LAB26R001-SCP_ad01.pdf

August 21, 2026

TO: ALL OFFERORS

FROM: FREDERICK QUICK

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DELAWARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO INVITATION TO BID - CONTRACT NO. LAB26R001-SCP

STATEWIDE CO-OP PROGRAM

ADDENDUM #1

All other terms and conditions remain the same.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 302-761-8163 or DWDBDETContracting@Delaware.gov.

Questions and Answers

1. Is it possible to request start-up money?

a. It can be discussed during contract negotiations should you be the selected bidder.

2. Is there a set number for working capital?

a. No.

3. Is there a defined number of placements or a goal?

a. No.

4. Repeat the wage requirement.

a. Expected wage is $20 or more.

5. Does the business need to agree to both placements (summer and fall)?

a. Yes, the student must be placed in for both.

6. Share more about the commitment from the college and universities and other academic schools within the Colleges and Universities.

a. University of Delaware, Wilmington University, Delaware Technical Community

College, Goldey Beacom Have agreed to participate.

7. Is there any exception to any non-Delaware school student who wants to work in

Delaware?

a. No, all students must be attending a Delaware College or University

8. How do you see this competing with the University’s and College’s already existing internship/work programs?

a. It will be the responsibility of the intermediary to align with and enhance existing programs.

9. How does this program keep students from quitting college?

a. It would be up to the intermediary to encourage completion.

10. Does the organization need to be established as an LLC prior to the bid process?

a. You need to have a business license and be able to operate within Delaware.

11. How would the DOL DWDB look at outcomes where the intermediary is connecting a business that already has an internship program?

a. The intermediary is responsible for coordinating with businesses. A business that has an existing Co-Op can choose to participate or not within the framework the intermediary designs. The DWDB and DOL will not be involved with negotiations with businesses, participants, or Higher Ed regarding the Co-Op.

12. If the business is already paying the intern, then we do not pay the intern?

a. Correct, it is up to the intermediary to create the agreement with the businesses.

13. Do WIOA requirements apply to these students.

a. The requirements do not apply.

14. Would the intermediary be eligible for other DOL funding in order to continue the funding for this program?

a. You may apply for any future RFP.

15. Does the business license need to be obtained prior to submitting a proposal?

a. Yes

16. Section 21 says subcontracting is not permitted and later it says it is permitted. Is Sub-

Contracting permitted with this RFP

a. Sub-Contracting is not permitted.

17. What’s the potential total population pool?

a. Any rising junior, senior, or graduate student at a Delaware College or University is eligible.

18. If we aren’t going to be spending the funds in a full year, could we say how we are going to spend the full amount over a few years?

a. These funds have a life cycle of 3 years. You would get a one-year contract and would continue the budget in subsequent contracts.

19. Will DWDB resources be available, business trends or data?

a. Yes, we are a public board

20. Any guidance on requirements around health insurance for the interns?

a. It would be up to the employer to ensure that they are following requirements.

21. Is the intern paid by the intermediary or the business?

a. You can make an agreement with the business about how much each party will contribute to the salary.

22. Are there additional criteria for the employers allowed to participate in the program?

a. No, the requirement is that they are a Delaware Business.

23. Are there any budget exclusions we should know about?

a. All costs must be allowable.

24. Was the initial pilot run by your team? What was the data on that pilot and what school was involved?

a. University of Delaware. There were 40 positions and over 500 applicants.

25. I. Introduction, Section 7, page 2 (Contract Period): How are there possible future year-long renewals if the funding is one-time only?

a. The funds are available as a one-time investment over a period of up to 3 years.

26. How many students do you aspire to include in the program during its first year that is, at what number would you call it a success?

a. There is not a number that would indicate success.

27. It seems that securing a firm commitment from business partners is a tall order, because the program design is not expressly finalized. Do the required three business partners need to commit to hiring students, financially supporting the program, or simply to provide letters of support, pending the design of the program?

a. Letters of support. The design is up to the awarded entity.

28. What would success look like?

a. Success would be a program foundation with students from all colleges and universities enrolled and matched to businesses. There is not a specific number of enrolled students in year one to equal success.

29. During the pre-bid meeting, I believe it was explained that payment is handled between employee and student.

a. The payment process with be between the State and intermediary. The payment structure for students in the Co-Op is between the intermediary, college/university & businesses. The State will not be working with anyone other than the intermediary who is the considered the Prime Vendor.

30. Can you please clarify the payment process?

a. The state will reimburse the intermediary monthly.

31. How does the employer partner receive the money from the Governor’s Reserve Fund per student?

a. The state will reimburse the intermediary monthly

32. Do employers need to pay the upfront cost and submit for reimbursement? Is reimbursement through the intermediary or DOL?

a. The state will reimburse the intermediary monthly

33. Appendix B, Section A (RFP PDF page 49) states: “All providers must be one of the following. A State of Delaware public institution or training center; or 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 A private business or trade school approved by the Department of Education (must be approved before contract execution).

Can you please clarify this eligibility of providers? Do private businesses submitting a proposal for this RFP need to be approved by the Department of Education (DOE), or would only the trade school need to be approved by DOE? If a private business provider is required to have approval from the Department of Education, what is that process?

a. Any submitter must have a Delaware Business License to submit. There is no DOE requirement at this time.

34. Can you confirm the high demand jobs spreadsheet link on page 53 of the RFP (Appendix F) is the same spreadsheet called "2026 High Demand Occupation" found here? https://labor.delaware.gov/wdb/training-providers/ The Excel file in the RFP PDF would not open.

a. It is the same spreadsheet found on https://labor.delaware.gov/wdb/training-providers/ "2026 High Demand Occupation"

35. During the pre-bid meeting, Director Quick mentioned DWDB reached out to higher education institutions and they are on board. Can you please list the higher education institutions that have agreed to participate? Will points of contact be provided?

a. Delaware State University, Goldey-Beacom, Wilmington University, University of Delaware and Delaware Technical Community College have all indicated they want to participate. DOL/DWDB will work with the intermediary to facilitate connections.

36. What commitments have the colleges already made? Specifically, which institutions are participating in and what has each institution agreed to provide regarding recruitment, academic credit, advising, data, and administration?

a. There has been a verbal commitment from all. The intermediary is tasked with creating and fine tuning a sustainable program.

37. I understand that eligible students are rising juniors, seniors, or entering graduate studies. A) Can students going for an associate degree qualify, or does it have to be a 4-year degree?

a. Currently the funds are designed to support the Rising Juniors, Seniors and Grad Students, expansion of the program is up to the intermediary.

B) Could a non-matriculated graduated student still qualify if they are entering graduate school in the following semester (as in a student that has a break between college and entering graduate school)? Is the graduate student only eligible if they are entering grad school directly and consecutively to his/her senior year of college?

a. Open to all Delaware Enrolled Rising Juniors, Seniors and Grad Students. Returning learners qualify. Expansion of programming to other Delaware enrolled College students is up to the intermediary following implementation.

38. Who owns/operates the program after the initial federal funding is exhausted? Is DWDB explicitly expecting the intermediary to remain the permanent operating entity and fund operations through earned revenue?

a. The intermediary. Yes, the goal is for the DWDB to provide initial funding and the intermediary to design a sustainable program model.

39. Can the intermediary charge participating employers membership, placement, administrative, or other fees during the initial contract period? Are there restrictions on what earned revenue can be generated?

a. Yes, they can charge participating employers. There are no restrictions on when revenue can be generated. The intermediary is tasked with maintaining internal controls to protect federal funds.

40. What portion of the $1M is expected to be reserved for student wage subsidies versus intermediary staffing and operating costs? Is there an expected minimum percentage for participant wages?

a. There is no limit but there should not be a cost to the students. No minimum percentage.

41. Who is the employer of record for participating students?

a. This would be part of the design of the intermediary.

42. Who pays the student initially? Employer → intermediary reimbursement → state reimbursement could create significant working-capital exposure.

a. This would be part of the design of the intermediary.

43. What is the reimbursement timeline after the intermediary submits an allowable expense?

a. Fiscal will process and send to the Division of Accounting accurately submitted financials within 15 days of receipt.

44. Can the selected intermediary retain administrative/management fees or program-generated revenue beyond the initial contract period?

a. Following the initial investment and contract completion, the DWDB/DOL/DET will not have a role in the program.

45. What happens to program assets, employer relationships, data, branding, technology/platforms, and intellectual property at contract termination?

a. Records must be maintained for 7 years following program completion to comply with Federal Auditing Requirements. There will be discussions during contract negotiations regarding sharing of data, technology etc.

46. Are colleges expected to contribute financially to the sustainability model, or is employer revenue the anticipated primary source?

a. This would be part of the design of the intermediary.

47. Is the intermediary permitted to use third-party technology/platform vendors?

a. Yes, there may be a requirement to use Delaware JobLink.

48. What was the average cost per student for UD’s Lerner pilot program? What was the average number of hours a student worked during the 8 weeks in the summer, 6 weeks in the fall semester, and 6 weeks in the spring semester?

a. Approximately $2500 per student. The average hours worked is not available.

49. Is there a minimum number of hours for each semester, or a minimum number of consecutive semesters? For example, does each co-op program student seat need to take place consecutively in a fall semester, spring semester, and during the summer?

a. The intended design for each student is for them to be placed and employed in the Summer, Fall and Spring and be paid and earn college credits.