Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice.
Notice of availability of funds and solicitation for grant applications.
The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) announces the availability of funds for grants to conduct public education programs about the rights afforded potential victims of employment discrimination and the responsibilities of employers under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1324b. It is anticipated that a number of grants will be competitively awarded to applicants who can demonstrate a capacity to design and successfully implement public education campaigns to address immigration related unfair employment discrimination. Grants may range in size from $35,000 to $100,000. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to educate workers, employers and/or the general public about the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. OSC welcomes proposals from diverse public service groups, organizations or associations providing information services to employers and/or potential victims of discrimination, and Faith-Based organizations, non-profit groups providing services and assistance to potential victims of discrimination.
Lilia Irizarry, Acting Public Affairs Specialist, Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20530. Tel. (202) 616–5594, or (202) 616–5525 (TDD for the hearing impaired).
The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice announces the availability of funds to conduct cost effective public education programs concerning the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Funds will be awarded to selected applicants who propose cost-effective ways of educating employers, workers covered by this statute, community service providers, and/or the general public.
• Legal Permanent Residents;
• Refugees;
• Asylees; and
• Temporary Residents.
Citizens and all work authorized individuals are protected from discrimination on the basis of national origin. However, under the INA the prohibition against national origin discrimination applies only to employers with four to fourteen employees. National origin discrimination complaints against employers with fifteen or more employees fall under the jurisdiction of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000e,
The educational efforts under the grant should be directed to: (1) Work authorized and protected non-citizens, (2) citizens at the risk of becoming victims of employment discrimination; and/or (3) employers, especially those in both large and small businesses and industries that employ large numbers of individuals in categories (1) and (2). The proposals should define the characteristics of the work authorized population or the employer group(s) intended to be the focus of the educational campaign. It must also identify the applicant's qualifications to reach credibly and effectively large segments of the intended audience(s). The proposals should detail the reasons for focusing on each group of protected individuals or employers by describing particular needs or other factors to support the selection. In defining the campaign focuses and supporting the reasons for the selection, applicants may use census data, studies, surveys, or any other sources of information of generally accepted reliability.
We encourage applicants to devise effective and creative means of public education and information dissemination that are specifically designed to reach the widest possible intended audience. Those applicants proposing educational campaigns addressing potential victims of discrimination should keep in mind that some of the traditional methods of public communication may be less than optimal for educating members of national origin or linguistic groups that have limited community-based support and communication networks. Grants are an important component of OSC partnerships to better serve the public, employers and potential discrimination victims. Grantees should plan to include OSC attorneys and other professional staff in public outreach programs in order to more successfully reach their audiences and prevent discrimination before it occurs or combat it where it exists. Proposals should discuss the components of the campaign strategy, detail the reasons supporting the choice of each component, and explain how each component will effectively contribute to the overall objective of cost-effective dissemination of useful and accurate information to a wide audience of protected individuals or employers. Discussions of the campaign strategies and supporting rationale should be clear, concise, and based on sound evidence and reasoning. Budget proposals should include the costs for distribution of materials received from OSC or from current/past OSC grantees. To the extent that applicants believe the development of original materials particularly suited to their campaign is necessary, their proposal should articulate in detail the circumstances requiring the development of such materials. All such materials must be approved by OSC prior to production to ensure legal accuracy and proper emphasis. Proposed revisions/translations of OSC-approved materials must also be submitted for clearance. All information distributed should also identify OSC as a source of assistance, information and action, and include the correct address and telephone numbers of OSC (including the toll-free numbers, TDD numbers), and OSC e-mail and Internet addresses.
A full evaluation of a project's effectiveness is due within 60 days of the conclusion of a campaign. Interim evaluation/activity reports are due quarterly.
a. Demonstration of a clear understanding of the requirements of the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Special Counsel's outreach goals. (10 points)
b. Clear statement of the proposed goals and objectives, including a listing of the major events, activities, products and timetables for completion and the extent of OSC participation in grantee outreach events. (10 points)
c. Selection and definition of the intended audience(s) for the campaign, and the factors that support the selection, including special needs, and the applicant's qualifications to reach effectively the intended audience(s). (10 points)
d. A cost-effective campaign strategy for educating employers and/or members of the protected class, with a justification for the choice of strategy. (10 points)
e. How the applicant proposes to measure the effectiveness and success of the education campaign. (10 points).
a. Evidence of proven ability to provide high quality results in the public outreach program. (10 points)
b. Evidence that the applicant can implement the campaign. (10 points)
OSC's experience during previous grant cycles has shown that a number of applicants choose to apply as a consortium of individual entities; or, if applying individually, propose the use of subcontractors to undertake certain limited functions. It is essential that these applicants demonstrate the proven management capability and experience to ensure that, as lead agency, they will be directly accountable for the successful implementation, completion, and evaluation of the project.
a. The duties outlined in the proposed staffing plan for grant-funded positions
b. The qualifications of the grant funded positions appear to match the requirements of these positions. (5 points)
If the grant project manager or other member of the professional staff is to be hired later as part of the grant, or should there be any change in professional staff during the grant period, hiring is subject to review and approval by OSC at that time.
1. A completed and signed Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424).
The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 16.110 and the title is: “Education & Enforcement of the Antidiscrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act” (box #10 of the SF 424).
2. OJP Form 4061/6 (Certification Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements).
3. Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying (SF LLL)
4. OJP Form 4000/3 (Assurances)
5. An abstract of the full proposal, not to exceed one page.
6. A program narrative of not more than fifteen (15) double-spaced typed pages that clearly and specifically demonstrates how the applicant meets each of the four (4) elements set forth as Selection Criteria, above.
7. A proposed budget outlining all direct and indirect costs for personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, subcontracts, and a short narrative justification of each budgeted line item cost. If an indirect cost rate is used in the budget, then a copy of a current fully executed agreement between the applicant and the cognizant Federal agency must accompany the budget.
Program budgets must include the travel, lodging and other expenses necessary for not more than two program staff members to attend the mandatory OSC grantee training (2 days) that will be held in Washington, DC, at the end of September.
8. Copies of resumes of the professional staff proposed in the budget. Application forms may be obtained by writing or telephoning: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20530. Tel. (202) 616–5594, or (202) 616–5525 (TDD for the hearing impaired). This announcement and the required forms will also appear on the World Wide Web at: