RFA 202511153 Q
14 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Community Workforce Connections Program Fy2026
- Solicitation number
- RFA - 12A - 202511153
- Issued by
- Maine
About this file
This document is a Question and Answer Summary for Request for Applications (RFA) 202511153 issued by the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Services, for the Community Workforce Connections Program Fiscal Year 2026. The RFA seeks qualified nonprofit, community-based organizations to implement peer-based workforce navigation services targeting unemployed and underemployed Mainers, including immigrants, individuals with limited English proficiency, low-income populations, individuals with disabilities, and those with justice involvement. Applicants must submit completed proposals through the Vendor Self Service System by January 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time, with preliminary questions due by January 13, 2026. The anticipated contract period spans March 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, representing a three-year term. The Department intends to award one statewide contract but reserves the right to make multiple or partial awards based on state interests.
Approximately $1.2 million is estimated to be available for Fiscal Year 2026 awards, contingent upon the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund's planned yield, with funding prorated to align with the actual contract term. The final planned yield amount cannot be definitively determined until employer wage data is reported quarterly and finalized. Allowable expenses include personnel costs with fringe benefits, staff training, outreach, partnership development, supplies, travel related to direct service delivery, interpretation and translation services, and technology or facility costs. Applicants must propose substantially similar data collection and reporting systems meeting State OIT security and procurement standards if not using Maine JobLink. Eligible applicants must demonstrate established relationships with underserved populations and proven capacity to deliver workforce services. No specific indirect cost rate is established; applicants may propose allowable indirect costs consistent with federal cost principles or utilize a Federal NICRA issued by the U.S. Department of Labor with proper documentation.
Text of this file
Sheet1
| Question and Answer Summary | |
| Question | Answer |
| Within the RFA under the 'Reporting Requirements' section (Part 2.D.1), can you define "workforce program", especially in reference to 'other workforce programs'? For example, does this include educational institutions? Wrap around support? | For purposes of the Quarterly Performance Standards Data Report (Part 2.D.1), “participating in” the unemployment insurance (UI) program means that an individual has submitted an initial application for Unemployment Insurance benefits through the State of Maine UI system. |
| Within the KPI data outlined for the Quarterly Performance Standards Data Report (Part 2.D.1), what does 'participating in' mean, for the KPI monitoring "number of individuals participating in the unemployment insurance program'? | For purposes of the Reporting Requirements (Part 2.D.1), “workforce programs” refers to publicly funded workforce development programs administered by MDOL or its workforce system partners. This includes: WIOA Adult Program, WIOA Dislocated Worker Program, WIOA Youth Program, Adult Education, Wagner-Peyser Employment Service (i.e. Maine CareerCenter/American Job Center), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG), Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Reentry Employment Opportunities (formerly Reintegration of Ex-Offenders). |
“Other workforce programs” may also include supportive or education programs when they are provided as part of, or in direct support of, an individual’s enrollment and participation in an eligible workforce program, aimed at preparing and connecting individuals to employment.
| Re: MJL (Part 2.D.1), for applicants that may be proposing non MJL data collection/reporting systems, are alternate systems responsible for reporting only data outlined in the KPIs Or are alternate systems expected to report all data captured in MJL? | Per Part 2.D1, “To accurately track outcomes, including successful linkage to workforce programs and resources to support sustainable employment, MDOL will provide selected applicants with technical assistance in leveraging BES’s case management system, Maine JobLink (MJL). MJL will capture PII of individuals served, as well as program enrollment and employment outcomes information. If an applicant does not use MJL, they must propose and provide a substantially similar data collection and reporting system that meets or exceeds State OIT security and procurement standards. Any proposed system will be subject to MDOL review and approval to ensure compliance with these requirements prior to implementation.” |
| Within the RFA under 'Required Activities' (Part 2.A.B) can you define or provide examples of what you mean by 'proactively identify and engage', described in activity B? | For purposes of Required Activities (Part II.A.b), “proactively identify and engage” means taking intentional actions to connect with unemployed and underemployed individuals, rather than relying solely on passive methods of communication. This includes meeting individuals where they are and engaging them through trusted community organizations and peer navigators that already have established relationships with the populations described in Part I.C.1. |
Passive outreach methods alone (such as posting information on social media or websites without direct engagement or follow-up) would not, by themselves, meet the expectation of proactive identification and engagement for this deliverable.
Within the RFA, in the description of 'Allowable Expenses' (Part 2.C), can you define 'partnership development costs' and/or provide any examples? For purposes of Part II.C (Allowable Expenses), “partnership development costs” refer to costs like ensuring plain language and accessibility for grant activities, related conference and meeting fees/travel expenses, legal fees for partnership development, etc.
Partnership development costs do not include seed capital, start-up funding for partner organizations, capital investments, or financial assistance intended to launch new organizations or programs. All partnership development expenses must be directly tied to the goals and activities outlined in the RFA and be allowable under applicable state and federal requirements.
| The current estimated RFA amount for 2026 is listed as $1.2 million. Given that the initial awarded contract would run from March 1st - December 31st, will 2026 be pro-rated, or is the $1.2 million figure available for March - December, 2026? | Per Part D in the RFA, the anticipated contract period is March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. Funding will be prorated to align with the actual contract term and subject to final fund availability. |
| Under "Part 1: Eligibility" of the application, it states that applicants must provide documentation demonstrating their eligibility, based on Part 1 of the RFA. What kind of proof would be sufficient to demonstrate this? (Prior awards? reports?) | To demonstrate eligibility under Part I.C of the RFA Application, applicants must provide detailed responses to Parts 2 and 3 of the application. |
| Within the application, Part 2 asks for descriptions of 3 projects that show skills & qualifications. Where it says "Client Name" and "Client Contact Person", are these asking for separate client stories/examples, or projects? | Part 2 is requesting descriptions of projects, not individual client stories. The fields labeled “Client Name” and “Client Contact Person” should refer to the funder, contracting entity, or organization for whom (or with whom) the project was performed (e.g., a state agency, municipality, foundation, or workforce partner), along with an appropriate contact person who can verify the work if needed. |
| Within the RFA it mentions that the final planned yield amount (and thus the amount to be available through this RFA) has yet to be definitively determined. Do you know when this will be finalized? | The final planned yield amount for the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund (CSSF), and therefore the final amount available through this RFA, cannot be definitively determined at this time. |
The planned yield is calculated based on a statutory formula tied to employer wage data.
Because employer wages are reported quarterly and finalized only after reports are filed and processed, taxable wage data is not known in real time and must be estimated throughout the year. As noted in the RFA, for Fiscal Year 2026, the Department currently estimates that approximately $1.2 million will be available, but final award amounts are contingent upon the actual planned yield of the CSSF for the program year.
| Beyond the requirement to submit in Self-Service Vendor (VSS), are there specific guidelines for the length & structure of the proposal? a. Format: font, margins, etc. b. Length: word count/character count | |
| c. Requirements for appendices/attachments | For this RFA, ME DOL will not impose strict formatting or length requirements for proposals. Recommended word counts provided throughout the application are guidance only, not requirements. |
| The ME DOL estimates that "approx. $1.2MM will be available to support awards..." |
a. When will the estimate be confirmed?
b. What are the trailing 3 fiscal year funding amounts for the CSSF? The planned yield is calculated based on a statutory formula tied to employer wage data.
Because employer wages are reported quarterly and finalized only after reports are filed and processed, taxable wage data is not known in real time and must be estimated throughout the year. As noted in the RFA, for Fiscal Year 2026, the Department currently estimates that approximately $1.2 million will be available, but final award amounts are contingent upon the actual planned yield of the CSSF for the program year.
a. The final planned yield amount for the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund (CSSF), and therefore the final amount available through this RFA, cannot be definitively determined at this time.
b. Due to recent rate increases to CSSF, amounts from prior fiscal years are not reliable predictors of future availability.
| Please provide any specifics on ME DOL expectations for persons to be served in the initial contract period of 10 months. | ME DOL does not prescribe a required minimum or maximum number of individuals to be served during the initial 10-month contract period. Proposals are evaluated on the reasonableness, feasibility, and credibility of the approach, rather than on high participant counts. | |
| Is there a specific format for the budget and budget narrative? | ||
| a. Can a budget template from another Maine Department, like the Maine Department of Agriculture, be used? | Please provide the budget in the provided “table 1” as well as details as applicable for table 2 and 3 to your project on pg 12, part V. There is no specific template for the narrative. Supplemental information can be provided. | |
| Can ME DOL provide guidance on indirect cost requirements? |
a. Does the MDOL have a standard for indirect rate?
b. Can an agency utilize a US DOL Federal NICRA with proper documentation of proof of US DOL NICRA? a. Does MDOL have a standard indirect cost rate?
No. MDOL does not have an established or standard indirect cost rate.
Applicants are responsible for proposing an allowable indirect cost approach consistent with federal cost principles and the solicitation instructions.
b. Can an agency use a U.S. DOL Federal NICRA?
Per Page 12, Part 5 – Budget: Yes. An agency may use a Federal NICRA issued by the U.S. Department of Labor
Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFA 202511153 Community Workforce Connection.docx | DOCX document | |
| RFA 202511153 Community Workforce Connection.docx | DOCX document |
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