Funding: The Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training (FIATT) Pilot - Eligibility

2. Eligibility

For the purpose of this Call for Proposals (CFP), funding will be provided to successful applicants whose projects aim to introduce and test innovative and flexible approaches to the delivery of apprentice technical training (see definitions below) in Red Seal trades.

For the purpose of this CFP, innovative and flexible approaches to the delivery of technical training are defined as:

• New technology solutions (e.g. e-learning and simulation technology) to help technical training occur out of the traditional classroom setting, as well as providing enriched, more flexible learning opportunities.
• Technical training in new settings (e.g. workplaces, mobile training centres, and distance learning) or more flexible arrangements that better suit apprentices and employers.
• Building upon existing innovative initiatives (e.g. applying an existing initiative to a new trade, jurisdiction etc.) – an innovative approach does not need to be a newly invented approach, but must involve the introduction of new elements, and cannot be a request to continue funding existing initiatives.

For the purpose of this CFP, apprenticeship technical training is defined as:

• Training, both practical and theoretical, that is part of an approved training program for a Red Seal-designated trade. Apprenticeship technical training does not include the standard workplace training component of an apprentice’s program.

This CFP is open to training providers (such as community colleges, industry trainers, union centres, employer groups, and other training providers who can deliver apprenticeship technical training recognized by provincial/territorial authorities).

Organizations can only submit one application under this CFP. Therefore, if an organization submits more than one, only the first application received will be considered.

Applicants must submit proposals which meet the CFP’s objective by:

• introducing, testing and promoting innovative approaches for the delivery of technical training;
• reducing barriers to completing training and obtaining certification; and
• creating training opportunities for apprentices in Red Seal trades (see definition below).

For the purposes of this CFP, creating training opportunities means that innovative approaches are tested and applied in real training situations. The proposed project must test its development work through the provision of technical training to individuals who are part of an approved apprenticeship program.

Each of the following requirements must be met in order for projects to be considered eligible for funding:

• the project must develop, test and promote an innovative delivery method in at least one Red Seal trade. For further details, see Section 2B: Project Description;
• the maximum duration of projects is 36 months (three years);
• the total amount of funding requested from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) must not be less than $100,000 and cannot exceed $1,500,000;
• the project must have a minimum of 10 apprentice research subjects for the duration of the project;
• contributions equal to or greater than 25% of the total eligible cost of the project must be provided through sources other than the federal government (which can include the applicant’s own organization). Both cash and in-kind contributions by the applicant organization or funding partner(s) will be accepted as leveraged funding. For further details, see Section 3A: Anticipated Sources of Contribution; and
• applicants must provide letter(s) from the apprenticeship authority(ies), in all project jurisdictions, to confirm that the project will support apprenticeship technical training.

For the purpose of this CFP, it is expected that project activities will start after April 1, 2015, and have a maximum duration of three years.

Additional points will be given to proposals that demonstrate the following:

• development and application of an innovative method in two or more Red Seal trades; and/or
• direct involvement of more than 50 apprentice research subjects; and/or
• application of an innovative training approach across more than one province or territory.

Note: all projects will be expected to work with an ESDC nominated research organization that will be collecting data and analyzing the results of the projects to create and disseminate lessons learned. Projects will be expected to collect and share data with the organization, based on common data-collecting protocols. For further details please see Section 2B: Question 44 – Project Activities.

Eligible Contribution Recipients*

Eligible recipients for this CFP are:

• Training providers, including, but not limited to community colleges, union centres, industry associations, employer groups and other training providers who can deliver apprenticeship technical training recognized by provincial/territorial authorities.

Note: FIATT will not directly finance existing provincial and territorial programs; however, apprenticeship authorities and other government organizations are encouraged to work with their partner training providers to assist in the development of pilot projects.

*The Quebec National Assembly adopted An Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30). The provisions of this Act impose certain conditions on Quebec government bodies and certain other entities wanting to contract with the federal government. You may wish to consult the provisions of M-30 at the following website prior to submitting your Application for Funding / Agreement An Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30). Any entity that is subject to the Act is responsible for obtaining such authorization before signing any agreement with the Government of Canada.

If your proposal is selected for funding, ESDC will allow a reasonable amount of time to obtain the authorization from the Government of Quebec.

Eligible Costs

Eligible costs are those considered necessary to support the project. General operating costs of your organization are not eligible for the purpose of this CFP (e.g. regular telephone and heating costs, rent, utilities, property taxes, insurance, equipment for staff, audit costs, etc..).

For this CFP, eligible costs* could include the following:

• Project Costs:
  1. staff wages and mandatory employment-related costs (MERCs) for project staff;
  2. professional service fees (e.g. research, legal, consultants, facilitation, IT, and technical expertise);
  3. materials (e.g. classroom, technical, or demonstration materials);
  4. travel directly associated with the delivery of training;
  5. infrastructure costs associated with new facilities needed to provide innovative and flexible training (not including construction/renovation);
  6. equipment lease or purchase;
  7. research or technical-related costs; and
  8. costs relating to research subjects.
• Capital Costs**, for example:
  1. computer;
  2. furniture; and
  3. software.
• Other costs necessary to support the purpose of the proposed project, as approved by ESDC.

* Please note that all eligible costs are subject to assessment and negotiation:

** Any asset/expenditure requiring agreement of disposition, with a purchase cost exceeding $5,000. All capital purchases require prior written approval from ESDC and must include a plan for disposal upon completion of the project. Also, it is recommended to obtain more than one quote when purchasing capital assets.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities would be limited to developing, testing and promoting innovative and flexible approaches to apprenticeship technical training of Red Seal trades. Examples of eligible FIATT project activities include, but are not limited to:

• the development of an online course to deliver compulsory technical training for apprentices, providing them with the flexibility to complete necessary curriculum according to their own schedule parameters;
• training using videoconference to support better synchronicity between technical and workplace training, and to extend approaches to new jurisdictions and new trades; and
• adaptation of existing technical training material to a correspondence format, thus removing distance barriers for remotely located apprentices.

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