Announcement of Tiger Team Grants Funding Opportunity under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Background
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (Department) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is announcing a comprehensive and strategic approach to deploying remaining Unemployment Insurance (UI) modernization funds to strengthen the integrity of the UI system. This includes three new funding opportunities to strengthen program integrity and resiliency, as well as an opportunity for states to participate in a National ID Verification Offering for both online and in-person ID verification services. The purpose is to prevent and detect fraud, promote equitable access, and ensure the timely payment of benefits concerning the UI program.

Grant Details
The grant includes four main components: Integrity Grants, National ID Verification Offering, IT Modernization Grants, and Tiger Team Grants. Integrity Grants provide up to $100 million in grants to states to protect the UI program from fraudulent activity and increase resources dedicated to overpayment recovery. The National ID Verification Offering provides online and in-person opportunities to strengthen ID verification now and into the future. IT Modernization Grants aim to help states adopt new strategies to modernize and rearchitect their UI programs. Tiger Team Grants provide approximately $77 million dollars in funding for states to implement negotiated recommendations that directly and indirectly address fraud prevention, timely payment of benefits, and equitable access to benefits.

Eligibility Requirements
State Workforce Agency Administrators are requested to review the opportunities provided in the grant, coordinate with appropriate state staff to develop Initial Applications for opportunities they wish to apply for, and submit all Initial Application materials electronically by August 18, 2023. States choosing to participate in any of the grant opportunities must agree to share confidential UC data with the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) for audits and fraud investigations.

Period of Performance
The periods of performance for each funding opportunity are described in the respective subsections of this UIPL.

Grant Value
The grant includes up to $100 million in Integrity Grants, funding for National ID Verification Offering over two years subject to availability of funds, investments in IT Modernization Grants, and approximately $77 million dollars in Tiger Team Grants.