Engaging Disengaged Youth in Workforce Development Opportunities

The City of St. Petersburg, Florida, is soliciting proposals for a Social Science Research Consultant to develop strategies for engaging disengaged youth aged 15-24 in workforce development opportunities. This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks a consultant to conduct comprehensive research, including literature reviews, focus groups, interviews, and surveys to identify effective engagement strategies for youth at risk of or currently disengaged from educational and employment pathways. The primary deliverables include developing outreach tactics to generate interest in apprenticeships, career readiness programs, and job opportunities that can lead to long-term employment. Key qualifications require the consultant to have at least three years of experience conducting social science research using the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process and obtaining Level II background checks for employees working with children. The evaluation criteria will be weighted as follows: qualifications (30%), capacity to accomplish work (20%), project approach (28%), with additional points for community collaboration and business enterprise certifications. The RFP was released on October 16, 2024, with a response deadline of November 21, 2024, at 3:00 pm, and a pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for October 21, 2024, via Zoom.

The procurement allows for potential set-aside preferences for Small Business Enterprises (SBE), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), and Women Business Enterprises (WBE), with additional points awarded for these certifications. The city intends to collaborate with Pinellas County Schools and local community organizations throughout the project. The consultant will be required to obtain and maintain various insurance policies, including $1 million in commercial general liability, commercial automobile liability, and professional liability insurance. The project has a defined budget of $200,000, with an initial contract term of one year and potential for a one-year extension. The City of St. Petersburg reserves the right to award the contract to one or more vendors based on the most advantageous proposal, and the agreement includes provisions for termination with 30 days' notice and the ability to require replacement of any consultant personnel deemed unsuitable. The selected consultant must also comply with Florida public records laws and maintain confidentiality throughout the project.