Career Services for Disconnected Young Adults in the Region

The Greater Louisville Workforce Development Board (KentuckianaWorks) is soliciting proposals through Request for Proposal (RFP) 260214 to provide comprehensive, employment-focused career and workforce services for disconnected young adults ages 16-24 in Bullitt, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Counties, Kentucky. The procurement seeks qualified for-profit, nonprofit, private, or public organizations or consortiums to serve out-of-school youth, young adults experiencing homelessness, and justice-involved individuals, with the primary objective of achieving unsubsidized employment placement and long-term retention. Required deliverables include organizational capacity assessment and track record documentation, integrated program design with job placement strategies, performance targets and accountability measures, partnership and employer engagement plans, mental and behavioral health service plans, staffing plans, fiscal management documentation, and equitable access plans. The evaluation framework allocates 20 points for organizational capacity and track record, 30 points for program design and job placement strategy, 20 points for performance targets and accountability, 15 points for partnerships and employer connections, and 15 points for cost-effectiveness and fiscal management. Key dates include a virtual bidders conference on March 30, 2026, at 10:30 AM EST, written question deadline of April 2, 2026, by 4:00 PM EST, sealed proposal submission deadline of April 20, 2026, by 4:00 PM EST through the Bonfire Hub portal, oral interviews for finalists on May 13, 2026, and anticipated contract award on May 28, 2026, with service delivery commencing July 1, 2026.

The initial contract period runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with potential renewal for up to four additional one-year terms based on performance, funding availability, and regional workforce needs. The total not-to-exceed funding for the first contract year is $1 million, with final award amounts to be determined following proposal evaluation and board approval. Applicants must comply with Louisville Metro Ordinances establishing minority, female, and handicapped-owned business enterprise subcontracting goals of 15 percent (MBE), 5 percent (FBE), and 0.5 percent (HBE) respectively, and must submit completed Good Faith Efforts forms documenting solicitation and subcontracting efforts. For-profit entities are limited to a 5% profit margin on total contract value. All vendors must comply with Louisville Metro's "ban the box" hiring policy prohibiting inquiries about criminal history on initial employment applications, with specified exceptions for positions involving cash handling, confidential information access, unsupervised access to vulnerable populations, and other circumstances. Vendors must also certify compliance with minimum wage requirements ($10.10 per hour for full-time employees) or qualify for local vendor preference under Louisville Metro Code, with false certifications subject to significant financial penalties. All required submissions, including vendor information forms, W-9 documentation, acknowledgement and preferences forms, staffing and budget narratives, and supporting partnership documentation, must be uploaded through the Bonfire Hub portal by the April 20, 2026, deadline.