Skills Development, Self-Sufficiency, and JET Funded Grants COVID-19 Questions & Answers

1. Can extensions be granted for projects where training has stopped due to COVID-19 social distancing and quarantine requirements?
   1. FY2018 Projects: If your project was funded by FY18 SDF or SSF funds, projects cannot be extended any further.  Please work with your grant manager to discuss current performance status.  TWC will work with you to address any shortfalls in performance to reduce liability to the grantee as much as possible.
   2. FY2019 and FY2020 Projects: If your project was funded by FY19 or FY20 SDF or SSF funds, an extension can be granted to you at this time.  Please reach out to your grant manager to request an extension.  Currently, we are approving grant requests through the end of December 2020.  Requests beyond that date will be reviewed as we get closer to the end of the year.
2. All in-person training has been halted. If our training provider can make the change to online training, can this be added to the grant?
   1. If there are no changes to the curriculum except in delivery from in-person to online, this change is allowable. Grantee will be responsible for tracking attendance through an LMS or other type of similar system.  Please notify your grant manager of any change in delivery for courses in your project(s) so it can be noted in your file.  (An amendment will not be required if there is no change to the curriculum).
3. (SSF Grantee) Training was provided for a course, but only completed half-way. Can the grantee bill for this course? 
   1. SSF grants are performance-based grants, with the only key deliverable being job placements. If you invoice the grant for this training, the grantee may be liable if they are unable to place any participants in employment related to the program.  We are looking at additional options to address this scenario.  We will get in touch with you directly through your grant manager if additional options are identified to reduce any cost liability to the grantee during this time.
4. Training has been canceled until further notice due to shelter-at-home orders. How does this affect the outcomes of the grant?
   1. All training canceled as a result of this and similar orders will be taken into consideration when performance is reviewed. As much as possible, TWC will not hold the grantee responsible for non-performance, or low performance during this time.  Any costs incurred should continue to be reported in the TWC CDER system.  If the grantee draws down funds, TWC will work to reduce the liability of the grantee as much as possible due to the inability to meet performance during this time.
5. Are there any stipulations in TWC grants that prevent staff from working on grant projects from home?
   1. Grantee staff can work from home as long as there is grant activity to support the work from home.
6. Some JET grants were extended by the allowable one semester to assist with student deliverable targets. Since COVID-19 has closed most school districts, what options do we have?
   1. Grant managers will contact all JET grantees in this situation to discuss further. Current performance will be reviewed, and a realistic target based on current performance will be taken into consideration.  Please note:  only the 10% retention amount is impacted by performance at this time, and TWC will work with all grantees to reduce as much liability as possible in light of the situation.
7. Our FY18 project will end this month. Because of COVID-19, some participants in a course were unable to complete training.  If they take a make-up exam in April, can they be counted as completers for this project?
   1. Unfortunately, we cannot accept training or exams that occur after the project expiration date. However, we will work with you to reduce any liability to the grantee as a result of COVID-19 closures.