WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Below is an excerpt of the Adult RFP. A full copy of the documents is available at Appendix W.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

ADULT OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS

ISSUED BY DELAWARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

RFP NUMBER LAB 18 001-ADULTTRNG

Program Year 2018

July 1, 2018-June 30, 2020

I. Overview

The State of Delaware, Delaware Workforce Development Board (“DWDB” or the “State of Delaware”) seeks professional services to provide high quality occupational skills training programs for adult career entrants or adult career changers that lead to a credential and sustainable employment in the identified in-demand occupations. Programs will support the attainment of the Performance Measures identified below. This request for proposals (“RFP”) is issued pursuant to 29 Del. C. §§ 6981 and 6982.

The proposed schedule of events subject to the RFP is outlined below:

Public Notice: February 12, 2018

Pre-Bid Meeting, Mandatory: March 6, 2018 at 9:00 AM-12:00PM

Deadline for Questions: March 14, 2018

Response to Questions Posted: March 21, 2018

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals March 29, 2018 at 1:00 PM

Oral Presentations and Clarification: Week of April 30th

DWDB Meeting: May 15, 2018

(Funding Recommendation Vote)

Estimated Notification of Award: Date: May 21, 2018

Mandatory Prebid Meeting

A mandatory pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for March 6, 2018 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. The meeting will take place at Delaware Technical Community College, Terry Campus, 100 Campus Drive Dover, DE 19904 in the Education and Technology Building, Room 741 A/B. This is a mandatory meeting. In the event the State of Delaware is closed or has weather-related delays that impact the scheduled Pre-bid meeting, a make-up date is scheduled for March 15, 2018 9:00 AM-12:00 PM at the Buena Vista Conference Center located at 661 South DuPont Highway New Castle, DE 19720. If a Provider does not attend this meeting, they shall be disqualified and shall not be considered for further evaluation. The pre-bid meeting is very important for applicants and those who desire a compliant submission. This meeting will serve to explain the RFP, the RFP process, and address any questions or concerns from potential bidders. To register, email DWDBDETContracting@state.de.us with your name, organization, contact phone number and email, and number of people attending. You do not have to register to attend, but attendance is mandatory.

II. Scope of Services

For definitions of terms used throughout this RFP, refer to Appendix E, Definitions.

A. Funding

The source of funds for this solicitation is the Delaware Blue Collar Jobs Development Act (Blue Collar). The anticipated aggregate amount for BC funding available for all programs to be funded through his RFP is $1,250,000. The available funding will support multiple training programs. The funding level identified is an estimate, based on historical information. The estimate is subject to change without notice. This is the anticipated amount for one (1) year. It is expected that the same amount will be available for the second year and Providers should propose services covering a two (2) year timeframe and budget to do so.

B. Population

Proposers can target specific populations and should identify them in their proposal(s), but at a minimum, the population served will be:

1. 18 years or older;

2. Eligible to work in the United States;

3. Focused on Delaware Residents; and

4. Focused on those with barriers to employment and/or barriers to career advancement.

All participants served must be determined and documented as eligible prior to enrolling by the Provider in accordance with the Department of Labor, Division of Employment and Training’s (DET) policies.

C. Program Design

The intent of this RFP is to fund programs that provide wrap around services that enable adults to obtain the academic, occupational, and work readiness (soft) skills in order to obtain or advance in employment in in-demand occupations. The in-demand occupations can be found in Appendix D. Requests to provide training leading to occupations not found on the in-demand occupations lists may be made. Proposals for occupational skills training in occupations not targeted on the in-demand occupations list are permissible with comprehensive documentation supporting the need for training. The supportive documentation must accompany the proposal.

Essential Functions

In order to implement programs, the following are considered essential functions and are required of all successful Providers:

1. All Providers are responsible for recruitment, determining and documenting eligibility, and data entry of participant information and activities into Delaware JobLink (DJL) and in accordance with DET policies and procedures.

2. All Providers are required to provide an objective assessment of the academic levels, skill levels, and service needs of each participant, and developmental needs of the participant, for identifying appropriate services and career pathways for participants.

3. All Providers will assess reading and math skills. Basic language and numeric skills training will be provided concurrently with skills training as appropriate. Assessments provided by the local education agency (e.g. Smarter Balance, PSAT, and SAT) may be used to assess reading and math skills. Providers may also assess by using an assessment approved by the National Reporting System found here https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/13/2016-29899/tests-determined-to-be-suitable-for-use-in-the-national-reporting-system-for-adult-education under the “Approved Test, Forms, and Approval Periods”. Assessments may be completed by Provider or by a partner. Assessments previously completed within the 6 months prior to enrollment into the programs may be used.

4. All Providers will ensure that analyzing and solving problems, soft skills, competency in foundation mathematics, reading skills and good attendance is taught and reinforced continually as important and interrelated parts of the program.

5. All Providers are required to develop Individualized Service Strategies (ISS) for each participant. The ISS will include an ultimate employment goal, along with incremental work readiness, academic steps and credentials needed to achieve the goal. The ISS should be linked to one (1) or more of the performance measures and identify career pathways including education and employment goals (along with nontraditional employment if appropriate). The ISS should list all appropriate services for the participant based on the assessment(s) conducted. The ISS will be reviewed and updated regularly.

6. All Providers will provide computer training appropriate to the intended placement opportunity. This will include basic computer instruction as appropriate including using the internet and Delaware Job Link as a resource in obtaining employment.

7. All Providers will offer training appropriate to the intended job placement opportunity and demonstrate that the curriculum being offered through proposed training meets the current and projected needs of the local employers. Job search and placement are considered an integral part of the program.

8. All Providers will offer programming that will allow trainees to earn a credential. Programs that only offer instruction that leads to a high school Diploma or a GED are not being solicited. All programs must at least have occupational instruction leading to an occupational credential.

9. All Providers will provide effective connections to employers, including small employers, in in-demand industry sectors and occupations of the local and regional labor markets in order to:

a. Explore careers and industries;

b. Provide work based learning where participants have the opportunity to engage and learn from employers. This can include job shadowing, paid/unpaid work experience/internship, and clinical;

c. Demonstrate linkages between academic instruction and occupational training; and

d. Prepare students for unsubsidized employment opportunities.

10. All Providers will utilize Delaware Job Link to maximize participants’ job search and placement. At a minimum, participants will create a jobseeker account in Delaware Joblink (https://joblink.delaware.gov) which includes building at least one (1) resume.

11. All Providers will have and maintain appropriate linkages to various supportive services to ensure wrap around services enabling successful program completions, job placement and retention. Linkages shall include referrals for substance/alcohol abuse, financial literacy, basic needs, and mental health. Providers that request supportive services will document linkages with other human service Providers.

12. All Providers will provide retention services, as necessary, including during the day and evening to meet performance measures for 6 months following exit of participants.

13. All Providers will maintain documentation for each participant, including eligibility, attendance, assessments, credentials, certificates, and outcomes. Providers will provide documentation to DWDB, DET and/or their designees upon request.

14. All Providers will offer, or refer to, entrepreneurial skills training, when appropriate to the occupation and/or individual service strategy.

D. Bonus Points

The DWDB will award Bonus Points in three (3) areas. They are not required, only desired. Proposals can seek Bonus Points for more than one (1) of these areas, if more than one applies.

They are:

1. Promise Communities-The DWDB encourages service delivery targeted to serve Promise Communities. Up to 10 points can be allotted to proposals that demonstrate service delivery in at least one (1) promise community. This should be described in the proposal. The DWDB defines promise communities as these geographic areas/zip codes:

E. Performance Measures

The outcome goals for the BC Adult programs funded by the DWDB are provided below. All programs must have program designs that support the attainment of these measures. These measures are subject to change as DWDB negotiates measures with USDOL. All measures except the Employment Outcome Day 1 Wage are a percentage of the total participants served.