DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

New Project Manager Orientation Course

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and request for cooperative agreement applications.

SUMMARY: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) occasionally awards funds to nonprofit organizations to produce short- term training for personnel whose work furthers the responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health. This notice announces the Agency's desire to enter into a cooperative agreement with an educational institution currently providing on-site consultation under section 21(d) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 670) to develop, pilot, and produce an orientation course for new Project Managers of 21(d) on-site consultation projects. The notice states the basics of the desired agreement and provides information about how to get detailed agreement application instructions. Section 21(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act authorizes this action.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked by June 30, 1999. The agreement period will run from August 1, 1999, through July 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Completed applications must be submitted in triplicate to the U.S. Department of Labor -- OSHA, Directorate of Federal-State Operations, Office of Cooperative Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N3700, Washington, DC 20210, marked ATTENTION: E. Tyna Coles.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Tyna Coles, Director, Office of Cooperative Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N3700, Washington DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-2213, FAX (202) 693-1671, e- mail Tyna.Coles@osha.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Is the Purpose of the Agreement?

The purpose of the agreement will be to develop a self-study course to orient 21(d) Consultation Project Managers, especially new Project Managers, with basic knowledge and management techniques of the OSHA on-site consultation program. The course should cover all of the objectives listed in the document "Project Manager Orientation Course -- Statement of Work" which will be sent to prospective applicants along with the detailed agreement package instructions.

Who Is Eligible To Apply?

Only those educational institutions which currently deliver 21(d) on-site consultation services under cooperative agreements with OSHA.

What Can Agreement Funds Be Spent On?

• Developing a chart to illustrate the major goals and milestones of this project. (A preliminary draft of the chart must be included with the agreement application.)

• Identifying sources of course materials.

• Developing trial and finished course materials.

• Formatting the course materials electronically.

• Designing and piloting the orientation course.

• Providing four training sessions.

Are There Restrictions on How Agreement Funds Can Be Spent?

OSHA will not provide funding for the following activities.

1. Any activities inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

2. Activities inconsistent with the goal and objectives of the OSHA 21(d) Consultation Program.

3. Production, publication or reproduction of training and educational materials, including programs of instruction, which have not been approved by OSHA.

4. Activities which provide assistance to workers in arbitration cases or other actions against employers, or which provide assistance to employers and/or workers in the prosecution of claims against Federal, State or local governments.

5. Activities directly or indirectly intended to generate membership in the agreement recipient's organization.

What Other Requirements Are There?

1. OSHA review of educational materials. OSHA will review all educational materials produced by the awardee for historical and technical accuracy during development and before final production of the course as an interactive CD-ROM.

2. OMB and regulatory requirements. The awardee will be required to comply with the following documents.

   • OMB Circular A-133, which provides information about audit requirements.

   • 21 CFR part 95, which covers grant requirements for non- profit organizations, including universities. These are the Department of Labor regulations implementing OMB Circular A-110.

   • OMB Circular A-21, which provides information about allowable and unallowable costs for educational institutions.

3. Certifications. All applicants will be required to certify to a drug-free workplace in accordance with 29 CFR part 98, to comply with the New Restrictions on Lobbying published at 29 CFR part 93, to make a certification regarding the debarment rules at 29 CFR part 98, and to complete a special lobbying certification.

4. Matching share. There are no matching share requirements for this cooperative agreement. The development and implementation of this course will be accomplished using only federal funds.

How Will Applications Be Reviewed and Rated?

OSHA personnel will review and evaluate each application. Following the review process, OSHA staff may conduct an on-site evaluation of highly rated applicants before making a recommendation. The final selection will be made by the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health.

The following factors will be used in the review of applications.

1. Institutional Experience in Training Government Managers. Reviewers will look for evidence that the university offers seminars in public administration or other nontraditional teaching methods (e.g., self-study) to motivate and train adults, e.g., government employees or executives, law enforcement personnel.

2. Qualifications of Training Personnel. Reviewers will look for evidence that the personnel proposed have training and experience in curriculum design and adult learning theory.

3. Program Design. Reviewers will look at the proposed program and budget charts for evidence that the project can be completed in the time alloted, that there will be adequate communication among the course designers, OSHA, and consultation projects throughout the project, and that the budget is reasonable and in compliance with instructions.

How Much Money Is Available for the Course?

$250,000 has been budgeted for this effort.

How Long Will the Agreement Run?

The agreement period is for 24 months, from August 1, 1999, through July 31, 2001. As with all cooperative agreements, either party may terminate the agreement on 30 days notice.

How Do I Get an Agreement Application Package?

Agreement application packages may be requested from the Office of Cooperative Programs at (202) 693-2213.

When and Where Must I Send the Application?

Send three copies of each application to: Attention: E. Tyna Coles, U.S. Department of Labor -- OSHA, Directorate of Federal-State Operations, Office of Cooperative Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N3700, Washington, DC 20210.

All applications must be postmarked by Monday, June 30, 1999. Applicants are encouraged to include samples of relevant previous work, but one copy of any sample will be sufficient.

How Will I Be Told If My Application Was Selected?

You will be notified in writing that you were or were not selected. Notice of selection will not constitute approval of an application as submitted. OSHA will negotiate with representatives of the selected applicant to enter into a 21(b) cooperative agreement which will cover the responsibilities of both parties, including program components, budget and administrative systems. If negotiations do not result in an acceptable submission, the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health reserves the right to terminate the negotiation process and decline to fund the proposal.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 10th day of May, 1999.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 99-12781 Filed 5-19-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-U