Senior Community Service Employment Program

The SCSEP program creates and pays for part-time job training and work experience in community service assignments for unemployed persons age 55 and above whose income is not more than 125 percent of the poverty level. The individuals who are enrolled in the program receive work experience and skills training at host agencies, which are public agencies and/or private nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under § 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. A portion of the funds may be used to provide participants with additional trainings, such as occupational skills training (outside of the normal job-training assignments at host organizations), and supportive services.

20 CFR 641.879 requires entities carrying out the project to submit:
1) quarterly financial reports (ETA Form 9130, OMB Control No. 1205-0461) for each grant award they receive. Reports are required to be prepared using the specific format and instructions for the applicable program(s). Reports are due 45 days after the end of the reporting quarter. Financial data is required to be reported cumulatively from grant inception through the end of each reporting period. Additional information can be accessed at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants (scroll down to the section on 'Manage Your Awarded Grant'). See TEGL 02-16 for specific instructions about the ETA 9130 (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-02-16);
2) data on participants, demographics, and performance, used to generate the Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs). The QPRs are accessible via the SCSEP Performance and Results QPR (SPARQ) online system and at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/seniors/performance;
3) Annual Equitable Distribution Report which details SCSEP positions by all recipients in the State;
4) quarterly narrative report for each grant award received. The reports are required to be prepared in a specific format, in response to specified questions relating to programmatic activities performed during the reporting quarter. Information provided in the reports must be consistent with the Program Narrative submitted and with the Optional Special Requests approved at the beginning of the grant year. Reports are due 45 days after the end of the reporting quarter; and
5) the Four-Year Strategic State Plan (which is to be reviewed and updated no less frequently than every two years). SCSEP state grantees in collaboration with national grantees are required to submit their State Plans.

The Department will pay no more than 90 percent of the total cost of activities carried out under a SCSEP grant. (OAA sec. 502(c)(l)). All SCSEP recipients, including Federal agencies if there is no statutory exemption, must provide or ensure that at least 10 percent of the total cost of activities carried out under a SCSEP grant (non-Federal share of costs) consists of allowable costs paid for with non-Federal funds. Recipients must determine the non-Federal share of costs in accordance with 29 CFR 97.24 for governmental units, or 29 CFR 95.23 for nonprofit and commercial organizations. The non-Federal share of costs may be provided in cash, or in-kind, or a combination of the two. (OAA § 502 (0) (2)). A recipient may not require a subrecipient or host agency to provide non-Federal resources for the use of the SCSEP project as a condition of entering into a sub-recipient or host agency relationship. This does not preclude a sub-recipient or host agency from voluntarily contributing non-Federal resources for the use of the SCSEP project. The Department may pay all of the costs of activities in an emergency or disaster project or a project in an economically distressed area. (OAA § 502(c)(1)(B)).

42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.; Pub. L. 114-144, 130 Stat. 334