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  • III. Operational Planning Elements
    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support 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. Ensure Direct and Equitable Access

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.

Current Narrative:

The Alabama Community College System (ACCS), Office of Adult Education, will hold a full and open competition consistent with the standards of CFR 200.319. All eligible agencies will be granted direct and equitable access to apply and compete for grants or contracts. The following steps will be initiated to ensure direct and equitable access: An announcement of the availability of federal funds, under the auspices of Title II of the Workforce Innovation Act of 2014, will be circulated in various professional publications, newsletters, and newspapers, in order to provide the widest possible state coverage. The same announcement, grant and application process will be used for all eligible providers in the state in sections 221, 225, 243 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Standard criteria for evaluation of local proposals will be used for all eligible providers. The application processes will be designed so that direct application to the State eligible agency is clearly evident, customary, and nonnegotiable. Direct application will be the norm regardless of whether an applicant, if awarded funds, would be considered a grantee or a contractor. Technical assistance workshops will review the entire process and provide information to all eligible providers interested in applying. Dates, times, and places of these workshops are included in announcements and the Request for Proposal. The announcement will contain information pertaining to: • Type of grants available. • Contact person to obtain RFP guidelines. • Timeline with grant application due date included. • Other pertinent WIOA required information.