Bucks County Workforce Investment Board, Inc. Title I Services Contract Bidders Conference 1 April AM PA CareerLink® Bucks County

Under Workforce Investment Act funding, the Title I Services Contractor will be responsible for the following sequential provision of services to eligible Job Seeker participants: Core Services: Determination of individual eligibility for services Outreach, intake and orientation to the information and other services available through the CareerLink® delivery system Job search and placement assistance including access to the Internet and career counseling where appropriate Provision of employment statistics information and labor market information such as job vacancy listings, job skills necessary to obtain jobs, local in demand and high priority occupations, earnings, and skill requirements, Provision of performance information and program cost information on eligible providers of training services Provision of information regarding local area performance on the local performance measures Provision of accurate information relating to the availability of supportive services available in the local area Assistance in establishing eligibility for welfare-to-work activities and programs of financial aid assistance for training and education programs Provision of job search assistance workshops Provision of computer literacy workshops Initial job skills assessment

Intensive Services: Development of an individual employment plan to identify the employment goals, appropriate achievement objectives, and appropriate combination of services for the participant to achieve the individuals’ employment goals Group counseling as appropriate Individual counseling and career planning Case management Provision of intensive job search assistance workshops Provision of intensive computer literacy workshops Comprehensive job skills assessment Short-term prevocational services, including development of learning skills, communication skills, interviewing skills, punctuality, personal maintenance skills, and professional conduct to prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment or training.

Training Services: Development of On-the-Job Training (OJT) opportunities Effective planning for occupational skill training including training for nontraditional employment. (Skill training opportunities cannot rely solely on WIA funds; proposer must demonstrate ability to leverage additional financial aid resources.) Skill upgrading and retraining (Skill training opportunities cannot rely solely on WIA funds; proposer must demonstrate ability to leverage additional financial aid resources.) Customized training conducted with a commitment by an employer or group of employers to hire an individual upon successful completion of the training.

Follow-Up Services: Participants who have been terminated from WIA-funded programs as a “positive termination/entered employment” must be tracked and provided with as-needed follow-up case management and regular contact for ONE year following the date of termination.

BUSINESS CUSTOMER SERVICES Intensive Services: Employers engaged with the PA CareerLink® Bucks County (opening a Business Folder on CWDS) who – offer wages at a family sustaining level (50% or higher of the current median household income in Bucks County) – or offers a job opportunity in a high-growth opportunity field (opening is on the High Priority Occupations list in Southeastern PA) will be provided customized assistance including openings listed on HotJobs, provision of Labor Market Information (LMI), and job matching services.

BUSINESS CUSTOMER SERVICES Premier Services: Employers (opening a Business Folder on CWDS) who – offer wages at a sustainable level and have current openings in high-growth opportunity field – (and offers medical benefits within the first six months of employment) will be provided with a designated Title I Services Contracted Business Solutions Expert staff member, HotJobs listing, mass distribution of job openings throughout region, dedicated interviewing/job matching services, customized LMI specific to industry, and customized recruitment services.

Individuals eligible for Workforce Investment Act funds under the “Adult” funding stream must be: 18 years of age AND Registered to work in the United States or a US citizen AND Be a Bucks County resident (priority) AND Meet the Self-Sufficiency Standards as established by the BC-WIB which are 235% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

Individuals eligible for Workforce Investment Act funds under the “Dislocated Worker” funding stream must be: 18 years of age AND Registered to work in the United States or a US citizen AND Be a Bucks County resident (priority) AND Be an individual who has been laid off and is unlikely to return to his/her previous industry or occupation OR who has been laid off as a result of a permanent closure/relocation of the employer OR has received a general announcement of a closure OR was formerly self-employed and is now unemployed OR is a displaced homemaker.

For the Workforce Investment Act, required Common Measures are calculated by the Department of Labor on a quarterly basis and include: Adult/Dislocated Worker Entered Employment Rates (The number of Adult or Dislocated Worker participants who are employed in the first quarter after the exit quarter divided by the number of Adult or Dislocated Workers participants who exit during the quarter) Employment Retention (The number of Adult or Dislocated Worker participants who are employed in both the second and the third quarters after the exit quarter divided by the number of Adult or Dislocated Worker participants who exit during the quarter) Average Earnings (The total earnings in the second quarter plus total earnings in the third quarter after the exit quarter divided by the number of Adult or dislocated Worker participants who exit during the quarter)

Outcome Requirements The initial year Performance Requirements will include: Adult Customer Entered Employment = 84% Dislocated Worker Customer Employed = 90% Adult Customer Six-Month Job Retention = 86% Dislocated Worker Customer Six-Month Job Retention = 92% Adult Customer Average Earnings Six-Months Post Placement = $14,000 Dislocated Worker Customer Average Earnings Six Months Post-Placement =$16,750 Premier/Intensive Level Services Employers = 60% of new Business Folders opened on CWDS

Adhering to all current & modified laws, rules, regulations, guideline requirements, policies, and local changes. Operating Partners within the PA CareerLink® Bucks County Operating Consortium. Functional Supervision by PA CareerLink® Bucks County Director. Transitional Process. Youth Customers, ARRA Funds, etc.

REPORTS CWDS – Daily Financial Reports – Monthly, Quarterly, Annually Status Reports – Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annually

Websites

Proposal Format Transmittal Form Executive Summary Past Performance Measurements/Demonstrated Effectiveness Program Narrative Program Management Narrative Financial System Criteria Personnel Policy Statements Insurance Statement Compliance Forms Checklist Line Budget

Budget Page 50 & 51: – Payroll – Operations Office supplies Dues/subscriptions Equipment Maintenance Materials Outreach Postage Printing Audit/Professional Services Staff Development Staff Travel Admin/Profit

Proposal Due: Tuesday, May 3 rd, by 3:00 PM Review & Selection: May 5 th through May 12 th Award: June 13 th Contract Start Date: July 1 st

Questions Submitted Pre-Bidders’ Conference: 1.Page 48: Historically, the primary WIA Title I Services Provider has been responsible for approximately 35% of the RSA Budget. What is the proportionate share between the Bristol site and the Perkasie site? – The historic share of the WIA Title I provider is not broken down between multiple Title I sites. The RSA budget is determined yearly and subject to change as events warrant. Therefore, past budgets may not be indicative of future resourcing. 2.Page 7: In both the Personnel Detail and the Operational Costs tables, there is a column indicating “Match.” Is there a match requirement for this project? Can you elaborate on the types of items that would be considered for “Match?” – As indicated throughout the RFP, leveraged resources are encouraged. There is not a match requirement for this project. Match-type items would be personnel/operational supported resources that are not federally or state funded but leveraged in a responsible and accountable manner.

3.Page 13: The BC-WIB recommends that any organization awarded funds through this RFP give consideration in employment to current employees who may be displaced as a result of this procurement. In the event that these employees are hired, do you project that there will be sufficient funds available to continue their current compensation levels (salary and benefits)? – The employees would be considered employees of the successful proposer and would – be subject to the hiring practices and policies of that organization. 4.Page 12: Close coordination with the BC-WIB is required throughout contract execution and at least one senior staff person who is familiar with all activities will be named as the liaison with the BC- WIB. For the purpose of this statement, what level is considered “senior”? Manager, Director, Executive Director? – Director

5.Page 12: Title I Services staff will be required to abide by operational schedules (holiday, daily operational hours, inclement weather) of the PA CareerLink®. In Perkasie, the building schedule is controlled by the BCCC. Please address your expectations in the event that the building is closed. – The Bristol CareerLink® may not be; this would be an operational consideration to be made by the CareerLink® Director. 6.Page 14: Sufficient staff must be provided to meet the needs of the PA CareerLink® Bucks County and Title I Services requirement. The selected Title I Services Provider must be flexible with staffing and have the ability to shift staff responsibilities/operations/hours in order to ensure effective coverage. Currently, the PA CareerLink® in Perkasie is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for walk-in clients. Do you plan to keep this schedule or is there an expectation and/or flexibility to expand those hours? – The RFP requests proposals with “innovative methods of service delivery.”

7.Will the designated contractor be permitted to subcontract any of the specific services to other partner agencies? – It is the goal that the WIA Title I provider be the primary stakeholder, we understand the potential need of subcontracting out certain services. Any potential subcontractor will need to be listed in the proposal, identify the service they would be providing, and an explanation why the subcontractor is needed. The subcontractor is subject to the same requirements as the primary contractor will be held to. 8.If there are planned efficiencies and linkages between a WIA and EARN proposal, would those efficiencies be indicated as a “match?” – Such could be manifested as specific cost savings; for the purpose of the grant submission and in consideration that the Proposer may be awarded one, not both, grants, it will likely be best to include any such efficiencies as “match.” Please be advised, should the Proposer be awarded two contracts (one EARN, one WIA) the budgets will be adjusted during contract negotiations to reflect appropriate efficiencies.

9.Does the RFP require a single one year budget ( ) or multiple year budgets covering the grant period? – One year as indicated on Page 48 with annual budget modifications to follow. 10. Does a separate Business Services Unit now exist? If yes, how is it funded? – Yes. WIA Title I funds. 11. What is the total funding available and how will it be divided between the two County One Stop services areas? – Total funding available is not known. Allocations between Comprehensive and Satellite CareerLink® centers not determined.

12. Can you provide salary information for current staff at the existing sites (for bidding and budgeting purposes)? – No. Salary information is from three separate providers. The positions were listed in the RFP. 13. Can proposers obtain the existing Resource Sharing Agreement (RSA) for the CareerLink? – A Summary of the Resource Sharing Agreement Budget (RSAB) was included in the RFP, page 48. The RSA indicates the mutual agreement of the eight partners; the eight partners are identified on page five.

14. Please indicate what was the expended amount for support costs in FY 10? Should the budget include training costs (OJT, ITAs, etc.)? What was the amount expended for training in FY10? – The budget should include the line items as outlined on the budget summary on Page 50. OJTs/ITAs are not to be included in the budget at this time. 15. Who is the current provider and how long has that organization been a service provider? – There are three current Title I Services Provider operating out of the PA CareerLink® Bucks County. Two have been providing services on- site since the inception of the one-stop system and one has been providing contracted services for four years. Additional information for staffing transition will be provided to the successful Proposer.

16. Are there any specific areas of improvement the WIB would like to see addressed that are not currently being addressed? – The RFP articulates the desires of the WIB and the Operating Partners relative to the strategic goals of the CareerLink® system. 17. What is the target number to be served in the next contract year? – The CareerLink® is a public system; the services are provided to any job seeker who comes. The Partners establish increases in benchmarked numbers of Employer customer services and OJT contracts executed each year.

18. What current database/automated program is used to count and track customers registering and using various services? – CWDS is the system of record; the CareerLink® Director also utilizes an Access-based database. 19. What is the impact of a possible change in Title I contractors on current youth providers? – We anticipate minimal impact on current Youth providers. 20. Can we get a list of attendees at the Bidders’ conferences? – Attendees of Bidders’ Conferences are listed on our website post- conference. 21. Will there be an opportunity to tour the other CareerLink in Upper Bucks? – Arrangements may be made through the CareerLink® Director.

Thank you for attending the Bidders’ Conference. Following this Session, additional dialogue with BC-WIB staff will not be permitted.