FY2023 & FY2024: MassSTEP ABE and MassSTEP ESOL Planning and Implementation Requests for Proposals

Fund Codes: 661/671/359

Purpose:

MassSTEP ABE and MassSTEP ESOL programs are funded in two phases: planning and implementation. Planning Grants are optional. Applicants do not need to have first received a planning grant to apply for an Implementation grant.

MassSTEP ABE provides adult education (AE) concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities, and workforce training to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of a high school credential and one or more relevant industry-recognized credentials (IRCs). MassSTEP ESOL provides adult ESOL instruction concurrently and contextually with civics education in addition to workforce preparation activities and workforce training to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of one or more relevant IRCs occupations.

Planning grants are competitive grants designed for partnerships among education providers, training providers, employers, and workforce partners to identify MassSTEP ABE and MassSTEP ESOL needs for adult learners. Implementation grants are competitive grants designed for partnerships among education providers, training providers, employers, and workforce partners to implement an instructional program for adult learners in high wage/high demand career pathways. Grants must be developed consistent with Public Law 113–128, Sections 201 through 243 .

MassSTEP models are intended to accelerate entry into employment and are generally 16 weeks or less.

Programs may submit multiple Planning and Implementation proposals. For example, an applicant could submit a proposal for a MassSTEP ESOL advanced manufacturing and another for a MassSTEP ABE welding. (Note: Each proposal will be reviewed and scored separately, and each must include all required documents.)

Please note that ACLS will only review planning proposals for new MassSTEP ABE or MassSTEP ESOL services and not current ones.

Priorities:

The following priorities have been established for MassSTEP ABE and MassSTEP ESOL program proposals that are informed by evidence-based practice.¹

Planning: Priorities are to support applicants that propose to:

• Provide evidence of a collaboration that includes adult education, training, business, and workforce partners
• Develop a plan and timeline to conduct a MassSTEP ABE or MassSTEP ESOL program analysis
• Identify a lead person to orient the direct work of the collaboration
• Provide evidence of outreach to local MassHire workforce partners in the local workforce area in which the business partner is located and demonstrate alignment with local Workforce Investment and Opportunity Agenda (WIOA) plans
• Identify a target occupation
• Assess the collaboration's readiness to design and deliver a program that adheres to the FY24–FY28 Policies for Effective MassSTEP Programs in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions .

Implementation: Priorities are to support applicants that demonstrate:

• a need for MassSTEP ABE and/or MassSTEP ESOL services
• Career pathway development in priority occupations as shown in the WIOA local plan
• Concurrent and contextualized adult education instruction, workforce preparation activities, civics education (MassSTEP ESOL), and workforce training (requirement)
• A program design about 16 weeks in length (requirement)
• Partnership with one or more local area employers in the occupation that includes but is not limited to assistance with job placement/employment (requirement)
• Student attainment of one or more IRCs (requirement) and a high school credential (MassSTEP ABE).
• Collaborations with local MassHire Workforce Boards, MassHire Career Centers, and/or Career/Vocational Technical Education programs.
• Commitment to delivering a program that adheres to the FY24–FY28 Policies for Effective MassSTEP Programs in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions and MassSTEP Brand Standards and Implementation Guide

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are:

1. a for profit entity;
2. a local educational agency;
3. public entities that are able to demonstrate effectiveness in operating adult education and/or career and training programs in correctional institutions;
4. a community-based organization or faith-based organization;
5. a volunteer literacy organization;
6. a public or private nonprofit agency;
7. Community Colleges or other higher education institutions;
8. Vocational education institutions;
9. Nonprofit education, training, or other service providers;
10. a library;
11. a public housing authority;
12. a nonprofit institution not described in any of subparagraphs which has the ability to provide services to eligible students;
13. a consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in (a) through (l); a partnership between a for-profit entity and an entity described in (B) through (l).

Note: As required by WIOA the applicant must demonstrate past effectiveness by submitting past performance data in serving eligible participants.

Applications that do not provide demonstrated effectiveness data in Part III will not be reviewed and scored.

Funding Type:

Fund Code 671 and 359: Federal CFDA 84.002

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

• UGG (2 CFR 200)
• EDGAR As Applicable
• EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

Fund Code 661: State Line Item 7035-0002

Funding:

Planning: Approximately $100,000 is available for planning grants. Applicants may request up to $10,000 for a planning grant to determine the readiness of the partnership to support a multi-year instructional program.

Implementation: Approximately $2,500,000 is available for implementation grants. Applicants may request up to $50,000 per cohort of students for up to three cohorts or $150,00 total for implementation grants to deliver MassSTEP ABE or MassSTEP ESOL services. If the costs per cohort are above $50,000 applicants must provide a rationale.

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:

Funds must be used in accordance with the FY24–FY28 Policies for Effective MassSTEP Programs in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions to provide services to eligible students; eligible students are:

• at least 16 years of age; and
• not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law, and
• do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not an equivalent level of education or are basic skills deficient or are English language learners.

Planning: Funding must be used to conduct a systematic analysis of the readiness of a collaboration to deliver a quality MassSTEP ABE or MassSTEP ESOL instructional program. Applicants must:

• appoint a lead person to convene and coordinate collaboration activities
• Develop a plan and timeline to conduct an MassSTEP ABE or MassSTEP ESOL program analysis
• Identify a lead person to orient the direct work of the collaboration
• Identify a target occupation and a target occupation
• Adhere to the FY22–FY24 Policies for Effective MassSTEP Programs in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions
• Assess the collaboration's readiness to design a program that includes all the components of an MassSTEP ABE or MassSTEP ESOL program, develop and deliver an curriculum, provide advising and support services, including employment assistance, and implement, manage, and evaluate the program

Funds must be used to support collaboration, planning, and/or research. These costs may include but are not limited to:

• Stipends
• Consultant fees and honorariums
• Subscription costs for online video conferencing platforms (e.g., Zoom)
• Costs to support an inclusive process to gather input from staff, prospective students, institutional partners, etc., to determine needs and assets to support the instructional program

Funding must be used to:

• Deliver, manage, and evaluate a multi-year MassSTEP ABE and/or MassSTEP ESOL program
• Develop and document contextualized curriculum
• Implement NRS-required assessments
• Collect and input student data into the statewide data management system.

Not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities; not more than 5 percent may be spent on administrative costs (related to planning, administration, (including carrying out performance accountability requirements), professional development, providing adult education and literacy services in alignment with local workforce plans, carrying out one-stop partner responsibilities, and state approved indirect costs charged to the grant.

Programs may negotiate a higher administrative cost percentage by submitting a written request and rationale with application.

Adult Education Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. Grantees are required to use a restricted indirect cost rate of 8%, unless your calculated indirect cost rate is less than 8%, than you must use the lower rate for your budget. If you have an approved negotiated federal indirect cost rate, it must be submitted to DESE. If you do not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, you must apply annually to DESE for an approved indirect cost rate. The indirect cost rate is calculated using costs specified in the grantee's indirect cost plan. Those specified costs may not be charged as direct costs to the grant or to any other grant under any circumstances.

Project Duration:

Planning Grants: Upon approval – 4/14/2023

Implementation Grants: Upon Approval (No earlier than 7/1/2023) – 6/30/2024 conditionally renewable for up to an additional four years.

Renewals are subject to satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation. Total grant award duration will not exceed five years (initial year plus renewals). Planning grants are not renewable.

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact & Inquiries:

Melissa Viscovich

All inquiries concerning planning applications must be submitted in writing to the online portal for planning proposals by Friday, February 10, 2023. All inquiries concerning implementation proposals must be submitted to the online portal in writing to by Friday, May 5, 2023. All answers will be posted to the ACLS Funding Opportunities website.

Bidders' Conference:

Bidders' Conferences for both planning and implementation will be held via Zoom on

Tuesday, January 24^th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM:
Join Zoom Meeting

and Thursday, January 26^th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM:
Join Zoom Meeting

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3812

Date Due:

Planning: Proposals must be received at the Department by 3:00 PM Eastern on Friday, February 17, 2023*

Implementation: Proposals must be received at the Department by 3:00 PM Eastern on Friday, May 12, 2023*

* All responses must be received by the due date listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not received on time will not be reviewed. Applicants applying after the due date may be notified their application was received late and will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.

Required Forms:

Planning:

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

• Part II — Budget Details

• Part III — Required Program Information

Note: planning grant grantees will submit a Planning Grant Final Report on April 14, 2023 to the planning final report portal.

Implementation:

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

• Part II — Class Plan and Budget Workbook

• Part III — Required Program Information

• Part IV — Demonstrated Effectiveness

• FY 2024 Statement of Assurances

• General Education Provisions Act Form (GEPA)

• Appendix A — Administrative Cost — Negotiation Request Form (if needed)

• Appendix B — Adult Education Curriculum sample (designed by applicant)

• Appendix C — Workforce Training curriculum sample (designed by applicant)

• Employer Letter(s) of Support

Additional Information:

• Commissioner's Letter

• Director's Letter

• FY24–FY28 Policies for Effective MassSTEP Programs in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions

• MassSTEP Brand Standards and Implementation Guide

• FY24–FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions

• Workbook Instructions

• Critical Dates

• Scoring rubric

Additional resources can be found on the ACLS MassSTEP webpage.

Submission Instructions:

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the appropriate online portal.

Planning proposals should be submitted to the planning online portal.

Implementation proposals should be submitted to the implementation online portal.

Applicants will create an account and be able to enter the portal for the RFP. Once you have created a user account and entered the portal, you will be asked to:

• Enter basic information
• Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required. You will not be able to submit your grant unless you include data or uploads in all required fields.

Please note that you are presented with two choices at the bottom of the submission webpage: <Save Draft> and <Submit>. Once you choose Submit, you are no longer able to make edits or change the files you wish to upload. Save Draft should be used routinely until you have completed the entire process and are certain you are ready to send your materials submission to us.

Also, please note that the Part II-Budget is an Excel for PC document. Please do not work on this document in Excel for Mac, as it will not render properly, even if you subsequently save the document in a PC environment.

If problems occur while using the portal anytime, or if you encounter technical difficulties with the Class Plan/Budget workbook contact Paula Jurigian .

Submit a response to all narrative prompts as applicable.

Pages that exceed the above page limits will not be reviewed and scored. Required forms, appendices, and the budget workbook are not included in these page limits.

Note: DESE reserves the right to conduct an interview or a site visit prior to award.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter all required forms in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process. Any recipient awarded in implementation who was also awarded in planning will be required to increase the planning project in EdGrants. The Part I will need to reflect the total for planning and implementation. The approved implementation budget will need to be entered and all documents uploaded in EdGrants. If the Administrative Cost Justification Form is needed, this must be uploaded to EdGrants as well. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Applicants who only applied to implementation and awarded will be required to enter the approved budget and attach all documents in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to return to this RFP and the Q&A page for updates and amendments. All updates and amendments supersede previous versions.

Pagination Directions:

Applicants are required to provide page numbers on every page of the proposal, including material not subject to the page limits. Any response that exceeds the page limit will not be reviewed and considered in scoring. (Note: Required forms and budget pages are not included in these page limits.)

All narrative responses must be in Arial 10 point font, with 1" margins.

Narrative responses may not exceed six pages for planning and 10 pages for implementation.

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¹ (e.g., I-BEST )

Last Updated: June 26, 2024