Located in:
- III. Operational Planning ElementsThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II.(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- b. State Operating Systems and PoliciesThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in Section II Strategic Elements . This includes—
- 5. Distribution of Funds for Core ProgramsDescribe the methods and factors the State will use in distributing funds under the core programs in accordance with the provisions authorizing such distributions.
- 5. Distribution of Funds for Core Programs
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 5. B. ii. Ensure Direct and Equitable Access
Describe how the eligible agency will ensure direct and equitable access to all eligible providers to apply and compete for funds and how the eligible agency will ensure that it is using the same grant or contract announcement and application procedure for all eligible providers.
Current Narrative:
The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), Adult and Prison Education Resources Workgroup, will ensure direct and equitable access to all eligible providers to apply and compete for funding through the use of the same grant or contract process for all entities. One Request for Proposal (RFP) will be developed and disseminated throughout the state. The RFP will contain the same questions, application procedures, forms and timelines for submissions allowing all respondents to focus their responses on the required information by a specific submission date and providing reviewers with an organized format for evaluating applicant’s responses on the same questions. All documents will be electronically available for download on the Adult and Prison Education Resources website. The RFP will follow the DDOE RFP format which is the same format and submission process used by other DDOE workgroups for similar purposes. The RFP applications will be submitted to the DDOE Finance Office to verify that the response is in accordance with the RFP requirements and within the submission deadlines. The applications will then be forwarded to the Adult and Prison Education Resources Workgroup for evaluation. The proposals will be evaluated based by a team of trained reviewers including representatives from the Delaware Workforce Development Board and the Adult and Prison Education Resources Workgroup. The outreach process for this sole Request for Proposal process includes a variety of communications methods allowing for the greatest dissemination to all entities interested in applying for provision of services. The venues used for communications regarding this RFP will include: the State of Delaware Office of Management and Budget – Government Support Services website; the DDOE website announcing RFPs; the DOE Adult and Prison Education Resources website; the ACE Network State Adult Education Resource Center website; and the Division of Libraries Partner’s listserv. The DDOE Adult and Prison Education Resources will accept proposals from all entities including: • local educational agencies; • community–based organizations or faith–based organization; • volunteer literacy organizations; • institutions of higher education; • public or private nonprofit agencies; • libraries; • public housing authorities; • nonprofit institutions that are not described in any of the above that have the ability to provide adult education and family literacy activities to eligible individuals; • consortia or coalitions of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described above; and • partnerships between an employer and an entity described above. As has been highlighted throughout the plan the Delaware Workforce Development Board Funding Guidelines, its RFP process and ITA manual ensure the direct and equitable distribution of funds. Moreover, since funding guidelines are voted on by the Board and expenditures reviewed quarterly the process has multiple checks and course realignment points. The same type announcement, application, and process will be used for all applicants for each RFP it intends to issue. All applications are treated in the same manner in terms of review and evaluation.