WPGRI Bidders Conference for One-Stop Operator RFP January 13, 2017 Questions and Answers

Transcription

1 WPGRI Bidders Conference for One-Stop Operator RFP January 13, 2017 Questions and Answers Question: Is WPGRI looking for one operator for the entire area or are you interested in proposals for specific geographies within your area? Answer: WPGRI is seeking one operator for the entire local area. Question: Should the executive summary be doubled space as well? Answer: Yes Question: Are you keeping the state brand of Network RI or can the Operator change the brand? Answer: WIOA sec. 121(e)(4) requires each one-stop delivery system to include in the identification of products, programs, activities, services, facilities, and related property and materials, a common one-stop delivery system identifier, in addition to using any State- or locally-developed identifier. The WIOA Final Rule at 20 CFR (81 Fed. Reg (Aug. 19, 2016)) provides more specific requirements of the common identifier, which was developed by the Secretary of Labor in consultation with other entities, as required by WIOA sec. 121(e)(4). Specifically, the common identifier that must be used by the one-stop delivery system is the American Job Center. The one-stop delivery system must use either that common identifier or the tag line phrase a proud partner of the American Job Center network. Question: Are you keeping EmployRI as the data management system? Answer: Yes. EmployRI is the data management system currently in use. However, the contract is up for renewal and the State of RI Department of Labor & Training (RIDLT) will be going out to bid for services so its possible that another system could be in place. Question: Will the Board be developing the mandatory Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) with the One-Stop system partners or is that something to be done in conjunction with the Operator? Answer: WIOA requires that the local Board negotiate and review MOAs with every One- Stop partner every three years to describe operations, services provided, funding and referrals. WPGRI anticipates that this will be a collaborative effort with the system Operator.

2 Question: Is everything for this proposal paid for through WIOA or are there other means that the Board has to pay for facilities and services? Answer: WPGRI receives only WIOA funds but we are hoping proposers will bring other resources as well. In addition, WIOA requires all partners to share in the funding of services and infrastructure costs of the One-Stop delivery system. Question: Will proposers be privy to the current staffing patterns that are used in the One- Stops? Answer: Yes. As the current system operator, RI Department of Labor and Training has provided the following information: Currently, there are three offices with the following staff: Wakefield 1 manager, 4 WP/WIOA/TAA/RESEA/RIWORKS staff West Warwick 2 managers, 15 WP/WIOA/TAA/RESEA/RIWORKS staff, 2 Veterans staff Woonsocket 1 manager, 10 WP/WIOA/TAA/RESEA/RIWORKS staff, 1 Veterans staff Question: Should space for Employment Services under Wagner-Peyser be included in this proposal? Will proposers be privy to the number of staff providing those services in order to accommodate for them in the facility? Answer: Yes. As a core program under WIOA, physical access to Wagner-Peyser Employment Services is required in the Comprehensive One-Stop Center. These services are currently provided by the RI Department of Labor & Training. Question: Does every mandated partner have to be physically present in the Comprehensive Center full-time or is it possible for Core programs to be there on a part-time basis? For example, WIOA Youth programs are a Core program but are not physically located in the One-Stops, however, they are in other facilities where customers can be referred to receive those services. Answer: Yes. Per WIOA, each local area must have one Comprehensive Center that provides access to physical services of the Core programs and other required partners. The Core programs are: WIOA Title I Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth programs administered by the Department of Labor (DOL); Adult Education administered by the Department of Education; Wagner-Peyser Act employment services administered by DOL; and Rehabilitation Act Title I programs administered by Department of Education. These Core programs must have a physical presence in the One-Stop Center. In addition, access to the following programs must be provided through the One-Stops: Career and Technical Education (Perkins), Community Services Block Grant, Indian and Native American Programs, HUD Employment and Training Programs, Job Corps, Local Veterans Employment Representatives and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, National Farmworker Jobs Program, Senior Community Service Employment Program, Temporary

3 Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Trade Adjustment Assistance Programs, Unemployment Compensation Programs, and YouthBuild. Question: Is there a slide in the presentation that lists the mandatory partners? Answer: There is a slide on page 6 of the presentation that lists partners and the presentation will be posted on the WPGRI website. This information comes directly from the WIOA regulations and is a more comprehensive list. Question: Is there any way of getting an idea of cost of the IT system Employ RI? Answer: Per the RI DLT Fiscal Office, the total cost of the EmployRI system is $881, This includes the base system, additional modules for Spanish language version, mobile access etc. and user licenses. Question: You keep referring to Super Circular OMB. Generally, WPGRI has different disallowed costs than what are allowed under OMB. Is WPGRI going to accept what is allowable under the OMB? Answer: Yes. Contracts awarded under this RFP will be expected to conform to the cost principles in the uniform guidance issued by OMB. Question: On page 5 of the presentation where it says no less than one (1) physical center in each local area can you identify each local area? Answer: In RI we have two local areas. One is WPGRI serving 37 of the 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island and the other is Workforce Solutions of Providence Cranston which serves the other two communities of Providence and Cranston. Question: Is the $2 million solely for operating cost or does that include training cost? Answer: Currently the $2 million is allocated for the provisions of WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker staff-assisted services in the One-Stops. Training funds do not come out of the $2 million. Question: Questions about Proposal Submission itself. 5 items regarding what is included in the narrative as opposed to what are considered attachments. 1. On page 12, it says if we are going to work with subcontractors we have to provide certification from the subcontractors, would that be an attachment? Yes. 2. On page 17, job descriptions must be provided for all key positions would that be an attachment? Yes.

4 3. On page 20, provide an example of a customer flow chart is that an attachment? Yes. 4. How about the MOU from key partners? Those are considered attachments. 5. List of major funding sources on page 24 is that an attachment? This information could be provided in the Financial Capacity section as part of the narrative or as an attachment. Question: So is this RFP for the Operator and the provider for Adult and Dislocated Worker services? Answer: Yes Question: Is it possible to get the current staffing levels? Answer: Yes. Current WIOA staffing levels are 17 FTEs Question: Would there be any way to get any demographic information on the WIOA clients currently being served? How many Adults, Dislocated Workers and Youth are you projecting? Answer: Per RI DLT, the following WIOA customers were served: PY2015: PY2014: PY2013: Adults Dislocated Workers WIOA Youth are being served through a separate statewide YouthWORKS411 system and unless co-enrolled as Adults are generally not served through the One-Stop centers. The following WIOA customers were served through YouthWORKS 411: PY2015: PY2014: PY2013: Youth Question: Is your current performance data also available? Answer: Yes it is. WIA performance data is accessible through the following website: Question: Would you be willing to share the current assessment that is used now? Are you using CASAS or TABE or something else?

5 Answer: I believe that different vendors use different assessment tools, I don t think there is one used/shared by all agencies. RIDLT currently uses TABE for WIOA services. Question: Is your current eligibility policy for WIOA staff-assisted services available? In other words, for workshops are you requiring full eligibility and documentation for customers to attend a workshop in RI or do you still have some type of either core or registrable service that doesn t require all of that eligibility before a customer can move into those services that are WIOA funded? Answer: Wagner Peyser is a universal access program and therefore anyone who comes into a One- Stop can receive staff-assisted services. Eligibility for WIOA funded services is determined at the first meeting with a counselor. The eligibility policy is available and is based on WIOA Title 1 eligibility requirements. In regards to workshops, it depends on the workshop. Wagner Peyser funds more generic workshops (e.g. the LinkedIN workshop). Question: Are the current locations not available to another bidder? Are they not desirable? Answer: The current locations are owned by the State of RI. Whether they are available to be leased or not I do not know. It s not that they are undesirable. We want proposers to look at where they think makes sense for the One-Stop(s) to be located. It has been brought to our attention, that the current One-Stop locations would be available for continued use as One-Stop locations. Question: Do you have a cap on indirect rates? Answer: If you have an approved indirect rate, we will look at it to determine if it is reasonable, but we can cap it. We will review your approved rate by USDOL. If you have an approved rate by any other agency we can look at that as well but it would have to be approved by a federal agency in Washington. Question: Are you expecting contributions from each of the mandatory partners? Is it based on premium seat cost? Is that negotiable? Answer: Yes, that would be the expectation. It is negotiable. As the operator, you would know what the rent cost is and you would have to factor in what the seat cost would be. Question: A general question on whether or not you would share with us the general sentiment of the services being provided now in the sense of what needs to be improved in the system you have now? Are there specific improvements that you re looking for?

6 Answer: This is the first time we had to put out and RFP for One-Stop services. Based on WPGRI monitoring of the One-Stops there are no outstanding concerns and the general consensus would be that services are being provided appropriately. However, there is always room for improvement.