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Plan: Louisiana PYs 2024-2027
Combined Plan C

Section: WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Narrative: III. b. 5. B. ii.

Published
Located in:
  • III. Operational Planning Elements

    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above.  Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.  This section must include—

    • b. State Operating Systems and Policies

      The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements.  This includes—

III. b. 5. B. ii. Describe how the eligible agency will ensure direct and equitable access to all eligible providers to apply and compete for funds and how the eligible agency will ensure that it is using the same grant or contract announcement and application procedure for all eligible providers.

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2022-2023 (Mod)

Current Narrative:

LCTCS uses the same application process for all eligible providers for sections 225, 231, and/or 243.  This ensures that all applications are evaluated using the same rubric and scoring criteria.

The full and open competition is consistent with the standards of Subpart C, CFR 200.319.  All activities funded under WIOA are authorized, approved and administered by the LCTCS, WorkReady U.  WorkReady U, ensures that all eligible providers have direct and equitable access to apply and compete for grants. LCTCS adheres to all State and Louisiana WIOA Combined Plan laws regarding awarding grant funds and the expenditure of public funds. The following steps are utilized to ensure direct and equitable access:

  • An announcement of the availability of federal funds, under the support of Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, is disseminated in various methods including but not limited to a minimum of two newspaper outlets that provide state, local and regional news coverage, the LCTCS website, and social media outlets in order to provide the widest possible state coverage;
  • The same grant and application process is used for all eligible providers in the state;
  • Standard criteria for evaluation of local proposals are used for all eligible providers;
  • Technical assistance is provided to assist with the dissemination of information to all eligible providers interested in applying. Technical assistance opportunities are included in announcements and the Request for Proposal; and 
  • The announcement contains information such as:
    • Type of grants available;
    • Contact person to obtain RFP guidelines;
    • Timeline with grant application due date;
    • Other pertinent items;
    • Any information required by state law regarding the awarding of contracts and the expenditure of public funds.

 LCTCS uses the following process to distribute funds to approved applicants:

  1. Not less than 82.5 percent of the grant funds to award grants and contracts under section 231 and to carry out section 225, Programs for Corrections Education and Other Institutionalized Individuals, of which not more than 20 percent of such amount shall be available to carry out section 225;
  2. Shall not use more than 12.5 percent of the grant funds to carry out state leadership activities under section 223; and
  3. Shall not use more than 5 percent of the grant funds for administrative expenses of the eligible agency.

Federal funds may be used to increase the level of nonfederal funds that would be available in the absence of federal funds, and, in no case, replace those nonfederal funds.  Federal funds must not be used for the purpose of supplanting, only for supplementing.

See Title II – Adult Education and Literacy Programs (b) Local Activities for additional details regarding the processes for the request for application process.