LAB25R001-OSO-rfp.pdf

State of Delaware Delaware Workforce Development Board

One-Stop Operator

Request for Proposal

Contract No. LAB-25R-OSO-001

November 6, 2025

Deadline to Respond

December 17, 2025

1:00PM (Local Time)

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Program: One Stop Operator

Issued by: Delaware Workforce Development Board and Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Employment and Training

RFP Number: LAB-25R-OSO-001

Performance Period: March 13, 2026 – March 12, 2027

I. Overview of WIOA and the One-Stop Delivery System

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014.

WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. WIOA requires states to strategically align their core workforce development programs to coordinate the needs of both job seekers and employers through combined four-year state plans with greater flexibility than its predecessor program (WIA).

Additionally, WIOA promotes accountability and transparency through negotiated performance goals that are publicly available, fosters regional collaboration within states through local workforce areas, and improves the American Job Center system.

The WIOA One-Stop system should be quality focused, employer driven, and suited to meet the needs of regional economies. It is designed to increase access to, and opportunities for, the employment, education, training, and support services that individuals need to succeed in the labor market especially those with barriers to employment.

As envisioned and defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), the One-Stop system brings together workforce development, educational, and other human resource services in a seamless customer-focused service delivery network that enhances access to the programs' services and improves long-term employment outcomes for individuals receiving assistance. One-Stop partners administer separately funded programs as a set of integrated streamlined services to customers.

The Delaware Workforce Development Board (“DWDB”) in partnership with Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Employment and Training (“DET”, and collectively with DWDB, “Delaware”) invites eligible applicants to propose services and request funding to serve as the liaison between the DWDB and One Stop Partner Programs, facilitate and coordinate periodic in-person and/or on-line meetings, conduct trainings for frontline staff. The full list of One-Stop partner programs can be found at https://det.delawareworks.com/one-stop-system. The State of Delaware WIOA State Plan can be found at https://wioaplans.ed.gov/node/330426.

Programs authorized or amended under WIOA Titles I-B, II, III, and IV are Core Programs and their administrators in the local area are Core Partners of the One-Stop system (WIOA Core Partners).

This request for proposals (“RFP”) is issued pursuant to 29 Del. C. §§ 6981 and 6982.

II. RFP Schedule and Important Dates https://labor.delaware.gov/divisions/employment-training/team-info/ https://laborfiles.delaware.gov/main/wdb/WIOA_State_Plan_PYs_2024_2027.pdf http://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c069/sc06/index.shtml

A. The following is the schedule of events and due dates pertinent to this RFP:

Public Notice: November 6, 2025 Pre-Bid Meeting: November 19, 2025 Deadline for Questions: December 1, 2025 Response to Questions Posted: December 10, 2025 Deadline for Receipt of Proposal: December 17, 2025, no later than 1:00 PM Proposal Review (Written Review): January 6, 2026 Oral Clarification: January 13, 2026 Estimated Notification of Award: January 23, 2026

B. Pre-bid Meeting A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM. The meeting will take place online using Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 248 931 694 949 Passcode: kB2Aw7fM

This is 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

III. Scope of Services

A. Funding

1. The source of funds for this solicitation are:

a. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), other funding One-Stop partner programs may contribute, and any other state or federal funds Delaware determines to be available and reasonable for the services

b. The goal for the use of these funds is to provide workforce investment.

activities that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of participants, and increase attainment of recognized post-secondary credentials by participants, and as a result, improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare and dependency, increase economic self-sufficiency, meet the skill requirements of employers, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness or our local economy.

c. The entity will be a sub-recipient of Federal funds.

2. The estimated total funding available for the One Stop Operator is $65,000 and is subject to change without notice.

3. It is Delaware’s intent to award for statewide implementation.

4. Payments will be made monthly once Delaware receives invoice satisfactorily completed and provided in the established and communicated method. Monthly payment amount will be the total award divided by 12. No payments for services will be made in advance of the work performed.

B. Services Requested

1. Purpose The Delaware Workforce Development Board (DWDB) is seeking a qualified entity to serve as the One-Stop Operator (OSO) to support the administration of a comprehensive, integrated workforce development system across the state’s four https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWY3ZTk5ZTUtOTQzYy00ZjBkLWI4YTYtYzgwNTY3OGE2YmJk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%228c09e569-51c5-4dee-abb2-8b99c32a4396%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%224d3930c4-1da3-4c88-ba87-3256a82069df%22%7d

American Job Centers (AJCs). The One-Stop Operator will ensure coordination, collaboration, and continuous improvement among required WIOA partners to deliver high-quality services to both job seekers and employers.

2. Key Responsibilities

a. System Coordination & Management The One-Stop Operator will:

• Facilitate strategic alignment of services and policies in accordance with the WIOA State Plan and federal regulations.

• Create and maintain an environment of collaboration, open communication, and problem-solving among all AJC partners and staff.

• Ensure consistent delivery of services across AJCs in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.

Specific Duties Include:

• Facilitate regularly scheduled coordination meetings with all One-

Stop partners and area managers. Number and cadence to be determined annually.

• Develop and disseminate meeting agendas at least 7 days in advance.

• Record and distribute minutes, including action items and supporting documents, within 10 business days post-meeting.

• Coordinate inter-agency communication to identify and resolve service delivery challenges.

• Share promising practices, support policy interpretation, and foster innovation across the system.

b. Leadership Engagement & Policy Implementation

• Support and advise the WIOA One-Stop Leadership Team in implementing and updating statewide policies.

• Coordinate monthly meetings with One-Stop program leaders to:

o Track progress on shared goals and initiatives.

o Review service delivery alignment and eliminate duplication.

o Ensure program leaders are advancing agreed-upon action items and maintaining open communication.

c. Continuous Improvement & Professional Development The Operator will lead efforts to foster a culture of excellence and growth by:

• Coordinating up to four targeted professional development trainings annually for frontline staff.

• Incorporating cross-partner knowledge sharing into standing meetings to promote innovation and enhance service delivery.

• Identifying training needs and coordinating with the Leadership Team to address gaps and support certification-readiness.

d. Data Collection, Analysis & Reporting

• Develop systems to track partner referrals and identify referral trends and service gaps.

• Gather and analyze feedback from customer satisfaction surveys across AJCs; collaborate with Area Managers to adjust surveys if needed.

• Maintain real-time awareness of performance metrics to guide system improvements.

Reporting Requirements Include:

• Weekly updates to the DWDB Executive Director detailing completed duties, open action items, new community partnerships, and barriers encountered or resolved.

• Monthly updates to the One-Stop Leadership Team during regular meetings (via Zoom or in-person).

• A comprehensive meeting summary including discussion outcomes and recommendations distributed within 10 business days post-meeting.

e. AJC Certification Support WIOA mandates that AJCs be certified at least once every three years based on effectiveness, accessibility, and continuous improvement.

The Operator will:

• Prepare and maintain documentation to support AJC certification.

• Collaborate with DWDB and AJC leadership to conduct readiness assessments.

• Support efforts to achieve and maintain at least “Baseline” certification and strive for “Hallmark of Excellence” designations.

• Track and report on key performance indicators related to certification benchmarks.

f. Governance, Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all required WIOA partner roles and accountabilities are clearly defined in Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Infrastructure Funding Agreements (IFAs).

• Support regular review and updates of MOUs/IFAs in collaboration with DWDB and partner agencies.

• Safeguard all records, ensuring compliance with federal and state data retention, security, and confidentiality requirements.

• Ensure seamless transfer of all documents to a future Operator, if applicable.

g. Logistics & Meeting Facilitation

• Coordinate logistics for all meetings in consultation with the One-Stop Leadership Team (e.g., securing space, scheduling).

• Meetings may be held in-person at a One-Stop or virtually, depending on need and region.

• Facilitate meetings using in-person and virtual platforms (Zoom, Teams, etc.).

• Schedule guest presentations to introduce new programs or highlight enhancements to existing services.

h. Flexibility & Additional Assignments

• Attend additional ad hoc meetings as requested by the DWDB or One- Stop Leadership Team.

• Be prepared to undertake additional projects or facilitation services, as mutually agreed upon through contract amendment.

3. Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of WIOA regulations and One-Stop operations.

• Proven experience coordinating multi-agency or collaborative systems.

• Strong facilitation, project management, and communication skills.

• Capacity to collect, analyze, and report programmatic and operational data.

4. Additional services/facilitations may be contracted by Delaware through negotiation with the selected entity and subsequent contract amendment.

IV. 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 (Appendix B including Attachments 1 through 5). and clearly identify capabilities as presented in Proposal Selection Criteria (IV)© (2)

3. Each Proposal will have a cover letter on the letterhead of the company or organization submitting the proposal. The cover letter must briefly summarize the Vendor’s ability to provide the services specified in the RFP. The cover letter shall be signed by a representative who has the legal capacity to enter the organization into a formal contract with the State of Delaware.

4. Each proposal must include a Table of Contents with page numbers for each of the required components of the proposal

5. 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 (VI)(G)(6) Insurance.

2. Any Provider who has not had a contract with Delaware Workforce Development Board

Delaware Workforce or State of Delaware within the past 2 years will 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 Minimum Criteria for Submission Checklist (Appendix A) will be used by Delaware to determine if Proposer meets the minimum requirements for submission. Providers are encouraged to use this checklist as well.

V. 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:

Executive Director:

Delaware Workforce Development Board 4425 N. Market St, Wilmington, DE 19802 DWDBDETContracting@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 for organizations currently doing business in the State of Delaware who require contact in the normal course of that business as well as gathering information and data in response to the RFP from appropriate state agency (e.g., Office of Occupational and Labor Market Information).

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 http://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c069/sc06/index.shtml#6981 http://www.bids.delaware.gov/ mailto:DWDBDETContracting@delaware.gov http://www.bids.delaware.gov/ 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 DWDBDETContracting@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 20 001-OneStopOP in 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 DWDBDETContracting@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 mailto:DWDBDETContracting@delaware.gov mailto:DWDBDETContracting@delaware.us 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 submitted proposal requires that the original proposal be withdrawn, prior to the time set for the submission of the proposal, and a new proposal submitted prior to the deadline for submission of proposals. 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

The State will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by the vendor in preparing and submitting a proposal.

5. Economy of Preparation

Proposals should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straight-forward, concise description of the vendor’s offer to meet the requirements of the RFP

6. Proposal Expiration Date Prices quoted in the proposal shall remain fixed and binding on the bidder at least through December 31, 2026. The State of Delaware reserves the right to ask for an extension of time if needed.

7. 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. The contents of any proposal shall not be disclosed in accordance with Title 29, Delaware Code, Chapter 100.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 http://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c100/index.shtml failure to accurately estimate the costs or resources required to meet the obligations defined in the proposal.

11. 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 Appendix B and D, 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.

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

13. 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 Entity 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.

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 http://www.bids.delaware.gov/ 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. Supplemental Solicitation

The State reserves the right to advertise a supplemental solicitation during the term of the Agreement if deemed in the best interest of the State.

20. Notification of Withdrawal of Proposal A Vendor may withdraw its proposal unopened after it has been deposited, if such a request is made prior to the time set for the opening of the proposal.

Proposals become the property of the State of Delaware at the proposal submission deadline.

All proposals received are considered firm offers at that time.

21. Revisions to the RFP

If it becomes necessary to revise any part of the RFP, revisions will be posted at HTTPS://bids.delaware.gov . By submitting an offer to the State, vendors acknowledged receipt, understanding and commitment to comply with all materials, revisions and addenda related to the Request for Proposal.

22. Exceptions to the RFP

Any exceptions to the RFP, or Delaware’s terms and conditions, must be recorded on Appendix B, Attachment 2. The evaluation committee shall evaluate each exception according to the intent of the terms and conditions contained herein, but the evaluation committee must reject exceptions that do not conform to State bid law and/or create inequality in the treatment of bidders. Exceptions shall be considered only if they are submitted with the bid or before the date and time of the bid opening.

23. Business References

Provide at least three (3) business references consisting of current or previous customers of similar scope and value using Appendix B 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.

24. Execution of Contract

The Vendor (s) to whom the award is made shall execute a formal contract within twenty

(20) days after date of official notice of the award of the contract.

25. 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.

Within ninety (90) days from the date of opening proposals, the contract will be awarded or the proposals rejected.

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.

https://bids.delaware.gov/

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

The State of Delaware staff will review proposals and reject all that do not meet the minimum criteria as listed in Appendix A 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 one (1) DWDB member or DWDB Staff, one (1) Department of Education staff, and other representatives as Delaware sees fit.

3. Proposal Review

Proposals who meet the RFP criteria described in Section (C)(1) above 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 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.

● 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.

● Perform a Compliance check 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.

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:

Criteria

Maximum Points

Demonstrated Ability Provider demonstrates the ability to operate like or similar high-quality programs that provided similar services as being solicited in this RFP.

Capacity to meet requirements (size, financial condition, etc.)

Provider has appropriate size and stability to meet anticipated timelines and produce work that meets established quality standards.

Partnerships Provider demonstrates the existence or ability to establish solid relationships with workforce system partners.

Past Performance and References Submitted references support bidder’s ability to provide services similar to what is requested in this RFP.

Budget Costs are clearly presented, reasonable, and fall within estimated range and are competitive. Costs are adequate to provide the necessary defined services.

5. Authority of Agency On all questions concerning the interpretation of specifications, the acceptability and quality of material furnished and/or work performed, the classification of material, the execution of the work, and the determination of payment due or to become due, the decision of the agency shall be final and binding.

6. 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.

7. Responsiveness and Responsibility of Vendor

Enter Agency Name shall award this contract to the most responsible and responsive vendor who best meets the terms and conditions of the proposal.

1. Rejection of individual proposals. -- A proposal may be rejected for 1 or more of the following reasons:

a. The person responding to the solicitation is determined to be nonresponsive or non-responsible;

b. It is unacceptable;

c. The proposed price is unreasonable; or

d. It is otherwise not advantageous to the State.

2. Vendors whose proposals are rejected as non-responsive shall be notified in writing about the rejection.

3. Responsibility of vendors. -- It shall be determined whether a vendor is responsible before awarding a contract. Factors to be considered in determining if a vendor is responsible include:

a. The vendor's financial, physical, personnel or other resources, including subcontracts;

b. The vendor's record of performance and integrity;

c. Any record regarding any suspension or debarment;

d. Whether the vendor is qualified legally to contract with the State;

e. Whether the vendor supplied all necessary information concerning its responsibility; and

f. Any other specific criteria for a particular procurement which an agency may establish (to be Entered by agency)

4. If a vendor is determined to be non-responsible, the vendor shall be informed in writing.

The State reserves the right to waive minor irregularities or request additional information before determining the responsiveness of the Vendor. All Vendors will be afforded the same or similar opportunities, as necessary, and will be treated with equal regard before such determinations are finalized

8. 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.

VI. 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 http://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c069/sc01/index.shtml 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. Final approval for permitting participation in this contract resides with the Director of Government Support Services and in no way places any obligation upon the awarded Provider(s).

C. General Information

1. The term of the contract between the successful Provider and Delaware shall be for one (1) year with two (2) optional extensions for a period of one (1) year for each extension.

2. The selected Provider will be required to enter into a written agreement with Delaware.

Delaware reserves the right to incorporate standard State of Delaware contractual provisions into any contract negotiated as a result of a proposal submitted in response to this RFP. Any proposed modifications to the terms and conditions of the standard contract are subject to review and approval by the Delaware.