Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program

1. Purpose:

1. The intent of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Award Program is to encourage the improvement and modernization of employment, training, and job placement services for veterans, and recognize eligible employees for excellence in providing such services, or for having made demonstrative improvements in the service delivery system for veterans.

2. The Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Program is designed to recognize service providers for providing extraordinary and commendable services to veterans, and to promote improvement of service delivery to veterans.

2. Eligibility for the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards:

1.    Eligible recipients for individual incentive awards are Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists, Local Veterans’ Employment Representative(LVER) staff, and any other individual who provides employment and training services to veterans under the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014, to include labor exchange staff funded by the Wagner-Peyser Act or staff of One-Stop partner agencies, as prescribed in Title 38 U.S.C., Section 4112, as amended by P.L. 109-461. States are not restricted from awarding individuals who collectively serve a specific function or work in an area where their performance warrants recognition under a State’s incentive awards program. Volunteers, Veterans’ Administration Work Studies, and Federal employees are not eligible recipients.

2.    P. L. 109-461 expands the recipient eligibility for performance incentive awards to include Career Centers.        Offices that are eligible to be incentive award recipients include any service delivery point that provides exemplary public employment and training services to veterans, One-Stop Career Centers operated by State Workforce Agencies or offices that contract with State, Regional or Local Workforce Investment Boards, and other Agencies identified in Section 121(b)(1)(B) of the WIOA that provide services to veterans. Incentive awards may be used by recipient offices for any purpose.

3. Awards to offices should be reserved for instances where most, if not all, employees in an office contribute in some way to improving employment or training services offered and provided to veterans.

4.   Consideration for the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards requires that nominations meet the eligibility requirements as defined by the law and Veterans Program Letter (VPL) 04-19. In accordance with VPL 04-19, it is the expressed intent of Congress that eligibility and selection criteria provide states the maximum flexibility needed to recognize employees whose individual efforts merit recognition with a performance incentive award.
5.   Individuals nominated for the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards must have achieved a “Meets Standards” rating or above on their most recent performance appraisal occurring during the program year for which the award is being given.

6.   Any person who has received a disciplinary write up during the program year for which the award is being given, is  ineligible to participate in that year's incentive awards program.

7.   Each nominee’s eligibility for the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards must be certified by the Manager of the Alabama Career Center in which the nominee(s) provided services. (Ref: VPL 04-19)

8.   For unit or office submissions for the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards, each person covered by the nomination must meet the individual eligibility requirements named in 2(e), (f) and (g).
9.  The Manager of the Alabama Career Center in which the   nominee(s) provided services must also certify as to the   factualness of submitted nominations.

3. Selection of Award Recipients: The Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards program selection process is as follows:

1.    Announcement of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Program by the Director of ES Division by July 1 of each year, ensuring wide dissemination of the program objectives and selection process among partners and stakeholders in the Alabama workforce development system.

2.    Close of all nominations by July 30 of each year.

3.    Not later than July 31 of each year, the ES Veterans Services Program Coordinator, or other state administrator assigned by the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor will certify that nominations submitted for consideration are eligible for Performance Incentive Awards, using the Alabama Performance Incentive Award Program Eligibility Certification form, as approved by the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor.    Nominations certified as eligible will be assigned base scores, using the Alabama Performance Incentive Award    Program State Administrator Scoring Worksheet. The base scoring will assign scores based on the "weight" of the    activities or services being scored, relative to the degree of emphasis in the grant provisions.  Only nominations that are certified as eligible will be assigned base scores and forwarded to the Performance Incentive Awards Selection Committee.  In order to further bolster fairness in the awards program selection process, the ES Veterans Services Program Coordinator, or other state administrator assigned by the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor, will cover the nominee’s name and/or identifying information on the forms, and assign a numerical or alphabetical identification code to the nominations prior to forwarding to the Performance Incentive Awards Selection   Committee.

4.   Not later than August 15 of each year, a Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Selection Committee will                  convene to score the certified eligible nominations, using the Alabama Performance Incentive Awards Program Selection Committee Scoring Worksheet. The selection committee will be at least five (5) members of workforce development peers and other workforce development experts approved by the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor. The selection committee members will score all eligible nominations. Only nominations scored above a cut-off score set by the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor will be forwarded to the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Selection Board.

5.    Not later than August 31 of each year, the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor will convene a     Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Selection Board with at least five state-level administrators, representing partners and stakeholders in the Alabama workforce development system. Using the approved criteria of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards program, the Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Selection Board will select nominations for individual awards and recommend monetary amounts for each award to the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor.

6.    Not later than September 15 of each year, the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor, approves the actual cash disbursements from the grant funds to individuals selected for Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards.

 (4)    Nomination and/or Evaluation Criteria:

1.    Selection of Veterans Performance Incentive Award recipients may involve evaluation of both objective and subjective data (Ref: VPL 02-07). Nominees must demonstrate outstanding efforts at providing employment, training, job placement, and other employment-related services to United States veterans or separating military personnel. Services to veterans representing categories of concern, or veterans with especially significant barriers to employment will be afforded extra weight in the selection criteria. 
2.    The nominations may include a combination of performance data, team building, motivation, program improvement, and feedback from job seeking and business customers.
3.    Consideration for nomination may include any combination of the following:

1.   Development of a program, for which the impact may not be directly measurable but is verifiable (e.g., a resume  

  skills building program).

2.   Exemplary case management assistance to veterans, as evidenced by case notes, and/or have been referenced on a  to Veterans during the program year for which the award is being given.

3.   Exceptional performance beyond job requirements, or well above performance goals.

4.   Planning, developing, or implementing improvements in effectiveness or efficiency of services or delivery of services, training, job placement, career or vocational assistance, to veterans.

5.   Outstanding personal contribution to the state's Veterans Performance Standards as measured by the PIRL reports, or similar statistics, such as SAMS, during the program year for which the award is being given.

6.   Effective outreach and public relations in the local community on behalf of veterans (e.g. work within the chamber of commerce, employer organizations such as human resource groups, job fair planning, etc.). The outreach activities and public relations events cited in the award nomination must have been referenced on a Quarterly Manager’s Report on Services to Veterans during the program year for which the award is being given.

7.   Generation of positive publicity for the Alabama Career Center system and services to veterans that has generated measurable positive outcomes.

8.   Enhancement of on-the-job training, customized job training, or internship training for veterans, particularly veterans in categories of concern, such as Special Disabled veterans, or recently separated veterans.

9.   Exceptional efforts in assisting hard-to-place veterans, such as homeless veterans, ex-offenders, and economically disadvantaged veterans, as evidenced by case notes, and/or have been referenced on a Quarterly Manager’s Report on Services to Veterans during the program year for which the award is being given.

10. Developing new WIOA partnerships or fostering collaborative efforts to improve positive outcomes of employment and training programs for veterans, or veterans in special categories (e.g. interagency referral agreements).

11. Promotion of entry into federal employment.

12. Any other significant achievement in assisting veterans to obtain, train, or advance in employment, as evidenced by case notes, and/or have been referenced on a Quarterly Manager’s Report on Services to Veterans during the program year for which the award is being given.

4.    Priority consideration for a performance incentive award will be provided to individuals who demonstrate outstanding outreach on behalf of veterans who have barriers to employment, especially homeless veterans. Team building and motivation to serve veterans and improve the Veterans Service Program, positive feedback from employers and       customers, and other indicators of outstanding individual performance and results will be considered in the selection process.

5.    Nominations must be submitted on the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Program Nomination Form.

5. Period of Performance: The performance, activity, or accomplishments being recognized must have occurred         during the previous U.S. Department of Labor Program Year (PY), which commences on July 1 of each year, and     concludes on June 30 of the following year.  Supporting documentation or numerical data submitted must clearly        indicate performance within this evaluation period.

6. Description of the Award:

1.    In accordance with Title 38, Section 4112 (7) and the Special Grant Provisions from the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Service, it is intended that cash awards be granted to individual recipients, each Fiscal Year (FY), as required by law, Alabama must set aside one (1) percent of the Jobs for Veterans State Grant under the Alabama Performance Incentive Awards Program. Each year, the Alabama Performance Incentive Awards Program will recognize individual recipients who meet the eligibility and selection criteria, with cash awards in the amount of up to $5,000 each.

2.  The exact cash denominations for each winner is determined by the executive selection committee based on the scoring by this committee for each nomination.

3. Expenditures and the accounting of the Performance Incentive Awards program will be pursuant to federal financial reporting and fiscal requirements in the Jobs for Veterans State Grant. Selection of recipients for awards under the Alabama Performance Incentive Awards Program must be identified by September 30 of each year (the close of the Fiscal Year), and all funds set aside for the awards program must be disbursed or expended each year within ninety (90) days of Fiscal Year closeout (December 31).

7. Promotion and Public Affairs: The Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor (Grant Administrator) will provide wide dissemination of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Program among eligible candidates within the Alabama Career Center system, and other affiliated entities which are providing employment, training, and job placement services to veterans and military members separating from the U.S. Armed Forces. Nomination forms, instructions, and selection criteria will be made available at all Alabama Career Center locations, or by writing to:

Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department Labor,

ATTN:    Veterans Services, Room 2813

649 Monroe St.

Montgomery, AL 36131

Nominations and information are also available by Email by contacting Veterans Services Alabama at:

donal.cieutat@alcc.alabama.gov

8. Submission of Nominations:  Nominations for the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards may be mailed or delivered to:

Alabama Department Labor,

ATTN:          Veterans Services,

649 Monroe St., Room 2813

Montgomery, AL 36131

Nominations may also be emailed to:

donal.cieutat@alcc.alabama.gov

9. Nomination Deadlines: All nominations are due by July 30 of each year.  All awards disbursements will be identified not later than September 30 of each year (the close of each Fiscal Year).

10. Management of the Awards Program:  The success of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Program rests in the premise that appropriate recognition of worthy candidates has the potential to motivate other eligible professionals into providing excellent services to veterans.  To that end, the Secretary of Labor, Alabama Department of Labor, will ensure that the following policies, practices, and actions are carried out in support of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Program:

1.  Adequate resources and staff will be committed to Administering the Alabama Veteran Performance Incentive   

 Program.

2.  Awards decisions will be based on exemplary performance of individual employees, in services to veterans.

3.  Awards will be selected fairly, without regard to race, national origin, gender, or other non-merit factors.

4.  Management will assign priority to the integrity and the administration of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards Program.

11. Summary Report:  Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards

Program funds will be obligated by September 30 of each year (the end of the Fiscal Year), and expended by December 31 of each year.  A summary report will be submitted in the Fiscal Year fourth quarter report to the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), detailing the expenditures of the Alabama Veterans Performance Incentive Awards.