Equity Training RFI

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), through its Bureau of Procurement & Contract Management, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking comprehensive input on agency-wide equity training and organizational assessment. The RFI focuses on developing a robust training strategy for the department's large and diverse workforce, with key objectives including creating a shared understanding of foundational equity concepts, delivering progressive training modules, and tailoring content specifically to human services work. The procurement seeks detailed information about potential training methodologies, with a specific vision of implementing a train-the-trainer model for live virtual training that covers defining equity, examining implicit bias, and applying equity concepts to job duties. The Department currently requires basic online equity training for Commonwealth employees and aims to expand this with more specialized human services-focused content. Responses are due by February 21, 2025, and must be submitted electronically to RA-PWRFICOMMENTS@PA.GOV, with a strict five-page limit excluding cover letters and attachments. The Department plans to evaluate training effectiveness through pre- and post-surveys measuring participants' ability to meet specific learning objectives.

This RFI is an information-gathering exercise and will not result in a direct contract award or payment for responses. While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types are explicitly mentioned, the Department encourages comprehensive feedback from interested parties capable of addressing equity training needs in a human services context. The current equity training infrastructure includes mandatory online modules covering Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Prevent Discrimination and Harassment, and Disability-Related Training, which are completed during employee onboarding. No incumbent vendors or specific budget ranges are disclosed in the documentation. The procurement appears designed to explore potential approaches to enhancing equity training across the Department of Human Services, with a focus on gathering innovative strategies and comprehensive insights from potential training providers or consultants specializing in organizational equity development.