Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE): FY 2020 Education Stabilization Fund: Reimagine Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) Grants Program CFDA Number 84.425G | ED GRANTS 062320 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 062320 001

The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) within the U.S. Department of Education offered the FY 2020 Education Stabilization Fund: Reimagine Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) Grants Program under CFDA 84.425G as a discretionary grant competition designed to help states respond to the workforce and small business disruptions caused by the коронавирус public health emergency. The program was created under the CARES Act framework and is aimed specifically at states experiencing the highest coronavirus burden, with the core idea being to rapidly expand practical, near-term training and support options that can get people back into work or help them succeed in self-employment and business ownership.

The central purpose of the ESF-RWP program is to fund efforts that either (1) create or expand short-term education and training opportunities and/or career pathways that support reemployment and entrepreneurship, or (2) create or expand small business incubators that provide a package of supports such as training, mentorship, and access to shared facilities and resources. These two approaches are reflected in the program’s absolute priorities: Absolute Priority 1 focuses on workforce preparation through short-term training and career pathways, including pathways that help individuals return to work and those that help people become entrepreneurs or strengthen existing small businesses. Absolute Priority 2 shifts the emphasis toward building or scaling incubator models that can help small businesses recover and grow while also helping new entrepreneurs launch and thrive, pairing instruction with hands-on supports like mentoring and shared space or tools.

Administratively, the opportunity was published as a synopsis of the official Federal Register notice, which controls the detailed requirements for eligibility, application content, submission procedures, performance measures, and priority definitions. The Department directed applicants to use the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019, 84 FR 3768) for standard guidance on how to obtain and submit an application, indicating that the ESF-RWP competition follows the Department’s typical discretionary grant submission framework alongside any program-specific requirements described in the Federal Register notice.

Key dates and process details were clear and time-bound. Applications became available on June 23, 2020, and the deadline to submit a full application was August 24, 2020. The Department also strongly encouraged, but did not require, a Notice of Intent to Apply by July 13, 2020. This notice was meant to help the Department plan for application review capacity, and it was submitted by emailing ESF-RWP@ed.gov with “Intent to Apply” in the subject line. Importantly, applicants who did not send this notice were still allowed to apply, so it functioned as a planning tool rather than an eligibility gate.

In terms of scope, the Department anticipated making about nine awards under this competition. The listing shows the award ceiling as “0,” which typically means the ceiling was not specified in the summary record and applicants needed to consult the official Federal Register notice for the actual funding range, constraints, or any maximum award amounts. The opportunity was categorized as a discretionary grant in the education funding activity area, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and labeled with Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 062320 001.

Eligibility is summarized in the record as “Others,” with a note to consult the official notice and its additional eligibility text for clarification. In practice, and consistent with the stated program purpose, the competition is framed around state-level action for states with the highest coronavirus burden, so the controlling Federal Register notice would be the place to confirm exactly which entities could apply directly (for example, state agencies, consortia, or other state-designated eligible entities) and what documentation would be required to establish eligibility.

For questions and official communications, the program contact listed was Erin Berg at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC, reachable at (202) 245-6792 and via ESF-RWP@ed.gov. Overall, ESF-RWP was positioned as a rapid-response stabilization and recovery tool: it aimed to accelerate short-term, employment-relevant training and structured career pathways, while also supporting entrepreneurship and small business recovery through incubators that combine education with practical supports and shared resources.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE): FY 2020 Education Stabilization Fund: Reimagine Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) Grants Program CFDA Number 84.425G" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.425.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 23, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 24, 2020 Applications Available June 23, 2020. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply July 13, 2020. Notice of Intent to Apply We will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify us of the applicantaposs intent to submit an application by sending an email to ESF-RWP@ed.gov with Intent to Apply in the subject line. Applicants that do not send a notice of intent to apply may still apply for funding. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications August 24, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Erin Berg, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 11113, PCP, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 245-6792. Email ESF-RWP@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for ED GRANTS 062320 001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: