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Document Sample
Request for Proposals
RFP # 2009-002
For
In-School Youth, ages 14 - 18
2009 Summer YouthWorks! Program
“Developing Our Youth for the Workforce while Stimulating the Economy”
Funded by
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
In partnership with
The City of Columbus, Office of the Mayor, Columbus City Council,
Franklin County Board of Commissioners,
Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation/JOBLeaders
Prepared and Released by
Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation/JOBLeaders
The Jerry Hammond Center
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
COWIC/JOBLeaders is an equal opportunity employment & training provider
EEO/AA
Page 2 of 21
Request for Proposal
In-School Youth
2009 Summer YouthWorks!
Table of Contents
Process Timeline ........................................................................................................................................ 4
LETTER OF INTENT TO BID............................................................................................................................. 5
Section 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 6
Section 2: Administration and Availability of Funding ...................................................................... 6
Section 3: Eligible Bidders ................................................................................................................... 7
Section 4: Participant Eligibility and Target Populations ................................................................. 8
Specific Target Groups ...................................................................................................................... 8
Work-Readiness Training & Certification........................................................................................ 9
Section 5: Scope of Services .............................................................................................................. 9
Career Exploration ........................................................................................................................... 10
Private Employer Partnerships....................................................................................................... 10
Worksite Selection & Management ............................................................................................... 11
Application, Intake & Enrollment .................................................................................................... 12
Payroll Services Coordination ........................................................................................................ 12
Financial Literacy Coordination ...................................................................................................... 12
File Maintenance & Reporting ........................................................................................................ 12
Training/Orientation ......................................................................................................................... 13
Section 6: Performance Standards .................................................................................................. 13
Section 7: Cost Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 13
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 3 of 21
Section 8: Terms of Procurement ..................................................................................................... 14
Letter of Intent Requirements ......................................................................................................... 14
Bidders’ Conference ........................................................................................................................ 15
Program Timelines ........................................................................................................................... 15
Technical Assistance ....................................................................................................................... 15
Section 9: Proposal Specifications and Contents Lists ................................................................. 15
Proposal Contents List: ................................................................................................................... 16
Section 10: Proposal Guidelines (Total Points = 100) ............................................................. 17
1. Program Summary (5 points) ................................................................................................ 17
2. Organizational Capacity (10 points) ..................................................................................... 17
3. Target Populations, Neighborhood and/or School Districts ............................................. 17
4. Program Design (30 Points) .................................................................................................. 18
5. Employer-Provider Partnerships (20 Points) ...................................................................... 19
6. Staffing & Administration (10 Points) ................................................................................... 20
7. Budget/Budget Narrative (25 Points) ................................................................................... 20
Section 11: Request for Proposal Appendices ............................................................................... 21
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 4 of 21
Process Timeline
Timeline
Proposal Release Date: Friday, March 6, 2009
Bidder’s Conference Friday, March 13, 2009 9:00 a.m.
Letters of Intent Due: Friday, March 20, 2009, noon
Proposal Due Date: Thursday, April 2, 2009, noon
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 5 of 21
LETTER OF INTENT TO BID
Due Friday, March 20, 2009, noon
Cover Sheet
IN-SCHOOL YOUTH (14 – 18)
2009 Summer YouthWorks!
Any bidder intending to submit a proposal for WIA/ Stimulus Youth Funding must first notify COWIC/JOBLeaders
of such intent. Please see Request for Proposal for instructions and additional attachments to this cover sheet.
Lead Organization: _____________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Contact/ Title: _________________________________________________________________
Telephone/ Fax: ________________________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________________
Other Partner Organizations/ Employer Partner(s): Please use additional copies as necessary.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Contact/Title: __________________________________________________________________
Telephone/Fax: ________________________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________________
Please address Correspondence to:
Mr. Winford Dearing, Contract Manager
COWIC/JOBLeaders
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 6 of 21
Section 1: Introduction
The 2009 Summer YouthWorks!, funded in partnership with the City of Columbus, Ohio, the
Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the Franklin County Department of Job & Family
Services, and the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation have received notice of
funding allocation from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Plan (ARRP) through the
Workforce Investment Act, funds appropriated from City of Columbus General Fund, and
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to operate the summer youth employment &
training program. Potential bidders should note that the timing for this Request for
Proposal is ahead of funds available and regulatory guidance to comply with federal and
state requirements. Therefore, COWIC/ JOBLeaders will negotiate any changes that are
required throughout the process to comply with the new federal stimulus funding.
This year’s program will result in work-readiness certification and, paid internships targeting low-
income in-school youth, ages 14 through 18 years of age. We are also soliciting additional
private funds to expand the scope of this initiative. Young adults who are out of school, ages
16–24 years of age will be served through a different Request for Proposal.
Currently enrolled in Columbus City Schools are approximately 53,000 students; and
approximately 111,000 students in the suburban school districts. While graduation rates have
increased over the last two (2) years, 70.6% of students enrolled in Columbus City Schools and
95.5% in the suburban schools are graduating. African Americans and Latinos experienced the
highest non-graduation levels in Central Ohio, as well as the highest levels of documented
juvenile offenses and detention. In this economic recession, in-school youth, with little or no
work experience, will find it difficult to secure summer employment.
Research has documented the need for summer learning to increase year-round academic
retention. Thus the work and learn model enhances one’s ability to retain and use academic
knowledge in the work environment; and, provides the contextual learning during the summer to
develop critical workforce development skills.
Our goal with this summer program is to provide in-school youth with work-readiness skills and
career exploration in high growth/ high demand industries and occupations to build the talented
workforce for the future.
Section 2: Administration and Availability of Funding
The Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation/ JOBLeaders is responsible for the
planning, procurement, disbursement, and management of public funds and services intended
to improve the lives of Central Ohio residents through education, training, career development,
and workforce development services. COWIC is the administrative entity and the fiscal agent
serving as the Service Delivery Area No. 11 for the City of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 7 of 21
under the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and the Workforce Investment Act.
JOBLeaders is the premier one-stop career center providing services to universal customers
who are conducting self-directed job searches and seeking career development & training
information funded under the Workforce Investment Act.
JOBLeaders, located at the Jerry Hammond Center, 1111 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
43205, houses COWIC’s workforce services and employment relations operations with 19
mandatory and non-mandatory partners:
o Ohio Department of Job & Family Services
o Franklin County Job & Family Services
o Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission/ Bureau of Vocational
Rehabilitation
o Columbus State Community College
o Columbus City Schools
o United Way of Central Ohio
o Alvis House
o Jewish Family Services
o LTT Staffing
o Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical School
o AARP Foundation
o Mature Services
o Horn of Africa
o Impact Columbus
o ECDI
o Hispanic Coalition
o Goodwill Columbus
o APDS
o Consumer Credit Counseling
o City of Columbus
Section 3: Eligible Bidders
COWIC/JOBLeaders plans to serve approximately 1,250 in-school youth, ages 14 – 18, through
five (5) larger community-based organizations with public and private collaborations to serve an
average of 250 youth with each vendor partnership agreement from June 29, 2009 through
August 7, 2009, approximately 6 – 8 weeks. COWIC/JOBLeaders is seeking additional private
funds to expand the scope of this initiative through private employer contributions. Successful
performance of these programs will be considered for funding for 2009 and the summer of 2010,
if funds are available. We expect funded programs to work with COWIC/JOBLeaders to
leverage additional funds to sustain the program through 2010.
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 8 of 21
This is an open and competitive procurement process. Eligible applicants include any public or
private organization capable of performing the work described in this request for proposals,
including, but not limited to educational and training organizations, institutions of higher learning,
community and faith-based organizations, and employers; and preferably, a collaborative
partnerships, of these kinds of organizations with the proposer as the lead agent. Priority
consideration will be given to organizations located in Franklin County who are accessible to the
target populations to be served or who are accessible to the targets by location. Proposals
should demonstrate a track record of providing services to successfully prepare young people
for work. Strong private employer involvement must be part of the program design and services
provided.
Section 4: Participant Eligibility and Target Populations
Individuals receiving Summer YouthWorks! training supported by the Workforce Investment Act
(WIA) must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Resident of Franklin County, Ohio
14–18 years of age
In-School attending high school in Columbus City Schools or Franklin County School
District
Low-income status (see chart below)
Selective service registration if applicable
Right to work documentation (citizenship, green cards, other work documentation)
Appropriate forms of documentation
WIA FY 2009 Income Guidelines
Family Size Maximum 6-month Income Allowed
1 $ 5,200
2 7,000
3 9,440
4 11,655
5 13,752
6 16,086
7 or more See COWIC/JOBLeaders Staff
Specific Target Groups
This request for proposal solicits programs and services targeted to in-school youth, ages 14–
18 that are:
Involved with the Juvenile Justice System/ Re-Entry
African American Males
Latinos
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 9 of 21
Somalia’s
Youth with Disabilities
Youth involved in the Foster Care System
Teen Parents
Additionally, successful proposals will target groups noted above from the following Central
Ohio neighborhoods and/ or school districts:
Whitehall
Groveport
Southwestern City School District
Franklinton
Hilltop
Reynoldsburg
Columbus Empowerment Zone
Linden
Marion Franklin
Successful bidders will be evaluated based on a strong outreach and recruitment strategy that
demonstrates the ability to enroll 50% in-school youth who live outside of the Columbus city
limits in the targeted areas.
Work-Readiness Training & Certification
The Work-Readiness Training Program will be offered to all eligible in-school youth, ages 14 –
18 via a separate vendor agreement, outside of the scope of this Request for Proposal.
Successful bidders for this Request for Proposal will make referrals to the Work-Readiness
Program prior to enrollment into their work & learn projects. The Work-Readiness Program will
be offered to eligible youth the dates of June 15 through June 26, 2009. A success completion
of the Work-Readiness Program will be a standardized skill certification approved by
COWIC/JOBLeaders and the State of Ohio.
Section 5: Scope of Services
This request for proposal seeks bids for programs and services that offer a standardized:
Outreach & recruitment process to serve a total of 250 youth
Eligibility determination/ verification process
WIA approved objective assessment
Referral to work-readiness training offered by a COWIC/JOBLeaders funded training
provider
Career Exploration in all six (6) high demand/ high growth industries. The targeted high
demand/ high growth industries are:
o Green Industry
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 10 of 21
o Healthcare
o Engineering
o Business/ Technology
o Creative Economy
o Education
o Entrepreneurship
Paid Internships*
Summer worksite selection and matching
Worksite/ supervision oversight
Time sheet reporting
Standard Program and Worksite Evaluation
Final Program Report
*COWIC/JOBLeaders will provide funding for participant wages. All participants will earn
minimum wage at $7.30 per hour, not to exceed 20-25 hours per week for 6-8 weeks. The
wages for summer youth will not be part of this agreement.
Career Exploration
COWIC/JOBLeaders will give priority consideration to career-exploration activities that include
private sector involvement and integrate a project-based learning model in at least two (2) of the
high/ demand/ growth industries listed. These are labor-market targeted industries for the
Central Ohio Region based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other economic forecasts.
Any combination of project-based learning and internships will be considered based on the
program design. Training providers must include private sector involvement at every level of the
project and give consideration for the employer/ supervisor’s work schedule. Bidders are
recommended to consider all classroom training on the front-end of the program with the
internships on the back-end.
The American Recovery & Reinvestment Plan under the Obama Administration has a strong
emphasis on the Green Economy. As the Green industry evolves in our region, priority
consideration will be given to Green Project-Based Initiatives. Exploration of the Green
Economy as it relates to the Construction Trades and Automotive Hybrid Cars for example; and
any other Green Initiatives that will help the conservation, recycling, and/ or preservation of our
environment will be considered very strongly. Green projects may be planned for any of the
high demand/ high growth industries. COWIC/JOBLeaders is very interested in innovative
projects towards discovering what green is and how it will develop into meaningful training, jobs,
and ultimately preserve our environment. We must educate young people on the issues and
opportunities of going “Green”!
Private Employer Partnerships
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 11 of 21
Well-documented employer partnerships are an essential feature of successful training models.
Proposals without strong private employer involvement will not be competitive. In successful
workforce development partnerships, the training provider and employer work together to
identify and develop the skills of a potential applicant pool. Providers should develop
opportunities for sustained employer interaction throughout the summer in the form of
classroom training, business tours, job shadowing, and internships. A variety of employer
involvement options are possible, consistent with targeted service populations and career
exploration areas. All require strong and active partnerships with employers in each high
demand/ high growth industry. Effective partnerships involve employers in the tailoring of
training designs to meet industry needs. Indicators of desirable public/ private partnerships
include, but are not limited to:
Employer membership on a program advisory board;
Employer participation in the curriculum and project development;
Employer participation in classroom teaching;
In-kind support (e.g. donation of training-related equipment, staff time, books, &
materials;
Employer involvement in program via mock interviews, workplace tours, job shadowing,
mentoring;
Employer involvement in assessing participant attainment of competencies;
Internships and work/ project based learning opportunities;
Commitment to hire high school graduates
Periodic review to determine if employer’s workforce needs match the career exploration
information or the project learned competencies.
Worksite Selection & Management
Training providers will select public and private worksites that match the high demand/ high
growth industries and/ or the project-based learning activities with the needs of the employer in
mind.
All employers must be a registered business in the State of Ohio and adhere to all applicable
local, state, and federal laws, including Child Labor Laws. All other worksite requirements are
contained in the COWIC/JOBLeaders Worksite Agreement attached to this Request for
Proposal.
Training providers will be responsible for collecting, reporting, and maintaining all time sheets
and working with the Payroll Service Provider.
Paid internships will be provided through community and private organizations. Youth will train
and work a total of 20-25 hours per week. Successful proposals will plan a process for
internship placement and consider the following from each student:
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 12 of 21
Recommendation for employment from a teacher, former employer, church, or
other;
A typed student profile or resume with a one-page cover letter on the importance
of summer work and what they hope to achieve;
Work-Readiness Training Certification upon completion of training;
All eligibility determination/ verification, work permit (if applicable), & I-9
Certification complete;
Successful interview at the training provider or worksite supervisor level
Application, Intake & Enrollment
Training providers will be responsible for accurate completion of all applicable forms for each
summer youth participant. Eligibility determination/ verification will be conducted by the training
provider. Providers will submit hard copies of all applications, eligibility verification, assessment,
individual service strategies, worksite assignments, and final program reports to
COWIC/JOBLeaders. Applicants who do not complete the eligibility/ verification/ assessment/
enrollment process will not be allowed to participate in the 2009 Summer YouthWorks! program.
Training Providers will be trained on COWIC/JOBLeaders’ new Automated Eligibility System.
Payroll Services Coordination
On a weekly basis, the training provider will be responsible for collecting and verifying that all
timesheets for each participant are accurate. All time will be entered into Payroll Service
Provider’s online automated payroll system.
Participants will be paid by direct deposit. The Payroll Service Provider will provide online
access to all account information for each participant. Representatives from the payroll
Services Provider will be available for training and support for providers regarding any payroll
issues during the program period.
Financial Literacy Coordination
Chase Bank will provide all banking services for automatic deposit to our Summer YouthWorks!
participants. Additionally, Chase Bank will provide two (2) hours of financial literacy training to
all participants at the training provider’s location(s). Training Providers will coordinate with
Chase Bank to schedule the two hour training sessions.
File Maintenance & Reporting
COWIC/JOBLeaders will provide all training providers the following program forms and
documents:
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 13 of 21
Applications/ Documentation List
Filing System Format
Eligibility Requirements
Summer YouthWorks! Worksite/ Participant Manual
WIA Objective Assessment Form
WIA Individual Service Strategy Form
Sample Timesheet
Invoice Forms
Training/Orientation
Successful training providers will be required to attend the 2009 Summer YouthWorks!
orientation and training prior to the program start-up. The training will entail the following topics:
Eligibility Determination/ Verification
Enrollment
Payroll Services
Automatic Deposit/ Financial Literacy Coordination with Chase Bank
Invoicing Procedures
Reporting
Worksite Requirements, Child Labor Laws, & Orientation Overview
Program & Fiscal Monitoring
Success Stories Journal
Section 6: Performance Standards
In addition to achieving the eligibility/ assessment completion, career exploration, project and
internship goals, COWIC/JOBLeaders expects the following:
1) 90% retention in the 2009 Summer YouthWorks! program;
2) Competency attainment in at least five out of the seven Career Explorations;
3) Competencies learned and documented from the project-based learning activities; and
4) Pre/ Post Worksite Evaluations for all participants
5) Summer YouthWorks! Participant Survey
Section 7: Cost Guidelines
The Workforce Investment Act requires that all costs are reasonable, allowable, and necessary
and therefore, budgets will be carefully reviewed for appropriate and justifiable costs per
participant and per instructional hour. Successful bidders will be required to submit a Cost
Allocation Plan prior to the completion of the training contract. Cost will be one factor in
making funding recommendations, but not the only factor.
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 14 of 21
Section 8: Terms of Procurement
Proposals will be accepted on or before Thursday, April 2, 2009 at noon. A Letter of
Intent is required by Friday, March 20, 2009, noon. The cover letter is on page 2 of this
Request for Proposal, and may be copied to include information on multiple partners. Letters of
Intent with other required documentation listed in the Request for Proposal will be mailed and/
or hand delivered by the due date. Bidders may be required to submit written clarifications to
their proposals if requested, and may be invited to meet with staff to provide verbal
clarifications.
Letters of Intent will be reviewed for alignment with the Request for Proposal and technical
scores for all attached documentation. Bidders will be notified by Tuesday, March 24, 2009,
close of business, to submit a full proposal by the April 2, 2009 deadline.
Letter of Intent Requirements
The following is required for the Letter of Intent:
1) Attach list of names and addresses of the Lead Agent’s Board of Directors.
2) Attach Letter of Authorization from the Lead Agent’s Board of Directors or other
appropriate entity identifying the individual(s) and their titles who are authorized to sign a
contract.
3) A copy of the last independent financial and compliance audit conducted by an
independent certified public accountant or the most recent financial statements which
includes a balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow.
4) Certificate of Liability Insurance.
5) Articles of Incorporation and most recent certificate of continued existence as the Lead
Agent.
6) EEO Policy.
7) Copy of Worker’s Compensation Certificate showing risk number.
8) W-9 – Required for All Proposers (Lead Agent).
9) Brief summary of the partnerships (organizations) for the project.
10) Project Summary/ Overview and commitment statement to organizational capability to
conduct the required program components; e.g.; outreach/ recruitment, eligibility/
verification, etc.
11) The Letter of Intent will be signed by the Lead Agent.
12) Estimated cost summary.
13) No more than two (2) pages with additional documents and/ or attachments.
14) The Letter of Intent is due by Friday, March 20, 2009, noon.
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 15 of 21
Bidders’ Conference
A Bidder’s Conference will be held Friday, March 13, 2009, 9:00 a.m., at the Jerry
Hammond Center, 1111 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43205, Lower Level, Continental
Room. Potential bidders are required to email the name of your organization, phone number
and email address to wdearing@cowic.org by 5: pm, March 12 of your intent to attend
Reference RFP 2009-02 in your email subject.
Program Timelines
Outreach & Recruitment begins May 1, 2009
Work-Readiness Training & Certification June 15, 2009 through June 26, 2009
Summer Work & Learn begins June 29, 2009 through August 21, 2009
Final Invoices due September 10, 2009
Bidders must demonstrate the capacity to perform administrative responsibilities as follows:
1) Maintain program and financial records; e.g. participant progress, certifications,
timesheets, evaluations, invoices, etc.
2) Submit program reports with each invoice;
3) Track participant attendance;
Contracts will be for the Summer YouthWorks! program only with the option to renew in 2010, if
funds are available. Contracts will be cost reimbursement, with most of the award to be
reimbursed on a monthly basis. As specified previously, COWIC/JOBLeaders will insist that all
costs are necessary, allowable, and reasonable in approving awards and negotiating final
contract terms.
Technical Assistance
For questions regarding this Request for Proposal, email SummerYouthWorks@cowic.org. All
questions and answers will be posted on the website at www.cowicjobleaders.org on or before
Friday, March 27, 2009. COWIC/JOBLeaders will reframe from answering questions after
Friday, March 27, 2009, close of business.
Section 9: Proposal Specifications and Contents Lists
1) The original (signed) proposal must be submitted along with seven (7) copies.
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 16 of 21
2) Proposals will not exceed twenty (20) pages of text; including the Budget Narrative
Section of the Proposal Guidelines. The page limit does not include budget forms and
other required attachments.
3) All attachments are required at the time the proposal is submitted;
4) Text must be typed in a minimum 12-point font and double spaced;
5) Proposals must be submitted with the forms included in the Request for Proposal, and
must provide the information as listed.
6) Facsimiles or E-mailed proposals will not be accepted.
7) Proposals must be mailed or hand delivered no later than Thursday, April 2, 2009, noon
to:
2009 Summer YouthWorks!
Request for Proposal
In-School Youth
COWIC/JOBLeaders
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Attn.: Mr. Winford Dearing, Contracts Manager
COWIC/JOBLeaders reserves the right to declare
proposals received after the deadline to be non-responsive.
Proposal Contents List:
The following proposal documents should be submitted in the following order: (Those
underlined are provided in the Request for Proposal Appendices.)
1) Proposal Cover Sheet
2) Proposal Narrative
3) Budget Forms (Use the approved WIA Program Excel Budget found on our website at
www.cowicjobleaders.org
4) Memoranda of Agreements with Employers
5) Organizational Chart, including this program
6) Curriculum Outline(s)
7) Program Schedule/ Timelines
8) Service Strategy Format
9) Job Descriptions and Resumes
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 17 of 21
Section 10: Proposal Guidelines (Total Points = 100)
1. Program Summary (5 points)
Summarize your proposed program design, including specific target population/
neighborhoods or school districts, number of participants to be served, program sites, start
and end dates, industry/ employers, expected outcomes, and any additional program
features such as internships, etc. Identify any partners with whom you will collaborate to
offer key components of the program.
2. Organizational Capacity (10 points)
A) Describe your organizational mission and philosophy. Discuss the organization’s work
with the past two years involving training and employment for unemployed and
underemployed youth and youth adults.
B) Briefly describe your experience and capacity/ expertise in the following areas:
Career Exploration, Job Retention, Worksite Selection & Management, etc.
Serving 250+ youth with collaborations and partnerships, including employers
WIA Eligibility/ verification, assessment, testing, work evaluations,
Previous programs with COWIC/JOBLeaders over the past two years
C) Describe your organization’s management and reporting structure. Attach an
organizational chart showing where the proposed will be housed.
D) Comment on your organizations capacity to perform administrative responsibilities,
including:
o Income verification and documentation;
o Maintenance of participant records
o Submission of program reports
o Tracking participant attendance
Please provide a reference from a funding or oversight agency that COWIC/JOBLeaders
can contact regarding your organization’s administrative capabilities.
3. Target Populations, Neighborhood and/or School Districts
Discuss the characteristics and needs of the specific populations of the In-School Youth
your organization wants to serve.
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 18 of 21
What are the challenges and opportunities for these individuals?
How does this population reflect the priorities of this Request for Proposal?
What direct experience have you had with this population and how did your
organization accommodate their needs?
Which aspects of your program are designed to specifically address the challenges
faced by this population?
4. Program Design (30 Points)
Describe your proposed design for offering each of the following required program
components in the model:
Outreach & Recruitment
o Discuss your plan for outreach & recruitment. Include specific target group(s),
neighborhoods, and/ or schools districts; the organizations and audiences with
whom you will communicate; and the methods you will use. We encourage you
to use COWIC JOBLeaders Career Planners, Coaches, and the Career Center
as a recruitment source.
Eligibility determination, assessment, and service strategy development
o Describe how your organization plans to explain eligibility requirements to
prospective participants and ensure documentation is received and approved
prior to enrollment into the program, the payroll system, etc. Describe the
assessment process to document the participant’s interest, academic status,
interest, vocational, and support needs; and, how you will use this information to
develop their individual service strategy for each participant.
Worksite match/ selection process for each youth that ties to their service
strategy
o Describe based on your program focus, who you will develop and select both
public and private worksites. How will you match these worksites to the youth
participant and tie the worksite to their individual assessment and service
strategy. What process will you use to prepare youth for the worksite, other than
work-readiness training that will be provided outside of your program; e.g.;
Interviews, essays, letters of recommendation, etc.
Career Exploration in the high demand/ high growth labor market areas provided
o Provide an outline of the curriculum to be used and how you will achieve
competencies for this area of the program. What instrument will you use to
measure the competencies in each industry? How will you use private sector
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 19 of 21
involvement in this component? What activities will you integrate with instruction
to engage youth in the topics?
Project-based learning initiative
o What project(s) will you conduct during the summer? How will you measure
learning and achievement from the project activities? How will you involve
private sector representatives into this area of the program? What impact will
this project have on the participants and/ or the organization or the community?
How will you measure this impact?
Timesheet reporting & collection of timesheets
o Describe your process for managing time reporting and collection of time sheets
from the various worksites. How will you ensure accountability for time and
attendance reporting at the participant and the staff level?
Worksite selection, supervisor orientation, and oversight
o Describe how you will develop and select worksites for the summer internships?
When and where will the supervisor’s orientation be held? Explain how you will
provide management and oversight for the worksites?
Competency attainments from all classroom and project-based learning activities
o Describe how you will measure each competency in all classroom and/ or project
learning activities. What tools and methods will you use?
Worksite pre and post evaluations
o How will you manage the worksite supervisor pre & posts evaluations?
Participant evaluations?
5. Employer-Provider Partnerships (20 Points)
Discuss, in detail, the ways in which partnerships with employers will contribute to the success
of your instruction, career explorations, project-based learning and any other program areas.
Clearly define the roles and activities of the participating employers.
Discuss the ways in which employers have contributed to your curriculum and program design
in order to align the training with their needs and best practices.
For the Career Exploration activity based on the employers’ perspective, describe both the
immediate and projected demand for entry level positions for the industry occupations; describe
potential career ladders within the proposed employer’s company and within the industry as a
whole. What are the compensation (wages) ranges for these occupations? Indicate what levels
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 20 of 21
of experience and education or training are required for advancement. We would like to know if
internships are available to school-age or out-of-school young adults.
Attach a Memorandum of Agreement between your organization and the participating
employer(s) outlining the activities, responsibilities and contributions of each. The
Agreement should be signed by the CEO of each organization or a designee who has the
most senior operational authority for the area of training and/ or employment covered by
the program.
6. Staffing & Administration (10 Points)
Identify staff responsible for each component of the proposed program, including any non-
budgeted staff who play a significant role; both direct and administrative personnel. Discuss
staff qualifications, skills, and experience working with youth and young adults to provide
services and instruction. Attach job descriptions and resumes for all staff involved in the
program. Label the job descriptions with the name of the staff person, or indicate if the position
is vacant. Identify the members of the management team, and describe the staff reporting
structure. Identify the staff responsible for managing participant tracking.
7. Budget/Budget Narrative (25 Points)
A) Budget Narrative
Prepare a budget narrative consistent with the attached budget forms. The budget narrative
should be included as part of the 20 page limit; the budget forms should not. The contract
period will be for the summer program only May 1, 2009 through August 30, 2009.
The budget narrative should describe each line item included in the attached budget forms
and clearly identify how each cost has been calculated.
B) Budget Forms
Using the budget forms provided at www.cowicjobleaders.org, attach a detailed budget that
covers all aspects of the project. Include costs for all program components, as well as in-
kind or other contributions.
The budget narrative will be counted toward the 20-page limit, but the required budget form
will not. Budget forms should be attached as listed in the Proposal Contents List.
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
Page 21 of 21
Section 11: Request for Proposal Appendices
Appendix A Required Proposal Attachments
A-1 Letter of Intent Cover Sheet (Due 3/20/09)
A-2 Proposal Cover Sheet (Due 4/2/09)
A-3 Budget Form (If accessing the RFP online, the forms are available as a
separate Excel file at www.cowicjobleaders.org)
Additional Reference Information
Appendix B WIA Youth Training Providers List
Appendix C COWIC/JOBLeaders Staff & Partner Contact List
Appendix D COWIC/JOBLeaders Disclaimers & General Provisions
Appendix E Standard Assurance & Certifications
Appendix F Contract Boilerplate
Appendix G Summer Worksite Agreement
Appendix H WIA/ TANF Eligibility Guidelines and Verification Documentation List
1111 East Broad Street, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: 614-559-5052 Fax: 614.559.6083
Website: www.cowicjobleaders.org
