Healthcare Biomanufacturing Occupational & Technology Training (HBOTT) Application Instructions

Summary:  The HBOTT OJT program is a Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) program that provides grant funding to local employers in the healthcare and bioscience/ biomanufacturing industries to provide on-the-job training (OJT) to new employees (trainees) who do not possess the skills needed at time of hire to be fully effective and efficient employees in a non-entry level occupation.  OJT is not intended to address entry-level skill shortages nor may it fund programs aimed at imparting basic educational skills; however, employer applicants may propose courses that support technical skills development at the post-secondary level (math, science, or language courses directly related to technical skills training) in addition to their OJT. Upon approval of its application by FloridaWorks and the execution of the contract with FloridaWorks, the employer hires and compensates trainees during training; training is conducted in the work setting under the direction of the employer’s supervision; and the employer is reimbursed a percentage of the trainee’s hourly wage while each trainee is engaged in on-the-job training.  Employers must develop and adhere to a training plan that will be used to develop an individualized training plan based on the trainee’s skill assessment and an analysis of essential job skills.  Employers are required to retain the employee/trainee upon each trainee’s successful completion of their OJT training period.

Eligible employers:  Private for-profit and private non-profit organizations are eligible for this program. Public agencies and temporary employment placement agencies are not eligible for this program.

Eligible Employee/Trainees: Employee/Trainees must be unemployed at time of enrollment into OJT.  This program is designed to provide employment and training opportunities to unemployed and underemployed workers who otherwise meet the education, experience and other job specific requirements of the employer’s job description.  Additional formal vocational training from local post-secondary institutions may also be available to eligible trainees, at no cost to the employer or trainee, through this program.

Reimbursement Rate:  Up to 90% of hourly wage rate (excluding taxes or fringe benefits) may be reimbursed for employers with 50 or less employees; up to 75% for employers with 51-250 employees; and up to 50% for employers with more than 250 employees.  OJT employers are encouraged to accept lower rates or variable rates to ensure the maximum number of trainees are served by this program.  Reimbursement will be on a monthly basis provided all required documentation is submitted to FloridaWorks. Required documentation is shown in Section 5 of the application.

Length of Training:  The training duration should be of adequate length to ensure the trainee has acquired the technical skills needed to succeed in the position.  This program may provide training reimbursement for up to 6 months depending on the level of skill needed and the duration of the training program. Employers are encouraged to accept shorter terms of training, if adequate to provide the skills needed, to ensure the maximum number of trainees is served by this program.  Employers will be required to provide FloridaWorks with Monthly Progress Reports (format to be provided by FloridaWorks) to document that trainees are or are not progressing in the training as planned.

Employer Selection Process: The employer will be notified of FloridaWorks’ funding decision within 45 days of its application being submitted, as follows:  Employers will be selected based upon the information provided in the attached application.  Applications submitted to FloridaWorks will be reviewed by a FloridaWorks staff person to ensure that all required documentation and information has been submitted.  Applications will then be submitted to the FloridaWorks Business Competitiveness Council subcommittee for review and funding recommendations.  These recommendations will then be presented to the FloridaWorks Business Competitiveness Council who will meet the 2^nd Monday of each month to make the final funding determinations.  Applicants will be notified of the date, place, and time of the Council’s meeting.

Once funding has been approved, FloridaWorks and the employer will execute a contract that specifies requirements and the plan for OJT supervision and training.  The contract will include federally required elements of an OJT agreement.  The contract will also include the reimbursement wage percentage awarded by the FloridaWorks Business Competitiveness Council, which may be lower than requested in the application by the employer, based on availability of funds.

Upon approval of an employer’s application, FloridaWorks will provide each employer a list of eligible trainees that meet the required criteria for each training position.  The employer may also refer potential trainees to FloridaWorks for a program eligibility decision.  Once hired by the employer, the trainee will receive wages and benefits from the employer comparable to other employees in similar positions.

APPLICATION COMPLETION INSTRUCTIONS:

Section 1 – Employer Information

This section of the application will be used to provide the company name, address and company contact person.  The contact person should be an authorized representative of the firm who is familiar with the application and is able to answer any questions that FloridaWorks may have regarding the application.  The employer should also provide the location of the OJT training if it is different than the address provided earlier in the application.

The employer’s NAICS code can be obtained through the following link: http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/.

The employer must also provide the number of new employees that they estimate hiring within the next two (2) years.

Section 2.  - Training Information

This section of the application identifies and describes the number of OJT positions requested by the employer:

• Job Title – enter the job title for each OJT position;
• O*Net Code – enter the O*Net Standard Occupation Code (SOC) code for each job title.  The O*Net code can be found using this link: http://www.onetcodeconnector.org/;
• Wage Per Hour – for each job title, identify the wage per hour that will be provided to the trainee;
• Hours Per Week – for each job title, identify the number of hours per week that each trainee will be required to work;
• Number of Trainees – for each job title, identify the number of trainees requested;
• Number of Training Hours – for each job title, identify the number of OJT training hours that each trainee will need to complete to earn the necessary OJT credentials, experience, and expertise.

OJT is defined at WIA section 101(31) as training by an employer that is provided to a paid participant while engaged in productive work in a job that ‐‐

1. provides knowledge or skills essential to the full adequate performance of the job;
2. provides reimbursement to the employer of up to 50 percent (this program can go higher base on size of company) of the wage rate of the participant, for the extraordinary costs of providing the training and additional  supervision related to the training; and
3. is limited in duration as appropriate to the occupation for which the participant is being trained, taking into account the content of the training, the prior work experience of the participant, and the service strategy of the participant, as appropriate.

Do not include any required and/or formal vocational/occupational training hours that take place when the trainee is not on the job.

• Reimbursement Percentage Requested – identify the reimbursement percentage requested based on the number of current employees on the company’s payroll.  The maximum reimbursement percentages based on the number of existing employees listed in the application should not be exceeded; and
• Credential will be attained at conclusion – by checking the checkbox in this field, indicate whether a credential will be earned by the trainee upon successfully completing the OJT training.

Each job title listed in the table will require a matching job description to be attached to the application.  Duplicate page 2 of the application if there are additional job titles to be submitted for consideration than will fit on one page. This section also requests information regarding the benefits provided by the employer.  OJT trainees must receive the same benefits received by current employees for the same or similar job. If different benefits will be provided for different job titles, please note that under the table.

Section 3 – Assurances

Applicants must provide YES or NO answers for the questions in this section by checking the applicable checkbox.  Any YES answers must have an explanation attached to the application.

Section 4 – Capacity to Do the Work

Applicants must provide YES or NO answers for the questions in this section by checking the applicable checkbox.  Any NO answers must have an explanation attached to the application.

Section 5 – Agreement to Provide Reporting Requirements

Applicants must provide the required attachments so the evaluation committee can make a determination of the feasibility and sustainability of the business for job creation activities.

Section 6 – Required Attachments

• If the business is incorporated, the latest Annual Corporate Report or Articles of Incorporation
• Management Team Description and Organization Chart should include qualifications of key business leadership to demonstrate capacity for the firm’s sustainability and future success.
• Business Plan describing expansion that will create the new hiring entered in Section 1. While this may or may not be a corporate wide plan, it should provide 5-year projections of revenue, expenses and job creation covered in the application.  Business Plan should include current and at least 3 years of projected financial statements.  Also include funding sources and amounts previously acquired and committed for the next three years.
• Job Descriptions for Training Positions listed in the application
• Training Plan/Training Description with certifications or completion documentation that will be earned for each position
• Copies of the current declarations pages of the organization’s Commercial General Liability, Umbrella Liability, Professional Liability, Comprehensive Automobile Liability, and any other insurance, as applicable.
• Media Release (Attachment A) must be signed by the authorized company representative. The media release refers to the firm’s activities in this program. Company specific information from business plans, management team descriptions, organization charts or insurance information will not be used in any media related activities.

Section 7 – Certification by Authorized Company Representative & Schedule for Submission and Approval

The application must be signed by an individual who has the authority to enter into contracts on the behalf of the organization.

The applicant can expect to receive a decision regarding funding of training positions according to the time line.

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