Welfare-to-Work_Expanded_Subsidized_Employment_Program.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES

Support Services Division

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (Public Comment)

952-0205-26

For

WELFARE-TO-WORK EXPANDED SUBSIDIZED

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2026

RESPONSE DUE: April 2, 2026, 5:00 pm

SUBMIT PROPOSAL TO: RFI COORDINATOR

Solano County digitally via OpenGov Solano County

Portal website at:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/solanocounty

Umiika Wright

Phone: (707) 784-3236 uwright@solanocounty.gov

Any proposer participating in this solicitation is required to have a vendor application on file with the

County. This application may be downloaded from the Solano County website at www.solanocounty.com . Include the application with your proposal. The County will post any changes and information relating to this RFI digitally via OpenGov. Proposers are responsible for frequently checking OpenGov at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/solanocounty for any changes or information relating to this RFI.

“Smoking is not permitted in County Buildings or around Solano County campuses. Thank you in advance for your compliance.”

ANTHONY L. TAVE, P.E.

Director General Services ALTave@SolanoCounty.gov

(707) 784-7902

DUSTIN D. LENO, MBA, A.A.E.

Assistant Director ddleno@solanocounty.com

(707) 784-2781

LORRAINE TANG

Support Services Manager lctang@solanocounty.com

(707) 784-3426

675 Texas Street, Suite 2500

Fairfield, CA 94533-6342

Fax (707) 784-6320 www.solanocounty.com https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/solanocounty http://www.solanocounty.com/ mailto:ALTave@SolanoCounty.gov mailto:ddleno@solanocounty.com mailto:lctang@solanocounty.com http://www.solanocounty.com/

Solano County

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Welfare-to-Work Expanded Subsidized Employment Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Program Overview

2. General Requirements and Information

3. Respondent Requirements

4. Electronic Submittal

Attachments:

A - Exhibit_C_-_General_Terms_6_12_18

B - Special_Terms_and_Conditions

Request For Information #952-0205-26 Title: Welfare-to-Work Expanded Subsidized Employment Program

1. Program Overview

Using information gathered from responses to this RFI, the County of Solano may issue a Request for

Information/Interest (RFI) to bidders interested in providing services to the County. Nothing in this document shall be construed as obligating the County to issue an RFP. No contract will be awarded based on this RFI, or to pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this request.

Please note that, responding to this RFI, will not give any advantage to any organization or individual in any subsequent competition. Responses may be used by the County without restriction or limitation, therefore proprietary information should not be sent.

Responses should focus on addressing the objectives and illustrative results requested. Please do not submit applications, proposals, resumes and promotional material as they will be discarded.

1.1. Scope of Work:

Interested Firms shall:

A. General Requirements

1. Be an employer willing to hire a Welfare-to-Work participant whose wages will be subsidized for a minimum of six (6) months, while providing necessary training and support.

2. Enter into a Worksite Agreement with the County that

a. Describes the participant's work assignment.

b. Clearly outlines the responsibilities of both the employer and the County.

1.2. Employer Responsibilities under the Worksite Agreement:

A. Compliance & Legal Obligations

1. Comply with all California State Labor Laws, including healthcare and paid sick leave requirements.

2. Maintain current business and payroll taxes, including:

a. Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA)

b. Unemployment Insurance

c. State Disability Insurance

d. Workers’ Compensation Insurance

3. Provide comprehensive general liability insurance. If the participant operates a motor vehicle, provide automobile liability insurance.

B. Employment & Compensation

1. Serve as the Employer of Record (subcontracting this responsibility is not permitted).

2. Pay the current wage rate for the established subsidy period.

3. Provide for the cost of supervision, training, necessary equipment, and any other standard employee benefits.

C. Administrative Requirements

1. Use the Worksite Agreement, forms, invoices, and documents approved by the County.

2. Comply with state and federal worker protection provisions outlined in Welfare and Institutions

Code §11324.6.

1.3. Program Service Responsibilities:

A. Place referred participants into subsidized employment based on their skills, experience, and career goals.

B. Provide close supervision of participants and monitor performance.

C. Conduct monthly meetings (at a minimum) with participants to deliver Job Coaching and

Counseling aimed at improving employability.

D. Notify the County of any significant barriers affecting a participant’s ability to work.

E. Deliver Job Retention services to support long-term employment success.

1.4. Service Area:

Employment services must be available to clients residing anywhere in Solano County, which includes the following cities and unincorporated areas: Fairfield, Suisun, Cordelia, Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista, Benicia, and

Vallejo.

1.5. Tiered Reimbursement of Subsidized Wages:

The County shall reimburse employers for a percentage of the participant’s earned wages during the subsidized employment period.

The reimbursement amount decreases gradually over the subsidy period, encouraging employers to take on a larger share of the participant’s wages and ultimately assume full responsibility for their pay.

Month Percentage of earned wages reimbursed

Placement Type

Month 1 100% Initial Month 2 100% Month 3 100% Month 4 75% Month 5 50%

Month 6 25% Month 7 25% Extension 1* Month 8 25% Month 9 25% Month 10 25% Extension 2* Month 11 25% Month 12 25%

The initial subsidy period shall cover the first six (6) months, starting at full reimbursement and tapering down.

https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/welfare-and-institutions-code/wic-sect-11324-6/ https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/welfare-and-institutions-code/wic-sect-11324-6/

Employers may request up to two (2) extensions beyond the initial subsidy period. During any approved extension, the reimbursement rate remains fixed at 25% of the participant’s wages.

This tiered approach incentivizes employers to retain participants and transition them into unsubsidized employment.

2. General Requirements and Information

2.1. Communications Regarding the RFI

Upon release of this RFI, all Respondents’ communications concerning this RFI must be directed to the RFI

Coordinator.

All communications shall be in writing to the RFI coordinator email at uwright@solanocounty.gov. Any oral communications should be considered unofficial and nonbinding on the County. Written comments, including questions and requests for clarification, must cite the subject RFI number. The RFI coordinator must receive these written requests via this Procurement Portal (opengov.com) by the submission deadline specified in the

RFI. Questions/comments (for clarification purposes only) regarding this RFI may be communicated to the RFI coordinator by electronic means. However, respondent’s proposal to this RFI shall be communicated in written form.

The County shall respond in writing to written communications. Only written responses to written communications shall be considered official and binding upon the County. The County reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to determine appropriate and adequate responses to written comments, questions, and requests for clarification. The County shall post its responses to written comments, to all respondents expressing interest in this RFI.

Any data or factual information provided by the County shall be deemed for informational purposes only, and if a respondent relies on said factual information it should either:

A. independently verify the information; or

B. obtain the County’s written consent to rely thereon.

2.2. Response Preparation Costs

The County will not pay any costs associated with the preparation, submittal, or presentation of any response.

2.3. Disclosure of Response Contents

All responses and other materials submitted in response to this RFI information process become the property of the County of Solano. Selection or rejection of a response does not affect this right. The responses and associated materials shall be open for review by the public to the extent allowed by the California Public

Records Act, (Government Code Section 6250-6270 and 6275-6276.48. By submitting a response, the respondent acknowledges and accepts that the contents of the response and associated documents shall become open to public inspection.

2.4. Proprietary Information

The master copy of each response shall be retained for official files and will become public record, unless the response or specific parts of the response can be shown to be exempt by law (Government code

§6276). Each respondent may clearly label part of a response as "CONFIDENTIAL" if the respondent thereby agrees to indemnify and defend the County for honoring such a designation. The failure to so label any information that is released by the County shall constitute a complete waiver of all claims for damages caused by any release of the information. If a public records request for labeled information is received by the County, https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/solanocounty the County will notify the respondent of the request and delay access to the material until seven working days after notification to the respondent. Within that time delay, it will be the duty of the respondent to act in protection of its labeled information. Failure to so act should constitute a complete waiver.

3. Respondent Requirements

Respondent shall provide the following information as evidence the respondent’s experience in delivering services similar to those required by this RFI:

1. A brief, descriptive statement indicating the respondent’s credentials to deliver the services sought under this RFI.

2. A brief description of the respondent’s background and organizational history.

3. Years in business.

4. A brief statement of how long the respondent has been performing the services required by this RFI.

5. Location of offices

6. A description of the respondent organization’s number of employees, longevity, client base.

7. Whether there have been any mergers, acquisitions, or sales of the respondent company within the last ten years (if so, an explanation providing relevant details).

8. Form of business (i.e., individual, sole proprietor, corporation, non-profit corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, et cetera).

4. Electronic Submittal

4.1. Respondent Agreement*

Respondent understands:

Using information gathered from responses to this Request for Information (“RFI”), the County of Solano

(“County”) may, at its sole discretion, issue a contract or other legal instrument to one or more bidders interested in providing services to the County. However, nothing in this RFI shall be construed as obligating the

County to issue a contract, enter into any agreement, or otherwise procure services. The County reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this RFI.

The County, in its sole discretion, will determine which, if any, responses to this RFI satisfy the requirements set forth below. Submission of a response to this RFI shall not confer any advantage to any respondent in any subsequent competitive solicitation.

Responses may be used by the County without restriction or limitation; accordingly, proprietary or confidential information should not be submitted. Responses should be limited to addressing the objectives and illustrative results requested in this RFI.

Applications, proposals, resumes, and promotional or marketing materials should not be submitted and will not be considered.

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

4.2. Respondent Response to RFI*

Respondent shall provide the following information as evidence the respondent’s experience in delivering services similar to those required by this RFI:

A. A brief, descriptive statement indicating the respondent’s credentials to deliver the services sought under this RFI.

B. A brief description of the respondent’s background and organizational history;

C. Years in business;

D. A brief statement of how long the respondent has been performing the services required by this RFI

E. Location of offices

F. A description of the respondent organization’s number of employees, longevity, client base

G. Whether there have been any mergers, acquisitions, or sales of the respondent company within the last ten years (if so, an explanation providing relevant details);

H. Form of business (i.e., individual, sole proprietor, corporation, non-profit corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, et cetera).

*Response required