Final - Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) - SaaS RFI.pdf

Software-As-A-Service (SAAS) Workforce

RFI #: BPM053906

RFI Document

RFI for Maryland Department of Labor Page 1 of 2

STATE OF MARYLAND

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

MARYLAND WORKFORCE EXCHANGE (MWE)

SOFTWARE-AS-A-SERVICE (SAAS) WORKFORCE

RFI - BPM053906

A Prospective Offeror that has received this document from a source other than eMarylandMarketplace

Advantage (eMMA) https://procurement.maryland.gov should register on https://emma.maryland.gov/ https://procurement.maryland.gov/ https://emma.maryland.gov/

RFI for Maryland Department of Labor Page 2 of 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS – RFI

1. Request for Information (RFI) Overview

1.1. Introduction and Purpose

1.2. Procurement Information

1.3. Key Dates

2. Project Overview

2.1. Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (DWDAL)

2.2. Current Environment

3. Potential Scope of Services

3.1. General System

3.2. Reporting

3.3. Integration

3.4. Technical Architecture

3.5. Ongoing Support and Maintenance

4. Requested Information

4.1. Company Information

4.2. Solution Information

4.3. Services Information

4.4. Solicitation Recommendations

5. RFI Process and Instructions

5.1. Presentation

5.2. Contact

5.3. Due Dates

6. Trade Secrets

7. RFI Format

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1. Request for Information (RFI) Overview

1.1. Introduction and Purpose

A subunit of the Maryland Department of Labor (MD Labor), the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning’ (DWDAL), the “Issuer,” is seeking information from qualified vendors regarding innovative solutions to replace the division’s Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE).

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is not to solicit proposals from interested vendors, but to gain familiarity with currently marketed products and services. Moreso, this RFI contains preliminary information which will serve as the basis to initiate discussion with the vendor community.

Please note the following:

• The Issuer requires that all responding vendors abstain from providing any quotes or bids in response to this RFI.

• Any information received in response to this RFI will assist the Issuer in collecting information that may be used at a future date for procurement.

• Submitting a response to this RFI is not a guarantee in any way that a vendor will be awarded in any subsequent procurement.

• Declining to respond to this RFI does not preclude a recipient of this RFI from inclusion in future procurement opportunities.

1.2. Procurement Information

This RFI is being issued by the agency office listed below. This office is the sole point of contact for this

RFI. Please refer to the agency for all inquiries and submit responses to the procurement officer listed below.

Agency: Maryland Department of Labor (MD Labor)

Office: Office of Workforce Development (OWD)

Division: Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (DWDAL)

Location: 100 S. Charles Street, Tower 1, Suite Baltimore, MD 21201

Procurement

Officer:

Raelene Glasgow

Email: raelene.glasgow3@maryland.gov eProcurement

Home:

https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/buy/homepage/

1.3. Key Dates

Issued On: October 30, 2025

Questions Due By: November 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. EST mailto:raelene.glasgow3@maryland.gov

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Answers Posted: November 18, 2025

Presentation: 12:00 p.m. November 26, 2025

Response Due By: December 3, 2025

**Note: MD Labor reserves the right to modify the procurement schedule, and dates are subject to change.

2. Project Overview

DWDAL seeks information about solutions capable of delivering the essential services to support the division’s MWE. The main objective of the RFI is to obtain information from qualifying vendors that articulate their ability to not only perform current MWE functions but enhance them while simultaneously meeting all US Department of Labor (USDOL) and state administrative—specifically reporting— requirements.

The division requests that responders provide a detailed description of any relevant offerings aligned with the specifications included herein. The division is interested in technologies, capabilities, and service models, including AI-powered solutions that can enhance standard operations and automation. While

DWDAL welcomes responses from interested public, private, or non-profit organizations, the ideal vendor will have experience with state workforce oversight programs as well as with organizations of similar size and scope.

The main functions of the MWE are to:

A. Provide job seekers with registration capabilities to post resumes and search for jobs via the MWE website; see Section 2.2.1.

B. Enable employers to create customized searches that deliver job postings and/or candidates electronically.

C. Enable training providers to create accounts and post course opportunities for WIOA Eligible

Training Provider list (ETPL).

D. Provide advanced case management capabilities for job seekers and employers.

E. Allow State and local workforce staff to record services, assessments and program participation while tracking outcomes.

F. Provides document management capabilities for the upload and storage of electronic documents and signatures.

G. Provide a robust Software as a Service (SaaS) solution capable of collecting, managing, and reporting data that meets the requirements for the USDOL in accordance with the WIOA, Wagner-

Peyser Act, TAA, and other related programs.

2.1. Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (DWDAL)

DWDAL is the State’s primary workforce development entity. DWDAL’s mission is to ensure that businesses have the skilled workforce they need to be competitive in today’s environment and to help

Marylanders obtain employment.

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As a division within MD Labor, DWDAL works to better serve the unemployed, jobless veterans, newly dislocated workers, trade-impacted workers, New Americans, ex-offenders, low wage workers, and individuals with barriers. Employment services are delivered both in-person and online. DWDAL also administers federal programs that provide funding and services to help employers meet their need for skilled workers and individuals to receive training for the workforce.

Specifically, DWDAL is responsible for overseeing the operation of thirty-two (32) Maryland American

Job Centers (AJCs), thirteen (13) local workforce development boards, and partners with institutions to provide services to meet the needs of State businesses, job seekers, and those looking to further their careers.

The organization oversees the following preparation and distribution of workforce information activities for federal, state, or local agencies and workforce development partners, including but limited to:

• program management and planning

• ongoing technical assistance and guidance to the reporting and performance staff in the 13 local workforce development areas.

• information preparation in response to federal, state and local government agencies

• program oversight, report development, and system support federal reporting and performance management

2.2. Current Environment

The current software platform was adopted by DWDAL in 2011 after a successful data conversion from a legacy internal database. The system is used for tracking all USDOL workforce programs, as well as local funded programs. Specifically, it is a COTS solution customized for Maryland and utilized in multiple state installations to track and report information for participants and employers served by the Workforce

Investment Act Title I-B, including National Emergency Grants, Trade Adjustment Assistance programs, and Wagner-Peyser/VETS Labor Exchange programs. Partner integration includes Division of

Unemployment Insurance (MDUI) and the Department of Human Resources, while public users include individuals, employers, and analysts.

2.2.1. MWE Website

For reference, the current MWE website is mwejobs.maryland.gov.

2.2.2. User Groups and Supported Stakeholders

• Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (DWDAL) (MD Labor)

• Office of Workforce Development (MD Labor)

• American Job Center Staff (MD Labor & Local)

• Division of Unemployment Insurance (MDUI) (MD Labor)

• Federal Department of Labor – for reporting purposes (USDOL)

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2.2.3. MWE Fiscal Year 2024

The MWE Fiscal Year 2024 volume information is provided below:

• Number of web hits: 2,892,051

• Number of Job Orders: 153,857

• New users enrolled/registered: 21,017

• New (initial) UI Claimants enrolled/registered: 14,161

• Number of Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notices w/layoffs: 92

• Employees impacted by WARN notices: 7,231

• Employer Receiving Services: 32,979

• Re-employment Services Completers: 21,672

• Total Tables main database = 8,454

• Size of DB and Data = 1.65 TB

• SQL Agent and Active Batch = 145 Jobs

• Daily Back-up Data File = 1.54 TB

3. Potential Scope of Services

Vendors are requested to provide information on the features and capabilities listed in Sections 3.1-3.5.

While the Agency welcomes responses from firms with specialized solutions covering the potential scope, the services listed below reflect an assessment of needs that better align with current budgetary constraints and overall mission needs.

Therefore, the requirements in this RFI are in no way final and do not represent those that may be contained in a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), Purchase Order RFP (PORFP), Task

Order RFP (TORFP) or other procurement vehicles resulting from this effort. This issuance does not constitute a commitment to issue a request for bids, award a contract, or pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this request. Additionally, Vendors are advised that in the event this effort results in a competitive bid process, the contract duration will likely result in a five (5) year base period with multiple option years.

3.1. General System

a. Allow user navigation via mouse clicks, hyperlinking, tab keystrokes, and marking checkboxes with the space bar.

b. Identify required fields with a red asterisk and prevent data entry into restricted data fields.

c. Allow searches by field, category, filter, and fuzzy/wildcard searches by portions of an entry.

d. Provide a secure login for authorized users with specific user roles and permissions in line with applicable data security policies.

e. Protect the privacy of SSNs in the system.

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f. Accommodate the storage of all current data, archived data, and growth capacity for future data.

g. Provide the rollback of data added by file import.

h. Use a common intake that will have the ability to pre-populate common data fields based on an interface with agency-determined external systems including any MDUI System.

i. Provide system context-sensitive help, role-specific help, online and email-based help, live chat and maintain a knowledge base of help topics.

j. Archive data in compliance with applicable federal (precedence) and state policies.

k. Include standard role and permissions, including the Statewide Administrator role, provider administrator role, and data entry operator role.

l. Maintain logging for events such as data and record changes by the user at a minimum.

m. Include help desk and customer support management.

n. Provide the development and tracking of locally funded programs.

o. Include a fully functional job search feature so that job seekers with limited computer keyboarding skills can easily search for suitable jobs in a self-service or staff-assisted environment.

p. Conduct individual searches based on multiple criteria, SSN, demographics, resume, skills, program participation, etc.

q. Conduct Employer searches based on multiple criteria, FEIN, Job Order Number, Staff Contacts, services provided, etc.

r. Perform searches for training vendors based on multiple FEIN, location, courses offered, institution status, etc.

s. Indicate skill gaps where the job seeker does not match jobs and provide suggestions to allow the job seeker to improve their needed skills and to ensure that their profile accurately contains all the most current information.

t. Provide integrated Labor Market Information to staff and public users.

u. Support, track and report registered apprenticeships.

v. Upload and scan documents to customer records, label/tag documents, print and search for related documents.

w. Include data integration with external systems, such as MDUI and Maryland Department of Human

Resources.

x. Calculate the UI claimants profile ranking for likelihood to exhaust benefits.

y. Automatically import, rank, and schedule claimants for various re-employment workshops.

z. Provide an online orientation for claimants and record views as a service.

aa. Include Single Sign-On (SSO) integration with MDUI Systems.

3.2. Reporting

a. Maintain MD Labor compliance and follow all MD Labor rules and structures in producing reports and

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MD Labor Tables. This includes the ability to track all MD Labor primary and secondary measures and categories in addition to custom fields requested by MD Labor.

b. Have a web-based relational database that allows local programs to enter and retrieve local data via manual entry and import/export through Excel or CSV files.

c. Aggregate data for state reporting and metric targeting.

d. Provide the ability for staff to create, save, and execute reports from real-time data and integrate reporting functionality with other system functions as needed.

e. Perform data validation before saving to the database.

f. Include any report management tools, such as case load lists, ad hoc reports, and saved lists.

g. Provide the option to select and download data and reports based on a number of criteria, including the fiscal year and date range.

h. Allow users to enter individual, employer, provider or case demographic and assessment data, and provide reports on outcomes at the program, and state level.

i. Produce aggregated summary tables by state, county, individual providers and provider groups defined by statewide program managers; Allow local providers to view aggregated reports as assigned by the statewide administrator.

3.3. Integration

a. Accommodate Individual Labor Exchange

b. Perform job spidering

c. Create resumes via builder and allow users to upload

d. Provide employer access and account management

e. Allow consumer reporting outreach/marketing functionality

f. Assist with WIOA, Wagner Peyser, and Trade Act Case Management

g. Accommodate generic locally funded program management

h. Track event attendance

i. Conduct re-employment opportunity, re-employment services eligibility, and career exploration and self-assessments

j. Allow individual fund tracking

k. Integrate with provider administration, including a feature for allowing WIOA Eligible Training provider program lists

l. Include document management and scanning capabilities

m. Allow Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) and Rapid Response

n. Support Trade Adjustment Act

o. Provide internal communication and correspondence

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p. Allow Workforce Center customer check-in tracking

q. Show real-time and historical labor market information -

r. Provide Mobile Application

s. Help Desk Management with Live Chat

t. Green Jobs Portal/Micro-Site

u. Connectivity with “Big Interview” functionality and Sales Force for data integration

3.4. Technical Architecture

a. Fully integrated and vendor hosted, allowing a single sign-on and real-time access to all data.

b. Internet-based and accessible on multiple browsers and multiple platforms including PCs, Tablets, and mobile devices.

c. Display natively translated web pages in languages other than English; Languages will include Spanish at a minimum.

d. Compliant with W3C web accessibility guidelines in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) standards; specifically, the State prefers the system will be fully compliant with Section

508 and ADA.

e. Compatible with assistive technology products such as screen readers, screen enlargement, and speech-to-text. This could include features comparable to JAWS, Dragon Naturally Speaking, Zoom text, Speech to text, Window-Eyes, or other software and hardware for other visual and mobility disabilities.

3.5. Ongoing Support and Maintenance

a. Include 24/7 technical support for all end users

b. Provide continuous technical support training for staff users

c. Ensure compliance with MD Labor reporting requirements

d. Update functionality based on evaluated user requests

e. Provide an annual SOC 2 Type II Audit Report

4. Requested Information

This RFI seeks to obtain information on solutions that can potentially support the division’s mission and integrate seamlessly with its state and federal program partners. Interested responders should submit the information contained in the subsections below.

4.1. Company Information

a. Summary of company location, website, and size.

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b. Contact information for the company: Name, title, email, and phone.

c. A brief history of the company.

d. Summary of the company's current offerings (products and services).

e. Summary of the company's current customer base (especially any government agencies to whom the company provides similar services).

f. Copy of standard brochure/literature about the company, if available (including the annual report and senior leadership biographies, if available).

4.2. Solution Information

a. Description of marketplace adoption and customer base.

b. Summary of high-level capabilities and modules for the product (i.e., the business functions and processes that are supported).

c. Description of reporting/analytical capabilities.

d. Description of capabilities or methods for integration and interoperability with other systems.

e. Description of security and compliance capabilities, including the ability to comply with the state of

Maryland Information Security Policy.

f. Description and/or depiction of technical architecture.

g. Description of deployment options (typically self-hosted or cloud-hosted).

h. Description of products or services required or recommended to enable or complement your product.

i. Description of approach to patches, maintenance, enhancement requests, and product upgrades (i.e., new releases).

j. Description of warranties.

k. Location of any resources for reading, training, or demonstrations, if available on the Web.

l. Description of the migration process from the current solution and associated timeline.

m. Any additional product information, as deemed possibly helpful to the Issuer.

4.3. Services Information

a. Description of standard implementation approach and services.

b. Description of training approach, resources, and services.

c. Description of model and resources for product support.

d. Description of preferred or certified partners for integration or support, if any.

e. Other services information, as deemed helpful to the Issuer.

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4.4. Solicitation Recommendations

The Issuer requests responders to recommend any metrics, documentation, and information that should be included in any future solicitations. Responders should indicate the significance or criticality of that information to the success of the procurement from the responder's perspective. Also, please provide any additional clarifications or recommendations that might be valuable to the Issuer in developing and issuing any future procurement initiatives. All input is valued.

5. RFI Process and Instructions

5.1. Presentation

The division seeks a written response to this RFI; however, once responses have been received, some of the responders may be requested to present their solution. This presentation is informational or for clarification only; specifically, it is for the purpose of determining feasible solutions and recommendations that could be included in any possible future procurement. The invitation is not an indication that the State is engaged in a pre-selection process for an implementation form the presenting Vendor. Note: Responses containing pricing information will not be processed.

5.2. Contact

Questions and responses shall be submitted in written form to the Procurement Officer:

• Name: Raelene Glasgow

• Email: raelene.glasgow3@maryland.gov

From the issue date until the response date for this RFI, responders shall communicate only with the

Procurement Officer, who will engage personnel as needed.

5.3. Due Dates

The deadline for written questions is indicated in Section 1.3 of this RFI. No questions will be answered after that date.

The deadline for the response is also indicated in Section 1.3 of this RFI. Responses are to be sent to the

Procurement Officer’s e-mail address as shown above. The Procurement Officer will not accept submissions after the stated date and exact time. The time of receipt will be local time as determined by Issuer's e-mail system time stamp.

The responses to the RFI are to be submitted via e-mail in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF file format. The subject line in the e-mail submission shall state “Web-Based Maryland Workforce Exchange RFI” RFI

Response."

6. Trade Secrets

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In their response, Offerors must specifically identify those portions, if any, which they deem to include confidential commercial or financial information or trade secrets under GP § 4-335, and must provide justification of why such material should not, upon request, be disclosed by the State. A blanket statement declaring that the entire response is confidential is not sufficient and will not be honored. Upon request for this information from a third party, the Agency will make an independent determination whether the information is disclosable.

7. RFI Format

The files that should compose your RFI response are:

A. Transmittal Letter. This file is an MS Word document or searchable Adobe PDF file that is named

“RFI # BPM053906 -Transmittal Letter - Responder Name.” The transmittal letter should be in the form of a standard business letter and should be signed by an authorized individual within the respondent's organization. The transmittal letter should note the following:

○ A statement that proprietary information is included, if applicable

○ A statement that the RFI response document is included

B. RFI Response Document. This file is an MS Word document or Adobe PDF file that is named “RFI

# BPM053906 - Response. Responder Name.”

○ The title page of the response document should specify the RFI name, the RFI number, the company name, and the contact’s name and title.

○ The response document should provide answers to the questions in Section 3.

○ The response document may include any additional comments, observations, or suggestions that may assist the Issuer in drafting any future RFP, IFB, TORFP or other procurement vehicles.

C. Additional Notice of Proprietary Information. This file is an MS Word document or searchable

Adobe PDF file that should contain any confidential information. The file should be named “RFI #

BPM053906 - Confidential”. All data within this document should be titled and referenced to the question to which the information is related.