As part of the second installment of this continued five-year investment plan, the Department will award the next round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants for (1) Base Formula Funding to all States that apply (to be provided on an annual basis, subject to available funding and the submission of a responsive application), and in addition to the Base Formula Funding, (2) an opportunity to apply separately for additional competitive funding for States with the capacity and readiness to adopt and expand in key innovation priority areas. The Base Formula Funding awards are a continuation of the funding awarded through Round 1 of the SAEF (SAEF1) grant (FOA-ETA-23-09) and are intended to provide annual funding to States to increase their ability to serve, improve, and strategically expand the National Apprenticeship System. This approach ensures that funding supports the Administration’s goals to modernize and strengthen the National Apprenticeship System, while also providing opportunities for those States that have the capacity and can commit to adopting and expanding new opportunities for innovation, equity, expansion, and modernization in Registered Apprenticeship. Subject to available funding, the Department intends to provide, on an ongoing basis, an annual formula-funded base grant to all States that apply and that meet application requirements, as well as an opportunity for States to apply for additional Competitive Funding annually. States may apply for annual Base Formula and Competitive Funding grants through separate applications, contingent upon funding availability in future years. For States that apply for and receive competitive funding, they may only receive Competitive funding once during the five-year investment planning cycle. Continuation of Base Formula Funding to grantees is subject to the discretion of DOL and contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee’s project, and adequate stewardship of federal funds.