budget

1. Q.  Do program positions need to be 100 percent funded by EDD?

   A.  No. However, SFP Form 3, Schedule for Salaries and Wages, requires applicants to identify their program positions by titles, percent of time and annual salary.

2. Q.  Will providing matching funds make an applicant more likely to receive funding?

   A.  Yes. One of the criteria for choosing grantees includes the existence of funding from one or more public or private sources. Please refer to Section 2, Grantee Requirements in the Solicitation For Proposal (SFP).

3. Q.  Is the $1.5 million in Wagner-Peyser 10 Percent funds the same amount being disbursed as last year?

   A.  Yes.

4. Q.  Is there a maximum budget amount per region?

   A.  No, the SFP does not specify a maximum dollar amount per region, however, the available funding must cover all regions.  The SFP states in Section 1, Overview, that EDD currently funds services in certain geographical areas and will give priority to programs and services in these locales to prevent and/or minimize disruption in services.  If an applicant proposes to serve a geographical area not listed in the SFP, the proposal must clearly demonstrate the need for services in that locale and why the needs are not currently being met.

5. Q.  Is there a minimum amount or percentage required for matching funds?

   A.  There is no minimum/maximum percentage requirement for matching funds. However, funds must be detailed by percentages as requested in SFP Form 1, Section VI-Resource Utilization.

6. Q.  Would past funding, as required in SFP Form 1, Section VI-Resource Utilization, include grants we received from EDD over the past years?

   A.  Yes, if the funds from EDD were to serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population.

General

1. Q.  Do you anticipate this being a very competitive program?

   A.  Since this is a statewide solicitation, it would be difficult to speculate on the level of competitiveness for this program.

2. Q.  Can applicants eliminate full names and Social Security Number on Wagner-Peyser reports to maintain confidentiality?

   A.  The SFP does not require the submission of any reports with the proposal.  The required reports will be discussed with successful grantees.

3. Q.  What are the confidentiality requirements for subcontractors?

   A.  Confidentiality requirements are detailed on pages 34-39 of the SFP.

Grantee Requirements

1. Q.  Will EDD accept the Educational Interpreters Performance Assessment (EIPA certificates) in lieu of the Comprehensive Skills Certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), as detailed in the SFP on page 6, under Section 2, Grantee Requirements?

   A.  Yes, EDD accepts EIPA interpreters who are certified members of RID.

2. Q.  Are the 2.0 Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) per office a requirement?

   A.  Yes, please refer to Section 2, Grantee Requirements, in the SFP

3. Q.  Are agencies who submit proposals required to use only two primary job titles, Job Developer/Interpreter and Employment Specialist, or can the titles and duties be modified to fit the needs of the agency’s respective regional employment service needs?

   A.  The SFP does not designate the use of specific job titles but does state specific staffing requirements.  The SFP explains Staffing Qualifications in Section 2, Grantee Requirements.  It states:

   “The Grantee shall locate a minimum of two staff in designated EDD Workforce Services offices, Partner or One-Stop sites for the specified contracted hours. One staff must be a qualified sign language interpreter for the deaf. A copy of the valid and current Comprehensive Skills Certification issued by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), or equivalent California Association for the Deaf (CAD) certification approved by EDD, must be provided to the EDD Workforce Services Site manager. Other staff members must have a demonstrable ability to communicate sign language.”

Program Criteria

1. Q.  Is there a minimum/maximum length of time that follow-up counseling and problem solving services must be provided to deaf and hard of hearing individuals after job placement?

   A.  Follow-up should be tailored to the individual needs of the client. However, 90 days is oftentimes used as the average period of time for follow-up counseling and services.

2. Q.  Is training in communication skills the sole type of training that can be provided to the deaf and hard of hearing individuals with the Wagner-Peyser funds?

   A.  No. Although the SFP states that communication services are a requirement, other employment and training services may be provided as needed. Please see Section 2, Grantee Requirements, in the SFP.

3. Q.  If an applicant plans to serve more than one area will that make them more appealing in the application review process?

   A.  No. “Applicants must clearly demonstrate their ability to provide required services to the targeted population.” Please refer to Section 2, Part C, Required Services in the SFP.

4. Q.  If the location we are applying for currently has two sites listed and we want to locate one office in another location, do we list the two SFP sites on the proposal, and suggest another location to replace one of the sites in the narrative? Do we lose points if we recommend an alternative site?

   A.  The SFP should only address the sites/locations where the applicant proposes to provide services. In Section 1, Overview, the SFP states:

   “For this solicitation, the Grantee is required to locate staff in designated EDD Workforce Services offices, Partner or One-Stop sites for the specified contracted hours. Refer to Appendix D for a listing of current sites.

   If an Applicant proposes to serve a geographical area not listed in the SFP, the proposal must clearly demonstrate the need for services in that locale and why those needs are not currently being met.

   No points will be deducted for recommending/proposing additional sites if the need for services in that locale is clearly demonstrated in the proposal.

5. Q.  What is the number of placements required with new funding levels?

   A.  The SFP does not require a specified number of placements. Applicants must propose levels of service, placements goals, funding levels, etc., in their proposals.

Proposal Fromat

1. Q.  I was unable to find the required forms. Do you know where they may be located? They were not in the funding announcement.

   A.  The Forms are listed as a ‘Hyperlink” in the Table of Contents on page 3, of the SFP.

2. Q.  As required in the SPF Form 1, Proposal Narrative, Section III-Planned Approach, what is the definition of “effective/promising practices?” Do “effective/promising practices” need to be research-based?

   A.  The Workforce Community Web site, as detailed on the EDD home page, defines “promising practices” as: “An innovative way to provide services to meet the ever-changing needs of your customers, as well as creative ways for marketing and outreach.” Additional information on “promising practices” can be found at: www.edd.ca.gov/wiarep/wiappind.htm. Some practices or results should contain measurable data. For example, enrollment levels, job placement rates, and retention rates should include measurable data. Others may contain qualitative information but no quantifiable evidence. They may include evidence that an activity is improving participant self-sufficiency, strong testimonials, or widespread support from other stakeholders.