Expansion of the Maine Apprenticeship Program

The Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Services is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA #202603031) to expand Maine's Registered Apprenticeship Program and Certified Pre-Apprenticeship programming. This procurement seeks qualified organizations to develop new and expand existing occupations within registered and certified pre-apprenticeship programs across priority sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, rural healthcare, education, information technology, broadband, logistics, construction, infrastructure, and clean energy. Applicants must deliver new apprentices and pre-apprentices at an average cost not exceeding $4,000 per participant and place between 20 and 125 individuals into apprenticeships or pre-apprenticeships depending on award size. Allowable uses of funds include creation of new apprenticeship programming, curriculum development, training infrastructure expansion, collaboration development, train-the-trainer programming, supplies with unit costs under $10,000, stipends for trainees and mentors, indirect costs up to 15 percent of Modified Total Direct Costs, and supportive services not exceeding 5 percent of the total grant award or $1,200 per apprentice. The evaluation will be conducted on a 100-point scale with criteria encompassing Organization & Subcontractor Qualifications and Experience (10 points), Proposed Project (35 points), Alignment with Goals and Outcomes (30 points), and Budget & Budget Narrative (25 points). An informational session is scheduled for April 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM via Microsoft Teams; questions must be submitted by April 24, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., and completed applications are due by May 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. through the Vendor Self Service System (VSS). The contract period runs from June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, with an initial probationary period from June 1 through August 3, 2026.

Applicants must be legally formed organizations operating in Maine with headquarters or significant presence in the state, providing services to Maine businesses and residents while complying with all Maine Apprenticeship Program statutes and regulations. Non-allowable uses of funds include equipment purchases of $10,000 or more, construction costs, wage payments for mentors or apprentices, and supplantation of existing funds. The Department anticipates awarding multiple contracts with funding ranges between $250,000 and $500,000, though the Department reserves the right to make partial awards or modify allocations at its discretion. Funding is provided through a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Labor awarded through June 30, 2028. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are noted in this procurement, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. The specific qualifications and experience requirements regarding organizational capacity will be evaluated during the assessment process based on applicant submissions.