In-School Youth

The Delaware Workforce Development Board (DWDB) and the Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Employment and Training (DET) are seeking proposals for an In-School Youth (ISY) program funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in New Castle County. The procurement is a professional services contract to provide high-quality programming for youth aged 14-21 who have barriers to secondary school completion, employment, and post-secondary enrollment. Key deliverables include career exploration, counseling, educational attainment support, and occupational skills training in in-demand industries. Required program elements encompass tutoring, work experience, leadership development, and supportive services, with mandatory case management and a minimum of 12 months of follow-up services post-exit. Evaluation criteria will assess the applicant's demonstrated ability, program design, outcome placement goals, cost/budget, and resource leveraging capabilities. The RFP was posted on January 19, 2024, with a mandatory proposal submission deadline of February 16, 2024. The anticipated contract term is one year, with two optional one-year extensions, and will require detailed performance tracking including enrollment, measurable skills gains, and employment/education outcomes at 30, 60, and 90 days.

The procurement appears to be open to qualified organizations without specific set-aside designations, though vendors must demonstrate expertise in managing grant-funded youth programs. Applicants are required to provide three employer letters confirming partnership willingness and must detail how they will incorporate digital literacy into the training curriculum. The RFP indicates an estimated $296,744 in WIOA funding available, with an indirect rate cap of 10% of the total requested amount. Proposing organizations must show the ability to serve youth in designated "Promise Communities" based on poverty and income levels and must align with the "no wrong door policy" to serve vulnerable populations. Vendors must submit comprehensive documentation including a transmittal letter, pricing details, non-collusion agreements, confidentiality forms, business references, and a detailed program budget. The contract is structured as a performance-based fixed unit price agreement, with specific performance metrics that will determine continued funding and potential contract extensions.