Your TL;DR: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC) and Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grants require independent, third-party evaluation. EBHC delivers rigorous, equity-focused frameworks that meet DOL compliance standards. Plan to budget approximately 8–12% of total direct costs for evaluation.
How to Build Evaluation into DOL Workforce Grants
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) invests heavily in regional workforce partnerships through its Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC) and Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) programs; two of the nation’s most significant competitive initiatives for workforce and apprenticeship capacity building. Awards typically range from $1 million to $5 million across multi-year project periods.
Evaluation is not optional. It is a formal, compliance-driven requirement in both programs. DOL mandates that grantees procure an independent evaluator and submit a Detailed Evaluation Design (DED) shortly after award.
As stated in DOL’s Evaluation Policy Resource: “The Department required grantees to incorporate evidence-based design into their projects and, beginning in Round 2, to retain an independent, third-party evaluator to design and execute a rigorous evaluation of each funded project.”
Similarly, the SCC Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) reinforces: “After procuring a third-party evaluator, grantees must submit a Draft Detailed Evaluation Design …” — SCC FOA, Section I.G, pp. 20–21
In other words, evaluation is embedded in the grant’s DNA. It is a compliance requirement and a credibility signal to reviewers.
Why DOL Requires Independent Evaluation
DOL uses evaluation to verify that federally funded projects deliver measurable, equitable workforce outcomes. Third-party evaluators provide objective data that informs federal evidence-building efforts and improves future workforce strategies.
Grantees are expected to measure outcomes such as:
- Retention and completion in workforce or apprenticeship programs;
- Employment and wage gains for participants;
- Employer and college collaboration effectiveness; and
- Equity in access, participation, and outcomes for underrepresented populations.
Without a clear, independent evaluation plan, proposals may be considered non-responsive. Strong evaluation is not just compliance—it is a core determinant of funding success.
Budgeting for Evaluation: A Core Investment, Not a Cap
Neither SCC nor ABA imposes a budget cap for evaluation. Under federal cost principles, evaluation costs are allowable under personnel, consultant, or “other direct cost” categories. DOL treats evaluation as a required workstream, not a discretionary line item. EBHC recommends allocating 7% to 10% of total direct costs to independent evaluation, aligning with best practices across prior SCC and ABA awardees.
DOL reviewers look for evaluation partners who bring more than just credentials—they expect a team that embodies technical rigor, equity expertise, and federal compliance capacity. They want assurance that data will be collected and analyzed with precision, that results will reflect the experiences of diverse participants, and that every process will adhere to strict federal standards for privacy and ethics.
We meet those expectations in full. Our evaluation work combines methodological precision with an unwavering commitment to equity and compliance. We help grantees meet DOL’s third-party evaluation requirement while generating actionable insights that drive program improvement. Every report, dashboard, and data analysis we deliver reinforces transparency, accountability, and trust—qualities that funders and stakeholders recognize and value.
We bring extensive experience evaluating federal workforce and regional innovation programs, including EDA Tech Hubs, NSF Engines, and multi-state apprenticeship initiatives. Our approach integrates evidence-based methods with an equity-centered lens, aligning perfectly with DOL’s evaluation standards. We offer:
- Comprehensive evaluation-design packages including logic models, theories of change, and measurable indicators;
- Implementation and outcomes evaluations capturing participant pathways, institutional performance, and employer engagement;
- Equity frameworks that disaggregate outcomes by demographics, geography, and access factors;
- Interactive performance dashboards (Power BI, Tableau) enabling real-time tracking and adaptive management; and
- Compliance-ready data governance, including DOL privacy protocols and full HIPAA/FERPA/SOC 2 adherence—all executed by U.S.-based W-2 evaluation staff.
Our team ensures that every data point serves both program improvement and federal accountability.
Ready To Take the Next Step?
We assist our clients in locating, applying for, and evaluating the outcomes of non-dilutive grant funding. We believe non-dilutive funding is a crucial tool for mitigating investment risks, and we are dedicated to guiding our clients through the entire process—from identifying the most suitable opportunities to submitting and managing grant applications.