_State Led Refugee Resettlement & Integration Community Capacity Assessment (RRICCA) (RFP) KONA 2026000194 (3).pdf

State Led Refugee Resettlement & Integration

Community Capacity Assessment (RRICCA)

(RFP) KONA 2026000194

Responses due on (Friday, April, 24th, 2026 at

11:59pm, local time)

Responses must be uploaded to the appropriate

Bidnet posting https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/coloradodepartmentoflaboremployment

I. Introduction

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is used for the State of Colorado (State) by and through the Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Procurement and Contract

Services Unit (PCS) for the benefit of the Office of New Americans(ONA) as well as any other CDLE Divisions or State Departments for which a need may be discovered.

PCS is posting this RFP on Colorado Vendor Self-Service (VSS) in order that

Respondents who have an interest may submit a proposal in accordance with the terms of this solicitation. Though not a requirement, Respondents are encouraged to become a member of VSS prior to the submission deadline. Solicitations for most

Colorado State Agencies (Agencies), including CDLE, are posted on VSS. The URL for

VSS is: www.colorado.gov/vss. The VSS Help Desk, 303-866-6464 or

VSSHelp@state.co.us, is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time.

Solicitation details posted on VSS by Agencies for goods, services, and construction are public and do not require registration to view. Should a company opt to register with VSS, it may elect to receive automatic notification in categories of interest.

Additionally, there is no cost to register on VSS. However, per Procurement Rule

24-102-202.5-04, Respondents need not be registered with VSS in order to be deemed responsive to this RFP.

In an effort to expand the potential pool of Respondents to this RFP thus providing the best value for the State, PCS also utilizes additional methods of advertisement. As such, PCS will make this RFP available to companies outside of the VSS platform.

PCS is also posting this RFP on Bidnet. Respondents do not need to register on Bidnet or pay funds to access the solicitation. In the event CDLE RFP documents are too large to upload to VSS, a note on the posting will be made and those documents will be available on Bidnet.

Respondents are expected to familiarize themselves with the proposed project’s details. Any person, firm, entity, joint venture, or corporation desiring to submit a proposal should examine this RFP and shall judge for themselves all the circumstances and conditions affecting their proposal. Failure on the part of any Respondent to make such thorough examination or to investigate thoroughly the conditions of the proposal will not be grounds for a declaration the successful proposer did not understand the RFP. Should a Respondent find a discrepancy or omission in this RFP, https://prd.co.cgiadvantage.com/PRDVSS1X1/Advantage4 http://www.colorado.gov/vss or should a Respondent be in doubt as to the meaning of any provision of this RFP, the

Respondent should promptly notify PCS, and any necessary clarifications or addenda will be provided in writing. CDLE will not be responsible for any oral instructions or interpretations given by or to anyone.

This RFP encompasses the following attachments:

● Attachment A - Signature Page

● Attachment B - Statement of Work

● Attachment C - Response Proposal Requirements

● Attachment D - Sample Contract

● Attachment E - Contract Certification Form

● Attachment F - Work Outside State/U.S.

● Attachment G - Conflict of Interest Disclosure

● Attachment H - Confidentiality Requests

● Attachment I - M/WBE Self Certification Form

● Attachment J - Proposal Checklist

II. Project Synopsis

On behalf of the State of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Labor and

Employment (CDLE), Office of New Americans (ONA) is issuing this Request for

Proposals for a State-Led Refugee Resettlement & Integration Community Capacity

Assessment (RRICCA).

III. RFP Process

A. RFP Modifications

CDLE reserves the right to terminate, suspend, modify the selection process, reject any or all submittals, modify the terms and conditions of this selection process, and/or waive any informalities, irregularities, or omissions in any submittals, as the

State’s best interests may appear.

B.Tentative Schedule of Events

This schedule contains tentative dates for this procurement and may be subject to change. ONA reserves the right to conduct oral presentations and/or site visits and/or interviews and/or demonstrations should the need arise.

Activity Date Location

RFP Published 03/25/2026 VSS & Bidnet

Pre-Proposal Meeting 04/02/2026 1:00 pm (MST) Virtual Google Meet

Q & A Period Deadline 04/09/2026 3:00 pm Email

Answers Posted 04/10/2026 5:00 pm VSS & Bidnet

RFP Submission Deadline 04/24/2026 11:59 pm Bidnet

Oral Presentation/Site

Visits, etc. if applicable

Month of May, 2026 Virtual Environment as

Approved by CDLE

Best & Final Offers Month of May, 2026 Email

Notice of Award Month of May, 2026 Email

Contract Signing Month of June, 2026 Docusign

Contract Period One (1) Year with Four (4)

Option Years.

N/A

C.Question & Answer Period

This RFP provides Respondents with sufficient information to enable the preparation of a proposal sufficient to be submitted for consideration to satisfy the project goals listed herein. However, Respondents are encouraged to ask questions and request clarification of any part of this document. Failure to clarify information does not constitute justification for an RFP protest if the Respondent knew or should have known of the confusion prior to the end of the question and answer period. It will be presumed Respondent, before submitting a proposal, closely reviewed the RFP, all exhibits and attachments, any modifications and/or addendums, and other items relevant to the RFP.

During the question and answer period, Respondents may email PCS with any questions and/or requests for clarification concerning this RFP. The question and answer period begins on the date of this RFP’s publication and ends on the question and answer period deadline, as listed in the tentative schedule above. No inquiries will be accepted after the date and time indicated as the question and answer period deadline. Email timestamps will be used to determine timeliness.

Email all inquiries to: Joel Knotts at Joel.knotts@state.co.us. Use this RFP’s number, as listed on the cover page, in the subject line.

Answers to Respondents’ questions are scheduled to be published as a modification to the RFP on VSS on the date listed in the tentative schedule above.

No other interactions in regard to this RFP shall occur with ONA, CDLE, Agencies, and/or State employees, agents, and/or assignees. Failure to abide by this rule may result in disqualification from the RFP process and complete rejection of any submitted proposals.

D. Pre-Proposal Conference

Respondents are encouraged to attend a pre-proposal conference which shall take place on Thursday, April 2 at 1:00-1:50 pm MST, local time. Respondent(s) may join via Google Meet at this link:

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/sgc-shkq-fdk

Vendors may also join via the phone:

Or dial: (US) +1 540-603-1829 PIN: 337 782 411#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/sgc-shkq-fdk?pin=9062862085805

The pre-proposal conference is not mandatory; however, Respondents will be responsible for all information provided at the meeting. The pre-proposal conference will be an opportunity for Respondents to ask questions to clarify services requested in this RFP and receive immediate answers from CDLE subject-matter experts.

Questions and answers provided at the pre-proposal conference will not be made available afterward. The conference is projected to last 1 (one) hour. Any substantial clarifications resulting from the conference shall be posted on VSS within two (2) business days of the meeting.

If you need ADA accommodations, please contact Joel.knotts@state.co.us 48 hours before the Pre-proposal Conference.

E.Oral Presentations/Site

Visits/Demonstrations/Interviews

Respondents may be asked to prepare an oral presentation or to make their facilities available for a site visit by the evaluation committee. Respondents may also be asked to provide a demo of their proposed solution or interview in front of the evaluation committee. Such events will be at the Respondent’s expense. The dates for these potential events are listed in the tentative schedule herein. Evaluation Committee members have the right to modify a Respondent’s proposal evaluation based on clarifications provided at the relevant event.

mailto:Joel.knotts@state.co.us

F.Addendum or Supplement to Request for

Proposal

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

G. Process for Responding

Proposals must be received on or before the date and time indicated in the tentative schedule listed herein. Proposals should be formatted and submitted as described herein. Late proposals will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of the

Respondent to ensure the proposal is received by PCS on or before the proposal submission date and time. Proposal responses determined to be at a variance with any requirement as stated herein may not be accepted.

1. Bidnet Instructions

In the spirit of continuous improvement and cost management, CDLE has joined the

Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System. The Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System

(BidNet®) is an online notification system that is being utilized by multiple governmental entities. Participating entities post their bids, quotes, proposals, addendums, and awards on this one centralized system. Review bids or register today by visiting the link below:

Vendor registration is FREE; however, vendors may elect to receive automatic e-mail notification of all open solicitations matching their vendor profile for an annual fee. If a vendor does not select the upgraded option, it is the responsibility of the vendor to monitor the website regularly in order to be aware of business opportunities and review changes or addendums to bids, quotes, and proposals. Vendors who upgrade to receive email notifications will receive opportunities matching their business goods/services provided automatically.

For help registering or questions about the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System, please contact IPT by BidNet at 800.835.4603 to speak with the Vendor Support Team.

2. Format of Submission

Proposals should be submitted in text-searchable PDF format and meet the Governor’s

Office of Information Technology Accessibility requirements located here:

https://oit.colorado.gov/accessibility-law

A complete list of required and as applicable documents may be found in the

Attachment K herein. Any page limitations on each required or as applicable document may be found there.

3. Proposal Contents

Proposals should consist of the items contained in the Proposal Checklist found on

Attachment K herein. Naming conventions for the PDF tabs and/or individual PDF documents should be as follows:

RESPONDENT NAME_DOCUMENT TITLE_RFP NUMBER

H. No Multiple Proposal Responses

Respondents may submit only one (1) proposal in response to this RFP. In addition, Respondents should propose a solution that addresses all components in this RFP.

Incomplete or additional submissions may be rejected.

I.Valid Proposal Period

All aspects of a submitted proposal to this RFP, including pricing, will be firm for a period of no less than three hundred sixty-five (365) calendar days after the RFP submission deadline. Estimated proposal prices are not acceptable.

J.Modification or Withdrawal of Proposals

Respondents may modify or withdraw a submitted proposal at any time prior to the

RFP submission deadline. To do so, Respondents should email PCS at the address found herein with the intent to modify or withdraw the submission and the RFP number found on the cover page clearly stated in the email subject line.

K.Confidential/Proprietary Information

Any proposed restrictions on the use or inspection of material contained within a proposal response must be clearly stated in the proposal response. Respondents may request PCS consider confidential or proprietary information through the following steps:

https://oit.colorado.gov/accessibility-law

Step 1. The Respondent, with its proposal, shall submit written requests for confidentiality. The Respondent must provide a justification and state specifically what elements of the proposal are to be considered confidential/proprietary. A sample form may be found in the Attachments.

Step 2. Confidential/proprietary information must be readily identified, marked, and listed on the request form.

Step 3. The Purchasing Director will make a written determination as to the apparent validity of any written request for confidentiality. Neither a proposal in its entirety, nor proposal price information will be considered confidential and proprietary. Any information that will be included in a resulting contract cannot be considered confidential.

Step 4. In the event PCS does not concur with the Respondent’s request for confidentiality, the written determination will be sent to the

Respondent. Ref. Section 24-72-201 et. seq., C.R.S., as amended, Public

(open) Records.

Step 5. If the Respondent does not agree with the Purchasing Director’s determination and the parties cannot come to an agreement, the

Respondent may a) resubmit the proposal without the confidential information included, b) withdraw the proposal, or c) file a protest.

See the protest section herein for more information regarding protest rights.

L.Acceptance of RFP Terms

A proposal submitted in response to this RFP will constitute a binding offer.

Acknowledgment of this condition shall be indicated by the autographic signature of the Respondent or an officer of the Respondent legally authorized to execute contractual obligations. A submission in response to this RFP acknowledges acceptance by the Respondent of all terms and conditions, including compensation and the State contract template language, as set forth herein. A Respondent should clearly and thoroughly identify any variation between its proposal and the RFP requirements. Failure to do so shall be deemed a waiver of any rights to subsequently modify the terms of performance, except as outlined or specified in the RFP. A completed Contract Certification form, found in the Attachments, must be submitted with the RFP response.

The contents of the proposal response, including persons specified to implement the project, of the successful Respondent will become contractual obligations. Failure of the successful Respondent to accept these obligations in a contract, purchase order, or similar authorized commitment document may result in cancellation of the award.

M. Rejection of Proposals

PCS reserves the right to 1) to reject any or all proposals; 2) to waive informalities and minor irregularities in proposals received as determined by PCS; and 3) to accept any portion of a proposal or all items in a proposal if deemed in the best interest of

CDLE. Failure of a Respondent to provide any information requested in this RFP and in the manner or format required in this solicitation may result in disqualification of the proposal.

N. Best and Final Offers

PCS reserves the right to request Best and Final Offers “(BAFO”s) for this solicitation.

Evaluation Committee members have the right to modify a Respondent’s evaluation based on information provided in a BAFO. BAFOs may be considered in determining the apparent successful Respondent(s).

O. Proposal Pricing

All prices and fees contained in proposal responses, or BAFOs if conducted, shall be firm for the term of any resulting contract.

P.Proposal Evaluation

PCS will conduct a comprehensive, fair and impartial evaluation of the submissions received in response to this RFP. The objective of the evaluation is to determine the proposal that most effectively meets the Office of New Americans(ONA) goals and requirements as stated in this RFP. The contract(s) for this project will be awarded to the Respondent(s) whose proposal(s) will be most advantageous to CDLE and the State as a whole.

An Evaluation Committee will be established to judge the merit of proposals received in response to this RFP. The award decision is a business judgment reflecting an integrated assessment of the relative merits of the proposals using the factors set forth below in no particular order:

Category Description

Demonstrated Experience and Capabilities Committee will evaluate based on the offeror's

Demonstrated Experience and Capabilities response to

Attachment C

Cost Proposal Committee will evaluate cost based on what is most advantageous to the State

Requirements and

Technical Proposal

Committee will evaluate based on the offeror's technical response to Attachment C

Once the Evaluation Committee has narrowed their decision based on the initial submissions, they may request clarifications and/or updates during oral presentations, site visits, interviews, demonstrations, and/or BAFOs. The Respondent(s) with the proposal(s) deemed most advantageous to the State will be selected for recommendation of award. The selected Respondent(s) will receive a “Notice of

Intent to Make an Award.”

A brief overview of the evaluation process follows:

● Review of all proposals received for compliance with the requirements of this

RFP.

● Review of all confidentiality requests and written determinations.

● Preliminary evaluations of all proposals.

● Requests for clarification, if necessary.

● Oral presentations, demonstrations, interviews, and/or site visits, if applicable.

● BAFO requests, if necessary.

● Final evaluations.

● Recommendation for award.

Q. Selection of Proposal Notice

Upon review and approval of the Evaluation Committee’s recommendation for award, PCS will issue a “Notice of Intent to Make an Award” or “Notice of Intent to Not

Award” via email to all Respondent(s).

R.Award of Contract

Following a “Notice of Intent to Make an Award,” A commitment document must be finalized by all parties concerned by the date specified in the Notice. In the event the parties are unable to enter into a commitment document, PCS may elect to cancel the "Notice of Intent to Make an Award" letter and award the Respondent(s) whose proposal(s) scored the next highest.

S.Protested Solicitations and Awards

An aggrieved party in connection with this solicitation may file a written protest in accordance with C.R.S. 24-109-102 within ten (10) business days of when the aggrieved party knows or should have known of the facts giving rise to the grievance.

Written protests shall be mailed to:

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Procurement and Contract Services Unit

Attn: Procurement Official - Protest

633 17th Street

Suite 1120

Denver, CO 80202

Written protests may also be emailed to: reneerita.kennedy@state.co.us.

IV. Information and Requirements

A. External Communications, Outreach, and Logos

External communications and outreach pertaining to this RFP 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.

Use of CDLE or project logos are not permitted without prior written approval from

CDLE’s Government Policy and Public Relations Office.

B.Incurring Costs

The State is not liable for any cost incurred by Respondents prior to issuance of a legally executed contract, purchase order, or other authorized commitment mailto:reneerita.kennedy@state.co.us document. No property interest, of any nature, shall occur until a contract is awarded and executed.

C.Taxes

State, as purchaser, is exempt from all federal excise taxes under Chapter 32 of the

Internal Revenue Code (Registration No. 84-7301123K) and from all state and local government use taxes (C.R.S. 39-26-704). The Colorado State and Local Sales Tax

Exemption Number is 98-01159-000. Respondent is hereby notified that materials are purchased in certain political subdivisions (for example in the City of Denver) the

Respondent may be required to pay sales tax even though the ultimate product or service is provided to the State. This sales tax will not be reimbursed by the State

D. Prime Contractor

CDLE will consider the selected Respondent(s) to be the sole point of contact with regard to contractual matters including the performance of services and the payment of any and all charges. Subcontractor specifics must be disclosed at time of proposal response within the proposal; e.g. name, location, breakdown of the Subcontractor’s activities under the proposal.

E.Parent Company/Vendor Identification

If a Respondent is owned or controlled by a parent company, the name, main office address and parent company's tax identification number should be provided in the proposal. The tax identification number provided must be that of the Respondent submitting a proposal to the RFP. The Respondent must be a legal entity with the legal right to contract. All applicable W-9s must be provided with the RFP proposals.

F.Reciprocal Preference

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

G. Doing Business in Colorado

In order to do business in Colorado, the Colorado Secretary of State requires entities to register in accordance with C.R.S. 7-71-101, and obtain and maintain a rating of

“good standing” status throughout the term of an awarded contract.

http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/businessHome.html. Respondents must register before contract execution, but do not need to register before submitting a proposal

H. Contract Performance Outside the United States or Colorado

In part, Colorado Revised Statute 24-102-206 states: (1) Prior to contracting or as a requirement for the solicitation of any contract from the state for services, as appropriate, any prospective vendor should disclose in a statement of work where services will be performed under the contract, including any subcontracts, and whether any services under the contract or any subcontracts are anticipated to be performed outside the United States or the state. If the prospective vendor anticipates services under the contract or any subcontracts will be performed outside the United States or the state, the vendor should provide in its statement of work a provision setting forth why it is necessary or advantageous to go outside the United

States or the state to perform the contract or any subcontracts. In lieu of providing this required information in a detailed statement-of-work, offerors may utilize the form included in the Attachments. At the conclusion of Vendor’s performance, Vendor will be required to submit actual figures detailing the extent to which services, including those of subcontractors, were performed outside the United States or the state.

I.Conflict of Interest

Respondents are required to include in their proposal a section regarding Conflicts of

Interest. Respondents shall state whether there currently are, or potentially could be, organizational or other conflicts-of-interest regarding this solicitation, their proposal, their staff or their proposed subcontractors, any related business with the State, or with CDLE employees. The conflict of interest form may be found in the Attachments.

PCS reserves the right to make a non-responsive determination on a Respondent’s proposal or cancel the award if there is a conflict, a perceived conflict, or if a conflict or appearance is disclosed from any other source.

During the term of the contract, the selected Respondent will not enter into any third party relationship that creates a conflict of interest or creates the appearance of a conflict of interest.

http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/businessHome.html

J.Security Clearance Background Checks on

Employees and Subcontractors

1. Criminal Background Checks (private entities)

The successful Respondent should ensure all employees and subcontractor’s employees have passed comprehensive criminal background checks prior to performing work under this contract. In the State’s sole discretion, the State may require certain employee(s) submit to a State criminal background check, at the

State’s cost. The Successful Respondent shall immediately remove from this project any employees or subcontractors that do not meet the minimum standards of a criminal background check, whether conducted by the employer or the State. All information collected by the State regarding the successful Respondents employee(s) shall be deemed confidential.

2. Criminal Background Checks (governmental entities)

Successful Respondent shall ensure all employees and subcontractor’s employees have passed comprehensive criminal background checks prior to performing work under this contract.

K.Security Policy

If applicable, the successful Respondent must 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.

L.RFP Response Material Ownership

CDLE has the right to retain the original proposal response and other proposal response materials for its files. As such, CDLE may retain or dispose of all copies as is lawfully deemed appropriate. Proposal response materials may be reviewed by any person after the "Notice of Intent to Award" has been posted on VSS, subject to the terms of Section 24-72-201 et seq., C.R.S., as amended, Public (Open) Records.

CDLE has the right to use any or all information/material presented in reply to the

RFP, subject to limitations outlined in the paragraph, Confidential/Proprietary

Information herein. Respondent expressly agrees 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 contract, and to make the information available to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act.

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

M. Certification of Independent Price

Determination

Except as otherwise disclosed with particularity, through its submission of a proposal, the Respondent certifies the prices and other terms in the offer have been arrived at independently without any consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge of the contents of the offer by any other competing Respondent. For purposes of this paragraph, "consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge" does not include knowledge of prices or terms gained through availability of established price lists or catalogues made available to the public by the competing

Respondent. No attempt has been made or will be made by the Respondent to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a proposal for the purpose of restricting competition.

N. Ownership of Contract Products/Services

Upon the established RFP close date, submissions become the property of the State.

All products and/or services produced in response to the contract resulting from this

RFP will be the sole property of the State, unless otherwise noted in the RFP or contract. The contents of the successful Respondent’s proposal will become contractual obligations.

O. Standard Contract

The successful Respondent is required to enter into a formal commitment document with CDLE. Any commitment document resulting from this RFP will incorporate standard State contract terms, including Special Provisions or Purchase Order Terms &

Conditions, if applicable. These terms are included in the Sample Agreement included in the Attachments. The Sample Agreement indicates notes to the

Respondent(s) related to items that are non-negotiable by CDLE. Respondent(s) should NOT submit proposals if they are unwilling to agree to the CDLE Sample

Agreement non-negotiable terms and conditions.

Respondents must clearly identify any exceptions to the terms and conditions described in this RFP and provide justification and alternative language on

Attachment form as part of the proposal response. Failure to provide this information will result in CDLE’s assumption that Respondent(s) agree to all language as provided in the Sample Agreement.

Respondents are strongly encouraged to seek advice from legal counsel regarding such contractual exceptions. Respondents should not assume any term or condition in this

RFP is negotiable. In the event the parties are unable to negotiate terms that are fully satisfactory to CDLE within a reasonable period of time, at CDLE’s sole discretion, CDLE may elect to enter into negotiations with another vendor within the competitive range.

If a “Notice of Intent to Make an Award” has been issued and the parties are unable to enter into a contract that is fully satisfactory to CDLE within a reasonable period of time, at CDLE’s sole discretion, CDLE may elect to cancel the “Notice of Intent to

Make an Award” and commence contract negotiations with another vendor within the competitive range. All negotiated contracts are subject to required State approvals.

P.Insurance

Awarded Respondent should agree to CDLE’s Insurance Requirements found in the

Sample Agreement included in the Attachments and provide a copy of a valid insurance certificate prior to commencement of any work or services.

Q. Non-Discrimination

Respondents shall comply with all applicable federal, state, 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.

R.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 is incorporated into all electronic and information technology developed, procured and maintained under the resulting solicitation award.

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 vendor. The vendor shall provide a policy, commitment, or mission statement regarding electronic accessibility.

https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/

● State of Colorado Accessibility Statement

● C.R.S. 24-85-104, ARTICLE 85. "INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOR

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED", (PDF)

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

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

● WCAG 2.1 Standards, W3C

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

S.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. Respondents 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 RFP. The Certification may be found in the Attachments.

T.Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 24-103-905 allows for a preference to

Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). To qualify for this preference, a SDVOSB should submit documentation of SDVOSB certification issued through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with their offer. Any SDVOSB certification submitted shall be verified by CDLE.

U. Apprenticeship

Pursuant to Executive Order D 2023 016 Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning for the State Workforce and Promoting Work-Based Learning as a Solution for Colorado

Employers, the State encourages Respondent(s) to build new or expand existing apprenticeship and other work-based learning programs to create more employment and career opportunities across the State.

https://oit.stg.colorado.gov/standards-policies-guides/guide-to-accessible-web-services/state-of-colorado-accessibility https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/2000a_sl_315.pdf https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/2000a_sl_315.pdf https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_ZUv6gW8QZMenFUNlgxQ3dRZ28 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GTMGpJspCagbaVyw0OmMBgl35JgRYw1P/view?usp=sharing https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ https://www.section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies

V.Attachment A, Signature Page

This form must accompany all responses. A person legally authorized to bind the company must sign.

RFP Title:

RFP Number:

Company Tax ID Number (FEIN):

Company DUNS Number:

Company Legal Name (per W-9):

Company DBA, if applicable:

Company Address:

Contact Name:

Contact Phone:

Contact Fax:

Contact Email:

Should this RFP be modified, Bidder shall indicate review of all modifications as published on VSS.

Our Company acknowledges receipt of the (RFP Title and #) Modification

Numbers (List all applicable numbers):

Signature of legally authorized representative ________________________________

Printed Name __________________________________________________________

Title _____________________________________________ Date ________________

Parent Company - A vendor, owned or controlled by a parent company must provide the name, main office address, and tax identification number of that company on a copy of this form. The tax identification number provided must be that of the vendor’s parent company who will be legally responsible for performing services under any commitment document resulting from this DQ.

THIS FORM MUST ACCOMPANY ALL PROPOSALS. A PERSON LEGALLY AUTHORIZED

TO BIND THE COMPANY MUST SIGN.

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT B - STATEMENT OF WORK

I. General Information

On behalf of the State of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Labor and

Employment (CDLE), Office of New Americans (ONA) is issuing this Request for Proposals for a State-Led Refugee Resettlement & Integration

Community Capacity Assessment (RRICCA).

II. Background

The ONA Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) provides state leadership, networking, monitoring, technical assistance, and systems navigation on behalf of individuals eligible for services (ORR-eligible persons) and the agencies that assist them. ONA/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.

ONA/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.

ONA/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 funded programs based on funding availability and community priority.

ATTACHMENT B

On January 20, 2025, the President issued Executive Order (EO) 14163, Realigning the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. This EO emphasizes greater state and local involvement, consolidated funding, and a stronger focus on the economic integration of refugees.

The successful offeror will collaborate with ONA/CRSP to explore a refugee resettlement model that features greater state coordination and responsibility. This model envisions increased ONA/CRSP authority and responsibility beginning on day one of a refugee’s arrival. It requires close coordination with communities to assess their resettlement capacity, readiness, and willingness. The successful offeror will guide communities in analyzing local factors that influence resettlement and support them in determining their own capacity.

On August 12, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, and

Education jointly released America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age. The successful offeror shall describe how Colorado’s refugee program can align with this national strategy—particularly by expanding the labor force, addressing critical skill shortages, and driving local economic growth.

III. Overview and Deliverables

A refugee resettlement model that assigns greater coordination responsibilities to the State presents Colorado with a strategic opportunity to align humanitarian goals with workforce development. By integrating refugee talent into the State of Colorado’s economic strategy, Colorado can strengthen its labor force and promote long-term community resilience.

This section outlines the specific expectations and deliverables the successful offeror will be responsible for upon award. The successful offeror shall support Colorado communities in assessing their capacity to welcome newcomers, understanding local labor market needs, identifying skill development pathways, and evaluating overall refugee integration pathways. This will help ensure refugee placements align with local demand and enable individuals to contribute effectively.

Deliverables shall include Community Economic Snapshots, refugee skill profiles, refugee integration assessment activities, and facilitated community consultations to support data-driven planning and stakeholder engagement. This RFP initiates a multi-year partnership to support long-term refugee integration and workforce development strategies across

Colorado, in alignment with Executive Order 14163 and America’s Talent

Strategy.

Target Areas: Colorado’s Front Range, including Greeley/Evans, the Denver

Metro Area, and Colorado Springs.

The same process shall be applied in each of the target areas. ONA/CRSP will assist the successful offeror in identifying and engaging local stakeholders.

IV. Deliverable 1: Community Absorptive Capacity

a. Key Dates:

(a) Deliverable performed twice during the initial term by Oct 1, 2026 and

July 1, 2027; and

(b) Deliverable performed annually by July 1 in subsequent terms.

b. Purpose: Define the constraints that may limit a community’s ability to welcome refugee arrivals. This includes housing, education, healthcare, employment, and other resources.

c. Requirements:

(a) Analyze existing data and collect input from key stakeholders in the following areas to assess resettlement constraints in support of a community capacity recommendation:

(i) Housing availability: Housing authorities, landlords, local resettlement agencies, and the State Demography Office at the

Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).

(ii) Employment: Colorado’s Workforce Centers, apprenticeship programs, and other community-based organizations.

(iii) Health and mental health care: Federally Qualified Health

Centers, Behavioral Health Clinics, Public Health Units, and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded refugee health providers.

(iv) Education capacity: K–12 public schools, alternative high school and GED programs, public library workforce programs, career and technical education centers, Adult Education and Workforce

Development, apprenticeship programs, and higher education institutions.

(v) Childcare access: Childcare Assistance Program, accessible slots for

Pre-Kindergarten programs, private daycares, and before/after-school care.

(vi) Transportation access: Transit authorities and private transportation services.

(vii) Population statistics: Identify the five largest cultural communities to assess existing support systems and cultural connections available to facilitate newcomer integration. This requirement should provide a comprehensive view of the broader immigration landscape in Colorado by country and world region. To the extent possible, the successful offeror should:

1. Present statewide immigration trends;

2. Break down trends by community, if feasible; and

3. Identify the largest population groups in Colorado who arrived through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

(viii)This will be a baseline study of community capacity. The successful offeror is expected to incorporate relevant national datasets, disaggregated to the county level where possible. These datasets may include, but are not limited to, information from the U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development, and the Migration Policy Institute.

(ix) ONA/ONA will provide data on refugee arrivals and Refugee Support

Services. Prior to receiving any data, the successful offeror shall execute a data-sharing agreement with ONA and adhere to all confidentiality standards. Data provided by CRSP/ONA shall be used exclusively for the purposes of this project and may not be disclosed or utilized for any other purpose.

(x) The successful offeror shall employ mixed-method approaches to gather input from local stakeholders. These methods may include, but are not limited to, structured interviews and surveys. The successful offeror shall collaborate with CRSP/ONA to develop and finalize the interview and survey questions.

(xi) CRSP/ONA will facilitate and support connections with the primary refugee communities identified through this analysis to ensure accurate and meaningful engagement. Focus groups are defined as sessions designed to gather input from refugee or immigrant participants.

V. Deliverable 2: Labor Market Needs

a. Key Dates:

i. Deliverable performed twice during the initial term by Oct 1, 2026 and

July 1, 2027; and

ii. Deliverable performed annually by July 1 in subsequent terms.

b. Purpose: Ensure the local plan for refugee resettlement meets industry needs.

With the passage of House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1) on July 4, 2025, certain

ORR-eligible individuals now have limited or no access to certain public benefits; in-demand job matches must include health insurance.

c. Requirements:

(b) Define the most critical in-demand occupations that lead to family-sustaining wages.

(i) Analyze labor market data (e.g., Labor Market Index, unemployment rates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job seeker ratios).

(ii) Gather input from:

1. Job Service Centers

2. Chambers of Commerce (Local and State-wide)

3. Economic Development Corporations

4. City governments

5. Business associations

6. Local businesses

VI. Deliverable 3: Skills and Credentialing Pathways

a. Key Dates:

i. Deliverable performed twice during the initial term by Oct 1, 2026 and

July 1, 2027; and

ii. Deliverable performed annually by July 1 in subsequent terms.

b. Purpose: Ensure clear transition points from arrival to education

(apprenticeship/re-credentialing/job-imbedded training) to gainful, in-demand employment. Meeting the requirements of this section will require engaging industry and education to devise creative solutions.

c. Requirements:

(c) Identify skill and credentialing needs.

(i) List the skills and/or credentials needed to acquire in-demand employment, as identified in Section 2.02.2 Labor Market Needs.

(ii) Consider: Could international credentials be evaluated through

World Education Services (WES) or similar organizations?

(d) Explore local skill-building pathways.

(i) Investigation must include community and technical colleges, apprenticeships, 4-year colleges, and other career-training programs such as the Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, Emily Griffith Technical College, and TechNation.

(ii) Consider: Online adult education centers like COTrain offer micro-credentialing or bridge programs tailored to refugee re-credentialing?

(e) Apprenticeships or job-embedded training

(i) Investigate local employer interest in customizing training for individuals with relevant overseas experience.

(f) Language and integration support

(i) Determine the level of English proficiency that is required for the in-demand occupations, as identified in Goal 2: Labor Market

Needs.

1. Indicate the level of English proficiency required based on the levels that are aligned with National Reporting System (NRS)

English language level descriptors, as agreed upon by

CRSP/ONA.

(ii) Consider: Could employers partner with English Language

Acquisition (ELA) providers or platforms like EnGen to offer on-site or contextualized language training?

(g) ORR-Eligible Newcomer Skill Mapping and Alignment

(i) Develop skill profiles for the in-demand occupations identified as the highest need and most achievable.

1. Include the prior experience, credentials, and/or transferable skills required.

2. Indicate the level of English proficiency required based on the levels that are aligned with National Reporting System (NRS)

English language level descriptors, as agreed upon by

CRSP/ONA.

3. Highlight localized education pathways that connect to these occupations.

(h) ORR-Eligible Newcomer Skill Profiles shall be developed by the community first and then by the occupations identified as highest need, most attainable, and top earning. They should be applicable across diverse refugee populations, with the ability to tailor or annotate for country- or region-specific credentialing differences where such distinctions are relevant. Illustrative examples may draw from recent

Colorado arrivals, but the focus shall anticipate a broader, evolving resettlement pipeline. Below is an example of basic indicators for each

Profile:

(i) Occupation:

1. Demand Level in Colorado: [High / Moderate / Low]

2. Key Skills & Overseas Experience: [List transferable skills and typical international experience]

3. Credentialing Requirements: [State-specific licenses or certifications]

4. Language Proficiency: [Minimum level required]

5. [Recommended supports: ESL, contextualized training]

6. Local Pathways: [Bridge/micro-credential options /

Apprenticeship]

7. Employer Engagement: [Opportunities for job-embedded training]

8. Country/Region Notes (if relevant): [Only if credentialing or experience varies significantly]

VII. Deliverable 4: Community Economic Snapshots

i. Deliverable performed twice during the initial term by Oct 1, 2026 and

July 1, 2027; and

ii. Deliverable performed annually by July 1 in subsequent terms.

b. Purpose: Ensure that community stakeholders and refugees can visualize the pathway to economic self-sufficiency. Snapshots shall be visually intuitive and presented in infographic format. The purpose of these snapshots is to illustrate a clear, logical pathway to success in Colorado for individuals unfamiliar with the refugee resettlement process. This tool shall enable refugees rebuilding their lives in Colorado to envision their future and understand steps toward self-sufficiency. Additionally, it shall help community members see how newcomers achieve economic independence and contribute to vibrant, thriving communities.

c. Requirements:

(i) Create concise “Community Economic Snapshots” that highlight the constraints and opportunities captured in Goal 1: Community Absorptive

Capacity and the most needed and attainable in-demand occupations identified in Goal 2: Labor Market Needs and Goal 3: Skills and

Credentialing Pathways.

(j) Snapshots shall include, but are not limited to, the indicators below:

(i) Housing availability and average cost.

(ii) Average cost of living.

(iii) In-demand employment opportunities with health insurance benefits.

(iv) Average wage/salary for in-demand jobs.

(v) Local credentialing opportunities aligned with in-demand jobs.

(vi) Time and cost to obtain the required skills.

(vii) K-12 school capacity.

(viii)Childcare options/availability.

(ix) Healthcare providers and local specializations.

VIII. Deliverable 5: Alignment with America’s Talent Strategy

i. Deliverable performed twice during the initial term by Oct 1, 2026 and

July 1, 2027; and

ii. Deliverable performed annually by July 1 in subsequent terms.

b. Purpose: Ensure refugee integration plans support larger strategic goals.

c. Requirements:

(x) Explore models that facilitate refugee access to Workforce

Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded services and career navigation tools.

(xi) Explore models to incorporate refugee employment and wage data into public dashboards.

(xii) Consider ways for refugees to build digital skills and access technology and digital resources.

IX. Deliverable 6: Co-Host In-Person Community Consultations

(a) Deliverable performed twice during the initial term by Oct 1, 2026 and

July 1, 2027; and

(b) Deliverable performed annually by July 1 in subsequent terms.

b. Purpose: Help the community make data-driven decisions that ensure refugee placements align with local plans and support newcomers in achieving financial stability.

c. Requirements:

(a) Co-host consultations with ONA/CRSP in each target area. The successful offeror shall provide an aggregate report to CRSP/ONA; however, community consultations shall only reflect findings and recommendations for that community.

(b) Include ORR-funded providers, local/state government representatives, education and health agencies,…