Opportunity Information: Apply for ETA OA VAN
The Department of Labor, through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), issued a public notice of its intent to fund a single project titled "American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to create the AACC Virtual Apprenticeship Network" under Funding Opportunity Number ETA OA VAN. The opportunity sits in the Employment, Labor, and Training category (CFDA 17.285) and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically means the federal agency expects to have an active role in overseeing or collaborating on major aspects of the work rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.
This notice is explicitly not a competitive solicitation and not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as formal public notification that ETA planned to support the described activities without competition. Even though the eligible applicant type is listed as a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), the structure of the announcement indicates the agency intended to make a directed award rather than open an application process to the broader field.
The project itself centers on establishing the AACC Virtual Apprenticeship Network, designed to mobilize, manage, and provide technical support to community colleges that are developing and delivering apprenticeship programs. In practice, this kind of network typically functions as a national coordination and support hub: helping colleges start new apprenticeship pathways, improve existing programs, align training with employer needs, strengthen work-based learning components, and navigate apprenticeship-related requirements and best practices. The emphasis on "technical support" suggests hands-on guidance such as toolkits, peer learning structures, training for college staff, employer engagement strategies, program design assistance, and implementation troubleshooting so colleges can scale apprenticeships more effectively.
The funding parameters reflect a large, single-award initiative. The award ceiling is listed as $20,000,000, with an expected number of awards of one. The announcement was created on February 26, 2019, with an original closing date of February 27, 2019, which aligns with the fact that it was not seeking applications but rather providing a short window for public notice before proceeding with the intended non-competitive award.
In short, this opportunity describes ETA's plan to fund AACC to stand up and run a national virtual apprenticeship network aimed at accelerating and improving community college apprenticeship activity, with substantial funding, a single recipient, and a cooperative agreement structure that implies ongoing federal involvement in key aspects of the project.Apply for ETA OA VAN
- The Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to create the AACC Virtual Apprenticeship Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.285.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 27, 2019 This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the Employment and Training Administration#8217s intention to fund the following project activities without competition.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a public notice from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), stating its intent to fund a single project titled "American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to create the AACC Virtual Apprenticeship Network" under Funding Opportunity Number (FON) ETA OA VAN.
2) Is this a competitive grant where multiple applicants can apply?
No. The notice explicitly says it is not a competitive solicitation and not a request for applications. It functions as formal public notification that ETA planned to support the described activities without competition.
3) Is this notice a Request for Applications (RFA) or Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) inviting submissions?
No. The notice states it is not a request for applications. It does not describe an open application process for organizations to submit proposals in competition.
4) Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), which would create and operate the AACC Virtual Apprenticeship Network.
5) How many awards does ETA expect to make?
ETA expected to make one award.
6) What is the maximum amount of funding available?
The award ceiling is listed as $20,000,000.
7) What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
8) What does a cooperative agreement imply for how the project will operate?
A cooperative agreement typically means ETA expects to have an active role in overseeing, collaborating on, or participating in major aspects of the work, rather than issuing funds and taking a hands-off approach.
9) What government agency is issuing the notice?
The notice is issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
10) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is ETA OA VAN.
11) What category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is in the Employment, Labor, and Training category.
12) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 17.285.
13) What is the project being funded?
The project centers on establishing the AACC Virtual Apprenticeship Network, designed to mobilize, manage, and provide technical support to community colleges developing and delivering apprenticeship programs.
14) What is the purpose of the AACC Virtual Apprenticeship Network?
The purpose is to act as a national coordination and support hub that helps community colleges start new apprenticeship pathways, strengthen and improve existing apprenticeship programs, align training with employer needs, enhance work-based learning components, and navigate apprenticeship-related requirements and best practices.
15) What kinds of "technical support" are suggested by the notice?
The notice emphasizes technical support and suggests hands-on assistance such as toolkits, peer learning structures, training for college staff, employer engagement strategies, program design support, and implementation troubleshooting to help colleges scale apprenticeships more effectively.
16) Does the opportunity appear to be open to the broader nonprofit community even though an eligible applicant type is listed?
Even though the eligible applicant type is listed as a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), the notice indicates ETA intended a directed, non-competitive award rather than an open application process.
17) Are institutions of higher education eligible applicants under the listing provided?
The eligible applicant type is described as a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
18) What does the timeline in the notice suggest about the nature of the opportunity?
The announcement was created on February 26, 2019, with an original closing date of February 27, 2019. This short window aligns with the notice being a public notification of intent to fund a specific project without competition, rather than an open application period.
19) Why is there a "closing date" if the notice is not requesting applications?
Based on the information provided, the closing date appears to reflect the end of the public notice period before ETA proceeded with the intended non-competitive award, not an application deadline for competitive submissions.
20) What is the overall summary of this opportunity?
ETA announced its intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award (up to $20,000,000) to AACC to create and operate a national virtual apprenticeship network that supports community colleges in developing, improving, and scaling apprenticeship programs, with ongoing federal involvement typical of a cooperative agreement.
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