Reference. DINAP Bulletin No. 94-21; Federal Travel Regulations at 41 CFR 301-304; and section 401 program regulations at 20 CFR 632.38(k). Information. The Federal Travel Regulations are revised to increase the maximum lodging allowance in certain existing localities for official travel away from official duty stations by Federal employees and section 401 grantees.

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References: Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 6-95, JTPA Titles II-A, II-C, and III Allotments; and Wagner-Peyser Final Planning Estimates for Program Year (PY) 1996; Emergency Supplemental and Rescission Act, 1995, Public Law 104-19; Omnibus Consolidated Recissions and Appropriations Act of 1996, Public Law 104-134; Job Training Partnership Act, Public Law 97-300, as amended; TEGL No. 5-95, Program Guidance and Allocations for the Calendar Year 1996 Summer Youth Employment and Training Program; TEGL No. 12-94 and Change 1, Changes in Restrictions on Program Year 1995 Funds under Title III of the JTPA; and TEIN No. 6-93 and Changes 1 and 2, Instructions for Title II, JTPA Quarterly Financial Status Report. Background: TEGL 6-95 provided to the States the Program Year (PY) 1996 allotments for titles II-A, II-B, II-C and III, pursuant to the Congressional appropriations to the Department. In that communication, we indicated that guidance on intertitle transfers would be forwarded separately. Policy concerning transfer rules and procedures is contained in this TEGL. In addition, in order to be responsive to the entire employment and training community, questions were solicited through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Regional offices. The answers to the questions received, including a reference table summarizing potential transfers for all years, are contained in an attachment to this TEGL. In the 1996 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Congress authorized the transfers of PY 1996 funds between JTPA titles II-A and III for adults and between title II-B and II-C for youth. The current authorization in JTPA sections 206, and 266 for the transfer of funds between titles II-A and II-C is unaffected. This local flexibility provided to service delivery areas (SDAs) and substate areas (SSAs) in planning and fund transfer requires the approval of the Governor prior to implementation.

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Background: The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) is unique among social service initiatives in the amount of information gathered on its program participants. The Standardized Program Information Reporting (SPIR) system is a national automated data base which includes relevant information on individuals who exit most JTPA training programs in a given year--dislocated workers, older workers, and economically disadvantaged youth and adults. The SPIR data base includes nearly 630,000 individual records for program year 1993 and nearly 850,000 in program year 1994, making it unique in the amount of individualized data it provides to multiple users. The data were assembled from reports submitted by States to the Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Five categories of participant information are included in the database: Demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnic group, and persons with disabilities; Wage data before and after participation in the program; Training received by participants who left the program, such as basic education, classroom training, or on-the-job training; Services provided such as counseling or job search services; and Program results, such as who left the program for employment or who received employability enhancements, such as a GED or a certificate. Data Books. SPIR national data books are available for PY 1993 and PY 1994. State data books are also available for PY 94. They contain more than 60 tables of information about the major subgroups in the large SPIR data base. The data books are divided into sections for each of the major JTPA programs covered: Title IIA, Title IIC, Title III, and Section 204(d) Older Workers. The tables in each section include 4-year historical trends, state-by-state counts, and breakouts and cross-tabulations of characteristics of terminees, services received, and outcomes obtained. There are also some cross-program summaries and supplementary information on JTPA performance standards, financial data, and national labor force statistics. Appendices include a table locator index, a glossary of terms, and the SPIR reporting instructions and definitions by which the data were collected from States. CD-ROM. The SPIR data base is also available as a public-use quality CD-ROM file for PY 93 and for PY 94 (September 1996). It has been formatted for use with statistical analysis software such as SAS. Expected Benefits. SPIR gives users a powerful tool for examining the characteristics and job training outcomes of particular participant subgroups. Such information is vital for successful program management and promoting continuous improvements in job training. For example: SPIR can help users analyze what combination of training and services for specific subgroups of customers leads to high-paying jobs with benefits, at the state, regional and federal levels. SPIR can identify the kinds of nontraditional jobs found by women who have completed high school or a GED; SPIR can help identify whether local programs are able to replace the previous salary of dislocated workers who have been laid off for varying periods of time before they entered JTPA-sponsored training; and SPIR can help identify general patterns of characteristics and outcomes across categories of individuals who have completed JTPA services or specific job training programs--such as older workers and youth. For States, this information is a useful management tool that identifies high- and low-achieving local service delivery programs and provides benchmarks for making continuous quality improvements throughout JTPA. SPIR also supports State, local community, and federal policy and management analysis by showing which services lead to retention in jobs up to three months after leaving JTPA. In doing so, users are better able to assess the needs of JTPA customers and create improved job training and employment programs.

Background. Over the past several months there have been several inquiries made by the States and Regional Offices concerning the Y2K readiness of the ICON contractor, LMIBS, and the LCCC. Consequently, the Department of Labor has requested and received from LMIBS documentation regarding the Y2K readiness of their computer systems and infrastructure. Information has also been received from the LCCC regarding their Y2K readiness.

LMIBS Statement on Y2K Readiness . The following statements regarding the Y2K readiness of ICON applications and the LMIBS Orlando Data Center Hub have been extracted from information provided to the Department of Labor from LMIBS and fairly summarizes their Y2K readiness status:

ICON Data Records and Model Code

The model [ICON] code changes were distributed in January, 1998, and since June 1998, Year 2000 versions of the model code have been operational (outputting and inputting dates with the century).

Actual Hub Processing Environment for ICON

The hub processing of ICON data is not dependent on any non-standard or customized software. The hub function, as it relates to data handling, is a store-and-forward operation. This does not require any manipulation of the data as it passes through the hub.

The hub-processing environment supporting ICON is as follows:

BE Y2K COMPLIANT?

OS/390 Model 9672

MVS OPS (390) 1.3

JES (390) 1.3

CICS 4.1

7206 (Hub)

2610 (Remotes)

Lockheed Martin represents and warrants that system level software utilized in providing services to the ICON customer is Year 2000 ready in that it accurately processes date/time (including, but not limited to calculating, comparing, and sequencing) from, into, and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and the years 1999 and 2000 and leap year calculations. All hardware and system level software have been implemented and tested in accordance with vendor documentation and instructions and are confirmed to have tested successfully.

LMIBS retains backup generator support in the Orlando Data Center. In the event of a power outage this support could be utilized until power was effectively restored. During four consecutive weekends of April 1999 and May 1999, and prior to migrating the ICON production to the OS390 environment, ICON-specific testing was done. This included stand-alone hub processing, actual batch data transmission and execution with selected SESAs, and real-time data exchange¿Interstate Benefits Inquiry (IBIQ).

Please be assured that IBS is committed to monitoring all ICON activity relative to Year 2000 and responding, as may be necessary, in order that our processing transition into the next century is a non-event for ICON.

LCCC Y2K Readiness Response. LCCC has stated that all systems are Y2K compliant and operate on the Louisiana Department of Labor mainframe computer system which is Year 2000 compliant and which has successfully passed two independent verification and validation (IV&V) processes. However, the required LCCC SESA inquiry form's record layout continues to use a 2-digit year format for separation dates. New record layouts are being developed for the LCCC that will utilize a 4-digit date format. The estimated date of implementation is mid-to-late FY 2000. So that SESAs will not have to reformat their systems twice in less than a year, the problem is being temporarily resolved by LCCC staff using a bridging program to insert the proper century date until the new record format is implemented. SESAs may continue to transmit inquiry forms using the old format until instructions are issued to change to the new format.

LMIBS Zero Day Activities. Preparations are continuing to be made by LMIBS for the millennium turnover. These include establishment of an Emergency Operations Center, establishment of Rapid Response Teams, backup of critical systems/customer files, and the final examinations of office and data center facilities. During and immediately after the millennium turnover, an initial check out of equipment and services and confirmation of the basic computing environment platforms will take place. Following the successful test of the basic environment, individual ICON programs will be cleared to be brought on line. At this point the ICON support group will run a series of ICON related jobs, both batch and ICS, internally. In addition, arrangements will be made with selected SESAs to test with the hub by transmitting batch data and establishing the IBIQ and WIC connections. Results will be relayed to agencies and/or individuals as requested.

Acceptance. After careful review of documentation furnished by LMIBS, the Department believes that the ICON contractor (LMIBS) is Y2K compliant and the infrastructure is in place to continue the ICON functions during the critical phases of the century and millennium turnover and into the next century. In addition, the Department agrees that the temporary fix being used by the LCCC on the inquiry form's record layout will allow processing of inquiries without interruption in the new century and that no further action by SESAs is required until the new format instructions are issued.

Action Required. SESA Administrators are requested to provide this information to appropriate staff. SESAs desiring to test ICON processing with LMIBS during the "Zero Day" period may coordinate directly with LMIBS (contact Martha Hazelrigg at 407-306-7228)

Inquiries. Direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.

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