Apprenticeship Experience Statewide Coordinator

The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR), in conjunction with the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE), is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP #26RFP19805) for an Apprenticeship Experience Statewide Coordinator to lead apprenticeship expansion efforts across public high schools in South Dakota. The coordinator will provide hands-on coaching to school districts, develop and implement pre-apprenticeship programs aligned with the Apprenticeship Experience framework, establish partnerships with employers and training providers, and create a replicable statewide blueprint for long-term sustainability. Key deliverables include a kickoff work plan, school implementation plans, partnership development tools, training sessions, quarterly narrative reports, and a comprehensive sustainability plan. The position requires expertise in education structures, Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, apprenticeship and work-based learning models, project management, and employer engagement, with candidates required to be located in South Dakota. Evaluation criteria include specialized expertise and technical competence, available resources, past performance record, project management techniques, proposed timeline, cost, and sustainability planning. The Letter of Intent is due May 15, 2026, with proposals due July 3, 2026, followed by an anticipated award decision and contract negotiation on July 17, 2026. Offerors may submit inquiries to Caitlin Kemnitz at Caitlin.Kemnitz@state.sd.us with subject line "RFP #26RFP19805" until the deadline specified in the Schedule of Activities, with all inquiries and responses posted on the state's e-procurement system.

The contract will be issued for a one-year initial term beginning July 17, 2026, with options to renew annually for up to three years through July 1, 2029. Compensation will be based on actual hours worked at a negotiated hourly rate not to exceed the federal consultant rate cap of $93.75 per hour, with travel expenses reimbursed separately at state rates. Total funding available is up to $300,000 per year, not to exceed $900,000 over the full three-year contract period, with Federal State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Funds (SAEF) financing 33 percent of the project and state or other sources funding the remaining 66 percent. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types are noted in the procurement documents. The RFP does not identify any incumbent vendors, current contractors, or existing infrastructure requiring integration. The State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to negotiate terms with successive offerors until an agreement satisfactory to both parties is reached.