LAB25R-TRAIN-001-rfp.docx

Request for Proposals for Professional Services Today’s Reinvestment Around Industry Needs (TRAIN) Issued by Delaware Department of Labor Division of Employment and Training

RFP Number LAB-25R-TRAIN-001 Performance Period Phase I: July 1, 2025 -September 30, 2025 Phase II: November 1, 2025-June 30, 2026

I. Overview The State of Delaware, Department of Labor, Division of Employment and Training (“Delaware”) seeks professional services to first (Phase I) create Strategic Workforce Training Plans that meet employers’ workforce needs and advance the skills of Delaware workers. Secondly (Phase II) to implement selected Strategic Workforce Training Plans developed as part of the Phase I by providing targeted education and training to individuals to ensure Delaware employers have the talent they need to compete and grow. This request for proposals (“RFP”) is issued pursuant to 29 Del. C. §§ 6981 and 6982.

Deadline for Receipt of Strategic Workforce Training Plans: October 7, 2025, no later than 1:00 PM

Written Review (Phase II): October 10, 2025

Strategic Workforce Train Plan Clarification: October 14, 2025, If Needed Estimated Notification of Award (Phase II): October 21, 2025 Performance Period (Implementation Phase II) December 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026

Pre-bid Meeting A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for March 27th, 2025, at 1pm. The meeting will take place virtually via TEAMS.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 218 629 515 104 Passcode: gY3TT9uq

This is not a mandatory meeting. The pre-bid meeting is very important for applicants and those who desire a compliant submission. This meeting will explain the RFP, the RFP process, and address any questions or concerns from potential bidders.

II. Scope of Services For definitions of terms used throughout this RFP, refer to Appendix C, Definitions.

A. Funding

1. The source of funds for this solicitation are State General Funds. The awards for Phase I and Phase II will be separate. The award of Phase I does not in any way indicate that a Phase II award will be made. All awards will be competitive.

2. The estimated funding available for this RFP is $1,618,783 and is subject to change without notice. Any funds not awarded or not expended within the performance period for either Phase I and Phase II may be used to fund future awards within the TRAIN program or other use as Delaware sees fit.

3. Other state or federal funds that become available may also be used to fund this solicitation.

4. There is no limit on the number of awards made for Phase I or II. The number of awards for Phase I and Phase II will be determined by the quality of the proposal submitted and available funding.

5. The Phase I award amount is capped at a maximum of $20,000 per award. There is no funding cap on Phase II awards.

A. Purpose This RFP will fund two phases of programming. You do not need to apply for Phase I funds first if you already have a program developed and can skip to applying for Phase II funds by the April 21st Deadline. First, the Planning Phase (Phase I) will be funded to develop Strategic Workforce Training Plans, template attached as Appendix B. The purpose of Phase I is to support employers in identifying workforce training need(s) (current or projected need does not align with current training options) and then creating the solution by creating a Strategic Workforce Training Plan (Plan). The Plan will then be used to request funds for the Implementation Phase (Phase II) and include different or revised training offering(s) that currently exist. Phase II will be used to implement the Strategic Workforce Training Plan(s) developed and proposed. The intent of Phase II funds is to provide targeted education and training to individuals, with a focus on serving unemployed and/or underemployed, to ensure Delaware employers have the talent they need to compete and grow.

B. Specific Information for Phase I

1. Proposals are being solicited to develop a Strategic Workforce Training Plan that either addresses the:

a. Workforce skill needs within a targeted industry or

b. Workforce skill needs that address a common skill need across industries.

2. Proposals must be submitted by a lead applicant.

3. The Strategic Workforce Training Plan will be developed by members of the Phase I Applicant Group and other stakeholders if applicable and be coordinated under the lead applicant.

4. Phase I will support up to a 13-week planning process (from June 1, 2025-August 31, 2025) to enable the lead applicant to coordinate the Phase I applicant group and other stakeholders to jointly develop the Strategic Workforce Training Plan see Appendix B for template. At the end of the Planning Phase I performance period, Provider(s) will have developed a Strategic Workforce Training Plan to meet the requirements for submittal for an Implementation Phase II. See Appendix C for definitions.

5. Phase I funds will be provided in up to two payments. 50% of award amounts will be provided to Provider(s) upon contract execution. The remaining balance will be provided after the submission of a final financial report detailing expenses.

6. Phase I Provider(s) will be required to submit status reports at least monthly during the performance period.

7. Phase I funds may be used to support the facilitation of the planning process, including documented staff time to coordinate the planning process and to develop the Strategic Workforce Training Plan. It is expected that documentation of the planning process will be maintained by the Lead Applicant. The Funds will be used to:

· Assemble the partners and stakeholders;

· Identify the critical skills gaps, workforce needs, and other long-term workforce issues;

· Identify the training, education, human resource and other solutions to address the critical needs; and

· Develop the detailed Strategic Workforce Training Plan to implement these solutions.

8. Phase I funds may not be used for the following:

· Capital improvements

· Equipment

· Marketing

9. Provider will be required to submit monthly financial reports on the form prescribed, satisfactorily completed, within twelve (12) calendar days of the close of the reporting period to Delaware. All reported expenditures must be in accordance with the approved budgeted attached to the resulting agreement and the Provider shall maintain detailed supporting documentation for all expenditures.

10. All Phase I Provider(s) will be eligible to request funds for Phase II to implement their proposed Strategic Workforce Training Plan. The requests will be made through the submission of the final Strategic Workforce Training Plan. A Strategic Workforce Training Plan will be submitted by all Phase I Provider(s) no later than the last day of the Performance Period for Phase I.

11. The Strategic Workforce Training Plan will serve as the final report for the Phase I. The Implementation Phase II will provide funding to selected Strategic Workforce Training Plans developed.

12. The Strategic Workforce Training Plans will be designed to fulfill the following goals:

a. Address business workforce needs by focusing on long term solutions to sustained skills gaps or projected shortages;

b. Address the needs of workers (unemployed, dislocated, underemployed, and incumbent) by creating formal career paths to good jobs, and sustain or growing middle class jobs; and

c. Address needed training that is not currently offered in Delaware,

13. The Strategic Workforce Training Plans will be designed to provide targeted education and training to individuals to ensure Delaware employers have the talent they need to compete and grow. Education and training should be designed to lead to any relevant credentials. Proposed outcomes must be employment related such as placement or upgrade in employment as well as retention in employment or upgraded position. (See Performance Measures in D. 10 below).

14. If the Phase I Provider(s) determine during the planning phase that there is insufficient labor market need, they may choose not to proceed with a Strategic Workforce Training Plan. In this event, the Lead Applicant must still provide a final report documenting the planning process, data and experience collection and how the decision was arrived at not to pursue Implementation Phase II funding. In these instances, the Lead Applicant must return any unused portion of the Phase I funds that were not expended during the performance period and full accounting of expenditures must be submitted.

C. Specific Information for Phase II

1. Phase II Provider(s) will provide the services proposed in their Strategic Workforce Training Plan with any modifications that are mutually agreed upon and specified in a resulting agreement.

2. Population: Strategic Workforce Training Plans can target specific populations and should identify them in their proposal(s), but at a minimum, the population served will be:

a. 16 years or older;

b. Eligible to work in the United States;

c. Must be a Delaware Resident;

d. Focused on serving unemployed, underemployed, and/or those with barriers to employment or career advancement.

All participants served must be determined and documented as eligible prior to enrolling by the Provider.. See Appendix C for Definitions.

3. Phase II Provider(s) will be responsible for recruitment of all participants.

4. Phase II Provider(s) will be responsible for conducting assessments to determine participant’s likelihood for success in proposed program. This can include academic, career interests, and service needs.

5. Phase II Provider(s) will enter required data into the Delaware JobLink system (https://joblink.delaware.gov) for participant tracking and outcome reporting. Strategic Workforce Training Plan budgets, when submitted, should reflect staffing to complete this task.

6. Phase II Provider(s) will utilize Delaware JobLink to maximize participants’ job search and placement, if applicable. At a minimum, participants will create a Jobseeker account in Delaware JobLink (https://joblink.delaware.gov).

7. The Provider will have and maintain appropriate linkages to various supportive services to ensure wrap around services enabling successful program completions, job placement and retention. Linkages shall include referrals for substance/alcohol abuse, financial literacy, basic needs, and mental health.

8. The Provider will maintain documentation for each participant, including eligibility, attendance, assessments, credentials, certificates, and outcomes. Providers will provide documentation to State of Delaware and/or their designees upon request. Provider will be orientated on guidelines and document processing.

9. Phase II Providers will be given up to a 90-day intensive job search period to obtain employment or upgrade. This period begins the last day or completion of the education/training.

10. Phase II Provider(s) will track employment outcomes and retention up to 90 days post exit.

11. The following will be the minimum Performance Outcomes expected* from Phase II programs: Day 1, 30, 90 are percentages of those that completed training.

*Strategic Workforce Training Plans may propose alternative outcomes but must include employment related outcomes.

12. Phase II funds will be provided on a cost reimbursement basis. Monthly financial reports will trigger payments (see 12 below). The State of Delaware will require a line-item budget as part of the proposal. The approved budget will be incorporated into the executed contract.

13. Provider will be required to submit monthly financial reports on the form prescribed, satisfactorily completed, within twelve (12) calendar days of the close of the reporting period to the State of Delaware. When requesting reimbursement through the submission of the monthly financial report, all reported expenditures must be in accordance with the approved budgeted attached to the resulting agreement and the Provider shall have detailed supporting documentation for all expenditures.

14. No payments for services be made in advance of the work performed with the exception of Phase I.

15. Budgets that include Tuition may be allowed when documentation of the following conditions is provided: Tuition charges or entrance fees are not more than the education institution’s catalog price, are necessary to receive specific training, and the training is open to and attended by the general public. When requesting reimbursement for tuition, Private Business and Trade Schools must comply with the Department of Education Private Business and Trade Schools Refund policy.

16. Phase II funds shall be used to provide training to participants and may include items such as (see line item budget in Appendix B):

· Staff salary and fringe

· Assessments

· Certifications

· Tuition

· Training (including Job Readiness Training)

· Participant payments

· Supportive Services to participants

· Books

· Space B. Required Information The following information shall be provided in each proposal. Failure to respond to any request for information within this proposal may result in rejection of the proposal at the sole discretion of Delaware.

A. Minimum Requirements

1. All Providers shall have the State of Delaware license(s) and/or certification(s) necessary to perform services as identified in the scope of services. Documentation of having a State of Delaware Business License (non-public entities) or non-profit status, if not required to have a State of Delaware Business License, shall be submitted with Proposal.

2. Provider shall complete and submit the Proposal Submission Template for Phase I (Appendix B).

3. Complete all appropriate attachments and forms as identified within the RFP.

B. Prior to Contract Execution

The following will be provided to Delaware prior to contract execution with the successful Providers:

1. Proof of insurance and amount of insurance shall be furnished to Delaware prior to the start of the contract period and shall be no less than as identified in this RFP as indicated in section (V)(G)(5) Insurance.

2. Any Provider without a current contract with Delaware Workforce Development Board or State of Delaware, may be asked to provide a copy of their most recent financial statement to State of Delaware to enable State of Delaware to establish their fiscal soundness and eligibility for a contract.

3. Compliance check received by the Department of Labor, Divisions of Industrial Affairs and Unemployment Insurance. The State of Delaware may choose to not execute a contract resulting from this RFP due to the feedback obtained from these Division at its discretion.

4. The trainer(s) identified in the Strategic Workforce Training Plan who will deliver the training proposed for Phase II must be any one (1) of the following:

a. A State of Delaware public institution or training center; or

b. An institution of higher education described in Section 102 of the Higher Education Act (20 USC 1002) that is qualified to participate in the student financial assistance programs authorized by title IV of that Act; or

c. A private business or trade school approved by the Department of Education. If Provider is not an approved Private Business and Trade School by the Department of Education at the time of proposal submission, Provider must be approved prior to contract execution.

C. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information A. RFP Issuance

1. Public Notice Public notice has been provided in accordance with 29 Del. C. §6981.

2. Obtaining Copies of the RFP This RFP is available in electronic form through the State of Delaware Procurement website at www.bids.delaware.gov . Paper copies of this RFP will not be available.

3. Assistance to Providers with a Disability Providers with a disability may receive accommodation regarding the means of communicating this RFP or participating in the procurement process. For more information, contact the Designated Contact listed in this RFP no later than ten days prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals.

4. RFP Designated Contact All requests, questions, or other communications about this RFP shall be made in writing via email to Delaware. Address all communications to the person listed below; communications made to other State of Delaware personnel, or attempting to ask questions by phone or in person, will not be allowed or recognized as valid and may disqualify the Provider. Providers should rely only on written statements issued by the RFP Designated Contact.

Designated Contact:

Frederick Quick DOL_DET_Contracts@Delaware.gov

To ensure that written requests are received and answered in a timely manner, electronic mail (email) correspondence is the only acceptable submission method except for questions being asked at the mandatory Pre-bid Meeting. No questions shall be asked after the deadline for questions specified in Section I. Overview. All questions and answers will be posted on the State of Delaware Procurement website at www.bids.delaware.gov by the date provided in Section I. Overview.

5. Consultants and Legal Counsel Delaware may retain consultants or legal counsel to assist in the review and evaluation of this RFP and the Providers’ responses. Bidders shall not contact the State of Delaware’s consultant or legal counsel on any matter related to the RFP.

6. Contact with State Employees Direct contact with State of Delaware employees other than the State of Delaware Designated Contact regarding this RFP is expressly prohibited without prior consent. Providers directly contacting State of Delaware employees risk elimination of their proposal from further consideration. Exceptions exist only for organizations currently doing business in the State of Delaware who require contact in the normal course of that business.

7. Organizations Ineligible to Bid Any individual, business, organization, corporation, consortium, partnership, joint venture, or any other entity including subcontractors currently debarred or suspended is ineligible to bid. Any entity ineligible to conduct business in the State of Delaware for any reason is ineligible to respond to the RFP.

8. Exclusions The Proposal Evaluation Team reserves the right to refuse to consider any proposal from a Provider who:

i. Has been convicted for commission of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting to obtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of the contract or subcontract;

ii. Has been convicted under State or Federal statutes of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, or other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty that currently and seriously affects responsibility as a State contractor:

iii. Has been convicted or has had a civil judgment entered for a violation under State or Federal antitrust statutes;

iv. Has violated contract provisions such as;

1) Knowing failure without good cause to perform in accordance with the specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract; or

2) Failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance in accordance with terms of one or more contracts;

v. Has violated ethical standards set out in law or regulation; and

vi. Any other cause listed in regulations of the State of Delaware determined to be serious and compelling as to affect responsibility as a State of Delaware contractor, including suspension or debarment by another governmental entity for a cause listed in the regulations.

B. RFP Submissions

1. Acknowledgement of Understanding of Terms By submitting a bid, each Provider shall be deemed to acknowledge that it has carefully read all sections of this RFP, including all forms, schedules, appendices, and exhibits hereto, and has fully informed itself as to all existing conditions and limitations.

2. Proposals To be considered, all proposals must be submitted in writing (electronic submission) and respond to the items outlined in this RFP by completing the Proposal Submission Template and all required attachments. Proposals received after the specified date and time will not be accepted or considered. Delaware reserves the right to reject any non-responsive or non- conforming proposals. Each proposal must be submitted via email using Microsoft Word or PDF attachments. To document compliance with the deadline, Providers will receive a confirmation email confirming receipt of proposal. It is the Provider’s responsibility to ensure timely submission. Provider should contact the RFP Designated Contact if confirmation email is not received. If a Provider is a successful Provider, documents will be requested in Microsoft Word or Excel.

All proposals shall be sent to DOL_DET_Contracts@Delaware.gov and must be received no later than 1:00 PM (Local Time) on the date specified for the Deadline for Receipt of Proposals in section II. Overview. Providers are directed to enter “BID ENCLOSED- LAB-25R-TRAIN-001 the subject line of the email.

Delaware may allow paper submissions at its discretion and only after prior written approval has been granted to the proposer for extenuating circumstances. Approval must be requested via email to DOL_DET_Contracts@Delaware.gov prior to the deadline for Receipt of Proposals specified.

Any proposal received after the Deadline for Receipt of Proposals date shall not be considered. The proposing Provider bears the risk of delays in delivery. The contents of any proposal shall not be disclosed as to be made available to competing entities during the negotiation process.

Upon receipt of Provider proposals, each Provider shall be presumed to be thoroughly familiar with all specifications and requirements of this RFP. The failure or omission to examine any form, instrument or document shall in no way relieve Providers from any obligation in respect to this RFP.

3. Proposal Modifications Any changes, amendments or modifications to a proposal must be made in writing, submitted in the same manner as the original response and conspicuously labeled as a change, amendment or modification to a previously submitted proposal. Changes, amendments or modifications to proposals shall not be accepted or considered after the hour and date specified as the deadline for submission of proposals.

4. Proposal Costs and Expenses Delaware will not pay any costs incurred by any Provider associated with any aspect of responding to this solicitation, including proposal preparation, printing or delivery, attendance at Provider’s conference, system demonstrations or negotiation process.

5. Proposal Expiration Date Prices quoted in the proposal shall remain fixed and binding on the bidder at least through June 30, 2026. The State of Delaware reserves the right to ask for an extension of time if needed.

6. Proposal Opening Delaware will receive proposals until the date and time shown in this RFP. There will be no public opening of proposals, but a public log will be kept of the names of all Provider organizations that submitted proposals.

7. Non-Conforming Proposals Non-conforming proposals will not be considered. Non-conforming proposals are defined as those that do not meet the requirements of this RFP. The determination of whether an RFP requirement is substantive or a mere formality shall reside solely within Delaware.

8. Concise Proposals The State of Delaware discourages overly lengthy and costly proposals. It is the desire that proposals be prepared in a straightforward and concise manner. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or other promotional materials beyond those sufficient to present a complete and effective proposal are not desired. The State of Delaware’s interest is in the quality and responsiveness of the proposal.

9. Realistic Proposals It is the expectation of the State of Delaware that Providers can fully satisfy the obligations of the proposal in the manner and timeframe defined within the proposal. Proposals must be realistic and must represent the best estimate of time, materials and other costs including the impact of inflation and any economic or other factors that are reasonably predictable.

The State of Delaware shall bear no responsibility or increased obligation for a Provider’s failure to accurately estimate the costs or resources required to meet the obligations defined in the proposal.

10. Confidentiality of Documents Subject to applicable law or the order of a court of competent jurisdiction to the contrary, all documents submitted as part of the Provider’s proposal will be treated as confidential during the evaluation process. As such, Provider proposals will not be available for review by anyone other than the State of Delaware/Proposal Evaluation Team or its designated agents. There shall be no disclosure of any Provider’s information to a competing Provider prior to award of the contract unless such disclosure is required by law or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

The State of Delaware and its constituent agencies are required to comply with the State of Delaware Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del. C. § 10001, et seq. (“FOIA”). FOIA requires that the State of Delaware’s records are public records (unless otherwise declared by FOIA or other law to be exempt from disclosure) and are subject to inspection and copying by any person upon a written request. Once a proposal is received by the State of Delaware and a decision on contract award is made, the content of selected and non-selected Provider proposals will likely become subject to FOIA’s public disclosure obligations.

The State of Delaware wishes to create a business-friendly environment and procurement process. As such, the State of Delaware respects the Provider community’s desire to protect its intellectual property, trade secrets, and confidential business information (collectively referred to herein as “confidential business information”). Proposals must contain sufficient information to be evaluated. If a Provider feels that they cannot submit their proposal without including confidential business information, they must adhere to the following procedure or their proposal may be deemed unresponsive, may not be recommended for selection, and any applicable protection for the Provider’s confidential business information may be lost.

In order to allow the State of Delaware to assess its ability to protect a Provider’s confidential business information, Providers will be permitted to designate appropriate portions of their proposal as confidential business information.

Provider(s) may submit portions of a proposal considered to be confidential business information in a separate attachment clearly labeled “Confidential Business Information” and include the specific RFP number. The attachment must contain a letter from the Provider’s legal counsel describing the documents, representing in good faith that the information in each document is not “public record” as defined by 29 Del. C. § 10002, and briefly stating the reasons that each document meets the said definitions. The Provider should also include the confidential attachment information on Attachment 3 as appropriate.

Upon receipt of a proposal accompanied by such an attachment, the State of Delaware will open the attachment to determine whether the procedure described above has been followed. A Provider’s allegation as to its confidential business information shall not be binding on the State of Delaware. The State of Delaware shall independently determine the validity of any Provider designation as set forth in this section. Any Provider submitting a proposal or using the procedures discussed herein expressly accepts the State’s absolute right and duty to independently assess the legal and factual validity of any information designated as confidential business information. Accordingly, Provider(s) assume the risk that confidential business information included within a proposal may enter the public domain.

11. Price Not Confidential Providers shall be advised that as a publicly bid contract, no Provider shall retain the right to declare their pricing confidential.

12. Multi-Provider Solutions (Joint Ventures) Multi-Provider solutions (joint ventures) will be allowed only if one (1) of the venture partners is designated as the “lead contractor”. The “lead contractor” must be the joint venture’s contact point for the State of Delaware and be responsible for the joint venture’s performance under the contract, including all project management, legal and financial responsibility for the implementation of all Provider systems. If a joint venture is proposed, a copy of the joint venture agreement clearly describing the responsibilities of the partners must be submitted with the proposal. Services specified in the proposal shall not be subcontracted without prior written approval by the State of Delaware, and approval of a request to subcontract shall not in any way relieve Provider of responsibility for the professional and technical accuracy and adequacy of the work. Further, Provider shall be and remain liable for all damages to the State of Delaware caused by negligent performance or non-performance of work by its subcontractor or its sub-subcontractor.

Multi-Provider proposals must be a consolidated response with all cost included in the cost summary. Where necessary, RFP response pages are to be duplicated for each Provider.

a. Lead Provider The State of Delaware expects to negotiate and contract with only one “lead Provider”. The State of Delaware will not accept any proposals that reflect an equal teaming arrangement or from Providers who are co-bidding on this RFP. The lead Provider will be responsible for the management of all subcontractors.

Any contract that may result from this RFP shall specify that the lead Provider is solely responsible for fulfillment of any contract with the State of Delaware as a result of this procurement. The State of Delaware will make contract payments only to the awarded Provider. Payments to any subcontractors are the sole responsibility of the lead Provider (awarded Provider).

Nothing in this section shall prohibit the State of Delaware from the full exercise of its options under Section IV.B.17 regarding multiple source contracting.

b. Subcontracting The Provider selected shall be solely responsible for contractual performance and management of all subcontract relationships. This contract allows subcontracting assignments; however, Providers assume all responsibility for work quality, delivery, installation, maintenance, and any supporting services required by a subcontractor.

Use of subcontractors must be clearly explained in the proposal, and major subcontractors must be identified by name. The lead Provider shall be wholly responsible for the entire contract performance whether or not subcontractors are used. Any subcontractors must be approved by State of Delaware.

c. Multiple Proposals A lead Provider may not submit more than one (1) proposal. However, lead Providers may be a subcontractor participating in another proposal. Sub-contracting Providers may participate in multiple joint venture proposals.

13. Subcontracting The Provider selected shall be solely responsible for contractual performance and management of all subcontract relationships. This contract allows subcontracting assignments; however, Providers assume all responsibility for work quality, delivery, installation, maintenance, and any supporting services required by a subcontractor.

Use of subcontractors must be clearly explained in the proposal, and subcontractors must be identified by name. All subcontractors must be approved by State of Delaware.

14. Discrepancies and Omissions Provider is fully responsible for the completeness and accuracy of its proposal, and for examining this RFP and all addenda. Failure to do so will be at the sole risk of Provider. Should Provider find discrepancies, omissions, unclear or ambiguous intent or meaning, concerning this RFP, Provider shall notify the State of Delaware’s Designated Contact, in writing, of such findings in the same manner as the submission of questions at least ten (10) days prior to the deadline for the submission of proposals.

Protests based on any omission or error, or on the content of the solicitation, will be disallowed if these faults have not been brought to the attention of the Designated Contact, in writing in the specified manner and timeframe.

a. RFP Question and Answer Process The State of Delaware will allow written requests for clarification of the RFP. All questions shall be received no later than the date specified in Section I. Overview. All questions will be consolidated into a single set of responses and posted on the State of Delaware’s website at www.bids.delaware.gov by the date specified in Section I. Overview. Provider names will be removed from questions in the responses released. Questions should be submitted in the following format. Deviations from this format will not be accepted:

Section number; Paragraph number; Page number; and Text of passage being questioned.

Questions shall be submitted in accordance with Section IV(A)(4).

15. State’s Right to Reject Proposals The State of Delaware reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals or any part of any proposal, to waive defects, technicalities or any specifications (whether they be in the State of Delaware’s specifications or Provider’s response), to sit and act as sole judge of the merit and qualifications of each product offered, or to solicit new proposals on the same project or on a modified project which may include portions of the originally proposed project as the State of Delaware may deem necessary in the best interest of the State of Delaware.

16. State’s Right to Cancel Solicitation The State of Delaware reserves the right to cancel this solicitation at any time during the procurement process, for any reason or for no reason. The State of Delaware makes no commitments expressed or implied, that this process will result in a business transaction with any Provider.

This RFP does not constitute an offer by the State of Delaware. Provider’s participation in this process may result in the State of Delaware selecting your organization to engage in further discussions and negotiations toward execution of a contract. The commencement of such negotiations does not, however, signify a commitment by the State of Delaware to execute a contract nor to continue negotiations. The State of Delaware may terminate negotiations at any time and for any reason, or for no reason.

17. State’s Right to Award Multiple Source Contracting Pursuant to 29 Del. C. § 6986, the State of Delaware may award a contract for a particular professional service to two (2) or more Providers if the agency head makes a determination that such an award is in the best interest of the State of Delaware.

18. Potential Contract Overlap Providers shall be advised that the State, at its sole discretion, shall retain the right to solicit for goods and/or services as required by its agencies and as it serves the best interest of the State of Delaware. As needs are identified, there may be instances where contract deliverables, and/or goods or services to be solicited and subsequently awarded, overlap previous awards. The State of Delaware reserves the right to reject any or all bids in whole or in part, to make partial awards, to award to multiple Providers during the same period, to award by types, on a zone-by-zone basis or on an item-by-item or lump sum basis item by item, or lump sum total, whichever may be most advantageous to the State of Delaware.

19. Notification of Withdrawal of Proposal Provider may modify or withdraw its proposal by written request, provided that both proposal and request are received by the State of Delaware prior to the proposal due date. Proposals may be re-submitted in accordance with the proposal due date in order to be considered further.

Proposals become the property of the State of Delaware at the proposal submission deadline. All proposals received are considered firm offers at that time.

20. Revisions to the RFP If it becomes necessary to revise any part of the RFP, an addendum will be posted on the State of Delaware’s website at www.bids.delaware.gov. The State of Delaware is not bound by any statement related to this RFP made by any State of Delaware employee, contractor or its agents.

21. Exceptions to the RFP Any exceptions to the RFP, or Delaware’s terms and conditions, must be recorded on Attachment 2. Acceptance of exceptions is within the sole discretion of the evaluation committee. Delaware reserves the right to deny any and all exceptions taken to the RFP requirements.

22. Business References Provide at least three (3) business references consisting of current or previous customers of similar scope and value using Attachment 4. Include business name, mailing address, contact name and phone number, number of years doing business with, and type of work performed. Personal references cannot be considered.

23. Award of Contract The final award of a contract is subject to approval by Delaware. Delaware has the sole right to select the successful Provider(s) for award, to reject any proposal as unsatisfactory or non- responsive, to award a contract to other than the lowest priced proposal, to award multiple contracts, or not to award a contract, as a result of this RFP. Delaware can fund proposals in whole, part, or none.

Notice in writing to a Provider of the acceptance of its proposal by Delaware and the subsequent full execution of a written contract will constitute a contract, and no Provider will acquire any legal or equitable rights or privileges until the occurrence of both such events.

a. RFP Award Notifications After reviews of the evaluation committee report and its recommendation, and once the contract terms and conditions have been finalized, Delaware will award the contract.

The contract shall be awarded to the Provider(s) whose proposal is most advantageous, taking into consideration the evaluation factors set forth in the RFP.

It should be explicitly noted that Delaware is not obligated to award the contract to the Provider who submits the lowest bid or the Provider who receives the highest total point score, rather the contract will be awarded to the Provider whose proposal is the most advantageous to the State of Delaware. The award is subject to the appropriate Delaware approvals.

After a final selection is made, the winning Provider(s) will be invited to negotiate a contract with the Delaware; remaining Providers will be notified in writing of their selection status.

24. Cooperatives Providers, who have been awarded similar contracts through a competitive bidding process with a cooperative, are welcome to submit the cooperative pricing for this solicitation.

C. RFP Evaluation Process An evaluation team will evaluate proposals. Neither the lowest price nor highest scoring proposal will necessarily be selected.

Delaware reserves full discretion to determine the competence and responsibility, professionally and/or financially, of Providers. Providers are to provide in a timely manner any and all information that Delaware may deem necessary to make a decision.

Proposals will be evaluated pursuant to the selection criteria of the RFP and procedures established in 29 Del. C. §§ 6981 and 6982. The following is the process proposals will be handled after submission:

1. Initial Review For Phase I funding, the State of Delaware staff will review proposals and reject all that do not meet the minimum criteria as listed in Appendix E. Those not rejected will be advanced to the next review (Written Review).

2. Evaluation Team The Proposal Evaluation Team shall be comprised of at least three impartial members with relevant expertise in reviewing proposals.

3. Proposal Review Proposals who meet the RFP criteria described in Section (C)(1) above (for Phase I) and all submitted Strategic Workforce Training Plans (for Phase II), will be reviewed by an Evaluation Team in up to two (2) phases:

a. Written Review-The Proposal Evaluation Team will individually review and score written proposals (Strategic Workforce Training Plan for Phase II). Points will be awarded based on the Proposal Evaluation Team’s review of the written proposals. The Proposal Evaluation Team will decide which proposal(s) will move forward and be invited to Proposal Clarification Day. Those proposals not invited to Proposal Clarification Day will be rejected at this point and not considered for funding. Delaware will notify all Providers of the outcome of this phase. Delaware and the Evaluation Team reserve the right to not hold a Proposal Clarification and make recommended awards based solely on the Written Review.

b. Proposal Clarification-If the Evaluation Team deems necessary, selected Providers will be invited to attend a Proposal Clarification with a set date and time per proposal to provide an in-person meeting. Points will be awarded based on the Proposal

Clarification. During this meeting, Provider’s should be prepared with a maximum seven-minute presentation. Handouts, promotional materials, videos, presentations, etc. are not permitted at Proposal Clarification. The Proposal Evaluation Team will ask each Provider questions. These questions may be developed from the Written Review and will be specific questions targeted to each Proposal. It is anticipated that the questions and answers will take most of the time allotted.

The Proposal Clarification will take place on the date specified in Section I Overview. Providers will be invited to attend and be scheduled a specific time. The Proposal representative(s) attending the Proposal Clarification shall be technically qualified to respond to questions related to the proposal. Providers are strongly encouraged to bring staff who can answer questions regarding the programmatic components and staff who can answer questions regarding the budget. Delaware recognizes that these may be different staff.

All the Provider's costs associated with participation in Proposal Clarification are the Provider’s responsibility.

While the Proposal Clarification will be the primary venue to clarify uncertainties or eliminate confusion, the Proposal Evaluation Team or Delaware staff designee at the request of the Proposal Evaluation Team may contact any Provider in order to clarify uncertainties or eliminate confusion concerning the contents of a proposal.

Proposals may not be modified as a result of any such clarification request.

4. Proposal Selection Criteria The Proposal Evaluation Team shall assign up to the maximum number of points for each Evaluation Item to each of the proposing Provider’s proposals. All assignments of points shall be at the sole discretion of the Proposal Evaluation Team.

The proposals shall contain the essential information on which the award decision shall be made. The information required to be submitted in response to this RFP has been determined by Delaware to be essential for use by the Proposal Evaluation Team in the bid evaluation and award process. Therefore, all instructions contained in this RFP shall be met in order to qualify as a responsive and responsible Provider and participate in the Proposal Evaluation Team’s consideration for award. Proposals which do not meet or comply with the instructions of this RFP may be considered non-conforming and deemed non-responsive and subject to disqualification at the sole discretion of the Proposal Evaluation Team.

The Proposal Evaluation Team reserves the right to:

· Select for contract or for negotiations a proposal other than that with lowest costs.

· Reject any and all proposals or portions of proposals received in response to this RFP or to make no award or issue a new RFP.

· Waive or modify any information, irregularity, or inconsistency in proposals received.

· Request modification to proposals from any or all Providers during the contract review and negotiation.

· Negotiate any aspect of the proposal with any Provider and negotiate with more than one

(1) Provider at the same time.

· Select more than one (1) Provider pursuant to 29 Del. C. §6986. It is anticipated that multiple Providers will be selected. Such selection will be based on the type of services and programming being offered and the existing needs for services and programming for occupational skills training.

· For all Providers who have had a contract with DWDB or State of Delaware in the past, State of Delaware will provide the Proposal Evaluation Team with information about past performance, which will be taken into consideration when making funding recommendations.

Criteria Weight All proposals shall be evaluated using the same criteria and scoring process. Providers are encouraged to review the evaluation criteria and to provide a response that addresses each of the scored items. Evaluators will not be able to make assumptions about a Provider’s capabilities so the responding Provider should be detailed in their proposal responses.

The following criteria shall be used by the Evaluation Team to evaluate proposals:

Applicant Group- Proposal demonstrates the ability to coordinate with various stakeholders on other initiatives and proposer has credibility and partnerships with identified employers and stakeholders. Proposal demonstrates applicant group consists of relevant stakeholders for skill or industry

Target Industry/Common Skill- Proposal demonstrates that the proposed targeted industry or common skill is in demand supported by labor market information or other supporting detail.

Program Design and Results- Proposal demonstrates that Planning Phase I goals can be achieved through the proposed activities.

Budget- Proposed budget is reasonable and competitive as compared to other proposals

Enhanced Considerations-

· Proposals that maximize the potential of the collaboration through direct financial or in-kind contributions by members of the planning Phase I applicant group or other stakeholders and/or

· Proposal demonstrates that the Applicant Planning Group contains at least four employers

Applicant Group- Proposal (Strategic Workforce Training Plan) demonstrates that the proposed training was developed with input from the appropriate stakeholders, primarily businesses.

Target Industry/Common Skill- Proposal demonstrates that the proposed targeted industry or common skill is in demand supported by labor market information or other supporting detail.

Program Design and Results- Proposal demonstrates that the Implementation Phase II goals can be achieved through the proposed activities.

Budget- Proposed budget is reasonable and competitive as compared to other proposals

Enhanced Considerations

· Proposals that maximize the potential of the collaboration through direct financial or in-kind contributions by members of the Phase I applicant group or other stakeholders and/or

· Proposals demonstrate the use of paid work experiences, job shadowing, or other work based learning models to engage participants with local employers.

5. Funding Decisions The Proposal Evaluation Team will total all points allotted per team member, determine the total points allotted per Proposal and rank all Proposals. The Proposal Evaluation Team may negotiate with one (1) or more Providers during the same period and may, at its discretion, terminate negotiation with any or all Providers. The Proposal Evaluation Team shall make a recommendation regarding the awards to Delaware, who shall have final authority, subject to the provisions of this RFP and 29 Del. C. § 6982(b), to award contracts to successful Provider(s) in the best interests of the State of Delaware.

Providers may request an explanation of the basis of the awarding of funds from the Director of the Division of Employment and Training. The request must be in writing and must be submitted within ten (10) days of the date indicated on the award notification.

6. References The Proposal Evaluation Team may contact any customer of the Provider, whether or not included in the Provider’s reference list, and use such information in the evaluation process. Additionally, Delaware may choose to visit existing installations of comparable systems, which may or may not include Provider personnel. If the Provider is involved in such site visits, Delaware will pay travel costs only for State of Delaware personnel for these visits.

D. Contract Terms and Conditions A. Contract Use by Other Agencies REF: Title 29, Chapter 6904(e) Delaware Code. If no State of Delaware contract exists for a certain good or service, covered agencies may procure that certain good or service under another agency's contract so long as the arrangement is agreeable to all parties. Agencies, other than covered agencies, may also procure such goods or services under another agency's contract when the arrangement is agreeable to all parties.

B. Cooperative Use of Award As a publicly competed contract awarded in compliance with 29 DE Code Chapter 69, this contract is available for use by other states and/or governmental entities through a participating addendum. Interested parties should contact the State of Delaware Contract Procurement Officer identified in the contract for instruction.