Youthbuild Technical Assistance

The U.S. Department of Labors Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will be soliciting proposals to assist ETA in providing technical assistance in support of its YouthBuild programs. The contractor will provide support for all related technical activities required by ETA.



YouthBuild is a youth workforce development program that helps disadvantaged youth gain high school credentials and skill training that leads to employment. YouthBuild provides job training and educational opportunities for at-risk, and out-of-school youth ages 16 through 24 while constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing for low-income or homeless families in poor communities. While enrolled in a YouthBuild program, participants split their time between a construction site and a classroom, where they earn their GED or high school diploma, learn to be community leaders, and prepare for college and other postsecondary training opportunities.



The YouthBuild program was transferred from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Department of Labor (DOL) in September 2006. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) began administration of the YouthBuild program beginning in FY 2007. DOL has administered one full cycle of the YouthBuild program (two years of program operation) since its transfer and has recently completed its second competition. This competition, which utilized both American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds of $50 million as well as the 2009 appropriation funds of $70 million resulted in an increase in the number of YouthBuild programs supported by DOL and the number of disadvantaged youth served.



The successful offeror will provide technical assistance to approximately 200 grantees for the first period of performance.



The purpose of the YouthBuild Technical Assistance contract is to support ETA in the provision of services that will improve program performance and program outcomes for participants in DOL funded YouthBuild programs in the areas of:

--Placement in employment or education

--Attainment of a degree or certificate

--Literacy and numeracy gains

--Retention in employment and education

--Reduction in recidivism rates



The technical assistance will assist YouthBuild grantees to improve academic offerings, provide industry-recognized construction skill training, introduce YouthBuild staff and participants to high-growth, high-wage industries, and make stronger connections with other system partners to prepare our nations most vulnerable youth for productive lives.

The overall goals for the technical assistance strategy are to assist YouthBuild sites to:

--Improve academic programs including professional development for teaching staff and GED curricula

--Improve literacy/numeracy outcomes

--Increase post-secondary exploration, planning, and placement

--Integrate nationally recognized energy efficiency and renewable energy training into existing construction training programs

--Improve connections to registered apprenticeship programs

--Improve connections to business partners, both nationally and at the local level

--Improve connections to the One-Stop Career Center system

--Improve connections with community colleges

--Improve and ensure occupational safety at YouthBuild work sites

--Use data to manage programs

--Strengthen partnerships with other government agencies that serve the neediest youth including the juvenile justice system, the foster care system, etc.



ETAs authority to use these funds is limited by the YouthBuild authorizing statute. Under that law, the only entities we have authority to select for contracts funded with the YouthBuild 5% funds for training, information, technical assistance and data management, ... are qualified national nonprofit agencies." 29 USC 2918a(f).



There will be a pre-proposal conference. Interested Parties should send an e-mail to Marsha Daniels (daniels.marsha@dol.gov) with their intent to attend.