ESBD_502225_1777664507460_3202600137 Addendum 1.docx

This Addendum #1, issued May 1, 2026, supplements the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 3202600137 issued by the Texas Workforce Commission for the Workforce Diploma Pilot Program serving Travis County. The RFQ solicits qualified organizations to administer a reimbursement-based workforce development program supporting adult students over age 19 in achieving high school diplomas, industry-recognized credentials, and technical skills training. Respondents must be authorized under Texas Education Code to grant high school diplomas or be accredited by a regional accrediting body in partnership with such an entity, and must demonstrate at least two years of experience providing dropout reengagement services. Key deliverables include student recruitment, coaching and mentoring, academic assessment and remediation, career pathway development, employability skills training, industry credential attainment, and career placement services. The original RFQ was posted March 30, 2026, with written questions due by April 7, 2026. Responses were due by 10:00 a.m. Central Time on May 5, 2026. This Addendum notifies respondents that a Questions and Answers document has been posted and must be acknowledged and submitted with the RFQ response; failure to do so may result in disqualification. The anticipated contract start date is June 2026, with an initial term expiring August 31, 2027, followed by three optional one-year renewal periods at the Commission's discretion.

Compensation is structured on a reimbursement basis with fixed milestone rates: $250 for half-credit completion, $250 for employability skills certification, $250 to $750 for industry-recognized credentials depending on training hours, and $1,000 for high school diploma attainment. Historical compensation for similar contracts has ranged from $100,000 to $200,000 per one-year contract term, with no guaranteed minimum volume. Evaluation criteria allocate 30 percent weight to demonstrated experience and ability, 60 percent to narrative response addressing program components, and 10 percent to professional references. Performance metrics require at least a 50 percent graduation rate and a program cost per graduate not exceeding $7,000 per planned participant. No formal set-asides are established for disadvantaged enterprises, though respondents may claim preferences for Texas resident service-disabled veteran ownership, Texas-produced goods and services, recycled materials, and energy-efficient products. No incumbent vendors are identified. Vendors must provide firm pricing for 180 days from the solicitation deadline and comply with TWC requirements including E-Verify verification, drug-free workplace compliance, workers compensation insurance at statutory limits, and commercial general liability coverage with minimum per-occurrence limits of $1,000,000. Monthly invoices are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Multiple contracts may be awarded, and TWC reserves the right to cancel the solicitation entirely.