IDIQ_PWS__ET_COE_OET.pdf

ATTACHMENT I REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AG-3198-S-15-0091

FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES (FNS) ON BEHALF OF

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OFFICE OF

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING TO PROVIDE THE SNAP EMPLOYMENT AND

TRAINING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

(IDIQ PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Office of Employment and Training (OET) is seeking an organization to develop the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Center of Excellence (COE).

The goal of the COE is to increase the capacity of states to operate effective E&T programs that connect SNAP clients to skills training and good-paying jobs.

2.0 BACKGROUND

A growing body of evidence points to the primacy of skills as the driver of economic security.

With two-thirds of jobs created over the next decade expected to require at least some form of education beyond high school, expanding access to education and training for low-wage and low-skilled SNAP recipients is critical to ensure that they can transition into family-supporting employment.

While over half of SNAP participants are children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, thirty percent of SNAP households have earned income and over 42 percent of SNAP participants live in households with earnings. SNAP benefits help individuals and families put food on the table, often while household members look for a job or seek out higher paying jobs. SNAP E&T is one key resource available to help states and localities address the needs of these individuals.

All 53 State SNAP agencies are required to operate an E&T program to help job–ready SNAP recipients find work and assist others in gaining skills, training, or experience that lead to employment and greater self-sufficiency. USDA provides Federal grants to support State administered E&T programs for SNAP participants. A federal formula grant allocates $90 million to State agencies for the cost of administering and operating an E&T program. An additional $20 million grant is awarded to State agencies that pledge to offer all at-risk able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) a spot in a work activity that allows them to maintain SNAP eligibility. In addition to the federally funded formula grants, USDA reimburses 50 percent of the additional State expenditures on SNAP E&T that are over and above federal E&T grant(s). USDA also reimburses 50 percent of State expenditures on dependent care, transportation, and other participant expenses related to their participation in E&T services.

In FY 2014, USDA provided $293.6 million in Federal funds to States for SNAP E&T services.

Of this total, 33 percent or approximately $98 million were 100 percent federal funds; and 67 percent or $195.6 million were federal reimbursements to States for additional funds spent to provide services.

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, provides flexibility in the design of E&T programs so that States may determine what approaches and services best fit with local needs.

State agencies choose the components that make up their E&T programs, which may include job search and job search training, workfare, education activities (including basic skills training, English language learning, vocational training, postsecondary education), self-employment or on-the-job training, and job retention services. Participants must be certified to receive SNAP benefits or be in the process of applying in order to receive SNAP E&T services. Some States require certain SNAP recipients to participate in E&T as a condition of eligibility while other States operate voluntary programs open to all or many SNAP recipients.

SNAP E&T is an essential part of each State’s education and training toolbox because it fills the gap left by many traditional workforce programs. E&T programs are flexible; they can help those who are work-ready find good-paying jobs or help those who need additional skills find training or education programs that lead to jobs. States have a natural opportunity to expand the reach of their SNAP E&T program by forging partnerships with State and local agencies, community-based organizations, non-profits, and employers to fully utilize the breadth of available E&T funding streams.

The majority of states currently offer low-intensity E&T programs in only a few geographic areas or counties. In many instances the potential of the program is not fully understood, and, even when it is, many state SNAP agencies lack the capacity and resources to develop and run workforce development programs. As a result, the vast majority of states operate small, low-intensity programs and a handful of states are not fully leveraging their available federal funds.

Last year, Vice President Biden embarked on a full-scale review of federal job training programs with the goal of strengthening programs nationwide and helping more Americans find or prepare for good-paying jobs. His culminating report1 established the Job-Driven Checklist—a tool designed to maximize the effectiveness of all Federally-funded job training programs. USDA has been encouraging States to engage in greater cross-system collaboration with their workforce and education counterparts (e.g. American Job Centers, community colleges, adult education providers, community-based organizations), and incorporate job-driven elements into their existing E&T programs. Building these partnerships will require a concentrated effort to bring together organizations with different interests, expertise, and capacity to create a shared understanding of and vision for state SNAP E&T programs.

Most recently, USDA provided $200 million in pilot grants to 10 states designed to test innovative E&T strategies that will help participants gain new skills and find work. The vast majority of the funded projects will work extensively with their workforce and education partners. While the number of projects we were able to fund was limited by statute, FNS received a considerable number of applications from states seeking to build similar partnerships.

Over the next year, OET is committed to working with states to fulfill the vision that all SNAP recipients have the skills and supports they need to meet the needs of employers and work toward economic self-sufficiency. The E&T COE will be placed at the core of this effort and will function as an essential component of FNS’ technical assistance strategy. The COE will also work collaboratively with each of the seven Regional Offices who will be working directly with states to strengthen their E&T programs and ensure that any adjustments made to the programs are within program rules.

1 Ready to Work: Job-Driven Training and American Opportunity, The White House, July 2014 https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/skills_report.pdf.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/skills_report.pdf

3.0 SCOPE

The contractor shall provide technical assistance to assist FNS in helping states strengthen and enhance their SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs to guide state agencies and their partners in developing job-driven programs that put SNAP recipients on a path to self-sufficiency.

4.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Period of performance is three (3) years and will run from September 25, 2015 – September 24, 2018.

5.0 APPLICABLE DIRECTIVES

• Ready-to-Work: Job-Driven Training and American Opportunity o https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/skills_report.pdf

• E&T Resource Center o http://www.fns.usda.gov/employment-and-training-et-resources-states

• SNAP E&T Toolkit o http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ET_Toolkit_2013.pdf

• Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended o http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/legislation

• Federal Code of Regulations (7 CFR 273.7) o http://www.ecfr.gov/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/skills_report.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/employment-and-training-et-resources-states http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ET_Toolkit_2013.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/legislation http://www.ecfr.gov/