LAB26R001-SCP-rfp.pdf

STATE OF DELAWARE

Delaware Workforce Development Board

State of Delaware

Statewide Co-Op Program

Request for Proposal

Contract No. LAB26R001-SCP

August 3, 2026

- Deadline to Respond - September 3, 2026

1:00 PM (Local Time)

CONTRACT NO. LAB26R001-SCP

ALL VENDORS:

The enclosed packet contains a "REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL" for LAB26R001-SCP. The proposal consists of the following:

Contents:

I. INTRODUCTION

II. SCOPE OF WORK

III. FORMAT FOR PROPOSAL

IV. PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCEDURES

V. MANDATORY PREBID MEETING

VI. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

VII. PROPOSAL REPLY SECTION

ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT 1 - NON-COLLUSION STATEMENT

ATTACHMENT 2 - EXCEPTIONS FORM

ATTACHMENT 3 - CONFIDENTIALITY FORM

ATTACHMENT 4 - BUSINESS REFERENCE

ATTACHMENT 5 - SUBCONTRACTOR INFORMATION SHEET

ATTACHMENT 6 - MONTHLY USAGE REPORT

ATTACHMENT 7 - SUBCONTRACTOR 2ND TIER QUARTERLY REPORT

ATTACHMENT 8 - OFFICE OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY

ATTACHMENT 9 - PROPOSAL REPLY REQUIREMENTS

APPENDIXES

APPENDIX A - MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSION

APPENDIX B - STATEMENT OF WORK & TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

APPENDIX C - PROPOSAL SUBMISSION TEMPLATE

APPENDIX D - BUDGET

APPENDIX E - FUNDING SOURCE DISCLOSURE / BUDGET NARRATIVE

APPENDIX F - HIGH DEMAND OCCUPATION LIST

In order for your proposal to be considered, the Proposal Reply Section shall be executed completely and correctly and returned by email by September 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM (Local Time) to be considered.

Proposals must be emailed to:

Email Address: DWDBDETContracting@Delaware.gov

Subject Line: “BID ENCLOSED: LAB26R001-SCP, PROVIDER NAME, CO-OP Submission”

Please review and follow the information and instructions contained in the General Provisions and this Request for Proposal (RFP). Should you need additional information, please contact the Procurement Officer John Quick at DWDBDETContracting@Delaware.gov

I. INTRODUCTION

A. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Request for Proposal is to obtain sealed proposals to describe the material and/or non-professional service being sought. It is the goal of this Request for Proposal to identify a vendor(s) and execute a contract to oversee the development, implementation, case management and self-sustainability of a Statewide Co-Op Learning Program.

Funding for this program comes from Federal WIOA Funding (Governors Reserve). The amount available for this RFP is $1,000,000. This request for proposal (“RFP”) is issued pursuant to 29 DEL. C. §§ 6981 and 6982.

1. COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL

It has been determined by the Delaware Workforce Development Board (“DWDB”) of the State of Delaware (the “State”), pursuant to Delaware Code Title 29, Chapter 6924 (a), that this solicitation be offered as a request for competitive sealed proposals because the use of competitive sealed bidding is not practical and/or not in the best interest of the State. The use of competitive sealed proposals is necessary to:

• Use a contract other than a fixed-price type; or

• Conduct oral or written discussions with vendors concerning technical and price aspects of their proposals;

or

• Afford vendors an opportunity to revise their proposals through best and final offers; or

• Compare the different price, quality and contractual factors of the proposals submitted; or

• Award a contract in which price is not the determining factor.

2. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

This contract will be issued with a basic description of contract requirements.

3. AGENCY USE CONTRACT

Pursuant to 29 Del. C. § 6904(e) respectively, if no state 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.

4. MULTIPLE SOURCE AWARD

The DWDB reserves the right to award this contract to more than one vendor pursuant to 29 Del. C. § 6926.

5. POTENTIAL CONTRACT OVERLAP

Vendors 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. As needs are identified, there may exist instances where contract deliverables, and/or goods or services to be solicited and subsequently awarded, overlap previous awards. The State reserves the right to reject any or all bids in whole or in part, to make partial awards, to award to multiple vendors 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.

6. 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.

7. CONTRACT PERIOD

Vendor’s contract shall be valid from 10/1/2026 to 6/30/2027. The State reserves the right to ask for an extension of time if needed. Each contract may be renewed for four (4) one (1) year periods through negotiation between the Vendor and Delaware Workforce Development Board. Negotiation may be initiated no later than ninety (90) days prior to the termination of the current agreement.

The State reserves the right to extend this contract on a month-to-month basis for a period of up to three months after the term of the full contract has been completed.

B. KEY RFP DATES/MILESTONES

The following dates and milestones apply to this RFP and subsequent contract award. Vendors are advised that these dates and milestones are not absolute and may change due to unplanned events during the bid proposal and award process.

Activity Due Date

RFP Availability to Vendors August 3, 2026 Mandatory Pre-bid Conference August 11, 2026, at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Written Questions Due No Later Than (NLT) August 14, 2026 Written Answers Due/Posted to OMB Website August 21, 2026 Proposals Due NLT September 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

Proposal Evaluation September 8, 2026 Oral Clarification, if needed September 8, 2026 Anticipated Contract Award September 9, 2026

C. FUNDING

Funding for this program comes from Federal WIOA Funding (Governors Reserve). The amount available for this RFP is $1,000,000.

D. INQUIRIES & QUESTIONS

We welcome your interest in working with us, and we will be pleased to answer any questions you may have in formulating your response to this Request for Proposal.

All questions regarding the interpretation of this solicitation, drawings, or specifications, or any other aspect of this RFP must be received in writing by August 14, 2026, questions are due date. All questions will be answered in writing by August 21, 2026, Responses will be Posted and posted on https://bids.delaware.gov/ website. All questions must make specific reference to the section(s) and page numbers from this RFP where applicable. Oral explanations or instructions will not be binding.

E. RFP DESIGNATED CONTACT

All requests, questions, or other communications about this RFP shall be made in writing to the State of 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 vendor. Vendors should rely only on written statements issued by the RFP designated contact.

NAME: John Quick DEPARTMENT: Delaware Workforce Development Board EMAIL ADDRESS: DWDBDETContracting@delaware.gov

To ensure that written requests are received and answered in a timely manner, electronic mail (e-mail) correspondence is acceptable, but other forms of delivery, such as postal and courier services can also be used.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

1. OVERVIEW

The Vendor(s) shall provide all equipment, materials and labor to supplement the State of Delaware’s need for a Statewide Co-Op Learning Program as described herein. The contract will require the Vendor(s) to cooperate with the ordering agency to ensure the State receives the most current state-of-the-art material and/or services.

2. BACKGROUND

The DWDB solicits organizations with the expertise and demonstrated capacity to provide high quality intermediary services for rising College Juniors, Seniors and graduate students. Programs will support the attainment of college credit while working for a participating business in Delaware. This RFP is issued pursuant to 29 DEL. C. §§ 6981 and 6982.

a. The Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Employment and Training (“DOL DET”), seeks to procure the services of a qualified intermediary organization to develop, implement, coordinate, and manage the Delaware

Statewide Cooperative Learning (Co-Op) Program (AKA, The Delaware Co-Op). The selected intermediary shall serve as the statewide program administrator responsible for connecting Delaware employers, qualified institutions of higher education in Delaware, and eligible students through paid, career-related cooperative education experiences that integrate academic learning with meaningful employment opportunities. The selected intermediary will operate independently without state support, supervision or oversight after contract end date.

b. The purpose of the Delaware Co-Op Program is to strengthen Delaware's workforce pipeline by attracting, developing, and retaining college talent through structured, paid work experiences that provide academic credit, career exploration, and pathways to permanent employment with Delaware employers. The program is intended to serve as a bridge between higher education and industry while supporting the workforce needs of businesses throughout the State.

c. The successful Offeror shall demonstrate the organizational capacity, statewide partnerships, and experience necessary to manage a comprehensive cooperative education program that supports students, employers, and institutions of higher education while complying with all applicable Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

(“WIOA”) requirements and Delaware Department of Labor policies.

Program Administration

d. The intermediary shall provide overall administration of the Delaware Co-Op Program, including:

e. Serve as the primary statewide coordinator for the program.

f. Build a sustainable Co-Op program with a statewide reach.

g. Develop and maintain partnerships with Delaware colleges, universities, employers, business organizations, chambers of commerce, and other workforce partners.

h. Develop operational policies, procedures, and program guidance necessary for successful implementation.

i. Coordinate program activities with the Delaware Department of Labor and other designated state agencies.

j. Attend all required meetings, training sessions, and technical assistance activities conducted by DOL DET.

Student Recruitment and Case Management

k. The intermediary shall:

l. Recruit eligible students in partnership with participating institutions of higher education.

m. Determine and document participant eligibility in accordance with WIOA and DOL DET requirements.

n. Conduct assessments to determine participant readiness and suitability for cooperative education placements.

o. Develop an Individualized Service Strategy (“ISS”) identifying career goals, academic objectives, work experience activities, credit attainment, and anticipated employment outcomes.

p. Monitor participant progress throughout enrollment.

q. Utilize Handshake and Delaware JobLink.

r. Coordinate supportive services and referrals, when appropriate, to improve participant success.

Employer Engagement and Business Development

s. The intermediary shall develop and maintain a statewide network of participating employers by:

t. Recruiting employers throughout all three Delaware counties.

u. Engaging businesses representing high-demand and emerging industry sectors.

v. Collaborating with chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, industry associations, and workforce partners to expand employer participation.

w. Assisting employers with developing meaningful cooperative education positions aligned with students' academic programs and career goals.

x. Promoting participation among small and medium-sized businesses, including coordination with any available state-sponsored employer incentive or grant programs.

Higher Education Coordination

y. The intermediary shall collaborate with participating institutions of higher education to:

z. Coordinate recruitment and outreach activities.

aa. Support participating institutions in awarding academic credit, where applicable.

bb. Maintain communication regarding student participation and performance.

cc. Expand participation among Delaware colleges and universities as approved by DOL DET.

Work-Based Learning Coordination

dd. The intermediary shall:

ee. Connect students with paid cooperative education opportunities that align with academic majors, career interests, and employer workforce needs.

ff. Coordinate communications between students utilizing the program preferred online system to ensure job postings are available for business, interviews & placements.

gg. Serve as the liaison for businesses to identify appropriate connections and, when necessary, replacement opportunities for the student and or business.

hh. Monitor employer and participant satisfaction throughout the work experience.

ii. Ensure work experiences comply with all applicable labor laws, wage requirements, WIOA regulations, and program policies.

jj. Promote work experiences that lead to long-term employment opportunities upon graduation.

Data Collection and Performance Reporting

kk. The intermediary shall:

ll. Maintain participant records and documentation in Delaware JobLink (“DJL”) in accordance with DOL DET policies.

mm. Enter participant activities, eligibility documentation, assessments, work experience information, credentials, academic credit attainment, employment outcomes, and required case notes into DJL.

nn. Maintain documentation supporting program expenditures and participant eligibility.

oo. Develop and maintain program performance measures and dashboards tracking key performance indicators, including participant enrollment, employer participation, placements, wages, academic credit attainment, completion rates, and post-program employment outcomes.

pp. Provide periodic reports to DWDB as required.

Program Outcomes

qq. The Offeror shall demonstrate its ability to achieve measurable outcomes including:

rr. Increased participation of Delaware employers in cooperative education.

ss. Expansion of cooperative education opportunities across participating colleges and universities.

tt. Placement of eligible students into paid career-related cooperative education experiences.

uu. Academic credit attainment will be applied by the Co-Op education partner.

vv. Increased student retention within Delaware's workforce following graduation.

ww. Documented employment outcomes and retention following program completion.

xx. Continuous growth in employer and student participation throughout the contract period.

yy. The intermediary shall establish quality assurance and continuous improvement processes that include:

zz. Create a program that is sustainable beyond the one-year funding from the state.

aaa. Routine monitoring of participant and employer satisfaction.

bbb. Performance evaluation and corrective action when necessary.

ccc. Identification of emerging workforce needs and opportunities for program expansion.

ddd. Recommendations to DWDB regarding program enhancements, sustainability strategies, and future statewide growth.

eee. are those services that help retain participants, businesses and Higher Education partner’s long term.

3. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS

The technical requirements of this RFP are stated in Appendix B. Vendors must provide pricing for the items listed in the Excel Spreadsheet, Appendix D.

III. FORMAT FOR PROPOSAL

1. INTRODUCTION

This section prescribes the mandatory format for the presentation of a proposal in response to this RFP. Each Vendor must provide every component listed in the order shown in this RFP, using the format prescribed for each component.

A proposal may be rejected if it is incomplete or conditional.

2. PROPOSAL RESPONSE

The RFP may contain pre-printed forms for use by the vendor in submitting its proposal. The forms required by this solicitation shall be considered mandatory, prevailing documents.

When preprinted forms are used, the forms shall contain basic information such as description of the item and the estimated quantities and shall have blank spaces for use by the vendor for entering information such as unit bid price, total bid price, as applicable.

If items are listed with a zero quantity, Vendor shall state unit price ONLY (intended for open end purchases where estimated requirements are not known). The proposal shall show a total bid price for each item and the total bid price of the proposal excluding zero quantity items.

Vendors’ proposal must respond to each and every requirement outlined in the RFP criteria in order to be considered responsive. Proposals must be clear and concise.

3. 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 the State of Delaware.

4. 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. Responders shall ensure that the proposal clearly states how this will become a fully self-sustainable program after a one time investment of funds. The state will not invest in this program following the expenditure of awarded funds.

5. COVER LETTER

Each proposal will have a cover letter on the letterhead of the company or organization submitting the proposal. The cover letter must briefly summarize 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 DWDB.

6. TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

7. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Each proposal must contain a detailed description of how the Vendor will provide the goods and services outlined in this RFP. This part of the proposal may also include descriptions of any enhancements or additional services or qualifications the Vendor will provide that are not mentioned in this RFP.

8. SAMPLES OR BROCHURES

Samples or brochures may be required by the agency for evaluation purposes. They shall be such as to permit the

DWDB to compare and determine if the item offered complies with the intent of the specifications.

9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING OF TERMS

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

10. NUMBER OF COPIES WITH MAILING OF PROPOSAL

All proposals must be submitted via Email to the provided email address prior to the submission deadline. No other submission type will be accepted.

11. PROPOSAL EXPIRATION DATE

Prices quoted in the proposal shall remain fixed and binding on the bidder at least through June 30, 2027. The State reserves the right to ask for an extension of time if needed.

12. WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS

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.

13. 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.

14. LATE PROPOSALS

Proposals received after the specified date and time will not be accepted or considered.

15. ADDENDA TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

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

16. INCURRED EXPENSES

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

17. 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.

18. DISCREPANCIES AND OMISSIONS

Vendor is fully responsible for the completeness and accuracy of their proposal, and for examining this RFP and all addenda. Failure to do so will be at the sole risk of vendor. Should Vendor find discrepancies, omissions, unclear or ambiguous intent or meaning, or should any questions arise concerning this RFP, vendor shall notify the State of Delaware’s Designated Contact, in writing, of such findings at least ten (10) days before the proposal opening. This will allow issuance of any necessary addenda. It will also help prevent the opening of a defective proposal and exposure of vendor’s proposal upon which award could not be made. All unresolved issues should be addressed in the proposal.

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, no later than ten (10) calendar days prior to the time set for opening of the proposals.

19. EXCEPTIONS

Bidders may elect to take minor exception to the terms and conditions of this RFP by completing Attachment 2. The

DWDB shall evaluate each exception according to the intent of the terms and conditions contained herein, but the DWDB and DOL DET 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.

Exceptions must be submitted utilizing Attachment 2 to be considered. Exceptions listed elsewhere in the Vendor’s proposal will not be considered. The DWDB maintains sole discretion to reject any vendor exceptions that are submitted.

20. BUSINESS REFERENCES

Provide at least three (3) business references consisting of current or previous customers 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.

21. SUBCONTRACTS

Subcontracting is NOT permitted under this RFP and contract.

22. CONFIDENTIALITY

Subject to applicable law or the order of a court of competent jurisdiction to the contrary, all documents submitted as part of the vendor’s proposal will be treated as confidential during the evaluation process. As such, vendor 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 vendor’s information until a fully executed contract is received 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 fully executed contracts are received, the contents of all vendor proposals are subject to FOIA’s public disclosure obligations and exemptions.

The State of Delaware wishes to create a business-friendly environment and procurement process. As such, the State respects the vendor 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 vendor 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 vendor’s confidential business information may be lost.

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

Vendor(s) may submit portions of a proposal considered to be confidential business information in a separate, sealed envelope labeled “Confidential Business Information” and include the specific RFP number. The envelope must contain a letter from the Vendor’s legal counsel describing the documents in the envelope, 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.

Upon receipt of a proposal accompanied by such a separate, sealed envelope, the State of Delaware will open the envelope to determine whether the procedure described above has been followed. A vendor’s allegation as to its confidential business information shall not be binding on the State. The State shall independently determine the validity of any vendor designation as set forth in this section. Any vendor 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, Vendor(s) assume the risk that confidential business information included within a proposal may enter the public domain.

23. EMPLOYER PARTNER REQUIREMENTS

Providers must obtain letters of support from employer partners who agree to participate and hire participants in the Statewide Co-Op Learning Program.

24. ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1– Non-Collusion Statement Attachment 2 – Exceptions Attachment 3 – Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Attachment 4 – Business References Attachment 5 – Subcontractor Information Form Attachment 6 – Monthly Usage Report Attachment 7 – Subcontracting (2nd Tier Spend) Report Attachment 8 – Office of Supplier Diversity Certification Application Attachment 9 – Proposal Reply Requirements Appendix A – Minimum Criteria for Submission Appendix B – Statement of Work & Technical Specifications Appendix C – Proposal Submission Template Appendix D – Budget Appendix E – Funding Source Disclosure / Budget Narrative

Appendix F – High Demand Occupation List

IV. PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCEDURES

1. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

A. STATE’S RIGHT TO REJECT PROPOSALS

The State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals in whole or in part, to make multiple awards, partial awards, award by types, item by item, or lump sum total, whichever is determined to be the most advantageous to the State of Delaware. Vendors submitting proposals may be afforded an opportunity for discussion. Vendors may be requested to provide a best and final offer during the negotiation process. Negotiations may be conducted with responsible Vendors who submit proposals found to be reasonably likely to be selected for award. The contents of any proposal shall not be disclosed so as to be available to competing vendors during the negotiation process.

B. 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 vendor.

This RFP does not constitute an offer by the State of Delaware. Vendor’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.

C. DELIVERY OF PROPOSALS

Each proposal must be submitted with all electronic copies and the proposal checklist confirming the items submitted. All proposals are to be submitted and received no later than 1:00PM (EST) on September 3, 2026. The proposals must be delivered by email to the following contact email address:

DWDBDETContracting@Delaware.gov and in the subject line contain: “BID ENCLOSED: LAB26R001- SCP, PROVIDER NAME, Co-Op Submission”

Any proposal received after the Deadline for Receipt of Proposals date and time shall not be considered and shall not be reviewed. The proposing vendor bears the risk of delays in delivery and any costs. The contents of any proposal shall not be disclosed as to be made available to competing entities during the negotiation process. Upon receipt of vendor proposals, each vendor 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 vendors from any obligation in respect to this RFP.

D. PUBLIC OPENING OF PROPOSALS

There will be no public opening of proposals, but a public log will be kept of the names of all vendor organizations that submitted proposals. The contents of any proposal shall not be disclosed in accordance with Title 29, Delaware Code, Chapter 100. Any unopened proposals will be returned to the submitting vendor.

E. 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 DWDB shall be final and binding.

2. PROPOSAL EVALUATION COMMITTEE

The Proposal Evaluation Committee (“Committee”) is comprised of representatives of the State of Delaware.

The Proposal Evaluation Committee shall be comprised of at least three (3) members. The Committee must have at least one (1) DWDB board member. Other members will include subject matter experts (determined by the DWDB staff), Department of Labor, those that represent the target population (identified in WIOA section 3(24) as well as veterans and other targeted populations at the DWDB’s discretion). A DWDB member will chair the Committee.

Committee members will remain on the same panel for the entire life of the process. The Committee shall determine which vendors meet the minimum requirements pursuant to selection criteria of the RFP and procedures established in 29 Del. C. §§ 6981 and 6982. Professional services for this solicitation are considered under 29 Del. C. § 6982(b). The Committee may negotiate with one or more vendors during the same period and may, at its discretion, terminate negotiations with any or all vendors. The Committee shall make a recommendation regarding the award to the DWDB, who shall have final authority, subject to the provisions of this RFP and 29 Del. C. § 6982(b), to award a contract to the successful vendor in the best interests of the State of Delaware.

The State reserves the right to respond to submitted proposals and create or remove Evaluation Team(s) as the State sees fit.

The Committee 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 vendors during the contract review and negotiation.

• Negotiate any aspect of the proposal with any vendor and negotiate with more than one vendor at the same time.

• Select more than one vendor pursuant to 29 Del. C. § 6926.

The DWDB and DOL DET reserve the right to reject any or all bids in whole or in part, to make multiple awards, partial awards, award by types, item by item, or lump sum total, whichever may be most advantageous to the State of Delaware.

3. REQUIREMENTS OF THE VENDOR

The purpose of this section is to assist the Committee to determine the ability of the organization to provide the materials and services described in the application. The proposal response should contain at a minimum the items addressed in Appendix A.

4. CRITERIA AND SCORING

EVALUATION CRITERIA POINTS

Demonstrated Ability:

• Provider demonstrates the ability to advertise, recruit, retain and operate like or similar high quality Co-Op programs or has been an intermediary previously for programs of similar design.

Program Design:

• Superior case management and wrap around services.

• All required program elements are addressed in proposal.

• Program design provides plan to recruit business.

• Program design provides plan to engage with higher education.

• Program design provides plan to connect Co-Op participants in educationally aligned work experience.

• Plan to make Co-Op self-sustainable

• Identify a case-management/data system to be used to capture reportable data following the initial contract period.

Program Placement:

• The proposed program addresses current and future needs of local employers, participants and higher education partners

• Program provides credit for work-based learning experiences for participants

• Program highlights students to employer partners

• Outcome statement that describes what a participant will have achieved after successfully completing the program. Including credential (s), job title.

• Letters of support from employer partners to participant in the Co-Op.

Cost/Budget

• Please complete the budget and narrative for any line item that will be billed against this award.

Employer Participation:

At least 3 business partnerships provided. This is a mandatory requirement and does not award points.

Total: 100

Committee members will assign up to the maximum number of points listed for each of the criteria listed above. For items having quantitative answers, points will be proportionate to each proposal’s response. Items with qualitative answers will receive the average of points assigned by Committee members.

5. REFERENCES

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

V. MANDATORY PREBID MEETING

A mandatory pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for August 11, 2026 at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. This is a mandatory meeting.

If a Vendor does not attend this meeting, they shall be disqualified and shall not be considered for further evaluation during this RFP. Pre-Bid Meeting Microsoft Teams Link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/26921301218805?p=063ouBpamQzBACw24c

VI. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

The attached Definitions and General Provisions apply to all contracts and are part of each Request for Proposal. The requirement to furnish a bid bond and performance bond is applicable unless waived. Should the General Provisions conflict with the Special Provisions, the Special Provisions shall prevail. Vendors or their authorized representatives are required to fully acquaint themselves as to State procurement laws and regulations prior to submitting bid.

A. DEFINITIONS:

Whenever the following terms are used, their intent and meaning shall be interpreted as follows:

STATE: The State of Delaware

AGENCY: The DWDB, as part of the Delaware Department of Labor.

BID INVITATION: The "invitation to bid" or “Request for Proposal” is a packet of material sent to vendors and consists of General Provisions, Special Provisions, specifications, and enclosures.

BOND: The approved form of security furnished by the Vendors and its surety as a guaranty of good faith on the part of the Vendor to execute the work in accordance with the terms of the contract.

CONTRACT: The written agreement covering the furnishing and delivery of material or work to be performed.

DESIGNATED OFFICIAL: The agent authorized to act for the DWDB or State agency.

GENERAL PROVISIONS: General Provisions are instructions pertaining to contracts in general. They contain, in summary, requirements of laws of the State, policies of the DWDB, and instructions to vendors.

LOCAL TIME: Eastern Standard Time/Eastern Daylight Time

OPPORTUNITY BUY: A special offer from a supplier that is usually associated with a limited time to respond.

PROPOSAL: The offer of the Vendor submitted on the approved form and setting forth the Vendor's prices for performing the work or supplying the material or equipment described in the specifications.

RFP: Request for Proposal.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS: Special Provisions are specific conditions or requirements peculiar to the contract under consideration and are supplemental to the General Provisions. Should the Special Provisions conflict with the General Provisions, the Special Provisions shall prevail.

SURETY: The corporate body which is bound with and for the contract, or which is liable, and which engages to be responsible for the Vendor's payments of all debts pertaining to and for its acceptable performance of the work for which he has contracted

VENDOR: Any individual, firm, or corporation formally submitting a proposal for the material or work contemplated, acting directly or through a duly authorized representative.

VENDOR'S DEPOSIT: The security designated in the proposal to be furnished by the Vendor as a guaranty of good faith to enter into a contract with the DWDB if the work to be performed or the material or equipment to be furnished is awarded to it.

B. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. INTERPRETATION OF ESTIMATES/QUANTITIES

a. Unless stated otherwise, the quantities given in the RFP are to be considered to be approximate only and are given as a basis for the comparison of bids. The Agency may increase or decrease the amount of any item as may be deemed necessary or expedient, during the period of the contract. Bidders shall recognize there are no guaranteed minimum contract quantities or values associated with this solicitation.

b. An increase or decrease in the quantity for any item is not sufficient ground for an increase or decrease in the unit price.

c. Prior contract utilization may be viewed on the Delaware Open Data Portal https://data.delaware.gov/. The Government and Finance data sets provide Central Contract Line Item Spend by Fiscal Year among several additional data products. Past usage shall not be considered a guaranteed future volume.

2. SILENCE OF SPECIFICATIONS

The apparent silence of the specifications as to any detail, or the apparent omission from it of detailed description concerning any point, shall be regarded as meaning that only the best commercial practice is to prevail and only material and workmanship of the first quality are to be used. Proof of specifications compliance will be the responsibility of the vendor.

3. EXAMINATION OF SPECIFICATIONS AND PROVISIONS

The Vendor shall examine carefully the proposal and the contract forms for the material contemplated. The Vendor shall investigate and satisfy itself as to the conditions to be encountered, quality and quantities of the material to be furnished, and the requirements of any Special Provisions in the RFP and the contract. The submission of a proposal shall be conclusive evidence that the Vendor has made examination of the aforementioned conditions.

4. PRICES QUOTED

The prices quoted are those for which the material will be furnished and include all charges that may be imposed during the period of the contract. All prices quoted must be in U.S. Dollars.

All vendors that maintain a core list of products under this contract shall maintain the appropriate negotiated prices on their core list. Vendors shall routinely offer to add to the core list materiel that has been identified as necessary.

The Vendors are expected to routinely update any changes to the core list with the appropriate discounts listed.

Any adjustments to a core list must receive prior written approval from the State before a core list can be changed by the Vendor. Changes include but are not limited to the migration of items on and off the core list as well as any price adjustments from the original agreed upon pricing.

5. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF PROPOSALS

All documents submitted as part of the vendor’s proposal will be deemed confidential during the evaluation process.

Vendor proposals will not be available for review by anyone other than the State of Delaware/Proposal Evaluation Committee or its designated agents. There shall be no disclosure of any vendor’s information to a competing vendor prior to award of the contract.

The State of Delaware is a public agency as defined by state law, and as such, it is subject to the Delaware Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del. C. Ch. 100. Under the law, all the State of Delaware’s records are public records (unless otherwise declared by law to be confidential) and are subject to inspection and copying by any person. Vendor(s) are advised that once a proposal is received by the State of Delaware and a decision on contract award is made, its contents will become public record and nothing contained in the proposal will be deemed to be confidential except proprietary information.

Vendor(s) shall not include any information in their proposal that is proprietary in nature or that they would not want to be released to the public. Proposals must contain sufficient information to be evaluated and a contract written without reference to any proprietary information. If a vendor feels that they cannot submit their proposal without including proprietary information, they must adhere to the following procedure or their proposal may be deemed unresponsive and will not be recommended for selection. Vendor(s) must submit such information in a separate, Email labeled “Proprietary Information” with the RFP number. The Email must contain a letter from the Vendor’s legal counsel describing the documents in the Email, representing in good faith that the information in each document is not “public record” as defined by 29 Del. C. § 10002(d), and briefly stating the reasons that each document meets the said definitions.

6. LAWS TO BE OBSERVED

The vendor is presumed to know and shall strictly comply with all Federal, State, or County laws, and City or Town ordinances and regulations in any manner affecting the conduct of the work. The Vendor shall indemnify and save harmless the State of Delaware, the DWDB, and all Officers, DWDB and Servants thereof against any claim or liability arising from or based upon the violation of any such laws, ordinances, regulations, orders, or decrees whether by itself, by its employees, or by its subcontractor (s).

7. APPLICABLE LAW AND JURISDICTION

This bid, any resulting contract, and any and all litigation or other disputes arising there from, in connection with, or related hereto shall be governed by the applicable laws, regulations and rules of evidence of the State of Delaware. Bidder submits to personal jurisdiction in the State of Delaware. Any and all litigation or other disputes arising out of, in connection with, or relating to this bid, and any resulting contract, shall be brought exclusively in a court in the State of Delaware or the United States District Court of the District of Delaware as applicable.

8. SEVERABILITY

If any term or provision of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the same shall not affect the other terms or provisions hereof or the whole of this Agreement, but such term or provision shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary in the court's opinion to render such term or provision enforceable, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced accordingly, preserving to the fullest permissible extent the intent and agreements of the parties herein set forth.

9. PERMITS AND LICENSES

All necessary permits, licenses, insurance policies, etc. required by local, State or Federal laws, shall be provided by the Vendor at its own expense.

10. PATENTED DEVICES, MATERIAL AND PROCESSES

a. The Vendor shall provide for the use of any patented design, device, material, or process to be used or furnished under this contract by suitable legal agreement with the patentee or owner and shall file a copy of this agreement with the DWDB.

b. The Vendor and the surety shall hold and save harmless the State of Delaware, the DWDB, the Director, their Officers or Agents from any and all claims because of the use of such patented design, device, material, or process in connection with the work agreed to be performed under this contract.

11. EMERGENCY TERMINATION OF CONTRACT

a. Due to restrictions which may be established by the United States Government on material, or work, a contract may be terminated by the cancellation of all or portions of the contract.

b. In the event the Vendor is unable to obtain the material required to complete the items of work included in the contract because of restrictions established by the United States Government and if, in the opinion of the DWDB, it is impractical to substitute other available material, or the work cannot be completed within a reasonable time, the incomplete portions of the work may be cancelled, or the contract may be terminated.

12. TAX EXEMPTION

a. In accordance with the Internal Revenue Service regulations, the State of Delaware is generally exempt from federal excise tax for communications, certain fuels, sales by manufacturers and the tax on heavy trucks, trailers, and tractors. More detail is included in IRS Publication 510 Excise Taxes located at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p510.pdf. Per IRS regulations, all exemption certificates must be specific to the vendor and the type of excise tax. If an exemption certificate is requested by a vendor, the Division of Accounting will work with the DWDB and vendor to complete the appropriate certificate. Such taxes shall not be included in prices quoted.

b. Any material which is to be incorporated in the work or any equipment required for the work contemplated in the proposal may be consigned to the DWDB. If the shipping papers show clearly that any such material is so consigned, the shipment will be exempt from the tax on the transportation of property under provisions of Section 3475 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by Public Law 180 (78th Congress). All transportation charges shall be paid by the Vendor. Each Vendor shall take its exemption into account in calculating its bid for its work.

13. INVOICING

After the awards are made, the agencies participating in the bid may forward their purchase orders (“P.O.”) to the successful Vendor(s) in accordance with State Purchasing Procedures. The State will generate a payment voucher upon receipt of an acceptable invoice from the vendor.

14. PRICES

Prices and/or rates shall remain firm for the initial One (1) year term of the contract, unless further negotiations are deemed necessary by the State.

The pricing policy that you choose to submit must address the following concerns:

a. The structure must be clear, accountable and auditable.

b. It must cover the full spectrum of services required.

c. Costs and compensation must be consistent with the rates established or negotiated as a result of this RFP or

P.O. issued based on this contract.

15. COOPERATIVES

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

16. PRICE ADJUSTMENT

The Vendor is not prohibited from offering a price reduction on its services or materiel offered under the contract.

The State is not prohibited from requesting a price reduction on those services or materiel during the initial term or any subsequent options that the State may agree to exercise.

If agreement is reached to extend this contract beyond the one (1) year period 10/1/2026 through 6/30/2027, the DWDB and DOL DET shall have the option of offering a determined price adjustment that shall not exceed the current Philadelphia All Urban Consumers Price Index (CPI-U), U.S. City Average. If the CPI-U is used, any increase/decrease shall reflect the change during the previous published twelve (12) month period at the time of renegotiation.

17. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

The parties to any contract from this solicitation shall be independent contractors to one another, and nothing herein shall be deemed to cause the agreement to create an agency, partnership, joint venture or employment relationship between parties.