Call for Proposal Program Evaluation
Job Skills is seeking a consultant to conduct an evaluation of twoPrograms funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Background
Job Skills, a non-profit, charitable community-based employment and training agency, began offering employment training in northern York Region in 1988.
Today, the Agency provides Employment, Employer, Business and Newcomer Services and Programs in York Region, Bradford West Gwillimbury and Peel Region. Job Skills currently maintains locations in Keswick, Newmarket, Markham and Brampton.
Over the years, Job Skills' staff have assisted individuals (from newcomers, to youth at risk, to the older worker) seeking supports and assistance in finding employment or initiating small businesses, as well as employers looking for assistance with their labour market needs. Job Skills’ qualified professionals reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
Job Skills has earned a reputation for excellence that is client-centered and results-oriented. The services and programs delivered by Job Skills are designed to meet clients' and employers’ specific requirements, as well as be flexible enough to respond to the needs of the community and changing employment conditions.
Other special initiatives, undertaken by Job Skills to build on community capacity or support a specific target group, complement the Agency’s offerings.
In 2016, Job Skills launched two programs funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation under the Grow Grant stream.The first programis a Practice Firm designed to support Newcomer/Immigrant professionals who lack Canadian work experience toenter the Canadian workplace in positions commensurate with their past education and experience.The program combines hands on work experience with supported job search. The second program is designed to assist Persons with Disabilities tostart their own business and obtaineconomic independence while accommodating their personal needs.
Project Objectives
These twoprograms secured funding in 2016.The Evaluation Reports required will cover the contract terms from February 2016 to May2019. The Evaluations mustbe completed in two phases: the first reports evaluate the programs in Year One and the second reports evaluate the programs in Year Three.These reportswill be required separately for each of thetwo programs.
The evaluation will:
- Assess how well the program’s design and delivery are aligned to meet the needs of participants.
- Identify how participants benefit from participatingineach of theprograms and how that participation contributedtothe achievement of their long term employment/self-employment goals.
- Through a careful review of the program components,make recommendations onwhich elements to continue as is, improve upon or replace.
- Provide insights and suggestions on how to sustain the two programs beyond the OTF funding.
Contents of the proposal
The proposal should be concise and include the following components:
- References:
A minimum of THREE references is required. You must provide your reference’s full name, phone number and email address along with the name of the evaluation you prepared on their behalf. If applying as a consortium or firm, please provide a company profile outliningpast evaluation experience with examples of previous work.
2. Experience of the consultant with similar client groups and programs:
For this section include a description of previous experience working with Newcomers/Immigrants, Internationally Educated Professionals and Persons with Disabilities.
4. Preliminary description of methodology and implementation plan:
Please provide the following:
a)A description of the proposed methods/tools/information sources to be used to conduct the stakeholder consultations.
b)A description of how each of the proposed methods/tools/information sources will achieve project objectives.
c)A detailed work plan, including tasks, timelines and responsibilities.The Consultant will include, at minimum, the following tasks:
•Document review
•Two meetings with Job Skills’program staff on-site (per program)
•The developmentof Focus Group questionsand procedures
•Identification of the Focus Groups and/or phone interviews with stakeholders (e.g. regulatory bodies) that will be conducted
•Strategies for obtaining feedback from current participants and program alumni
4. Report of Results
We will be seeking a concise and informative document that will give us direction as we assess and review the program. Please provide a description of the main content components of the report, display of data and results.
Evaluation Project Budget
Each Program Evaluation (2 phases) cannot exceed $10,000.00, for a total of $20,000 for both programs.
Selection Criteria
The selection process will be based on a weighted average of the quality of preliminary proposal (60%) and the applicant’s background and experience (40%).
Proposal Submission
- Proposals are due by December 13, 2017 at 4 PM.
- Proposals must be submitted by email to
- The consultant must be ready to initiate the project onJanuary 2, 2018 with the expectation to produce an evaluation report by February 28, 2018 for the first programand by March 30, 2018 for the second program.
- Dates will be determined for the final Evaluation Reports for each program in early 2019.
- A decision will be made as to the selected Evaluator by December 22, 2017.
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