ESBD_502332_1774907549925_RFP -CVWDB Operaton & Mgmt WFS Center & Programs 26 (2).docx

Procurement Control Number: 1542

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Operation and Management of Workforce Solutions of the Concho Valley Center, Programs, and Child Care Services

Concho Valley Workforce Development Board 36 E. Twohig, Suite 805 San Angelo, Texas 76903 325.655.2005 www.cvworkforce.org

Section I – Introduction and Specifications A. Introduction The State of Texas is divided into twenty-eight (28) local workforce development areas (LWDAs). LWDA-12, Concho Valley Workforce Development Board (CVWDB), is certified by the Governor of the State of Texas and overseen by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

The Concho Valley Workforce Development Board, (Board), in compliance with Texas and Federal laws, is the local policy making body for the Concho Valley Workforce Development Area (WDA). CVWDB is made up of community representatives appointed by local elected officials to plan and oversee operation of the public workforce system in the 13-county local workforce area. The membership of the local Boards consists of representatives from private sector, education, labor, economic development, community-based organizations, literacy, adult basic education, rehabilitation agencies, public assistance agencies, child care, and the public employment service.

CVWDB provides policy and program guidance and exercises independent oversight and evaluation of workforce development programs and services that affect area employers, residents and job seekers in Sterling, Coke, Reagan, Irion, Tom Green, Concho, McCulloch, Crockett, Schleicher, Menard, Sutton, Kimble, and Mason counties. CVWDB is its own fiscal and administrative agent and determines all types of service delivery systems, selection of service providers, and performance evaluations CVWDB is charged with the planning, administration, oversight, and evaluation of a consolidated workforce system for the Concho Valley region. Funding is designated to assist employers, job seekers, low-income adults and families, dislocated workers, and youth in meeting employment needs through job placement and skills training. These funds include, but are not limited to, Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), Rapid Response, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF/Choices), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), Wagner-Peyser Employment Services (ES), Veteran Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Additionally, CVWDB has oversight of the Child Care Services (CCS) program. This program provides access to child care services for low-income families so they can work, attend school, or enroll in training to improve the well-being of their families. Childcare Services (CCS) in the CVWDB region remains its largest fiscal effort, currently serving approximately 929 children a month and 49 child care providers. CCS responsibilities include but are not limited to management and operation of the child care system including determining eligibility and referral services for subsidized child care for qualified parent(s) and managing a high quality childcare network of providers. The CCS program must work closely with workforce programs to enable participants to seamlessly move through the workforce system towards self-sufficiency.

B. Mission Statement The mission of the Concho Valley Workforce Development Board (CVWDB) is to promote the economic well-being of all residents through the delivery of employer-driven and customer-centered services. It is the intention of CVWDB to ensure that every CVWDB resident has the opportunity to work in his or her chosen field at their highest desired capacity, and that each business' workforce is trained and ready as responsible employees.

C. Overview of Our Model CVWDB model is built on a collaborative partnership between the Subrecipient and CVWDB to design and deliver an innovative, integrated workforce service system. This model prioritizes the requirements of Workforce Solutions (WFS) customers, both employers and job seekers, over programmatic silos. By implementing a service delivery approach that is customer‑centered and needs‑driven, the system ensures individualized service strategies, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and, ultimately, long‑term economic self‑sufficiency.

The metrics for evaluating the success of our customer focused and needs driven model are:

· Excellent customer service experiences as evidenced by customer satisfaction surveys.

· Excellent workplace as evidenced by staff satisfaction surveys.

· Excellent performance as evidenced by the state developed monthly performance reports (MPR).

· Responsible and timely expenditure of funds as evidenced by monthly expenditure levels and projections.

· Increased skills development for customers as evidenced by the number of customers trained and the percentage of funding related directly to training for customers

· Increased direct job placement for area employers

· Increased collaboration with employers based on needs analysis

· Increased collaboration with employers in work based training models D. Fiscal Operations

· CVWDB and the selected Subrecipient will enter into an agreement for continued Subrecipient fiscal operations.

· The payment under this Subaward for Subrecipient costs shall be paid under a cost reimbursement method.

· Payment for expenditures shall be made by CVWDB upon receipt of properly coded and documented invoices. All requests for payment shall have Subrecipient approval certifying that the expense is allowable. CVWDB is not obligated to reimburse payment requests that are inaccurate, incomplete, undocumented, or unreasonably late as determined by the Board.

· CVWDB will provide information containing budgetary, expenditures, and other Subrecipient financial management information that is necessary and appropriate to carry out the management of this subaward.

· In addition to vendor invoices, the Subrecipient shall provide documented, cost allocated, approved and coded information to the CVWDB for any accruals or other expenses that must be recorded via journal entry.

· Payments under the Subaward shall be for actual costs up to the maximum of the Subaward value for allowable, allocable, and necessary costs.

· Subrecipient agrees that all payments made are subject to review, monitoring and audits. The Subrecipient is solely liable for the submission, review, and approval of accurate, valid, allowable and allocable invoices. Accordingly, Subrecipient assumes all liability for repayment of funds disbursed on behalf of the Subrecipient when such payments are unauthorized, or disallowed as a result of an audit, review, survey, or monitoring conducted by the Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Department of Labor, or any of their designated representatives.

Section II – General Information A. Acronyms/Definition of Key Terms TERMS NOT SPECIFICALLY DEFINED HEREIN shall be construed as defined by:

· specific grant funding legislation,

· any amendments pursuant thereto,

· regulations developed pursuant to such legislation,

· the TWC Financial Manual for Grants and Contracts,

· state policy/issuances, and/or

· CVWDB policy/issuances or other applicable laws.

Definitions

· Board – Board refers to the Local Workforce Development Board (CVWDB)

· CCS – Refers to Childcare Services

· Choices - The employment and training program serving applicants, recipients, and former recipients of TANF. The Choices program is operated under a work-first service model and enables individuals to find and retain employment and upgrade skills in order to move up the economic ladder. The local employer needs, combined with the goals of the Choices program, are the framework for the service strategy of the program

· Collaboration – Integrated Community resources that work toward a common goal with individual parties that are willing to give up some of their autonomy to produce results in a greater goal that no one entity could achieve alone

· Contractor – an entity that receives a contract

· Coordination - Community resources that work together in order to not duplicate services

· Cost Principles - All costs reimbursed via funds under this RFP must be reasonable, necessary, allowable, and allocable. These principles are defined as follows:

Reasonable cost - A cost, that in its nature and amount, does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost. In determining reasonableness of the given cost, consideration shall be given to:

· whether the cost is of a type generally recognized as ordinary and necessary for the operation of the Grantee or the performance of the grant award.

· The restraints or requirements imposed by such factors as: sound business practices; arms-length bargaining; laws and regulations; and terms and conditions of the grant award.

· Market prices for comparable goods or services.

· Whether the individuals concerned acted with prudence in the circumstances considering their responsibilities to the organization, its employees, the public at large, and the federal or state government.

· Significant deviations from the established practices of the Grantee which may unjustifiably increase the award’s cost.

Allocable costs - A cost is allocable to a particular grant award or other cost objective if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to that grant award or cost objective in accordance with the relative benefits received. This standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the grant award; benefits both the grant award and other work of the Grantee and can be distributed in proportions that may be approximated using reasonable methods; and is necessary to the overall operation of the Grantee and is assignable in part to the grant award in accordance with the cost principles in the Uniform Guidance or TxGMS, as applicable. This applies whether the cost is a direct cost or indirect cost.

Where a cost or activity benefits multiple activities or programs, it must be allocated in accordance with the relative benefits received by each activity or program. Unless specifically advised by the head of the awarding agency, a cost or activity may not be charged to a federal award or state award, to which the cost is not allocable, to overcome fund deficiencies, to avoid restrictions imposed by law or terms of the awards, or for other reasons, regardless of whether the cost would otherwise be allowable under those awards. Where a cost or activity is allocable to and allowable under two or more programs in accordance with the existing program agreements, a single cost objective may be established and funded with a combination of funds made available under those programs.

· CVWDB – Concho Valley Workforce Development Board

· Debarment – an action taken by a Federal or State agency to prohibit a recipient from participating in Federal Government or a State procurement contracts and covered nonprocurement transactions. A person so excluded is “debarred”. Subrecipients are required to certify they are not debarred or suspended or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs and contracts.

· DFPS – Department of Family and Protective Services

· DOL – Department of Labor

· EDMS – Electronic Database Management System

· ES Personnel – Individuals, including State employees and staff of subrecipients, who are funded in whole or in part with Wagner-Peyser Act funds to carry out activities authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act.

· HHSC – Health and Human Services Commission

· LWDA – Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA-12 is CVWDB)

· Networking – Community organizations and agencies that exchange information about their resources

· OJT – On the Job Training

· One-Stop delivery – a single, unified entry point where job seekers and employers can access all major employment, training, and support programs. Designed to make the workforce system easier to navigate, more efficient, and more aligned with local labor market needs

· PEO – Professional Employer Organization

· PSIsafe- previous EDMS software used for paperless filing and retrieval

· RFP – Request for Proposal

· SNAP E&T– Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training

· Sub-Recipient – An entity that expends federal awards and/or state awards received from a pass-through entity to carry out part of a federal and/or state program, but does not include an individual that is a beneficiary or participant of such a program. A subgrantee may also be a recipient of other federal awards directly from a federal awarding agency or other state awards directly from a state awarding agency.

· TAA – Trade Adjustment Assistance

· TANF – Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (formerly referred to as AFDC)

· TRSP (Texas Rising Star Provider Program) – A voluntary program that offers childcare providers the opportunity to participate in a plan to improve the quality of childcare by meeting program criteria that exceed the Minimum Standards for Childcare Licensing

· TSR (Texas School Ready!) - A program that certifies preschool education classrooms that effectively prepare their students for kindergarten

· TWIST (The Workforce Information System of Texas) - former database system developed by TWC for entering and managing Participant information, eligibility, services, and performance

· UI – Unemployment Insurance

· WIA -- Workforce Investment Act of 1998

· WIOA – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014

· WIT (WorkInTexas.com) – Primary job search and job matching web based system developed by TWC for job seekers and employers

· Workforce Centers – a one‑stop career center that provides a full range of employment and training services to job seekers and employers in a single, accessible location. These centers are established under federal workforce laws (WIA/WIOA)

· WFS (Workforce Solutions of the Concho Valley) - Local branded name for the Concho Valley workforce center B. Purpose of the RFP CVWDB is seeking proposals from qualified and eligible independent entities for the management and operation of the Workforce Solutions of the Concho Valley Center, the related Programs, including Child Care, and any initiatives established by the Board. Proposers will provide innovative, responsive, and integrated Workforce Solutions services for the following counties: Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green. Services include but are not limited to:

1. Childcare Services (CCS),

2. WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth services,

3. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF/Choices),

4. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T),

5. Local Coordination Grant and Wagner Peyser (7b) Act services,

6. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA),

7. Support for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Recipients,

8. Employment Services (ES),

9. Business Support Services,

10. Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment services,

11. Rapid Response services, and

12. Other board-directed programs under special grants that may be received in the future CVWDB reserves the right to assign to the Subrecipient responsibility for managing additional workforce programs and funds that may be awarded or made available to the CVWDB.

In addition, the Subrecipient will be expected to coordinate with several other agencies and programs that may or may not be co-located in career centers or are designated as partners including, but not limited to:

· Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Program

· Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

· Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Veterans Employment Services

· Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation Services

· Texas Workforce Commission Employment Services Funding for the subaward is from Federal sources provided to CVWDB through various grants and contracts with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and is contingent upon funding being made available.

It is CVWDB’s intent to award one subaward for the management and operation of the Workforce Solutions of the Concho Valley Center and related services. The resulting subaward will establish a subrecipient relationship that involves fiscal, administrative, monitoring, and programmatic responsibilities for the workforce development programs in our region.

Changes to the scope of work and/or resultant subaward shall be subject to the availability of funds, changes in legislation, regulations, policies, applicable procurement standards, and the laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing the programs funded under this Request for Proposal.

CVWDB reserves the right to vary the terms of any subaward solicited via this RFP including funding levels, scope of work, performance standards, and length of term, as it deems necessary in the interest of CVWDB or its programs.

Services solicited under this RFP are procured under the competitive negotiation method of procurement. This RFP provides a uniform method for the procurement of these services, providing for full and open competition. It contains the necessary background, requirements, instructions, and information to prepare a response. Procurement of goods and services under federal assistance programs shall comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200), including the procurement standards in 2 CFR 200.317–200.327, and the provisions of applicable Federal Law or Executive orders, as well as state and local policies governing procurement.

CVWDB follows applicable federal and state requirements, including 2 CFR § 200.321, Texas Government Code Chapter 2161, and the State of Texas VetHUB program as outlined in 34 TAC §§ 20.281–20.288.

C. Legislative Authority Proposers are expected and presumed to be knowledgeable of all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies of the funding streams administered under this procurement.

Subawards funded by this RFP, are subject to applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies including, but not limited to the following:

· Portions of Public Assistance Programs under the Social Security Act;

· Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA);

· Agricultural Act of 2014;

· Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008;

· Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015;

· Deficit Reduction Act of 2009;

· Federal regulations 7 C.F.R. Parts 271-273;

· Federal regulations 20 C.F.R. Parts 652 and 675 through 683;

· Federal regulations 45 C.F.R. Chapter II;

· Texas Labor Code, Chapter 302, Chapter 307;

· Sections of the Texas Administrative Code Title 1, Part 10, Chapter 202, Subchapter B Information Security Standards and the Information Resources Management Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 2054);

· Texas Workforce Commission Workforce Development Letters; and

· Policies of the CVWDB related to workforce center programs and operation.

For detailed information, see the Texas Workforce Commission web page at: https://twc.texas.gov/agency/laws-rules-policy

D. Basic Workforce Center Standards Workforce Solutions of the Concho Valley center operations are responsible for providing a coordinated, integrated system of workforce programs and must operate in accordance with the following, but not limited to, core standards:

· Services must be consistent with the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, U.S. Department of Labor requirements for one-stop centers, and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) rules governing one-stop centers.

· Comply with the requirements of applicable program laws, rules, and policies.

· Comply with and maintain procedures consistent with Board developed policies.

· Ensure continuous, effective, and efficient collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), and Childcare Services (CCS) concerning all joint or over-lapping customer bases or programs, including VR- Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL), VR- Year-Round Work Experience, and within our referral systems.

· Establish and maintain a visible presence in the employer community as a component of a partner driven effort to provide employer services.

· Be available to employers, job seekers, and students throughout the local workforce development area.

· Provide services that are tailored to meet customer needs.

· Provide written information on local demand occupations, projected wage levels upon completion of training programs, and performance information on training providers when requested.

· Implement a customer-driven and flexible process for accessing services.

· Provide understandable service information and orientation to customers,

· Ensure that staff are trained, knowledgeable, and experienced in all required programs and services.

· Implement a timely and efficient referral and follow-up process for employment-related services.

· Provide independent assessment of need, including an assessment of skill levels, for customers.

· Implement a tiered customer-driven service delivery strategy ranging from self-service to specialized, intensive, staff-assisted services.

· Maintain a user-friendly resource center that makes available computerized information systems with access to labor market information, occupations, job opportunities, and education and training opportunities.

· Make core services available for WIOA serving adults, dislocated workers, and youth; SNAP E&T; TANF/Choices; Wagner-Peyser Employment Services, CCS and other programs as defined by TWC rules.

· Provide reasonable accommodation and accessibility to services in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

· Manage the fiscal operations in accordance with the Texas Workforce Commission Financial Manual for Grants and Contracts (FMGC).

· Expend subaward funds on allowable costs, ensuring proper procurement of goods and services, meeting defined benchmarks. Create and continually update a flexible fiscal projection tool that depicts expenditure levels based on accurate data and future operational plans.

A detailed description of programs, activities and services solicited under this RFP is contained in Section III – Scope of Work.

E. Contracted Performance Measures Proposers shall be responsible for meeting or exceeding all assigned state, federal and/or local performance measures associated with programs that are part of this RFP and any resulting subaward. Proposers shall also be responsible for any changes in performance measures, including targets that may occur during the subaward period.

F. Available Funds The amount of funds that will be sub awarded to oversee the operation of the workforce center system for BCY 2027 are not finalized, estimates for the period October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, are provided in Section III – Scope of Work. Funding for all activities and services solicited in this RFP is contingent upon the receipt of program funding from the Texas Workforce Commission.

G. Subaward CVWDB will use a cost-reimbursement subaward. The selected Subrecipient will be reimbursed for allowable actual service delivery costs that the Subrecipient incurs and pays, and for agreed upon indirect/management fees. CVWDB values high performance, continuous improvement and responsiveness to Board and system customer needs. The successful proposer will demonstrate that the proposed costs reimbursed to the Subrecipient, for providing the services submitted in the budget detail and narrative are necessary and reasonable.

The initial subaward will be for one (1) year, beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. CVWDB may extend the subaward for up to four (4) additional one year periods based on satisfactory performance or other factors as determined by the Board. In no event shall the total term of subaward exceed five (5) years total.

Any subaward extension shall be initiated at the sole discretion of CVWDB and shall be based upon the Board’s evaluation of the Subrecipient’s performance and compliance with the terms and conditions of the subaward. CVWDB reserves the right to terminate the subaward, rather than renewing it, based on an evaluation of Subrecipient performance and compliance.

CVWDB reserves the right to expand the scope of the subaward to include other workforce programs, funding, or requirements that CVWDB deems necessary and appropriate, even if not specifically mentioned within this RFP H. Procurement Timeline The RFQ will be posted and available for download on March 30, 2026, on the Board website: https://cvworkforce.org/about/list-of-rfprfq.html

The RFP document and associated appendices contain all the necessary information and forms to respond to this RFP. A response to this RFP must include all items listed in the section titled Submission Requirements.

The timeline for soliciting proposals, review, selection, and negotiation is presented below. The dates marked with an asterisk are tentative and may change at the Board’s discretion. All times are CDT.

I. Submission of Questions Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted via email using Attachment I to procurementresponses@cvworkforce.org by April 07, 2026, no later than 5:00 PM CDT. A question and answer publication will be released by CVWDB as per the Procurement Timeline. This publication will be provided electronically to all entities who have submitted a letter of Intent to Bid and will be posted on the CVWDB website www.cvworkforce.org The Proposer’s submitted questions will be the only opportunity for potential bidders to obtain guidance on the scope and nature of the work required in this RFP or to ask technical questions concerning this solicitation.

Communication (including written correspondence, telephone calls, meetings, or any other kinds of personal contact) with any CVWDB staff or Board member regarding this RFP is prohibited other than the method listed above. Solicitation or lobbying of the CVWDB staff or Board members by subcontractors, service providers, or proposers concerning proposals, bids, or subaward awards is prohibited and may result in rejection of the proposal, and disqualification, suspension, or debarment of the proposer from activities and programs funded by the CVWDB .

J. Mandatory Letter of Intent to Bid A letter stating the proposer’s Intent to Bid is mandatory. The Intent to Bid letter must be submitted and received by the Concho Valley Workforce Development Board by April 13, 2026, no later than 5:00pm CDT. The letter of Intent to Bid must be presented on company/business letterhead and must include the signature of the authorized signatory (digital signature accepted).

The proposer is solely responsible for the timely delivery of the letter of Intent to Bid. CVWDB is not responsible for technical issues, email transmission failures, or any other problems that prevent timely receipt. Proposals will not be accepted from proposers who did not submit the required letter of Intent to Bid by the established deadline. Disputes concerning late or non-delivered letters cannot be appealed.

Letters of Intent to Bid must be submitted electronically no later than the stated deadline, to the following CVWDB designated email address:

procurementresponses@cvworkforce.org K. Proposal Submission & Deadline The deadline for submission of proposals is May 15, 2026, no later than 12:00 PM CDT. Proposals must be officially received by this deadline. The Board anticipates proposals will be submitted electronically through a secure platform; the official submission method and instructions will be issued only after receipt of the required Letter of Intent to Bid. Upon receipt of a Letter of Intent to Bid, the Board will provide detailed instructions for submitting the full proposal, including the designated submission method. Proposal submission details will not be released prior to receipt of a Letter of Intent.

Official receipt of proposals will be documented by entry on the Concho Valley Workforce Development Board’s proposal log. Acknowledgement of receipt will be made via email to the proposer’s identified Contact Person.

It is the sole responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal is received by the Board by the deadline stated in this RFP. The Board is not responsible for technical issues, transmission failures, or any other problems that prevent timely receipt. Proposals received after the deadline will be considered non-responsive and will not be accepted.

Any modifications or amendments to a proposal (i.e. one already submitted prior to the deadline) must also comply with the above requirements and response deadline. Any proposals or amendments delivered/received after the specified deadline date and time will not be considered and will be deemed as late and non-responsive to the RFP. Late proposals and/or amendments will not be reviewed.

Proposals may be withdrawn upon written request, if made before the response deadline.

The bidder is responsible for ensuring that their submission contains all required elements and meets all specifications in the RFP. Incomplete submissions may result in the bidder being deemed as non-responsive to this RFP and will not be reviewed.

L. Qualification for Proposers Eligible Proposers: Individuals, private and public, for-profit and non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, or other entities are eligible to respond to this RFP.

3. Supplier Diversity Participation (VetHUB & Federal Requirements): In accordance with the Texas Comptroller’s Emergency Rule revising 34 TAC §20.281, the Board encourages participation from businesses certified under the Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) program. Proposers that hold valid VetHUB certification are encouraged to include this information in their proposal; however, no additional evaluation points will be awarded based on certification status. Consistent with 2 CFR §200.321, the Board also encourages proposals from small businesses, minority‑owned businesses, women‑owned businesses, and labor‑surplus‑area firms. While participation from these businesses is encouraged, it does not affect the scoring or ranking of proposals.

Ineligible Entities: Due to the potential conflict of interest, the entity awarded the subaward for services under this RFP is prohibited from also providing any other direct employment, training or educational services to CVWDB customers (job-seekers, youth and/or employers) or serving as a direct provider of childcare services in the region.

Proposers must be current with all Unemployment Insurance payments and Franchise Tax payments. CVWDB is prohibited from awarding a subaward to an entity that has outstanding Unemployment Insurance payment balance payable to the State of Texas or any for-profit corporation that is delinquent in its Franchise Tax payments to the State of Texas.

CVWDB will not review a proposal or award a subaward to any individual or entity that is debarred or suspended under Executive Order 12549, or barred from participating in state contracts pursuant to Texas Government Code § 2155.077 and applicable rules under 34 TAC Chapter 20. CVWDB will also not enter into a subaward with any individual or entity listed as excluded on SAM.gov in accordance with Executive Order 13224, as amended, and the governmentwide debarment and suspension regulations at 29 C.F.R. Part 1471.

A search will be conducted prior to scoring a proposal to verify the individual, organization/company/entity is not excluded from doing business with CVWDB. Proposals from entities on any of the above lists will be considered non-responsive and not considered for a possible subaward.

As a condition to the receipt of Federal funds, the Proposer is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and citizenship. The Proposer must ensure, with respect to the operation of the program and all agreements or arrangements, to carry out the program in a manner that complies with the Federal and State regulations.

Proposer Competency: Subrecipients will be required to assume full responsibility, including all risks and hazards, for all activities and services required by the subaward. Proposers must have technical competence, administrative capacity, management and administrative skills, program experience and expertise, and the financial resources and stability to accomplish the work depicted in this RFP.

Proposers must meet high standards of public service and fiduciary responsibility. CVWDB requires assurance that the Subrecipient’s performance of the terms and conditions of the subaward will be undertaken in accordance with the highest level of integrity and business ethics. Proposers must be capable of implementing a system of self-monitoring, including the review of key data related to performance, quality assurance, fiscal integrity and accuracy, and center operations. The Subrecipient will be expected to fully understand and be able to articulate the health of the system in each of these areas at any given time. All proposers must be prepared to demonstrate a capacity for covering any disallowed costs incurred by the system under the management of the proposer.

Proposers must be knowledgeable of the statutes, regulations, rules, and policies for the funding streams identified in this RFP. A copy of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and regulations may be found on the U.S. Department of Labor web page at http://www.doleta.gov/wioa/. Copies of other pertinent statutes and regulations may be found through the Texas Workforce Commission web page at https://www.twc.texas.gov .

CVWDB will provide training on any CVWDB -specific documents, policies and procedures, as necessary, to the selected Subrecipient. Additional information about CVWDB may be obtained through the CVWDB ’s web page at http://www.cvworkforce.org.

CVWDB reserves the right to conduct a pre-award survey of each Proposer to this request. The purpose of the survey is to determine the capacity of the Proposer’s organization to operate the program, meet administrative requirements, and maintain an adequate financial system. CVWDB also reserves the right to deny a subaward to any Proposer approved for funding that does not make timely changes required by CVWDB as a result of the pre-award survey in order to bring its systems into compliance.

If CVWDB determines, at its sole discretion, that the awardee of the Subaward is not responsible, that it does not possess the administrative, fiscal, and/or technical resources and capabilities necessary to successfully perform under the terms and conditions of the Subaward, it may choose not to enter into a subaward with the selected entity.

Authorized Signatory Authority: The proposer’s authorized signatory authority must sign all signature documents in the proposal. This individual should typically be the director, president or chief executive officer of the organization or any individual who has the authority to negotiate and enter into and sign contracts on behalf of the proposer’s organization.

Subcontracting: Subcontracting is allowed but not encouraged. Any subcontracting must be clearly identified in the proposal narrative and approval must be provided by CVWDB prior to subaward execution. If the proposer currently subcontracts certain functions or activities and intends to do so as part of this proposal, the Subrecipient’s subcontractor must be identified, and a certification included from the Subrecipient’s subcontractor attesting to their agreement to the terms of the proposal and any resulting subaward. Any such subcontractors will be required to disclose certain operational and fiscal information should the subaward be awarded to a Subrecipient that engages in subcontracting. Subcontracting services to an entity not identified as a partner or part of a consortium is not permissible.

Insurance, Bonding, and Other Methods of Securing Funds: Per Texas Government Code § 2308.264 and applicable Texas Workforce Commission Board Contracting Guidelines, Subrecipients must maintain adequate financial protections, including bonding, insurance, escrow accounts, cash reserves, or comparable mechanisms, in an amount approved by the CVWDB and the Commission. Subrecipients must also verify that the financial security instruments have not been pledged or obligated for any other purpose.

M. Debriefing/Grievance/Appeals The Concho Valley Workforce Development Board is the responsible authority for handling complaints or protests regarding the procurement and proposal selection process. No protest shall be accepted by the State Grantor Agency (Texas Workforce Commission) until all administrative remedies at Board level have been exhausted. This includes, but is not limited to, disputes, claims, and protests of award, source evaluation, or other matters of a contractual nature. Matters concerning violation of law shall be referred to such authority as may have proper jurisdiction.

1. Debriefing: Proposers who are not selected may request a debriefing for purposes of learning more about the evaluation of their proposal. A proposer may not request a debriefing and appeal the Board’s decision. The request for a debriefing must be provided in writing to CVWDB no later than 15 days after the date of status notice. Upon receipt of a request for a debriefing, CVWDB shall contact the proposer and set a mutually agreeable date and time to conduct the debriefing. The debriefing may be held in person but may also be conducted via telephone or a virtual platform.

2. Appeals: The following administrative remedies must be followed when submitting complaints or protests:

· The Concho Valley Workforce Development Board shall have the opportunity to respond to any inquiry or resolve any dispute prior to the filing of an official complaint by the protester. The protester should contact Yolanda Sanchez, Concho Valley Workforce Development Board Executive Director at 36 E. Twohig, Suite 805, San Angelo, TX 76903, telephone 325.655.2005, or e-mail: ysanchez@cvworkforce.org

· Any protest regarding this process must be filed in writing with the Executive Director via certified mail within ten (10) business days of notification of the selection decision.

· The communication should contain a thorough explanation of the protest and designate the official representative of the organization for purposes of resolving the dispute. Upon receipt of the written protest, the Executive Director will contact the organization’s representative to arrange a meeting to resolve the protest. Following the meeting, the Executive Director will provide a written disposition of the protest via certified mail to the organization representative.

· Protest of the Executive Director’s disposition of the initial protest must be filed in writing via certified mail within ten (10) business days of receipt of the Executive Director’s resolution to the initial protest. This communication should contain a thorough explanation of the protest of the Executive Director’s decision. Upon receipt of the protest, the CVWDB Chairman shall be notified by CVWDB staff of any such appeals. The Chair or their designee shall contact the proposer and arrange for an appeals conference to be held at a mutually agreeable date and time at a location designated by CVWDB Chair within 21 days of notification of the appeal. An Appeals Committee comprised of members of the Concho Valley Board of Directors shall be convened for the conference. The CVWDB Chair or designee shall serve as the moderator for the conference and shall inform the proposer that only those issues presented in the appeal may be addressed at the conference. Proposer may provide further information to clarify relevant issues and may be questioned by the Appeals Committee. The committee will review the protest and formulate a recommendation. At the conclusion of the conference, the moderator shall call for a vote of the Appeals Committee on whether reconsideration shall be given the appealed decision. A simple majority vote will be sufficient to reconsider or uphold the original decision. The Concho Valley Workforce Development Board of Directors disposition of the protest will be provided to the organization representative in writing via certified mail.

N. Governing Provisions and Limitations General Conditions: The following general conditions should be considered by proposers in preparing responses. Violation of any of the following provisions may cause a proposal to be rejected.

1. The intent of this RFP is to identify qualified Proposer s and to ensure uniform information in the solicitation of proposals for the procurement of services described herein. CVWDB has no legal requirement to execute a subaward on the basis of any proposal received.

2. CVWDB is not liable for any cost associated with responding to this RFP and will not authorize such costs as part of the subaward with the selected organization. A response to this RFP is not to be construed as a purchase agreement, contract, or commitment of any kind; nor does it commit CVWDB to pay for costs incurred prior to the execution of a formal subaward.

3. CVWDB reserves the right to correct any error(s), waive any defect in this procurement process, or to amend this solicitation as deemed necessary.

4. CVWDB reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals received, to cancel or reissue this RFP in part, or in its entirety.

5. All proposals and any attachments, appendices, or other information submitted as a part of a proposal become the property of CVWDB upon submission and may be reprinted, published, or distributed in any manner by the CVWDB according to open records laws, applicable state and federal policies and procedures, as well as those of CVWDB. Proposals are subject to the Texas Public Information Act and the federal Freedom of Information Act. If a Proposer believes that any information contained in its proposal qualifies for an exception to the Texas Public Information Act, it must clearly indicate which information is deemed confidential and clearly state the grounds for the exception. Any proprietary information should be clearly marked as confidential; such will be dependent on applicable Federal and State rules, laws, and regulations.

6. CVWDB reserves the right to conduct a review of records, systems, and procedures of the entity selected to receive funding. This may occur prior to, or subsequent to, the award of a subaward. Misrepresentation of the proposer ’s ability to perform as stated in the proposal may result in cancellation of a subaward resulting from this procurement.

7. CVWDB reserves the right to contact any individual, agencies or employers listed in a proposal, to contact others who have experience and/ or knowledge of the proposer ’s relevant performance and/or qualification, and to request additional information, clarification, or explanation of a response from any and all proposer’s without the proposer’s prior consent.

8. Funding for this subaward is subject to the availability of federal and state funding received by CVWDB. CVWDB reserves the right to withdraw or reduce the amount of an award, or to cancel any subaward resulting from this procurement if adequate funding is not received from TWC, other funding sources, or due to legislative changes.

9. CVWDB reserves the right to negotiate the final terms of any and all subawards or agreements with proposers selected and any such terms negotiated as a result of this RFP may be renegotiated and/or amended in order to successfully meet the needs of the workforce development area.

10. CVWDB reserves the right to conduct an on-site review of records, systems, procedures, including credit and criminal background checks, etc. of any entity selected for funding. This may occur either before or after the award of a subaward or agreement. Misrepresentation of the proposer’s ability to perform as stated in the proposal may result in cancellation of any subaward or agreement awarded.

11. Proposers shall not engage in any activity that will restrict or eliminate competition. Violation of this provision may cause a Proposer ’s application to be disqualified and rejected. This does not preclude joint ventures or subcontracts.

12. Proposers shall not, under penalty of law, offer or provide any gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value to any officer, member, employee, or agent of CVWDB for the purpose of having an influencing effect toward their own proposal or any other proposal submitted hereunder. Proposers shall not attempt in any manner to advocate for lobby or otherwise attempt to influence any officer, board member, employee, proposal evaluator, or agent of CVWDB or elected official for purposes of affecting the outcome of this procurement.

13. No employee, member of a Board of Directors or other governing body, or representative of a Proposer submitting a proposal under this RFP, may have any contact outside of the formal review process with any employee of CVWDB or any member of Concho Valley Workforce Development Board for purposes of discussing or lobbying on behalf of a Proposer or proposal.