Intent to Sole Source

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) is pursuing a sole source contract with the Association of Washington Business Institute (AWB) to link incumbent worker training needs with community colleges. This procurement is structured as a direct award without competitive bidding, covering multiple jurisdictions across Washington State, including counties such as Franklin, Grant, Chelan, and Yakima. The contract aims to provide a direct conduit between employers and college administrators, facilitating partnerships and resolving issues related to workforce training. Key deliverables include developing workforce training articles, strengthening private sector partnerships, supporting work-based learning opportunities, surveying employers about workforce gaps, organizing manufacturing tours, sharing economic data, and connecting businesses with colleges. The contract requires AWB to demonstrate expertise in developing workforce internship programs, understanding local manufacturing careers, recruiting industry representatives for college advisory boards, and establishing connections between students, faculty, and industry representatives. The procurement timeline indicates a contract period from July 15, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with potential extension to June 30, 2027, and a requirement for potential offerors to submit capability statements within 10 business days of the announcement.

The contract appears to have no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, but it emphasizes support for underserved populations, under-represented genders, and rural communities. AWB is the incumbent and sole source vendor, selected based on its unique capabilities, including a membership of over 7,000 businesses across multiple industries and a 115-year legacy of business engagement. The total contract value is $100,000, comprising $12,500 from state funds and $87,500 from federal funds under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006. Payment will be structured around performance milestones, with invoicing done quarterly and payments made within 30 days of invoice receipt, contingent upon satisfactory completion of contracted activities. The contract requires integration with AWB's existing Workforce Portal to create sustainable work-based learning opportunities and relies on the organization's extensive network to facilitate connections between educational institutions and industry stakeholders.