UI Integrity Center of Excellence Operations

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) intends to award additional funding to the Center for Employment Security Education and Research (CESER) on a sole source basis. This funding will support the continued operation of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Integrity Center of Excellence. The Full Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, provides the necessary funding, specifically $9,000,000 for the Integrity Center. CESER, a 501(c)(3) entity and the education and research arm of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), has operated the UI Integrity Center since FY 2017. The Department of Labor Manual Series (DLMS) 2, Chapter 800, Section 836(G)(3) authorizes this sole source award due to CESER's unique qualifications. NASWA/CESER's mission focuses on supporting state workforce agencies, ensuring program integrity, and providing technology solutions and research in UI and workforce development. The UI Integrity Center's primary mission is to prevent, detect, and recover improper payments, reduce fraud, and ensure compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act (PIIA) of 2019. CESER provides training, technical assistance, innovative tools, and fraud alerts to states. Awarding the funding to another entity would lead to significant duplication of work, disruption, and delays in critical services to states.