RFA KONA - 2025000256 - Thrive RFA 2026.docx.pdf

Thrive - ELA RFA FFY26 ONA/CRSP

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

RFA# KONA 2025000256

Applications Due:

Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM local time

Bidnet Link:

Colorado Department of Labor & Employment - Bid Opportunities and RFPs | BidNet

Direct https://www.bidnetdirect.com/private/buyer/solicitations/6178240958 https://www.bidnetdirect.com/private/buyer/solicitations/6178240958

Table of Contents

I. Project Background and Overview 2 A. Introduction 2 B. Background 2 C. Current Status 2

II. Project Budget & Funding Information 3 A. Place of Performance 3 B. Funding Source 3 C. Funding Period 3 D. Funding Amounts 3 E. Funding Provisions 4 F. Budget Requirements 4

III. Program Requirements 5 A. Eligibility 5 B. Required Programs and Service Areas 5

IV. Additional Requirements 10 A. Reporting and Other Requirements 10 B. Reimbursement Requirements 10 C. Definitions 11

V. Selection, Evaluation, & Awards 13 A. Evaluation 14 B. Use of Financial Risk Rating in Evaluation 15

VI. How to Apply 15 A. General Rules 15

2. Required Documents 22

3. Submission Instructions 23

D. Pre-application Conference 25 E. Applicant Submission Documentation 25 F. Tentative Schedule of Activities 25

I. Project Background and Overview

A. Introduction The Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) is the state agency designated by the governor of Colorado under Senate Bill 19-230 and 45 CFR 400.5 to implement the State Plan for effective refugee resettlement within Colorado. CRSP is located in the Office of New Americans (ONA) within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

(CDLE).

CRSP does not offer any direct services but instead works through a constellation of contracts and partners to achieve our goals. Our services and programs support refugees and the larger receiving community working together to build the social capital necessary to sustain a welcoming environment for refugees and build a stronger Colorado for us all.

Mission: To facilitate the integration and inclusion of refugees into Colorado’s civic, economic, and social life.

Vision: All refugees have equitable access to opportunity and well-being.

B. Background CRSP provides state leadership, networking, monitoring, technical assistance, and systems navigation on behalf of individuals eligible for services (ORR-eligible persons1) and the agencies that assist them. CRSP works in partnership with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), counties in which ORR-eligible individuals reside, local nonprofits, and businesses to promote self-sufficiency and integration.

CRSP’s coordinating function is important to note for this RFA as it is CRSP’s responsibility to provide oversight and coordination of public and private resettlement resources. This oversight ensures coordination among refugee service providers, as well as cooperation at a state level for a broad reach of services for refugees.

CRSP disburses funds that can only be used to serve ORR-eligible participants in their first 60 months after gaining an eligible status, with the exception of referral and interpreter services and citizenship and naturalization preparation services, for which there is no time limitation (45 C.F.R. 400.152(b)). CRSP funds programs based on funding availability and community priority.

C. Current Status The Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) is seeking multiple vendors to provide integration programming under the Thrive English Language Acquisition (ELA) Program for individuals and families eligible for services from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). For the purposes of this RFA, we refer to these individuals as “refugees.”

The aims of the CRSP Thrive ELA Program is:

1 Status and Documentation Requirements for the ORR Refugee Resettlement Program. Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children & Families, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/status-and-documentation-requirements-orr-refugee-resettlem ent-program 3/13/2024

pg. 2 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/status-and-documentation-requirements-orr-refugee-resettlement-program https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/status-and-documentation-requirements-orr-refugee-resettlement-program

1. To connect refugees to the full range of community resources available to meet diverse integration needs;

2. To promote economic empowerment and long-term financial stability;

3. To help refugees build social networks within and across communities, reduce social isolation, and strengthen a sense of security and belonging;

4. To facilitate learning and independence alongside refugees and create opportunities for leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement;

5. To support health, wellness, and resilience using culturally appropriate approaches, and

6. To promote the healthy cognitive, social, and emotional development and integration of refugee children and youth through multigenerational services.

All proposed services must align with the following Model Values:

1. family focused,

2. strengths based,

3. research informed,

4. data driven,

5. client centered,

6. trauma informed, and

7. culturally and linguistically fluent.

II. Project Budget & Funding Information A. Place of Performance

Applicant(s) physical place of business within Colorado or at approved remote, hybrid, and mobile work locations.

B. Funding Source Federal funding for Refugee Support Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement in accordance with 45 CFR Part 400, Subpart I2 including 2301CORSS, 2401CIRSSS, 2501CORSS, 2503CORCMA, 2601COTANF, and 90RW0059.

C. Funding Period Federal Fiscal Year 2026, October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, renewable through FFY2030.

D. Funding Amounts Funding amounts range from $250,000 to $2,000,000, depending on funding availability and the range of applications.

2 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/refugees/refugee-support-services

pg. 3 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/refugees/refugee-support-services

E. Funding Provisions

The Thrive ELA Programs is funded by Refugee Support Services from the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The order of priority for support services is:

1. New arrivals in their first year in the U.S.

2. ORR-eligible arrivals who have been in the U.S. for one to five years who demonstrate a clear need for support to integrate and meaningfully participate in their communities.

3. Refugees who are receiving cash assistance

4. Unemployed refugees who are not receiving cash assistance

5. Employed refugees in need of services to retain employment or to attain economic independence.3

F. Budget Requirements Indirect (F&A) Cost Rate:

Indirect costs are those that have been incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot be readily identified with a particular final cost objective or grant account. Indirect costs may be called Facilities and Administration costs (“F&A”) at some agencies.

Indirect costs are usually different from administrative costs. For example, a program employee can be considered administrative and not included in an agency’s indirect costs.

Costs classified as indirect can differ depending upon your organizational structure and accounting practices but some common examples include depreciation on buildings and equipment, operating and maintenance costs of facilities, and general administrative expenses such as the salaries and expenses of executive officers and accounting or legal staff.

If Applicant’s agency/business maintains an indirect or F&A rate and Applicant chooses to include this cost on the application budget, it is expected that the amount budgeted will reflect the agency’s/business’s approved rate. Be prepared to submit the following if utilizing a negotiated indirect cost rate:

1. Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (“NICRA”) – An entity that receives funding directly from the federal government is eligible to recover indirect costs by using a federally negotiated indirect cost rate from their Federal cognizant agency.

Alternatives to a negotiated indirect cost rate:

2. de minimis indirect cost rate - Organizations may elect to charge a 15% de minimis rate of modified total direct costs as defined at 2 CFR 200.68.

NOTE: The de minimis indirect cost rate is only available to organizations that have never had a negotiated indirect cost rate.

3 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/refugees/refugee-support-services

pg. 4 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/refugees/refugee-support-services

3. Direct Charge All Expenses - Organizations may elect to direct charge all allowable expenses on their billings for each contract, grant or award. Billed costs will be subject to field review by the CDLE.

Regardless of the option chosen, CDLE requires all indirect rates to comply with generally accepted accounting principles and be fully supported by actual cost data.

III. Program Requirements This RFA provides prospective Applicants with sufficient information to enable them to prepare and submit an application for consideration.

A. Eligibility

1. Agencies able to serve all populations eligible for services under 45 C.F.R.

400.43,

2. Agencies with at least two years of demonstrated experience serving ORR-eligible or other newcomer populations,

3. Able to demonstrate that they can equitably serve all ORR-eligible populations,

4. Public or private nonprofit or for profit organizations operating in Colorado, including community-based organizations with or without 501(C)(3) status, school districts, and public housing authorities, resettlement agencies etc.,

5. Able to demonstrate experience on previously successfully completed grants/contracts fulfilling all contract requirements, fiscal, programmatic, and data collection and reporting,

6. Able to demonstrate data collection and outcome reporting capabilities that support the goals and purposes of this RFA,

7. Able to demonstrate financial tracking and reporting capabilities necessary to fully meet fiscal requirements of federal funding. Funds can only be used to serve ORR-eligible participants, and

8. Programming targets areas with high numbers of ORR-eligible individuals, including, but not limited to, Metro Denver, Pikes Peak Region, and Weld County.

B. Required Programs and Service Areas The purpose of this RFA is to solicit applications from organizations with experience serving newcomer populations and whose services promote economic, social, and cultural integration.

For general context, it is important for applicants to understand that CRSP administers four programs. These are

1. The Reach Program - services for new arrivals (not included in this RFA)

2. The Thrive Program - services to promote social, economic, cultural, and linguistic integration.

3. The Climb Program - services for children and youth.

pg. 5

4. Family Stabilization Services (FSS) - services for individuals and families in crisis.

This RFA is for the Thrive ELA Program.:

This RFA requires the following Service Areas Thrive English Language Acquisition (ELA) Program

Thrive: Awards likely range from $20,000 - $1,500,000 Applicants applying for the Thrive ELA Program must apply for English Language Acquisition. Other service areas are optional and are not prioritized for funding.

Required Services English Language Acquisition (ELA) programs, which must include one or more of the following options: Career-Readiness ELA, Intensive ELA, and Industry-specific ELA.

See below for a description of each:

A. General Career-Readiness ELA is instruction targeted at preparing participants for suitable, available employment and wage growth opportunities.

a. Career-Readiness ELA Program Requirements instruction targeted at preparing participants for suitable, available employment opportunities and wage growth opportunities

b. Required Services:

i. Research-based curriculum and levels that are aligned with

National Reporting System (NRS) English language level descriptors

ii. Emphasis on English as it relates to obtaining and retaining employment

iii. Initial assessment of English level and enrollment in/referral to appropriately leveled class

iv. Ongoing or periodic measurement of skill gains

v. Open/managed enrollment that is both structured and flexible;

must be able to enroll students weekly

vi. Policies and practices that promote successful program enrollment, retention, skill development, and completion/unenrollment

vii. Clear and streamlined communication procedures with referral partners that result in a 100% referral connection rate (enrollment, referral to other program, or referral back to referring agency)

viii. Individual goal-setting related to English language acquisition

ix. Schedules, navigation support, and policies that promote employment

x. Procedures that keep individuals engaged, reduce barriers to attendance and increase retention

c. Optional Services

i. Digital skill-building and digital access navigation

ii. Programming that offers at least 4 hours of classroom instruction weekly;

iii. Programming that offers in-home tutoring to serve clients for whom a traditional classroom setting is not the best learning

pg. 6 environment;

iv. Programming that provides referrals to supportive services such as career training, scholarships, babysitting, social bridging activities, etc;

v. Programming that utilizes volunteers, refugee student graduates, interns, or mentors to provide additional support in the classroom (or in-home setting);

d. Classes can be in-person, online (virtual), and/or hybrid.

e. The curriculum should focus on career-readiness skills.

f. Clients should be assessed to determine their level, based on NRS level indicators.

g. The curriculum should align with NRS-level indicators.

h. Progress should be measured periodically.

i. Can include activities that promote community integration, such as guest speakers, field trips, or resource fairs.

B. Intensive, short-term ELA classes for unemployed job seekers that increase individuals’ ability to gain employment.

a. Focus on conversational skill building and vocabulary related to early employment and job search skills such as resume writing and interview preparation.

b. Participants enrolled should be recently arrived, and/or unemployed job seekers in need of early employment.

c. Minimum of 6 hours of instruction per week (excluding breaks) of in-person or hybrid classes, which can include individualized coaching or tutoring.

d. Short-term course format (2-12 weeks) with an end date.

e. Specific attendance requirement (example: 75%) for program completion/certificate.

f. Alignment with individual employment plans.

g. Content, curriculum, structure, and supportive resources developed in consultation with partners (resettlement agencies, employers, etc.).

h. May include content specific to industries and/or employers that present viable employment opportunities for refugees.

i. Assessment of English language proficiency levels as defined by National Reporting System (NRS) level indicators.

j. Developed in consultation with other organizations that are working with participants, such as Resettlement Agencies, to align the program with client needs related to employment.

k. Classes should be held primarily in-person and may be held at organizations such as Resettlement Agencies.

l. Can include activities that promote community integration, such as guest speakers, field trips, or resource fairs.

pg. 7

C. Industry-specific (“Career-Aligned” or “Vocational”) ELA

a. Can utilize virtual learning platforms with career-aligned tracks.

b. Alignment with individual employment plans.

D. Other allowable services

Optional Service Areas to Include with Career-Readiness ELA Services listed below are optional for all Thrive applicants.

Career Advancement Services including the following examples of types of allowable services:

a. Services requiring the development of a family self-sufficiency plan and an individual employability plan

i. Individualized job search assistance

ii. Career counseling

iii. Job development

iv. Subsided wage opportunities

v. Career readiness resources and instruction

b. Supplemental employment preparation

i. Connection to training/certification programs

ii. Credential evaluation and recognition services

iii. Scholarship payments

iv. Referral to career readiness resources

c. Workforce Center Liaisons

d. Staff training on career pathway advising

e. Other allowable services

E. Extended Navigation Services including the following:

a. Case management/ resource navigation

b. Public benefits applications/ management

c. Peer navigation

d. Non-crisis medical or mental health navigation

e. Integration education including financial and digital literacy

f. Parent Engagement (e.g. support with enrolling children in school, with parent-teacher meetings, etc.)

g. Other allowable services

F. Housing Services include the following:

a. Housing case management/ resource navigation

b. Homeownership education/ resources

pg. 8

c. Low-income/affordable housing access

d. Eviction prevention

i. Includes emergency rent payments

e. Tenants’ rights education

f. Other allowable services

G. Older Adult Services including the following:

a. Case management/ resource navigation

b. Wellness activities (both physical & mental)

c. Citizenship education

d. Other allowable services

H. Immigration Legal Services including the following:

a. Preparation and filing of immigration-related forms

b. Citizenship and naturalization preparation

c. Direct representation and follow-up services

d. Community outreach & education

e. Other allowable services

I. Mental Wellness Services include the following:

a. Mental wellness programs, such as:

i. Mental Health Education Classes

ii. Mental Health Outreach

iii. Mental Health Navigation

iv. Wellness Groups

b. Services that:

i. Increase community integration

ii. Decrease social isolation

iii. Decrease mental health stigma

c. Other allowable services

pg. 9

J. Transportation

a. Provide and coordinate transportation for school enrollment, medical appointments, and legal appointments for all ORR-eligible individuals per major geographic region (not only enrolled clients).

b. Driver’s education and licensure

c. Transportation business development

d. Other allowable services

IV. Additional Requirements A. Reporting and Other Requirements

All grantees are responsible for meeting the following requirements, in addition to those outlined in the program Statement of Work, Grantee Guidelines, and other related guidance provided by CRSP.

1. Submit accurate and timely semi-annual narrative reports

2. Submit accurate and timely service data reports

3. Submit monthly reimbursement requests/invoices and backup documentation

4. Meet with CRSP Integration and Data staff for regular progress check-ins

5. Attend regular collaborative events, service coordination meetings, and other professional development opportunities as determined by the SOW

6. Complete required training related to CRSP requirements including the Refugee

Services Foundations web-based training curriculum

7. Report critical incidents per CRSP policy

8. Provide interpretation and translation

9. Additional requirements may be negotiated during the Award phase of this RFA.

Additional requirements may be negotiated during the Award phase of this RFA.

B. Reimbursement Requirements This is a cost reimbursement grant. Reimbursements to the Grantee shall be made in accordance with the provisions of §5 of the Grant Agreement and Exhibit A, §SOW for Reimbursement Requests and Payments.

Grantee shall submit monthly reimbursement requests that detail expenses with justification based on the approved budget by the 15th of the month following the month of expenditures. The reimbursement requests should clearly detail the actual approved costs related to the grant incurred during the time since the last reimbursement request was submitted. If there have been no incurred expenses for a given month, then a reimbursement request is not required for that month.

Reimbursement requests must include an expenditure report, typically generated from financial tracking software, to include, where appropriate and relevant: time sheets/timecards, staff/employee time allocation forms, payroll reports from an “official” payroll system or system of record, proof of purchases, itemized receipts, detailed account of all related expenses, related grant project objective & date of expenditure, or

pg. 10 any other documentation that CRSP shall request in its sole discretion. Such supporting documentation shall be considered part of the Grantee Records and shall be kept for the duration of the Record Retention Period §7 and Exhibit A §SOW of this Agreement.

Reimbursement Requests shall be submitted to CRSP for review. If CRSP staff approves the request, it will submit it to the CDLE Controller’s/Finance Office for review, approval, and payment.

C. Definitions

1. Definition of Terms

i. 2Gen: Two-Generation - bringing together parent and child resources addressing the needs of both vulnerable children and parents together. Core components of the intergenerational opportunity cycle include economic support, education, social capital, health, and well-being. Children’s access to quality education and parents’ access to post-secondary education are essential to economic stability for the entire family. At their heart, 2Gen approaches are about a commitment to better outcomes for children and parents at the same time - outcomes that must be measured together. For more information, visit https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/two-generation/what-is-2gen/

ii. Applicant: The organization applying to carry out all the programmatic and strategic requirements of this grant. This organization identifies the fiscal agent, grant administrator, and any public and/or industry partners and subcontractors. This organization may also be the fiscal agent and the grant administrator.

iii. CDHS: Colorado Department of Human Services

iv. Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE): Oversees labor and employment in the State of Colorado, within which theColorado Refugee Services Program is located.

v. Colorado VSS: Colorado Vendor Self-Service is a website where companies and individuals are able to register and maintain vendor (Applicant) account information. Solicitations for goods and services, as well as construction notices for State Agencies and State Institutions of Higher Education, are published on the website.

vi. Community Integration: a dynamic, two-way process in which newcomers and the receiving society work together to build secure, vibrant, and cohesive communities. Core domains include employment, education, housing, health, citizenship and rights, social bonds, social bridges, social links, language and culture knowledge, safety and stability.4

vii. Climb: The portfolio of services funded through CRSP that provide access to educational support, community integration, and healthy social and emotional development to refugee youth and their family through individual or

4 Ager, A., & Strang, A. (2008). Understanding integration: A conceptual framework. J. Refugee Stud., 21, 166.

pg. 11 two-generational (2Gen) approaches. Funding for Climb programs is restricted to youth ages 0-24 years and their household family members.

viii. CRSP: Colorado Refugee Services Program, the state refugee office.

ix. Family Stabilization: For this RFA, primary features of family stabilization include general consistency of family functioning and relationships, which adapt to meet family and individual family member needs across time, and support for healthy development and growth, including mental health. There are no significant or enduring disruptions to ongoing adaptive functioning or the safety of family members.

x. Indirect (F&A Cost Rate): Indirect costs are those that have been incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot be readily identified with a particular final cost objective or grant account. Indirect costs may be called Facilities and Administration costs (F&A) at some agencies. Indirect costs are different from administrative costs in most cases (See Section II, Subsection E: Budget Requirements).

xi. Newcomers: refers to any foreign-born individuals and their families who have recently arrived in the United States.

xii. ORR: Office of Refugee Resettlement, the federal office overseeing refugee resettlement. ORR is located in the Department of Health and Human Services.

xiii. ORR-eligible: For the purpose of this RFA, the term “refugee” may be used in place of “ORR eligible” and is used to describe any person eligible for Office of Refugee Resettlement services under 45 CFR 400.43, which include such populations as refugees, asylees, Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa holders, and Cuban/Haitian parolees. Applicant agencies must be able to serve all populations eligible for services under 45 C.F.R. 400.43.

xiv. Reach: The Reach Program funded by CRSP provides initial resettlement services through the Resettlement Agencies (RAs).

xv. Receiving Community: Longstanding residents of Colorado who form an important part of refugee integration and well-being. They may be native-born individuals or immigrants and they can be encouraged to contribute to integration through volunteering, employing refugees, or simply creating welcoming communities.

xvi. Refugee: For the purpose of this RFA, the term “refugee” refers to an “ORR-eligible individual” who is eligible for Office of Refugee Resettlement services under 45 CFR 400.43, which include such populations as refugees, asylees, Special Immigrant Visa holders, certain Humanitarian Parolees, Victims of Human Trafficking, and Cuban/Haitian parolees. Applicant agencies must be able to serve all populations eligible for services under 45 C.F.R. 400.43.

pg. 12

xvii. Resettlement Agency (RA): A Resettlement Agency (RA) provides resettlement assistance and is initially the sponsor of a refugee entering the United States. The RAs contract with the U.S. Department of State to provide services such as reception, basic orientation, counseling, food, shelter and health services to refugees.

xviii. RFA: This solicitation is a Request for Applications; however for purposes of publishing on the State of Colorado solicitation notification website, the term RFP (see next definition) is used.

xix. RFP: A Request for Proposals is the avenue of publishing this solicitation on Colorado VSS.

xx. Self-sufficiency: Clients are better equipped to address their problems and struggle through connections, problem-solving skills, and interdependence on reliable support and resources as appropriate. Self-sufficiency does not mean the clients are completely independent from assistance within their communities.

xxi. Thrive: The Thrive Program supports employment-focused refugee integration programming that creates opportunities for social bridging and social bonding and follows CRSP values of being family focused, strengths based, research informed, data driven, client centered, trauma informed, and culturally and linguistically fluent.

V. Selection, Evaluation, & Awards

CDLE will conduct a comprehensive, fair, and impartial evaluation of the applications received in response to this solicitation. The objective of the evaluation is to determine the applications that most effectively meet the goals and requirements of this grant. This application will be awarded to the Applicants whose applications, conforming to the solicitation, will be most advantageous to CRSP, CDLE, and the State. Failure of an Applicant to provide any required information and/or failure to follow the response format set forth herein may result in reduced ranking and/or disqualification. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required materials are included.

Applicants should not assume they would have an opportunity for written clarifications or revisions of applications, so they should submit their most favorable application as the initial application. Applicants may be provided an opportunity to respond to written clarifications or an Application Review (AR) as part of the evaluation process.

Determination of the eligibility for the award range will be based on the written applications, so Applicants are cautioned to ensure that their applications adequately convey the soundness of their approach and understanding of the requirements.

A brief overview of the evaluation process follows:

1. Review of all the applications received for compliance with the RFA.

pg. 13

2. Preliminary evaluation or scoring of all applications.

3. Requests for clarification may be made. Any or all Applicants may be asked for such clarification. Such requests may be made at this point in the evaluation process and/or subsequent to an oral presentation (if requested).

4. Final evaluation scoring of all applications.

5. Funding Requests of qualifying Applicants will be evaluated and compared to available funding.

6. Recommendation for award.

Clarifying questions and oral presentations may require revisions to original applications. If so, the Applicant will be given a reasonable timeframe in which to formulate and submit written responses to the questions and to provide any related revisions to their initial application. Such revisions will be at the option of the Applicant but will be limited to the guidelines included within CDLE’s requested clarifications. No additional written materials will be permitted. Adjustments to budget will also be allowed, but only to the extent such revisions are reflected in, and are consistent with, the application revisions.

A. Evaluation An Evaluation Committee has been established to review the merit of the applications received in response to this RFA. Evaluation of applications will be based on all information received, including any clarifications, oral presentations, and any other sources of information deemed appropriate by the Evaluation Committee. The award decision is a business judgment reflecting an integrated assessment of the relative merits of the applications using the factors set forth below in no particular order:

1. Activities

2. Background and Qualifications

3. Evaluation

4. Finance

5. Budget and Budget Narrative

Additional Weight will be added for the following components

a. Community-based organizations led by refugees/immigrants or that demonstrate a staffing model that hires bilingual and/or bicultural staff with lived experience,

b. Organizations demonstrate that they can equitably serve all participants regardless of status through other financial awards,

pg. 14

c. Organizations demonstrate a history of successfully verifying ORR eligibility in their intake process,

d. Organizations that demonstrate the use of peer navigation or mentoring in its navigation, case management, or mentoring programming,

e. Organizations that demonstrate the ability to effectively solicit service user feedback and incorporate that feedback into decision-making to improve future activities,

f. Organizations that have a clear system for closing cases and/or terminating enrollment based on attendance or other factors,

g. Two-generational activities that consider holistic family needs in the course of providing youth services.

h. Organizations that have an appropriate cost per participant as compared with other programs and/or past services,

i. The organization demonstrates a plan to match staff time with volunteers and other matching staff, and

j. Ability to adapt to changing resettlement patterns (including fluctuations in the numbers of newly arriving families, countries/cultures of origin of newly arriving families, patterns of where families relocate after arrival to Colorado, etc. ) and adjust programming based on the current needs of the refugee and receiving communities.

B. Use of Financial Risk Rating in Evaluation

After the final decision to recommend the award and before the final awarded agreement, the financial risk assessment rating determined as high risk from the submitted Risk Assessment Questionnaire or FRMS shall be applied in the form of additional monitoring and technical support to the awarded organization’s Statement of Work.

VI. How to Apply

A. General Rules

The State of Colorado, Department of Labor and Employment seeks Applications in accordance with the specifications in this RFA. Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) Uniform Guidance (Title 2 of C.R.S., subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200) applies to this solicitation and any awards.

Responses must be submitted as specified in this announcement. Applications that fail to follow all of the requirements may not be considered.

CDLE reserves the right to cancel this RFA at any time without penalty.

1. Discrepancies

pg. 15

Should the Applicant find any part of the solicitation to be discrepant, incomplete or otherwise questionable in any respect, the Applicant shall be responsible to call such matters to the attention of CDLE immediately. Failure to do so shall be at the Applicant’s risk.

Amendments and modifications to this solicitation will be official only if published on Colorado VSS and Bidnet. Applicants shall not rely on verbal statements that alter this solicitation.

2. Addendum or Supplement to Request for Application

In the event that it becomes necessary to revise any part of this RFA, an addendum/modification will be published on Colorado VSS and Bidnet. It is incumbent upon an Applicant to carefully and regularly monitor Colorado VSS and Bidnet for any such postings.

3. Valid Application Period

All aspects of an applicant’s application, including budget, will be firm for a period of no less than one year after the opening of the response.

4. Withdrawal of Applications

Applications may be withdrawn by the applicant prior to the established due date and time.

5. RFA Response Material Ownership

CDLE has the right to retain the original application response and other application response materials for its files. As such, CDLE may retain or dispose of all copies as is lawfully deemed appropriate. Application response materials may be reviewed by any person after the "Notice of Intent to Award" has been posted on Colorado VSS, subject to the terms of Section 24-72-201 et seq., C.R.S., as amended, Public (Open) Records. Applicant expressly agrees that CDLE may use the materials for all lawful State purposes, including the right to reproduce and distribute copies of the material submitted for purposes of evaluation, and as part of the resulting grant agreement, and to make the information available to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act.

6. Selection of Applications Notice

Upon review and approval of the Applications and the Evaluation Committee’s recommendation for award, CDLE will issue a “Notice of Intent to Make an Award” via email to all Applicants.

7. Acceptance of Application Content

pg. 16

The contents of the application response (including persons specified to implement the project) of the successful applicant will become binding obligations if an award action ensues.

Failure of the successful Applicant to accept these obligations in a grant agreement, purchase order, or similar authorized acquisition document may result in cancellation of the award.

8. Insurance

Awarded Applicant(s) who are not State of Colorado Agencies or Institutions of Higher Education shall agree to CDLE’s Insurance Requirements (Attachment E, Model Grant Agreement, Section 10 – Insurance).

Awarded Applicant(s) shall provide a copy of a valid proof of insurance coverage (i.e., insurance certificate(s)) within seven (7) business days of the Notice of Award date of the Grant Agreement. Applicants must affirm that they will be able to obtain all insurance requirements and maintain them for the duration of the period of service.

9. Ownership of Grant Agreement Products/Services

Applications, upon established RFA submission deadline, become the property of the State of Colorado. All products and/or services produced in response to the grant agreement resulting from this RFA will be the sole property of the State of Colorado unless otherwise noted in the RFA or grant agreement. The contents of the successful Applicant’s application will become contractual obligations.

10. Incurring Costs

The State is not liable for any cost incurred by the Applicant prior to the issuance of a legally executed grant agreement, purchase order, or other authorized acquisition document. No property interest, of any nature, shall occur until a grant agreement is awarded and executed.

11. Rejection of Applications

CDLE reserves the right: 1) to reject any or all applications; 2) to waive informalities and minor irregularities in applications received as determined by CDLE; and 3) to accept any portion of an application or all items in an application if deemed in the best interest of CDLE. Failure of an applicant to provide any information requested in this RFA (and in the manner or format required in this solicitation) may result in disqualification of the application.

12. Parent Company/Vendor Identification

If an Applicant is owned or controlled by a parent company, the name, main office address, and parent company's tax identification number shall be provided in the application. The tax identification number provided must be that of the

pg. 17 applicant responding to the RFA. The Applicant must be a legal entity with the legal right to contract.

13. External Communications, Outreach, and Logos

External communications and outreach pertaining to this RFA or award are not permitted without prior written approval from CDLE’s Government Policy and Public Relations Office. External communications and outreach include, but are not limited to, news releases, advertising, and marketing materials.

Awarded Applicant’s use of CDLE or project logos is not permitted without prior written approval from CDLE’s Government Policy and Public Relations Office.

14. Past Performance

Each Applicant’s past performance shall be reviewed as part of the State’s overall evaluation. This evaluation will take into account past performance information as a part of such Applicant’s application including but not limited to, information regarding previous State grant performance, predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, and subcontractors performing major or critical aspects of the service(s), if such information is relevant. Applicants without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available will receive a neutral past performance rating.

15. Applicant Agreements

The successful Applicant is required to enter into a formal Grant Agreement (“Agreement”) with CDLE. The Grant Agreement incorporates standard State terms including Special Provisions.

The Model Grant Agreement is linked in Attachment E to this RFA.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek advice from legal counsel regarding such grant exceptions. Applicants should not assume any term or condition in this RFA or in Attachment E links are negotiable.

The Grant Agreement(s) should be signed by all parties within an estimated twenty (20) days of the Grant Award(s) announcement. Awarded Grantee(s) will need to provide appropriate staff and resources to complete tasks by given deadlines. A number of critical activities must occur within the fifteen (15) days, including completion of the Grantee’s specific Statement of Work (“SOW”) (Measurable Outcomes, Budget, & Budget Narrative). Grantees must implement requested edits and provide revised SOW drafts within five (5) business days of receiving feedback from CDLE. Grantee’s failure to meet deadlines may result in a delay in signing grant agreements and beginning grant activities. In the event the parties are unable to enter into a grant agreement, CDLE may elect to cancel the "Notice of Intent to Make an Award" letter and make the award to the next eligible applicant whose application would subsequently have received the award.

pg. 18

16. Pricing

Except as otherwise disclosed in Applicant’s submission of a quote, Applicant certifies that the prices have been arrived at independently without any consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge of the contents of the quote by any other competing Applicant. For purposes of this paragraph, “consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge” does not include knowledge of prices gained through the availability of established price lists or catalogs made available to the public by the competing Applicant. No attempt has been made or will be made by the Applicant to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit an application for the purpose of restricting competition.

All prices and fees contained in application responses, or ARs if conducted, shall be firm for the initial award period of the grant agreement.

17. Remedies

If an Applicant disagrees with the determination of whether that Applicant should have received an award or with a determination of its compliance with the requirements of this RFA, the application will have the following remedies:

i. Federal Program Remedies - if a federal program under which funding is provided for the Grant provides for an appeal process, then CDLE will follow the appeal process provided for by the federal program.

ii. State Award Remedies - if there is no federal appeal process available as described in the prior section, the Applicants may submit their appeal to the CDLE Procurement Official, who shall review the appeal and make a final determination, unless the authority for making this determination is otherwise specified by law. The sole remedy for Applicants shall be potential funding depending on the availability of funding.

iii. Grant Agreement Disputes - if the Applicant has a dispute related to the agreement to which they are a party, then the dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

iv. Contracts - any protest, appeal, or dispute related to a contract shall be resolved in accordance with the Procurement Code.

18. Resident Applicant Preference

Per Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 24-103-906, a resident Applicant may be allowed a preference against a non-resident Applicant equal to the preference given or required by the state in which the non-resident Applicant is a resident.

19. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

The State encourages proposals from Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (“SDVOSB”) and sets a three percent (3%) statewide goal by the

pg. 19 dollar value of all contracts to be awarded to SDVOSB. An interested SDVOSB Applicant should submit, with its application, verification that it is incorporated or organized in Colorado, maintains a place of business, or has an office in Colorado and is officially registered and verified as an SDVOSB by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

https://vetbiz.va.gov/

Applicants who fail to provide SDVOSB documentation in their proposal, or upon request by the State, cannot be considered for a preference. Reference §24-103-905, C.R.S.

20. Minority and Women-Owned Business and Small Business Enterprises

CDLE is dedicated to creating, operating, and maintaining a procurement and contracting system that provides all Colorado individuals and businesses, including minority and/or women-owned enterprises (M/WBE) and small business enterprises, with an equal and fair opportunity to compete for CDLE business. Applicants should take all necessary affirmative steps, as required by 45 CFR 93.36(3), Colorado Executive Orders, and Procurement Rules, to ensure small, minority, and women business enterprises are utilized, when feasible, as sources of supplies, equipment, construction, and services purchased under awarded contract.

In an effort to track levels of participation by women or minorities doing business with the State of Colorado, a Minority and Women-Owned Business Self Certification should be submitted with final proposals to this RFA. The Certification may be found in the Attachments.

21. Non-Discrimination

Applicants shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, executive orders, and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, and sex, including but not limited to:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (P.L. 88-352), 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Unless required by federal law or regulation, employers may not automatically bar Applicants or employees with an arrest or conviction record from employment.

22. Section 508 Compliance

If applicable, all electronic and information technology deliverables under this solicitation shall comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 (d); 36 CFR Part 1194) and the Access Board Standards. Section 508 requires that accessibility for people with disabilities be incorporated into all electronic and information technology developed, procured, and maintained under the resulting solicitation award.

pg. 20 https://www.vip/vetbiz.va.gov/

The solution shall also conform to the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) available at https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ Ability to conform to these standards will be verified through a demonstration by the Applicant. The Applicant should provide a policy, commitment, or mission statement regarding electronic accessibility.

i. State of Colorado Accessibility Statement

ii. C.R.S. 24-85-104, ARTICLE 85. "INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY

IMPAIRED", (PDF)

iii. TS-OEA-001: Technology Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, (PDF)

iv. TS-OEA-002: Technology Accessibility for Web Content and Applications, (PDF)

v. WCAG 2.1 Standards, W3C

vi. Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, section508.gov

If applicable, the successful Applicant must also adhere to the State of Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) Security policies located at:

http://www.oit.state.co.us/ois/policies.

23. Conflict of Interest/Ethics

Applicants must disclose in their application any potential or actual conflict of interest in connection with an application to this RFA. A conflict of interest may include, but is not limited to, access to any nonpublic information by the Applicant regarding the RFA or its subject matter, or by any of the Applicant’s employees, contractors, or agents, including any individual who may have had access to nonpublic information in a prior capacity before entering into a relationship with the Applicant.

Applicants acknowledge that even the appearance of a conflict of interest may be harmful to the State’s interest. Applicants should disclose in their applications whether there currently are, or potentially could be, the appearance of a conflict of interest regarding this RFA, application staff, any proposed subcontractors or partners, and/or any related business with the State.

Requirements set forth in this section are continuing requirements through the solicitation process and, for the awarded Applicant, the contract term, including any extensions. Reference §24-18-201, C.R.S., et. seq. (Proscribed Acts Related to Contracts and Claims); §24-50-507, C.R.S. (Conflict of Interest); §18-8-301, C.R.S., et. seq., (Bribery and Corrupt Influence); §18-8-401, C.R.S., et. seq.

(Abuse of Public Office): §6-4-101, C.R.S., et. seq., (Colorado Antitrust Act of

pg. 21 https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ https://oit.stg.colorado.gov/standards-policies-guides/guide-to-accessible-web-services/state-of-colorado-accessibility https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/information-technology-access-for-blind/article-85/section-24-85-104/ https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/information-technology-access-for-blind/article-85/section-24-85-104/ https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/information-technology-access-for-blind/article-85/section-24-85-104/ https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_ZUv6gW8QZMenFUNlgxQ3dRZ28 https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_ZUv6gW8QZMenFUNlgxQ3dRZ28 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GTMGpJspCagbaVyw0OmMBgl35JgRYw1P/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GTMGpJspCagbaVyw0OmMBgl35JgRYw1P/view?usp=sharing https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ https://www.section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies http://www.oit.state.co.us/ois/policies

1992); §24-109-105, C.R.S. (Debarment and Suspension); and Procurement Rule R-24-101-107-01 (Ethics).

The State reserves the right to determine an Applicant’s responsibility based on factors such as financial, material, personnel resources and expertise, satisfactory record of performance; satisfactory record of integrity; and status of debarment.

Reference §24-103-401, C.R.S.

2. Required Documents

All applications must include the following in this order:

A. Attachment A

CDLE RFA Cover Sheet and Signature Page

B. Attachment B

Financial Risk Assessment Questionnaire

IMPORTANT: A risk rating will be assigned for all Applicants. Colorado

State Agencies and Colorado State Institutions of Higher Education are not required to complete the Financial Risk Assessment Questionnaire.

This form must be completed and submitted by all other Applicants.

Note: if the applicant has submitted a Financial Risk Assessment

Questionnaire within the past 12 months and the applicant has not experienced changes in that time period, the applicant should submit a copy of the questionnaire. If the applicant has experienced changes within the past 12 months the applicant must submit an updated questionnaire. The application may not be reviewed if the completed form is not included. The final application score will be impacted by risk determinations made by CDLE based on information contained in the form. The form and guidance are part of this announcement.

C. Attachment C

List of all Current Active and Expected Grant Awards for FFY26 Funding

Sources

D. Attachment D

Narrative

E. Attachment E

Project Detailed Itemized Budget and Budget Narrative

pg. 22

IMPORTANT: The budget form must explain all expenses included in a narrative format. Applicants are responsible for ensuring the calculations in the budget are accurate.