Region 4 Offender Success RFP Question and Answers

Transcription

1 Region 4 Offender Success RFP Question and Answers Employment Services RFP Questions 1. Question: How are the individuals screened and granted enrollment in to the offender success program? Answer: Individuals are designated Offender Success participants by MDOC staff prior to being released. Michigan utilizes the Michigan Offender Success Model to make the determination of which Parolees will be designated Offender Success. The Model incorporates a three-phase reentry approach of the Department of Justice s Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI), the seven decision points of the National institute of Corrections Transition from Prison to Community Initiative (TPCI Model) and policy statements and recommendations from the report of the Reentry Council that is coordinated by the Council of State Governments. The parolees that are designated Offender Success have been determined to be those with moderate or high criminogenic needs. 2. Question: What is the mix of offenders in the program? (Violent, nonviolent, drug, CSC, etc.) Answer: This data is not available. 3. Question: Do I need to offer all twelve job readiness services? Answer: No; however, the service provider must provide employment readiness services that will facilitate and enhance the success of obtaining employment for offenders referred to the service provider for employment assistance. In order to receive payment for Job Readiness the criteria is The Parolee must receive a minimum of four (4) services over a minimum of two (2) in-person contacts. 4. Question: If awarded a portion of one county, how are the cases distributed and decided? Answer: In counties with multiple Employment Services providers, the Resource Navigator is responsible for distributing the caseloads. The caseload is distributed as equally as possible. 5. Question: For the monthly retention, that is 1000 individuals each month correct? Answer: If you are referring to the chart on page 6, the total retention for all 13 counties for one fiscal year is Question: Can you give me an example of how previous pricing is submitted? Is it for each service provided, ex. Job readiness and job placement as separate services? Answer: Previous pricing has been submitted as illustrated in Attachment C, Region 4 Offender Success Budget. Pricing should be submitted based on the unit price of each service that is provided. Please note that more than one activity may need to be provided to complete the service. For example, for Job Readiness The Parolee must receive a minimum of four (4) services over a minimum of two (2) in-person contacts before payment can be received for a Job Readiness service. Page 1 of 7

2 7. Question: Are the Budgeting Workshops 1 and 2 a service we are required to provide? Answer: Budgeting Workshops are requirements for Parolees who attend the Truck Driving Program and should be available for all other Parolees if needed. 8. Question: Are there any other documents you require or would like included (other than Attachment A, B, C, and the Statement of Work)? Answer: No, not at the time of submission. 9. Question: Can you please explain Michigan Works! West Central s current billing process for the OS programs in counties other than Kent? For example, can Job Readiness, Job Search, and retention be billed only once per participant, or each time the criteria is met? What is the definition of unit? Please provide details. Answer: Job readiness, job search, job development, truck driving program services, budgeting workshop #1, and budgeting workshop #2 are billed one time. It is to be billed once the service has been completed. Monthly employment verifications are billed monthly. Job Readiness a unit would be when four of the 12 services have been received over a minimum of two (2) in-person contacts have been made. See page 4 of RFP. Job Search a unit would be when two of the four services have been completed, one must be that the participant begins a job that is not subsidized by MDOC, that pays at least state minimum wage for 30 hours or more per week combined with Social Security Income. See page 4-5 of the RFP. 10. Question: Is the RFP 100% performance based? Will the service receive any up front monies to assist in the staffing of the positions and infrastructure costs? Answer: Yes, this is 100% performance based. No, there will not be any up front monies to support staffing or infrastructure costs. 11. Question: I am wondering about the structure of the Region 4 Offender Success Program, specifically program implementation in both rural and urban counties. We are located in one of the larger urban counties listed in the RFP but was wondering if we should structure the program to offer services to rural counties where we have some exposure and experience? Answer: Programming in Region 4 contains both Urban and Rural Counties. The Employment Services RFP is available for all 13 counties. You can bid on any combination of counties that you see fit. 12. Question: Can you provide a general breakdown on the percentage of funds that should be used for personnel and infrastructure costs and how much monies should be available for participant support and training assistance? Answer: No, that information is not available. Historically we have used a flat fee for a service unit. 13. Question: Is the service provider responsible for calculating and reporting the three performance measures to Michigan Works! West Central? Page 2 of 7

3 Answer: As a service provider, you should keep track of your own performance measures. Michigan Works! West Central will monitor the performance for all of Region 4 and each service provider will be held accountable for their performance. 14. Question: Do we have access to Region 4 offender success grant proposals that have been previously submitted? Answer: No. 15. Question: Is there an incumbent provider of the employment services or the other programs listed on the RFP/RFQ page? If not, which agency previously provided these services? Answer: Providers are not listed on the RFP/RFQ page of the website. We have multiple agencies and Independent Contractors who provide Employment Services. 16. Question: Will I be reimbursed for travel expenses? Answer: Travel expenses should be included in the proposed unit price(s). There will not be separate travel reimbursements. 17. Question: For the Vocational Assessment is this above and beyond WorkKeys? Or included? If different can you please indicate specific instrument. Answer: Vocational assessment is defined as an assessment of academic and vocational skills that assist to ensure the likelihood of success in choosing what level of need exits and choosing an appropriate occupation. An example could be Career Interest Profiler. 18. Question: Is there currently a format in place to facilitate employment workshops, job fairs, and orientations? Does this consist of communication or are contractors expected to physically go into the prison? Answer: The Assistant Community Coordinator conducts all In-Reach activities within the Prisons and provides the appropriate Service Provider with the In-Reach information. Once this information has been received and the Parolee has been released, employment workshops, job fairs and orientations can be scheduled. They can be held individually or in a group setting at a location that is secured by the service provider that is also in a convenient location for the Parolees. All Michigan Works! Service Centers are a viable option for meeting locations. 19. Question: Are Temporary Work Experience, Try-Out Employment and On-the-Job Training all required components? Answer: No, they are not required. Historically, they have only been used in the large urban counties. 20. Question: Can you please provide the numbers of parolees serviced in FY 16 for each category listed under Historical Information? If these are required. Answer: This data was requested prior to the release of the RFPs and MDOC has indicated it is not available at this time. Page 3 of 7

4 21. Question: Can you send the RFP in a Word document? Answer: Yes, individual requests may be sent to Shelly Keene at skeene@michworkswc.org. 22. Question: Are bidders supposed to complete the budget for 1 or 2 years? Answer: Bidders are to submit a budget for one year. 23. Question: In section V F, What corrective action will take place if the measures are not met Are you asking how bidders are going to handle this with staff/self? Answer: Yes, the RFP is asking for the bidder to provide details on what you will do if your performance measure levels fall below the required levels. 24. Try-Out Employment what is the per hour or per-offender rate? (how many hours for this service) Answer: The negotiated rate must demonstrate that the best rate was achieved for the service provided. 25. Temporary Work Experience What is the rate of pay for this experience? (minimum wage or what the position typically offers) How many hours for this type of service? How is the employer reimbursed for the wages? (How is participant paid?) Answer: Minimum wage. The hours would be based on the Parolee and employer needs. The employer would be reimbursed by the service provider. 26. On-the-Job Training How many hours and what is the rate of pay (minimum wage or what the position typically offers) Answer: The On-the-Job training would be full-time employment and the rate of pay would be what the employer would typically pay for the position. 27. I am going to be bidding on more than one county for employment services. Do I need to do a separate bid for each one or could I answer all the questions and include all the counties on one cover sheet and add in separate budgets for each county? Answer: You can submit one bid with a separate budget for each county. 28. Question: Page 6 Employment Retention Criteria states Verification from the employer. Will we still be able to verify employment using check stubs obtained from participant or confirmation from the Parole Agent? Answer: Verification from the employer is the preferred method. Check stubs and or confirmation from the Parole Agent is the secondary option. 29. Question: Page 5, D-3, To Clarify, the 30-day retention falls under Job Development Services and the remaining 11 employment verifications fall under Employment Retention Services? Answer: No, all 30 day retention verifications fall under Employment Retention Services. Page 4 of 7

5 30. Question: Page 5 temporary Work Experience. What is meant by training time shall be measured in hours for this type of services? Also, is there a minimum/maximum number of hours? Answer: The training should be measured in hours, not a daily stipend. The hours would be based on the Parolee and employer needs. 31. Question: Will providers in all counties be expected to complete the DCS? Answer: This will be at the discretion of the Michigan Works! West Central Administrative Agency and has not been determined at this time. 32. Question: Will Kent County be converting to the voucher based billing system? Answer: Yes, all counties in the Region 4 Offender Success Service area will be utilizing the voucher based billing system. 33. Question: Are there any categorical costs that are disallowable? Answer: Food and beverages are disallowable. Equipment is disallowable without Administrative Agency permission. Michigan Works! West Central does not permit a Franchise, Agency, or other fees to be paid with contract funds. Truck Driving Program Employment Services Questions 1. Question: Please explain the Truck Driving Program? Answer: The Truck Driving Program has been in place for over a year now. It started because of the shortage of Truck Drivers and a few Trucking Companies that were willing to give Offenders a second chance. The Region 4 Community Coordinator works closely with the Parole Agents and Supervisors to thoroughly screen potential candidates to complete the program. Once the Parolee has been approved by the MDOC staff, Community Coordinator and Employer, they are enrolled in the training program. 2. Question: Who is the training provider? Where is the training provider located? Answer: The training takes place at Pinnacle Truck Driving School in Cadillac. The Parolee is lodged at the Economy Inn, which is near Pinnacle, through the week while attending the training. 3. Question: Are we required to include this in our services? Answer: Yes, if there is a Parolee that enrolls in the Truck Driving Program in your area, you are responsible to take part in the vetting process with the Community Coordinator and help the Parolee prepare for the Truck Driving Program as described on page 4, Part II, B Question: Why is this particular training included in the RFP and no other trainings? Answer: At this time, the Truck Driving Training Program is currently the focus for demand occupations and is being promoted statewide. Page 5 of 7

6 5. Question: Will MDOC pay for the training and the CDL test/license? Answer: The cost of the training program is divided between the employer and the Parolee. The Parolee s portion is a payroll deduction over the first year of employment. Offender Success funds can be used to pay for the CDL license when necessary. 6. Question: Are there local trucking companies that are willing to interview OS participants that have completed the Truck Driving Program? Answer: The Parolee has a committed employer prior to beginning the training program. 7. Question: Can you please tell me if the Truck Driving Program Services line item in the budget is for cost associated with the vetting process described in part II, B, 10 of the RFP? Or is this a cost estimate for offering an actual truck driving training program? Answer: This is the cost associated with the vetting process described in part II, B, Question: Under Services to be provided, number 10 discusses a Truck Driving Program. Is this a requirement? If so, has the driving program been identified? If already identified, could you please forward the curriculum, location, cost, and other details available? What are the numbers of parolees involved with the Truck Driving Program? Answer: Yes, if there is a Parolee that enrolls in the Truck Driving Program in your area, you are responsible to take part in the vetting process with the Community Coordinator and help the Parolee prepare for the Truck Driving Program as described on page 4, Part II, B. 10. There has been a total of 15 enrolled in the last 15 months. Resource Navigator RFP Questions 1. Question: Will I be reimbursed for travel expenses? Answer: Travel expenses should be included in the proposed unit price(s). There will not be separate travel reimbursements. Health and Behavioral Health RFP Questions 1. Question: We are looking for opportunities in other areas, are we limited to bidding on locations we can start effective 10/1? If limited to a 10/1/17 start date may these opportunities come available throughout the course of the contract cycle? Answer: We need to have service providers up and ready for operation on 10/1/17. Only if there are extenuating circumstances, would we add service providers during the contract cycle. 2. Question: What are the monthly projections for Batter s Intervention Services, Cognitive Behavioral therapy, and mental health services? Answer: This specific data is not available. In FY 15, Region 4 had a total of 248 Health and Behavioral Health Services provided. Page 6 of 7

7 3. Question: Are we able to bid on any of the seven categories, or must we provide all services? Answer: You are allowed to bid on any of the seven categories. Housing Provider RFP Questions 1. Question: Currently we have protocols to secure and audit resident medication. We do not dispense, the resident is responsible for taking medication as prescribed. Does this suffice? Answer: 24/7 structure housing providers have to have procedures in place to secure and dispense all medications for parolees. Base housing does not have medication requirements. 2. Question: We are currently looking at base housing opportunities in a number of Region 4 counties; these will not be ready by the 10/1/2017 start date. Will Region 4 add sites throughout the course of the contract as needed? Answer: As needed, Region 4 may ask awarded Housing Providers if they are interested in establishing new locations or may solicit additional new Housing Providers throughout the area during the contract cycle if and when the need presents itself. Page 7 of 7