RFR_DAS Grant Writing and Implementation.pdf

ISSUE DATE:

Purchasing Department Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development / Division of Apprentice Standards

Address 100 Cambridge Street City, State Zip Code Boston, MA 02114 Procurement Contact Person Carol McQuilken Telephone Number 617-626-6529 E-Mail Address Carol.m.mcquilken2@mass.gov RFR Name/Title SAEF Competitive Grant Writing and

Implementation RFR Number BD-25-1043-DAO01-32500-110427 COMMBUYS Bid Number BD-25-1043-DAO01-32500-110427

1. Description or Purpose of Procurement:

EOLWD is seeking a vendor that will apply for the grant (State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula – Competitive grant component) on behalf of EOLWD with payment contingent on EOLWD receiving the grant award. The vendor would then assist with the implementation and management of the grant through a services agreement based on a percentage of the award.

2. Applicable Procurement Law

Check Appropriate

Box (“X”):

Type of Purchase Applicable Laws

Executive Branch Goods and Services

X Goods and Services MGL c. 7, § 22; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801 CMR

21.00

3. Acquisition Method:

Check All Applicable (“X”): Category X Fee-For-Service

4. Whether Single or Multiple Vendors are Required for Contract:

Check One (“X”):

X Single Vendor

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE

SAEF COMPETITIVE GRANT WRITING AND IMPLEMENTATION

RFR # BD-25-1043-DAO01-32500-110427

a. Estimated Number of Awards

The target maximum number of Vendors is ONE. EOLWD may award more or fewer contracts if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth.

5. Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

Check One (“X”): Eligible Entities

X Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Issuing Entity Only.

6. Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

Contract Duration Number of Options Number of Years/Months

Initial Duration 3 YEARS

Renewal Options 3 Options to renew for one year each

3 YEARS

Total Maximum Contract Duration

6 YEARS

7. Anticipated Expenditures, Funding, or Compensation:

The funding for any contract resulting from this procurement is conditioned upon receipt of USDOL State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Competitive Grant funds.

8. Contract Performance and Business Specifications:

Scope of Services:

Bidder will take the lead on all aspects of developing, researching, writing, and project management for MA EOLWD’s planned application for the competitive portion of the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (“SAEF”) grant, expected to be released by the United States Department of Labor (“USDOL”) in early 2025. Should EOLWD not be selected for a competitive grant award by the USDOL in 2025, the bidder will also commit to serving in a similar capacity for the 2026 competitive SAEF grant application cycle.

If awarded a SAEF grant, a contractual agreement between EOLWD and the Bidder will be developed to include more specific deliverables, such as:

• Bidder will provide ongoing technical assistance and guidance to EOLWD, and other partners as needed, to solicit, review, award, and manage sub-grantees in the designated industry sector throughout the registration process.

• Bidder will serve as liaison between appropriate State agencies and relevant partners as well as any USDOL state, regional, and/or federal staff where needed to get programs registered and scaled.

• Bidder will directly support EOLWD by providing additional capacity and expertise related to apprenticeships in the appropriate sector, and will help to produce key project deliverables, resources, and communications artifacts such as: statewide sub-grant application templates, roadshow or webinar materials, and any other communications materials upon request from EOLWD.

• Bidder will provide regular brainstorming, problem solving and check-in sessions to EOLWD for the purpose of monitoring progress, checking on the status of the SAEF grant project and projected outcomes, and to share updates. The frequency and duration of these sessions shall be mutually agreed upon by EOLWD and the Bidder.

• As requested, the Bidder will support EOLWD with drafting all required SAEF grant reports to the USDOL.

Fiscal Terms:

Upon successful award of requested federal SAEF competitive grant funds, and subsequent execution of a contractual agreement between EOLWD and the Bidder, the Bidder shall submit invoices, on at least a quarterly basis, to EOLWD for services rendered. The Bidder shall submit invoices on a mutually agreed upon invoice template. Services provided are subject to all applicable state laws in Massachusetts, as well as the provisions of any resulting agreement(s) or contract(s) generated as a result of successful award of SAEF competitive grant funds to the EOLWD.

9. Evaluation Criteria

Bidders must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFR. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes.

Bidders must demonstrate federal apprenticeship grant-writing expertise and successful track record in one of the priority industries identified in the Division of Apprentice Standards Strategic Plan, which includes healthcare, advanced manufacturing, technology, financial services, education and childcare, insurance, clean energy, or life sciences.

If awarded, Bidders will be evaluated based on the total fee for service amount over the period of performance, expressed either as a flat amount or as a percentage of the award basis, whichever is determined to provide best value to the Commonwealth. Bidder must confirm and agree that no cost reimbursement, preparation fee or any type of compensation whatsoever will be due to the Bidder unless EOLWD is awarded the requested federal SAEF competitive grant.

10. Instructions for Submission of Responses:

Only electronic quotes submitted via COMMBUYS will be accepted in response to this RFR. Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix B.

Any submission that fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFR will be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and may be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

11. Estimated Procurement Calendar

Procurement Activity Date Time: EST

Bid Release Date 12/13/2024 3:00pm

Deadline for Submission of Questions through COMMBUYS “Bid Q&A”

12/19/2024 3:00pm

Official Answers for Bid Q&A published (Estimated)

12/27/2025 3:00pm

Deadline for Quotes/Bid Responses (“Bid Opening Date/Time” in COMMBUYS)

01/15/2025 3:00pm

Oral Presentations for Selected Bidder(s) if requested by EOLWD (Estimated)

Week of 1/20/2025

Notification of Apparent Successful Bidder(s) (Estimated)

01/29/2025

Estimated Contract Start Date 02/10/2025

Bidders are required to monitor COMMBUYS for changes to the procurement calendar for this Bid.

a. Online Questions (Bid Q&A)

Written Questions must be entered using the “Bid Q&A” tab for the Bid in COMMBUYS no later than the “Online Questions Due” date and time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above). The issuing department reserves the right to not respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

It is the responsibility of the prospective Bidder and awarded Contractor to maintain an active registration in COMMBUYS and to keep current the email address of the Bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from EOLWD, including requests for clarification. EOLWD and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s computer, network, or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective Bidder/Awarded contractor and EOLWD to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

Written Responses to Questions will be released on or about the “Responses to Questions Posted Online” date indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

(Written questions and responses will be posted on the Bid Q&A Tab for this Bid in COMMBUYS.)

b. Bid Amendment Deadline

EOLWD reserves the right to make amendments to the Bid after initial publication. It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for amendments, addenda, or modifications to this Bid, and any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid. Neither EOLWD nor Commonwealth accept any responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

c. Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening Date/Time)

See the Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening) Date and Time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

d. Estimated Contract Start Date

This is the approximate start date. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

12. Supplier Diversity Plan (SDP) Plan - MANADATORY (FOR PROCUREMENTS WITH ESTIMATED

ANNUAL VALUES EXCEEDING $250,000)

EOLWD prioritizes diversity equity, inclusion, and accessibility, including supplier diversity. Any award issued as a result of this procurement must conform with EOLWD’s supplier diversity requirements and policies, including the requirements set forth in section 57 of chapter 7 of the General Laws and in Executive Order 599 as applicable. Specifically, after grant award issued pursuant to this bid solicitation (if any), awardees will be required to to make a significant financial commitment to partnering with one or more Supplier Diversity Office-certified or recognized diverse businesses or non-profits. Such commitment shall become an annual contractual requirement.

13. Environmentally Preferable Products

Products and services purchased by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order 515, issued October 27, 2009. Under this Executive Order, Executive Departments are required to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring environmentally preferable products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services perform to satisfactory standards and represent best value, consistent with 801 CMR 21.00. In line with this directive, all Contracts, whether departmental or statewide, must comply with the specifications and guidelines established by OSD and the EPP Program. EPPs are products and services that help to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products. Bid responses must identify how a contractor meets these goals.

https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-515-establishing-an-environmental-purchasing-policy?_ga=2.237660352.1741219494.1633353146-758386467.1632336759

14. Required Forms

Responses to this RFR must contain the following documents:

Check if applicable (“X”)

Form/Document Notes/Instructions (If any)

Commonwealth Terms and Conditions Electronic Submission

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number & Certification (Massachusetts Substitute W-9 Form)

Electronic Submission

Standard Contract Form and Instructions Electronic Submission

Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Electronic Submission

X Authorization for Electronic Funds Transfer Electronic Submission

X Certificate of Unemployment Insurance Electronic Submission

X DOR Certificate of Good Standing Electronic Submission

X Prompt Pay Discount Form Electronic Submission

X Supplier Diversity Plan Form (SDP Plan Commitment) if bid is > $250K

Electronic Submission

The above attachments are available as part of the Bid record on COMMBUYS

(WWW.COMMBUYS.COM).

http://www.commbuys.com/

15. RFR Attachments

Appendix A: Required Specifications https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services

Appendix B: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Appendix C: RFR – Other Specifications

Effective June 15, 2021, for all 1) CTR forms, including the Standard Contract Form, W-9s, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) forms, ISAs, and other CTR-issued documents and forms, or 2) documents related to state finance and within the statutory area of authority or control of CTR (i.e. contracts, payrolls, and related supporting documentation), CTR will accept signatures executed by an authorized signatory in any of the following ways: 1. Traditional “wet signature” (ink on paper); 2. Electronic signature that is either: a. Hand drawn using a mouse or finger if working from a touch screen device; or Page 2 b. An uploaded picture of the signatory’s hand drawn signature 3. Electronic signatures affixed using a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign. If using an electronic signature, the signature must be visible, include the signatory’s name and title, and must be accompanied by a signature date. Please be advised that typed text of a name not generated by a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, even in computer-generated cursive script, or an electronic symbol, are not acceptable forms of electronic signature.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Upon successful award of requested federal SAEF competitive grant funds, and subsequent execution of a contractual agreement between EOLWD and the Bidder, the Bidder shall submit invoices, on at least a quarterly basis, to EOLWD for services rendered