ITN No. BW13-412-001
Brevard Workforce Development Board, Inc.
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Invitation to Negotiate
For
In-Service Education and Training:
Employer Engagement and Outplacement Skills
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- PURPOSE
Brevard Workforce Development Board, Inc. (“Board” or “BWDB”) is soliciting proposals from qualified individuals or organizations to provide a broad range of employer engagement and outplacement skills training workshopsat BWDBOne-Stop Career Centers (BWCC) in Brevard County, Florida.The primary purpose of these workshops is to provide practical skills and techniques to frontline staff that can be directly transferred to the customers they serve.
It is the intent of the Board to award a single contract for the services identified in this solicitation. However, this does not preclude BWDB from awarding multiple contracts if it is in the best interests of the Board to do so.Any individual or organization awarded a contract as the result of this solicitation will be required to be authorized and licensed to conduct business in the state of Florida prior to contract execution. Minority and women-owned and operated businesses are encouraged to submit a proposal.
Allindividuals, public or private not-for-profit corporations, organizations, or agencies, or private for-profit corporations, and businesses, not otherwise excluded; and properly organized in accordance with applicable state, localand federal law, may submit a proposal. Qualified Respondents will have been in business a minimum of five (5) years and have extensive experience in providing relevant skills training workshops, and working knowledge of outplacement and employer engagementservices.
No entity may compete for funds if: (1) the entity has been debarred or suspended or otherwise determined to be ineligible to receive federal funds by an action of any governmental organization; (2) the entity's previous contract(s) with BWDB have been terminated for cause; (3) the entity has not complied with an official order to repay disallowed costs incurred during its conduct of services under any contract; (4) the entity or its parent organization have filed for bankruptcy during the past 5 years; (5) the entity has been convicted of a public entity crime pursuant to 287.133(1)(a) Florida Statutes, or (6) the entity developed or drafted work requirements, or statements of work for this RFP.All proposals shall be reviewed for a perceived conflict of interest.
- CONTRACT TYPE AND AMOUNT
Any contract(s) awarded under this solicitation is subject to available funding. The Board contemplates awarding a fixed unit price,performance based, contract.BWDB does not guarantee any minimum or maximum dollar value associated with this procurement. However, the Board does not anticipate the necessity of committing funding in excess of $100,000 for the services awarded under this solicitation.
The primary funding source allocated to this procurement is the US Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration (USDOL-ETA) National Emergency Grant (NEG) EM-20452-10-60-A-12, CFDA 17.260. Funding during the initial contract period, or any option period, may be adjusted at the sole and absolute discretion of BWDB. Due to the natureof funding sources, potential changes in legislation, policies, and performance achieved, Respondents are advised that any contract awarded under this solicitation may be modified to incorporate such changes.
This solicitation does not commit or obligate BWDB to award a contract, to commit any funds identified in this solicitation, to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or presentation of a proposal to this solicitation, to pay for any costs incurred in advance of the execution of a contract, or to procure or contract for services or supplies.
- PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
It is anticipated the duration of the contract to be awarded as a result of this solicitationwill be September 17, 2012 through June 14, 2013 provided performance remains acceptable to BWDB during that period. Time will be of the essence for performance of services under the contract.Any contract awarded as a result of this solicitation will provide that BWDB shall have the optionto extend the term of the Contract. The duration of the contract, including the exercise of any options shall not exceed 24 months.
The offer of an option renewal period is not guaranteed, and the award of the initial contract does not imply an exercise of the option renewal. The option to renew and the terms and conditions of the option to renew shall be exercised at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board.
- BACKGROUND
BWDB is designated as the administrative entity and grant recipient for federal workforce investment programs in Brevard County, Florida. An essential element of the organization’s operating criteria is to respond to a demand driven economy based on local employer needs and equipping job seekers with the skills and knowledge to meet the current and future occupational needs of the regions’ businesses. The primary objective is to provide a high quality, integrated workforce services program using a Business to Jobs (B2J) model of operation that is responsive to the needs of employers and residents of Brevard County.
Critical to the goal of achieving this objective is having skilled and knowledgeableworkforce professionals who can facilitate the progress of the B2J model.Trained professionals are needed to interface with employers and jobseekers to expertly and accurately determine their needs to maximize services to both. Communication with these customers requires workforce professionals to apply their skills in a way that integrates the most current best practices of human resource outplacement professionals and business engagement specialists.The educational workshops solicited under this Invitation to Negotiate (ITN)will ensure a rapid and effective means of enhancing workforce service delivery in our region and provide staff with the tools and materials needed to deploy effective outplacement programs and employer services. Coaching/mentoring services will also be required to provide face-to-face follow-up with staff on current issues they are facing with their customers.
- SCOPE OF WORK
The Respondent (Contractor) that is awarded a contract as a result of this solicitation shall supply all training curricula, associated materials, supplies, and personnel necessary to the delivery of employer engagement and outplacement skills training workshops, and coaching services.BWDB shall provide the facilities, basic audio visual equipment and support.
The successful Respondent shall be highly experienced in presenting workshops and developing curricula and exhibit both a current and broad understanding of employer hiring requirements and outplacement service delivery for workers being laid off where transition within the same industry is unlikely. The outcome of the training is that attendees will implement the strategies presentedby using a range of techniques tocarry out workforce services at individual, occupational and corporate levels.
Knowledge of the federal workforce investment system, the services and programs associated with it, is desired. The ability to provide quality services, flexibility, and timely response to BWDB requirements is of paramount importance to the Board.
Servicesinclude, but are not limited to, conducting in-person workshops that include “train-the- trainer” elements for approximately 120 front-line staff over a period of approximately 45 days and providing follow-up coaching sessions for the balance of the term of the contract to address challenges attendees may still have with serving their customers.The training will be directed primarily toward professional front-line staff that typically have AS or undergraduate degrees therefore curriculum should be presented accordingly.Services shall be delivered in-person at BWCC’s currently located in Palm Bay, Rockledge and Titusville, Florida.
It is anticipated that the curriculum and workshops would be completed in the last calendar quarter of this year (October – December, 2012) and that coaching sessions would take place during the first two quarters of 2013 (January – June).The following represents BWDB’s major milestones. All curricula is required to be reviewed and approved by BWDB prior to executing any workshops or sessions.
- Conduct a minimum of 14 workshops at BWCC locations in Palm Bay and Rockledge as determined by BWDB. Individual workshops should not exceed a half-day/4 hours each and be offered on a rotational basis between the career centers. More than one workshop per day may be provided at the BWCC’s.
5.2.Workshops will be coordinated with, and scheduled by, BWDB subject to classroom and contractor availability.
5.3.Workshops should be suitable for attendance of 20-30 individuals per workshop and be designed as interactive sessions.
5.4.Workshops are intended for BWDB front line staff who are working with businesses and job seekers every day. As such, some component of the workshops should allow for ‘real life’ examples that staff can bring to the sessions.
5.5.Curriculum should use a business based approach that addresses a variety of current industry and jobseeker needs and includes scripts for different business situations. Substantial hard copy course materials are expected. Subject matter of the workshops shall focus on teaching front line staff the following to include, but not be limited to:
5.5.1.Building relationships with employers and Human Resource (HR) Departments. Provide tools on how to determine the corporate culture, what employee qualities are a must, and what employers are looking for in a resume.
5.5.2.Making good job matches. Include how to evaluate employer needs against jobseeker skills to increase the odds of a good fit.
5.5.3.“Selling” employers on the use of BWCC resources and what to do if there are no obvious job openings.
5.5.4.Identifying transferrable skills and skill gaps.
5.5.5.Developing resumesthat make the HR cut and lead to an interview. Include development for those jobseekers with highly technical skills.
5.5.6.Networking that leads to employment - addressing both the use of social media tools and in-person skills. Include recommended websites and how to increase the odds of being “found” or making an important connection.
5.5.7.Jobseeker interview coaching to include preparing a jobseeker for an interview, debriefing after an interview, and discussing negative feedback provided by an employer.
5.6.Although structured in design, all workshops shall be conducted in an informal atmosphere.
5.7.Workshops and curricula may be added, changed or deleted as requested by BWDB.
5.8.Workshops may be recorded for later use at BWDB’s discretion.
5.9.Curricula shall include training materials to be either produced by the contractor or the source identified by the contractor or a combination of the two.
5.10.The contractor shall use its expertise to assess additional training needs of the BWCC staff and meet those needs by conducting a minimum of 11 coaching sessions. Sessions shall be held at all three BWCC’s (Titusville, Rockledge and Palm Bay) beginning approximately one month after all workshops have been completed.
5.11.Coaching sessions shall be conducted with 3 or 4 small groups of approximately 3-7 individuals in each BWCC location. Groups will be addressed separately at the locations depending on needs.More than one coaching session per day may be provided at each BWCC. Coaching sessions should not exceed 1 hour per group and will be coordinated with, and scheduled by, BWDB.
5.12.The Contractor shall provide all services necessary to facilitate the orderly progress of services provided under this contract, including coordinating with other contractor(s) or partners through BWDB and/or designated representatives, attending meetings either in person or via teleconference; communicating with others as appropriate, monitoring effectiveness of the services provided and issuing reports that may be required through the term of this contract.
5.13.Except as otherwise required by law, the Contractor shall grant to BWDB, and others acting on its behalf, royalty-free, non-exclusive, unlimited rights to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, or otherwise use on its behalf, in any manner and for any purpose,
5.14.It is the intent of BWDB that it will be able to update the products it acquires through this contract so that the courses remain current to the greatest extent possible. Therefore, the contractor shall provide specific instruction to BWDB on how all portions of the course outline/curricula are to be maintained and kept current beyond the term of the contract. These instructions should provide sufficient detail to BWDB to describe the source for updates, the methods for obtaining updates and any associated costs (based on current market prices).
5.15.The Contractor shall designate a primary point of contact who will be responsible for day-to-day management of the contracted services, supervising delivery of services, and program reporting.
5.16.As required by BWDB, the Contractor will attend both regularly scheduled and impromptu meetings, either in person or via teleconference, to review overall performance, and to address issues to ensure that the needs of BWCC front-line staff are met and that duplication of services is minimized or eliminated. The Contractor will be expected to provide timely response and action as course corrections dictate.
- Subcontracting
6.1.BWDB expects the majority of work performed under this contract to be done directly by the Contractor. However, BWDB understands subcontracting certain portions of work, at certain times, is desirable from both a BWDB and industry standpoint in order to enable the companies involved to complement each other’s unique capabilities; and offer BWDB the best combination of performance, cost, and delivery. BWDB will recognize the integrity and validity of contractor/subcontractor arrangements; provided, the arrangements are identified and company relationships are fully disclosed in the offer. BWDB will not normally require or encourage the dissolution of contractor/subcontractor arrangements. However, BWDB reserves the right to approve any subcontractors for the Contract and to require the successful Respondent, upon award of the Contract, to replace subcontractors that BWDB finds to be unacceptable. No subcontract will be approved unless the Respondent provides a written guarantee with its proposal that the Respondent’s firm will be contractually obligated to assume all project responsibilities.
6.2.Respondents will clearly describe the reason for using any subcontractors, the specific role each subcontractor will play in the project, and the relationship between the Respondent and the subcontractor to be maintained during the term of the contract. Any work contemplated to be subcontracted shall be sufficiently detailed in the proposal as to subcontractor/firm name, address, contact person, qualifications of the subcontractor, a complete description of the work to be subcontracted, cost of the subcontracted work, and the measures in place by the Contractor to assure that contract performance will be met. Subcontractors are to be considered a direct expense payable by the Contractor. No Contractor mark-up will be allowed for subcontracted services. The Contractor shall be fully responsible for contract performance, regardless of any arrangement between the Contractor and its subcontractors.
- SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. The full text of the solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at the following addresses. This address list is not inclusive and it remains the responsibility of each Respondent to research the related laws and regulations of prevailing legislation.
United States Code (USC):
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):
Federal Register (FR):
Florida Statutes (FS):
State Workforce Board Guidance, Policy, Memoranda, Communiques, Monitoring Tools, etc. (Department of Economic Opportunity [DEO]):
Executive Orders (EO):
Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS):
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29 CFR Part 95, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, Other Non-Profit and with Commercial Organizations, Foreign Governments, Organizations under the Jurisdiction of Foreign Governments, and International Organizations.
Effect of Judgment Lien on Eligibility for Federal Grants, Loans or Programs (28USC § 3201(e))
New Restrictions on Lobbying (31 USC § 1352)
Subpart C of 2 CFR Part 1326, "Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)."
EO 12549 and 12689, “Debarment and Suspension”
5 USC App.3 § 1 etseq (as amended) “Inspector General Act of 1978”
Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-690, Title V, Sec. 5153, as amended by Public Law 105-85, Div. A, Title VIII, Sec. 809, as codified at 41 U.S.C. § 702)
Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3801-3812),
False statements (18 U.S.C. §§ 287 and '1001),
False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729 et seq.)
37 CFR Part 401, “Rights to Inventions Made by Nonprofit Organizations and Small business Firms Under Government Grants, Contracts and Cooperative Agreements”
E.O. 11246, “Equal Employment Opportunity,” as amended by E.O. 11375, “Amending Executive Order 11246 Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity,” and as supplemented by regulations at 41 CFR part 60, “Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity, Department of Labor.”
OMB Circular A-133, “Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Non-Profit Institutions Audits of State and Local Governments” as supplemented.
OMB Circular A-110, “Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-Profit Organizations”
29 CFR, Part 37 Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
29 CFR, Part 96 Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts and Other Agreements
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000d etseq
29 U.S.C. 794, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended
20 U.S.C. 1681 et. seq Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as amended
42 U.S.C. 6101, et seq. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 as amended, Section 654 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 as amended, 42 U.S.C.9849, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex,handicap, political affiliation or beliefs.
42 USC, 126 and 47 USC, 5, and Public Law 101-336American with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.
- PROPOSAL SCHEDULE
The following schedule represents BWDB’s best estimate of the schedule that shall be followed. Unless otherwise specified, the time of day shall be from 8am to 5pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDST).