CWOP 5.0/6.0 RFA Frequently Asked Questions
(All roles)
Applying for Role
Can CBOs apply to multiple roles, not just one?
Answer: No, applicants can only apply for one role.
Formerly you said that you can apply for only one role. If you are applying for Activator Plus, can you also subcontract with regional lead for a limited role without being eliminated from one role?
Answer: Yes.
In the application, there is a section of tables for each of the roles about the outreach we will do. If I’m applying for AP, would I also need to fill out the table for Activators since we will also be req to conduct that work?
Answer: Yes.
Did any of the questions change in the new amendment on the application? FAQ added 1/7/2025
Answer: No, no questions we changed.
Budget
Will the budget template be required to be submitted with the application? Or is it required once the CBO is awarded?
Answer: DIR will not be asking to see a budget until after the awardees are announced so the awardees can structure their budgets according to the funding amount they are awarded.
The RFA states that the DIR can cover written translation costs in certain cases. Can we have a little more clarification on what translation costs DIR will cover? Added to FAQs on 1/7/2025
Answer: These cases will need to be reviewed by DIR if the language is hard to find so DIR can evaluate the request.
From the revised FAQ it looks like there is no way to provide food or beverage for events. Added to FAQs on 1/7/2025
Answer: No, we were advised by our legal department that this is not permissible.
CORD
Can I start an application, save my progress, and come back to it?
Answer: Yes, you can.
How would two organizations count attendees if they’re doing the same event together? Would they be double-counting attendees?
Answer: There cannot be double the number of attendees. Please note the joint effort in reporting and the data will be adjusted.
Does CORD allow for applying for multiple roles by preference?
Answer: No, currently you can only apply for one role on CORD. The application was not set up to capture that information because you can only apply for one role.
Just to confirm, in the CORD application, should we be including projected deliverables for 1 year or 2 years? And the total grant amount requested should be for 1 year or 2? Added to FAQs on 1/7/2025
Answer: 2 years and make sure to note in application that that is what you are doing in the breakdown. The more information the better.
Co-applicants
Do co-regional leads need to submit their IRS forms and their determination letter, if they are not the lead?
Answer: Both will need to provide these documents.
Can two organizations work together to apply for the Activator Plus Role but split the activities? E.g., 1 doing outreach and another doing coordinating large events and training?
Answer: One organization must be the primary applicant. The primary organization can procure a consultant to perform certain activities identifying the secondary consultant organization in the detail of the application or the secondary organization can apply as an Activator on their own.
Co-Regional Leads
For organizations applying as Co-Regional leads, should one organization submit the application and name the others? Does this also apply to the required attachments?
Answer: The primary RL would be applying and name the other org. The other org would still need to provide the same documents
Deadline to apply
What time and date is the deadline to submit the CWOP 5.0/6.0 application?
Answer: The deadline has been extended to 1/10/2025 at 5:00 PM.
Will all applications be considered after the due date or will they be processed on a rolling basis as they are submitted?
Answer: With the extension of the deadline to 1/10/25, the applications will be screened after the due date.
Funding
For Activator Plus, to qualify for the $125,000 funding per year, do we just need to perform at least one of the Activity Scopes listed, or would it require to perform more than one activity scope to obtain the $125,000 funding per year?
Answer: For Activator Plus (AP), organizations must select at least one role and perform some level of outreach as an Activator. Funding for AP is up to 350,000 for one or more roles but will not exceed $350,000 for any single or combined roles and be awarded additional funds up to $125,000 for its outreach activities.
Example: AP organization selects two roles and applies for training for $125,000 and direct support for $225,000 and is awarded $350,000 for both activities, and details outreach events costing $75,000. The total award is $425,000 each year of the two-year CWOP period.
Are the two years of funding for both CWOP 5.0 and CWOP 6.0?
Answer: Yes.
Grantee Reference Form
Based on one of our funds, guidance, they're unable to fill out a reference form that includes ratings for organizations they have ongoing contracts with. However, they can write a letter of support. Is this permissible?
Answer: Fill out the Reference Form as fully as you can, and you may attach upload a letter as well. You can explain why this could not be filled out.
Can organizations that have participated in CWOP previously ask DIR to complete a grantee reference form based on their completion of previous CWOP deliverables?
Answer: No, non-unbiased references are needed for equitable purposes.
Is it permissible to submit requests from a non-funder. What organizations are eligible to complete a grantee reference form? Can it be from partner agencies, or agencies you have contracted to provide services?
Answer: Yes.
If an international union provides funding to a local union for the purpose of outreach & education about workplace rights and/or supporting workers to file complaints or otherwise address violations, can they list their international union as a reference?
Answer: No. The organization that provides a reference should be separate and distinct from the applicant.
Deliverables
Are deliverables required or is there an option to choose your deliverables?
Answer: All roles must conduct outreach. For the Activator Plus role your deliverables, will depend on which outreach activities you choose to conduct and the outreach deliverable which is required.
Do we need to state our deliverables, for both years if they’re the same?
Answer: Note on the application
Is there a specific number of deliverables expected for the maximum amount?
Answer: The amounts awarded are determined according to each application, not a number of deliverables unless stated performance requirements.
Eligible Expenses
For eligible expenses, do staff salaries include students, graduate student researchers, or student interns?
Answer: Yes
Are food and beverages allowable for the purposes of hosting small / large events as requirements for AP?
Answer: The Constitution of the State of California prohibits any gift of public funds. As part of that, food and beverages are ineligible activities and cost.
As we will have to find other sources of funding for food and beverages for each event, do we have to explain where we plan to get that outside funding? Added to FAQ on 1/7/2025.
Answer: No
Fiscal Sponsors
We have a fiscal sponsor and are “new” to our organization entity. When filling out the application such as questions 37) mission statement and 38) about operational budgets etc. do those need to be filled with information about our fiscal sponsor or about the entity applying for the grant?
Answer: The Fiscal Sponsor will need to fill this out and your organization can add more information about what precludes you from being able to apply on your own.
Invoicing
Regarding financials, will CWOP grantees need to submit receipts for supplies bought etc. or will we do our own tracking and invoice a total sum?
Answer: CBOs will retain receipts for inspection if requested. The CBO will submit a detailed invoice to DIR.
Reporting Requirements
Will you be going over reporting requirements and how they differ based on each role?
Answer: DIR will review reporting requirements in the orientation sessions for awardees.
How would two organizations count attendees if they’re doing the same event together? Would they be double-counting attendees?
Answer: There cannot be double the number of attendees. Please note the joint effort in reporting and the data will be adjusted.
Can you provide examples of alternative options to resolve these cases? How will the scope of work be counted as completed? When filing claims or just the education on the process of claims through outreach activities?
Answer: Alternative options to resolve cases could include direct negotiations with an employer, other venues or enforcement agencies available to address the claim, or collective engagement with other workers to address the conditions that give rise to the worker claim or complaint.
DIR will develop a reporting mechanism to track, for example, the number of workers served, the type of services provided, and outcomes of the services.
Modification to awarded funding after Grantee is awarded
Could an applicant apply for the Activator role initially, and after the first-year request additional funding to expand to Activator Plus during the second year of funding?
Answer: It depends on the amount of funds awarded and committed. If there is room for additional activities, then yes. In that case, a new grant agreement amendment will be required with justification.
Outreach Deliverable
How much actual outreach will an applicant have to do?
Answer: All Activators and Activators Plus are expected to conduct outreach. The funding level will be commensurate to the activities detailed.
Outreach Deliverable for Activator role
What activities fit into the role of the Activator table called “Community Canvassing”? Are social media activities part of this?
Answer: In prior iterations social media interactions could be blasted out passively, however, tracking the 2-way engagement was difficult. We would not focus on that as your deliverable.
Outreach Activities for Activator Plus (AP)
Must the Activator Plus role be able to perform all activities in this category?
Answer: No, it is okay if your organization has experience in some outreach activities and not others, just note that in the application.
How should we handle questions that may not apply to our proposal? For example, we aren't going to organize large or small events. Should we put NA in questions that refer to organizing events?
Answer: Applicants should answer all questions, so they secure points. Applicants may include that although they are not selecting a particular outreach activity or activities that they do have experience and provide an explanation with details. If applicants do not answer they will not receive any points for that question.
For the Activator Plus role, we are given the option to “Train Worker-Leaders: Provide training to other Activators or workers on workplace protections and DIR processes.” Just to clarify, can this training be provided for our community served (Ex: Agricultural workers)? If yes, can the grantee contract with other agencies to provide this training?
Answer: Yes, you can. Designate the proportion of the training plan within your application in the outreach activities table and in your responses.
For the Activator Plus, regarding additional activities (for the $125,000 funds), will there be some assistance or guidance from the CWOP team in setting up large (or even small) events such as presentation topic, how to coordinate a large event such as room reservation, marketing and food and drinks? And will these events’ cost be covered by CWOP or will it come out from our funding budget?
Answer: Event costs come from the CBO’s awarded budget. Technical assistance can be provided by the Regional Lead and the CWOP program consultant. DIR staff can assist with coordination with state speakers.
Material development
Page 4 of the RFP names distributing existing or pre-approved DIR materials. Does this mean that grantees are only providing information from DIR, not their own guides and training?
Answer: DIR is open to collaborating with awardees to develop materials. As customary, any materials with DIR or sister agencies logos on them will be subject to approval by each agency that has a logo on the material.
Regions
If our organization serves different regions in California, do we need to apply multiple times?
Answer: You should only apply once and list the regions you service in California on that application.
Do you have a breakdown by region as to the dollar amounts to be awarded for Activator (or any other roles)?
Answer: No.
Could there be partial awards to achieve regional diversity? For example, if you apply for more than one region, but there are too many in one region, could you be awarded for other regions?
Answer: Possible
Roles
Are co-regional leads allowed?
Answer: Yes.
If your organization is statewide, is there a way you could apply? Since we are not a Black Worker Center?
Answer: Yes.
In the application, there is a section of tables for each of the roles about the outreach we will do. If I’m applying for AP, would I also need to fill out the table for Activators since we will also be req to conduct that work?
Answer: Yes.
Formerly you said that you can apply for only one role. If you are applying for Activator Plus, can you also subcontract with regional lead for a limited role without being eliminated from one role?
Answer: Yes.
For an applicant that initially applies as an activator and looks to expand to activator plus in the second year. Can you confirm they should apply as an activator? When and how should they propose or amend their application to become a activator plus? Lastly. Expanding to activator plus in year 2 is only possible if funding is available? FAQ added 1/7/2025
Answer: You should mention the possible intention to try for Activator Plus for year 2 in the application.
Subcontracting
If, as a Regional Lead, we have close to 20 sub-contractors across the state, would we need to list each of them in the application?
Answer: Yes.
Training
Would DIR have more training available for new staff to learn the complaint and claim process if we need them to have more detailed training on that?
Answer: Yes.
Co-applicants
Is it possible for two organizations to apply for the grant jointly if they plan to collaborate on a program? If so, could both co-applicants apply at the Activator Plus level?
Answer: No, one organization should apply as the lead, and the other organization can be listed as a consultant. Please note that payments cannot be made by the state under both organization's names.
If two organizations did apply jointly, would it be possible to provide grantee references/funders for one of the organizations but include the accomplishments/experience of the co-applicant in the application?
Answer: Yes, this is permissible.
Rural Strategic Engagement Clinic Hosts Frequently Asked Questions
Funding
Can funds for the RSE host be used for funding a position as opposed to contracting with a legal service provider?
Answer: No. The Budget Change Proposal (BCP) explicitly requested funds for the provision of legal services. We are allowing the grantee and the legal service provider discretion on how to allocate the funds. It does not have to be a 50/50 split, however, there has to be some aspect, of legal services.
For the Activator role, can we apply for $200,000 total or $200,000 per each consecutive year? Added to FAQs on 1/7/2025
Answer: Yes, please list 400k for the two years as it would be best so that we can see your plan over the span of those two years.
Legal Services Provider
How much of the application do you want the Legal Services Provider (LSP) to complete? Does the community-based organization and the LSP need to submit all requested forms, and if not, which ones does the LSP need to submit?
Answer:Technically, all we need from the LSP is the letter of commitment since the CBO is the primary applicant. However, that should not stop the LSP from working with the CBO on preparing a response to the application. As a partnership, they are free to collaborate to whatever extent they want on the application.
Can there be clarification provided on the role of legal service providers? Can you please provide clarification on the definition of ‘legal service provider’?
Answer: On page 8, the RFA states that the “Application should include a letter of commitment from a legal service provider. Applicant should develop a plan to provide legal services to farmworkers that may include providing technical assistance to applicant staff on preparing workers to attend a legal clinic, training for applicant staff to support workers on administrative claims, providing in-person or remote consultation to workers at the clinic on options to resolve a legal issue, or providing representation to workers that opt to proceed with a claim or complaint with the state agency. Applicants must be prepared to identify the legal service provider’s full name, point of contact, and EIN.
Is legal service provided by the agencies or the legal service providers?
Answer: The applicant should provide legal services in collaboration with a legal service provider. The applicant should develop a plan with the legal service provider to provide legal services.
Can a Union be considered a Legal Service Provider?
Answer: Yes, if the union provides free legal services, then it should qualify.
Is there an option to apply without a legal service provider? It sounds like the agency will be plugging in to the RSE clinics directly. If that is correct, what role is envisioned for the legal service provider?
Answer: No. The state agencies participating will be available to take claims or complaints, provide information on already filed claims or complaints, and provide broad general information on workers' rights and employer obligations. The legal service provider and the grantee will work together to provide support to the worker in evaluating the various options available to the worker, and some ongoing support to the worker who files a claim or complaint.
Can a legal service provider apply to RSE themselves?
Answer: Yes.
Within the RSE, and the resources available to the Grantee, would DIR provide professional OSHA experts and also legal professionals to support the Grantee's Legal Clinic? And if yes, would the expenses of using the OSHA expert or expert legal professional be deducted from the Grant awarded?
Answer: Subject matter experts (SMEs) from our agencies are different from the legal provider. SMEs do not provide counsel to workers on evaluating various options to address a claim, or counsel on strategic choices a worker may have to make during the process of resolving a claim. The Grantee should have a legal service provider to provide legal services. The Budget submitted must list legal service expenses.
Claims
Can you provide examples of alternative options to resolve these cases? How will DIR track these services?
Answer: Alternative options to resolve cases could include direct negotiations with an employer, other venues or enforcement agencies available to address the claim, or collective engagement with other workers to address the conditions that give rise to the worker claim or complaint. DIR will develop a reporting mechanism to track, for example, the number of workers served, the type of services provided, and outcomes of the services.
Number of Grant opportunities awarded
How many grants are you considering to issue for Clinic Hosts? Several per region, one per region?
Answer: The RFA states that six grants will be provided to clinic hosts. Our goal is to provide one grant per region but will take into consideration the strength of applications.
Is the request for monthly clinics in EACH county or based on EACH applicant?
Answer: 6 clinics/6 grantees - We have listed priority counties in California. We are open to hearing from CBOs where they feel there is a need and organizational capacity. The goal is that we want to create spaces for workers to know we are addressing their needs directly.
Can the monthly clinics be in different locations, in different parts of the state or do we have to do the same location every month?
Answer: The intent is to create clinics in fixed locations on a regular basis but we will consider applications that propose locations in different parts of the state.
Interaction with other CWOP Roles
Will RSE grantees be integrated into the other training/collaboration that is being done as part of the CWOP program? For example, participating in the regional meetings and getting technical assistance from Activator Plus grantee
Answer: Yes, RSE grantees will be part of the broader CWOP programming.
RSE Clinic Hosts Deliverables
Is there an expectation as to the number of worker participants in each clinic session?
Answer: No. While the Budget Change Proposal has projected outcomes for the number of claims/complaints processed, as well as the number of workers referred to legal service providers, these are not fixed numbers. We want to invest in the development of spaces that will lead to workers repeatedly returning for assistance and information.
RSE Protocols
Can you provide examples of what you mean by protocols?
Answer: Protocols include setting the agenda for a clinic, identifying topics and speakers for each clinic, identifying staffing and resource needs for the clinic, promoting the clinics, and setting outreach strategies for the clinic.
Direct Support to Workers for RSE Clinics
Can you please advise if it is possible or is included already in the RSE deliverables for clinic hosts to provide direct support to workers to resolve violations, conduct intakes to understand worker needs, help workers identify and document violations, support filing complaints outside of clinics, and follow-up after complaints have been filed?
Answer: Yes, these are eligible services for RSE clinic hosts.
DIR and Agencies Support or Approval
Will the agencies provide legal aid services as appears to be written here?
Answer: No, the applicant is expected to work with a legal service provider to provide legal services to work
We have had some challenges with DIR follow up to workers’ complaints. Will DIR be adding additional staff to manage workers’ claims? Can you assure us that there will be timely follow up to workers who file claims? Added to FAQs on 1/7/2025
Answer: DIR is actively hiring so we can meet the need to move claims along we are committed to hiring and training our staff to provide the best service and follow up.
January 2025
