Scope of Work Qualifications Agency Requirements and Accountability: Response shall include: Funding Available

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1 Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance (Formerly Boone & Winnebago Counties Workforce Investment Board) Request for Proposals for Life Coaching Services & Training General Information The Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance is soliciting proposals from organizations for the provision of Life Coaching services and staff training to incorporate life coaching skills, techniques, and the development of community resource connections into the case management and career counseling for job seekers. The Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance has received a State Workforce Innovation Grant on behalf of the Northwestern Illinois Manufacturing Sector Partnership to accelerate training and job placement for individuals in manufacturing. Case Managers / Career Counselors, called Career Coaches in this grant, will identify appropriate individuals for the training programs in manufacturing, determine individual eligibility, enroll individuals in training, and ensure job placement throughout a nine (9) county region. Life Coach(es) will work closely with the Career Coach(es) to provide program participants with connections to needed community resources and other supportive services that will assist individual in completing training services and gaining employment. These services are intended to increase ease of access to training, remove real and perceived barriers limiting the success of applicants/program participants, and increase retention in training and jobs. Career Coaches and Life Coaches will use a team approach to provide a holistic approach to extensive case management. Life Coaches will be expected work closely with Career Coaches in administering standardized assessments and conducting a customized subjective assessment based upon an interview with each participant. The assessment process and methods will identify the participant s barriers to employment, needs, aptitudes, skills, experiences; and will assess training and career readiness including job search and keeping skills. Life Coaches will be expected to leverage community resources to the fullest extent possible to reduce duplication of services and employ wrap around services to promote the development and employability of the participant. The Region will utilize opportunities for braided funding to maximize resources and services that are available through other entities. For example, a participant who is receiving assistance through the Department of Human Services (DHS) will be expected to sign a release of information thereby allowing the Career Coach and Life Coach to communicate with DHS and involve DHS in the development of the personalized career and training plan for the participant. The services the participant is receiving through DHS will be leveraged to develop a Personalized Career & Training Plan. Partner agencies will meet on a regular basis to review shared participants and discuss and develop strategies to strengthen services. Personalized Career and Training Plans (PCTP) will be customized based on the goals, pre- program skills, and work experience of participants enrolled in this grant. The Career Coach and Life Coach will use this plan to provide a roadmap from where the participant is located to the existing and projected job and skill expectations of our Regions employers. To address a Regional goal of providing consistent services to support each participant, Life Coaches, coordinating with Career Coaches, will identify needed Supportive Services as part of the PCTP process and, when appropriate, involve community agencies to leverage resources to execute the plan. Supportive Services may include arrangements for child care, senior care, housing, public assistance, financial aid, and/or psychological support, financial counseling, transportation, social networks, study groups, industry tools, equipment, clothing (welding masks, steel toed shoes, tools, etc.). Due to limited funding in the grant for the costs of supportive services, to the extent possible services will be leveraged with other funding sources and community agencies.

2 In addition to working with individuals in this grant program, the organization awarded a contract to provider Life Coaching services will also provide training to Career Coaches. The training will be developed and delivered during the course of this grant period to develop the skills and techniques necessary for Career Coaches to implement Life Coaching as part of the methods of case management. Success of this innovation strategy of using Life Coaching techniques connected with Career Coaching and Case Management will be assess through the customer satisfaction instrument for the employers and participants; success of participants in completing training and gaining employment as compared to a control group of other grant participants; and based upon leveraged amounts of supportive services identified and utilized by grant participants. The data gathering process will involve, at a minimum, surveys and interviews. Scope of Work Selected entity will provide the following services: Will work with case managers responsible for career counseling duties/career Coaches to provide supportive services. They will train Career Coaches to become Career/Life Coaches as they learn about life coaching from an area provider that will deliver wrap around supportive services for participants during training and after placement. The provider will also be the community liaison with service providers and partner programs. Connect with supportive services including: housing, childcare, transportation, psychological, legal, financial. Develop a process and formal procedure for which Coaches shall engage service providers throughout the region, including a list of services and contacts that can be distributed. Develop and deliver a training curriculum for Career Coaches identifying techniques and skills involved in Life Coaching and connecting with community resources. Leverage community resources as necessary to address the supportive service needs of grant participants and track and report the value of the leveraged resources. This project will be completed by June 31, Qualifications Presence throughout the region identified History of providing services in Boone, DeKalb, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. Experience and history in wrap around services and collaboration with other organizations associates with including employment and workforce development. References from collaborative partners and agencies. (Three references will be required, additional may be requested.) Agency Requirements and Accountability: Internal controls to manage staff and project. Adequate fiscal controls for grant accounting, cost allocation, documentation of expenditures, and tracking and reporting the value of supportive services (leveraged funding through other resources). Monthly Reports for service hours and services provided to agencies and participants Implementation of developed surveys to assess the quality of services provided. Response shall include: Line item budget (forms and instructions included) for services delivered through June 31, Staffing plan on how services will be delivered and how career coaches will be trained. Connection to resources throughout the region. Based on project plan, the hours designated for delivering services and training, and the process for cascading responsibilities to Career Coaches by 3/31/15-18 months. Funding Available The funding available for an award under this Request for Proposals will not exceed $115,000 and does not include any direct participant costs such as participant training fees, tuition, supportive services. Grant accounting principles and acceptable cost allocation methods are applicable.

3 Terms and Conditions The entity or individual selected will begin immediately upon notification of acceptance of the proposal. The billing for the project will be negotiated based upon appropriate benchmarks during implementation of the project activities. This negotiation must be completed prior to any project work being started. Bills will be submitted to: Pamela Fettes, Business Account Manager Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance 303 North Main Street, Suite 200 Rockford, Illinois Proposal Outline Proposals must include the following information in the recommended order of presentation: 1. Cover Sheet, which identifies: Proposer information (name, address, telephone number, fax number, address, FEIN number); Funds requested; Proposal contact person; and If different from contact person, designate authorized signer of contracts. 2. Table of Contents 3. Statement of Work which includes: Executive summary of proposal; Organizational background; Previous related experience; Identification of individuals who will be providing the services, with background data and credentials; and Overview of the process to be used in achievement of the proposal objectives, clearly identifying project completion timelines and benchmarks. 4. Budget Information, to include: Line item budget, delineating all costs by category; Narrative, which explains individual budget items and assumptions used in costing the proposal; and Copy of the agency s most recent audit. 5. References Names and phone numbers of at least three (3) references who consent to being contacted regarding past work performance in the related area. Rating Criteria: Project proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria Criteria Responsiveness to Request for Proposal Information requested is contained within the proposal; Requested format is adhered to; and Requested documentation is included and complete. Quality of Proposal and Understanding of Scope of Work Content / Program Organization - Proposal is well-researched and tailored to needs of client (10 points) Outline to Meet Objectives - Detailed action steps and benchmarks are clearly identified, and timeframe for completion is realistic (15 points); Process maximizes employee involvement (15 points); and Cost effective (20 points). Experience/Credentials* Relevant, recent experience in process mapping facilitation Number of Points

4 (10 points); References (10 points); and Credentials (10 points). Proposals will be evaluated and ranked based on the overall perceived quality of services proposed and understanding of the needs of the client. As part of the screening process, respondents may be asked to submit to a brief interview with the evaluation group. The interview will be based on a set of standardized questions, which will be posed to each of the respondents. The respondent who accumulates the highest score may not necessarily be recommended for funding. The overall recommendation is at the sole discretion of the evaluation team. Deadline Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 pm Central Standard Time; August 9 th, Proposals may be submitted via to pfettes@theworkforceconnection.org. Proposals must be in Microsoft Word format using a 12-point or larger font. Proposals received after the time and date stated in this Request for Proposals will not be considered. Questions about this Request for Proposal may be directed via to: pfettes@theworkforceconnection.org

5 ATTACHMENT A Life Coach Services and Training Accelerating Training In Manufacturing Project Budget Instructions and Related Information Reimbursement will be through a line item reimbursement contract. To obtain reimbursement for program costs, you must document costs. If your proposal to provide Life Coach services is funded, you will itemize all costs associated with the program on the reimbursement forms that will be included in your contract. Monthly reimbursement requests must be submitted to the WIA fiscal agent, Rock River Training Corporation (RRTC), by the 15 th of the following month. You must maintain accounting records showing WIA-funded programs as a separate fund. 1. Budget Forms 1 and 2 (Your budgets must be placed on the forms provided.) In your budget, round all cents to the nearest dollar. a. Wages (Budget Form.1) List all staff by job title. After the job title, put any information that explains how you arrived at the amount of dollars in the total column, e.g., $25/hour for 5 hours/week for 48 weeks. b. Fringe Benefits (Budget Form 1) List all fringe benefits in the same manner. Give all information needed for the evaluators to check the amounts in the training columns, e.g., on positions 5-8. c. Costs (Budget Form 2) Fill in all items completely. Request funding only for items that are necessary for the Life Coach Services provided. 2. Budget Explanation/Cost Allocation (Place the Budget Explanation directly after the Budget.) Fully explain how you derived each cost listed on the budget. If an item is a direct cost only to this budget, please state this. If any costs are divided between two or more funding sources, explain how these costs will be allocated, describing in detail the base to be used for each budgeted item. 3. Job Descriptions and Resumes Place the job descriptions after the budget explanation. Submit a description of the job responsibilities of each staff position listed on Budget Form 1. Also state the education/training (qualifications) required for the position. Make sure your organization s name and the date the job description was developed is on each job description. Job descriptions must be in the official format used by your organization. If a current staff member may be moved into a Life Coach services position (full time or parttime), please submit the resume of the individual who may be filling that position. Place this resume directly behind the job description.

6 Attachment B Budget Budget Form 1 STIM Grant -- Life Coach Provider ATIM Project Organization: Budget Period (15 months): WAGES AND FRINGE BENEFITS WAGES Budget Amount Total Include Employee's Title and wage/hr x hrs/day x # of days FRINGE BENEFITS Health Life Insurance Retirement Workers' Dental TOTAL FRINGE TOTAL WAGES AND FRINGE TOTAL WAGES

7 Attachment B Budget Budget Form 2 Workforce innovation Grant -- Life Coach Provider ATIM Project Organization: Budget Period (15 Months): BUDGET - OTHER COSTS Budget Amount Total SUPPLIES Training Supplies/Materials/Texts Office Supplies/Materials/Postage/Duplicating EQUIPMENT MAINT/RENTAL/PURCHASE Office Training OUTSIDE SERVICES Accounting/Bookkeeping Computer Operation Printing/Duplicating Advertising MISCELLANEOUS COSTS Staff Training (travel, lodging, meals, tuition, conference fees, etc.) In-Town Telephone BUILDING COSTS Building Use Allowance TOTAL - OTHER COSTS TOTAL - WAGES & FRINGE BUDGET GRAND TOTAL