QnA 1 25-123 OWI OR Talent Assessment.docx

Higher Education Coordinating Commission RFP S-52500-00015070/HECC #25-123: 2026 Oregon Talent Assessment

Questions & Answers 1

1. Regarding item F (page 7), it is noted that work samples must include both a website and hard copy of outreach collateral examples. Can you provide guidance on what type of website this must be?

The form of the work samples is not important. Three work samples provided through PDF attachments or links is required. The requirement for both was an error.

2. Is there an expected format, length, or target audience defined for the presentations (specifically the 2026 Oregon Talent Summit) to help inform the presentation design and content focus?

Past presentations at the Talent Summit were ~45-60 minutes. The presentation at the 2026 Talent Summit may be shorter and this will be discussed with the successful consultant as the Summit agenda develops. The Summit has typically hosted 300-500 leaders of business, education, workforce and economic development, and others. Presentations to the WTDB and HECC have been 30-45 minutes to their respective membership.

3. What is the anticipated composition and size of the "Talent Assessment Steering Committee" that the Successful Proposer will be working with throughout the project?

Approximately 10 individuals total representing the Governor’s Office, the HECC and WTDB, community colleges, CTE, and others, plus 3-5 supporting staff. The lead for the Steering Committee is Julia Pontoni, Office of Workforce Investments Director, HECC.

4. Are there any required, preferred, or restricted data sources, tools, or techniques for the collection and analysis of public and private workforce, labor market, and economic data?

The successful consultant is expected to use their professional expertise in selecting the best data source(s). It is expected that the successful consultant will minimally work in close coordination with staff in Oregon Employment Department Workforce and Economic Research and HECC Research and Data and strongly consider state and local/regional level economic development data sources like Business Oregon and others. Past techniques have included interviews, focus groups, and surveys, but the proposer is not limited to these.

5. How should the Proposer's approach to furthering HECC's Equity Lens and environmental conservation be addressed in the proposal (Section 7.D)? Are there any specific HECC or Oregon state documents beyond the provided Strategic Plans that further detail these priorities?

There is no additional guidance.

6. Will HECC provide access to any proprietary or licensed Oregon state-level workforce data sets, software, or platforms (e.g., specific EMSI/Lightcast data, Burning Glass, or internal state databases) that are expected to be used for Tasks 2 and 3?

No, regarding access. However, requests for data that might be available in proprietary or licensed Oregon state-level workforce data sets and/or state databases can be made working with relevant agency staff (e.g. Oregon Employment Department Workforce and Economic Research, HECC Research and Data).

7. Beyond the previous Talent Assessments, are there specific key findings, areas of contention, or recommendations from the most recent 2024 Assessment that HECC or the WTDB is particularly interested in seeing either refined, challenged, or expanded upon in the 2026 Assessment?

No. Please refer to the Proposed Statement of Work in the Request for Proposal.

8. Is it permissible for the Proposer to propose an established team or partnership where the Key Person/Project Lead is an employee of a subcontractor, provided the Prime Contractor is responsible for overall contract management and is the single point of contact?

Yes, it is permissible.