REC-N-TEC_Pilot_Initiative_RFP_2025-RFP-118_public.docx

2025-RFP-118

REC-N-TEC PILOT INITIATIVE

City of Cleveland Department of Parks and Recreation 601 Lakeside Ave Cleveland, OH 44114

RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2026 DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: May 19, 2026, 5:00 pm RESPONSE DEADLINE: June 5, 2026, 12:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/clevelandoh

City of Cleveland

REC-N-TEC PILOT INITIATIVE

I. INTRODUCTION

II. SCOPE OF WORK

III. PROJECT SCHEDULE & DELIVERABLES, CITY’S RIGHTS & CONDITION AND INTERPRETATION

IV. PROPOSAL CONTENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

V. PROPOSAL SUBMITTALS

Attachments:

A – REC-N-TEC Pilot Initiative RFP_2025-RFP-118_public B - Northern Ireland Fair Employment Disclosure blank C - Reimbursables Policy D – 2026 Non-Competitive Bid Contract Statement Form E – W-9 Form

1. INTRODUCTION

LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

The City of Cleveland invites responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Department of Parks and Recreation: REC-N-TEC Pilot Initiative RFP.

We ask that you strictly adhere to the following critical guidelines outlined in this document.

1.1. Summary

The City of Cleveland is committed to enhancing the economic mobility and prospects of its neighborhoods and residents. Recognizing this, the City is launching the REC-N-TEC pilot initiative to help right that ship by bridging our local digital divide through a critical driver of 21st century economic growth: digital skills workforce development. This initiative will leverage the recent technology overhaul at the Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Center (NRRC) computer labs through the provision of digital skills training and workforce development programs designed to support residents in developing vital workplace-related digital skills, simultaneously serving as both a window and a bridge into the digital economy.

The City of Cleveland’s unwavering commitment to digital opportunity for all is exemplified by our long-standing pledge to close the digital divide, and our focus on comprehensive residential broadband access and digital inclusion underpins the REC-N-TEC initiative, which aims to equip Clevelanders—especially our most vulnerable populations such as unsheltered residents, seniors, single parents, and justice-affected individuals—with the tools, training, and career pathways necessary for long-term economic success.

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals from qualified providers that can provide related Out of School Time (OST) opportunities for working age adolescents (ages 14-17) and related programs for adults that align with the City’s efforts and appropriately respond to the needs of our residents.

1.2. Background

Proposer Qualifications:

Only evidence-based or research-based programs that leverage national best practices will be considered. Qualified providers must clearly identify in their proposal the following:

In addition, program providers will be expected to:

The proposal must also demonstrate the provider’s capacity to provide services in a minimum of three (3) of the City of Cleveland’s twenty-two (22) Neighborhood Resource & Recreational Centers as determined by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Programs should be designed to support working-age adolescents 14–17 years old and/or adults ages 18 and up. Providers are not required to address all age ranges. Programs that include participation by adolescents or adults with disabilities are encouraged.

Programs will be offered during one or more seasonal session(s). Providers must note during which seasonal session(s) they are prepared to provide services.

*Important Note for Selected Providers: Awards will be based on the following factors:

· Funding availability

· Capacity of providers

· Physical capacity of Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Centers

· Community needs

Minimum Qualifications for Eligibility:

a. Licensed to do business in the state of Ohio, if applicable.

b. Professional licensing or certifications, if applicable.

c. Proposer firm’s required type, length, and level of experience in type(s) of services or project (determined by user department).

d. Key project staff members’ experience, to include type, length, and level of experience. If serving youth, demonstrated experience in working within multi-agency youth collaboratives or coordinating with municipal youth services or Cabinets is strongly preferred.

e. Client references for both the firm and each project team member.

f. Written commitments, to become part of the agreement, that: a) all members of the proposed Project Team shall be the persons performing services during the contract term; and b) the successful Proposer, as contractor, shall not remove, add, or substitute members of the proposed Project Team without the prior written consent of the Department.

Insurance Requirements:

A. The Successful Proposer, at its expense, at all times during the term of the contract resulting from this RFP shall maintain the following insurance coverage. The insurance company(ies) providing the required insurance shall be authorized by the Ohio Department of Insurance to do business in Ohio and rated “A” or above by A. M. Best Company or equivalent. The Successful Proposer, as contractor, shall provide a copy of the policy or policies and any necessary endorsements, or a substitute for them satisfactory to and approved by the Director of Law, evidencing the required insurances upon execution of the contract.

B. Professional liability insurance with limits of not less and $1,000,000.00 for each occurrence and subject to a deductible for each occurrence of not more than $50,000.00 per occurrence and in the aggregate, and if not written on an occurrence basis, shall be maintained for not less than two (2) years after satisfactory completion and written acceptance of the services under the contract.

C. Workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance as provided under the laws of the State of Ohio.

D. Statutory unemployment insurance protection for all its employees.

E. Such other insurance coverage(s) as the City may reasonably require.

Expected Outcomes:

In partnership with the City of Cleveland, these are the expected outcomes of the REC-N-TEC pilot initiative:

1. Strengthened Education-to-Employment Pipeline and Community Partnerships

· Establish and expand collaborations with educational institutions, community anchors (e.g., schools, higher education, public libraries), and local industry leaders to align curricula with current industry trends and in-demand digital skills. If serving youth, all outcomes should explicitly support the Mayor's Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity’s mission of improving economic mobility, reducing poverty, and enhancing health, safety, and educational opportunities for Cleveland youth (ages 0–24).

· Outcome: A seamless pipeline that transitions participants from training to employment, supported by robust community and professional networks fostering innovation and collaboration.

2. Inclusive and Accessible Digital Skills Training

· Prioritize outreach to vulnerable populations—including unsheltered residents, seniors, single parents, and justice-affected individuals—and implement hybrid learning models to increase flexibility and participation.

· Outcome: Broader community participation, reduced digital disparities, and equitable access to economic opportunities for all Cleveland residents.

3. Foundational and Advanced Digital Fluency

· Equip participants with essential digital competencies (e.g., device navigation, online communication, data literacy, digital safety, productivity tools) and integrate emerging technologies such as AR, MR, VR, AI, and digital fabrication (e.g., 3D printing, CNC machining).

· Outcome: Participants gain baseline and advanced digital fluency, preparing them for modern workplace demands and technical career pathways.

4. Integrated Soft Skills and Career Readiness

· Incorporate communication, teamwork, and problem-solving into training alongside targeted career counseling, resume workshops, interview preparation, and job placement assistance.

· Outcome: Graduates demonstrate technical and interpersonal competencies, increasing their job readiness and effectiveness in hybrid work environments.

5. Measured Skills Proficiency and Career Outcomes

· Use pre- and post-program assessments to ensure an average 25% improvement in digital skills, with a goal of at least 60% of graduates securing digital-related employment or advancing in their careers within six months of program completion.

· Outcome: Participants are positioned for economic mobility through enhanced digital proficiency, career advancement, and sustainable job placement.

6. Modernized, Adaptive, and Responsive Programming

· Deliver training in state-of-the-art learning environments that integrate feedback mechanisms (e.g., participant surveys) to adapt programming to evolving community and labor market needs.

· Outcome: A dynamic and innovative program that ensures long-term relevance, success in bridging the digital divide, and direct mitigation of economic disparities.

7. Participant Retention and Program Completion Goals

· Achieve participant retention and program completion rates of 80%.

· Outcome: A robust, engaged cohort demonstrating high retention, program success, and measurable community impact.

These outcomes reflect our commitment to transforming digital education into tangible economic mobility for Cleveland residents, aligning with the strategic goals and measurable impact outlined in this Request for Proposals.

1.3. Contact Information

Project Contact:

Ricardo Reinoso Digital Adoption Manager 65 Erieview Plaza, 5th Floor Cleveland, OH 44114 Email: rreinoso@clevelandohio.gov Phone: (216) 664-3942 Procurement Contact:

Brian Umerley Performance Assessment Specialist 65 Erieview Plaza, 5th Floor Cleveland, OH 44114 Email: bumerley@clevelandohio.gov Phone: (216) 664-4128

Department Head:

Alex Nichols Director

1.4. Timeline

Teams Meeting (virtual): https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/267588006978006?p=GIx5r7hedt7g2hjj93 Meeting ID: 267 588 006 978 006 Passcode: iU63ox3g +1 216-306-2628,,626875092# United States, Cleveland Find a local number Phone conference ID: 626 875 092#

2025-RFP-118

Title: REC-N-TEC PILOT INITIATIVE

2. SCOPE OF WORK

2.1. Scope of Services

The City of Cleveland invites qualified service providers to submit proposals for delivering evidence-based programs across a minimum of three (3) Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Centers (NRRC) of our 22 locations as determined by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Programs should be designed to uplift economic mobility, foster lifelong learning, and enhance quality of life. While not required, delivering programming through a trauma-informed lens is welcomed. If serving youth, proposals should describe how they will coordinate with the Mayor's Office of Prevention, Intervention, and Opportunity and applicable working committees, ensuring cross-departmental collaboration and alignment with citywide youth well-being goals. Providers may propose programs for the following focus areas:

1. Digital Skills & Workforce Development:

· Digital Literacy and Workforce Readiness: Foundational digital skills, professional development, and workplace etiquette.

· Advanced Digital Training: AR/VR technologies, mixed reality applications, and industry-recognized IT certifications.

· STEAM/STEM and Entrepreneurship: Innovative programming for youth and teens to promote creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

In partnership with the City, vendors must work with local employers and workforce boards to ensure curriculum alignment with in-demand digital skills and provide comprehensive career services including counseling, resume workshops, and job placement assistance.

2. Job and Career Readiness:

· Comprehensive Training: Training that includes needs assessment, employability plan development, job readiness training, job search and placement assistance, and job retention services to support unemployed and underemployed working-age adolescents and adults.

· Career Placement and Support Services: Career fairs, job application workshops, resume building, and individualized career pathway planning.

Programs are encouraged to integrate advanced technologies (AR/MR/VR) and blended learning models (online instruction combined with in-lab sessions) to expand accessibility and modernize learning environments. Ideally, our selected NRRC vendor(s) will offer inclusive programs to meet the recreational needs of individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities. When participants with disabilities are identified, the provider will be expected to offer lower staff-to- participant ratios with experienced staff.

3. PROJECT SCHEDULE & DELIVERABLES, CITY’S RIGHTS & CONDITION, AND INTERPRETATION

3.1. Deliverables

Detailed project deliverables that the proposer is expected to provide:

3.2. Schedule

Timeframe/Deadline for deliverables to be determined during contract development process.

3.3. City’s Rights and Condition

3.4. Interpretation

The City’s interpretation of an RFP and its provisions shall be final.

4. PROPOSAL CONTENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

4.1. What A Proposer Must Submit

i. Personnel proposed shall have the desired qualifications and experience in his/her area of expertise. It is preferred key staff experience cited be within the past ten years.

ii. Individuals proposed and accepted by the Department, as personnel, for this contract, are expected to remain dedicated to the contract.

iii. In the event any key staff person(s) becomes unavailable, for continuation of the work assignment, the successful Vendors shall replace said individual(s) with personnel of equal ability and qualifications. However, any changes to designated key staff personnel require the prior written approval of the Department. If acceptable, changes shall be in effect without additional cost to the Department and without formal modification of the contract.

iv. The successful Vendor shall provide personnel at skill levels required for each type of service to be performed under the contract. Any employee whose service is deemed unsatisfactory, for any reason, by the Department shall be removed from the project. Upon written notification from the Department, the successful Vendor shall promptly offer a replacement with equal ability and qualifications for the Department’s approval. The successful Vendor shall be responsible for any costs arising from the action of the Department relative to this requested action.

v. Any member of the successful Vendor's team providing programming services as part of his/her assigned duties shall be subject to background checks, fingerprinting and other requirements as may be determined by the City of Cleveland. Adherence to all federal, state, county and city laws and regulations. Failure to comply with appropriate security requirements may be grounds for contract termination.

e. Qualifications: Description of experience and capabilities in the applicable field(s), responsive to minimum qualifications described in Section 1.2.

i. Client References.

ii. Resumes for project team members (note the City’s right to approve any changes to proposed project team).

ii. Estimate of reimbursable travel and other expenses consistent with City’s statement of expenses qualified for reimbursement.

4.2. Selection Criteria

All proposals will be reviewed and ranked by the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity Programs and the Department of Innovation and Technology. Proposals will be reviewed based upon the following core criteria:

i. Experience and Expertise

ii. Program Approach

iii. Research-Based or Evidence-Based

iv. Proposed Services

v. Proposed Outcomes

vi. Schedule/Timeline Interviews Based on preliminary scoring of point-based items described below, the City may create a short list of Design-Build Teams and conduct interviews as warranted. Further instruction will be provided to the short-listed Teams when notified of the forthcoming interview.

Proposal Acceptance The City reserves the right to accept proposals, in whole or in part, to reject any or all proposals or portions thereof, to waive irregularities, informalities, and technicalities, to re-issue or to proceed to obtain the services(s) desired otherwise, and to negotiate separately, as necessary, to serve the best interest of the City of Cleveland. The Director may, at his/her sole discretion, modify or amend any provision of this notice, or the RFP. Firms whose proposals are not accepted will be notified in writing. For this Request for Proposal, the proposal must remain valid for 180 days after submission.

Quality of Proposal includes Organization of the Team, Specific Approach to this Project, Ability to Perform the Scope of Services, Capacity to Perform Work, including consideration for current City project workload, and Special Commendations as defined in the “Proposal Submission Requirements” section of this RFP.

(20% of Total)

Expected program outcomes in proposal should align with the Expected Outcomes and outline the plan to achieve a 25% average improvement in digital skills and a 60% job placement/advancement rate within 6 months.

(15% of Total)

Each proposal should include: a participant assessment tool; a program observation tool; a recruitment and retention plan; a membership/registration form; and a calendar of events. Must demonstrate a system to track the 80% participant retention and completion goal.

(15% of Total)

Each proposal should include: a program budget; the age range and/or population demographic targeted; the seasons the program will run; the number of sites; their daily max attendance; the number of daily or weekly sessions; their daily max attendance; and how vulnerable populations will be provided outreach.

(15% of Total)

Each proposal should include a detailed program design with: the method(s) of program delivery; the community need that's being met by the program. This includes the integration of foundational and advanced digital fluency to meet modern workplace demands.

(15% of Total)

Each proposal should include evidence of the program's success from previous sessions and assessment data collected, including the use of feedback mechanisms to adapt programming to evolving labor market needs. If a first-time program, the proposal should show how the program design will be successful by leveraging best practices from a cited reputable national model.

(20% of Total)

5. PROPOSAL SUBMITTALS

5.1. Technical Proposal*

*Response required

5.2. Price Proposal*

*Response required

5.3. Vendor Background Information

5.3.1. Provide information about any local branch offices or support centers that might serve an account in Cleveland, OH, including number of employee and type of services provided* *Response required

5.3.2. Provide name of each principal.*

*Response required

5.3.3. Provide the year the company was established and any former firm names* *Response required

5.3.4. Type of Company*

· Public

· Private *Response required

5.3.5. Provide the state and type of incorporation*

*Response required

5.3.6. Provide information on related services offered by the company* *Response required

5.3.7. Provide the total number of FTEs in the company.*

*Response required

5.3.8. Provide average years of experience of professional staff.* *Response required

5.4. Vendor Client References

5.4.1. VENDOR CLIENT REFERENCE #1*

Please include the following information:

· Proposing Vendor Name

· Reference Company/Organization Name

· Reference Address

· Reference Contact Name

· Contact’s Position

· Contact’s Telephone Number

· Type of Company/Organization (Industry)

· Number of Employees

· Services Performed

· Sub-contractors used

· Identify any vendor staff that worked on this reference company's project, that are proposed for City

· Original Cost Estimates

· Actual Final Costs

· Comments *Response required

5.4.2. VENDOR CLIENT REFERENCE #2*

Please include the following information:

· Proposing Vendor Name

· Reference Company/Organization Name

· Reference Address

· Reference Contact Name

· Contact’s Position

· Contact’s Telephone Number

· Type of Company/Organization (Industry)

· Number of Employees

· Services Performed

· Sub-contractors used

· Identify any vendor staff that worked on this reference company's project, that are proposed for City

· Original Cost Estimates

· Actual Final Costs

· Comments *Response required

5.4.3. VENDOR CLIENT REFERENCE #3*

Please include the following information:

· Proposing Vendor Name

· Reference Company/Organization Name

· Reference Address

· Reference Contact Name

· Contact’s Position

· Contact’s Telephone Number

· Type of Company/Organization (Industry)

· Number of Employees

· Services Performed

· Sub-contractors used

· Identify any vendor staff that worked on this reference company's project, that are proposed for City

· Original Cost Estimates

· Actual Final Costs

· Comments *Response required

5.5. City Required Forms

5.5.1. NON-COMPETITIVE BID CONTRACT STATEMENT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

· 2025_Non_Comp_Form.pdf *Response required

5.6. Northern Ireland Fair Employment Practices Disclosure

INSTRUCTIONS: Pursuant to Codified Ordinance Sec. 181.36, the information requested on this page must be supplied by all contractors and any subcontractors having more than a fifty percent (50%) interest in the proposed contract prior to any contract being awarded by the City of Cleveland. Any contractor or subcontractor who is deemed to have made a false statement shall be declared to have acted in default of its contract and shall be subject to the remedies for default contained in its contract. For failure to cure such a default, the contractor or subcontractor shall be automatically excluded from bidding for the supply of any goods or services for use by the City for a period of two (2) years.

5.6.1. CHECK WHICHEVER IS APPLICABLE:*

Select all that apply

· The undersigned or any controlling shareholder,* subsidiary, or parent corporation of the undersigned is NOT ENGAGED IN ANY BUSINESS OR TRADING FOR PROFIT IN NORTHERN IRELAND. (if paragraph A. is checked, proceed to the signature line.)

· The undersigned or any controlling shareholder,* subsidiary, or parent corporation IS ENGAGED IN ANY BUSINESS OR TRADING FOR PROFIT IN NORTHERN IRELAND. (if paragraph B. is checked, please either check the stipulation contained in paragraph C. or attach documentation that shows that the undersigned has complied with the stipulation contained in paragraph C.)

· The undersigned and all enterprises identified in paragraph B. are TAKING LAWFUL AND GOOD FAITH STEPS TO ENGAGE IN FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES WHICH ARE RELEVANT TO THE STANDARDS EMBODIED IN THE "MacBRIDE PRINCIPLES FOR FAIR EMPLOYMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND." A copy of the MacBride Principles can be obtained from the Office of the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies. In lieu of checking this paragraph, the undersigned must attach documentation which the undersigned believes shows compliance with the stipulation contained in this paragraph C.

*Response required

5.6.2. By confirming, the proposer affirms that they are in compliant Northern Ireland Fair Employment Practices.*

· Please confirm *Response required image1.jpeg