Operational Guidance | OG 08 2022 | Guidance on Acknowledgment of Federal Funding in Accordance with the Stevens Amendment

Date: December 2, 2022
Subject: Guidance on Acknowledgement of Federal Funding in Accordance with the Stevens Amendment
From: Chet Mottershead, Assistant Secretary for Workforce

Purpose:

To remind Local Area Workforce Development Boards (WDBs), NCWorks Career Center Operators and other workforce development partners of requirements under the “Stevens Amendment”, as it pertains to transparency and accountability in federal spending of federal grant funds awarded to the Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) and the workforce development system.

Background:

Beginning in 1989 with Public Law 101-166, Section 511, U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) annual appropriation from Congress has included a provision known as the Stevens Amendment. For fiscal year 2022, this provision appeared in section 505 of Division H of Public Law 117-103 (the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022).

The Stevens Amendment is an appropriations provision that requires grantees of the USDOL, U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, and Education to disclose for a grant program the percent of the costs financed with federal funds, the federal dollar amount, and the percentage and dollar amount financed by non-governmental funds, which means any funding source other than the Federal Government. These funding disclosures must be made when issuing statements, press releases, bid solicitations, and other documents describing their grant project or program.

While the Stevens Amendment continues to be a part of annual appropriations, DWS does not anticipate issuing annual guidance on the matter as long as requirements remain the same. This Operational Guidance will apply to subsequent fiscal years until DWS issues new guidance.

Action:

Pursuant to P.L. 117-103, Division H, Title V, Section 505, when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money, all non-Federal entities receiving Federal funds shall clearly state:

The percentage of the total costs of the program or project which will be financed with federal money;
The dollar amount of federal funds for the project or program; and
The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-governmental (i.e., non-federal government) sources.

An acceptable template for this provision is:

This [project/publication/program/website, etcetera] [is/was] supported by the [federal sub-agency] of the [federal agency] as part of an award totaling $XX [insert total Notice of Fund Availability (NFA) amount here] with XX percentage financed from non-federal sources.

For example:

North Carolina’s Jobs for Veterans State Grant program is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor. A total of $900,000, or 90 percent, of the program is financed with federal funds, and $100,000, or 10 percent, is funded by other sources.

Alternatively (assuming no non-federal funding):

This WIOA Title I Adult Program bid solicitation is 100 percent supported by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the USDOL as part of an award totaling $361,633.

Please ensure that all appropriate managers, staff, and partners are knowledgeable of the content of the requirements of the Stevens Amendment. Staff must incorporate federal requirements into local policies, and ensure that all materials, presentations and websites are labeled with the information as described.

Effective Date:

Immediately

Expiration:

Indefinite

Contact:

DWS Financial Monitor

Attachment:

The Stevens Amendment Frequently Asked Questions