FY2020: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) in Correctional Institutions¹

Fund Code: 452

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive federal grant is to assist state and county correctional agencies with education programs that meet the definition of career and technical education as contained in the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act (Perkins V).

Proposed programs of study must offer a sequence of at least two courses² that provide adult and/or youth offenders with coherent and rigorous educational activities that develop the academic and technical knowledge and skills required to pursue further education and/or employment in current or emerging professions and result in an industry-recognized credential or certificate.³

The definition of career and technical education is contained in Perkins V.

Priorities:

The priority is to support the establishment or substantial improvement of career & technical education programs that prepare institutionalized individuals to succeed in CORI-neutral⁴, in-demand, career pathways with a sustainable living wage⁵. Note: A minimum of 10% of the program budget (direct or optional match) must be used to provide professional development for academic and/or technical teachers.

Eligibility:

State and county correctional agencies, including the Department of Youth Services, with capacity to deliver academic and technical education at the secondary and/or postsecondary level are eligible to respond to this Request for Proposals.

Funding Type:

Fund Code 452: Federal CFDA: 84.048

Funding:

Subject to federal appropriation, awards will be based on the quality of the programs proposed. Approximately $217,181.00 in Perkins funding is available for three to seven awards ranging from approximately $30,000 to $80,000.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Fund Use:

Perkins V allocation funds must be used in accordance with the Massachusetts Perkins V Transition Manual. Funds shall supplement and shall not supplant non-Federal funds.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 8/31/2020 conditionally renewable for up to an additional 2 years (FY21 and FY22). Renewals are subject to satisfactory performance, compliance with grant reporting requirements, the appropriation of Perkins funding, and the continuation of federal authorizing legislation.

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact:

Karen DeCoster

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3815

Date Due:

Friday, September 20, 2019

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

Required Forms:

Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

Part II — Budget Workbook

Part III — Required Program Information

Statement of Assurance

 

Budget Narrative (program generated)

ISA Crosswalk

GEPA Statement

Additional Information:

A bidder's conference webinar is scheduled Tuesday September 3, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Please download or print a copy of the RFP you can follow along with during the webinar.

To join the meeting: Perkins Bidder's Conference

Room Passcode: 2019

Phone Passcode: 1.877.820.7831/guest passcode 277528

Proposals will be scored and ranked based on the extent to which the proposed program demonstrates that it: (1) meets the Perkins definition of a career and technical education program; (2) is of sufficient size, scope, duration, and quality to lead to both academic and technical skill gains; (3) has organizational support for sustainability; and (4) supplements, rather than supplants, existing resources.

Scoring rubric

The narrative response should not exceed 20 pages (excluding the budget and budget narrative, resumes, job descriptions, and letters of support.) Applicants are required to provide page numbers on every page of the narrative which must be double spaced, in font no smaller than Arial 10 with 1-inch margins.

Massachusetts Perkins V Transition Manual (to be posted at)

The Vocational Technical Education Frameworks

Regional Workforce Skills Planning Initiative Regional Blueprint

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)

Grants for Schools: Getting Them and Using Them, A Procedural Manual

Standard Contract Forms and Applications for Program Grants submitted or approved after September 1, 2019 can legally claim expenses to the grant only from the date of final Department approval.

Grantees can legally claim expenses to the grant only from the date of final approval.

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials by email to Karen DeCoster.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget and Part I in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

¹ Please note that Perkins IV was reauthorized and renamed on 7/31/2018.

² ServSafe and OSHA 10 training do not qualify as courses, although OSHA 30 or another 30+ hour credential-focused class may, provided it results is an industry-recognized certification or credential.

³ OSHA 10 (or other credentials earned in such brief trainings) alone will not suffice.

⁴ Letters of support from local area employers stating that CORIs will be reviewed on an individual basis and not used to eliminate a candidate may suffice.

⁵ Priority will be given to STEM career pathways such as automotive, building trades, information technology, and manufacturing.

Last Updated: August 19, 2019